13.03.2014
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Monat 01-03 / 04-06 / 07-09 / 10-12
13.03.2014
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Monat 01-03 / 04-06
/ 07-09 / 10-12
Monat 01-03 2001 (04-06 - 07-09 - 10-12)
1. January 2001 - Freemuse-Interview
JOHNNY CLEGG
Musician (South Africa)http://www.freemuse.org/sw5920.asp
"Censorship is based on fear. It is conservative and wants to preserve a particular set of values," says Johnny Clegg who discusses censorship in a larger context:
"Censorship is a brute blind reaction to a brute blind recognition that information is not neutral..."
Johnny Clegg was interviewed in South Africa in 1998 by Mr. Ole Reitov.
März 2001 - Final competitive - ingoma - dance - Keates Drift
Nudie rock concert planned for Freedom Dayhttp://www.iol.co.za/general/news/newsprint.php?art_id=ct20010223201004821N325722&sf=
Have you ever entertained thoughts of seeing Johnny Clegg
strumming his guitar in the nude and Boom Shaka's Lebo Mathosa singing with
her boobs in the open? Dubbed as The Naked Woodstock, it's a gig where
revellers would enjoy the music with their clothes off, somewhere in the
KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
In this latest ace up controversial South African nudist king Beau Brummel's
sleeve, musicians, including Johnny Clegg, Patricia Lewis, ex-Mango Groove
lead vocalist Claire Johnston, Boom Shaka and Yvonne Chakachaka could grace
the gig.
Now based in Durban, Brummel is planning to mark South Africa's Freedom Day on
April 27 with a nude concert on a huge farm near Howick.
But the idea might not be a turn-on for some musicians. Lewis said singing for
nudists would be too embarrassing and "immoral".
Fresh from a whirlwind tour of France three weeks ago, she said such a concert
would be a hard act to accomplish.
"I would sing off-key because every time I look at people, I would be in shock."
Johnny Clegg's manager, Roddy Quin, said he battled to picture a concert of
this nature. He said once Brummel had formally approached him, he would
discuss the matter with Clegg.
And after the Human Rights Commission vowed to probe allegations of racism in
a nudist camp (in which Brummel was involved as a consultant) earlier this
month, Brummel is not playing the race card this time - anyone over 21 can
attend.
HRC spokesman Karen Stone said the human rights body wanted to establish if
Jane's Jungle was practising racism by denying blacks, coloureds and Indians
entry into their camp. The owner wants to keep her camp lily white, citing
financial reasons.
"I want the HRC off my backside this time - everyone is welcome, but they must
be naked," said Brummel.
Once the owner of the popular, but now defunct, Beau Valley Naturist Resort in
Warmbaths, Mpumalanga, Brummel, 58, says the concert is his way of celebrating
the freedom that all South Africans have enjoyed since April 24 1994.
"....The point is that during the apartheid era, nudism was
highly illegal and Sandy Bay was a really exciting place to be to express your
anti-aprtheid sentiments. It was very difficult to get to, with a long trek
along a mountainous path so police would ever go there. Occasoinally we'd spot
a paddy wagon on the top of the cliff above and everybody would go diving for
their clothes. As a none-nudist (I went there on the occasions that the surf
was better there than any other beach - we used to monitor the Cape weather
situation for the best waves), this was quite an amusing spectacle...."
Posted by Belinda 31.08.2004 21:53
Monat 07-09 2001 (01-03 - 04-06 / 10-12)
JOHNNY B EXCELLENT
My hands are sore from clapping, my throat is raw from singing and if the Hammersmith Apollo wasn't an all seating venue I would probably have put my back out trying some high kicking Zulu dancing, and do I care? Hell no, I've just watched Johnny Clegg.
He may have aged a bit, lost some hair, gained a few kilo's and the dancing is more sedate than what we have been used to, but the power and the passion is still there in the music. The crowded venue was on its feet throughout, dancing and singing along to a greatest hits (Juluka & Savuka) package of life and Africa, wrapped in pure energy. Roars of appreciation went up as favourites were recognised and none more so than for 'Impi', where the proverbial roof was raised, rarely have I seen one song so eagerly anticipated and so gratefully received.
After the first few songs, he slowed the pace with a sit down acoustic set, starting with 'African Sky Blue' that had us immediately standing again and singing 'Ian Botham' along with his 'yum bo hum'. An interesting addition to the Johnny Clegg sound was some jazzy interludes during one or two of the songs. This was slightly at odds with the driving Afro rock that I have been used to from him but added a new dimension to his music.
The South African press in London seems to be currently bombarded with letters from ex-pats who love South Africa, but only the old South Africa. However it was heartening to hear the roar that went up when, for his encore he launched into one of his most moving songs, 'Asimbonanga' and it was lump in the throat time when he came to the 'role of honour' bit and cheers went up for Steven Biko and Victoria Mxgenge. His intros to the various songs gave insight to the songs' meanings and inspirations as well as giving us a good helping of social and political messages, without pushing the impatient in the audience too far.
From what I witnessed tonight, it is no small wonder than Johnny Clegg has been one of South Africa's most successful artists on the international stage. His powerful sounds and lyrics helped many of us through the dark days of apartheid, yet such is the depth of his songs that 7 years after the fall of apartheid, they still sound fresh and relevant.
Full marks to the sponsors, 1st Contact for a well organised concert, full marks to the audience for their response, and of course full marks to Johnny for giving his all. Nkosi si'kelele iJohnny Clegg.60second interview:
Interview-Scan (tif)
Monat 10-12 2002 (01-03 - 04-06 - 07-09)
Johnny Clegg girds his loins for a great new show
Andrew DonaldsonTalk about an African renaissance! A supercharged Johnny Clegg is to make a return to the Joburg concert scene after a five-year absence with four shows at the Nelson Mandela Theatre at Braamfontein's Civic Theatre.
Clegg is also putting the finishing touches to a new Juluka album, scheduled for release in December, and completing a solo album due for release early next year.
The shows at the Civic - Johnny Clegg - The Music and The Dance - will feature not only new material from the albums but will showcase older favourites in what could be seen as a review of an extraordinary career.
Dancers
"The shows will start off with just voice and guitar at times, and then build up to full band and dancers," says the energetic Clegg.
"At the moment I'm working with a new generation of fine young dancers at Jeppe Hostel. They're really spectacular."
While he may have been largely absent from local stages, Clegg has been hard at it on the international circuit in recent weeks.
If anything, his all-too-rare appearance at the 2001 Womad SA festival, in Benoni last month, revealed that Clegg remains a popular and potent force in South African music.
Royalty
"I've been touring quite a lot," he says. "We're trying to break into new areas, like Norway and Brazil. Last weekend, I did a private performance for the Norwegian royal family and members of the Norwegian Cabinet. There's been a tour to Burma and Thailand.
"And I did two sold-out shows at the Hammersmith Odeon [in London], which was great, a highlight for me. Sure, there were a lot of ex-pats in the audience, but they were young. I see all these young people. They're like second-generation fans.
"They went away, left the country, with Savuka and Juluka's music as a sort of existential soundtrack. They were so supportive, it was wonderful."
Clegg adds that the Civic was chosen as a venue for the show - "as opposed to an arena or a stadium" - because of its intimacy. "It will give me a chance to talk a bit more to the audience, explain the meaning of dances and so on," says the former anthropology lecturer at Wits University.
31. Oktober - 3. November 2001 Johnny Clegg - The Music
and The Dance (Press Release 19th October 2001)
http://www.realsa.co.za/press_release/JohnnyCleggCIVIC.doc
The world of Johnny Clegg is one of music and dance that defied and pierced the breastbone of Apartheid South Africa. It’s a seamless fusion of Zulu melodic traditions and English lyrics.
In a celebration of this compelling combination, Clegg is poised to perform Johnny Clegg - The Music and The Dance at the Nelson Mandela Theatre at the Civic Theatre, from 31st October to 3rd November.
The show will feature an acoustic ‘unplugged’ set, which will see old favourites given a new acoustic flavour while building to the heart-thumping finale, which will feature a full ensemble set complete with an array of traditional dance. The show returns full circle to the inspiration for Clegg’s music in the hostels and roof-top shabeens of Johannebsurg, at a time when even making music was considered a crime
This exciting concert will give old and new audiences a chance to gear themselves up for the new Clegg experience with a Juluka album due out in December and his solo album, called simply Johnny Clegg, scheduled for release early next year.
Apart from the recent impromptu performance at WOMAD in Benoni, Clegg’s five-year absence from the concert scene in Johannesburg has been keenly felt by fans.
As an ambassador for South Africa Clegg has more than played his part, receiving far-reaching international acclaim; often for the qualities embodied in his music – harmony and understanding. In 1988 he was the recipient of the Mayor’s Office of Los Angeles Award: For the promotion of racial harmony and Le Victoire French Music Industry Award for the biggest International record album sold in France between 1987 and 1988. In 1989 he was made an Honorary Citizen of the town of Angouleme, France, followed by the French Music Industry Award for the biggest selling African record album in France. The Chevalier des Arts et Lettres (Knight of Arts and Letters) from the French Government in 1991 preceded a Billboard Music Award Best World Music Album in ’94.
Since his last performance in Johannesburg Clegg has been actively involved in enough projects to keep even the hardiest workaholic busy. An internationally funded AIDS awareness project, a performance for the royal family in Norway, two sold out shows at the Hammersmith Odeon in London and a tour to Burma and Thailand have kept him on the road, and his music in the spotlight. In addition to his international work he has been involved in producing music for documentaries, not the least of which is Jane Goodall’s highly anticipated documentary on the Great Family of Man.
But even with such a demanding schedule, fans can expect a resurgence of Johnny Clegg’s music in South Africa with the two new albums set to hit the shelves soon.
Once outlawed and reviled by authorities, Clegg’s enduring contribution to South African music has weathered the turbulent past and helped mould the future.
Be a part of the legacy as Clegg revisits the beauty of Juluka and Savuka, the groups whose passion for music superceded fears of oppression.
Catch this memorable event from Wednesday 31st October to Saturday 3rd November, at 20h00 each evening.
Tickets are available from R60 to R120 seated.
Booking now open at TicketWeb on www.ticketweb.co.za
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