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9 November 2005

Sold Out European Shows… Check!
Rave Reviews For New Albums… Check!
Celebratory Punch-Up With Record Company Exec… Check!

And A New Walking Stick!!!

Brian's Upcoming Gigs

• Sat 25 Feb @ The Rob Roy Hotel with Conway Savage and Jon Michell

News Briefs

Beasts of Bourbon Confirmed for Big Day Out
Alternative super-group The Beasts of Bourbon have been confirmed to play all Australian dates (sorry Auckland!) for the Big Day Out 2006. With Iggy and the Stooges as well, this summer's Big Day Out promises some of the filthiest and most uncompromising rock and roll ever to grace Australian shores.

Brian Decks Record Company Supremo In Vicious Fistfight
Visiting Melbourne to celebrate the release of Brian's two new albums, Juan Iturrarte, head of Bang! Records, got a double helping of Brian's legendary temper. The celebrations started out well enough, but quickly degenerated into a melee after two bottles of whiskey. Juan held his ground well, managing to open up Brian’s cranium with a whiskey bottle and deliver a Grade-A black eye before succumbing to Brian’s pugilistic skills and crockery throwing accuracy. “That’s the first time I’ve been beaten up by a cripple,” lamented Juan. “Brian’s too close to the edge. He’s got balls but I don’t know if I like where he’s at. He scares me, but I love him,” he added with typical Spanish understatement. With the fisticuffs out of the way, Brian and Juan have now settled into a more amicable artist-label relationship, with both Juan and Brian looking forward to a long and successful partnership.

European Shows Sold Out
Brian’s recent solo shows in Spain were a huge success, all of them selling out. He played around twenty shows in Spanish cities throughout September as well as catching up with the Beasts to do a festival gig. Brian also did a guest DJ spot on Spain’s national radio station, introducing 12 million listeners to the work of Ian Rilen and other Melbourne musicians.

Dentist Takes On Brian’s Mouth Pro Bono
A Spanish fan who happened to be a dentist offered to take on the challenge of Brian’s teeth without charge and Brian is now sporting a film star smile. Ole!

Renee Gayer Set For Knob Twiddling
Brian is hitting the recording studio in January with legendary Australian chanteuse Renee Gayer producing. “It’s a real honour, I suppose I’d better write some fucking songs,” mused Brian.

New Albums Receive Critical Praise
It never rains, it pours. Two new albums - out on Bang! Records and distributed in Australia by Reverberation - are hitting the shops over the next couple of weeks.

The Voyeurs - The Voyeurs The Voyeurs features Brian with an earlier band comprising Tom Carlyon, Matt Heydon, Des Hefner and Conrad Standish. It’s already receiving glowing reviews:

“His recent project is so deliciously lascivious that you'll be prone to spontaneously tearing off your shirt and take a slow fling around the nearest pole. This swampy, lustful offering from the white-trash James Brown is practically intercourse on acetate. Just remember to change the sheets.”
Rave Magazine

Lemon Lime & Bitter - Brian Hooper and His Band Brian’s latest recording - a double album - also seems to be pushing the right buttons:

“He goes out on limbs most performers couldn't even dream about, delivering his words straight from the core of his seething being. - 7/10”
Blunt Magazine

“Lemon, Lime and Bitter is one brilliant cocktail of musical goodness that echoes early 70s Bowie... This record stems from a man who fell from a balcony, never to walk again – to only get up and produce a body of songs that are emotionally honest without being bleak and disheartening.”
Time Off Magazine

“The lean and mean instrumentation and songwriting is reminiscent of the classy understatement only heard from punk rockers of this school and vintage. Like the underrated albums of his [Beasts of Bourbon] band-mate Spencer P Jones, this may never get the attention it deserves. But Lemon, Lime & Bitter remains an album that resounds with absolute commitment to a life outside the laws of commercialism and trend.”
Rolling Stone Magazine

31 May 2005
Gig News & Other Assorted Newsisms

Stop Press! Brisbane Gigs Announced

Stop Press! Beasts of Borubon Gig Announced
The Beasts are playing at the www.azkenarockfestival.com on Sept 3 2005. Be there!

Stop Press! Le Tour De Cripple!
Brian will be following up this event with a solo tour of Spain and France throughout September. Watch for dates!

Update
The self-titled Voyeurs Album has now been released on Spanish label Bang! Records. Described in Europe as swamp lounge - sexy, decadent and bluesy, Brian has followed it up with his first solo album called Lemon Lime and Bitter. A terrifyingly honest account of his travails encompassing everything from love, death and frustration to anger, self-loathing and insanity, this record marks Brian's coming out as a singer songwriter. A piquant blend of intense emotional carnage, this is a life-affirming musical statement. (Due out also through Bang! Records later this year).

Most recently, Brian has been continuing his recovery from a balcony fall that saw him paralysed from the waist down for many months. Against doctors expectations Brian is now back on his feet and has a new lease on life. He is currently performing as an acoustic two-piece accompanied by Paul Mileham (Dan Brodie/Butterfly).

Check out Brian's interview for Spanish Magazine Ruta 66....

Email me...

20 January 2005
Recovery News
"Some days are better than others" could be the title of my next composition if I'd put my mind to it. It says quite simply what it's is like to live the struggle to "get back on your feet" so to speak after badly breaking your back. Some mornings you can even forget, at least until you crumple to the floor from the bed, but you get up and keep getting up... and so life is. I'm workin my way to doin a gig standing up again... maybe Perth Jan 2005!

Recording News
Lemon Lime & Bitter - Is the running title of my first real foray into the murky world of the singer songwriter. Band rhythm tracks were recorded some months before my fall and understandably I have only recently been physically able to get back to work on it. Also recorded some newer stuff while I had the opportunity. It's, (in my estimation anyway) a pretty potent blend of emotion in song, containing as it does my own substance. I have been as honest with myself as I can in writing these tunes, so that you can believe it man!!!! Out on Bang Records Feb/March 2005.

Gig News
November 2004 - Residency Sat evenings at the Tote in Collingwood.
December 2004 - Sees me getting a feature article in the Melb Herald Sun related to a gig I did at the Royal Talbot Rehab Hospital to raise funds by way of an art auction. Sang a few tunes to an audience largly made up of paraplegics and quadraplegics. P.S. the art was pretty good considering much of it was painted by mouth.
Jan 2005 - Hometown Perth beware!! Yes I'm back to capitalise on my last foray to Perth. Was good to see so many familiar faces last time too! Also must remember to bring James Baker the Johnny Thunders bootleg of his Bunbury W.A. gig many years ago.

1 August 2004
New Record Deal
White Shoe Spasm Special
(see the video)

With the ink still drying on a new Spanish record deal, Brian Hooper's shoes make a mockery of the Australian music establishment. Comfort Lounges around the world will soon be enjoying the scintillating aural pleasures of the Voyeurs to be released imminently by Bilbao based Bang! Records.

With the CD coming out we've had to remove most of the free downloads. So buy the record you cheapskate. Ole!

The CD is a terrifyingly honest masterpiece based around death, depravity, love, loss, frustration, hate, revenge, self loathing, insanity, marital breakdown and paraplegia, which Brian has turned into a piquant blend of timeless melodies and bitter-sweet incantation. After four years of ceaseless shit toil, Brian has decided to make the most of his own travails and simplify his lifestyle whilst at the same time reinventing himself and his music to the very bone. Brian is a troubadour for the 22nd century. He travels light, he likes a fight.

Come and have a go...

Services

Catheter work

31 July 2004
Perth Gig Debriefing
An incredible one hour solo acoustic set at the Hyde Park Hotel before a crowd of a hundred or so rawk aficianados amply demonstrated the awesome energy that Brian can produce. Playing an acoustic solo set, Brian somehow managed to blow-away the seven piece band that followed. Joined by James Baker (ex The Scientists) on snare drum for his final song "Motherfucking Motherfucker", Brian left the audience gobsmacked before collapsing on the floor in the now traditional paraplegia puddle.

29 July 2004
Perth Gig
Get along to the Hyde Park Hotel in Perth to catch Brian doing an acoustic set on Saturday 31st July at 4.30pm. Entry is free do yourself a favour and see the man in action.

24 July 2004
Melbourne Show
Brian plays on the 24th at the Town Hall Hotel, North Melbourne, 6 till 8pm.

5 July 2004
Benefit Gig Debriefing
The benefit gig was a great success with $10,500.00 raised. The Beasts, with Brian on bass, turned in an absolute blinder and Brian managed to stay on his feet until the last song. His collapse appeared to be contagious as the rest of the band quickly joined him on the floor. A great time was had by all and Brian sends a big "Thank You" to all who attended. Check out some of the pics in the photo gallery.

5 June 2004
Benefit Gig Details Confirmed
At long last the details for the benefit gig have firmed up. It promises to be a great night at the Greyhound Hotel, St Kilda on Sunday 13th June. The line-up, in no particular order, is:

• The Sailors
• Spencer P Jones & The Escape Commitee with special guest vocalist Rene Geyer
• Rebecca Barnard & Lisa Miller
• The Cants
• Country Mongrels
• Gut
• The Morning After Girls
• Lobby Lloyd
• Conway Savage
• Sean Kelly & Rosie Westbrook
• Penny Ikinger
• Ian Rilen & The Love Addicts
• Basketcase
• Womnal
• The Virgins
• The Bankers
• Shonkytonk
• Maurice Frawley
• The Violent Mood Swings
• Billy Miller
• Short Poppies
• Driver's Eyes
• Butterfly

The whole shebang will be MC'ed by Tasmania's most eligible bachelor Anthony Morgan and the incomparable Nigel Cakes. And don't forget guest celebrity Julien Woo will wear the BBQ chef hat in the beer garden.

If you get to the gig early enough you may be in for a beastly suprise! If I can manage to stay up on my spindly legs for long enough the band will bang out a short and fiery set that includes Chase the Dragon etc, etc........ I wanna get funky!!
Brian Hooper

16 May 2004
Benefit Gig Postponed
The benefit gig has been delayed for a week or so to allow for an expanded artist list, more information as it becomes available!

2 April 2004
Benefit Gig At Greyhound Hotel
A benefit gig for Brian will be held at the Greyhound Hotel in St Kilda on Thursday 20th May. It promises to be a disconcertingly good night with Anthony Morgan - previously banned from the Australian mainland for being too funny - as Master of Ceremonies. The line up includes:

Main Bar ($15/$10)

• Large Number 12's
• Working Class Ringoes
• Sean Kelly and Rosy Westbrook
• Conway Savage
• Spencer Jones and Band
• Ian Rilen and the Love Addicts
• Plus MC Anthony Morgan, raffle, spoken word and acoustic thrummings during the breaks.

Public Bar (free)

• Shonkytonk
• The Driver's Eyes
• Country Mongrels
• The Virgins
• Steve Prictor and the Violent Mood Swings

Residential Bar (free)

• Lockie (Spinal Rap)
• Gary and Glenn (Womnal)
• Butterfly
• Penny Ikinger

Get along so Brian can finally afford a drink holder for his wheelchair.

25th March 2004
New Voyeurs tracks available in the music download section.

10th March 2004
In February 2004, in the middle of a Beasts reunion tour, a balcony railing at a friend's house gave way and Brian fell backwards, landing on his head. He suffered numerous injuries and has serious spinal damage. Brian spent a couple of weeks in Austin Hospital where he had some titanium rods inserted into his back (check out the pics in the gallery) and some bone grafts to fix his ribs. In a strange twist of fate, the spinal surgeon who operated on Brian was a huge Beasts/Surrealists fan, so of course Brian rewarded his efforts with a rare Beasts bootleg.

Brian has now been transferred to the spinal unit of the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Hospital (Yarra Boulevard, Kew, Victoria, Tel 61 (0)3 9496 4500) where he will be ensconced for the next few months.

Brian's lower body is paralysed and he has no feeling from the waist down. Brian's new specialist in rehab is the appropriately named Doctor Num. The worst case scenario is that he will be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. With luck and determination, over the coming months/years, he may regain the use of his legs and err, other things below the waist.

Brian is in excellent spirits and wants to return to songwriting and performing as soon as possible. He loves receiving visitors, so if you're in Melbourne, drop in.

To keep up with Brian's progress, check the news page and the photo gallery.

"Thanks for all the email get-well messages, I don't have a computer but my email does get printed out for me sporadically. Thanks also to everyone who visited and telephoned, and all the hospital staff that are helping me get my broken body back together." Lerve, Brian.

16th March 2004
Brian has been moved out of Austin Hospital and is now in the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre (Yarra Boulevard, Kew, Victoria, Tel 61 (0)3 9496 4500). He has made lots of new buddies and hangs out with the amputees. In other news, Brian was surprised to find he attained a night time erection during the week!

15th February 2004
Brian had an accident on the weekend. He fell from a balcony and landed on his head (no wisecracks about "nothing being damaged then" please!) He has a broken back, punctured lung and broken ribs. It appears he has also suffered some spinal damage. The doctors are hopeful he will be mobile again and we are all keeping our fingers crossed. He is at the Austin Hospital in Heidelberg, Melbourne if you want to send a get well message. Watch out for a Beasts benefit gig.

Forthcoming Gig
Brian and his band will be playing at The Esplanade Hotel on Saturday 6th September. Free Entry!

22nd August 2003
New recruit Cathy Green has joined Brian Hooper and His Band on bass guitar. Cathy formerly played with X and Ian Rilen & The Love Addicts.

6th August 2003
Brian went to the shop and bought a pack of 25 Benson & Hedges Extra Mild. On the way out of the shop he remembered he had no lighter or matches, so he went back to the counter and purchased a box of Redhead matches.

5th August 2003
There was no milk for Tony to have his morning cup of tea so Brian went to the shop and bought a litre of full cream milk.