tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46350851445472562112024-03-14T13:25:53.203+00:00Jackie Badger's Retro BlogPerskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-22433893913844031442019-10-20T22:21:00.001+01:002022-07-10T23:09:26.603+01:002019 Birthday party, Podcast episode 2It's a big old birthday in June and we're putting a band together to play at the party - no I can't believe it either, but that's what we're doing - me on bass, Rosie on drums, Alice Miller on guitar and Steve 'Snips' Parsons - vocals, tambourine and maracas. Lots of people come from various parts of my life, it was fabulous to see them all and I hope they enjoyed the band as much as we did. We started with a song I'd written and followed it with covers of songs from mine and Steve's teenage years. Steve, Rosie and myself shared the singing:<br />
Not Fade Away, Tired of Waiting, Money, For Your Love, Mr. Soul, Somebody to Love, California Dreamin' and encored with All Along the Watchtower.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuFgG5SZPWI-REDTY1zc4lkImJS8jh3QOc8AcqJSND-3kUquCBJrKM-nE2PMdrUs2ACXqa2wv8kFVlM-4KCLl5Z68n44y69Jjbqo_EPvfFendIPnIdy5vV-cwOJ1ktPeJ1j0FSENtQRlWJPiMx8Jkg7vj_TEJtyF3vZ_vVkK3qnMXCD-pQ7VS0jKFXQ/s1145/Parsons%20birthday%20party%203.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="1145" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuFgG5SZPWI-REDTY1zc4lkImJS8jh3QOc8AcqJSND-3kUquCBJrKM-nE2PMdrUs2ACXqa2wv8kFVlM-4KCLl5Z68n44y69Jjbqo_EPvfFendIPnIdy5vV-cwOJ1ktPeJ1j0FSENtQRlWJPiMx8Jkg7vj_TEJtyF3vZ_vVkK3qnMXCD-pQ7VS0jKFXQ/s320/Parsons%20birthday%20party%203.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>
Me and Rosie finally found the time to do episode 2 of our podcast <a href="https://www.mixcloud.com/MamaWasARollingStone/mama-was-a-rolling-stone-2-beatles-vs-stones/" target="_blank">'Mama was a Rolling Stone' </a>- it's ten minutes long and only took a year! How busy can two people be - apparently very!<br />
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-11106269425442083182018-08-13T19:57:00.002+01:002018-08-24T16:23:45.278+01:002018 Podcast Me and Rosie have been working on a podcast version of the blog - it's called Mama was a Rolling Stone. We've recorded the first episode and uploaded it to <a href="https://www.mixcloud.com/MamaWasARollingStone/">Mixcloud</a> - we will add further episodes.<br />
<br />
ChapelFM radio station have broadcast <a href="https://www.chapelfm.co.uk/elfm-player/archive/2018/07/mama-was-a-rolling-stone/" target="_blank">an hour show </a>of us chatting and playing tracks - using the pilot podcast plus live interview and more tracks.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhTdmjHPPmjeylnS-IZhU4DtmZcyQelNrg9d9T4DHXcqYquGRc6FzaObn395K3lEEeal-r6LXr7VIJJAavq3FV-9ExFl2yuZZjErwJx7OoKFOVIUix0cxeAl_gFiyNTWOLrIYULfovJ1e/s1600/Brian+Jones+1965+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1450" data-original-width="1511" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhTdmjHPPmjeylnS-IZhU4DtmZcyQelNrg9d9T4DHXcqYquGRc6FzaObn395K3lEEeal-r6LXr7VIJJAavq3FV-9ExFl2yuZZjErwJx7OoKFOVIUix0cxeAl_gFiyNTWOLrIYULfovJ1e/s320/Brian+Jones+1965+edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackie Badger + Brian Jones 06.01.65 London Airport</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-18946974125787338312017-02-20T23:41:00.000+00:002018-07-05T23:15:44.776+01:001995 SHARKS The Orange in West Ken<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="578" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsharksbanduk%2Fposts%2F552132978330945%3A0&width=500" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
Hard to believe, but it looks like I didn't mention Sharks gig at The Orange in West Kensington 1995 - lineup: Spedding, Snips, Nick Judd, Jackie Badger (Parsons) and Blair Cunningham. As luck would have it December 6th is a freezing cold snowy night and public transport is being delayed or just plain cancelled.<br />
<br />
We're all panicking cos it looks like drummer, Blair Cunningham isn't going to make it, but somehow he does. There's a rumour that Bill Wyman's coming, but he fails to materialize, however Mike Batt manages to struggle through the now very inclement weather as does my brother and many friends and acquaintances. <br />
<br />
Essentially the gig is to promote the new album 'Like A Black Van Parked On A Dark Curve' originally released on Bubblehead Records and is still available (now from <a href="http://www.talkingelephant.co.uk/artist/sharks/">Talking Elephant</a> who also have First Water and Jab It In Yore Eye).<br />
<br />
The dressing room window is broken and tiny snowflakes settle on the inside - kind of festive, but it's so cold I can't stop shaking and am wearing fingerless mittens to stop my hands from icing up.<br />
<br />
We go on to an introduction from Tim James (from the film <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109858/?ref_=nm_knf_i1">Funny Man</a>) The stage is tiny - not much space - Steve moves fast and takes no prisoners.<br />
<br />
SET LIST:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_Py-WxXUFr64oxOGIpHmQqtFKYqA-CDbaZbSvzrbv3n8_rt1fRxRYfI1ZWT-1YKxPWIV3JgDzaI5gwjOTlL_P94f8O7btsQMV94gDfRu2ccdDbLdIqoanpi6hGE1FeLzticV6uBSLj_q/s1600/Sharks+at+Orange+6.12.95+13.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_Py-WxXUFr64oxOGIpHmQqtFKYqA-CDbaZbSvzrbv3n8_rt1fRxRYfI1ZWT-1YKxPWIV3JgDzaI5gwjOTlL_P94f8O7btsQMV94gDfRu2ccdDbLdIqoanpi6hGE1FeLzticV6uBSLj_q/s400/Sharks+at+Orange+6.12.95+13.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve Parsons, Chris Spedding, Jackie Badger + Nick Judd </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
01. Wake Me When It's Time To Dance<br />
02. Gone To The Dogs<br />
03. Jimmy Bell<br />
04. Perfect Days<br />
05. Die For Love<br />
06. Sophistication<br />
07. Blues Rags and Hollers<br />
08. The First Things<br />
09. Cry Like A Baby<br />
10. Can't Stop Thinking About Me<br />
11.White Man<br />
12. Music Break Out<br />
13. Snakes and Swallowtails<br />
<br />
It's a good night and the audience seem to have fun - we'd rehearsed the set but had not even thought about an encore - we came back on and played Blue Suede Shoes!<br />
<br />
We learned later (from Mojo magazine) that Busta died that night in Memphis. Although it was great to be part of the gig, I would have gladly have given it up to see him play with Sharks again. <br />
<br />
From SHARKS Facebook site:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="_1dwg _1w_m _q7o" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; letter-spacing: -0.12px; padding: 12px 12px 0px;">
<div>
<div class="p_p55j3lx9n n_p55j3se8o clearfix" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: -1px; zoom: 1;">
<div class="clearfix v_p55j3lya-" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: -6px; zoom: 1;">
<div class="clearfix _42ef" style="font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden; zoom: 1;">
<div class="r_p55j3lyb5" style="font-family: inherit; padding-bottom: 6px;">
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<div class="_6a _5u5j" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; width: 428px;">
<div class="_6a _5u5j _6b" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: middle; width: 428px;">
<h5 class="_14f5 _5pbw _5vra" data-ft="{"tn":"C"}" id="js_1fza" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.38; margin: 0px 0px 2px; padding: 0px 22px 0px 0px;">
<span class="fwn fcg" style="color: #90949c; font-family: inherit;"><span class="fwb fcg" data-ft="{"tn":"k"}" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold;"><a data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard-referer="ARTC6qL_2KI7MGQROkTJjEFkuYUndsHUB9uWMiQPuvpNSV3uyTDXhbS2ivK2fNzgIh4" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=406592916218286&extragetparams=%7B%22hc_ref%22%3A%22ARTC6qL_2KI7MGQROkTJjEFkuYUndsHUB9uWMiQPuvpNSV3uyTDXhbS2ivK2fNzgIh4%22%2C%22fref%22%3A%22nf%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharksbanduk/?hc_ref=ARTC6qL_2KI7MGQROkTJjEFkuYUndsHUB9uWMiQPuvpNSV3uyTDXhbS2ivK2fNzgIh4&fref=nf" style="color: #365899; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Sharks band</a></span></span> · <span class="m_p55j3m8sj f_p55j3qt01" data-ft="{"tn":"j"}" style="color: #90949c; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: -0.12px;"></span><span style="color: #90949c; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: -0.12px;"><span class="fsm fwn fcg" style="font-family: inherit;"><a ajaxify="/sharksbanduk/photos/a.406837096193868.1073741828.406592916218286/552132978330945/?type=3&size=368%2C266&fbid=552132978330945&source=12&player_origin=unknown" class="_5pcq" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharksbanduk/photos/a.406837096193868.1073741828.406592916218286/552132978330945/?type=3" rel="theater" style="color: #90949c; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;" target="">November 7, 2016</a></span></span><span aria-hidden="true" role="presentation" style="color: #90949c; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: -0.12px;"> · </span></h5>
<div class="_5pcp _5lel _232_" id="feed_subtitle_406592916218286;552132978330945;0;9" style="color: #90949c; font-family: inherit; position: relative;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">SHARKS UNSUNG HEROES PART 2 – </span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">JACKIE PARSONS</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.133333px;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">When Steve was putting a band together in 1977 guitarist John Bentley (later of
Squeeze) recommended Jackie Badger for the bass guitar slot. Jackie was just
calling time on her all-girl band Mother Superior (appeared on the Cliff
Richard BBC TV show and backed the ‘Tainted for Life’ star on a Chuck Berry
song!) so was available to join the band and record the Video Kings album for
Jet Records. </span><!--EndFragment--></span></span><br />
<div class="_5pbx userContent _3576" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="js_1fzc" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 6px;">
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_5a5b7f0b7f9af3f84423953" style="display: inline;">
<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">When the band was laid to rest Steve</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: -0.1pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;">and Jackie started dating and married shortly after. As Jackie Parsons she played on the Snips 9 0’ Clock single and the La Rocca album. This led to her playing with the Chris Spedding band on a Canadian/N American tour in the winter of 78/79. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;">In 1994 she picked up Sharks duties, playing on the Dark Van album and the one-off 20th anniversary gig at the Orange. Nowadays, amongst other things, she is a crucial member of Team Sharks. Steve and Jackie’s daughter, Rosie P, is the drummer/vocalist in the Leeds based band </span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=440832059299575&extragetparams=%7B%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/autobodiesleeds/?fref=mentions" style="color: #365899; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;">Autobodies</a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"> Rosie is also a member of Team Sharks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;">Chris Spedding: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;">‘Andy Fraser, Busta Jones and Dave Cochrane raised the bar pretty high for our bass players. After playing with Video Kings, Jackie Badger came along and jumped over that bar effortlessly on Steve’s La Rocca album, which I produced, and she continued to play exemplary bass on the live promo tour we did in North America. She also contributed some fine work to the Dark Van album, so we are honoured to have her as a Sharks band member.’</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;">Snips: ‘It’s obviously hard to ‘big up’ the missus but suffice to say that I hired her for her bass playing ability long before romance reared its silky head. Now that my daughter plays drums and has a lovely voice it is theoretically possible to form an all singing, all dancing Parsons Trio. The world holds its breath.’</span></div>
</div>
<div class="_3x-2" data-ft="{"tn":"H"}" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px;">
<div data-ft="{"tn":"H"}" style="font-family: inherit;">
<div class="mtm" style="font-family: inherit; margin-top: 10px;">
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;">
<div class="_5cq3" data-ft="{"tn":"E"}" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;">
<a ajaxify="/sharksbanduk/photos/a.406837096193868.1073741828.406592916218286/552132978330945/?type=3&size=368%2C266&fbid=552132978330945&source=13&player_origin=unknown" class="_4-eo _2t9n" data-ploi="https://scontent.flhr4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14993487_552132978330945_1315188323621262996_n.png?oh=cf903962e1c24dee36304f02b99f9262&oe=5AE46BDC" data-render-location="homepage_stream" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharksbanduk/photos/a.406837096193868.1073741828.406592916218286/552132978330945/?type=3" rel="theater" style="box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05) 0px 1px 1px; color: #365899; display: block; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; width: 476px;"></a><br />
<div class="uiScaledImageContainer _4-ep" id="u_128_q" style="font-family: inherit; height: 344px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 476px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<a ajaxify="/sharksbanduk/photos/a.406837096193868.1073741828.406592916218286/552132978330945/?type=3&size=368%2C266&fbid=552132978330945&source=13&player_origin=unknown" class="_4-eo _2t9n" data-ploi="https://scontent.flhr4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14993487_552132978330945_1315188323621262996_n.png?oh=cf903962e1c24dee36304f02b99f9262&oe=5AE46BDC" data-render-location="homepage_stream" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharksbanduk/photos/a.406837096193868.1073741828.406592916218286/552132978330945/?type=3" rel="theater" style="box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05) 0px 1px 1px; color: #365899; display: block; font-family: inherit; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; width: 476px;">
</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "SF Optimized", system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: -0.12px;">
<form action="https://www.facebook.com/ajax/ufi/modify.php" class="commentable_item" data-ft="{"tn":"]"}" id="u_128_2d" method="post" rel="async" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div class="_sa_ _gsd _fgm _5vsi _192z" style="color: #90949c; font-family: inherit; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; position: relative;">
<div class="_5ybo _1q_o _2zfm _5yhh" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(225, 226, 227); border-top: 1px solid rgb(225, 226, 227); font-family: inherit; height: auto; margin: 12px 0px 0px; min-height: 22px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-top: 8px; width: auto;">
<div class="_fk3" style="font-family: inherit; height: 27px;">
<div class="_fk4" style="align-items: center; display: flex; font-family: inherit;">
<div class="_fk6" id="u_128_2c" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; margin-right: 4px; overflow: hidden; width: 401.891px;">
<div role="presentation" style="font-family: inherit;">
<div class="__ji" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; margin-left: 12px;">
<div class="_fk8" style="display: flex; font-family: inherit; margin-right: 4px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i alt="" class="img sp_BQRTOUN98V- sx_fe24d9" style="background-image: url("/rsrc.php/v3/yk/r/QsjckTMKosV.png"); background-position: 0px -1496px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; width: 16px;"></i></span><span class="_2dc6" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; height: 17px; margin-left: 8px;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/sharksbanduk/posts/?ref=page_internal#" style="color: #365899; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="_2dco" style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span class="_2dcn" style="color: #4080ff; font-family: inherit;">559 people</span> reached</span></a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="_1rzm rfloat" style="float: right; font-family: inherit; margin-right: 12px; margin-top: 3px;">
<span id="u_128_25" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><button class="_4dyi _4jy0 _4jy3 _4jy1 _51sy selected _42ft" data-hover="tooltip" data-testid="boosted_post_button_with_id" data-tooltip-content="Boost your post to reach more people" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: #4267b2; border-color: rgb(66, 103, 178); border-radius: 2px; box-sizing: content-box; color: white; cursor: pointer; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; justify-content: center; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 8px; position: relative; transition: background-color 200ms cubic-bezier(0.08, 0.52, 0.52, 1), box-shadow 200ms cubic-bezier(0.08, 0.52, 0.52, 1), transform 200ms cubic-bezier(0.08, 0.52, 0.52, 1); vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap;" type="submit" value="1"><span class="_4m40" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; max-width: 200px; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: bottom;">Boost Post</span></button></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="_2zfm _5yhh" style="font-family: inherit; width: auto;">
<span id="u_128_1e" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<div class="_37uu" style="font-family: inherit;">
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<div class="_57w" style="font-family: inherit;">
<div class="_3399 _a7s _20h6 _610i _125r clearfix _zw3" style="border: none; clear: both; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px 12px -4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-top: 4px; zoom: 1;">
<div class="_3m9g" style="align-items: center; display: flex; float: right; font-family: inherit; height: 32px; padding-left: 8px; text-align: right;">
<div class="_40yk _610g _pbn" style="font-family: inherit; margin-top: 0px; min-width: 29px;">
<span class="_6vh" data-testid="actor-selector" style="display: block; font-family: inherit; position: relative;"><span data-hover="tooltip" data-tooltip-content="Liking and commenting as Sharks band" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a aria-haspopup="true" aria-label="Liking and commenting as Sharks band" class="_55pi _2agf _4o_4 _4jy0 _4jy3 _517h _51sy _59pe _42ft" href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/sharksbanduk/posts/?ref=page_internal#" role="button" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: none; border-radius: 2px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-sizing: content-box; color: #4b4f56; display: inline-flex; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-weight: bold; justify-content: center; line-height: 22px; max-width: 200px; padding: 0px 8px; position: relative; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none; text-shadow: none; transition: background-color 200ms cubic-bezier(0.08, 0.52, 0.52, 1), box-shadow 200ms cubic-bezier(0.08, 0.52, 0.52, 1), transform 200ms cubic-bezier(0.08, 0.52, 0.52, 1); vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap; word-wrap: normal;" type="button"><span alt="" class="_-xe _3-8_" style="font-family: inherit; margin-right: 4px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="" class="_6vg img" height="16" src="https://scontent.flhr4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-1/p32x32/15741120_574352456108997_6744807958987481349_n.jpg?oh=7de69f8aab8906351be590fbce447bba&oe=5AF1D31A" style="border-radius: 50%; border: 0px; bottom: 1px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; vertical-align: middle;" width="16" /></span></span><span class="accessible_elem" style="clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); font-family: inherit; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; width: 1px;"><span class="_55pe" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: middle;">Sharks band</span></span><span alt="" class="_4o_3" style="font-family: inherit;"><i alt="" class="img sp_3OxEQobvphM sx_001365" style="background-image: url("/rsrc.php/v3/yE/r/qnWloLHmf1n.png"); background-position: -40px -60px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; bottom: 1px; display: inline-block; height: 8px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 9px;"></i></span></a></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="_524d" style="font-family: inherit;">
<div class="_42nr" style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; font-family: inherit;">
<span class="_1mto" style="display: flex; font-family: inherit; height: 32px;"></span><br />
<div class="_khz _4sz1" style="display: flex; font-family: inherit; position: relative; width: 73.8906px;">
<span class="_1mto" style="display: flex; font-family: inherit; height: 32px;"><a aria-pressed="false" class="UFILikeLink _4x9- _4x9_ _48-k" data-testid="fb-ufi-likelink" href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/sharksbanduk/posts/?ref=page_internal#" role="button" style="align-items: center; color: #616770; display: flex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 20px; outline: none; padding: 4px 4px 4px 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; transition: filter 400ms cubic-bezier(0.08, 0.52, 0.52, 1), transform 400ms cubic-bezier(0.08, 0.52, 0.52, 1); z-index: 6;" tabindex="0">Like</a></span></div>
<span class="_1mto" style="display: flex; font-family: inherit; height: 32px;">
</span><span class="_1mto" style="display: flex; font-family: inherit; height: 32px;"><span class="_6a _15-7 _3h-u" style="display: flex; font-family: inherit;"><a class="comment_link _5yxe" data-ft="{ "tn": "S", "type": 24 }" href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/sharksbanduk/posts/?ref=page_internal#" role="button" style="align-items: center; color: #616770; display: flex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 4px 4px 4px 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; transition: filter 400ms cubic-bezier(0.08, 0.52, 0.52, 1), transform 400ms cubic-bezier(0.08, 0.52, 0.52, 1); vertical-align: inherit;" title="Leave a comment">Comment</a></span></span><span class="_1mto" style="display: flex; font-family: inherit; height: 32px;"><span class="_27de" style="display: flex; font-family: inherit; height: 32px;"><a class="share_action_link _5f9b" data-ft="{ "tn": "J", "type": 25 }" data-testid="ufi_share_link_placeholder" href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/sharksbanduk/posts/?ref=page_internal#" role="button" style="align-items: center; color: #616770; display: flex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 14px; margin-right: 20px; padding: 4px 4px 4px 0px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; transition: filter 400ms cubic-bezier(0.08, 0.52, 0.52, 1), transform 400ms cubic-bezier(0.08, 0.52, 0.52, 1);" tabindex="0" title="Send this to friends or post it on your timeline.">Share</a></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="uiUfi UFIContainer _5pc9 _5vsj _5v9k" id="u_128_1q" style="background-color: #f6f7f9; border-radius: 0px 0px 3px 3px; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; width: auto;">
<div class="UFIList" style="font-family: inherit;">
<div class="UFIRow UFILikeSentence _4204 _4_dr" style="border-top: 1px solid rgb(225, 226, 227); font-family: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 9px 12px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="clearfix" direction="right" style="font-family: inherit; zoom: 1;">
<div class="_ohf rfloat" style="float: right; font-family: inherit;">
<div class="_3scp" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 15px;">
<div class="_6a" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit;">
<div class="_3scs uiPopover _6a _6b" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: middle;">
<a class="_p" href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/sharksbanduk/posts/?ref=page_internal#" role="button" style="color: #365899; display: block; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Chronological</a><br />
<div class="_3sct" style="background-image: url("/rsrc.php/v3/yN/r/-P3qUpdV_yb.png"); background-position: -118px -168px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; height: 12px; margin-left: 2px; margin-top: 4px; vertical-align: top; width: 12px;">
</div>
<a class="_p" href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/sharksbanduk/posts/?ref=page_internal#" role="button" style="color: #365899; display: block; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">
</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<div class="_1vaq" style="font-family: inherit;">
<div class="_ipp" style="font-family: inherit;">
<div class="_3t53 _4ar- _ipn" style="color: #898f9c; font-family: inherit; white-space: nowrap;">
<span aria-label="See who reacted to this" class="_3t54" role="toolbar" style="float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-right: 2px;" tabindex="0"><a ajaxify="/ufi/reaction/profile/dialog/?ft_ent_identifier=552132978330945&reaction_type=1&av=406592916218286" aria-label="41 Like" class="_3emk" data-hover="tooltip" feedback="[object Object]" href="https://www.facebook.com/ufi/reaction/profile/browser/?ft_ent_identifier=552132978330945&av=406592916218286" reaction="1" rel="dialog" role="button" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 10px; color: #365899; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 0px -2px; outline: none; padding: 2px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: bottom; z-index: 3;" tabindex="-1"><span class="_9zc _2p7a _4-op _3uet _4e-m" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 16px;"><i class="_3j7l _2p78 _9-- _hly" style="background-image: url("/rsrc.php/v3/yS/r/8jowPunQGuF.png"); background-position: -17px -512px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: block; height: 16px; left: 8px; margin-left: -8px; margin-top: -8px; position: absolute; top: 8px; transform: none; width: 16px;"></i></span></a><a ajaxify="/ufi/reaction/profile/dialog/?ft_ent_identifier=552132978330945&reaction_type=2&av=406592916218286" aria-label="2 Love" class="_3emk" data-hover="tooltip" feedback="[object Object]" href="https://www.facebook.com/ufi/reaction/profile/browser/?ft_ent_identifier=552132978330945&av=406592916218286" reaction="2" rel="dialog" role="button" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: 10px; color: #365899; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 0px -4px; outline: none; padding: 2px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: bottom; z-index: 2;" tabindex="-1"><span class="_9zc _2p7a _4-op _3uet _4e-m" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 16px;"><i class="_3j7m _2p78 _9-- _hly" style="background-image: url("/rsrc.php/v3/yS/r/8jowPunQGuF.png"); background-position: 0px -495px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: block; height: 16px; left: 8px; margin-left: -8px; margin-top: -8px; position: absolute; top: 8px; transform: none; width: 16px;"></i></span></a></span><a class="_2x4v" href="https://www.facebook.com/ufi/reaction/profile/browser/?ft_ent_identifier=552132978330945&av=406592916218286" rel="ignore" style="color: #365899; display: block; font-family: inherit; max-height: 20px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration-line: none;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="_1g5v" style="float: left; font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; width: 100px;"><span data-hover="tooltip" data-tooltip-uri="/ufi/reaction/tooltip/?ft_ent_identifier=552132978330945&av=406592916218286" style="font-family: inherit;">43</span></span><span class="_4arz" style="float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-left: -100px; min-width: 100px;"><span data-hover="tooltip" data-tooltip-uri="/ufi/reaction/tooltip/?ft_ent_identifier=552132978330945&av=406592916218286" style="font-family: inherit;">Jim St Patrick, Stephen Watson and 41 others</span></span></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<h6 class="accessible_elem" style="clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; height: 1px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; white-space: nowrap; width: 1px;">
Comments</h6>
<div class="_3b-9 _j6a" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;">
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<div aria-label="Comment" class="UFIRow _48ph _48pi UFIComment _4oep" data-ft="{"tn":"R0"}" id="comment_js_1fzo" role="article" style="border-top: 1px solid rgb(225, 226, 227); font-family: inherit; margin: 0px 12px; padding: 8px 0px 4px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="_3b-9" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;">
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<div class="clearfix" direction="left" style="font-family: inherit; zoom: 1;">
<div class="_ohe lfloat" style="float: left; font-family: inherit;">
<a aria-hidden="true" class="img _8o _8s UFIImageBlockImage" data-ft="{"tn":"T"}" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=678012428&extragetparams=%7B%22on_public_ufi%22%3Atrue%2C%22hc_location%22%3A%22ufi%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/jackie.parsons.581?fref=ufi&rc=p" style="border-radius: 50%; color: #365899; display: block; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" tabindex="-1"><img alt="Jackie Parsons" class="img UFIActorImage _54ru img" src="https://scontent.flhr4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-1/p32x32/22491775_10155699872212429_8214830028403822545_n.jpg?oh=e863cf1d59b8527601b19b198b464950&oe=5AE34674" style="border-radius: 50%; border: 0px; display: block; height: 32px; overflow: hidden; width: 32px;" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<div class="UFIImageBlockContent _42ef" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-left: 8px;">
<div class="UFICommentContentBlock" style="font-family: inherit; padding-right: 14px; position: relative;">
<div class="UFICommentContent" style="font-family: inherit;">
<div class="_26f8" style="font-family: inherit;">
<div class="_10la _10lg" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class=" UFICommentActorName" data-ft="{"tn":";"}" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=678012428&extragetparams=%7B%22is_public%22%3Atrue%2C%22hc_location%22%3A%22ufi_admin%22%7D" dir="ltr" href="https://www.facebook.com/jackie.parsons.581?fref=ufi&rc=p" style="color: #365899; font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: nowrap;">Jackie Parsons</a></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks guys. The pressure was all mine! That was some seriously good music to be part of.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="_10lo _10lp" style="font-family: inherit;">
<a ajaxify="/ufi/reaction/profile/dialog/?ft_ent_identifier=552132978330945_552290948315148&av=406592916218286" aria-describedby="js_156" data-hover="tooltip" data-tooltip-alignh="center" data-tooltip-offsety="-3" href="https://www.facebook.com/ufi/reaction/profile/browser/?ft_ent_identifier=552132978330945_552290948315148&av=406592916218286" id="js_1gvr" rel="dialog" role="button" style="color: #365899; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"></a><br />
<div class="_3t53 UFICommentReactionsBling _4ar- _ipn" style="color: #898f9c; font-family: inherit; white-space: nowrap;">
<a ajaxify="/ufi/reaction/profile/dialog/?ft_ent_identifier=552132978330945_552290948315148&av=406592916218286" aria-describedby="js_156" data-hover="tooltip" data-tooltip-alignh="center" data-tooltip-offsety="-3" href="https://www.facebook.com/ufi/reaction/profile/browser/?ft_ent_identifier=552132978330945_552290948315148&av=406592916218286" id="js_1gvr" rel="dialog" role="button" style="color: #365899; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;"><span aria-label="See who reacted to this" class="_3t54" style="float: none; font-family: inherit; margin-right: 2px;"><span aria-label="4 Like" class="_3emk _26lk" style="border-radius: 10px; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px 2px 0px 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; z-index: 3;"><span class="_9zc _2p79 _4-op _3uet _4e-m" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; height: 13px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 13px;"><i class="_3j7l _2p78 _9-y _hly" style="background-image: url("/rsrc.php/v3/yS/r/8jowPunQGuF.png"); background-position: 0px -633px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: block; height: 13px; left: 6.5px; margin-left: -6.5px; margin-top: -6.5px; position: absolute; top: 6.5px; transform: none; width: 13px;"></i></span></span></span><span class="UFICommentLikeButton" style="font-family: inherit; margin: -5px; padding: 2px 5px 4px;">4</span></a></div>
<a ajaxify="/ufi/reaction/profile/dialog/?ft_ent_identifier=552132978330945_552290948315148&av=406592916218286" aria-describedby="js_156" data-hover="tooltip" data-tooltip-alignh="center" data-tooltip-offsety="-3" href="https://www.facebook.com/ufi/reaction/profile/browser/?ft_ent_identifier=552132978330945_552290948315148&av=406592916218286" id="js_1gvr" rel="dialog" role="button" style="color: #365899; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">
</a></div>
</div>
<span class="_36rj" style="font-family: inherit;"><a aria-label="Hide or embed this" class="UFICommentCloseButton _1-be _xw0 _xw9 _5upp _42ft" data-hover="tooltip" data-testid="ufi_comment_close_button" data-tooltip-alignh="center" data-tooltip-content="Hide or embed this" href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/sharksbanduk/posts/?ref=page_internal#" menudata="[object Object],[object Object]" menutype="DOTS" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url("/rsrc.php/v3/yf/r/PfV5zpSDGmj.png"); background-position: -47px -119px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px none; color: #365899; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px !important; height: 12px; opacity: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; top: 0px; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap; width: 12px; z-index: 1;" tooltip="Hide or embed this">Manage</a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="fsm fwn fcg UFICommentActions" style="clear: both; color: #90949c; font-family: inherit; padding-top: 2px;">
<span class="_6a _3-me" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="_khz _4sz1" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; position: relative; width: auto;">
<span class="_6a _3-me" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit;"><a aria-pressed="false" class="UFILikeLink UFIReactionLink" data-testid="ufi_comment_like_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/sharksbanduk/posts/?ref=page_internal#" role="button" style="color: #365899; font-family: inherit; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none; word-wrap: normal;" tabindex="0">Like</a></span></div>
<span class="_6a _3-me" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit;">
</span><span aria-hidden="true" role="presentation" style="font-family: inherit;"> · </span><a class="UFIReplyLink _460i" href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/sharksbanduk/posts/?ref=page_internal#" role="button" style="color: #365899; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Reply</a><span aria-hidden="true" role="presentation" style="font-family: inherit;"> · </span><span class="_50u0 _50u4" data-hover="tooltip" data-tooltip-content="You can't send a message response to comments that are older than 6 months." style="font-family: inherit;">Message</span><span aria-hidden="true" role="presentation" style="font-family: inherit;"> · </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="uiLinkSubtle" data-ft="{"tn":"N"}" data-testid="ufi_comment_timestamp" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharksbanduk/photos/a.406837096193868.1073741828.406592916218286/552132978330945/?type=3&comment_id=552290948315148&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R0%22%7D" style="color: #90949c; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">1y</a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div aria-label="Comment" class="UFIRow UFILastComment UFIComment _4oep" data-ft="{"tn":"R"}" id="comment_js_1fzp" role="article" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px 12px; padding: 4px 0px; position: relative; word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="_3b-9" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;">
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<div class="clearfix" direction="left" style="font-family: inherit; zoom: 1;">
<div class="_ohe lfloat" style="float: left; font-family: inherit;">
<a aria-hidden="true" class="img _8o _8s UFIImageBlockImage" data-ft="{"tn":"T"}" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=100002238735291&extragetparams=%7B%22on_public_ufi%22%3Atrue%2C%22hc_location%22%3A%22ufi%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/churchoftheboneidol?fref=ufi&rc=p" style="border-radius: 50%; color: #365899; display: block; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none;" tabindex="-1"><img alt="Church Bone-Idol" class="img UFIActorImage _54ru img" src="https://scontent.flhr4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-1/p32x32/17992120_1294638387287440_1969155919466961378_n.jpg?oh=1bca89213a1903aa71212032c9a0d410&oe=5AB37F1C" style="border-radius: 50%; border: 0px; display: block; height: 32px; overflow: hidden; width: 32px;" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
<div class="UFIImageBlockContent _42ef" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-left: 8px;">
<div class="UFICommentContentBlock" style="font-family: inherit; padding-right: 14px; position: relative;">
<div class="UFICommentContent" style="font-family: inherit;">
<div class="_26f8" style="font-family: inherit;">
<div class="_10la _10lg" style="font-family: inherit;">
<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class=" UFICommentActorName" data-ft="{"tn":";"}" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/hovercard.php?id=100002238735291&extragetparams=%7B%22is_public%22%3Atrue%2C%22hc_location%22%3A%22ufi_admin%22%7D" dir="ltr" href="https://www.facebook.com/churchoftheboneidol?fref=ufi&rc=p" style="color: #365899; font-family: inherit; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: nowrap;">Church Bone-Idol</a></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="UFICommentBody" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Go team Snips</span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="_10lo" style="font-family: inherit;">
</div>
</div>
<span class="_36rj" style="font-family: inherit;"><a aria-label="Hide or embed this" class="UFICommentCloseButton _1-be _xw0 _xw9 _5upp _42ft" data-hover="tooltip" data-testid="ufi_comment_close_button" data-tooltip-alignh="center" data-tooltip-content="Hide or embed this" href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/sharksbanduk/posts/?ref=page_internal#" menudata="[object Object],[object Object]" menutype="DOTS" style="background-color: transparent; background-image: url("/rsrc.php/v3/yf/r/PfV5zpSDGmj.png"); background-position: -47px -119px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: auto; border: 0px none; color: #365899; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0px !important; height: 12px; opacity: 1; outline: none; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; top: 0px; vertical-align: middle; white-space: nowrap; width: 12px; z-index: 1;" tooltip="Hide or embed this">Manage</a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="fsm fwn fcg UFICommentActions" style="clear: both; color: #90949c; font-family: inherit; padding-top: 2px;">
<span class="_6a _3-me" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div class="_khz _4sz1" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; position: relative; width: auto;">
<span class="_6a _3-me" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit;"><a aria-pressed="false" class="UFILikeLink UFIReactionLink" data-testid="ufi_comment_like_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/sharksbanduk/posts/?ref=page_internal#" role="button" style="color: #365899; font-family: inherit; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none; word-wrap: normal;" tabindex="0">Like</a></span></div>
<span class="_6a _3-me" style="display: inline-block; font-family: inherit;">
</span><span aria-hidden="true" role="presentation" style="font-family: inherit;"> · </span><a class="UFIReplyLink _460i" href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/sharksbanduk/posts/?ref=page_internal#" role="button" style="color: #365899; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Reply</a><span aria-hidden="true" role="presentation" style="font-family: inherit;"> · </span><span class="_50u0 _50u4" data-hover="tooltip" data-tooltip-content="You can't send a message response to comments that are older than 6 months." style="font-family: inherit;">Message</span><span aria-hidden="true" role="presentation" style="font-family: inherit;"> · </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="uiLinkSubtle" data-ft="{"tn":"N"}" data-testid="ufi_comment_timestamp" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharksbanduk/photos/a.406837096193868.1073741828.406592916218286/552132978330945/?type=3&comment_id=552298724981037&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R%22%7D" style="color: #90949c; font-family: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">1y</a></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</form>
</div>
<div id="ext_searchPromptBtn" style="left: 16px; top: 935px; z-index: auto;" textsel="13. Snakes and Swallowtails">
</div>
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:inherit;
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-alt:"Times New Roman";
mso-font-charset:77;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:auto;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
color:#000090;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
@page Section1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
</style>
-->Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-4658946277356140622016-09-03T23:53:00.001+01:002017-10-29T22:55:34.933+00:002016 SHARKS reform! La Rocca re-released!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjht7sG6ovow6cEdqs99cJqIcPyw1lS7k12xsTI8WxM99YIApT1nk3Y4W0wGriZ51ZRzPXOldBuzMRizIp6Jd81gigGnmRy4055Bi5vOxL0ERIkL9xovXtxv4UyaN7Sc-VtyKPcbBSzbHds/s1600/Sharks+2.jpg+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjht7sG6ovow6cEdqs99cJqIcPyw1lS7k12xsTI8WxM99YIApT1nk3Y4W0wGriZ51ZRzPXOldBuzMRizIp6Jd81gigGnmRy4055Bi5vOxL0ERIkL9xovXtxv4UyaN7Sc-VtyKPcbBSzbHds/s200/Sharks+2.jpg+web.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Who would believe it? SHARKS have reformed - again, this time with Sex Pistol<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">/</span>Professionals drummer Paul Cook and Tosh Ogawa on bass alongside Chris Spedding, Steve 'Snips' Parsons and Nick Judd. New single out on Sept 30th <a href="http://vivelerock.net/sharks-video-exclusive/">'One Last Thrill'</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMGxfJCo3rJwVDv0zMa7ROrMhPfXa8qvf_hpZYTWHagmlcwd5isCM-1MEJeTx-lvbs1Fq3PmNKbD89gF-FJk2DFtIAmgpStFLb1Va7E9jgdiBL_Sd-wFoV7rIiyrrxB53qaUGMlVpFBaH/s1600/La+Rocca+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMGxfJCo3rJwVDv0zMa7ROrMhPfXa8qvf_hpZYTWHagmlcwd5isCM-1MEJeTx-lvbs1Fq3PmNKbD89gF-FJk2DFtIAmgpStFLb1Va7E9jgdiBL_Sd-wFoV7rIiyrrxB53qaUGMlVpFBaH/s200/La+Rocca+cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oh yeah and <a href="http://www.angelair.co.uk/?tcp_product=snips-la-rocca">La Rocca's</a> been remastered and rereleased on Angel Air Records - sounds good too and it's only been 36 years</span></span>Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-14740097324500681312013-06-03T11:15:00.001+01:002018-01-13T19:41:34.985+00:002013 Portrait of a Love Letter - Dumb Baby Sounds: It Might Get Loud<a href="http://dumbbabysounds.blogspot.com/2013/06/it-might-get-loud.html?spref=bl">Portrait of a Love Letter - Dumb Baby Sounds: It Might Get Loud</a>: "One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple." Jack Kerouac Hendrix - New York 1968 - Shot by Elliot Landy...<br />
<br />
Check this blog from Dumb Baby Sounds or as I know him David Lloyd - great singer and composer, whose collaboration on the La Rocca album was much appreciated and has remained a good friend.Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-69365972438424886312013-04-24T18:48:00.001+01:002018-01-13T19:39:18.111+00:002012 - 2015 Tomorrow's Here Right Now Music Video, Women Make Noise book, various updates It's 2013 and a few decades have been spent doing a fascinating mix of things, including having a daughter who having been a baby, child and teenager, now among other things, plays keyboards, guitar, drums and sings.<br />
<br />
Good news - the blog works! I was asked to contribute a chapter on progressive rock to the book on all-girl bands<a href="http://www.supernovabooks.co.uk/womenmakenoise.html"> 'Women Make Noise'</a> published last December. It covers many genres and decades and has some good rare photos. It was a tremendous opportunity for me to interview many of the women I knew back in the 70s and those who are currently working in alternative rock. Spoke with Deirdre Cartwright, who knew from Mother Superior days when she was playing with Painted Lady and later with Tour De Force and now is a well respected jazz guitarist. She told me some hilarious stuff about men who could not believe she could play that fast and were convinced she must be taking drugs. Maggie Vail then at KRS told me about the derogatory stuff that gets written on line about female musicians, like Marnie Stern etc. The more things change the more they stay the same! <br />
<br />
2014 - Started a writing group a couple of years ago with five fascinating authors <a href="http://sixwritersnorthlondon.wordpress.com/">six writers north london</a>, we might be small but we're perfectly formed. The group is now slightly smaller as I left to travel further north. They are still writing, take a look at their website.<br />
<br />
Joined a writing class 'Dramatic Writing'. We were asked to write something for the Headingley Literary Festival on the subject of surviving. Try as I may, I was not happy with what I was coming up with, so I wrote a song and made a music video - <a href="https://vimeo.com/90165807">Tomorrow's Here Right Now</a> it's about climate change and survival of the human race on the planet. Cheery stuff!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDD277jGuxMsxaRt9vkh7Q-PibRGQIMfKVOguet1TCq_TNxXm_apIm2z7gJqWUrYRO06TBUCU4UoZTacNlokb-ADi-m1O8GTJrePJNf4Ul-1rvtOigx2p2XYexMjSow6pAVL0xWS7Nh3jb/s1600/Autobodies+at+Brudenell+23+May+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDD277jGuxMsxaRt9vkh7Q-PibRGQIMfKVOguet1TCq_TNxXm_apIm2z7gJqWUrYRO06TBUCU4UoZTacNlokb-ADi-m1O8GTJrePJNf4Ul-1rvtOigx2p2XYexMjSow6pAVL0xWS7Nh3jb/s320/Autobodies+at+Brudenell+23+May+15.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ferg, Rosie Pea and Matthew</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Rosie (daughter) is drummer and singer with Leeds band <a href="https://autobodiesband.bandcamp.com/releases">Autobodies </a>- a three piece - they all sing and compose - good band with a distinctive style.<br />
<br />Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-11961191521319740242012-08-09T18:01:00.000+01:002018-07-13T23:01:51.798+01:001980s La Rocca, Midge Ure, Chris Spedding, New York, Bonny Street Studios, <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh53_9mvuZDjEhUVKBm1j5SWxvRxdiQTJ1JGUzWzZk4CeIx4I0mGfbiUHyqxnVC0pdDbDAoYZ5CFN80NjRNPX3pmO8HXb8ziNTJI_IdU34v7zsSFpAbnKxcmyG7ZW_zqL3l9YyVcGUiMNl/s1600/PA+June+80.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh53_9mvuZDjEhUVKBm1j5SWxvRxdiQTJ1JGUzWzZk4CeIx4I0mGfbiUHyqxnVC0pdDbDAoYZ5CFN80NjRNPX3pmO8HXb8ziNTJI_IdU34v7zsSFpAbnKxcmyG7ZW_zqL3l9YyVcGUiMNl/s200/PA+June+80.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackie, PA and Transit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>1980</b> and am still doing sound for bands with my friend Pete, it's hard work lifting all the gear about, often gigs are upstairs, like the Moonlight in West Hampstead and we have to carry the humungous JBL bass bins between us. Some of the music is good like the Skank Orchestra and the seriously top class Dudu Pukwana - but it's not often enough.<br />
<br />
Back in the studio in February, this time Audio International with Midge Ure to record 'Baby'.<br />
<br />
Next month, 5th March, we (Snips, me, Midge Ure, drummer Steve Young and guitarist Gary) are on In Concert at the BBC's Paris Theatre. Sharing the bill are The Tourists (Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart, Eddie Chin, Pete Coombes and Jim Toomey). I heard a recording of it years later - it sounded great and we were genuinely live, no stopping or rerecording!<br />
<br />
Snips is doing some more producing, this time a guy called Mike Jaye, another MAM artist who has written a good, commercial (we thought) song 'Automatic Life', apparently turns out to be the 'b' side of something called 'Romance'. Mike has been working on this track (Automatic Life) for a while and Snips has been brought in to get it finished. I do some backing vocals and now Mike needs to do his vocal, there are quite a few takes before he is satisfied and now the tape is starting to shred because it's been across the tape heads too many times. The race to achieve a final mix before the tape disintegrates is a tight one. I don't think I've ever seen that happen before. Sadly for us all - 'Romance' and therefore 'Automatic Life' is not a hit.<br />
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxqiTluzCDSp3mmX459UJkq8TbAXKCHKtgXPZx-imr_ReE1yaYP7FV8PFxNjgqsqb4U1P21sfcADncvgdZMQGj1pwTOjDkZrPc17h89o32FcPOYjK7O8RBTZIDuafYkSEpR3uSelU3Kl9/s1600/Snips+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="698" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxqiTluzCDSp3mmX459UJkq8TbAXKCHKtgXPZx-imr_ReE1yaYP7FV8PFxNjgqsqb4U1P21sfcADncvgdZMQGj1pwTOjDkZrPc17h89o32FcPOYjK7O8RBTZIDuafYkSEpR3uSelU3Kl9/s320/Snips+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve Young, Snips, Jackie Badger at The Venue June 1980</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Me and Snips are going to play The Venue on June 17th with Huw Gower (guitar), Graeme Douglas guitarist from Eddie and the Hot Rods, Chris Mercer (sax), Simon Etchell (keyboards), Steve Young (drums). We have a a scaffold build set with an upper floor for me, Steve Young and Simon Etchell, leaving the ground floor for Graeme, Huw and Chris. There is a staircase so Snips can move between both floors. MC is Alexei Sayle. We do a few days rehearsal at Jumbo Studios and then one day with the scaffold set up at John Henry's. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVyY40eKdCT7nKyAHjQfhxQR0pxadd-QFU9fw1TQpHirS1NvoaDGkVKHYCRWZ6_kHJ940y6_DIH6WNhX4QAB7uyjMjccjDSXM0fPi6HcAVSTmVght57xbANMerIPb3QFbPHUT0d8i7I_a/s1600/spedding+and+snips+recording+1980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVyY40eKdCT7nKyAHjQfhxQR0pxadd-QFU9fw1TQpHirS1NvoaDGkVKHYCRWZ6_kHJ940y6_DIH6WNhX4QAB7uyjMjccjDSXM0fPi6HcAVSTmVght57xbANMerIPb3QFbPHUT0d8i7I_a/s320/spedding+and+snips+recording+1980.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spedding and Snips at Riverside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBsghIrTKmR0eYhdzNrSG4Ce4O5FQfDq_Ui-rXAexH09A5mbFEvt4v1le16hozqRimd8bc91nyu-HJNTuAh_mvBoQRWe9t9fxSzgmIMxehlrvvsG3aKOgw1DlKwiRBu7iFhhI-CfQkmyS/s1600/Music+Works+April+80.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBsghIrTKmR0eYhdzNrSG4Ce4O5FQfDq_Ui-rXAexH09A5mbFEvt4v1le16hozqRimd8bc91nyu-HJNTuAh_mvBoQRWe9t9fxSzgmIMxehlrvvsG3aKOgw1DlKwiRBu7iFhhI-CfQkmyS/s320/Music+Works+April+80.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spedding, Clem, Jackie and Snips</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Later this year, due to the strength of 'Nine O'clock', MAM records ask Snips to make an album. In October we record mostly at Riverside in Chiswick and Music Works in Holloway, but finish it at 39th St Music in New York. 'La Rocca!' as it is called has some fabulous idiosyncratic songs written by Snips, including 'Skies of England' which is about my teenage fascination with the Rolling Stone, Brian Jones, plus David Elliot's (Lloyd) 'Happy Sometimes' and 'Police Car' by Larry Wallis. I get to play with two fantastic drummers - Clem Cattini and <a href="http://www.dmattacks.co.uk/main_fr.htm">Dave Mattacks</a>. Bill Nelson plays some synth, Chris Spedding who of course plays guitar and also is the producer.<br />
<br />
8th December 1980 John Lennon is shot dead outside his home, the Dakota, after returning from the recording studio, I won't name the perpetrator here as I have no interest in giving any further publicity to the waste of space who murdered this supremely talented musician, singer and composer. What a dreadfully sad loss.<br />
<br />
Later this month Snips and I fly to a snowy New York to play some gigs with Chris Spedding and drummer <a href="http://www.vantieghem.com/">David Van Tieghem</a>. We check into the Gramercy Park hotel and get straight into rehearsing at Spedding's girlfriend Jody's loft. Spedding is so good at giving helpful and useful musical information I have reached saturation point and have to beg him not to offer me any more! My head is holding a whole new album and Spedding's set, one wrong move and I feel like I could forget everything.<br />
<br />
The gigs begin on Boxing Day, Christmas Day we have been invited to Jody's mother's place in Queens. It is a fascinating drive out there, it's the first time I have seen front garden's decorated with lights and Christmas scenes. Back then it was mind blowingly hilarious. We arrive around lunchtime but there has been a timing confusion and dinner is a whole lot later than we imagined. We - Spedding, <a href="http://john-cale.com/">John Cale</a> (who married Jody's sister), Snips, me and Spedding's manager Nina - passed the time down in the den watching TV. John Cale drops the most unbelievably dreadful fart and we all run out, leaving him there laughing. When we are called into the kitchen for dinner it is clear there is not a whole lot to eat except meat. It has to go down as the hungriest Christmas I can remember.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGM_03kiRuUxYzELLqGpQbSCJv1tKBAlOh6yXkQKANMzNa1Of2pnDEfS7otrl3p5lWayq4dgXX9kZ-jooswV6GEmdi644KSsuPTpKzR1Yac_PSix6Lp1CAouXxgI5an4iMdAyxuABIQiM/s1600/Spedding+Snips+left+bank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGM_03kiRuUxYzELLqGpQbSCJv1tKBAlOh6yXkQKANMzNa1Of2pnDEfS7otrl3p5lWayq4dgXX9kZ-jooswV6GEmdi644KSsuPTpKzR1Yac_PSix6Lp1CAouXxgI5an4iMdAyxuABIQiM/s320/Spedding+Snips+left+bank.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
The Left Bank performance is slightly tentative, but OK and then we fly to Toronto for a short tour. On arrival and as our bags are being searched, the Rizlas that 'someone' has in their luggage are spotted and we are all taken away to be thoroughly searched and I do mean thoroughly.<br />
<br />
Eventually we are allowed on to the sacred Canadian turf where we are met by two of Martha and the Muffins' road crew who are booked to do the tour with us. One of them bails and Mikki a young Japanese woman is left to do the job on her own, which she does impeccably, driving the minibus, carrying some of the gear and tuning guitars. <br />
<br />
Sometimes the set begins with Spedding, Van Tieghem and myself as a three piece performing songs from some of the Spedding catalogue, like 'Silver Bullet' and 'Guitar Jamboree', and then Snips comes on and we do songs from the new La Rocca album. We finish or encore with two Sharks numbers 'Snakes and Swallowtails' and 'Sophistication'. And other times it's the other way round.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTV9obP37Hoaw0B3kSEI0cQTJ5i1v0OSSV6FrYBC9E53xBm6E7nUApqRv1r3karCdeXBhTQ7sa4lYFlaY0UHivhDWPZWQTfBptUhBMeeJaceKdy2XaNRenBKNBnl0Rx8rviMUvzrXnEmLw/s1600/Spedding+in+van+1980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTV9obP37Hoaw0B3kSEI0cQTJ5i1v0OSSV6FrYBC9E53xBm6E7nUApqRv1r3karCdeXBhTQ7sa4lYFlaY0UHivhDWPZWQTfBptUhBMeeJaceKdy2XaNRenBKNBnl0Rx8rviMUvzrXnEmLw/s200/Spedding+in+van+1980.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spedding on tour in London Ontario 1980</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Playing with these guys is unquestionably fabulous, but it is kind of tense for various personality and pharmaceutical reasons. Although having said that, here is a nice smiley pic of Spedding in the van.<br />
<br />
The London, Ontario gig at The Cedar Lounge was lively - one of those clubs where you have to play behind a grill. The rooms above the club seem to be a doss house except for the one given to us to use as a dressing room - ah the glamour.<br />
<br />
The electrics in the club in Windsor are deemed lethal by Mikki who refuses to allow us to appear until the promoter has called in an electrician to earth the place, which he does very reluctantly do (thanks Mikki!).<br />
<br />
The last gig in Canada is the Masonic Temple Toronto, which I think is recorded or broadcast live on radio or something of that nature. Here's a couple of tracks from the show- <a href="http://bit.ly/2ocaOhQ">'Work'</a> and <a href="http://bit.ly/2nUNIZC">'Mama Coca'</a>. For this run of gigs me and Steve have bought various items from the Vivienne Westwood Pirates collection and here's some pics of us wearing it...<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAzdkdm9vVjBhZZqxFQMnQNU__6STt44jrq0fHaLLcvC2lRVyNuXvvIKPMlPysi0mFP3mlQRzr6H_LRlCbhKeZ_sYVgx_TRsdN1yaS2iwoju6PVyBWlFHqoJPfUuv9kpyC_K9RB5CzjbA/s1600/Jackie+B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAzdkdm9vVjBhZZqxFQMnQNU__6STt44jrq0fHaLLcvC2lRVyNuXvvIKPMlPysi0mFP3mlQRzr6H_LRlCbhKeZ_sYVgx_TRsdN1yaS2iwoju6PVyBWlFHqoJPfUuv9kpyC_K9RB5CzjbA/s320/Jackie+B.jpg" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackie B Toronto Photo: Wayne Eardley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBt_6oBumegdX_bOnzgPbfPrAxk5_qce9oKmXqA8c76pJFsTPVEgv5nIolbUmsdX3RJ5KoCKX13RaI1Hd-ICSnEeMaupcl_N6LT45-MxnG44DaDD_MK3TqmEa6I96ERoDHaf8KcfIt8Td/s1600/Snips+and+Spedding+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBt_6oBumegdX_bOnzgPbfPrAxk5_qce9oKmXqA8c76pJFsTPVEgv5nIolbUmsdX3RJ5KoCKX13RaI1Hd-ICSnEeMaupcl_N6LT45-MxnG44DaDD_MK3TqmEa6I96ERoDHaf8KcfIt8Td/s320/Snips+and+Spedding+3.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spedding + Snips Toronto Photo: Wayne Eardley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Back in NY we play at Trax club and as we are waiting to go on, a guy in the audience asks me if I'm <u>the</u> Jackie Badger. At this point I have no idea.<br />
<br />
Just before we are to return to the UK, I find my fee has been spent on an end of tour banquet arranged by Nina, that none of the band are invited to! Really? The tour was an experience I wouldn't have missed for sure, but it would have been good to have been paid!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyqh_kBkvAxfnT3OIh5UwBQNDVIiVKo63SBJUoSp5wRbHi0dxo9prUJFLkoQfAyuDVI0BWh1dS2zWLn-hWrqp5MaTskQ_TWBq-D2doXmWKtjHq1hAYEudgTNdzFiblnBuPGUJvbGUt31-s/s1600/Snips+at+Venue++22.4.81.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1031" data-original-width="1600" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyqh_kBkvAxfnT3OIh5UwBQNDVIiVKo63SBJUoSp5wRbHi0dxo9prUJFLkoQfAyuDVI0BWh1dS2zWLn-hWrqp5MaTskQ_TWBq-D2doXmWKtjHq1hAYEudgTNdzFiblnBuPGUJvbGUt31-s/s320/Snips+at+Venue++22.4.81.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snips at The Venue 22.4.81 Simon Etchell, Steve Young, Jackie B + Kirby</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We tour the album in March '81 playing various gigs up and down the country with Simon Etchell (keybds), Steve Young (drums) Kirby Gregory from Curved Air and Stretch (guitar) and me and Snips. I also made the skull back drop - Brighton University, Croydon Fairfields Hall, Leeds Warehouse - Bill Nelson came to see us. Manchester University, Glasgow University, The Venue London, Liverpool Warehouse.<br />
<br />
More recording and gigging - London clubs - 101 Club, Rock Garden and the Greyhound in May. And in October we're back in Music Works recording - Preston Heyman on drums.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsTN8XJYU6wtGqBk18If8DuS450qq8hQi72YSreF3TAUzQIi25gNqTeBFiqbdlBEPeDSsCSuC_AFKuyyhIeRIBoNgHL3KB891EJyvxvjJn01bO12sJj245W5YnNPMUXC9MwObqR83Wy1C/s1600/Bonny+Street+82.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsTN8XJYU6wtGqBk18If8DuS450qq8hQi72YSreF3TAUzQIi25gNqTeBFiqbdlBEPeDSsCSuC_AFKuyyhIeRIBoNgHL3KB891EJyvxvjJn01bO12sJj245W5YnNPMUXC9MwObqR83Wy1C/s320/Bonny+Street+82.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pete Chapman Jackie B+Jackie B's dad. Bonny Street </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1CSik0SnosK54N-H5LwnELxrAPsMmvZK27LXOm_586CVH3BsZ3QOvYgV-x70chVq4wg7q92uH3pnv0QBNTzTAiUo-J5mZzlMMABvaSSOXGfXK8xkUi3wuwOS5FRvWN2mOyHHliDZH6gD/s1600/Snips+at+Clarendon+1983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1563" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1CSik0SnosK54N-H5LwnELxrAPsMmvZK27LXOm_586CVH3BsZ3QOvYgV-x70chVq4wg7q92uH3pnv0QBNTzTAiUo-J5mZzlMMABvaSSOXGfXK8xkUi3wuwOS5FRvWN2mOyHHliDZH6gD/s320/Snips+at+Clarendon+1983.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snips at The Clarendon 1983 Dom de Sousa, Jackie B + Chris Pye</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Changes are ahead: in 1982 Pete and I find premises in Camden Town to open a rehearsal studio and are extremely happy to put the PA into Bonny Street Studios instead of the endless loading and unloading of the van. Although it's always busy, there is only enough space for one studio. There's a couple of small rooms, one is the office (my brother shares this space to fix electrical equipment). We branch out into tape copying and equipment hire, but do not find anything that increases the takings to any useful degree. Plus the equipment we hire out gets stolen too often. We find one of our keyboards, a DX7 on a boat bound for Africa!<br />
<br />
September William S Burroughs is at the Ritzy in Brixton to promote his book Cities of the Red Night - so good to hear him speak, that voice is incredible, it cuts through you like a knife! Dr Benway! Hysterical<br />
<br />
I join a band put together for a singer called Behira, Mark Sidgwick is playing guitar. We play one gig - the Moonlight in West Hampstead. We have known Mark for a while - plays both bass and guitar - was with The Boyfriends and Holly and the Italians.<br />
<br />
1983 sees me and Snips playing with Dom Bon De Sousa (sax) previously with Goldie and Chris Pye (guitar) previously with The Books. We play at the Manor House (the same space that was the Harringay blues club where I first saw John Lee Hooker) and even more weird it was promoted by Gary Schombert who I fist met in 1967 standing in line for the Windsor Jazz and Blues Festival, with his friend Pete Chapman, who became my boyfriend and whose bass I used when I first started playing...aghh!!! It truly is tiny world. This pic is taken at The Clarendon, a pub in the middle of a roundabout in Hammersmith.<br />
<br />
<br />
Defeat is finally admitted at Bonny Street Studios and new premises are found in Hornsey - a bigger building, which has space for recording too. Pete runs this and names it La Rocka. I quit to have a baby.<br />
<br />
Stephen has also moved sideways and got into the music for film business, working on TV ads and films. We incorporate a studio into our flat - I continue to play bass and sometimes do vocals, but although this is a good move for Steve, I'm not sure it works for me. </div>
Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-13734263377113325452012-01-27T19:14:00.000+00:002018-06-22T16:38:55.336+01:001979 Snips wedding, Adam Ant, Lou Reed, Link Wray, 9 O'clockJanuary 11th Snips and I are at De Lane Lea recording studios in Wembley where he is producing Adam and the Ants 'Xerox Machine', good track. My assistance is largely as chauffeur, although occasional opinion is required. Snips thinks the intro is too long and suggests they cut a couple of bars out, this was not as easy as you might think. Snips asks the Ants who were baffled by the suggestion, 'How do you know how long the intro is? How many bars do you count?' 'Don't know, it's when Adam nods his head.' It was a long but productive night and we finish it off with a massive snowball fight in the car park.<br />
<br />
We go to see Adam play at the Electric Ballroom in Camden a few days later, I've seen them a few times, it was OK, but not the best.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJrzSygQwjr7QuVTAf6huYib3wIZ6qn44esnTdJB0phSltpgUlG4mHMgtQDJJBPR60dW5wv3cZfglp4RyvvIRBqKqgNLuiAopJU0xL0w36PBSo8PuTk5a4pF1AiLyRTFhSopiRE7zk8dU/s1600/Snips+Riverside+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJrzSygQwjr7QuVTAf6huYib3wIZ6qn44esnTdJB0phSltpgUlG4mHMgtQDJJBPR60dW5wv3cZfglp4RyvvIRBqKqgNLuiAopJU0xL0w36PBSo8PuTk5a4pF1AiLyRTFhSopiRE7zk8dU/s200/Snips+Riverside+.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian Holloway, John Bentley, Snips</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Snips and I are back out playing, this time we have a scaffolding stage set. The first gig is the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith (23rd January), where I think the photo is taken. It goes well and is nice to be out there again after a few months off. With Mother Superior there was never any time off, now there seems to be quite a lot.<br />
<br />
A short UK tour follows, the weather is dreadful, we're booked to play the Mayflower Club in Manchester, we have the perfect combination of blizzard and bus strike, miraculously we arrive on time but it looks like no one else will so decide to cancel it just as a lone punter turns up. We ask him if he wants us to play, or would he prefer to go home while he still can? He's happy to stay and what a fabulous audient he turned out to be, he loved it, clapped and whistled after every number, at the end we all applauded him. What a great guy.<br />
<br />
On 16th February we do the Andy Peebles show, including some new songs '9 O/clock', 'Flow my Tears' and 12 O/clock' plus we do 'Music Breakout', I love this song.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixt97wOlTMJizKJWyKLy8CCtQ1sD5FvCSPFW2wVVi8RlFS1DoldkdhRJNfF9W3XaLAjpMsgBOm1Z88om1AzfhKVYPZs5YJnGzdnUHc255VcJaKC1E5ur7cR8-_ZjkiZQFbcu1r8Saz4MWG/s1600/Snips+and+me+wedding+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixt97wOlTMJizKJWyKLy8CCtQ1sD5FvCSPFW2wVVi8RlFS1DoldkdhRJNfF9W3XaLAjpMsgBOm1Z88om1AzfhKVYPZs5YJnGzdnUHc255VcJaKC1E5ur7cR8-_ZjkiZQFbcu1r8Saz4MWG/s200/Snips+and+me+wedding+day.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackie and Snips get married</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Things are moving fast, but even I didn't see this one coming - Snips and I are getting married. The first day of spring comes around - it's warm and sunny, many friends and family come to the wedding, various parents, brothers, Jackie Crew, John Bentley, Simon Etchell, Steve Lillywhite, Chasie from Blood Donor is Snips' best man. From the Registry Office we all go back to the Shepherd's Bush flat for champagne and cake from Patisserie Valerie. When the car arrives to take us to Gatwick - we are honeymooning in Lanzarote, (suggested by Lillywhite) we look at the flat that is heaving with drunken guests. Waving goodbye, we wonder what we will come back to. Luckily Snips' mum is there to clear up the aftermath.<br />
<br />
A bit of an, 'are we meant to be this close to the water?' moment on landing - runway on beach. Although take off even more thrilling - flying straight at the volcano. Lanzarote in 1979 is still fairly unspoilt, fascinating and volcanic. We're having a look round the hotel and find a bunch of English people in the 'TV room' watching 321 in Spanish, I don't suppose it mattered it's incomprehensible whatever language it's in. To make sure we didn't end up in the TV room we hired a VW Beetle and went to see the island, a wild and atmospheric place, black sand, Timanfaya the volcano where you get eggs boiled for free. Eating was tricky though - I was vegetarian, Snips wasn't, rarely could we eat in the same place unless it was pizza. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8ddXpbxLcSmdUiqDlmVfhZnQi_KZ-tCfSBHe3ZVvi0aT3DOkgOIu5MpvbbjSAVqiopG86CoqY4439-P4XPPIwPNVOmB88MplyVVKCODqTz-rQwx4m3k0wYMj6z4gjX2NphdhqHVmLY68/s1600/Link+Wray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8ddXpbxLcSmdUiqDlmVfhZnQi_KZ-tCfSBHe3ZVvi0aT3DOkgOIu5MpvbbjSAVqiopG86CoqY4439-P4XPPIwPNVOmB88MplyVVKCODqTz-rQwx4m3k0wYMj6z4gjX2NphdhqHVmLY68/s200/Link+Wray.jpg" width="200" /></a>Soon it was time to head for the volcano and back to Shepherd's Bush for some married life. We are back in time to see Lou Reed at the Hammersmith Odeon. We've also got tickets for the legend that is Link Wray - at The Venue in Victoria<br />
<br />
<div style="border: currentColor;">
</div>
<div style="border: currentColor;">
<div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsg8k6QevlRP1ODvan5Ul4mTafdUYWs2ekdS5i2kXIKu08eJulLkJStKpu6pnGghO4THV4FcRGcXsIX7Ld4lpJSx7NuHi3oPb54Dyw2f7obGrnvUuW9m87WdoeB80aDd0IEE4CJPuhcp5/s1600/Holly+at+birthday+party+79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsg8k6QevlRP1ODvan5Ul4mTafdUYWs2ekdS5i2kXIKu08eJulLkJStKpu6pnGghO4THV4FcRGcXsIX7Ld4lpJSx7NuHi3oPb54Dyw2f7obGrnvUuW9m87WdoeB80aDd0IEE4CJPuhcp5/s200/Holly+at+birthday+party+79.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackie, Snips, Mark and Holly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
Me and Snips share the same birthday, we have a party in our garden in Shepherd's Bush, my old pal Holly is around and comes with her boyfriend Mark Knopfler...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRN2NXmVHcHJJICuGU77BnxSCFVzbzbTb4ugMEDf6xQvw1UJ2WO26Je4WNqzlqlAK5DeQ_nRJRxyfqUNlWyYLu9CvW8In84ZXAMj22D5nqMW5c90NVUE97JrkTQEtyMtSU3k75ePBpecL/s1600/Joe+Public+July+79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRN2NXmVHcHJJICuGU77BnxSCFVzbzbTb4ugMEDf6xQvw1UJ2WO26Je4WNqzlqlAK5DeQ_nRJRxyfqUNlWyYLu9CvW8In84ZXAMj22D5nqMW5c90NVUE97JrkTQEtyMtSU3k75ePBpecL/s200/Joe+Public+July+79.jpg" width="134" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackie with Joe Public</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While Snips is planning his next onslaught on the music industry, I need to find some work so I join a heavy metal band called Joe Public (many bands had this name) this line-up was Hutch Hutchinson (guitar), James Covington (guitar), Rob Simons (vocals) and Roger Hunt (drums). We do a lot of rehearsing, but not many gigs after a change of drummer and not much else I leave, was good experience though and left me with a great appreciation for ZZ Top.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJgaZf8xt6f58_9yIqpWPretRNDYDNvz5th_yfSb87kfucXdNO0wyTKgaoL4kosE7vLc_pnguDmzhcBfqwcgN_82kDWTK2jPaUyCiSnaUmWB676h8G2FV0QU34om8EnyLBsyXOdaXDMaH/s1600/Al+Green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJgaZf8xt6f58_9yIqpWPretRNDYDNvz5th_yfSb87kfucXdNO0wyTKgaoL4kosE7vLc_pnguDmzhcBfqwcgN_82kDWTK2jPaUyCiSnaUmWB676h8G2FV0QU34om8EnyLBsyXOdaXDMaH/s200/Al+Green.jpg" width="200" /></a>Ooh Al Green at The Venue, have to see this and we do. His band has that amazing albino guy on the Hammond and a bodyguard dressed in a black suit who stands on stage to give Al his towel when he feels the need. Me and Snips make our way down to the front and are standing right by the stage. Al looks down at us, points at me and says 'Hot to trot.' I have to assume that the later to be Reverend Green knew of what he spoke. Take me to the river!<br />
<br />
The need to have a medium scale bass is upon me and in September I visit the guitar maker Chris Eccleshall, we chat over pick ups, design, types of wood and away he goes. I'm real excited but of course I have to wait.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrJFB_Nj4GMHlqT-6F5-szA24dSCGNsPs4t3HXHVNJLFZiasiRf37O0WDmcius49L_lMVnnKAWCJaHIBGQyGULkI3wmrv31KwLk1FFxKdvjbTFm4UNT2hveyvOrIIHjzZMWjz8Mg_rlkE/s1600/9+oc+Steve+Young+Matrix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrJFB_Nj4GMHlqT-6F5-szA24dSCGNsPs4t3HXHVNJLFZiasiRf37O0WDmcius49L_lMVnnKAWCJaHIBGQyGULkI3wmrv31KwLk1FFxKdvjbTFm4UNT2hveyvOrIIHjzZMWjz8Mg_rlkE/s200/9+oc+Steve+Young+Matrix.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IC1J3mAta8Xkrc1v6E6ZcLUQ15G6EwedAFxeVIg_4UL2D9q9VKyZAs07NlljxvhXhR03Em6JE44YOuC8tXj1HwfRA8IO6EIb4_Mw_TJ82OxGlB52awSlhdCCtVYEcbSZawceNvYngZ9K/s1600/9oc+snips+oct+79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IC1J3mAta8Xkrc1v6E6ZcLUQ15G6EwedAFxeVIg_4UL2D9q9VKyZAs07NlljxvhXhR03Em6JE44YOuC8tXj1HwfRA8IO6EIb4_Mw_TJ82OxGlB52awSlhdCCtVYEcbSZawceNvYngZ9K/s200/9oc+snips+oct+79.jpg" width="156" /></a>In October the record company realises what a truly great song<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaElQ3pb1GE"> Nine O'Clock</a> is and decide to put it out as a single. We (Snips, Midge, me and Steve Young) record it at Matrix Studios with Midge Ure producing. It gets a fabulous review from Julie Birchill on its release. The record company pay for a video to be made and Snips comes up with the idea of just going out on the street, singing the song while being filmed by advertising director Roger Lunn. They go to lots of well known places in central London - Berwick Street Market, Piccadilly Circus, get chucked out of MacDonalds, the National Gallery and the Tube Station. A wild piece of film. <br />
<br />
Snips is given a tour of the EMI pressing plant to be shown his single being produced and while he waits to be given a copy the machine begins firing them out all over the floor. Omen? When the record is ready for release, it gets all sorts of good reviews including the one from Julie, it makes it on to the radio one play list, and played on TV, guess what - there is a screw up with the delivery to the record shops so there is not enough product available - well done EMI.</div>
<div style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-68178477709665055722011-03-04T16:27:00.097+00:002018-06-22T16:29:30.908+01:001978 Snips, The Ramones and Chris Spedding<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
The Mothers Superior have gone their separate ways. Jackie Crew joins Tour de Force, an all female band. Simon has been with Blood Donor for a while now, Pete joins Colin Lloyd Tucker's Plain Characters, have no idea what happens to Kate. A couple of guys who had managed Toyah ask me to put a band together with me fronting it. I am not convinced about this. At the same time <a href="http://www.johnbentley.tv/Biography.html">John Bentley</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"> </a>who had been playing bass with Blood Donor, but is leaving to be the rhythm guitarist in a band being put together by a singer called Snips, tells me they are looking for a bass player and would I like to audition. I say yes, mainly because I loved Sharks, the band Snips used to sing with. On 23rd January I get a call from him to say we start rehearsing on the 30th. I guess I've got the job and although pleased I don't really know what to do. Except that I do, I am too shattered to even consider putting a band together, write a whole bunch of songs and try to be a lead singer, not that joining Snips is going to be a piece of cake. Graham Deakin who I auditioned with is hired as the drummer, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Dyche">Mick Dyche</a>, lead guitarist and John Bentley are already in the band. </div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPafpC9ambzvMLL_Z5dQ5CWKWBeUIuVYrjvtH_R2DbhwQknNStQicqFTZPdamdOUh5BzkV8CVGikgsuWpDSi_bWuhA1-qlyxIbzsWWks7ieB4Om9LfukACRKXdkP0-yqjAlvxuHYU7aH49/s1600/Video+Kings+album+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPafpC9ambzvMLL_Z5dQ5CWKWBeUIuVYrjvtH_R2DbhwQknNStQicqFTZPdamdOUh5BzkV8CVGikgsuWpDSi_bWuhA1-qlyxIbzsWWks7ieB4Om9LfukACRKXdkP0-yqjAlvxuHYU7aH49/s200/Video+Kings+album+cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Video Kings Mick Dyche, Graham Deakin<br />
John Bentley and Jackie Badger</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
February 1978<br />
We rehearse like crazy to be ready to record an album, mostly in Mill Street and Hollywood, the home of the robot Metal Mickey that is usually parked in a corner but sometimes roams the corridors and on occasion traps me and attempts to get up close and personal - everyone hysterical...to be honest it was more weird than amusing...<br />
<br />
The end of March and we're in <a href="http://rakstudios.co.uk/">RAK studios</a>, Mickie Most's place in St. John's Wood, with Steve Lillywhite producing. We start with 'Love Is Blind' and 'Dracula'. Mickie Most, Chris Spedding and Suzie Quatro are there - so that's not intimidating at all! I'm handed Spedding's Precision bass (with an extra Guild Humbucker pickup fitted to it. I presume the Rickenbacker is not popular. Nobody says anything - I play the Fender and on we go (sounds great btw).<br />
<br />
I'm finding it really stressful and am under a lot of pressure, mostly from myself, to prove I can do it. Being the only female in the band is not something I'm used to and probably the reverse is true too. Lot of testing going on, how will it be when we're all on the road. Am I the spy in the camp? I don't think I was hired to be the band's conscience. Only time will tell.<br />
<br />
The songs are all written by Snips, I love his writing he has a way with words that most rock lyricists don't get close to. The album is called Snips and the Video Kings as is the band, we all have to wear black trousers and shirts with 'Video Kings' printed on them. I can't say I care to be branded, but it's a good gig and I'm not going to walk away from it for the sake of a shirt and at least I'm not asked to wear a frock, although I do get pink boots - sadly the guys don't. The group is Snips's and we are hired musicians, it's not a democracy, I don't react well in that kind of set up, mostly I keep my mouth shut, although we do have a few flare ups along the way.<br />
<br />
Me and Pete are doing PAs for various bands, UK Subs, Adam and the Ants - 14th June we're doing sound for Angelo Paladino at The Bridge House and the legendary Steve Marriott got up and did three numbers with them - brilliant.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjhZ3_19bWx3e_HCBCvCSfDhYNvxTXfJU_DbJ_Nh4H82YgueBuYGE5lPkD0QpNAoLZOOM3oX9Fc88gKkfhIvxlTWfhjNb_vQMIlg6niaM19nXbuz-0KRMVFirqgq_4HaMNBIZYabcFBfb/s1600/Video+Kings+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjhZ3_19bWx3e_HCBCvCSfDhYNvxTXfJU_DbJ_Nh4H82YgueBuYGE5lPkD0QpNAoLZOOM3oX9Fc88gKkfhIvxlTWfhjNb_vQMIlg6niaM19nXbuz-0KRMVFirqgq_4HaMNBIZYabcFBfb/s320/Video+Kings+3.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graham Deakin, Jackie Badger, John Bentley, Snips</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Back to Snips - we get paid a wage in this band and before too long I have saved enough to get my new heart's desire, a <a href="http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Bass/Gibson-USA/Thunderbird-IV.aspx">Gibson Thunderbird</a> anniversary edition bass guitar. I am very thrilled to be the owner. It's somewhat larger than I expected and I have to stretch right out to tune the G string. <br />
It weighs a ton and begins to give me shoulder pains and cramp in my fingers, eventually I have to admit defeat and sell it - but not yet.<br />
<br />
The recording goes fairly swiftly. The album is all recorded at RAK except for some overdubs at De Lane Lea, we also throw in a few promotional gigs - The King's Road Theatre and The Point in Victoria. We also play at Holy Innocents in Hornsey - something to do with a footbal team some of them play with, Casa Sports. Here's one of the tracks - <a href="https://youtu.be/czP0xFLeltg">Love is Blind.</a> Essentially Snips is a very fair boss to work for and the music is good. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czP0xFLeltg">The album is Snips and the Video Kings</a><br />
<br />
We make a video for the first single 'Waiting for Tonight' at one point, they want to dress me up as Snips to be the tiny version of him on the back of the album cover - thankfully they give up on that one.<br />
<br />
Went to a photographers in Canonbury Square -The Video Kings are being photographed for the<br />
back of the album cover, when it's finished I'll be holding the hand of the mini Snips.<br />
<br />
Simon Etchell invites me to a Blood Donor rehearsal at Toyah's place in Battersea - John Cale was 'instructing' and Chris Spedding was playing guitar - wonderfully manic.<br />
<br />
15th July 1978<br />
<a href="http://www.bobdylan.com/">Bob Dylan</a> at Blackbushe Aerodrome, <a href="http://www.ericclapton.com/">Eric Clapton</a> is on, has <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcella_Detroit">Marcy Levy</a> with him who plays some impressive blues harp. Joan Armatrading appears too. The show was OK, but involved an awful lot of dead time and I watch much of the show through binoculars, standing on two cans of beer. The chances to see Bob are few and far between, I would never turn it down. There's few performers with a catalogue like his. He's dressed all in black with a top hat, the Fred Astaire approach, no dancing though.<br />
<br />
Went to the Bridge House to see Steve Marriott (Blind Drunk), Joe Brown did a few numbers with them. Wasn't fabulous musically but entertaining none the less.<br />
<br />
We rehearse at Little Bit Ritzy in Brixton for a few gigs before we start the tour with the <a href="http://ramonesworld.com/">Ramones</a> playing at the Limit Club in Sheffield, Kirk Leavington Country Club in Middlesbrough and the Music Machine in London .<br />
<br />
The start of the Ramones UK tour is in Northern Ireland, we fly to Belfast along with the publicist <a href="http://www.bpfallon.com/">BP Fallon</a> where we were all rigorously searched on landing because they thought we were the Ramones. Supposedly found some hash in BP's luggage. We didn't see him for a while, he caught up with us later on the tour. The IRA are big at this time, we are not allowed any cabin luggage - my shoulder bag doesn't appear on the carousel. There is one that looks like mine - I look inside and see a pair of pink fluffy slippers. I go to the desk to tell them, Security are called, I'm about to walk over to it explaining it's the same type of bag, when the guard shouts 'Don't go near the item, don't touch it.' The slippers wouldn't have been my choice but they weren't that bad. This could of course be an 'explosive' situation, not just the wrong bag. The airline finds the owner through the baggage claim ident. They live at the army base in Newry, so I have to wait till the next day to get all my belongings back. No make up, nothing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIui7GCDhPLiURmyPpYZuN1LtDtJVymMEtXRKiQp4x0eMtVYeA_gk-EPmfm3OOywhqUynhq7azNTeZ6_-jsnJT5SItc3DAB_m-sD8PU-6oHubXUh9kIgAQA_2oTkjpmrqsi6HgG86LCht/s1600/Ramones+tour+list.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIui7GCDhPLiURmyPpYZuN1LtDtJVymMEtXRKiQp4x0eMtVYeA_gk-EPmfm3OOywhqUynhq7azNTeZ6_-jsnJT5SItc3DAB_m-sD8PU-6oHubXUh9kIgAQA_2oTkjpmrqsi6HgG86LCht/s320/Ramones+tour+list.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
We pick up 2 cars I drive one, John the other and get lost on the way to the Belfast gig, we're in the middle of town, Snips tells me to pull over so we can ask for directions. A soldier walks towards us with a machine gun, shouting at us to move on, Snips ignores him winds down the window and asks him where the Ulster Hall is. He can't believe it and neither can I, but we get the information and don't get shot, result. The gig goes well and everything we own is left dripping in spit.<br />
<br />
Our hotel is in Holywood (pronounced Hollywood and there the similarity ends), on the outskirts of the city. A big old country house in its own grounds, which I imagine in another era looked pretty impressive, at the moment it has a perimeter fence topped with barbed wire and wooden hut that all visitors have to go through to be searched for weapons and explosives. Because I'm the only female in the band I get my own room, I would have gladly shared with anyone that night, I didn't get too much sleep.<br />
<br />
Before they go on stage the Ramones play through their entire set, acoustically, in the dressing room, and then went straight out to do it all again. I guess they want to hit the ground running, it was a strange sight.<br />
<br />
Some nights in the hotel we'd come across Joey wandering the corridors looking for Cadbury's chocolate, he especially loved those really humungous bars. We'd help him find some when we can and return him safely to his room.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfjCg6lAjsp6R2Ls7IicYHxJd3H8WXL813weeGVSqPNB7DPOhPJqYatEbUQF5PpnRU1OhqgWkMdaIMBwwOtL5QqZCK_4beL-EnzUQyPPT1zrrbmN0K-FaQHrApUYQ2WzHHMl4K2teXaQl/s1600/Ramones+review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBfjCg6lAjsp6R2Ls7IicYHxJd3H8WXL813weeGVSqPNB7DPOhPJqYatEbUQF5PpnRU1OhqgWkMdaIMBwwOtL5QqZCK_4beL-EnzUQyPPT1zrrbmN0K-FaQHrApUYQ2WzHHMl4K2teXaQl/s320/Ramones+review.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
We are booked to do the Pressefest Festival in Berlin in the middle of this tour, we play Birmingham the night before, fly to Berlin the next day, do the festival, which I have little memory of actually playing, I remember a revolving stage so you could be getting ready while another band was playing and then be whizzed round for your set. Didn't go quite that smoothly, the mechanism was a bit jerky and things kept falling over. The dressing room upstairs was full of strange mechanical puppets and a table with lots of weird food that nobody wanted and kept complaining that it was impossible to make a sandwich with the bread. A few chairs were arranged along the walls and draped on two of them was a mother and her young teenage daughter who had come to offer themselves for sex with the band, don't know if it included me, possibly. None of us went for it. One of those Spinal Tap moments, before Spinal Tap. We were all bundled in cars and taken to see the Brandenberg Gate, drank some very strong alcohol, ate some fries (at last food you could eat), got back to the hotel about 2am and up about 5am to fly back to London.<br />
<br />
A couple of us stayed at Snips's place, he lived in west London and we were at the Hammersmith Odeon that night. We didn't get too much sleep. We need something to liven us up and by the time we hit the stage we're pretty wired. We play the most manic set we've done so far and stride about the place like we own it. Goes really well and we get this minuscule review. The tour ends on 7th October in Glasgow at Queen Margaret's Union. We had more than a few laughs, if you discount the amount of gob everyone and everything was covered in The downside is that although we've been getting good audience reaction the album and single sales are not great.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RClj__N89iJhOX5cPuoVqHWL3NTWBxGD8mftCsz-uglXcDfaJphAtGdHFTDSnK30IqFi5H-M5dmL5lYPYJV_ds3EaF8NmFTJo7RySQBY32wzPd_qAdPD4ACy_p8ZE9BWF4i2ofL8_vEB/s1600/Marquee+Snips+Spedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RClj__N89iJhOX5cPuoVqHWL3NTWBxGD8mftCsz-uglXcDfaJphAtGdHFTDSnK30IqFi5H-M5dmL5lYPYJV_ds3EaF8NmFTJo7RySQBY32wzPd_qAdPD4ACy_p8ZE9BWF4i2ofL8_vEB/s200/Marquee+Snips+Spedding.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackie Badger, Graham Deakin, <br />
Snips, Spedding. John Bentley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
More rehearsing, this time at Tandem, play at Harlow Tech and with Gordon Giltrap at Bath Uni. Spedding joins us at the Music Machine on 10th November and the Marquee on 15th.<br />
<br />
On 22nd we record a BBC In Concert at the Paris Theatre<br />
<br />
<br />
After an end of tour party at Snips' flat in November me and Snips think we might like to go out together, no one more surprised than me. Our first date is to see Werner Herzog's 'The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser.' Good film - good choice.<br />
<br />
On the 27th we begin rehearsals, back at an old favourite Hollywood (Metal Mickey is better behaved) with our new guitar player Brian Holloway for some December gigs - Barbarella's, Birmingham on the 5th and Lyceum, with Ultravox on the 10th.<br />
<br />
Me and Snips went to the Jet (Don Arden's record label) Christmas Party. There were gold dolphins holding the toilet roll - weird - my parents had the same thing in their council flat.<br />
<br />
The last year has gone by in a flash, so much is going on it's like being on full spin. Lots of good stuff is happening, but my direction seems to be out of my hands, I could end up anywhere.Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-68319915709446305292010-08-26T23:29:00.070+01:002019-09-15T21:36:01.163+01:001976/1977 Mother Superior<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
The New Year begins and Mr. Campfield manages to get us a slot on the Cliff Richard show 'It's Cliff and Friends' that is reserved for new talent. We are not awfully impressed, comments like 'are you out of your mind?', 'we are not doing it' were flying about and Campfield is hurt and disappointed by our reaction. Cliff's people will not let us use our name and we have to agree to be called Superior for the show, I ask why couldn't we be called Mother and what was the point in doing it if we can't use our name. I got nowhere, we were doing it and that was it.</div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
22nd January we rehearse with Cliff somewhere off Sussex Gardens, as we are going to perform 'Sweet Little Sixteen' with him as well as 'Love the One You're With' on our own. He was somewhat paranoid about us being able to come in on time and decided he would make some elaborate arm movement to bring Audrey in on the guitar intro. Having said that, Cliff was courteous and helpful and on the following day, the day of the recording he came down to the make-up room to chat and encourage us, the guy was a total pro. I almost felt guilty about loathing his music... As he left, the make-up lady says to me, 'It's time to get into your stage gear', 'I'm wearing it.' 'Oh'. At this time I was favouring green lipstick and maroon eye shadow, the make-up lady was becoming increasingly unhappy with me and eventually we agreed a compromise, I could keep the green lipstick as long as I went with green eye shadow too. I had long since ceased to care and just wanted to get the entire episode over with. Jackie's soft toys she kept on her bass drum had been banned incase of copyright infringements (or maybe they just didn't like them), but she sneaks them back in. Audrey has something very peculiar done to her hair by the afore mentioned make-up person, she is almost unrecognisable. Playing behind Cliff and watching him sing and dance is a sight I don't think I'll ever forget.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
The show is broadcast on the 24th, we are playing at the Tavern Club in Dorchester that night and pray that no one has watched it, of course they have. We are so pissed off that when we come out on stage and start playing, the audience all move back a few yards and stay there.<br />
<br />
Our gigs are many, but rarely close together, Keele followed by Penzance back up to Leeds, mostly in the Transit, or if that was out of commission we'd hire something, usually a box or Luton Transit, which meant two of us would ride in the back of the vehicle cut off from the cab. One night Jackie and I were in the back, a long trip back to London lay ahead, the gear was packed so there was some floor space near the shutter. Once the van started moving we would take it in turns to ride on the trolley. This was seriously good. The trolley was planks of wood attached to four wheels and could build up some speed on cornering. This particular night we were too tired for fun and intended to sleep, Jackie was on the other side of the van, perched on a speaker cabinet with her duffel coat hood up. I was chatting about the gig and wondering why she wasn't replying. It took a while to realise she was actually sat right next to me fast asleep. All this and without the aid of pharmaceuticals.<br />
<br />
March 1976<br />
A tour of Sweden is arranged, we leave for Harwich in our 'new to us' ancient BMC bread van which has just had an engine fitted. This was all last minute and not ready on time, we had to drive fast to make the ferry - huge error.<br />
<br />
All went ok until the second night of the tour, on the way back to the hotel from a gig, we come to a halt on a motorway in the middle of nowhere, surrounded only by snow, snow and more snow. We are on a hill, we all get out and start pushing while Mick, the roadie tries to start the engine, no success. We try again and again till we are exhausted. Later we discover that the big end has gone and no amount of pushing was ever going to get it moving again. It's about 4.00am, very cold, nothing has passed us on the road in either direction, we can't see any buildings and are beginning to think we will all be found frozen, huddled together like some stranded polar expedition. Suddenly headlights hit the mirror, we leap out, stand in the middle of the road, waving and jumping up and down. Thank god the guy stops. He is delivering newspapers, puts us in the back of his lorry and take us to our hotel. What a hero. The next day the roadie and someone from our Swedish record company drive back to the van, unload the gear and some personal belongings. Our van is towed off the road and we continue the tour in a Mercedes truck, this is a much more pleasant affair. We get regular reports from other bands on the state of our bread van in its slow deterioration, alone and abandoned.<br />
<br />
Of our 17 shows in Scandinavia, one was in Sandviken the home town of my long time pen pal Hanne, it's great to see her at the gig and a shame we can't stay to chat after, we have to leave to catch another ferry this time to Fredrikshavn. Customs decide to search our van for drugs, good luck boys - we couldn't afford them even if we wanted them. They unload all the gear and then bring out their secret weapon, the drug dog - an overweight black Labrador, struggling for breath, looks disinterestedly at the equipment and then has to be lifted into the vehicle. We could see it rocking from side to side as the poor thing trudged up and down, breathing hard and finding nothing. They had to retire unsuccessful, leaving us to repack the van.<br />
<br />
Our manager is now sick to death of us (the feeling was entirely mutual), what with the van debacle, phoning him in the middle of the night for help and money to get our gear back to London because we no longer have a vehicle. He is keen to get rid of us and passes us on to his pal, a Mr. Mills, who at first is thrilled (perhaps a bit too thrilled) to have us and pays out for all sorts of things, a new handmade guitar for Audrey built by Stephen Delft, a Peavey PA and a Mercedes van. Of course he expects to get paid back for some or preferably all of his purchases.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5zHYPWqy0QCw2AgGe6SdoeoYyXsk57dvlohMeistFENU7k9KZM3hZ2PjA_-nlSZffENxyw-5Ki9VxzhPnLuOa0PZsXCi7mBZW_-YxjthTSF7YsWFEu-U4VZAbJ9CsAeQfcE_kdLXUGAz/s1600/Mother+Superior+Finland+May+76.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5zHYPWqy0QCw2AgGe6SdoeoYyXsk57dvlohMeistFENU7k9KZM3hZ2PjA_-nlSZffENxyw-5Ki9VxzhPnLuOa0PZsXCi7mBZW_-YxjthTSF7YsWFEu-U4VZAbJ9CsAeQfcE_kdLXUGAz/s200/Mother+Superior+Finland+May+76.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
Two months later we are going to tour Finland, Mr. Mills elects to drive the Mercedes there filled with our equipment, via Hamburg, we fly to Helsinki to meet up with him. On arrival we are given roses, there is a press conference and a free haircut! We're asked to sign our names on the wall of the salon, there are many already there including Frank Zappa. I choose to get my long hair cut really short.<br />
<br />
The gigs are spread all over Finland, several are outdoors, in the middle of nowhere, with an audience appearing magically from the surrounding woods. Sometimes travelling in our own 1920s rail carriage hitched to the back of a train. People wave to us as we go through stations, I doubt they have the first idea who we are, the week before the same carriage was being used by the Finnish prime minister. There are bunk beds, a kitchen and sitting room. The carriage is parked in sidings at night, not very comfortable but very appealing. One night we come out of a gig around midnight, get on the train to see the sun setting on side and rising on the other, the sky was a wonderfully lurid shade of pink.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5j9wPH7zsPMLKw6jj3Zfxra0FSqUrnqLRsbe9cTmWO6VEG28r9RgENYA9GmXPMrvukcG0TqOeb9k1LlvKsclISugs3kwLwtshE-_WzkfyVQ7MgbRyhultPDkSzcTXV67MJs1T9c8pxI8V/s1600/Mother+Superior+finland+russian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5j9wPH7zsPMLKw6jj3Zfxra0FSqUrnqLRsbe9cTmWO6VEG28r9RgENYA9GmXPMrvukcG0TqOeb9k1LlvKsclISugs3kwLwtshE-_WzkfyVQ7MgbRyhultPDkSzcTXV67MJs1T9c8pxI8V/s200/Mother+Superior+finland+russian.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Driving along the Russian border there are many signs warning you not to stop or take photos. While we are stationary, taking a photo of Russian peasants working in the fields, behind barbed wire next to a watchtower, we see an old man on a bicycle coming towards us. He tells us to get back in the van and tries to take the film out of Jackie's camera, she says there is no film in it and off he pedals. An international incident closely avoided.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSk4AF0Zn6LJ_oYC-XIHHElFFJR3w7_pvJpgkJfAk7VZzMts4cqhL68O3BWKqhjUIdcdHoPy9HihD4D1rC8HasFR3cv6hQbY4yfCEY6b6K8FjyesPC4CtJiazB-dv19aav5Bdv_C6Ljsbn/s1600/Mother+Superior+Rokki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSk4AF0Zn6LJ_oYC-XIHHElFFJR3w7_pvJpgkJfAk7VZzMts4cqhL68O3BWKqhjUIdcdHoPy9HihD4D1rC8HasFR3cv6hQbY4yfCEY6b6K8FjyesPC4CtJiazB-dv19aav5Bdv_C6Ljsbn/s200/Mother+Superior+Rokki.jpg" width="141" /></a></div>
Lesley and I are sharing a room in a hostel, she's asleep, I'm drifting off when I hear what sounds like the door opening. I think I must be mistaken, till I realise there is a tall figure standing in the room, I still can't really believe it. The man walks towards me, I sit up, he moves away from me and heads for Lesley's bed. At last I start shouting, Lesley wakes up, we are both out of bed, yelling at him to get out. Now we are all out in the hall, many people have opened their doors and are staring at us, well I say us, probably at Lesley who is stark naked. The guy is carted off by security. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3ri23SZYeK2pN7dPWPyNEBgzm2Iise1aiPEEJN_tr7O5rLm4uSK7Ghr_BelpNSHjl2y3k5pDG_l4ojCdNgxXSMbGrDbqIX7UO3fDZfxP1C-pNJVkbqrgUaKp4cihcGyclv9Hin06MWIt/s1600/Mother+Superior+Rokki+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3ri23SZYeK2pN7dPWPyNEBgzm2Iise1aiPEEJN_tr7O5rLm4uSK7Ghr_BelpNSHjl2y3k5pDG_l4ojCdNgxXSMbGrDbqIX7UO3fDZfxP1C-pNJVkbqrgUaKp4cihcGyclv9Hin06MWIt/s200/Mother+Superior+Rokki+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
The day before we fly home we record a jingle for Lee Cooper 'Feel super in Lee Cooper', we receive free Tshirts but no jeans. <br />
<br />
Not sure what this Finish article says but I always liked the title, so if anyone can translate it...hope it's not insulting.<br />
<br />
The tour seemed to go quite well, but as so often seems to happen, turns out to be the beginning of the end. On our return from Helsinki the manager's family have a 'chat' with us, laying out their feelings regarding our lack of commercial success and threatened to take our instruments (that we owned except for Audrey's guitar) away if we didn't start writing hit singles. We were what we were, not exactly a hit single machine. Lesley decides to leave and joins an Australian band 'The Daughters of Zeuss'.<br />
<br />
We start auditioning singers and keyboard players.<br />
<br />
21st August 1976 <br />
Mick the roadie and I go to see the Stones at Knebworth, with 10cc, Lynryd Skynryd, Todd Rundgren and no doubt others, we stood around for ages waiting and were rather fed up. Sound was not good, but as it happened Mick (Jagger, not our roadie) had dispensed with singing any recognisable melody lines and seemed more interested in dancing. I really did not enjoy this, not any of it to be honest. We had to stay to the end because we could not get the car out.<br />
<br />
The auditioning for Lesley's replacement is proving difficult, at last we find a keyboard player, Simon Etchell, a fine musician, but promoters expect us to be a band of females, and although skinny and very cute, there is no way he'll be mistaken for a girl. Still looking for a singer, we go to check out a girl singing with a band in a South London pub, we don't really fancy her, she looks a bit odd and has a weird voice - her name? Kate Bush. Luckily none of us are planning a career in A and R.<br />
<br />
During this period Audrey drops her bombshell, she is leaving to join Brandy, so now we need a guitarist too. It is decided we should ask Janis if she is interested. I give her a call, luckily she's happy to do it.<br />
<br />
Now that Audrey and Lesley have left, Mr. Mills has lost interest and takes the Mercedes which is parked outside Jackie's house with most of our gear in it. I have my bass, but no equipment. Apparently he is holding it for ransom. We have to sue him, a long and exhausting procedure<br />
<br />
Meanwhile more auditioning for singers until we find Kate Buddeke, an American with a loud hard hitting voice. After joining she invites us over for dinner - cauliflower cheese and garlic bread. Kate and her husband live in World's End above SEX, Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren's shop. It is not the biggest flat, and has a revolving wall that turns if you push the mirrored section in the middle which opens into the bedroom and bathroom. How good is that?<br />
<br />
Our agent is not happy we are no longer an all female band, but wants us to do the tour he has already booked. The day before this is to start Mr. Mills agrees to give us back the equipment, we have to hire a van and drive down to Hampshire to pick it up, what a charmer.<br />
<br />
We add some new songs to the set at rehearsals in Greeenwich and at Simon's, The Mothers of Invention's 'King Kong', Alex Harvey's 'Midnight Moses' and Steve Miller's 'Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash'. <br />
<br />
Around this time my brother, Bobbie is the singer with a band called 'Michigan' with Igal, Melvin, and Elliot, sometimes I join them to sing 'Love the One You're With'. It's good fun playing in a band with your brother.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCwvu8Iibcjq7I18v7VbLiuWxUGmnpYRzdjEwKrrq2RvMsRGLc3rmOY442YUfAz-cFxpXc_4y9D6HjMHQmAB7WMttATFmPi0XqR1jM3J_5Zc1N3NisS_pASrUk6wQAthRrmWYSoc6fkrx/s1600/Mother+Superior+rock+garden+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCwvu8Iibcjq7I18v7VbLiuWxUGmnpYRzdjEwKrrq2RvMsRGLc3rmOY442YUfAz-cFxpXc_4y9D6HjMHQmAB7WMttATFmPi0XqR1jM3J_5Zc1N3NisS_pASrUk6wQAthRrmWYSoc6fkrx/s200/Mother+Superior+rock+garden+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother Superior at the Rock Garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Mother Superior hit the road and have a pretty good time, it's nice to be playing again, we hired a PA, Steve a roadie with a van and I take my car - a Vauxhall Viva. The driver's door doesn't really close, it's pretty cold, we have to be wrapped in blankets for the long drives up and down the country's motorways.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNLVPBA55zFs63iKihfEErDLTdPar7VHA11O2SKKiZv6ebuKU5RPdzhBFI_Imak-gthMHB09N41mvLgG1IurlFKMMnSRPaXyLClzcpSqGT10bEwCg2JmHPwaFrPAYm1T73_sSubhZLmHc/s1600/Kate+on+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNLVPBA55zFs63iKihfEErDLTdPar7VHA11O2SKKiZv6ebuKU5RPdzhBFI_Imak-gthMHB09N41mvLgG1IurlFKMMnSRPaXyLClzcpSqGT10bEwCg2JmHPwaFrPAYm1T73_sSubhZLmHc/s200/Kate+on+road.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kate on the road</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If we're near North London various band members visit my<br />
parents flat in Islington to relax, get fed, that kind of thing. My Mother was always cooking, occasionally she would get sick of it and tell us that the cafe shut at 10.30pm, but for the most part fish and chips, sandwiches, coffees etc. could be had round the clock - thanks Mum.<br />
<br />
Depending on the time of day my Dad was usually sat in his chair sanding or sawing pieces of wood for some model he'd be making and shouting at the TV. Another regular was Russell from downstairs who had a penchant for lethal weapons, and practised his crossbow technique by firing bolts from the living room at a target in the kitchen. We had to ask him to desist a couple of times because my Mum was out there cooking my Dad's stew.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNueCjr6fRlUGgJazx500Tj6pwWScuacHauhi2q6qsXFHbFVOSJVubvZBBQIA6aqohtfXYz1Hnx4T_-0r8HS9VOJr21PdNTDHTjHo9y1nwoYvRaIJG1Ob6iSCT6rilNkL6RamFL6gpmiR/s1600/Mother+Superior+review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNueCjr6fRlUGgJazx500Tj6pwWScuacHauhi2q6qsXFHbFVOSJVubvZBBQIA6aqohtfXYz1Hnx4T_-0r8HS9VOJr21PdNTDHTjHo9y1nwoYvRaIJG1Ob6iSCT6rilNkL6RamFL6gpmiR/s200/Mother+Superior+review.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vivien Goldman review in Sounds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Nearing the end of the tour Janis says she wants to leave to put a band together with her husband Wilson. It's disappointing but at least she says she'll finish the gigs. Sadly this does not happen. While parking the van after dropping off some gear at the Golden Lion in Fulham to get set up for the gig that night, she and her husband get in to a row with the manager because he won't let Wilson stay in the pub while it's not open. I walk in the door to find they've both left and the manager is shouting at me telling me we have to play the gig I'm yelling at him saying it's his fault we have no guitarist. My boyfriend Pete comes to the rescue and agrees to sit in if I go back to Finchley to pick up his stuff. Under the really stressful circumstances it turns out to be quite a good show, Pete does an amazingly good job, which is just as well as Vivien Goldman from Sounds comes down that night to review us. We enjoyed the write up and we referred to Jackie as Crowe for an unnecessarily long time.<br />
<br />
After a prolonged fight with the people we hired the PA for the tour from - they'd palmed us off with Celestion speakers in the bass bins instead of the Altec Lansings we requested and been billed for. We'd paid half up front and refused to pay anymore until they'd recalculated, what a marathon, but by now I'm in no mood to capitulate, eventually we get the reduced bill. Man this is tiring, dealing with all this organisational stuff is very time consuming, boring and removes you from the real business of playing and writing. <br />
<br />
1977<br />
<br />
Crowe and I were interviewed for an article on females in rock in the Evening Standard. We've been auditioning guitarists for a bit, but as luck would have it the band Pete was in breaks up and it seems like the logical thing would be for him to join us and so he does. We write some new some songs, Simon and Kate write a couple, I write with Pete and with Simon, and prise them into our already schizophrenic set.<br />
<br />
Geraint Hughes and Jeffrey Calvert who are Typically Tropical and had a hit with 'Going to Barbados' are interested in recording us. We sign with their Coconut Airways company. They suggest we do 'Dancing in the Street', don't have a problem with the song, although Motown is not exactly flavour of the month, but we don't see how it makes any sense for us to do it and no one is ever going to sing it better than Martha Reeves.<br />
<br />
We are quite friendly with a band called Burlesque, Billy Jenkins, Ian Trimmer, Steve Hughes (Antonio Vivaldi Jr), Steve Parr and Steve Knight, too many Steves. They were doing well, made an album, had a fairly extensive following. We went to many of their gigs, nice and eccentric in a Mothers of Invention kind of way.<br />
<br />
While I think of it have to say a big thank you to Simon and his family, which I'm sure we didn't do at the time, who let us rehearse at their house on a very regular basis. Cannot have been a lot of fun for them, but it saved us a lot of expense and enabled us to put this version of Mother Superior together. It's doubtful this is what his parents wished for their youngest son - to be touring the UK with an all female band, when he could be doing a proper job. They also had to squeeze past my huge Zoot Horn bass cab that was stored in their hall.<br />
<br />
My right hand is giving me a lot of pain, I visit my doctor, Dr. Reckless, always worrying. She says I've strained my tendons and bandages it with one of those sticky tight things right up to my elbow, what a nightmare. She suggests I don't use it for three weeks, but leaves my fingers free enough to play.<br />
<br />
In May we are in at Morgan's recording 'Midnight Moses' written by Alex Harvey, my songs 'Back Track' and 'Circumstantial Evidence' and 'Dancing in the Street' written by Marvin Gaye, William Stevenson and Ivy Jo Hunter.<br />
<br />
Bandage is off, but my hand is still not good, I'm referred to the Royal Northern, who recommend heat treatment and exercises. We move on to microwaving and more bandaging, this is making playing very difficult and painful. Nothing has worked and now it's to be hot wax baths, all a bit 'Carry on Screaming'. Actually the wax baths do eventually solve the problem and I do enjoy peeling off the wax when it's dried, like a big scab, but less gross.<br />
<br />
Heard from Audrey, she's left Brandy and is going to play bass with the Ivy Benson Band. We go to look at some basses, she wants a Fender and gets a Music Master.<br />
<br />
As a band we hang out a lot together, drinking, seeing other bands, eating out. Mother Superior was pretty much our entire life. Possibly this was a mistake, but there we are, we were a happy bunch, for a while.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmdDOKTIqWzqLddo0_HIqM7lTv73vjptrNYM0tFnszuwtLnJ4ZvqvQGdZjISPFHTkfnRo2VaCC3FSSeD0AQ9YQUjiRTZuIzMleiR6HjrC4BJ29HeqPFxvJxbSSFY-rCRwY6W6y-9jnpSy/s1600/Mother+Superior+Brecknock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmdDOKTIqWzqLddo0_HIqM7lTv73vjptrNYM0tFnszuwtLnJ4ZvqvQGdZjISPFHTkfnRo2VaCC3FSSeD0AQ9YQUjiRTZuIzMleiR6HjrC4BJ29HeqPFxvJxbSSFY-rCRwY6W6y-9jnpSy/s200/Mother+Superior+Brecknock.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Crew invited me over for dinner, we were having a big laugh till about half an hour after eating the really tasty mushroom omelette she'd made I feel ill and start throwing up. I don't realise why yet, but I have developed an allergy to mushrooms. How cruel, to be vegetarian and unable to eat mushrooms. Possibly a cosmic message I failed to notice.<br />
<br />
In August I get a call from Holly, I go over to see her, played her tapes of the band, she seemed to like them OK. Later we went to see Bonnie Raitt, Holly's friend Rayner got us in for nothing, thanks Rayner. Bonnie is a red hot slide player. We had drinks backstage, a rather jolly evening, I like Bonnie a lot.<br />
<br />
Supporting Johnny Du Cann at the Music Machine in Camden, we went down well he didn't. A few days later we're back at the Brecknock, do pretty good and get paid extra.<br />
<br />
Simon is now playing with Blood Donor as well as us. I think it's called hedging your bets, not sure how this will pan out.<br />
<br />
Michigan are playing the Greyhound, they are getting more gigs than we are and paying me more, err I think it's called hedging your bets!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3HF3t1dA3O9mTsZPFCIxkV-77Ftq1C9BJdM_6xHdFpvsJH1mi2kCkoOQnD-L3pTVM-DPzaDWCZ3wvt5LRuAHLOO9nXWEffrCSkR4Fe3qwgGL7zEcqwloArbCebLZATe_brYz5meq3Qm8/s1600/Mother+Superior+rock+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm3HF3t1dA3O9mTsZPFCIxkV-77Ftq1C9BJdM_6xHdFpvsJH1mi2kCkoOQnD-L3pTVM-DPzaDWCZ3wvt5LRuAHLOO9nXWEffrCSkR4Fe3qwgGL7zEcqwloArbCebLZATe_brYz5meq3Qm8/s200/Mother+Superior+rock+garden.jpg" width="75" /></a></div>
An all female band called Jam Today are playing at Ronnie Scott's, a bunch of us go to see them and who should be on drums, but Frankie, the drummer from all those years ago at the King Cross rehearsal rooms. We had a nice chat after the gig, it was good to see her playing, she said she had seen Mother Superior and thought me and Jackie played well together - thanks Frankie.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
23rd September we are playing at the Rockgarden, we play at 11.00pm and get paid £80.00 pretty good. It goes well, quite a few friends come down. We are getting better gigs, building something of a real following and are being paid more money, but we are falling apart.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9h1LnNcImPhewaPh-VMqKUrG3B2C0ocsfu-3bHsyrvXRLvQZJoShAIZpm6MOQY72QuHNF0W9_ZtH3T9D0zC_QrW3rxjYc4vk3IyfU-iYf8ndy6tHoOWUZ5U7ivH6A_3mWVtBufbsiCWS/s1600/mother+superior+plymouth+gig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9h1LnNcImPhewaPh-VMqKUrG3B2C0ocsfu-3bHsyrvXRLvQZJoShAIZpm6MOQY72QuHNF0W9_ZtH3T9D0zC_QrW3rxjYc4vk3IyfU-iYf8ndy6tHoOWUZ5U7ivH6A_3mWVtBufbsiCWS/s200/mother+superior+plymouth+gig.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother Superior Top Ranking, Kate Jackie and Pete</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
A few days later we were sleeping in Simon's front room before leaving for the Plymouth Top Rank, we had to share the room with an enormous clock that ticked all night, we got about an hours' sleep. We drove down to Devon, but were pretty exhausted, surprisingly the gig went really well, but the van broke down on the way home and we didn't get back till 10.30am the next day.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Pete, Jackie and me are recording with Davy at Riverside Studios did two tracks 'Catherine' and 'Part of You', someone says we sound tired. That'll be right, we need putting out of our misery.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Played at the Brecknock and get booked back.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
October, we're supporting Jenny Haan's Lion at Thames Poly, we are well received and quite a few people come up to us after the gig to tell us they thought we were really good and way better than the headlining act. All very pleasing, but a bit after the fact.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Did some more recording at Morgan's 'Easy Lover', 'Single Thing' written by Kate and Simon and 'Do Ya Need It' by me and Pete.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Kingston Poly as support to Burlesque, Steve their bass player and I shared our gear so we could both play stereo. Our relationship with them was good and we had lots of fun at our joint gigs.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
The following day was the Brecknock for us again.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
On the 17th we went to the Vortex, a basement club off Oxford Street, to see Simon playing with Blood Donor, a good band 'Rubber Revolution' should have been a hit. Charlie the singer includes fire breathing in his act, very exciting and a little frightening with a low ceiling with polystyrene tiles, I had one eye on him and the other on the exit. </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
We draw a good crowd for a Tuesday at the Brecknock, we got paid £25. £15 to the roadie and the rest went to the singer as she was short of cash. Not a good night for cash, thank the lord for the DHSS.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
We add Alex Harvey's 'Faith Healer' to the set.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
November, we are supporting Burlesque again, this time at Leicester Poly, I borrowed Steve's amp after mine broke down. Their road crew fixed it for me, really nice guys.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
After another good Brecknock Tuesday, a guy who had been taking photos of us, asked me to autograph a pile of polaroids of me and his friend was wearing a Jacky Badger badge. Fab I have a fan club!</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Royal Veterinary College has booked us to headline their gig, we go on about 1.45am to an amusingly surreal sight of the entire audience in fancy dress. </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Support Burlesque again at Essex University we had a good laugh and both went down well.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Blood Donor is playing at the Tramshed, we all go to see them and then go on to Ronnie Scott's.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Some guys from Burlesque, me and Simon go to see Tubes at Hammersmith Odeon, was pretty good, I thought they might be a bit too theatrical, but I liked it.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Again we are supporting Burlesque, this time at Sheffield Uni, infiltrating each other's performance, Bill plays drums on King Kong and we go and sing with them.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
It's Brecknock time again, we get a great reception. Steve Hughes and Billy Jenkins from Burlesque join us for 'King Kong' and 'Gimme Shelter'. Kate had a big shout at our roadie Curly Pete, can't remember what about, he says he won't work for us anymore, but relents later. Some of us went to see Janis and Wilson in their new band Axess at Ronnie Scott's, they were pretty good.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
29th November, at the Brecknock for our last but one gig, Kate is ill but makes it anyway. Lots of friends come to see us, it's not a bad night but we all get in argument with Kate, who by the end of the evening is very angry and won't speak to us.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
December</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Steve Hughes and his brother cut my hair, not that well, but at least it is short.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
I get a call from Simon with the dreadfully sad news that Tony, one of Burlesque's roadies and a really nice guy, has been killed in a crash on the M1.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFx07JKjOxREAoHyWgIkk5S8p7meHu6dbPTSbaQWkZMOMj8pviCJCTj3dbCyVi2qhVioilSygAqiusG-c6-8ssiFvbjNySIGTGttol0OYRqIBckSM09DFpxZ04oP2vknjhZ9FpBkp9YKN/s1600/smith+brother+dec+77.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFx07JKjOxREAoHyWgIkk5S8p7meHu6dbPTSbaQWkZMOMj8pviCJCTj3dbCyVi2qhVioilSygAqiusG-c6-8ssiFvbjNySIGTGttol0OYRqIBckSM09DFpxZ04oP2vknjhZ9FpBkp9YKN/s200/smith+brother+dec+77.jpg" width="183" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smith Brothers gig Jackie and Jackie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
7th December, Simon has arranged a gig at Smith Brothers Christmas Dance in Tooting, billed as Ralph and Cindy, Steve Hughes is playing bass, Lesley is in there somewhere playing keyboards (maybe she was Cindy or perhaps Ralph), Deirdre Cartwright, Jackie and me were singing as the Cindyettes, I think I played bass on 'Blue Suede Shoes' and 'Honky Tonk Women'. We were asked to wear dresses. The evening ended painfully for me on the way home when a mic stand in the van took off like a javelin and hit me in the back of the neck. Was a bit stunned but recovered by the next morning. Went to Blood Donor's CBS audition with Simon and then to the Spaghetti House on Goodge Street.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_J8tdhbB31rWKtUK8WxsPoNM8v1c9CHR3p5BlnBFG0e0G8YSTsvIEOqgHrFIImKgPmA7yjQ6KWMFXs6PYcXr-Bjol9dKr3HsZwnzC0vHccUwOK1ESE5fxOSCo2xt5KbYLfSktzgWlaLL/s1600/Mother+Superior+last+gig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_J8tdhbB31rWKtUK8WxsPoNM8v1c9CHR3p5BlnBFG0e0G8YSTsvIEOqgHrFIImKgPmA7yjQ6KWMFXs6PYcXr-Bjol9dKr3HsZwnzC0vHccUwOK1ESE5fxOSCo2xt5KbYLfSktzgWlaLL/s200/Mother+Superior+last+gig.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackie, Jackie, Lesley and Simon last gig</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Two days later on the 9th it is the last Mother Superior gig, the singer doesn't turn up, but as luck would have it Lesley Sly is with us, so she and I end up sharing the vocals, what a strange end - shame Audrey wasn't there.<br />
SET LIST:<br />
Love the One<br />
Bullshit Boogie<br />
Circumstantial Evidence<br />
Easy Lover<br />
Evil Ways<br />
Midnight Moses<br />
King Kong<br />
Do You Need It<br />
Gimme Shelter<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
This seems like as good as place as any, to give some recognition and a huge thank you to all the guys who roadied for Mother Superior, usually for peanuts. Sorry there was never a big pay day chaps. So... to Rod, Kevin, Mick, Big Pete (who morphed into Winston in Splodgnessabounds), his pal Little Dave and Curly Pete - THANK YOU. Apologies if I've missed anyone out or got your name wrong, please consider yourself thanked.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
On the 17th Sly had her goodbye party, as she' returns to the land of Oz tomorrow. Many friends come and get very, very drunk, Steve Hughes actually turns green.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Go to see Blood Donor at the Marquee on the 29th, have to go searching for paraffin cos Charlie's run out and needs to breath some fire. Good gig, audience full of people I know, more like a party.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
New Year's eve is a Michigan gig, goes quite well after a long protracted argument with DJ who thinks he should have the stage rather than the band. Eventually he sees sense. Steve Hughes phoned me to say that Burlesque had split up too, he was not happy.<br />
<br />
At least Frank Zappa's coming to town, he'll be at the Hammersmith Odeon on 24th January perhaps it's a good omen. Come on 1978.</div>
</div>
Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-49203397199194731862010-05-24T22:26:00.011+01:002018-01-13T14:46:41.826+00:001974/75 Mother SuperiorThe summer of 74 was hot, I was bored, Cosmetix are playing at the Lord Nelson on Holloway Road, I went to say hello. They tell me the bass player was leaving to become a nurse and ask if I would like to join. I said sure and we arrange to meet up the following week at a rehearsal room in Blackheath.<br />
<br />
I arrive with my gear and walk straight into an almighty row between the two singer guitarists, Gaynor and Audrey, who decide they can't resolve their differences and are going to split up. What? Gaynor leaves, Jackie, me and Audrey stay together. We choose to add a keyboard player and put an ad in Melody Maker. Lesley Sly, a New Zealander, who is here to further here career as a journalist, finds the ad intriguing and gives us a call. A meeting with Jackie and Audrey at Pizza Hut in Croydon is arranged, they get on well, but are dubious as to whether she plays the keyboards or not because of her long finger nails.<br />
<br />
We audition each other at a rehearsal room at Greenwich Swimming Baths, although our tastes are very different we enjoy playing together, so now we are a four piece. Rehearsals begin immediately as there are some Cosmetix gigs to fulfil and we are starting from scratch. We manage to write some instrumentals, do a song I wrote when I was with Janis and Holly 'No Time Toulouse' and then the choice of covers begins - 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number' Steeley Dan, 'Long Train Running' The Doobie Brothers, Elton John's 'All the Young Girls Love Alice', 'Love the One You're With' Crosby Stills and Nash, I went along with all of these, but almost ignited when Lesley suggests Gilbert O'Sullivan's 'Get Down'. We all sang and could put together some pretty impressive harmonies. Jackie Crew was particularly good at this and could reach notes only dogs could hear.<br />
<br />
There is a lot of musical freedom in this band, which probably lead to its downfall, but we work well as a unit. I love playing with Jackie (drummer) she has great attack and I think we had a strong natural connection. Audrey is a fabulous guitarist, wonderful tone, impressive technique, a powerful feel for melody, and a big voice too. Lesley was red hot on the keyboards and along with Audrey gave us nice wide ranging lead vocal possibilities.<br />
<br />
I particularly enjoy composing with Lesley, music theory was and is largely a mystery to me, Lesley with her keyboard way of thinking could take me in a direction I would never have been heading, I liked that a lot. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIy5C7b3yKBqGBoIlwhM5hV-pR51xdWaf5-wx2N9VtXhljvJ1h41cYBWWSekno9yEggJ35CpvTDwycxPquyKjdqFMhHo_RcNw2uwANGzDubxyyPLyw9Cm3LsIO6MLhHop7oqgjwZWSppll/s1600/Mother+Superior+card+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIy5C7b3yKBqGBoIlwhM5hV-pR51xdWaf5-wx2N9VtXhljvJ1h41cYBWWSekno9yEggJ35CpvTDwycxPquyKjdqFMhHo_RcNw2uwANGzDubxyyPLyw9Cm3LsIO6MLhHop7oqgjwZWSppll/s200/Mother+Superior+card+copy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Some discussion about a name had gone on, but nothing came up, so one evening after rehearsal at Audrey's Nan's house, we decided to not leave until we had found one. The hours passed, some of us were drunk, still nothing. About to give up and go home I say as a joke 'we should call it <a href="http://mother-superior-female-band.moonfruit.com/">Mother Superior'</a>. The others loved it and that's what we were called.<br />
<br />
Some gigs ate up a huge amount of songs, occasionally we had to do 3 x 45 minute sets and in these cases did get a bit desperate for material, at one point we even included the theme to the Pink Panther. We added Stevie Wonder's 'Living for the City' and 'Gimme Shelter' by the Rolling Stones, These were two of my favourites. Crosby Stills and Nash's 'Love the One You're With' always went down well. One time we were playing at Wandsworth Prison, Lesley was half way through the introduction to Santana's 'Evil Ways' when we all realised the significance, especially the opening line 'You gotta stop your evil ways...' The inmates found it hilarious.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKS4HxCgwFmv6hHJF6PsMbMWMKqhcbZgZay4QfVdKMl0JIWO4t_yUKvrNCEE_yg9iTOZG5e6TXja4E2X_DOUpzB9eFC1DOARJ4pGh3VcKVRckhco4l8cdHuT11Z2V3wD-ZQj_P4X8isVq/s1600/Marquee+Cosmetix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKS4HxCgwFmv6hHJF6PsMbMWMKqhcbZgZay4QfVdKMl0JIWO4t_yUKvrNCEE_yg9iTOZG5e6TXja4E2X_DOUpzB9eFC1DOARJ4pGh3VcKVRckhco4l8cdHuT11Z2V3wD-ZQj_P4X8isVq/s200/Marquee+Cosmetix.jpg" width="173" /></a><br />
Our first gig was an American Airbase in Huntingdon, bourbon, men with guns and we manage to get through it without too many duff moments, result.<br />
<br />
2nd November we play the Marquee, although still billed as Cosmetix. Love to be in that tiny dressing room and walk out onto the stage with the green and white striped canopy where I'd seen so many of my favourite bands play. We went down well and they say they'll have us back. What a thrill.<br />
<br />
26th December, Boxing Day in a transit van with two roadies we leave by ferry for Ostende, heading for Germany to play American Airbases in Ashaffenburg. As we are coming ashore we find that we should have completed carnet forms, that lists all the equipment we are carrying, previously we had told by the promoter we did not need to do this. This turns out to be a scam, that many bands are stung by, we have to pay money to the customs before they'll let us in, the tour operator gets his cut. Welcome to the music biz. We have to wait all night on the harbour waiting for the office to open, before we can pay and leave. This makes us really late and broke, we have to drive like crazy, no chance to eat and have to go straight to the gig. We are so tired by the end we fall asleep on the stage while the roadies take the gear out. This is pretty much how the tour went. There was a distinct lack of food and sleep and being vegetarian in Germany was laughable, sometimes I shared a meal with Lesley, she'd eat the meat and I'd get most of the vegetables.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXuDFjJYgNPxjdSLO-Fe0TvzSVoAKAtrxwANIuRrWtrCEVooqgWagLKt2ovEnDbA-N7PjMHrclLxc_0GjEdHjE6P2zp6sG4OKSBROU3V9iymxbkw9lEbtislt7ojKUjahi4vI3EUe3MY5/s1600/mother+superior+new+years+eve+74+germany.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXuDFjJYgNPxjdSLO-Fe0TvzSVoAKAtrxwANIuRrWtrCEVooqgWagLKt2ovEnDbA-N7PjMHrclLxc_0GjEdHjE6P2zp6sG4OKSBROU3V9iymxbkw9lEbtislt7ojKUjahi4vI3EUe3MY5/s200/mother+superior+new+years+eve+74+germany.jpg" width="200" /></a>On the night off, we hitch into town and start drinking with the locals, lager with spirit chasers that are described as being made from wheat, maybe, it was tricky conversing, none of could really speak each others language. We were all drunk, except for Lesley, who recently reminded me that she was tea total at the time, so we drank hers too and bought her fruit juice. Anyway, drunk or not we all get into a car with the local madman who is meant to be taking us back to our BandB, he doesn't, instead he drives really fast out of town into the forest. We're all yelling and shouting at him till he agrees to take us back, when we are somewhere near our destination, we make him stop and we all jump out. What his plans for all four of us were we could only guess.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Our last night of the tour is New Year's Eve at the Playboy Club on the Airbase, we were extremely popular, especially around midnight.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
The drive back to London in the back of the transit, sat on the floor amongst the equipment, is long and cold. We are wrecked.<br />
<br />
January 22nd 1975 and our first gig after the tour is at the Royal Oak, nearing the end of the second set, I realise that Audrey's solo is getting slower and slower. I turn round to see her slumped against a piano at the back of the stage. Friends in the audience jump up on stage, remove the guitar she is still gripping and take her to A and E, clearly she is unconscious and we are all really worried. It's a sad sight to see her attached to drips in her hospital bed. Probably exhaustion from the German tour and luckily she recovers quite quickly. In the meantime we cancel some gigs, then Pete deps for her till she makes it back in February.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4m6ZP9WdzCcHZywosDqqz2oFPE78cg-oXX_vCi1x7fReQuPoOn5_XhmdKtlNL27DrSbPeLfWBOVf1UFXv243SkdT9x6yxuyS7o66pMM2be_3hKWcIRuklU-ReP7rPF1gP6sFa4Gct9wst/s1600/Mother+Superior+ad+web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4m6ZP9WdzCcHZywosDqqz2oFPE78cg-oXX_vCi1x7fReQuPoOn5_XhmdKtlNL27DrSbPeLfWBOVf1UFXv243SkdT9x6yxuyS7o66pMM2be_3hKWcIRuklU-ReP7rPF1gP6sFa4Gct9wst/s200/Mother+Superior+ad+web.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
We have an agent, but we feel the need for management and after much indecision we decide on a Mr. Campfield rather than Bunny Lewis who is also interested. Campfield has some music biz connections including the DJ Alan Freeman. We sign a deal with him, which includes his right to sign for 'minor' things on our behalf. How naive we are is almost beyond belief, of course the word minor is the important thing, what it actually meant is that he could sign anything on our behalf including passing us on to whoever he felt like, which is what he does the following year. <br />
<br />
He is also responsible for this piece of advertising and a publishing deal with Panache.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhxJmbcF_O4-rGrMr0zHqq2GcFxvwdjIPtJ5yCmRZ2CjZkGeX57p1fGaaW6AGmYVrYml5dlK-fWXarpD1UFgpPAGqoX-tqTqKZjPHCXJ_5ICDtquWKH8BZ8OrCv8UGkicat-iOPbBmXbY/s1600/Mother+Superior+IBC+April+75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhxJmbcF_O4-rGrMr0zHqq2GcFxvwdjIPtJ5yCmRZ2CjZkGeX57p1fGaaW6AGmYVrYml5dlK-fWXarpD1UFgpPAGqoX-tqTqKZjPHCXJ_5ICDtquWKH8BZ8OrCv8UGkicat-iOPbBmXbY/s200/Mother+Superior+IBC+April+75.jpg" width="163" /></a></div>
On the 2nd April we begin recording an album at IBC studios on Great Portland Street, a place used by many groups, the Rolling Stones, the Who, etc. We are given down time, usually late at night, and I get to hear the famous phrase 'it'll be all right in the mix' for the first time. It will be the last time I actually believe it. This is Hugh Jones first job as producer, the engineer is Keith Bessey. Many hours spent, some happy some very frustrating. Fascinating keyboards for Lesley to play with, Steinway, Mellotron, Moog and Oberheim. The album is finished and called 'Lady Madonna' - a management choice and comes out on a Swedish subsidiary of Polydor, no British record companies have the slightest interest in us. One night at the Golden Lion, the place is rammed with an audience of men and women, Sony have sent an A and R man down who says to us after two encores, that he can't see who our market is, women would be jealous of us and men wouldn't buy our records because their girlfriends wouldn't like it. Luckily this dreadful outcome is adverted as our album can only be purchased in Scandinavia, where apparently they can deal with such things.<br />
<br />
We gig endlessly, pubs bring in about £20, Unis more, clearly we are not in it for the money, although we must have earned something because in April I am able to buy the black and white Rickenbacker 4001 stereo bass I had been longing for, I love it's metallic sound.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEh45PFIa8hduxKAlhuX25jPj9k9C7fdkWqsam8l-TWNpg5GEtixqDuvZgg81c5CGQ9E4sDWqZGeCQr8T7viYgGl9lZZBc_EdwAMHk95DHfAJgzjn4ZLcJR3TlnGurSx1iYs3GRkjRRDir/s1600/Audrey+and+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEh45PFIa8hduxKAlhuX25jPj9k9C7fdkWqsam8l-TWNpg5GEtixqDuvZgg81c5CGQ9E4sDWqZGeCQr8T7viYgGl9lZZBc_EdwAMHk95DHfAJgzjn4ZLcJR3TlnGurSx1iYs3GRkjRRDir/s200/Audrey+and+me.jpg" width="156" /></a></div>
Can't remember what started it, but I have been learning to juggle, nothing extravagant, just the three balls, and it sounds like fun when someone suggests I do some if Audrey breaks a string. Surprisingly at the next gig she does just that. I put my bass down and start juggling, I am utterly dreadful, balls are bouncing all over the stage and the audience is hysterical. I have the feeling we won't be repeating this.<br />
<br />
Being vegetarian on the road in 1975 is not easy, the best place to eat is on UK motorways where you can be guaranteed egg, chips and beans, in Germany nothing came without meat. As I said Lesley and I sometimes shared meals, she ate the schnitzel and I'd eat most of the potatoes and sauerkraut. The French wouldn't even entertain the idea of non meat eating. One place we stayed in France, the owners of the B&B offered to make dinner for us - they gave me a large bowl of lettuce. In Scandinavia all meals, even bread and cheese came with fish on top. Few people understood the word vegetarian and if they did they couldn't understand why you would choose do such a thing. I was so flipping hungry, if I did find food it was usually at breakfast where you might come across the component parts of a cheese roll.<br />
<br />
Love are at the Lyceum, Arthur Lee wearing a turban, was his delightfully crazy self, I think this gig is recorded and released.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3y1ADFwlNXu3el0NlKJ6CscYFx_J0kHPk4VEb4oIljaPDY5EWMMz81KPIpmiX9q6HH1sPEnVXfxIapb2dhuD5MV1rjSqGxElH-JCen371X1ggKN3VVfpl2M3N2us8MpQ6EU7hozTFPl5g/s1600/Mother+Superior+Golden+Lion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3y1ADFwlNXu3el0NlKJ6CscYFx_J0kHPk4VEb4oIljaPDY5EWMMz81KPIpmiX9q6HH1sPEnVXfxIapb2dhuD5MV1rjSqGxElH-JCen371X1ggKN3VVfpl2M3N2us8MpQ6EU7hozTFPl5g/s200/Mother+Superior+Golden+Lion.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
The Golden Lion in Fulham is a regular for us, with a great audience of enthusiastic Aussies, who build pyramids of empty lager cans on the stage. I like them.<br />
<br />
September we are back in IBC recording our first and only single 'Back Track', this is never released.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqduSzT3Dds1KCks3ryUH75B799iNYD9xScAd4qPYskZ6F2ZSpNKhTVf4MHZ80QcM45W0PD4AwCkvA8CpOnScqf6P4lcAsiippoFEnGLvavDEQeXsvs6r852jNXsNkJGJXs4wr-lp_rFE/s1600/Marquee+Mother+Superior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqduSzT3Dds1KCks3ryUH75B799iNYD9xScAd4qPYskZ6F2ZSpNKhTVf4MHZ80QcM45W0PD4AwCkvA8CpOnScqf6P4lcAsiippoFEnGLvavDEQeXsvs6r852jNXsNkJGJXs4wr-lp_rFE/s200/Marquee+Mother+Superior.jpg" width="196" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
In November we play our second Marquee gig, a year after the first one and not headlining, but supporting the Scorpions - oh well at least they kept their promise to have us back. <br />
<br />
A week later we're on a ferry - touring France, Luxmebourg and Belgium, supporting the Scorpions in Leige (we'll have to stop meeting like this). More strange places to stay and motorways to drive down.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunWdKKEOvUjx-C_rE0V7K1ARGXFnhxnV6kMzhteO27jEvp0XmmCaOCmdKTXhYzI2ArjF9DuRAoEYOhpYxwo3s-s__2iOwXaVKhknMDy1tLqrItNop2WqXg21MSN9WmDCA3PZaV1b2ODTd/s1600/Mother+Superior+%252776.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="368" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunWdKKEOvUjx-C_rE0V7K1ARGXFnhxnV6kMzhteO27jEvp0XmmCaOCmdKTXhYzI2ArjF9DuRAoEYOhpYxwo3s-s__2iOwXaVKhknMDy1tLqrItNop2WqXg21MSN9WmDCA3PZaV1b2ODTd/s200/Mother+Superior+%252776.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zoot Horn cabinet with Jackie + Audrey </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I have a Hi Watt 100 amp and want to change my 4x12 for a Zoot Horn, which is a serious piece of equipment the size of a small wardrobe with 1x18" speaker. One is for sale in Paddington, I arrange to try it out and Mick our roadie agrees to come with me. We are quite close to the address when I screw up the directions and we turn into the wrong street, that leads to the square behind Paddington Green police station. Mick is turning the van round when he accidentally reverses into a car, which very unfortunately belongs to a detective who is sitting in it. You may know that this particular police station is the one they use to take terrorists, which at this time would be from the IRA. The detective is hysterical and is out on the pavement screaming at us, perhaps he thought he was being targeted, probably lucky he didn't shoot us. I have to run off to get to the guy with the Zoot Horn because he won't stay much longer. Mick has to leave his details with the police and then follow me to the squat where I'm trying the cabinet out. I love it, pay for it, we carry it down many stairs (no easy task) and put it in the van. Mick understandably is not happy, but the detective's reaction gives us a few laughs on the drive home. </div>
Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-72737991539612720272010-04-22T00:02:00.063+01:002018-01-13T14:13:38.723+00:00Early 70s Dr. John, Capt. Beefheart, my first band with Holly and Janis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXVPCopi_56Wn23WgIMN5GXU9EjCyd0v47OgdCEflozd4s6dlLN_HUMjmIEQ1BteYEFUlLSlSAmJllDynFo8obHgAYdhb8BnOJMbWlQcHWYzOwJiD_jEvXpQLoo1HuoZ8EC30fKDwd4vf/s1600/Roland+Kirk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXVPCopi_56Wn23WgIMN5GXU9EjCyd0v47OgdCEflozd4s6dlLN_HUMjmIEQ1BteYEFUlLSlSAmJllDynFo8obHgAYdhb8BnOJMbWlQcHWYzOwJiD_jEvXpQLoo1HuoZ8EC30fKDwd4vf/s200/Roland+Kirk.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
First gig of the new decade for us is Roland Kirk at the Festival Hall, a very talented jazz musician, he is blind, wears shades, and has quite an imposing physique. With the use of circular breathing he is able to play several saxes at once and the flute with his nose. I think I've made him sound like a circus act, he's actually seriously good.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXRQ31SgshE3fTjYn8umerqbVJxt6nS7yuDN2BUu2rCfI6NhFttQs5B4oyW19jJpHe3BxiUxgrPkgc93MWVFFGmRe_BCX4_KMOXHh4Bfz4sOqXmy1Q_C7bv9RnG7d4nt3ao3pCtX7of7U/s1600/Soft+Machine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXRQ31SgshE3fTjYn8umerqbVJxt6nS7yuDN2BUu2rCfI6NhFttQs5B4oyW19jJpHe3BxiUxgrPkgc93MWVFFGmRe_BCX4_KMOXHh4Bfz4sOqXmy1Q_C7bv9RnG7d4nt3ao3pCtX7of7U/s200/Soft+Machine.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Valentine's Day and the Soft Machine are at the LSE. It's a good venue with a nice laid back vibe and I've always been very fond of Soft Machine, saw them play often and their previous incarnation with Kevin Ayres too. The current line up is Mike Ratledge, Robert Wyatt, Elton Dean, Lyn Dobson and Hugh Hopper. Me and Pete didn't really go for the Valentine's celebration, but this was a good evening.<br />
<br />
4th May - Kent State University, Ohio is all over the news, four students are shot dead, several others injured by the National Guard, because of their protests against the US's invasion of Cambodia. Some of those shot were just walking by, looking at what was going on, it is a dreadful over reaction by Americans against other Americans. It is an appalling event, many songs are written about it, including Neil Young's 'Ohio' recorded by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5zOzPkmdpYlMhAgjcab0PNfe9OS77yALU4PaaAThvZcIXxACDmvocgAClR45OhQJ0Lut2t6IASHyYITfKfbGAv4dh-rgWeqO6vrcd6fqVBvZl5_vi32VcwJvpQamgCSeYsmBojSyIB-T/s1600/Bath+Festival+ticket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5zOzPkmdpYlMhAgjcab0PNfe9OS77yALU4PaaAThvZcIXxACDmvocgAClR45OhQJ0Lut2t6IASHyYITfKfbGAv4dh-rgWeqO6vrcd6fqVBvZl5_vi32VcwJvpQamgCSeYsmBojSyIB-T/s200/Bath+Festival+ticket.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Festival time is here again, I'm going to the Bath Festival on 27th/28th June with Pete, and can't wait to see Dr. John. We're going to sleep in Pete's van and although not that comfy it's got to be better than a tent, particularly as it rains all night. We take a camping gas stove and to my surprise manage to cook something edible. There's a pretty good line up, Frank Zappa, Jefferson Airplane, John Mayall with Peter Green, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Canned Heat, Country Joe and the Fish 'give me an F, give me a U' yep we knew where this was headed, the rousing fish/fuck cheer.<br />
<br />
Someone comes on stage asks if there is a doctor in the house, the audience can see Dr. John walking up behind him. Exactly what I'd want if I was having a medical emergency. He began the set as dawn was breaking, his bright yellow robes, his voice, his fabulous New Orleans voodoo - 'Gris Gris', 'Walk on Guilded Splinters'. There were some big acts at this festival but I think Dr. John took the prize. We were packing up the van and eating our last meal, the festival had over run and we were left with a can of baked beans, gingersnap biscuits and radishes. We cooked the beans, broke up the biscuits and chucked some radishes into the two cups we were using for drinking and eating (not necessarily at the same time), a rather indigestible concoction, but strangely appealing, I think I can still taste it.<br />
<br />
I've been placing ads in Melody Maker with my boyfriend Pete to make and sell bespoke jewellery and clothes (Pete is a jeweller as well as a guitarist), we get some work but not enough. It is becoming clear that I need more skill and eventually make the decision to leave work and start a two year course at the London College of Fashion. It goes well, I'm learning things I need to know and improving on the work I'm doing. Best of all I like tailoring and make several jackets and coats. One of my designs is shown in the end of year show and I have to say I really enjoyed seeing my creation on a model strutting down the catwalk. Danny Noble is in my class, his girlfriend is the choreographer Arlene Phillips and he often turns up wearing her clothes, making derogatory comments about the state they were in, which were pretty funny. He said his dad had changed his first name to Lord, and would now be known as Lord Noble, whether Danny would be inheriting the peerage I don't know. Being at college has been a good move, I get a grant and also make and sell clothes, so not doing too badly, meet some nice people and generally have an interesting time. I call my label Big Mutt, I thought it was funny although I doubt it increased sales.<br />
<br />
I'm still playing guitar, but it's not really doing it for me. Pete's bass is lying around and as soon as I pick it up I know this is it. I play his for a while until I can afford my own, a Gibson EB0, which Pete fits an extra pick up to. I buy a Selmer 50w bass amp and we build a cabinet for a 15" speaker, paint the chipboard black and add a pink and gold front cover. It's a work of art! I can't wait to get going, my learning is mostly done by playing along to records.<br />
<br />
Finally the album 'Brian Jones presents the Pipes of Pan at Jajouka' gets released in October 1971, it was recorded back in 1968 when he and Brion Gysin went on a trip to Morocco. These Master Musicians are stunning and can seriously mess with your head, in the nicest possible way of course. I would love to hear this music live and of course I do, not yet though.<br />
<br />
Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band are on at the Albert Hall, Rockette Morton (Mark Boston) starts the show and what a start it is, unusual to open with the bass player, playing alone and Rockette is just the guy to do it. Roy Estrada another bass player, Zoot Horn Rollo (Bill Harkelroad), Winged Eel Fingerling (Elliot Ingber), on guitars, Ed Marimba (Artie Tripp) percussion are all part of the madness along with the Captain.<br />
<br />
See the Faces play many times, entertaining though they are, sometimes it seems like they are having more fun than the audience.<br />
<br />
The time has come when I have to start auditioning, there are a few ads in Melody Maker for female musicians and I answer those. I have no experience and am a bit of raw recruit, not everyone wants to take that on. They are quite nice about it, but in the end rejection is not that easy to take.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The time has also come to have another go at driving because I have to keep asking people, mainly Pete, to drive me to rehearsals, auditions etc. and I think I've begun to wear out my welcome. Let the mayhem begin.<br />
<br />
Ooh another appearance of the mesmerising Captain and his band, Rockette Morton, Zoot Horn Rollo, Alex St. Clair/Snouffer and Ed Marimba this time at the Rainbow. There's never been anything like this before and I doubt there ever will be again. They are unique.<br />
<br />
9th May 1973, the day of the driving test, which I elect to take in Mill Hill, a nice quiet north London suburb rather than the manic Wood Green which was my nearest centre and pass first time. No one is more surprised than me, unless you include my driving instructor, who all the way back to the BSM office in Kings Cross keeps saying 'I can't believe you passed'. On some of our lessons, he told me I drove like a girl and should be more firm with the gear stick (not a euphemism). I could hardly afford to learn to drive and had booked my test before I started my lessons, as I thought I would probably not pass first time I took as few lessons as possible leading up to the first one. The driving school were not happy with this approach and did not let me forget it.<br />
<br />
Not long after, I replied to an ad in Melody Maker from a female singer looking for other women to form a band. Four of us meet at a rehearsal studio in Kings Cross and attempt to find a song we all know so we can play something. There is a drummer called Frankie, <a href="http://www.janissharp.com/">Janis</a>, a guitarist, I'm on bass and the singer who placed the ad. Unfortunately she's too nervous to open her mouth, we try to encourage her, but she can't bring herself to do it. We agree to meet at the same place the following week to try again, she doesn't come but the rest of us do. A few rehearsals later, while we are still looking for another singer, Frankie says she's not ready for this, thinks she would hold us back and refuses to come again. Good grief - I thought we were all in the same boat.<br />
<br />
While thrilled that I had passed the driving test, I now need something to drive. I find a mature dark blue Ford Cortina estate, with fake wood dashboard and trimmings. It was quite an item and very useful when it's running. It chose some really awful places to break down. On my way to jam with Janis one rush hour evening, it overheated near the top of Muswell Hill. Steam was gushing out from under the bonnet and it would go no further, so I rolled it backwards, down the hill, in the dark and swung it into the car park of the cinema that used to be there. A lot of hooting from the irate drivers who had been stuck behind me, this was seriously stressful.<br />
<br />
Janis and I continue to meet up and play together while trying to find other like minded females to join us. Many hours are spent with the two of us jamming in her and her husband's various flats, along with her young son <a href="http://freegary.org.uk/">Gary</a>, a cute kid with curly red hair, who would go on to make more headlines than we ever did, by hacking into the Pentagon's computer. Her husband Wilson is a guitarist too and very supportive of us. Finally <a href="http://www.myspace.com/hollybethvincent2">Holly Beth Vincent</a> answers our ad and becomes the drummer. She's from California, plays with great verve and brio and is very funny, we all get on well. We find a singer - Kris from New Zealand. Holly has been hiring a drum kit, while her parents arrange to fly hers over from LA. We go to collect it from Heathrow and now need somewhere to keep it - where else but my Nan's front room. She's OK with it, I'm not sure my parents are, but I think she enjoys our visits, admittedly some of them are rather late at night. We do a lot of rehearsing, but not much more, eventually we see the writing on the wall and it comes to an end. Janis stays with singer and I stay with Holly.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5QG038Ozpob0HAU8FyNJh_uefGxw3VY6501tYZteDAfd6Nb4bwXaVWQTRLtnEi2GxD_3QQkqKU_8CbCjoP_fb93o2KNtYANKUNki9FZ7eMuvdGaqV7mw-0flJNTfX6E0Ib6Ok2N48Sim/s1600/Holly+at+birthday+party+79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5QG038Ozpob0HAU8FyNJh_uefGxw3VY6501tYZteDAfd6Nb4bwXaVWQTRLtnEi2GxD_3QQkqKU_8CbCjoP_fb93o2KNtYANKUNki9FZ7eMuvdGaqV7mw-0flJNTfX6E0Ib6Ok2N48Sim/s200/Holly+at+birthday+party+79.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Holly and I advertise ourselves as a female rhythm section looking for a guitarist singer, we get quite a lot of replies, all male who seemed to find us puzzling, amusing and/or a novelty. <a href="http://www.markknopfler.com/">Mark Knopfler</a> was one of them, we could tell he was good but didn't think he was for us, although he took to Holly in a big way. This photo is from 5 years later with me and my husband on the left and Mark Knopfler and Holly on the right.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2j6Es1leujzSZl-ZaTlPFFOwTnzQst5ws9_I2x4uXN3YMzbx3kbTtOkX7R10b7xpakJb_gtEEJ5INiZ6I6sR2Yxt278j3JguSWkKRW9tFt-NrLnnuUCC0EqJPxKED7XWKVAyA_Tjd_iH/s1600/Rolling+Stones+Wembley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2j6Es1leujzSZl-ZaTlPFFOwTnzQst5ws9_I2x4uXN3YMzbx3kbTtOkX7R10b7xpakJb_gtEEJ5INiZ6I6sR2Yxt278j3JguSWkKRW9tFt-NrLnnuUCC0EqJPxKED7XWKVAyA_Tjd_iH/s200/Rolling+Stones+Wembley.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Went to see the Rolling Stones at Wembley Empire Pool, pretty good show, although I'm not really a fan of big venues. Obviously I was/am a big Brian Jones fan, but <a href="http://www.myspace.com/micktaylor1">Mick Taylor</a> is a smart choice, he's a good foil for Keith, their styles are quite different, he brings an extra dimension and lifts their game. Billy Preston, the brass and the backing singers are all top quality. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
January 1974<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhml0KBFjzVbKwp7ypJBL6Pynw_yHiIsuQHysqDRjIS2O16S5FBBlpk-Yaioxu_AEM6Pbe12DO0i_Ku_Aj3IGXGSTrt-Wo7t1Cg4W7TkX_SOE9uZRX2fnmgMozDg-UWeOoIkpq3jP_F8uA5/s1600/Pete+and+I+Aug+73.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhml0KBFjzVbKwp7ypJBL6Pynw_yHiIsuQHysqDRjIS2O16S5FBBlpk-Yaioxu_AEM6Pbe12DO0i_Ku_Aj3IGXGSTrt-Wo7t1Cg4W7TkX_SOE9uZRX2fnmgMozDg-UWeOoIkpq3jP_F8uA5/s200/Pete+and+I+Aug+73.jpg" width="119" /></a></div>
Pete, Gary and <a href="http://www.johnwalden.com/">John Walden</a> a harmonica player are putting together an instrumental band to play at a works party and they ask me to play bass, I presume I have Pete to thank for this opportunity. I say yes, but am really nervous and don't think I'm ready. I'm not sure when I would have felt ready, so it's just as well I was pushed. (The photo is of me and Pete).<br />
<br />
The gig is one of those where the bingo is of way more interest than the band, but for me it is the first time I've played in public, I am still extremely nervous and anxious not to let anyone down. During the set I notice the tempo is changing speed, I look over at the drummer and find that his attention is fixed upon two girls who are dancing and grinning at him. Clearly the extra curricular activities are of more importance than playing the drums.<br />
<br />
March 74 - Holly and I join up with a guy called Rick, who plays guitar and sings, he wanted a female rhythm section to back him in his band called Amazin' (according to him this was a play on the words amazing and Amazon). We play one gig at Edgware Football Club and we record at Sarm Studios in Whitechapel. This is my first time in a studio. It is a dreadful experience, I am ill with flu and have a raging temperature. I manage to get the bass part down and spend the rest of the night passing in and out of consciousness. I don't know how many takes Rick did to get the vocals down or how long the mixing took, but I thought I would die if I ever heard that song again. Somehow it's been wiped from my memory and happily have no idea of how it went or what it was called.<br />
<br />
Some of Rick's friends decided they would choose outfits for me and Holly to wear on stage. When they gave Holly some denim dungarees, a straw hat and a red and white spotted scarf I knew it was not going to end well. If they thought she was ever going to put them on, they were sadly mistaken. I think her words were 'I am not wearing this fucking shit' and they found themselves out on the street very quickly. I don't think we met Rick again.<br />
<br />
Out of the blue I get a call from a band called Cosmetix. They ask me to join them, as their bass player has been injured in car crash and can't play. I offer to stand in until she recovers. We meet in a hall somewhere in South London, we'd been jamming for a bit when their bass player also called Jackie staggers in to show she is ready to work and has no need for a stand in. We'd enjoyed playing together, but obviously now was not the time.<br />
<br />
My favourite band of the moment is Sharks, they're often on at the Marquee. We missed their initial line up with Andy Fraser on bass, only seeing them on OGWT. Busta Cherry Jones from Memphis, had replaced him by the time we see them live. Keyboard player Nick Judd joined around this time. We love this band, we are already big fans of the guitarist <a href="http://www.chrisspedding.com/">Chris Spedding</a>, the singer Snips, is wild, dresses really well and has a powerful raw voice. Busta sounds great, certainly makes his own visual statement and works well with the drummer Marty Simon. They have a bunch of impressive songs 'Kung Fu', 'Snakes and Swallowtails', 'Sophistication', 'Revolution of the Heart', 'Surrender' among many. They made two albums 'First Water' and 'Jab It In Yore Eye' neither of which remotely capture what they were like live. The third album produced by John Entwistle was never released (except now in 2016 it is - titled 'The Car Crash Tapes' - with some eye watering bass playing from Dave Cochran - love it).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh533A4FeMmUImO1tGxyAdlWlaWyexfe-Z4YZL6drUGqbIVLPsm5aj3ySVjQuLpaQxxhGKb6vvl3_CiSzScS6nOM9_e-iUYt1SM2GlgX0kEBWVzBp6y09hW1Q9E0lRq4SrpvDaV5WJHQdOJ/s1600/Holly+and+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh533A4FeMmUImO1tGxyAdlWlaWyexfe-Z4YZL6drUGqbIVLPsm5aj3ySVjQuLpaQxxhGKb6vvl3_CiSzScS6nOM9_e-iUYt1SM2GlgX0kEBWVzBp6y09hW1Q9E0lRq4SrpvDaV5WJHQdOJ/s200/Holly+and+me.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
30th March 1974 - Holly and I answer an ad in Melody Maker to join the guitarist <a href="http://www.myspace.com/the1stbaby">Mike Corby</a> in a band to be called Tintagel. We rehearse quite a bit and actually get paid for doing so. Something of a revelation. Mike and I were both using Ampeg speakers and 350w amps which sound fabulous, but regularly overheat and cease to work. Mike was a lot of fun to play with and had a nice big fat guitar sound. We were a powerful rocking three piece.<br />
<br />
There was always an audience at our rehearsals in the ITN building, who brought free drugs and alcohol and if they didn't have what you liked someone would go get it for you. How pleasingly rock and roll.<br />
<br />
We moved our rehearsals to Sound City on Lots Road, the midnight to six slot, the French radio station owner who is financing the band comes to see us. I think he was happy with what he saw and was about to leave, he opens the studio door and shouts something in French. We all stared at him, apparently he had left his briefcase containing a whole lot of dosh, outside the door and now it had disappeared. What kind of idiot is this guy? He said he thought the whole place was was secure and it would be safe there. Why would you think that? Who would leave a bag full of cash in a hallway? The studio called the police. 'You've called the police!' the guy with the drugs shouted and began to leg it, only to see them pulling up outside, he shot back in and sat on the case of coke. Luck was with him that night, the police were not particularly interested in him or us, even though he was sitting on a briefcase very much like the one that had gone missing. They wrote in their notepads for a while and then we were all allowed to leave. What this was about I never found out, whether it was some sort of scam or the guy was as stupid as fuck I don't know. This band came to an end soon after and I didn't see Holly again for quite a few years.<br />
<br />
I was back out auditioning and now have the confidence to answer any interesting bass playing ads not just those aimed at females. At this time you were quite often asked to play your favourite riff. This was a no brainer for me, I only knew one, which was the first thing I ever learned to play on the bass. It was a guitar riff played by Chris Spedding on an Ian Carr's Nucleus track called '1916' and as I find out many years later, titled for its time signature and not the year. Of course no one could ever work out what the hell was going on and would accuse me of playing it differently each time. Eventually they would get hung up on solving it. This gave the impression that I was a genius at playing complex time signatures, not the case, I'd learned this particular riff because I liked it and until I began playing it to others had no idea how complicated it was.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE56KCAgkEMJS1tyizCh3OCOuiXi7OdZVFP-zoMTmahRjdvucjyp6XKwa8o1lFpGwRxZdoym6qZiHTthCSTCYnPiRc5XVPprxia9LwAljOPws5q0ipWv9UMu6-lO5Wx2k_wTRxwQFtRyFM/s1600/Woody+and+friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE56KCAgkEMJS1tyizCh3OCOuiXi7OdZVFP-zoMTmahRjdvucjyp6XKwa8o1lFpGwRxZdoym6qZiHTthCSTCYnPiRc5XVPprxia9LwAljOPws5q0ipWv9UMu6-lO5Wx2k_wTRxwQFtRyFM/s200/Woody+and+friends.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
Great night out - Gaumont State Kilburn, Ron Wood, Keith Richards, Willie Weeks, Andy Newmark, Ian McLagan and Rod Stewart. This is a top feel good gig, the way it was with the Faces except for the winner addition of Keith and a rock steady rhythm section. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-45662897006898876552010-04-06T00:07:00.305+01:002018-03-09T15:25:52.996+00:001969 the end of a decadeDobells on Charing Cross Road is a regular lunchtime hang out, I love the blues import section and today I found a Muddy Waters album - Muddy Waters - Folk Singer. I love this album, it feels so real like you're in the studio with them - Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy, Clifton James and Muddy Waters - wouldn't that have been something.<br />
<br />
One evening I got home from work to find Pete waiting there for me. A really nice surprise, good to have him home from the wars, and soon we are back clubbing, John Mayall, Jeff Beck, a few movies thrown in, a great Hammer Horror double bill 'Pit and the Pendulum' and 'Horrors of the Black Museum', 'Bullitt', 'Twisted Nerve' and 'Les Bicyclettes de Belsize' a strange pairing, the Hendrix film and 'Wonderwall', good movie, nice music. <br />
<br />
Me and my Dad were watching the evening news when surprisingly The Beatles came on. They were performing on the roof of their Apple building in Savile Row causing all sorts of chaos in the neighbouring streets, so of course, the police had to be called. They had not performed since August 1966 in San Francisco until today 30th January. They get through a few numbers from the Let It Be album before the authorities bring it to an end. It was a great performance, aggressive and with a lot of of energy.<br />
<br />
The desire to get musical has not gone away and I really want to play bottle neck, Pete said he would teach me. My brother has been having guitar lessons at school from, as we are stunned to find out, Derek Bailey, a well known jazzer, who tells him the guitar he's using is awful - it's got an action you could drive a bus under. Bobby gets something playable and I use the old one. Today is the first lesson and I'm very nervous. it's a strange feeling performing in front of someone even if it is my boyfriend, or maybe because, in his living room.<br />
<br />
Weather report - it's snowing, I love London in the snow, it never looks better. Tonight we have tickets for Freddie King at Regent Street Poly. I've got a dental appointment in the afternoon, the dentist is injecting my gum, but the novocaine is trickling down my throat, it's hard to speak with someone's hand in your mouth, but I get his attention and he has another go. A few hours later and back home, my tooth is still aching, I take an aspirin with some gin. We drive to the gig, but for most of the evening I sit on the floor half asleep, I managed to stay conscious and vertical for Freddy's set, which was difficult but well worth the effort. I was really made aware of Freddie King by blues bands over here, it was a real thrill to hear his music played by the man himself. Pete took me home, I fell asleep in the car and again when I got indoors. Remember not to mix those things again unless I want to be unav. <br />
<br />
Jimi Hendrix is playing the Albert Hall, of course he's top class, but the sound in that place is diabolical.<br />
<br />
Roy Harper is on at Gary's club, I told you he gets everywhere. Good fun though.<br />
<br />
Gary pays for me and Pete (an event worth noting in itself), to check out Led Zeppelin at the Hornsey Wood Tavern on the 7th March. I already knew they didn't knock me out, but there was no denying the club was rammed. We reported back and as far as I know he booked them for his club although I can't see it in any of the listings. Hey Mr. Shombert if you happen to read this - did they or didn't they?<br />
<br />
A bit of a Polanski fest for us 'Rosemary's Baby' nice and spooky. Followed by a fabulous double bill of 'Repulsion' featuring Catherine Deneuve and 'Cul de Sac' with Francoise Dorleac (Catherine Deneuve's sister who'd died two years earlier), she gave a fabulous performance and looked marvellous.<br />
<br />
Lindsay Anderson's 'If...' is on the go too, inspired use of the 'Missaluba', and a beautifully shot film.<br />
<br />
Duke of Edinburgh is visiting our library today, why I have no idea, but there have been many meetings and we have been told in no uncertain terms not to make eye contact, seemed OK to me. I was considering not turning up at all, but I did and as soon as he walked in my eyes locked with his like heat seeking missiles. Nothing happened though, no complaints are received and I didn't end up in the Tower. A huge wind up for not very much.<br />
<br />
An amazing piece of television tonight 7th April, Jimi Hendrix Experience live on the Lulu show, they open with 'Voodoo Chile' and after an intro from the lovely Lulu herself, they begin 'Hey Joe' get a couple of verses in when Jimi announces they are going to stop playing this shit and launches into 'Sunshine of your Love' dedicating it to Cream who are splitting up. Things are obviously going on around them in the studio and they are eventually stopped from finishing the number. Live TV is so entertaining.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EAozgUK6pOnvVsat9TERqaIkMRUKUKXT90ybNvpQYHmCexAY-1EDb8y6M27Zm537FKRNvxA7tVAN5V355V1fr139dx-K5jXQbN5oWU-1LYPT3-whB2vCVp0qwJ9yF91ALywoanmjUNbZ/s1600/Pink+Floyd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EAozgUK6pOnvVsat9TERqaIkMRUKUKXT90ybNvpQYHmCexAY-1EDb8y6M27Zm537FKRNvxA7tVAN5V355V1fr139dx-K5jXQbN5oWU-1LYPT3-whB2vCVp0qwJ9yF91ALywoanmjUNbZ/s200/Pink+Floyd.jpg" width="200" /></a>Pink Floyd have increased their profile and now we have to see them at the Festival Hall instead of the Country Club, and while you don't begrudge them their success, these bigger venues do not have the atmosphere of a club. This concert features a conceptual piece 'The Man and the Journey' mixing old songs and new material that will turn up in some form or other on the 'Ummagumma' album later this year. I like the Floyd at lot, but sometimes they make me want to be unconscious.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTQXQjNxUafGQZxKwLvVShEeLN05n0yL9NiLPL1rCEuZwYBB2U7FR4eWXeaUPJyEKq6BcQH5gI7SP0VMwWc4f0hvacn0O09Zrfh0hoikHRzGBo2dTYNQw2hBq4N1F0224Q8B5peohwlnn/s1600/May+1969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTQXQjNxUafGQZxKwLvVShEeLN05n0yL9NiLPL1rCEuZwYBB2U7FR4eWXeaUPJyEKq6BcQH5gI7SP0VMwWc4f0hvacn0O09Zrfh0hoikHRzGBo2dTYNQw2hBq4N1F0224Q8B5peohwlnn/s200/May+1969.jpg" width="127" /></a></div>
I've been to so many gigs and have lots of favourites, but Howlin' Wolf at the Marquee on 29th May must be the most emotionally powerful of them all. Being in the same room as Chester Burnett when he sings 'Smokestack Lightning' is the biggest thrill ever. Total voodoo. I am a 19 year old white girl, born in London and somehow feel a complete and utter connection to this old black blues singer from America's deep south. I don't know what it is, but he is on a direct line to my soul.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZ0TpAOB8ZDheuc1alp-TjpS2EFIFOEYqcJ6vT86vLZGvJcRiiuApm2GSZSSj4x9qpLHAiNThSg7Q4nZfGfjAiSZS-uBzYTm2kpCmo1Chsfh-2gzR8V5qs41A5kr8rOYVAgLt3ZdoKQws/s1600/Mothers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZ0TpAOB8ZDheuc1alp-TjpS2EFIFOEYqcJ6vT86vLZGvJcRiiuApm2GSZSSj4x9qpLHAiNThSg7Q4nZfGfjAiSZS-uBzYTm2kpCmo1Chsfh-2gzR8V5qs41A5kr8rOYVAgLt3ZdoKQws/s200/Mothers.jpg" width="101" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFqboiOIHZA">Mothers of Invention are doing the Albert Hall</a>, I know I've said this venue has rubbish acoustics, which it does, but it was a real treat to hear Frank Zappa play 'Louie Louie' on the mighty Albert Hall organ. The current LP is 'Uncle Meat' and 'King Kong' is one of my favourite all time tracks.<br />
<br />
8th June 1969 Brian Jones is fired from the Rolling Stones, the band he started. I guess it had to happen, he is a total mess and there really is no place for him in the band, certainly not with the Keith and Anita double act. I guess the upside is, this gives him the chance to put something new together, but it does feel dreadfully wrong.<br />
<br />
3rd July 1969 finds me working at the Library taking a phone call, Hilary, one of my colleagues comes in shouting 'Brian Jones is dead'. The other library assistants are all looking at me, one of them takes the phone from my hand. I've stopped speaking, tears are rolling down my face. I walk out into the street, the billboards are screaming 'Brian Jones dies in pool tragedy' I couldn't bear it. It was too real and all I wanted to do was to make it not be true.<br />
<br />
He'd been working on putting another band together, there were plenty of musicians and singers interested in playing with him, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, even though his drug convictions caused touring problems, it wouldn't stop him recording. He was fascinated by the Pet Sounds album and the amazing things they'd achieved in the studio. The Mellotron had already attracted his attention, he would have loved and made great use of all the new inventions that were coming.<br />
<br />
5th July the day of the Hyde Park free Rolling Stones concert with new guitarist Mick Taylor. This was arranged as a show case for the new guitar player, now it is all about Brian. Mick Jagger does his Shelley reading for him and sets free a whole load of white butterflies, many of which are roasted by the lights, how ironic. The whole event is somewhat excruciating and then they play so out of tune I could hardly stand it. What a dreadful day.<br />
<br />
21st July the Eagle has landed, it's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. It was also dreadfully dull, interminably long and ultimately a bit of an anti-climax. Apparently it was very important that the west made it to the lunar surface before the USSR, so hurrah for the USA.<br />
<br />
I'm planning to make some changes in my life, I have started making clothes for people. Working in the library is becoming increasingly frustrating - it's a dead end job and my boss has left and her replacement has zero sense of humour and I've had enough.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XLIrgJ0PhlmXD2jptOgwnHC0NwQficIeg3o44atM90xFqSdYlKEbN_iFv5_-g5ULwUa-21z7aL883USkgmGJz0IvLFhTpJt5MmmzcBXQn9Ma4E3pKmrQI-j1IvawLzWKGUe09dEbVMNz/s1600/Isle+of+Wight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XLIrgJ0PhlmXD2jptOgwnHC0NwQficIeg3o44atM90xFqSdYlKEbN_iFv5_-g5ULwUa-21z7aL883USkgmGJz0IvLFhTpJt5MmmzcBXQn9Ma4E3pKmrQI-j1IvawLzWKGUe09dEbVMNz/s200/Isle+of+Wight.jpg" width="106" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHTbNUoQ1CS1FgjLUYxV6OPoXIWEWkNOYRiKtL_y_7VJbH7GTEF6jGPPoJN6eU6_e1LpbsD3utCAM7yKT6D50pQ5bY7prpmo1gGaqhltfpg-xl6fFDVdzFGXrh7dXD6ioolmondfJKbHH/s1600/Isle+of+Wight+pass+out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHTbNUoQ1CS1FgjLUYxV6OPoXIWEWkNOYRiKtL_y_7VJbH7GTEF6jGPPoJN6eU6_e1LpbsD3utCAM7yKT6D50pQ5bY7prpmo1gGaqhltfpg-xl6fFDVdzFGXrh7dXD6ioolmondfJKbHH/s200/Isle+of+Wight+pass+out.jpg" width="200" /></a>30th - 31st August will be the Isle of Wight festival. We leave on the Friday night, drive down in Pete's van, take the ferry across to the island in the morning. I've no holiday left and I need to take the Monday off work. The only option is to pretend to be ill, of course no one will believe me because they all know exactly where I'll be. Oh well...<br />
<br />
For our shelter we are carrying two tarpaulins and a whole bunch of rods, we plan to build a Bedouin tent. This is a good idea and a really bad idea, good - as it is very easy to spot in the field because it looks so crazy, bad because the component parts are extremely heavy, amazingly we do manage it without arguing or crying. The best place we can find is on a slope and the ground is full of rocks. Eventually the thing is erected, but I don't recall getting much sleep. Masses of people, tents, long queues for the toilets and the usual warnings of bad acid, there was no doubt we were at a festival - quite a line-up Free, Battered Ornaments, Family, Pretty Things, Richie Havens, Marsha Hunt, Pentangle, The Who... I know for sure I saw Bob Dylan although it seemed more like a hallucination.<br />
<br />
Stones 'Let it Bleed' album is released on 5th December and contains the incredible track 'Gimme Shelter' with that amazing vocal from Merry Clayton, and even though I believe they were a better band with Brian Jones, I don't think they've ever written a more powerful song. Brian is only on a couple of tracks on the album as is Mick Taylor<br />
<br />
6th December the Rolling Stones put on another free show. this time at the Altamont Stadium in California. Santana, Jefferson Airplane, Flying Burrito Brothers and Crosby Stills and Nash are all on the bill of this now infamous event. After using Hells Angels to successfully do the security at the Hyde Park gig, the same plan is put into action here. Sadly this does not go well, Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane is knocked unconscious on stage and a member of the audience, Meredith Hunter is beaten and stabbed to death by those who are meant to be providing protection, after someone says he has a gun. The film documentary 'Gimme Shelter' made by Albert and David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin marks a very clear end to the sixties.Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-55624088371370368192010-04-03T16:59:00.322+01:002019-01-10T16:24:28.327+00:001968 and Captain BeefheartI'd already seen 'The Magical Mystery Tour' in black and white on Boxing Day and 10 days later I'm going to Pete's to see it again this time broadcast in colour, there's quite a few friends there - colour TVs aren't cheap so not many people have them. After we'd all crowded into Pete's parents' living room the consensus was that the show was a pile of crap. I kind of liked it, some good songs I thought, although to be honest some of the visuals were a bit trite.<br />
<br />
Saw Bonny and Clyde at midnight in Leicester Square, great film, extremely good casting, Faye Dunaway, Warren Beattie, Michael J Pollard, brilliant.<br />
<br />
January 20th - what a fantastic Saturday night at Middle Earth - Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band (Alex St. Clair Snouffer, Jerry Handley, Jeff Cotton and John French/Drumbo). It was like someone had reached into my brain and seen exactly what I wanted to hear. The rhythm section, the guitars, the Captain, everything. They take the blues to a strange and fascinating new place. I totally love this band.<br />
<br />
Fleetwood Mac, this time at the Manor House, I can't believe how many times I can see these guys, they are so good.<br />
<br />
A big blues night at Middle Earth, Fleetwood Mac, Duster Bennet, Boilerhouse, Doc Ks and John Peel. Very strangely enough, me and Pamela saw Doc K's Blues Band play in Southgate in March 2010, the more things change the more they stay the same. <br />
<br />
An odd gig today, Graham Bond Organisation lunchtime at the Pied Bull, Angel. Was good to see them of course but Graham Bond at lunchtime? Surely a person of the night.<br />
<br />
March '68 and Tariq Ali is down at the barricades, Mick Jagger, Vanessa Redgrave have been protesting at the American Embassy. The Vietnam War is on everyone's mind, particularly young American men who are one of the many pawns in the game and are desperate to dodge the draft. Who could blame them?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJy-KIogsQKI2umBNttQJgarUpcmUdYApPQ3Ww4VkQV5tkOre7FDR0SCJw67868I7Cqr2Q4A4G_KWtn1-gJlC_VrPh2nOz-kF_hUKw9K8_-DPXT7cC0rXIe74BePXzH4ry8Ielgxfanw7k/s1600/LSE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJy-KIogsQKI2umBNttQJgarUpcmUdYApPQ3Ww4VkQV5tkOre7FDR0SCJw67868I7Cqr2Q4A4G_KWtn1-gJlC_VrPh2nOz-kF_hUKw9K8_-DPXT7cC0rXIe74BePXzH4ry8Ielgxfanw7k/s200/LSE.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Jeremy Spencer was on good form tonight, Fleetwood Mac were on at the LSE, in between numbers he held up a condom filled with water (we hoped), saying 'it would take Mick Fleetwood a week to fill this and let's face it he's king wanker.' Audience fell about. Some good jazz on too. Don Rendell and the Ian Carr Quintet, we really like Chris Spedding, Ian Carr's guitarist.<br />
<br />
Sometimes we visited the Arts Lab on Drury Lane, occasionally good stuff happened. I love the idea of performance art, but in practice it often promises more than it ever delivers. <br />
<br />
We'd seen Peter Green FM at the Fishmongers, and a week later at the Marquee, then went on to Middle Earth to see Arthur Brown set his head on fire again. How I find time to go to work, eat and sleep I have no idea.<br />
<br />
May '68 and students are rioting in Paris, in fact they're rioting all over. De Gaulle has run off to Germany, how ironic is that? My old boyfriend JoMa is studying in Munich and is now extremely political and anti the Vietnam war as many are. We still write to each other at this point, but eventually we stopped and lost touch.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7zPNFdngLhLaX5ghXuH0dpNINbqiG204h82dHZ_3jlLgNBmMyW6rjq2lb1sSbfFa04lRvX3jF4TY9fcATPovMJBdQX6wbbC2WtzCqC1k2LuBDEEhch2yFLOWLfIgvPKTP5vBa97Pohtw/s1600/Klooks+Kleek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7zPNFdngLhLaX5ghXuH0dpNINbqiG204h82dHZ_3jlLgNBmMyW6rjq2lb1sSbfFa04lRvX3jF4TY9fcATPovMJBdQX6wbbC2WtzCqC1k2LuBDEEhch2yFLOWLfIgvPKTP5vBa97Pohtw/s200/Klooks+Kleek.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
May 6th is Pete's birthday, he gets a car from his mum and dad, and a Skip James album from me, lucky old Pete. The following night we go see John Mayall at Klooks Kleek. <br />
<br />
Michael Winner's film I'll Never Forget What's His Name, was on, with Carol White, Orson Welles and Oliver Reed, Marianne Faithfull, Edward Fox - wasn't bad.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcOtkiWTgISs5qNWMRmM9EJDlK_FpXfi7AQddbD8rJ4TcqHGv-mdJBE-miMvuaeafcI_GNVrbBiSo658btwIQhmDVqcsSZ453Y6x7-2-UA05fOfxF2dtxH1Kxg2cp-O9BZpyg8nwan_kg/s1600/LSE+Capt+Beefheart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcOtkiWTgISs5qNWMRmM9EJDlK_FpXfi7AQddbD8rJ4TcqHGv-mdJBE-miMvuaeafcI_GNVrbBiSo658btwIQhmDVqcsSZ453Y6x7-2-UA05fOfxF2dtxH1Kxg2cp-O9BZpyg8nwan_kg/s200/LSE+Capt+Beefheart.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
A few days later me and Pamela go to what turns out to be one of my all time favourite gigs, Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band at the LSE. The majority of the audience were sat on the floor, we were up and dancing, the Captain spotted us and sang right to us -how good is that? And the night didn't end there we went on to Middle Earth to see the Byrds and Spider John Koerner, an almost impossible to beat, top class evening.<br />
<br />
Four nights later we're back at Middle Earth to see the Byrds again, this time Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull come too.<br />
<br />
21st May and Brian Jones has been caught with hash again. The police are determined. The establishment really do not like the power and influence they have and will not leave them alone.<br />
<br />
One of our favourites, Julie Driscoll is on tonight, she has the best voice and spectacular phrasing. The Skatalites are on too, I picked up a really good poster of theirs from the gig. An especially nice souvenir and decades later is framed and hanging on my kitchen wall!<br />
<br />
We're stood in the Manor House waiting for Jeff Beck, the band were late arriving, which was not a problem, except that sometimes Jeff did a runner. It was OK this time, the entire group turned up and were bloody great.<br />
<br />
A new TV programme 'Colour Me Pop' an extension to Late Night Line Up on BBC2 started tonight 14th June. It helped if you had a colour TV, but it was good to have another music show nonetheless. Manfred Mann was on, could be interesting, but not guaranteed, Free, Small Faces, Mothers of Invention. Brian Auger, Bonzo Dog (how we loved Viv Stanshall). A lot of dross too, but that's to be expected, dross is always king.<br />
<br />
Truman Capote's film 'In Cold Blood' ooh this is good.<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
A good double today, a concert in Hyde Park- Pink Floyd, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Jethro Tull, <a href="http://www.royharper.co.uk/">Roy Harper</a>. If there was a festival you could guarantee Roy would be there. You remember him - funny and folky with long blond hair. And on the way home as we walked up Kingsway we saw that 2001 A Space Odyssey was on at The Royalty Theatre so we nipped in to see that. A good weird way to finish the day.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
July '68 Woburn, I'm there with Pete and Dave Ewer (he was in Rare Bird and Spinal Tap, probably other things too, but I don't remember). Paul Jones, ex Manfred Mann singer comes leaping on the stage shouting, ' Do you like good music?' about to enter into the well known song. Sadly the audience had moved on from sweet soul music and the loud en masse reply was, 'No'. I felt a bit sorry for him, he had an entire set to wade through. We were all waiting for Jimi and his 'Purple Haze' - who of course did not disappoint. Jimi is a powerful presence - the other two not so much, but to be fair they were part of the magic, I don't know if it would have been better with other musicians - sometimes things work just because and together they surely made some great music.<br />
<br />
Spent the night under canvas in a minute tent I'd borrowed from my brother - it's impossible to over state how much I loathe camping - the outdoors life does not call to me - ever, but you gotta do what you gotta do. Today's line up was good enough, Donovan, John Mayall, Champion J<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZgqPLYKSRO8XF8Ktf9oWPMjbjNsZSDB5Q13SbPHgjHf14EIjB_BWD0ZsugMUwVqwl1tmwORNbE7PjEhReZdHH0htPSZY3PBk6wQK51xdPs2_09fXlEBi-T2xuTSH3gL0j4jeaQ4qGH53/s1600/Mothers+of+Invention.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
ack Dupree, Tim Rose, Taste, Duster Bennett, but Jimi was the real reason for being there.<br />
<br />
15th July opening night of Gary's (drummer in Pete's band) blues club in the Black Bull, Whetstone, Taste Rory Gallagher's band are on and Pete is DJing. This is good news we have our own free club to visit.<br />
<br />
The Country Club in Belsize Park is another good club, Tyrannosaurus Rex tonight.<br />
<br />
The second of the Hyde Park Concerts, Nice, Traffic, Pretty Things, Action and Juniors Eyes, it was good, but not as good as the first one.<br />
<br />
August and time for the Jazz and Blues Festival, this time it was being held in Sunbury. Jeff Beck lit up the place with some raging guitar. During Arthur Brown's dramatic set, a stand at the back collapsed and some people on or under the roof were hurt...but hey the show must go on and while the injured were being attended to Arthur brought on midgets, a choir, a fire eater and two jugglers.<br />
<br />
The third Hyde Park concert, more Roy Harper, The Deviants, Ten Years After, Fleetwood Mac and Stefan Grossman, bit of a mixed bag from my point of view. I'm not that keen on outdoor music at the best of times - the sound is never very good and this line-up was of only partial interest for me. <br />
<br />
Pete and I go to so many gigs, it is an endless stream and it seems like it will never end. Gary's club is going well, Pete is DJing there, and the bands Gary books are OK, not great but certainly OK. One night the Black Cat Bones are on, Gary tells them he doesn't have enough money to pay them, which goes down like a fart in a diver's helmet. A rumour goes round that the guitarist is carrying a gun and is not leaving without his money. Gary suddenly disappears and returns with the necessary dosh. Who knows how true the rumour was, but the threat worked a treat.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZgqPLYKSRO8XF8Ktf9oWPMjbjNsZSDB5Q13SbPHgjHf14EIjB_BWD0ZsugMUwVqwl1tmwORNbE7PjEhReZdHH0htPSZY3PBk6wQK51xdPs2_09fXlEBi-T2xuTSH3gL0j4jeaQ4qGH53/s1600/Mothers+of+Invention.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a>The lead is Marianne Faithfull, she'll be wearing a leather catsuit, riding a motorbike and having an affair with Alain Delon, this really must have been a difficult sell! 'Girl on a Motorcycle' wasn't the best film I'd ever seen, but I have to admit Marianne did look hot as did Alain.<br />
<br />
Went to Camden Passage my friend from school Angela was working on a stall there, I bought a 1920's black beaded dress, which I do still have 40 years later, minus a few beads, it is a wonderful item.<br />
<br />
The Jazz Expo is taking place at the Hammersmith Odeon, we see some top class American artists, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Reed, T-Bone Walker, Jerome Arnold. It's always a delight to see these guys, but would rather it took place in smaller surroundings.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZgqPLYKSRO8XF8Ktf9oWPMjbjNsZSDB5Q13SbPHgjHf14EIjB_BWD0ZsugMUwVqwl1tmwORNbE7PjEhReZdHH0htPSZY3PBk6wQK51xdPs2_09fXlEBi-T2xuTSH3gL0j4jeaQ4qGH53/s1600/Mothers+of+Invention.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZgqPLYKSRO8XF8Ktf9oWPMjbjNsZSDB5Q13SbPHgjHf14EIjB_BWD0ZsugMUwVqwl1tmwORNbE7PjEhReZdHH0htPSZY3PBk6wQK51xdPs2_09fXlEBi-T2xuTSH3gL0j4jeaQ4qGH53/s1600/Mothers+of+Invention.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZgqPLYKSRO8XF8Ktf9oWPMjbjNsZSDB5Q13SbPHgjHf14EIjB_BWD0ZsugMUwVqwl1tmwORNbE7PjEhReZdHH0htPSZY3PBk6wQK51xdPs2_09fXlEBi-T2xuTSH3gL0j4jeaQ4qGH53/s200/Mothers+of+Invention.jpg" width="200" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<br />
Mothers of Invention at the Festival Hall, this is a really good band and especially love it when Frank and Captain Beefheart team up, they are hysterical together.<br />
<br />
Jon Hiseman's Colisseum are playing at Gary's club tonight, with Jimmy Litherland playing guitar and singing, Dick Heckstall-Smith on sax, a very interesting line up, I really enjoyed it.<br />
<br />
Back at the Country Club for the Pink Floyd. Mostly enjoyed it rather a lot, although I did get a bit desperate during the solo in 'Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun' - silently praying for the return of that well known riff.<br />
<br />
We've been hearing about someone called Dr. John and his album 'Gris Gris', my friend Stephanie who works in her Dad's record shop get's a copy for me and I take it to a DJ gig Pete is doing at Notre Dame Hall in Leicester Square. Wow the voodoo is powerful tonight, the audience made him play the title track and 'Walk on Guilded Splinters' over and over.<br />
<br />
A sad moment for music fans this November - the goodbye Cream gig at the Albert
Hall, with Yes as support. I guess we understood they had to split up - before someone got hurt! But these three are a lot better together than
they are apart. Brilliant gig,<br />
<br />
10th December at The Marquee and the first time I saw Led Zeppelin, I thought they were funny and old fashioned. Jeff Beck had been doing this stuff for sometime and a whole lot better too, although Led Zep has a powerful rhythm section which could be a bit of a dodgy area with Jeff's band. Luckily I've never had the desire to work in A and R.<br />
<br />
Pete was playing with John Walden's blues band and they were going to be working in Paris for a couple of weeks. Oh no, my boyfriend will be away for Christmas and New Year, that's too bad.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsotSe86f3pV52yY64YRlWWKTukVCzi5k7gAyr8d8HErpylvhApdRJIA95UQ6nv_3a7jhyphenhyphenn0Oqg0NhbMag-WgrDZSGbmqL6QHPG0zt7YRufig99sYvwW1ciIGCR8Z0CuZatl3Xyb3Jm3qT/s1600/Alexandra+Palace+New+Years+Eve+68.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsotSe86f3pV52yY64YRlWWKTukVCzi5k7gAyr8d8HErpylvhApdRJIA95UQ6nv_3a7jhyphenhyphenn0Oqg0NhbMag-WgrDZSGbmqL6QHPG0zt7YRufig99sYvwW1ciIGCR8Z0CuZatl3Xyb3Jm3qT/s200/Alexandra+Palace+New+Years+Eve+68.jpg" width="154" /></a>I am not going to go to Trafalgar Square for New Year's Eve again, instead I've decided to go to Alexandra Palace with my boss Vicky. Not a bad night - Small Faces (the gig when Steve stormed off and left the band), Free, John Mayall, Spooky Tooth, Bonzo Dog some good bands, but I think lacking a really top act. Definitely an improvement on the Square. I don't know how we got home, I can remember being outside in the rain, walking through the mud in the Palace Gardens. Very possibly I was drunk.<br />
<br />
The last year of the decade has begun.Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-5501499133627584752010-03-08T23:01:00.125+00:002018-01-12T16:44:13.417+00:001967 Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Cream, Peter Green<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiowFX2AT8zgGuL5dki0dTGJVGnd7VhlKRzoQTMYrvg8f91j0QD34s_6PZDkz2Bv6aSThQZ8AXWdfVWYozqUoBHd8AQAxC83mJBnF-pDYMNFRM3RyBj7YL7zSUQK7zqTevVA4qd1kNoCe4/s1600/Jan+1967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiowFX2AT8zgGuL5dki0dTGJVGnd7VhlKRzoQTMYrvg8f91j0QD34s_6PZDkz2Bv6aSThQZ8AXWdfVWYozqUoBHd8AQAxC83mJBnF-pDYMNFRM3RyBj7YL7zSUQK7zqTevVA4qd1kNoCe4/s200/Jan+1967.jpg" width="142" /></a> An amusing start to the year with <a href="http://www.rollingstones.com/">the Rolling Stones</a>' appearance on Sunday Night at the London Palladium to promote their new single 'Let's Spend the Night Together'. The show traditionally finishes with all performers standing in a circle on a revolving stage waving goodbye, the Stones unsurprisingly refuse to take part. There is some predictable outrage either because they won't go on the roundabout, the song's lyric or both.<br />
<br />
A couple of days later I'm in the Marquee watching <a href="http://www.jimihendrix.com/">Jimi Hendrix</a>. Oh my god this guy is good and so loud I think I'm going to throw up. I was about 3 feet away from him right in line with his speaker cab. Marvellous. He looks fantastic and seems so laid back, he's very funny and is great with the audience, which is not often the case, Peter Green was like that too.<br />
<br />
1967 is looking up and it's still only January.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The Saville on Shaftesbury Avenue is a new venue for rock music, on the 5th February we have tickets for Cream. The Beatles, Brian Epstein, Patti Boyd, Pete Townsend and <a href="http://www.jimihendrix.com/">Jimi Hendrix</a> are all there to see <a href="http://www.ginger-baker.com/">Ginger Baker</a>, <a href="http://www.ericclapton.com/">Eric Clapton</a> and <a href="http://www.jackbruce.com/">Jack Bruce</a> who are absolutely amazing, true heavy metal. Edwin Starr was on too - 'Knock on Wood'.<br />
<br />
February 13th unlucky for some. Keith's home Redlands in West Wittering, Sussex is busted by the police, Mick is there with Marianne. Mick, Keith and Robert Fraser are eventually charged, Mick with possession of amphetamines, Keith with allowing his property to be used for the smoking of cannabis and Robert Fraser with possessing heroin and amphetamines. The police are delighted, for them this has been a long time coming.<br />
<br />
Me and my friend Fran from school are lucky enough to see Cream at the Starlight Ballroom in Greenford, it is a real thrill to see these guys in such a small venue, the power of their music is like a physical force.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxHVfIfz0I-5wqrENKbeVoNpRkDNaOwXSiGSBxnPPY2soWXbyHL25j9C59ONphrBsLvN5CZB9DwsVaTdZObrSoC8F93y3TpljWczXwjzKmWiIxFAzBOtKxxLZiFiW3b-J3zq_mNbq4-AP/s1600-h/Dartmoor+1966+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxHVfIfz0I-5wqrENKbeVoNpRkDNaOwXSiGSBxnPPY2soWXbyHL25j9C59ONphrBsLvN5CZB9DwsVaTdZObrSoC8F93y3TpljWczXwjzKmWiIxFAzBOtKxxLZiFiW3b-J3zq_mNbq4-AP/s200/Dartmoor+1966+(2).jpg" width="188" /></a>My German boyfriend is back in London, we meet quite often in Le Macabre coffee club on Meard St. just off Wardour Street. It's dark, the tables are like coffins and you can sit there for hours with the one cup of coffee. JoMa loves the Marquee we visit often till it is time for him to return home. Cream at the Playhouse the night before he leaves, a good last night.<br />
<br />
Family holiday time is here again, we're heading for Devon and this time Pamela is coming too. This photo is of me, my brother and Pamela in Princetown outside the Devil's Elbow on Dartmoor, we were there to see the prison. No one can say we don't know how to have fun.<br />
<br />
The German film <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9XZakp2Wj4">'A Degree Of Murder'</a>, starring Anita Pallenberg is scored by Brian Jones, good or not, I have no idea, I've never seen it. Apparently this is the first time a film soundtrack is composed by a rock musician. Recorded at IBC, with Nicky Hopkins, Kenney Jones and Jimmy Page. (Just seen the movie is on youtube - listened to the opening titles music - interesting and shows his fascination with the new sounds and instruments that were becoming available).<br />
<br />
I am certainly not going to miss this, The Jeff Beck Group is playing the Marquee, Ron Wood, Mickey Waller, Dave Ambrose, and Rod Stewart. We love this band, one of the most exciting around, along with Hendrix and Cream. Jeff Beck is such a spectacular guitarist, so much melody with a gut wrenching tone and particularly brilliant paired with Rod. I know Rod became hugely successful later, but for me he was never better than when performing with Jeff. Plenty of musicians in the audience including Cream, Spencer Davis, and Alan Bown Set.<br />
<br />
John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, now with Peter Green an extremely talented guitarist with a lovely tone and he's a very good singer too. We see them play as often as we can, which is pretty regular. One night John McVie swung round accidentally hitting Mick Fleetwood in the eye with the end of his bass. The audience found this rather amusing if not downright hilarious.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD82clOik7fd8Mj3p4axHEQS-ZIFntdiIf88ofcPSOruYNHr_ommmiTcQVegttyB9D1we9cmY1HKUpUhM_2LmWBzdSf5rkP2Ron3Gux4YYiEP0omcvbY8Rx_amgvWxjDCSpl7PUpouo8g9/s1600-h/Hendrix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD82clOik7fd8Mj3p4axHEQS-ZIFntdiIf88ofcPSOruYNHr_ommmiTcQVegttyB9D1we9cmY1HKUpUhM_2LmWBzdSf5rkP2Ron3Gux4YYiEP0omcvbY8Rx_amgvWxjDCSpl7PUpouo8g9/s200/Hendrix.jpg" width="118" /></a></div>
Jimi Hendrix is playing the Saville Theatre, he is mind blowingly good. Our seats are in the second row, a fabulous position to watch this master magician at work, he is such a fantastic showman as well as being a brilliant guitarist. I know he's not impressed with his own vocals, but I and plenty of others are. Brian Jones and Anita Pallenberg are up in one of the boxes. On the way out I walk past Brian who is insulting some overweight guy. We don't speak. I doubt he even remembers me.<br />
<br />
Three days later Brian is arrested and charged with possession of cannabis found in his flat in Courtfield Road. It's open season on the Stones.<br />
<br />
Cream are at the Marquee again, truly breathtaking, me and Pamela had front row seats right in the middle, getting both barrels from Ginger's double bass drums, not to mention Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton's racket.<br />
<br />
Our friend Wendy is having a party at her Dad's mews house in Lancaster Gate, her Dad is away and she has the place to herself, how good is that, none of us were in a position to do such a thing. Pamela and I went together, we were having lots of fun and didn't want to leave. I called my parents to say I was going to stay there, but they were having none of it and said that Pamela had to leave too, as she had told her parents she was staying the night at our place. In a last ditch effort I said it was too late to get the Tube, so my Dad drives to Lancaster Gate. All very embarrassing, the journey home was no fun for anyone. We returned the next day to find the party still in full swing and we leap right back in.<br />
<br />
John Lee Hooker is appearing at the Marquee, it's so good to see someone this iconic in such intimate surroundings. The support was Ten Years After, personally not a fan of Alvin Lee and his interminably long solos, went out for a drink while they were on.<br />
<br />
25th June is the global satellite link up between 5 continents, The Beatles represent England, everyone very excited. They performed 'All You Need is Love' Mick Jagger, Marianne Faithfull, Keith Richard, Eric Clapton, Patti Boyd (still married to George Harrison), Jane Asher (Paul McCartney's girlfriend) Graham Nash and probably a whole lot more are there singing along and wearing placards. It was one of those moments where it seemed like technology was going to bore you to death, but it was good enough.<br />
<br />
Mick, Keith and Robert Fraser are being sentenced today, 30th June, for the Redlands drug bust. Mick is given 3 months, Keith 1 year and Fraser 6 months. They are of the opinion they were set up by the News of the World, in retaliation for a previous drug possession allegation that they couldn't prove. Apparently the journalist mistakenly thought he was talking to Mick when in fact he was speaking to Brian. Where do they get these people from? They have to be among the most photographed people in the country and they can't tell the difference between Mick and Brian. Mick and Keith spend a night in jail before being bailed pending an appeal, Robert Fraser was refused bail.<br />
<br />
A fantastic line up at the Saville, Jeff Beck Group, Cream, and John Mayall with Peter Green, it was just missing Jimi. Heaven.<br />
<br />
21st July is my last day at school - ever.<br />
<br />
Hippyness is all around, incense is everywhere, as is the sickly odour of patchouli oil. There is a Love In at Alexandra Palace, a bunch of us went, to see Pink Floyd, The Animals, Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll and Arthur Brown. Some good music, the strobe light use was a bit over the top, I couldn't walk without falling over.<br />
<br />
I went to the Law Courts today for Mick and Keith's appeal. Prior to this there had been big time publicity in the newspapers and the TV. The Who had recorded 'The Last Time/Under My Thumb' and were going to give all the money from sales to their appeal fund. William Rees-Mogg had written The Times editorial 'Who Breaks a Butterfly on a Wheel' about the heavy handed treatment Mick and Keith had received. Mick was the only one there because Keith had chicken pox, this created a lot of amusement. We were told to be quiet or they'd clear the court. Mick was conditionally discharged and Keith's sentence was quashed.<br />
<br />
12th August Leaving the flat wearing jeans, a dark blue dress with bright orange flowers, a string of beads and a bell. I only made it to the end of the road before I ripped the bell from my neck. I was on my way to Windsor for the Jazz and Blues Festival. The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Pink Floyd, Zoot Money, Amen Corner, Aynsley Dunbar's Retaliation, not a bad line up. Pamela and I meet two guys in the queue, Gary and Pete, they play in a blues band called Elio-Karfenetti, the four of us watch the show together. Arthur Brown is so funny, his mad dancing, setting his head on fire, some good songs who would be harsh to ask for more. Gary and Pete are going to drive back to London, we decide to go with them rather than stay in the miniscule tent which is our only other choice.<br />
<br />
We spend the night in a burnt out house in Finchley that belongs to Gary's dad and drive to Windsor the next morning. As we're finding some seats for Donovan's performance I suddenly remember I'm meant to be meeting my friend Fran at the Castle. Me and Pete start running, she's there waiting and none too pleased neither - sorry Fran. Tonight's bill was pretty spectacular, so she cheered up a bit. Cream, Jeff Beck, John Mayall, PP Arnold, Alan Bown, The Pentangle with Bert Jansch, Denny Laine, Chicken Shack and the debut of Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, Steve York was playing bass with them until John McVie was allowed to leave John Mayall's band. I wonder how they all got on back stage. Fleetwood Mac are seriously good, ultimately they are yet another blues band, but man can they do it. Pete gave me and Fran a lift back to London and wrote his phone number on a guitar string packet for me, I liked that.<br />
<br />
Saw Peter Green two days later at the Marquee, red hot. Chicken Shack were the support, with Christine Perfect, Stan Webb etc. you'll know how this one ends if you know anything about Fleetwood Mac's evolution.<br />
<br />
The Stones release 'We Love You' ending with the sound of a cell door slamming and put it out with a film based on the Trials of Oscar Wilde, which is promptly banned by the BBC.<br />
<br />
So much clubbing, <a href="http://www.arthurbrownmusic.com/">Arthur Brown</a>, more Fleetwood Mac, <a href="http://www.johnmayall.com/">John Mayall's Bluesbreakers</a>, who after having lost, <a href="http://www.ericclapton.com/">Eric Clapton</a> and Peter Green have found yet another fab guitarist - <a href="http://www.micktaylor.net/">Mick Taylor</a>.<br />
<br />
I go to see Pete's band, they are playing with <a href="http://www.fairportconvention.com/">Fairport Convention</a> at a party. It's good having a guitarist for a boyfriend.<br />
<br />
Jeff Beck is at the Marquee, John Mayall at Manor House, Peter Green at Klooks Kleek, followed by John Mayall, Peter Green and Chicken Shack at the Saville, with another appearance of Peter Green and Chicken Shack at the Marquee all this in one month. Is it possible to overdose on this?<br />
<br />
It is September, I've started work at the University of London library. I'm really not happy and have started looking for something new. I've been offered a job with Decca but they're paying peanuts.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mLpmuiRlE-NnS6dNbMYBwmeApdhTU27Usst4kcckEiGT1xweUBdI4Qh2gicO4TH0gkt7PmDa-j7zAKphRZgXOhwgs5tUmcY-E0uUKi679vMqFCqgoSB3Y1qFXSpNXo0cNiI1vTII9I46/s1600-h/Middle+Earth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mLpmuiRlE-NnS6dNbMYBwmeApdhTU27Usst4kcckEiGT1xweUBdI4Qh2gicO4TH0gkt7PmDa-j7zAKphRZgXOhwgs5tUmcY-E0uUKi679vMqFCqgoSB3Y1qFXSpNXo0cNiI1vTII9I46/s200/Middle+Earth.jpg" width="200" /></a> Middle Earth a new club in Covent Garden, an all nighter, you could usually get in for free by copying the pass stamp on the back of your hand. There was a big basement room for the main band with some smaller spaces for other entertainments - sometimes the people who played large pieces of glass hanging from ropes. I liked this for about two minutes, then the will to live began to seep away. Tyrannosaurus Rex - Marc Bolan and Steve Took often played there sat on a white sheet playing 'Deborah'. The light shows were always good. Covent Garden was still a fruit and veg market, bustling and loud in the early morning when we were leaving the club and heading for the coffee stall. We were an easy target for their wit and sarcasm, men with long hair, girls with very short skirts, like shooting fish in a barrel.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure if we ever paid to get in to Middle Earth, how did they make any money?<br />
<br />
Decide to accept a job with the British Institute of Management Library and begin work on the 9th October, my boss Vicky is good fun to work with, we were proof reading bibliographies in a room off the main library, which was just as well, we made way too much noise laughing at author's names. I can't remember them all, but there was definitely a Jock Purves, thanks Jock.<br />
<br />
Freddy King is playing at the Fishmonger's with Chicken Shack, he'd written some great instrumentals, Driving Sideways, Hideaway. Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood and Jeremy Spencer are in the audience.<br />
<br />
A few days later Pete and I were at the Marquee to see John Mayall, but he'd cancelled and Ten Years After were on instead, Friday 13th, no surprise then. We left and went to Middle Earth, Soft Machine were on, some good luck to be had after all.<br />
<br />
'A Few Dollars More' the 'Fist Full's' sequel is on, a definite must see, I went with Pete and the keyboard player from his band Dave Ewer, who many, many years later will be in 'Spinal Tap. Clint looks stunning, he was born to play the man with no name. Finish the night off with a visit to Middle Earth and see Denny Laine's Electric String Band.<br />
<br />
October is a fun packed month Geno and the Ram Jam Band at the Marquee tonight, he's always entertaining, and amazing that he doesn't know the words to the covers he does, even Wilson Pickett's 'The Midnight Hour'. It doesn't seem to bother him or the audience.<br />
<br />
Elio Kafanati are supporting Ten Years After at the Marquee, the irony is clear, my boyfriend's band and the dreaded TYA, some sacrifices have to be made I guess. It was a good gig, Pete and I went on to Middle Earth, Aynsley Dunbar's Retaliation and Pete Brown's Poetry Band were on. I find Pete Brown a bit hard going, he writes good lyrics for sure, but I don't enjoy him as a performer.<br />
<br />
Pete met me at work this evening, so we could get to the Marquee early to see Jimi Hendrix, hoo-bloody-ray. Front row, probably never hear again, don't care. He is fantastic and looks absolutely stunning. His gigs are something else.<br />
<br />
Two days later we're at Hammersmith Odeon for the American Jazz and Blues Festival, incredible line up - Son House, Bukka White, Skip James, Little Walter, Koko Taylor - Wang Dang Doodle is a big favourite of mine, another winner from the great composer and bass player, Willie Dixon. Son House is a legend, I love his bottle neck playing, and so many great songs - 'Death Letter'...<br />
<br />
The following night is the Marquee for Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, Buddy Guy turns up to play a number with them. He's somewhat barmy but a tremendous guitarist and very entertaining. Bert Jansch at Les Cousins tomorrow night. Cream and Bonzo Dog at the Saville the night after and the 31st October John Mayall at the Marquee. What an unbelievable month.<br />
<br />
Brian Jones is sentenced to 9 months in prison after pleading guilty to the cannabis possession. He's going to appeal.<br />
<br />
November is not bad, but last month is hard to follow. Pete's band plays at the Marquee support to Chicken Shack and are now auditioning bass players, they choose Steve York who played with Fleetwood Mac at the festival. We see a few movies - Al Capone and How I Won the War. Quatermass and the Pit was on at the Carlton in Essex Road, nice and spooky. The Torture Garden and Beserk were a good sick pairing. Some more Peter Green at the Marquee.<br />
<br />
Double bills were the norm at the cinema, often involving 633 Squadron, although this time it was It with The Frozen Dead, not bad.<br />
<br />
12th December is the day for Brian's appeal, his sentence is changed to a £1000.00 fine and 3 years probation. His defence is that he is not mentally strong enough to survive a jail term.<br />
<br />
We drive throught the snow to see Jeff Beck this evening at the Marquee, everything looks so beautiful as we slide down Shaftesbury Avenue.<br />
<br />
Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac again at the Marquee. The following night is New Year's Eve which means a trip to Trafalgar Square, traditional though this has become, I was fed up with it, being grabbed by rather unsavoury individuals trying to stick their tongues down my throat. These people were clearly taking advantage of the situation!Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-47088199277666977022010-02-27T22:12:00.017+00:002018-03-11T10:59:20.751+00:00'66 Rolling Stones. Bob Dylan, the Marquee club<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyQxPUIJVibsQjtm5JPfA8r__F750DLhukO1lBVbCIlGdxmGYdJQFsDTebaNIChUWT0bTlZfX1NfGICK4RjAS4wtg5MB_uTTm1PGz4zVLao-RjIeYLIWh0SkvnIQ2TWGfjwoY1A5mw3mi/s1600-h/Lovin+Spoonful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyQxPUIJVibsQjtm5JPfA8r__F750DLhukO1lBVbCIlGdxmGYdJQFsDTebaNIChUWT0bTlZfX1NfGICK4RjAS4wtg5MB_uTTm1PGz4zVLao-RjIeYLIWh0SkvnIQ2TWGfjwoY1A5mw3mi/s200/Lovin+Spoonful.jpg" width="156" /></a></div>
The <a href="http://www.lovinspoonful.com/">Lovin Spoonful</a> arrive in London, 'Do You Believe in Magic' is a great single, written by John Sebastian, it's so enthusiastic and good time, as are they, we see them at the Marquee, they have lots of fun on stage and have a big laugh with the audience and play a really good set.<br />
<br />
May Day, the NME Poll Winners concert, The Beatles, Cliff Richard, Rolling Stones, Who. I turn up at Wembley without a ticket, having already decided I wouldn't bother going in unless I got a good seat. I was about to leave when a guy came up to me and said, 'Here do you want this?' It was one of a pair given to him because he was a press photographer, great seat in the 4th row for free. Result! Even enjoyed the Beatles. Can't say it stretched to Cliff though.<br />
<br />
Later I saw Keith, we had an odd conversation about James Brown and his over the top stage act, with the never ending cape routine and how extremely sweaty he got. 'Out of Sight' was a big favourite of ours. His band was so tight, he really worked them hard.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPkHx2118u5LTLKH8A33_DFEY7TTdpZ1nvDkGe_A_-fOnUq3g3k9gV2fysvHFuu8_hL9YGKloA7JfktaZh5VabJRLliM_enWzOvqqOcQMta7k-ieiZPrpV7eqKhT8R3fi9ph5u1uBOFXq/s1600-h/Bob+Dylan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPkHx2118u5LTLKH8A33_DFEY7TTdpZ1nvDkGe_A_-fOnUq3g3k9gV2fysvHFuu8_hL9YGKloA7JfktaZh5VabJRLliM_enWzOvqqOcQMta7k-ieiZPrpV7eqKhT8R3fi9ph5u1uBOFXq/s200/Bob+Dylan.jpg" width="113" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQARvbGTj3q968OREullozCwShQvErHqIQa3lc7CI5A8bxCvFooGqPsBn3RcNZLvNtQxuihzQV2vPPO0Y0ux0ePuG0CK36SAuf_qRvGJzSxTrtg0LXR5oXItaJL3OzX6vA8UG-QbsSBwcO/s1600-h/Dylan+in+Paris+1966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQARvbGTj3q968OREullozCwShQvErHqIQa3lc7CI5A8bxCvFooGqPsBn3RcNZLvNtQxuihzQV2vPPO0Y0ux0ePuG0CK36SAuf_qRvGJzSxTrtg0LXR5oXItaJL3OzX6vA8UG-QbsSBwcO/s200/Dylan+in+Paris+1966.jpg" width="165" /></a>Bob Dylan is playing the Albert Hall and Pamela and I have tickets in row E, well done us, we did some serious early morning queueing. The first half Bob does alone with guitar and harmonica and very nice it was too. He comes back for the second half with an electric band, The Hawks (essentially The Band without Levon Helm), we loved it, others seemingly didn't. Much shouting and booing from diehard folkies, the Beatles were in the audience to see this farrago. I wonder what they thought. I love this photo of Dylan who at a press conference in Paris insisted upon answering through the ventriloquist's doll and drove them all crazy.<br />
<br />
<br />
Met Roy C at RSGL, he was here to promote his single 'Shotgun Wedding', a kind of novelty soul record with gun shot sound effects and begins with the Wedding March, not sounding good is it? But it really does work and he was knocked out with the reaction of the British fans.<br />
<br />
London Airport to see the Stones off to America, Brian looked particularly good, a stripy jacket and pink sunglasses. I was getting tired of this, I loved seeing them and talking to them, but it was becoming pointless and less fun than it should be, so many loud in your face fans. You always knew when they arrived they may as well have had a fanfare, their signature yelling and shouting was a sign for us and the Stones to disappear, but they always found us and eventually it became a total nightmare. I would still continue to see them play, but hanging out was coming to an end.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCQ-nyEvOoKYO0UkQTsHGCzuHkVGBm31TSEgNLYLFkI-xaeAZhdgcyFPfD7XOxpRt_Jb9GHOIQaZ1FEEmN_aiAGoNj73I7ITf1STb5q6h43w4zZKDtEmjWhv5L12B7bFeaJRSfyuuace_/s1600-h/Stones+Charlie+at+Heathrow+Aug+66.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCQ-nyEvOoKYO0UkQTsHGCzuHkVGBm31TSEgNLYLFkI-xaeAZhdgcyFPfD7XOxpRt_Jb9GHOIQaZ1FEEmN_aiAGoNj73I7ITf1STb5q6h43w4zZKDtEmjWhv5L12B7bFeaJRSfyuuace_/s200/Stones+Charlie+at+Heathrow+Aug+66.jpg" width="138" /></a>My last airport visit, the Stones were returning from the States in August '66. I chatted to Charlie, I was sad, I knew I couldn't do it anymore, but what could take it's place.<br />
<br />
As it happens London's exploding music scene was more than enough to occupy me, I more or less lived at the Marquee, along with occasional visits to the 100 club, Klooks Kleek, The Country Club. John C Gee ran the Marquee with a rod of iron, I don't remember ever having trouble in there, I don't think anyone would dare.<br />
<br />
Top class acts were appearing regularly at these tiny venues, Cream, <a href="http://www.jeffbeck.com/">Jeff Beck</a>, Peter Green with John Mayall and then Fleetwood Mac, Spencer Davis Group and sometimes American Blues acts. Later of course came Jimi Hendrix, <a href="http://www.beefheart.com/">Captain Beefheart</a>, Mothers of Invention, Dr. John .<br />
<br />
One Saturday afternoon I went to the Marquee, Radio London were putting on a show, someone called David Jones and his band came on, I thought he was rubbish, bit of a poseur with not much of a voice. May as well admit it David Bowie never did it for me, not that it hurt his career any.<br />
<br />
I was heading home up Wardour Street when I bumped into Pamela and some friends who were talking to some German guys, we chatted for a while, then I left. As soon as I got home the phone was ringing, one of the Germans, JoMa was very keen that I should return, after a lot of persuasion I headed back into town, we all spent the evening in Hyde Park until the keepers chucked us out.<br />
<br />
Bluesology were supporting The Move at the Marquee, a band put together by Long John Baldry - Elton Dean, Reg Dwight and Caleb Quaye, some well known musicians here, Reg was already famous for those cover versions of hits that Woolworth's sold, although not quite as famous as he would become.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaHPWYPEqSyCFJ-taLN0PHZv8heGGBbudpYJgdoNRGYbavU6viz-Z5dbIYoD4psL0mmQFEEU7tMmZMW5X4hHi_x8bFf4hp0f1WTxpsVoNgGbyUYmQmYJCu8eneljPhyaiwmiuLKpMuSFu/s1600-h/Rolling+Stones+Albert+Hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFaHPWYPEqSyCFJ-taLN0PHZv8heGGBbudpYJgdoNRGYbavU6viz-Z5dbIYoD4psL0mmQFEEU7tMmZMW5X4hHi_x8bFf4hp0f1WTxpsVoNgGbyUYmQmYJCu8eneljPhyaiwmiuLKpMuSFu/s200/Rolling+Stones+Albert+Hall.jpg" width="108" /></a></div>
This time it was the Rolling Stones at the Albert Hall, row O, we're loosing our touch. Long John Baldry was MCing. Ike and Tina Turner were on the bill, as were the Yardbirds with Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page, they were good, Ike and Tina play a kicking set, (PP Arnold was one of the Ikettes), and now we're waiting for the Stones to come on. As they appear, the audience begins to move from the back of the hall, a couple of girls leap on the stage, one is glued to Mick's back. Brian's laughing at Keith who is being dragged off stage by security while still attached to his guitar. I end up on the floor under some seats with feet moving all around me. The next thing I know is the show is stopped and Long John is on the mike. telling us all to go back to our seats. He is on a hiding to nothing, no one is paying any attention to him. Eventually they give up, the Stones come back on and finish the show.<br />
<br />
A girl at school turns me on to <a href="http://www.bertjansch.com/">Bert Jansch</a>, a bunch of us go to see him at St. Pancras Town Hall, I loved it, I knew little of the British folk scene apart from Donovan, so it was a bit of an eye opener for me.<br />
<br />
Jimmy James and the Vagabonds and <a href="http://www.genowashington.com/">Geno Washington</a> are doing alternate Tuesdays at the Marquee, Geno's good, but I particularly like Jimmy James - Amen. We go regularly.<br />
<br />
BBC2 put on some weird thing at the Marquee - 'Tonight In Person Theodore Bikel', he introduces several artists who do a couple of numbers each, one of them is Sandy Denny, done up like Dusty Springfield, with her blonde hair in a beehive with a big black bow at the back, she looked none too comfortable, but she sang like an angel.<br />
<br />
The Marquee's Christmas party is with <a href="http://www.spencer-davis-group.com/">Spencer Davis Group</a> and Syn, this was the kind of Christmas party we liked, no mince pies, turkey or ancient relatives, just loud rocking music with Steve Winwood.<br />
<br />
The New Year's Eve Rave was as good, Jimmy James, Count Prince Miller, The Vagabonds, The Bunch and The Neat Change. A fabulous night and hours of dancing. Come on 1967.Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-65150377065733943972010-02-27T19:41:00.004+00:002018-02-02T12:25:10.460+00:00The Summer of '65, more Stones, more musicThis was the school summer holidays, many of my friends are leaving, I had decided to stay and do 'A' levels. The career advice had been limited and depressing, banks or building societies. Seeing what the future held in store looked like a horror show, girls at school would chat about jobs, clothes, boys, marriage, children and for the most part I wished I was on another planet. They were my friends and we got on fine, but now they were getting ready for the next step and I felt like I was on the wrong flight of stairs. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMgeGU8Mg7Hnw45Ja62rs_Bwb8k1IJhrbOfww2r6E1wL_hK5Ds7N_nnGITKRg5a__Pn20JRJpm4A1-dBEYwhpNl_cJ3f03D0Tck3TAdcUnbn3PdceZqhTYnVdGlBwbvCpAL4DIzqWu5il/s1600-h/London+Palladium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioMgeGU8Mg7Hnw45Ja62rs_Bwb8k1IJhrbOfww2r6E1wL_hK5Ds7N_nnGITKRg5a__Pn20JRJpm4A1-dBEYwhpNl_cJ3f03D0Tck3TAdcUnbn3PdceZqhTYnVdGlBwbvCpAL4DIzqWu5il/s200/London+Palladium.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
The tickets we have for the Stones at the Palladium are not good enough, row I, but close enough to see Brian is dressed in the white outfit he bought in Sweden and looking great as usual. The line up was very interesting, the Steam Packet, a band with Brian Augur, Julie Driscoll, Long John Baldry and Rod Stewart, plus the Moody Blues and Sugar Pie Desanto. It's a bit of a stuffy crowd who seem shocked when we start our routine of screaming and running to the front, egged on by Brian who was grinning at me. Such behaviour at the Palladium, what on earth were we thinking?<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrc7w2mEvxzoCi1rdeEfp5Y_wqoTg9W_rSD36w7iKEPs8PrsbLOy1CZxxPwmqwdWioyXdHBIfkGesdfSBSp8AmJjxjlojBdG7oHB6MoY8pVFur90cBMOM5ghtsE_VGYOyWKHAal-lyBlkr/s1600-h/Birds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrc7w2mEvxzoCi1rdeEfp5Y_wqoTg9W_rSD36w7iKEPs8PrsbLOy1CZxxPwmqwdWioyXdHBIfkGesdfSBSp8AmJjxjlojBdG7oHB6MoY8pVFur90cBMOM5ghtsE_VGYOyWKHAal-lyBlkr/s320/Birds.jpg" /></a></div>
The following day found me at the airport. There is a rather strange event going on involving the American band called The Byrds and the UK band The Birds whose manager decided to sue over the name. Presumably a publicity stunt, carried out as The Byrds arrived from California. Leo de Clerk, The Birds manager said, 'As far as we are concerned the Americans are passing off on our name.' This was a farcical suggestion as The Byrds were the ones with the hit and the attention, but he got his column inches, the names stay the same and I get more autographs. Ron Wood was in The Birds, but at the time his brother Art was better know, with his band The Artwoods. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSeODKPlIHkpo0PwPvLCkHv8oDFH-8e1I5IL6Ro86NCb7-xkVt1xdPMBJ7FsThXuX3H2nrJOvK4soUFpys8sKxEvg8B6zdCigvOqEvkNRfkJuX9QjxbB3C0pGyS2dVmYqw5ob1S86vd5Q/s1600-h/Byrds+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSeODKPlIHkpo0PwPvLCkHv8oDFH-8e1I5IL6Ro86NCb7-xkVt1xdPMBJ7FsThXuX3H2nrJOvK4soUFpys8sKxEvg8B6zdCigvOqEvkNRfkJuX9QjxbB3C0pGyS2dVmYqw5ob1S86vd5Q/s200/Byrds+3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
I didn't have a ticket, but decided to go to RSGL, just to check the acts and get some autographs - The Byrds, Sonny and Cher, Rod Stewart and the creepy (even then) Jonathan King, all made an appearance and I get back in time to see it on TV. The Byrds do their version of Bob Dylan's 'Mr. Tambourine Man'. Everybody loves the sound of Jim McGuinn's electric 12 string guitar. Sonny and Cher perform their hit 'I Got You Babe'. <br />
<br />
Next Friday I meet Nico (pre Velvet Underground) at RSGL - what a really nice friendly person, she had a single out 'The Last Mile' written by Andrew Loog Oldham and Jimmy Page. Recently (Dec 2017) heard from ALO (on Twitter) that Nico was there to promote 'I'm Not Saying' ('The Last Mile' was the B side). I apologised for the mistake, his reply:<br />
<div class="content clearfix" style="color: #14171a; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-left: 58px;">
<div class="permalink-header" style="align-items: center; display: flex; height: 48px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<a class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav" data-user-id="601197694" href="https://twitter.com/loogoldham" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #2fc2ef; flex: 1 1 0%; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><img alt="" class="avatar js-action-profile-avatar" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/2285308379/fwe5hglvbbrpfsg93nan_bigger.jpeg" style="border-radius: 50%; border: 0px; float: left; height: 48px; margin-left: -58px; margin-top: 0px; position: absolute; width: 48px;" /><span class="FullNameGroup" style="color: #14171a; display: block; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; max-width: 32ch;"><strong class="fullname show-popup-with-id u-textTruncate " data-aria-label-part="" style="color: #2fc2ef; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden !important; text-decoration-line: underline; text-overflow: ellipsis !important; white-space: nowrap !important; word-break: break-all; word-wrap: normal !important;">Andrew Loog Oldham</strong><span class="UserBadges" style="font-size: 0.9em;"></span><span class="UserNameBreak"> </span></span><span class="username u-dir u-textTruncate" data-aria-label-part="" dir="ltr" style="color: #657786; direction: ltr; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; unicode-bidi: embed; white-space: nowrap; word-wrap: normal;">@loogoldham</span></a><br />
<div class="follow-bar">
<div class="user-actions btn-group following not-muting including " data-name="Andrew Loog Oldham" data-protected="false" data-screen-name="loogoldham" data-user-id="601197694" style="align-items: center; display: flex; position: relative;">
<span class="user-actions-follow-button js-follow-btn follow-button"><button class="
EdgeButton
EdgeButton--primary
EdgeButton--medium
button-text
following-text" style="background: rgb(88, 206, 242); border-color: transparent; border-radius: 100px; box-shadow: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; min-width: 105px; overflow: visible; padding: 6px 16px; position: relative; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out; white-space: nowrap;" type="button"><span aria-hidden="true" style="vertical-align: middle;">Following</span><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; font-size: 1px !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; vertical-align: middle; width: 1px !important;">Following <span class="username u-dir u-textTruncate" dir="ltr" style="direction: ltr !important; font-size: 14px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden !important; text-align: left !important; text-overflow: ellipsis !important; unicode-bidi: embed; word-wrap: normal !important;">@<span style="font-weight: normal;">loogoldham</span></span></span></button></span></div>
</div>
<div class="ProfileTweet-action ProfileTweet-action--more js-more-ProfileTweet-actions" style="display: inline-block; margin: -2px -9px 0px auto; min-width: inherit;">
<div class="dropdown" style="position: relative;">
<button class="ProfileTweet-actionButton u-textUserColorHover dropdown-toggle js-dropdown-toggle" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; color: #657786; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 0px 9px; overflow: visible; padding-left: 9px; padding-right: 9px; padding-top: 2px; position: relative; transition: box-shadow 0.15s ease-in-out;" type="button"><div class="IconContainer js-tooltip" style="display: inline-block; line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: middle;" title="More">
<span class="Icon Icon--caretDownLight Icon--small" style="background: transparent; display: inline-block; line-height: 15px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span class="u-hiddenVisually" style="border: 0px !important; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px) !important; font-size: 1px !important; height: 1px !important; overflow: hidden !important; padding: 0px !important; position: absolute !important; width: 1px !important;">More</span></div>
</button></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="ReplyingToContextBelowAuthor" data-aria-label-part="" style="color: #657786; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-top: 4px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F5F8FA;">
<span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/01jac"><span style="color: #14171a; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75"
coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe"
filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""
href="https://twitter.com/01jac" style='width:24pt;height:24pt' o:button="t"/><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img border="0" height="26" src="file://localhost/private/var/folders/8r/tt6hlw6501ndd10jm7mpt2240000gn/T/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_image001.png" v:shapes="_x0000_i1028" width="26" /><!--[endif]--></span><b><span style="color: #2fc2ef; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Jacqueline Parsons</span></b><span style="color: #14171a; text-decoration: none;"> </span><span style="color: #657786; text-decoration: none;">@01jac</span></a></span><span style="color: #657786; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <a href="https://twitter.com/01jac/status/946857087317020672"><span style="color: #657786; text-decoration: none;">29 Dec 2017</span></a></span><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F5F8FA; line-height: 0%; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11.0pt;">More</span><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F5F8FA;">
<span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jacqueline Parsons Retweeted Andrew Loog Oldham<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F5F8FA; line-height: 16.0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #14171a; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Sorry about that!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F5F8FA;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F5F8FA;">
<b><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Andrew Loog
Oldham</span></b><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #657786; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11.0pt;">@loogoldham</span><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F5F8FA; line-height: 16.0pt;">
<span style="color: #657786; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Replying to </span><span style="color: #657786; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11.0pt;">@01jac</span><span style="color: #657786; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #657786; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11.0pt;">@JimmyPage</span><span style="color: #657786; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F5F8FA;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #14171a; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 11.0pt;">She was
promoting “ I’m Not Saying”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F5F8FA;">
<b><span style="color: #657786; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 9.5pt;">1 reply0 retweets1 like</span></b><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F5F8FA; line-height: 0%; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 1.0pt;">Reply</span><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 1.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F5F8FA;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F5F8FA;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F5F8FA; line-height: 0%; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 1.0pt;">Retweet</span><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 1.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F5F8FA;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F5F8FA;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F5F8FA; line-height: 0%; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 1.0pt;">Like</span><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 1.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F5F8FA;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F5F8FA;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: #F5F8FA; line-height: 0%; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 1.0pt;">View Tweet activity</span><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 1.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0cm; mso-para-margin-right: 0cm; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0cm; mso-para-margin-right: 0cm; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 0%; margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0cm; mso-para-margin-right: 0cm; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 1.0pt;">Like</span><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 1.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0cm; mso-para-margin-right: 0cm; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0cm; mso-para-margin-right: 0cm; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 0%; margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0cm; mso-para-margin-right: 0cm; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 1.0pt;">View Tweet activity</span><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 1.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/loogoldham"><span style="color: #2fc2ef; text-decoration: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75"
alt="" href="https://twitter.com/loogoldham" style='width:24pt;height:24pt'
o:button="t"/><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img border="0" height="26" src="file://localhost/private/var/folders/8r/tt6hlw6501ndd10jm7mpt2240000gn/T/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_image002.png" v:shapes="_x0000_i1025" width="26" /><!--[endif]--></span><b><span style="color: #14171a; font-size: 14.5pt; text-decoration: none;">Andrew Loog Oldham</span></b><b><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 14.5pt; text-decoration: none;"></span></b><b><span style="color: #14171a; font-size: 14.5pt; text-decoration: none;"> </span></b><span style="color: #657786; font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none;">@loogoldham</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.0pt;">FollowingFollowing </span><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">@loogoldham</span><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 0%; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.0pt;">More<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 16.0pt;">
<span style="color: #657786; font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Replying
to <a href="https://twitter.com/01jac"><span style="color: #2fc2ef; text-decoration: none;">@01jac</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 25.6pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 21.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt;">Not at all, it
should have been “ The Last Mile “ then at least we’d have flopped with feeling<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #657786; font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">2:36 PM - 29 Dec 2017</span><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; border-bottom: solid #E6ECF0 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid #E6ECF0 1.0pt; margin-left: -18.0pt; margin-right: 8.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #E6ECF0 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #E6ECF0 .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #E6ECF0 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #E6ECF0 .75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-para-margin-right: 0cm; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; padding: 0cm; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: "times"; font-size: 11.0pt;">1</span></b><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.0pt;"> Like<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="background: white; border-bottom: solid #E6ECF0 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid #E6ECF0 1.0pt; margin-left: -18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #E6ECF0 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #E6ECF0 .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; border: none; margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: .1pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #E6ECF0 .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #E6ECF0 .75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-para-margin-right: 0cm; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd; padding: 0cm; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><b><span style="color: #657786; font-size: 9.5pt; text-decoration: none;"><a href="https://twitter.com/01jac"><img alt="acqueline Parsons" border="0" height="26" src="file://localhost/private/var/folders/8r/tt6hlw6501ndd10jm7mpt2240000gn/T/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_image003.png" v:shapes="_x0000_i1026" width="26" /></a></span></b></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 0%; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 1.0pt;">Rep</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 0%; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 1.0pt;">Retwe</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 0%; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 1.0pt;">Liked</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 0%; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 1.0pt;">Direct messa</span></div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
Family holiday time again, 2 weeks in Great Yarmouth, good grief I thought I'd go crazy, but luckily the Who came to save me. They are playing on the pier. Fabulous to see Keith Moon trashing his drum kit and Townsend in his union jack jacket, ramming his guitar into his speakers at the end of the pier. Dana Gillespie, Donovan and Peter and the Spectres are all introduced by 'our wisecracking compere' Chris Carlsen. The Who closed the first half after we'd seen Peter with his Spectres and Dana, the second half opened with another set from Peter and his Spectres followed by Donovan. Chris Carlsen had been annoying throughout, but I guess I shouldn't complain. It was great to see a good show on holiday.<br />
<br />
Top of the Pops, the Stones are on to play 'Satisfaction', Pamela and I wandered into the BBC, via the back wall, to see them perform. Mick is wearing a dramatic pair of black and white checked trousers. Brian looks great in the black and white stripy top he'd nicked from someone in another band, and he was right it did look better on him. First sighting for me of Anita Pallenberg, blonde hair, wearing a white denim jacket and skirt and holding Brian's Firebird. I wasn't impressed but I think we can safely assume she wasn't there to impress me.<br />
<br />
Brian Jones and Cathy McGowan (RSGL presenter) mime to Sonny and Cher's 'I Got You Babe' which you rarely see on clip shows, but was pretty funny. The Stones play 'Satisfaction', 'Oh Baby' and 'That's How Strong My Love Is', good show. The weekend starts here, as always.<br />
<br />
At the airport Brian arrives with Anita, which really pisses me off. She doesn't stay long and takes the car back to London. Brian comes up to me and says 'Hello sweetie.' I ignore him and walk away, he goes into passport control and waves to me from behind the barrier. I did some half wave back and leave. What can I say, I was a teenager and very not happy. Someone asks Keith who she (Anita) is, he describes her as some German bird who keeps hanging around. At some point he obviously has a different perspective.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2aFyFCVv_NBalICI4fM1g1OXfyHEUjpYzOMKWHCccoEyAoYdGfY_BuWgZWiKUv_8iEsW1537N5UklsWbqwAnTMgXhZxrc390FCQxYrkXqhRsiHRwrss4NLcI6WBtf7pnAvX5_3k290tA/s1600-h/Finsbury+Park+Astoria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2aFyFCVv_NBalICI4fM1g1OXfyHEUjpYzOMKWHCccoEyAoYdGfY_BuWgZWiKUv_8iEsW1537N5UklsWbqwAnTMgXhZxrc390FCQxYrkXqhRsiHRwrss4NLcI6WBtf7pnAvX5_3k290tA/s200/Finsbury+Park+Astoria.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Finsbury Park Astoria, the Rolling Stones, I go to the first show and outside someone gives me a ticket for the second show, I screamed so much I couldn't ask for my bus fare home. I get to hear 'She Said Yeah', 'Mercy, Mercy', 'Cry to Me'. 'The Last Time', 'That's How Strong My Love Is', 'I'm Moving On', 'Talkin' Bout You', 'We Got A Good Thing Going', 'Satisfaction' twice - two shows in one night, great it can never be too much.<br />
<br />
Granada Tooting, last night of the tour. More of the same, good!<br />
<br />
27th October The Stones are leaving for Canada for the start of a North American tour, a plane had crashed on the runway at Heathrow and everyone is very nervous, we chatted about it a bit, Keith was of the opinion it was unlikely that two planes would crash on the same day at the same airport. Hard to argue with that.<br />
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Arial;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Courier New";
panose-1:2 7 3 9 2 2 5 2 4 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Times;
panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-alt:"Times Roman";
mso-font-charset:77;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 2 1 2 1 8 4 8 7 8;
mso-font-charset:2;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:0 0 65536 0 -2147483648 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Helvetica Neue";
panose-1:2 0 5 3 0 0 0 2 0 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
color:#000090;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
@page Section1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:854661144;
mso-list-template-ids:-340903802;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:;
mso-level-tab-stop:36.0pt;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-18.0pt;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0cm;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0cm;}
</style>
-->Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-53382659640932170222010-01-21T18:04:00.220+00:002018-01-12T15:26:40.937+00:001965 More Rolling Stones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8iG1NUQOpG2EA1vqm5XDL9W04bLj4c6CRA9HuR9D-skaDV2gBVty6mXIsjnxPHNpNF2asRm2Dn8ujSYNxQ4Wg8v2nX-sr1hR4ZNplNdsh5-qNKupCvgDfAdUhsn8SvLtgO4WpXMlpK9x/s1600-h/Stones+Brian+Heathrow+Jan+65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK8iG1NUQOpG2EA1vqm5XDL9W04bLj4c6CRA9HuR9D-skaDV2gBVty6mXIsjnxPHNpNF2asRm2Dn8ujSYNxQ4Wg8v2nX-sr1hR4ZNplNdsh5-qNKupCvgDfAdUhsn8SvLtgO4WpXMlpK9x/s200/Stones+Brian+Heathrow+Jan+65.jpg" /></a></div>
6th January, Twelfth Night and the day I will meet <a href="http://www.brianjonesfanclub.com/">Brian Jones</a>. We've now found a better way to get to the airport - tube to Hounslow East and then the bus, no tube or train went there, nor would they for many years to come. Presumably if you had the money to fly, you would not be using public transport to get you to the airport. Air travel was not for oiks unless you played in a band.<br />
<br />
The Stones were heading for Ireland and I planned to get an EP cover autographed. Three times I walked up to Brian, asked for his autograph and couldn't find my pen, on the third time he took one from another girl and signed it for me. Then I just stood there, right in front of him, mesmerised. He had to put his hands on me and move me out of the way, how embarrassing. Good lord he was beautiful. (Photo is of me with Brian).<br />
<br />
Three days later they were back and we were at the airport again, we said hello as they came through Customs and as we stepped on to the escalator it came to a sudden stop, nearly throwing us all down to the bottom. There was a fair amount of shouting and some swearing, but as nobody was actually injured we continued down and walked out to the cars. We would see them again tomorrow at the Hammersmith Commodore gig.<br />
<br />
Front row seats and no orchestra pit, could not be better. Good line up - Zoot Money, Julie Grant, The Checkmates and <a href="http://www.mariannefaithfull.org.uk/">Marianne Faithfull</a>, but most people were there for the main event and when they walked on, the place erupted. A guy ran on stage and appeared to try to kiss Brian, who looked quite surprised. I guess a cute guy is a cute guy. but an unusual event nonetheless. Girls yes, but men, not really. Marianne looked beautiful, innocent and vulnerable, a bit limited vocally, but pleasing enough and perfect for the time.<br />
<br />
For me and my friends, 1965 was Rolling Stones year without a doubt, gigs, the airport, their flats or on the phone. They were extremely nice and very generous with their time.<br />
<div style="border: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqeQvjutupuDOWOxqCF5ehW3y_prkp-M1jEh3lmyBoEjO5A0hrTxegcJkxHF5-nGBoDodqlcd4jaqh9XifvkcjPfI1djReaLbegDIdvv379vt6Z3kSrt0GZv1HhNwmoSIcOU-sLe59MrW/s1600-h/The+Last+Time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqeQvjutupuDOWOxqCF5ehW3y_prkp-M1jEh3lmyBoEjO5A0hrTxegcJkxHF5-nGBoDodqlcd4jaqh9XifvkcjPfI1djReaLbegDIdvv379vt6Z3kSrt0GZv1HhNwmoSIcOU-sLe59MrW/s200/The+Last+Time.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="border: medium none;">
'The Last Time', their sixth single was coming out and me and my friends went to the Television House studios at the bottom of Kingsway in Holborn where Ready Steady Go! would be recorded later that day. On my way there I passed a shop advertising the record for sale so I whipped in to buy a copy. The Stones all made their own way there in various cabs and chauffeured cars and I took the opportunity to get the record sleeve signed. Great idea though it was it opened a can of worms. Apparently the single should not have been on sale until the following week. Mick was saying 'I'm really, really annoyed.' I kept apologising. 'Don't worry love it's not your fault.' I didn't stop of course. I was determined to get a whole set. Brian had just got back from America, he said, 'Oh the single, I didn't know it was out yet.' Charlie asked if it was for him because he didn't have a copy of it yet. Finally I had all five autographs plus Andrew Oldham's. Andrew wanted to know where the shop was - I told him and he disappeared. Mick was worried it would have an adverse effect on sales, but all was well, it made it to no. 1 just as 'Little Red Rooster' and 'It's All Over Now' had last year. They were on a roll.</div>
<br />
We all piled in to watch the rehearsal, sadly we didn't have tickets for the actual show, but in many ways this was a lot more fun. They ran through 'The Last Time' and the B side 'Play with Fire' with Brian on harpsichord. Mick and Brian were mucking about, laughing and pulling the nerk or nanker faces, which involved pulling down your eyes, pushing up your nose and sticking your tongue under your bottom lip. Clearly these were simpler times. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRSm7OI9DADSiL47PRbm5buVrv4Xf0Bzba6wwUZzysfSHQWuHkfU8Q6nLSJ1oIEM3s0loCp1EtAh6F0yfRTdv_YCWdihkEQOvsBO8W56rjRpek60Itzs4oOL67zLLuHt9Q3VNc-lnqhy7/s1600-h/Mick's+leg+ALO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRSm7OI9DADSiL47PRbm5buVrv4Xf0Bzba6wwUZzysfSHQWuHkfU8Q6nLSJ1oIEM3s0loCp1EtAh6F0yfRTdv_YCWdihkEQOvsBO8W56rjRpek60Itzs4oOL67zLLuHt9Q3VNc-lnqhy7/s200/Mick's+leg+ALO.jpg" /></a></div>
The Animals and Dave Clark 5 were also on the show. Mick sang along with the Dave Clark 5 when they rehearsed Chuck Berry's 'Reelin and a Rockin'. Mick and Mike Smith singer with DC5, were laughing and doing derogatory impressions of Dave's rather idiosyncratic drumming style, a bit of an easy target but hilarious nonetheless. Later we went to a restaurant round the corner where Andrew Oldham did a drawing of Mick's leg for me. Why I don't know but everybody wanted one.<br />
<br />
March 5th was start of British tour at Edmonton Regal, of course we were there. A fabulous set opening with 'Everybody Needs Somebody', into 'Pain In My Heart', 'Down the Road Apiece', 'Time Is On My Side', 'I'm Alright, 'Little Red Rooster', 'Route 66' and 'The Last Time'. Needless to say we were in full tilt mode, screaming like banshees and running to the edge of the orchestra pit, with the idea of propelling ourselves on to the stage. Although I have to admit the sharp pointy music stands below put me off my stride. I was alternately looking down into the pit and yelling at Brian, he smiled back and Mick was laughing. Security carried me off.<br />
<br />
<div style="border: medium none;">
The next morning when me and Pamela arrived at Holly Hill, a workman was replacing a pane of glass in the front door. Keith had smashed it with his boot heel the night before because he'd lost his key. We walked down to the Tip Top dry cleaners, near the Tube with Keith to pick up his clothes, he wanted to pay by cheque and needed a pen, the shop girl lent him one. As we go outside he's grinning at us and produces the pen he'd just nicked, and hidden inside his jacket!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacg_Go-QfG2SyOO8Had_OjE6YZeZiGLNEBVBrnVJzq_2fkWXOm4hOMGOaZ7PjBvzKbBH9JtiWAddRGIvXU6F5Vj4lbcJC5Epf9XfXQD3Jwi5RYpaWs5zhAeWd9YogS3yP4-guD0mGQG8d/s1600-h/Keith+Eastern+Airlines+label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacg_Go-QfG2SyOO8Had_OjE6YZeZiGLNEBVBrnVJzq_2fkWXOm4hOMGOaZ7PjBvzKbBH9JtiWAddRGIvXU6F5Vj4lbcJC5Epf9XfXQD3Jwi5RYpaWs5zhAeWd9YogS3yP4-guD0mGQG8d/s200/Keith+Eastern+Airlines+label.jpg" /></a>Back at the flat Mick said he'd seen us last night and asked what happened when I got dragged off. He laughed when I said the security guard who was trying to carry me outside had to put me down after I kicked him.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="border: medium none;">
They were getting ready to go to the next gig on the tour. We carried out some bags to the car - Mick's green Zodiac I think. We stood and chatted with Mick after Keith decided he wanted to take another guitar and went back for it. While we waited Mick did an impersonation of Paul McCartney that had us hysterical.</div>
<div style="border: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: medium none;">
Keith signed the Eastern Airlines luggage label from Chicago that was on his guitar case for me. They waved goodbye and drove off to Liverpool. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1J6IcJiIQGSUjtPhczxPfVuCeuUIAGpxndg8stABckjFwoURCM3rNSL-SfA0eFaLmXtfhWvi_viH0I7h2BgYxtw5Ju5T_Ii8Nzt4JmfTYWmCJF4Z3Cmg7BKGsHTrrRiRpkL45DhFmlLRY/s1600-h/Stones+leaflet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1J6IcJiIQGSUjtPhczxPfVuCeuUIAGpxndg8stABckjFwoURCM3rNSL-SfA0eFaLmXtfhWvi_viH0I7h2BgYxtw5Ju5T_Ii8Nzt4JmfTYWmCJF4Z3Cmg7BKGsHTrrRiRpkL45DhFmlLRY/s200/Stones+leaflet.jpg" /></a></div>
Two weeks later we went all the way out to Romford to see them again. The support bill on this tour was good, Goldie and the Gingerbreads, an all female group, who could really play and had great attitude. Dave Berry and the Cruisers, The Konrads, the Checkmates and the Hollies. Johnny Ball (Zoe's dad) was the compere, not that bad, some of them, well most of them, were dire. The predominantly female audience were standing on the seats, dancing and screaming. A good evening for all concerned.<br />
<br />
On the way back from this show, the Stones stopped to use the toilet at a garage in Stratford, East London. The attendant refused to let them because they didn't want any petrol, so they pissed against the wall. The police were called and later Bill, Mick and Brian were arrested and charged. A member of the public who witnessed the event found it 'disgraceful'. When the case came to court in July the attendant said that when told they couldn't use the toilet Mick said to him 'we will piss anywhere man' and the group took it up as a chant, then drove off in their car making well known hand gestures out the window. Marvellous, I would have paid good money to see that. All three were found guilty of using insulting behaviour and fined £5 each plus 5 guineas costs (for those of you who don't know, a guinea was a pound plus the same figure in shillings - so 5 guineas would be £5 and 5 shillings and if you don't know what a shilling is.... Anyway let me tell you I'm sure it was worth every penny in publicity.<br />
<br />
The Holly Hill scene was getting out of hand, hoards of girls would be camped out on the steps, people were breaking in and taking whatever took their fancy. I arrived one day to find about a dozen girls sat outside the front door and as I was leaving Keith opened the door. He had bare feet and was wearing jeans and a denim jacket, said 'f*ck, there's too many' and shut the door. He wasn't wrong.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJvnKV9ObNWvO7bvtSa1UgInHqOAy9uQ-g8u8o3TwFudVdIpnwcTZ5H218xQOizpZIPazvfRGxx0c655OHn8srNMY9jepcMmGPj6rcUakoxcm8WIxZCzNNq4AFGJan1NX1ehtgBDVrNUV/s1600-h/Stones+Mick+Heathrow+Jan+65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJvnKV9ObNWvO7bvtSa1UgInHqOAy9uQ-g8u8o3TwFudVdIpnwcTZ5H218xQOizpZIPazvfRGxx0c655OHn8srNMY9jepcMmGPj6rcUakoxcm8WIxZCzNNq4AFGJan1NX1ehtgBDVrNUV/s200/Stones+Mick+Heathrow+Jan+65.jpg" width="138" /></a>I went back later when it had quietened down and was chatting to Keith while our friends Laraine and Ann went shopping for him. Ann asked if she should take the papers down to Mick, he said 'Better not he's in the bog.' We'd seen him go in there earlier with his trousers round his knees. Too funny. Mick was unhappy, someone had stolen his sealskin anorak. He asked us if we had any idea who had taken it, we didn't. On a previous occasion we had convinced some girls to return some of the things they'd taken, like jumpers and records.<br />
<br />
Mick told us how he had chased a couple up the street who had broken in and stolen a harmonica, he said he'd banged their heads together and they gave it back to him. Apparently Keith had got a girl up against the railings outside after catching her coming out of the flat. Mick went out and Keith took up the story. He said she'd taken about £200 worth of gear, but started crying, so he let her go, presumably after retrieving his belongings. We looked amazed, he said, 'I couldn't kill the poor little prat could I?'<br />
<br />
One beautiful sight I will never forget is of walking up Holly Hill as the sun was going down, seeing Mick standing on the steps scraping shit off his shoe. He must have trodden in something Ratbag had left behind. What a marvellous moment.<br />
<br />
Holly Hill had as I said become a meeting place and we had made some good new friends with girls from Holland Park School. Ann, Wendy, Laraine and Sandra who were in the same year as Jenny Boyd, sister of Patti, George Harrison's girlfriend. They all lived in West London and Pamela and I often visited them to play records and discuss The Stones and other bands that took our interest.<br />
<br />
The Stones had pretty much taken over my life at this time, school work and exams were a very poor second and third, I did enough school work not to attract too much attention but that was about as far as it went. One morning in assembly the art teacher Miss Driscoll came running in late, she asked to borrow my hymn book taking it out of my hands as she walked by. 'How interesting' she said as she handed it back when we'd finished. My book was covered in pictures of the Stones and inside were two photos, one of Mick and one of me with Brian. Word was getting out, I would need to be more careful.<br />
<br />
Two days later I was back at the airport, the Stones were leaving for a Scandinavian tour, I asked Brian about the rumour that he had bought a disused church, he said he didn't have one, he'd made it up because he got sick of people asking him where he lived.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BQTmvsAEROy33xx8HKFy2r7ESLBfxO_-en0sdaZZz_vHOBTToJCVoZlPYK-qANgVmP9HwaBeyK_xo8aVecgYC-nvUx9uh3sR1SYLvJ-SvWtpQQ5HyM-Xog3k-9Rwu3LPs9jqagSpQpqN/s1600-h/Stones+Bill+and+family+Heathrow+Apr+65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BQTmvsAEROy33xx8HKFy2r7ESLBfxO_-en0sdaZZz_vHOBTToJCVoZlPYK-qANgVmP9HwaBeyK_xo8aVecgYC-nvUx9uh3sR1SYLvJ-SvWtpQQ5HyM-Xog3k-9Rwu3LPs9jqagSpQpqN/s200/Stones+Bill+and+family+Heathrow+Apr+65.jpg" width="200" /></a>While they were in Denmark Mick had got an electric shock as he touched two microphones at a soundcheck. He fell back onto Brian, who in turn fell on Bill who bore the brunt of it. It wasn't as bad as it might have been as Mick pulled the mains plug out as he fell. Bill recovered quite quickly and they continued with the gig. On their return to London I asked Brian how it felt, he pulled a face and laughed.<br />
<br />
Talked with Bill for a while, he was with his wife Diane and son Steve, he seemed to be ok. <br />
<br />
Mick and Keith have finally moved, this time to separate addresses. Mick and Chrissie to a mews house in the West End, Bryanston Mews East, just behind Montague Square where Paul McCartney lived with Jane Asher. Keith ironically found a flat in a block in St. John's Wood on Carlton Hill.<br />
<br />
We did continue to visit them, but the fun was definitely decreasing. Things were changing, we were maturing, their fame was making them less available and an attraction to some people who were not very pleasant to be around.<br />
<br />
The Stones were to be on Ready Steady Go Live, I didn't have a ticket but decided to go down there anyway. They arrived in a Rolls, Keith nodded to me, I was standing outside as they walked in and up the upstairs, but I couldn't really see through the window. I decided to go home to see the show on TV. As I was leaving some girls who'd been there came up to me and said that Brian had stopped on the stairs, pointed at me and was saying something as Keith walked up behind him and pushed him up the stairs. I had no idea what it meant, but it seemed exciting (Keith was determined to protect us from Brian).<br />
<br />
The desire to do something musical was getting to me. I know I turned down the chance to learn violin, but I thought maybe me and my friends could put a vocal group together. Didn't have much more of an idea than that, but they thought I was out of my mind and the plan died then and there. It would be sometime before I finally got it together.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsy-_A1AST9xvYiEOIG7LbV6FOIaJ4zvJZjq2MA-3n5YmJ_8-be9qMqawHByVeThgd1wVwWhEK0t7iIJLWGTj7r0gDIsm6d9-h2Dhkh_cnlCoupkdGAdnDJWehADYMVdwRICCRt9UoCnF/s1600-h/Stjones+21.4.65+Mick+with+black+eye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsy-_A1AST9xvYiEOIG7LbV6FOIaJ4zvJZjq2MA-3n5YmJ_8-be9qMqawHByVeThgd1wVwWhEK0t7iIJLWGTj7r0gDIsm6d9-h2Dhkh_cnlCoupkdGAdnDJWehADYMVdwRICCRt9UoCnF/s200/Stjones+21.4.65+Mick+with+black+eye.jpg" width="148" /></a><br />
Decided to go to the fan club on Argyle Street. Bill came down, I phoned Charlie to see if he was coming, he turned up later with his wife Shirley. He was wearing the most amazing blue suede coat, and looked fabulous, he really knows how to dress. We walked down to Vogue House in Hanover Square with Mick, Keith, Andrew Oldham, Mike Dorsey and Eric Easton. Mick clearly had a black eye but would not divulge the origin. We assumed Chrissie had whacked him, but he did not let on. Mick, Keith and Eric left to go to a photographers studio, we went home.<br />
<br />
Brian has found a place to live, a mews house on Elm Park Lane in Chelsea, we used to visit him fairly often, mostly to chat, sometimes to get autographs, really it was just nice to see him. As luck would have it, the road he lived on was a short cut from the bus stop to one of our friends, Laraine who lived in a council block at World's End. One time as I was about to knock on the door I noticed something scattered on the ground, it was a ripped up photo of his girlfriend Linda Lawrence, sitting with their son. How sad, Linda seemed like a nice person, and now she'd become another one of his girls with a son called Julian. Apparently he asked them to name the child Julian if it was a boy, in honour of his hero the jazz saxophonist Julian 'Cannonball' Adderley.<br />
<br />
Pamela and I were on Denmark Street, the home of music in London - Regent Sound, guitar shops... While we were there we saw <a href="http://www.donovan.ie/">Donovan</a> walking down the street, he stopped and chatted to us and we got his autograph. We were about to leave when we came across a couple of girls we'd met before, not a particularly pleasant pair, they were clearly smug about something. Eventually they showed us what they had - some stolen photographic slides, there were a few of Mick and Chrissie sitting in the living room at Holly Hill and one of Chrissie holding Mick's cock (allegedly). Although we were so naive after turning the slide round a few times we had to ask what we were looking at. Somebody got one of the girl's address details and passed it on to Mick who, not surprisingly, was very unhappy about the theft and keen to get them back.<br />
<br />
The Walker Brothers hit 'Make It Easy On Yourself' was huge, we loved it and got to know them soon after they arrived in the UK. We phoned them, Gary said they were going out, but would be back around 5.30pm - yes the band did all live together and no they weren't real brothers. We arrived at their place in South Kensington on Onslow Gardens just as they were walking down the street. John had not grasped the concept of us driving on the left and was nearly run over crossing the road. He leapt up in the air and right over the front wing of the car. We laughed for hours.<br />
<br />
We talked often and when they moved to Paulton House in Chelsea they called to give us their new number and address. If Gary answered the phone he would generally ask if I was feeling evil and try to persuade me to go round, I wasn't and I didn't. I may have only been 15, but I hadn't taken leave of my senses. How many girls he tried this approach on I don't know, I can't imagine he was that successful, but I could be mistaken.<br />
<br />
We met Donovan again, this time outside the Playhouse Theatre going into the Joe Loss Pop Show. He is such a friendly guy, we like him a lot. We watched him play 'Catch the Wind', 'Colours' and 'Josie' - good show.<br />
<br />
Me and Pamela entered a dance contest and won tickets for Ready Steady Go. I had to sit my French GCE the morning of the recording. Rushed out as soon as I could, changed into a cream corduroy skirt, black corduroy jacket and black suede sandals and got to the Redifussion studios in Wembley Park as soon as I could. It would be a good show, the Kinks, the Yardbirds, Burt Bacharach, Les Surfs (a French band), and the Stones. Loved every minute, good choice of songs from the Stones. Brian asked us to be quiet for 'Play With Fire'. They followed it with Hank Snow's 'I'm Moving On' and then we all went bananas for 'I'm Alright'. Perfect.<br />
<br />
Back at Heathrow the Stones were heading for Glasgow, they arrived late. 'Oi Charlie we've missed the bleeding plane' Brian shouted to Charlie, as Keith flung the car door open so hard it nearly came off its hinges and got jammed between two cars. I've never seen Charlie laugh so much. While they waited for the next flight they decided not to eat in the airport because the food was awful, (some things never change). When they returned I walked through the terminal with Brian, he stopped to buy a 'girly mag', while we were sitting in the lounge Keith rolled up his newspaper and using it like a megaphone shouted 'You pornographic sod Jones!' Jones was amused and agreed the mag was indeed very rude.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHCjcPa633qb09FP-uJgjzsdL69yeSEuA-5TpFJzwnofMIQyjORevdIXtF-3z6m998iYIRoX9iii9WCYKfjh-fHtu77as9-yubSyvgcRGlCGuPsIrUhnVPFK9LmGITPWFQ5HKA8BqZI6W/s1600-h/Keith+Richard+I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHCjcPa633qb09FP-uJgjzsdL69yeSEuA-5TpFJzwnofMIQyjORevdIXtF-3z6m998iYIRoX9iii9WCYKfjh-fHtu77as9-yubSyvgcRGlCGuPsIrUhnVPFK9LmGITPWFQ5HKA8BqZI6W/s200/Keith+Richard+I.jpg" width="138" /></a></div>
Studying Shakespeare's King Richard II for my GCE English 'O' level was too good an opportunity to miss, with a small amount of defacing all that was needed was some autographs, especially Keith's. He thought it was pretty funny.<br />
<br />
The flight was called and they were heading for the coach to take them out to the airport, Mick walked towards me and for some unknown reason I kissed him, his face was rough and unshaven, but it felt good. I think I was more surprised than he was, he smiled at me and I turned round to see Keith laughing and waving from the coach.<br />
<br />
Four days later they were back and it was my birthday. After a lot of hysterical discussion our friend Ann asked Keith 'What does plating mean?' He rapidly passed it on to Brian, who laughed so much he could hardly speak. Eventually he replied, 'It's some sort of sheet metal work isn't it Keith?' Undaunted she asked Bill who told her not to be so filthy. That's rich coming from him. Keith said to Ann 'I'll do it if you like, but you only want to plate the Walker Brothers. She said she didn't and he said 'OK you gotta learn sometime.' Got in the car and drove off laughing. For those of you who don't know, plating was the then current slang term for oral sex, and all parties were fully aware of its meaning.<br />
<br />
At the airport about a week later (I had been home) I saw Brian's car pull up, he got out, walked towards me, climbed through some railings and said 'Hello darling'. I loved his voice - a fascinating, but strange mix of posh, effeminate and sexy. I said hello and we walked in the chemist inside the terminal, where Keith was doing his funny walk. We continued into the grill and sat at the bar. The waiter says we all have to have the 7/- (seven shillings) breakfast, a ludicrous suggestion and obviously a ploy to get rid of us. Keith just wants a cup of tea, the waiter says he can't have one. 'I want a cup of tea, now go and get it.' The waiter says 'I am not going to give it to you.' Keith demands 'Go and get the manager.' Brian meanwhile is repeating 'Bring the manager,' over and over. Eventually the waiter says he will serve Keith and Brian but no one else. We all get up and leave. Brian squeezes my hand and smiles at me. So sweet, sometimes...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU80FK-vmPHvk0G_yc8QgyuKwHA6jFJ7gGXmNi3VX60It941KqmQ7koVzF5msW6MqYropvzTitiN9GGN_MKnlTGXYRx_DWM9mJ3imtBWvKcm5MPjaosR8ESuQ1xcimjG2f5Pr5NRPD4Vuv/s1600-h/Stones+Mick+and+Pamela.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU80FK-vmPHvk0G_yc8QgyuKwHA6jFJ7gGXmNi3VX60It941KqmQ7koVzF5msW6MqYropvzTitiN9GGN_MKnlTGXYRx_DWM9mJ3imtBWvKcm5MPjaosR8ESuQ1xcimjG2f5Pr5NRPD4Vuv/s200/Stones+Mick+and+Pamela.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Here's a photo of Mick with Pamela, Ann and Jennifer at Heathrow.<br />
<br />
Sometime in July we decide to go to Ivor Court, this is a mansion block on Gloucester Place near Baker Street, where Andrew Loog Oldham has his offices and where Charlie and Shirley had a flat, but were moving out today. We were talking to Keith who took the opportunity to give out a Brian Jones warning 'you need to be careful around him, he's already got five children.' This came not long after he told us to stay away from PJ Proby, because he was a dirty old man. This was because Mick's girlfriend Chrissie had run off to his place after an argument, so PJ was not flavour of the month. Keith knew we'd been visiting his place opposite Chelsea Barracks and when he moved to his mock Tudor house on Barn Hill in Wembley Park.<br />
<br />
P.J's was open house, one time we were there the Rockin' Vickers came to visit arriving in their hearse on the way back from a gig, a very amusing sight and a lively evening. PJ was big on dogs and had two Saint Bernards, one was a puppy, completely white and looked like a polar bear cub, very cute. The third was a Basset Hound that really loved to howl, particularly if PJ went out the room, when he would sit under one of the dining chairs and wail until he returned, or sometimes would just start up and nothing would stop him, boy was that annoying.<br />
<br />
Bumped into Mick and Keith, who were at the fan club, as I was heading to the Palladium to get tickets for their show next month. That was a nice surprise.<br />
<br />
Saw them the next day too, again at the fan club, after I had taken my French pen pal to see the delights of Trafalgar Square.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFDq63fk6-XjhaBZVkMvscFtDcrkseG5ah3WTNSBoxojIWH4jCswFZdu3JRd6-lfcGTyn_1OgX1BYkJT1EIbHnbI0TLOEtwGx2Hf-81d7WvuULdqyIcaPhOuIGZGx5z1lh0SVjD3-jNgl/s1600-h/Stones+Mick+in+Chrissies+mini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFDq63fk6-XjhaBZVkMvscFtDcrkseG5ah3WTNSBoxojIWH4jCswFZdu3JRd6-lfcGTyn_1OgX1BYkJT1EIbHnbI0TLOEtwGx2Hf-81d7WvuULdqyIcaPhOuIGZGx5z1lh0SVjD3-jNgl/s200/Stones+Mick+in+Chrissies+mini.jpg" width="200" /></a>The Mini was the current must have mode of transport and Mick and Chrissie both had one. Mick's was green with a white roof and her's was white. One evening Pamela and I arrived at Mick's as he was leaving. He said he was sorry, but he had to go out and asked us if he could drop us somewhere. He was heading for West London and offered to take us to Baker Street tube station. Pamela was very keen to take the front seat, I gallantly climbed in the back, thereby avoiding any unseemly pushing and shoving! It was a good ride but not long enough.<br />
<br />
Here's a pic of Mick in Chrissie's car.<br />
<br />
.Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-58440581798099088282010-01-11T19:18:00.094+00:002018-03-09T16:02:19.329+00:001964,The Rolling Stones, John Lee Hooker,1st January was the start of BBC's Top of the Pops. This new year's day show included The Rolling Stones 'I Wanna Be Your Man', Dusty Springfield's 'I Only Want To Be With You' and the desperately 'square' Swinging Blue Jeans 'The Hippy Hippy Shake'. The show finished with the current no.1 - The Beatles 'I Want to Hold Your Hand'. Who knew the show would have a 42 year run? We were just thrilled to get another music programme.<br />
<br />
The Stones were seriously not popular with a big section of society, parents, establishment, Mary Whitehouse were all predictably appalled and thought they were a threat to the way of life we were currently enjoying. Hooray. Having said this, not all teenagers liked them either. Many of the girls in my class found them, filthy, disgusting or depraved and sometimes all three. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiriHJRjFvaY954l74orz0aYjS3VodsPi4gERZlQBNNEhvmW3Gc-u2KVJjciHdVReAHaV5ZF9PBtPKDhPhOt3fT7p8AwiZ-0pYnzwvCAYmzu4I3kf4ioYdABjMIocEWuq7cRSWbORUONxob/s1600-h/NME+64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiriHJRjFvaY954l74orz0aYjS3VodsPi4gERZlQBNNEhvmW3Gc-u2KVJjciHdVReAHaV5ZF9PBtPKDhPhOt3fT7p8AwiZ-0pYnzwvCAYmzu4I3kf4ioYdABjMIocEWuq7cRSWbORUONxob/s200/NME+64.jpg" /></a></div>
For me music was a refuge from a world I didn't feel part of, it made sense and spoke to me in a way nothing else did. In April I got to see the Stones play live at the NME All Star Concert at Wembley Empire Pool. There were lots of other performers, some good, some bad, the Stones were no disappointment, Mick and Brian looked fantastic, the music was great. <br />
<br />
Now I have a burning desire to see more live music, trouble is me and my friends are a bit young and many clubs do not really want 14 year old girls on the premises. The blues scene was not new in London but it was now expanding at an unbelievable rate. This tiny island was a hot house for music, over the next decade some of the most amazing tracks ever recorded would be made here and we would witness some of the best live acts ever seen on a stage. The Beatles were certainly the start, but they definitely weren't the finish.<br />
<br />
After much whining and pleading my friend Pamela's older brother David agrees to take us to a blues club, as long as we don't embarrass him by mentioning the Rolling Stones. To the blues purists the Stones had sold out by having records in the charts, Mick and Keith were not rated very highly, and plenty thought Charlie had made a definite wrong move by joining. We agree to his condition and are taken to the Manor House Blues Club to see Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames. What a fabulous gig, they were brilliant, with the many members of the Blue Flames squashed on to the tiny stage. The unmistakable sound of the Hammond organ with the Leslie was just great. Georgie's taste was a mix of jazz and blues, his set included 'Seventh Son' and 'Love the Life I Live' by his hero Mose Allison, we weren't especially fans of Mose, but we liked the way the band played and Georgie looked good.<br />
<br />
This year we are heading to Blackpool for our family holiday and my schoolfriend Carol is coming. We have to share a bedroom with my Nan, who could snore for Europe and along with her hearing aid emitting a ear piercing whistle in the middle of the night, we got little sleep. My Dad hung a blanket between my Nan's bed and ours, but what we actually needed was to be in another town.<br />
<br />
One night we were treated to front row tickets for the ice show. Dear god it was dull that is until a skater in a dodgy gorilla suit came gliding across the ice heading straight for my friend and gave her a big monkey hug. Carol was horrified and terminally embarrassed, I wanted to laugh till I was sick, but managed to control myself. She was still bright red when we got back to the ghastly flat.<br />
<br />
Luckily we are back in London by 4th July to see the Stones on Juke Box Jury to judge this week's singles. An extra chair had to be added as there were usually only 4 members of the jury. It was almost not broadcast because they behaved 'so badly' in rehearsal. David Jacobs, the DJ/presenter was a bit miffed, they'd made comments like 'I guess it's OK if you don't have any aspirin in the house'. All very satisfying for us.<br />
<br />
We're at the Majestic Ballroom in Finsbury Park tonight (July 15th) to see The Pretty Things for 4 bob. In a headline they are described as 'The Group that Ungassed The Stones' ?! I like The Pretty Things but I doubt they ungassed the Stones - whatever it means.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wn7odkbB7ZiIubhVsU0xHtAXoZ5SOBhyphenhyphenmcsRWBL70q1ptr7oVBNcfTeOif3ZqojrfQfb6wK7e9M0Wpq0Eqt3eYuQuwFGJQ4RIpfWLtLf733rkNuPWd4NtEp6BB0kqP56HJ-e34ZYKjON/s1600-h/Richmond+Jazz+%26+Blues.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wn7odkbB7ZiIubhVsU0xHtAXoZ5SOBhyphenhyphenmcsRWBL70q1ptr7oVBNcfTeOif3ZqojrfQfb6wK7e9M0Wpq0Eqt3eYuQuwFGJQ4RIpfWLtLf733rkNuPWd4NtEp6BB0kqP56HJ-e34ZYKjON/s200/Richmond+Jazz+%26+Blues.jpg" /></a></div>
4th National Jazz Festival at the Richmond Athletic Grounds, and me and Pamela had ten bob tickets for the 7th, the Friday night. It was quite a long way, we took the overground train and got there early enough to find seats quite near the stage. The T-Bones, the Authentics and the Grebbels were on the bill and I'm sure they were good, but I have little memory of them. We were there to see the Stones, the audience were serious music fans, sitting quietly and well behaved in their seats. We did the same and watched in awe, Brian looked stunning, particularly when he played tambourine. Loved Bo Diddley's 'Mona', the beat hypnotic, the guitar amazing. I was in a dream world, time had stopped. Unfortunately they over ran and we missed the last train, had to phone home for help. My Mum told me to get the tube to Kings Cross and my Dad would meet us in the car. This would not be good, dragging my Dad out was not going to be a happy situation. Pamela was dropped at Canonbury Court and we continued home in an angry irritated silence. I was not popular. But the gig was what mattered and it was no disappointment.<br />
<br />
A new girl joined our class, Sandra Ratcliff, who I knew from my previous school William Tyndale. She'd been expelled from Highbury Hill Grammar and parcelled off to us. She was quite a hit and could be entertaining. In the sewing class presided over by the scary Mrs. Sills, she pretended to swallow a pin, all hell broke loose, teachers appeared from everywhere, she was given bread to eat, milk to drink and taken to hospital. I have the feeling she was nearly expelled from our school too, but in the end she left of her own accord. Sandra went on to do some modelling and acted in movies 'Family Life' and 'The Final Programme', she later appeared in Eastenders for a couple of years as Sue Osman.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzhTqrnnY6mle1Gd-3Ch4zi8RWccoVtiBJaQLzefoPzhGUZcMNqPfqFXvt1b16BCiyDxyRfOroGdbArd3CInRVsPvl0cbxq6Dk9uhcoUM6SyUo-RvTvwEj7WmUiQoYyj71FVAFoCdfH1B/s1600-h/Manor+House+Blues+club.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzhTqrnnY6mle1Gd-3Ch4zi8RWccoVtiBJaQLzefoPzhGUZcMNqPfqFXvt1b16BCiyDxyRfOroGdbArd3CInRVsPvl0cbxq6Dk9uhcoUM6SyUo-RvTvwEj7WmUiQoYyj71FVAFoCdfH1B/s200/Manor+House+Blues+club.jpg" /></a></div>
Our second visit to Manor House with David, was to see the legend, <a href="http://www.johnleehooker.com/">John Lee Hooker</a>, the backing band was the Groundhogs. We grabbed a couple of chairs right at the front. Mr. Hooker walked from the dressing room and on to the stage with his guitar, he looked straight at the audience and began playing. He had a powerful presence and initially I found him quite intimidating. I felt like I was being tested. Are you ready for this little girl? 'Boom Boom', 'Crawlin' Kingsnake', 'Dimples', 'Boogie Chillun'. This was the real thing, was I ready? You bet your life.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6n-a7ys6Ymg4Go6cs_BZBTIxDzI6lDJak_-_YaTauA6QtzocEb4u0m5T-kmd6_aoqSXoQ8Jokz_bvSWcewjf6tz3PWsdM8pzGyTDsXR1bfhTSkK3ExAslhYp8D83wuEF8sMaC6_z0gJx/s1600-h/Jimmy+Reed+and+Them+64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6n-a7ys6Ymg4Go6cs_BZBTIxDzI6lDJak_-_YaTauA6QtzocEb4u0m5T-kmd6_aoqSXoQ8Jokz_bvSWcewjf6tz3PWsdM8pzGyTDsXR1bfhTSkK3ExAslhYp8D83wuEF8sMaC6_z0gJx/s200/Jimmy+Reed+and+Them+64.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="border: medium none;">
Back again next month for <a href="http://www.myspace.com/bigdaddyjimmyreed">Jimmy Reed</a>, Jimmy was very happy to be here and appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the surprising attention of the British blues fans. He did 'Big Boss Man', 'Bright Lights Big City', 'Honest I Do' and loads more. Them, the band with Van Morrison, were the support and the backing band for Jimmy. They weren't a half bad blues band. Van was not the prettiest lead singer, but he had a good voice and was determined to show how versatile he was by playing everyone else's instrument and elbowing them out the way. Not sure what the rest of the band thought, we were slightly puzzled, but none the less amused.</div>
<div style="border: medium none;">
<br /></div>
Long John Baldry and his Hoochie Coochie Men often played the Manor House, Rod Stewart played harmonica and sang a few numbers, he seemed quite nervous and sometimes turned his back on the audience. He was very popular and often turned up in a red velvet suit. A rumour circulating at the time was that he wore women's underwear, don't remember if it was confirmed. <br />
<br />
Like much of the London blues scene, this band had its beginnings with Blues Incorporated, run by Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies, and was the catalyst for just about every group you could think of. Brian, Mick, Keith and Charlie of the Stones played with them, as did Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Paul Jones and John Mayall. Long John sang with them before he joined Cyril Davies All Stars - Cyril had split with Alexis due to 'musical differences'. After Cyril's untimely death, Baldry formed the Hoochie Coochie Men with Jimmy Page and Nicky Hopkins, who had been in the All Stars. Later Rod Stewart known as Rod the Mod joined and, Jimmy and Nicky left...<br />
<br />
Have to mention <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFZKtx5qnPs">The Joe Loss Pop Show</a> (BBC Radio Light Programme), as we there on a regular basis. Joe who was not our cup of tea, an ageing bandleader who had a hit with 'March of the Mods', an uptempo little ditty that was very, very annoying, but did have a spot on his show featuring current performers. We would go to the recordings at The Playhouse Theatre on Northumberland Avenue, down by the Embankment, where you'd get in for free and see some really top class acts. His show ran for some time, we saw Manfred Mann, The Yardbirds with Jeff Beck, Donovan, Cream, Georgie Fame, Sounds Inc., the Kinks... The show had a surprisingly good atmosphere and was often quite anarchic. Joe liked a bit of a laugh and so did the audience. One time he had Keith Relf conducting the orchestra while he (Joe) was dancing, it was really funny - maybe one of those things where you have to have been there.<br />
<br />
Me and Pamela's interest in the Rolling Stones was increasing by the minute, we absolutely had to meet them in person, and thought our best bet was London Airport. So one day in October we made our attempt. Pamela stayed the night at my place, the alarm was set for 5.00am. We got up, got ready and left in the dark for the airport. Unfortunately nobody really knew how to get there, we'd looked at the bus map and worked out a route which involved more than a few different buses. Of course it took forever and as we arrived a couple of girls were coming out of the terminal, it was clear we we'd missed them. We must have looked so devastated they took pity on us and gave us the address of Mick and Keith's flat in Hampstead - this kind of information was usually a very closely guarded secret and rarely handed out. So a huge amount of thanks to whoever you were.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_CJgiZG66in0W0U1cTso-hpYVfyT2BVNUJ2cgg6V__GMCjvwVTVjEJQlu7e_vuo0wRFglQLX_4U8XUL76OANzeix11vlbcqapuRq_WFrfhyphenhyphenIBOCQqpA7z6UI2Mc8QUUOBRzE1vnEWkeY/s1600-h/Stones+Keith+Holly+Hill+Dec+64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_CJgiZG66in0W0U1cTso-hpYVfyT2BVNUJ2cgg6V__GMCjvwVTVjEJQlu7e_vuo0wRFglQLX_4U8XUL76OANzeix11vlbcqapuRq_WFrfhyphenhyphenIBOCQqpA7z6UI2Mc8QUUOBRzE1vnEWkeY/s320/Stones+Keith+Holly+Hill+Dec+64.jpg" /></a></div>
Soon after they came back from the States me and Pamela took the morning off school ( if anyone checked I must have attended the doctor's and dentist's with alarming regularity, but apart from an occasional raised eyebrow nothing was ever said), we took the tube to Hampstead and as we walked towards their flat on Holly Hill, Keith was looking out the window, stretching and yawning, we knocked on the door, chatted to them both and returned to see them again later that night. They were both really nice guys and gave freely of their time and continued to do so for the next couple of years. (Photo is of Keith at the door to the Holly Hill flat).<br />
<br />
They worried about the amount of school we were missing. Mick told Pamela she should study and pass her exams, she told him she would. I think she may not have been strictly truthful. Mick wanted to know what kind of music we listened to, what singles we bought, what bands we liked. What we thought of Little Millie's Ska track 'My Boy Lollipop'. That kind of stuff.<br />
<br />
We could have surprisingly ordinary conversations. I'm not sure what other people thought was going on when we were with them, but my guess it was something quite different. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhex50c9-NP-jieU1uv3jBmxjgGbVpkVs0nDcV4y73QxY77dzYVudydYZS9Z6lBGL4kI6ZVXfmW4_FXMReJOCQjvMO_FxwE9JmJDxWrFJjAyXmgZvxhzpuXaIAP26oF9qP4_aW8QuROXKlg/s1600-h/Mick+and+Keith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhex50c9-NP-jieU1uv3jBmxjgGbVpkVs0nDcV4y73QxY77dzYVudydYZS9Z6lBGL4kI6ZVXfmW4_FXMReJOCQjvMO_FxwE9JmJDxWrFJjAyXmgZvxhzpuXaIAP26oF9qP4_aW8QuROXKlg/s320/Mick+and+Keith.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mick and Keith's autographs Nov 1964</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Mick's girlfriend, Chrissie Shrimpton, Keith's girlfriend, Linda Keith and his dog Ratbag all shared the flat. The entrance via a long flight of stone steps, led to the first floor kitchen and living room with stairs down to the two adjoining bedrooms. Mick's at the front painted green with a double bed and tiny electric fire on the wall and Keith's at the back much the same, but painted blue. The bathroom was down there too which had the only toilet.<br />
<br />
On one visit Pamela was desperate to use the loo, but Mick had just gone in for a bath and Keith said they had run out of toilet paper. We ran down to the tube station to use the Ladies, and of course the only paper on offer was the ludicrous invention sold by Bronco. We took a few sheets back anyway, but shiny toilet paper?! Really?!<br />
<br />
Previously Brian, Mick and Keith shared a flat in Mapesbury Road. Mick and Keith took the Hampstead flat together, but Brian hadn't found a new place and was staying wherever - with his girlfriend Linda, sometimes with Charlie and Shirley, Phil May (Chester Street).Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-2965255418197491712010-01-07T18:01:00.051+00:002018-03-01T16:49:08.795+00:001963 Moving home, Georgy Girl, JFK, Beatles, Rolling StonesThe flat in Canonbury Court comes with two bedrooms, I was 13 and sharing a room with my 6 year old brother. We had to move. The council's offer is a new build just off the Caledonian Road, a three bedroom maisonette - we take it. I have my own room on the fourth floor with a great view out to Kings Cross, the West End and later the Post Office Tower. The block in Lofting Road is built on a space that had once been a synagogue, the story going round is that it had been bombed in the war and is now haunted. All us kids are scared witless. Roger Moore (The Saint) lived in a house that backed on to us, maybe he's scared too. As it turns out the story is a load of old cobblers.<br />
<br />
My Dad decides to go Victorian on us, attempting to get some house rules going - if you don't eat your dinner it'll be back for breakfast, that kind of thing. Generally looking for some cost cutting ideas. None of us, including my Mother go for it, his nickname Scrooge was not a joke and we're living as frugally as possible. All lights are turned off when we leave a room and are only ever switched on in the first place if it's pitch black.<br />
<br />
The flat is freezing in winter, no central heating of course and although I'd sprint from room to room I still got bronchitis every year. Our GP thought I was being starved, this wasn't true I ate like a horse, but was just extremely skinny and often ill. My Dad called me the Benzedrine Kid because I always had one of their inhalers shoved up my nose.<br />
<br />
We didn't buy new if we could possibly avoid it, appliances were second hand, as was the furniture unless my Dad built it himself. Bobby was lucky he wasn't a girl or he'd never have had any new clothes.How much more money could you save?<br />
<br />
My Dad's main hobbies are reading true crime and drinking beer, on occasion he was able to combine both - a family outing to the Magdala Public House in Hampstead where Ruth Ellis shot her lover, was spot on, we also visited 10 Rillington Place (no pub) among other various crime scenes. I guess this explains my love of Waking the Dead, but I inherited no taste for beer. Tequila, Jack Daniels, Opus One, yes - beer no.<br />
<br />
Ready Steady Go! is a new commercial TV music programme. Starting on the 9th August it's broadcast on Friday evenings and initially presented by Keith Fordyce, who is then joined by Cathy McGowan and Michael Aldred. This would turn out to be the best British music show ever, with such great energy even before it's broadcast live. A thrill to be at and to watch, with a booking policy that was truly impressive, Otis Redding, James Brown, Sonny Boy Williamson, Beatles, Stones etc. etc. People would drop in to chat, Mick Jagger, John Lennon - a definite must watch. 'The weekend starts here'.<br />
<br />
In September the new English teacher Mrs. Davies arrives, our class 3T really like her, she has great stories to tell about her husband Hunter Davies, the USA, Elvis and the Beatles, and a brilliant choice of book for us to study - the would be classic J.D. Salinger's 'Catcher in the Rye'. Her fairly swift departure is disappointing and I think in part due to her book 'Dames Delight' written under her maiden name of Margaret Forster, not really impressing the schoolboard! Soon after she left 'Georgy Girl' came out and to the amusement of many pupils, the two protagonists, Georgy and Meredith are rather recognisable members of the school's English Department. Probably best she left when she did. Having read her autobiography 'Hidden Lives' I was surprised to see how unhappy she was teaching us and found us difficult and unruly. I really don't remember it that way.<br />
<br />
The assassination of President John F Kennedy on November 22nd in Dallas, Texas by Lee Harvey Oswald (or so we are told), brought a sadness to our world. We might have only been 14 but we caught the feeling that everything had changed and not for the better. The moment having been caught on film made for much replaying, with the conspiracy stories still going on into the next century. Marilyn Monroe's death the year before, created as much mystery and conspiracy theories, not least because of her very close connection to the president and his brother Bobby, also assassinated. <br />
<br />
Music was playing a bigger part in many teenagers lives, the BBC's Juke Box Jury and ATV's Thank Your Lucky Stars were both unmissable TV shows along with RSG! which began on 9th August. I saw <a href="http://www.rollingstones.com/">The Rolling Stones</a> on TYLS performing 'I Wanna Be Your Man', a great version of the Lennon/McCartney song, with some fabulous slide guitar from Brian Jones. Their houndstooth check suits were a bit odd, but they looked interesting and certainly got my attention.<br />
<br />
Both mine and my friend Pamela's record collections were expanding, and not surprisingly we'd been caught up in the first wave of Beatlemania. There were some great singles coming out - 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand', 'She Loves You' from the Fab Four, Dusty's 'I Only Want To Be With You' and the amazing Ronettes with 'Be My Baby'.<br />
<br />
A whole bunch of us from school, went to see The Beatles at their Christmas show at the Finsbury Park Astoria.<br />
<br />
<div style="border: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLkP8AuBQ3n-iqouZ2mIcSnGKp_OPu8uYMVFuD9VuAwjcFiGRxw3PcvnnmN0xrG2ZYKzV_0SPPtQWq2NlxVhjxKU5DNji9GqMH4F1_uoUI_PifW2BhI3IfRIuA_XXin1fUjvOLanvuI8-/s1600-h/Beatles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRLkP8AuBQ3n-iqouZ2mIcSnGKp_OPu8uYMVFuD9VuAwjcFiGRxw3PcvnnmN0xrG2ZYKzV_0SPPtQWq2NlxVhjxKU5DNji9GqMH4F1_uoUI_PifW2BhI3IfRIuA_XXin1fUjvOLanvuI8-/s200/Beatles.jpg" /></a>This was my first live gig, having no idea how loud and crazy it would be, the screaming girls were a bit of a revelation. They really let rip and screamed and screamed and screamed. It seemed very liberating. I bought a rosette with Ringo written across it, crass merchandising, but it made me happy, sadly the Beatles didn't get a penny as Brian Epstein had given the rights away, not realising what they would be worth. Barron Knights, Tommy Quickly, The Fourmost, Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas and Cilla Black were the support acts. Rolf Harris was somehow involved too, but not sure how - I don't think he was painting! It was very exciting, girls were yelling so loud you could hardly hear anything the Beatles were playing. Ringo was perched up on a scarily high podium, behind the front three, how they could hear each other I have no idea.I guess they couldn't, the equipment to deal with those circumstances hadn't been invented yet.</div>
<div style="border: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: medium none;">
Good though they were, the frenzy began to wear a bit thin and horror of horrors our parents liked them too. In fact my Dad paid for me to join their fanclub, this was plainly wrong.</div>
<div style="border: medium none;">
<br /></div>
The Rolling Stones on the other hand, could not have been more right. We loved the raw blues and their wild, sexual, arrogant attitude. As Willie Dixon said 'The men don't know, but the little girls understand'. He wasn't wrong.Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-76095804980515064412010-01-07T16:48:00.002+00:002018-02-03T15:17:55.875+00:001962 murder, dancing and gangs<div style="border: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYQEABj3rKVCO9PzgS5AH0gV0I8nQ0RxHUuDUF_qJ6Xw1MSg84kXNXbrEbbfsHoC3M2b_WbGPYlzYKSqpn9cLJFpgf9XzKUBxII_uwc87XRWPiHlKEAEHl1YeYIo1f9x675ztK56m1x9m/s1600-h/dansette+record+player.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYQEABj3rKVCO9PzgS5AH0gV0I8nQ0RxHUuDUF_qJ6Xw1MSg84kXNXbrEbbfsHoC3M2b_WbGPYlzYKSqpn9cLJFpgf9XzKUBxII_uwc87XRWPiHlKEAEHl1YeYIo1f9x675ztK56m1x9m/s200/dansette+record+player.jpg" /></a>1962 and the British music explosion is beginning its slow burn, our red and cream Dansette is still in operation and getting a steady diet of trad jazz and pop. Acts like Elvis, Adam Faith, Helen Shapiro are continuing to have hits, Acker Bilk's 'Stranger on the Shore' is extremely popular, as is Frank Ifield with his strange yodelling song 'I Remember You' which incidentally my grandad records a version of in a booth on Brighton Pier. In days of yore he was part of a singing duo with his pal Benny Clark called The 2 Bs. They performed at various events - RAF reunions, Rotary Club meetings, mental institutions and their opening number went 'I'm Benny Clark out for a lark and I'm Bert Badger for sure, you'll never be blue when we are near you...' So you see music is in my blood!</div>
<div style="border: medium none;">
<br /></div>
Me and my friends go dancing at the Tottenham Royale on Saturday afternoons. The Disc Jockey, a right snotty bugger, with his finger on the pulse, repeatedly turns down our requests for the Beatles 'Love Me Do'. Don't suppose he ever played it.<br />
<br />
My record collection continues to grow - Ketty Lester's 'Love Letters', 'Dance with the Guitar Man', Duane Eddy, Chris Montez 'Let's Dance', Little Eva's 'Locomotion', 'Sealed with a Kiss' Brian Hyland and 'Love Me Do' The Beatles.<br />
<br />
There are a lot of those records that explain some complicated, often laughable dance routine, the Twist, the Popeye, the Limbo, the Hitch Hike, the legendary Mashed Potato and the most confusing Madison, which was a line dance that you had to be invited to join. You'd better know what you're doing or you'd be immediately retired, humiliated.<br />
<br />
Some of my school friends live near the Arsenal and are peripheral members of the local gang, I occasionally hang out with them after school and at the weekends. Sometimes we go to Finsbury Park and mess about on the row boats on the lake, or it's street corners and smoking. This is not that interesting and the gang leader is no fun to be around, he's a bit of psychopath, who allegedly murdered someone in the alley next to the Wimpey Bar at the Nag's Head. We're told other gang members gave him an alibi so he is never charged. True or not, I do not enjoy being ordered about by him and resign. <br />
<br />
Gang fights are not unusual, mostly breaking out on a Saturday night around the snooker hall near Highbury Corner, Holloway Boys have a preference for knives while the Girls go for broken glass. Some girls from my school are members, but I don't really enjoy the feral madness. I'll fight if I have to, but I don't regard it as an evening's entertainment.<br />
Luckily for me music is going to get a lot more exciting...Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-88607156412847781482010-01-07T16:41:00.001+00:002018-02-03T15:05:35.016+00:001961 Barnsbury Secondary Girls School, Bay of Pigs, TV, holsThe school sent a message home to all parents with the news that it would now be possible to have music lessons. Essentially this meant violin and my mother asked if I would like to do this. I was beginning to think she was trying to get rid of me, first the exciting possibility that I might go to grammar school, now the keenness for me to be seen leaving the flat carrying a violin case, was the woman trying to get me killed? Unless the case contained a concealed weapon - no to the violin.<br />
<br />
I was a smart little cookie and could handle the academic stuff without too much effort, but had a complete loathing of any organised physical activity, except for hockey which I loved, possibly because it came with a big stick. Hockey games were held at the Muswell Hill playing fields on Colney Hatch Lane near the North Circular and required a coach trip, often a St. Trinians affair, school girls, hockey sticks, pushing, shouting, screaming... The fields themselves were hardly plural and were on a hill, hard work whichever goal you were facing. Either the tiny ball would run away from you at a speed that left you face down in the mud, or fighting a losing battle if you were hitting it up the slope. Why I enjoyed this I can't imagine. Surely not the outfits, short dark green pleated gym skirts, white aertex shirts and the voluminous green knickers with a pocket. What was that pocket for?<br />
<br />
April of this year was a scary time, Bay of Pigs and Nuclear War hovered around us, doom was on the horizon. We truly thought we were all going to die. I don't remember any adults, family or school teachers discussing it with us. There were some rather lurid descriptions of the effects of radiation poisoning from older kids, who terrified us with their dark prophesies. Desolation was in the air and confidence in those in power was supremely lacking. Although as everyone now knows this particular conflict was avoided, the Cold War was in the West's consciousness. Communism, spies, 4 minute warnings, the Berlin Wall and suspicion in general, were a part of our lives.<br />
<br />
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament was up and running, I wore the little black and white badge with defiance, but never went on any marches - an 11 year old arm chair anarchist. Looking the part was easy, I already had long hair, knee length black jumper and the jeans, but I decided to keep it in the family where the 'debates' with my Father were many and endless.<br />
<br />
Many families by now owned or had on the dreaded H.P. (Hire Purchase - seen as common, as in common as muck, not ubiquitous) a massive black and white TV, which received, if you were lucky, a transmission of grey pictures from Alexandra Palace, or the all too often vision of snow coupled with white noise when the tuner moved off the station. Much of my TV watching was spent crouching below it, holding the dial in place. Other makeshift ideas were tried, like wedging it with an elastic band, but these were never strong enough and would inevitably snap or ping off and fly across the room.<br />
<br />
When we had a picture, I liked the two music programmes, '6.5 Special' named after its broadcast time of five past six on a Saturday evening on BBC and 'Oh Boy' which was on the 'other side', not the dead zone, but ATV the only other channel. Both of these programmes at separate times had been produced by the infamous Jack Good. They showed acts like Lonnie Donegan, Petula Clark, Johnny Dankworth, Billy Fury, Marty Wilde and Cliff Richard. 'Oh Boy' was filmed round the back of the shops on Canonbury Road, sometimes you'd see groups of girls in their macs and headscarves, waiting in the street to talk to Cliff, the new flavour of the month. One of them must have scored, because he regularly used to visit a girl in our flats. Celebrity was not what it is now, it did not impress the residents one little bit or her dreadfully embarrassed mother, whose daughter was now regarded as a bit of a tart.<br />
<br />
TV closed down after the epilogue and finished with the National Anthem, if she was still up watching, my Nan would stand to attention in her parlour, partly because it was a natural reaction and partly because she thought she could be seen by the TV broadcasters and no amount of explanation could convince her otherwise.<br />
<br />
The playing of the National Anthem was a regular occurrence in cinemas, theatres etc. much of the audience would attempt to leave before it started, rather than have to stand and wait till it finished. There was a bit of an undignified rush for the doors, but for the most part people would not move once it had begun.<br />
<br />
Quite a few 45s made it on to our record player this year - John Leyton's 'Johnny Remember Me' - when the mists a-rising and the rain is falling and the wind is blowing cold across the moor - wow what an opening lyric! (Written by Geoff Goddard and produced by Joe Meek). 'Runaway' by Del Shannon, The Brook Brothers' 'War Paint', 'Are You Sure' The Allisons, Helen Shapiro's 'Walking Back to Happiness', The Everly's 'Temptation', Billy Fury with 'Jealousy'. My Dad bought The Temperance Seven's 'You're Driving Me Crazy' and Kenny Ball's 'Midnight in Moscow'.My Mum liked 'A Theme from a Summer Place' by Percy Faith. Charlie Drake was still at it this time with 'My Boomerang Won't Come Back', but we didn't go for it.<br />
<br />
Few families had telephones and children were rarely if ever allowed to touch it, let alone use it. We had to have one for my Dad's work, in case of a newspaper delivery emergency! It was one of those big black heavy ones, with a dial that made a lovely whirring noise on its return. Telephone lines were not easily come by and to begin with we had to have a party line, meaning we shared it with another family in the block. This would drive my Dad crazy, because either family could pick up their receiver and listen into the other other person's phone call if they happened to be talking. He thought the woman upstairs was doing this all the time, how interesting his phone calls were I'm not sure, but it certainly got his goat and couldn't wait till we got our own line.<br />
<br />
If memory serves, our number was CANonbury 2660, London phones all had names identifying the area. Some like FLAxman, SLOane and REGent held a promise of sophistication with a hint of glamour, others sounded a bit more down market like SYDenham or NORth. If you were dialling a number you only used the first three letters followed by the four numbers, but when you answered you'd say the whole in thing in your best phone voice. Often followed by an irritated 'oh it's you.'<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYTKP6QWrfhwSGnb-c7nSf4HTvpUzlrNUDrji0m6xyOSq_wpj-zO7oBIGIeR77AiLFyKfoIF3eZAlqZlrqNVj4WhZIlj7Wo06cGGT-aAQhxBbeWI-BK3uwd_ZydHog5LjZ4Br7gZGC6yH/s1600-h/Family+photo+62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYTKP6QWrfhwSGnb-c7nSf4HTvpUzlrNUDrji0m6xyOSq_wpj-zO7oBIGIeR77AiLFyKfoIF3eZAlqZlrqNVj4WhZIlj7Wo06cGGT-aAQhxBbeWI-BK3uwd_ZydHog5LjZ4Br7gZGC6yH/s200/Family+photo+62.jpg" /></a></div>
We were still lucky enough to be having family holidays, not everyone could afford to go away. This is my favourite photo, taken in about 1961 in Woolacombe, north Devon, featuring family friends Jack and Sheila, my four year old brother and my Dad wearing a pac-a-mac and my Mum's headscarf. It is a true representation of holidaying in England. My memories of these outings is always accompanied by a soundtrack of hard hitting rain. We would go out whether it was tipping it down or not, to stay in was not an option anyone relished, we were like caged animals desperate for freedom.Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-9443359599821675602010-01-07T16:35:00.002+00:002018-02-02T12:19:34.090+00:001960 the eleven plusStorm clouds were gathering, the 11+ was heading our way, ready to change, stamp and pigeon hole us forever. Believe it or not I really did have to fail. Living on the estate and going to a grammar school was not an option. My 'friends' ( I don't mean Pamela, who was a real friend) in the flats loathed grammar school pupils and my life would not be worth living if that's where I ended up, I was already on dodgy ground, I did not need to make matter worse.<br />
<br />
We were given old exam papers to work through and this was our introduction to multiple choice. Unfortunately I did not understand that there was only one correct answer and would often find some obscure connection, which I saw as a legitimate answer. My teacher explained that although technically I was correct, it was not the answer they were looking for. I was outraged, how could correct be so arbitrary, and just about confirming my 10 year old view of the world.<br />
<br />
Unwittingly I had been given the tools with which to fail, still I almost blew it and was asked to sit it again because I was right on the border line, thank goodness I was given another chance. Of course I will never know if I was clever enough to fail or not clever enough to pass. Either way I was totally relieved not to be going to Highbury Hill Grammar School for Girls.<br />
<br />
We moved on to our respective secondary schools where we would be moulded into respectable young women. Pamela to the Catholic, William of York and me to Barnsbury Secondary School for Girls. I knew little about Pamela's school except that it was mixed and their playground was on the roof. Some people have all the luck. My school on the other hand had several playgrounds all on ground level, and as its name suggests was populated entirely by females. Two of the more sinister variety, the Pye sisters, had a penchant for terrorising the first years and relieving them of their dinner money. To their unending frustration I was protected by an older friend, Brenda from the flats, who went to our school and scared the living daylights out of the Pyes, and there were two of them. She could fight like a demon and did not understand the concept of losing. Any and all foes would be left cowed and bruised. Luckily, on my arrival four years previously, I had been deemed friend and not foe material.<br />
<br />
On one visit to Brenda's I walked into a family feud, there were three siblings, who were regularly at each other's throats, I knocked on the door, her brother opened it, grabbed me, dragged me into the bathroom and locked the door. He now had Brenda's prized possession and would not let me go until some truce and promise had been agreed. To be fair he was very polite and did not harm me in anyway, I was just a bargaining tool. There was a lot of shouting and kicking at the door, he was older than her, but she was much the better fighter and he was panicking. Eventually a truce was reached, I was released and he escaped without a beating. Successful hostage negotiation.<br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />
Our Dansette was getting its usual hammering - Jimmy Jones' 'Handy Man' was a favourite of mine as was much of Adam Faith's repertoire 'What Do You Want?', 'Poor Me', although wasn't knocked out by 'Lonely Pup in a Christmas Shop'. I assumed Adam was a cute, moody misunderstood teenager and couldn't understand why he would record such a thing. The EP from the film 'Expresso Bongo' became part of my collection, four tracks from Cliff Richard and the Shadows from the suitably angst ridden movie about the music biz with Cliff playing the part of Bongo Herbert - no really! The Everly's still featured large in the charts as did the Shadows with instrumentals like 'Apache'. My parents were into music too and before marriage and family life overtook them used to go to north London jazz clubs - Edmonton's <a href="https://www.sandybrownjazz.co.uk/forumcooksferryinn.html">Cooks Ferry Inn</a> and <a href="https://www.sandybrownjazz.co.uk/forumwoodgreen.html">Fishmongers Arms</a> in Wood Green. They also bought records, my Mum had 'Broken Hearted Melody' by Sarah Vaughan, I really liked that. My Dad more trad jazz and Lonnie Donegan who walked that strange line of skiffle and comedy 'Rock Island Line' and 'My Old Man's a Dustman', what was that all about?Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-46304221913901865352010-01-07T16:31:00.002+00:002018-02-01T11:58:42.338+00:001958 Canonbury Court, IslingtonMy school friend Linda who lived in a basement near Chapel Street market, came on holiday with us to north Devon, the journey was always long, usually taking two days. We stayed in BandBs in Somerset towns like Taunton or Langport. Of course we got bored, there was no in car entertainment except us, we played I Spy, we sang, we moaned and we got car sick.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="border: medium none;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdN0DVGgzp9xTa19Z241APRJJg3j9tsMHk-CRqCaNYsOgzkF95IJV15MZ1gfDYZUEPJefDmNQXVPjh5vpvwE2gHboZoTrSjYxxZbtWkXu40E__NknYWC1WpJOeCOhd6CtZ38emuUYP-ySJ/s1600-h/Family-on-beachedit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdN0DVGgzp9xTa19Z241APRJJg3j9tsMHk-CRqCaNYsOgzkF95IJV15MZ1gfDYZUEPJefDmNQXVPjh5vpvwE2gHboZoTrSjYxxZbtWkXu40E__NknYWC1WpJOeCOhd6CtZ38emuUYP-ySJ/s200/Family-on-beachedit.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roy + Sylvia Peatling, Jack Johnson, my Mum + me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the second day, when we arrived on the beach, Linda who had never been out of London, took off like a greyhound, straight into the sea, fully clothed and still wearing her brand new, navy and white slip on shoes. My Dad was yelling at my Mum to stop her, it was a waste of time and later someone had to explain to her Mother why her shoes, which she couldn't afford to buy in the first place, were completely ruined. My Dad tried to fix them with that white liquid shoe stuff, Meltonian? But the sea had left its mark and nothing would shift it.</div>
<div style="border: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: medium none;">
(Photo is of us at Woolacombe with the windbreaker)</div>
<br />
<br />
Back home in London, if we weren't at school we'd be roaming the streets, playing on the bomb site, or roller skating in the courtyard. Our love of skating could not be over estimated, we'd have worn them 24/7 if we could. Skating to the Choc Box on Upper Street was a regular activity to buy their one penny home made lollies that lasted about four licks, before the fruit flavouring ran out and you were left with ice on a stick. Occasionally we bought Jubblies, orange flavoured ice in a pyramid shaped container, although expensive the taste of orange mixed with packaging was strangely moreish.<br />
<br />
There was a surprising amount of good music on the go - Elvis 'Jailhouse Rock', 'King Creole', The Everly Brothers 'All I Have to Do is Dream', 'Wake Up Little Susie', Buddy Holly 'Peggy Sue', Jackie Wilson 'Reet Petite', Duane Eddy 'Rebel Rouser', Peggy Lee's 'Fever'. And as always the charts reflected the nation's pic and mix music tastes and included the above with Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Connie Francis, Pat Boone, Charlie Drake and Bernard Breslaw. I know we had a 78 of 'Wake Up Little Susie' and I think a 45 of Perry Como's 'Magic Moments' with '<a href="https://youtu.be/5t_PDU5RmBw">Catch A Falling Star'</a> as its b side, which I have to admit I liked. Maybe it spoke to my naive nine year old idea of romance, who knows?<br />
<br />
Games were always on the go in the flats, He, Hop Scotch, Skipping, What's the Time Mr Wolf, Simon Says, sometimes a huge game of marbles. We'd dug a hole in one end of the once grassed middle section. I loved the marbles themselves but didn't like losing them. Often mass games of Tin Tan Tommy - a hide and seek variant involving a tin can and a lot of shouting 'Tin Tan Tommy I see Billy behind the pram sheds', and Billy would have to join the tin holder, until everyone had been found and identified. Some games lasted ages and it would be getting dark, kids were being called in by their parents and others couldn't be found because you couldn't see, so we'd have to bring it to an end.<br />
<br />
The building that marked the centre of the estate was the club house. At the rear of the ground floor was a laundry, occupied by vary scary women who would stand no cheek from any of us and would throw a bucket of water at any kid who had the temerity to answer back. It was a warm place that held a huge attraction if you were playing out in the cold, but was certainly not a child friendly zone.<br />
<br />
Events including a Christmas show were held on the first floor in the hall with its stage and seating, here the estate talent could show off. This could vary from the sublime (slight exaggeration) to the ridiculous (no exaggeration). The Luck family had a selection of blonde daughters who provided much of the singing and tap dancing for the show, wearing skimpy shiny outfits, they were very popular with certain members of the audience. One young girl, a friend of my brother's was up to sing the Andy Stewart song 'Scottish Soldier'. She came out on stage deathly white and terrified, we applauded as she began to sing and repeat the first two lines over and over until someone from backstage hauled her off.<br />
<br />
During the Christmas show the presents we had chosen from the Christmas Club were given out. A list had come round in September for the kids to choose from and a weekly sub was collected to pay for them. The list was not wide ranging, one year my reluctant choice was an umbrella.<br />
<br />
The club arranged visits to the pantomime, my Dad came with me to see 'Goody Two Shoes' at the Golders Green Hippodrome and to Finsbury Park Empire for 'Aladdin'. We went by coach and were given an apple and orange in a brown paper bag. It was an exciting do going out to the theatre at night. Although I have to admit I did find the crossdressing and the over acting a bit puzzling.<br />
<br />
The club house had quite an imposing entrance with a set of very wide concrete steps. My friend Pamela was attempting a wild roller skating stunt using the sides of the steps as a launch pad. This went really well until she crash landed and finished up in the Royal Northern Hospital having her broken finger put in a splint. And thereby achieving an unofficial badge of honour.<br />
<br />
We spent a fair amount of time at the local playground near Essex Road on the swings, the umbrella, the horse... We were in the middle of a polio epidemic and were bombarded with scary stories of kids who had caught it from the sand pit or the local swimming pool. We were injected and sugar cubed against anything that was going.<br />
<br />
But the top entertainment has to be Saturday morning pictures. We sometimes went to the ABC on Essex Road but usually it was the Gaumont on Upper Street, the place was heaving. Regular cliff hangers worked like a charm, Lone Ranger, Zorro, small boys charging down the aisles with their coats on like capes, signing Zs in the air. Out bright and early queuing to make sure we got in and bagged good seats, 3d in the stalls, 6d upstairs, we might not be able to afford to sit in the balcony, but we weren't stupid enough to sit in the target zone either. Those more affluent, up in the circle, would rain down missiles, Kia-ora cartons, Butterkist, Lovehearts, Spangles, anything that came to hand and of course the well titled stink bombs on to the plebs below. Mayhem it may have been, but it was our mayhem and we loved it.Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4635085144547256211.post-68825771678336212242010-01-07T16:25:00.001+00:002018-02-11T15:32:34.363+00:001956 winter - Return to the smoke<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7G1Agh-9e7uWLYQFJAEK5qmulRcPyFCDAQ6xTyMzZaQ-xXZARlz2fqdNepc6ZIgkm54Xi9l5ump3tiJ_hc64o0sB8U59QiksYjlMCBqAkFtEvP0jsLi6HSWFHVnx6zSk335b_fMR-sRK/s1600-h/Opel+Kapitan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7G1Agh-9e7uWLYQFJAEK5qmulRcPyFCDAQ6xTyMzZaQ-xXZARlz2fqdNepc6ZIgkm54Xi9l5ump3tiJ_hc64o0sB8U59QiksYjlMCBqAkFtEvP0jsLi6HSWFHVnx6zSk335b_fMR-sRK/s200/Opel+Kapitan.jpg" /></a></div>
Rain was hitting the windscreen, the tiny wipers were flying back and forth, I sat in the front seat of our car, my eyes glued to the back doors of the removal lorry we were following, while my Dad drove through the storm down the A1 back to London. Returning from four years in the infant new town Stevenage, a rural idyll, always sunny, with fields full of poppies and cornflowers, woods carpeted with bluebells and primroses, and me and my cohorts running wild and carefree, well in my mind anyway.<br />
<br />
The car is a red Opel Kapitan made in Germany, left hand drive and one in a series of unusual vehicles my Dad acquired, usually on the wrong side of clapped out. My Mum was often needed to give it a push while my Dad sat in the driving seat waiting for the engine to turn over. No wonder she needed a hip replacement.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTzoYAP1LY4PHCyMkMSoGcRxiiIRSmPu1z1RqZ3mDIehSUNsjf6pR3ri5Zj6d6ea1U6nzZTL4O6zEbTdhr7MHZhdRqmlZ3z1z6O2btIH3VREIf9LcGSfxuohfMQKfACoIwEFdnynn8aVE/s1600-h/Barts+Hospital.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTzoYAP1LY4PHCyMkMSoGcRxiiIRSmPu1z1RqZ3mDIehSUNsjf6pR3ri5Zj6d6ea1U6nzZTL4O6zEbTdhr7MHZhdRqmlZ3z1z6O2btIH3VREIf9LcGSfxuohfMQKfACoIwEFdnynn8aVE/s200/Barts+Hospital.jpg" /></a></div>
This was not my first trip back to London, I had been with my Mum a couple of times before on the Green Line Bus which made me luridly sick, this journey was no different. We couldn't stop the car without losing sight of our belongings, so I had to vomit out of the window, making allowances for wind speed and trajectory, I was only a seven year old kid, I wasn't that accurate.<br />
I was already distraught to be leaving my friends, my boyfriend in particular, whose mother worked in the sweet shop and often handed out freebies and as we arrived at our new home in the winter of 1956 in this austere, dark, cold, smog filled London it seemed like a lousy deal to me. Enrolled in a school with grilles at the windows, no playing fields, buildings as old as Dickens, I had been kicked out of Paradise.<br />
<br />
You would not believe it, I certainly had no clue, but fast forward a few years and I would be in exactly the right place, at the right time.<br />
<br />
The pupils at my new school William Tyndale were surprisingly friendly and I settled in without too much pain. The uniform of brown and yellow was ugly, but not compulsory so no one wore it. I sat behind John Quaterman, who wrote funny poems and made me laugh a lot. Two Geralds sat together, but sadly didn't follow their true destiny to become a comedy double act. One very thin, the other extremely large, whose mother saw fit to anoint his head with lard every morning before he left for school. There was Joey Annerson, David Cook, Maureen O'Mahoney, Roy Trevelyn, Sandra Ratcliff and her friend Susan, a stylish pair along with Jane Stonehouse, the daughter of the infamous Labour MP John Stonehouse, who years later faked his own death, hiding out in Australia, before being caught and returned to England and sent to prison. But for now he was on the ascendancy and Jane was soon moved from our school to the more salubrious Parliament Hill.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Reason was my favourite teacher, she taught English and didn't hit us much, which instantly made her more appealing. However, others did with whatever was their favourite weapon of choice, usually the slipper. Some preferred to aim the black board duster at our heads if we were talking or not paying attention. The elderly teacher in need of a regular daily hug, moved slow, so the fast were safe.<br />
<br />
Just across the road from the flats was the bomb site that all the local kids played on. A German V2 rocket had hit St. Mary's church school on Shillingford Street near the end of the war and the children and teachers who survived were given space in William Tyndale. We always referred to them as the Marys and it was many years before they had their own premises again. The local sweet shop, right next to the school, missed being hit by inches and was largely unchanged. You entered up some stone steps and in through the door knocked back by the heady odour of paraffin and cats. Mojos, Black Jacks, Fruit Salad, Little Gems, Flying Saucers and that cheap strange tasting chocolate made into shapes of carpenters tools all lay in wait, as did jars of Lime and Cream Soda, Milk Bottles, Cola Cubes etc. <br />
<br />
Keep walking, you’d come to Cross Street, and Jack’s dairy, the bread shop, fish and chip shop, Partridge's the newsagents and Al’s record store a place I loved to visit, searching through boxes full of things I wanted but could not afford.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMb23Zgpjr5AIkthnpGQNLCpvI7E5NBQNrIjrM-I-e1NDmmkCuW3XcX_RAEXat-1p515_Q-EFAHRXlKHVNynv5f-8LHyz6SF-fgYWz6yEddLqiGLm3a86Zol_MPx-VZvJnOif67JTaY7s1/s1600-h/Me+and+mum+59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMb23Zgpjr5AIkthnpGQNLCpvI7E5NBQNrIjrM-I-e1NDmmkCuW3XcX_RAEXat-1p515_Q-EFAHRXlKHVNynv5f-8LHyz6SF-fgYWz6yEddLqiGLm3a86Zol_MPx-VZvJnOif67JTaY7s1/s200/Me+and+mum+59.jpg" /></a></div>
School summer holidays were as long as ever and my parents would usually head south west to Devon or Cornwall. Various family friends would join us and we’d rent a house or a couple of apartments. These were always lively affairs, we would take our record player, sometimes a portable black and white TV and a barrel of Watney’s Pale ale. Although rock 'n' roll was on the go, most of our records were jazz, mainly of the trad variety. There were some Jelly Roll Morton 78s and one of Paul Robeson singing Ol'Man River from Showboat. We played all sorts of games, table tennis, shove halfpenny, board games - ludo, snakes and ladders and of course cards, pontoon and gin rummy were our favourites. My mother of course didn’t actually get a holiday unless cooking and house work in a different venue could be construed as holiday. (The photo is of Mum and me on a Vespa)<br />
<br />
We usually managed to get in some kind of minor trouble. One time we liberated a deer’s head from a wall and filmed it riding around the streets of Teignmouth, south Devon, in our car. Some neighbours snitched on us to the owners, who arrived to check on the head and tell us we’d have to leave if we couldn't behave ourselves.Perskeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00775430338727608840noreply@blogger.com0