Wolver'ampton-Wulfrum .
After tearing myself away from home,I had to meet Jon (Reign of Fury guitarist) and Martin (sound engineer) at The Damned's lock up to pack their gear into the van.Jon had just got back (literally) from guitar teching in Finland with The Buzzcocks. Wolverhampton friday night,Minehead Sat night.
I always get a feeling of dread for the first shows when teching.It's not a nerves thing,it's more "like something isn't gunna work right and it'll be our fault" kind of feeling.
We finished packing and set off.Got petrol about 5 miles down the road then Jon realised he'd forgotten the guitar rack.So we had to turn around and get it.Good start.Wolverhampton here we come, take 2.
We got to the Wulfrum and just for a change it was pissing it down while we loaded the gear in but luckily we have humpers to help us load in when we're with The Damned so it wasn't too bad.It takes about 2 hours to go from load in to soundcheck ready and it's the most boring soundcheck ever with these guys.When Martin asks em for a song,it will take a good few minutes for everyone to agree on a song to play.Then they'll start jamming nothing in particular.Which can be cool but we could all be done alot quicker if people could make their mind up.
After soundcheck,we blasted the metal!Pinch (drummer) had been touring the US with English Dogs and had some new songs to show us,and we had some R.O.F. to show him.Captain Sensible is not a metal fan so he just took the piss.
The gig it's self went pretty well.With a couple of "REIGN OF FURY!" shouts from the crowd.Always good to here that.After the show,we packed as quick as poss had the odd peanut butter crew sandwich (thats all thats on offer) and fucked off to the hotel.Total Recall was on telly!Bonus!
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| Pinch'es Kit,Wolver'ampton |
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| At least the beds in the hotel aren't too close together |
Minehead-Butlins
The last time we were here,we met Mike Patton and Masterdon.But it's not gunna be that cool today.After a long drive in the pissing rain listen to Jon tell us which are his fav service stations (yawn),we got there about 4pm and made our way to the backstage area where we proceeded to stock our pockets with free chocolate and crisps and tried to convince the Butlins staff we were also famous and we would also sign the guitars they were giving away as a prize if they wanted us too.They didn't believe us so we loaded the gear in instead.
D.V. (Damned singer) doesn't do sound checks so Wakey from English Dogs,who was hanging around helped out.Stu the Bass player wasn't about either so Jon also stood in.
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| L-R: Wakey,Captain and Jon |
Sound check done,we got some food and chilled out before the gig.
At the end of the set Pinch managed to miss judge his footing and fall off the riser taking the kit with him!I think he just about got away with it though.
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| The aftermath |
Earlier,we discovered the Ben Hayes (ex 4ft fingers bass player now with The Radio Nasties) was at the show so we packed the gear as quick as poss and met up with him and his girlfriend Jessica.
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| Thats not Jessica on the left,thats Jon.She took the photo. |
We left the next morning and drove home in the pissing rain for a change!
Next gig:Thursday 3rd May Holmfirth.
Just announced: I'll be drumming for my old band 4FT FINGERS again for 6 shows in October.It's been 10 years since we released our 2nd album so we thought we do an anniversary mini tour.
We'll be playing:
BIRMINGHAM, BALLROOM, THE END - 4TH OCT
NEWCASTLE,THE CLUNY 2- 5TH OCT
NORWICH,WATERFRONT 2- 6TH OCT
GLOUCESTER GUILDHALL- 11TH OCT
LONDON ISLINGTON ACADEMY 2- 12TH OCT
MANCHESTER ACADEMY 3- 13TH OCT
Magic Dave.
