Midnight Oil

[Powderworks] Exit O requiem for the Oils

Bruce Robertson the_oil_fish@yahoo.ca
Fri, 6 Dec 2002 19:49:18 -0500 (EST)


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Greetings Again Fellow Workers,

     Last night at 2 am I woke up, stumbled downstairs and realized it had sunk in - the Oils are done. I couldn't sleep and knew I'd end up posting this today. I'm listening to the end of Poets and Slaves, and of course now every song on CAp. seems pregnant with allusions and meaning, the product of an overdrawn mind, no doubt.

     My obsession with the Oils has been off and on for years - never stopped loving them, just went through spells where most of the stuff I listened to was instrumental guitar occasionally punctuated with lyrics. Unlike the Oilman, who does Oils and NMA pretty much exclusively, everything but the kitchen sink might end up on my cd player. But the Oils are the only band I have been a real Fan of, as in anticipating their next release, sharing the passion with other fans, collecting multi copies, etc. Aside from the Stones in the 70's, no other band even comes close in that regard. And I know that no new band is likely to hold a shadow of a torch to the Oils.

    Today I feel like the world's a little poorer. When sharing my love for the Oils with friends, I always loved to point out that they remain the hardest working and most intense bunch of rockers in the business, putting lads half their age to shame. No more. Nobody blames 'em, but it still seems sad. The world is less interesting without the Oils in it, and I feel we've lost something that served to connect all of us and our ideas together. Try finding another band that could draw this motley crew into a more or less harmonious menagerie: Unitarians, Christians, Buddhists, Jews, Socialists, anarchists, liberals, tee-totalling evangelicals, homosexuals, dope smokers, leftist intelligentsia, authors, musicians, gear freaks, collectors, geniuses, idiots, all of the aboves, 40-somethings, teenagers, Ozzies, Norams, Euros, ...sorry if any workers feel left out. (we know you're out there...)

     I must confess that it was Peter that drew me to the Oils years ago; of course it was always about the music, but I remember finding out that HE didn't write all the material and feeling somewhat surprised. He seemed to so embody the band's sound and intent. As a man he was fascinating to me on a number of levels: spokesperson for the left, seasoned rocker, eloquent advocate for the oppressed, humanitarian, writer, husband and father, passionate Christian, AND a bloody lawyer to boot. Try cramming all that into a single being. He's a rare bird, no mistake, and I love and admire him for what he's given to the world as part of Midnight Oil.

     Although it doesn't feel like it at this moment, I think it's also good that he's chosen now to move on. The thought of anybody doing what he did to his voice, face and body at the age of 60 is just something I don't wanna think about. A champion knows when to quit. Good on ya, Pete. I do feel bad for the rest of the guys, as Oilman gently stated it, but not too bad. They've got more talent left in the Oils than most bands would dare to dream of. These guys will do alright. Twenty five years in the best rock n roll act ever to emerge from OZ (no mean feat) looks pretty fair on a resume. And they all seem like clear thinking guys who could do whatever they like, inside or out of the music industry. God knows they deserve a crack at the quiet life, if they want it, eh?

Capricornia seems the perfect exit track for Midnight Oil. "Australia." It's time to take to the stage. Come on you poets and slaves. Freedom and peace to you Peter, wherever and whatever you are. God's best to the rest of the Oils. And to any of you Powderworkers who read this far, thanks, and forgive me! love and goodnight ~

bruce in calgary

"And everyone's an island edged with sand
A temporary refuge where somebody else can stand
Till the sea that binds us like the forced tide of a blood oath 
Will wear it down - dissolve it - recombine it"

~ Bruce Cockburn, Night Train




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<P>Greetings Again Fellow Workers,</P>
<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Last night at 2 am I woke up, stumbled downstairs&nbsp;and&nbsp;realized it had sunk in&nbsp;- the Oils are done. I couldn't sleep and knew I'd end up posting this today. I'm listening to the end of Poets and Slaves, and of course now every song on CAp. seems pregnant with allusions and meaning, the product of an overdrawn mind, no doubt.</P>
<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; My&nbsp;obsession with&nbsp;the Oils has been off and on for years - never stopped loving them, just went through spells where most of the stuff I listened to was instrumental guitar occasionally punctuated with lyrics. Unlike the Oilman, who does Oils and NMA pretty much exclusively, everything but the kitchen sink might end up on my cd player. But the Oils are the only band I have been a real <STRONG>Fan</STRONG> of, as in anticipating their next release, sharing the passion with other fans, collecting multi copies, etc. Aside from the Stones&nbsp;in the 70's,&nbsp;no other band even comes close in that regard. And I know that no&nbsp;new band&nbsp;is likely to hold a shadow of a torch to the Oils.</P>
<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Today I feel like the world's a little poorer. When sharing my love for the Oils with friends, I always loved to point out that they remain the hardest&nbsp;working and most intense bunch of rockers&nbsp;in the business, putting lads half their age to shame. No more. Nobody blames 'em, but it still seems sad. The world is less interesting without the Oils in it, and I feel we've lost something that served to&nbsp;connect all of us and our ideas together. Try finding another band that could draw this motley crew into a more or less harmonious menagerie: Unitarians, Christians, Buddhists, Jews, Socialists, anarchists, liberals, tee-totalling evangelicals, homosexuals, dope smokers,&nbsp;leftist intelligentsia, authors, musicians, gear freaks, collectors, geniuses, idiots, all of the aboves, 40-somethings, teenagers, Ozzies, Norams, Euros, ...sorry if&nbsp;any workers&nbsp;feel left out. (we know you're out there...)</P>
<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I must confess that it was Peter that drew me to the Oils years ago;&nbsp;of course&nbsp;it was always about the music, but I remember&nbsp;finding out that HE didn't write all the material and feeling somewhat surprised. He seemed to so embody the band's sound and intent. As a man&nbsp;he was fascinating to me on a number of levels: spokesperson for the left, seasoned rocker, eloquent advocate for the oppressed, humanitarian, writer, husband and father, passionate Christian, AND a bloody lawyer to boot. Try cramming all that into&nbsp;a single being. He's a rare bird, no mistake, and I love and admire him for what he's given to the world as part of Midnight Oil.</P>
<P>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Although it doesn't feel like it at this moment, I think it's also good that he's chosen now to move on. The thought of anybody doing what he did to his voice, face and body at the age of 60 is just something I don't wanna think about. A champion knows when to quit. Good on ya, Pete. I do feel bad for the rest of the guys, as Oilman gently stated it, but not too bad. They've got more talent left in the Oils than most bands would dare to dream of. These guys will do alright. Twenty five years in the best rock n roll act ever to emerge from OZ (no mean feat) looks pretty fair on a resume. And they all seem like clear thinking&nbsp;guys who could do whatever they like, inside or out of the music industry. God knows they deserve a crack at the quiet life, if they want it, eh?</P>
<P>Capricornia seems the perfect exit track for Midnight Oil. "Australia." It's time to take to the stage. Come on you poets and slaves. Freedom and peace to you Peter, wherever and whatever you are. God's best to the rest of the Oils. And to any of you Powderworkers who read this far, thanks, and forgive me! love and goodnight ~</P>
<P>bruce in calgary</P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>"And everyone's an island edged with sand<BR>A temporary refuge where somebody else can stand<BR>Till the sea that binds us like the forced tide of a blood oath <BR>Will wear it down - dissolve it - recombine it"</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>~ Bruce Cockburn, Night Train</FONT><BR></P><p><br><hr size=1>Post your free ad now! <a href="http://ca.personals.yahoo.com/"><b>Yahoo! Canada Personals</b></a><br>
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