I told myself when posting “Hasta La Vista CKCU-FM” on my blog that I was not going to say another word, including not responding to any of the public responses people might make, either positive or negative. I have not nor am I going to do so. I truly want to focus on finding my new sandbox instead.
What I didn’t anticipate was that hundreds of people would reach out to me – via my FB page, private message, email, in person, by phone, by video chat, etc. This…I definitely want to respond to!
I am humbled by your messages of support, and am truly grateful to be part of a world-wide community of sensitive, caring people, artistic, passionate, intelligent and just all-round good peeps to have, especially now, especially in these weirdest of times.
First off: I am OK, physically and mentally. I really appreciate the folks who asked and who expressed their concern. I get it; it’s a big change-of-life time. It is really hard to let go of something after 35 years, and it is not the first major loss of this particular year either. Younger folks don’t necessarily “get” this (you will eventually…trust me). That said, I really am OK. In hindsight, I should have let go of the bricks and mortar a number of years ago, but stubbornly pressed on, thinking this kind of institution mattered. I don’t really think so now. I am still able to do what I love, and touch base with discerning ears to help them get the platters they are looking for. I have a super solid world-wide network of connections that sustain all of us music freaks through these strange times. Who knows what the future will bring but for now, “I feel fine” with this latest change in my life, another letting go of what was.
Secondly: I had not really considered how other people would perceive and grieve this particular change as a loss, another changing of the times, end of an era. That it is, for sure. Things pass, things change, new things grow. Carol and I have been “blessed” – and I use that term specifically – because we both lost our parents, and grieved those losses hard. Who knew it would be a blessing in these strange times now, to not have to worry, to miss, to miss out, to struggle with not seeing, not knowing, not being able to help our loved ones during such a difficult time. So strange to think that already being apart from our parents turned into a blessing. I guess that is why I think about that, about how we can’t ever know the positives that come out of a huge negative. How we just have to keep on keeping on sometimes, in order to eventually discover the hidden silver lining life offers. Sometimes it takes years to figure that out.
And finally, but not last and not least: what an amazing community of people I have known in my life! Some of you I haven’t heard from in a long time, and I truly appreciate you reaching out. Others have my back (and I have yours) on a more regular basis. But as I said above: what you have in common is that you are passionate, intelligent, artistic, caring peeps and I know you make my life and this world a better place. That for me has been a highlight of 2020.
This is not a typical Johnnie Feck kind of post; not normal circumstances (I hope!); likely not often, if ever, to be repeated. And yet totally worth sharing with you all today. I really appreciate your support, messages and friendship; thanks for being there. I hope that as 2020 draws to a close that you too are able to count the unusual blessings, the unlooked-for blessings, and celebrate life and the change it offers to us.
JW
Mugstar...UK Space Rockers since 2003...never a dull moment! Ltd. Edition.
https://cful.bandcamp.com/track/zeta-potential
Alien Mustangs...Space-Psych trippers from Greece with a solid 60's influence ! Ltd. Edition
https://cful.bandcamp.com/track/darklands
https://cful.bandcamp.com/track/thing-is-rising
https://cful.bandcamp.com/track/power-to
https://cful.bandcamp.com/track/things-can-never-be-the-same-again
https://cful.bandcamp.com/track/how-my-heart-bleed-in-bleeding-heart-yard
https://cful.bandcamp.com/track/tragique-mechanique
Anyone who knows me knows that I am all about the vinyl, not downloads. Unfortunately I don’t have the money to make a large investment in ensuring that I can spin discs and record a professional quality show in my home for re-broadcast. Nor – to be honest – do I believe that I fit in with the new gang in charge of CKCU. To be sure, I am a “colourful” personality, but then again – a little respect for long-serving DJs would have been nice to have, and there doesn’t seem to be any understanding that “respect” is definitely a two-way street. Nice man Kwende, the new CKCU leader with his own particular vision of the future: he is intelligent and well-spoken, but clearly moving the station down a far more academic path, and IMO he is not really interested in hearing/having real discourse and tolerates no dissent. But purges of DJs are nothing new at CKCU, so I guess my time had simply arrived to feel the flagrant spin out the door, don’t let it hit your ass as it slams shut.
I will no longer be pulling in funding drive money through Friday Morning Cartunes; everyone else can make their own choice about whether or not YOU continue to support the new and definitely very different CKCU of the future.
For all the many music lovers out there who have listened to my shows over the years, and supported the former version of CKCU-FM through your seriously generous donations: thank you again from the bottom of my heart. It was a wild journey we were on, breaking boundaries in every decade. I was proud to associate myself with this venerable community institution. Times change indeed…nuff said on that closed door and smarting arse.
For the thousands of bands that I have spun, pushed and promoted – fear not: I will continue to spin, push and promote you through alternative venues. My whole world revolves around music and inspirational directions, past and present…nothing is going to change there!
And of course, I will continue to sell directly to the discerning ears out there; I have been surprised and pretty humbled with the level of support throughout all this COVID-shit, this world turned upside down-shit, and I am committed to keeping on sourcing and selling the best there is music-wise, past and present, via on-line and in-person encounters.
Everyone be safe out there, take care of yourselves and your family of loved ones, and basically…rock on!
JW
| The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol - Berserkir II (colour wax/dlc/double sided insert) Comet Is Coming - Prophecy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Comet Is Coming, The - Death To The Planet Melt Yourself Down - Last Evenings On Earth | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Craven Faults - Erratics & Unconformities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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I have hosted programs on Community radio now for 40 years starting at CHSR FM in Fredericton NB and then in 1985 at CKCU-FM here in Ottawa plus 2 years simultaneously at the Algonquin College radio station (pre-FM). At CKCU I have been Music Director, Program Director as well as Show Host for "No Future Now", Co-Host for both "Meltdown" and "New Revolutions" and several different general music programs. Since 1988 when I took over Friday mornings and "Friday Morning Cartunes" was born. In late March my friend Wayne Coulis asked if I'd be into doing FMC on Facebook and I said yes of course! That has been so much fun despite constant warnings from FB regarding copyright infringement (go fuck yourself fb!). Wayne and I turned it into a near daytime soap with KILLER visuals (thanks Wayne), live doggos (Hefe and Lebowski), on air drinking of local micro brews ever week with reviews, lots of foul language, political commentary and loads of great records spinning! The audience participation was AWESOME as well{:>)))) This too is coming to an end though, as FB, commencing October 1st, are enforcing very strict rules to curtail such "disrespectful and brash fun!💀 One may be banned for life from FB regarding the spinning of music and ignoring the copyright infringement shit. Fun killers indeed! I will figure out another way to program soon I hope, but for now, there will be "radio silence".
There is NO word at present on when we will get back into the CKCU studios. The CKCU annual funding drive is coming up at the end of October (seriously??) Just for the record, FMC listeners in the previous 4 years donated over $ 22, 000. in pledges because of the music they got on the show, week in and week out for decades. Friday Morning Cartunes has also been the # 1 "On Demand" program 7 out of the last 8 years! I find it fucking pathetic that some of us have not been allowed to do our programs (a number of other DJ's feel the same as I do btw!) . I would have had zero issues doing my program at the station since lockdown started the week after my last show! Ironically the last 5 years it has been on a rare occasion that there has been anymore than 2-3 of us in the entire station while my show is on and in fact many weeks, I neither saw nor spoke to anyone in person for the duration of the show! Hand sanitizer was installed in the place after SARS (remember that one)? Anyway, thanks to Wayne Coulis and his family for hosting me and being a great co-host on Friday Morning Cartunes Facebook version and I'm being honest, way more fun than the conventional method! Will I ever return to the airwaves to physically spin records on Friday mornings ? Who the fuck knows? Am I concerned...fuck no...anyways... be well out there!
Currently at this very moment I am listening to a ZOOM meeting from CKCU regarding funding drive and in my opinion, continuing to do my program, makes no sense any longer...there is NO underground or rebel spirit left...CKCU is now just conforming to fit the times and my skin crawls with the lack of historical perspective...👽
A small amount of what's in the shop at the moment...all titles ltd. Getting lots of new stuff every week! Get in touch if something tickles your fancy!
Elevator - August (expanded, dbl LP set, colour wax, ltd. edition)
CAN - Live 1970 (2xLP set and a top seller, 1st time official release 2020)
Zone Six - Any Noise Is Intended (2xLP) (Acid Test Records)
The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol - Berserkir Vol. II (Cardinal Fuzz/colour vinyl 2020)
Monoshock - Runnin' Ape-like From The Backwards Superman(1989-1995) (2xLP set) Cardinal Fuzz/feeding Tube
Herbcraft - Trash Heap (Cardinal Fuzz 2020)
The Heads - Reverberations Vol. 2 (Cardinal Fuzz 2020)
Rick Bain & The Genius Position - Keep It Glowing LP (Little Cloud Records)
Nest Egg - Nothingness Is Not a Curse LP (Little Cloud Records)
The Heliocentrics - Telemetric Sounds (Madlib Invazion Records 2020/top seller)
Randy California - Kapt. Kopter and the Fabulous Twirly Birds (1972) (Beauty repress on MOV)
Elkhorn - The Acoustic Storm Sessions (Cardinal Fuzz 2020)
The Left Outsides - A Place To Hide (Cardinal Fuzz/Feeding Tube 2020)
Korb - Korb II (The Weird Beard 2020 UK Ltd. Edition)
Acid Roulette - Depopulation (Dirty Filthy Records Ltd. Edition 2020)
Ancient River - After The Dawn (2020 The Acid Test/Little Cloud Records)
Prana Crafter - Morphomystic (2020 Cardinal Fuzz.Feeding Tube)
