In Glasgae for the Pistols & Frank Carter gig. It's m'birthday and I've got pink leopard print hair and a pink and black kilt on, so I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself... Today is going to be hot (for Scotland) and wet, which to quote Adrian Cronauer is..."good if you're with a woman, but ain't no damned good as the weather". "Anyone want to swap some Factor 50 sun lotion for a sou'wester and some galoshes?"
At the airport preparing to fly to Luton on our way to MK. Met and had a chat with Richard Jobson, who's on the same flight as us. Mrs B bumped into him, in the crowd watching the Pistols. He is a top fella. Yesterday’s band ranked: Rezillos - 9/10 Home advantage, but strong performance. Skids - 10/10 Always a top act. Should have been above... Buzzcocks - 1/10 First couple of numbers were ok-ish. After that, they were dreadful. Mrs B didn't recognise 'Orgasm Adict' until the chorus. Spent their entire set laying on the grass...wishing it would end. Undertones - 9/10 Always great. The Stranglers - 11/10 despite seeing them only a week ago, still a delight. Band of the night. FC& Sex Pistols- 7/10 Jonesy looked dreadful. Probably exhausted after a recent gig in France, in the broiling heat. The gig at The Forum in September was sooo much better. Oh well, onwards....
I have the album, very good it is too, they are playing in London later this year but unfortunately I won't be able to get there I heard Sarah Jarosz on the Robert Elms show years ago and have followed her ever since , if you like this "alt country " give her a watch , you won't be disappointed Her show last year was one of my highlights
So, The Damned have announced their 50th Anniversary Gig scheduled for 11th April 2026 at... ...the soulless Wembley Arena, supported by Peter Hook & The Light, Marc Almond and The Courettes, in a venue holding 12,500!!!! Now, that's a bit of an unimpressive supporting cast, especially because of the size of the venue. I cannot see any of those bands adding much to ticket sales. It's also one monumentally **** venue! AEG, the promoters, have got their work cut out! They will probably need some content featuring a fan of the band talking about how great they are and why punters need to attend the show... ...they could have found such a character at Sunday's festival...or, just maybe, they spotted a pink leopard print hairdo, atop the biggest bloke in the place and thought... "That's HIM! He will sell tbe place out." Yes, I might very well be 'that man'...it's a funny old life!
I don't mind Wembley Arena and I suspect that they might go all seating for that gig. They did it last year for another ancient lineup: Judas Priest, Saxon and Uriah Heep. I don't suppose you got that interviewers name, did you? She looks a bit familiar, to me.
Not a great idea at a Damned gig, all seating. I spent a fair portion of the gig @ The Palladium separating people who wanted to sit from people who didn’t. I got offered out a couple of times, as the staff were ****ing useless and scared stiff. This time, I shall be in a standing section, in front of the stage, and everyone else can deal with the problem. My dislike of that venue goes back 42 years, so it's probably time to give it another chance....
Another top musician who went largely under the radar for much of his career. Ill health plagued his later years, but at least he passed 80, so a good innings
Lots of mates went on this morning's Fan Club pre-sale to find that standing tickets had all gone. Many jumped at what was left...only to find that more standing tickets were made available this afternoon... Some are suggesting that the £125.00 (incl. Fees) that I paid was a discounted price. I hope not, as there could very well be some tickets sold off cheap to fill the place. The Pistols in Bellahouston Park was about that, and Forever Now...and Pulp. Charging anything above £125.00, for 2 standing tickets, is likely to be met with rude words and gestures...and empty seats and spaces. .
A mate of mine went to Wembley Arena last night. It was Billy Idol supported by New Model Army. All seating but lots of people were standing, apparently. Hard to tell from the Youtube footage: If they're selling standing tickets though, then there must be standing, right?