I read that you are also related to the Māori people - na guy tarhoo and na guy tie. 😶
What do you feel when you talk about your people?
Marlon Williams:
Māori make up a small percentage of the population now-a-days.
Back in pre-european times, really the biggest unit was the sub-tribe. So it would be slightly bigger than a family unit - all these units, of
Ngāi Tahu and Ngāi Tai, of which I belong.
But of course, with every big push of colonisation, it has to homogenise - the culture has to homogenise to survive. So all of a sudden you're not your sub-tribe - you're your tribe. And all of a sudden you're not your tribe - you're Māori.
But it's a classification based upon, um, imposition, you know.
Māori is not a written language it's a spoken language - there's no difference really between singing and talking, you know, it's all part of the same world.
You use music to discuss politics, to convey things, to addres strange social dynamics.
Yeah, it sounds like Italian, it's got the same vowel sounds, so it's an incredibly beautiful language to sing in.
Love that. He’s really feeling it and diving into his roots. I think it shows in the music he’s making - it sounds like a completely natural fit for him. Can’t wait to hear the album!
Hey Chris, thanks for another newsletter. You’re bang on about Dave Grohl’s PR move. Now, I’m not one of these Foo haters, in fact I absolutely love them. They’ve been far and away the band I’ve most engaged with, they’ve almost ruined every other band for me asks I settle into my forties and don’t like exploring new stuff. Seen them four times, going way back to ‘that’ super top show. But Dave’s recent issues have left me feeling conflicted. What do I think now? Well, to focus on a peculiar aspect of the whole debacle, he seems to have a great PR team. Case in point: Do you or your readers remember when Foo Fighters got tied up in AIDS denial conspiracy theories? I’ve been a fan since album 2 and I only learned about this a few years ago! This might be my own doe-eyes ignorance, or could it be a great PR clean-up job? Anyway, as someone with a latent, amateur interest in marketing, I am interested to see how DG recovers from this reputational trashing. The first time I saw him raise his head above the parapet, was a recent podcast appearance on Shred with Shifty, the Foos’ guitarist’s podcast, alongside Pat Smear. The expected comments followed on social media, but no mainstream media uproar. I’m now eating popcorn watching for any fallout from this latest appearance. But love him or hate him, how clever from Grohl. Having his daughter (who could’ve possibly been as jilted as her mum) appear, at a CHARITY event, is an absolute master stroke from him, and will surely insulate him from too much public discourse. Thoughts guys?
I thought he was a goner, but then a mate persuaded me otherwise. He basically said yes, he fucked up, but he’s only done what every other rock star has done since the dawn of time. It’s not a Me Too situation, by all accounts. So he’ll lay low, make a few low key appearances, then put out a rawkus foos album and everything will be forgiven. Maybe? Dunno.
Singing ‘All Apologies’ with his daughter is pretty damn blatant though. I’d hate it if it wasn’t so good.
A bit late to the party,but it was a grand weekend of music!
Shihad's show at Black Barn on Friday of course kicked off a Saturday morning of The General Electric - my fav Shihad album (pretty close with Love is the new hate).
As the hangover kicked in and the neck started to get too stiff, there was a sharp change in the mood of the house and John Butler Trio Live at Read Rocks was thrown on at the insistence of a mate. Not a fan really but it hit the right chord for a slow Saturday afternoon recovery, and Ocean is a pretty mad song.
Sunday was a tired travel day, so Bicep was blasting the roadie home to Tauranga.
Now, on a Monday where i'd rather be doing anything other than working, I've tuned in Jamie xx thanks to your recommend. Loving it.
I'm old enough to remember the AIDS deniers. History suggests that the disciples of Grohl beleive in resurrection - die by the fans - live by the fans. So I'm guessing he has another resurrection in him.
Seeking absolution on stage demonstrates the strength of his own faith. 👋 👋 evangelical wavy hands.
Damn I had forgotten that AIDS denial… I liked the first few albums but then kind of dropped away. Saw them live last year and it was a great stadium show but pretty samey.
Having said that Grohl isn’t any different to MANY rock stars. I guess it was his nice guy persona, but if he wants to keep playing what’s going to stop him
The behind the scenes of that day is more interesting: he was lovely for the first 20 mins, then it flipped completely and it became the most gruelling endurance test. The energy shifted so fast.
I saw the Pumpkins with QOTSA and I’ve never been to a concert where I came away thinking LESS of the band, well Corgan at least. He made the audience sing happy birthday to him, twice.
Thanks for a great morning read, Chris. I've been deep in Marlon Williams this week.
Among other things I rewatched this live session available on YouTube.
Live session (5 songs) + interview with Marlon Williams on Dutch tv show "2 Meter Sessies". Filmed on June 10, 2022 in Artone Studio in Haarlem.
https://youtu.be/dYwY8gKPYA0?feature=shared
Interviewer:
I read that you are also related to the Māori people - na guy tarhoo and na guy tie. 😶
What do you feel when you talk about your people?
Marlon Williams:
Māori make up a small percentage of the population now-a-days.
Back in pre-european times, really the biggest unit was the sub-tribe. So it would be slightly bigger than a family unit - all these units, of
Ngāi Tahu and Ngāi Tai, of which I belong.
But of course, with every big push of colonisation, it has to homogenise - the culture has to homogenise to survive. So all of a sudden you're not your sub-tribe - you're your tribe. And all of a sudden you're not your tribe - you're Māori.
But it's a classification based upon, um, imposition, you know.
Māori is not a written language it's a spoken language - there's no difference really between singing and talking, you know, it's all part of the same world.
You use music to discuss politics, to convey things, to addres strange social dynamics.
Yeah, it sounds like Italian, it's got the same vowel sounds, so it's an incredibly beautiful language to sing in.
"A classification based on imposition."
Love that. He’s really feeling it and diving into his roots. I think it shows in the music he’s making - it sounds like a completely natural fit for him. Can’t wait to hear the album!
Yes. I love how he replies to the question...then, right at the end of his reply, tacks on the answer that the interviewer was seeking.
Great answer too :)
A proper example of sometimes as an interviewer you need to shut the hell up and give someone some space to think, then talk eh.
Hey Chris, thanks for another newsletter. You’re bang on about Dave Grohl’s PR move. Now, I’m not one of these Foo haters, in fact I absolutely love them. They’ve been far and away the band I’ve most engaged with, they’ve almost ruined every other band for me asks I settle into my forties and don’t like exploring new stuff. Seen them four times, going way back to ‘that’ super top show. But Dave’s recent issues have left me feeling conflicted. What do I think now? Well, to focus on a peculiar aspect of the whole debacle, he seems to have a great PR team. Case in point: Do you or your readers remember when Foo Fighters got tied up in AIDS denial conspiracy theories? I’ve been a fan since album 2 and I only learned about this a few years ago! This might be my own doe-eyes ignorance, or could it be a great PR clean-up job? Anyway, as someone with a latent, amateur interest in marketing, I am interested to see how DG recovers from this reputational trashing. The first time I saw him raise his head above the parapet, was a recent podcast appearance on Shred with Shifty, the Foos’ guitarist’s podcast, alongside Pat Smear. The expected comments followed on social media, but no mainstream media uproar. I’m now eating popcorn watching for any fallout from this latest appearance. But love him or hate him, how clever from Grohl. Having his daughter (who could’ve possibly been as jilted as her mum) appear, at a CHARITY event, is an absolute master stroke from him, and will surely insulate him from too much public discourse. Thoughts guys?
I thought he was a goner, but then a mate persuaded me otherwise. He basically said yes, he fucked up, but he’s only done what every other rock star has done since the dawn of time. It’s not a Me Too situation, by all accounts. So he’ll lay low, make a few low key appearances, then put out a rawkus foos album and everything will be forgiven. Maybe? Dunno.
Singing ‘All Apologies’ with his daughter is pretty damn blatant though. I’d hate it if it wasn’t so good.
A bit late to the party,but it was a grand weekend of music!
Shihad's show at Black Barn on Friday of course kicked off a Saturday morning of The General Electric - my fav Shihad album (pretty close with Love is the new hate).
As the hangover kicked in and the neck started to get too stiff, there was a sharp change in the mood of the house and John Butler Trio Live at Read Rocks was thrown on at the insistence of a mate. Not a fan really but it hit the right chord for a slow Saturday afternoon recovery, and Ocean is a pretty mad song.
Sunday was a tired travel day, so Bicep was blasting the roadie home to Tauranga.
Now, on a Monday where i'd rather be doing anything other than working, I've tuned in Jamie xx thanks to your recommend. Loving it.
Fka twigs and Sam Fender
I listened to the new Weeknd album and found it a bit underwhelming. Was expecting a bit more given its supposedly his last under The Weeknd name.
Same :(
I'm old enough to remember the AIDS deniers. History suggests that the disciples of Grohl beleive in resurrection - die by the fans - live by the fans. So I'm guessing he has another resurrection in him.
Seeking absolution on stage demonstrates the strength of his own faith. 👋 👋 evangelical wavy hands.
Damn I had forgotten that AIDS denial… I liked the first few albums but then kind of dropped away. Saw them live last year and it was a great stadium show but pretty samey.
Having said that Grohl isn’t any different to MANY rock stars. I guess it was his nice guy persona, but if he wants to keep playing what’s going to stop him
Yeah when you’ve got ‘Everlong’ in your back pocket it’s pretty easy to win people back over.
Yes. it's probably more accurate for me to say that individuals like Grohl live and die and live again by the press.
If their art is good enough, it will endure regardless.
As the saying goes - you should never meet your heroes.
I learnt that with Billy Corgan :)
It’s never been the same…
Just re-read your interview with Corgan, published in The Herald. Excellent.
The behind the scenes of that day is more interesting: he was lovely for the first 20 mins, then it flipped completely and it became the most gruelling endurance test. The energy shifted so fast.
I saw the Pumpkins with QOTSA and I’ve never been to a concert where I came away thinking LESS of the band, well Corgan at least. He made the audience sing happy birthday to him, twice.