IN THIS ISSUE OF COSMIK DEBRIS: We're completely thrilled to present our interview with the one and only Dr. Demento! And Jazzed to present Jerry Granelli, drummer for the Vince Guaraldi Trio (Charlie Brown Theme) and many other jazz greats. We also present our annual picks of our favorite music of the year just past. Plus our monthly columns by Rusty Pipes, David Walley, Gary Pig Gold and Kenny Love, and another stack of reviews.

COSMIK RADIO!: We have an hour of genre whiplash sure to hold your interest and introduce you to plenty of music you might never have heard otherwise. You just need a RealAudio Player to listen. If you don't have one, go pick one up. Cosmik Radio is just the kind of Net-Only audio that radio station program directors don't want you getting hooked on. So go ahead. Inhale!

DR. DEMENTO - He's been a fixture of radio all across America and elsewhere since the early 1970s, making us laugh, guffaw, and even think. But Barry Hansen, a.k.a. Doctor Demento, is much more than just the wacky dude who brings you the Funny Five. He is also one of the top authorities on the history of recorded music. In this interview, the good doctor looks back on that rich history. Interview by Rusty Pipes.

JERRY GRANELLI - From the whimsy of The Vince Guaraldi Trio to the controlled chaos of Ornette Coleman, this jazz drummer has covered the spectrum. He took time out from his latest project to talk with John Sekerka.

THE BEST MUSIC OF 1999 - The Cosmik Debris writers name their favorite releases of the year just past.



CD & RECORD REVIEWS - Everything from punk to jazz.

EVERYTHING ELSE IN REVIEW - This month we have a few book reviews for you.



KENNY LOVE'S PERSPECTIVE - Kenny's perspective on that thing called "Payola".

CLOSET PHILOSOPHY with Rusty Pipes - Y2K post-hysteria got you down? Perhaps it's time to shun the hubbub.

WALLEY@WITZEND - By David G. Walley: Mr. Walley speculates on the leanings of the great American voter.

PIGSHIT - By Gary Pig Gold: Gary's ten favorite releases of 1999.



Did you miss an issue? We now have many of our back issues online, including sound clips and extras. Check out interviews with The Witches, Electric Frankenstein, the Vampire Beach Babes, Jeff Berlin, Curve, Michael Shermer, Steel Pulse, Transglobal Underground, Mark Helm, The Southern Rock All-Stars, Ottmar Liebert, Jason Noble of Shipping News, Phil Vassar, Joel Dorn, Mark Cline of Love Tractor, Texas Terri (of Texas Terri & The Stiff Ones), Mike Keneally, Chris Shinn of Unified Theory, Alley of Wise Monkey Orchestra, Mario Escovedo of The Dragons, The Clarks, Big Ass Truck, Richard Cheese, Paul Krassner, Tony Iommi, Ron Dante... and too many more to list!!



If you will pardon me for just a moment, I require a brief period of star-struck freakout. OH MY GOD, DR. DEMENTO IN THE PAGES OF COSMIK DEBRIS!!! Thank you. I can't begin to tell you how satisfying it is to have published the words of my comedy heroes, including the late and wonderful Pat Paulsen, the thoroughly astonishing Firesign Theatre and, now, the good Doctor. Just know that every time I look at that interview, I burst out in silly, scary laughter, pumping my fist in the air and grinning ear to ear. It seems only appropriate that our second interview features a man who is forever tied to the Peanuts cartoons. Jazz drummer Jerry Granelli has occupied the drum throne for many important bands and leaders, but he's best known as the drummer behind "The Charlie Brown Theme" and many other wonderful bits of Peanuts music we've all grown up knowing. Hmmm. Dr. Demento and Charlie Brown... well, not quite, but it does give our first issue of 2000 a bit of kinky whimsy, don't you think? Finally, we offer our picks for the best music of 1999. We hope you agree with some, have a good time throwing cabbage at the screen over some, and most importantly, discover something new as a result.

That's the happy part of what I want to say this month. On the other side of the coin, there has been a lot of sadness lately. It seems that we're losing giants at a rapid pace. In the past few months we've lost Rick Danko, Milt Jackson, Doug Sahm, and, among others, Nat Adderley, who passed away just hours before this writing. I could write a book about the historical importance of all of these people, but I want to say a special farewell to someone who totally changed the face of music and brought about social consciousness in the process. Curtis Mayfield's passing is a gigantic loss for humanity. Beginning with The Impressions in the turbulent 60s, Curtis' voice of empowerment, honesty and love came to us through our radio's speakers, and when he went solo, the messages became clearer. "Beautiful Brother Of Mine," "We People Who Are Darker Than Blue," "(Don't Worry) If There's A Hell Below We're All Going To Go" and many other songs became anthems or food for thought for people of all races. His "Superfly" soundtrack spoke of the street trap long before it was in vogue to do so, but then that was Curtis. In 1990 he suffered terrible injuries when a light rig came loose in a storm and fell on him as he performed an outdoor show in Brooklyn, New York. A Quadriplegic ever since, he never seemed to feel sorry for himself or grow bitter in the least.

I had the unforgettable honor and pleasure of interviewing Curtis for the December, 1996 issue of Cosmik. I have never forgotten a word of it, but the thing that will always stand out in my memory is the fact that the man was genuinely positive despite what had happened to him. I asked him about having to record his vocals strapped upside-down so gravity would imitate the diaphragm he no longer had. His response was that it wasn't as difficult as it sounded. I asked him about coping with no longer being able to play guitar, and while he admitted that he sometimes mourned that loss, he was very pleased that several producers had kept his guitar sounds sampled for him for future use. And when the tape had stopped rolling and I asked him how he maintains such a sunny outlook, he said "if I cried and fussed, when I was done I'd still be in the same situation, only a lot sadder, now, wouldn't I?" The man who only needs his first name to be recognized was 57 years old when he passed, and he will be so sorely missed.

That's about it for now. See you next month.

DJ Johnson
Editor