UMIB

Mick Coates in action with the Loddon River Ramblers on Saturday night in the Old Music Hall.

Photo by Yardup.

Breaking news from Derrinallum, a small rural service town of about 300 people located on the Hamilton Highway 176 km west of Melbourne at the foot of Mount Elephant - an old volcanic cone which towers above the adjacent plain.

Howdy Y'all,
Just back from down the Western District doin' some audio for Pa Coates and the Unwanted Men in Black and a Lady. Unreal. Possibly the sexiest lead vocalist ever to sing the Monster Mash! Check out the gig listing below...it says it all! There's also an audio podcast of some of their finest pickin' for ya, so enjoy! Cheers, Yardup  read more »

Until you've experienced Michael 'Pa' Coates, from the Unwanted Men in Black and a Lady, leading a packed Port Fairy Folk Festival Shebeen Bar audience in a group sing-along to the Monster Mash, you haven't really lived life to the full.

And so it is with sadness that we learn that Bobby Pickett, the creator of the Monster Mash, has died aged 69. Pa Coates will now carry the burden of love of keeping Bobby's memory alive by always performing The Monster Mash, whenever three or more drunken people are gathered in his presence. Well, he's been doing a fine job of this for many years already, so it shouldn't be too difficult. We owe it to Bobby.

From CBC News:  read more »