Br.Ant.Territory : Antarctic Band Remembers Michael Jackson
Submitted by (Juanita Brock) 26.06.2009 (Article Archived on 10.07.2009)

Tony from Antarctica had his say but it's got us guessing about what British Antarctic Survey Base he's on.

Photo (c) British Antarctic Survey

ANTARCTIC BAND REMEMBERS MICHAEL JACKSON

Transcript and Commentary by J. Brock (FINN)

Photo (c) British Antarctic Survey 

“Nunatak” from Rothera Base includes Tris Thorne, Rob Webster, Ali Massey, Matt Balmer and Roger Stilwell. 

The popular BBC World Service Programme, World Have Your Say on Friday did a feature about the world-wide reaction to the death of Pop Star, Michael Jackson.  During the transcript you will notice that there is no mention of the Antarctic Base where “Tony the Electrician” is stationed.  He mentions “The House Band” but it is unclear by this transcript whether this “Tony” who plays bass, has another name. The well-known band, “Nunatak” from Rothera Base includes Tris Thorne, Rob Webster, Ali Massey, Matt Balmer and Roger Stilwell.  Given the conversation one could assume that the individual was talking from Rothera but he also could be at Halley on the continent as well as Bird Island and King Edward Point on South Georgia.

Transcript begins….

Speaker – Ros Atkins (RA)

Now let’s do something - I can’t ever remember doing on World Have Your Say and speak to someone in Antarctica.  Tony (TO) is an electrician at the British Antarctic Survey.  And we got in touch with you, Tony, because we are curious if the story had even reached this far.  However, people reacted.  Did the news reach you very quickly?

TO:  Yes.  It got to us quite quickly.  It got to us last night.  I’m not sure how long after the event it was.  It happened overnight here.  We found out by the internet.  It wasn’t a massive shock but it’s just a surprise that such a high profile celebrity like Michael Jackson has passed away so soon.

RA:  And is it just a British affair where you are or is it all sorts of nationalities?

TO:  No, no – we are a British base.  We’ve got a Belgium chef here, we’ve got a South African marine assistant and our meteorologist is Irish, so we’ve got a fair mix of – a full range of countries here. 

RA:  You all reacted in the same way, I’m guessing?

TO:  Well, it’s just that it’s a bit of a surprise because it’s tragic when someone passes away at that age.

RA:  And Tony, I am curious, I have been getting e-mails from so many World Have Your Say listeners from all different countries saying “I’m supposed to be doing this or I am supposed to be doing that but all I’m doing is getting on U-Tube playing video after video of Michael Jackson tracks I haven’t listened to for a while.”  Is it disrupting work at the British Antarctic Survey?

TO:  It hasn’t disrupted work here.  Life still goes on.  I mean we’ve got to keep the base running and we’ve got to live in these difficult circumstances down here but it’s certainly a topic of conversation at the dinner table and around the workplace.  And in a couple of the offices and in the workshops, they’ve got Michael Jackson playing out there, so..

RA:  He’s even being played in Antarctica, right?

TO:  Yes he is.

RA:  I wonder if you could pick a track for that you haven’t heard for a while, what would it be, Tony?

TO:  One we would have would be “Beat It” because the House Band, here, we played that at our shows in the New Year time, so..

RA:  You play in the House Band, do you?

TO:  I do, yes, I’m the bass player.

RA:  OK, I am going to listen out for the bass line on this and see if it sounds difficult to play.  Tony, very good to speak to you.

(100X Transcription Service)