Just call me Johnny Rebel, because I'm breaking all the video rules this week!
First, I'm scrapping my plans to post all classic Christmas videos. Most of the good ones really aren't that "forgotten." Second, I've decided to post a video that probably isn't forgotten or classic for the majority of people out there. You would've had to see it in order to ever forget it, and most of you probably never have. Therefore, as I'm sure you're all blissfully aware, you kids are lucky to have me.
This week's video is "Suddenly," by The Bogmen. Not only is this one of my favorite bands but they are, as put so well by Lonn Friend, "the best band no one ever heard." I actually became a fan after they were already broken up, but it was only because my initial interest in them was derailed. I'll explain.
Back in 1995, the video for "Suddenly" debuted on MTV. I saw it and was instantly taken with the song, the band's sound and lead singer Billy Campion's unfiltered goofiness. I can't remember if I only saw it the once, or if I possibly caught it again, but it wasn't more than twice. Unfortunately, The Bogmen never really took off and because the song never got any radio play, I couldn't remember many of the lyrics or the band's name. For a while, I would ask people if they had ever heard it, attempting to sing the bits I could remember. No one had a clue. I don't know if search engines weren't as amazing in '95 or if my search skills needed improvement, but for some reason I was never able to find anything out about these guys. Eventually, I just forgot the song ever existed.
Cut to about 5 years later when a friend of mine from Michigan sent me a couple of mix tapes. You guessed it; "Suddenly" was one of the songs included. As soon as I heard it, everything came back to me in a rush and I remembered how much I loved that song and video. I decided to look into the band more, but it was still hard to find much information on them. I was able to find another song, "Raga," for download but I didn't immediately like it. I thought perhaps they were just another band with one cool song and nothing else to offer.
Eventually, "Raga" grew on me until it got to the point where I loved it. This was a year later. I wanted to hear more. I finally got some info on the band. They had a rabid fan base in New York and the upper East coast, and were well-known for their incendiary live shows. Unfortunately, they broke up in 1999, but reunited in the December following 9/11 to perform two shows for Secret Smiles, a charity started by Kristy Irvine Ryan, wife of keyboardist Brendan Ryan. Sadly, Kristy was one of the many to be lost on that day.
During my research, I found The Bogmen's two major label records on Ebay and gobbled them up. I soon realized that my first impression of them was more accurate than my second...they were a talented group of guys who had so much more to offer than just one funky, silly song. I was hooked and have been ever since. My only regret is that I wasn't able to be part of The Bogmen experience from the beginning.
I could really go on and on here but, I'm probably not going to fully do the band, or my feelings about them, justice. Let's just say that The Bogmen have meant a lot to me over the past few years. Billy Campion, who I thought would be such a cool guy to hang out with based on my first glimpse of him, turned out to be just that! We ended up becoming friends after I became a fan of his new band, Vic Thrill + The Saturn Missile, and he essentially helped me get to New York. I've come to know many of the guys in the band and they're a great bunch. Even though they're all off doing their own things, they're very aware of the impact that The Bogmen had on its core group of loyal followers.
That brings me to my reason for posting this today. It's been 11 years in the making, but I'm finally going to get to see The Bogmen live! With this year marking the 5th anniversary of 9/11, the band is once again reuniting, this time for three nights and a new charity, Kristy's Smile. They're playing this Thursday at Webster Hall and on Friday and Saturday at the Bowery Ballroom. Thursday's show was originally slated for the Bowery as well, but since all the shows sold out so quickly, they had to move one night to a bigger venue. I'll be going to the Thursday and Saturday performances, and can hardly wait! You can be sure that I'll be posting my reviews here. I'm unfortunately battling a cold right now, but I'm hoping to be 100% by Thursday. I'm going, regardless.
And now...on to the video. The album version of this song is much longer, with a lot more crazy talk and a whistling solo! But, the radio edit still gets the basic groove across. The video is pulled right from Chris Cassidy's Bogmen documentary, so it's complete with Matt Pinfield's original 120 Minutes intro. Hope you dig it!
You might also want to check out these MySpace pages:
Yours truly helps maintain these first three, which is why they're so byootiful...
The Bogmen
Vic Thrill + The Saturn Missile - Features former Bogmen vocalist, Billy Campion
Mad Larry - Features former Bogmen guitarist, Billy Ryan, and keyboardist, Brendan Ryan
Radio 4 - Features former Bogmen percussionist, P.J. O'Connor
Mark Wike - Former Bogmen bassist
Clive Tucker - Former Bogmen drummer
First, I'm scrapping my plans to post all classic Christmas videos. Most of the good ones really aren't that "forgotten." Second, I've decided to post a video that probably isn't forgotten or classic for the majority of people out there. You would've had to see it in order to ever forget it, and most of you probably never have. Therefore, as I'm sure you're all blissfully aware, you kids are lucky to have me.
This week's video is "Suddenly," by The Bogmen. Not only is this one of my favorite bands but they are, as put so well by Lonn Friend, "the best band no one ever heard." I actually became a fan after they were already broken up, but it was only because my initial interest in them was derailed. I'll explain.
Back in 1995, the video for "Suddenly" debuted on MTV. I saw it and was instantly taken with the song, the band's sound and lead singer Billy Campion's unfiltered goofiness. I can't remember if I only saw it the once, or if I possibly caught it again, but it wasn't more than twice. Unfortunately, The Bogmen never really took off and because the song never got any radio play, I couldn't remember many of the lyrics or the band's name. For a while, I would ask people if they had ever heard it, attempting to sing the bits I could remember. No one had a clue. I don't know if search engines weren't as amazing in '95 or if my search skills needed improvement, but for some reason I was never able to find anything out about these guys. Eventually, I just forgot the song ever existed.
Cut to about 5 years later when a friend of mine from Michigan sent me a couple of mix tapes. You guessed it; "Suddenly" was one of the songs included. As soon as I heard it, everything came back to me in a rush and I remembered how much I loved that song and video. I decided to look into the band more, but it was still hard to find much information on them. I was able to find another song, "Raga," for download but I didn't immediately like it. I thought perhaps they were just another band with one cool song and nothing else to offer.
Eventually, "Raga" grew on me until it got to the point where I loved it. This was a year later. I wanted to hear more. I finally got some info on the band. They had a rabid fan base in New York and the upper East coast, and were well-known for their incendiary live shows. Unfortunately, they broke up in 1999, but reunited in the December following 9/11 to perform two shows for Secret Smiles, a charity started by Kristy Irvine Ryan, wife of keyboardist Brendan Ryan. Sadly, Kristy was one of the many to be lost on that day.
During my research, I found The Bogmen's two major label records on Ebay and gobbled them up. I soon realized that my first impression of them was more accurate than my second...they were a talented group of guys who had so much more to offer than just one funky, silly song. I was hooked and have been ever since. My only regret is that I wasn't able to be part of The Bogmen experience from the beginning.
I could really go on and on here but, I'm probably not going to fully do the band, or my feelings about them, justice. Let's just say that The Bogmen have meant a lot to me over the past few years. Billy Campion, who I thought would be such a cool guy to hang out with based on my first glimpse of him, turned out to be just that! We ended up becoming friends after I became a fan of his new band, Vic Thrill + The Saturn Missile, and he essentially helped me get to New York. I've come to know many of the guys in the band and they're a great bunch. Even though they're all off doing their own things, they're very aware of the impact that The Bogmen had on its core group of loyal followers.
That brings me to my reason for posting this today. It's been 11 years in the making, but I'm finally going to get to see The Bogmen live! With this year marking the 5th anniversary of 9/11, the band is once again reuniting, this time for three nights and a new charity, Kristy's Smile. They're playing this Thursday at Webster Hall and on Friday and Saturday at the Bowery Ballroom. Thursday's show was originally slated for the Bowery as well, but since all the shows sold out so quickly, they had to move one night to a bigger venue. I'll be going to the Thursday and Saturday performances, and can hardly wait! You can be sure that I'll be posting my reviews here. I'm unfortunately battling a cold right now, but I'm hoping to be 100% by Thursday. I'm going, regardless.
And now...on to the video. The album version of this song is much longer, with a lot more crazy talk and a whistling solo! But, the radio edit still gets the basic groove across. The video is pulled right from Chris Cassidy's Bogmen documentary, so it's complete with Matt Pinfield's original 120 Minutes intro. Hope you dig it!
You might also want to check out these MySpace pages:
Yours truly helps maintain these first three, which is why they're so byootiful...
The Bogmen
Vic Thrill + The Saturn Missile - Features former Bogmen vocalist, Billy Campion
Mad Larry - Features former Bogmen guitarist, Billy Ryan, and keyboardist, Brendan Ryan
Radio 4 - Features former Bogmen percussionist, P.J. O'Connor
Mark Wike - Former Bogmen bassist
Clive Tucker - Former Bogmen drummer
Comments
Being a Bogmen fan you should check out Lonn Friends new book "Life on Planet Rock" and go straight to the chapter "Live and let Clive" It's a candid look about when he discovered them.
www.lifeonplanetrock.com
Enjoy,
Judy
Peace & Hugs,
- Neo
Good job digging these up.
Hate to hijack the post but wanted to stop in and say thanks for your comments about my 20 minutes with Mr. Tilbrook! And thanks for keeping the flame of rucken rowl alive! :) JM
Neo - I thought you were dead! Apparently you just moved your blog. Good to know.
Leeann - This one actually didn't take much digging on my part. :)
Josh - I loved your interview, but I'm ridiculously jealous of the fact that you got to talk to him.
80s Nut - I'm always right! And I'm sure I'll have a great time. T minus 6 hours!
Loraloo - You're welcome. I hope you'll look further into them, or at least check out their MySpace page. As for my cold, it's almost completely knocked out!