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What’s up Sorry Staters?
I had a few people hit me up after last week and check in about my insulin pump and not feeling so well. Well, for those who care, I got my new insulin pump and am feeling much better! Just in time too, because I’d hate to be in a sorry state (hehe) health-wise during all the rad stuff I got coming up in June. I mentioned in a previous newsletter, but next weekend I’m flying to Minneapolis for a skate event hosted by Thrasher. Then, that evening, Public Acid is playing with Electric Chair. It would’ve sucked to be having a hard time with diabetes while being far from home, so I’m glad I’ve got that all sorted. Should be a blast!
I was trying to think about what to write about for my staff pick section this week. It’s always strange timing when several celebrities die within a few days of each other. South Park had a funny episode about that several years ago where the plot revolved the “rule of 3” where celebrities always pass away in groups of 3. Kinda funny. Kinda dark too, I guess haha. It is kind of a weird time we live in. Seems like famous people are at an age where every other week they’re dropping like flies. I don’t know, I honestly have mixed feelings about the nature of “celebrity” in general. Not that I roll my eyes or anything, but when I find myself being bombarded by a flood of social media posts about celebrity/musician/actor X, it becomes a bit exhausting. Like, Tina Turner passing away is sad and all, but I personally don’t have a deep emotional reaction upon receiving that news. But hey, that’s not to diminish anybody’s feeling any type of way about a famous person’s passing.
All that said, Algy Ward died. I’ve decided that’s what I want to write about and I’ll attempt to not be cringey in the process. Maybe my perspective on this comes from the crabby, judgmental part of my brain, but it’s hard for me to think of Algy Ward as a “celebrity.” I understand that he was a public figure that played in bands that many people consider meaningful (myself included), but my reaction to his passing doesn’t feel the same as like when Tom Petty or Olivia Newton-John or whoever passes away. It’s just not the same. I also find myself questioning the character of said famous person when they die. But whatever, maybe that’s not what you’re supposed to care about. I will say that with Algy, he touched upon some records that hold a special in place in my heart—most notably, he played on my favorite record ever made.
I find Algy Ward’s journey pretty interesting. Though I love Music For Pleasure, you could argue it’s basically like The Damned’s sophomore slump. When the band reassembled after Brian James quit, Captain Sensible moved to guitar and they got a particularly interesting fill-in on bass. I don’t know if they had other scab bass players in between, but I’m pretty sure Algy stepped in to take over for Lemmy Kilmeister. Pretty rad. Then the band would make my favorite record ever (probably, so hard to say emphatically) Machine Gun Etiquette. I think Algy was only 19 or 20 at the time. Just before that, he played on The Saints’ Eternally Yours—my personal favorite Saints album. So right there he touched upon 2 legendary punk bands’ third and best albums. The rule of 3 (wink wink). Not too long after leaving The Damned, Algy formed the heavy metal band Tank. And then, bringing it back to Motorhead, Fast Eddie Clark produced Tank’s debut album Filth Hounds of Hades. Pretty Damned good run if you ask me.
Many readers of our newsletter probably know all this info already. I’m not trying to re-write the dude’s autobiography or anything. It’s just when I take a look at Algy’s string of records he played on, I do find it rather mind-blowing. So rad. RIP Algy. Thanks for the music.
Anyway, that’s all I’ve got this week. As always, thanks for reading.
‘Til next week,
-Jeff