Rocktober Fest 26 October 2007
LandMine Rock 14 July 2007
Press Release
Landmine Rock aims to raise funds to remove landmines from Moçambique. All proceeds of the concert will go towards the Mineseeker Foundation, more specifically their Sole of Africa project which turns landmines into farmlands.
The Sole of Africa is a global campaign initiated by the Mineseeker Foundation, of whom the patrons are Nelson Mandela, Queen Noor, Sir Richard Branson, Graca Michel, John Paul de Joria and Brad Pitt. There are an estimated 100 million landmines in Africa, Mozambique being one of the worst. The Sole of Africa will turn landmines into farmlands. They can detect and remove a landmine for US$ 3 that is just R 20!!!
All these bands felt that the only way that they can contribute is with their time and talent.
Landmine Rock will hopefully become and annual rock concert.
LANDMINE ROCK is the brainwave of lovely Jessie Botha, daughter of Rock Legend Piet Botha, who initiated the idea for her 21st Birthday Bash Celebration! Jessie felt that she wanted to celebrate her ‘coming of age’ by organising a fund raiser for the “Sole of Africa Foundation” who support land mine victims in Mozambique and other war stricken countries in Africa! All the money derived from the ticket sales for ‘LANDMINE ROCK’ will be pledged to this worthwhile cause!
On Saturday 14th July 2007 at 13h00 (1pm) FIRE HAMMER Music & Moonshine Productions (Pty) Ltd presents ‘LANDMINE ROCK’ at Wolmer Events Arena, Plot 20 Dale Avenue, Akasia, Pretoria North. A Rock Festival in aid of raising funds for the Sole of Africa & Mineseeker Foundations.
For the occasion Jessie has hooked up one of the most phenomenal music line-ups that this country has to offer and all the bands and musicians performing on the day have pledged their time and talent to play for free at ‘LANDMINE ROCK! Performing on 14th July will be: STONK, GREENACRE, ROOIBAARDT, SCICOUSTIC, MENAGE A TROIS, JACK HAMMER, SOIL 7t7, NO QUARTER, NOT MY DOG, ALBERT FROST TRIO & STRAB ALL STARS.
FIRE HAMMER Music is the initiative of Jorik Pienaar (Stonk, Scicoustic, Not My Dog & Albert Forst Trio) – birthday 15th July, Jessie Botha – 21st birthday on 10th July and Piet Botha (Jack Hammer) – birthday 18th July, who together decided to organise ‘LANDMINE ROCK’ for their birthday celebrations on Saturday 14th July 2007, as a fund raiser for the ‘Sole of Africa Foundation’.
Your entry Fee of only R20 will ensure that one landmine is removed from Moçambique. Should you wish to donate more money you can do so on the Mineseeker Foundation website at http://www.thesoleofafrica.org.za/donate.html
If you want to get involved even more, feel free to visit the Mineseeker website at http://www.thesoleofafrica.org.za
Six Of The Best from Piet Botha | Femina, May 2007
Rocktober Fest 6 October 2006
Piet Botha: Live And Rare
A selection of Piet Botha and Jack Hammer mp3s, compiled by Brian Currin and authorized by Piet Botha.
This mp3 selection was compiled in May 2005 by Brian Currin and updated in April 2006. You can download all these songs onto your hard-drive and burn your own “Piet Botha – Live And Rare” CD. Due to the very nature of these recordings, quality is not always great and some songs have even been taken from original vinyl sources.
Select the play arrow (
) to listen to the song and select the 3 vertical dots (⋮) at the end of the player to download to your hard-drive. You can download while listening.
Tracks
LIVE: 2000-2003
Good Friend Of Mine (live 2003) – Piet Botha and Jack Hammer
Originally from ‘The Judas Chapter’, this live version was released on ‘Live At The Nile‘.
Goeienag Generaal (live 1999) – Piet Botha & Jack Hammer
The real story behind the Border War; not for sensitive listeners. Originally released on ‘Suitcase Vol Winter‘ in 1997, this version was recorded at the SABC for a 5FM live broadcast in 1999 and released on the ‘Bootleg‘ album in 2001.
Sien Jou Weer (live 2003) – Piet Botha & Jack Hammer
Live version of a crowd favourite off the ground-breaking ‘Suitcase Vol Winter‘ CD. This live version was released on ‘Live At The Nile‘.
Suitcase Vol Winter (live 2003) – Piet Botha & Jack Hammer
Title track of the classic alt.Afrikaans album released in 1997. This live version was released on ‘Live At The Nile‘.
Llandudno Blues #13 (live 2003) – Piet Botha & Jack Hammer
This song has only ever been performed live, no studio version exists. Released on ‘Live At The Nile‘.
RARE: THE EARLY YEARS
Wheel Of Fortune – Raven
Song from the very rare first seven single featuring Piet Botha which was released in 1979. Raven included keyboardist Gabi le Roux who went on to become a master kwaito producer for Mandoza and others.
Bossies – Wildebeest
Track off the rare ‘Horings Op Die Stoep’ Wildebeest 4-track EP from 1983. Composed by Colin Pratley, the drummer for Freedom’s Children and Wildebeest.
Fort Lauderdale (original 1990 version) – Jack Hammer
This is the song that should have been used for the soundtrack of the movie ‘Stander‘ but wasn’t! First recorded in 1990 and released on ‘The Judas Chapter‘, this song was later re-recorded in 1999 and released on Jack Hammer’s ‘Anthology‘ album.
RARE: DEMOS 2001-2002
Die Son Kom Weer (demo) – Piet Botha
Demo version of a song that was recorded during sessions for ‘Die Hits‘, but not officially released on CD.
Bok en Spring (demo) – Piet Botha
Original demo version of a song later re-recorded with slightly different lyrics as ‘Slagtersnek’ which was released on ‘Die Hits‘.
Kitty (demo) – Piet Botha
Demo version of a track off the highly-acclaimed ‘Die Mamba‘ released in 2003.
Hierdie een het al ‘n leeu geskiet
Sonder ‘n scope
Die Mamba (demo) – Piet Botha
Demo version of the title track off The SA Rock Digest Album Of The Year for 2003.
Man Met Kitaar (demo) – Piet Botha
Demo version of a song that was originally going to be the title track of the album that later became ‘Die Mamba‘.
Skielik Somer (demo) – Piet Botha
Demo version of a track off the highly-acclaimed ‘Die Mamba‘ released in 2003.
Headlines (demo) – Jack Hammer
Early demo version of a song recorded in May 2004 and released on ‘The Pilgrim‘.
Disclaimer
All these mp3s have been authorized by Piet Botha and are protected by copyright law. You may download and make a reasonable number of copies for your own personal use only. You may not otherwise reproduce, distribute, publicly perform or create derivative works of this material, unless authorized by the appropriate copyright owners.
‘A Good Friend of Mine’ Tribute to Piet Botha 25 February 2006
“… you could be a good friend, good friend of mine …”
On Saturday 25 February 2006 the South African music industry pays tribute to one of its great legends, Piet Botha, at a festival to be held at the Foundry Fly Lounge, cnr. of Hans Strydom Drive and N4 (Witbank) freeway, in Silver Lakes, Pretoria East.
This prestigious event is being held to honour and thank Botha for the phenomenal contribution he has made to promote South African music over the past thirty odd years and for his support and assistance to help local artists kick start their careers in the local industry, regardless of their creed or colour.
The event, which is appropriately named “A Good Friend of Mine”, a title of one of his favourite songs, starts at 13:00 and will feature artists who at some or other stage, have been involved with Botha, either by playing with him, having shared the stage with him, had an album produced by him or have been mentored by the master.
Botha started this long and illustrious career back in 1972, when as a Tuks student; he played as a solo artist at some of his hometown venues in Pretoria. A true Rock ‘n Roller at heart, Botha is probably one of the finest guitarists this country has ever produced. His early influences and inspiration was found from the likes of Led Zepplin, Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix and many of the rock legends of the 1960’s and 1970’s. Originally Botha stuck to his rock ‘n roll guns and produced some of the most incredible rock music with bands such as Raven, Catherine Wheel and Wildebeest, already then acclaiming some very prestigious awards when Raven was nominated as runners up to the SABC TV’s Battle of the Bands competition in 1979 and when the ‘Bushrock 1’ album by Wildebeest was nominated as best local rock album of the year in 1981.
In 1984 Botha formed the phenomenal rock outfit Jack Hammer and has kept the name ever since. Jack Hammer has seen many, many members come and go in it’s 21 year history, but it’s founder, the legendary Piet Botha alias the ‘Hammer’, is still rocking steady to this day. Much of Botha’s and Jack Hammer’s magic has been captured on albums such as ‘Jack of All Trades’, ‘Ghosts on the Wind’, ‘Death of a Gypsy’, ‘Anthology’ and their latest masterpiece ‘The Pilgrim’ which was released in 2005.
Soon this all changed, when in 1997 Botha was persuaded by associates to migrate his musical genius to the Afrikaans music arena. His first Afrikaans CD, ‘Suitcase Vol Winter’, was testimony to his lyricist wizardry and was acclaimed by SARockDigest as one of the finest musical works ever produced on our shores. This album was rated by Brian Currin, editor of the SARockDigest, as being amongst one of the greatest albums ever produced in world music. Other great Afrikaans albums followed suit and Botha, together with Jack Hammer, produced ‘Jan Skopgraaf’, ‘Die Hits’, and ‘Die Mamba’, which was acclaimed local album of the year in 2004.
The powerful words of Kurt Schoemaker, a native Texan and ardent supporter of South African music, very aptly describes Botha, “Piet Botha the songwriter has a realistic outlook on the world, he’s a veteran who has seen the fight and knows how fragile peace and life, can be”. A down to earth and humble character, Botha has during this exciting journey in his musical career, rubbed shoulders with other greats of our local music scene such as Trevor Rabin (Rabbitt/Yes), Rupert Mellor (McCully Workshop), Mike Faure, Julian Laxton (Freedoms Children), Dave Tarr (Silver Creek Mountain Band/Wildebeest), Hugh Masakela, the late Gito Baloi, Ray Phiri and numerous others. Botha with Jack Hammer has also shared the stage with some world class acts such as ZZ Top, Deep Purple and Uriah Heep.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent and your magic with us all. Your music has truly touched and enriched the lives of all of those it has reached.
Piet Botha, we salute you!
The awesome line-up of artists paying tribute to Piet includes
Janice & Half Jacks, Gert Vlok Nel, Bacchus Nel, Die Kaalkop Waarheid, Johnny Dopper & the Rubber Soles, Akkedis, Johnathan Martin, Anton Goosen, Scicoustic, Southern Gypsey Queen, Albert Frost, Karen Zoid, Not My Dog and Jack & the Beanstalk
Tickets are R100 and available from Computicket.
Press release from SA Music website.
Poster
Billboard
Event Photos by Moonshine Productions
WAT ANDER SÊ
Vir enige musikant op die Suid-Afrikaanse rock-toneel, het Rock-guru Piet Botha geen bekendstelling nodig nie.
Onderhoude en artikel deur Zippy
As lewende legende op die Suid-Afrikaanse musiektoneel het rock-guru Piet Botha bykans geen bekendstelling nodig nie. Maar hoe sien sy “kollegas” hom? Ons het ‘n paar van die kunstenaars wat op 25 Februarie by die Piet Botha Tribute-konsert (by die Foundry Fly Lounge in Pretoria) gaan optree, gevra om hulle gunsteling herinneringe aan en indrukke van Piet as mens met ons te deel.
ANTON GOOSEN – Musikant en skrywer
“Piet was destyds bassist vir Wildebeest, die eerste Afrikaanse rockgroep. Ons het ontmoet toe ek ‘n Wildebeest-projek produce het. Daarna het ek vir Piet gaan luister toe hy gereeld by die Grand Central Hotel in Pretoria gespeel het. In die Kommissie Van Ondersoek-dae was sy band ook ons backing band. Karlien van Niekerk van die Kommissie het gesê “Ek het gevrees vir die dag wanneeer Piet en Anton seriously connect.” Ons het.
Een aand gedurende ‘n show het die audience met hulle vingers in hul babas se ore uitgestorm toe ons “Moya” speel. Agterna het ‘n ou vir Piet en my gevra hoekom speel ons nie “iets rock en hard nie?” Toe sê Piet “Wat wil jy hoor? Judas Priest?”
Piet was ghitarist in my Bushrockband op die Danzer toer in ’93, en hy was ‘n absolute steunpilaar, hy het letterlik klippe uit die pad gerol. “Laat die pyn deur jou vingers vloei, my bra” was sy woorde op daardie toer. Hy moes een aand die ander ghitarist bietjie vasvat op stage. Daardie aand het Piet vanuit die donker na die lig voor op die stage geloop, en sy Marshall amp se volume op 11 gedraai. Dirk Uys het die geleentheid beskryf as ” ‘n Stucka gun wat losgebars het”.
As ek vir Piet in een sin moes beskryf: Nederig.
My gunsteling Piet Botha/Jack Hammer song: “Goeienag generaal”, “Warm heuning”
VALIANT SWART – Musikant en akteur
“In 1988 was ek ‘n troep in PW se army in Pretoria. As Jack Hammer in die Grand Central Hotel in Kerkstraat gespeel het, was ek op AWOL, by die gig. Met ons eerste aangesig-tot-aangesig ontmoeting het ek een van my songs (“Jacaranda”) aan hom probeer smous. Hy’t my heel ordentlik aangeraai om die song op ‘n demo-kasset op te neem en na die volgende gig te bring. Ek het dit natuurlik nooit gedoen nie – toe’t ek nog zero van sulke dinge geweet – en jare later het die song op een van my eie albums verskyn en vir lank ‘n standard in my eie band geword. Nog ‘n paar jaar later het hy ‘n paar van my ander songs opgeneem, op album gesit en live gespeel. Die wiel draai!”
As ek vir Piet in een sin moes beskryf: Skaam, nederig, misterieus, fynbesnaard, sensitief, galant en dapper.
My gunsteling Piet Botha/Jack Hammer song: “Sien jou weer” van Suitcase Vol Winter. Die hele album is ‘n tydlose meesterstuk, waarskynlik sy beste werk.
LANIE VAN DER WALT – Vervaardiger van The Pilgrim, voormalige Jack Hammer kitaarspeler en lid van Not My Dog
“Ek het in 1993 vir Jack Hammer op guitar gejoin, en vir hulle gespeel tot in 1996. Daai tyd het ons HEAVY geparty!”
As ek vir Piet in een sin moes beskryf: Ken jy die Road?
My gunsteling Piet Botha/Jack Hammer song: “Midnight Angels”.
ARTHUR DENNIS – Musikant en lid van Akkedis
“By Wingerdstok in 1998 het ons die eerste keer met Piet en Jack Hammer se musiek kennis gemaak, en vir Piet backstage ontmoet. Ons so 3-4 jaar terug werklik goeie vriende met Piet begin raak en het daarna vir ‘n hele maand saam met hom getoer. In 2002 was ons saam met Piet in Londen en het saam met hom na ‘n Neil Young show gaan kyk, wat great was. Die Waterboys en Gary Moore het ook by die show opgetree. Ons was maar platsak op daardie stadium en ek onthou hoe ons saam met Piet Londen platgeloop het – en nie genoeg geld gehad het vir sigarette nie!”
As ek vir Piet in een sin moes beskryf: Piet sal die baadjie van sy rug af vir jou gee.
My gunsteling Piet Botha/Jack Hammer song: “Goeienag generaal”
GARETH WILSON – Musician and member of Southern Gypsey Queen
“The first time I heard of Piet was when a friend of mine played me Piet’s bootleg album. I immediately went out and bought all the Jack Hammer albums I could find. Working with Piet on our Sweet Voodoo album and being able to draw from his very deep well of wisdom was an incredible experience.”
If I had to describe Piet in one sentence: Most giving, intelligent, open-minded person I’ve met. Absolutely no ego.
My favourite Piet Botha/Jack Hammer song: “Bury me when”
Piet Botha Tribute February 2006
“… you could be a good friend, good friend of mine …”
“A Good Friend of Mine” – Tribute to Piet Botha
On Saturday 25 February 2006 the South African music industry pays tribute to one of its great legends, Piet Botha, at a festival to be held at the Foundry Fly Lounge, cnr. of Hans Strydom Drive and N4 (Witbank) freeway, in Silver Lakes, Pretoria East.
This prestigious event is being held to honour and thank Botha for the phenomenal contribution he has made to promote South African music over the past thirty odd years and for his support and assistance to help local artists kick start their careers in the local industry, regardless of their creed or colour.
The event, which is appropriately named “A Good Friend of Mine”, a title of one of his favourite songs, starts at 13:00 and will feature artists who at some or other stage, have been involved with Botha, either by playing with him, having shared the stage with him, had an album produced by him or have been mentored by the master.
Botha started this long and illustrious career back in 1972, when as a Tuks student; he played as a solo artist at some of his hometown venues in Pretoria. A true Rock ‘n Roller at heart, Botha is probably one of the finest guitarists this country has ever produced. His early influences and inspiration was found from the likes of Led Zepplin, Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix and many of the rock legends of the 1960’s and 1970’s. Originally Botha stuck to his rock ‘n roll guns and produced some of the most incredible rock music with bands such as Raven, Catherine Wheel and Wildebeest, already then acclaiming some very prestigious awards when Raven was nominated as runners up to the SABC TV’s Battle of the Bands competition in 1979 and when the ‘Bushrock 1’ album by Wildebeest was nominated as best local rock album of the year in 1981.
In 1984 Botha formed the phenomenal rock outfit Jack Hammer and has kept the name ever since. Jack Hammer has seen many, many members come and go in it’s 21 year history, but it’s founder, the legendary Piet Botha alias the ‘Hammer’, is still rocking steady to this day. Much of Botha’s and Jack Hammer’s magic has been captured on albums such as ‘Jack of All Trades’, ‘Ghosts on the Wind’, ‘Death of a Gypsy’, ‘Anthology’ and their latest masterpiece ‘The Pilgrim’ which was released in 2005.
Soon this all changed, when in 1997 Botha was persuaded by associates to migrate his musical genius to the Afrikaans music arena. His first Afrikaans CD, ‘Suitcase Vol Winter’, was testimony to his lyricist wizardry and was acclaimed by SARockDigest as one of the finest musical works ever produced on our shores. This album was rated by Brian Currin, editor of the SARockDigest, as being amongst one of the greatest albums ever produced in world music. Other great Afrikaans albums followed suit and Botha, together with Jack Hammer, produced ‘Jan Skopgraaf’, ‘Die Hits’, and ‘Die Mamba’, which was acclaimed local album of the year in 2004.
The powerful words of Kurt Schoemaker, a native Texan and ardent supporter of South African music, very aptly describes Botha, “Piet Botha the songwriter has a realistic outlook on the world, he’s a veteran who has seen the fight and knows how fragile peace and life, can be”. A down to earth and humble character, Botha has during this exciting journey in his musical career, rubbed shoulders with other greats of our local music scene such as Trevor Rabin (Rabbitt/Yes), Rupert Mellor (McCully Workshop), Mike Faure, Julian Laxton (Freedoms Children), Dave Tarr (Silver Creek Mountain Band/Wildebeest), Hugh Masakela, the late Gito Baloi, Ray Phiri and numerous others. Botha with Jack Hammer has also shared the stage with some world class acts such as ZZ Top, Deep Purple and Uriah Heep.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent and your magic with us all. Your music has truly touched and enriched the lives of all of those it has reached.
Piet Botha, we salute you!
The awesome line-up of artists paying tribute to Piet includes
Janice & Half Jacks, Gert Vlok Nel, Bacchus Nel, Die Kaalkop Waarheid, Johnny Dopper & the Rubber Soles, Akkedis, Johnathan Martin, Anton Goosen, Scicoustic, Southern Gypsey Queen, Albert Frost, Karen Zoid, Not My Dog and Jack & the Beanstalk
Tickets are R100 and available from Computicket.
Press release from SA Music website.
See Event Photos from Moonshine Productions.
Rocktober Fest, 8 October 2005
The Subterranean Rhythm & Blues Experience
Photo by Brian Currin
Excerpt from STRAB website
A group of 60 scuba divers from the dive school Ocean Ecstasy in Pretoria, amongst them co-owners Annerie Snyman and Andries Burger, decided to add some live music to their 1st birthday celebrations at Ponta Malongane, in the south of Mozambique. It was held in August that year [2003] and was known as “The Birthday Bash”.
After much deliberation and assistance from fellow diver Frans Human, it was decided to invite the legendary local band Jack Hammer to perform live at the event. The band plays a large variety of music, from love ballads to hard rock in both Afrikaans and English. The fact that all their songs have powerful lyrics and speak to all music lovers made them a perfect choice and added to the success of the weekend.
120 divers participated in the second “Birthday Bash” in 2004 and for a weekend of fun, scuba and rock & roll. Piet Botha, lead singer and guitarist from Jack Hammer, was so moved after the 2nd experience that he wrote a song about Mozambique and insisted that this must become a regular event. Annerie, gladly obliged, and The Subterranean Rhythm & Blues Experience was born. Piet Botha suggested the name which comes for the Bob Dylan song “Subterranean Homesick Blues”. The combination of sea, scuba diving and music reminded him of something “subterranean”. Professional sound and lighting engineer, Conrad Jamneck, became a permanent part of the family and more than three hundred scuba divers and other music fans joined the 1st official STRAB in 2005. The festival stepped up a notch or two, with bands like Southern Gypsy Queen, Scicoustic and Albert Frost being added to the line-up. This “tester” festival proved to be a hit and the rest is history.
Piet Botha 