that is distressing news. they were one of the best bands i've ever seen live; at the Fillmore @ '93, they came out - just 5 guys, some amps and a drum kit, nothing more - and just blew the place to bits. i was astounded at the organic amount of Rock contained collectively within those 5 ordinary-looking blokes.

no, they haven't put out anything very good in way too many years, but Diesel and Dust is tremendously solid all the way through. Blue Sky Mine is excellent. Earth Sun & Moon has some great ones on it, too....but i quote here from the stellar liner notes of the Scream In Blue Live CD:

"I remember them alright. Prospect Hill Hotel, Melbourne, a hot summer's night in 1980. The crew wasn't saying much, but the three-inch nails being used to secure the equipment to the stage should have alerted me to the forthcoming onslaught. I watched with fascination as the monitor engineer tuned the lead singer's wedges whilst standing on top of a box. On questioning him he replied with a smug, "You'll see." An ominous warning, but what the heck, it was only a 'one off' job for the day, just another band, it couldn't be that bad. Custer probably made the same observation.

That night a gargantuan figure cavorted recklessly across the stage ducking and weaving around three manic guitarists assome lunatic at the rear was trying his hardest to destroy the drumkit i had laboriously assembled in the afternoon. Two hours later i stood among the ruins, soaked in sweat, and still unsure of what i had witnessed. I collected my day's pay and contemplated a safer career as a mercenary in a war zone somewhere.

Nothing replaces the atmosphere, but if you turn the volume knob to 11, put on three sweaters and jump up and down for a couple of hours, you can get pretty close..."

well, another great band packs it in, but i'm sure we haven't heard the last of Mr. Garrett. another run for Parliament, perhaps? thanks for all the great rock and roll, guys.