Lifetime Achievement Award Nomination SAMA 2005

1
Lifetime Achievement Award NominationSAMA 2005

• Nominee Piet Botha

2
Index

• Petition for nominee Piet Botha.
• Who is Piet Botha?
• Detailed Biography of Piet Botha and Jack Hammer.
• Discography.
• South Africas Rock Hall of Fame.
• A Good Friend of Mine Tribute to Piet Botha 25
  February 2006.
• Individual motivations regarding Piets
  contribution to the music industry.

3
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!
4
(No Transcript)
5
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.

6

• 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.

7

• 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
  re-recording of their classic song 'Fort
  Lauderdale'. -- Stephen Segerman Brian Currin,
  2000

8
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.

9

• 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.

10

• 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 Heep-styled 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.

11

• "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 short-lived,
  but that's when Jack Hammer really began.

12

• 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.

13

• 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.

14

• 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.

15

• 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.

16

• 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.

17

• 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').

18

• '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.

19

• 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.

20

• Piet Botha and his band Jack Hammer are truly
  Legends of South African Rock.
• "... and we must be travelling on now..."

21
Discography
22

http//www.sarockdigest.com/halloffame/inductees.h
tm 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
23
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 its 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 SAs 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.
24
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
1960s and 1970s. 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
TVs 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 its 21 year history, but its
founder, the legendary Piet Botha alias the
Hammer, is still rocking steady to this day.
Much of Bothas and Jack Hammers 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.
25
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.
26
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!  
27
Individual motivations regarding Piets
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 80s. 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.
28
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
29
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.
30
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 "Th
rough 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."
31
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.
32
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 CDs 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. Piets 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.
33
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 critics
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!
34
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 Voëlvry-beweging
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.
35
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
Pretorias then popular night spots and which has
grown and evolved over the years to the magic it
is today. A man whos roots and whos heart is
deeply embedded in this countrys music and who
has shared the stage with many of South Africas
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 60s and 70s, 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 Bothas 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.
36
His first Afrikaans CD, Suitcase Vol Winter
(1997) is a revelation to the mans 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 Gypsys Lament, Sarajevo and
Death of a Gypsy, which bring home the
atrocities committed against the people of Bosnia
and Sarajevo. Bothas love for his country and
its 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 Generaaland Jacob
Klipkop remind us of the times during this
countrys 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.
37
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. Bothas
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 Africas man for all seasons in our
music arena.