Au revoir, Johnny Hallyday. RIP. My old man, who is a bit of a francophile, had a couple of his albums. Personally, I never got it and found his version of rock 'n' roll a cringe worthy affair. However, this cover was good...............................
My mates' band Los Conos belting out ABBA's 'Mama Mia'. Good cover. Don't fret about the St George's flags, it was during the 2012 World Cup and it's a big football pub. Despite it being right in Crystal Palace heartland, the previous 2 guv'nors were Spurs.
Paul Fox's final gig......he died of cancer very shortly after.. Henry Rollins doing a decent job of standing in for the sadly missed Malcolm Owen. This because I've just spent a stupid amount for a mint T-Shirt from that night's gig. Anyone got a sofa that I can sleep on when Mrs B finds out?
Frankie Valli has announced dates for next December. These will be his final appearances in the UK, well, he'll be 84. What voice he's got left? I don't know but as they'll be at The O2, I'll not be in attendance. Shame, a truly great singer.......
A very, very recent performance for Radio 6, the first to feature Paul Gray on bass for years and years and years. The Captain always played best in tandem with him. It's great but Dave's overdoing the fake US accent a bit sometimes. The new single played for the first time at 27.14 plus some old faves. I didn't win a ticket in the ballot. The tour starts in 6 Weeks, 6 Days, 15 Hours and 1 minute. I can't wait - Going to 3 venues.
I do like an anniversary - 35 years ago today The Jam played their last concert at Brighton and this was the last song that they played
I'm lucky that the only band that I never saw was The Pistols. I was at a gig by the '4" Be 2"s [Jimmy Lydon's band] in 79/80. All the original Pistols were there and the heavy rumour was they were going to play. They didn't until years later. I declined. I was like I am for The Damned for The Clash, SLF, The Ruts and X-Ray-Spex as well. Last night, I was thinking that I was soooooo lucky to be 14 and in London when Punk exploded. Most of the bands were right there and wanted and needed to play. Gigs were originally £1 or £1.50 and my cousin's mate was the son of one of the main promoters, so we got stuff for free. Looking back, I was the luckiest little **** in the world. Increasingly, I'm aware that this stuff won't be there forever. So get it whilst it's hot. My youngest's doing the Emo thing [she's 14 tomorrow] and her favourite band packed it in a decade ago. I can't get my head around it.....but these are for her......she can play both on the drums.....and they ain't that bad.
This post is to celebrate the return to training of Big Vic and to mark the passing of Cheggers.....I wasn't the biggest fan but at least he wasn't a sex pest unlike everyone else in the 70's........RIP Little Man.
I'm not one for the French usually. Carla Bruni [yes, I know she was born in Italy but she grew up in France] has been an exception.....until now. She does to this Clash track what I would very much like to do to her......and I'm not talking about singing. Terrible. Still, if you mute it......
No, not that..........I was alluding to her ****ing the life out of it. I read a review of her Sunday night performance in London [her first and maybe her last?] and her version of Jimmy Jazz was considered a high point. A high point? Christ on a bike. It's said that The Clash's version, the third track on London Calling, marked the death of Punk Rock. Her version marks the death of anything that is holy....and I'm a fan.
That's a high point? Hang on... She can't actually sing, can she? I've heard better pissed up karaoke versions of that and I'm not even joking. She's as good a vocalist as her husband is at being a tall bloke.
I'm off to The Lyceum tonight to see The Lion King [again] - it's my youngest's favourite and her birthday choice. Nearly 39 years ago, I was there for this........where did the time go?
