Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Max Johnson
Date: 07 Jun 16 - 02:13 PM

I've informed both John and Dave. John is in Tenerife, where he lives, and Dave is currently in Greece. We're all in deep shock.

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: GUEST,Morris-ey
Date: 07 Jun 16 - 05:57 AM

Sad to hear this news.

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 07 Jun 16 - 04:13 AM

I am surprised how little response there has been on here to the news of Anne's death.
Perhaps Herga Kitty or Hugh Diamond should start an official OBIT thread, as it may be that people have not seen this one.

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 04 Jun 16 - 05:23 AM

Very sad to hear this.

I've been reading back through the thread and reminiscences of the Dead Sea Surfers' Hawaiian evening at Carinas in Sidmouth. They threw little Bounty Bars into the audience (real coconuts might have been dangerous I suppose) - I still have mine somewhere.

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 03 Jun 16 - 04:31 AM

Very sad to learn from Hugh Diamond through Facebook that Anne Darby (Wiseman) has passed away this week, though Hugh said she was in good form running her acoustic folk and blues club in Devon last Friday.

Sympathies to her family and former musical associates.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Mar 15 - 04:20 PM

I am sure they were billed as the surfers...

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: The Sandman
Date: 03 Mar 15 - 04:07 PM

morrissey, thats only 3, who were at one time members of dead sea surfers anne wiseman john spires, and wotsit, i think they were called spring chckens.

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: GUEST,Morris-ey
Date: 03 Mar 15 - 12:25 PM

A photo:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-iTjz3xuqfHs/S2YVyMNj64I/AAAAAAAABEY/JhIoWlhstyI/s640/IMGP0715.JPG

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Tony Bayliss
Date: 03 Mar 15 - 08:05 AM

Hi Anne Darby, if you are still in Teignmouth would you fancy playing at a charity gig there on 18th April

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 26 Nov 14 - 03:38 PM

Found it

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: GUEST,RD
Date: 26 Nov 14 - 02:21 PM

I was recently sent a copy of a new compilation CD of some of Threadbare Consort's music as well as Dead Sea Surfers. The recordings are from the 1970s, and although I never saw them live, they must have been quite something.

Apparently there is now a video on YouTube advertising the CD for sale.

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: popyasmurf
Date: 15 Dec 12 - 05:58 AM

Hi Chris
is it possible for you to make "Wearing Thin" into an MP3
I only have it on a C90 which is nearly wron out + I have no Cassette player

Thanks
Gordon

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Max Johnson
Date: 11 Dec 12 - 01:07 PM

Poppyasmurf/Gordon

E-mail me re wearing thin - max.

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: GUEST,popyasmurf
Date: 23 Apr 12 - 08:25 AM

Im still after Wearing Thin as MP3s
can anybody help ?

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Max Johnson
Date: 03 Oct 11 - 10:01 AM

Hello Vic.

Just to suggest that you also make a new thread for Dave's Court Sessions. It would probably attract more attention than this old Surfers nostalgia thread.

I'd love to be able to attend all three of those nights - sounds wonderful!

Best.

M.

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Max Johnson
Date: 03 Oct 11 - 09:55 AM

Hiya Torquil!

Yes, it is quite a long time! Please e-mail me at max[AT]nonesuch.force9.co.uk

Max J.

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Vic Smith
Date: 03 Oct 11 - 07:29 AM



It looks - from the email below that I received on 22/09/11 - as though Dave East and the Court Sessions club are testing the water to see if there is a market for re-starting their venture. Let's hope the club does come alive again because the few times that I went there (over 50 miles away) I really enjoyed it. Here is the email:-

Hi everyone
Sorry to be unable to reply personally to all you who wrote to us-
Firstly:
Simon Prager presents an evening of blues and ragtime music, with 'Veronica & the Red Wine Serenaders', tomorrow evening- Friday 23rd- 8.30pm at The Wheatsheaf, opposite Tooting Bec stn. [Northern]
Tickets are £7.00 [concs £5.00]

To re-state, Court Sessions has two evenings at The County Arms- last Fridays of September and October and, if well attended we may, just may, be on to something more regular.
So please, everyone, trot along to.:

Friday Sept 30th, we host the brilliant
RATTLE ON THE STOVEPIPE
Dave Arthur (5-string banjo, melodeon, guitar, vocals), Pete Cooper (fiddle and vocals) and Dan Stewart (5-string banjo, guitar and vocals). Rattle have gained an enthusiastic following with their mix of traditional songs, ballads and dance tunes from the British Isles and the Appalachian Mountains of- mainly- North Carolina.
Their 2006 CD with Chris Moreton, `Eight More Miles' (Wild Goose, WGS 333), and the 2009 'no use in cryin' with Dan Stewart has spread their reputation more widely.
Plus Dave & Doreen, and the unstoppable Wandle Delta String Band
Starts 8.00pm, entrance £7.00 [CS members £6.00]

Shirley Collins wrote on the sleeve: (Rattle on the Stovepipe)... are all master musicians, but there is no sense of ego, no promotion of themselves as stars, although they certainly can dazzle. They are completely at home with the music they love, & can switch comfortably from American to English songs and tunes...
As you'll have gathered, I love them...'

Friday 28th October,
The Long Hill Ramblers
Headed by Ben Paley & Tab Hunter, and featuring the delightful voice of young Laura Hockenhull, with Dan Stewart on guitar [& banjo]

Hope to see you there- and maybe let us know if you can make it
Dave & Doreen



------------------------------------

COURT SESSIONS-
South London's Traditional Song & Music Club

020 8677 9989

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: GUEST,TDM
Date: 03 Oct 11 - 07:10 AM

Hi Max - very long time no see.
I was at Wickham festival and there were two copies of Don't say aloha in the music tent!
I still have an old casette of Threadbare at Bracknell and the Elizabethan stuff if you are interested. - Torquil

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 11 Aug 11 - 06:52 PM

Part two of our interview with Max is over here at Lost Folk Tapes. This covers the short-lived Threadbare and we feature four never-before-available tracks. Hope you enjoy it!

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 03 Aug 11 - 06:34 PM

There's an extra photo added since posted the above last night - and parts two and three of the interview will be added over the next couple of weeks....

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 02 Aug 11 - 06:54 PM

We have a great interview with Max Johnson of Threadbare Consort up at the Lost Folk Tapes site, along with four songs, three from their incredibly hard to find album Wearing Thin and one, Farewell, My Joy, previously unreleased. This is the first installment of a three part interview that will also cover Threadbare and the Dead Sea Surfers...

Happy reading and listening!

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: ConcertinaChap
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 05:38 AM

Well, obviously my memory at fault, really thought they were the other way round. I do remember that Bracknell, though. Bert Lloyd was at the festival all right. I have a clear memory of sitting cross legged in a marquee listening to him singing Tam Lin and being absolutely spellbound by the way he put the song over for all that his voice wasn't up to much by then. A masterclass on how to put a ballad over.

Cheers,

Chris

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Max Johnson
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 03:24 PM

Consensus is that the first Sacred Harp workshop was at a festival, with 'Squire'. A hot summer. Probably Bracknell, Probably 1976. Second workshop was at CSH.

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Max Johnson
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 06:08 AM

To be honest Chris, I don't really know - I've always thought we did the first one with Squire, and I remember Bert Lloyd being there - but I'm not certain, and you could be right. I'll ask the others. That'll probably give us three more dates to throw into the ring.

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: ConcertinaChap
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 04:15 PM

Anne and I were comparing memories and we think the workshop at CSH was the first, before the workshop with Squire. Do you remember, Max, Consort performing at some day festival in London a few days later and asking anyone in the audience who'd been in the workshop to join you all on stage for what proved to be an absolutely steaming performance of Russia? There were loads of us! Seems like yesterday, and in three weeks time I'm 60. Where does life go?

Chris

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 06:48 AM

In fact have had a similar urge with some of my records Ralphie but a few inches nearer the edge.

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Max Johnson
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 05:47 AM

You bring a whole new perspective to being a sound engineer, Ralph.

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 08 Jul 11 - 03:34 PM

As an aside (slightly off topic sorry chaps!) When I found my LP copy of Wearin' Thin ( Threadbare Consort). I took a power drill to it, to make the hole in the middle more central.. And with judicious use of Blu-Tack and a 10p Piece, managed to get it to stop wowing!
Watch this space for future plans....

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: ConcertinaChap
Date: 08 Jul 11 - 02:31 PM

> CSH was the second workshop. I believe the the first UK workshop was done by ourselves and 'Squire' at a festival somewhere in perhaps 1976

Blimey, Squire, whatever happened to them ...

Chris

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 08 Jul 11 - 06:40 AM

Max I was wondering if that was one of the nights at the Chestnuts that Doc Rowe videoed, he did a few and I have odd copies.

Mind you finding anything in Doc's archive......

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Max Johnson
Date: 08 Jul 11 - 06:35 AM

Thanks Chris!
CSH was the second workshop. I believe the the first UK workshop was done by ourselves and 'Squire' at a festival somewhere in perhaps 1976? I can't remember the venue, but A. L. Lloyd listened to us for a while and was heard to say to his entourage '...that's quite interesting'.

He said it all in that short phrase.

Kevin: Don't be modest, you looked gorgeous.

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: ConcertinaChap
Date: 08 Jul 11 - 05:27 AM

I've just checked the disk on my turntable. It is off-centre but not by much. certainly less than a millimetre, perhaps no more than .5 mm. I'd never really noticed any effect on the sound.

Chris

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: ConcertinaChap
Date: 08 Jul 11 - 05:18 AM

Anne just mentioned this thread to me so I went and dug up my old copy of Wearing Thin. Bloody good LP that. Bought the group and the time back to me in a big way. Doing Russia in a workshop in Cecil Sharp House (maybe the first ever Sacred Harp workshop in the UK?). Seeing them for the first time when they were residents at Wayzegoose and telling them how great I thought they sounded (sycophantic even then). Long time ago.

My copy bears the following inscription:

- What good taste you have Chris! - Max Johnson
- I hate writing things on albums - W. Shakespeare
- No you don't - Dave
- Oh yes you do - Marshall.

So there you have it. The personnel on record were Max, Dave, Marshall and William.

Chris

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Leadfingers
Date: 06 Jul 11 - 08:12 AM

Carinas may no longer be a festival venue , but is still a 'night Club/ disco' and the Over flow bar still provides a home for one of the best mixed sessions in Sidmouth . The Newt Lives !!

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 06 Jul 11 - 06:38 AM

topsie...1984? Could be.
It was a long time ago!
Glad the venue is shut now. Was a bit like working at the Marquee!

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 06 Jul 11 - 05:37 AM

After much thinking, I've come to the conclusion Carina's was 1984 (though 1985 remains a possibility).

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 06 Jul 11 - 04:49 AM

Kitty.
Had a re-think. I think that the Carinas gig was 1984/5. Maybe the same year that ERIC played the Beach Store with Barry Coope? Certainly couldn't have been any later.
The Beach Store was always a wierd gig....The only place in Sidmouth that had sand!

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 05 Jul 11 - 02:47 PM

Hi Kitty...I think the beach store had gone by then! But, Yes..it would have been very appropriate! See you in a few weeks.x

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 05 Jul 11 - 12:57 PM

I can't help thinking it would have been more appropriate in the Beach Store.....

Kitty

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 05 Jul 11 - 10:15 AM

And I think I had the beard then as well Irene!

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Surreysinger
Date: 05 Jul 11 - 09:43 AM

Kevin, with the mental image that conjures up I may never be able to look at you in the same light again when next we meet!

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 05 Jul 11 - 09:01 AM

Ralphie, shouldn't that be "Possibly Jo's finest hour"? (although Jos was there in the audience, it wasn't really her finest hour).

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 05 Jul 11 - 07:18 AM

You needed sunglasses just to look at the appropriately dressed audience as they waited to get in to the event!

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 05 Jul 11 - 04:39 AM

One particularly Hot and Smelly evening in "The Black Hole Of Carinas" at Sidmouth (remember that?) I remember DSS and ERIC doing a Hawaiian evening....and provided the audience with brown paper bags, lovingly decorated with marker pen strings and tuning pegs ...So that at relevant points in the songs, they could inflate them and join in with the Uke solos! Awesome!
The climax of the evening was accompanying Jo Freya (in costume complete with Bustier!) in a eye-watering version of "I met her On the Beach at Bali-Bali." There wasn't a dry seat in the house. Possibly Jos finest hour (That's her reputation shot!)
Shame it was never recorded.....Thinking about it.................!

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 05 Jul 11 - 04:08 AM

I recall one particular night when I MCd them at the old Chestnuts club in Walthamstow. At one point in the evening I was required to wear a grass skirt half coconuts bikini top and throw bounty bars into the audience during a number.

The things we do for Art.

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Jul 11 - 03:07 AM

Well, I sure hope that some fine day, I'll hear the music of the real Dead Sea Surfers.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 05 Jul 11 - 02:48 AM

Hi Joe...It;s a long old story.. First there was Threadbare Consort (4 part accapella band 1 LP withdrawn on the day of release due to faulty pressing!)..This duly morphed into Deaf Sea Surfers with three members in common..! 1 LP "Aloha" with lots of hawaiian references on it plus trad stuff. Again long deleted, but copies do pop up on E Bay from time to time. The good newsis that I'm working with the band on a new project, the first fruits of which will be out-takes/reheasal stuff being uploaded to Nigel (SpleenCringe) "Lost Tapes " site...You'll be able to find it easily ...God knows he's forever plugging it! THE DSS "Aloha" LP, is being considered, but, would anyone remember them? They weren't around for that long. There other breakaway bands too..."Mrs Spinks", and a different line up of the original juast called "Threadbare" (Hope you're taking notes!) In London around that time 70's 80's, London was pretty thriving musically, and band members moved about a lot! Hope this helps...

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Jul 11 - 06:36 PM

Max, sorry I got confused. Where can we find examples of your music?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: Max Johnson
Date: 04 Jul 11 - 08:36 AM

I understand that there's a South African punk band who borrowed our name.

Subject: RE: Dead Sea Surfers - what happened to??
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 04 Jul 11 - 03:04 AM

I think the real Dead Sea Surfers should sue! As topsie said...Nothing like them!