DEEP SCRATCH

Tag: jazz

  • With John Sinclair And A Wall Of Legendary Guitarists

    With John Sinclair And A Wall Of Legendary Guitarists

    Jumping from an article in the Detroit Metro Times, about The Damned performing in Detroit, I was reminded of the session with Brian James, March 11th 2011 at Kingston College. The John Sinclair Beatnik Youth session.

    It was unforgettable and overwhelming, the sound, the characters around. The detailed liner notes of the CD listed all those on the session, and includes an extensive contribution by Mick Farren. My google search returned the usual AI summary, and I continued to “ask more questions”. The results below are accurate to my understanding, but then again, my remembrandts r’ a bit fuzzy.

    The rather simplistic, straight ahead facts about the session and musicians and tracks get it down. I’m reminded how I’ll never get to play on a live session like that again! Not least because Brian James and Keith Levene and Mick Farren and George Butler and Howard Marks and John Sinclair are no longer around, but…their recorded music and words and inspiration live with us, through us and all about us. If you don’t know find out. Testify!

    There’s still a lot of other musicians and contributors to Beatnik Youth who are not mentioned below, such as the drummer George Butler (who I had to nervously follow) and Howard Marks. Jesse Wood is also on the album! Holy smokes. What a band.

    To hear what it’s all about, or support visit:
    https://johnsinclair.bandcamp.com/album/beatnik-youth-2

    All Love, Steve Fly


    “The creation of Beatnik Youth was split into two worlds: a legendary live “wall of guitars” session, and a long post-production layering process done by producer Youth and engineer Michael Rendall, who integrated external guest samples and studio tracking. [1, 2, 3]

    The comprehensive list of musicians involved in the album is divided by their location of contribution: [1, 2]

    🏫 The Kingston College of Music Session (Live Tracking)

    These musicians gathered in person on March 1, 2011, to lay down the massive, live improvised grooves that formed the instrumental foundation for tracks like “Brilliant Corners”, and “Sitarrtha”. [1, 2]

    • Brian James (Guitar – The Damned / Lords of the New Church)
    • Keith Levene (Guitar – The Clash / Public Image Ltd)
    • Alan Clayton (Guitar & Vocals – The Dirty Strangers)
    • James Sedwards (Guitar – Nøught / Thurston Moore Group)
    • Steve Fly (Drums / Project Management) [1, 2]

    🎛️ Post-Production & Studio Additions (Not at Kingston College)

    These artists contributed either by having their work sampled and re-contextualized by Youth (often pulling from overlapping studio sessions), or by tracking their vocals/instruments directly at Youth’s private home studio: [1, 2]

    Jesse Wood – Guitar.

    Youth (Martin Glover) – Played bass on all tracks, programmed electronic layers, and acted as the main producer.

    Michael Rendall – Keyboards, synthesizers, and engineering.

    Bobby Gillespie – Lead vocals/guest vocals on “Culture-Cide” (pulled in from Primal Scream sessions).

    Primal Scream – Provided programming and instrumentation for “Culture-Cide”.

    The View – The Scottish indie rock band provided the prominent backing chorus hook on “Culture-Cide”.

    Howard Marks – Spoken word vocals on “War On Drugs” and “Culture-Cide”.

    Zodiac Mindwarp (Mark Manning) – Guest vocals.

    Mark Stewart – Guest vocals (The Pop Group).

    Robb Spragg (Larry Love) – Vocals on “Culture-Cide” (from Alabama 3).

    Angie Brown – Insidious soul choruses and backing vocals.

    drummer Steve Fly (Steven James Pratt) recorded his primary contributions during the March 1, 2011 session at Kingston College of Music. He served as a main drummer, project manager, and executive producer for the Beatnik Youth project. [1, 2]

    He plays drums on the following tracks:

    • “Brilliant Corners”
    • “Change My Life”
    • “Sitarrtha” (where he uses dampened sticks on the toms)
    • “Red Dress (Ruby My Dear)” (where he provides a softer, ambient jazz texture using brushes) [1, 2]
    Beatnik Youth by John Sinclair

  • Soundcloud Update

    Soundcloud Update

    Hiya. I uploaded a heap of my mixes from 2026 over at Soundcloud. 13 hours and 13 minutes worth of (AD FREE) blends, mixes, and fixes, all music and artists proudly supported – purchased – via Bandcamp. Selected, mixed, edited, titled, uploaded and shared.
    Thanks for spreading the word, love, sound.

    –Fly

    If you dig it you can tip ear: https://www.patreon.com/cw/stevefly

    SOUNDCLOUD

  • Box Of Monk

    Box Of Monk

    Box Of Monk by Steve Fly

    This album is my tribute to John Sinclair and the music of Thelonious Monk, in the most innovative way I see fit. Every sound you hear originates with my voice, humming, beatboxing, live into a microphone. With the added sources of uncle Tim in the Amsterdam studio, I fixed up these mixes or blends of the live voice takes and the Uncle Tim experiments.

    The Book Of Monk Continued….

    John Sinclair wore many fine hats, one of which was the beret of the investigative jazz poet. His 40 year tribute to the life and work of Thelonious Monk, always know: a book of monk, focuses on his deep self confessed ‘obsession with completeness’ his nutty aim to write a poem for every Monk composition. I suggest the continuation of what he started, as a tribute to John and to Monk.
    I’m instigating a new series of collaborative productions in music and verse, laying groundwork and formulating a plan to complete what John started.
    Box Of Monk is the shared beginnings of my process of building a bed of music and poetry. Stay tuned for more uploads to this album and The Book Of Monk Continued…project.

    Make it new. All love.

    –Steve Fly Agaric 23
    21/06/26

    Writing about music is like dancing about architecture”―Thelonious Monk

    Picking up the joint and running with it, I’ve boldly produced 10 poems, interpretations and a tribute to the investigative jazz poetry of John Sinclair. Seeking to sound unique enough to warrant a serious tribute to innovation and making it new, yet familiar to those who knew John and appreciated his incalculable impact on modern American culture, poetry and activism.
    The songs are performance by example, demonstrable appreciation for the artform and for John and for Monk. These songs are also meant to be a calling to the others who may put one or two poems together themselves and imagine what the Book Of Monk project is all about and begin a new exploration.

    Dedications and special thanks to: Celia Sinclair / Ed Sanders / Leslie Lopez / Leni Sinclair / Larry Hayden / David Amram / Frenchy / Peter N Nevraumont / Kai Eckhardt / T.S Monk / Tom Worrell / Peter King / M.L Liebler / Carey Loren / Mark Sampson / Youth / Adam Brook / R.J / Jeff Grande / Jair Rohm and friends worldwide.

    Edited, Mixed and Arranged by Steve The Fly 10/10/26. Turntables, piano, vocals, and beatbox by Steve The Fly. FX engineered by Uncle Tim. 2026 

    credits

    released June 20, 2026

    All music by Steve Fly. Mixed by Uncle Tim 2026.

    https://stevefly.bandcamp.com/album/box-of-monk

  • TOT

    TOT

    https://www.patreon.com/cw/stevefly/shop

    PRESENT AUTHORS INTRODUCTION


    So what have we here then Steve? Tinkering with the AI again are we? I told you and warned you a thousand times about it and you just kept going and going and now look wot’ you’ve gone and done. Claiming it’s a bit ov’ a modern verse epic, but know full well it could never truly be the thing, as to our beingness and human struggle through time.Chatting to myself again, as Homo Promptus, in first person reflection space. The following series of essays are AI generated, spoiler alert. And I can already sense that slight frown and disappointment that I wasn’t hand crafting this big shebang, or rag-bag of notes. That’s under construction, in the meantime, this work is my contribution, an example of what I find interesting firstly, and also with luck what you dear reader, enjoy.

    The subject matter reflects a purposeful choice, and works on a few different levels, both personal-historical and geographical meaning to me myself and I. For those that know me…the flesh and bone present author…will experience reading these articles in a different way to a total stranger. However I hope the unpredictability of the order and content within rings many bells at once, each effectively acting as an Epyllion (a mini modern epic) but, alas, lacking poetry turns of phrase and typographic experimentation, grammatical loop-da-loops and tricks of human authors with a pen or typewriter, battling digital algorithms and infernal averages. Hot stuff.

    There’s something for everyone here, so at the least maybe give it a quick browse. In some sense this is a browsing document, a mini wikipedia world whipped up around this author’s ego, weird esoteric interests, fictional fancies, friends, family, hobbies, and a recurring theme: demonstrating the paradox of the tale of the tribe. Subjective experiences of mine, loves and some struggles, at the same time as containing historical forces (can we say facts without annoying too many people?). Leading, with luck, to distinguished science facts, methods, experiments, peer reviewed studies, when required, generously blended with my own mystical personal queries, carefully crafted and selected for you here. Feels a bit like cheating for an exam, producing all the goods to at least get a pass, but did I and do I really understand these Frankenstein’s Monster mash-ups? Who knows, here’s the results of my experiments. Hope you have a s much fun as I did.   

    In no particular order the articles feature such people and concepts as Rituals, Sports Mega Events, Economics, Beatboxing, Dutch, English, American History, Turntablism, Shakespeare, James Joyce, Typewriter Innovation, Lisbon Maru, Maj Frank Foley, AI, The Modern Verse Epic, Robert Anton Wilson, Ostriches, Countering Hate Speech, DIY Pot Hole Guide, Konnakol, Led Zeppelin, Swimming, Lightening, Thunder and the Brontic Logos, Magick, Tarot, LBJP, Drumming, Geronimo Pratt, Identity, McLuhan, Climate Science Solutions, The Black Country, Dutch Water Management, Story telling, John Sinclair, Street Art, Jazz, Stage Lighting, Causes Of War, Genealogy Writing, Digital I.D.J, Kim Stanley Robinson, thoughts on thoughts about thoughts.

    • The Lost Rodeo
      It’s called The Trump Chronicles and in my estimation it’s a brilliant set of satirical works in twisted rhyme schemes that skewer and roast the guy I call Resident Rump.
    • With John Sinclair And A Wall Of Legendary Guitarists
      The article reflects on a music session with Brian James on March 11, 2011, at Kingston College for the John Sinclair Beatnik Youth project. It emphasizes the significance of the musicians involved, including Brian James and Keith Levene, Youth, Angie Brown, and dozens of legendary performers from across the musical spectrum.
    • Soundcloud Update
      Hiya. I uploaded a heap of my mixes from 2026 over at Soundcloud. 13 hours and 13 minutes worth of (AD FREE) blends, mixes, and fixes, all music and artists proudly supported – purchased – via Bandcamp. Selected, mixed, edited, titled, uploaded and shared. Thanks for spreading the word, love, sound. –Fly If you dig… Read more: Soundcloud Update
    • Summert New
      Poem handmade in Amsterdam, transcribed for digital share here.
    • Decentralized Cognitive Commons
      The post discusses a remix of Ben Goertzel’s original outline on beneficial AI and AGI, emphasizing the importance of making technology accessible to all. It advocates for a more inclusive, ethical approach to AI development, focusing on improving societal resources and fostering understanding across different demographics. The author seeks to inspire collaboration among artists and non-technical individuals.
    • MAMMALIAN: MODEL AGNOSTIC META MULTI AGENT LEARNING INTELLIGENCE AND NONFICTION (DEEP SCRATCH)
      Steve Fly, humorously calling himself MPHDJ, discusses various papers from Gemini Research (MAMMALIAN) that enhance understanding of Robert Anton Wilson’s work. Aimed at mystics and seekers, this content assists in maintaining sanity and sensibility, while MAMMALIAN serves as an auxiliary text within the Deep Scratch universe.
  • Makes Me Wanna’ Hurl

    Makes Me Wanna’ Hurl

    An off the top verse, put to mic, plus freestyle guitar take added post production. Rough. x Fly.

    A new boom-bap to bop the old mad christers,
    Time to take a stand make a band and eat oysters,
    War porn torn across villages and cities
    Building up the war machine with Jesus throwin’ fiddies,


    Hey listen up you dutty man, misreading scriptures uncle sam, which,
    Clog the arteries and fuel the devil archers from the marching forgeries,
    Blowing up schools, hospitals and mortuaries,

    The dead can’t talk but these fingers can tap,
    Dance to the speaker and double rap to my black cap sap lap, your honour
    Slipped in some marijuana now I’m wanted by the hour to throw a cake made of flower,
    Flame sewer sour tower power dower cower for cover, spittin’ bars for my brudda,

    Rake mower grass seeder automatic inter breeder, success and suck seeda’
    Hop in my pan, I fried ya’
    A kindred spirit beside yer’ inside we take slide to
    The outdoors shaped like a funnel spider

    When I see dem’ killa girl, it mek me wanna hurl,
    Killing the innocent and so what be their punishment
    When he see em’ kill a girl, god get angry on the whirl’d
    Blowing up schools what a whirl what a whirl 


    Spun out like a spinning top at the audacity they got,

    War ain’t holy it’s phoney a mugs game of the lonely,
    Bombing away the life they say they give, if only,
    They’d wake up in time space, recognize they out of phase-traced,
    The error of their ways and face the stinging tear gas haze laced    

    With memories of once womb innocent babe
    All from the cradle but some sent early by Trump cabal to their graves,

    They digging and the cabal dancing on em’ then builds a big ball room,
    To swing little dick, sing bronze age dogma like a sequence of strokes,
    Who buys this shit except the business spivs and talk show hosts,
    The return of Jesus on a winged horse, just say neigh
    Not even Elon on Ketamine riding Pete Kegsbreath with wings, let us say,
    Our men don’t support fascists they destroy them,
    Put that in your pipe and smoke it while losing to von neumann

    When you unabashedly kill many little girls, or protect those who do,
    You get the worst place in hell a really low place that’s true,
    That’s the trump fash’ axis pedo power far-wrong netanyahoo,
    Sorry to break it to you but to put this song into review,
    You target innocent young girls and murder them in cold blood without a sorry,
    Shame on you, you lack any moral high ground everything you say is dud and folly
    I’m counting down days until yer trial upon the tally,

    https://substack.com/@stevefly
  • LENI: Looking Through the Lens Exhibition Opening

    LENI: Looking Through the Lens Exhibition Opening

    Join us for a special opening celebration for the opening of LENI: Looking Through the Lens, showcasing the work of a photographer who captured Detroit’s cultural revolution from the inside.

    The evening will be hosted by WDET’s Ann Delisi who will lead an engaging conversation with the artist, exploring Sinclair’s life, artistic vision, and enduring impact on Detroit’s music and cultural landscape. There will also be a musical guest.

    Each ticket includes one complimentary drink.

    Guests will also receive a copy of Sinclair’s 2016 Kresge Eminent Artist’s Monograph, sponsored by the Kresge Foundation, as a parting gift.

    https://1066.blackbaudhosting.com/1066/LENI-Looking-Through-the-Lens-Exhibition-Opening-12Mar2026

  • garaj mahal – 7 minds promo clip

    garaj mahal – 7 minds promo clip

    Visit https://www.youtube.com/@flyagaric23 for FULL Length Visual Album.

    Taken from the Full Length Visual Album: Rotifer. GARAJ MAHAL are: Kai Eckhardt, bass. Oz Ezzeldin, keys. Fareed Haque, guitars. Hassan Hurd, drums. ⁨@GarajMahalMusic⁩ & ⁨@flyagaric23 You know the drill: Subscribe, like, share, dance. To build a parallel science-fiction Rotifer universe based on the real world of ⁨@GarajMahalMusic⁩ and their album is like nectar and ambrosia. I took the ball and ran with it. Imagined, storyboarded, prompted, synced, edited, arranged, titled. I hope you enjoy these wild interpretations. Thanks to team rotifer for encouraging experimentation. All love. –Steve Fly If you wish to support, drop a tip, please consider unlocking hundreds of dj mixes, videos, over @ Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/stevefly

  • 7 Minds – garaj mahal

    7 Minds – garaj mahal

    7 Minds (An Oz Ezzeldin Composition)

    ​ 7 minds Written by Oz Ezzeldin ⁨@GarajMahalMusic⁩ is: ⁨@FareedHaqueMusic⁩ , Kai Eckhardt, Oz Ezzeldin, Hassan Hurd. Video content generated using Gemini Veo. The creator intends to plant a tree for each full video and encourages anybody who enjoys this video to go support a local artist, or plant a tree, or both! Visit http://www.garajmahal.us and Patreon.com/stevefly

  • BRD – GARAJ MAHAL

    BRD – GARAJ MAHAL

    BRD:

    ​⁨BRD Written by Fareed Haque. @GarajMahalMusic⁩ is: ⁨@FareedHaqueMusic⁩, Kai Eckhardt, Oz Ezzeldin, Hassan Hurd. Video content generated using Gemini Veo. The creator intends to plant a tree for each full video and encourages anybody who enjoys this video to go support a local artist, or plant a tree, or both! Visit http://www.garajmahal.us and Patreon.com/stevefly

  • garaj mahal – Doin It again

    garaj mahal – Doin It again

    @GarajMahalMusic⁩ is: ⁨@FareedHaqueMusic⁩ , Kai Eckhardt, Oz Ozzeldin, Hassan Hurd. Video content generated using Gemini Veo. The creator intends to plant a tree for each full video and encourages anybody who enjoys this video to go support a local artist, or plant a tree, or both! Visit http://www.garajmahal.us and Patreon.com/stevefly