This week, Ezy Reading has turned to the deepest darkest archives of rock to bring all you nostalgia-hunters a peek at the very first ‘Monthly Seed’ from May of 1999, which was the monthly newsletter of Sydney outfit Appleseed.

Personally, as manager of the band during that period, it is quite a trip to look back upon what was an especially fun, exciting time in my life and of the band members, filled with plenty of promise and hope about the band’s future potential.

Well, as they say, life can sometimes get in the way of things, and so it did for Appleseed, but not before they had managed to secure a dedicated fan following, released a number of well-received CD’s, and engaged in all those necessary hard-work road trips, smoke-filled-room pub gigs and endless hours in the recording studio to have at the very least earned their ‘rock and roll stripes’.

Seven years on, some of us are still involved in the music industry, others have moved on to other fields, and others still are –at the behest of that rock and roll lifestyle- happy, proud fathers and well settled into a life of domestic bliss. The years sure can zip by, and I could have sworn it was just yesterday we were jumping up and down and yelling in delight when the band’s debut single, Speedway Boy first received radio play.

Oh, for those salad days of rock and roll!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE  MONTHLY
SEED

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
the monthly update on the latest in APPLESEED music news                                       No.1, Vol.1,
  May 1999
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CD SINGLE LAUNCH SCHEDULED FOR MAY 22, EXCELSIOR, GLEBE
Well the CD's are being run off  and the leadup gig dates still being finalised, but on Saturday May 22, 1999 at the Excelsior Hotel on Bridge Rd., Glebe, APPLESEED's forthcoming new single, 'Speedway Boy' will finally be launched. Special guests will feature as support acts, and we invite you and your friends to attend this much anticipated launch (see page three for your exclusive invitation and chance to win official APPLESEED merchandise.

A WORD OF WELCOME
Welcome, all, to this, the first APPLESEED newsletter. Over the next several months we'll keep you updated on all things APPLESEED, whether it be gig and venue dates, CD news, or APPLESEED promotions, competitions, or bios of band members and our most dedicated fans. To the friends and fans of APPLESEED we already know, thanks, and keep up the support. To new listeners, we hope you become a convert, and that this newsletter wets your interest on the road to becoming a true 'SEED fan.

THE STORY SO FAR...

• Instrumentation:
APPLESEED is a four piece Sydney rock band. Their line-up includes lead and backing vocals, guitars, drums and bass. In addition, APPLESEED incorporate other instruments into their music, including brass and percussion, which adds that extra bounce to their live performances.

• Brief History
Since March, 1998, APPLESEED have been playing at various Sydney venues, including The Northpoint Tavern (Nth. Sydney), The Annandale Hotel, The Green Square Hotel, The Broadway Hotel, The Excelsior Hotel (Glebe and Surry Hills), and recently supported The Porkers and Front End Loader at Sydney University, and Died Pretty at The Northpoint Tavern. In March of 1999, APPLESEED supported Pollyanna for one of their Sydney shows at Sydney University.

• Live Competitions
 APPLESEED were Grand Finalists at the 1998 UNSW Band Competition, and
winners of the 1998 Sydney University, NSW University and UTS College Band Competition at Selina’s (Coogee Bay Hotel).

• Recordings
APPLESEED recently appeared on a CD compilation entitled “Launch Pad” (Springboard Promotions, Brisbane) and also appear on the Damien Gerard Studios based compilation, ‘Grow Your Own IV’ (Foghorn Records, Sydney). Both of these CD's have received air time on JJJ.

On May 22, APPLESEED will be promoting their new single 'Speedway Boy' as heard on JJJ.

---------------------------
UPCOMING DATES:
• April 28 we played a successful gig at the Excelsior in Surry Hills. Thanks to all those who made it!
•Keep your eye on Drum Media and the APPLESEED Website for other gigs as they come up (Look out for gigs at Sydney Uni and St. Paul's in late May!).
--------------------------------

'SEED FACTS! BELIEVE IT OR NOT...

As well as playing rhythm guitar and bass, Bob Trigg is also an accomplished LANDSCAPE GARDENER and holds a degree in SCIENCE!

--------------------------------
YOUR FREE INVITATION TO THE CD LAUNCH!
For your chance to win assorted prizes at the APPLESEED CD Single Launch in May, simply cut out the CD token below, write your name on the back, bring it along on May 22 and drop it in the token prize box at the Excelsior. Five tokens will be drawn at the door to determine prize winners during the evening.
---------------------------
APPLESEED CD LAUNCH MAY 22, 1999

THE EXCELSIOR HOTEL, BRIDGE RD., GLEBE
---------------------------
GET ON THE BLOWER!
Now that we've been fortunate enough to get some Triple JJJ airtime for 'Speedway Boy' YOU can help us out by continuing to request for it, either as part of the ‘Grow Your Own IV’ compilation or, during late April and in May, on it's own as the NEW SINGLE! Every bit of support helps!
-----------------------
STAY TUNED...
During mid-May Sydney will witness the launch of 'EQ Promotions', a new Sydney based promotions company. Though initially EQ will be specifically looking to promote up-and-coming independent bands from Sydney and other parts of Australia, look for the company to eventually feature not only unsigned bands and musicians, but young writers, filmmakers, and other talented (but as of yet, unknown) individuals from the world of arts and entertainment.
Keep reading the 'Seed News for more details in upcoming months...

SHAMELESS MERCHANDISING
APPLESEED offer a growing variety of merchandise which is sold at their gigs. If you want that special something for an upcoming birthday, romantic present, or just for yourself, get the 'look' with our 'SEED GEAR line of clothing and assorted items. See our website (details further below) for more details!

•APPLESEED T-Shirts- $15.00 Our most popular item, selling out quick (only large sizes left). Australian made.
•APPLESEED LIVE- You can now also purchase a live recording of Appleseed’s amazing performance at the 1999 St. Paul’s College INFORMAL, Sydney University. (cassette, $5.00)

•Keep a look out in May at the CD launch for the new APPLESEED Caps ($20) and Yo-Yo's ($10). The APPLESEED Doona Covers, Pewter Mugs and Designer Appleseed Swatch Watches will probably now not be produced due to a labour dispute involving Uruguayan factory workers and something about how we wouldn't be paying them enough so that they could buy food to survive... Sheesh! I mean define 'survive'! Anyway...

---------------------------
FAN OF THE MONTH!
James Day a.k.a 'Daisy', a.k.a 'Boy': A huge fan and stage diver since day #1, Daisy can be found patrolling at Longreef Beach and working at the Victoria Cross in North Sydney. Along with his dedicated little bro Will, this duo make sure any 'SEED gig is louder than it already is- keep an ear out for their signature whistles and roars at the next gig near you...
---------------------------

If you would like to receive THE MONTHLY SEED at home plus our  e-mail updates (or if you'd like to be taken off our mailing list- GASP!), then:

• CONTACT APPLESEED

ph: (02) 9572 7236
(EZY Management)

or e-mail us: appleseed_s@hotmail.com

or come see and hear us on the web at:
www.yourweb.com.au/appleseed

-------------------------------------

QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"So anyway, I was lying there, almost naked, in a pile of my own filth, high on all sorts of drugs and full of three bottles of bourbon. The fight had left me with a deep gash on my forehead that was bleeding profusely, and I was busy firing my gun into the wall because, semi-conscious on the shag carpet floor of the Los Angeles Hilton, I was hallucinating and thought that our first drummer had come back to life and was approaching me in a threatening manner with a rusty spoon. Room service didn't want to know me, but who wouldn't trash and set fire to their room if a BLT was served too cold, right? Then, just as the police and newspaper photographers burst into the room, tear gas smoking and cameras flashing, I had a moment of absolute clarity. And, in that brief moment I had to smile. It was all so clear. A warm wave of realisation washed across me. Hey...
Fuck, man... this was rock and roll..."
Tim Elder, Appleseed, May 1999
-------------------------- 

SEE YOU ALL AT THE CD LAUNCH!!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ezy Reading is out every Monday (…Well, okay, sometimes on a Tuesday but heck, we’re trying!)