For Those Of You That Follow Waist High's Every Move...

My vacation to Palo Alto California and various other Silicon Valley locations was a gas. The lovely lady you see with this writer is "M." "M" was the most wonderful and most pregnant of hosts. "M" grew up representing the "805" and has been Waist High's friend for 26 years.

Here we are at the San Jose airport, Waist High wearing "the shoes." This photo was taken just 2 hours before returning to Portland and being picked up by a fellow who likes my hands. The D12 music aside, we spent the next 9 hours on what I believe now, was the perfect date.

We took a guided tour of Stanford University. If My Lovely Teenaged Daughter doesn't end up going there, I just might. It is an amazing place with so much history and I did not want to leave.

Hoover Tower.

Alex our tour guide.

Auguste Rodin's Burghers of Calais. Stanford has the largest collection of Rodin's outside of the Musee Rodin in Paris.

Last week was freshman orientation week. Over to the left was an entire quad full of incoming freshman eating their lunch.

A fraternity house.

So readers, if you are really smart, or you've got a kid who is really smart, and you are looking to spend $164,000 in just tuition alone, Stanford University is for you!

All photos courtesy of: The Waist High Collection

Were You Looking For "Cocksucker" Near Bakersfield, CA?

Or "Cocksucker" near Bakersfield Missouri, because Bakersfield Missouri is much smaller.

Hey Bake Town: I AM THE #1 "Bakersfield Cocksucker."
How is that for "Favorite New Search String"?

Photo courtesy of: home.mchsi.com

Living In The Eighties News.

THE HUMAN LEAGUE will now release their recently announced compilation Original Remixes & Rarities on November 7th.

HEAVEN 17 will play a very rare UK gig on November 29th at London's Scala. The show will be a full Heaven 17 concert and is part of the promotion for the bands forthcoming new studio album Before After.

INXS have named their new frontman. Canadian singer JD Fortune has won the chance to record an album with the legendary band and then tour with them via the TV reality show Rock Star: INXS. The band have already recorded a single, "Pretty Vegas," which will be sent to radio this week, and will start work on the album, already entitled Switch, immediately. A November 29th release date is already scheduled.

SIMPLY RED singer MICK HUCKNALL has started to re-record his entire catalogue in order to sidestep attempts by his former label, Atlantic, to make money from his original masters through advertising and film licensing. Although the label own the original masters of his previous material, Hucknall is recording new versions of the songs in a style very similar to the originals so that he is able to administer his classic catalogue himself and to some extent control the way his recordings are used.

BANANARAMA will release their new album Drama, described as "a luscious mix of electro beats, happy house, boogie nights and even the occasional ballad," on October 24th. The album also features remixes of two classic tracks: "Venus," remixed by SOFT CELL frontman MARC ALMOND, and the recent Solasso mix of "Really Saying Something." A new single "Look On The Floor" (Hypnotic Tango) follows on November 7th.

ERASURE will release a new DVD, Live in Cologne, later this year. The release will feature a staggering twenty five songs filmed at the Cologne show of this years "Erasure Show" tour, alongside three songs filmed on 2003's "The Other Tour" in Copenhagen, alongside a wealth of bonus material.

All material courtesy of: remembertheeighties.com
Photo courtesy: mute.de/artists/erasure

Quote Of The Week.

"You know you drink too much coffee when you have a coffee ground in your eye dumb ass!"

Oregon: Come For The Fishing...

Stay for the strip clubs.

Photo courtesy of: hottopic.com

Happy Birthday Bryan Ferry.

Bryan Ferry emerged as if from nowhere in 1972 when he launched Roxy Music on an unsuspecting but highly receptive world. The band was the ideal vehicle for his multifarious talents as composer, singer and visual artist - the wildly innovative music was presented via equally original artwork, costumes and stage shows.

Roxy Music crystallised the hippest style of the 70's, sophistication crossed with street credibility. A series of groundbreaking albums such as For Your Pleasure and Siren and hit singles like "Love Is The Drug" and "Jealous Guy" brought the group worldwide success, culminating in the album Avalon in 1981.

Ferry, starting with These Foolish Things in 1973, has meanwhile proved himself a masterful interpreter of other composers' songs with a series of solo albums. Since Roxy Music broke up in 1982 he has blended the two strands of his career into one, variously recording pop classics and his own material on the albums Boys and Girls, Bete Noire, Taxi and Mamouna.

His album of songs from the 1930's, entitled As Time Goes By, was released to commercial and critical success in 1999 and was nominated for a Grammy award. Since his solo release Frantic in 2002, Bryan has toured with a reformed Roxy Music and has continued with his own successful UK and International appearances. Bryan's latest release The Platinum Collection Album is in stores now.

Material quoted directly from: bryanferry.com

Happy Birthday Tracey Thorn.

Representing. Vol. 7.

Go Ahead. Sing It. "Do You Know The Way To..."

This writer will be peacing out for a few days, as she is off to the San Jose California area where she will:


Be spending time with the above lady, a friend for 26 years, who is due to have a baby any day now.

Be taking a golf cart tour of the above campus for her only child.

Finally get a chance to wear the above shoes. Cause folks, (insert sound of a record coming to a scratching stop) the rumors are true. Yes, you heard right, she has found "some suitable dirtbag to copulate with."

And he is picking her up at the airport on her return. And there is going to be booze.

Quote courtesy of: my #1 fan Jed
Photo courtesy of: Carlos by Carlos Santana via zappos.com

We've Got Quotes Coming Out The Yin Yang.

We've got:
"I thought you were about 43."

We've got:
"What did you say? You said you had a bag of vibrators?"

We've got this one:
"Hot damn. So I looked at that image, and thought 'I gotta send that to Chrissy!', and then I realized it was on your site."
(Referencing the below 'get loaded' photograph)

We've also got:
"Don't make me play the tampon card!"

What about:
"Stop calling them Echo and the Funnymen!"

We've got:
"That's your car? That's an old person's car."

Or this:
"You should go back to the kitchen where women belong."

We've also got:
"No. Worse. She's from Bakersfield."

We've got straight out of the mouth of the CPR trainer this week:
"Make sure you always owe someone money."

What about:
"Who the fuck knows why Yoko Ono hated her."

Here's one:
"Some of the best pot is grown in Oregon. So shut it."

But the quote of the week has to go to an elderly Waist High relative who, when asked by Waist High what she had been up to since the last time they spoke, said: "Oh. Not much. Killing spiders."

Happy Friday Fools!

Photo courtesy: moderndrunkardmagazine.com

Yes, I Know They Are Talking About Magma.

But "The bulge is rising" sounds like they are talking about something else and I just wanted...Nevermind.

Photo courtesy: Robert E. Ford via volcano.und.nodak.edu

Note To Self:

9th not good enough.
Must. Get. To. Top. Of. List.

Happy Birthday Mick Talbot.

Mick Talbot began his music career in the Merton Parkas who were all over by 1980. No matter though, for his talent had been spotted by Paul Weller and Kevin Rowland. Weller, inviting Talbot to join The Jam for Setting Sons, and Roland inviting him to join his Dexy's Midnight Runners.

After the breakup of The Jam, Weller wanted to incorporate more elements of soul, R&B, and jazz into his songwriting. In order to pursue this musical direction, he teamed up in 1983 with Talbot, who together became The Style Council.

Although the music was rooted in American R&B, it was performed slickly, complete with layers of synthesizers and drum machines, and filtered through European styles and attitudes. Weller's lyrics were typically earnest, yet his leftist political leanings became more pronounced. His scathing criticisms of racism, unemployment, Margaret Thatcher, and sexism sat uneasily beside his burgeoning obsession with high culture.

Released in March of 1983, The Style Council's first single "Speak Like a Child" became an immediate hit, reaching number four on the British charts. Three months later, "Money-Go-Round" peaked at number 11 on the charts. "Solid Bond In Your Heart" also reached number 11.

The Style Council released their first full length album, Cafe Bleu, in March of 1984. Two months later, a resequenced version of the record, retitled My Ever Changing Moods, was released in America. Cafe Bleu was their most successful album, peaking at number five in the U.K. and number 56 in the U.S. "My Ever Changing Moods" became their first U.S. hit, peaking at number 29.

In the summer of 1985, The Style Council had another U.K. top ten hit with "The Walls Come Tumbling Down." The single was taken from Our Favourite Shop, which reached number one on the U.K. charts. The record was released as Internationalists in the U.S.

A live album, Home and Abroad, was released in the spring of 1986; it went to number eight.

The Style Council had its last top ten single with "It Didn't Matter" in January of 1987. The Cost of Loving, an album that featured a heavy emphasis on jazz inspired soul, followed in February. Although it received unfavorable reviews, the record peaked at number two in the U.K.

In July of 1988, The Style Council released their last album, Confessions of a Pop Group. The record charted fairly well, reaching number 15 in the U.K.

In March of 1989, The Style Council released a compilation, The Singular Adventures of The Style Council, which reached number three on the charts.

The Style Council broke up in 1990.

Mick Talbot was included in the Dexys Midnight Runners reunion, who on September 17th 2003, played together in front of BBC TV cameras for the first time in 18 years.

He is currently a member of The Players.

"I am not a keyboard player, I am a Hammond player."
Mick Talbot

Material courtesy of: mp3.com/the-style-council

To the person who thought enough of Mick Talbot to purchase for me Introducing The Style Council in 1983 (which I still have), RIP.

Happy Birthday Jon Moss.

Has been found behind the drum kit: The Damned, Adam And The Ants, Sex Gang Children, Culture Club (1981-present).

Happy Birthday Dave Stewart.

One half of the most successful male/female duo in music history, technological master, producer, and recent Golden Globe winner.

Happy 37th Birthday Amy Langfield.

Still looking good!

Photo courtesy of: The Amy Langfield Collection

Shun [v]. To Slight Someone Deliberately. To Turn One's Back On.

Attention loyal readers:

1. Notice the color of the above building.
2. Notice the color of this website.
3. Notice who the principal contributor to this site is.
4. Notice who the owner of the largest collection of West High School photographs in the world is.
5. Notice that Waist High has made West High School world famous.
6. Notice that Waist High was not invited to be on her 20 year reunion committee.
7. Notice that she is pissed.
8. Notice her new website.

Photo of the West High School gym courtesy of: The Waist High Collection
(who else would it be courtesy of)

Living In The Eighties News.

KATE BUSH has announced details of her massively anticipated new studio album. The record, her first for twelve years, will be a double album entitled Aerial which will be released on November 7th preceded by a new single, "King Of The Mountain," on October 24th.

SIMPLE MINDS have announced the first details of an extensive world tour for 2006 which sees the band play shows in club sized venues. Currently the band's tour itinerary sees the group kick off the tour in Dublin on February 1st.

HOWARD JONES has delayed the release of his new album Revolution Of The Heart until October 10th, however a special limited edition version of the album will be released from the Howard Jones website on September 5th and can be pre-ordered now. The Australian version of Revolution Of The Heart will come with a bonus CD of remixes, including versions of "Things Can Only Get Better" and "What Is Love," but fans outside Australia will be able to buy these mixes on a special mid price CD release in early 2006 via the Howard Jones website.

MADNESS have lined up a short US tour in September. The band, currently working under the guise of The Dangermen, have now announced six US shows and it is thought that more gigs might be added shortly.

DEPECHE MODE have announced dates for the US leg of their forthcoming Playing The Angel tour. The band will kick off the twenty two date US and Canadian tour on November 2nd and finish on December 8th. The band will release two versions of their forthcoming new studio album Playing The Angel: a standard 11 track CD and a deluxe version which includes a bonus DVD. "Precious" will be released on two CDs and a DVD single.

EURYTHMICS are to release a new career spanning retrospective The Ultimate Collection which will also feature two new songs from the duo: "Was It Just Another Love Affair," and "I've Got A Life." The album is due for a November release and "I've Got A Life" will be released as a single on October 31st.

CHINA CRISIS will play a rare gig at Liverpool's Institute of Performing Arts on September 16th. The gig will be filmed and recorded for possible live release.

PAUL WELLER is to release another single from his forthcoming As Is Now album. The former singer for THE JAM and THE STYLE COUNCIL will release "Come On Let's Go" on September 26th on CD and two limited edition 7" singles.

All material quoted directly from: remembertheeighties.com

Open Letter To Gustav of 94.7.

Dear Gustav,
It was at of all places the Portland Beer Festival that I had a discussion with a recent transplant to our area.

Our discussion took place just days after his move and he shared with me that he had already fallen in love with our fine city. One of the selling points was of course KNRK.

I told him how much I loved the station as well and, being a lady of 37 years, told him that I can somehow tolerate the newer alternative music that is played because BY GOD, hearing Joy Division and Killing Joke and The Stranglers on the radio again is well worth it.

I have always had a fondness for you Gustav. I even e-mailed you once to tell you that you sound so very much like Jed The Fish of my beloved KROQ in Pasadena California.

My fondness for you has grown exponentially as I have become more familiar with your musical tastes and BY GOD, they are exactly the same as mine. And you know what? When you are a DJ on a radio station in the town in which I live, that is a good thing.

My fondness was taken to an even deeper level when it was your voice that came on the air and said that the song that had just been played was the brand new Depeche Mode single "Precious," which by the way, I think is one of their finest songs to date.

Gustav, but my fondness turned to love today when you said that not only had you not missed a Depeche Mode show in the City of Roses since 1987, but that BY GOD, Madness was coming to town.

Much love,
Waist High

Photo courtesy of: knrk.com via inmusicwetrust.com

Don't Ever Be Mistaken.

This is what happens here.

Exsqueeze Me?

Waist High's Doctor to Waist High at 11:37 this morning:
"I am sorry you think I am trying to be mean. That is not my intention. But like I said, no alcohol for the next 7 days while you are taking this medication."

"If You Have A Kid Who Goes To West High..."

Could it be that Waist High has found the greatest line from a blog entry from a blog entry not written by Waist High?

It's VERY possible, but "The BPD doesn't even carry mace..." is some tough competition.

Happy 17th Birthday Lovely Teenaged Daughter.

Photos courtesy of: The Waist High Collection

Note To The Furry Guy That Lives At My Place.

Hey thanks for waking me up this morning. I was having trouble getting out of bed and the sound of you violently throwing up really did the trick. Really got me moving. Have some more shampoo why don't you.

Photo courtesy of: The Waist High Collection

Lush: From The Old French Laschier, Meaning "To Loosen."

In case you were wondering:
1.There are more slang words for inebriation than there are for any other word in the English language.
2. You can hide the most horrid of hangovers from the man if you like to "loosen up" on worknights.

All material and photo courtesy of: moderndrunkardmagazine.com

It Was This Week In 1983...

that UB40 had their first UK No. 1 single with a cover of the Neil Diamond song "Red Red Wine," that Bake Town and I began our sophomore year at West High School in Bakersfield California, and The Eurythmics went to No. 1 on the US singles chart with "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)."

Gottschalks? On The Committee. Brocks? Not On The Committee.

From the Waist High vault comes the following transcript of Bake Town's interview of Waist High. This, before Bake Town got all famous and shit.

1. How does it feel to be the No. 2 Bakersfield blogger?
Do you enjoy badgering me BakeTown? Didn't I teach you everything you know? You may be the No. 1 Bakersfield Blogger, but I was the first. I am the O.G. You are Gottschalks, I am Brocks.

2. Why don't you write about where you live? Does it suck that bad?
The standard for "Blogging" is much higher here than it is for the Bakersfield community.

3. How in the hell do you know the birthday of every single 80's rocker?
Richard Blade speaks to me through my espresso maker.

4. Why do you think you developed OCD over West High?
Wouldn't you if you were in possession of the only copy of the poem "West High In Less Than An Hour"

The school's all green
The teachers are mean
They don't even keep the bathrooms clean

The freshmen look funny
The principal is a dummy
Mr. _______'s so old, he's almost a mummy

Mr. _______ is a ____
____ __________ makes me sick
When Chrissy lights up
_____ flicks her bic

5. What is your favorite thing to do when you visit Bakersfield? (Besides get drunk and going to Mexicali.)
I have been taking walks on the same route since 1988. I did it to loosen up my baby box when I was pregnant with My (Now) Lovely Teenaged Daughter. (More than getting drunk), it is what I look forward to the most. It begins in Westwood Estates, winds back through eastern Amberton then through Kern City, past Sundale Golf Club and then back down through Westwood. Most peaceful thing ever. Although sitting in the West High bleachers is a close second.

6. Do your friends in Oregon think you're as strange as your friends from Bakersfield do?
I don't have any friends in Oregon.

7. What is your fondest memory of your time in Bakersfield?
You really have to ask?

8. What do you miss most about Bakersfield after you haven't visited in a long time? (Besides getting drunk and going to Mexicali.)
The sun.

9. What is your reaction when you hear someone talking crap about Bakersfield?
I scare them with my crazy face. I cross my eyes. I tell them to move away because I know Judo. 

10. Oh, Keeper of the Sacred High School Memorabilia - When are we going to have our 1st blogger convention?
When I start getting some respect up in here.

(Keep in mind that Bake Town is now on the West High School Class of 1986 20 Year Reunion Committee. Keep in mind that they went ahead and forgot to invite Waist High to be on that committee. Keep in mind that Waist High is the owner of the world's largest West High School photo and memorabilia collection. Keep in mind that THIS WEBSITE WAS NAMED AFTER WEST HIGH SCHOOL.)

Photo courtesy of: The Waist High Collection

Happy Birthday Bruce Foxton.

Of: The Jam, Stiff Little Fingers, 3 Men & Black, Casbah Club. Discovered The Vapors.