mick jagger is 75

It's Mick Jagger's 75th Birthday today. A thought that should make any rock fan feel old.
Rather sadly, when l saw them in 1982 l thought they were a bunch of old gits living on past glories.
He was 38 at the time, and looked like this....possibly on their last tour.
How wrong l was.

Remember him this way





toodle pip

this is elvis at darlington hippodrome 25 june 2018

I went to see 'This is Elvis' at Darlington Hippodrome on Monday, and l have to admit, it was pretty damn good, with Steven Michaels doing an excellent turn as Elvis Presley. It started with the '68 special black leather recording, and finished with a white jump suited Las Vegas performance. 

I've been to Gracelands in the past, but this is as close as l've ever got to seeing him, and much better than previous Elvis impersonators l have seen.

Despite the attendants trying to stop people taking photos etc, l also managed to film a bit, including a bit of funny banter from the audience.

Enjoy!

toodle pip

chuck berry is 90

It's amazing that, apart from Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly, all of the original rock and roll legends are still alive, with Chuck Berry, the eldest of them all, celebrating his 90th birthday today.
Little Richard and Chuck are my favourites amongst them, and although l have never seen Little Richard, l have seen, spoken to, been on stage with, and got a signature from, the one and only Chuck Berry. I've also helped him open the boot of his car, and have bored people with the tale ever since.
Chuck has many bad points to his personality, and has had a massive chip on his shoulder for many a year, sometimes with good reason, and sometimes with no justification, but he sure knew how to write a song, and tell a story in under three minutes.
No one is that keen on getting older, but l would rather be an even older git now if it meant seeing all of the stars in their heyday.
Some time, in the not too distant future, there will be none of them left. What a depressing thought.
Here's my Chuck Berry autograph (with smiley face added afterwards by him)

But most importantly, the music.

And for those of you out there that love 'Albatross' by Fleetwood Mac - listen to this (from 1957).

toodle pip

the punks put on a show

You can say what you like about a lot of the old punk bands and music, but one thing you can't deny, is that some of the shows were a bargain. Here's one l would have loved to attended. And all for £1.65 in advance!

toodle pip

rick parfitt has another heart attack

Damn!
Myself and others were going to go to the 'Rock on Windermere' gig this weekend to see the once mighty Status Quo, but it has been announced that Rick Parfitt has had another heart attack after a recent gig in Turkey.
Ironically, the reason we were going this weekend was that we hadn't seen Quo for years, and as they (and us) were not getting any younger, we did think that this might be the last chance to see them before they retired, or mother nature, armed with the icy hand of death, took it's toll on them (or us).
The gig is still going ahead, with Rhino's son filling in for Rick, and it sounds like Rick is making a good recovery, so it's not all doom and gloom, but my reason for going, like the proverbial dead parrot itself, has ceased to be.
Ah well - back to the football and pub, and l wish Rick a speedy recovery, and a long life.



toodle pip

burnfest - coming soon

Coming very soon to sunny Colburn in the heart of Catterick - the now annual Burnfest!
Wine bar first, then Colburn, then flaking out at about 10pm. Fun for all the family!

toodle pip

the weekend starts here!! - plus rival sons - keep on swinging

The weekend does indeed, start here!!
I'm heading out later around Catterick and Richmond with Robbo and the lads today, then seeing Rocker's band in Richmond tonight (no doubt followed by takeaways and a recording of 'Match of the Day').
Manchester United v Liverpool tomorrow at 1.30pm, (hopefully 6 wins on the trot), then off to see Rival Sons in Newcastle on Monday, followed by a day of doing bugger all on Tuesday, before heading back to Newcastle on Wednesday, and resuming work thereafter.
Admittedly a rather long stretch of the definition 'weekend', but it certainly suits me.



toodle pip

u2 photographs

At one point in my life l produced and sold magazines around the UK and Ireland, plus l was a bootleger, taping concerts and selling cassette copies of them by mail order and at record fairs. During my travels l met a lot of  'stars', but mainly just interesting people from all around the world, some of whom l corresponded with for a while, but sadly lost contact with, as l am crap at staying in touch with people.
Digging through the garage stuff (see below - an ongoing battle), l found these snaps of U2's Bono and The Edge knocking about from Glasgow 1987. The wall is outside Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin.
Below is a beermat signed to me (as one of 'The Glimmer Twins') from drinking with The Edge and his brother in the outskirts of Dublin (in about 1989).
Happy days.

toodle pip

led zeppelin on their private plane

This is the way l should be able to travel.  Loads of space, large beds, music, drink, drugs (not shown in the pictures) and groupies.  There's even a bleeding fireplace!  These photographs are of Led Zeppelin back in 1973 on their (rented) private plane 'The Starship'.  How the other half live.

I've always liked Led Zeppelin, and years ago (late 1970's) l had a denim jacket onto which l painstakingly added 'Led Zeppelin' on the back. The problem? I only went and missed out the 'e' and spelt it 'Led Zepplin', not realising until it was finished and too late to remedy or save. Thank God l didn't wear it to Knebworth in 1979, as l'd have been laughed out of the place. What an idiot. Lukkily l can spell now.

More info and pics about the plane here.

toodle pip

the mc5 and keith chegwin

My admiration and love for the rather wonderful MC5 is second to none, and here is a rare concert from the German TV programme Beat Club in 1972. It's a shame they where never that succesful, but my reasoning for this is that (much as l love him), Rob Tyner (the singer) looks like Keith Chegwin nowadays, but with a fright wig/afro on his ample bonce. Now l don't mind Cheggers, and he was very nice to someone l knew a while back (and, like me, he's from Bootle). He is not however, trying to front a band at the moment (although l'm sure he would do so if he got the right offer). Everyone knows the rule about singers - the fans have got to want to be them, or have sex with them. Rather sadly for Rob, even though l'm sure he would have got plenty of offers of sex (and drugs) because he was in a cool band, on a larger scale, he is not going to appeal to lots of the ladies out there, and blokes would rather be someone else (Heeeeeeeeeeellllllllloooo, Keith). It happens all the time with bands, but let's face it, they are in a popularity game, and the looks play a huge part in it. The flip side of this is pretty boy/girl bands who are popular due to their looks and marketing, but their records are shite.

If you don't believe Rob looks like Cheggers - check out his showreel and imagine him covered in sweat, with a tan and the wig. Oooooooohhhh.....sexy!

And don't forget......

Kick out the Jams motherfuckers!!!!!





toodle pip

newcastle city hall from the stage

I have been to many concerts at Newcastle City Hall over the years, and although it holds just over 2,000 people, it does not look that large in this shot from the stage. Pretty deceiving l'd say, as l never realised how much you could make out so many of the audiences faces from upfront.

The man in the shot is Jason Issac, who l have no idea about, but my guess is it may well be a religious meeting of some kind (I can't be bothered looking it up - fill your own boots if you want to).

toodle pip

r.e.m have split up

A statement on their website has confirmed R.E.M have split up. Although l have not been that bothered about their last few releases, during the late 1980's and early 1990's, they were one of my favourite bands, and gave me a hell of a lot of pleasure. Their concert at Newcastle City hall (I think on the Green tour) was one of the best gigs l have ever been to, with the audience being enraptured when Michael Stipe stood on a chair and sang solo, to an absolutely silent crowd. I suppose it's because of people like me that haven't kept buying their records, that they feel they can't take it further, but there comes a time when you can have too much music from one group. It's still a shame (but now they can now go off and spend all the money l invested in them).

The statement:

"To our Fans and Friends: As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band. We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished. To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening." R.E.M.

toodle pip

mothers day and richard herring - christ on a bike - the second coming

Eventually got to Stockton yesterday for Mother's Day at the in laws. Had to wait ages for the FPO to get ready (even though she had been in all morning while l was at work), then had to go to Tesco's for flowers and booze. We had curry on the go all day (not for the first or last time), which was pretty good to pick at while drinking bottles of booze with the father in law (the one who does not want tales of ice pops being repeated). The FPO was trying to interest me in her sisters bambino, but once the crying started (from the baby, not me), l got out of it.

Left about 6.45pm to head to Darlington, then straight into Inside Out Comedy Club, at what used to be known as Perrys. Had two spare tickets which the club took to resell, then time for a quick ale and into the club itself. It was the first time l had been in there since it became a comedy club, and it was a pretty good venue for seeing a comic, as it only had about 100 or so people in, and everyone is reasonably close to the stage. Worked out that it is a pretty good living playing to that kind of audience, as you are still taking about £1,000 a night, plus whatever merchandise you can sell afterwards. Obviously there are overheads, and the club/promoter etc will get some dosh, but it's still better money than most bands get.

Anyhows, Richard Herring was really good. Not a laugh out loud all the way through kind of comedy show, but amusing and interesting. It was about an hour and a half altogether (there was a short interval for more ale) and really well written. He also did a good bit when he reeled off the first page of the New Testament (who begat who), which he said took him four days to learn.

I did have a quick heckle when he asked near the end if anyone thought he was Christ, where l shouted "You're not the Messiah, just a silly boy", which of course is from Monty Python's Life of Brian, but slightly incorrect, as they say "naughty boy", not "silly". This of course was picked up by Richard Herring, and he put me down for not shouting the proper quote. When speaking to him afterwards, l started to fox him by saying l did not know there was a quote and what film was he on about, but the God fearing FPO could not keep quiet, so told him l did know. Foiled again!

At least he signed my programme 'To Jamie, the real Messiah!', so it turned out alright in the end (although he probably thinks l'm a fucking idiot). Another uneventful night ticked off.

toodle pip

screamadelica

As l was perusing t'internet tonight l noticed 2 Primal Scream tickets were for sale for next Friday night in that there London. The first time Screamadelica has ever been played all the way through. Couldn't resist that so l duly put on a bid and have just found out it was successful. All l need to do now is sort out time off work, transport and somewhere to stay. And l am off to Berlin the week after. Damn! Then again, l am a happy, go lucky, positive kind of fellow, so it will be all right on the night (hopefully all night gig). Then again, it depends on the mood of the FPO. l may have to take little Nozzer instead (the pissing litle bastardo).

Primal Scream mark 20 years since the creation of their mind-blowing landmark Screamadelica by playing the album in its entirety for the first time on26th & 27th November at Olympia Grand Hall.

Since its release in September 1991, Screamadelica has been hailed as thedefining musical statement of the 90s, often one of the greatest albums of all time.

It scooped the first Mercury Music Prize in 1992 while the late Paul Cannell’s cover design was recently chosen as one of the Royal Mail’s ten classic rock album stamps.

Primal Scream have never performed some of the songs live before while many have not been played for years. To fully realise them the band will be expanding the lineup with gospel choir, brass section and singer Denise Johnson rejoining for the night.

Get on it, fill your boots, have it large, crack open the disco biscuits etc. Should be fun

toodle pip