Wednesday 31st July
Oh happy day... The 2013/14 Crystal Palace season
tickets have landed on the mat! It feels real at last!
Truthfully, I'm facing the new Premier League campaign
with a mixture of joy, terror, excitement and... okay...
resignation! It'll be fascinating if nothing else. I just
can't wait for it all to begin again.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Tuesday 30th July
All hands to the pump: It's yet another Classic
Rock deadline week. Metal Hammer, who are also going to
press, have asked me to review the new albums by Dream
Theater, their second Portnoy-less release, and the debut
from MP's own Winery Dogs, completed of course by guitarist/vocalist
Richie Kotzen and bassist Billy Sheehan. Though each offers
a very different style of music, both are superb! Also
managed to fit in a phone interview with the very quotable
Huey Lewis, who along with his band The News is about
to undertake a 30th anniversary tour of the UK for the
multi-platinum-selling album 'Sports'. Bunged on said
disc before we spoke and had forgotten just how many great
songs it contained - five of them were singles!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Monday 29th July
Day #2 of the Steelhouse Festival. Despite having
been up till late in the VIP bar on the previous evening
– blimey, those Martin Twins from Vega know how
to have a good time! – I somehow made it up in time
for a run before breakfast. Traversing country lanes and
beautiful scenery it would’ve been lovely but for
the spitting rain.
We arrived onsite in time to catch the a few songs from
SKAM [6], a band from Leicester whose
competence as a live act by far exceeded what I’ve
heard from them on CD. Hailing from Northern Ireland,
TRUCKER DIABLO [7] were even better still.
In fact, Mr Beare liked them sufficiently to invest in
a copy of an album called ‘The Devil Rhythm’.
Driving home with it on the car stereo the next day we
realised that Ricky Warwick is a guest on the song ‘Juggernaut’…
given the flannel shirts and spiky topped attitude of
their music (which they call “beer-fuelled riff-rock”)
the connection should have been obvious. I’d like
to see them again!
A combination of intermittent rain, wind interference
with the PA, onstage sound problems and even bigger front-of-house
issues served to take the edge off an otherwise thrilling
display from VEGA [7]. Though the band
performed well enough the all important intricacies of
their sound were buried beneath a mountainous wall of
bass noise. Vega undoubtedly made quite a few new converts
among the uninitiated but, regrettably and for no fault
of their own, the experience will go down as something
of a missed opportunity.
As someone that supported their distant forerunners Hurricane
Party and Roadstar, I’m afraid I just no longer
‘get’ HEAVEN’S BASEMENT [5].
The band’s debut album ‘Filthy Empire’
had moments of greatness but their days as a classic rock-orientated
act are long behind them; these days they’re more
in tune with the Kerrang! (i.e. kiddies’) market.
Good luck to ’em, but definitely count me out.
The rain worsened as we awaited SNAKECHARMER [7].
Few seemed to notice that the group were performing with
a stand-in keyboardist, Mark Stanway – who like
drummer Harry James was on double duty with special guests
Magnum – in the absence of Adam Wakeman. I’ll
be honest, I couldn’t even see the stage as I was
backstage involved in a game of footie with the Vega chaps,
a group of young kiddies and (ulp!) a man dressed as a
banana, but even from a distance it was splendid to hear
classic ’Snakes ditties such as ‘Walking In
The Shadow Of The Blues’ being played and sung,
especially sung, as God had intended. Though I felt like
drowned rat the kickaround was great fun, especially the
solo goal I scored after rounding several (pint-sized)
defenders to fire low into the right-hand corner…
without spilling a drop of my cider.
It’s painful to write that MAGNUM [6]
disappointed me. Bob Catley’s voice was
well below par; lower in the mix and distinctly raspier
than usual. Given that he also sounded out-of-sorts on
Magnum’s last UK tour back in November – due,
we were told, to a bad cold – I find myself hoping
that this unusually below par display can be blamed on
extenuating circumstances with which I’m unfamiliar
(indeed, several of the weekend’s participants complained
of inadequate onstage monitors).
As darkness and the temperature both fell, a headline
set from MICHAEL SCHENKER [8] was accompanied
by sporadic showers, yet the downpour couldn’t dampen
the enthusiasm of the crowd… nor of Schenker himself.
With his alcohol and booze problems long behind him, the
normally introspective axeman has come out of his shell
and actually seemed to be enjoying himself. I kid you
not! No disrespect intended to Doogie White who is a great
vocalist, but only one man can sing ‘Shoot Shoot’,
‘Only You Can Rock Me’, ‘Let It Roll’,
‘Too Hot To Handle’, ‘Lights Out’
or ‘Doctor Doctor’ and his name is Sir Philip
of Mogg. Likewise, Klaus Meine has made Scorpions gems
such as ‘Lovedrive’ and ‘Another Piece
Of Meat’ his own… that’s just a personal
opinion, of course, and backed by a group that included
fellow ex-Scorps Francis Buchholz and Herman ‘Ze
German’ Rarebell, Schenker ended the event in style.
An after-show party took place in the VIP tent with unplugged
live music from Hand Of Dimes men Nev MacDonald and Neil
Garland and a gang of their boozing buddies that included
my old mate Bob Richards on percussion. How thrilling
that their repertoire included versions of the Kooga gems
‘Across The Water’ and ‘Gabrielle’
before Lee the taxi driver arrived to whisk us back to
the hotel.
In summation? I just cannot speak highly enough of Steelhouse,
a well-run, old-school festival with a brilliant, friendly
vibe,, sets of reasonable duration and no annoying stage
clashes. Should you get the chance to attend in 2014 then
grab it with both hands. Whatever the weather!!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Sunday 28th July
Mr Beare and I rolled down the M4 and located
our hotel without too much trouble. I was praying we’d
reach the site of the Steelhouse Festival in time for
Hand Of Dimes whose self-financed, eponymously titled
four-song EP is a bit of a favourite of mine. Steelhouse
takes place on top of a mountain, accessible by a steep,
stony trail… Luckily, we were in a cab! Just as
we claimed our VIP passes and gained access to the arena
midway through the first song from HOD, the clouds did
exactly what they’d been threatening and began to
send down flurries of rain. Sadly, they continued to do
so for most of the weekend. I’d brought a bright
blue plastic rain mac that gave me the nickname ‘Papa
Smurf’ for the duration of the festival, hahaha!
Locals lads HAND OF DIMES [7]
feature ex-Kooga men Nev MacDonald on vocals/second guitar
and Neil Garland on keys/harmonica. Aside from the excellent
singing of MacDonald they don’t have a great deal
in common with the singer’s previous band Skin,
being bluesier and, occasionally on songs like ‘Jacob’s
Ladder’, more on the pomp-rock side. Given the latter
statement I was disappointed they didn’t play ‘Across
The Water’ by Kooga, but their set was very enjoyable
nonetheless.
It was time to grab some drinks and food. Returning to
the arena from the VIP tent, FIGHTING WOLVES [4]
sounded as bloody awful as the League 1 team after which
they are named. Let’s say no more.
Sadly, it was still bucketing down for THE TEMPERANCE
MOVEMENT [8], who nevertheless turned in one
of the most agreeable sets of the weekend. Though some
have complained they sound too much like The Black Crowes,
Phil Campbell is among the best and charismatic singers
on the current scene and the band’s songs are very
special indeed. I could’ve watched them all afternoon.
ANVIL [6] are a band that you will either
love or hate. Having been a fan since their original run
in the early 1980s I fall into the former category, though
I appreciate the Marmite-esque ability of tunes like ‘Badass
Rock ‘N’ Roll’ to divide a crowd.
FM [8], on the other hand were just about universally
admired – and rightfully so. Mr Beare and I looked
at one another in mutual annoyance as they wound up with
‘Heard It Through The Grapevine’, a novelty
song that has long since exceeded its shelf life (especially
as its inclusion at Steelhouse served to relegate ‘Frozen
Heart’ to the subs bench), but my… what a
great set!
That SAXON [9] were able
to surpass it says much of Biff Byford and company –
though in fairness the headliners were able to play a
longer set than their special guests. With a full stage
set that included their Eagle lighting rig back in action
here in the UK for the first time in two decades plus
bags of pyro and a levitating drum riser for Nigel Glockler,
their Eagle lighting rig back in action for the first
time in two decades they were in unstoppable form, mixing
and matching vintage headbanging classics with newer material,
and as any Saxon fan knows the band have been in a solid
purple patch for the last four or five albums. Nobody
wanted them to leave the stage and when curfew time came
and went Byford merely grinned (and I’m paraphrasing
’cos I was a bit drunk): “We’re on top
of a fookin’ mountain in fookin’ Wales and
there’s nobody for miles around – who’s
going to stop us playing a few more songs?” Fabulous
stuff… Just wait till you see the docu-DVD that
was being filmed.
For the benefit of The Beare, whose exhaustion was causing
him to close his eyes and wobble like a Weeble, here’s
the set-list: ‘Sacrifice’, ‘Wheels Of
Terror’, ‘The Power And The Glory’,
‘Heavy Metal Thunder’, ‘The Bands Played
On’, ‘I’ve Got To Rock To Stay Alive’,
‘Conquistador’, Drum Solo, ‘The Eagle
Has Landed’, ‘Solid Ball Of Rock’, Guitar
Solo, ‘Stand Up And Fight’, ‘Dallas
1PM’, ‘747 (Strangers In The Night)’,
‘Strong Arm Of The Law’ and ‘Wheels
Of Steel’, followed by ‘Crusader’, ‘Denim
& Leather’ and ‘Princess Of The Night’.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Friday 26th July
Last night was spent at the Underworld in Camden
where Ricky Warwick and Tony Wright pooled forces for
an unplugged double-leader. Warwick’s Black Star
Riders band-mate Scott Gorham was in the bar as I arrived,
slightly later than planned due to a last minute phone
interview. Earlier in the day Ricky had posted on his
Facebook page that there would be a special guest on one
song – the identity now seemed obvious (though,
of course, I was wrong! In fact, he was joined by Andy
Cairns of Therapy? for a stirring ‘Jonestown Mind’).
Catching the concluding 20 minutes, which included a cool
version of Bowie’s ‘Moonage Daydream’
among the expected Terrorvision fare – ‘Tequila’,
‘Alice What’s The Matter?’, ‘Friends
And Family’, ‘My House’ and ‘Perseverance’
– I wish I’d seen more of Tony Wright. Next
time, deffo.
Ricky was in excellent form, laughing and joking and telling
war stories as he revisited a few more tunes from his
past with The Almighty (‘Wild And Wonderful’,
‘Jesus Loves You… But I Don’t’
and ‘Free ‘N’ Easy’), dipped into
his solo repertoire (‘Can’t Wait For Tomorrow’,
‘The Whiskey Song’, ‘Can't Live With
Maybe’, ‘Belfast Confetti’ and ‘The
Arms Of Belfast Town’), threw in a couple apiece
from Thin Lizzy (‘Jailbreak’ and ‘The
Boys Are Back In Town’) and current group Black
Star Riders (‘Bound For Glory’ and ‘Hey
Judas’) plus assorted cover versions. Eddie Cochran’s
‘Summertime Blues’ sounded good and his countrified
take on Maiden’s ‘Running Free’ always
makes me smile – as did the Lemmy anecdote that
preceded Motörhead’s perennial ‘Ace Of
Spades’. Without missing a beat, Ricky then announced:
“This is the second greatest rock ‘n’
roll song of all time… it was written by Satan”
before bringing down the house with Britney’s ‘Oops!
I Did It Again’. And what else to sign off with
but Springsteen’s ‘Born To Run’, concluding
a first-rate evening’s entertainment.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Thursday 25th July
Words. Fail. Me. Just take
a butchers at the latest advert that Status Quo have
filmed for Australian TV. Thanks to my friend Nige Glazier
for the steer to this embarrassing monstrosity, but in
a way I’d rather not have seen it!
In advance of this afternoon’s interview with guitarist
John Petrucci, I’ve just heard the new, self-titled
Dream Theater album, which continues the excellent work
of their Grammy-nominated ‘A Dramatic Turn Of Events’.
Its last song, ‘Illumination Theory’, twists
and turns like a twisty turny thing (© Blackadder),
incorporating a symphonic segment and even a false ending
that takes it past the 22-minute mark. If you’re
a fan, you are gonna love it. My interview was enjoyable.
Since the departure of Mike Portnoy, the band have made
such a big thing of stating: “DT is bigger than
any one person”, almost like a mantra, that I asked
whether they could continue without Petrucci himself.
He just burst out laughing and said: “I can’t
answer that – no, you’ve got me there…
great question!”
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Wednesday 24th July
Eldest son Eddie and I took a train down to Gillingham
for last night’s pre-season game at the Priestfield,
where we met local lad Steve Taylor (he’ll hate
me for saying that…) for a couple of quick sherberts.
Both teams took the fixture very seriously and it was
good workout for all concerned. Save for a short period
of the second half Palace were dominant, a fact reflected
in the 3-0 score-line. Senor Campaña started in
the first half and almost scored within 30 seconds! What
a prospect. He sprayed the ball everywhere across the
park. I’d like to know accuracy percentage but he’s
so confident on the ball, it’s a real treat to watch
as a Palace fan. As is the ‘on the deck’ football
that Ollie seems to have them playing.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Tuesday 23rd July
I sat up till 3am gazing out of my bedroom window as South
London was illuminated by one of the most violent thunderstorms
I’ve ever seen. Lightning can be very beautiful…
if you’re safely indoors! Amazingly, Arnie, my youngest
slept through the entire thing – even with his windows
wide open!
Meanwhile, a few recent pix have been added to the Gallery
page… gosh, I’m very lucky to do what I do!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Monday 22nd July
I’m writing a Melodic Rock round-up column
for the next issue of Classic Rock. Am feeling very sad
as I listen to Brett Walker’s classy but now posthumous
new album, ‘Straight Jacket Vacation’, which
concludes with a tongue in cheek tune called ‘Someday
I’m Gonna Be Famous’, its creator crying out:
“Thank you... we’ll see you next time”
to the sound of recorded crowd cheers. If only that were
possible.
Still in a melodic stylée I’ve just written
up a new interview that I did with Robert Tepper, who
is about to come in for his debut UK shows. See the dates
here.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Sunday 21st July
It’ll come as no surprise to learn that
yesterday’s friendly with Dagenham & Redbridge
turned into a bit of a monster piss-up. With a bus replacement
service on the District Line, reaching the outskirts of
East London was a bit like appearing in a remake of Planes,
Trains & Automobiles but it was worth it to drink
cheap beer in their clubhouse and watch England piling
on the runs on the tellybox, before a strong-looking Palace
side won the game 2-1. Stopping off for a beer break with
my friend Harj Kallah in Barking inspired a spontaneous
trip to the Crobar, followed by tasty nosebag and two
bottles of wine in a Garfunkels restaurant and, eventually,
a gibberish-tinged journey back to Catford. I can’t
wait for the new season to start.
Yessss! England have just taken the first Aussie wicket
of day! 24-1... just 558 more runs required for a tourists
victory, haha! Let’s humiliate ’em! [Edit:
Cook’s men went on to claim victory by a whopping
347 runs! 2-0 in the series with three more games to go…
come on England!]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Saturday 20th July
After a quick run in the park I’m off to
CPFC’s first pre-season game at Dagenham & Redbridge.
It’s a new ground for me! I wonder if we will see
any of the club’s new signings?! Certainly hope
so! I will also be keeping one eye on the cricket, as
thanks to great innings from Joe Root England are in the
ascendancy in the Second Ashes Test.
Just been sitting on the patio and flicking through the
newly arrived issue of Metal Hammer and did a double-take
when M Shadows from Avenged Sevenfold name-checked UFO
in its cover story. Er… Didn’t see that one
coming!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Friday 19th July
I’m very, very impressed by the new Carcass
album! Bill Steer and Jeff Walker have done the band’s
name proud with ‘Surgical Steel’, which is
released on September 16! Check out the trailer here.
It’s been a sweltering hot week, so last night I
decided to nip across to my local blues haunt, the Beaverwood
Club in Chislehurst, for several glasses of chilled vino
collapso. My old mate Dann Gwilym, the former Chinatown/Shogun
guitarist, was playing there with his current female-fronted
group Roadhouse – not to be confused with ex-Def
Leppard guitarist Pete Willis’ short lived band
of the same name. They put on a really good show, mixing
up tunes from a rather fine new album titled ‘Gods
& Highways & Old Guitars’ (notably its title
song, ‘Blues Motel’ a re-worked ‘The
Big Easy’) along with older tracks such as ‘Ten
Lies’, ‘Rainmaker’, ‘Dark Angel’
and ‘Too Tired To Play’, the latter of which
offered vague echoes of ZZ Top’s ‘Sharp Dressed
Man’. The Animals’ ‘House Of The Rising
Sun’ is of course an untouchable selection but Roadhouse
got through it intact thanks to the vocal grit of Mandie
G and a tasty solo from Gwilym. They wound things up with
‘Preacher Man’, complete with ‘Free
Bird’-esque ending, and the new album’s ‘Sinner’,
a tune they’d never played before. Half of the band
hate it, the rest love it but with a bit of rehearsal
it could become one of their best offerings.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Thursday 18th July
A warm welcome to Selhurst Senor Campaña!
It’s official: Palace have confirmed the four-year
signing of Spain’s Under-20 skipper for a mere £1.75million
subject to clearance from the Premier League and the FA.
What an unbelievable coup!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Wednesday 17th July
Ooooh good, Orchid are coming back to the Uk
for a gig at Dingwalls on November 3 – and they’re
bringing label-mates Scorpion Child with them. I was gutted
to have missed the San Franciscan Sabbath-worshipping
quartet’s recent show at the Underworld, this one
is a must-see.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Tuesday 16th July
The house is quiet and calm with the ex-wife
away on holiday, but gigs are off the agenda for a few
more days. It’s probably just as well, as I’m
very, very busy with work. I’ve been transcribing
a phone interview with Peter Frampton – a thoroughly
nice fella. I love it when an artist calls back to elaborate
upon a point made in the original interview – it
was the second time that PF has done this with me; really
shows that they care about what they do.
In the evening as the kids watched Top Gear I slipped
out into the garden for a bit of a practise kickaround
with Bob The Dog. It was getting dark but luckily the
faithful hound comes with built-in floodlights! *In his
very best Brian Moore voice*: “…And Ling goes
round one tackle, then rides a second challenge –
he’s heading into the penalty box. This is an amazing
solo run. He’s only got the keeper to beat!”
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_
Monday 15th July
Please, please say this is true: the newspapers
are suggesting that Crystal Palace are on the verge of
signing Spanish wonderkid Jose Campaña from La
Liga’s Sevilla FC. Now the captain of the Under-20s,
the 20-year-old midfielder has represented his nation
at every level and is regarded among the brightest prospects
in Spanish football. A fee of £2milklion has reportedly
been agreed and Campaña – recognised for
“neat touches and first-time passing” –
is due to undertake a medical at Selhurst within the next
few days. OMG… what an incredible scoop that would
be! The battle to avoid relegation will be incredibly
tough, of course it will, but I love the way the club
is not resorting to the same jaded old names that promoted
clubs end up buying year after year.
And the news just gets better… Raven and Girlschool
are to tour the UK together in November, stopping by the
Islington Academy in London on Saturday the 30th. Palace
have an important game up at Carrow Road during the afternoon,
but just try keeping me away from that one!!! How amazing
to think that this year is Girlschool’s 35th anniversary.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Sunday 14th July
*And breathe...* What an utterly extraordinary
game of cricket! Ashes test matches can be won or lost
by the slimmest of margins and the scoreboard will tell
us that this afternoon at Trent Bridge England triumphed
by 13 runs, though their victory was confirmed only after
an umpiring decision was overturned thanks to the barest
of contact on Brad Haddin’s bat, as Jimmy Anderson
claimed his tenth wicket of the match. At lunchtime, with
the Aussies needing 20 more runs and England requiring
one final wicket, the game could *still* have gone either
way. Sheeeesh… how exciting. Well played Australia,
but England take a deserved 1-0 lead in the series!!!
I was extremely worried to read that Dan
McCafferty passed out onstage a few days ago during
the first song of Nazareth’s gig in in Cranbrook,
Canada. The band, who are scheduled to perform some UK
shows in November, have cancelled the remainder of their
dates and have yet to make an official statement. The
66-year-old had been complaining of breathing difficulties
and Naz had delayed the start-time of the Cranbrook gig.
Here’s hoping that a period of rest will restore
him to full strength.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Saturday 13th July
A 10k run before the weather got too hot had
sounded like a smart idea but you can wring the sweat
from my new Vega T-shirt… ugh! I’m going to
grab a quick shower, watch the cricket till lunchtime,
make a start on a Thunder sleeve essay for EMI Records
and then... a night at the Crobar might well be in order!
In the meantime I’ve just booked accommodation for
the Steelhouse
Festival, which takes place in a couple of weeks’
time. It’ll be my last chance of a quick break from
Ling Towers before the start of the footie season. Attractions
include the mighty FM plus Magnum, Saxon, Michael Schenker,
Vega, Temperance Movement, Nev MacDonald’s excellent
Hand Of Dimes and my first ‘proper’ look at
Snakecharmer (I don’t count the covers set they
did supporting Heep)... what’s not to like? (Except,
of course, that it happens in Wales!)
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Friday 12th July
Am loving the fact that I’ve just been
sent the first four albums by US hard rockers Cactus –
‘Cactus’/‘One Way... Or Another’
and ‘Restrictions’/‘’Ot ‘N’
Sweaty’ – as two-on-one CD packages. What
first-rate work from Hear
No Evil Recordings. The same label also has a newly
expanded edition of Deep Purple’s ‘Slaves
And Masters’, the band’s Joe Lynn Turner-fronted
album from 1990 – an extremely underrated release
in my ’umble opinion.
For the last few days I’ve been reading an rather
enjoyable book about proggers Galahad. Sub-titled: The
Story Of The World’s Most Famous Unsuccessful Band,
One For The Record is an authorised biography of the South
Coast minnows by Andrew Wild, the author responsible for
a similar tome on Twelfth Night. After more than 25 years
together and with 19 line-ups to document it offers some
entertaining road stories, including the time that the
band played a gig and nobody – *nobody* –
turned up, also of singer Stuart Nicholson’s failed
quests to replace Fish in Marillion and Phil Collins in
Genesis (he did at least secure an audition with the former
group). Its 53 pages of discographies, gig itineraries
and cover versions performed might seem excessive but
Wild manages to tread the line between hardcore anorak
and smirking bystander. He really sums up the joy of being
in a band, absorbing the camaraderie of finding one’s
self in a variety of absurd situations with (thankfully!)
like-minded souls. Order his book from: www.galahadonline.com,
and you’ll also get a free DVD anthology of their
videos from 1985-2010.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Thursday 11th July
With Crystal Palace’s pre-season friendlies
drawing nearer, I’m enthused that the club has snapped
up Jerome Thomas, a former Arsenal and Clowntown winger
from West Brom. The 30-year-old free signing is a CPFC
player for two years. I’m hoping that reports suggesting
midfielder Mile Jedinak, a vital element of last year’s
promotion campaign, will sign a new deal, are substantiated.
Are we going to get another former Baggie, Peter Odemwingie,
who could line up alongside Dwight Gayle, our £4.5m
signing from Peterborough United? All would be very sensible
acquisitions. The club has also splashed out £2.3million
on its training ground in Beckenham, just down the road
from here, a facility that was setting them back £200K
per annum in rent. For the first time in many years the
Eagles own their stadium and practice facilities…
very good business!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Wednesday 10th July
The day of reckoning has arrived at last. Cricket
is the second greatest sport in the world and this morning
marks the beginning of the latest Ashes series between
England and the Aussies. Can Cook’s men retain the
urn? I’d like to think so! England have won toss
and will bat first, bring it on!!!!
Happy to report that I passed yesterday’s NHS Health
Check with flying colours! For a man of my age I’m
in fine shape – it’s official... My blood
pressure and body mass index are way below average and
the cholesterol level is normal. Okay, my alcohol intake
is a little less satisfactory but you can’t have
everything... As I left the room the nurse smiled and
said: “Make sure that you keep up the running”,
her tone implying that my strict exercise regime could
be all that’s keeping me alive. Right now she might
well be right…
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Tuesday 9th July
Yesterday’s face-to-face interview with the delightful
Robin Beck was a lot of fun. In town to talk up her excellent
new album, ‘Underneath’, Ms B had brought
the Florida sunshine with her. London is a grip of a heatwave.
Let’s enjoy it while it lasts.
Conversely, how saddening to learn of the passing of
Bronz guitarist Shaun Kirkpatrick. I’m a big fan
of the UK band’s Max Norman-produced debut, 1983’s
‘Taken By Storm’, which featured the golden-voiced
Max Bacon. Its single, ‘Send
Down An Angel’ is a bit of a mini-classic. Down
though the years I had quite a few email dealings with
Shaun, who seemed like a first-rate geezer. Bacon had
rejoined Bronz last year and the band were in the process
of recording a new album when Kirkpatrick suffered a suspect
heart attack. RIP, Shaun.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Monday 8th July
Congratulations to Andy Murray on yesterday’s
triumph at Wimbledon. Eddie and I watched with growing
excitement on TV in the living room, and to my surprise
as the denouement approached I found myself becoming quite
choked up by it all. And well done to Novak Djokovic for
being such a gracious, magnanimous runner-up. To that
prat Alex Salmond, who unfurled a Scottish flag as the
cameras were turned on him, you should be ashamed of yourself
for attempting to turn a great sporting moment into a
political statement. A very cheap trick.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Sunday 7th July
It’s a little after 1pm as I type this,
having closed the door on the final all-night stragglers
of Lingfest 2103. Concluding my birthday celebrations,
a motley gang of revellers visited SE6 for a kickaround
beneath a baking hot sun – there will be some sore
middle-aged limbs tomorrow! – followed by a shock
& awe display of formation drinking to the sound of
vintage Quo, Van Halen, Thin Lizzy, Montrose and many
more. A splendid time was had by all, though clearing
away the empties will take some doing. The recycling wheelie
bin is already full. Seriously, there are enough leftovers
to open a small off license. My picture shows the footballing
contingent regaining their puff (from left to right):
Jeff Gilbert, Neil Jeffries, Steve Taylor, yours truly,
Nick Shilton (glass of Perrier just out of shot…),
Eddie Ling, Jerry Ewing, Richard Thompson, Malcolm Dome
and Andy Beare. As some wag later posted on Facebook:
“What a finely toned group of athletes”…
In case you wondered, some laydeeez were present, but
despite promises to the contrary none brought their footie
boots!! :-(
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_
Saturday 6th July
My appreciation of Vega, who last night played
a blinder of a set at the Barfly, grows unabated. Attendance
numbers were no doubt affected by a combination of the
day’s stifling heat and the fact that Bon Jovi were
across town over at the Olympic Park, but the UK band
are fast emerging as one of the best up ‘n’
coming talents this isle has to offer. Although my best
intentions of catching the night’s support act,
a bunch of big-haired Finns called Santa Cruz, were brutally
scuppered by a cancelled train I arrived in time for the
quartet’s last three tunes… really good stuff
if you like your glammy hard rock to be a little on the
shrill and obvious side. Goddamn you Network Southeast,
or whatever you’re called these days.
The headliners used their hour to perfection with a strong
mix of hard rockers and the occasional ballad such as
‘Saviour’ and ‘Headlights’ (the
latter a song that I once foolishly mistook for a lighter-waving
paean to head lice!) from both of the band’s albums.
‘What The Hell!’, the highly contagious title
cut of their current record, might be a Frankenstein’s
monster of Warrant’s ‘Cherry Pie’, ‘Lay
Your Hands On Me' by Bon Jovi and just about any Def Leppard
anthem you could name but when the band are in full pelt
they’re pretty much irresistible. Ending with the
Joe Elliott-approved video track ‘White
Knuckle Ride’ and a self-descriptive ‘Hands
In The Air’, Vega set up my weekend to perfection.
Here’s what was played: ‘Kiss Of Life’,
‘Not There For You’, ‘You Can’t
Run’, ‘She Walks Alone’, ‘Into
The Wild’, ‘Saviour’, ‘What The
Hell!’, ‘Cry’, ‘Headlights’,
‘Hearts Of Glass’, ‘Stay With Me’,
‘White Knuckle Ride’ and ‘Hands In The
Air’.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Friday 5th July
Still bleary-eyed, I made my way to central London
for a face-to-face interview with an early childhood crush.
Is there a tube station at Devil Gate Drive? Yes, of course
I was meeting the one and only Suzi Quatro. What a warm,
nice person she turned out to be. We sat and chatted for
a while after the tape went off. At 63 she’s kept
herself in good nick, too!
With time to kill before the evening’s encounter
with Gov’t Mule, I returned to Camden and invested
in a couple of pairs of my now trademark black skinny
jeans and a very cool leather jacket as a birthday present
to myself.
My interview with Warren Haynes was a little more hurried
than I’d have liked, but the guitarist/vocalist
was in entertaining form whilst giving the lowdown on
the band’s forthcoming album, ‘Shout!’,
which is due via Provogue in September. A special bonus
edition offers alternate version of its 11 songs with
an impressive – sometimes very surprising –
set of special guest vocalists. I’ve heard all but
two of its songs, and it’s great!
The show lived up to the group’s sky-high standards,
though I preferred the first of their two sets as they
became a little too bogged down in muso rambling after
the interval. Reeves Gabrels of Bowie’s Tin Machine
fame joined them for a great encore of ‘Rocking
In The Free World’, and Elliott Randall (Steely
Dan/Doobie Brothers) played on a cover of Albert King’s
‘Breaking Up Somebody’s Home’ that also
featured some searing sax work from Joe McGlohon. I was
extremely impressed by Under The Bridge – a great
little venue though of course in a very regrettable location
(part of Stamford Bridge… spit!). It was a good
job I had the inoculations! Here’s the set-list:
‘Blind Man In The Dark’, ‘Bad Little
Doggie’, ‘Brand New Angel’, ‘Mr
Man’, ‘Unring The Bell’, ‘Endless
Parade’, ‘Thorazine Shuffle’/’Funny
Little Tragedy’, ‘Kind Of Bird’, ‘Captured’,
‘Larger Than Life’, ‘Birth Of The Mule’,
‘Scared To Live’, ‘Breaking Up Somebody’s
Home’ and ‘Rocking In The Free World’.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Thursday 4th July
Last night (and a chunk of the post-midnight
hours) was/were spent in Camden where I’d been invited
to a launch party for New Device’s second studio
disc, ‘Here We Stand’, which has been termed
a mixture of “hard rock and metal progressions”.
The term overlooks the British group’s strong commercial
sensibilities. It was a balmy evening and the ciders flowed
nicely down the neck outside the venue, a welcoming pub
called The Black Heart. The band played a really enjoyable
set. So much so that Andy Beare, who was on holiday, suggested
that we enjoy a few more post-show beverages. This in
turn lead to a spontaneous visit to the Crobar on our
way back to our night busses at Trafalgar Square. Cue:
instances of projectile vomiting and all manner of unscheduled
craziness. (I’m innocent of the pavement pizza incidents,
just in case you wondered). Suffice to say that I slept
fully clothed on top of the bed (still wearing my glasses!)
and almost slept through the alarm clock - not an ideal
way to start the day.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Wednesday 3rd July
It’s always nice to have a phone catch-up
with James LaBrie. The
Canadian singer said some interesting things about his
new release, ‘Impermanent Resonance’, and
gave a very tantalising, appetising insight into Dream
Theater’s self-titled newie, due in September. Can’t
wait to hear it!
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Tuesday 2nd July
It’s my birthday. Happy birthday to me!
No, I’m not telling you how old I am. Don’t
be so impertinent!
I type this with one of the worst hangovers in living
memory. Following the dark solemnity of the previous nite’s
Van der Graaf Generator gig, it was time for something
completely different: the Leicester Square premiere of
the movie that I had vowed never to see… Bula Quo!
What can I say? The film was dismal in comparison to the
illuminating company of those with whom I watched it:
Sarah Bolder, Mark Taylor, Noel Buckley, etc etc, and
with Mick Box and assorted Uriah Heep members a few seats
down in the row. Perhaps inevitably, things got a little
out of control at the ‘after-show’ bash at
the Café De Paris. Here’s a very silly photo
of myself, Ms Bolder and Mr Taylor on the red carpet (photo
credit: Noel Buckley). Well, the invite did say; ‘Dress
loud and tropical’, and it was well worth all of
the humiliation to see the look of utter astonishment
on Mr Rossi’s face on the way into the theatre…
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Monday 1st July
After yet another afternoon in the garden I nipped
across to the Barbican Centre to review Van der Graaf
Generator for Prog magazine. This was my third sighting
of the legendary prog/art rockers, having been present
eight years ago for their reunion at the Royal Festival
Hall, and again on the same stage in ’07, by which
time they had slimmed down to a trio with the exit of
saxophonist/flautist David Jackson.
The cornerstones of their enthralling 110-minute display
were two daring long-form pieces; the 20-minute ‘Flight’
and a rarely performed cult classic called ‘A Plague
Of Lighthouse Keepers’, from 1971’s ‘Pawn
Hearts’ album. However, with three post-reunion
studio albums to their name, more than half of the seven
songs comprising the set proper were culled from the current
era, including three selections from 2008’s excellent
‘Trisector’. Even at 64, Peter Hammill remains
a captivating frontman and Van der Graaf Generator are
as dark, edgy, and at times, solemnly oppressive, as any
band you could name. Not unexpectedly, the show’s
highlight was the extraordinary ‘…Lighthouse…’,
a brooding, disturbing, multi-tempoed 23-minute epic that
made ‘Suppers Ready’ sound like something
Peter Andre might have recorded. Here’s the set-list:
‘Over The Hill’, ‘Flight’, ‘Lifetime’,
‘All That Before’, ‘Bunsho’, ‘Man-erg’
and ‘A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers’, followed
by an encore of ‘Childlike Faith In Childhood’s
End’.
|
