I think you’re right. My initial reading of Tim’s post was “wtf, what would his son think reading this, this isn’t about you”, but it’s obviously born out of a lot of frustration and a consequence of spending a lot of time trying to help out a friend and - reading between the lines - some people undermining that. Having seen a few social media posts of people out with Alfredo, who frankly looked really, really fragile in those pictures, I can see where that reaction has come from when you mix in shock and grief.
Seeing pictures of Alfredo looking 80 not 70 was really sad to see. Living in an old people’s home in your 60s and having to do crowdfunders…breaks the heart. Both Jose and Alfredo had to ask for money for medical bills, and I guess there will probably be a few more Acid House era DJs sadly in the same boat in their latter years.
Yeah, as far as I’m aware, there are not many that have done more for Alfredo than TSDJ over the past few years. I think it’s all just come as a massive shock to him. A divider of opinion he may be, but his heart is in the right place.
There have been discussions in hip-hop about some kind of financial reimbursement for foundational figures like Kool Herc, who birthed a billion dollar industry and lifestyle, but didn’t make any records or real money. Christ knows how it would work, but I think the same sort of thing should happen in house.
It’s a noble concept, but like you say how would it work?
The closest I can think of that touch this are some recent crowdfunds.
Is there anything comparable in the history of any other entertainment or art form?
I once raised an idea within Northern Soul collector groups that the records that most of them own(which OG cost nothing) could somehow be returned to the still surviving owners of the music so they can at last make some money from the the tunes that these same collectors profess to love so much. Nothing ever came of it and I have since become a non friend of many that community. But some people who were in law etc did mention how difficult that kind of thing is to do respospectively. Still think that it is mainly ego/bravado why they hang on to this stuff.
Remembering our friend Kev who left us this time last year .
I was honoured to be asked to be the guardian of his vinyl record collection which has really helped me process his loss and brought me closer to him at this time of year. I’ve chosen some tracks which really resonated into this mix. It’s a journey through minimal, bleep, acid and breaks techno. Love this pic is of us banging out tunes at a garden party in happier times for Kev.
Johnny Walker.
One of my fave radio DJs, used to regularly listen to his Radio 2 Sunday afternoon show as I cycled around Gtr Manchester/Cheshire/Lancashire in the summer 10/15 years ago.
Remember having a particular moment to ‘The Only Living Boy In New York’ playing on his show one Sunday as I was riding through the Cheshire countryside on a gorgeous summer day and the world seemed perfect for those 3 or 4 minutes, will always associate the song with him.
Always seemed a good guy with the right outlook on life. R.I.P.
I knew Johnnie Walker moderately well in 1979 when he lived in San Francisco. He was a good bloke, in tune with SF’s then punk scene. He was of course known, but not what you’d call famous there. Fitted right in with the general anti-authoritarian attitudes of the time.
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