Happy birthday, Ray Brandes!

Detail: Town Criers at Joshua Tree, 1989 (collection Ray Brandes)Perhaps the most satisfying aspect of the Che Underground blogging adventure has been the opportunity not only to revive longstanding friendships but to revisit old acquaintances and find new kinship there.

Case in point: Ray Brandes, the vastly talented veteran of the Hedgehogs, the Mystery Machine, the Tell-Tale Hearts, the Town Criers, the Shambles and a variety of superb solo projects, who celebrates another solar orbit today.

Ray and I weren’t what you’d call “close” as angry young men in the early ’80s. Since starting this blog, however, his beautiful writing, wit, wisdom, historical knowledge and diplomacy have rendered his friendship precious to me.

Happy birthday, Ray, and thanks for the do-over!


Music history from Ray Brandes:

Music and culture by Ray Brandes:

12 thoughts on “Happy birthday, Ray Brandes!

  1. Someone dropped a zoo! haha. Too bad we can’t have a Farrell’s Che Reunion. Wouldn’t that be fun? -- with our kids!

    Have a very happy birthday Ray. It’s been neat getting to know you as an adult.

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  2. Happy birthday, Ray!

    Yes, group vacation to the Hawaii Farrell’s. We can celebrate with kazoos and fire sirens!

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  3. Damn. Yes. Cool.

    Glad you made it this far, Ray -- and many happy returns.

    The Brandes/Rothenberg axis which seems so natural, now on this blog, would have startled a 19-year-old Jerry. With age, let us all hope we grow as much out of ourselves, as one does in to one’s self.

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  4. Thank you, Matthew and everyone else! This post was the best present I received today.

    >> With age, let us all hope we grow as much out of ourselves, as one does in to one’s self.

    Eloquently and cleverly stated, Jeremiah.

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  5. Just like the Farrell’s staff singing “Happy Birthday” without a visit from ASCAP lawyers, Dave’s flyer promising a “lighted candle and all” clearly predates these litigious times.

    When we first moved to New Jersey, a big treat for our homesick daughter became regular visits to the Rainforest Cafe at the Menlo Park Mall in Edison, NJ. (More proof that parenthood involves compromise!)

    And a highlight of the Rainforest Cafe experience was “the Volcano,” a hot fudge/ice cream/chocolate cake concoction topped with a lighted sparkler. The wait staff would run out while the sparkler sizzled, yelling “Volcano!” as if Mount Vesuvius were erupting right there in the restaurant. Quite pyrotechnic and satisfying for a young kid.

    Apparently this was at odds with fire-safety laws, however. One day, the sparkler atop the Volcano was replaced with a tinsel pom-pom on a stick, rendering all the running and shouting completely pointless, except as conceptual art.

    Ray: I wish you real sparks in the coming year, whatever the fire department says! 🙂

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  6. Happy Birthday, Ray!
    On these occasions, I often recall
    “…but I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now…”

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  7. I’m late to say it, too, but Happy Birthday, Ray! I’m glad you were born. Right around the time I found this site, I happened to pick up at my local record store 2 Brandes CDs. It’s been a pleasure hearing your music again and chatting with you a little here after all these years.

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  8. Happy B-Day Ray

    Not sure if yours is the 19th or 20th?

    My twin boys turned 10 on the 19th. What a great day we had and man are my kids cool.

    So are you Ray

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