Negativland in 2026
Many years ago, in a record store in Allentown, Pennsylvania, I bought a cassette tape that came bundled with a bag of twigs. It was A Big 10-8 Place.
Retrospective
The Gascan Interview: Ashley Thomson of The Kelpies
It lasted for just under a year and a half but, from March 1981 to August 1982, the Kelpies emerged as one of the most frenetic--and notorious--bands to hit the punk scene in Sydney, Australia. Evan Kanarakis The band consisted of James Gelding on vocals, Mark Easton and Brian Conolly on guitars, Con Murphy on bass, and drummer Ashley Thomson. Given so many of the band’s membership had already earned their stripes in a multitude of earlier acts (including the Bedhogs, Suicide Squad, Swankers, Aftermath, Vic Vomit and the Varicose Veins and Black Runner), this put them in good stead…
Tornados, Crazy Fans and More Tornados
Three Tales from The Kelpies The following are are taken from Evan Kanarakis’ 2003 book, ‘Sex, Drugs & Mum In The Front Row’ (Allen & Unwin). Evan Kanarakis THE RANDOMLY GENERATED FAN TORNADO Punk rockers, the Kelpies, quite literally rampaged through Sydney in the early 1980s, albeit for a brief but frenetic run. Their first show was a taste of the mayhem to come, however the random nature of the punk scene at the time and whatever else it was that seemed to be hanging in the air that particular night⎯perhaps a full moon⎯prompted developments well beyond the band’s control.…