Due to the unfortunate and selfish behaviour of those who have perpetually treated this site as a target for personal advertising and spam- I will now be locking the comments feature on all posts for the foreseeable future.  This is a shame as this site could have been a constructive site for those wishing to participate in a music related community environment.  I will leave some of the advertising so that examples remain of the extend of the misuse of my interest group site.

When I have time I will lock all comments for my exisiting blog entries.  This will probably not take place until next week as I am busy at the start of Jan and haven't the time to respond to ongoing notifications regarding comments that are invariably spam based.

Stephanie Lynne.  Webmaster.

Stephanie Lynne's Blog. 26th September 2011- Topics: Tony Sales' birthday!

Here's a copy of a special feature I have penned for American Chronicle to celebrate Tony F. Sales' 60th birthday. Link to original feature in full: -

www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/252254

'Incendiary Soul- A Short Biographical Vignette on the Life and Loves of Bassist Tony Fox Sales'.

By Stephanie Lynne Thorburn.

Pictured: 'Tony and the Tigers'. 1965. Band comprised: -

Tony Sales (vocals, rhythm guitar), Hunt Sales (drums), Jon Meredith (lead guitar), Jeffrey Alpert (bass).


"I thought it would be appropriate to write a short, illustrative vignette on Tony Fox Sales, musician extraordinaire at the advent of his 60th birthday, (26th September 2011.) Tony Sales has become an important friend to me, Stephanie Lynne Thorburn. Since writing an eBook on Tony and brother Hunt titled 'Quintessentially Soul Brothers', 2009, I have also created a resource page on the webjam server titled, 'Sales Brothers Definitive' to assimilate internet resources, archival footage and up-to-date content. Tony and I share a natural affinity for Zen Reiki and an interest in alternative humanistic spheres. I have documented Tony's career within the music industry in my eBook and Tony has not only cultivated a notable solo album 'Hired Guns', but has an extensive career, having collaborated with Iggy Pop, Todd Rundgren and David Bowie in Tin Machine. He also has a healthy interest in acting, producing music and life-coaching,(especially sober life coaching.)

Other than 'Hired Guns', my favourite album of Tony's is Tin Machine II and I have a penchant for the musical textures conveyed in the song 'Amlapura'- hence the title of my alternative therapy website. Tony and Hunt Sales' father, Soupy Sales was a renowned comedian who sadly died in October 2009, (see my American Chronicle obituary)- although Soupy has certainly left a considerable legacy. Tony wields a distinctive Vigier bass, and is notably accomplished in playing/ composing music on guitar. He captured the imagination of the music media including Creem magazine with his all-star band 'Chequered Past' featuring Michael Des Barres, Nigel Harrison and ex- Sex Pistol Steve Jones. 'Tony and the Tigers' was Tony's first musical incarnation in Detroit 1965, hence plenty of nostalgic archival footage has been captured of the band on You Tube including 'When The Party's Over' and 'Day Tripper'; in fact the press on 'Tony's Tigers' already reflects the media's awareness of Tony's mesmeric looks- fortunately he also has always been equally blessed with an abundance of dexterous talent..

Tony's forte skills are very much in the domain of communication both through his spontaneous music and interpersonal resonance. Tony Sales developed positive interpersonal relationships with James Williamson and David Bowie during his heyday and these innate communicative skills have certainly enhanced his musical career.

Undoubtedly Tony F. Sales has many loves in his diverse life, not least of all a true 'Lust for Life', having overcome his near-fatal coma following a road accident in 1979, he has developed an understanding of the value of human life itself. He is certainly a lover of music, (especially Stax and David Bowie,) he loves spirituality, women and I'm pretty sure his greatest love is for his family, (including brother Hunt and his now adult children Tony and Valentina..)

Enjoy a wonderful birthday Tony!

Stephanie Lynne Thorburn, September 2011

Article also posted to BowieNet blogs.

Hunt & Tony Sales, homepage pic www.thesalesbrothers.com and cover image for 'Hired Guns'.

The David Bowie resource site, BowieZone is now back up and running, with some great features.  Plenty of information on Bowie's colleagues is included on the site, with Hunt and Tony Sales' wiki entries detailed.  The site also includes plenty of evocative pictorial and interview content.

Hunt Sales page BowieZone:

http://bowiezone.com/#/hunt-sales/4548587144

Tony Sales page BowieZone:

 http://bowiezone.com/#/tony-sales/4549360570

- BowieZone is currently featuring a new interview with Hunt Sales. I read this feature with interest- it certainly offers some novel substance and is a suitably informative and albeit mercurial insight into Hunt's distinctive bio, key recordings and working relationships. Excellent stuff!

http://bowiezone.com/#/hunt-sales/4550872429

Stephanie Lynne Thorburn.

Some excellent new content on Tin Machine, including interviews and rehearsal footage on Youtube.  I've not seen this material previously- well worth watching!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNfFRnAYCy0

Stephanie Lynne Thorburn.

There is an excellent online resource page for Tin Machine and Sales Brothers music.  The facility is similar to a true online juke box and well worth a visit!

Tin Machine & Sales Brothers music resource page: -

http://wn.com/David_Bowie__Tin_Machine__Bus_Stop

Here's a thread about the recent NAMM show in Los Angeles.  The thread from Jan 2011 features a lovely photo of Tony Sales with Patrice Vigier: -

http://www.vigier.co.uk/forum/message.php?id_question=3470

The Sales Brothers from:  http://www.thesalesbrothers.com

Tony F. Sales now has a page and professional profile on Linkedin.  The details of this work in Tin Machine, with Iggy Pop and Todd Rundgren are all detailed chronologically: -
 
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tony-f-sales/2b/a39/827
 
Further, Tony's wiki page has been updated with info and links to his page at Vigier guitars.  Tony Sales has played a Vigier bass since the 1980's, (Passion bass Custom in Burgundy and Passion bass Custom in Clear Black.)  : - 
 
http://www.vigierguitars.com/page/fiche_artiste.php?id=228&lettre=s

Some more inspiring interview material and You Tube goodies for Tin Machine dedicates: -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rZ239KZTUU

 An interesting discussion thread on The Word blogs about Tin Machine from 2010.  Some evocative points including thoughts regarding the concept of perfectionism. Yes, I agree that perfectionism is a real defect in the creative spirit and may at times indicate insecurity.

http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/tin-machine-discuss

There is a marvellous resource page for Tin Machine on World News Network.  The page contains a wide selection of video footage and interview clips, of which, a certain proportion I have not seen before myself...  Very glad to have sourced this content.  Enjoy: -

http://wn.com/Tin_Machine

I have been busy updating my BowieNet blog with a range of news items.  Quite a bit of content related to the Sales Brothers naturally and I have posted links to some unreleased Getty images through my blog.  These images pertain to both studio and live Tin Machine content- some shots from the 'It's My Life' tour and an early New York photo shoot.  I have respectfully placed links only to my blog and further details can be attained direct on the Getty site.

So, do keep an eye for developments on my BowieNet blog- an iTunes link also included to show some support for Bonnie Pointer's 'Like a A Picasso'  2010; Tony Sales I believe assisted Bonnie with this track: -

Stephanie Lynne BowieNet blog link- (2nd post pertains to Tin Machine, otherwise, there is also plenty of David Bowie content): -

http://www.davidbowie.com/blog/index.php?user=stephanielynne

Tin Machine- From Tony Sales' Personal Collection on Flickr Gallery. See: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thesalesbrothers