David M. Green: Purveyor of fine humour

Tag: Richard Marsland

  • Richard Marsland’s Funeral

    Hi all,

    I’ve just returned from Richard Marsland’s funeral at St Ignatius Church in Norwood. The place was packed. I’ve never seen so many people at a funeral. Granted, I’ve only been to a few, and they were all for family members who died in old age. It was a very touching service. And nice to see that the priest officiating, Farther Lawrie Moate, actually knew the Marsland family. His words were personal, accurate and moving, as was everything that was said by all the speakers, I must say.

    I was there in the capacity of an acquaintance, a colleague and a fan. I didn’t know Richard that well. I would have liked to have known him more. But I realise I am more privileged than most to have recorded that interview with him, and then to meet him in person just that one time. For most of the last two weeks I’ve felt shock more than anything. I felt like crying, but I didn’t. But then today when I saw Richard’s coffin being carried into the church, with Tony Martin as one of his pallbearers, I just lost it, along with most of the people around me, and not in the good way. Curiously though, I always figured I’d want my enemies carrying my coffin; not my friends. Personally I hate heavy lifting…

    There was laughter too of course. Just hearing about Richard as a youth and about his comic escapades with friends, and the pranks he used to pull on his sisters, I couldn’t help but smile. Tony Martin stood up at the front and lent into the mic, before saying “Normally this is where Richard would be checking the levels,” before delivering a warm tribute to Richard, his comedy and his work ethic. Outside there was a station wagon set up with two people in T-shirts reading “Generic Radio Station,” giving out “icy cold cans of coke” (room temperature) and Farmer’s Union Iced Coffee. A nice touch!

    There’s not much else I can say that hasn’t already been said. It’s sad. I’m sad. I hope I can bring joy and laughter to as many people as Richard did. That’s going to be my new ultimate life goal… well, I already had that goal, but hey, I’ll add “do it for Richard Marsland” to my list of reasons.

    Thank you also to the many people who have emailed me, shared your stories, and posted in forums, thanking and complimenting me for making my interview with Richard available to everyone online. It’s been downloaded over 400 times in the last 2 weeks. Like I’ve said, it was an absolute pleasure and a privilege to have had the little contact I had with Richard Marsland. A truly remarkable guy.

    Kind regards,
    David M. Green

  • RIP Richard Marsland

    Hello,

    I was extremely shocked and saddened today to hear that comedy writer and radio personality Richard Marsland died yesterday at the under-ripe age of 32. This tragedy has touched me personally because of our shared comedy ideals, and also because he was an acquaintance of mine. I would like to say friend, but I don’t think I knew him well enough. Although you don’t have to know him well to know he’s one of the nicest guys in radio. He was also VERY FUNNY and in my opinion, “Get This” with Tony Martin, Ed Kavalee & Richard Marsland on the buttons is the funniest radio show of all time. Having to pull the car over to the side of the road due to uncontrollable laughter was a regular occurrence. I actually had the good fortune to interview Richard once for my community radio show I was hosting at the time. It took place December 29th 2007, just over a month after “Get This” was axed. You can hear that interview here.

    That interview was only the beginning of a short but serendipitous relationship I had with Richard. Around the time of our interview, I got a call from SAFM/Today Network Program Director Craig Bruce. Eventually he got me a job as a panel-operator at SAFM, a job which Richard had had about 10 years earlier. When I went to Melbourne in July this year for a short holiday with my girlfriend Jemima, Richard was nice enough to agree to meet me, and he bought lunch for me and Jemima at one of those Melbourne alley cafes (that’s where the photo of me giving him that shirt comes from). We talked for about 2 hours about all sorts of stuff; radio, comedy, writing, TV, old sketches from Get This. Eventually Jemima left out of boredom. I’m very lucky to have had such an experience and I can tell you it is one of the greatest things in the world, to go up to someone you admire and tell them you love their work. I’m glad for the opportunity, but still sad that he’s gone. My thoughts are with his friends, family and everyone he touched with his humour over his short but brilliant life.

    Panel in peace Rich.

    EDIT – On December 12th we dedicated the second episode of our Radio Adelaide comedy show ‘On The Yacht’ to his memory. I broke character to read a short tribute just before the show, which can be heard here.

    Yours sincerely,
    David M. Green

  • David M. Green Does Melbourne, Richard Marsland (not sexually)

     

    Hello man/woman/child,

    I’ve just been in Melbourne the last 4 days with my lovely girlfriend Jemima. Had a fantastic time! Trams! Oh the trams! Did I mention I’m an avid proponent of light rail infrastructure?

    We saw, amongst other things, the zoo, where we observed a couple of horny shrews chasing each other… well, one horny shrew really, chasing a shrew that didn’t appear quite as horny. Who knows though? She could be playing hard to get… or “he”… his/her choice and a valid one… the animal kingdom can be a harsh mistress… or male… Also, I was attacked by butterflies, as can be seen in the photos below. Note my frightened appearance…

     

    We also saw the “Game On” video game exhibit in Federation Square, which was amazing; a ‘Video Game Museum!’ It was kinda strange to see a Nintendo 64 behind glass though. There were consoles I’d never even heard of before, like all these weird ones from the ’70s. Plus they had original playable arcade games! Missile Command, Space Invaders, PacMan, Frogger, Donkey Kong, Berzerk. Fantastic! See photos below…

    (Photography was prohibited)

    But by far the highlight of the trip was catching up with panel-operator heavy-weight Richard Marsland (of “Get This” fame, currently on Melbourne’s Triple M Breakfast show with Peter Helliar & Myf Warhurst) in a Bourke Street cafe. I gave him a shirt specially labelled for the occasion (see photo at top of this entry). I am, afterall, currently working as a panel operator at SAFM, the very position once held by the man himself.

    I can definitely see myself living in Melbourne eventually, especially if I want to continue doing comedy on radio (and TV). Melbourne’s just like Adelaide really… just with it’s act together.

    Kind regards,
    David M. Green
    (Shirts now available upon request)

  • SAFM’s New (Traditionalist) Panel Operator

    That’s right! I’m officially an employee of Adelaide’s #1 Hit Music Station: 107.1 SAFM! I believe this photo proves it…

    Although of course it’s not beyond me to photo-shop myself in front of a background covered in SAFM logos… I guess you’ll just have to take my word for it this time. So I, David M. Green, am now veritably “on the buttons” as SAFM’s newest, youngest and 2nd-most attractive panel operator. I’ve been inspired by the best… Richard Marsland… Sam Mac… uh… anyone know any other well-known panel operators?

    So anyway, tune in to SAFM weeknights from 6pm-7pm to hear The Kyle & Jackie O Hour of Power, and then from 7pm-10pm to hear The Hot 30. If you do, you just might hear me pressing the buttons, although not likely, because for that to happen the microphone would need to be turned on to hear the physical “pressing” of the button. But you can hear the effects of my button pushing, in the form of music, commercials and those sweeper things that say “SAFM.” Although I don’t work every weeknight, so it may in fact be one of the other panel operators… but what are you gonna do?

    Kind regards,
    David M. Green
    (By the way, very much looking forward to seeing Devo live in Australia!)