Chuck Clearwater (RIP)
I didn't know Chuck Clearwater, he played music in Eugene a couple of years before I started buying and going to see local bands. I assume he moved out of Eugene by 1985 otherwise I would probably have bought something he played on at Earth River or House of Records. I first heard him play in 1983 when I heard The Drills on KLCC's Modern Mono. I've heard that The Drills released a couple of tapes but I've never been able to find anyone that has copies and Facebook messages to the band's former singer have never been replied to. In addition to The Drills, Chuck was also in J. Gallows & the Executioners, Punishment Farm and probably a few more that I don't know about. I had no idea he'd ever released solo cassettes until a kind soul emailed me and asked if I'd be interested in copies. Based on these tapes a strong case can be made for Chuck being one of the best musicians to ever play in Eugene. He seemed to play damn near everything and did it all well. I wish I could have met and known him.
Beizolded (1983)
1.Intro
2. Theme Song for a New LP
3. I'm Not Special
4. Rock Kids
5. Negligent Homicide
6. Time Without Minutes
7. Love Letters
8. Procrastination
9. What Does It Mean
10. Ballad of Poor Luke & Ralph
11. Tonight
12. Broken Guitar & Pencil
13. Dilemna
14. Falling Rain
15. Oh My Brothers
16. Everyone's the Same
17. Kryssy Blue
18. Real Life (Nov. 29, 1979)
19. Bodies in the Water
20. Going Home Tonight
DOWNLOAD HERE
Actual Sounds (1984)
1. Time
2. Invisible Man
3. Can't Give
4. Stuck Inside
5. Rock Music
6. Tonight
7. Black Rain
8. Actual Sounds
9. Beizoldeo
10. Three Words
DOWNLOAD HERE
So incredible!
ReplyDeleteohmygod, I miss him. I was too old for his music, but he was a wonderful kid. AH
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ReplyDeletehttp://s71.photobucket.com/user/7directions/media/ChuckPfarmcrop_zpsfaba3900.jpg.html
ReplyDeleteChuck with Punishment Farm
this is GENIUS - John O'Neil was always saying what a talented drummer CC was - had no idea he made these tapes - thanks for posting Jeff!
ReplyDeletesomething I noticed - the ACTUAL SOUNDS drums were engineered by DREW CANULETTE - years before he produced Soundgarden, Hitting Birth, Dharma Bums etc
ReplyDeletealso found these:
ReplyDeletevideo with CC playing bass for SISSY (?): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1YNEsSlc1M
flickr photo album: https://www.flickr.com/photos/chickenjohn/sets/72157616812263641/
I was married to chucks first love Krystalla Merrill for 23 years. I know she truly loved him. I'm sorry to say she passed away on February 23 2016. I'm listening to ziggy stardust
ReplyDeleteChuck was at the center of it all. He had amazing musical talent, he was also one of the funniest guys to roll out of SEHS. When Chuck left Eugene he spent much of the 80's in NYC, managing his project studio. He was the drummer for the reunited Richard Hell & the Voidoids tour and more. Look at his co-band member, Trey Gunn's resume for a glint of the promise that Chuck possessed. I'm sad to read here about Krystalla and I'm sorry for your loss, Anthony. Thanks again for aggregating all of this audio and content from those years.
ReplyDeleteI was just a few years too young to ever catch CC live, I suppose he was already in NYC by the time I was marginally a part of the Eugene music scene, but his creative shadow loomed long after he left town; his name was always overheard on the lips of all the musicians I really respected at the time. The more I learn about him, the more I realize his brand of genius and I sometimes think he may be one of the only real Rock Stars to have come out of Eugene.
ReplyDeleteI had that Actual Sounds cassette and saw P-Farm several times. Chuck was great to watch and his music is brilliant. I also had Trey's Food For Thought cassette, and was in that pop-music class with him.
ReplyDeleteHe was the best! It makes me happy to find pages still dedicated to him after all these years. His death was and still is the worst thing that has ever happened in my life.
ReplyDeleteHe has a few other solo albums that are not listed here.