NEWS

IN MEMORY OF DEAN

photo: Marty Williams

Magic Dirt’s beloved Dean Turner passed away on Friday August 21st, 2009.

For nine years, Dean battled an extremely rare form of soft tissue cancer called dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). This cancer became life threatening after it began to metastasize and cause various fatal tumours. Being a very private man, Dean chose to fight the cancer in a quiet and dignified manner. He displayed great courage and incredible stoicism. And above all else he had an unshakeable positive attitude throughout his long ordeal. His composure and grace during this time will never be forgotten and is an inspiration to us all.

As a founding member of Magic Dirt, Dean was the linchpin, the heart and soul of the band. He was the rock, the glue, the oracle, the cool filter. He was deeply dedicated and passionate about the music he made and the impact the band had on peoples lives. Dean always came up with fantastic ideas but he tempered these ideas with a rock solid work ethic and made them not only real but a success.

Dean’s bass playing and sound is unique and unmistakable. With a great flow and organic playing style, Dean dug deep into his role as bass player, supporting and creating a bedrock, the backbone of the Magic Dirt sound. And fans will never forget his melodic riffing, heavy thunder, sonic shimmers and noise fests at Magic Dirt’s live shows.

Dean worked tirelessly because music was one of the greatest joys in his life. Sadly, Dean had many projects and goals he wanted to achieve that will remain unrealised.

Dean championed a lot of Australian music, always interested in giving young bands a go, he was generous with his time and advice to those that sought his council. Dean was also a band manager, being instrumental in the rise of Brisbane band Violent Soho, he guided and tended the band and had an immensely positive impact on them. Dean was also an in demand producer. His vision and stabilizing effect in the recording studio allowed many bands the opportunity to realize their dreams of making great records. He produced such bands as Violent Soho, theredsunband, Gersey, Sons of the Sun and lastly worked on Adalita’s (Magic Dirt’s front woman) first solo album.

Dean also sat on VIC Rocks grants committee which he loved doing and he played an active role in giving artists the support they needed and was asked to return year after year by the board executives.

But the greatest joy and proudest achievement in Dean’s life is his family. He was an extremely dedicated and loving father and husband. His wife Linda and two children were the loves of his life and he cherished them with all his being. In the last nine years during his battle with the cancer he did everything he could to stay with them despite the pain and suffering he was enduring. He had a profound effect on people, always leaving a warm and inspiring feeling.

The surviving Magic Dirt members, Adalita, Raul and Adam are absolutely devastated at their loss and cannot fathom a future without him. Above all else they will remember Dean as their beautiful and precious friend. Kind, gentle, very funny and witty, had impeccable taste, a joy to be around, a great storyteller, extremely trustworthy, honest, direct, a diamond mind.
They are so very proud of Dean’s brave fight and will do everything in their power to ensure that Dean’s legacy of integrity and spirit lives on.
Magic Dirt’s love and thoughts go out to Dean’s family and to his wife Linda and two children.
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poster: Rick Chesshire

WHITE BOY EP & VIDEO

Magic Dirt played a run of shows in late 2009 and released the White Boy EP in tribute to Dean Turner. The tour and the EP are among the final projects Dean worked on.

Dean founded Magic Dirt in 1992 and played bass in the band until he passed away on August 21, 2009. The band announced the run of shows as a loving tribute to their dear friend. It offered Magic Dirt and their fans an opportunity to give Dean the rousing and rowdy send-off he so richly deserved.

Adalita, Raul and Adam said when announcing the shows, “Dean loved playing live. He liked to play loud and hard and give it all he had. 110% all the way. We are so proud of Deans legacy and the gifts he has left with us all. His gifts of perseverance, passion and commitment to the music. And his endearing gifts of boyish fun, his invigorating and uplifting attitude on that long hard road and his pure punk rock spirit on stage, behind the scenes and around us at all times.”

Among one of the final recording projects that Dean assembled was the White Boy EP. This EP contains ‘White Boy’, lifted from the band’s latest album Girl as well as the track ‘Summer High’ featuring Rowland S Howard and produced by Dean. Other songs include ‘Love Is The Armour’ which features Gareth Liddiard from The Drones, two previously unreleased tracks ‘Deep In A Net Of Red’ and ‘Valley Of The Rose’ and ‘Future Fuck’ which is lifted off their 2008 tour ep.

There are only a few more copies existing of the limited edition White Boy EP. They are available to buy from good independent record stores and JB Hi Fi.

In conjunction with the release of the White Boy EP comes the White Boy video. Directed by Geelong wunderkid, Adam Harding, White Boy was shot in the eerie surrounds of the Old Geelong Gaol in Dec 1997. Adam came on the road with us in 2007 and shot the live footage that you see in the clip. We recommend the VIMEO link for high definition viewing.

White Boy on VIMEO

White Boy on YOUTUBE

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THE BIG BOTTOM PEDAL V2 - A DEAN TURNER & TIM BRENNAN invention - AVAILABLE NOW!

Together with Tim from Tym Guitars, Dean helped invent and design a special pedal called The Big Bottom V2.
It is specifically designed so that bass players can use guitar effects pedals without losing bottom end frequencies on the bass guitar.
The Big Bottom V2 is available to order now from Tym Guitars. Tim will kindly be donating all the profits to Deans family trust.

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‘PARADISE’ ON VIMEO NOW!

Parts 1 & 2 of the ‘PARADISE’ film are now up on Vimeo. This short film was directed by the amazing Glendyn Ivin (Cannes Palme D’Or Winner 2003, AFI Award Winner 2003) and was inspired by Dean Turner’s experimental ‘noise’ album, Roky’s Room (2007).
‘Paradise’ had its world premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) in 2008.

MAGIC DIRT - Paradise parts 1 and 2 of 3 from Glendyn Ivin on Vimeo.

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ADALITA ON ROCKWIZ

Adalita performs The Pretenders song ‘2000 Miles’
at the 2009 Rockwiz Xmas special, Palais Theatre, Melbourne. (photo: Marty Williams)

Adalita and Gareth Liddiard (The Drones) do ‘Messin’ With The Kid’ (The Saints)
as their Rockwiz duet, Gershwin Room, Melbourne.