Motorblog

2012-01-27T23:56:00.000-08:00

Murder In The Village: Is the new title for the 'When The Clouds Have Passed' book. It also has a new cover, so too 'Thunder In A Bottle'.
'Murder In The Village' has a photo taken on the village boundary perhaps 5 or 6 years ago now for the cover. Although the picture shows local vandalism, it also shows a sense of humour, and as a crime writer, it tickled me, too.
'Thunder In A Bottle' now actually has a bottle on the new cover, a milk bottle from our now long-gone dairy at Upton Crossroads. It was owned by (Bob) R.G. Arnold, and had old-fashioned petrol pumps in the forecourt with pictures of cows on them, ready to dispense 'Gold Top' and the ordinary kind of milk.

2012-01-25T22:56:00.000-08:00

Motorheadbangers The Fan Club Interviews: Is #97 in the Amazon music reference books chart.

2012-01-23T05:23:00.000-08:00

A Day In The Life: An email from my cousin told me that his chemo hasn't worked and he has 2 months to live, whilst my nephew's wife gave birth to a boy.

2012-01-20T23:19:00.000-08:00

New Motorhead Book: Titled 'Motorheadbangers The Fan Club Interviews' this is a download only book featuring the Helen Taylor / Paul Hadwen interviews from 1980 and 1981 - and it's on the Amazon's now.
Covering topics from the early days, one interview took place when they were recording the Ace Of Spades album, another covers their Bingley and Port Vale appearances, and another was conducted when they were mixing the No Sleep album; every Motorhead fan will enjoy reading this one.
And No, you don't need a Kindle, download the Amazon App shown on the page.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=Alan+Burridge
Download Prices: UK 0.77 pence, Europe 0.89 Euros, America $1-19, as are a great many other books featured there.

2012-01-09T22:53:00.000-08:00

Tony Iommi Having Treatment:
http://www.iommi.com/index.php?story=151
Thanks to MHB Peder Lundin for the info, Get Well Soon, Tony!

2012-01-07T22:52:00.000-08:00

Download Books Are Catching On: Back in the 1980's, I approached a publisher with a Motorhead book. They sent it back saying "We won't print that, because Motorhead fans don't read!" I know different, I know most of you, and you're intelligent people; after all, if you didn't read, why would you subscribe and enjoy the fanzine 3 times a year? So, I know that you read, and the publisher talked crap, and it was his loss.
Everyone has favourite authors, and I’m not asking you to choose me over any of yours; in fact, buy their books first; buy as many of their books as you like, then, if you’ve got £1 left over, just give one of my books a try, and you'll still have some change. You see, most of my eBooks are just 77 pence (America $1-19, Euro 0.89). This isn’t a New Year special offer, it’s the standard price for most of my novels, a bargain or what.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=alan+burridge

2012-01-06T23:16:00.000-08:00

Odd Pricing: The ebook prices were set within 10 minutes of one another, yet 'Diary Of The Fans' and 'Snapper' are there at 85 pence (UK) instead of 95 pence.
Amazon don't know why?
Firstly they said it was a VAT change, but in 10 minutes?
Now they are looking into it.
Nevertheless, it is better to get 10 books at 95 pence than 1 book at £9-50; isn't it?
A better deal?
10 different stories instead of just the one.

2012-01-06T05:59:00.000-08:00

The 1981 Motorhed Babylon Book just £15:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/0907188044/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&qid=1325858282&sr=1-17&condition=used
What a bargain, the other copy on offer is £150!

2012-01-05T07:09:00.000-08:00

A Recent Robbo Interview and Live Track: Link from MHB Peder Lundin.
http://thekingscall.com/missa-inte/

2012-01-02T23:21:00.000-08:00

No Kindle Required: Fans are still asking about the 'Diary of The Fans' download book. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BUY A KINDLE to get it!
Amazon provide 'apps' on the page displaying the book to enable download to laptop, PC, and most portable devices like ipad, iphone, Blackberry, Android based kit, you name it, because although the Kindle is cool, it is not the be-all and end-all for download books - you can practically download to ANYTHING.
The Diary (and a great deal of my other books [crime thrillers etc]) are now priced at just UK 77 pence, Euros 0.89 and Dollars $1-19 - so now you can go crazy and read some great stories at a budget price in these hard times.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=alan+burridge
Also available at Amazon stores in America, France, Italy, Spain, and Germany.

2011-12-31T02:35:00.000-08:00

A HAPPY NEW YEAR: And just time to remind you that ordering the exclusive limited edition fan club T-shirt via the Pay Pal link on www.alanburridge.co.uk closes at midnight tonight.
Thank you to everyone who has ordered so far, and be patient, you will be getting your shirts within the next 30 days or so.

2011-12-28T23:24:00.000-08:00

John Carter: Has just been advertised for release as a movie here. 'Tarzan' author, Edgar Rice-Burroughs, also wrote series of books about Carter of Mars and Carson of Venus, which were the mainstay of my reading in the mid-1960's. And now, it seems that Carter at least has become interesting enough to be made into a film.
And the artwork for the covers of those books re-published in the 60's were obviously appealing to a 15 year old long before getting to read the stories behind them. In those staid times, just pre-the mini skirt, the pill, and the sexual revolution, it was rare seeing such captivating art of semi-naked females - almost like Boris Vallejo 30 years before his time.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/0450011631/ref=dp_image_text_0?ie=UTF8&n=266239&s=books
And when you realise that Burroughs died the year before I was born, it can be understood just how incredible his imagination was.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Rice_Burroughs

2011-12-26T00:04:00.000-08:00

How It Happened: Fantasy author Terry Pratchett has been in the press, and the subject of a TV documentary, regarding his Alzheimers. In the TV doc, Terry wanted to learn about being euthanised, so he went to Switzerland, where it is legal to end your life early rather than suffer and lose one's dignity; for the price of £10,000.
In our Bournemouth Daily Echo, reporter Nicky Findlay wrote a feature about Cliff Richards, with due reference to Terry Pratchett, saying that should any of life's 'nasties' befall him, then he too would choose euthanasia.
Knowing Nicky from an earler feature when we met in Bournemouth, I jotted an email saying that most sufferers of a 'nasty' would choose the Terry Pratchett / Cliff Richards option, if they had the necessary £10 grand. Having MS (multiple sclerosis) since 1989, and now suffering its recent resurgence, it has become apparent that many know it to be one of life's 'nasties,' but not what it is.
So, the kindly Nicky asked if I would like to be part of a feature in the paper to inform people about this equally awful disability.
http://www.alanburridge.co.uk/pressandphotos/MSWontBeatMe-DailyEcho-23rdNovember2011.htm

And if you had the Kindle for Xmas, and need a darned good budget-priced book to read, look no further -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=alan+burridge

2011-12-24T22:33:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR: To all Motorhead fans, Motorheadbangers members, and those who read my books - and especially those who embrace all three.
Have a GREAT time!

2011-12-23T23:43:00.000-08:00

Guitar Stolen: http://tcellis.blogspot.com/
Link from Kent Age Julnes.

2011-12-21T23:43:00.000-08:00

Not The Only Reason: To watch the Sky PDC Darts, but a very good one - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPzjRESzBsI
There have been plenty amazing edge-of-the-seat matches, with new players, hungry for fame, fortune, and a reason to quit the day job coming through to beat many of the old dinosaurs.
35 year old Scott Rand is one such player, who cannot wait to give his lorry keys back to his boss to get onto the darting circuit to earn a living.
James Richardson, a 37 year old bricklayer, is another one who set the dartboard on fire.
It's a pity that legendary players like Raymond van Barneveld are being cast at the way side, but with such apathy in their playing, they have no hope against these young guns who are hungry to attain their world-class achievements.

2011-12-21T00:19:00.000-08:00

The Postal Services: around the world are making a fortune right now. But still they bleat on about "being robbed" when email came into our lives, as they "lost a lot of revenue" because we stopped using as many stamps.
But on the plus side, EBay and Amazon, by their very electronic existence, have created work and revenue because whilst the goods are purchased and paid for electronically, they are physically delivered to our door by the postal services.
I would imagine that it evens itself out.
Now, I suppose they will be moaning about "downloads robbing them of revenue" as CD's and books are delivered electronically, and the physical items no longer need to be packed and sent.
And it's like the Amazon book for one penny, (usually 'Best Sellers' which have sold thousands of copies), which still have a £2-80 postage charge, and are again physically delivered.
Many of you have asked for 'Diary Of The Fans' as a physical book. When that option was provided in 2002, it cost around £600 to get the paperback into print. If it was in print again, it would cost around £1,000 to get into production; and would cost £12 to £15 per copy to buy, + postage.
The download is there for £1-10 (96 pence + VAT), Euros 1-29, or $1-72.
So you can download it ten or eleven times for the price of one physical book; or enjoy the Diary and ten of my other titles, (or somone elses), for the same price.
"But you cannot get a download book signed!" I hear you scream.
No, that's true, but what happened to the Autograph Book?
We have one here signed by Motorhead, Screaming Lord Such, The Drifters, Mud, The Troggs, Jet Harris and loads more Stars.
It's a pretty good alternative.
The guy in one of our now defunct Poole book shops told me a story a few years ago.
"A woman came in and found a book, and brought it to the counter. I picked it up, and was about to ring it into the till, when she said: 'I'd like the book, but not that one.'
'What's wrong with it? It's the only copy we have.'
'Someone's scribbled in it,' she said, indignantly.
'Madam, that's the authors' signature.'"

2011-12-20T23:14:00.000-08:00

For Those Who Prefer The Printed Word: Some of my current "download only" books have come onto Amazon in their "Used" bookstore as the old paperback versions for around £3 a copy -so if you prefer 'the real thing'...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=alan+burridge#/ref=sr_pg_3?rh=n%3A266239%2Ck%3Aalan+burridge&page=3&d=1&keywords=alan+burridge&ie=UTF8&qid=1324451584
Some are being sold by a Colwyn Bay bookshop, and with my then publisher based in Wales, that makes sense. It's a better price, someone had a couple on EBay for £15 and £20 a pop recently, which is a joke; it's only me, not Stephen King!

2011-12-16T23:21:00.000-08:00

The Great Frog Motorhead Silver Ring:
http://www.thegreatfroglondon.com/products-page/rings/motorhead-warpig-ring/
and the Ace Of Spades ring -
http://www.thegreatfroglondon.com/products-page/rings/motorhead-ace-of-spades-ring/

2011-12-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

Motorheadbangers Diary In Amazon's Music Charts: Yes, it's #75 at this moment, so thanks to everyone who downloaded it, appreciated.
As you noticed, all of my Kindle books are bargain priced at UK £1-10, Euro 1-29, and US $1-72.
My theory is that these books were sitting on the shelf doing nothing, so isn't it better to let them go at a budget price so that more people can read and enjoy them.
I think so.
And if you live in America and subscribe to Amazon Prime, you can get 'Dark Eyes' to read for free for 5 days.
Meanwhile, check out the bargain buys on Amazon UK, America, Italy, France, Germany, and Spain.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=alan+burridge

2011-12-13T00:10:00.000-08:00

Words & Photos From The Motorhead UK Tour by MHB 3115:
http://www.motorsmell.wordpress.com/

2011-12-12T05:12:00.000-08:00

Motorhead Vodka: was launched in Stockholm last Saturday.
http://gunshyassassin.com/news/because-everyone-needs-motorhead-vodka/

http://q103albany.com/motorhead-releases-their-own-brand-of-vodka/

2011-12-09T05:09:00.000-08:00

Since Wednesday: when the fanzines began landing on your front door mats, I have been busy receiving in the orders for the new Motorheadbangers T-shirt, very busy indeed.
Pay Pal is the best method of payment these days, and I don't know how many will be sold via snail-mail, (Mick's side of things, and I appreciate that some still prefer cheque and cash transactions), but the Pay Pal side has been as you might say; very brisk.
Thank you.
For the last couple of T-shirt offers, many were outraged at not being able to just send their money quickly and easily using Pay Pal, so it has kept everyone happy.
Thanks to Sarmad Sheikh for his programming skills in setting up the on-line ordering, and Joe Manning again, for his excellent designs and sense of humour.
Keep the orders coming, the deadline is 31st December 2011, so plenty of time yet.

2011-12-06T23:15:00.000-08:00

The concert is cancelled. Motörhead press release: "With regret Motörhead has to announce the cancellation of the show in Bergen. Unfortunately the singer and bass player, Lemmy Kilmister, lost his voice during the last show in Oslo and will not be able to sing. Some days of rest for Lemmy and not using his voice are needed to continue the tour as planned."

2011-12-06T23:03:00.000-08:00

Bergen Show Cancelled: News from MHB Peder Lundin, the 7th December Bergen show has been cancelled, and there is one other message on the Net to the same effect. No reason why just now, but will keep you posted - or let me know if you hear anything alan.burridge1@ntlworld.com

2011-12-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

A Unique Feeling: When all of your fanzines go into that letterbox, it's an amazing feeling. Maybe the same as when Motorhead take a bow at the end of a gig. Or how we feel, as we applaud after enjoying that gig. Or how I feel when I finish writing a novel. Or maybe how you feel after reading one. A clean and fresh feeling; of achievement. But it's something that we share. And maybe you do when you open the envelope, and see the fanzine for the first time.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=alan+burridge

2011-12-04T23:12:00.000-08:00

The 92nd Fanzine: Went into the post box at approx 05.30 (call me insomnia man) this morning, Monday 5th December 2011. It was cold, dark, and raining, but worth it for my Motorhead family to get their fanzine's.
Rock On!

2011-12-04T00:52:00.000-08:00

Fanzine #92: Will be posted / mailed out tomorrow morning, and should be with UK / European MHB's by Thursday, and those in 'the rest of the world' in about a week.
Sarmad will be uploading a Link to enable the exclusive fan club T-shirts to be ordered by Pay Pal. UK cheques and cash in Euros and $Dollar bills will also be accepted, at Mick's address, of course.
But many of you asked for the ease and safety of Pay Pal, and thanks to Sarmad's programming skills, this option can be offered this time.
The back and front T-shirt designs will only be shown in fanzine #92, not on the order form on http://www.alanburridge.co.uk/ and although we know that non-members order them, it's just a way of attempting to make them as exclusive as possible to legit MHB's members.
Please remember, and read http://www.alanburridge.co.uk/mhb/MHBTShirts.htm to make sure that you realise why your T-shirt WILL NOT be delivered until the end of January 2012.

Just a note in passing. Much like the other Motorhead European Tour dates, I have been informed that those remaining in Scandinavia up to the 15th December final show in Finland, are all Sold Out.
This gave one MHB and his wife the excuse of booking to go over to America for the Megadeth / Motorhead spring 2012 tour, so it can't be such a bad thing.

2011-12-02T01:51:00.000-08:00

Book Prices Adjusted: The prices of my download books have been adjusted to £2-23 UK, Euros 2-99, and $3-44.
They are odd prices, admittedly, but the reason is that VAT is charged on ebooks, so you get quirky numbers.
Amazon's guidelines for pricing are $2-99 as the lowest price, and $9-99 as the highest. I priced them at $3-00, and Amazon's 'magic' calculator converts that into the £'s and Euro's equivalent; and are at the lowest possible price, (other than the odd 1 cent).
When the books were first uploaded, Amazon automatically placed them on the Amazon.de German site; and if it means MHB's can download the 'Diary' easier, then that's great.
They then placed them on Amazon France, and today, they have also placed them on Amazon's Italy and Spain. So if it means fans in those countries have accounts with their native Amazon site, and can download more easily, then that's job done.
If they download any of my other books and enjoy them, then I will be most grateful.
And whilst I also love the printed book option, ebook downloads are now outselling them; and rather like download music, it seems to be the way our lives are turning - instant music, and instant books; to go hand-in-hand with our impatient instant world.
From my point of view, the printed variety costs £300 to £400 (minimum) per book as a set-up charge; so if and when the download variety starts selling, then perhaps (?) we might be able to enjoy them in that traditional format.

2011-11-30T22:46:00.000-08:00

Short Fanzine Delay: With regret, the print shop had a machine breakdown whilst printing issue #92.
75% of the fanzines have been printed and are being enveloped at the moment.
As soon as the balance is printed, they will be sent out together.

2011-11-28T07:07:00.000-08:00

Everything That You Need To Know:
http://store.digitalstores.co.uk/motorhead/
Thanks to MHB Ronan LeLagadec for the link.

2011-11-27T22:43:00.000-08:00

Lemmy On 'Tis-Was' 1981-82: Not the actual Motorhead edition of this zany kids TV programme, but Lemmy with Denise from Girlschool, Dollar, and Buck's Fizz.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmNWmoozEVY
Thanks to Sarmad Sheikh for the link.
I had never seen this clip, so it's a bonus.

2011-11-24T23:26:00.000-08:00

The 'Motorhead' Babylon Book: is on EBay, 2 copies available.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=alan+burridge&_sacat=0&_odkw=motorhead+rare&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

2011-11-23T22:45:00.000-08:00

Essential Viewing: Motorhead interview and 'I Know How To Die' live in the studio - The Harald Schmidt Show - 22nd November 2011.
Part 1: http://www.sat1.de/die-harald-schmidt-show/video/clips/clip_talk-mit-motoerhead-1_239293/
Part 2: http://www.sat1.de/die-harald-schmidt-show/video/clips/clip_talk-mit-motoerhead-2-und-musikact_239296/
Whole Show: http://www.sat1.de/die-harald-schmidt-show/video/ganze-folgen/clip_die-show-vom-22-11-2011_239299/
Thanks to Ute Kromrey, Motorhead PR, for the links.

2011-11-22T02:48:00.000-08:00

Topical Motorhead: And very apt it is, too, but didn't we know that.
http://youtu.be/mxNNRmPH0Oc

2011-11-20T23:22:00.000-08:00

Amazon Notifed Me: That 'The World is Ours Vol 1' was posted on Saturday, so it should arrive today.
No posts here last week, busy writing the envelopes for the 92nd fanzine...

2011-11-15T23:32:00.000-08:00

The 'Rock 'n' Roll Ink' Book: Is a collection of well over 100 gig reviews, mainly of bands playing at the local (to me) Mr. Kyps venue. Reviews were (and still are) welcomed on the http://www.mrkyps.net/ website, and I must thank Mr. Kyp himself for offering this opportunity, as it did wonders for my writing skills.
Some writers like to wait to allow the event to infuse, and brew, before being written. I prefer the urgency of the occasion to flow into the review, and wrote them within 24 hours of seeing the gig, whilst the memories were still alive, vivid, and fresh.
As most writers' do, I kept copies, and this proved good sense, as at the drop of a hat, Kyp closed down the old website and started a new one, so all of that local rock 'n' roll history disappeared overnight.
And proud of every review, I thought that it would be an idea to publish them on Amazon as a download book. But I asked Mr. Kyps' permission first, as the reviews were, in effect, (as each review earned 2 tickets to a future gig), his copyright. And great character and nice guy that he is, he was happy to allow me to do so.
Along wth the 'Bournemouth Rocks!' book, the Motorhead books and fanzines, and 'Rock 'n' Roll Ink,' my life going to see live bands is just about covered.
My thanks must also go to MHB Ned Popac, who recently originated the cover for the 'Rock 'n' Roll Ink' book.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rock-n-Roll-Ink-ebook/dp/B0067L908O/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1321429658&sr=1-1

2011-11-14T23:24:00.000-08:00

Panic Now Over: Mick Stevenson tells me that Lemmy's injury has healed, and the tour will now forge ahead as normal. Typically, there have been no replacement dates announced for Bristol and Norwich, and don't you know, that the fanzine going to print today means that they will announce them tomorrow. But we have this oracle as a back-up, so all is not lost.

2011-11-13T00:03:00.000-08:00

Yes, Hammersmith Was Alive & Kicking: MHB 3413 wrote this on the imotorhead forum - Oh well in a few words, Hammersmith was unbeatable, full house (I mean no space for not even 1 small human being), loud as f**k, I really should have worn my earplugs. Crowd was happy and excited, it was a kick ass night. Playlist was the same as Wolves + Whorehouse Blues, Lemmy had his finger protected, and when Tim had to change his bandage, Lemmy was shaking a lot, I hope it wasn't hurting. He made a good effort tonight, cheers to Lemmy. It was a real good one folks, cheers!

2011-11-12T05:12:00.000-08:00

As Far As I Can Gather Hammersmith Is On For Tonight - And It's Sold Out.

2011-11-11T05:18:00.000-08:00

With Regret The Norwich Date Has Also Been Postponed.

2011-11-10T00:11:00.000-08:00

Tour Resumed With Norwich Gig: The Motorhead UK tour 2011 will resume on Friday with the UEA gig in Norwich. Somehow, Lemmy cut his finger, which meant that he was unable to play. The Colston Hall Bristol sold-out show will be re-scheduled.

2011-11-08T23:03:00.000-08:00

Colston Hall Bristol Show Cancelled: Lemmy has injured his left hand, and last night's show had to be cancelled.
http://www.bravewords.com/news/172279
As is the Motorhead way in such instances, I feel sure that the sell-out date will be re-scheduled.
With 2 days to go until the next gig in Norwich, Get Well Soon, Lemmy.

Meanwhile, there are some great clips and interviews from the Chile show in the 'Latest News' link on www.imotorhead.com

2011-11-07T06:26:00.000-08:00

'Thunder In A Bottle': I am rather proud of my book titles, and this is no exception. I always run them as a search on Amazon to make sure that there are not dozens of others the same. To my surprise, there were not, and it came about, as usual, by accident rather than design.
My son and I were talking about something which happened where he works, and like most work environments, there are maybe 5 or 6 people involved, which contains any situation, and I said "its a bit like thunder in a bottle."
So that's where the title came from, as this story is about 3 next door neighbours, (7 people interacting, mostly), and a situation arises, and is contained mainly within the vicinity of those 3 properties.
Of course, as with all neighbours, they know one another, and say Hello when necessary, and have a chat now and again. But a situation arises when an outside source comes into play, which causes them to strengthen their relationships by working together, and of course, the inevitable fatalities take place, simmering it into a boiling point of another excellent and page-turning Burridge story.

2011-11-04T00:19:00.000-07:00

Wolverhapton Gig Review:
http://www.expressandstar.com/entertainment/music/2011/11/03/concert-review-motorhead-at-wolverhampton-civic-hall/
Link found by Eric Billett.
Clearly, the reviewer should have stayed at home with mummy, trying to find out where his balls are!

2011-11-02T06:46:00.000-07:00

Fastway - The Making Of 'Eat Dog Eat': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTihBmMCmsI

2011-11-02T00:03:00.000-07:00

'When The Clouds Have Passed': Writing and getting all of the details right for the 2012 publication of my Motorhead 'Live To Win' book, I didn't write any fiction for about 4 years. But when Xmas 2009 came along, I decided that it was about time that I did so again, and got down to starting it over the festive break.
Mrs. B is a nurse, and often works over Xmas, so there are quite a few hours here on my own to enjoy. There was no plan to the story, other than wondering, at the outset, what a retired man whose wife has passed away would do with his time in a small village like Upton? Quite a cast of characters presented themselves as the plot progressed, so much so, that one of my Scandinavian readers commented that the story was very much like an Agatha Christie.
Flattered to be even mentioned in the same breath as the great lady crime writer, I hadn't thought about that aspect, but yes, it as a spot-on observation; mainly due to the 7 widows whom our retired man, Fred Whistler, helps with their gardening.
The story begins with Fred paying one of these lady's a visit for a day of weeding and tidying up, only to find that she has passed away in her sleep. Calling the doctor, who announces that the death is not by natural causes, but by smothering with a pillow, the story forges ahead from that point onwards. Somehow, Fred is named in her Will as the sole inheritor, how, he doesn't know, but it points the finger of suspicion at him; and the relatives who stood to benefit, are not amused, either.
It is about a 4 hour read, as I wanted it to be fairly low priced book to encourage sales, and there's also the download for even less.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=when+the+clouds+have+passed+alan+burridge

2011-10-28T23:26:00.000-07:00

'Within Spitting Distance': was written next, but the publisher ceased trading, so it was finished, but left on file. At that time, it was titled 'Poised To See Paradise,' after a quip made on one of the CSI Miami TV series, by Horatio Kaine. Used in the story as Detective Inspector Ray Cake was but 3 weeks away from retiring when the murders began, he was 'poised to see the paradise' of retirement, so it seemed apt. But when it came to publishing it as an Amazon download, I wasn't keen. When the more earthy and English sounding phrase of 'Within Spitting Distance' sprang to mind, it came across as being far more suitable, as Cake was 'within spitting distance,' as we say, of retiring.
The photo on the cover was taken of the exact beach as described in the opening chapter, but under different weather circumstances. Nevertheless, as one of the bodies was removed from the scene in a small rowing boat, it was sheer coincidence that one such appeared in the photo. After watching the man walk onto the beach and ready his rowing boat, a woman with two dogs was strolling along, right in the way, and I didn't think that she would have been out-of-shot in time to catch the deserted beach and the oarsman, but I was lucky.
Again, the story began as a picture in my mind of that beach, (which we have taken the kids and grandkids to, many times), with bad weather, and someone walking their dog, and finding a body part. Most body parts, like hands, feet, ears, eyes, etc; have been found on beaches, but never a man's penis; so I thought, why not let the dog find a penis on the beach?
It's a great story, well worth reading, and you don't need to own a Kindle to download it - as the tips on this page have all the answers -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Within-Spitting-Distance-ebook/dp/B005O1NS90/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1319870682&sr=1-1

2011-10-27T23:17:00.000-07:00

'Guttersnipes': came next. Working a night shift at a local factory from 6pm until 04.15 am, we stopped on for an hour's overtime. 05.15 was a better time to get home, as the family were stirring for their day shifts. It is the nightworker's evening in their topsy-turvey world, so I'd watch TV, or read, and then drink a can of strong lager in about 20 minutes, and go to bed. That would knock me out until around 3pm, time to start the ritual once again.
There was a bloke there on the day shift, named Jason, and he was all right, but his build and demenour gave him a thug-like persona, and this led to the 'Jason' character on the story. The Jason in the story inflicts torture if necessary, and enjoys doing so with glee, and does so on occasion to those unfortunate enough to upset him. It's a full-on story, with the boss of the local drugs cartel as Jason's boss, along with corruption, lies, deceit, heroin overdoses, you name it.
It was a joy to write, and I still enjoy reading it now.
When the cover artwork was originated, the bloke doing it had never heard of a Guttersnipe, and he went outside and took a photo of the gutter at the roadside to add to the 'gun 'n' roses' theme of the overall look.
And then there's Kim and Brett getting mixed up in it, and the police, and the story would make a knockout TV film / drama.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Guttersnipes-ebook/dp/B005GP890M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1319783565&sr=1-1
Jo Nesbo would be proud of this one, but it's mine.

2011-10-26T00:18:00.000-07:00

'Bewitching Times': Working at a local electronics factory at the time, and about to go to the Canaries on holiday, a colleague said: "I have always imagined there to be vampires at Upton House. How about writing a story based on that while you're away?"
Upton House is about half a mile away, and is just situated in Poole, and it has the look. Sunning myself, and drinking copious amounts of draught San Miguel beer, I imagined vampires flying in to Upton House over the ferry at Sandbanks, on their way home from feasting on drunken late-teens / early twenties prey in Bournemouth.
But no, I wanted them more human, and vampires flying is a myth, anyway, so I decided to humanise them, and mix them in with our village witch, in a battle. The being of our village here, was awry, and the vampires at Upton House were burning up, as their time-clock had gone wrong, and they were not getting back before sunrise; and believed it to be the work of the witch. Likewise, an area covering the village supported no wild life, no birds, no ants, no worms, no nothing, and the witch believed it to be the work of the vampires; so battle began.
With bodies dissappearing, the local police are involved, and it's another fine story...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bewitching-Times-ebook/dp/B005JC5ZVI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1319614542&sr=1-1

2011-10-25T03:16:00.000-07:00

'Audrey's Story': Was written from my mother's perspective, as if note books had been found with her story of Upton during World War II detailing her story of those times. It leads up to D-Day, when a couple of thousand American troops which had been billetted in Upton for several weeks before, suddenly went, by boat and glider, in a matter of a few hours.
Times were hard then, and Upton, with 3 munitions factories, bridges, Poole Harbour, and a main arterial crossroads, despite being in the country, was a busy target.
The bridge on the cover is one of two, half a mile down the road from here, and still taking trains from Weymouth to London Waterloo and back several times a day.
This was great to write, and also to remember the stories which I was told about wartime Upton, as a child and young adult.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Audreys-Story-ebook/dp/B005IRNNLI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1319610680&sr=1-1

2011-10-24T11:16:00.000-07:00

'AfterShock': Was written next. Best friend Eric, told me about his then partner having an old school friend making contact after 'finding' her on a school reunion website. But he was over enthusuastic, and became a pest.
It was as if a light had been switched on, and the whole story just unfolded, or dropped in my lap, as Stephen King would say.
The cover shows Holly Flint as an adult, with the schoolgirl Holly Flint in the background, as her past comes back to truly haunt her.

2011-10-21T03:01:00.000-07:00

For The Weekend: When we used to go to The Ritz, a blues club on Bournemouth seafront, in 1966 / 67 / 68 we would see, amongst other bands, Chicken Shack. Stan Webb was the front-man / singer / guitarist, and they played great songs.
Christine Perfect, who later became Christine McVie in Fleetwood Mac, was the pianist in Chicken Shack, and the object of every red-blooded males' dreams - a nice looking female in a blues / rock band, was rare.
'I Would Rather Go Blind' was her showstopper -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohx9Ve7-GS0
'Songbird' was her Fleetwood Mac showstopper -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLRyYETnoIE
Enjoy the weekend.

2011-10-21T00:37:00.000-07:00

'Snapper': It wasn't until long after I had written this, that I realised that it is, perhaps, a better and more straightforward version of the story behind the 'Blow Up' movie. When I first saw 'Blow Up' at the cinema in 1967, mainly to see The Yardbirds cameo, and Jeff Back smashing his guitar; I walked out thinking, "What the hell was that all about?"
But again, this story began with pictures in the minds' eye of Snapper picking up Ginny from a location not far from here. The French young woman named Giselle, came into it after a work colleague told me that he had been to a striptease club in Swanage (Dorset), and had met and watched a mutual female work colleague, strip. An attractive French woman, anyway, the whole factory would have given a months pay to see her disrobe, so I used my imagination, and had her doing so in the story.
Killing off imaginary local MP's was a pleasure, as was revealing their clandestine bedroom activities. Another tale which was a joy to write, and a joy for you to read, I am sure.

2011-10-20T05:08:00.000-07:00

'Deal Gone Down': Is sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll personified - the front cover says it all in one great illustration. (As a sidebar, the covers for Deal Gone Down, Audrey's Story, Dark Eyes, Snapper, and AfterShock are by Sanne Glissov, Joe Petagno's wife).
Most of the Deal Gone Down story actually happened in this area, in a round about way, where a detective was involved in a cannabis farm, and used his job and police intelligence to keep the growing unit off of the radar.
Vicky Robertson's work was also taking place on an industrial estate in the locality, so it was only the rock band, Skellington Bones, who were fictitious, but based on a local band who were playing the area heavily at the time of writing.
I still love this story, based in the town of Poole and the surrounding area, it's possible to walk the streets and follow the chapters, much like a Stieg Larsson Millennium Tour of Stockholm, if anyone wished to do so.
The synopsis on Amazon lays the ground bait, I can only hope that you get hooked.

2011-10-19T00:26:00.000-07:00

'Violent Society': was the next book published. Society has become more violent, some blame computer games, lack of discipline at home and at school, and the abolition of the death penalty, amongst many more.
With most if not all of my stories, I get cinema-like pictures in my head of what is happening, and I write them down. In Chapter One of this story, the 'pictures' arrived as a bus driver being shot, and the vehicle travelling onwards, and crashing through a fish and chip shop, with boiling oil going everywhere.
As always, it was set in my home town of Poole and the surrounding area, but as the cover states, it could have been set in your town, or any town, because that violent undercurrent is prevalent everywhere nowadays; unfortunately.
My old school friend, Eric Billett, took the front photo of Rockley Bridge, in Hamworthy, (which is part of the story), and also designed the lettering for the front cover. It's a great story, and like the others, I am still proud of it.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=alan+burridge+violent+society

2011-10-18T03:15:00.000-07:00

My Monthly Writing Magazine: 'Writers' Forum,' and The Society Of Authors 'The Author' quarterly magazine, have not only announced the large increase in books being downloaded, but also that a great many of them are of the adult-themed erotica genre. In fact, thousands of long out-of-print adult novels have been republished on Amazon, as download only books.
There is a very good reason for this; the Kindle. Such books, which in the past had rather obvious pink or black printed plain covers, or a tell-tale naughty photo, can now be read in comparative privacy on a Kindle, and as such, have become the most popular download titles of the moment. Let's face it, if we saw someone reading such an obvious book, we would snigger. But now, the Kindle has brought anonimity to reading such literature, thus saving blushes, and / or clandestine page-turning behind a newspaper on a bus or train.
But it was a surprise when the paperback version of such a book arrived in the post, written by a young woman named Poppy Hayes.
During the numerous creative writing classes and seminars which I have attended over the years, I met Poppy Hayes at one or two. We started speaking, as the friendliness of doing so lends itself to striking up a relationship, when enjoying a cigarette break at such places. That I haven't smoked since 2006, tells you how long it is since we last met, and back then, she was writing Fantasy genre books. But she tracked me down, as we share the same publisher, and asked if I would offer an opinion on her first novel?
The book http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=poppy+hayes is a page-turning tour-de-force unlike anything else that I have read, and other than the odd Fiona Richmond naughty story from my youthful foray into men's magazines, I must say that Poppy Hayes has found her genre more comfortably settled in Erotica, than Fantasy.
So, if the above facts are true, and erotica is the genre which sells, could I write one as good as Poppy, and jump on the bandwagon?
Well, no, as it seems to be the domain of the female writer, and I think, judging by Poppy's first triumph, it's best left that way.
It's an excellent read, and something which I coudn't begin to match.

2011-10-17T04:15:00.000-07:00

'The Wizard's Last Spell': and 'Dream Reapers' were the two next books to be published. The monthly writing magazine which I subscribed to at the time, had run a feature on 'Dime Novels.'
Dime Novels were slightly under A6 sized paperback books, published in America, with the idea of selling them at supermarket checkouts, as a "last-minute-purchase." Each novel was a 20,000 word story, and 12 per month, each of a different genre, would be published. So, I wrote 2 stories in the hope of publication, 'Last Spell' was in the fantasy genre, and 'Dream Reapers,' sci-fi.
After sending the manuscripts across to America, a month or so later, they were returned. But I was lucky that they were, as the Dime Novels company had ceased trading. Apparently, the idea of ladies carrying one of these books in their handbag (purse), and men carrying one in their breast shirt pocket, to read whenever they had a few minutes spare, didn't take off.
Again, though, I was fortunate, as I sent (about $25, I believe?), for a presentation pack of the first 6 books, and I still have them, and they are cute, and I think, were a great idea.
After expanding 'Dream Reapers' to 60,000 or 80,000 words, I published it as a novel, but it has not been re-published as a download for Amazon, as there is no 'Word' document file for it, and there's no way that I'm going to re-type it, as I don't have the time nor the inclination.
'The Wizard's Last Spell,' however, has been re-published as an Amazon download in its original 20,000 word format, and 11 other short stories have also been added, to make it more worthwhile, and novel-length. I have often described it as "Iron Fist meets Red Sonja,' and it's still a nice read.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wizards-Spell-Other-Stories-ebook/dp/B005JOXN2O/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318851613&sr=1-11

2011-10-14T23:06:00.000-07:00

'The Message': was the next book. It was based on my take on the unfortunate Jill Dando murder. Convinced from Day 1 that she was murdered by a Hit-Man, who had fled the scene long before her body was discovered on her door step; when they arrested Barry George, I kept screaming at the newscaster on TV - "No! That's not him! You've got the wrong bloke!"
The book wrote itself, as they say, and I spent every available minute of my spare time writing it, as it poured out, as if someone was telling me what to write.
When it was finished, and published, Barry George had been convicted, and was serving a sentence which ended up seeing him as the scapegoat that he really was. Other strange things happened, which led to adding a Part 2 to the story, and republishing it as 'A Conspiracy Of Silence,' which the whole thing was.
'The Message' has an excellent review on Amazon, and the reviewer got it right, because either or both are superb stories which, once started, you just can't put down.
Now, of course, the world knows that this miscarriage of justice, which I was trying to get across to everyone to tell them of Barry George's innocence, is true. It was a Hit-Man, and he / she will never be found, but thankfully, Barry George won his final appeal, and has been free since 2009.

The Message - http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=alan+burridge+the+message

A Conspiracy Of Silence -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=alan+burridge+a+conspiracy+of+silence

The Hit-Man in the story, is named Eddie Taylor, a mix of the Eddie Clarke and Phil Taylor names. He is actually based on a man whom Jane and I knew very well, and worked with, named Gerry Bugden, who has now passed on. This was my shot as an epitaph for him, as he had that mysterious, gangster-like look about him; and he was a 10-Pin bowling pro in real life; and his lady was named Trish.

2011-10-14T02:03:00.001-07:00

The New 'Fastway' website: http://www.fastwayofficial.com/

2011-10-12T23:25:00.000-07:00

'Dark Eyes' - Crime Thriller by Alan Burridge: If we get married, the photos cost a bomb. Digging out ours for the eldest grandchildren to look at recently, we found a cheap exercise book in the box. It contained a diary of the daytime honeymoon activities, during our week staying in London. Writing for as long as I can remember, this is my earliest surviving written work, from December 1973.
'Dark Eyes' was my first attempt at a full-length novel. Written during 1997-98, I went to the trouble of visiting two Poole CID detectives, to ask for information regarding their proceedures. There were some dark things hapening in our lives at the time, and they reflected strongly in the story. The CID men told me that they did not divulge police preceedure of any kind, as every case was different, and would be handled on an individual basis. They also said that they didn't want writers' like me giving away their secrets to the criminals, so as long as it was believable, I could write whatever I felt fitted the story.
When the opportunity came in 2001 to publish it, I held it back in favour of my second novel, 'The Message,' as I feared that 'Dark Eyes' was too psychotic, and evil.
At the time that it was written, it probably was. But I feel more comfortable with it now, twisted and gory as it still is.
It's on Amazon UK as a budget priced download crime thriller -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Eyes-ebook/dp/B005KLVN96/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1318488193&sr=1-1
You do not need to spend £100 or so buying a Kindle to read it. On the right of the Amazon page, there is a link for 'Kindle Reading Apps,' so that you can download an app to your PC, laptop, iPhone etc. to read any story that you fancy.
The book can also be found on www.amazon.de www.amazon.com and www.amazon.fr

2011-10-12T05:52:00.000-07:00

Chequeing Out: Early last evening, Mandy Swadel arrived here to accept the cheque collected from donations which many of you made towards Wurzel's 'Help for Heroes' charity fund.
The total came to £2,000-00, and my son, Steve, took a couple of photos of the handover, which will be appearing in the December fanzine.
Thank you to everyone who donated, it is an excellent cause, and your generosity is appreciated.

2011-10-10T23:13:00.000-07:00

Diary Of The Fans: is now available as a download from Amazon France, as are the other books - please click the link -
http://www.amazon.fr/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?__mk_fr_FR=%C5M%C5Z%D5%D1&url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=alan+burridge#/ref=sr_pg_1?rh=n%3A672108031%2Ck%3Aalan+burridge&keywords=alan+burridge&ie=UTF8&qid=1318313565

2011-10-07T00:01:00.000-07:00

Motorheadbangers - Diary of the Fans Volume 1: Some fans believe that you need to buy a Kindle to download and read this book -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=alan+burridge
Not true.
If you click on the page for the relevant book, Amazon offer free apps to enable download to most of the iPhones, Android, and also your PC and laptop.

The book can be dowloaded from America's www.amazon.com and Germany's www.amazon.de and as Scandinavia don't have Amazon, I am trying to work out a way for the MHB's there.

2011-09-30T23:47:00.000-07:00

Motor-red Wine: was the witty title of the feature in The Daily Star, about the Motorhead brand wine now on the market.
The likes of us have known about it for perhaps a year now, but after AC/DC's 'Highway To Hell' plonk making headlines, it's great that the band also get their's mentioned in a National newspaper.
It was the only feature on Page 19 of the 30th September edition, with the classic photo of Lemmy pointing at the camera, and two photos of the wine bottle.
The Australian brewed 'Shiraz' wine is said to have 'a fruity aroma, with flavours of vanilla, plums, blackberry, and liquorice.

2011-09-29T07:02:00.000-07:00

The Wörld Is Ours Vol 1 - Everywhere Further Than Everyplace Else - Release: 14 November 2011 - Motörhead Music / UDR /EMI.
Another country, another town, another place and a sold-out crowd roars their approval. The greatest road warriors in rock once again prepare to bleed their sweat all over another stage. Lemmy steps up to the mike."WE ARE MOTÖRHEAD ...AND WE PLAY ROCK'N'ROLL !"
In celebration of their 35 years on the road, Motörhead Music /UDR is proud to present The Wörld Is Ours Vol 1 - Everything Further Than Everyplace Else, a blistering DVD containing some of the finest moments from the tour, including the entire performance from Chile's Teatro Caupolican, shot byBanger Films and Sam Dunn (Iron Maiden Flight 666, Rush: Beyond The LightedStage). Mixed by the band's long-time producer Cameron Webb, The Wörld Is Ours Vol 1is stuffed with the classics Motörfans demand, from 'Overkill' to 'Ace OfSpades' to 'Killed By Death' as well as some old gems like 'Over The Top'and new favorites such as 'I Know How To Die.' The Wörld Is Ours Vol 1 gives you every click from every pick and kick from the band's supreme performance in Chile, plus some tasty morsels from NewYork's Best Buy Theater, and the Manchester Apollo. The Wörld Is Ours Vol 1 is a pure testament to the power, glory and sheer voltage of the finest rock'n'roll played by real legends. Accept NO substitute! And yes, as you guessed, the DVD documentation will be continued next year. The Wörld Is Ours Vol 1 - Everything Further Than Everyplace Else - Tracklisting & Formats
Tracklisting:Santiago de Chile (90 minutes) + interview (9 min) 1.We Are Motörhead 2.Stay Clean 3.Get Back In Line 4.Metropolis 5.Over theTop 6.One Night Stand 7.Rock Out 8. The Thousand Names of God 9.I GotMine 10.I Know How to Die 11.The Chase Is Better Than the Catch 12.In theName of Tragedy 13.Just 'Cos You Got the Power 14.Going to Brazil 15.Killed by Death 16.Ace of Spades 17.Overkill New York (20 minutes) + interview (23 min)1.Rock Out 2.TheThousand Names of God 3. Killed By Death (feat. Doro & ToddYouth) Manchester (25 minutes) + interview (12 min)1.We Are Motörhead 2.Stay Clean 3. Be My Baby 4. Get Back In Line 5. I KnowHow to Die 6.Born to Raise Hell (feat. Michael Monroe)
Formats1. DVD + double audio CD (3 disc set) Digipack 8 panel / 24 page booklet / CD format for CD racking DVD Content: Santiago full concert 90 min - 17 songs recorded in Santiago, Chile at Teatro Caupolican (April 9, 2011) Interview 9 min Manchester songs 25 min Interview 12 min NY songs 20 min Atlantic City interview 23 min Plus 2 bonus audio CDs with the Santiago concert in full and the selected tracks from New York and Manchester
2. BluRay - Amaray box (single disc) BluRay Content:Santiago full concert 90 min - 17 songs recorded in Santiago, Chile at Teatro Caupolican (April 9, 2011) Interview 9 min Manchester songs 25 minInterview 12 min NY songs 20 min Atlantic City interview 23 min Plus bonus material: "Get Back In Line" video clip 3:45"I Know How To Die" video clip 4.00EPK "The Wörld Is Yours" 23 min
3. DVD - Amaray box (single disc) DVD content:Santiago full concert 90 min - 17 songs recorded in Santiago, Chile at Teatro Caupolican (April 9, 2011) Interview 9 min Manchester songs 25 minInterview 12 minNY songs 20 min Atlantic City interview 23 min
4. Vinyl LP - Gatefold sleeve (double disc) LP content: Santiago full concert 90 min - 17 songs recorded in Santiago, Chile at Teatro Caupolican (April 9, 2011)5. Digital audio Santiago full concert 90 min - 17 songs recorded in Santiago, Chile at Teatro Caupolican (April 9, 2011)Selected songs from New York and Manchester concerts Motörhead complete their world tour with the following European dates:
October 10/21/2011 CH Zurich - Club Hallenstadion 10/23/2011 FR Toulouse - Zenith 10/25/2011 FR Clermont Ferrand - Zenith D' Auvergne 10/26/2011 FR Nantes - Zenith 10/28/2011 BE Brussels - Forest-National 10/29/2011 NL Zwolle - Meerhal 10/31/2011 FR Lille - Zenith Grand Palais
November11/02/2011 UK Wolverhampton - Civic Hall 11/03/2011 UK Newcastle - City Hall 11/05/2011 UK Glasgow - O2 Academy 11/06/2011 UK Liverpool - University Mountford Hall 11/08/2011 UK Bristol - Colston Hall 11/11/2011 UK Norwich - UEA 11/12/2011 UK London - Hammersmith Apollo 11/14/2011 UK Plymouth - Pavilions 11/15/2011 UK Southampton - Guildhall 11/17/2011 UK Nottingham - Royal Centre 11/18/2011 UK Manchester - O2 Apollo 11/21/2011 FR Paris - Zenith 11/23/2011 DE Berlin - Columbiahalle 11/24/2011 DE Leipzig - Haus Auensee 11/26/2011 DE Munich - Zenith 11/27/2011 DE Stuttgart - Schleyerhalle 11/29/2011 DE Dusseldorf - Phillipshalle 11/30/2011 DE Hamburg - Sporthalle December 12/02/2011 DK Aalborg - Skraeen Multi 12/04/2011 DK Copenhagen - Vega Main Hall 12/05/2011 NO Oslo - Sentrum Scene 12/07/2011 NO Bergen - Peer Gynt Salen 12/09/2011 SE Gothenburg - Lisebergshallen 12/10/2011 SE Stockholm - Arenan 12/12/2011 SE Orebro - Conventum 12/13/2011 SE Sundsvall - Sporthallen 12/15/2011 SE Lulea - Pontushallen 12/17/2011 FI Tampere - Pakkahuone 12/18/2011 FI Helsinki - Cable Factory.

2011-09-27T05:23:00.001-07:00

Motherhead - the Finnish Tribute band: Playing 'Overkill.'
http://www.facebook.com/l/9AQDS9UodAQDNn3JquW1Zrj4RHdR-q1SizNCyEK6KSOJwdQ/www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr6RZXomFsc&feature=share
They're great!

2011-09-27T03:54:00.000-07:00

'Within Spitting Distance': Is a new title for a story written in 2006. Then, it had the working title of 'Poised To See Paradise,' which Horatio Caine coined as the title for one of the CSI Miami episodes. For the TV episode, it as about a bloke who was murdered just as he was about to see a stripper take her clothes off. For my story, it captured the essence of the main character, who was about to retire, and would see his paradise in doing as he wished, and not having to go to work.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Within-Spitting-Distance-ebook/dp/B005O1NS90/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1317120807&sr=1-1
But if 'Poised To See Paradise' is Googled it takes you straight to the CSI episode, so it was changed to 'Within Spitting Distance.'
And it sounds grittier, and suits the story much better, and I am happier with the new title rather than the old, because in essence, I was stealing someone elses words, and I don't like doing that.
The story, like all of my others, is also available from Amazon.com in $, and Amazon.de in Euros.

2011-09-20T23:36:00.001-07:00

Some Repair Work To Lem's Basses:
http://www.tcellisguitars.com/Lemmy_Bass_Repairs.html
Thanks to Henri Clausel for the Link.

2011-09-20T00:05:00.000-07:00

Re-Publishing as Kindle: Much as I still feel torn regarding downloads, especially after the lengthy debate we went through in the Motorheadbangers fanzine regarding download music, it made sense to take up Amazon’s free offer of uploading my out-of-print book titles. A book takes hundreds of hours to write, and when the publisher went out of business in 2005, the books were just sitting there on the shelf looking at me, doing nothing, and still bustling to be read.
So Amazon’s offer of publishing to Kindle, and with the growing popularity of Kindle download books, was too good to be missed. After all, I had the files for the text electronically stored, and the cover art, so why not give them a new lease of life.
So they are there if you would like them, (the can also be downloaded to many other devices, usually beginning with an ‘i’), and if you do, I hope that you enjoy them, and if you fancy writing a ‘non-spoiler’ review on Amazon afterwards; thank you.
Now with another publisher, (who has published ‘When The Clouds Have Passed’ and ‘Thunder In A Bottle’), and happy with the way that he works, whilst sorting out the uploads for Kindle, I found the file for the final, and unpublished book which I wrote for the previous publisher. Now titled ‘Within Spitting Distance,’ it is another crime thriller, based here in Poole in Dorset. This has been made available as a Kindle download, but not as a paperback. This isn’t due to anything sinister, it’s just that there is a fee to get the paperbacks into production, and with our old car recently going to the great scrap-yard in the sky, we had to buy another one, so we're a bit skint.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Within-Spitting-Distance-ebook/dp/B005O1NS90/ref=sr_1_16?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1316501552&sr=1-16
The others are there, including the Motorheadbangers Diary Of The Fans...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=pd_rhf_s_1?ie=UTF8&search-alias=digital-text&keywords=alan%20burridge

2011-09-16T04:28:00.000-07:00

The Long Out-Of-Print Book: Motorheadbangers ' 'Diary of the Fans Volume 1' has recently been made available on Amazon Kindle as a download -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=alan+burridge&x=15&y=18
It can also be downloaded to apps for iPod, iPhone, iPod touch, PC, Mac, Blackberry, and Android-based devices.
It can also be downloaded from -
http://www.amazon.de/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?__mk_de_DE=%C5M%C5Z%D5%D1&url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=alan+burridge&x=10&y=23 if paying in Euros, and
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=alan+burridge#/ref=sr_pg_2?rh=n%3A133140011%2Ck%3Aalan+burridge&page=2&d=1&keywords=alan+burridge&ie=UTF8&qid=1316172881 if paying in $dollars.
Most of my back catalogue of crime thriller fiction is also available from the same pages.

2011-09-15T04:39:00.000-07:00

Big 4 Tribute To Lemmy at Yankee Stadium, New York, playing 'Overkill.'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-w9j_Ttb3k
Thanks to MHB Kent Age Julnes for the link.

2011-09-13T02:33:00.000-07:00

No Mercy: 'Bet Your Ass On It' - Motorhead tribute band with a knockout song and video!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llwIHv3TC40

2011-09-06T23:22:00.000-07:00

New Fastway Album: Titled 'Eat Dog Eat,' Fastway's new album will be released by SPV/Steamhammer in Germany, on November 11th, and Europe on November 14th.
Fast Eddie Clarke says: This is by far the best thing I have done since the 1st Fastway album. This is classic rock at its best.
Tracks: Deliver Me / Fade Out / Leave The Light On / Loving Fool / Dead And Gone / Sick As A Dog / Freedom Song / Do You Believe / Love I Need / On And On / and Only If You Want is a download exclusive track.
With Toby Jepson on vocals, this is Fastway's first studio album since 1990.

Thanks to Olly Hahn and Arty Golev for the info.

2011-09-04T03:11:00.000-07:00

Wurzel's Charity: Thank you for your donations to Wurzels charity, Help for Heroes, which achieved a grand total of £902-06.
I shall be making arrangements to get this amazing figure paid to the charity, as soon as I am able.
Wurzel's family send their thanks and gratitude.

2011-09-03T00:13:00.001-07:00

Iron Horse / Born To Lose: Sung in Finnish.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yps4jjHtkbo
Thanks to Ellen Katajanheimo for the link.

2011-09-01T22:32:00.000-07:00

I Should Blog More: But things have been busy, and I have a medical problem which I am keen to get sorted out. When the ability to walk gets difficult, you wonder what's going on? So it's a slightly worrying situation, but one which, along with my doctor, we are trying to solve.
Bear with me.

2011-08-24T23:21:00.000-07:00

It Looks As If: the new Motorhead Collector's Guide has been accepted in preference to the old and previously much sought after, 1993 edition.
On Amazon.co.uk., there are 4 copies, ranging from £64.94, to a crazy £447.59.
Dream on!
I think that these prices are going to have to be adjusted, to something more realistic.

2011-08-20T00:16:00.000-07:00

Gradually Kindling: some of my back catalogue bibliography as the opportunity to do so, for free, has been offered by Amazon.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=alan+burridge
Only available as Kindle downloads, the long out-of-print 'Motorheadbangers Diary Of The Fans' will be added at a later date.
They are also available on Amazon.com and Amazon.de

2011-08-15T06:26:00.001-07:00

'Going To Brazil' - Live from Wacken 2011.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgrYsF9PzHg&feature=player_embedded
Thanks to Eric Billett for the link.

2011-08-10T23:29:00.001-07:00

'Tomorrow Never Knows' - from The Pink Fairies 'Live In Finland' -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5bzk3Pa-hg
In these troubled times, an apt title, perhaps. Great hearing a well overdriven and distorted Gibson SG tearing into this song, rather like a latter-day 'Star Spangled Banner.' (Star Bangled Spanner).
It should be played at Max Volume, and I recommend the whole album.

2011-08-09T00:31:00.000-07:00

Lemmy The Movie: Has achieved Gold Disc sales status in Germany.
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=161707

2011-08-05T06:30:00.000-07:00

Motorhead the Babylon Book: Wow! Someone is being rather optimistic (or greedy) with the price here. £150-00?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorhead-Alan-Burridge/dp/0907188044/ref=sr_1_15?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1312551025&sr=1-15

2011-08-04T01:53:00.000-07:00

Fanzine #91 Arriving: The Post Offices here in the UK, and in Europe, have done their bit by delivering most of the fanzines yesterday.
The 'Rest of the World' (Planet) will take a few days longer, but the mail still travels pretty fast.
Being the Wurzel Tribute issue, it was kind of rock photographer, George Chin, to offer the front cover shot as his tribute. The photo on page 2 was taken the first time I met Wurzel, Phil Campbell, and Pete Gill; when they were rehearsing and writing for their 'No Remorse' album, and 'May-hem-day' Hammersmith Odeon vinyl and live debuts.

Internet problems / repairs / work (?) in this area of Bournemouth has meant I haven't posted much on here this week. But also, with Mrs B and our son on a weeks holiday, I am having a bit of a break, too.

2011-07-31T22:44:00.000-07:00

Fanzine #91:v Went into the post box at 6am on 1st August 2011. Unusually, the first 500 were in white envelopes rather than brown. Staples had very low stocks, (a sign of the times, and there doesn't seem to be much call for the size,) so it was white or nothing. I keep a reserve stock, which catered for the balance in brown. A new supplier for brown has now been found.

2011-07-31T00:03:00.000-07:00

Lemmy's Hats Missing: A message from Superfans Robert Kiewik and Mick Stevenson - We are with Lem in Madrid and he asked if you could put the following on the Motorhead web sites: 1 box with 4 of Lem's hats went missing from La Coruna Airport in Spain on Thursday 28th July.It is unknown whether the box was stolen or lost. Motorhead are touring Spain with Judas Priest and Saxon. Lemmy would appreciate if the four hats can be returned safely and asks fans to look out for them. Thanks for your assistance in putting Lem's message out there. Best regards,Robert & Mick.

2011-07-28T05:36:00.000-07:00

Motorhead - Ace Of Spades - Broadway Musical Version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=801CketNy1Y&feature=related
Thanks to MHB Achim Heidelhof for the link

2011-07-26T06:19:00.000-07:00

Rodney Legg: Part of my job as the secretary for the Friends 4 Upton Library is booking Author Talks.
This was my review of his Talk for us.
Rodney Legg – July 30th 2009.
Rodney Legg’s name goes very much hand-in-hand with the dozens of books he has written and illustrated with rare photographs, not only about the towns and villages of Dorset, but also the nooks and crannies of tucked away places most of us have never seen. There is not a bookshop in this County where his books cannot be found, such is his legendary status.
A very laid-back character, Rodney drifted into his talk for the Friends 4 Upton Library whilst putting just a small sample of his massive output of books onto the table before him. As a youth he walked the Dorset hills and felt compelled to write about where he’d been and what he saw. Unable to find an outlet for his passion in the then local press, he founded the ‘Dorset’ magazine which we still see today in our local newsagents.
But his readership needed something better than the cuttings from those magazines, so he turned to books, and at present his output measures 6ft 3 inches as they sit proudly across his mantelpiece! A very interesting talk from one of Dorset’s most knowledgeable and striking characters.

He passed away recently, and his orbituary is here. One of the great men of Dorset.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-14272969

2011-07-26T05:05:00.000-07:00

Time Moving Fast: The fanzine is being printed, the envelopes are written, the stamps are attached. It will be collected on Friday and in the mailbox on Monday or Tuesday, and with you by the end of next week.
A 'proof' of the 'Live To Win' book was FedEx'd over from LA and received today.
It looks great!
Knockout!
But the proof is of how it was going to be. Now, publishers, Cleopatra, have decided to add a further 20 pages, (which will include an epitaph to Wurzel), and some previously unpublished photos, to make it the best Motorhead book ever!
Hardbacked, with lashings of colour on every page, I think they are going to be right.

This 'Live In Old New York' CD/LP has now appeared on amazon.co.uk for a very silly price; just as silly as on amazon.de in fact. Both sites agree on the release date of 9th August, though.

2011-07-24T23:39:00.000-07:00

From Film Maker's Wes & Greg: CLASSIC ROCK magazine has nominated LEMMY in its 2011 Classic Rock Awards for DVD/Film of the Year. The awards are given out at a special ceremony in London in November. We have pretty heavy competition (Stones, AC/DC, Foo Fighters, Sabbath, etc.) Any help you can lend to help us spread the word and get people to vote for us is much, much appreciated. The awards are picked by fans, so we need to get fans to go to the URL below to vote. If you don't mind, please send out to anyone on your email lists and post on your websites, facebook and twitter accounts. Much, much appreciated! http://awards2011.classicrockmagazine.com/

2011-07-22T07:10:00.000-07:00

Foo Fighters with Lemmy Kilmister - 'White Limo': Friday treat. We've had it before, but it's a great track and a great video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z3nBokjZyE&ob=av2n

2011-07-21T22:58:00.000-07:00

Down With A Sore Throat: and a runny nose and not feeling great. This is what happens with damp weather, rain, and a chilly north wind - in July of all months!

2011-07-20T07:05:00.001-07:00

The Last Rock Star - Diamond Baby: Matt Sorum's new band, video has a cameo appearance by Lemmy Kilmister.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHeGuqAAU-w&feature=player_embedded
Thanks to Robert Kiewik for the link.

2011-07-20T06:46:00.000-07:00

An Evening Filled With Lemmy: There’s good reason to stay in this Friday (July 22) and watch BBC4. The channel will be airing Lemmy: The Movie at 9.40pm, followed at 23.35 by Do Not Panic, the story of Hawkwind. The metal extravaganza climaxes at 00.35 with Heavy Metal Britannia.
What more can you ask?

2011-07-20T00:21:00.000-07:00

Wurzel's Passing: Created a lot of work re-hashing the fanzine, and getting it ready for print. But that has been completed and it's rolling.
But then, quite rightly, they wanted to update my 'Motorhead - Live To Win' book with an Epitaph to Wurzel. That has also been completed, and some photos to accompany it have been added.
Also, they would like to make the book 'the best that it possibly can be' by adding another 20 pages, cranking the count up to around the 190 mark. So the archives have been plundered to find suitable photographic images to do so. A set of 4 pictures of Pete Gill demonstrating his infamous 'Dance Of The Flaming Arseholes' were found amongst them, and I still can't help giggling when remembering the time he demonstrated the aforesaid routine, aided and abetted by the dastardly Wurzel and Phil Campbell. All the fun and frivolity of a rock 'n' roll band, that's for sure.

2011-07-16T00:07:00.000-07:00

A Wet & Miserable Weekend: here, but it's Mrs B's Birthday, so we can enjoy the day celebrating, and have some pub grub at The St Peter's Finger this eveing with friends, Cam & Barb.

Motorhead are playing a festival in Turkey, where it is probably hot and dry.

Whilst Phil Campbell almost missed last week's Sonisphere at Knebworth gig -
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/music/3697225/Motorheads-Phil-Campbell-makes-strum-mistake.html

And here's an interview from 1986 with a youthful looking Wurzel, and a slim and hirsute Jerry Ewing (now he's porky and bald!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0SKfrNqkMg

2011-07-15T11:01:00.001-07:00

Something For The Weekend: The Red River Hogs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OWRve-R1aE

The 91st Fanzine went to the print shop today, and will be with you in early August.

2011-07-14T01:52:00.000-07:00

Foo Fighters with Lemmy Kilmister: 'Shake Your Blood,' at the itunes Festival, Monday 11th July 2011 - Song dedicated to Wurzel.
http://studios.livenation.com/review/FooFighters/FooFighters-ShakeYourBlood_review

2011-07-13T00:01:00.000-07:00

Donations For Wurzel: This is not exclusive to fan club members, any and all Motorhead fans are welcome to contribute.
A band statement has been issued -
http://www.bravewords.com/news/165345

2011-07-12T02:15:00.000-07:00

Wurzel's Flowers: Thank you to all MHB's and Motorhead fans around the world who have sent a donation towards some flowers for Wurzel; your gestures are very much appreciated. There is still time to send whatever you want via Pay Pal using my email address alan.burridge1@ntlworld.com or by post to the usual fan club address.
Meanwhile, here's 'Bess,' as some more recent fans may not have heard it yet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KH1y8CJ4-xY&feature=related