Posts in category "music"

John Peel and The Chameleons

Thoroughly enjoying Margave of the Marshes and pleased to see The Chameleons get a mention:

For David Fielding of The Chameleons, that meant loitering outside Broadcasting House in order to press their tape directly into John's paw. In the case of The Chameleons, John thought he was the victim of a practical joke after listening to their demo: the recording was so accomplished that he suspected he had been given a cassette of an established band.

...although this slightly contradicts the note that John Peel sent back to the band where Peel describes the tape as 'Very muffled'.

A few years, when Mark Burgess got married, I made a paltry contribution to a wedding present. A few weeks later, I was staggered to receive an email from Mark Burgess thanking me together with a draft chapter of his (still unpublished) autobiography. Mark also describes travelling down to London and hanging around outside Broadcasting House with a tape.

The Chameleons

The Killers

'The Killers' are in the UK to promote Sam's Town and their new facial hair. The band made an appearance on Jonathan Ross show playing the single 'When You Were Young' and 'All These Things I've Done'. Radio 1 also had a 2 hour feature including interviews and a concert from Blackpool Empress Ballroom recorded on Friday 8 September. Irritatingly, the BBC haven't grasped podcasts yet and the concert includes some of the following songs but not necessarily in this order. The concert starts at 1 hr 20 min.

  • Sam's Town
  • Enterlude
  • When You Were Young
  • Somebody Told Me
  • Smile Like You Mean It
  • Bones
  • Bling
  • Read My Mind
  • Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine
  • Midnight Show
  • All These Things
  • Uncle Johnny
  • My List
  • Mr. Brightside

Margrave of the Marshes

Last night the book club met again after the summer recess. Rosemary Barnstormworth suggested an interesting tome titled 'Margrave of the Marshes'.

This is John Peel's partly completed autobiography which was completed by his family after his untimely death. I really think I am going to enjoy this one. For example, in the foreword, his children describe a list of potential titles

  • How's Your Flow ?
  • Wet Echo
  • Flying Cream Shoes
  • Goatman Codds
  • If He Ever Hits Puberty
  • Buckskins and Buggery
  • The Wotters Won The Race
  • A History of the Iodine Trade 1847-1902
  • An ABC of High-Jumping
  • The Questing of Stempel Garamond: How He Overcame The Gelks and Punished The Dwellers with the Well
  • Jesus Wasn't Made of Fish

I have already laughed out loud more then once although I find some of the sentences long and rambling. Then it struck me. This was exactly how John Peel was. You can almost hear him saying the words.

Sadly, though, this is one talking book that will never be made.

Guilty Pleasures

OK. I own up. Although I have superb taste in music, I can't help but hum along whenever I hear No. 2 on this list.

'Don't Fear The Reaper' by Blue Oyster Cult also falls into the same category.

rare occurrence

Far, far away by Slade, from 1974, as the music used to entertain customers placed on hold.

Hats off to Vodafone corporate. I was actually a little disappointed to miss the end of the song when my conversation with the agent resumed.

The Smiths nostalgia

A video of Jean (unplugged) with Sandie Shaw on vocals and Johnny Marr on acoustic guitar in Kew gardens surrounded by Morrissey, Rourke, Joyce and assorted children.

I think I might wake up tomorrow morning to discover I dreamt all this. If so, I apologise profusely in advance.

just say no

I have a video of Pete Doherty's err, duet with Elton John at Live 8.

It is clearly marked and I have removed the write-protect tab.

I am not a fan of The Libertines or Babyshambles.

I just want to use it to show my children that's what drugs do to you.