Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Speed-Speed-Speedfreak: is the title of Mick Farren's latest non-fiction book. If you don't want to wait until the UK release date in October, there are sellers on Amazon.com in America, who can get you an early copy sent over - (it was published there in July).
Mine arrived today, and I am thrilled with it.
My first capsule-shaped book.
And knowing Mr. Farren, it will be a great read, too.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Our Last Bank Holiday: break of the year, so now it's all-go right through until Xmas. Always keen on the Joan Hickson portrayal of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple, I didn't feel convinced the new Julia McKenzie interpretations would be up to the mark. So last evening, I took a gamble, and watched, and enjoyed, an episode. Strange seeing The Young One's comedy star, Nigel Planer, (Neil the hippie), playing a balding old buffer, and one of the CSI character's from Silent Witness playing a differeent role; also Holly Valance.
There Was A Young Man From Kent: whose tool was exceedingly bent, to save him some trouble, he put it in double, so instead of coming, he went.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

My Sincere Thanks: to the Motorheadbangers and Motorblog readers who have read, and enjoyed, the 'When The Clouds Have Passed' novel. Also to those who have reviewed it on Amazon UK and USA, very much appreciated. A friend of MHB and reviewer, Peter Eriksson, said it was very much like an Agatha Christie story with its twists and turns and red herrings, so I am thrilled to be even spoken of in the same breath as the greatest of them all.
It was a joy to write, and was one of those unplanned stories which even I had no idea of the outcome. It began as "what could happen to a man aged over 60 in a small Dorset village?" and just went from there.
Thanks again to everyone, the support is appreciated.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Not A Dog Person: But cats never cease to amaze me. Our latest, Lucy, runs around the place like a lunatic when she has had a number 2. It's as if she is rejoicing at clearing her bowels by doing so.
I mentioned this to Mrs. B, who is aware of it, of course, and thought it would be funny if we humans did the same? Perhaps we would look out of the window, and Jeff, next door, would be running around the garden at full speed. Mrs. B and I could look at one another, and say: "Hmm, looks like Jeff's had a good clear-out!"
It means a great deal, and going every day, or not, appears to affect how we feel.
And there are those adverts we mentioned before, with the group of women who take the stool softening tablets. And the senna tablets when they can't go at all. And the other tablets when they have to go out but have an upset stomach, and need to solidify things.
We chaps either don't have these problems, or we don't let on that we do. At least not on TV adverts, anyway.
Can you imagine a blokes version of any of the above ads?
We've been here before, I know, but...

Thursday, August 26, 2010

The Illustrated Collector's Guide To Motorhead: There are 7 copies on Amazon.com starting at $50 - interested? Click here -
http://www.amazon.com/Illustrated-Collectors-Guide-Motorhead-Burridge/dp/0969573626/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282810220&sr=1-6

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

It Was Interesting: to see how a hot weather country like Tenerife dealt with their household rubbish and waste disposal.
We saw the dust cart flying along the main high street on their collection run between 10 and 10.30 pm, which put a stop to any animals tearing open bags for food scraps etc. during the night. Not as safety conscious as the UK, the two operatives rode at the back of the cart on a footplate designed for the activity, whilst holding a handle for extra security when taking corners.
Close to our hotel, two fairly large wheelie bins stood at the side of a glass recycling unit, and householders, shopkeepers, and hotelliers alike, filled them with waste throughout the day. Mainly black bags, but tree branches and garden waste was not uncommon; and one day, after their weekly swimming pool tiled area disinfectant scrub to stop varukas and suchlike, our hotel placed two broken sun loungers at the side of the bins. The bin men didn't throw them in the dust cart to be squashed, but next morning, an open-backed truck appeared to take these larger items away, and left the area clean and tidy again.
What the community charge for daily waste disposal is in Tenerife, I don't know, but they have a better way of dealing with it. Large items can be taken away by the council here in the UK, but they charge £15 for doing so, the Spanish government don't appear to be so grabbing and greedy as ours.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

The Baseball Cap Baldies: Ten or fifteen years ago, anyone young with a bald head would be viewed with some degree of pity, as it would be assumed they were undergoing chemotherapy. And then David Beckham shaved his head, and baldness became fashion, and despite my father thinking they looked like Nazi's, the person looked younger by shaving it all off. Thankfully, the intimidating appearance has been diluted with time and familiarity, and the condition has settled as being the norm.
But it is so noticeable how baldness is rife in the 35 and under age group, and seems to have developed from the first baseball cap generation onwards, for which trend and fashion is to blame. Pulled down tight on the pate, stretching the scalp, the heat builds up, light is eradicated, just like putting black plastic down to kill a lawn, and the effect is the same.
My family has never suffered , yet Mrs. B insists my follicles are thinning on top, a condition caused by one of the numerous medications I take, but have now stopped as it wasn't having the required effect - other than proving her right.
Finger's crossed, they will now return in abundance.

Monday, August 23, 2010

So, Who Ate All The Pies?: Well, me, or so it seems. Before the heart op as a smoker and drinker, 66kgs (10 stone 3) was the norm for years. Weighed for my annual check in March it was 78 kgs (12 stone 2). But I don't eat that much. A snack for breakfast and lunch and a meal for dinner, I couldn't eat less if I tried.
But carrying that extra 12 kgs (almost 2 stone, or 26 pounds) makes a lot of difference, and is the equivalent of 12 bags of sugar, it's no wonder the knees are suffering, I get out of breath, and can't walk as far as before.
And it's more noticeable just back from the hols where the pressure was high, and back here with the rain, it's low, and you feel like a mobile pudding lumbering along with that added weight in millibars bearing down.
Agreed, we had breakfast and evening meal included on holiday, so the 78 kgs might well be 80 or more at the moment. So from someone who could eat anything and it made no difference, to a weight-watcher, it illustrates how the booze and ciggies are an ally.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

A Rare Cream Video: Despite a reasonable collection of Cream DVD's and tapes, this one, from America's Glen Campbell TV show, has never been amongst them -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhCrAGX6Wq0
A pity it has the time coding and other words on the screen, but it shows the band, especially Eric and Jack, at their hairiest, playing 'Sunshine Of Your Love' - top notch!
By the time they came back to the UK for their Albert Hall Farewell Show, they had been suitably shorn for the occasion. I don't think Clapton has ever looked as good since.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Just Back From Tenerife: The difference between the Spanish laid-back lifestyle was inspiring. Roofers working on buildings with no scaffolding, and scant regard for what we in the UK regard as Health & Safety at Work, would petrify many. But they were used to it, it was their 'norm' and if it isn't there, you make sure you don't fall off.
And with but 2 fixed speed cameras on the entire island, one could argue speeding and accident stastics, but none were obvious. Yet the UK is pickled with them, despite 'cut-backs' currently in the news where local councils can no longer afford to use them.
Cigarettes at £1-20 for 20 B&H only reinforced the Spanish ideoligy that if Brit's smoked more we would be less inclined to suffer and / or die from stress. It also appeared as if there are no fines for what we term 'cigarette litter,' but sweeping up the few stray butts there were gave the street cleaner's a job. Yes, we had human street cleaners once, didn't we; but such is progress.
The whole Spanish culture made me wonder why UK natives put up with the now long, and ever increasing list of Orwellian inspired red tape we are forced to suffer. And who passes these Laws? Why were we not given a vote on whether we smoke indoors or not? With 5 pubs a week closing down here, why were breweries and / or landlords given the choice of smoking or non-smoking pubs, allowing freedom of choice? Instead, we were given a blanket ban rather than the good old British tradition of freedom of choice. It would have been an interesting outcome.
Apparently, the Spanish abolished their smoking ban, and although our hotel reception had a no-smoking policy, it wasn't enforced on the balconies even though ash trays were not provided. So, if you go, take your own, or buy one there.
It would also be interesting to exchange governements. I bet the Spanish would chuckle at our now somewhat crazy way of life, and the ever increasing rules, rules, rules.
Yes, it was so noticeable how the UK seem to enjoy dishing out potty, and petty, rules; which to our EEC brother nations are no more than laughable clap-trap. Isn't it about time we put the GREAT back into Great Britain? The road we are travelling is leading to more and more beaurocratic strangulation, so let's stop it no before 1984 actually comes true.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Lee van Cleef: We spoke of spaghetti westerns a couple of weeks ago, and the music is almost as wonderful as the films themselves.
Despite the enigmatic Clint Eastwood, and his rise to fame from within them, Lee van Cleef was always my kind of cowboy.
He was cool, he was ruthless, and he was as much an ally to Clint as an enemy.
He is the reason The Who's Pete Townsend named one of his solo albums 'All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes.'
In the Eastwood westerns, his character was bounty hunter Douglas Mortimer.
The vicar who married us in 1973 was also named Douglas Mortimer.
Odd coincidence, eh.
Here's a great tribute to Lee - RIP -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9InQvrRVr8&feature=related
Indeed, all the best cowboys do have Chinese eyes.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Mick Farren: is being interviewed about his latest book, 'Speed-Speed-Speedfreak' here -
http://www.dangerousminds.net/ Not often we have the opportunity to see and and hear the man, so this is precious.
The book has been published in America, and will be available to the rest of us in October.
Mick's Doc 4o Blog is available here - http://doc40.blogspot.com/ where the interview can be found on his July 10th entry, if it disappears from the link above for some reason.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Cream On A Flatbed Lorry: Photos taken of Cream playing live on the back of a lorry have been around since 1968, when it took place. But they were stills, and I wasn't aware that they were part of a promo film. But here it is -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U0_DthFbOU&feature=related
with a couple of great songs overdubbed.
And it looks as if it was filmed for a Danish pop TV show.
Lots of hippies appear to have been brought in as extras, and the tots must be in their early 40's by now.
Those were the days, or daze, as some might say.

Monday, August 09, 2010

A Song For Lemmy / Lemmy's Warts: Friend, Eric, sent me these two links. Is this a move to get Motorhead fans to buy the download track or album, or do these bands have genuine respect for the man?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002HN2XEE/ref=nosim/?tag=tunecheckerco-21

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002GX0M5M/ref=nosim/?tag=tunecheckerco-21

Sunday, August 08, 2010

Sunday Shed Head: With such trash on TV, Discovery Shed was a welcome addition to the listings. We get Rico Daniels doing his Salvaging, Alan Herd doing his master carpentry and barge programmes, (but what have barges and sheds got in common?), and right at the beginning, we had 'Shed Heads;' which seemed quite natural
Shed Heads featured two blokes putting sheds together, either bespoke, ready made, tree houses, or repairing an old shed which needed an uplift. I managed to see one or two of these, and then what do we get on Discovery Shed? Fishing programmes. Since when has fishing had anything to do with sheds? After going fishing once as a kid, and coming home fishless, cold, wet, and miserable, it has never appealed.
So an actual shed or carpentry programme is welcome, rather than fishing, which our son-in-law enjoys. That is odd in itself. He father's our 6 grandchildren, and then decides he likes fishing, and disappears for the day now and again. Five day's a week at work for a man is enough away from the kids, she shouldn't let him have another, he needs to give her a break. But agreed, he takes some of the grandkids with him now and again, and he's a better father than I was, so good on him.
This afternoon they had a run of Shed Head programmes, so I made a mug of tea and sat and watched a few. They are great. But one of the presenters, Ricky Tate, needs to hone his presenting skills, drastically! Never a lover of the word basically, Tate litters the programme with this infuriating word, which is a wasted word, anyway, and any spoken or written English language will stand up just as well when it is not used. It's just a handy word, often used when the speaker is a bit nervous, to fill in a gap to allow the brain time to think about what's coming next. Our daughter uses "And I turned around and said" with equal abandon, which is just as annoying. And it's not me being cranky, but at one point in the programme, Tate used the word 6 times in under a minute! Overkill or what!
Other than that, Mr. Tate and his pal put on a great programme, and they are both very knowledgeable in what they do; but basically, if he could cut out the word basically, it would basically be far better and more enjoyable. He also does that village idiot thing with his tongue poked out the corner of his mouth when he's working, but I can put up with that, I think.
A work colleague used to use 'basically' a great deal 5 or 6 years ago, said he caught the habit of using it from his daughter. It annoyed me, and Simon, another work friend, so he and I got together, and each time the word 'basically' was voiced, we shouted out C**T! at the top of our voices; and he soon stopped. I wonder if it would work for Ricky Tate?
Sheds are a man thing. And on a Simon Mayo programme about allotments, an elderly Welsh lady stood outside her allotment shed and said: "I don't know what my Dyfed does in the shed, but he spends an awful lot of time in there?"
Sheds are a man thing, all right.

Saturday, August 07, 2010

All Pens Blazing Vol II: It's a good one, well worth a read, and here's a review -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/All-Pens-Blazing-Writers-Handbook/dp/0755212568/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281199534&sr=1-2

Friday, August 06, 2010

Original Motorhead Collector's Guides: There are 2 listed here -
http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?an=alan+burridge&bt.x=0&bt.y=0&sts=t for £82 and £132 respectively, and a couple more on Amazon for £61.
Silly money.
With Mick's updated version coming along later in the year, for under £20, I am sure it will go like a rocket.
As mentioned in the fanzine, my Motorhead books will also be along later in the year, and they ought to be pretty good, too. I say ought, because I haven't a clue what the finished products will look like, but if they're Motorhead, they're going to be pretty special, anway.

Logging on here to write this, the headline banner on the page was something about the whole Mitchell clan eaving Eastenders and Albert Square.
Can we ever be that lucky?
Will there be anyone of note still be there if they do?
Mrs. B watches it.
I spend the time reading.
But there was an enjoyable piece of escapism on BBC last eveing, called 'Mistresses.'
It was rather good, as I enjoy these mind-boggling presentations, like 'The Usual Suspects,' and 'Jacob's Ladder' where the plot seems to be endlessly confusing, but makes sense in the end. Mistresses is on for 4 weeks, and with last evenings being the first episode, it'll probably be on the BBC iplayer if you fancy catching up. The acting, filming, plot, and everything about it is superb, so don't let my 'endlessly confusing' comment put you off. It just takes some concentration to pick up on each family, and what they're all about, and get it settled in your head, that's all. Joanna Lumley is in it as a rich mother to one of the four women who are the main protagonists.
Worth looking at, I'd say.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mistresses/

Thursday, August 05, 2010

Black Leather Jacket: Not only for the fact that Mick Farren wrote an excellent book on the history of the Black Leather Jacket, (available on Amazon), but also that I bagged a VHS of the documentary Channel 4 made to complement it, for 99pence on EBay.
At the end of the doc, Lemmy & The Upsetters played a song Lemmy wrote titled 'Black Leather Jacket,' which later appeared on the 'Stone Deaf Forever' 5 CD Box Set; and here is the audio -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rRBUejDfF8
For the sake of the TV show, Lemmy & The Upsetters were. Lemmy Kilmister - piano and vocals, Philthy Animal Taylor - drums, Phil Campbell - guitar, Fast Eddie Clarke - bass; and either 2 or 3 session saxophonists, who wore gold lame suits.
A knockout track!
Everyone has: their fanzines, in the UK and Europe, at least. The R o t W take a little longer, of course, and Russia, for whatever reason, takes ages.

The 2 dates in Japan were emailed over by one of our MHB's there, but as yet they haven't appeared on imotorhead.com as definite.

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Looking At Motorhead's: entry in Wikipedia, there's a paragraph about the band recording their latest, and 20th studio album, "with Welsh producer, Romesh Dodangoda, at Longwave Studios, in Cardiff."
Mmmmm.
Is this a Wiki wind-up?
The truth is, Phil did his guitar parts in Wales, whilst Lemmy and Mikkey did their parts in LA.
Clever stuff, eh!
The 'Motorhead' Babylon Book: from 1980 is quite rare and often fetches over £100, but there's a copy here -
http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?an=alan+burridge&bt.x=59&bt.y=9&sts=t
for £1-48 + £2-50 postage.
So if you'd like it, you'd better be quick.

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Seeing This Kindle: technology on Amazon's main page, it looks to be the future for reading books. And having the ability to hold 13,000 novels on its hard drive, it will cut down on complaints writers like Stephen King and JK Rowling get from the greenies, asking if they feel guilty over the number of rain forests their books have cost the planet?
But even I, in my humble world of becoming published, now have to sign the contract agreeing to the books being uploaded for Kindle. And if I refused, there would be no deal on the table, so it must be seen as the way to go for the future.
Plus, the kids these days are forever gazing at screens of one sort or another, so they will feel more at home with an electronic gizmo, rather than ficking through the pages of a paperback.
Presumably, there will be copies printed as tangible books even when the world is fully Kindle'd, otherwise, how is an author going to display his output on the bookshelf of kudos?
And of course, the libraries will disappear. All there will be remaining is a huge download data-bank where everyone can log-on and get hold of any book they fancy.
All very sci-fi, isn't it.
And scarey.

Monday, August 02, 2010

Fanzines On Their Way: They went into the post box at around 7am this morning, so now it is up to the postal services to do their thing and get them delivered around the world to you MHB's.
I have always enjoyed doing them, and despite a couple of offers from MHB's who thought it needed 'jazzing up' a bit, I like to keep it as a fanzine rather than changing it into something resembling 'Classic Rock.'
Plus, I have my schedules, and those shedules are set in stone now, to get each issue to you on or around the date promised. If I hand things to someone else, I don't know if their agenda will be as keen as my own, so rather than allow those set standards to slip, I prefer to allow things to carry on as always.
I'm not sure if there are any other fan clubs who have lasted for 30+ years, and thank you for making it work by being there supporting Motorhead.

Sunday, August 01, 2010

The Most Radical Jimi Henrdix Footage Ever!: Despite my advancing years, I am proud to say that "I Was There" when the attached link to Jimi Hendrix Live on 'The Lulu Show' was broadcast in 1969.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE80W5xYbTI
Not 'there' as being in the studio, unfortunately, but 'there' at home in the parent's lounge watching the show on the straight-laced BBC TV, and seeing this jaw-dropping tribute to the then recently demised Cream, which "just wasn't the done thing" in those days.
Failed guitarist as I readily admit being, I'd just like to be able to play the intro to 'Hey Joe.'
If you never watch any other Jimi footage, you need to see this before you shuffle off this mortal coil, as they say.