Gary Glitter's back catalogue is played all over the world, except the UK. Michael Jackson was as big a pervert as GG, but everybody pretends he wasn't. It's all a load of bollocks. The Damned's last album contains the track 'The Leader of the Gang', for which they took some flak. It's a lament for happier days, which forgives nothing and reflects Captain's friendship with The Glitter Band. I saw them both on tour at Dingwalls, a few years back.... "Leader...leader"
Yep and he's not alone in that regard either. I saw him when I was a teenager at Hammersmith I believe. Could be elsewhere though, it was a long time ago now.... Anyway, I still have some GG albums somewhere...
Glitter and his band used to play the top rank in Watford every Christmas, always a good show I've seen Slade many times , 1st time they were in their skinhead era , later years they were very good with a back catalogue that makes you think " oh yeah I remember this one "
The problem with it, is that the Glitter band get "tarred with the same brush" Which means the incredible brilliance of "Do you wanna touch" etc is never acknowledged.
There’s plenty of others you can level allegations at too, including Elvis. And whatever Glitter is, music is an art form. Whether it’s music or literature or paintings, works should be judged on their own merits. Often they are created by troubled souls. The history of music, art and literature is littered with them. It’s bizarre to suggest that you shouldn’t look at a painting or read a book or listen to music because it wasn’t produced by a wholesome individual. I’ve never understood where these people are coming from who censure things for this reason. You can like or dislike a piece of art, irrespective of your view of the artist.
Mrs Conn is out with the girls , I've got Guy Garvey on 6 music playing the perfect soundtrack while I wrap her Christmas presents ( all 3 of them , yes I know she is a lucky girl to have me ) roast in the oven and a good red already half done , waiting for Spurs to piss all over the weekend
I did once buy her an ironing board cover , my nads are still in the jar in the shed , too be fair she still uses it
I once got an anniversary present of a mop then followed it up with the matching bucket. Haven't walked good for years....
A mates final straw in their divorce was him saying to his Mrs " you can choose anything out of your littlewoods catalogue to the value of £10.00" when he told us at work about it we all laughed but he said with all seriousness " I've already brought her a set of screw drivers "
So, where to start about back-to-back Damned gigs at the weekend? THEY WERE ****ING BRILLIANT!! That is all.
IMHO there is a "class warfare" aspect to this (unless one wishes to claim "body count" etc is supreme wrt who should be widely despised) . As far as the "chattering classes" go, you can be the "right type" of vermin (Eric Gill, Roman Polanski etc) .
On our way to The Roundhouse for the first of the 2 end of tour gigs. People dropping out all over the place - every hour or so I'm getting calls to ask if I know anyone who needs tickets. It could be quite empty if this is any representation of the rest of the audience. It was a sell out....
Who remembers the Toy Dolls and Nellie the Elephant, an old work colleague of mine was the cousin of the lead singer and we went to see them in a club in Northampton I heard the song on the radio yesterday and it is 40 yrs old It somehow became popular at punk gigs
Baz Warne, the current lead singer of The Stranglers (he's bloody good and a top fella to boot), served 2 years as bassist in The Toy Dolls back around the time of 'Nellie the Elephant'. He'll never escape that. Not so much at Stranglers gigs, but at festivals and Wingmen gigs, there's always some 'wag' shouting out... "Do the one about the Elephant!" Mr Warne is never pleased by this suggestion. It's a silly song but it is FUN. I'm a big fan of fun... silly B sides...Christmas singles...weird cover versions....even the occasional outing of 'Happy Talk' or 'Wot' (not both on the same night). Bring them on!
