Lifetime Achievement
Award Nomination
SAMA 2005
Nominee : Piet Botha
Index
Petition for nominee Piet Botha.
Who is Piet Botha?
Detailed Biography of Piet Botha and Jack
Hammer.
Discography.
South Africa’s Rock Hall of Fame.
A Good Friend of Mine Tribute to Piet
Botha 25 February 2006.
Individual motivations regarding Piet’s
contribution to the music industry.
Nomination for a Special Award
“This award goes to
individuals who have made
a unique and outstanding
contribution to the
growth,success and
sustainability of the
recording industry over a
number of years”.
We hereby petition you to
consider Piet Botha for this
Award for his outstanding
contribution to the music
industry in South Africa as
a whole!
Who Is Piet Botha?
Since the 1970s, Piet Botha (Born 18th July 1955) has been
working, playing and building a legendary reputation on the
South African rock scene. He began writing songs and forming
bands while still at school and then hooked up with Abner Smith
at university to develop their Acoustic duo. Botha then
connected with the members of Tusk (Doc Barendse, Dino
Salvatori and Derek Riley) to establish the band Raven. This
hard-rocking four-piece won the "Beat 79" nation-wide
competition for new rock groups and released the single 'Wheel
Of Fortune' B/w 'The Horseman' on David Marks' Third Ear
Label. Botha then formed Catherine Wheel with the two
members of Wildebeest, namely Dave Tarr and Colin Pratley.
With Botha on bass, piano and mouth organ, the group
expanded to a five piece and in 1981 the classic 'Bushrock 1'
album was released. In 1984, Botha's new band, Jack Hammer,
was started with Boet Faber, Jan Maloney and Eric
Birckenstock, but the band's activities were put on hold when
Botha relocated to the US in 1985.
There he met Billy Bob Thornton with whom he began a strong
friendship; Thornton also played drums and sang on the first
Jack Hammer album. Twelve years later, Billy Bob Thornton
won the "Best Actor" Academy Award for his part in the film
'Slingblade'. After returning to SA in 1986, Botha restarted Jack
Hammer and for the next ten years they released four excellent
and acclaimed SA rock albums – 'Jack Of All Trades' (1987),
'The Judas Chapter' (1990), 'Ghosts On The Wind' (1994) and
'Death Of A Gypsy' (1996). During 1995, Eckard Potgieter
decided to grow his successful CD club, Mainline Music, into an
SA record company, and Wildebeest Records was born with Piet
Botha very much part of their plans. Wildebeest released the
Jack Hammer albums alongside albums by Valiant Swart, Koos
Kombuis, the Transformers and the quirky Naaimasjiene.
In 1995 Jack Hammer played support for the Gauteng leg of the
Uriah Heep/ Deep Purple "Masters Of Rock" South African tour.
Jack Hammer also supported one of Piet's main influences, ZZ
Top, on their SA tour.
In 1997, Piet Botha and Wildebeest Records released Botha's
first solo album, the All-Afrikaans, "n Suitcase Vol Winter', which
has received critical and public approval.
A second Afrikaans album, 'Jan Skopgraaf' was released in
November 1999 and Piet toured South Africa with Jonathan
Martin and Tertius du Plessis during November and December
1999 to promote this album and his back catalogue.
A Jack Hammer compilation titled simply 'Anthology' was
released in January 2000 and featured tracks from all 4 previous
Jack Hammer albums plus 4 new recordings plus a new rerecording of their classic song 'Fort Lauderdale'.
-- Stephen Segerman & Brian Currin, 2000
Detailed Biography of Piet Botha and
Jack Hammer
JACK HAMMER: 21 YEARS OF POUNDING DOWN THE
ROAD
by Brian Currin, May 2005
"Highway's got my number, yet she keeps calling...“.
November 2004 marked the 20th anniversary of the band known
as Jack Hammer. This South African band has always stayed
true to its original brand of Rock and Roll, and has toured and
recorded over the years, never seeking the limelight but always
playing their hearts out.
Jack Hammer is more than just a band - it is a roundabout of
musicians. A collective that over the years has included amongst
its members American Oscar-winning actor Billy Bob Thornton,
McCully Workshop keyboard wizard Rupert Mellor, Kwaito
master producer Gabi le Roux, Not My Dog guitarist Lanie vd
Walt, prog-rocker Kenny Henson, Blues Broer Simon Orange,
saxophonist supremo Mike Faure, and many, many others.
As band roadie Hendry Jackson (who is immortalized in the
song 'Laat Die Wiele Rol') said, "I have seen many Jacks, so to
speak, come and go in my time, I tell you."
Fiercely independent, they have somehow survived the strange
machinery that is the SA music industry and produced some
sterling original albums over the years. Since their first
performance way back in 1984 the one constant factor in the
band has been the man affectionately known as "The Hammer",
Piet Botha.
"It all began at Slowfarm on the old Warmbaths road, just north
of Pretoria, in November 1984," Botha recalls. Botha (who was
born in 1955 and shares his birth date of 18th July with Nelson
Mandela) began writing songs and forming bands while still at
school. He hooked up in 1974 with Abner Smith at the University
of Pretoria to develop an acoustic duo. "They used to play at the
Keg and Tankard in Pretoria", remembers Jackson. Botha
recalls this as being their first professional gig.
Botha then connected with the members of Tusk (Doc
Barendse, Dino Salvatori, and Derek Riley) to establish the
band Raven and later added keyboardist Gabi le Roux to fill out
the sound. This hard-rocking band won the 'Beat 79' nationwide
competition for new rock groups, and released the Uriah Heepstyled single, 'Wheel Of Fortune' b/w 'The Horseman', on David
Marks' 3rd Ear Label.
Botha (known as JP Botha at that time and playing mainly bass)
then formed the three-piece Catherine Wheel with Karlien van
Niekerk and Doc Barendse. At this time violinist Dave Tarr and
drummer Colin Pratley (ex-Freedom's Children) were in a duo
called Wildebeest. "We amalgamated our two bands" says
Botha. Doc Barendse left and Boet Faber joined as guitarist. In
1981 the classic 'Bushrock 1' live album (recorded at Upstairs in
Sunnyside, Pretoria) was released under the band name
Wildebeest. 'Bushrock 1' was the Rand Daily Mail's 'Album of
the Year' in 1981.
"I was part of the team with Colin Pratley, Boet Faber, Paul van
Eden, Piet Botha, Deon Maree and Gilbert Lyons that put on the
'One Skin Mile from Skullgrin', a Wildebeest Bushrock Ballet, at
the Conservatoir of Music, in Pretoria, in 1982", remembers
longtime friend of the band and sometime manager, Moonshine
Lee (immortalized, along with Jan Maloney, in the song 'The
Pilgrim'). "Around this time Piet, Boet Faber and myself lived on
a farm in DeWildt, north-west of Pretoria, and I ended up
assisting with the management of the band."
In 1983 Wildebeest was one of the first bands to mix rock music
with Afrikaans lyrics and recorded the (now very rare) 'Horings
Op Die Stoep' 4-track EP which featured 'Bossies', a song about
the Border War, which was very much a no-no during those
Apartheid times.
In November 1984, Jack Hammer was started with Boet Faber,
Jan Maloney and Eric Birckenstock. The band immediately built
up a new original repertoire and started performing. During the
1984 festive season the club they were booked at burnt down
with all their gear. Botha, who had been planning a sojourn in
the USA for some time, left, and so the first line-up was shortlived, but that's when Jack Hammer really began.
During 1985, Piet Botha lived in Los Angeles, working
construction, and other immigrant jobs by day, and writing and
recording by night. By a stroke of luck he teamed up with a
young, aspiring actor, drummer and singer from the south called
Billy Bob Thornton. Thornton would do the drumming in the
studio as well as vocals and Botha would do the guitars, piano,
vocals and harmonica.
Twelve years later, Billy Bob Thornton would win the 'Best Actor'
Oscar for his part in the film 'Slingblade', and is also well-known
for his marriage (now dissolved) to actress Angelina Jolie.
By the end of 1985, Botha had to return to South Africa. The first
Jack Hammer album, 'Jack Of All Trades', was eventually
completed in South Africa, and released by the end of 1986, as
a custom album on Third Ear Records. This album has not yet
been released on CD and sealed vinyl copies can fetch over
R100 from collectors.
From this time onwards the Jack Hammer band would perform
all over South Africa with many different line-ups. From 1987 to
1990, the second album, 'The Judas Chapter', was written and
recorded at Doc Barendse's studio.
During 1991 Botha took up an offer to perform with the Silver
Creek Mountain Band, and played acoustic guitar and piano, six
nights a week for a whole year.
1992 saw a new Jack Hammer, with drummer Findlay Malherbe
playing a major role in the new sound, tighter arrangements,
and energy that come to light on 'Ghosts On The Wind', which
was released in 1994 to much critical acclaim. The highlight of
this collaboration was Jack Hammer opening for Deep Purple
and Uriah Heep on their "Masters of Rock" tour in March/April
1995.
Findlay went to America, so "The Duke" arrived on the scene.
Paul van der Waal had been drumming with bands for years and
had to stand in one night in an emergency, without ever having
met Jack Hammer. He was hired the same night and is still
happily drumming away with them today. He is known as "The
Duke", because he always looks smart.
1996 saw Jack Hammer signing to a record label for the first
time! Till then, Botha had always been fiercely independent. The
first album to be released under the now well-known Wildebeest
label was Jack Hammer's 'Death of a Gypsy', with catalogue
number WILD001.
During this time the band was also privileged to be the
supporting act for ZZ Top (one of Botha's prime influences) on
their South African tour. Jackson recalls this as being a high
point of his 20 years or so with Jack Hammer: "Ah, you know,
everyday is a high point; whenever I hear the guys. I've always
been surrounded by so many great musicians that I count it a
privilege," says Jackson.
During 1997 Botha was asked to write and record an Afrikaans
album. Using the Jack Hammer band members at the time,
Jonathan Martin, Jason Phillips and Jorik Pienaar, the result
was the all-Afrikaans 'Suitcase Vol Winter' album, released in
late-1997, which proved to be a watershed. This album is
considered a classic by many and a superb example of the
groundbreaking alt.Afrikaans genre.
The major change in Jack Hammer's sound and direction came
about by a strange twist of fate when Jonathan Martin joined the
band in April 1997. Suddenly there was another singer and
songwriter in the band and, despite his youth, his guitar style
was linked to the '70's. Soon Piet and Jonathan were doing
acoustic shows (as Piet and The Kid), mixing the repertoire from
English to Afrikaans and doing covers of old blues classics.
Then there were also the electric rock shows, with some vintage
Jack Hammer sounds.
Botha released a second Afrikaans album in November 1999,
entitled 'Jan Skopgraaf', which did not fare as well as 'Suitcase'
but which did include some classic tracks like the live favourite,
'Blues Vir Louise'.
A Jack Hammer compilation, titled simply 'Anthology', was
released in January 2000 and featured tracks from all four
previous Jack Hammer albums plus four new recordings. It also
included a new re-recording of their classic song 'Fort
Lauderdale', which was based on the story of bank robber André
Stander. Those new songs were recorded during the winter of
1999 at Sunset Recording Studios just outside Stellenbosch.
In February 2001 a limited edition live album, the confusingly
titled 'Bootleg', was released and credited to Piet Botha and
Jack Hammer. That album included tracks from both the Piet
Botha (Afrikaans) and Jack Hammer (English) songbooks as
well as cover versions of Led Zeppelin's 'Tangerine', Nick
Drake's 'Northern Sky' (plaintively sung by Martin) and
'Runaway Train' by Soul Asylum.
October 2001 saw a "Best Of" Piet Botha collection being
released by EMI entitled 'Die Hits', which included four new
Afrikaans recordings (including 'Vandat Jy Weg Is', a tribute to
his late mother) alongside Botha's other classics like 'Sien Jou
Weer', 'Blues Vir Louise' and 'Staan Saam Burgers'.
A third Afrikaans album, 'Die Mamba', was released in August
2003 by Rhythm Records and received much critical acclaim,
including being voted the best album of 2003 by the influential
SA Rock Digest e-mag.
In a poll by Huisgenoot/You Magazine, this album was voted in
the top 5 of 2003 by accredited critics from Huisgenoot, Die
Burger, Insig, Rapport, Volksblad and Die Beeld.
July 2004 saw the band returning to their roots, so to speak,
with the release of a double live CD, 'Piet Botha and Jack
Hammer Live at the Nile', which was followed in April 2005 by a
long-awaited studio production, 'The Pilgrim'. 'Live At The Nile' is
a double live CD, recorded at the Nile Crocodile in Pretoria in
February 2003, and includes renditions of most of the Jack
Hammer and Piet Botha classics from over 20 years on the
road.
The album includes an updated version of the song 'Russian
And Chips' by Wildebeest from 1981, which is based on 'The
Kid He Came From Nazareth' from the highly rated 'Astra' album
by Freedom's Children. There are also a few covers including
'Last Fair Deal Going Down' by Robert Johnson (a big influence
on both Botha and guitarist Johnathan Martin) and songs by The
Rolling Stones, The Doors and Pink Floyd ('Wish You Were
Here').
'Live At The Nile' serves as a bridge between the all-Afrikaans
'Die Mamba' and the all-English 'The Pilgrim' which was the first
full Jack Hammer studio album since 1996's 'Death Of A Gypsy'.
Botha had this to say, "Jack Hammer was a rock band
performing in the English language when they started and the
swing to Afrikaans was a lovely and vibrant thing at the time, but
now it's time to go back as it were, in order to move forward".
The Pilgrim' was produced by Lanie van der Walt, who was also
responsible for 'Die Mamba' and the award-winning Not My Dog
album, 'Braai Vibes' (SAMA best rock album 2003). Lanie was
also an integral part of Jack Hammer from 1994-96 as a guitarist
and songwriter, but then went on to form Not My Dog.
The line-up of Jack Hammer that recorded 'The Pilgrim'
consisted of Paul van de Waal ("The Duke") on drums, Tertius
du Plessis ("Beano", so named because he acts like Mr Bean)
on bass guitar and Johnathan Martin ("The Kid") on guitar and
vocals and occasional cello. Martin left at the end of 2004 to go
solo, and Tonie 'Slugger' van der Walt (brother of Lanie) joined
on second guitar for live performances.
Throughout the many years of performing and recording, Jack
Hammer has refused to compromise or bow to commercial
pressure and that is why their work is timeless. This is evident
when listening to their earlier work as far back as 'Jack Of All
Trades'.
Botha was one of the first musicians inducted into the SA Rock
Hall of Fame in January 2002, alongside James Phillips (who
died in 1995). Other media highlights over the years have
included performing with Deep Purple, Uriah Heep and ZZ Top
on their South African tours, with the legendary Shawn Phillips,
and also with Vusi Mahlasela.
2004 marked the band's 20th anniversary gig at Oppikoppi, the
most prestigious festival on the SA Rock calendar.
Botha has been making music for over 30 years and celebrated
a 25 year recording career in 2004. Kurt Shoemaker said, "Piet
Botha the songwriter has a realistic outlook on the world, he's a
veteran who has seen the fight and knows how fragile peace
and life, can be". The Jack Hammer band has been pounding
down the highway for over 21 years now and show no signs of
slowing down.
Piet Botha and his band Jack Hammer are truly Legends of
South African Rock.
"... and we must be travelling on now..."
Discography

http://www.sarockdigest.com/halloffame/inductees.htm
Piet was born on the 18th July 1955 and has been a stalwart of
the SA rock scene since the 70s when he started the band Raven.
In the early 80s Wildebeest combined African, Afrikaans and Rock
sounds into one hybrid mixture. His band Jack Hammer, first
formed in 1984, defined good time rock and played support to
Deep Purple and ZZ Top on their SA tours. In the 90's Piet helped
solidify the Alt.Afr.Rock movement alongside artists like Koos
Kombuis and Valiant Swart. He continues to perform regularly in
and around Pretoria and at most of the festivals during the year.
And he can usually be seen performing unplugged at the coast
during the summer months. Piet (affectionately known as
"Hammer" to his friends) is an intelligent, warm and sincere
person who is seen as a mentor and father-figure to young
aspiring musicians like Jonathan Martin and Not My Dog.
Webpage: www.pietbotha.com
“A Good Friend of Mine” - Tribute to Piet Botha
by Moonshine Lee
On Saturday 25th February 2006 the South African music industry
pays tribute to one of it’s great legends, Piet Botha, at a festival to be
held at the Foundry Fly Lounge, cnr. of Hans Stydom Avenue and N4
(Witbank) freeway, Silver Lakes, Pretoria East. This prestigious event
is being held to honour and thank Botha for the phenomenal
contribution and the influence he has had on South African music
over the past thirty odd years and for his support and assistance to
help local artists kick start their careers in the local industry,
regardless of their creed or colour.
The event, which is appropriately named “A Good Friend of Mine’, a
title of one of his favourite songs, starts at 13h00 in the afternoon and
will feature top acts like Karin Zoid, Albert Frost, Anton Goosen, Gert
Vlok Nel, Southern Gypsey Queen, Not My Dog, Scicoustic, Akkedis
and many more of SA’s best acts currently playing on the local music
circuit. All the artists participating in this festival, have at some or
other stage been involved with Botha, either by playing with him,
having shared the stage with him, had an album produced by him or
have been mentored by the master.
Botha started this long and illustrious career back in 1972, when as a
Tuks student he played as a solo artist at some of his hometown
venues in Pretoria. A true Rock ‘n Roller at heart, Botha is probably
one of the finest guitarists this country has ever produced. His early
influences and inspiration was found from the likes of Led Zepplin,
Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, The Doors, Jimmi Hendrix and many of
the rock legends of the 1960’s and 1970’s. Originally Botha stuck to
his rock ‘n roll guns and produced some of the most incredible rock
music with bands such as Raven, Catherine Wheel and Wildebeest,
already then acclaiming some very prestigious awards when Raven
was nominated as runners up to the SABC TV’s Battle of the Bands
competition in 1979 and when the Bushrock 1 album by Wildebeest
was nominated as best local rock album of the year in 1981.
In 1984 Botha formed the phenomenal rock outfit Jack Hammer and
has kept the name ever since. Jack Hammer has seen many, many
members come and go in it’s 21 year history, but it’s founder, the
legendary Piet Botha alias the ‘Hammer’, is still rocking steady to this
day. Much of Botha’s and Jack Hammer’s magic has been captured
on albums such as Jack of All Trades, Ghosts on the Wind, Death of
a Gypsy, Anthology and their latest masterpiece The Pilgrim which
was released earlier this year.
Soon this all changed, when in1997 Botha was persuaded by
associates to migrate his musical genius to the Afrikaans music
arena. His first Afrikaans CD, Suitcase Vol Winter, was testimony to
his lyricist wizardry and was acclaimed by SARockDigest as one of
the finest musical works ever produced on our shores. This album
was rated by Brian Currin, editor of the SARockDigest, as being
amongst one of the greatest albums ever produced in world music.
Other great Afrikaans albums followed suit and Botha, together with
Jack Hammer, produced Jan Skopgraaf, Die Hits and Die Mamba,
which was acclaimed local album of the year in 2004.
The powerful words of Kurt Schoemaker, a native Texan and ardent
supporter of South African music, very aptly describes Botha, "Piet
Botha the songwriter has a realistic outlook on the world, he's a
veteran who has seen the fight and knows how fragile peace and
life, can be". A down to earth and humble character, Botha has
during this exciting journey in his musical career, rubbed shoulders
with other greats of our local music scene such as Trevor Rabin
(Rabbit / Yes), Rupert Mellor (McCully Workshop) Mike Faure, Julian
Laxton (Freedoms Children), Dave Tarr (Silver Creek Mountain Band
/ Wildebeest), Hugh Masekela, the late Gito Baloyi, Ray Phiri and
numerous others.
In 1985 Botha met up with Billy Bob Thornton, a then young aspiring
actor as well as drummer and vocalist, while living in Burbank
California for a year. During this time Botha had the good fortune of
being able to record a few songs with Billy Bob in a studio in
downtown Burbank. Botha with Jack Hammer has also shared the
stage with some world class acts such as ZZ Top, Deep Purple and
Uriah Heep.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent and your magic with us
all. Your music has truly touched and enriched the lives of all of
those it has reached.
Piet Botha, we salute you!
Individual motivations regarding Piet’s
contribution to the music industry.
Jan Maloney
I started playing with Piet in a band called Raven. After that I was a
founder member of Jack Hammer in the beginning of 1984. I
consider Piet as one of my very few, very good friends since the
beginning of the 80’s. I have played with Piet in various bands,
accompanied him on various tours and gigs and spent much time
with him just as a friend and Brother in Arms.
I will start with the things that most musicians actually take for
granted because this is how he really is:
He is ALWAYS absolutely punctual no matter whether it is a
rehearsal or a gig.
He ALWAYS shows respect to all people regardless of age or race.
He ALWAYS plays in key and never makes a mistake with the
Geography of a Song
He is always willing to help, educate, shelter, offer guidance and
support, financially assist and protect young up and coming
musicians and has done this over the last 30 odd years.
He has played all over South Africa, in some years more than 250
gigs, this only because for his love of music. Even at the age of 50
he is still happy to hit the road and go on tour to play at any
destination in this country. All for the sake of the music!He never
involved himself with Politics and Religion through all these years,
but has always acted as the mediator to resolve delicate situations
around these topics when they arose. Piet has always played
Excellent Live Original Music in both English and Afrikaans. Piet is
a leader. It is he who always organizes the gigs and the tours and
puts the band on the road. He organises everything from the PA to
the transport, the venue the advertising & marketing, the music and
even the vibe.He has always supported young and up-coming
bands, has taken then under wing and help them to kick-start their
careers. In some cases he has even taken them with him on the
road, has in some instances even opened his own home to
accommodate them. Piet is always accommodating by allowing
new acts to open at his gigs to give them some exposure.
ALWAYS there for everybody no matter what.
ALWAYS BRA PIETA
Dirk Jordaan , Die Beeld
Piet Botha is undoubtedly the Elder Statesman of local rock.
For a quarter of a century Botha has created original rock music
earthed in classic rock, but with enough local elements included to
make it truly South African. He started off in Raven, played in the
eclectic and influencial Wildebeest and later created the stallwart
ensemble Jack Hammer.
Botha has always been socially and politically aware and voiced his
feelings in songs like Sarajevo and G8, and obviously in the seminal
Afrikaans song Goeienag, Generaal.
His decision to start writing Afrikaans songs not only brought him into
contact with a whole new, and very loyal, audience. It also enlarged
his sphere of influence, which now includes numerous upstart
Afrikaans bands.
Actually, Botha is a major influence on young artists, not only as an
inspiration and colleague who will gladly lend a hand or share a
stage, but also as an example. He belongs to the BB King school of
rock ethics - he is used to performing up to 300 gigs annually. Be it
on Oppikoppi's main stage, where he has been a mainstay since the
first festival, or in a small club in front of a handful of people.
Botha will always give his best, will always be friendly, will always
be grateful for the opportunity and the support.
He commands respect from audiences and other musicians alike.
Bra Piet, as he is known amongst his peers, is The Mamba.
END
Jacob Wulana, Tidal Waves www.tidalwaves.co.za
"Through his love for music Piet Botha has played a major role in
uniting the musicians of this country, especially musicians of
different colour and cultures. His great love and respect for African
music has helped draw his fellow musician closer together and has
contributed in creating a mutual harmony and respect amongst
musicians of all races in this industry. A true ambassador for peace
and harmony in our country."
Gareth Wilson, Southern Gypsey Queen www.sgq.co.za
In South Africa when folks are talking about our true rock ‘n roll
heroes one name always comes up top and that is Piet Botha.What
is it about this mysterious character that makes people talk of him
as the father of South African rock? Is it because of his undying
devotion to his music, never selling out or being afraid to say what is
on his mind? Could it be the fire that burns through him when on
stage touching lives of the thousands that have seen him? Maybe it
is the fact that a man filled with so much passion and musical ability
could still remain so humble, helping up and coming bands break
into the music scene. Although in my opinion all of these are valid
reasons for Piet to be chosen for this award. My reason for loving
Piet is the music. Thanks for the songs like Good Friend Of Mine,
Streets Of Love and Mozambique. Thanks for making me pick up a
guitar. Thank you for Jack Hammer.
Paul van de Waal “The Duke” , Jack Hammer
Piet is a positive influence on the South African music business
because he is true to the music. His measure of success is how good
the songs are and the message that he conveys with the music rather
than how many CD’s he sells. This honesty gives his music the
sound that has stood the test of time and has already spanned
decades.
When the bulk of popular South African artists were turning to
backtracks to boost profits, Piet was prepared to sacrifice and still
maintain a full band setting the example for young bands today.
Working with him over the past 10 years has given me the
opportunity to see a side that many people never see and that is the
effort and time that he takes to advise, develop and expose new acts.
The long term effect of this is that there are more local acts that can
compete at any level and are producing fresh music that is not
ashamed of its South African roots.
Piet’s approach is uncompromising and consistent and he has a high
degree of musical integrity. Its no wonder that if you attend a
performance you will find ardent fans from 16 to 60.
Met woorde soos met swaarde: die lewe van Piet Botha
Bacchus Nel, singer, songwriter & poet
Piet Botha word nie verniet die ‘generaal van Afrikaanse musiek’
genoem nie. Vandat sy album ’n Suitcase vol winter in 1997
vrygestel is, het hy voortgebou op die nuwe standaard vir inheemse
musiek wat hy daargestel het.
Not only is he the general of Afrikaans music, though. Piet has
been in the music industry for more than thirty years. He has been
vocally and lyrically opposed against the Apartheid regime (of which
is own father, ex-minister Pik Botha, was a part) as well as against
conscription.
Sy song Goeienag Generaal word in die algemeen beskou as die
definierende anthem van die jong strydrosse van die moeilike
tagtigerjare. In one critic’s review, the song is revered as following:
‘Biting Afrikaans commentary with the musical style of Eric Clapton,
Mark Knopfler, Chris Rea, et cetera. Goeie Nag Generaal is a
brilliant hard-rock song about dying for your country… but for what?
‘Toe ek weer so kyk, het 'n AK jou f****-up geskiet’. If this had come
out ten years earlier it would have been banned outright!’
He finds himself in good company, that of James Phillips (who also
sang in Afrikaans as Bernoldus Niemand), Koos Kombuis and
Johannes Kerkorrel.Piet het reeds in 1979 saam met die groep
Raven sy eerste single uitgegee en in 1983 was hy een van die
eerste protes-stemme in die beweging wat latere jare as die Voëlvrybeweging gestalte sou neem.
Maar benewens Piet se uitsonderlike sosiale gewete, is hy ook ’n
vrygewige en ja, selfs liefdevolle, mentor.
Op my debuut-album, Arms van die nag, was Piet die oorsiener,
die inspirasie agter die mengbank, die ou wat in die musiek en die
lirieke geglo het. Anders as die vele ander wat beloftes gemaak het
vooraf, het hy syne – om my album te laat opneem – daadwerklik en
onmiddelik tot stand gebring.
Hy inspireer. Hy is ’n baanbreker. Hy is professioneel en
verwesenlik die woorde ‘musikale integriteit’.
The tradesmark of a big man is always humbleness.
And Piet Botha is the prime example of greatness without the ego.
Vernon Lee (Moonshine Lee)
Piet Botha, a pilgrim of South African music, boasts a career
spanning thirty-two years in the industry. A journey which started out
in 1974, when as a student, he played covers on an acoustic guitar
in some of Pretoria’s then popular night spots and which has grown
and evolved over the years to the magic it is today. A man who’s
roots and who’s heart is deeply embedded in this country’s music
and who has shared the stage with many of South Africa’s finest,
the likes of Ray Phiri, Hugh Masakela, Gito Baloyi, Julian Laxton
and David Tar, just to mention but a few. There are countless others,
too many to mention. Strongly influenced by the Rockin Roll
legends of the 60’s and 70’s, Botha is a Rockin Roller through and
through. His musical genius and wizardry with the guitar has been
experienced and enjoyed by audiences across the length and
breadth of this country. But is it without a doubt Botha’s genius as a
master lyricist and songwriter that sets him apart from the rest of the
pack. Originally Botha focused predominantly on the English rock
scene, and then in 1997 he was persuaded to migrate his talent to
the Afrikaans music arena.
His first Afrikaans CD, ‘Suitcase Vol Winter’ (1997) is a revelation to
the man’s lyricist wizardry and this masterpiece was acclaimed by
SARockDigest as one of the best albums ever produced in this
country.Botha is a man of great compassion for his fellow man and
these expressions are reflected in his music through songs like
‘Gypsy’s Lament’, ‘Sarajevo’ and ‘Death of a Gypsy’, which bring
home the atrocities committed against the people of Bosnia and
Sarajevo. Botha’s love for his country and it’s rich and diverse
heritage, is portrayed in songs such ‘Van Tonder’, ‘In die Transvaal’
and ‘Staan Saam Burgers’ reflecting the period of the Anglo Boer
War. ‘Goeie Nag Generaal’and ‘Jacob Klipkop’ remind us of the
times during this country’s armed struggle, ‘Fort Lauderdale’ a song
about Andre Stander, the notorious South African bank robber. This
song almost made it onto the bill for the motion picture ‘Stander’.
Botha shows his deep respect to our great leader Nelson Mandela in
the song ‘Al die Stede’, In his latest CD ‘The Pilgrim’, Botha makes it
known how he feels about the state of our world today in songs like
‘G8 Manifesto’ and ‘Headlines’ and about the plight our neighbours
in Mozambique with his songs ‘Mozambique’ and ‘The Pilgrim’.
It is not only for his tremendous talent and musical genius that we
pay tribute to Piet Botha, but for the tremendous contribution he has
made to South African music over the years. Botha’s humble and
totally unselfish support for his fellow musicians is a mark by which
he will always be remembered and respected by those he has been
involved with and has worked with in the industry. His eagerness to
help and assist new and aspiring artists, his willingness and
generosity to give of himself and of his time to help others to get
started with their careers in music. Botha is always obliging to
contribute to various benefit concerts held to aid of his fellow
musicians and their families, as he did for the Gito Baloyi Benefit
and many other such events. He recently assisted Bacchus Nel, an
artist who had lost his sight in a car accident a few years ago, to
produce and record his first CD. He generously offered to take a
Hammanskraal gospel group, who did not have the means to fund a
CD, under wing and arranged, recorded and produced a CD for
them at his home in Pretoria.
Piet Botha is a legend in our industry, a musical genius and a
Rockin Roll soldier. He is truly South Africa’s ‘man for all
seasons’ in our music arena.