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dave morris

A look back on the Wonderful Life of Damien Lovelock

_{Damien at one of the final Rifles gigs at Narrabeen RSL.}

The loss of Damien Lovelock to cancer in 2019left a yawning gap in more than just Australian rock and roll. The frontman for the cherished Celibate Rifles had by then become an cookbook author, a sporting commentator, a father, a yoga teacher and a raconteur.

The records show that the Rifles formed in Sydney in 1979 and amassed nine studio and three live albums along the way, making inroads into Europe and the USA. The band did not achieve mainstream successs, but did forge a path for high-energy yet thoughtful rock and roll. They inspired countless others to follow and do things, as the Rifles had, on their own terms.

Damo’s dry wit, laconic vocal and powerful stage presence were uneniable. Away from the music, his ability to talk the (blind) ear off anyone who wanted to engage him in conversation made him similarly unforgettable.

In October 2010, rusted-on Rifles fan Earl O’Neill sat down with Damien at a Narrabeen café. The interview that appears here was part of a planned book about the band (you can read a previous extract about the Rifles’ formative days here.) The book idea has long been shelved but the conversation stands up as a snapshot of the Rifles and the motivations of Damo himself. Peta Couvret transcribed the conversation.
Celibate Rifles put rumours to bed and make a claim for greatness

_{Damien Lovelock leads the Celibate Rifles. Shona Ross photo}

It was a big week for rumours - and that’s not a reference to that awful Fleetwood Mac album being on high rotation.

Celibate Rifles were playing two successive nights in Sydney. A Friday at the near dormant ‘80s venue Carmens at Miranda in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, and a Saturday at one of their local stomping grounds, Narrabeen RSL.

It was about a fortnight before that the gossip started to fly.
Collection captures Rifles firing on all cylinders

Chasing Chocomel – The Celibate Rifles (self released)

Don’t let the fact that these are cassette dubs of live-to-air radio recordings deter you. A bit of compression never hurt anyone. This posthumous 22-track collection from Europe and Australia is prime-time Celibate Rifles from the “Roman Beach Party”/“Blind Ear”/”Heaven on a Stick” period, and it burns like a kerosene spill on a barbie.

As a fan of the Rifles from the get-go, I thought it was “Roman Beach Party” that showed they’d really come to grips with the studio. Foot-to-the-floor Rifles got the crowds shaking live, but sometimes the wry observations were buried under all that Sturm und Drang. You had to listen hard to appreciate what they were saying on the early records too. From here on in, you could hear Damo’s words - loud and clear.

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The Tote return!

Back at the Bowlo

The Living Eye

Right eye
The Stems
Australian East Coast Tour
*with special guests, Rinehearts
APR
24 – Crowbar Sydney, NSW*
25 – Gum Ball Festival, Hunter Valley, NSW
26 – Old Museum, Brisbane, QLD
Tickets

Nursery Crimes
+ The Herbal Lunatics
+ fun again!
+ The Darrans
+ Bugg Music
Marrickville Bowling Club
- Apr 26
Tickets

I-94 Bar Records and Promotions presents
The Johnnys
"Live in Lyon" CD launches
MAY
+ Van Ruin
Old Manly Boatshed, NSW
-24
Tickets
+ Van Ruin
+ Dave Favours & The Roadside Ashes
Sydney Crowbar, Leichhardt, NSW
- 25 (5pm)
+ Australian Beefweek (public bar)
Tickets
+ Murray’s Bay Country Club
+ Traumaboys
St Kilda Bowls Club, VIC
- 30
Tickets
+ Penny Ikinger’s Marbles
+ The Vibrajets
- 31 The Tote, VIC
Tickets

I-94 Bar Records and Promotions presents
“May Mayhem”
The Jane Does
+ Jupiter 5
+ Moot
+ The Strike-Outs
(playing order TBD on the night)
Marrickville Bowling Club
- May 3
Tickets

Missing Link # 5
The Bluebottles
+ The Wraylettes
+ Honk
+ The Missing Link Band
Shotkickers, Thornbury, VIC
- May 3

Mike Rudd + Tim Gaze
MAY
2 - The Citadel, Murwillumbah, NSW
Tickets
3 - The Junk Bar, Brisbane, QLD
Tickets
4 - Banshees Bar, Ipswich, QLD
Tickets

The Mick Medew & Ursula 4
w/ Painters & Dockers
+ Sunny Coast Rude Boys
The Triffid, Brisbane
- May 24

The Blowers
MAY
AUS
9 - Adelaide - Grace Emily Hotel
w/ HAGO +
Juliette Seizure & The Tremor-Dolls
10 - Adelaide - TBC
w/ Street Legal
+ TGRX
EU
21 - GER – Leipzig, Zwille, Germany
22 - GER – Dortmund, Maschinerie, Germany
23 - BE – Liège, La Zone, Belgium
24 - NL – Den Haag, Sniester Festival, Netherlands
25 - BE – Menen, Boegie Woegie, Belgium
27 - GER – Karlsruhe, Alte Hackerei, Germany
28 - CH – Basel, Quarterdeck, Switzeland
29 - GER – Köln, Bumann & Sohn, Germany
30 - GER – Hamburg, Hafenklang, Germany
31 - GER – Berlin, Loge, Germany
JUN
AUS
20 - Shotkickers, Melb
21 - Trash Cult, Bendigo
09 - Grace Emily, Adelaide
10 - The Cumby, Port Adellaide

The Cruel Sea
"Straight Into The Sun Tour"
MAY
1 - Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide SA
2 - Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne VIC
3 - Canberra Theatre, Canberra
16 - Anita’s Theatre, Wollongong NSW
18 - The Tivoli, Fortitude Valley QLD
31 - City Recital Hall, Sydney NSW
JUN
5 - The Regal Theatre, Perth WA
7 - Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, Mandurah WA.
Tickets

Cherie Currie
Australian Tour
with Hot Machine
SEP
5 - Rosemount, Perth
6 - Crown and Anchor, Adelaide
11 - The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
12 – Sydney Crowbar
13 – Brisbane Crowbar
Tickets

Dead Kennedys
Australia and NZ
SEP
16 - Auckland, Powerstation
17 - Wellington, Meow Nui
19 – Melbourne, Northcote Theatre
20 - Brisbane, Tivoli
24 - Perth, Astor Theatre
26 - Adelaide, The Gov
27 - Sydney, Metro Theatre
Tickets