hell bent for leather - seb hunter

I picked up 'Hell Bent For Leather' in the local Oxfam shop last saturday, and it was an enjoyable enough read, as a lot of the bands that are referenced in the book, l know from when l was into Metal/Rock (a lot more than l am now).  This is the story of Seb(astian) Hunter, who discovers music (AC/DC) and guitars, plays in bands around Winchester, and then leaves for the bright lights of London to make it big, and have all of his rock and roll dreams come true. It doesn't happen of course, and he eventually becomes an author, but along his individual path of knowledge there are treaties on guitars, band logos, metal bands and how to look cool while playing in metal bands.  That is, until Glam Rock (the 1980's version) comes along and he is swept up with the Dogs D'Amour look and attitude, until Nirvana and Indie come along to kill the scene and force him to reconsider his musical outlook.  I don't agree with some of his views on bands (Deep Purple and Status Quo used to be great in my eyes), but l enjoyed most of the book, as it was pretty self deprecating, and mostly spot on.  Memories of staying in squats, bumming about, and drinking in 'The Intrepid Fox' (when it was in Soho) and 'The Hellfire Club' were stirred, as l used to go to them myself, and many a mad night was had in them (Oh Yes!).  There was no mention of 'The Spice Of Life', which was also pretty popular around the time frame he is referencing, but l'll forgive him that.  For those of us that were in bands, wearing hats and bangles, dreaming of stardom, and loving Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, The Rolling Stones etc, parts of this rang way too true and close to the bone. I even met the FPO when l was into Hanoi Rocks and wearing a hat with a scarf around it. The only trouble now, is she can still fit into my old tour t shirts.  My father was also a sarcastic alcoholic (now dead), but in the school of hard knocks l inhabited, there were no guitars or pianos around the house, no trips to buy guitars, and certainly no rides to concerts or offers to manage the band. Despite all of this, it was purely my lack of talent that prevented me being a star, no matter where l came from. Still, better to try and fail than not bother and regret it later (he says bitterly).

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new london underground signs

This is sheer class.  Somebody has been putting up fake signs and notices on The London Underground, and an excellent job they have made of it.  It looks great, it's kind of believable, and it's funny.  You can find more of the notices here.  The foreign tourists must be confused to buggery.

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chalk farm graffiti

This graffiti around Chalk Farm in London is by Blu (via artofthestate), but l am not sure what l feel about the work.  In a way, it looks too amateurish for my liking (not that l can do any better) but there is also something surreal about it that appeals to me.  It doesn't take a lot to confuse me, and this graffiti certainly does that.  Time for another lie down - my head hurts.

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london necropolis / brookwood cemetery

When l was last in that there London and waiting for a train back oop north, l was trying to remember where the old station was for the London Necropolis Railway, which used to be at Waterloo station, and took the dead of London out to Brookwood Cemetery in special trains.  I looked for it (and asked) around Victoria station, but no one had heard of it, and l later found it was actually at Westminster Bridge Road.  I forgot about this on my return, until l came across the book above, and the Brookwood Cemetery website.  Maybe l'm just morbid (or strange), but l would have been interested in seeing those trains in the past (but even l'm not that old).

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amy winehouse's house is up for sale

Got a bit of spare cash floating about? How about making a bid on Amy Winehouse's old house in Camden Square, London. It's only £2.7 million.
I might have a look for some spare change down the back of the sofa and make an offer myself.
More details and photographs are here.

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the (bleeding early) london trip for work

Well dear reader, l did it. I managed to drag myself out of bed, drove to the train station (setting off at 5.45am) and caught the early train to that there London.  I was a bit tired early on at the meeting, but perked up until the train journey home, when l could have easily fallen asleep, but, the trooper that l am, l hung on gallantly, drove back from Darlington, and was home for 8pm, in plenty of time for some chicken and a soak (and no, they are not euphemisms).

The meet was at The Holiday Inn by Kings Cross, where l discovered there were only about 100 of us staff invited (from about 7,500) and due to our splendid work, money has been put aside for our development within the organisation (whatever that will entail). At lunchtime l managed to go outside for some fresh air and have a wander round the surrounding area, as Tavistock Square was nearby (plus Kenneth Williams' childhood home/flat).  I know about the Bloomsberry group centred around the area, but it was bugging me what else l remembered Tavistock Square from, and thought it may have been the location for 'Performance', which, it turns out, was at Powis Square.  It was only when l got home and checked that l found out - it was the scene of the 7/7 bombing, when an explosive went off on a double decker bus, in the same place as the one in the photograph above, outside the British Medical Association, where there is now a small plaque (which l didn't see).
If you are wondering what the drawing is, it is a representation of my passions, drawn by someone else as an exercise during the day. I'll let you guess what they are from the artwork.
What a gay day.

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london at night by jason hawkes

One of the things l like about the series 'Not Going Out', is the shots of London from above, making it look like one hell of a place to live. These photographs by Jason Hawkes have the same effect.

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