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To coincide with the 34th anniversary of AC/DC's 'It's A Long Way To The Top' film clip, an estimated 20,000 Melburnians took to the streets on February 23 in protest of the Brumby Government's liquor licensing regime. Photos by ROBERT CARBONE.
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I dig #19, the photo of My Disco + Something For Kate + Amanda Palmer + Angie Hart (I think?)
Pic # 2 is awesome.
''Lifestylers give me THE CRAMPS'' - fucking brilliant!
And Michael Noga and Ned Collette behind.
I support this protest as much as anybody, but there is no way that there were 20,000 people there.
Not to imply that there weren't a lot of people there -- heck, at the height, it probably did reach around 10,000 -- but there's no need for such blatant exaggeration.
It happens with pretty much all protests, I find, and it never ceases to bug me.
Fuck you, AC/DC!
Did anyone get a photo of Tote Amanda Palmer with the other Amanda Palmer? Photoshop does not count.
NO! They were miles apart. I was thinking the same thing but Dresden Doll's Amanda spent most of the march holding the banner out front, while our beloved local Amanda was with the Tote Ex-Staff section somewhere in the massive crowd.
rumpled
I reckon I am pretty good at estimating crowds, and there was 20,000 people.
If we can get an aerial pic it should be easy to work out.
Mad props to everyone who turned up, but what's with all the AC/DC hate?! they're not political and never have been so what did you expect. They've done more for Australian music than just about any other Australian musician ever. They never asked for a lane to be named after them. Leave them the fuck alone.
does acd/dc get an apra payment from this?
;/
i sort of feel sorry for the band members of ac/dc. it's a long list of contraints if you want to rock'n'roll... in their league. when touring the five ac/dc's have all sorts of 'risk management' constraints on them - what they can and can't do eg. to prevent angus breaking a pinky - because they're insured to the hilt. But it didn't stop some of them turning up quietly in ac/dc lane the other night.
so maybe not fuck you ac/dc, but fuck you ac/dc insurers and risk managers?
and they didn't deny attendance and allowed the rally to use their brand, so in their own quiet way they helped
they could have at least made a statement. or posed for a photo. anything really.
They could've but it also could've hijacked the whole event and changed the focus.
You can't love AC/DC for being a big dumb glorious rock band and then hate them because they didn't turn into Bono/Sting/Geldolf when we demand them to.
I did wonder about the possible APRA payment they might get though for the use of their song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R96xeEUnuao
That gives you a pretty good view of the whole crowd
great photo story messandnoise
the liberals love live music bit is ...rich
rumpled - if you go to the footy and see what 60,000 people look like, then 20,000 at the SLAM Rally isn't such a blatant exgageration
That was such an amazing experience I was still buzzing 24 hours later. My extensive photograph gallery of 320 photos of the SLAM RALLY are available for your viewing pleasure on my Pro Photographer FLICKR website. Their are many more photos of the signs, the crowds, the stars, etc.
Full screen slideshow:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carbiewarbie/sets/72157623368003431/show/
Or individual photo views (click the magnifying glass icon and select the largest view):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carbiewarbie/sets/72157623368003431/
I have also posted them (in a smaller size) on Facebook in two parts (due to a restriction in Facebook).
These photographs have been having a TAGGING frenzy, since I started posting them. Plus their has been so many comments from people not only in Australia but as far away places as England, Brazil, Berlin and France.
Part One on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2040183&id=1412243401&l=76f37c0083
Part Two on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2040241&id=1412243401&l=3669ff69f8
It was such an amazing day and I am so glad to have been able to document it. A big shout out to my assistant, Nikki Williams who helped me photograph the event from different angles to provide greater coverage.
I put up a 3 parter of walking the rally if anyone recognises themselves :)
Part 1 - Swanston to Bourke - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cWVYw8uN2A
Part 2 - Bourke to Parliament - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gii8sNHmYE
Part 3 - Performance at Parliment - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEtukWMs3Js
No, but Evo got a photo of Carbie & Chuma:
I have had other photographers crack it at me for taking photos of them, so I wasn't going to say anything about it. I need to get a smaller belt.
I'm too fugly to be photographed BUT I do LOVE the photo that Jason Evans took of me in front of the banner on the day. :)
does Evo and Fred Negro share the same wigmaker?
They are in costume for Fred's new band ''Little Freddie and the Pops'' a 60s pop band that sings original songs. They are playing with the Rebells in April.
Rumpled I have to ask how'd you calculate the crowd size? Did you do a head count? Perhaps you've got a Cert IV in estimating large crowd numbers? I am always amazed by people's estimates about crowd size. From small, medium to huge crowds the estimates always differ wildly. Like the Tote protest. Ive heard 6 widely different figures. And then there's the mainstream media's seeming tendency to down-play protest numbers. For SLAM I lean toward a larger estimate...I'm saying 20,000+ but that might be because of my own political motivation. I think the truth is human beings are not very good at accurately estimating any crowd size over about 50 people.
Good result everyone who went anyway....kudos.
My way of estimating crowd size - count 10 x 10 people in a close group and then apply that grid across the entire crowd from the aerial pics.
From my estimate of the crowd there was 18,000 - 22,000.
Or, imagine the Corner Hotel at capacity (800) and multiply that.
There were a lot of people indeed.
I've put up a few of my photos at Long Exposure
...including some smoking liberal MPs... hmmmm...
The ACT Government is now consulting. Apparently, many complaints about noise have been issued.
The Standing Committee on Planning, Public Works and Territory and Municipal Services tabled an interim report for its inquiry into Live Community Events on 10 December 2009. The Committee’s final report will be presented by the last sitting day in June 2010.
Wow. Thanks basil. Keep 'em coming, folks.
pleasure!
Here is the facebook page.
Given the Canberra's:
I imagine anyone's experiences of how a lack of support from local authorities has harmed Sydney and Melbourne's music scenes would be well received. Even better would be evidence on how authorities can promote live music in our little hamlet.
thanks!
wah. i'll reformat for y'all.
Given the Canberra's:
+collective concern about actually having a soul;
+insecurity over being relevant compared to the cities it was positioned between; and,
+inability to let anything flourish without direct bureaucratic intervention,
I imagine anyone's experiences of how a lack of support from local authorities has harmed Sydney and Melbourne's music scenes would be well received. Even better would be evidence on how authorities can promote live music in our little hamlet.
thanks!
Update - press release that went out today:
S.L.A.M / Fair Go 4 Live Music / Music Victoria
THE LINK BETWEEN LIVE MUSIC AND HIGH RISK STILL EXISTS.
THE GOVERNMENT ARE CAUGHT UP IN RED TAPE.
THE DIRECTOR OF LIQUOR LICENSING IS UNAPOLOGETIC ABOUT THE DAMAGE TO LIVE MUSIC.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO APPLY PRESSURE TO ENSURE THE LINK IS REMOVED.
The post-rally hard work has begun.
Since Melbourne's devoted music community hit the streets in their tens of thousands for the S.L.A.M Rally in late February, S.L.A.M (Save Live Australia’s Music), Fair Go 4 Live Music and Music Victoria have been working on the implementation of the ‘Live Music Accord’ struck with the Victorian Government.
The first item of business is the rollback of ‘High Risk Conditions’ imposed on licensed music venues. A form now exists for licensed music venues to apply for the removal of these conditions which can be viewed here.
Both S.L.A.M and Fair Go 4 Live Music will continue to work together on the removal of ‘Live and Amplified Music’ in the entire liquor licensing system as is agreed in the Live Music Accord. It is our strong belief that Victoria's musical culture and heritage should not be used as an identifier or viewed as a precondition for violence, anti-social behaviour or excessive alcohol consumption.
The link between live music and ‘high risk’ still exists. To remind the Victorian Government of the community concern about the threat to live music, the Fair Go 4 Live Music petition will be presented to Parliament in April by six generations of well-known Victorian musicians. The petition is available to view and download here.
A document will be placed on the S.L.A.M website explaining in more detail the opportunities created by the Live Music Accord. A copy of the Live Music Accord can be viewed here.
At the local Government level, S.L.A.M., Fair Go 4 Live Music and the newly established contemporary music industry peak body Music Victoria have engaged councils to assist in the development of several policy and local Government initiatives, including a public forum with the City of Yarra looking at the needs of live music and the development of a support strategy for the music industry in the City of Melbourne. The latter will include a close look at the policies and initiatives that the City of Austin, aka 'The Live Music Capital of the World', has implemented. This support strategy is being developed by Shane Homan (Monash University) and Dobe Newton (NMIT).
thankyou for this update. any more info on the city of yarra public forum?
April, we believe. Will post back with date and details when we know.
so um, did the rally actually achieve anything yet?
Yep g-s, plenty achieved but still keeping pressure on the Government to implement many of the objectives as outlined in the Live Music Accord.
Update on the petition below. If you have copies of the petition at home or work, please send them to the address on the petition asap.
S.L.A.M / Fair Go 4 Live Music / Music Victoria
Over 20,000 Victorians demand that ‘high-risk’ conditions be de-linked from live music.
PETITION DELIVERY WEDNESDAY APRIL 7TH 2010
12.30pm Parliament House, Melbourne
Since the closure of The Tote Hotel in mid-January, the Fair Go 4 Live Music petition has been collecting signatures from music lovers all around Victoria, calling on the State Government to overturn the link between live music and ‘high risk’ conditions on liquor licenses for live music venues.
Melbourne’s musicians and music lovers marched through the city streets for the SLAM Rally on February 23rd and it’s time to return to the steps of Parliament with the delivery of the petition to the Legislative Council on Wednesday April 7th 2010 by various decades of well-known Victorian musicians.
The Victorian musicians who will be presenting the Fair Go 4 Live Music petition to Parliament are:
1930s - Harold Frith
1940s - Mike Rudd
1940s - Ross Wilson
1960s - Jon Von Goes
1970s – Kram
1960s - Clare Bowditch
1970s - Angie Hart
1980s - Dan Sultan
1980s - Evelyn Morris
More musicians to be confirmed.
Despite the signing of the Live Music Accord with the State Government, the link between live music and ‘high risk’ still exists. More disturbingly, no venues have had their high risk conditions removed since the signing of the Accord. The music industry and the public want to see real action on this issue. We want action, not just Accords. The threat to Victoria’s vibrant live music culture remains in place. The 22,000 signatures attest to the public support of live music. SLAM, FG4LM and Music Victoria will redouble their efforts to bring this issue to the attention of the public.
Is everyone invited to this?
For sure, come along if you are so inclined. Support from music lovers encouraged!
And The Elms is just down the street, Block :)
Hmm.
Small, re-sized photo from Australian Musician's Autumn issue but gives you a decent idea of the crowd size.
No musos from the 50s?
More musicians to be confirmed.
Gotcha. Good work on finding someone from the 30s, though.
Also: Hahahahaha. Ross Wilson is really old.
Good work on finding someone from the 30s, though
Modi, did you read that post? Harold Frith (from The Thunderbirds) was born in 1936. He still plays around town occasionally.
yeah, I read it, that's why I said ''good work'' not ''good luck''
And Ross Wilson is now even older.
A little student doco about the SLAM rally has popped up on youtube. Very nice.
Hi, I'm writing a piece for a magazine in Sydney about the music culture in Melbourne and wanted to include the SLAM rally. I was wondering if you have any high res images of the rally I could use for the article? Of course you would be credited and copy right would be taken care of. If you could please get back to me in the next few days as the printing date is fast approaching that would be fantastic. Thank you so much.