The year 2005 marked the 21st anniversary of the band Jack Hammer.
This South African band has always stayed true to its original brand of Rock
and Roll. Fiercely independent, Jack Hammer has somehow survived the strange
machinery that is the SA music industry and produced some sterling original
albums over the years. Since their first performance way back in 1984 the
one constant factor in the band has been the man affectionately known as
'The Hammer', Piet Botha.
2004 saw the band returning to their roots, so to speak, with the release of
a double live CD, 'Piet Botha and Jack Hammer - Live at the Nile', followed
by a long-awaited studio production, 'The Pilgrim', the first full Jack
Hammer studio album since 1996's 'Death Of A Gypsy'.
'The Pilgrim' is a strong album with hauntingly different harmonies and
textures showcasing the bands rich experience and talent. The title track
includes Siya Makuzeni, Jacob Wulana and Samuel Shoai. Jacob and Sam are
members of the reggae band Tidal Waves. 'The Pilgrim is the story about a
traveler who has to make certain decisions at a turning point on his journey
as he also reminisces about the road so far.
The album was produced by Lanie van der Walt, who was also responsible for
award-winning 'Die Mamba' (SA Rock Digest Best rock album 2003). Throughout
the many years of performing and recording, the band has refused to
compromise or bow to commercial pressure and that is why their work is
timeless. This is evident when listening to their earlier work as far back
as 'Jack Of All Trades'.
Botha has this to say, 'Jack Hammer was a rock band performing in the
English language when we started and the swing to Afrikaans was a lovely and
vibrant thing at the time, but now it's time to go back , in order to move
forward. 'The Pilgrim' marks the return to our roots and the start of a new
journey'.
Piet Botha was one of the first musicians inducted into the SA Rock Hall of
Fame in January 2002, alongside James Phillips (who died in 1995). Other
media highlights over the years include performing with Deep Purple, Uriah
Heep and ZZ Top on their SA tours, and of late with the legendary Shawn
Phillips, and also with Vusi Mahlasela. Botha has been making music for over
30 years.
Botha received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2006 SAMA's in May 2006.
He was also awarded a prestige award by the FAK for his contribution to the
Afrikaans language in September 2006.
Piet Botha and his band Jack Hammer are truly Legends of South African Rock.
The Pilgrim - A Synopsis
by Piet Botha
1. G8 ... a song that we have played for a year or two .. a kind of apocalyptic view of world politics .. middle east .. globalization ... the destruction of nature and the ozone, etc .. Johnathan came with the intro and verse and we took it further to the chorus and the concept ... the strange thing is that the song became more relevant as time went by ... and today it is more relevant than ever ... .
2. The Pilgrim ... a completely different intro ... the chorus singers are Siya
Makuzeni, Jacob Wulana and Samuel Shoai. Jacob and Sam are members of the reggae band 'Tidal Waves' with whom I have had the honour of sharing gigs with ... Siya is a very young 'find' and was introduced to us by Lanie (v.d. Walt) she had been one of his students at the Pretoria Technikon .. the story is about a traveller who has to make certain decisions at a turning point on his journey ... and also reminisces about the road so far ..
The Zulu words at the end are the same as the English ... 'We have travelled so far, with the sun behind us, but our journey has just begun ... '
3 Headlines .. also a song we have been playing live for at least a 2 - 3 year timeframe ... based on true circumstances .. a possible indictment of the sensational nature of newspapers ... Again Johnathan brought the intro, verse and basic idea .. we just took it a bit further and there we were ...
4 Morrison Hotel ... A blues song in the minor scale (E minor) ... the story is about a person looking for the ghost of Jim Morrison, driving away on freeways filled with memories and images of a forgotten time .. when rock and roll was filled with magic and uncertainty ... long guitar solos meant to be that way ... we deliberately tried to get the Doors organ sound (the riff in the intro that keeps returning) ..
It takes it title from The Doors album of the same name, but it is not a cover version, however, as The Doors never actually recorded a song with this title.
-- Brian Currin, April 2006
5 Lady Amber ... The dangerous nature of addiction ... be it to love, whiskey or woman ... why all despair has a female persona ... 'the femme fatale' in her worst manifestation ... the one you have to leave or else you will surely die ... bit of a pop chorus ... but the nature of the song does save it from commercial overtones ...
6 Rock Steady ... on this track we used Jacob and Sam to play Drums, Bass, Piano and Organ ... as well as singing ... Hammer played the guitar and sang the lead vocal ... a song about the music industry, about extreme capitalism, the solution to stay true to the nature of real music i.e. Rock Steady ... what will be will be ...
7 Russian and Chips ... originally titled 'The Kid He Came From Nazareth' from the album 'Astra' by S.A. band Freedoms Children (1970) .. the song evolved on the Wildebeest album 'Bushrock 1' to the new title being a blend of traditional Russian 'jig' violin and the hard rock ballad thrown together .. probably one of Jack Hammer's all time favourite live tunes ...
One of Ramsay MacKay's great songs, adapted way back in 1981 on the Wildebeest album 'Bushrock 1' ... the late Dave Tarr put in the Russian piece on violin ... I just transposed it to guitar many years later ...
8 Bury me when ... a new song ... also very socially conscious in content ... i.e. 'what did you do for your brother today ?' .. basic protest against extreme Capitalism .. and the added mystical element portraying burial traditions in ancient times ... Earth and Fire and Rain and
Sky ... man has lost touch with Nature, with the Earth Mother ...
9. Mozambique ... the garden of eden ... raped and plundered be the white man and catholic colonial devils for centuries .. land of wonder ... and great musicians .. the last chorus is a piece for Gito Baloyi ... 'I often think about you Gito .. when I walk barefoot on the sand ... we must get back to the Garden ... '
10. Tribal Fence ... Another song from the Freedoms Children album 'Astra' (1970). Basically a tribute to the poetry and songwriting of Ramsay Mackay and the great band that was Freedoms Children ..
The lovely 'different' harmonies and textures were all put forward and implemented by our producer and brother Lanie v.d. Walt, .. and also the mix which I think is very unique ... and so we travel on ...
Comments:
'Morrison Hotel' and 'Mozambique' were re-recorded in early February 2006 at TuksFM featuring new guitarist Tonie van der Walt and released on the TuksFM Sessions CD in February 2006.
Review:
Rock Of Ages One of the finest rock albums to come out of this country in years is Jack Hammer's 'The Pilgrim'. A landmark album for the perennial blues rockers 'The Pilgrim' is right on the money: production, songs and performance all come together to make one of my fave albums of the moment. Take a listen to 'Headlines', 'G8' and Piet Botha's stunning interpretation of the Freedom's Children gem 'Tribal Fence' ... a must for any true blue rock fan!
-- Benjy Mudie, Rock Of Ages, May 2005
|
74,277 MP3 tracks available @ R7 per track ($0.88) and growing daily!
. Click on 
play buttons to hear samples.
