DAVE'S DIARY
This journal of the comings'n'goings and musings'n'enthusings of Dave Ling
will be updated daily - except after days of stress and nights of excess.
Friday 11th September
It's time for another visit to London to see my Dad. To be honest, I'd
expected the train to be busier. I've brought reading matter a-plenty: the
new issue of Classic Rock, complete with my tribute to Pete Way, and Hit
Men: Power Brokers And Fast Money Inside The Music Business, an excellent
book by the writer Fredric Dannen. It's heartily recommended.
[Edit: What a waste of a day. During the journey's early stages the train
kept stopping in between stations for long periods of time. Finally it was
announced: there had been a flood in a tunnel up ahead in Sevenoaks. I
delayed the table for the meal with Dad by an hour and moved the time of his
pre-book taxi. At Tonbridge the service terminated and I stood about for a
round an hour, but nobody could say for sure how long the blockage might
last. In the end it seemed easier to cancel the arrangement entirely, turn
back and head for home. Five hours after leaving I got back to West St
Leonards having accomplished precisely zero. FFS!]
Thursday 10th September
Fantastic news for fellow Palace fans. Batsman is back! Belgian
international striker Michy Batshuayi has joined on a second loan deal from
Chelsea until the end of this season, and this time with an option to make
the deal permanent. Bas notched six goals in 13 appearances during the
2018/19 season, and is without doubt a quality player.
Wednesday 9th September
This just popped up in the 'memories' section of my Facebook page. The night
from four years ago when I was 'attacked' by a Rhino. Lol... Don't worry, it
was all good natured fun.
Rush fans - don't panic. Geddy Lee isn't dead. He confirms the fact here.
Tuesday 8th September
After 45 minutes on a premium tariff phone line, CPFC season tickets are
renewed for 2020/21 despite utterly dickish conditions from the club and the
fact that Eddie and I will only get to see a handful of games for a lot of
money (the ones we miss are only refunded upon the campaign's completion).
Throw in unknown conditions for the matchday experience - testing and ID
checks before entry; no beer on the concourse; Christ, will we even be
allowed to sing?!? - and I'm wondering why I bothered. It's called blind,
unquestioning, illogical loyalty, and I kinda hate myself for it.
As I type I'm busy watching England footballers (versus Denmark) and
cricketers (in a T20 game vis the Convicts) simultaneously. Who says men
can't multi task?!
[Edit: Given the results of these games, I kinda wish I hadn't
bothered].
Monday 7th September
The Who's drummer Keith Moon, AKA Moon The Loon, passed on this date in
1978. His japes are legendary. From the Rolling Stone website, here is a
very cool list of his most famous wind-ups. My own favourite is the waterbed in the lift or the winding up of
shop assistants in Marks & Sparks; it's a toss-up.
Well, it's taken the best part of a year but circumstances are now right for
me to begin work on making an office/album storage space for myself here at
the new Gentling Towers. Though I put money aside from the sale of my old
gaff in Sarf London, Covid has made it very difficult to find a suitable
builder. Though I've been able to muddle through since arriving here, there
were many, many times when it felt like my hands were tied behind my back.
To do what I do I need easy, speedy access to my albums, vinyl, CDs,
magazines, press releases, magazine cuttings and interview archive. The 20th
of next month can't come soon enough!
Sunday 6th September
England vs Australia in the second T20 game: Convicts in disarray at 3 for
2, having won the toss. The visitors have no answer to England's pace. Love
it!!!
[Edit: England win by six wickets! The result was never in doubt!]
Saturday 5th September
A few words about yesterday - a poignant, emotional day among friends,
family and band-mates past 'n' present saying goodbye to the one and only
Pete Way. Phil Mogg kindly gave me a lift for a big chunk of the return
journey to Bournemouth. Covid restrictions ensured that only 20 people could
attend but rest assured there will be a bigger celebration of Way's life as
and when normality returns - probably in the form of a concert. At the
lectern, Clive Edwards gave an insight into the Pete that he knew and
Charlotte and Zowie spoke with humour and warmth of the relationships they
had with a father that they saw little of as kids but clearly grew to
worship in later years. Zowie looked so much like Pete and had so many of
his mannerisms, it was almost scary. To my utter dismay, Pete's younger
brother Neill revealed that before becoming an Aston Villa fan there had
been a secret dalliance with The Dark Side - for a short while Pete
supported ManUre (!) Outside the Crematorium the many wreaths were mostly in
the claret and blue of the Villa. My eye was drawn to one that stood out
defiantly - it was black and white. I assumed it was a Newcastle
United-themed tribute from Quireboys frontman Spike. Closer inspection
revealed that it came from Steve Harris and the Iron Maiden family, its
colours in honour of the stripy stage legwear first adopted so memorably by
Pete and later bequeathed to 'Arry. A lovely gesture.
Although the mood was sad, love and laughter filled the air - especially at
the wake, where pints flowed and many a classic Way story was recounted. To
top it all, having left home at 7.30am to meet up with Monsewer Mogg, I
arrived back in St Leonards around 1am, only to find the kebab shop closed.
DAMMIT!!!
Rest well, Pete. You will be much missed.
Friday 4th September
It's just before midnight and I'm behind enemy lines at Shiteon Station, on
the way home from an emotional, energy sapping but enjoyable day saying
goodbye to a true legend. As the song goes: 'Half the time it could seem
funny/The other half just too sad'.
Thursday 3rd September
Ross Halfin has just posted a preview of the new issue of Classic Rock.
Great cover. Nice work, Ross. On sale September 15. Please note: Pete is on
the subscribers editions only. The version on sale elsewhere features
Motorhead. A limited quantity of the Pete issue will be available from here.
One for the historians out there: On September 3rd, 1990, Judas Priest
unleashed the classic 'Painkiller'. Here's a story I wrote about it for
Metal Hammer back in 2003.
Wednesday 2nd September
Metal Hammer have asked me to review the new album from Armored Saint, the
welcome return of "the headbangingest band in Los Angeles". I'm very much
digging their newie, 'Punching The Sky' (due via Metal Blade on October
23).
Wondering what else I'm listening to right now? Wonder no more!
Tuesday 1st September
Unexpected but great news: One of my fave bands, the UK's own Black Spiders,
are back from the dead. #FUBS
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