True originals. Definitely NOT CRAP. I got this Sir Richard Bishop 7" which has him doing acoustic versions of a few songs from Torch of the Mystics, tis grand.

I gave this album to my friend Paul for his birthday last year. I didn't listen to it first (and hadn't in years) because I was afraid I'd like it a lot and not want to give it away. I knew it meant more to him than it did to me. He later found out, when Sir Richard Bishop did some recording at his studio, that it is the band's first album, one Bishop claims to no longer have a copy of.

Angus Jung wrote:I also imagine that if someone else like that came along now, the SCG would be willing to work with that person. I would not expect them to re-issue it themselves, though.

I would contribute money to this cause, as I love this record to pieces and would hate for anyone to not be able to hear it properly.

The oddest place I have heard songs from this record was in a short film, starring Claire Danes. I think they used "Space Prophet Dogon" and "The Shining Path", and they fit the film perfectly. I wish I could remember the name.

With deep regret, we must announce that Charles Gocher passed away yesterday in Seattle due to a long battle with cancer at the age of 54. He is survived by the two of us who adopted him as a brother 25 years ago and his many friends around the world. He will be missed more than most could ever know. Our thanks to everyone for their support and encouragement during the past three, very difficult years. Many of you were not aware that Charles was ill and that’s because he wanted it that way. Details of a memorial in his honor will be announced soon.

---Alan and Richard Bishop

Wow...bad news indeed. RIP.

I just read this, and I'm completely crushed.

The man made much magic and is now relieved from pain.
But my heart is heavy.

Salut, Charles, and peace and strength to those close to you.

First thought on reading that:

I wish there was a Heaven, b/c I really like the idea of Charlie Gocher and Michael Dahlquist having a mumbling contest on some cloud somewhere.

He was a great performer.

R
I
P

I feel like I should eulogize Charlie, but it's a really difficult thing to do. I suppose it's the same for anyone who has had an incredibly special person that they knew suddenly die.

Among many other things, I learned a lot about humor from the SCG, and Charlie was the funniest guy in the band. When I saw him last year, he was in a great deal of physical pain. But he hung out for most of the day, and was in good spirits. He told a long story about being in SF a few years ago for Halloween, which culminated in him seeing a guy "dressed up as Al Di Meola. His costume was incredible!"

I have probably cracked up laughing five different times, since then, thinking about not only some guy walking around Halloween night with a gigbag dressed up as Al Di Meola, but also about Charlie, and the way his brain worked.

Almost all the interactions I ever had with him left me with something like this, where I continued to laugh or think about it long afterwards. This is true for his musical performances as well. SCG records never really captured how brilliant a drummer Charlie was. You had to see him live to appreciate him fully.

I know it's probably not feasible for a lot of you, but listening to the SCG album Dante's Disneyland Inferno would be a great tribute. That record is all Charlie's concept, lyrics, etc. When I lived in Tempe and would see him around, and he would always talk about this project. It was going to be a screenplay, a book, a play, etc. It took him years to conceive it.

You could also watch these clips:

I Protect You From Me, Part 2

An Old Eyeball In A Quart Jar Of Snot

Soft Fragile Eggshell Minds (written by Charlie)

I'm a bit choked up to say too much right now, but I wanted to post a
live pic I took of the Girls when they played Bob's Java Jive in
Tacoma on Dec 6th, 2003, which was my 32nd birthday party (by
coincidence. the band didn't play the show *for* me.):

http://www.43places.com/gallery/image/200497

I like this picture because it caught everyone in a great moment.
Richard looks alive and happy. Alan is in mid swing/rock, and Charlie
has this great expression on his face as he's probably waiting for a
cue or plotting to explode in a minute or ten.

This show was notable also for Saddam Hussein opening for the band
with a noise-keyboard improv. He came out initially and threw street
scrap into the audience insulting the "feelthy Americans". Here's
Saddam in mid keys:

http://www.43places.com/gallery/image/200498

A week later. Hussein was found in a hole by the U.S. military. The
rest is history.

Bob's Java Jive is also no longer as well, having been shut down due
to fire code regulations about a month ago.

Just wanted to share a fun moment with the Girls and Charlie and
Saddam with you all while I have the free time at work to do so. Hope
you enjoy and remember Charlie fondly.