'This song is magic and holds all sorts of sacred feelings. Listen to it as loudly as possible, with or without headphones and in a dream state if possible.' Dead Skeletons.










 
This track is available on iTunes and Amazon

 
With a bit of Pre-planning you can make some savings before you leave the UK...
1. Look for ski clothing bargains on Ebay, in charity shops, or borrow them from friends 2. Never skimp on eye protection but summer sunglasses will do the job rather than buying new ski goggles 3. When it comes to sun protection, look out for bargain.  You'll find plenty of end of season high factor summer sun tan creams 4. Book to self cater, it's cheaper to eat in and the holiday price tumbles if you're going in a  group 5. Ask for ski gloves, socks, hats and accessories for Christmas 6. Take a polybag of instant coffee and tea-bags with you instead of buying in resort, a small saving but worth it when you see how much you'll be charged for essentials when you get out there 7. Don't buy skis or boots, hire them in the resort 8. Do some online research on www.tripadvisor.co.uk or similar consumer travel sites to find out where the best value bars and restaurants are before you fly 9. Book to ski in mid January or March when ski holidays are least expensive 10. Remember to pack all liquids in your suitcase, airports will still confiscate perfumes and cosmetics and you'll end up paying for them all over again. There are plenty of tips to remember when you arrive at the resort too... 1. Mountain restaurants are really expensive, fill up at breakfast! 2. Carry water with you rather than buying on the mountain, Austrian tap water is even better than bottled 3. Stock up in the duty free and hold your own apres ski parties 4. Avoid impulse buys in your resort, they are the most expensive places to shop 5. Invest in a really good pair of ski socks, it'll save pounds in blister plasters! 6. Don't buy ski boots on impulse, keep hiring until you can afford the best 7. If you're not going to ski the full area, then only buy a local area lift pass 8. Go to the tourist office when you arrive, it's where local discounts are advertised 9. Pack a cheaper camera, and definitely not your best one, they're never the same when you drop them from the ski lift 10. It's a cliché and we know you'll have heard this one before, but if you can't see a price, you can't afford it...
 








 

...all signs of a punishing work regime and people who can't switch off. The problem is that each of these habits contributes to overall stress levels, a major cause of disease and premature ageing, and those most in need of relief are often the last to identify it in themselves. At the edge of an azure lagoon on the picturesque Koh Samui, Thailand; Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa is waiting to wash away the stresses and strains of hectic lifestyles. Here compulsive workaholics switch off their blackberries, turn on their senses, and remember the value of reconnecting with themselves.  It sounds like heaven.  We took a look at what's on offer there... Kamalaya's Balance & Revitalise wellness programme is designed for people plagued with exhaustion, low energy and persistently high stress levels. The seven-night programme relies on a synergy of Eastern and Western medical techniques to balance energy, relax body and mind, and remind stressed-out individuals how it feels to just 'be'. The Balance & Revitalise programme is offered in both basic and comprehensive options, both of which address stress prevention and recovery from a holistic perspective: Each prepares mind, body and spirit to make the best of future challenges and opportunities by demonstrating ways in which to maintain balance and good health through stressful times.
The comprehensive program also treats adrenal burnout, a state in which the body's adrenal glands stop functioning effectively following prolonged exposure to stress.







Combining restorative therapies with personal consultations in lifestyle, nutrition, stress management and private relaxation therapy sessions, the Balance & Revitalise programme begins with a bio-impedance analysis. This establishes key health indicators such as the condition of individual cells, the body's state of hydration, body composition and body mass index, enabling the highly-trained naturopaths to tailor each program to suit individual needs. The Wellness Centre team is then able to create a bespoke daily schedule of treatments to relax the body and mind, releasing energetic and emotional blockages as a connection with nature is re-established amidst Kamalaya's breathtaking natural beauty.
At meal times guests can choose from the programme menu of inspired healthy cuisine, an imaginative range of dishes and drinks, all free from caffeine, sugar, alcohol and adrenaline. The effect of the combined Balance & Revitalize programme elements can be profound. Guests will find themselves releasing accumulated stress and tension, perhaps even uncovering physical issues which were hidden, 'to be dealt with later'. They are supported throughout by Kamalaya's expert Wellness team, which includes doctors of Chinese Medicine, naturopaths, Ayurvedic therapists, Thai massage experts and spiritual healers, all of whom support and guide Kamalaya guests without the use of painkillers or antidepressants. Through education, restoration and healing, Kamalaya's Balance & Revitalise programme can help tired souls and bodies not only look and feel better, but also to establish new foundations for a longer, healthier and more vital life.







Specialist travel company Wellbeing Escapes (www.wellbeingescapes.co.uk, 0845 602 6202) offers exclusive packages at Kamalaya. Prices for the Balance & Revitalise package start from £2,400 per person (including seven nights for the price of five) and are valid for stays completed by 30 June 2010.
The package is inclusive of:

A Balance & Revitalise consultation
A body bio-impedance analysis
One nutritional guidance session and one stress management session
One naturopathic lifestyle consultation
One craniosacral or Sound Healing treatment
Two Chi Nei Tsang
Two Indian Head Massage
Two traditional Asian foot massage
Two traditional Asian hand massage
One Royal Ayurvedic massage
One Shirodhara therapy
One vital essence oil massage
Group holistic activities
Use of steam cavern, plunge pools and fitness centre
Seven nights accommodation and three Kamalaya healthy cuisine meals per day
Return flights to Koh Samui and return airport transfers

Following its success in Bluewater, Essex, iPilot will be available from the 15th of December at Westfield, London for budding pilots to take control of a major passenger jet.  Designed to resemble the cockpit of a Boeing 737NG and with guidance from qualified pilot instructors, this is your chance to experience realistic flight simulation similar to those used to train future pilots.
The simulator gives you an opportunity to fly from and to 500 different airports, allowing you to try to land into some of the trickiest airports and taking in panoramic views of some of the most beautiful cities in the world.
iPilot is as much about giving people confidence in air travel as it is about experiencing time in the cockpit. It's estimated that more than 10 million Britons suffer from a fear of flying.  They're easily spotted too.  They're the people in the airport bar, throwing a couple of shots down before it's time to board, slightly pale, a bit clammy, regular trips to the toilet.  It's either fear or they're destined for a starring role in Banged Up Abroad.
If you're one of those flying phobics and you want to increase your confidence and understand more about how an aircraft works then iPilot is the perfect way to do it.
Wolfram Schleuter, founder and CEO, said: 'I have been a private pilot for many years and really wanted to get other people to experience the joy of flying. My wife, Marketa, has always had a fear of flying but by showing her the simulator and how a plane works she is more comfortable boarding a plane now. 
'I realised the experience could be a great opportunity to increase people's confidence in air travel.'








There are a range of flight packages to suit any budget, including: 20 Minute Flight Experience (RRP £69) - Package includes one take-off, a short flight and one landing at an airport of your choice; giving first time fliers the excitement of pushing the throttles, feeling the aircraft speed along the runway before lift-off and getting to grips with landing a jet plane. 30 Minute Flight Experience (RRP £99) - This experience will give you a true sense of all major manoeuvres of a commercial flight. As the pilot, you will line up at the runway, push forward the throttles, speed along the runway to take-off and enjoy a flight before you line up for an approach back to the original runway and land. Some of the most popular flights experienced include taking off at Heathrow to get a birds-eye view of London's main landmarks before landing back at one of the world's busiest airports. Another is London to Paris, which offers panoramic views of the city's most renowned landmarks before landing at Charles de Gaulle. 45 Minute Flight Experience (RRP £149) - This experience allows additional airtime after take-off to experience the scenery of your chosen location before attempting a perfect landing. Most popular options include flying over some of Britain's favourite Spanish holiday destinations or experiencing taking off and landing at three of the world's greatest airports - Heathrow, the popular Hong Kong Tai Kak airport and St Maarten in the Caribbean. 60 Minute Flight Experience (RRP £199) - iPilot's most popular flight experience, which can be enjoyed with a friend, includes two take offs, two circuits and two landings - offering great value for money! A popular 60 minute experience is London to New York, where budding pilots can climb out towards the Atlantic and fly towards the US. 90 Minute Fear of Flying Programme (RRP £279) - The ideal experience to help you combat a fear or dread of flying, this package includes one of iPilot's experienced pilots taking you through every phase of the flight to increase your confidence and help you understand what is going on when a plane takes off, flies and lands. 90 Minute Champagne Flight Experience (RRP £399) - The ultimate flying experience where you will perform a perfect take off from a London airport of your choice followed by a flight and a landing at the chosen airport. A popular flight could be London to Paris with a panoramic approach over the city of Paris where you will see the skyline of the French capital. After arrival in Paris your experience will end with a glass of French champagne and some French treats for you to enjoy. You will receive a DVD or your flight as well as a present for you to take away. This experience can be shared with up to three friends. To book one of the above packages or for further information go to www.ipilot.me or call 01322 381 886. There are no age restrictions to experience iPilot and all customers get a signed certificate from the instructor after completing the flight. Make sure you book in advance.
 

Kathryn, a self confessed fabric junkie, had the idea of making reusable gift wrap bags as a reusable alternative to disposable paper gift wrap. The sight of overflowing bins on Boxing Day 2001 was all it took to get her husband Michael to realise that she was onto something.
Christmas at the in-laws saw piles of discarded gift wrap and the couple were convinced that reusable gift wrap would be a better way forward.
This paper-based industry generates sales of $5.1 billion per year and an equivalent amount of waste. Although recycled paper options are good, these also require resources for processing. Precycling or reusing is definitely the best choice as there is a limit to recycling - every time paper is processed or recycled, it breaks down the fibers. The fibers eventually become too small and can no longer be used and become waste for landfills.
Michael also started to think about where the gift wrap would travel to as it passed from person to person 'maybe it would show a connection between people and even prove the theory that we're all connected by just 6 degrees of separation... that led to the idea of the Track-a-Sack, the online gift bag tracking feature.'
Track-a-Sack erases the stigma attached with re-gifting by establishing that Wrapsacks are intended to be reused, not just to protect our planet but also to see the journeys they take for months and even years to come.








See wrapsacks.com for more details.

The art of burlesque can trace its roots back to nineteenth century America where it was as much about social satire as it was about striptease. It was a scene dominated by women who performed comedy, dancing and by today's standards, tame striptease, wearing elaborate costumes and using accessories like feathers and tassels. The lighting, music and party pieces such as fire breathing, gymnastics and singing all added to the atmosphere and entertainment.
In the 19th Century, burlesque shows used comedy and music to challenge the established view that society took on various cultural activities. Performances were aimed at the lower and middle classes in both Great Britain and the United States and parodied opera, Shakespearean theatre and other social pursuits of the bourgeoisie. Whilst jokes relied on a basic knowledge of opera and theatre, performances were sneered at by the upper classes who found them coarse and inappropriate for polite society.








Dialogue in the shows began to get more suggestive, and the dance and humour didn’t help burlesque to develop particularly complex plotlines. Sketches became more about quick witted humour and puns that led quickly into the striptease. Eventually the genre focused almost entirely on the comical strip tease until the 1930s saw a crackdown on the shows, leading to a gradual decline in popularity though it was kept alive by dancers like Blaze Starr.








Throughout the 1990s, a renewed interest in lost American pop culture saw a revival and a new burlesque emerged. Performers like Dirty Martini, Kitten Deville and Deeta von Teese defied the traditional image of the supermodel as the ideal in terms of beauty and inspired a love for the glamour that underpins the art of the burlesque striptease. The subsequent popularity of their acts propelled them into the mainstream.








Dita Von Teese sees burlesque as an art form with a very definite aesthetic that should be celebrated as an inspiration to women in the audience, who she hopes will be empowered to go home after seeing her show, but some lingerie and try burlesque for themselves.








And it would seem that that is exactly what is happening. Women are claiming it as their own and flocking to burlesque classes all over the world. The popularity of groups like the Pussycat Dolls whose entire image is one of a burlesque dance troop, has also produced a new dance style, Nuvo Burlesque that’s now dominating street dance classes.








No feature on burlesque could be complete without including the genre defining martini glass routine made famous by Dita Von Teese…

On Baker Beach in 1986, Larry Harvey and a group of nine friends built an eight feet tall wooden man and burned him in honor of the Summer Solstice.  The spectacle attracted a crowd of bystanders, maybe twenty or so in total and as the figure burned in front of them, they held hands and the first Burning Man festival was born.
Each year since, during the first week of September, the festival has grown in numbers and the height of the burning man has increased.  Now up to forty-eight thousand people gather 120 miles north of Reno in Nevada's Black Rock Desert, also known as 'the playa' to create Black Rock City under the shadow of an eighty feet high Burning Man who has evolved over the years to stand on top of a maze, a pyramid and a pavilion.  Black Rock City is a temporary metropolis dedicated to community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance. They leave within a month of arrival, though the festival itself lasts a week and they leave no trace whatsoever of either themselves or the festival having been there.
Burning Man is a festival in its own league.  Not for the faint hearted, it is an experience never to be forgotten.  One visit gives you entry to the Burning Man community that is active throughout the year all around the world, establishing a culture that hold the values of the community true and keeps them alive long after the fire has gone out.








So if you're thinking about making the trip to the festival where do you start? Jack Rabbit Speaks is an email newsletter giving updates and important information about the event throughout the year.  It's also good to consult the Burning Man Survival Guide and list of Recommended Reading, on the official website to see how you might contribute to a theme camp or art project. 
Once at the metropolis you can get involved as much or as little as you feel comfortable, but it's only really by throwing yourself into the experience that you feel truly part of it and inspired to keep alive what you get out of it throughout the year.
Burning Man is a festival with no rules other than to preserve the wellbeing of the individuals and the wider group.  Each year is given a theme to create a common bond and make individual contributions more meaningful. Past themes have included Fertility, Time, Hell, Outer Space, The Floating World, Beyond Belief, Vault of Heaven and The American Dream.

Art is the foundation of the experience and the festival has spawned the Black Rock Arts Foundation to enable members of the community to promote their own Burning Man events and help instil the feeling that is created by being part of this community throughout the world in people that haven’t yet been to Black Rock City. Strangers are welcomed and respected and everybody is accepted into the community. Gifts are a huge element of the festival too, though members are not obliged to reciprocate and if they do, cash value is meaningless.
The festival is not about commercial gain and takes no money from sponsorship or advertising, instead the onus is on people to look within themselves for self reliance and honesty and cooperation. Only coffee and ice are sold, festival goers need to bring everything else that they would rely on to survive in Black Rock City for a week. This is not a festival that can be taken lightly but promises to be journey of enlightenment and self discovery that attracts increasingly large numbers of people to take part each year.

New Rose by The DamnedWhere Have All The Boot Boys Gone? by Slaughter & The DogsCold Morning by Lost KnivesWhich Way To Go by Eddy Current Suppression RingBye Bye Bayou by LCD SoundsystemDance The Way I Feel by Ou Est Le Swimming PoolOnly After Dark by The Human LeagueSilver Trembling Hands by The Flaming LipsGhost Rider by SuicideLong Hair by Little BarrieMy Step Little DragonCounterpoint by DelphicBlessa by Toro Y MoiOCDUC by Dutch UnclesWhistling In The Dark by EasterhouseMake A Choice by Dylan DonkinSoldier Soldier by SpizzenergiHellhole Rat race by Girls'Til The End of the Day by The KinksLast Train To Trancecentral by KLFTherese by BodinesThe Power Of Lard by LardDon't Take My Sunshine Away by Sparklehorse15 to 20 by The Phenomenal Handclap BandLondon (Live) by The SmithsJeepster by T RexSpacehopper by Julian CopeSet You Free by The Black KeysBorn On A Day The Sun Didn't Rise by Black Moth Super RainbowThere's No Other Way (Remix) by BlurDead Man's Suit by Cherry Ghost

You Tear Me Up by BuzzcocksGet On Our Own by BuzzcocksLove Battery by BuzzcocksAutobahn 66 by Primal ScreamBombers by Tubeway ArmyCherry Lips by Archie Bronson OutfitOnly After Dark by Mick RonsonYeah by LCD SoundsystemBlessa by Toro Y MoiLover I Don't Have To Love by Bettie ServeertGodless by The Dandy WarholsThe Storm (12") by World Of TwistToo Many Dicks (On The Dance Floor) by Flight Of The ConchordsNo Feelings by Sex PistolsLove Cry by Four TetAlexander by Charlotte HatherleyDem A Sus by Harlem SpiritChange by Killing JokeSafesurfer by Julian CopeParis, France by Tom LucyCandycanelane by Gonja SufiInside the Internet by Thomas TruaxWhat You Do To Me by Teenage FanclubOpen Up by LeftfieldTake Carolina by PropellerheadsTalk About it by White DenimJerk It Out by The CaesarsFelicity by The Wedding Present

AlbumsYou've Got the Love by Florence & The MachineFences by PhoenixSilver Trembling Hands by The Flaming LipsSheila by Atlas SoundA Brief History Of Love by The Big PinkBaby by Devendra BanhartRitual/Looking in by Broadcast & The Focus Group30 Minute Boyfriend by Julian CasablancasPeter Hamill by Luke HainesIslands by The xxSurf Solar by Fuck buttonsThat Golden Rule by Biffy ClyroSinglesSomething Is Squeezing My Skull by MorrisseyLove Cry by Four TetBye Bye Bayou by LCD SoundsystemBrother Sport by Animal CollectiveThe Sweetest Thing by Camera ObscuraLaura by GirlsWe Share The Same Skies by The CribsDance the Way I Feel by OU Est Le Swimming Pool103 by The Pains Of Being Pure At HeartFurther Complications by Jarvis Cocker

1 - Kasabian v Beastie Boys - Sure Shot (Kevin Atherton Remix)2 - I Am Austin - Stripper (Unsigned)3 - St. Deluxe - New Wave Stars4 - Ultravox - Young Savage (John Foxx, Gone But Not Forgotten) *5 - Draygo's Guilt - Neon (Unsigned) for Linsey McCarthy6 - H.E.Y - Take It All (Promo)7 - Delicasession - Tape Check (SA90 Edit)8 - The The - Infected (12" Remix) for Simon Rance9 - The Delays - Long Time Coming10 - The Damned - Wait For The Blackout11 - The Ray Summers - Zagora Road (Promo)12 - The Nova Saints - Far Out (Nick McCabe Remix) (Promo)13 - Tim Dog (featuring KRS 1) - I Get Wrecked14 - Charlotte Hatherley - Alexander (Radio Edit) (Promo)15 - Lemanis - Museum16 - Puressence - Bitter Pill17 - The Number - The Dig (Unsigned)18 - Paul Haig - Something Good19 - The Wonderstuff - It's Your Money I'm After Baby20 - The Encierro - Esconde Mi Mente (Promo) for Suey21 - Onions - Onion22 - Stanley In Heaven - Tonight In Las Vegas (Unsigned)23 - The Clash - Lost In The Supermarket (Should Have Been A  Single) *24 - David Byrne - Angels (Words Of Wisdom: 'I can barely touch my  ownself, how could I touch someone else? I am just an advertisement  for a version of myself.' *25 - Cornershop - Motion The 1126 - Tango In The Attic - Seven Second Stare (Promo)27 - Lucien Caine - The Search Goes On (Promo) for Chris BridgetteIf you're in a band or solo and you'd like Dermo to play one of  your songs on his show, just send him an MP3 to: Dermo@TinCan.TVSign up to SOCIAL and get in touch with TinCan contributors, make  new friends, upload content and have your say.... TinCan It!Recorded and mixed by Tom Harris at SSR Creative Media Academy,  Downing Street, Manchesterwww.s-s-r.com

G-Man is a long time reggae selector and afficianado of the alternative scene in Manchester.  An artist and musician, he has been collecting tracks for over twenty years, ever since his first exposure to reggae as a kid in Manchester ...stay tuned for regular mixes from the obscure to the mainstream, themes, exclusive mixes and much more...peace.

Over 2,500 works by artists from all over the world will be displayed at the 7th edition of the Biennale Internazionale dell'Arte Contemporanea in Florence which will be held from December 5th to the 13th in the historical setting of Fortezza Da Basso.
Visitors will have the chance to take part in conferences and events with honorary guests like Marina Abramovic and Shu Yong.
Marina Abramovic will exhibit some of her videos at the Fortezza Da Basso and will offer a lecture to the audience followed by a book signing and an exchange of thoughts between herself and the public.








Shu Yong will exhibit some of the paintings from the series "Chinese Myths".

Above: Eight Immortals Cross the Sea; Shu Yong 2007
The objective of the Biennale is to diffuse, without any economic, social, cultural, current or style barriers and prejudices, the artistic nature of all populations throughout the world. It has belonged to the United Nations programme "Dialogue among civilisations" since 2001. This is a great opportunity to discover modern art in a Renaissance environment. For more information see the website: http://www.florencebiennale.org/indexeng.html

The year-end celebration brings hundreds of thousands of people to Times Square, one of the most famous gathering spots in the world. As visitors and residents watch the world-famous New Year's Eve Ball descend from the flagpole on top of One Times Square at midnight on the last day of the year, the eyes of the world are squarely on New York City.
The Times Square New Year's Eve Ball is a 12-foot geodesic sphere weighing 11,875 pounds. Covered in 2,668 Waterford crystals and powered by 32,256 Philips LUXEON Rebel LED lights, the ball is capable of creating a palette of more than 16 million vibrant colors and billions of patterns, producing a spectacular kaleidoscopic effect.
More than 100 million television viewers in the United States and more than 1 billion worldwide are expected to watch the ball drop...








So if you're heading to Times Square this year this is what to expect...
Throughout the afternoon the revellers start arriving. By 4pm, the "bow tie" of Times Square (42nd–47th Streets, between Broadway and Seventh Avenue) becomes a focal point for the festivities. The NYPD will direct revellers to gather in separate viewing sections. As one section fills up, police will direct new arrivals to the next section. As the evening progresses, revellers continue to fill the Times Square neighbourhood along Broadway and Seventh Avenue, and as far north as Central Park.
At 6pm the lighting and raising the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball begins and the celebrations start in ernest.
At 11:59pm the 60-Second countdown begins. New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and the Times Square 2010 special guest (to be announced) will push the Waterford crystal button that signals the descent of the New Year’s Eve Ball, and lead the 60-second countdown to the New Year on top of the Countdown Stage at Duffy Square (the centre island from Broadway to Seventh Avenue between 46th and 47th Streets).
Midnight and it's 2010! At the stroke of midnight, the lights on the New Year’s Eve Ball are turned off as the numerals "2010" are illuminated high above Times Square.
Several events will take place leading up to the ball drop too, these include:
The Confetti Wishing Wall–at the Times Square Information Center, located at Broadway between 46th and 47th Streets.
New Year's Eve is a time when people of every background come together to express a collective hope for renewal; a yearning for a better personal or global future can sometimes take the form of resolutions or wishes. With that in mind, visitors to the Information Center are invited to write their wishes and resolutions for 2010 on pieces of paper, which will be displayed on the wall. For those who cannot make it to Times Square to add their wishes, a virtual wall has been created at timessquarenyc.org.
At midnight on December 31, the wish papers will become part of the confetti that rains down on the City.
Good Riddance Day - The co-organizers of New Year's Eve in Times Square are inviting the public to say good-bye, once and for all, to those bad memories at the third annual Good Riddance Day. Shredders will be available for use in Duffy Square so everyone can discard their distasteful, embarrassing and downright depressing memories from 2009.
For those seeking other New Year’s Eve entertainment beyond Times Square, the Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises is offering a New Year’s Eve party cruise. Tickets for the three-hour cruise are $120. For more information, click on the "special events" section of circleline42.com.
If a New Year's Eve run around Central Park appeals to you, check out the Emerald Nuts Midnight Run, hosted by New York Road Runners. There will be a DJ and dancing at 10pm, a costume parade and contest at 11pm, and fireworks and a four-mile race at midnight. More information can be found at nyrr.org.








Brooklyn residents and visitors can take part in the borough's largest New Year's Eve party at Grand Army Plaza, which will include fireworks and live music. The best viewing locations for the fireworks are within Grand Army Plaza, along West Drive in Prospect Park, and along Prospect Park West between Grand Army Plaza and Ninth Street. For more information, go to prospectpark.org.
For more information on visiting NYC, visit nycgo.com.

Descent tells the story of Sarah, who loses her husband and daughter in a car crash, but she survives. One year later, her friends invite her on a trip to explore a deep cave in the mountains. When the expedition is about three kilometers underground, a rock collapses and blocks the access tunnel, trapping the group inside the cave. With limited supplies, they try to find a way out, but sooner they face a hunger and savage breed of predators...
With Descent Part Two released in December, TinCan's Charlotte Stear joined Jon Harris and two stars of the film, MyAnna Buring (Sam) and Anna Skellern (Cath) for a Q&A session...
 
How did you come to direct this film?
Jon Harris: Neil Marshall, the original director actually asked me to direct this film. It is a seamless continuation from the first film so it was good because Neil was always there for advice when I needed it.
 
There is a different ending for The Descent in America, how did you tackle this?
JH: We completely ignored that! As we see it, the British ending is the correct ending even though that may have worked in America.
 
Are there plans for a third film?
JH: I think so, well if there's an appetite for it!
 
Did you shoot in real caves?
JH: It was all shot on set as it's just not practical to get all the equipment, cast and crew down there. The first film proved it could be done well and looks authentic.
Anna Skellern: The sets were fantastic, really claustrophobic. We shot in Ealing Studios in London and they have actually developed a new process that makes authentic looking stalactites and stalagmites to create the cave systems. If these processes were not around these films could not have been made, it just would have been too expensive.
 
How long did the prosthetics take to make?
JH: They took about 8 weeks to make before shooting began and then they were working constantly throughout the shoot. The guy who made them was a fantastic FX expert, Paul Hyatt.
AS: You'll notice in this sequel that the rescue team have "Hyatt Rescue Team" badges stitched on their jackets, in honour of Paul!
 
Jon this is your directing debut is it not?
JH: Yes before this I was an Editor. I worked on films like Eden Lake and Layer Cake.
 
Which is more challenging?
JH: Well I find that with editing I can always take a break, have a cup of tea and come back to it. Whereas directing is one long process, so directing I guess.
MyAnna Buring: But you probably feel that way because you've done so much editing, once you have directed more I'm sure you'll feel the same way!
 
Did any of the actors do some potholing to get into character?
AS: I wanted to get in to the psyches of a potholer, as it is beyond me why someone would want to do that! So I spent some time with them, and as I did, I realised that there is something comforting about being on a mountain. We're so small it's very humbling. People who are looking for that adrenaline rush are just like people who like horror films, it takes you out of that normality and puts you in a flight of fight situation.
 
What are your all time favourite horror films?
JH: Alien
AS: Switchblade Romance
MB: Evil Dead 2
 
Watch the trailer for Descent Part Two here:

Northern Lights, Yellowknife, NWTEverything is illuminated in the Northwest Territories capital, one of  the the best location in the world for viewing the aurora borealis,  especially in March. Just head outside after dark and look up. Cost:  freewww.spectacularnwt.comTakhini Hot Springs, near Whitehorse, YTIron gives these hot springs their reddish-brown colour, though you’ll  probably be too captivated by the snowcapped mountains to notice.  Cost: $6 to $9.50/personhttp://travelyukon.comNorthern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre, Golden, BCGet up close and personal with wolves, one of North America’s most  misunderstood animals. Cost: about $10/adult and $6/childwww.hellobc.comHallis Lake Cross-Country Skiing, Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, BCSpend a day gliding through a winter wonderland. With the leftover  change, you can warm up with a slice of handmade apple crumble and a  cup of hot chocolate at Granville’s Coffee in downtown Quesnel. Cost:  $5 day skiing pass/adult and $10/familywww.hellobc.comVictoria Tea Festival, Victoria, BC (Feb.)Connoisseur or newbie, you’re bound to discover a new favourite in the  hundreds of teas and food pairings to be sampled at the largest public  tea exhibition in North America. Cost: about $20 to $25www.hellobc.comHitmen Ice Hockey, Calgary, ABA top team in the Western Hockey League, the Calgary Hitmen is your  ticket to catching the next Gretzky in action. Games run from  September through to playoffs in March. Cost: about $20www1.travelalberta.com/en-ca/Ice Magic, Lake Louise, AB (end of Jan.)Hop a free shuttle to Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for the  International Ice Carving Competition. The kids can even try their  hand at this ephemeral art form. Cost: freewww1.travelalberta.com/en-ca/






Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, ABBe one of the first to visit this spectacular 7,897-sq-m (85,000-sq- ft) gallery, scheduled to open in early 2010. Cost: $10/adultwww1.travelalberta.com/en-ca/Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Race, Prince Albert to La Ronge, SK (Feb.)In this Iditarod-qualifying event, 12- and eight-dog teams race 535 km  (332 mi) and 325 km (202 mi), respectively. Pick your favourite canine  and start cheering. Cost: freewww.sasktourism.comEnchanted Forest, Saskatoon, SK (Nov. to Jan.)Cruise through 2.5 km (1.6 mi) of animated Christmas light displays  nestled amid the towering trees of the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park.  Cost: $20/carwww.sasktourism.comFestival du Voyageur, Winnipeg, MB (Feb.)Celebrate the magic of a Canadian winter with Métis dance  performances, skating under the stars, fireworks and more. Cost: $20  for all 10 dayshttp://travelmanitoba.com/Skating at The Forks, Winnipeg, MBDo your best Elvis Stojko impression at The Forks, the world’s longest  naturally frozen skating trail. Follow up with tiny sugar doughnuts  and hot chocolate. Cost: skate rental $4/adult and $2/childhttp://travelmanitoba.com/Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, Nunavut to Newfoundland to British  Columbia (until Feb. 12)Park yourself along the main street in any number of Canadian towns  for a glimpse of the Olympic Flame as it makes its way toward  Vancouver, BC. Cost: freewww.vancouver2010.com/Winterlude, Ottawa, ON (Feb.)Enjoy open-air concerts, elaborate snow and ice sculptures, horse- drawn sleigh rides and lots more at this annual celebration of all  things winter. Cost: freewww.ontariotravel.netSkate the Rideau Canal, Ottawa, ON (Dec. to Feb.)Recognized as the world’s longest skating rink by the Guiness Book of  Records in 2005, the Rideau Canal National Historic Site offers eight  km (five mi) of uninterrupted fun. Cost: freewww.ontariotravel.net






Domaine de la Forêt Perdue, Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel, QCWalk or skate 10 km (six mi) of wild and winding forest trails of  quaint Quebec. Cost: free with food purchasewww.bonjourquebec.com/qc-en/accueil0.htmlCarnaval de Québec (Winter Carnival), Québec City, QC (Jan. to Feb.)The biggest winter carnival in the world has everything from dogsled  and canoe races to magical night parades—all right in the heart of Old  Québec. Cost: $10 gets you access to most sites and activitieswww.bonjourquebec.com/qc-en/accueil0.html





 

So how did this micronation come to establish itself? On September 26, 1971, Jacob Ludvigsen, a young editor at the underground weekly Hovedbladet, 'The Main Paper' invaded an abandoned army installation for a photo shoot. In the next weekend’s edition, he wrote that the barracks had been taken over and summoned readers to "emigrate with bus number 8."
The commune was able to establish itself quite quickly and quietly because at the time Denmark was between governments. This meant that with more on their minds, politicians ignored what was going on for several weeks. Ludvigsen declared the area as the 'land of the settlers... where all the seekers of peace could have their grand meditation and yoga center. Halls where theatre groups can feel at home. Buildings for the stoners who are too paranoid and weak to participate in the race...Yes for those who feel the beating of the pioneer heart there can be no doubt as to the purpose of Christiania.'
Named Christiania after the bohemian, pre-1924 Oslo, it was soon attracting squatters, artists, actors and DIY activists. Their mission statement, co-authored by Ludvigsen, called for a 'self-governing, self-sustaining community where the individual takes care of the collective.'
Ludvigsen didn't stay long enough to see his vision realised though. He left in 1972 after being discouraged by the lawlessness demonstrated by the new settlers who were stealing and generally disrespecting their surroundings, leading Bob Dylan to comment “To live outside the law, you must be honest,” Ludvigsen says today that there was no honour among thieves when he left.
Gradually though, everything settled down and the settlers and the government negotiated a compromise that saw them sanction Christiana as a 'social experiment' in return for payment for utilities and upkeep of the area.
A system of self-governance was formulated that saw the most important decisions made by consensus, reached at meetings between all members of the Christiana society and nearly forty years on the same system is used to resolve disputes and debate issues. There is no real property market. Change of residence is transaction-free with the right to occupy a given residence is decided by vote. No matter how much money a person has spent on a particular residence, they leave it all behind and they start again if they choose to leave it. For decades, building at Christiana was as simple as going to buy the building materials and getting started. Now a system of planning is in place and all new designs must be approved though imagination is not stifled and builders are encouraged to think creatively.

Each resident pays a monthly fee to the state, upkeep expenses, utilities, municipal taxes, and fees for some social services normally covered by the city. They’ve invested their own funds for the maintenance of the grounds, reconstruction of buildings, and modernisation of the sewerage system, adding value to the area.

Christiana doesn't tolerate violence, theft, weapons, gangs or hard drugs though cannabis is accepted. No outside authority is recognised either though the police were consulted in the 1980s when some violent incidents, including a murder required assistance. There were moves through the late seventies to force full vacation of the area but the commune stood defiant and still stands today as the second most popular tourist attraction in Denmark.
There are clubs, galleries, a women's ironworks, a restaurant and bakery and a bicycle factory. The micronation has also benefited the wider community too. They sponsor a free health clinic staffed by resident doctors and provide an annual Christmas dinner for hundreds of the city’s less fortunate. By sheltering and aiding addicts, alcoholics, homeless and unemployable people, they save the state millions of kroner in social welfare payments annually. There are no cars in Christiana other than delivery vehicles coming in from Copenhagen, making this a peaceful and safe environment for children to grow up in. By residents own admission, people living there either love or hate the life the micronation gives to its inhabitants but those that have been their since the seventies and eighties feel that what they set out to achieve has happened and they have a life that couldn't be achieved in the 'outside world'.








The future still isn't secure for Christiana though. A law in 1999 was passed to grant the community an ongoing 'social experiment' status effectively protecting it, however it was overturned in 2004 and the 900 residents are keen to ensure that their way of life will survive. Despite residents striving to keep the ethos of the dream alive, elements of the community have changed and not for the better. Pusher Street, named to embrace the many stalls selling cannabis is now more intimidating than it was in previous decades. The stalls were closed in 2004 and since then the drug scene is now aligned with that in any other society. By driving the cannabis trade underground the line between the sale of cannabis and harder drugs has now blurred.
However this is still a town where families try to bring up their children in the spirit of love, peace and understanding. It isn't possible to spend the night in the Freetown of Christiana but it's s easy to reach from downtown Copenhagen on the subway, it's eight stops to Christianshavn. Book your accommodation in Copenhagen at Hostelsclub, a selection of budget accommodation here.

Marina Abramovic was born and raised in the former Yugoslavia in 1946. Now based in New York, her work frequently draws on themes of family trauma, national trauma, the body, the state of mankind today.
Marina's family is diverse mix of celebrated figures for both pastoral and military reasons. Her great uncle was a patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church. After his death he was proclaimed a saint, embalmed, and placed in the Temple of St Sava in Belgrade. Both of her parents were Partisans during WWII, her father Vojo was a commander who was acclaimed as a national hero after the War; her mother Danica was a major in the army, and in the mid-sixties was Director of the Museum of the Revolution and Art in Belgrade.
Her father left the family in 1964 and in an interview published in 1998, she described how her "mother took complete military-style control of me and my brother. I was not allowed to leave the house after 10 o'clock at night till I was 29 years old. ... All the performances in Yugoslavia I did before 10 o'clock in the evening because I had to be home then. It's completely insane, but all of my cutting myself, whipping myself, burning myself, almost losing my life in the firestar, everything was done before 10 in the evening."
After obtaining a degree in Fine Arts, Abramović left Yugoslavia in 1976 and moved to Amsterdam where she met the West German performance artist Uwe Laysiepen. Together the explored the ego and artistic identity, forming a collective called "the other", and referring to themselves as a "two-headed body". They dressed and behaved like twins, and created a relationship of complete trust. As they defined this phantom identity, their individual identities became less accessible. Whilst some critics deconstructed their work as a feminist statement, Abramovic denied this and stated that their work was more concerned with extreme states of consciousness than gender identity.








A series of works culminated in the 'death self'. The two performers devised a piece in which they connected their mouths and took in each other’s exhaled breaths until they had used up all of the available oxygen. Seventeen minutes after the beginning of the performance they both fell to the floor unconscious, their lungs having filled with Carbon Dioxide. This personal piece explored the idea of an individual's ability to absorb the life of another person, exchanging and destroying it.
In 1988, after several years of tense relations, Abramović and Ulay decided to make a spiritual journey which would end their relationship. Each of them walked the Great Wall of China starting from the two opposite ends and meeting in the middle. As Abramović described it: 'That walk became a complete personal drama. Ulay started from the Gobi Desert and I from the Yellow Sea. After each of us walked 2500 km, we met in the middle and said good-bye.'
Abramovic believes that 'performance is mental and physical construction in which you step in front of the audience in that time and that space'. Her work is about slowing the audience down, making them aware of their body and their thoughts and of what is going on around them. She has been known to put her audiences through breathing and walking exercises known as 'a drill' in order to prepare them and ensure that they are in the right frame of mind in which to view her work.
'I really believe nobody thinks about the public - art has changed so much since last century and the public is the same... always a voyeur, observing the work but having no idea how to behave, especially when it is a performance'








Marina finds though that her audiences are willing to experience something new, finding her work memorable, challenging and interesting, whether or not they consider it art. She currently owns a theatre and work space in Hudson, New York and has established the nonprofit organisation, Marina Abramović Foundation for Preservation of Performance Art to develop ideas and work in video and post-production with resident artists.

Getting there and getting around:
SAS Scandinavian airlines flies directly out of five UK airports and in less than two hours you will be landing at Copenhagen. This is where you take the first step to saving some much needed cash by buying the Copenhagen Card, giving you free access to public transport in the greater Copenhagen area, including train or tube from the airport to the city centre. The cost for a 24-hour card is 225DKK and 115DKK for children under 16. See www.cphcard.com. Malmo offers a similar card for around 130SEK/day and is for sale at Malmo Central Station and at hotels.








Overnight in Copenhagen:
Copenhagen has two youth hostels welcoming all ages. One is the Copenhagen City with more than 1000 beds and at a good location on the Harbour front. The Danish design firm GUBI handled the interior decoration so you can be sure of sleeping in style in what is Europe’s largest youth hostel. Prices start at 180DKK per person. The other is Copenhagen Downtown, just five minutes from Copenhagen central station and right in the historic heart of the capital. The owners value culture, art and atmosphere rather than room service and expensive rooms. The place has six different types of rooms according to comfort and needs. Prices start from 165DKK for a single bed in an eight-bed room with bathroom further down the hallway. See www.danhostel.com or www.downtown-hostel.com
Eating out:
For a fun and truly Danish lunch try the Skildpadden in atmospheric Grabrodre Torv, just off Stroget the main shopping street. Its speciality is the open Danish Sandwich, with the difference that you actually build up these delicacies yourself. Just choose from a variety of breads then pile up the toppings of your own choice varying from sausages, ham, fish, seafood, cheeses, different salads and dressings. Prices start from 69DKK. www.skildpadden.dk
Nearby you find one of Copenhagen’s little gems, Cofoko, French inspired but with top Danish ingredients. They give you a choice of nine dishes, out of which you choose a starter, a main and a dessert for 275DEK. They' re keeping the prices low by keeping the food nice but simple. The original restaurant is placed in the trendy Vesterbro district filled with bars and clubs for a good night out. www.cofoco.dk
But if you want to see some of Copenhagen’s little gems why not start out at the Scarpettea restaurant run by the same people behind Cofoco. Here you get a five course dinner for 275 DKK and you can continue the evening at Tjillipop Bar in Rantzausgade, a cool but still cosy place with great atmosphere.
Go clubbing at RUST at Sankt Hans Torv in the hart of Nørrebro. www.rust.dk
Across the Sund to Sweden








The recently opened Malmo City Hostel offers comfortable budget accommodation the heart of town. It is located close to cultural attractions, theatres, shopping and restaurants. The hostel is open for all ages, weather you travel alone or in a group. Book your own room with shower and toilet facilities in the corridor or a bed in a dormitory room. There are also rooms with ensuite bathrooms. In the lobby and guest kitchen, you will meet people from all over the world, there's a great atmosphere here and people are up for a party. Prices start from 180SEK per bed. A Youth Hostel Association membership fee of 50SEK may be added. http://www.svenskaturistforeningen.se/malmocity
In an historical building, going back to 1888, StayAt has found the perfect location for a flexible and versatile apartment hotel concept. It offers 60 studios and 8 two room apartments all renovated in 2004 and located within walking distance to all of Malmo’s attractions. Each studio comes equipped with telephone, cable-TV, broadband, steam iron and fully equipped kitchenette. Its restaurant serves a healthy breakfast, the ideal start of a busy day in Sweden’s third largest city. Prices for a double room start around 600SEK. This may seem more pricey, but if you think what you might save on eating out and instead cook your meals in your own studio, this could be the right choice for you. www.stayat.se
Eating out:
Food that feeds all your senses is available at Malmo Art Museum. It serves delicious and wholesome dishes from around 90SEK. www.smak.info
For international food from African to Thai and anything inbetween head for Mollevangen Square. The vegetable market is surrounded by cafes to suit every budget. Try for example Restaurant Mollan in Bergsgatan street, serving good value fish, meat and vegetarian dishes.Tel +46 (0)40 121015.
SAS Scandinavian Airlines operates regular direct services out of London Heathrow and City airports, Dublin, Aberdeen, Manchester and Birmingham. For latest offers: www.flysas.co.uk
For further information

www.visitoresund.info
www.malmotown.com
www.visitcopenhagen.com
www.visitdenmark.com

Well-known for its welcoming spirit, the university city of Aarhus is less than two hours flying time from the UK with museums, galleries, restaurants and bars and great boutique and specialty shopping.
Located on the East Jutland coast, Denmark's second largest city Aarhus is both old and young. Once an ancient Viking stronghold, this is now a modern university city with a lot to offer. On picturesque cobbled lanes, old half-timbered houses sit alongside stylish boutique hotels that offer very cool accommodation. Yes Denmark is notoriously expensive but we've put some options together that leave enough cash spare to shop in the day and party by night.
Where to Stay?
At the upper end of the range are Hotel Guldsmeden (hotelguldsmeden.com) in the heart of the old town with tranquil gardens of fruit trees and flowers, 4 star Hotel Ferdinand (www.hotelferdinand.dk) with its canalside dining and for discreet luxury with a taste of functionality and pure Nordic style lounging in Hasten beds and Theselius chairs try Best Western Oasia’s (www.hoteloasia.dk).
For more regal offerings, step back to 1838 to a time of extravagant and royal luxury in the carefully restored Hotel Royal (www.hotelroyal.dk) with its extensive collection of painting depicting rural life or head South to Malling for a night in one of Denmark’s gastronomic inns (kro) which were established in the 12th Century by King Erik Klipping along the so-called ’Kings Highway’ to provide weary travellers with a bed and hearty meal (www.mallingkro.dk).
Bunk down at the centrally located backpacker hotel ‘City Sleep-In’ (www.citysleep-in.dk) with it cosy back garden with barbecue or venture into the nearby forest, just a few minutes from the beach, for a tranquil night’s sleep in the Danhostel Aarhus (en.aarhus-danhostel.dk). With a bus stop on the doorstep and family rooms that sleep up to six people, Danhostel is an excellent choice for anyone with a limited budget.
Given its idyllic location, close to the sea and surrounded by ancient forests, camping is a great option when visiting Aarhus. With bus routes going regularly into the city centre, pitch up to Saksild Strand Camping (www.saksild.dk) or Ajstrup Strand Camping (en.ajstrupcamping.dk) for a seaside sojourn. For the best of both worlds, head into the magnificent Marselisborg Woods to DCU-Camping Blommehaven (www.camping-blommehaven.dk) with its own stretch of beach and luxurious cabins.
In addition to the wide and varying selection of individual options, visitors to Aarhus can also opt to rent their own well-equipped holiday house in the vicinity of the city through a number of companies including Novasol www.novasol.dk; take sanctuary in a traditional inn (www.krohotel.dk); make friends with the locals in a homestay, bed & breakfast or farm stay and more remarkably camp for free (or at mere cost of DKK 20) at one of the many ‘Nature Camps’ in the region - a popular choice with the cycling and walking fraternity - that offer shelter with limited facilities and no vehicles.
With prices per night starting from as little as DKK485 (approx. £60) for a double hotel room, DKK259 (approx. £33) for a hostel, DKK250 (approx. £30) for a cabin and DKK66/adult and DKK33/child (approx. £8/£4) for a campsite, this is an affordable way to spend time in notoriously expensive Scandinavia.








Getting there…?
Aarhus can be easily accessed with daily direct flights to both Billund and Aarhus Airport from where there are easy bus connections and a good range of car hire companies. More details on getting to Aarhus at: www.visitdenmark.com

Galloway Forest Park in the South West of Scotland has been named this week as the first Dark Sky Park in the United Kingdom. The prestigious award, announced by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA), confirms Galloway as being one of the best places for stargazing in the world.
It has long been a favourite destination for astronomers and amateur stargazers thanks to the limited number of buildings within the forest park's boundary ensuring light pollution is kept to an absolute minimum.
Hidden away in the South West of Scotland, Galloway Forest Park is the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom covering 300 square miles. It sits in the heart of Galloway and has some of the most beautiful and dramatic scenery in the South of Scotland. The Dark Sky Park award marks the culmination of efforts to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy 2009. Part of the selection process involved giving a rating via a sky quality meter, which measures the darkness of the sky overhead. The higher the sky quality meter reading the better, with the darkest reading of 24 equivalent to standing in a photographer's dark room. Galloway Forest Park was rated 23 on the scale, giving it a gold tier Dark Sky Park award status - the highest achievable and the best condition for viewing distant galaxies.  Stargazers regularly view satellites, rockets, the International Space Station, the Milky Way, Andromeda, and even the Northern Lights.
Sadly growing levels of light pollution are causing dark skies to rapidly disappear and less than 10% of people in the UK can now see the Milky Way from where they live. Until now, there have been only three other Dark Sky Parks in the world - the Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah, the Cherry Springs State Park in Pennsylvania and the Geauga Park in Ohio, making Galloway Forest Park unique in Europe.
WHERE TO STAY? Craiglemine Cottage & Galloway Astronomy Centre Glasserton, Nr Whithorn, Dumfries & Galloway, DG8 8NE 01988 500594 www.gallowayastro.com £28 per person per night (double) The Centre is located in open farmland with a night sky free of light pollution. A primary aim of the Centre is to provide lots of help and guidance to ensure all visitors get maximum enjoyment out of a visit. If you are just getting interested in astronomy a visit to the Centre can give you a great start.
The centre has a spacious residents lounge & dining room and is a perfect place to unwind after a day of sightseeing. The Reception Area has a collection of astronomy books to help prepare for a night of observing during which hot drinks are provided. The room has red lighting to help maintain night vision and home cooked evening meals are available on request.
Owner Mike Alexander has over 37 years experience of astronomy and offers a variety of short courses to guests. See the website for details.
 

The Return of Club 43, The Free Trade Hall, Manchester
Built on the site of the 1819 Peterloo Massacre, The Free Tade Hall was a symbol of the free trade and wealth generated during the industrial revolution but it was also the setting for some famous moments in music history too.
When Bob Dylan played at the Free Trade Hall on 17th May 1966 it was shortly after he went electric and it was at the height of the controversy that saw him moving away from his folk roots.  A member of the audience shouted 'Judas' possibly one of the most famous heckles ever ...
Pink Floyd played the Free Trade Hall on five occasions.  One appearance on 11th February 1972 saw the show abandoned due to a power failure.  This was a preview of what would become their Dark Side of the Moon tour.
One of the most seminal moments in the Free Trade Hall's history though came on 4th June 1976, in the Lesser Free Trade Hall, a smaller room upstairs from the main hall that was the venue for a concert by The Sex Pistols.  This gig is now legendary for acting as a catalyst to the punk movement and providing inspiration for the forty or so people that were present that night, including Tony Wilson, Howard Devoto, Pete Shelley, Morrissey, Ian Curtis, Mark E Smith, Paul Morley and Martin Hannett, all of whom went on to play pivotal roles in Manchester's music scene.








Perhaps less famous, but equally celebrated in jazz circles in Club 43.  In it's heyday Club 43 was the venue that bands and artists appeared at after their performances at Manchester's Free Trade Hall and attracted impromptu performances from the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday, Miles Davis and Humphrey Lyttleton, jamming with local musicians in a laid back and intimate atmosphere that delighted their fans. Demolished in the 60s, the club has been "sleeping" since, until now. On Thursday November 26 at 7.30pm the club will be resurrected on the site of the old Free Trade Hall in the Radisson Edwardian Hotel's Alto Restaurant. This new incarnation of Club 43 will be more accessible and appeal to fans of live music generally not just jazz enthusiasts, but it will stay true to it's former roots so jazz will definitely be on the menu together with specially created Cajun/Creole dishes from chef Russ Brown.
Music will be from the Mark McClaren trio and local DJs Mike Vitti and Steve Quirk. Tickets for the evening are £15 and available from the hotel. Call 0161 835 8904 or book on line at www.radissonedwardian.co.uk 

Album Tracks Lisztomania by Phoenix21st Century Man by Luke HainesTwo Weeks by Grizzly Bear16th & Valencia Roxy Music by Devendra BanhartToo Many Dicks (On the Dance Floor) by Flight Of the ConchordsSmells Like Teen Spirit (Live At Reading) by NirvanaWalkabout by Atlas Sound (With Noah Lennox)The Be Colony by Broadcast & The Focus GroupSpace Mountain by Fuck ButtonsCrystalised by The xx30 Minute Boyfriend by Julian Casablancas Singles Tracks Sweet Disposition The Temper TrapRemains by White Belt Yellow TagCandycanelane by Gonja SufiThis Must Be It by RoyksoppInto Your Heart by MirrorsIn Your Heart by A Place To Bury StrangersLove Cry by Four TetHigher Than the Stars by The Pains Of Being Pure At HeartThe Sweetest Thing by Camera Obscura
 
Sign up to SOCIAL and get in touch with TinCan contributors, make new friends, upload content and have your say.... TinCan It!Recorded and mixed by James Trott at SSR Creative Media Academy, Downing Street, Manchesterwww.s-s-r.com

Speculation circulated at the time of this now infamous gig, suggesting it wouldn't happen due to Kurt Cobain's affection for narcotics, and as the time grew closer, whispers that he had actually been hospitalised after an overdose, were rife. For many, the ‘would they/wouldn't they’ atmosphere just led the intensity of the night. Of course, play they did.
 Construed by some members of the press as another rockstar junkie along with wife Courtney Love, the ever-humorous Kurt Cobain begins his band's headline show at Britain's best-loved rock festival with a little joke; he is pushed onto the stage in a wheel chair, (wearing a long blonde wig and hospital gown) by music journalist and friend Everett True, and then pretends to collapse. As gasps of confusion fill the crowd, it does seem an oddly comical way to start the 25-song set. This is Nirvana, and odd is fitting.
‘Breed’ kicks off the music and instantly, the thud of drummer Dave Ghrol is automatically spin-tingling. Many fans refer to earlier shows, Reading ’91 when the band were much lower down the bill, gigs from the continent etc as being more groundbreaking and vital in gaining new fans, but by 1992, their music was so widespread that it’s this very show which spawned one of the most bootlegged music DVDs ever – and that’s all the more reason to see it in good quality now. 
The digitally enhanced colour correction and audio CD (containing all the songs from the DVD apart from ‘Love Buzz’) is obviously going to be a Christmas earner for Love, but if you’re a fan, you’ll need to ignore the perfectly timed commercial aspect and just bag a copy. The set includes songs from one of grunge's most prolific albums 'Bleach', and the album, which propelled Nirvana into the spotlight forever,  'Nevermind'. At the time of recording, lesser-known songs such as 'Dumb' and the public début of 'tourette’s' would later make the In Utero album where as 'Sliver' and 'Aneurysm' would appear on 'Insecticide'. They also cover ‘The Money Will Roll Right In’ by California punks Fang and The Wiper’s ‘D-7’, with Nirvana accrediting both bands for inspiring their formation.
Bearing in mind ‘official release’ doesn’t mean ‘never before seen camera angles’; the DVD was still filmed 18 years ago, so don’t expect any sudden fancy camera work or extended crowd shots for your money. 

 
Also gracing the main stage that weekend were bands that left a mark on the music fans of the nineties; Smashing Pumpkins, Rollins Band, Nick Cave, Mudhoney, Teenage Fanclub, L7, Beastie Boys, Pavement, Screaming Trees and The Melvins to name a few, yet it's Nirvana who continue to be a must-have in the record collections of every new generation of music buffs. With the transition from punky outbursts to softer, twisted pop songs, coy smiles and between song joke-telling, the appeal of Nirvana is still as present as ever, and for a moment, this DVD (which due to minimal camera angles also fails show the enormity of the crowd) allows fans to disengage from the tragedy that would follow and enjoy a defining moment of the band’s legacy.
Throughout the show there's a man on stage that, along with Kurt's attire, looks like a mental patient who despite medication, can't stop dancing. He gets an introduction of “Our friend Tony” and is in fact Anthony Hodgkinson of 90's Brit rock band Bivouac. It's weird, but it works. Why not show the world your crap haircut and dance like a maniac of TV? The sound is brilliant; all the guitar noise and imagination of Ghrol's drumming sounds immense, and the vocal pitch hiccups are, thankfully, left in. Nirvana were all about the raw aggression and ability to present the most unperfected musicianship in a way which made it even more listenable the world over, even if it was a sort of accidental fame. 
Perhaps music aside, the most romantic moment of the footage is when Kurt declares his joy for his then 12-day-old daughter, and confides in the army of fans that his wife thinks everybody “hates her”. They oblige in a message to Love that simply says, "We love you Courtney".  The smile on Cobain's face is satisfied, but no doubt the chant is to make him feel better rather than contain genuine affection for his wife. This leads into 'All Apologies' and it’s a heart-warming moment.
If you've owned a bootleg copy for years, then maybe this won't be top of your Dear Santa list, but it should be. It's fair to say there's less energy from Kurt at this gig than in footage of other performances, making it somewhat less notorious for the snobby, yet it still resonates as being really very special. This was of course the last time Nirvana would ever play on British soil, and maybe that magnifies its importance to UK fans. Because all in all, Nirvana’s 1992 Reading appearance still is undoubtedly special for us.
Watch the official trailer here: 









 

She's Like Heroin To Me by The Gun ClubBlank Generation by Richard Hell & The VoidoidsSee The Leaves by The Flaming LipsBig Gold Dream by Fire EnginesYou'll Disappear by The Phenomenal Handclap BandCharlotte Anne by Julian CopeThe Songs That We Sing by Charlotte GainsbourgAlexander by Charlotte HatherleyThe Light Pours Out Of Me by MagazineThe Killing Moon by PavementThe Be Colony by Broadcast & The Focus GroupOutdoor Miner by Wire Here To Fall by Yo La TengoMike interviews Yo La Tengo (part 1)Periodically Double Or Triple by Yo La TengoMike interviews Yo La Tengo (part 2)If It's True by Yo La Tengo Whole Wide World by Wreckless EricRise Up & Fight by Crippled Black PhoenixBlue Honey by Pop LeviSatellite Of Love by Lou ReedFences by PhoenixFire So Close by JamesBeasley Street by John Cooper ClarkeI'm In Love With the Girl On a Certain Manchester Megastore Checkout Desk by The FreshiesPuppet Cabaret by Friska VijiorDoubt by DelphicCaring Is Creepy by The ShinsSometimes a Pony Gets Depressed by The Silver JewsLazy Eye by Silversun PickupsSeratonin by Simple Kid

Paper Heart is the new documentary-comedy that follows comedian Charlyne Yi on her quest to find out what love is.  You may recognise Charlyne as the stoner girl from Knocked Up, but at the age of 23 she is already a big star on the comedy circuit in America and a budding writer. Paper Heart is her big screen writing debut.
 
At the start of the film Charlyne is adamant she is incapable of falling in love, and as she isn't sure what love is she decides to find out. Together, Charlyne and director Nicholas Jasenovec (played in the film by Jake Johnson) set out on a tour of America to ask people all about love. They interview real couples who share heartbreaking and funny stories of their experiences that would make the coldest hearts thaw. Their stories are accompanied by cartoons, puppets and stop motion animation giving this film a quirky charm.
 
While filming their documentary, Charlyne meets Michael Cera who unashamedly pursues Charlyne despite her obvious reluctance. As filming progresses the documentary turns its focus on Charlyne and Michael's relationship. Reality and fiction are combined as their budding relationship is captured on film, prompting questions over their real off screen love lives. Not surprisingly, both are dodging that question as much as possible so we are still none the wiser on that one.
 
Michael Cera does his usual awkward comedy that never fails, but we also see him as a confident love interest unlike anything he is known for in previous work.
It is Charlyne who is the true star of this film. Her deadpan humour together with her infectious, totally unflattering, but completely awesome giggle makes it hard not to love her. Combined, the comedic chemistry between Charlyne and Michael is hilarious but in an understated way. Also look out for fantastic cameos from funny friends Martin Starr, Paul Rust and Seth Rogen.
 
Although the film has a strong beginning it does wane towards the end when things start going wrong with the documentary and the relationship. It becomes less light hearted and a bit too real. But then again, doesn't that sound just like a real relationship?
 
Though the film may be too cutesy for some, it is definitely a refreshing take on the romantic comedy format and certainly worth a viewing.
 
8/10
Paper Heart is released on November 13th
 






 

 

This episode features an interview with Tim Sult from the mighty Clutch and  songs new and old from Skindred, Kiss, The Infirm, Satyricon and other assorted noise-mongers

We promise that you will not be able to get this out of your head.  One listen and it has you.  Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing is up to you to decide.
So lets keep Cowell off the Christmas number one spot, lets wipe the smirk of his face and make Ricky the oldest person to be on the top of the charts this Christmas.  It's out on download from Dec 7th.
Ladies and Gentleman we bring you... Calm Down!
 

According to GG Allin's father the second coming of Christ occurred in 1956 at Weeks Memorial Hospital in Lancaster, New Hampshire when Jesus Christ Allin was born.  Merle Colby Allin Sr, told his wife Arleta that Jesus Christ himself had visited him and told him that his newborn son would be a great and all powerful man in the vein of the Messiah.  Such high hopes.
Jesus' older brother Merle Colby Allin, Jr. was unable to pronounce "Jesus" properly and kept calling him "Jeje", which became "GG". The family lived in a miserable log cabin with no water or electricity in northern New Hampshire. This served as a backdrop for Allin's father to spiral into the depths of severe mental illness and obviously had huge ramifications for the rest of the family.  Merle forbade all conversation in the home after dark, his religious fanaticism became consuming and he was antisocial and abusive to the extreme.

In 1961, Arleta could take no more and filed for divorce from Merle Sr.  Allin later recollected this early period of his life in an essay he wrote in the early 1990s:
 
“The first five years of my life were infested with sickness and violence. It consisted of living in a log cabin in the northern woods of New Hampshire with father, mother and brother. It was an extremely real, primitive, anti-social existence with no running water, little heat, and unbearably claustrophobic…I was immensely sick with asthma, always fighting to breathe amidst emotionally uncomfortable conditions where the wall colors were that of the ever-peeling paint strips…We were more like prisoners than a family. We were prisoners to father, and father was a prisoner of himself. He always had planned to kill my brother and I, then commit suicide with mother. This was brought to our attention on many a blistering occasion. Father despised pleasures around the cabin and would consciously now allow any enjoyable items to enter into our home. If he found anything in our possessions that we enjoyed, he would take it out in the woods behind the cabin and bury it. We were allowed very little contact with others. We had no phone, and activities were limited… But it developed into our world. It’s all we knew at the time...Toward the end of a long, barbaric five years, mother was plotting to engage in our escape. She had previously tried but I was kidnapped in the failed attempt. But finally one day when father was at work in the paper mill, mother packed us up swiftly, leaving behind everything that could not be carried, and we then escaped, leaving behind the first five years of my life. A five years that would be scratched into my soul for eternity.”     — GG Allin, 'First 10 Years'

In 1966, Arleta married again and GG Allin and his brother were from that time raised by their mother and stepfather in East St. Johnsbury, Vermont.  Arleta changed her younger son's legal name to Kevin Michael Allin during his first year of school in order to give her son a chance at a normal, mockery-free childhood.
Sadly for GG, a more conventional name made little difference to his experience at school.  A poor student, he was placed in special education classes and had to repeat the third grade. He was regarded as a misfit by his classmates and suffered intense bullying.  In his sophomore year he began attending school in drag, which he said was inspired by the New York Dolls.  It did nothing though to help him fit in with his peers. 
When asked about his childhood, GG described it as "Very chaotic. Full of chances and dangers. We sold drugs, stole, broke into houses, cars, etc. Did whatever we wanted to for the most part - including all the bands we played in. People even hated us back then."
Allin graduated from Concord High School, Vermont in 1975 and immediately formed the band Malpractice with several high school friends and his older brother and was the drummer until the band separated in 1977.

His debut as a frontman came with The Jabbers between 1977 and 1984. The band recorded a number of tracks which Allin played drums and performed vocals. In 1980 came Allin's debut release, Always Was, Is and Always Shall Be.  Allin was a standard punk rock frontman in the vein of Iggy Pop and Stiv Bators and his music was a mix of power pop and hardcore punk.  By this time though, Allin had got into heroin.  He was never going to be an art student making bold situationist comments through music so he became a troubled junkie, assualting and abusing people, existing to be hated.  Tensions within The Jabbers began to mount as Allin became increasingly uncontrollable, vicious, and uncompromising. The Jabbers discontinued, and the members parted ways.
The mid eighties saw Allin move from band to band, some released music that was acknowledged by the East Coast hardcore scene but largely Allin remained largely ignored.  He had married Sandra Farrow but this was to be shortlived as he left her for a teenage fan, Tracy Deneault, having a daughter with her in 1986, Nicoann, though the couple never married and not much more is known about the relationship.
By the late 1980s, Allin was addicted to heroin and alcohol and took whatever he could lay his hands on. He was filthy, rarely washing and had developed the party trick that he will forever be most famous for, taking laxatives before performances and throwing his faeces at the audience or smearing himself with the mess.  He often physically and sexually assaulted audience members, actively encouraged violent riots and damage to venues and often saw gigs cut short because he was arrested.  His constant touring was only ever interrupted by prison or hospital stays.
 
“GG Allin, this New Hampshire loser, appeared at the Cat Club, wearing only a jockstrap and cowboy boots. He started shouting the moment he came out, after shitting in his hands and wiping it on his chest. Then he bashed the microphone into his mouth, nose and eye sockets, a shiny red mask spreading across his face. He stretched his jock aside and pulled hard on his little dick. He broke bottles on the ground and rolled in them. Back up on stage now, there was other stuff on the floor (vomit?), and his butt and legs, besides his face, were bleeding. On his back, sometimes doggy style, Allin would shove the microphone into his anus. Then he went into the second number.”     — RJ Smith, Village Voice, review of Cat Club show Oct. 6, 1986
 
“After the set I sneaked backstage to say hello. The band was hurriedly packing up, eager to get the hell out, when GG stumbled in, covered in blood and shit, shards of glass still embedded in his back. ‘What’s the mattah?’ he asked earnestly, in a stately New England twang that would do the Kennedys proud. ‘You guys pissed at me?’ Somehow he managed to get a cab to the Port Authority, where he caught a bus to his home in New Hampshire, still naked but for the jockstrap, still covered in shit and blood, and not ashamed. The cops left him alone because they thought he was a victim.”    — Mike Edison, describing the infamous Cat Club show, Screw magazine, 1986


 
Allin saw this behaviour as groundbreaking, describing himself as "the last true rock and roller" the embodiment of danger, anti-authoritarianism, rebelliousness.  Allin saw his music and performances as a means to return rock and roll to what he saw as its roots, reclaiming it from the corporate system.  This attitude saw him attracting a small but dedicated following of die hard fans who respected his kamikaze approach to life and his no rules nihlism. 
Allin became obsessed with serial killers, befriending John Wayne Gacy who painted a portrait of Allin, which became the album cover to the soundtrack of the film, Hated: GG Allin And The Murder Junkies. According to Gacy, Allin was "a good kid" but that he "smelled like the worst piss-soaked wino".
 

 
Live appearances continued in the usual vein with the added attraction of threats of on stage suicide but were interrrupted in 1989 when Allin was accused of the rape and torture of a female acquaintance.  Allin didn't deny burning the woman, cutting her and drinking her blood, he did however claim it was consensual.  He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of assault and was imprisoned from he was imprisoned from December 20, 1989 – March 26, 1991 using the time to write and publish The GG Allin Manifesto.
Allin's release led to more gigs, the footage of which were made into Todd Phillips documentary Hated: GG Allin and the Murder Junkies.  Allin had become nothing more than a circus side show though.  He was not by any standards accepted as a musician that was pushing boundaries and was largely ignored by everyone except talk show hosts like Jerry Springer and Geraldo Riviera who treated him as little more than a pantomime villain on daytime television.
GG Allin's final performance was in New York in 1993.  He took to the stage, high, filthy and hitting out at the audience.  During the second song of the set the power failed and GG started to smash the stage up in anger.  He put his head through a pain of glass and left the club with blood dripping down his face to go and party and his friend Johnny Puke's apartment.  Marching through the streets covered in vomit, excrement and blood, his fand followed leaving upturned bins and chaos in  their wake.  They threw bottles at police cars and a mini riot ensued.  After an hour or so, the band led by Allin escaped the mayhem that they and the fans had caused and reached the apartment where the party continued.
Drugs and the alcohol were consumed in large quantities and GG snorted alot of heroin, so much so that he collapsed.  This didn't stop fans posing with the unconscious Allin for photographs.  Allin had actually already died but nobody noticed until the next day when he was discovered on the floor of the apartment surrounded by the sleeping bodies of his friends.  He was thirty-six.
Allin's wake could only be described as a fittieng tribute to the way he lived his life.  It was a party of epic proportions with guests pouring bourbon and stuffing drugs into his mouth as he lay in the open casket.  At his brother's request, GG wasn't cleaned or dressed and lay in his jock strap and filthy leather jacket covered in dried blood and excrement surrounded by bottles of bourbon and photographs of his performances.  Once again fans, posed with his lifeless body, some even moving his jockstrap aside to laugh at the size of his penis.  With friends like that...
Here's some classic GG moments in life and in death, not for the faint hearted though if you've read this far you'll probably cope.








 








 


 

Library Theatre, Manchester until November 29th 2009The plays of German theatre practitioner Bertolt Brecht have always been as dividing as the political paradigms that spawned them. So it’s of no disrespect to the Library Theatre to say that no matter how accomplished this prodution was, it was never going to be everyone’s cup of tea. That’s just non-aristotoelian epic drama for you, I’m afraid. Intellectual, thought provoking and respected it may well be. Crowd pleasing ‘tis not - especially with all those god awful songs. Saying that, the use of David Harrower's recent translation of the classic 1943 play - a translation which was premiered last year at the Young Vic, does help towards a more accessible reading, with plenty of colloquialisms thrown in amongst Brecht's elevated, stark language. The 'Good Soul' in question is She Te (Poppy Miller), a kind-hearted prostitute who offers a bed for the night to three high-ranking Gods on a mission to find out if there is any goodness left on earth. Touched by hospitality when nobody else in Szechuan would accomodate them, the Gods give Shen Te a thousand dollars - which she uses to buy a humble tobacco shop at an overinflated price. Shen Te's good nature is then taken advantage of time and again, as freeloaders begin to descend on the shop looking for free accomodation, rice,  cigarettes - and in the case of one dashing pilot, She Te's newly wealthy hand in marriage. The situation worsens until Shen Te is forced to create an alter ego - Shui Ta, an imaginary male cousin who turns up to exert ruthless authority over the shop - kicking out the freeloaders and restoring order. Shen Te begins to find that life is easier in her masculine guise and Shui Ta become more and more prominent - suggesting that to be happy in life means being unsympathetic to others, ruthless, masculine and capitalist.
The fantastic design locates the play in a dusty, corrugated iron world where people wear clothes of every era - highlighting the generic human aspects of the parable, and suggesting that its lessons are universal, not confined to a place or time. Wang the lowly water seller (Cornelius Macarthy), who narrates the story to the audience and acts as point of contact between the Gods and the mortals is suitably biblical in appearance, while the three Gods could have easily just stepped off the bridge of The Starship Enterprise. The mortals meanwhile look as though they've run through a second hand shop covered in super glue, with a mixture of hippy, 60's glamour, 40's tea dresses and Nora Batty chic. All of the performers grapple well with the difficult script, which jumps from colloquial to unnaturally elevated and back again at random pace. They also manage  to bring humanity to Brecht's stock characters which are often little more than types.Given Britain's current economic climate and the play's exploration of the relationship between a society's morality and its economic systems, it's an interesting choice by the Library Theatre - and all credit to director Chris Honer - it's a thoughtful interpretation of a difficult play.If only it wasn't for those bloody songs...
 

Born in London, Isabella Delves Broughton was the eldest child of Major Sir Evelyn Delves Broughton, 12th Bt, a military officer, and his second wife, Helen Mary Shore, a barrister.

Her Grandmother was an explorer who claimed to have eaten human flesh while living in Papua New Guinea and her Grandfather was Sir Jock Delves Broughton who in the 1940s had been tried and acquitted for the murder of Earl of Errol in Kenya. He later killed himself. The story was made into the 1988 film White Mischief starring Greta Scacchi and Charles Dance.
Isabella grew up with her sisters Lavinia and Julia and her brother John in a cottage on the family's former estate in Cheshire.  Her grandfather had sold the main house and grounds to pay off gambling debts.

At the age of four, Isabella witnessed the death of her two year old brother John who drowned in the family swimming pool.  At the time her father was mixing a drink and her mother was upstairs applying make up.  The tragedy affected all of them incredibly deeply.  In 1972, when she was fourteen, her parents separated; they finally divorced in 1974 with Isabella's mother leaving the family home.  Of her mother's departure, Detmar Blow, Isabella's second husband was later to say 'it was literally a handshake and then she was off.  The stepmother came with three daughters and sort of said to Issie - okay then you're out.'   Isabella never forgave her mother for her departure.

Blow did often say though that her fondest memory was trying on her mother's pink hat, a recollection that she explained ultimately led to a career in fashion.  To get there she studied for her A-levels at Heathfield School, enrolled at a secretarial college and then took odd jobs, working for some years in a scone shop and also doing some cleaning, with a knotted handerkerchief on her head.
1979 saw Blow move New York to study Ancient Chinese Art at Columbia University where she shared a flat with the actress Catherine Oxenberg. A year later, she left the Art History program at Columbia, moved to Texas, and worked for Guy Laroche. It was during this period that she met her first husband an American, Nicholas Taylor, marrying him in 1981 though it wasn't to last and they divorced in 1983. 
America did bring good fortune to Blow though.  She was introduced to the fashion director of the U.S. edition of Vogue, Anna Wintour. She was hired as her assistant and made a lasting impression on the notoriously tough Wintour who said of Blow that she 'wasn't too good at getting to the office before 11am and I don't think she ever did my expenses, but she made life much more interesting'


It was not long before she was assisting Andre Leon Talley, now U.S. Vogue's editor-at-large. While working in New York by day and partying hard at night, she befriended Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
 
Below: Basquiat and Warhol

Says Detmar of Basquiat's influence on Blow 'She said Samo which is 'same old shit' and all that Basquiat ever said.  It's not the most original thing for her to have said, but that's what she said. Samo.'


In 1986, Blow returned to London and worked for Michael Roberts, then the fashion director of Tatler and the Sunday Times Style magazine where her fashion shoots became legendary.  Perhaps the most famous being her hiring David LaChapelle for Porno Couture.
She became known for having an unerring eye for talent spotting discovering Stella Tennant, Hussein Chalayan and later Sophie Dahl, crying in the street folowing a row with her mother.  Blow literally found her sitting on her doorstep describing her as 'a blow up doll with brains' and introducing her to her career in fashion at a time when larger models were unheard of.  She also discovered Alexander McQueen, buying his entire degree show for £5000 and paying him in instalments of £100 per week.  He delivered one piece each week in a black binliner.  It was Isabella who encouraged Lee Alexander McQueen to adopt his middle name for his professional persona and label.
Isabella's personal life was complex.  In 1989, she met Detmar Blow, a barrister turned art dealer who within two weeks had proposed to her and they married in Gloucester Cathedral. 

Philip Treacy designed the bride's wedding headdress and a now famous fashion relationship was forged. Realising Treacy's talent, Blow established Treacy in her London flat, where he worked on his collections, the same courtesy that she would later extend to McQueen. Within weeks there were Treacy's hats everywhere 'like muffins popping out of toasters' Blow later said.  She soon began wearing Treacy's hats whenever she was seen in public, making them a signature part of her flamboyant style and claiming that she was a 'walking billboard'. 
In a 2002 interview with Tamsin Blanchard, Blow declared that she wore extravagant hats for a practical reason:

"...to keep everyone away from me. They say, Oh, can I kiss you? I say, No, thank you very much. That's why I've worn the hat. Goodbye. I don't want to be kissed by all and sundry. I want to be kissed by the people I love."

 

In 1993, Blow worked with the photographer Steven Meisel producing the Babes in London shoot featuring Plum Sykes, Bella Freud, and Honor Fraser. Blow had a natural sense of style and a good feeling for future fashion directions.  She was celebrated and surrounded herself with the bright and beautiful of the fashion world, insisting at all times that fashion came first 'You need to have lips.  I can't talk to you if you're not wearing lipstick' she would say.
Despite her glamourous lifestyle Blow was plagued with a deep set insecurity about her looks.  'It pains me to say so, but I'm ugly.  Wearing a hat is like cosmetic surgery.'  This hint of depression would later turn into a very real issue.
For now though, Blow's career continued from strength to strength.  She was the fashion director of Tatler and consulted for DuPont Lycra, Lacoste, and Swarovski. In 2002, now synomynous with Philip Treacy, she became the subject of an exhibition entitled When Philip met Isabella, featuring sketches and photographs of her wearing Treacy's hat designs.  'It's really weird' she said, 'I'm being hotly pursued for my head, I feel like Marie Antionette.'
This public success was hiding a very private heartache.  Unable to conceive, Isabella and Detmar embarked on numerous cycles of IVF, eight in total with no success.  In 2003 the couple parted.  Detmar entered into a relationship with a lesbian novelist experimenting with heterosexuality and Isabella found solace in the arms of a Venetian Gondolier, this solace would be shortlived though.  The gondolier relied on her heavily for help with his problematic finances and took up to £15,000 from her.
Isabella and Detmar reconciled but the depression had by now taken a real hold of her.  Where once friends asked how she was and she replied 'fabulous' now she would reply 'suicidal'.  She actually attempted suicide on several occasions.  She took an overdose, tried to drown herself in a lake and threw herself from Hammersmith Flyover, breaking both her ankles.  She was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, given electric shock therapy and hospitalised.  Then in January 2007 came the cruellest blow, she was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. 
On May 6, 2007, during a weekend house party at her home, Hilles, where the guests included Treacy and hi partner, Stefan Bartlett, Blow announced that she was going shopping. Instead, she was later discovered collapsed on a bathroom floor by her sister Lavinia and was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, where Blow told the doctor she had drunk the weedkiller Paraquat.  She died at the hospital the following day, she was 48.
Her death was initially reported as being caused by ovarian cancer, however, a coroner later ruled it a suicide. In the inquest, Blow's sister, Lavinia Verney, stated that after she discovered her sister had ingested the poison, Blow had told her 'I'm worried that I haven't taken enough'
Her funeral was held at Gloucester Cathedral on May 15, 2007. Her coffin, made of willow, was crowned by white roses and a black feathered Philip Treacy hat.  The fashion world's elite descended in their most appropriate outfits.

 








 

Well. Where to start? How about a bit of a resumé of this appositely rainy Liverpool Saturday night up until around five past nine, when a simple plastic pint glass will bring the whole thing crashing down. There's no doubt that the air's heavy with a hesitant expectancy - after all, Morrissey's record for completing whole gigs or even making it there in the first place isn't exactly what you'd call exemplary this year. It's an unexpectedly civilised crowd though - the mildly Moz-curious and the fastidious Moz super-fans mingling amiably, queuing politely for the bar and chuckling at the notices informing them that meat products are off the menu tonight. All of which makes what's to occur later on all the more frustrating. Overheard snatches of conversation betray a unified subject - Morrissey's recent collapse onstage at Swindon, his recovery and return, and solemn hopes that he'll make it tonight. Reports from the previous few gigs are encouraging - he's back on form, in good humour and doling out a few treats for good measure ('Cemetery Gates' from 'The Queen Is Dead' chief among them). This has the makings of a true night to remember. Ahem.
 
Support band Doll & The Kicks are courteously received. Strictly speaking, this Brighton-based quartet are unsigned, although their eponymous debut album is very much out there - they've done it all for themselves rather than sell out to The Man. At one point, a-propos of nothing, my accomplice turns to me and randomly comments that they're "very competent." And try as I might, I can't think of a better way to describe them. They're good at what they are. But then, so are millions of other bands. All the parts of their heavy-ish sound - criss-crosses of slashing guitar riffs and neat harmonies - are present and correct; they just don't really inspire. Vocalist Doll (back in her hometown) is in her element, all kooky dance shapes and shades of Kate Bush in her delivery.  Still, Liverpool's in accommodating mood (so far) and Doll & The Kicks leave the stage to general approval.
 
Which is the signal for the atmosphere to raise a notch. The giant screen showing videos of Morrissey endorsed acts ranging from Sparks to Alan Price to a clearly addled Lou Reed falls to the floor revealing a typically Moz-esque obscure black and white still of actor Walter Chiari. The house lights dim and the whirling intro music strikes up. And suddenly here he comes, sashaying across the stage to his microphone stand, addressing his crowd; "It's Saturday, it's raining, it's Liverpool...it's perfect!" As has been the recent custom, "This Charming Man" provides the kick start. It's a churlish point, but in this rather meatier incarnation, it's almost "This Charming Man" in name only, bereft of Johnny Marr's sparkling arpeggios and Andy Rourke's Motown bass undercurrent. But sod that, we all duly sing along about how we don't have a stitch to wear anyway. The man himself, flailing his mic lead around with undue abandon, looks and sounds relaxed, comfortable, confident, assured.
 
Second song in and we're right up to date with "Black Cloud" from this years "Years of Refusal" album, Morrissey spending a fair slice of his time crouched over the lip of the stage, pressing the flesh of his faithful. A sitting duck target. One that proves too tempting for one person who inexplicably chooses the moment to launch their beer glass at the famed Morrissey quiff. With unerring accuracy it glances off Morrissey's head. Momentarily startled, but seemingly not injured, Morrissey retreats backwards. He raises his mic to his mouth. "Goodbye". And he's off, backing band wasting little time in his wake. There's a moment of disbelief, some boos and some chanting of Morrissey's name. Individuals amongst the crowd start to vent anger at the perpetrator, and the atmosphere briefly darkens. A gaggle of security men gather at the barrier and manage to extricate the offender. There's a collective sigh of relief, which magnifies as some black shirted roadies appear to prepare the way for Morrissey's return. Until the one who appears to be returning Morrissey's microphone to its position front of stage speaks into it. "Morrissey has been hit on the head by a plastic bottle. The show will not continue."
 
Now, let's sort a couple of facts out here. It was a plastic glass, it was maybe half full and it did only seem to make the most cursory of impact on Morrissey - he didn't appear to be hurt. By the time it hit him, most of the liquid (whatever it was) was already spraying over him. There can be no question about the fact that Morrissey could have returned to the stage to complete the show, safe in the knowledge that the offender had been removed from the crowd. The real question is should he have returned? There's no doubt that with 8,000 people in the building, all having paid £35 for the privilege, Morrissey was perhaps a little too quick to abdicate his responsibility. Or was he? Would the incident merely have been the pre-cursor to a succession of copy-cat attempts? Why should he stand in front of people who are prepared to do this sort of thing? And what the hell possesses someone, who has also presumably paid their thirty five quid, to do so? (If nothing else, it inspires the outrage of the man sitting to my left - "That's four quid! Four f**kin' quid! I'd have had it if he didn't want it!")
 
As the houselights return from their brief respite and it dawns that the show really is over the antagonism towards the offender turns against Morrissey himself. More overheard snatches of conversation - "it's a set-up"; he "never wanted to do the show anyway"; "never again". But the last word to the downcast lady on the steps up to the exit consoling her even more downcast partner. "We f**cking knew something like this was gonna happen." You know what? Deep down, I think maybe we all did.
 

TinCan's Matt Rynn was at the gig:
'Morrissey took the stage looking relaxed and happy - "It's Saturday night, it's raining, it's Liverpool...and it's perfect" he said before launching into 'This Charming Man'. He seemed confident and comfortable, swinging his mic lead around like a bullwhip. Then, halfway through the second song, Black Cloud, what looked like a fairly full plastic pint glass flew from near the front of the crowd and glanced off Morrissey's head, although the damage at first seemed to be more to the impeccable brown suit he was wearing. After a second or two, Morrissey raised his mic to his mouth. "Bye". And he was gone, his band not far behind in his wake.There were a few seconds of disbelief - did that just happen? There were a few boos, some "Morrissey, Morrissey, Morrisseeeeeey" football chants and then a whole bunch of security guys bundled to the front of the stage to pinpoint the perpetrator. A bit of playground style pushing, shoving and pointing ensued before the man (and it's always a man, isn't it?) was hauled over the barriers and whisked out. Liverpool Arena sighed its relief, and black shirted shapes seemed to be preparing the way for Morrissey's return. Until one of the black shirts approached the microphone with the statement; "Morrissey has been hit on the head with a plastic bottle. The show will not continue." And up came the houselights'.
An Echo Arena spokeman said: "We are reviewing CCTV evidence to ascertain exactly what happened. We have a strict policy of no glasses being allowed in the arena and we also decant all drink from bottles into plastic glasses at events of this kind."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This was the reaction of one fan:
'He got a plastic pint glass on the head second song in so flounces off and cancels the show. Just got back home now £75 out of pocket. He was looking for an excuse and claimed "Morrissey has been hit by a bottle and the show can't continue" It was a plastic glass, he wasn't hurt and only went off when he realised he was wet. Lesson learnt. Won't be taking any more money off me in future. This is why I don't feel guilty about downloading his stuff from mp3 blogs!'
 
Below: Morrissey performs This Charming Man at the ill fated liverpool Echo Arena gig








There is a mixed reaction on Twitter from fans at the gig...
I cannot believe I travelled from South Wales to Liverpool to see Morrissey get hit on the head with a plastic cup and cry off after 1 song.
Saw it hit him and think he was right to go off. Hope he presses charges.
Going to eat pork and noodles in defiance. More blood will be spilled, Morrissey.
I hope the culprit is suitably proud of themselves. Morrissey looked & sounded in fantastic form.

The AlbumsTriangle Walks by Fever rayFoot Of The Walk (Featuring Ian Rankin) by Saint Judes infirmaryMore Tongue, Less Heart by Johnny ForeignerCaroline by EspersPeter Hamill by Luke HainesDear God (Sincerely M.O.F.) by Monsters Of FolkNever Go West by Seasick SteveGanglord by MorrisseyRising 5 by Hudson Mohawke16th & Valencia Roxy Music by Devendra BanhartWalkabout (With Noah Lennox) by Atlas SoundFlight Of The Feathered Serpent by Fuck ButtonsThe Be Colony by Broadcast & The Focus GroupThe SinglesCoral & Tar by Alasdair RobertsLittle Lion Man by Mumford & SonsBlood Bank by Bon IverTrading Things In by The Voluntary Butler SchemeTorn Between Two by The MoonsIslands by The xxIn Your Heart by A Place To Bury StrangersJoy Kicks Darkness by Ash103 by The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
 
Recorded and mixed by James Trott at SSR Creative Media Academy, Downing Street, Manchester
www.s-s-r.com
 

   After finishing work fairly late one night last month, I was having drinks with a friend and discussing who on earth came up with that experiment of testing different urine samples on peanuts, whilst being careful not to accidentally eat any and then have to order a shot of vodka to disinfect our mouths. The answer is that we have no answer, and it's a gross job. As we're sat giggling about foxy scientists, a man walks up and gives me his number. This isn't out of the ordinary. What is slightly weird is that on his business card (he's a graphic designer in case you care) appears to be the name of a woman. 'Jody' it says. Fucking Jody! Since when is that a man's name? And if it is a man's name, since when is it ok to even think for half a second that it's ok to call a baby boy 'Jody' in Liverpool?
   He's too shaggable not to call though. I'll have to either forget his name ASAP or give him a pet name when we're in bed. You see, I'm definitely going to see him in bed. I couldn't care less about how well he can draw; the only designs I've got for his fingers are strictly after hours, naughty business if you will.
   So fast-forward three days, (I almost knew I'd pull that night, my black halter neck never needs ironing and fits into my drawer at work with ease... a subtle bare back rarely fails to impress. And I was on day two of a spay tan - not too scenty and not too pale) and I text him telling him that the redhead from the bar insists he gets graphic with her. Cheesy yeah, but if it's dirty cheesy, it's ok. Is it ok? He didn't seem to mind seen as the reply suggested I use he face for a seat. Who am I to decline modern gentlemen? I wonder if his seat has stubble. 
   Two more days of sexy texts follow. It gets pretty good; no awkward 'what on earth does he mean there?' moments at least. During this time I find out that we have a mutual friend in accounting. This has to be helpful. I make plans to meet our friend for lunch and casually find out essential things like has growing up with a girls name meant he is actually a cross-dresser etc.
   So far he's good on paper. Or phone, as it were. Our mutual friend likes him. He's really good at getting me worked up. A bit too good. Makes me wonder if he's all talk. After he sends a picture message of his erm, manhood, and I repay the thought with a shot of my nipples, I invite him over for some real life interaction. Our mutual friend thinks he's a catch. It's irrelevant in the long run. I'm too busy for a serious look in, and all I can think about is how my entire body wants him. 
  9pm. The wine is uncorked. He's slightly shorter than I remember but has this cheeky look about him. He definitely wants to fuck. We drink wine for about eight minutes before we are suddenly kissing like we're giving each other vital survival instructions. He rips my white shirt and the thought that it's brand new and actually quite flattering (why do white shirts always look rubbish on boobs?) only stays with me for a second. My boobs also look flattering under the duvet. We move. 
   We're doing the kind of kissing that makes you tingle from the outside in and could, in the realms of all logical thought and common sense, only be leading to one place. A place in which he has an effortless and dare I say juicy (Jody's balls are rather pumped full of something I think is about to cover me and my dishevelled shirt) climax.
   I think almost a week of foreplay is enough so I drag him upstairs and take off his jeans. I put my hand over his mouth and reach for a condom. He takes me hand off his mouth. "We're not going to fuck tonight", he says. There are usually just two things in life that I don't see coming, one of them is those times when old flames appear after years of no contact declaring I'm the best sex they'll ever have and they need to have sex again (this has happened unexpectedly just twice, and for them anyway, it's probably true), the other is when a man I'm about to make moan, groan and explode, decides he'd rather not get that close when we've already made our intentions clear and shut the bedroom door.
   Oh god. If I weren't so horny, I'd die. His cards aren't so much close to his chest as they are up his arse. What on earth just happened? For about ten seconds I don't know what to do. So I smile whilst trying to look un-phased and reach for the rubber ring next to the unused condom. A buzzing noise begins to fill the sex-thick air. "What the fuck is that?" he asks, almost scared. "It's a vibrating cock ring, and you're going to wear it because the thought that you're not allowed to touch me when your dick is this hard will make me cum twice as fast."  He mumbles something and breathes deeply as I place it over his throbbing skin. I tie his hands up with a single stocking and tell him to keep still. If he's going to tease, he's going to be teased. Fool.
   I tell him under no circumstances must he touch me. Then I stand up and slowly strip. By the time I'm naked, he's licking his lips and saying that he thought my tiny strip of hair 'down there' would be a brighter shade of red. I tell him to shut up and behave. For just under fifteen minutes, he watches me deliver what he refused to.
By the time I'm in the throws of knowing my own body inside out, he's begging for a fuck, pleading like a hungry puppy. I take off the cock ring and kiss his now-solid soldier. 
   He doesn't get what he wants of course. I untie his hands, pull up his jeans and show him out. As he insists he can't leave when he's "this hard", I smile and give him a soft kiss on the cheek - there's still almost a full bottle of wine to drink and as it stands, I'm feeling rather satisfied.
   I don't know about you girls, but when a guy tries to take the power in the bedroom, with no real reason as to what he wants the outcome to be, the mystery needs to remain with me. He's made it obvious he's very distracted at work these days... Apparently he just has to have me, and what do you know, he loved the cock ring! I'll let him know they're a fiver in Boots.
 
Whoever said blondes are the ultimate fantasy?    
 
Women  - 1
Men with women's names - 0
 

Having apparently got too many tales about men to keep quiet, I've been asked to write a kind of dating diary about where I am in my life at the moment. I liked the idea of being a real life Carrie Bradshaw, it's liberating, but who am I kidding - I can't afford her shoes! The main reason I agreed to share my experiences is because, to put it simply, I enjoy sex. I enjoy getting what I want from men and am not ashamed about that. Why should I be? Who is shy about speaking out these days anyway?
 
I don't own a weighing scale, I don't moan about cellulite and I don't care if you think I'm slutty. Life is too short to give a shit about food diaries; I'm all about the good bits. I'm happy, healthy and safe in my actions. Better still, I'm here to share the sordid details of a very single city girl, with you.
 
Background check? I've had two serious relationships (one ended when I didn't want to marry) and one fizzled out due to long distance and his need to have his penis inside other people due to that distance. I've had one encounter that never really became anything yet somehow lasted almost 18 months and took up far too much time. Not to mention far too many flings and disastrous dates to list here. I've been single for four months after my last hopeful dating expedition, which lasted all of 5 months on and off, moved to the Channel Islands to take over a family business.
 
I don't think I'm bad at relationships, but like half the world, haven't found the right one yet. And more to the point, I'm not sure I'll even have just one really good relationship or even just one marriage for that matter. I can't predict my life so I'm just going to live it and life at present is pretty sexy. If you want to giggle, cringe and follow a modern career girl in the ever revolving world of sex, dating and self-exploration, then you've come across (sorry, couldn't resist!) the right corner of the internet.
 
A lot of sex isn't as good as most chocolate, but despite my large appetite, these taster tests are definitely for sharing.
 

Supajamma are:Martin Merchant - VocalsSimon Collier - BassBevs - GuitarGraham Bennett - DrumsSteve Wilson - KeyboardsThe three songs that influenced the band are:The Chameleons - Second SkinAlexis Corner - I Got My Mojo WorkingSlade - Mama We're All Crazy NowThe four songs played by Supajamma were:It's AlrightLook What You've DoneMad About ItSupajammaSupajamma's Rock 'N' Soul EP will be out in December 2009Kaboom!

 

 

 

 
 
Recorded and mixed by Tom Harris at SSR Creative Media Academy, Downing Street, Manchester
www.s-s-r.com
 

Not many people remember Tallulah Bankhead's stage or screen performances.  But Tallulah was more than an actress, she was a star and though she died in 1968 she refuses to go away. 
 
With a voice that actor-writer Emlyn Williams said 'was steeped as deep in sex as the human voice can go without drowning' and looks that led Daphne du Maurier to exclaim that she was 'the most beautiful girl I have ever seen in my life', her signature 'dah-lings' and her notorious private life, it's doubtful we will ever forget Tallulah or see her like again.
 
Born in Huntsville, Alabama to William Brockman Bankhead and Adelaide Eugenia Bankhead, Tallulah was named after her paternal grandmother but tragedy was to strike her early.
Her mother, who was just twenty-one, died when Talluah was just three weeks old as a result of blood poisoning.  Her father was grief stricken and struggled to cope.  He bacame an alcoholic and Tallulah was raised by her aunts and grandparents though he would later overcome his problems to become a respected politician.

As a child, Tallulah was chubby and fair whilst her older sister Eugenia was slimmer and prettier. Tallulah did everything she could think of for attention. She ran around the house doing cartwheels or singing and reciting literature that she had memorized. She was rarely still and her boisterous behaviour irritated everyone, especially her grandmother. Tallulah was prone to throwing tantrums, rolling around on the floor and holding her breath until she was blue in the face. Her frustrated grandmother would threaten to throw a bucket of water on her to calm her down, and frequently did.
 
 

 
 

Above: Tallulah aged four
 
Bankhead's family weren't rich but they were aristocracy, a politically important and powerful Democratic family.  Her father overcame his problems to become the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1936-1940 immediately preceding Sam Rayburn. Bankhead herself was later to beome a lifelong and passionate Democrat, albeit one of a more liberal stripe than the rest of her family. 

 

At 15, Bankhead won a movie-magazine beauty contest and convinced her family to let her move to New York. She quickly won bit parts, first appearing in a non-speaking role in The Squab Farm. During these early New York years, she became a peripheral member of the Algonquin Round Table and known as a hard-partying girl-about-town. It was during this time she began to use cocaine and marijuana, going as far as saying "Cocaine isn't habit forming. I should know, I've been using it for years."

She became known for her sharp wit, although as screenwriter Anita Loos, a minor fellow Roundtable member, said: "She was so pretty that we thought she must be stupid."
Once, while at a party, a guest made a comment about rape, and Bankhead replied "I was raped in our driveway when I was eleven. You know darling, it was a terrible experience because we had all that gravel." She also professed to having a ravenous appetite for sex, but not for a particular type. "I've tried several varieties of sex. The conventional position makes me claustrophobic. And the others give me either stiff neck or lockjaw," she said.
Apparently though, Tallulah's first affair was with an actress Eve Le Gallienne and she took to introducing herself at parties by saying 'I'm a lesbian, what do you do?'  Later though she told friends 'I could never become a lesbian, they have no sense of humour'  Her bisexuality was never in question though.

Bankhead once met Chico Marx at a party before her reputation had overturned the presumption that William B. Bankhead's daughter would be disgusted by Marx's typically crude (yet generally effective) approach to picking up women. Although Marx had been cautioned to be on his best behavior with Bankhead, the two first spoke at the punch bowl. "Miss Bankhead." "Mr. Marx." And, as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, Chico told her, "You know, I really want to fuck you" "And so you shall, you old-fashioned boy" she replied without missing a beat. 

In 1923, she made her debut on the London stage, where she was to appear in over a dozen plays in the next eight years, most famously, The Dancers. Her fame as an actress was ensured in 1924 when she played the waitress Amy in Sidney Howard's They Knew What They Wanted. The show won the 1925 Pulitzer Prize. She was famous not only as an actress but also for her many affairs, infectious personality and witticisms like "There is less to this than meets the eye" and "I'm as pure as the driven slush."

Infamous for her promiscuous behavior and with the reputation of being sexually available to anyone she found attractive, famous or not, Tallulah's longest known affair during this period in her life was with an Italian businessman named Anthony de Bosdari, which lasted just over one year.  By the end of the decade, she was one of the West End's, and England's best-known and most notorious celebrities.
 

 
Bankhead returned to the US in 1931 to be Paramount Pictures' "next Marlene Dietrich", but Hollywood success eluded her.  Instead her passions lay in a lifestyle full of wild parties that would regularly take place in her home on Stanley Street in Hollywood that we re said to 'have no boundaries'
 
Bankhead's first film was Tarnished Lady (1931), directed by George Cukor, and the pair became fast friends. Bankhead behaved herself on the set and filming went smoothly, but she found film-making to be very boring and didn't have the patience for it. She didn't like Hollywood either. When she met producer Irving Thalberg, she asked him, "How do you get laid in this dreadful place?"

Bankhead was not very interested in making films. The opportunity to make $50,000 per film, however, was too good to pass up. She later said, "The only reason I went to Hollywood was to fuck that divine Gary Cooper."
An interview that she gave to Motion Picture magazine in 1932, gave an insight into her life as she ranted wildly about needing an affair:
"I'm serious about love. I'm damned serious about it now.... I haven't had an affair for six months. Six months! Too long.... If there's anything the matter with me now, it's not Hollywood or Hollywood's state of mind.... The matter with me is, I WANT A MAN! ... Six months is a long, long while. I WANT A MAN!"
The early 30s saw Hollywood becoming increasingly conservative, partly as a result of past scandals, and partly because Will H. Hays and others had formed the infamous Production Code.The code dictated not only what the studios could show in their films, but how actors had to conduct themselves off-screen. As predicted, the interview Tallulah gace to Motion Picture magazine created quite a scandal. Will Hays was furious. Time ran a story about it, and back home, Bankhead's father and family were mortified. Bankhead immediately telegraphed her father, vowing never to speak with a magazine reporter again.

The vow didn't last long though. She was once again found talking to reporters about her attitude to affairs of the heart.
"...I've had many momentary love affairs. A lot of these impromptu romances have been climaxed in a fashion not generally condoned. I go into them impulsively. I scorn any notion of their permanence. I forget the fever associated with them when a new interest presents itself."
 
 

 
 
Although she never made excuses for being blunt and outspoken, she did successfully avoided scandal related to her affairs, regardless of the gender of her lovers.  Tallulah was known to embrace her bisexulaity with enthusiasm and was known to have stripped off her clothes on several occasions while attending parties, shocking most people present.  Tallulah though always got away with her outrageous actions. Her personality made her almost irresistible as a friend, or a lover.
Rumors about her sex life have lingered for years, and she was linked romantically with many notable female personalities of the day, including Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Marlene Dietrich, Eva Le Gallienne, Laurette Taylor, and Alla Nazimova, as well as writer Mercedes de Acosta, the wealthy Betty Carstairs, and singer Billie Holiday.

She was reportedly extremely excited when she was first able to meet the elusive Garbo, but whether they were sexually involved has never been determined beyond a doubt. The two women played tennis together often, and were said to have enjoyed one another's company, but Garbo was extremely protective of her private life and secretive about her lovers.
It was in 1933 that Bankhead nearly died following a five-hour emergency hysterectomy for an advanced case of gonorrhea, which she claimed she contracted from Gary Cooper.
 

The reason she had given as her sole motive to move to Hollywood.. 'to fuck Gary Cooper'
had nearly killed her.  Weighing a fragile seventy pounds when she left the hospital, she wryly said to her doctor, "Don't think this has taught me a lesson!"

In 1934, after recuperating in Alabama, she returned to England. After only a short stay, she was called back to New York to play in Dark Victory. Although Bette Davis played the leading character in the film version, she openly admitted in later years that she had emulated Bankhead in the role.  
 
1937 saw Bankhead marry actor John Emery. 
 
 

 
 
Tallulah had vowed not to marry anyone less well hung than actor John Barrymore and presumably Emery fitted the bill.  She would often take guests to the master bedroom where he was sleeping, whip back the duvet and ask them triumphantly if they had 'ever seen a prick as big as that?' It wasn't to last though.  She was later to say ' the weapon may be of admirable proportions but the shot is indescribably weak'.  They divorced on June 13 1941 in Reno, Nevada and rumours of further lesbian affairs surfaced including one of a long term relationship with actress Patsy Kelly. 
 
It was during this period that David O. Selznick, producer of Gone With the Wind called her the "first choice among established stars" to play Scarlett O'Hara.  Although her screen test for the role in black-and-white was superb, she photographed poorly in Technicolor. Selznick also believed that at age 36, she was too old to play Scarlett, who is 16 at the beginning of the film; the role eventually went to Vivien Leigh. Selznick sent a representative to Bankhead to "sound her out" about playing prostitute Belle Watling in the film however she turned the role down.  Unable to recapture Hollywood, Bankhead returned to her most-loved acting medium, the stage.

Returning to Broadway, Bankhead's career stalled in unmemorable plays. When she appeared in Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra with her husband, John Emery, The Times' Brooks Atkinson wrote "Tallulah Bankhead barged down the Nile, last night, and promptly sank!"
All the laughing stopped, though, when she played the cold and ruthless Regina Giddens in Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes. Her portrayal won her the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Performance, but Bankhead and Hellman feuded over the Soviet Union's invasion of Finland. Bankhead, a staunch anti-Communist, was said to want a portion of one performance's proceeds to go to Finnish relief, while Hellman, an equally staunch Stalinist, objected strenuously, and the two women didn't speak for the next quarter of a century.

More success and the same award followed her 1942 performance in Thornton Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth. 
 

 
 
During the run of the play, some media accused Bankhead of an ongoing feud with the play's director, Elia Kazan. Kazan confirmed the story in his autobiography when he stated that Bankhead was one of the few people in his life that he ever actually detested.
 
Of the play, she later said
'For all the comedy's spectacular success, for all the hubbub it raised, there were people who found it as baffling as the hieroglyphics on the Rosetta stone. Typical was the reaction of a Park Avenue debutante reported to me by a friend who overheard the conversation in the lobby. During the intermission, the Park Avenue birdbrain said to her escort, 'I don't understand a word of the play. I haven't any notion of what it's about. Have you?'. Her companion stammered slightly, then said, 'Yes, I think so...in general terms it's about the human race.' 'Oh', jeered the belle, 'is that all?'"
 
 
In 1944, Alfred Hitchcock cast her as the cynical journalist, Constance Porter, in Lifeboat. The performance is widely acknowledged as her best on film, and won her the New York Film Critics Circle Award. Almost childlike in her immodesty, a beaming Tallulah accepted her New York trophy and exclaimed, "Dahlings, I was wonderful!"
 
Below: Tallulah with Hitchcock
 

 
 
 
After World War II, Bankhead appeared in a revival of Noel Coward's Private Lives, taking it on tour and then to Broadway for the better part of two years. The play's run made Bankhead a fortune. From that time, Bankhead could command 10% of the gross and was billed larger than any other actor in the cast, although she usually granted equal billing to Estelle Winwood, a frequent co-star, and Bankhead's "best friend" from the 1920s until Bankhead's death in 1968.
Bankhead circulated widely in the celebrity crowd of her day, and was a party favorite for outlandish stunts such as underwearless cartwheels in a skirt or entering a soirée stark naked. She is also said to have been so engrossed in conversation with Eleanor Roosevelt that she dropped her drawers and used the toilet while the first lady was still talking.
Always extravagant, upon leaving the theater one evening she encountered a Salvation Army band passing around the tambourine. Reaching into her purse, Bankhead withdrew a twenty dollar bill, tossed it into the tambourine and exited into a taxi with the remark, "there dahlings, I know it's been a rough winter for you Spanish dancers."
 
Though Tallulah Bankhead's career slowed in the mid-1950s, she never faded from the public eye. Although she had become a heavy drinker and consumer of sleeping pills, Bankhead continued to perform in the 1950s and 1960s on Broadway, in the occasional film, as a highly-popular radio show host, and in the new medium of television.

In 1950, in an effort to cut into the rating leads of The Jack Benny Program and The Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy Show which had jumped from NBC radio to CBS radio the previous season, NBC spent millions over the two seasons of The Big Show starring "the glamorous, unpredictable" Tallulah Bankhead as its host, in which she acted not only as mistress of ceremonies but also performed monologues and songs, many of which can be heard on the album Give My Regards To Broadway!. Despite Meredith Willson's Orchestra and Chorus and top guest stars from Broadway, Hollywood and radio including Marlene Dietrich, Groucho Marx, Ethel Merman, Gracie Fields, Vera Lynn, Peggy Lee, Judy Garland, Ethel Barrymore and Gloria Swanson, The Big Show, which earned rave reviews, failed to do more than dent Jack Benny's and Edgar Bergen's ratings.
Bankhead had proved to be a masterful comedienne and intriguing personality though she wasn't blamed for the failure of The Big Show.  Television's growth was hurting all radio ratings at the time so the next season NBC installed her as one of a half dozen rotating hosts of NBC's The All Star Revue on Saturday nights. Although critics loved her, and Tallulah's monologues became classics, she was not among the hosts renewed for the following season.

Bankhead's most popular television appearance was her December 3, 1957 appearance on The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour. Bankhead played herself in the episode titled "The Celebrity Next Door." The part was originally slated for Bette Davis, but she had to bow out after cracking her vertebra. Lucille Ball was a fan of Bankhead's and did a good impression of her. By the time the episode was filmed, however, both Ball and Desi Arnaz were at their wit's end over Bankhead's behavior during rehearsal: she refused to listen to the director and she did not like to rehearse. It took her three hours to "wake up" once she arrived on the set and everyone thought she was drunk most of the time. Ball and Arnaz apparently didn't know about Tallulah's antipathy toward rehearsing or her incredible ability to memorize a script.
The actual filming of the episode went off without a hitch, and Bankhead impressed everyone with her line readings and professionalism".  Lucille Ball later said that she was conned by Bankhead who purposely made her think she would screw up to throw her off kilter. Desi Arnaz said that Bankhead walked all over him and Ball, they hadn't known this was typical behavior.
 
 Below: Tallulah as a guest star on the Lucy and Desi Comedy Hour
 










Bankhead had no children but was the godmother of Brook and Brockman Seawell, children of her lifelong friend and actress Eugenia Rawls and Rawls's husband, Donald Seawell. She was known for her kindness to animals and children although she is said to have inspired much of the "personality" of the character Cruella De Vil in Disney's One Hundred and One Dalmatians.

Tallulah's last motion picture was a British horror film, Fanatic, in 1965 co-starring Stefanie Powers.  Her last appearance on screen came in March 1967 as the villainous Black Widow in the Batman TV series.  By now she was haunted by her demons, drinking a bottle of boubon a day and regularly taking Tuinal, Benzedrine, Dexydrine, Dexamyl and Morphine.  She was still full on in every area of her life though.  She couldn't bear to be alone so young men were ordered in to sit at her bed, she called then her 'caddies'.  She couldn't stop talking.  According to one friend she racked up 70,000 words in one day, the length of a novel.  Her maid would tape her wrists together to stop her taking more pills and there were some serious accidents and psychotic episodes.

When people approached her on the street to ask if she was Tallulah Bankhead, she would reply 'I'm what's left of her darling'
 
Below: on stage with Tab Hunter in The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore - 1964
 

 
 
 
According to author Brendan Gill, when Bankhead entered the hospital for an illness, an article was headed "Tallulah Hospitalized, Hospital Tallulahized." A testament to Bankhead's large, charismatic personality.
Tallulah Bankhead died in St. Luke's Hospital in New York City of pneumonia complicated by emphysema, at the age of 66 on December 12, 1968.  She is buried in Saint Paul's Churchyard, Chestertown, Maryland. Her last coherent words were "Codeine... bourbon."
 

Born in Jamaica in 1956 as Winston Foster, his life was challenging from the start.  Winston was born with albinism, a condition that was looked down upon by fellow Jamaicans and he grew up well used to the hostility and scorn that his appearance drew from those around him.  Unable to cope, his family placed him in an institution, The Maxfield Home Orphanage in Kingston and it was there that Winston took solace in writing music, taking inspiration from the Jamaican folk music of the sixties.  He wrote his own songs in the hopes that he would one day gain acceptance in spite of the stigma placed upon him. In his quest for acceptance and validation, Winston developed a bold, cocky style and a flair for shameless self-promotion, never missing an opportunity to showcase his abilities.
He had secured a job with the Gemini Sound System as a substitute DJ. Christening himself Yellowman and dressing in a bright yellow suit, he peppered his lyrics with jokes about his skin color and tales of his sexual conquests. In 1979, he won a landslide victory at the well-known Tastee Talent Contest, and within months he had become one of Jamaica's top selling live acts, with a dynamic, humorous stage show in which he often used the microphone to mimic his anatomical gifts.
Recording prolifically in the early '80s, at one point Yellowman flooded the Jamaican market with more than 40 singles. He thrilled audiences with his wild, raunchy dancehall performances, which transformed him into a national sex symbol, something he could never have dreamed of in those dark days in the institution.
 








 
Yellowman became Jamaica's top selling reggae star and scored a recording contract with US label CBS Records, leading to a worldwide tour and an international following. One reviewer remarked, "Listening to Yellowman sing is like watching Michael Jordan play basketball. He knows he's got it, you know he's got it, and it's a trip just experiencing him perform."
He has had a substantial influence on hip hop and is widely credited for leading the way for the succession of reggae artists that were embraced by the growing hip-hop community in America during the 1980s. NWA's Eazy E used a sample of his voice from his recording "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt" which also became a major hit with the same title.
 








As Yellowman's recording career continued through the mid eighties his sexual boasts got raunchier but his popularity had slipped.  His material was less consistent than it had been just a few years earlier and he wasn't helped by the emergence of a legion of new dancehall artists, many of whom harked back to his early material for inspiration. Things changed, however after he was diagnosed with jaw and skin cancer in the early 90s.  The prognosis was dire and he was given six months to live.  Treatment followed with an extended leave of absence from the music industry and, just as he had done throughout his life, he beat the odds and won the battle.  With his appearance severely affected, Yellowman was shaken after this life-threatening encounter with cancer.  This led him to completely rethink his approach to music, and he has devoted himself almost exclusively to spirituality and social concerns.

Still touring around the world with his Sagittarius Band, Yellowman has a relentless schedule that can only be met by his near boundless energy.  November sees him in the UK:
Friday 6 Nov - Band on the Wall, Manchester
Sunday 8 November - The Picket, Liverpool
Tuesday 10 November  - The Bongo Club, Edinburgh
Friday 13 November - The Princess Pavilion, Falmouth
Sunday 15 November - Hootananny, Brixton, London
 

On this week's Alternative Therapy Mike has The Drums in for a session and interview (Also see this weeks NME for an interview with The Drums and TinCan's very own Mike Joyce getting a big Thank You!) Don't Dictate by PenetrationIdentity by X-Ray SpexCapri Pants by Bikini KillAidy's Girl's a Computer by DarkstarLove Tempo by Quando QuangoDebonair by The Afghan WhigsIt's a Curse by The FallWoke Up This Morning by Alabama 3The First Big Weekend by arab StrapMan Afraid by Vinny PeculiarSurf Solar by Fuck ButtonsSee the Leaves by The Flaming lipsThe Driver by AutokatFreaky Girl by Beats For BeginnersHere To Fall by Yo La TengoMike Interviews The Drums (part 1)Let's Go Surfing Mike Interviews The Drums (part 2)I Felt StupidThe First Vietnamese War by The Black AngelsGoodbye Jack Vettriano by Saint Judes InfirmaryThou Shalt Always Kill by Dan Le Sac Versus Scroobius PipChanges (At The Beeb) by David BowieLover I Don't Have To Love by Bright EyesHitsville UK by The ClashDream Sequence 1 by Pauline Murrary & The Invisible GirlsDouble Decker Bus by Count fiveOwner Of "That Kind Of Heart" by David Rybka & The Victorian Dad BandElectrified by Dressy BessyGary Gilmore's Eyes by The AdvertsThis Momentary (Le Matos Remix) by DelphicStars by DubstarSteadycam by Dutch UnclesWhat Else Is There? by Royksopp
Photo: Marina Winther
 
 
 
 
This live session was recorded at

Click here for Blueprint's website
 
Alternative Therapy was recorded and mixed by James Trott at SSR Creative Media Academy, Downing Street, Manchester
 
 

 
Click here for SSR's website

The Saints                     Know your productFucked up                     CrusadesKate Bush                      Wuthering HeightsSouxsie                         Into a swanM.I.A.                             Paper planesThe Clash                       Straight to hellSouthern Death Cult       Fat ManFugazi                             Waiting roomBad Brains                      Banned in D.C.King Blues                       Let's Hang the LandlordRancid                             TimebombThe Specials                   Ghost TownDesmond Decker            IsraelitesThe Very Things             The bushes scream while my daddy prunes

James and Persephone are just two small souls in a big Northern city. A chance meeting will bring them together and over four weeks in November, they will begin a whirlwind romance in the capital of the North and together with six other characters will share their lives with the city throughout November.
Persephone's life is remarkably similar to the one she enjoyed four years ago while studying at Manchester University. She views her undergraduate days as some of best ones in her life and sees little reason why she should change that, regardless of the fact she has not been in possession of a valid student I.D card since 2005.  While her degree certificate slowly gathers dust under a pile of unpaid utility bills, Persephone lives each day like it is the start of a new semester.  Persephone is portrayed by TinCan's own Jayne Robinson.
James is a man of routine.  Between 9am and 5pm, his routine is work; filling meaningless numbers and figures into an Excel spreadsheet. Between 5:30pm and 11pm, his routine takes him to the train station; filling alcoholic drinks into his stomach until it is time to stumble home. During the weekend, James cleans his flat.  James wasn't always like this. He once had a partner, a smile and a life. Now, three years after Samantha's death, all he has is an existence.
The next four weeks will take our heroes to places and locations right across Manchester. They will share news and photographs on Twitter. They will blog about revelations and rendezvous. They will tweet their wanderings and wonderings.
You can follow the story as it happens in real time, but you can also get involved and shape the lives of the characters who all need a back-story and a personality. They need to do and see things.
Here's how you can be part of what is already shaping up to be a really exciting project...
Take Photographs
Whenever you see something interesting in Manchester, snap a photo on your mobile and email it over to the NIM team.  As long as it isn't vulgar or illegal, it will be used in the unfolding story.  The characters will tweet and blog about your pictures and these locations will play a part in the story.
Video
If you're a budding film maker, the team would love to see your clips. They're looking for short 1-2 minute phone videos we can upload to YouTube to use in the character's blogs.
Simply email them over with a brief explanation and they'll find a place for them in the story. Sadly, they can't use anything with direct conversation in, so resist the urge to put in a David Attenborough style voice over.
Getting in touch
November in Manchester Website
Follow us on Twitter
Our Flickr Group
ilove@novemberinmanchester.com
 
November In Manchester is the work of Tom Mason.  Tom graduated from Manchester University in 2003 and has since worked in print and in radio broadcasting.  He usually spends his spare time writing fiction in leafy Didsbury.

The festival which made its debut in 2009 has already been tipped by The Guardian as one of their top ten festivals to try in 2010, describing it as having “all the quirks of a Bestival but in a far more beautiful, and sunny setting”.

 
Situated in the picturesque fishing village of Petrcane, Soundwave 2009 was a sell out event with the crowds enjoying scorching hot weather, boat parties, club nights and sets from artists such as DJ Yoda, Hexstatic, The Bays, Alice Russell and many, many more. Set up by UK promoters Soundcrash and New Bohemia, Soundwave is the perfect combination of a summer holiday and a cutting edge music festival with many festival goers choosing to spend several days either side of the event taking in the beautiful Dalmation coast. Earlybird tickets are priced at just £50 and are available from WeGotTickets, Ticketweb, SeeTickets and LeedsTickets. Said Rob Waller, co-founder of Soundwave “This year was a phenomenal success but there’s no time to rest on our laurels and we’re currently working hard on putting together an even bigger line-up for 2010.  We wanted to reward those who came this year and I think that making these early bird tickets available for £50 does just that and maintains one of our key priorities of making the festival affordable to as many people as possible.”
We'll bring you news on the line up as soon as we get it...
 

 

Instead of taking the opportunity to paint Jackson as a saint amongst men, a musical messiah who shall be as venerated in death as he was misundestood in life, director Kenny Ortega has produced a lasting document that will for many restore Jackson as a genius musician, a creative force to be reckoned with and an unbelieveably talented dancer.  That man was fifty and he could still move better than dancers half his age.
 

 
By stripping the film of any sentimentality and concentrating soley on rehearsals for the shows that were destined never to happen, Ortega reveals Jackson to be hands on, determined, professional and innovative.  What's odd is why we are so surprised that this genius lay hidden under the 'complexities' that dogged his latter years.  The child abuse, the plastic surgery, the law suits, the parentage of his children, the marriages and the divorces... all this tabloid fodder helped the world forget what Jackson was originally celebrated for. 
This Is It is a more fitting tribute than any memorial service or TV special because we are reminded of why Michael Jackson was propelled to mega star status in the first place, the madness and mayhem that followed being a bi-product of the life he susequently led.
It's interesting to see the calm yet steely manner he takes with his musicians and dancers and it would take a hard hearted person not to be moved by the dancers plight following Jackson's death.  For all, the opportunity to work with Jackson was 'the pinnacle' 'a dream come true'.  HIs death was a tragedy for his family and a cruel twist of fate for the principals who were to join him on stage.
What This Is It shows though is that that London was going to host one hell of a show and that Jackson's comeback was never going to let anybody down, not the promoters, the fans and definitely not Jackson himself.

Become a babe says the ad.  Work from home.  No travel expenses, no set working hours, you don't need to get out of bed to start earning money and you certainly don't need to invite a stranger in to it either, well not in the physical sense anyway.
Phone sex operators.  If they're to be believed they are all stunningly beautiful, bored and up for it, in fact they're pretty much up for anything.  I decided to track one down to find out why she got into it and whether she feels empowered or exploited by her work.  It's a murky world but I was more than happy to spend a day making coffee for my host as she moaned down the phone and racked up her wages by the minute... it was a day I wasn't going to forget in a hurry.
There have been the odd time in the past when my friends and I have been skint, worried about how to find the rent, worried about where the next bottle of cheap red wine was going to come from, worried about the long term effects of eating nothing but supermarket own brand pasta night after night.  Oh who are we kidding, as freelance writers that's pretty much how six months out of every twelve go. 
It follows that inevitably there have been a couple of times when my friends and I have sat around after a few glasses of cheap red and seriously considered taking the plunge and registering as phone sex operators.  In the evenings, giggling about it with the girls over wine, well it sounds like fun.  In the cold light of day, not so much.  It was a huge surprise when discussing this feature with a friend that she told me that her flatmate Karen had gone and done it.  She'd registered and was well into her third week as a fully fledged PSO.  I asked Karen if I could hang out with her for the day and after some persuasion she agreed...
I didn't know her very well other than the fact that she was a graduate looking to establish herself in design, she did a bar job and she didn't load the dishwasher at home ever.  Yes I had all had the usual 'my flatmate is driving me mad' stories from our mutual friend but I didn't have much else to go on.  I met her at lunchtime on our first day at her new job and liked her immediately.  Small, blonde neither really slim or fat, she was pretty, intelligent, funny and really likes The Cure and The Horrors.  We had drink and a good chat and a laugh and it was an effort not to find an old man's pub and have one of those spontaneous all day benders that turn out to be the best possible way to spend a Tuesday ever.  But we didn't, Karen was expecting some regulars to call her and didn't want to piss them off, oh and I had research to do.  So with butterflies in my tummy and lots of rude words in my head we made our way to Karen's place and waited for it all to start...
Karen made coffee and then logged on, explaining that callers would browse profiles on the website she was registered to, if they liked the look of her photos they would call and enter her pin and the call would come through to her landline.  So who exactly where they looking at?  Who did they think they were calling.  The persona of course.  The first thing that every new PSO needs to establish is a persona...
So who was Karen?  She was a tanned, slim, green eyed and blonde haired sex addict called Jess who had massive tits (natural of course) and couldn't get enough of anything that any man wanted to give her..  she wasn't very clever, she didn't really have opinions and she was utterly submissive.  She was the human equivalent of the blow up doll and she was earning Karen double what she was making in her bar job.  Well done Jess.  So what about the name, where did that come from?  
'ok, the ex I told you about?  Jess is his new girlfriend, they've just got engaged'.
Oh.  Are you erm ok with everything or is this step one in some kind of crazy revenge mission? 
Karen laughs and reassures me that she's completely ok with it but it's important to have a bit of fun with this and take inspiration from somewhere, and where better than from the ex's new woman.  I mentally went through a list of people that I could instantly transform into phone sluts and feel that warm glow of smug satisfaction... this could be fun.
And on the subject of inspiration, what did Jess wear?  This was step one in the art of creative phone sex said Karen.  Jess couldn't possibly wear Karen's converse, boyfriend jeans and a snoopy t shirt.  Well she could but it wasn't what she was wearing in her photo.  No, Jess was wearing a very cropped pink crop top that barely covered her enormous tits and a tiny pink thong, that kind of lurid porn star pink.  Lovely.  Actually on the subject of photos, whilst I hadn't seen Karen in pink undies and full on porn star poses, I'd seen the photos on the site and it was one hell of a transformation, it couldn't possibly be her could it?  And if it wasn't her who was it? 
'I haven't a clue.  I bought the images on the net, I was given a reference number to provide, proving that I had the right to use them photos and there she was... Jess, all pink knickers and big tits'
And there she was indeed.  Photos of her in various states of undress including one where she's sitting on the biggest dildo I'd ever seen.  A blog that showed that Jess catered for all needs and tastes in graphic terms.  This girl was nothing if not accommodating.
I was fascinated, so much so that I hadn't realised that it had been nearly an hour since Karen had logged on and precisely nothing had happened.  She made more coffee, we talked about ex boyfriends, job interviews and X Factor whilst browsing through various porn mags that Karen had for 'inspiration'.  She also had lots of very naughty stories lifted from swingers websites that she had printed out, highlighting the best bits to use in her calls.  This was a girl who liked her porn organised in a ring binder as well as full on and filthy. 
Then it happened, the phone rang.  We were debating the merits of Jedward and how long we thought they would last in X Factor then we suddenly fell silent.  Karen answered motioning me to be completely silent and put the caller on speaker phone.  Well actually no Karen didn't, suddenly Karen was gone and Jess was sitting with us, purring down the phone and winking at me. 

'Hi this is Jess, who are you?'
'Kevin'
I was weirdly excited.  By somebody called Kevin who sounded very Scottish and very normal.
'Hello Kevin, what can I do for you today?'
'It's my first time calling one of these so be gentle with me, saw your photo and just wanted to see what you could do for me...'
'Well why don't we start by you telling me what you like and then I'll tell you what I'm really good at Kevin...'
The conversation continued for a couple of minutes, Jess described in great detail exactly what she wanted Kevin to do with his 'big hard cock' a phrase she said a lot.  It appeared that he was tit man.  She improvised most of it taking cues from the pages she had in front of her, being careful not to rustle the papers to add to the authenticity.  The call ended with her summoning up an impressive fake orgasm for Kevin's benefit just as he was making sounds down the phone like a strangled puppy.  He hurriedly thanked her and was gone.  I was a little bit aroused but mainly embarrassed, amused and a little bit nauseous all at the same time.  It was surreal.
Jess became Karen, giggled a bit and asked me what I thought.  'You were great' I said not knowing what the correct response in this situation was...  You were Creative?  You were really hot? You were great at keeping him on the phone for a good four minutes before he shot his load?
She was all of those things actually.  So how did she know when to ramp it up, to bring things to a close as it were?  Surely there's a fine balance between having them finish the job too quickly making it a less profitable call and not being effective enough that they don't call again.  It strikes me that this is a really delicate transaction. 
'You can normally tell pretty quickly how they want to play it.  Some of them want to get straight down to it, they're either the kind of men that in real life would probably buy you half a lager and expect a BJ in the alley at the side of the pub in return or sometimes they need to be quick because they're sneaking in a call behind the wife's back while she's nipped out for a pint of milk.  Then there's the real flirts, they like the feeling that they're seducing you, they forget they're paying a pound a minute for you to pretend you're doing whatever they want you to do.  And then there are fetishes.  I have a regular who like to pretend he's a baby in a nappy calling from his cot and we chat about how he's good boy and whether he wee weed in his bathwater'.
I stop her there.  It's not paedophilia but it's really weird... and although it's getting into an area that as a writer reporting on this whole scene I should probably find out more about, I just can't bring myself to listen to it.  All I can think about is how many of these adult babies are MPs.
The afternoon passes and the number of calls increases.  We don't get anything too out there but Karen is right, it's easy to categorise the men that call into the types she talked to me about earlier.  She reckons she makes about £10 per hour and I've lost count of the number of 'big hard cocks' she has marvelled at this afternoon.  She's flattered their egos as much as she's provided 'relief'. 
So how long is she going to carry on doing this for?
'Until I get a decent day job.  I'm ok with it.  I've found out about myself, my sexuality and about men. Dealing so closely with other people’s bizarre sexuality can take its toll but I laugh about it. Sex is funny if you really think about it.  I'm not going to make a fortune doing this but I'm making more than if I had carried on with my bar job.  I'm more in control than I would be standing behind a bar and dealing with guys that have had too much to drink and think they can speak to you however they want to speak to you.  I sit here in my PJs with a coffee and I make money on my terms.  It's cool'
And with that I make my exit, trying to banish the picture of an adult baby from my mind, wondering whether it really was Scottish Kevin's first time and feeling far more impressed with Karen and her work than I thought I would be.

If lately you've been seduced by the sexiness of vampires thanks to phenomenon's like True Blood, Twilight and The Vampire Diaries et al, there might just be a Mexican tradition based on historic beliefs that really does make rising from the dead the most romantic tale of all.
 
As Mexican traditions go, most Brits are probably only familiar with the mass consumption of tequila, but imagine a culture where not just life, but death truly is a celebratory occasion. 
 
Every year Mexico's 'El Dia de los Muertos' or 'The Day of the Dead' festival lasts for two days; November 1st being All Saints Day followed by All Souls Day on November 2nd.  During this time, the dead are honoured with a festive reunion between living families and their spirit relatives. Shrines and altars are created as a praying space to pay respects for many of the departed whilst fireworks invade the skies and happiness takes over homes.

The origin of the festivities in Mexico stem from an ancient culture in which the communities believe that during this time of year, the spirits may return to earth in order to drink, dance, laugh - basically party - as they would when they were amongst the living, so that the deceased and ancestors may be remembered fondly. At the honorary two-day feast, there is lots of good food to be sampled and the most popular staple is 'Pan de Muerto' or 'bread of the dead', typically a cinnamon flavoured sweet dough, which can be shaped into a skull or decorated with fruit to represent bones.

It sounds other worldly, an exception in the mortal calendar when the dead are welcome to visit past lives and past loves for some over indulgence, but far from being a scary event like a haunting, the ritual brings a whole new meaning to the words 'Happy Halloween'.  The spirits represent joy, not tragedy or a depressing view on death.

If families are remembering children who have passed on, the deceased are said to return as 'little angels'. And likewise, this isn't an R-rated, adult only experience; children learn not to fear death but accept it and be safe in the knowledge that they will be reunited with missed souls once a year.
 
Recently, British Airways chose to show the festival off to the UK in order to advertise flights to Mexico and show a culture largely untouched by British holidaymakers. BA briefly documented the local people enjoying the occasion and captured the momentum perfectly:    
 
 








 
 
Obviously South America is steeped in a rich and colourful history, and its thought this particular ritual originated some three thousand years ago, dating back to the Aztec era. Yet today the festival is also noted in many different countries, predominantly in the Hispanic influenced cities of the US like Texas and LA (where better to celebrate the dead rising in an English-speaking city than the City Of Angels?) However it is also embraced much further a field in Europe and Scandinavia. And rightly so, surely the ideals behind the event are the most comforting and reassuring way to cope with loss? Not just as a family, but as a community and a nation.

Dia de los Muertos has become somewhat fashionable in pop culture, an almost serenade between two worlds. Maybe because its seen as quirky or still 'dark' by many western standards - but this doesn't really take away from the importance of the ritual which is still a very religious experience in Mexican towns. Typical symbols such as sugar skulls (which when edible, are brightly decorated candies) can be found on high street clothes designs, jewellery and now iconic in body art, in modern and punk tattoo culture. The skulls are not threatening or evil looking, but rather vibrant, floral and feminine. Dressing up with traditional costumes and face paints is also a very popular pastime to honour the dead. People create skeletal looks with traditional décor and when on the face of a woman, is also a very popular design for tattoos and paintings, making death a sort or respectable pin-up. 



 



Just as with the Catholic faith, the indigenous people of Mexico believe that whilst our earthly bodies die, our souls do not. Religiously speaking, it is thought that the dead go to a place called 'Mictlan', a sort of resting place for them to sleep until woken on November 1st when vigils are held in cemeteries. As with any holiday celebration, there are preparations to be made. Flowers are placed on graves and in the streets, whilst candles fill village squares and gardens allowing the juxtaposition of blossoming new life and bright lights to guide and welcome the dead home.
Music plays a big part in the event and as stated earlier, Hispanic led towns such as LA have huge parties and concerts to accompany the holiday. To leave you with some traditional Mexican sounds with a twist, watch LA hardcore band The Bronx as they swap broken bones for broken hearts, Mariachi style. Taken form the eponymous début album, Mariachi El Bronx first single, 'Quinceniera' makes the perfect soundtrack for some Dia de los Muertos reading. Until next year... enjoy!
 








 

The Singles New Radio by Bikini KillAidy's Girl Is a Computer by DarkstarWhen I Grow Up by Fever RayBlood Bank by Bon IverSeven Years Of Letters by Twilight SadBang by RaveonettesPapillon by EditorsHigher Than The Stars by Pains Of Being Pure At Heart The Albums Rock It by Sub FocusMissing You by A Place To Bury StrangersColossus by Lightening BoltLaura by GirlsSilver Trembling Hands by Flaming LipsGoodbye Jack Vettriano by Saint Jude's InfirmaryNever Go West by Seasick SteveWalkabout by Atlas Sound Featuring Noah LennoxSpace Mountain by Fuck Buttons
 
Recorded and mixed by James Trott at SSR Creative Media Academy, Downing Street, Manchester
www.s-s-r.com
 

Original deep house collective DiY turn 20 this year, and kick off a year of celebrations with a party at The Brickhouse on Brick Lane.  Formed in Nottingham in 1989, DiY Soundsystem have spent the last two decades hosting parties in clubs, warehouses and fields all over Britain and beyond.
Part of the first wave of British house evangelists, DiY’s legendary free parties captured the unique spirit of the times often stretching out for days. Since then their brand of deep, groove-locked house has taken them partying with The Happy Mondays and The KLF at Glastonbury, rocking parties of up to 40,000 people, running nights at the Ministry of Sound, Lakota, Back to Basics, The Que Club, Heavenly Social, Club UK, Voodoo, Big Love, Glastonbury, Amnesia, Pacha, Space and Cafe Del Mar to name but a few.
Their DJing includes venues worldwide in Ibiza, San Francisco, Amsterdam, Dallas, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Italy and France and working alongside Sasha, Laurent Garnier, Carl Cox, Andy Weatherall, Darren Emerson and Choci amongst others.
DIY set up the Nottingham arm of the anti-CJA (Criminal Justice Act) group and raised £30,000 for it, they also got on the front page of the Daily Telegraph at the London anti-CJA demo, as well as appearing in many of the contemporary dance music scene text books.
They were a crazy, party mad group of people who kept going for a long time but along the way they went from just playing to making records and found time to release a string of classic tracks on labels such as Warp Records, and their own DiY Discs, Strictly4Groovers and DiY Diversions labels.   Expect to hear plenty of these on the night, alongside fresh material scheduled for release in the New Year.
When asked how they managed so much DIY Harry said "We've kept going simply because we know how to have a laugh.  The whole outfit has been  underground mainly because we've always done it for ourselves and our posse.  We've spent most of the last eight years in various house parties and smokey clubs in Nottingham - before that we were creative loafers."  
They described themselves as "We're losers, boozers, cruisers, chancers and dancers."    We like them alot.
If you’ve lost and found yourself on a DiY dancefloor at any point over the past two decades you’ll know what the score is, if you haven’t then this is a perfect opportunity to kick back and find out why in the late eighties a generation of British youth suddenly started disappearing off into the night to dance away for hours, and hours, and hours and, well you get the idea. Recession? High unemployment? Let’s party like it’s 1989 all over again…
The Brickhouse’s Funktion 1 sound system and industrial setting make it the perfect venue to celebrate 20 years of raucous parties and underground house music, with the full DiY crew (Simon DK, Digs & Woosh and Jack) providing the soundtrack.  Event:           Do it Yourself 20th Birthday Party  Date:           Saturday November 21st 2009Time:           11pm till 4am DJs:              DiY Full Crew Featuring Simon DK, Digs & Woosh and Jack Tax:              £7 on the door or £5 paying guestlist (if you sign up at facebook group diy : 20 years of doin it ourselves) Venue:         The Brickhouse, The Old Truman Brewery, 152c Brick Lane, London, E1 6RUWeb:            www.thebrickhouse.co.ukTel:               020 7247 0005 Tube:            Liverpool Street

No Reply by BuzzcocksShot Down by Nine Black AlpsGirls In The Back by White Rose MovementReign (Instrumental Mix) by U.N.K.L.E.Shack Up by A Certain RatioFences by PhoenixThe Whip by ApseI Became a Prostitute by The Twilight SadAt Home He's a Tourist by Gang Of FourRoscoe by MidlakeThe Pills Won't Help You Know by The Chemical Brothers Featuring MidlakeBlue Song by Mint RoyaleDoubt by Delphic Lost Knives Session - 3 songs recorded at Spirit Studios plus Mike Interviews the group. Too Many DJ's by Soulwax7/4 (Shoreline) by Broken Social SceneDo You Know Who I Am? by Echo & The BunnymenIn Your Heart by A Place To Bury StrangersThere Goes My Gun by PixiesBones by A Mountain Of OneWalking Away by Vibrant ThighI Know But I Don't Know by BlondieLooking Glass by The La'sWild Horses by The Rolling StonesBeing Boiled by The Human LeagueMagnet by Bombay Bicycle ClubCarino by T Coy
Recorded and mixed by James Trott and Craig Sanderson at SSR Creative Media Academy, Downing Street, Manchester
www.s-s-r.com
 

She isn't styled to within an inch of her life, she's been given the room to grow as a musician and a performer before embarking on a relentless touring and PR schedule and she seems like the kind of girl who has her feet on the ground. 
Lowri Evans was born in the Welsh market town of Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire. These days she lives in Newport and is getting quite well known in her homeland through concerts, television and radio appearances.
One Way Ticket is the third album to be released from Welsh songstress and it follows on seamlessly from 'Kick the Sand' and 'Clyw Sibrydion.' Her first album 'Clyw Sibrydion' (Hear Whispers) was recorded in the Welsh language whilst for 'Kick the Sand' Lowri decided to record mainly in English.  It was during 2006 when Lowri was performing some Welsh language television shows that she first realised that she was missing out on performing to a significant section of her own people and culture. It was then that Lowri decided to translate her own compositions into Welsh and start singing in both the English and Welsh language. What makes Lowri Evans unique is her beautiful Welsh voice, distinctive and powerful delivering a highly original blend of blues, contemporary folk and pop. She has this wonderful ability to blend the two languages in both her live and recorded performances
 








See Lowri Evans live...

October 2009
31.10.09  The Golden Lion/Y Llew Aur - Newport, Pembs - Halloween night! - 9pm - full band
 
November 2009
14.11.09  Rhos y Gilwen, Cilgerran, Pembs - 8pm - supporting Martin Simpson and Andy Cutting - acoustic
27.11.09  The Ship Inn, Llangrannog - 8pm – acoustic
 
December 2009
18.12.09  Gig y Gwach, Pontardawe Inn, Pontardawe - 9pm - full band
 
January 2010
23.01.10  Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay - 1.15pm - Capita Symonds Stage – acoustic
 
February 2010
05.02.10  The Buck Inn, Pontlliw, Swansea - 9pm - acoustic
 
http://www.lowrievansmusic.co.uk


 

Earlier this year our friends at Slutty Fringe decided that they would start our own record label, Hot Pockets.Naturally this has been a great success, and since they appear to love the idea of being music moguls as much as they enjoy being world famous writers, they've decided to raise their game with a new release...
Shock Defeat! bring you The Olympic Village EP, 5 tracks of wonderfully frenetic Talking Heads meets disco-punk pop (this sounds amazing!) and to celebrate, Hot Pockets are throwing a launch party at the Queen of Hoxton.Shock Defeat! will of be playing live, supported by Hot Pocket's other new signings, the creamily erotic Kinema. If that wasn't enough they've roped in a few of their friends, in the form of Plugs, My Tiger My Timing and the mighty Greco-Roman Soundsystem DJs to spin records and generally get the party started.
 

 
Shock Defeat! have been busy winning fans from all quarters..."Eccentric and ever-so-slightly mad - essential artrock"Artrocker "I only like 1 Band in the whole of London and it is you"Felix, Hot Chip "Like the Bastard son of David Byrne singing about the apocalypse, awkward white boy funk at its very best... refreshingly unusual and catchier than a dose of the flu"Lobster Quadrille Magazine "Impossible to define, and that's where the magic lies. At one point I'm thinking Mark E Smith, then Joy Division closely followed by the Cure, all trapped together within some infectious angular guitar work. Shock Defeat! are the musical interpretation of a multiple personality disorder"El Diablo fanzine "Infusing everything that is fabulous, it is ridiculous Shock Defeat! are not huge" Neonbuzz








This is all happening at The Queen of Hoxton, 1 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3JXwww.thequeenofhoxton.co.ukFrom 7pm till 2amFREE ENTRY before 9pm / £5 after

You might not have heard of KAV, but you will have heard of the club night and festival Getloaded which he launched with UK superclub Turnmills,  'One of the most successful London club nights to date' (The Guardian 2005).
Line ups have seen the likes of Peter Hook, Carl Barat, Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke, Dermo, Howard Marks, Client, The Beta Band, Mani, Clint Boon and the legendary Tony Wilson rock Clapham Common.  Getloaded in the Park has become an established feature of the UK's summer music scene, now in its fifth year as a 20,000 capacity sell-out festival.
Establishing an event of this scale and pulling in musicians of that calibre takes some doing, especially when KAV was also busy playing an integral part in reforming legendary Manchester band Happy Mondays.  He was invited to joined the band on guitar and to tour internationally with the band with Shaun Ryder describing him as "the man who's helped me Smile Again".

KAV went on to co-write the Monday's new album Unkle Dysfunktional, the first album in 13 years, with original members Shaun Ryder and Gaz Whelan. He also co-wrote single Playground Superstar, title track for Hollywood Film GOAL, which was released on Big Brother Records (Noel & Liam Gallagher's label).
The late Tony Wilson was quoted as saying;"I normally resent any Happy Mondays gig without the original guitarist, but KAV's style complements the Mondays rather than detracts"  KAV left the Mondays after V festival 2007, to launch his solo career.  A brave move but one that looks to paying off bigtime.








A UK Artist who puts his unique and modern stamp on authentic Rock N' Roll, he released his limited edition debut EP 'Blaggers N' Liars' in April 2008 to rave reviews..."Imagine if Bob Dylan was young in modern times and he had an addiction to sleaze and you'd be half way to understanding Kav's sound...Simple, perfectly executed sleazy rock with hidden depths and a backpack full of attitude. Sick"   KERRANG! RADIO
His Double-A-Side single 'Soul Kid'/'Rock Chick' released in October, garnered widespread radio support and an army of new fans across the UK and the US.  KAV & his band spent the early part of 2009 in Los Angeles, finishing recording the debut Album "Rise Of The Clowns" with producer Josh Ostrander (from LA Band Eastern Conference Champions). Since then, they've been based between London & Los Angeles playing The Viper Rooms, Spaceland, The Key Club & The Troubadour Los Angeles, and in the UK, Camden's Proud Galleries, the legendary 100 Club &  W1 Hangout PUNK.
KAV's debut North American release 'The Shake It Like You Hate It EP'  is set for January 2010 and ahead of this KAV has been touring the West Coast of the USA with Norweigan hipsters Datarock.  Meanwhile, in the UK, he's been working with Welsh legend and author Howard Marks on the Mr Nice EP.
Catch Kav when he's back in the UK in December.  Then he's off to Australia to tour throughout January & February with a tour of Japan to follow that.
 "One Of Brit rock's brightest young hopes"I LIKE MUSIC

October 29th at 5am saw two local people climbing inside the Odeon in a campaign to save the building. A banner reading 'Save the Odeon' was unfurled at 7.30am to engage the local community with the issue of undemocratic descision making within Bradford Council.

The Odeon building is an intrinsic part of Bradford's heritage yet the council have decided to approve its demolition. This is despite the desolation seen in Bradford city centre, a key example is the Westfield development which has been left as a gaping hole in the heart of the city. The Bradford populous have little faith in the gentrification of the cityscape and came out in force to 'Hug the Odeon' in 2007.
The banner drop today comes only days before a protest in Centenary Square this Saturday at 12noon. Because the council have made their decision on the fate of the Odeon, it seems that only the Secretary of State can halt the demolition. The meeting which made the decision was considered by many to be a farce, the councillors told that they may face legal action from the regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward. It was based on this information that the panel voted to demolish the building, yet Yorkshire Forward then said that they had no intention of sueing Bradford Council over their decision.

One of the protestors said "They are destroying a really beautiful building when we have no money in the city and it's cheaper to keep the Odeon rather than build something ugly and pointless."
The other said "I'm doing this in solidarity who wants their politicians and local councillors to represent them and not business."
More info on the protest can be found here
 

 

Dutch Uncles                                            Face InBeat the Radar                                         Telephone ConversationTinariwen                                                  AssoufPiL                                                             Public ImageKing Tubby ft Augustus Pablo                   King Tubby's Borderline DubCan                                                            PinchCaptain Beefheart And His Magic Band    Dachau BluesThe Adverts                                               One Chord WondersBlack Flag                                                  Six PackRammstein                                                 RammliedFlowered Up                                              WeekenderProlapse                                                     T.C.R.

Gothic Lolita is a Japanese street fashion that began in Harajuku, Tokyo in the 1980s when Omotesando and Takeshita-dori, streets in the Harajuku district, were closed to traffic on Sundays. This closure allowed youths to gather in Yoyogi Park and the surrounding streets to listen to music, shop and meet friends.
Kids and street performers started appearing in wild, unconventional outfits which gradually developed into recognisable styles such as lolita, gyaru or kogal, decora and ganguro. These styles were catalogued by a street photographer, Shoichi Aoki, in his magazines STREET which started in 1985 and FRUiTS from 1997.
The trend has been growing in popularity in Japan and the Western world ever since.  Lolita fashion was popularised with the establishment of brands such as Baby, The Stars Shine Bright in 1988 and Manifesteange Metamorphose Temps de Fille in 1993. Other brands include Angelic Pretty, Innocent World and Mary Magdalene.
While most brands cater to the Japanese market, the advent of Western interest in the lolita subculture has meant that some brands have begun selling to Northern American and other Western countries and some brands such as Metamorphose have developed English-language websites to cater to this interest. Primarily though brands still aim their clothing at Japanese girls in their teens to mid-twenties.
Stylistic influences for gothic lolita fashion spring from a variety of eras, the most easily recognisable being the Victorian era. The fashion is more akin to children's clothes from this era than adults' as skirts generally fall around knee-length rather than the full floor-length gowns and the exaggerated wasp-waist corsets are not often worn. Influences are also taken from other eras such as the 1950s and the French Rococo style, but while lolita has a historical look and feel, it is not from any particular period and tends to blend multiple historical looks together for its own individual and recognisable lolita style.
While the style could easily be confused with a sexual fetish, due to its namesake the novel 'Lolita' by Vladimir Nabokov, the lolita subculture emphasises modesty and youthfulness, as well as drawing from the Japanese kawaii or 'cute' aesthetic, and is not considered overtly sexual by its followers. Most Japanese lolitas are not even aware of the original source from which the fashion's name was drawn, although the 'Gothic & Lolita Bible,' a popular magazine for those interested in the culture of lolita, encourages the reading of that novel.
One of the more unusual aspects of modern-day Japanese society, at least to Western eyes, is the prevalence and even acceptance of the 'Lolita complex' or lolicon, where middle-aged men are attracted to young girls and often seek out pornographic manga (comic books) which is readily available at bookstores and train station kiosks. While there are hints of the 'Lolita complex' evident in lolita fashion, the young women who adopt and wear lolita are not catering to middle aged men's pornographic fetishes, but to their own desires to be 'cute' and non-sexual. In fact, some lolitas state that one of the attractions to the lolita subculture is the lack of sexualisation in the fashion.  The style is all about making the wearer look poreclain doll-like, sweet and elegant. 
Whether lolita is a fashion or a subculture is a matter of some discussion among followers. Many women wear the style at weekends or for concerts, possibly as a form of escape from their more prosaic everyday lives and simply because it's 'cute'. Other women say that lolita is a lifestyle, and even when not wearing the clothes, they try to incorporate the lolita ethos into their everyday lives.
Momoko, a character from the novel Shimotsuma Monogatari ('A Shimotsuma Story', translated into English and published as Kamikaze Girls) by lolita novelist Novala Takemoto, expresses the wish that she could live in the carefree, whimsical and hedonistic Rococo era.
No matter whether a lolita wears the style simply as a fashion or sees it as a lifestyle, the culture of lolita is an escape to a fantasy world free of pressures of modern-day society and adulthood. While Japanese women of today have wider societal roles than those of their mothers, they are still expected to enter employment only until marriage and childbirth, and while employed they are generally placed in lower roles than men.
Japanese culture emphasises the importance of motherhood as a “sacred mission” and so girls and women who wear lolita are rejecting the societal expectation of low-importance careers and homemaking in favour of a fantasy in which they can “fulfill their own sense of princess-like aesthetic beauty” and avoid growing up in a more mundane world. This rejection of societal norms by lolitas reflects the rise in Japanese society of young people, especially women, known as 'parasite singles'. Millions of young Japanese are choosing to stay living with their parents into their twenties and even thirties, working for a living but spending their income on material items and refusing to get married or have children.
Lolita fashion is expensive; items from brand stores range from one hundred to five hundred dollars, and a full outfit may cost as much as a thousand dollars. The fashion began in the eighties, reflecting the affluence of Japanese society created by the 'Bubble Economy'. Due to the youthful nature of lolita fashion, many girls are supported by their parents in their buying habits, but for others in their twenties, the only way to continue buying such items is to remain living in the family home and use their income to buy clothes, rather than establish an independent life.
It is possible, but difficult, to become a lolita without spending exorbitant sums of money; some women learn to sew their own clothes or choose to buy from lesser-known 'indie' or independent brands. However, most Japanese girls will agree that in order to be accepted and respected by other lolitas, it is necessary to buy some brand clothing.
This aspect of the lolita phenomenon reflects the obsession with brands found elsewhere in Japanese society. Other parasite singles may buy expensive brand-name handbags or jewellery.As Professor Masahiro Yamada, who coined the phrase, states, on average women lose two-thirds of their spending money when they marry.The rise of parasite singles does not surprise the sociology professor, who also attributes their prevalence to Japan's affluence during the 1980s.
Despite the downturn in Japan's economy during the 90s, it appears that both lolitas and other Japanese youth have discovered one way to maintain their high discretionary spending and affluent lifestyle. Lolita fashion appears at first glance not only to be a rejection of societal expectations in favour of a luxurious, responsibility-free life, but of the homogeneity of most Japanese culture and society. Until the mid-60s, most women shared a common beauty ideology, and even today the kawaii aesthetic permeates most mainstream fashion. In contrast, lolita offers distinction and individualism from the normal fashion style. However, upon closer examination, lolita has a distinctly paradoxical nature towards individuality of style. While it is true that it offers individuality from the mainstream, it still maintains strict rules about coordination and combinations of style.
Brand clothing is generally offered in only one or two sizes, often very small and designed for the flat-chested, short and thin Japanese girl. In this way, lolita maintains homogeneity of style and appearance even while it simultaneously offers an opportunity to break away from mainstream fashion. While lolitas may be alone in smaller rural areas, as is depicted in Shimotsuma Monogatari, Tokyo lolitas gather in groups in Harajuku, many wearing matching outfits. This conformation and group ethos reflects the larger Japanese group culture and allows people to feel a part of a group or subculture even when they do not fit into the norm.
Comparing lolita with the Western Goth movement, it is easy to draw parallels. Both lolita and Goth are marked by striking fashion, a rejection of societal values and expectations, and “a longing to escape to another world.” However, whereas lolita incorporates the 'cuteness' found in more mainstream fashion, Goth fashion intends to both reject and parody mainstream fashion and good taste, aiming for a dichotomy between beauty and repulsion. Additionally, while lolita generally emphasises childlike innocence and purity, which tends to be expressed in 'sweetness' and optimism, Goth veers more towards morbidity, sexual fetishism and pessimism. Even gothic lolita, which shares with Western Goth a fascination with religious imagery and Victorian nostalgia, still shares the ethos of lolita that is a yearning for a carefree, whimsical world akin to Rococo. In contrast, Goths emphasise their separation from mainstream culture by yearning for tragedy and the “darkly powerful”, finding beauty in the darker side of life.
While lolita may have begun as a fashion for Japanese girls who wished to step away from sexual fashion, reject societal expectations and revel in a world of luxury and individualism within a group of like-minded friends, it will continue to evolve into a fashion and a lifestyle loved worldwide as women simply enjoy “being a princess” in a modern-day society.
So how does somebdy adopt this lifestyle?  The first step is to 'bake, have tea parties and cherish everything that is beautiful' says one afficionado.  'We don't try to be slutty or sexy, we're not "ero-loli" (erotic lolitas) 
Someone living a Lolita Lifestyle will try and live like a princess, surrounding themselves with things of beauty, and taking part in 'feminine' pursuits such as baking and sewing together with other old-fashioned 'women's' activities like embroidery.
 
 

 
The style revolves around a few essential items. It all starts with a blouse, black or white one or two full skirts, a good petticoat, bloomers, and knee-high or over-the-knee socks.
Blouses vary with style, peter pan collars are sweet, high collars are classic. Pussy bows are good too.The skirts must be around knee length and full enough to fit a petticoat underneath.  In order to get the right silhouette, the skirt must sit at the natural waist and never on the hips.
Once the Gothic Lolita has these items and is comfortable with the style it's fine to introduce colours.  Red, pink, light and dark blue, brown and floral patterns are seen on the streets.
 

 
Appropriate shoes include the classic Mary-Janes and Mary-Jane inspired shoes, platforms, chunky heels or espadrilles that cover your whole foot. Ballet flats are generally not liked as they do not look quite "right" with knee socks.  It's not about fetish shoes.  The hair is all about ringlets and pigtails with alice bands, flowers and ribbons.  Gothic Lolitas love parasols and pretty bags.








 
Over to www.lolitafashion.org for more on the lolita lifestyle:
You can dress in Lolita at any age so that should never be a barrier for you. In fact you’ll find that many members of the various Lolita communities are past their teens. You may feel as if as you get older you may like a slightly more mature style, and move away from the sweeter styles, but there should always be a style to suit you. Classic Lolita is a wonderful style to get into if you’re feeling a little too old for sweet, because it still maintains the basical Lolita shape, but with less of the frills and overly cute prints. Aristocrat is also a great style for the older Lolita. It’s all frills and bows.  As mentioned above, there are much more mature and subdued styles of Lolita and one should not be put-off by the sweeter styles by thinking that they won’t find a style to match them. Many girls get offended at the notion that they are expected to automatically change their personality when they put on their Lolita outfits. While Lolitas may adopt stricter manners and be slightly more cautious about how they carry themselves (though this is sometimes due to the fact that they want to protect their clothes) a Lolita will not usually alter their personality accordingly to what type of clothing they are wearing. ‘Lifestyle Lolitas’ are the exception, and may prefer to adopt a more ‘sugar, spice and all-thing-nice’ attitude. There are many boys who love donning a full Lolita outfit, and can look lovely in it. Lolita Fashion is not restricted by gender and the same rules about presentation and class still apply. If you don't like dresses however, but still enjoy the general aesthetic of Lolita, Kodona or Aristocrat may be the style for you. Just because an item of clothing has lace on it, does not automatically make it Lolita, it still has to conform to the basic guidelines of Lolita fashion such as quality, class, modesty etc. etc. You’ll find that many Lolita dresses do not actually have any laced on them at all. If you are in-doubt as to whether an item can be considered ‘Lolita’ or not, ask for the opinions of other Lolitas. Mana did not create the Lolita fashion.  This is a myth often associated with Mana fan-girls. While it is true that the J-Rock artist Mana does have his own Lolita brand named Moi Meme Moitie and is featured in many of the Gothic Lolita Bibles wearing the clothing from his brand, he did not invent the Lolita fashion. Mana only came up with the phrase, ‘Elegant Gothic Lolita’ as a name to describe the style of clothing that his brand was creating; Gothic Lolita itself had been around long before Mana had his own Lolita brand. Many people assume that because Lolita fashion originated in Japan only Japanese people can dress in it, but Lolita is for people of all races. Many Lolita brands, after recognising the growing love of Lolita in the West, started offering shipping overseas and creating English websites for those of us who do not live in Japan or speak Japanese. Lolita itself was modelled after the Rococo aesthetic which came from the West in the first place.
Leg warmers are frowned upon, and look very out of place with Lolita; they tend to look very costume-y. This goes for arm warmers as well. To keep yourself warm during winter or on cold days thick tights are usually the way to go. There are many styles of boots that also look great with lolita to help keep your legs warm. Coats, scarves, earmuffs and gloves also will help keep you warm and be the perfect touch to any Lolita outfit. Anything with 'cosplay' or 'costume' in the title really should not be worn with, or as Lolita. Remember that Lolita is a 'fashion' and not a 'costume', so anything costume-y you wear with Lolita will look just like that: a costume. Although Chii from Chobits does wear some very elegant dresses that appear to take some influences from Lolita Fashion, it is best to keep cosplay and Lolita separate.
 
La Carmina & friends give you the low-down on Japan's #1 Gothic club night, Midnight Mess.  If you're in Tokyo, don't miss an opportunity to party with your favourite J-Goth Lolita spooks...So what is it? MIDNIGHT MESS, Tokyo's best Gothic-cyber-Lolita club party. With DJS (Maya, Sisen, Chihiro), performances (Seileen, Skinny Puppy), fetish performances / bondage / rope suspension, EBM industrial darkwave music, and the wildest Harajuku club fashion! When? Once a month; starts at midnight and runs all night. Check out http://www.midnightmess.com for the next event.Where? Club Marz in Shinjuku. Take the East Exit from Shinjuku Station, go straight-forward til you reach the Seibu-Shinjuku line, turn right at the Family Mart... Price? 2500 yen (Gothic dress code); 3000 yen (RSVP: maya@midnightmess.com); 3500 yen (door). Drink ticket included. Aged 18 to enter, 20 to drink alcohol. What am I going to hear in there? Moi dix Mois - Pessimiste; Schwarz Stein - Biogenesis; Dulce Liquido - Distorted Face; VNV Nation - Chrome; Aural Vampire - Yagi Parade; DALIDA - BESAME MUCHO!!







PHOTOS & J-GOTH MADNESS: http://www.lacarmina.com/blog

Made by Rago Productions, this is The Drug Dealers Story, a short gritty drama based on a true story from a drug dealer in Hackney.  Hard hitting and entirely true.

 








 
"And like an idiot I still go round doinh the same thing..."

Electro-punk dance act the Prodigy have announced that they will play their biggest headline show yet next summer, in the open air to 45,000 people at the National Bowl in Milton Keynes on 24th July 2010.
The first 12,000 tickets will be sold exclusively through the Prodigy's online store from Wednesday 29th October at 9:30am.  The remaining 33,000 tickets will go on general sale on Friday 30th October at 9:30am.Tickets (limited to four per person) will cost £42.50 and the lineup will include Pendulum, Enter Shikari, Chase And Status, Does It Offend You Yeah? and DJ Zane Lowe in support. The Prodigy, signed to Cooking Vinyl, are still one of the biggest bands in the UK, with record sales outstripping any other band on an independent label, and with a career that stretches back to 1991.Visit www.recordstore.co.uk/theprodigy/ to purchase tickets for the event.  And to remind you what makes them one of the most exciting bands ever to come out of the UK, here's Smack My bitch Up in full.








 

David Blunkett's 2002 decision to downgrade cannabis from a class B drug to class C drug ended a thirty year period during which more than 70,000 people a year were arrested for possession.  At the time Blunkett confirmed that he didn’t plan to ever legalise the drug but there were hopes that we wouldn’t be too far away from tolerating a café society of the kind that Amsterdam is so famous for.
 
So why then did January 2009 see Cannabis reclassified up from a Class C drug to a Class B meanings there are more severe penalties for possession?  In May 2008 Jacqui Smith announced that she wanted to reverse the 2002 decision and put cannabis back to Class B. She said she was concerned about the evidence linking cannabis smoking with schizophrenia, and with the increase in the supply of skunk and other strong forms of the drug.
An independent expert group that advises Government, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) reviewed the most up-to-date information of the effects and harms of cannabis use and made a number of recommendations. They found that most of the skunk around today is much stronger than it used to be, sometimes up to twenty five times stronger.
 
They also found that people ‘binge smoke’ strong cannabis to try and get as stoned as possible (and they needed research to tell them this?!) The ACMD said is a particular concern because of the known risks of cannabis to long-term mental health.  According to their research, cannabis can worsen the symptoms of schizophrenia and lead to relapse and as well as its short-term psychological effects, there is a probable, though weak, link between cannabis use and the later development of psychotic illness.
The ACMD thought that cannabis should remain a Class C drug but the government decided to reclassify the drug anyway.  Class B puts cannabis in the same category as drugs like speed and the maximum penalty for possession has gone up from 2 years in prison to 5 years and an unlimited fine. The maximum penalty for supply, which includes giving or selling to friends, is 14 years in prison and an unlimited fine.
 
Howard Marks talks about the reclassification here
 








 

According to Judy Marks, former wife of Howard "Bring back good, old-fashioned pure Afghan, you knew where you were with that. Suddenly all these kids have got psychological problems smoking skunk that's too strong. I can't remember that happening when I was young."
 
So what’s the deal on skunk?
 
The skunk smoked by the majority of young Britons bears no relation to traditional cannabis resin, with a twenty five fold increase in the amount of the main psychoactive ingredient, tetrahydrocannabidinol (THC) than was found in the cannabis doing the rounds in the early 1990s.
Robin Murray, a professor of psychiatry at London's Institute of Psychiatry, estimates that at least a tenth of the UK’s 250,000 schizophrenics could have avoided the illness if they had not used cannabis. "The number of people taking cannabis may not be rising, but what people are taking is much more powerful, so there is a question of whether a few years on we may see more people getting ill as a consequence of that."
Is the case against cannabis really that simple? No.
The plant itself is complex, with more than 60 compounds and 400 chemicals, and so is the research.  There are important differences of opinion about what it tells us. It is not just that the statistics do not seem to justify the widespread panic: current figures suggest that cannabis use increases the incidence of psychosis from 1% to 3% at most, and that the life-time incidence of schizophrenia per se remains at one in 100 (or 0.4% of population at any one time). There is also the vexed issue of causality. And what most of the research has so far established is a link, not cause.
"If cannabis caused schizophrenia," says Trevor Turner, a consultant psychiatrist based in Hackney in east London, "the rate of incidence in countries where it's used more widely would be higher - but there's no evidence of that. Nor has the rate of schizophrenia increased in the UK, despite statistics showing that 50% of young people have tried it, compared with only 10% in 1970."
On Robin Murray's claim that in the area of south London where he works the rate of schizophrenia has doubled, Turner points to complicating factors including an immigrant, urban population (schizophrenia is always more common in cities and among immigrants) and the fact that methods for recognition are so much better these days.
"I'm a front-line psychiatrist with 100-150 new patients every year and I've never seen a case of cannabis psychosis," he says. "What cannabis does is bring out symptoms that were already there - it makes the illness more overt and triggers it to emerge earlier, but that's all. Just because B follows A doesn't mean that A has caused B; that's a classic therapeutic delusion. The truth is that cannabis affects different people differently. I have patients who say it makes them feel better, as well as being one of the few pleasures they have left."
John Macleod of the University of Birmingham is another sceptic. In May 2004 in the Lancet, he analysed 48 research studies on the alleged psychological and social harms of cannabis, concluding that two-thirds of them were of dubious methodology and that even the better ones failed to prove a causal relation.
"It's chicken and egg, isn't it," says Colin Stewart, a drugs adviser at Release. "We're talking about a very messed-up generation of kids who are drawn to drugs as a way of coping, and if you've got problems already, smoking cannabis isn't going to help. But to blame cannabis for every mental-disorder is simplistic. We get worried parents calling all the time because their kids are going off the rails. If you do have a child with mental health problems it can be devastating. But sometimes what they're talking about is just hormones. 'My Johnny's not the same as he was when he was 13,' they say. Well, no, he wouldn't be. That's what's called being a teenager."
Is this climate of panic having an effect on people's cannabis habits? Yes and no.
"What is skunk exactly?” asks one user, “I'm not sure I know. I smoke every night with my partner - we giggle a lot, and it enhances our sex life. Weed is too much part of my life to want to change now, especially when it does me no harm."
Another user Mark says "Out of all my friends, I'm the only one still smoking.  Either their performance was suffering at work, or their girlfriends didn't like it [skunk has always been more of a boy thing], or they'd heard the stories about people flipping out and being sectioned, or had themselves had a bad experience of paranoia; drinking seemed the better option all of a sudden. And whereas five years ago you had to hunt for skunk, now - in London at least - it's finding a dealer who sells hash that's difficult. Every morning I see kids smoking it on their way to school, and that's worrying. If the stuff we had was the equivalent of beer, theirs is whisky and they're having it for breakfast."
It’s no wonder then that there’s much confusion and there are so many mixed messages when it comes to skunk.  Cannabis, but not as we know it?

 

Born in 1945 in Kenfig Hill, a small Welsh coal-mining village near Bridgend, Howard Marks attended Oxford University where he earned a degree in nuclear physics and post graduate qualifications in philosophy.
Marks began to deal during a postgraduate philosophy course at Oxford and was soon moving large quantities of hashish into Europe and America in the equipment of touring rock bands. The academic life began to lose its allure.
During the mid 1980s, Howard Marks had forty-three aliases, eighty-nine phone lines, and twenty five companies trading throughout the world.
Bars, recording studios, offshore banks: all were money-laundering vehicles serving the core activity: dope dealing. The Daily Mail described him as ‘the most sophisticated drugs baron of all time'.
At the height of his career, he was smuggling consignments of up to thirty tons from Pakistan and Thailand to America and Canada and had contact with organisations as diverse as the CIA, MI6, the IRA, and the Mafia, always maintaining a strict anti-gun and anti-violence ethos and never dealing in hard drugs.
In 1988 following a world-wide operation by the Drug Enforcement Agency, Howard Marks was busted and sentenced to twenty-five years in prison at the United States Federal Penitentiary, Terre Haute, Indiana, the site of America's only Federal Death Row and the country’s toughest penitentiary.  He was released on parole in April 1995 after serving seven years of his sentence.
In 1996 he released his autobiography, Mr. Nice, which remains an international best seller in several languages and was the best selling non-fiction book of 1997.
On the subject of his book, he says:
"Through a plethora of media interviews and several public book readings, it became clear that the predominant reason why so many adolescents and university students read and enjoyed Mr Nice was their frustration with the law prohibiting cannabis consumption and trade. Until then, I had no idea of the extraordinary extent of cannabis use by young people today."
During 1997, Howard performed his first live shows, which discussed his life as a marijuana smuggler and his views on drug use and legalisation. The shows received excellent reviews throughout the national press, and his now legendary one-man comedy show, An Audience with Mr Nice, continues to sell-out at venues throughout Britain and Europe.
Howard Marks wrote a monthly column for Loaded for five years and has also written features for many of the UK’s broadsheets. He continues to campaign vigorously for the legalisation of recreational drugs.
2010 will see the release of biopic Mr Nice starring Rhys Ifans and Chloe Sevigny as Howard's ex wife and mother to his children Judy.
 










 

"Rhys grew up close to the place where Howard was born," said producer of the film Luc Roeg. "As he was growing up, Marks was an infamous figure. Since then, their lives have crossed through music. Super Furry Animals [in which Ifans was a band member] did a benefit gig when Marks was released from prison.  It was a very demanding role for Rhys and he wanted to have the first shot at playing him."

Roeg added: "Marks was a beguiling character. He was highly educated and rose from a working-class background to get to Oxford at a time when the university didn't have any quota system. He applied his charm and intellect to what he did. Rhys has a lot of these qualities, he is very charming and he is as anti-establishment as Howard. It is a high-energy, epic film, a Lawrence of Arabia of stoner movies. Marks went to places like Afghanistan, near the Khyber Pass, when it was incredibly dangerous. The film spans three decades."
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 

1 - Sex Pistols - God Save The Queen (for Jon Owen and the Svengali crew)2 - Young Rival -  Your Island (for Andy Woods)3 - The Causeway - South (for Mike Fahy)4 - Pop Noir - D.I.Y (for Mike Garry)5 - Stiff Little Fingers - State Of Emergency (for Keith G Byrne) - *This weeks Words Of Wisdom, Jake Burns 'Try to change your life, that is, no life at all, try to break down the imaginery wall.'6 - Interview with Tom Harris from The Switch7 - The Switch - See The Light8 - Humanizer - Arthur Brown Gets Me Down (for Ste Kelly)9 - The Jam - The Butterfly Collector (for Christian McGinty)10 - Danny Mahon (with full band) - AK47 (for Jamie Shawcross and the R.A.C squad)11 - Richard Ashcroft and The Chemical Brothers - The Test (for Joe 'Burt' Burton and the Barnsley massive)12 - Dead Skeletons - Dead Mantra (for Dean Cavanagh)13 - Northern Quarter - Persist To Resist (for Tony Meehan)14 - The Witches - When The Light Goes Out (for Fabio)15 - The Arkanes - Sharpshooter (for Marcus Davison)16 - Black Grape - Kellies Heroes (for Aika Yamada)17 - Hope Sandoval And The Warm Inventions - Blanchard (for Matt Rynn)18 - Laboratory Noise - You Created A Storm (for Penfold Kowalski)19 - The Mighty Lemon Drops - Happy Head (for David Hutchison)20 - The Shallow Call - Where We All Hang Around (for Simon)21 - Interview with Damian Morgan from Brave Music Agency22 - The Smiths - You Just Haven't Earned It Yet Baby - *This weeks Should Have Been A Single23 - The Tatianas - I'm A Swine (for Agy and Flora)24 - Vagner Love - We Don't Care25 - The Chameleons - Swamp Thing (for Chris Wood)26 - Nine Inch Nails - Only (for Kelley Pope)27 - Boards Of Canada - Roygbiv (for Wozza)28 - Nick Cave - There She Goes (Live) - (for Jeff Iles)29 - The Cure - Killing An Arab (for Jay Barclay)30 - Joy Division - Shadowplay (for Kerrie Jordan)31 - Flowered Up - Weekender (for John Tuvey, Andrew Young, Liam Maher R.I.P and his family and friends)*Gone but not forgotten, Steven R.I.P happy birthday for 29th October xIf you're in a band and you'd like Dermo to play one of your tracks on At The Edge, send him your MP3 to Dermo@TinCan.TVIt's All About The Music.....
 
Recorded and mixed By Tom Harris at SSR Creative Media Academy, Downing Street, Manchester
www.s-s-r.com
 

It's been six years after they parted ways to pursue separate projects, but Anti-Pop Consortium have reunited and recorded their fourth and quite possibly best album, "Fluorescent Black".
APC, who took Hip Hop by surprise with their 2000 debut, "Tragic Epilogue," made a name for themselves with "Shopping Carts Crashing" in 2000 and cemented their status as luminaries with "Arrhythmia" in 2002. 








 
The group are cutting-edge innovators, wih fans ranging from b-boy purists and experimental electronic fans to indie rockers.  APC have shared stages with Radiohead and DJ Shadow and were recently cited by Muse as their major musical influence.  So it's all their fault then.
They're highly regarded for their for their stream-of consciousness lyrics, their ability to give seemingly unrelated word clusters hidden meaning and their stunning sonic backdrop so Anti-Pop Consortium's return is major news. With the new album out now on Big Dada, it's time for Beans, M. Sayyid, Earl Blaize, and High Priest to return to the live arena with a show at London's Scala. If their work in the studio has left critics breathless, their live show is set to permanently alter people's conceptions of what a hip-hop gig can deliver  Few, if any other group of MCs can hope to match the collective's left-field adventurousness, lyrical dexterity or sonic vision.
Experience APC on Thursday November 5th with special guests Juice Aleem and APSCI  at Scala, 275-277 Pentonville Rd, London, N1 www.scala-london.co.uk  Tickets are £14 - available in advance from www.ticketweb.co.uk
 

 

 
Recorded and mixed by Adam Hynes at SSR Creative Media Academy, Downing Street, Manchester
www.s-s-r.com
 

She Keeps Bees are a little bit Jack and Meg in that it's guitar, drums and voice, but the roles are reversed.  Up front we have Jessica Larrabee and her raw, bluesy vocal that gives each track a little bit of Kim Deal and PJ Harvey inspired cool femininity with lyrics that get straight to the point.  On the drums is Andy LaPlant, Jessica's boyfriend who provides the rythm and sounds that 'like to creep on you'
Born and bred in Brooklyn the duo have released their debut album Nests to much acclaim.  The album opens with understated acapella: "Don't follow me honey/ Not the road you want to be on." Then the sound of hand claps, a blues beat, and then it starts. Building over two minutes, the melody getting bluesier by the second, we suddently find ourselves in "Wear Red," and Jennifer is unleashed. It's exciting and defiant, You know that you're in for something special with an opening like this.And listening further, Nests doesn't disappoint because every track is brilliant. "Gimmie" is a stand out track so we've pinched it from youtube to give you a preview.
 








 

 
If you're looking forward to seeing them live in the UK the bad news is that they've been and gone but the good news is that after the reaction they got they have to get back here soon.
Find out more here: http://www.shekeepsbees.com/
 
 
 

Music: Northside, Who's to Blame?

 

 
Part One:








 
Part Two:








 
Below: Promo for New York Girl









Vocals -Robert Corless Bass/Keyboards -Darren Moran Drums -Bo Walsh Keyboards/Bass -Karen Leatham Guitar -Bunny (present) Guitar -Paul Ryan (past)

 

Alan McGee called St. Deluxe "a Scottish Nirvana for the 21st Century" and Tim Burgess said that he was reminded of Nirvana in the Bleach era and that he "played New Wave Stars on repeat constantly".
We needed to hear this band to decide for ourselves whether such grand endorsements were justified.  We were given some promo videos for the band's first couple of singles, we listened and we realised very quickly that St Deluxe are something really special.
Formed by Martin Kirwan and Jamie Cameron in Glasgow, they're Dinosaur Junior meets Teenage Fanclub and Nirvana.  But they're not playing indie/grunge by numbers.  They have their own identity and a distinct sound all of their own that was no doubt encouraged out of them by legendary producer and Creation co-founder Joe Foster, who was tempted out of self imposed exile in Brazil to produce their first single; 'New Wave Stars', was described by Alan McGee as "utterly essential... dipped in the Creation Records legacy of chemical pop imbalance."








 
The four members of St Deluxe have been together for four years. It started with Martin and Jamie being in a band called Speeder, who were signed to the same label as Garbage and Ash. They quit Speeder and began playing for BMX Bandits, the band that Kurt Cobain said he would be in if he wasn't in Nirvana.  It was in BMX Bandits where they met Stuart and Brian.  Typical of the close knit nature of Glasgow's music scene, Jamie, Brian and Stuart were also in Teenage Fanclub drummer Francis Macdonald's other band Nice Man & The Bad Boys.
Jamie said: "It was fun being in these bands but we wanted to do something different. This is us...we are in control. We try and experiment with guitars and synthesisers as much as we possibly can.








 
"When St Deluxe play live we're definitely influenced by bands like My Bloody Valentine, we always want to play as loud as possible; that in itself is a really good effect, I think. It's all about trying to have fun, trying to make it exciting for us and the audience. Mind you, lots of venues have noise limiters these days, which is a pain. We play loud and I think sometimes it has a kind of a physical effect on people and emotionally as well... but we just like to make a bit of noise as well to be honest!"
Check the media player above for St Deluxe's cover of big River by Johnny Cash produced by Joe Foster.  It has that early Creation sound with the St Deluxe stamp all over it, we like it alot...
 

 

http://www.stdeluxe.co.uk
http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Deluxe/26227810102http://www.myspace.com/stdeluxe

To get fans buzzing about the dates, Placebo have put together a free Tour Bundle download with tracks from all the support bands coming along on the various dates as well as a live version of "Breathe Underwater" performed live by Placebo at this year's Pukkelpop.
The bundle also includes a PDF booklet to give fans an introduction to every band appearing on the tour and promises to get excitement levels brimming before what promises to be a tour of epic proportions.To get your free Tour Bundle simply go to: http://tourbundle.placeboworld.co.ukTo get your tickets for the Placebo Winter tour point your browsers here: http://www.placeboworld.co.uk/gigs.php
 
Up for grabs are:
1. PLACEBO - 'Breathe Underwater' (Live At Pukkelpop Festival 2009)2. EXPATRIATE - 'Get Out, Give In' 3. SILVERSUN PICKUPS - 'Panic Switch (Recorded live for KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic")4. THE HORRORS - 'Sea Within A Sea' 5. UNITED - 'For What I Feel' (Live At Debaser)








 

 
The UK tour dates are:
Tuesday 8th December - Birmingham LG ArenaWednesday 9th December - London The O2Friday 11th December - Bridlington SpaSaturday 12th December - Manchester CentralMonday 14th December- Glasgow SECCTuesday 15th December- Dublin Olympia TheatreWednesday 16th December - Dublin Olympia Theatre

Tony Michaelides gives some thoughts on John Peel in the media player above and we look back over his career...
Born John Robert Parker Ravenscroft in Heswall, near Liverpool in 1939. He attended Shrewsbury public school which he hated, but light came into his life in the form of Elvis Presley singing Heartbreak Hotel.
"Everything changed when I heard Elvis," he later reflected. "Where there had been nothing there was suddenly something."
After National Service between 1957 and 1959 Peel went to America. Beatlemania was at it's height, and his Liverpudlian heritage proved very helpful in securing a job as a DJ for WRR radio in Dallas. He once said: "They'd got this idea that if you lived in the UK there were probably only a couple of hundred people and they were all bound to know each other."
Returning to England in 1967 he joined the pirate station Radio London, before moving to the new national pop channel Radio 1. He was to remain there for the rest of his life, the longest serving member of Radio 1's team.
Peel played by his own rules. He never interrupted a track, much to the delight of the hundereds of thousands of people sitting at home and taping his show. And there was never an irritating trans atlantic DJ voice with Peel.
He also had an ear for music he felt was going to be important, championing the likes of Bolan, Bowie and Captain Beefheart by giving them studio time to record the now legendary "Peel sessions".
It was in the mid-1970s that John Peel first heard something new that got him really excited. Punk.
He introduced The Sex Pistols, The Clash and later Joy Division and the Undertones, who famously provided him with his favourite single Teenage Kicks, lines from which would later provide his epitaph.
The 1980s saw the birth of a band that would always have a special place in his heart and in his record box. The Fall 'they're always different but always the same....a band by which, in our house all others are judged'
In his later years Peel presented Home Truths and Grumpy Old Men. He received an OBE in 1998 and earned a place in the Radio Academy Hall of Fame. He died on a working holiday in Peru aged 65 and his funeral attracted over a thousand people, many of whom were in bands that he had supported over the years. And his spirit will continue to support today's new music as he lends his name to the John Peel stage at Glastonbury, a fitting tribute to a man who was responsible for introducing so many to so much.
 

 








 

 

 

Morrissey has now been discharged from hospital, with a spokesperson describing his condition as 'much improved'
So what exactly happened last night?
Well if reports are true, it would seem this started on Friday night at his gig in Birmingham.  We had reports from those present who said that his performance wasn't up to his usual standard, sparking fears for his current health.  There has been speculation that he was suffering from breathing difficulties thoughout the gig but this has yet to be confirmed.
So back to Swindon...Morrissey, wearing a light grey open-necked shirt and black trousers, appeared on stage in front of the 1,000 strong audience looking drawn. He said "Good evening... probably," before performing The Smiths' 1983 hit This Charming Man.
Some present said he was "straining" to perform the song, even "wincing".  As he came to the end of the song his knees sagged and he slumped to the stage. Two band members rushed to his side and dragged him offstage. He was followed by his backing band and house lights went up.  An announcement that "Morrissey has left the building" was met with whistling and even booing from the audience.
 
Last night's coverage from Sky News








 
Morrissey was stretchered into an ambulance by medical staff and was taken to Great Western Hospital where a spokesperson for the ambulance service said: “Just after 9pm we got a call to a 50-year-old man who was reported to be reported to be suffering from respiratory problems and was unconscious.  We sent a paramedic in a doubled-crewed ambulance.  When they arrived they found a conscious patient who was not feeling well at all. They made an initial assessment and took him to the Great Western Hospital for further assessment.”
A spokesman for the hospital said: "Morrissey has been admitted to the Great Western Hospital. He is being reviewed by the medical staff and his condition is stable."

Morrissey is in the middle of a world tour, but has already cancelled concerts this year due to an "unspecified illness".  In May he cancelled a show at Birmingham's Symphony Hall and in a statement organisers said the star has been ordered to rest "to ensure a complete recuperation".  He also cancelled a show in London's Royal Albert Hall and four opening dates of his tour in Florida reportedly due to illness at the beginning of the year as well as an appearance in May on Later With Jools Holland.
A statement from from Morrissey has confirmed that he is recovering, and thanked fans for their patience. "Morrissey is in stable condition after his collapse in Swindon Saturday night. Thanks go out to all his well wishers, more information will be posted as soon as it is available."
Somewhat bizarrely, presenter Jonathon Ross has taken on the role of unofficial spokesperson and is giving regular updates on the situation.  Tweets have included...
"Latest Moz update. He is resting and hoping to finish these dates, inc. Albert hall onTuesday. Will keep you posted as and when"
"Am sending flowers to Moz this afternoon, and cupcakes! Will update re health and tour-dates as and when. Peace out."
However in the most recent new statement from Morrissey's management a spokesperson has confirmed that the Bournemouth date has been cancelled.
"The Morrissey concert at Bournemouth Academy on Monday, October 26 will not take place on medical advice. This follows his hospitalisation on Saturday night in Swindon. Morrissey has now been released from hospital and is under doctors' instruction to rest. Event organisers apologise for this unavoidable situation."
Tickets can be refunded at the point of purchase.
Best wishes for a full recovery Morrissey.
And onto another Ex Smith....

 
Our very own Mike Joyce brings you this week's Coalition Independent Music Chart exclusively on TinCan
Also this week, Mike's Alternative Therapy has an interview and live session from The Slits here
Sign up to My Tincan and add Mike Joyce as a friend if you have any requests or feedback on his shows.
 

G-Man is a long time reggae selector and afficianado of the alternative scene in Manchester.  An artist and musician, he has been collecting tracks for over twenty years, ever since his first exposure to reggae as a kid in Manchester ...stay tuned for regular mixes from the obscure to the mainstream, themes, exclusive mixes and much more...peace.

The Albums Tropical Disease by AirSay Please by Monsters Of FolkI Became A Prostitute by Twilight SadHollow Trees House Hounds by Cate Le BonRock It by Sub FocusDo You Know Who I Am? by Echo & The BunnymenLaura by GirlsIn Your Heart by A Place To Bury StrangersSee The Leaves by Flaming LipsFlight Of The Feathered Serpent by Fuck Buttons  The Singles Little Lion Man by Mumford & SonsMagnet by Bombay Bicycle Club8 by BorisLosing Feeling by No AgeBecause of You by Skunk AnansieCoral & Tar by Alasdair RobertsTrue Love 1980 by AshUprising by MusePapillon by EditorsTwins by Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
Recorded and mixed by James Trott at SSR Creative Media Academy, Downing Street, Manchester
www.s-s-r.com
 

The film features models wearing items for D&Gs Autumn/Winter collection, there's a film noir theme to it all too but it also has that fashion gloss that working with a label like D&G brings. 
The models are beautiful and the clothes stunning but it's the phone takes a central role.  And so it should.  It's a really attractive handset that's slim, feminine and features a little mirror ...but it  functions really well too, despite it not being a smartphone.  This is something that previously launched handsets with the emphasis on looking good have seriously neglected. 
They need to be used as well as flashed about looking pretty you know!
Anyway, see you what you think.  And if you're stuck for something to buy us for Christmas, the phone and the hat made of gloves will do nicely.








 
Cyril Guyot, the director talks about what he wanted to achieve from the film, which will be shown online only

"I don't know about the 'gothic' aspects of vampires ie living only at night, drinking blood etc, however, the immortality part I believe is a possibility." Says a professor from Oxford University.
"Telomeres are a genetic "defect" in the human DNA that essentially serves to act as a time bomb... they tell your DNA when to stop dividing and reproducing, and once that happens, you live on what cells you have, which die off eventually never to be replaced, until you die of old age." "I can believe that some individuals throughout history have been born with no telomeres, or some genetic mutation deactivates their telomeres... if this were to happen, their DNA would go on reproducing almost indefinitely, which means at least a far extended lifespan, if not an endless one."
Interesting stuff.  We did some digging and we found this video...
It's part of a series of interviews undertaken by artist, Lynn Hershman Leeson (playing Gene Ware, a character from the virtualworld of Second Life) and actress, Tilda Swinton.
In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn, who is credited with having identified "the aging gene" or Telomeres in our DNA, discusses how this information shifts our understanding of who we are as humans, how in fact we are ourselves a genetic remix; and how advances in macro photographic processes have aided that revelation. Commissioned by Tate's Intermedia Art programme, copyright Lynn Hershman Leeson 2008








Commissioned by Tate's Intermedia Art programme, copyright Lynn Hershman Leeson 2008
 
So that's immortality explained. What about the thirst for blood? We talked to somebody close to a coven of vampires in the UK who didn't want to be named but did want to shed some light on a few vampire related myths for us. We started with the two most obvious vampire characterstics, the teeth and the blood...

‘Porphyria. This is an acute medical condition which has been held responsible by some scholars for inspiring the vampire myths of the past. Sufferers of porphyria have pale and are very sensitive to sunlight. Their gums often recede excessively, giving their teeth an elongated and possibly fang-like appearance.
‘Porphyria is caused by a deficiency in the enzyme which helps produce heme, a constituent of the blood which helps carry oxygen through the body.'
In fact, Dr. David Dolphin was the first to suggest that porphyria was the inspiration for at least some of the Mediaeval vampire myths, contending that some of the sufferers may have been driven to drinking blood in order to relieve their symptoms. As a result, the condition has come to be known in modern times as "the Vampire Disease".
Apparently vampires have abnormally white skin, low body temperature, low blood pressure and heart rate; when they do not feed, they become weak and groggy. Their vampire blood cells rapidly devour and destroy human blood cells, resulting in severe anemia. And vampires do not need to breathe, not really. Their oxygen demand is nowhere near that of a human being.
 
We've been watching True Blood though, that speed, that agility. Where's that coming from?
‘There's an enzyme, called CaM Kinase. It's the thing that, when activated, causes actin-myosin bridge cycling, in other words, muscle contraction of so called high-twitch muscles, meaning skeletal muscle, arms, legs, that sort of thing. Vampires, we're told, show elevated levels of this enzyme. There are other things in addition to CaM Kinase, but that's the most important one...'
So where do all the superhuman qualities come in?
‘Vampires have enhanced night vision and iridescent eyes. Taperatum lucidium is a layer of the eye that absorbs and reflects light over the retina. It is found in all nocturnal species, and it accounts for both the night vision and the iridescent appearance of the eyes.

It also accounts for the terrible sun intolerance of the eye. "Infected" mortals can't stand the sun. The eyes sting, feel as if knives are being continually stabbed into them. The sun is blinding, they can't see in daylight, especially on bright sunny days. Those days are their worst nightmare. They can, however, see at night, even with dark sunglasses on.
‘Also vampires are capable of inducing visions, trances, etc. There is a naturally occurring psychedelic, called DMT. This chemical is elevated in the vampire brain.'
Ok.
So all of this can be explained away with a bit of science that we won't ask anyone to look at too closely as we're pretty sure it's not based too firmly in fact. But it sounds impressive enough. So do they drink anything except blood?
They drink beer, spirits, whatever, they don't eat much though, except sometimes raw meat if they haven't been able to feed from anybody in a while...'
eeek! What? 
'Yes they have donors who are tested for diseases and then are on hand to provide a source to feed from.  Donors are willing participants who are trusted and important people in the vampire's world.  The whole feeding experience is enhanced by the activities that are going on around the donation of the blood, eroticism makes the whole process more pleasurable.' Erm yes.  For who exactly?  And what does it taste like?
'Different blood types taste very differently.  It's like fine wine with different varieties of grapes.  Also there are things that donors need to do to make their blood taste good.  No Garlic.'  We guessed that one.  What else?
'No drugs and no history of mental illness".  What?  Surely it's easier to get people to agree to have their blood used like it's the vampire equivalent of red bull if they're just a little bit out there?
'Perhaps but we wouldn't welcome them, everyone needs to have an interview and a medical making a full medical history available'
This is sounding a bit like applying for a job... So back to the blood, what else makes it taste nice?
'honey, rosewater, celery, red wine, walnuts, fish, chicken, peppermint, chocolate.  It's important that donors look after themselves, smoking and excessive drinking are discouraged and it's good to exercise.'  Suddenly it's less like a job interview and more like a phone conversation with my mum.  Then we get onto a subject that I'm pretty sure my mum and I would never need to touch on.
'If the vampire is drinking animal blood then it's important that the animal is clean of disease.  Don't offer a cat with cat AIDS for instance as that could really harm the vampire'.  erm ok. I wont do that.  It would seem horribly bad manners to offer sub-standard dead cats, though I'm wondering how I can tell if my dead cat, squirrel, hedghehog has a nasty disease or not.  Clue one is probably that it is dead.  Perhaps road kill is the way to go here.
So let's move on from drinking dead cat blood (I assume that this only happens if the donor has a headache and feels more like curling up in front of the television eating toast and drinking tea than squirting blood into a hungry vampire friend's mouth.  Well the honeymoon never lasts in any relationship does it? 
What about their social lives. What do they do? 
'They do have jobs but they party a lot, go to gigs, watch football...but of course they have trouble sleeping.  That's down to night para insomnia, the inability to sleep during the dark hours.

In some ways they're sounding more and more like the kind of people we spend too much time with getting kicked out of bars at closing time.  Especially with the road kill thing.  So what do they wear when they're out partying and looking for people to feed from?
'Well they don't dress like goths.  Why would they? They don't role play, that isn't their thing at all.  They dress like anybody else would, in jeans and t-shirts, they don't have to play up to the traditional vampire imagery because they're the real deal.'
Cool. I'm wondering if I know any... so what are they like, as 'people' if we can use the term without it seeming to undermine their abilities?
'They're all really good looking, charismatic and charming but they can be arrogant, greedy, deceptive and cunning. They are witty and good company but they have short tempers, especially if they haven't fed in a while.  They can be hard to get to know and appear to be loners because their secrets are quite closely guarded.'
'They're all highly intelligent, they know alot about history because they've lived through it and they generally speak a few languages.They're wealthy, aristocratic and well travelled.'
Know any?...I want to date one.

 
Edward Barton is a cult figure in Manchester.  Poet, musician, songwriter, artist and filmmaker, Barton's thirty year career began with him singing 'I've Got No Chicken but I've Got Five Wooden Chairs' on The Tube in 1984 while playing the guitar with a wooden spoon. 








And then things got a bit weird...
1. Edward invented and patented a knitted woollen radiator cover that is designed to stop radiators looking cold.
2. Edward wrote "It's a Fine Day" (long before it charted at number 4 for Opus 3 and subsequently hatched a hundred versions, was an indie hit and it still holds the record for the highest ever chart placing of an unaccompanied poem. The last line "we will have salad" is the only unsampled line left
3. In May 1980, Edward kicked Bono. We don't know where though.
4. Edward was rescued from a police cell by Tony Wilson. Upon discovering that Tony and he shared a passion for powerboat racing the officer in charge dropped all charges and let Edward go. Remarkable really as Edward was accused of destroying another policeman's house
5. Edward co-wrote Kylie Minogues "Confide in Me"
6. Edward has a room containing over 300 teddy bears that he rescued from kerbs, skips and back alleys in the 1980's when it seems the whole of Manchester chucked out it's childhood. He also has a large collection of childrens shoes, babies dummies and over a thousand mugs which he re-arranges instead of being a Buddhist
7. Edward appeared twice on "The Tube" and despite the lack of swearing or sex in his performances, they attracted more complaints from the public than any other act. He refused to appear a third time after being asked to emerge from a cake with Samantha Fox
8. The Observer listed his "A Little Christmas Eve Thieving" in its "Best Christmas Records of All Time"
9. "Edward Not Edward" was a tribute album of Edward's songs that featured A Guy Called Gerald, 808 State, The Ruthless Rap Assassins, The Inspiral Carpets, Stump, Ted Chippington








10.Edward was arrested for displaying his installation "Stolen", a large cage containing household objects shop-lifted from various supermarkets. As a result he is probably the only person to appear ( topless or otherwise) on page 3 of "The Sun", and "The Star" and page 5 of "The Mirror". The Sun described him amusingly as 'Manchesters very own Leonardo Da Pinchi.' Sadly his "Oblong Art Gallery" on the top floor of "Afflecks Palace" in Manchester was, also at the police's request, shut down
11.In the 90's Edward was the unofficial "trance laureate" he wrote 6 top 30 tracks and many dance chart hits with among others Norman Cook as "Pizza Man", Paul Oakenfold, ATB, LOST WITNESS, Justin Robertson, Way Out West and Orbital
12.Edward and his beard played guitar on "Sowing the Seeds of Love" for Tears for Fears on the Wogan Show.








 
13.. Probably because he was cheap, polite and didn't mind sleeping the night in the back of a van parked on a hill, Edward was the tour support for many bands in the 80's.He particularly enjoyed the company of Stump, Microdisney and James. Less fun were the The Proclaimers who refused to share a dressing room with him and challenged him to a scrap. Edwards response was to raise an eyebrow and enquire " what - just the two of you?"
14.Edward was strangely prominent during Manchester's early rave years. He wrote "Born in the North" by a Guy Called Gerald which was one of the Hacienda's biggest floor undulators
15. Edward suffers from a rare disease called Mitochondrial Myopathy and won't be getting in any more silly scraps(although maybe a few more scrapes) and won't be around quite as long as he'd been keen on, so best enjoy him now eh?
16 Edward once wrote a song with one of his neighbours, Nico from 'The Velvet Underground'
17.Edward's last offering was "Bad Leg", a book of his poetry of which some quite famous people have said some quite nice things.
 

'And a Panda' is a new audio box set which includes Edward's new studio album, lyric book, postcards and a selection of prints of his paintings.
Available from selected outlets and online at shop.politcards.com from 8th December 2009  for £12








 

'Six long braids' 1992 canvas, paint, hooks, hair
 
 

We your songs have come to you who made us.' One day my songs arrived. And they said, ' Edward, everyone says we're weird because you've got a beard. Everyone says we're wrong because your beard is long. Everybody mocks us and goes, because your long beard grows. I was Edward Barton the songwriter. Then I became Edward Barton the bearded songwriter. Then I became Edward Barton the beard. Then I just became the Beard - 'Have you seen the beard that walks around Manchester?' And the songs, completely displaced, they have no position whatsoever. And of course it's important to the songs that they are seen, heard, do good and have good done to them. As everybody wishes: that they rub themselves up against the world and get rubbed back, and mutual warmth is enjoyed by everybody - songs, listeners, listeners, songs. They said 'please get rid of it, Edward. Please take the beard away.' And I replied: 'Where will I put my tears when I shave off my beard?' I haven't got a beard anymore.
It's over. It's finished now. That's a beard story.
 
 

October will produce the equivalent of a staggering 500 days of continuous music, all raising money to fight poverty around the world. Last year's event generated £500,000 for Oxfam and this year they're aiming even higher...
2009's target of £1 million would be enough to provide safe water for almost 1.4 million people, 20,000 emergency shelters or essential medicines for 10,000 villages.
 
DJ Shadow explains more:
"I went out to Kenya in 2007 to see how some of the money from Oxjam is being spent and saw first-hand that it really does change lives. I'll certainly be doing my bit for Oxjam this year, and would encourage DJs, producers and MCs to get together and put on an event this October. Together, we can use our music to make a difference."
Watch a film about DJ Shadow's experiences In Kenya in the media player.
 
Since its launch in 2006, more than 36,000 musicians have played to an audience of over 750,000 people at almost 3,000 Oxjam events, raising in excess of £1 million to fight poverty around the world.
This year the festival will be helping poor people cope with the devastating effects of climate change. As well as raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for Oxfam's work, gig goers will be painting their faces blue as part of a massive visual statement to the UK government to take action on climate change before it's too late.
This weekend the month long Oxjam Festival launches a series of city wide takeovers up and down the country. On Sunday alone, more than 2,000 musicians and DJs will fill over 150 venues in more than 20 cities, from Cardiff to London, Aberdeen to Bath, to raise funds for Oxfam.
 
Below: Kasabian

"We were very proud to be involved with the very first Oxjam. The idea of people using their love of music to create such great events for such a great cause as Oxfam is inspiring. This year, with your help, it can be even bigger and better." Serge Pizzorno from Kasabian
 
Contributing to the effort are WeGotTickets, Oxjam's official partner, who have been donating 50% of their booking fee back to the charity throughout October. WeGotTicket's customers have already topped £3500, and are on target to top £5000 by the end of the month.
 
For more information and details of this weekend's events please go to http://www.oxfam.org.uk/oxjam
 
"For us, Oxjam is the highlight of the festival season because everyone gets to make the noise themselves. The only thing more exciting than putting on your own event to help fight poverty is knowing that you're part of a movement of thousands of gigs, club nights and events right across the country." James from Klaxons

Above: The Klaxons
 

On Saturday 7 November 2009 the Caribbean Tourism Organisation is putting some sunshine into your life by hosting a Caribbean showcase with food, rum and music at London's Vinopolis, in SE1.
Caribbean-born chef, reggae musician and entrepreneur Levi Roots will be cooking live at the event too.  He's the one from Dragon's Den with the guitar who really messed up his numbers but charmed the dragons into backing him anyway.

"Food, Rum and Rhythm" is happening between 4 and 8pm... you can sample a wide selection of Caribbean rums and dishes including Levi's very own Reggae, Reggae Jerk Chicken wings, Caribbean mini patties and Roots Rice.  Antiguan cricket legends Sir Vivian Richards and Richie Richardson will also be there too. Ian Burrell, the UK's rum ambassador who is behind London's annual Rumfest, will be coordinating a mixology competition and telling you all about darker, molasses-flavoured rums found in the English-speaking destinations of the Carribean; the exclusively sugar cane-based agricultural rums (rhum agricole) of Martinique and Guadeloupe and the clean-tasting rums of Cuba and the Spanish-speaking destinations. Tickets are available from the CTO in advance from £20 per person or £25 on the door (one child under 12 years admitted free of charge per ticket-holding adult) which gives you Caribbean dishes and drinks from the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, Puerto Rico, St Kitts, Saint Lucia, St Martin, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago.
Every over 18s visitor will also receive a goody bag, which includes miniature bottles of rum and the Caribbean Guide 2010. - WHAT: Caribbean cuisine, rum and music - WHERE: Vinopolis, No.1 Bank End, London SE1 9BU (here http://tinyurl.com/cto-rum) - WHEN: Saturday 7 November 2009, between 16.00 and 20.00 - WHO: The Caribbean Tourism Organisation - HOW AND HOW MUCH: Tickets on 020 8948 0057 for £20 in advance, or £25 on the door For more information visit the CTO website and to buy tickets call the CTO London team on 020 8948 0057
Our advice: Go easy on the Wray and Nephew if you wish to hang on to your dignity...

Iconic independent Wall of Sound have turned the ripe old age of 15...
The label have worked with everyone from Shirley Bassey to Grace Jones and Banksy to Reverend & The Makers, progressing from being one of the UK’s leading dance labels to a great independent label full stop, with artists ranging from the sparkling pop-art of Mpho to the epic guitar soundscapes of Mogwai.
To celebrate their birthday, an exclusive ‘Where There's A Wall...There's a Way’ iTunes digital compilation is released in November.  There will also be a re-issue of the seminal Propellerheads album ‘Decksandrumsandrockandroll’ with added bonus tracks and videos early in the New Year alongside a limited edition special version of Grace Jones’ Hurricane album.
“Wall of sound is a pink runaway train heading fullspeed to a promised party to end a long dark tunnel of oddness.. There is no buffet cart on board but the company is great and the destination is well worth the ticket price”
Jon Mcclure /  Reverend & The Makers
So what’s great about Wall of Sound anyway? Here’s 15 lists on 15 great things from WoS. They kick off with their 15 WOS featured vocalists
Shirley BasseyAlex TurnerEstelleMarc AlmondJake ShearsShaun RyderBobby GillespieBig YouthRobynAlan VegaNeneh CherryHorace AndyTrickyKarin Dreijer
and Nik Kershaw (below...)

 15 WOS featured MCs
Roxanne ShanteDe La SoulThe Jungle BrothersMos DefSchooly DAl PacinoSpank RockJon Cooper ClarkeMaxi JazzWard 21Afrika BambaataaTalib KweliMad Frankie FraserEdmo ZarifeWale 15 WOS non-featured Musicians
John CaleSly DunbarRobbie ShakespeareGuy GarveyMatt Helders (Artic Monkeys)Kevin Mooney (Adam & the Ants)Drew McConnel (Babyshambles)Van Dyke ParksErnest RanglinJoe StrummerMathew Ashman (Bow Wow Wow)Wally BadarouPeter Christopherson ( Throbbing Gristle)Alex Turnbull (23 Skidoo)
and Brian Eno (below)

 
Wall of Sound's 15 Musical Inspirational Individuals
Brian WilsonPrinceGiorgio MorodorKate BushArthur BakerDJ PierrePhil SpectorTodd TerryJohn PeelNile RogersJoe MeekMarc AlmondCerroneJack Nitzsche
and Trevor Horn (below)

 
15 WoS Artists
RoyksoppPropellerheadsGrace JonesOcelotReverend and The MakersThe WiseguysLes Rythmes DigitalesInfadelsZoot WomanMekonTigaFelix Da HousecatThe BeesThe Shortwave Set
and Mogwai (below)

 15 Classic WoS remixes
Grace Jones - Williams Blood (Aeroplane mix)Agent Provocateur – Agent Dan (Propellerheads remix)Mekon feat. Marc Almond - Please Stay (Royksopp remix)Shy Child – Noise Won’t Stop (Buraka Som Sistema remix)Royksopp feat.  Robyn - The Girl And The Robot (Ocelot remix)Akasha - Crazy Baby (Groove Armada remix)  Shawn Lee - Happiness (Ashley Beedle’s Bossa nova remix )The Shortwave Set – Now Til ‘69 (Aeroplane Remix )Zoot Woman - Grey Day (Paper Faces remix)  Tepr – Minuit Jacuzzi (Data remix)Diefenbach – Make Your Mind ? (Lindstrom remix)Infadels – Free Things For Poor People (Alex Metric remix)Elektrons – Get Up (Herve remix)Reverend and The Makers – Sundown On The Empire (Adrian Sherwood remix)The Strike Boys – Jet Set (The Micronauts remix) 15 WoS Classic Dance Tracks
Les Rythmes Digitales -  Jacques Your Body (Make Me Sweat)Tiga - What You Need Elektrons - Get UpCeasefire - TrickshotTwo Culture Clash  - and DancePropellerheads – Take CaliforniaJunior Cartier - Women Beat Their MenMekon - Whats Going On?Royksopp – 49 %Eklektik - Maracana MadnessDJ Pierre – Wet DreamsPour Homme - Born This WayThe Wiseguys - Start The CommotionFelix Da Housecat – TweakTepr – En Direct De La Cote 15 Unforgettable WoS Club Nights
Back To Mono – The Blue Note - LondonNight of 1000 Stars – The End - LondonThe Insane Asylum / Carry On – Manumission - IbizaThe System – Ormonds - LondonHippies Use Side Door – The End - London(sic). Studio 54 – Fabric - LondonLove @ Good Times at the Versace Mansion – MiamiNight of The Big Drums – Ministry of Sound - LondonCarry on Screaming – The End - LondonNose Up Mother Brown – The Hobgoblin – BrightonSummer Camp – The Aquarium - LondonThe Wig Out – The End - LondonSizzler – 93 Feet East – LondonYears of Wall of Sound / Dance Tent – GlastonburyThe Gallery (upstairs) at Turnmills  - London 15 favourite DJs
DJ PierreDr LectroluvJohn PeelJacques Lu ContTigaDJ SwampDanny Rampling2manydjsNicky SianoDJ LottieSander KleinenbergKid 606GlimmersFelix Da Housecat
and Chemical Brothers (below)

 15 Classic Clubs
Studio 54 – NYCThe Mud Club – London / NYCThe Warehouse – London / NYCManumission – IbizaKlub Shoom – LondonThe Hacienda – ManchesterBlitz – LondonDirtbox – LondonSunday Social @ The Albany – LondonFunhouse – NYCTenax – FlorenceTrip @ The Astoria – LondonRaw @ YMCA – LondonFridays @ Wag Club – LondonDo at the Zoo – London 15 People
Beatrice DalleGustav KlimtStan BowlesDalai LamaGerry AndersonAndy WarholPaulo CoehloJohan CruyffKeith HaringKenneth WilliamsJohn ShuttleworthT.E. LawrenceClough Williams EllisPlato
and Marilyn Monroe (below)

 15 Places
Loftus Road, Shepherds Bush, LondonPortmeirion, WalesVaranassi, IndiaThe Masons Arms, Battersea,LondonLyme RegisBergen, NorwayW10Hayes, MiddlesexFrenchmans Cove, Port Antonio, JamaicaNews Café, South Beach MiamiSheffieldTaplow, BucksBrusselsChateau Marmont LA
and Portobello Road (below)

 
15 Bands
The Human LeagueThe ClashBlondieSteely DanNew OrderDepeche ModeKraftwerkFleetwood MacThe Beach BoysRun DMCChicMonkeesSweetLed Zeppelin
and Spinal Tap (below)

 15 Things
SunsetsClownsThe Wasp FactoryPinkStudio 54Johan CruyffBanoffee  PieJoe MeekCitroen DSLawrence of ArabiaLoftus RoadButterfliesCaptain ScarletMelatoninCandles 15 Wall of Sound Anagrams Awol Funds LowSofa Dull NowAwful Old SonSnowfall DuoSlow And FoulUnloads FlowFowl Old AnusLoad Snow FluAllows FonduLads foul nowSod! Foul lawnDull now of asSold on awfulFoul lads wonAwful, old son  And after all that... here's some upcoming Wall of Sound artist's tour dates for you Reverend & the Makers23 Oct. The Engine Shed, Lincoln24 Oct. Academy, Sheffield26 Oct. Stylus, Leeds27 Oct. Shepherd’s bush Empire, London28 Oct. Assembly Hall, Leamington Spa29 Oct. Academy, Manchester30 Oct. Picture House, Edinburgh31 Oct. Academy, Newcastle2 Nov. Concorde 2, Brighton3 Nov. Academy, Bristol4 Nov. Pyramids, Portsmouth5 Nov. Forum, London7 Nov. Nation Courtyard, Liverpool Mpho27 Oct. Shepherds Bush, London30 Oct. O2 Academy, Sheffield31 Oct.  The Den & Centro, London6 Nov. O2 Academy, Bournemouth9 Nov. Le Cigale, Paris19 Nov. Hoxton Bar & Grill, London21 Nov. Paradiso, Amsterdam Cosmo Jarvis31 Oct. Frieze Festival, Battersea, London3 Nov. Zigfrid, London4 Nov. The Dutchess, York6 Nov. Captains Rest, Glasgow7 Nov. Live Lounge, Blackburn10 Nov. Hare & Hounds, Birmingham11 Nov. The Masque, Liverpool12 Nov. Notting Hill Arts Club, London13 Nov. The Crauford Arms, Milton Keynes14 Nov. Moles Club, Bath17 Nov. Hamptons, Southamptons18 Nov. The Wig & Pen, Turo19 Nov. Taphouse, St. Agnes20 Nov. Watershed, London21 Nov. University Student Union, Plymouth24 Nov. Water Rats, London25 Nov. Oakford Social, Reading27 Nov. Club NME, Chelmsford Royksopp4 Nov. Stylus, Leeds5 Nov. Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London
 

So I told you my thoughts about what was happening on stage during 2009's In The City festival and thanks to Tin Can's ace new photographer Jade, you had a nosy at what it all looked like too.
But outside of the band's domain, here are some behinds the scenes bits that got us through the madness, helped butterflies fly up from our bellies and out our mouths and in some cases, just simply made us crave a shower.
Meet Colin, the inked up singer of Welsh band The New 1920. We went to question Colin about his dancing. He claimed he didn't run on Duracell but did jog on meth. Then panicked that he said meth out loud. Smooth. He initially thought we wanted his picture because we were super fans and desired his face for our facebook profile. Or something. After explaining how very unlikely this scenario would be in real life, he was all confused and decided to tell us he in no way trusted 'the media' and wouldn't even have a picture taken by himself. He thought we'd take the piss out of him. Colin, you need to learn to trust; I'm definitely not taking the piss when I say this hug was so sweaty that one eye shrank with fumes and my lycra dress begged me to get hosed down by the soda water pump. Hey... wanna add us on Facebook? LOL!

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin
 
Kong had one of the biggest crowds all weekend at their gig in The Deaf Institute. It's no secret we love this band, in the same way we love buying super size popcorn at the cinema before watching a gore film, then having a race to see who has to run to the toilet (which most certainly is not 'checked and cleaned' every hour) in order let that demon rush out. It's not healthy; it makes us queasy and sometimes gives us bad dreams when we didn't even eat cheese before bed. An ITC musical highlight:  reliable yet unpredictable northern filth.

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin
 
We didn't catch this fella's name, because he was wasted and apparently forgot it. If we had awards to give out, he'd get 1) best dressed 2) most drunk in the face before 10pm. But we don't make awards; we spend our free time throwing up in cinema toilets. Sorry man.

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin
 
Talking back stage after their gig, Crystal Fighters told us that the most rock n roll thing they'd done that day was get taken out by industry folk and returned to their hotel at 4am, whilst the most un rock n roll aspect of their day was turning up two hours early for sound check. FAO tour manager: you're fired. 

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin
 
This is the singer of May68. We looked at her for about 7 seconds and got hypnotised. Glittery top, magnetic eyes and the tightest pants on the planet minus a camel toe. Lady, good work. 

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin
 
Junk food. It's too obvious to say we survived on beer and weird free peach schnapps cocktails alone. No no, we had a serious nightly sugar fix. Cookies, doughnuts, chocolate and Hula Hoops to name a few high calorie, false energy, sitting on our God damn thighs right now treats. By the way, crisp makers, why do Hula Hoops not fit on adult fingers? If we're childish enough to buy them in a mass binge, which we obviously are, we're childish enough to need them for carbohydrate based snack jewellery. Please rectify.

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin
 
Public displays of affection are worse than getting attacked by pigeons, though both are inevitable when you are in public places, one of them will probably give you rabies. Clue: rabies is passed on through DNA and likes to foam rather than fly. We don't know who this couple are, but after Kong's set they grabbed each other and kissed for about 3 months. Someone go The Deaf Institute and separate them please; we think the girl's in an upright coma.

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin
 
Before their gig, we found a Romily Alice, front lady of Japanese Voyeurs sucking on a toffee lolly and being too shy to pose for a picture by herself. So she rounded up the band and made a team effort to smile in the freakishly cold rain. Yeah yeah, we know; a Japanese Voyeur isn't just for Halloween, it's for life. But we realllllly wanted to take one home. We're currently winding down with their homemade Slimeball Comic, Volume One. It has pictures of cats, people chewing with their mouth open and dinosaur tattoos. JV for the win.

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin

This week's Alternative Therapy featuring the Slits...
No Pussy Blues by GrindermanYour Generation by Generation XKids by MGMTRe-Make/Re-Model by Roxy MusicFace in by Dutch UnclesCounterpoint by DelphicReign by U.N.K.L.E.Here To Fall by Yo La TengoVilliers Terrace (Early Version) by Echo & The BunnymenLet's Go Surfing by The DrumsFledermaus Can't Get It by Von SudenfedDirty Back Road by The B-52'sNew Town by The SlitsMike Interviews The Slits part 1
Reject by The SlitsMike Interviews The Slits part 2Cry Baby The SlitsMeat Is Murder (Live) by The SmithsSealegs by The ShinsCut Your Hair by PavementFestival by DungenOff My Rocker At The Art School Bop by Luke HainesLiving In The Past by Vinnie PeculiarCatholic Day by Adam & The AntsNine Acre by The CharlatansPython Lee Jackson featuring Rod StewartA Spoonful Weighs A Ton by Flaming LipsThe Step & The Walk by Duke Spirit (U.N.K.L.E.)Litrtle Girl by The BannedSnapiness by BBG
Recorded and mixed By James Trott, Tom Harris and Craig Sanderson at SSR Creative Media Academy, Downing Street, Manchester
www.s-s-r.com
 

 

 

Well maybe a few more things but we'll get to that later. ‘Jennifer's Body' is the eagerly anticipated follow up to writer Diablo Cody's ‘Juno'. She's taken a much darker story route but still has the undeniable humour you instantly recognise from Cody.
So, getting back to the killer cheerleader- Jennifer, played by Hollywood vixen Megan Fox (the fox pun there was unbelievably unintentional, honest!) goes after the lead singer of a band passing through their local sleepy town, Devil's Kettle. Unfortunately, during a meeting with the band Jennifer becomes possessed by a demon. This new Jennifer needs to devour humans to stay beautiful and peppy. A rather shallow premise for a film but this is undoubtedly a horror film that mixes gore with a good sense of humour. Jennifer's best friend Needy (Amanda Seyfried) knows Jennifer's secret and has to try and stop Jennifer before she kills another unsuspecting male.
Our first glimpse of a possessed Jennifer is a fantastically creepy scene one that true horror fans will approve of but halfway through the film the story begins to lag somewhat and Jennifer's self obsessed character grows tiresome. However, Fox plays Jennifer well, she flits from being mean and bitchy to sweet and sincere and plays a possessed man-eater better than anyone could.Although this film is entertaining, it does not reach its full potential. It is very funny and has some excellent one liners ("I just got Aquamarine on DVD. It's about a girl who's, like, half sushi. She must've had sex with a blowhole or something"), however, it begins to grate on you. It's the same terminology used in Juno and it becomes irritating. It almost becomes too cool, like Cody is trying far too hard to impress us.
Although it does become slightly annoying midway through, it picks up again and the end sequence is simply superb and worth the wait.Hands down, Jennifer's Body is in the running for best Soundtrack of the year. And what would you expect after taking the film title from a classic Hole song? Tracks from Florence And The Machine, White Lies set a good background for the darker parts of the film whereas, Cobra Starship and Black Kids portray the innocent high school lives girls have...when they're not devouring boys. Unfortunately for Diablo Cody people will constantly look to Juno for comparisons and that is simply something you can not do here. Jennifer's Body is a horror-comedy, it has cheap thrills and won't be in the running for an Oscar, but that was never the intention. Enjoy it for what it is, a cheerleader killing boys.
7/10
See the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYQ19JM_M1g

As a horror fan and as a Halloween fan primarily I was a little scared watching Rob Zombies 2007 Halloween remake. Why remake one of (if not the) greatest horror films ever made? But as a fan of Zombie I remained calm and it worked out in the end. Zombie's reimagining of John Carpenter's classic was a complete success, it branched in to new territory not seen in the first film, it wasn't a scene by scene remake (I'm looking at you Gus Van Sant) but explored Michael Myer's past and was very, very scary. But the fear crept in once more when I heard of this sequel. This time I was not so lucky in the outcome.
The film follows Laurie Stroud (Scout Taylor-Compton) immediately after the events of the first film. Laurie is now living with Annie Brackett (Danielle Harris) and her Sheriff father in the town of Haddonfield coping with the traumas of the previous Halloween, cue many nightmare flashbacks and trips to the shrink. While Laurie is coping with the upcoming anniversary of that fateful night, we follow Michael's journey to find his sister. Michael is now haunted by the image of his dead mother (Sheri Moon Zombie), she appears in his dreams dressed in white with a white horse. Her presence adds nothing to the storyline and as much as you may not want to think it, you have to wonder if this character was added by Zombie just to get his wife on the payroll again.
We also follow Dr Loomis (Malcolm McDowell) on a book tour about Michael Myers. Not only does Zombie portray Loomis as an arrogant, fame-hungry schmuck, he also becomes the most pointless character in the entire film. Believe me, when you see this film you will look back on his character and think, ‘Well what was the point of that?' This is one of the major downfalls of this film.
Michael is a senseless killing machine but there are times here where you can't help thinking, ‘OK, enough's enough'. It becomes an unnecessary bloodbath and the plot becomes lots within it. Unlike the original, we don't feel anything for any of the characters and because of this there is no suspense and it all becomes rather dull. Suspense used to lie in the fabulous Halloween theme which Zombie ignores for the entire film. Except once. Right at the end. Massive mistake Zombie.
Zombie's intention to make a completely different kind of Halloween film only leaves you feeling bitter and annoyed that he didn't put his efforts in to making an original film leaving this franchise alone. Don't get me wrong, if you like cheap thrills and gore, this will not disappoint. But for anyone who holds the original Halloween films dear, please, prepare yourselves for utter disappointment.
4/10
See the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHslouUNi00
 

Up is the 10th offering from Pixar and instead of using some fantastical new creature, or a talking animal as is the norm for animated films, we are taken on an amazing adventure with an old man and a young boy.
As with all Disney films, there is a heart wrenching sequence right at the start which, although incredibly sad, is the most poignant sequence Pixar have created. In a beautiful unspoken montage we are shown the life of Carl Friedersikson with his wife Ellie up until her death, which is where the story starts. Remaining dry cheeked through this part of the film is a struggle let me tell you.Carl wants to fulfil a promise he made with his wife to move to South America, and with the threat of being removed from the house he lived with Ellie he does the only thing he can. He takes the house with him.Of course nothing goes exactly to plan and possibly the cutest character Pixar have created, eight-year-old Russell, gets roped into the adventure whilst trying to get his ‘Assisting The Elderly Badge'.
The constant struggle between a grumbling yet endearing old man and a bumbling, loveable child navigating a house is a fantastic combination. But the story takes an unexpected turn when they get to their destination. They meet an endangered flightless bird that is being hunted by a pack of talking dog (well dogs that have thought verbalising collars) and Carl is torn between his wife's life long dream of living on top of a waterfall, or helping his new found friends.
This film is everything we have come to expect from Pixar. Fantastic graphics that make you forget it's an animation, characters you love, characters you can't stand and above all jokes that have you giggling like you're ten years old (unless you are ten years old, then it's pretty much a given you will). It mixes the heart felt emotion we saw last year with Wall-E and the loveable humour from Toy Story to make something truly unforgettable that works for all ages.
For such a charming film it is hard not to put a little pun here so here we go, I found this adorable film totally Uplifting. Oh dear I'm so, so sorry for that.
8/10
See the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USpI6Jzl3No

Judging by the lack of clothing going on in the synth section, CF want this party to be a naked one. Minus the angelic harmonies of their records, as a live act, CF is just three men. Well, two hairy sweating machines (one of which is from NYC) accompanied by a stripy hippie from London who likes to sing in a Scandinavian accent. Weird. But good weird. Fresh weird. Seems like we should all be at a rave listening to this, eating herbal highs in a muddy forest as the latest fashion head scarf being worn by the person stood next to us starts to resemble a psychedelic tie on a headless goat. But I for one am firmly planted in the Night & Day. Call it minimal electro, chilled techno or alt dance but the point is Crystal Fighters are pretty darn good. Just like the tranny face of Katie Price actually dating a cross dressing man, longhaired southerners making odd folktronica really shouldn't work, but it clearly does. Lap it up, ahem, folks.

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin
 
Manchester's Young British Artists perform next, having released a wicked EP called ‘Small Waves' on Red Deer Club earlier this year, happily, they're an even better live band. Strategic voice manipulation ensures they sound more New York than Manchester, ‘Lived In Skin' is an escapade in guitar bands that try to sound different and for the most part, they win. There's something intriguing about YBA, in the same way you probably got hooked on the brooding mystery of BRMC, the Manc lads deserve your attention. Slagerij are an accidental viewing, in this case, accidentally being anywhere near anywhere they're playing. Apparently Swindon's answer to pop punk hell, the boys seem more set on pulling stupid faces, making sounds in between songs like that of a Walrus with ADD and insisting the audience skank to their tunes "fuck being polite, put your hands in the air" screeches the bassist. Err, no. I appreciate the enthusiasm but in this case would rather it come as a silent gesture or with a statement of resignation. Do shut up.

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin
 
Obviously, Slagerij are not the reason I just got pissed on by the weather and walked to Studio in the pitch black, wishing I had wellies on my feet and a hot toddy in my grip.

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin
 
Japanese Voyeurs however, most certainly are. The London grunge quintet have pretty much taken my heart hostage, and thrown up all over it. Smells good right? Fronted by petite doll-like screamer Romily Alice, you've only got to glance down at her guitar with ‘Slimeball' graffitied on it and her battered Converse to know she'd rather pick her nose near a boy than give a shit about looking sexy in front of him. She does anyway, but some grrls have it all. Wearing Butthole Surfers, Misfits and Pixies tees, the teenage ruffians are making a combined visual effort as the band whose CD stash I most want to raid. Think a teenage L7 meets a sober Melvins meets Queen Adreena meets some good looking angry Londoners who are so bored by ‘career option' that they stole their instruments didn't leave the garage till they could frigging well play them. You get the point - man, I hope these kids burn a fiery crater in the face of whatever other sub genre is currently (yawn) trendy.


Photo: Jade Danielle Martin
 
And so as ITC 2009 draws to a close, watching the very last band this year I've made the right choice to see the weekend out with The Drums. The New Yorkers are playing their first show in Manchester to a totally rammed Night & Day and not even the granddad with a tin of Red Stripe stuck to his cakehole can take his eyes off guitarist/hyperactive tambourine slapper Jacob's starfish/frog leap dancing. Rightly so; he's awesome wrapped in short pants. Cleary gathering influence from The Smiths and Joy Division but with a slice of ‘why the fuck don't we just sound happy?' on the side, the Brooklyn band rip through some mad-energy scenes. They're like New Order on a budget wearing Oxfam cast offs and they're going be favourites in Manchester from this gig onwards. They look just as I hope; so unstylish that they in fact look styled and a bit homeless-on-a-park-bench with poster boy faces and gleaming smiles. They look young yet sound experienced enough to make you believe what singer Jonathan is bleating on about. If you missed them, be gutted. Otherwise if the thought of gloomy nights and electro goth ridden ‘new' bands are making you want to hide under your bed wearing a bondage gag and sunglasses till the sunshine makes an appearance next year, hold that thought (you perv) and watch the video for The Drums first single ‘Let's Go Surfing' instead:








 

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin
 

Best to start with some inviting local boys then. They may be made up of a Scotsman, an Irish man and an English bloke, but My Albatross have settled in the best British city so they're already on ten points and my Christmas card list.
Repping Manchester on the ‘BBC Introducing' stage at Moho, despite some technical difficulties - ever wonder if such difficulties look more like a soap opera backstage? More CCTV in greenrooms please - the boys pull through like pros and manage to deliver a big build-up tune worthy of a Dawson's Creek cameo in the form of ‘Great Expectations'. With the floppy haired perfect-for-a-teen-heart-throb Sam Jenkins taking lead vocals, the country/rock tale of epic proportions echoes out to flood the room. Indoor shivers anyone? Brrr!

In the next room, there's an altogether different breed of feisty animal taking flight. London trio Invasion are quite the sight, then again, why expect anything less from a soul thrash band? Singer Chan has come dressed as a cross between a barefoot, tambourine-wielding monk a tiger flavoured condom. Luckily I'm not in the mood to feign a headache, drummer Zel looks like Cousin It in a bra and guitarist Marek probably shreds his strings faster than Gordon Ramsey chops onions.

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin
If Peter O'Tool was still making movies now, chances are this confusing and intriguing metal band with a female lead and a backbone made out of Wonderbra would be heading the soundtrack. If Invasion are about to reinvent what counts as heavy rock n roll with dark metal tendencies, then you better re-think your wardrobe; these invaders will take you down.
On to Deaf Institute, where, for the first time today I'm kinda wishing I was a bit hard of hearing. Canada's Clues who are playing their first ever UK show are home to two ex Arcade Fire members. But the acquaintances of yesteryear don't really wash when the new results sound like this. ‘This' being the vocal of a man who seems to be birthed from the musical climates of ‘Excuse me Sir, but what the fuck?' Part choirboy, part technophobe - the band don't have a Facebook or Myspace or website - I feel compelled to point out that voicebox Brendan Reed's heart is in the right place, his awkward child-like ‘are my balls still down there' vocals however, are definitely not.

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin
On to Frightened Rabbit to end the night then. They've not played in these parts for quite a while but brothers Scott and Grant Hutchinson are one of bonnie Scotland's most talked about sibling folk acts recently and are greeted by a rather welcome reception. Their Scotch-twang brand of indie folk is reminiscent of a British Airborne Toxic Event with yearning vocals and busy layering creating the kind of appetite that makes you want to break into their diaries and find out who the people are that star in these songs. ‘Swim Until You Can't See Land' shows juxtaposing folky warmth and lyrics penned in bitter chills. Magic stuff.

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin

Legendary underground band New Model army were formed by Justin Sullivan in Bradford in 1980, inspired by Punk Rock, Northern Soul and the incendiary atmosphere of the times. Since then, they have had a long, eventful journey and been massively influential in post-punk and politico-rock sub-cultures.
A breakthrough appearance on live music TV show 'The Tube' was followed by a No.1 independent album, two major record deals, top 40 singles, a controversial live performance on Top Of The Pops and countless festival appearances. 
NMA have never been afraid to experiment and have carved a successful curve around the music industry norm. They realised early on that the Internet was going to revolutionise music and from the mid 1990s they set out on the now-fashionable wholly independent path, controlling all aspects of their output. As a result they have been perfectly placed to withstand the changes in the industry and have outlasted alot of the bands that started out with them. There are very few older bands in NMA's position of still being able to record and release what they like when they like, maintaining, and in recent years increasing, a worldwide following, without making a single compromise.
In September this year they released their eleventh studio album  'Today Is A Good Day'. Mostly written last autumn in the wake of the Wall Street Collapse, an event that's celebrated in the opening title track. 








 
The tour to support the album comes to the UK in November:
25 November, Cambridge Junction
26 November, Brighton Concorde 2
27 November, Birmingham Academy
28 November, Manchester Academy
29 November, Glasgow Cat House
30 November, Gateshead Sage
16 December, Warsop The Black Market
17 December, London The Forum
...and a second leg is being booked for March including Leeds, Liverpool, Bristol and Swansea. We'll bring you the dates when they're confirmed.
 

 
It'd be easy, having spent the last two nights scooting round the venues of Manchester, to see it as one almighty piss-up soundtracked by the best new rock n' roll whippersnappers. And to a certain extent, it probably is. But there's another side to In The City, filling those irksome hours before the bars and venues open up for business. The Midland Hotel, hub of ITC, plays host to a myriad of panels, seminars and forums where the industry insiders congregate to discuss and debate the issues of the day. One such event caught my eye - Tin Can's John Robb leading a panel in a discussion centring on the theme of writing books about rock music, and more specifically whether the myth or the truth is more important. So I thought I'd take advantage of the badge I've been given that tells me I'm a 'Delegate'. get down there and see the other face of ITC.
 
Now, I'll declare a vested interest here. For a while now, I've had a little niggle at the back of my mind. May be it's something to do with the fact that I'll soon be moving into the second half of my thirties. Perhaps it's the realisation that I'm actually not going to grace the pages of NME, Q or Rolling Stone with my super-sleek, super-cool rock n' roll (my super-sleek, super-cool rock n' roll that doesn't exist and never has, but nonetheless). But (whisper it quietly)...I really fancy writing a book. A book about music.
 
"Yeah, yeah," you say, "don't we all?" But more and more, it's something I really think I can, and want, to do. And who better to steer me in the right direction than the pretty stellar cast ITC has assembled for today's panel. There's John Niven, ex-A&R man turned author of 'Kill Your Friends', the hilarious, vitriolic and vaguely autobiographical novel about the music industry circa the Britpop era. There's Andrew Collins, ex-NME journalist, Q Magazine editor and broadcaster, author of the "deliberately uninteresting" trilogy of his childhood in Northampton, his college years and his years in the music press. There's Mark Hodkinson, owner of independent publishers Pomona and author of the semi-autobiographical 'The Last Mad Surge of Youth'. There's Peter Hook, ex-Joy Division, late of New Order (and, as John Robb reminds him, Revenge) and author of 'How Not to Run a Club', his memoirs of the halcyon Hacienda days. There's the legendary Pete Frame, founder of the equally legendary ZigZag magazine and creator of the equally, equally legendary Rock Family Trees. And there's John Robb himself, author of Stone Roses and Charlatans biographies, and more recently 'The North Will Rise Again', his own love letter to the city of Manchester and its music. Surely I can learn from this lot.
 
Now. Nothing frustrates me more than a bad book. More than that, nothing frustrates me more than a bad book about music. And sitting before this panel, it dawns on me that I've read more bad books about music than good ones. Some of them are namechecked by the panel. Hook relates a recommendation from Noel Gallagher, Johnny Rogan's minute dissection of Neil Young's life, 'Shakey'. "What a bastard," claims Hook, "I can't even listen to him properly any more" (I'm assuming he meant Young, not Gallagher). Gratifyingly, most of the panel at some point agree on the point that there have been more bad books written about rock music than good. I remember struggling valiantly with 'Shakey's forensic examination of Young's background, character and music and wondering whether it changed the fact that I still thought 'Cinnamon Girl' was one of the greatest things I'd ever heard. Although, unlike Hooky, I can still listen to it, untroubled by Rogan's book. So, question one answered - don't go overboard on the small print.
 
Discussion progresses to the question in hand - is it better to concentrate on the truth or the myth? Niven gets a grilling on how close his book came to the truth. Unrepentant, he claims it is what it was. Collins repeats his claim that he deliberately made his book uninteresting, but adds that a former boss at NME used the legendary Led Zeppelin biog 'Hammer of the Gods' as his blueprint for an article about The Cult, inferring that myth-makers have their place. Hodkinson relates that his book (essentially The Chameleons ascent out of the north Manchester circuit) was founded in reality but names were changed - he later ruefully admits that although he knows that Chameleons lynch-pin Mark Burgess has read the book, he doesn't know what he thinks about it. Hook and Pete Frame are united that the truth rules. Hooky points out that, in his case, truth literally was more interesting than fiction anyway. Given the nature of much of Frame's work, he's bound to err on the side of accuracy, although he does disclose that he's not averse to the odd deliberate red herring, for his own amusement. John Robb presses for details, but there's nothing doing. So, it sounds like the truth is the thing.  Good. I like that.
 
Interestingly, the panel are at their most entertaining when digressing from the point, as they do frequently and wildly. The dumbing-down of music journalism, particularly in NME, comes in for repeated attacks. Pete Frame launches into a diatribe against a regional radio DJ who branded him a 'trainspotter' that takes in the rock n' roll antics his work has allowed him over the years. Hook relates a complete non-sequitur about Bernard Sumner's 'dousing' of Spandau Ballet on an Italian stage that has the audience roaring.
 
But did I learn anything? Did I come out of the Midland Hotel any clearer? Well, yeah. I know I'm not gonna go near writing a novel. That's a given (thanks Mr Niven). And I know that, much as I love the technical and historical investigations conducted by the likes of Ian MacDonald and Simon Goddard in their chronological song-by-song breakdowns of the careers of The Beatles and The Smiths, respectively, I'm a sucker for The Story.  So, I'll take my cue from Messrs Hook, Frame and Robb. Elvis Costello once apparently said that writing about music is akin to 'dancing about architecture'. So I leave the Midland and I tango past Central Library and waltz via the Town Hall. Oh alright, no I don't. But I'm more certain than I was an hour ago. Now...anyone know a decent publisher? And, er, something for me to write about...
 

The Country Club @ The Bay Horse
So, for the second night of Manchester's In The City gig marathon, I've decided to stick it out at one venue for the whole night and made for the cosy confines of the Bay Horse in what legally has to be described as the 'trendy' Northern Quarter. Compared with some of the more illustrious venues on the ITC circuit, the Bay Horse might not be quite the stars-in-their-eyes gig that the bands were hoping for (the PA speakers, for one thing, looking like they've been borrowed from the landlord's stereo system) but it means that it doesn't take a whole lot of audience to create a buzz, an atmosphere. And that means people leaving your gig gasping "You shudda been there!" down their iPhones to the saddoes who missed you. And that, people, is what it's aaalllll about.
 
And buzz is exactly what hits you upon entering the Bay Horse's bijou basement, where Danny Mahon is regaling the crowd with his council estate love songs and kitchen sink vignettes. With what turns out to be (by some distance) the largest crowd of the evening full square behind him, Mahon laces these love/hate letters to Manchester with vitriol, humour and affection. His songs are littered with references to the place, particularly one that paraphrases lyrics from The Stone Roses, Oasis, Happy Mondays and The Smiths, all despatched with Mahon's dry delivery and deceptively deft guitar work. People sing along, dance on the tables, chant his name between songs - the man has all the makings of a hometown superhero. Not that Danny Mahon himself appears too fussed about any of it, wearing the impassive expression throughout that comes with the confidence of being a man completely in control of what he's doing. Hear his Recession Session with Dermo elsewhere in these pages and understand.








 
I really want to dislike Palace Ballet. It's the arch name, the vaguely Chris Martin-ish mannerisms of their singer, the fact that the drummer might be wearing a cardigan. Truth to tell, they're one of the tightest, most together bands I've seen in ages. You could spend an age trying to pin them down for a pigeon hole, but you won't do it. The references are all there - a dash of Talking Heads here, a sprinkling of Strokes there, a touch of Radiohead now and then. Fact is that Palace Ballet have mastered a pretty timeless brand of guitar pop that manages to be sophisticated, clever and downright goddamned catchy. If the rumours of Bloc Party's demise are to be believed, then your new favourite intelligent indie band should really be Palace Ballet. Want further proof? Seek out 'Some Girls'. A right tune, and no mistake.








 
Typical. You wait for one tight, together, tuneful new band to come along and then two come along at once. The Ray Summers take Palace Ballet's aptitude for shit-hot togetherness to another level. The initial signs aren't overly promising though. In terms of image, The Ray Summers are all over the place, ranging from a Brian Jones-a-like keyboard player to a football hooligan bassist. But, my god, close your eyes and take it in. Name a genre. It's here in The Ray Summers' arsenal somewhere - freak-out psych rock, sunshine ska, sea shanty sing-alongs...and that's just one song. Remember when The Coral used to write those tunes that would, without warning, skew off on another key, another tempo, another planet altogether? The Ray Summers do it better. And they do it more often as well, although that's probably like driving a Lambourghini really, really fast - you would too, if you could. The Ray Summers hit a fevered crescendo with soon-to-be released single 'Zagora Road' and the (in every single sense of the word) epic 'Travelling Man'. There are inch perfect harmonies, there are Manzarek-esque keyboard breaks, there is, ladies and gentlemen, chicken dancing. The Ray Summers are ace. If you don't watch any other ITC signposted space, watch this one.








 
You've got to feel a bit sorry for the enigmatically named Janice Graham (a group of fresh-faced Manc upstarts rather than lady vocalist). How the hell to follow THAT? You can sense their trepidation but after a shaky start they settle into a swingin', scattin' set all of their own. By some distance the youngest band on display at The Bay Horse tonight, Janice Graham trip out a mix of soul, jazz, ska, rock and indeed roll with the confidence of a band who've been doing this thing for years. What do they sound like? God knows. In their own words, "Everything". They're certainly one of the only bands you'll catch of late with a trumpet to the fore, Josh clearly having a blast as he brasses up the Janice Graham sound a treat including, on 'Cinnimon', a blatant steal from Dexys' 'Geno'. Top stuff. Singer/bassist Joe, a man of let's say diminutive stature, issues forth a soulful bawling of lyrics taking in repressed serial killers, visits to the samba, a naked lady called Belinda like a man possessed. Closer 'Carnival' comes complete with samba breakdown, all whistles, cowbells and whooping frenzy. They're a bit rougher round the edges than much of what's been on offer tonight, but the potential is massive. Once again, seek out their Recession Session with Dermo elsewhere on TinCan and get on it from the start.








 
Like Janice Grahams' bigger brothers, Frazer King deal in a similar musical mash up. Opener 'Master and Creator' bristles with guitarist Jack Mahoney's blues-ish baritone, backed up almost barbershop style from all other corners of the stage. But it's clear that their collective heart just ain't in it here (they've already played an earlier show tonight) and rather than sully their usual reputation for kicking up a riot, we leave them to it. Back up the stairs and out into the mercifully fresh air. People, tonight In The City did you proud - these are surely some of the best young bands bouncing about at the moment. But the next big things? Well that, my friends, is up to you.








 
 

Ricky Tomlinson is making a bid to be Christmas number one.  If he makes it, he will be the oldest person ever to have a Christmas number one, he's just celebrated his 70th birthday.
We like this, we think it's a great idea and we're supporting him all the way.  Also it will really annoy Simon Cowell.

 
Over to Ricky to explain more...
 

Liam Maher, born on July 17 1968 was a barrow boy on Camden Market selling bootleg tapes. 
Within just a few years, he had formed Flowered Up with some mates from North London, had his life transformed from that of working-class kid to being part of one of Britain's most hyped groups and then burned out with the decline of 'baggy' and the rise of grunge.
Seen as London's answer to Madchester groups like Northside and Happy Mondays, Flowered Up formed in 1989 in a Camden housing estate and featured vocalist Liam Maher, keyboardist Tim Dorney, guitarist Joe Maher, bassist Andy Jackson, drummer John Tuvey and Barry Mooncult, who wasn't officially a member of the band but danced on-stage with a giant flower around his neck.

From their first gig at the end of 1989, the group's unpredictable but energetic live shows and their enthusiastic embrace of baggy's Ecstasy-fueled culture earned them as many fans as they had critics.  The band had appeared on the covers of both NME and Melody Maker before they released any music.
After signing to Heavenly, they released the club anthem It's On in the summer of 1990








This was followed that with Phobia the following autumn; both singles reached the Top 40 on the U.K. charts.








Flowered Up switched to London Records for their full-length debut and when they signed the contract, their manager cut open a bag of cocaine and wrote "F U" with it on the tabletop of the label's office. Following the release of the group's 1991 album, A Life With Brian, they were dropped because they delivered an uneditable 13-minute single.  The band returned to Heavenly and released the single, "Weekender," to massive critical acclaim in 1992.
















"Weekender" denounced weekend club-goers, advocating a party-all-the-time philosophy that distilled Flowered Up's appeal and ultimate downfall. The group's week-long "Debauchery" party, which featured guests as diverse as Kylie Minogue and novelist Hanif Kureshi and took place in a mansion that Barry Mooncult was supposed to be renovating, ended up being Flowered Up's last hurrah.
A few shows and recording sessions later, the group finally imploded. Tim Dorney became the band's most successful member, forming Republica a few years later; after disappearing for much of the '90s, in 2000 Liam Maher re-emerged with a new project, Greedy Soul, and signed to the Poptones label.








Sadly today, October 20th 2009, brought the news that Liam Maher has died aged 41.  He'll be remembered with much love by friends, family and fans alike.

 The Three Johns - Death Of The EuropeanThe Membranes - Spike Milligan's Tape Recorder
The Wedding Present - KennedyShock Headed Peters - I Blood Brother BeThe June Brides - Every Conversation
Age Of Chance - MotorcityBig Flame - Why Pop Stars Can't DanceA Witness - Kitchen Sink Drama (live)
Bogshed - Panties Please
The Ex... - The Rise of the Dutch RepublicPhillip Boa and The Voodoo Club - Kill yr IdealsThe Wolfhounds - Anti Midas Touch
The Nightingales - Urban Ospreys
Dog Faced Hermans - Bella CiaoStretcheads - Overrunning of the Oriface RegionBadgewearer - Private Veranda (from 'A Toy Gun in Safe Hands')
Dawson - Everyone's A Winner BabyProlapse - TCR

1. Take a pre-paid Currency card
With the pound performing so badly at the moment, holidaymakers are being advised to take a prepaid card away with them. Caxton FX offers a best exchange rate guarantee and they always beat the rates offered on the high street. (www.caxtonfxcard.com) Caxton FX cards look and act like debit and credit cards, but are preloaded with cash (a bit like a pay as you go mobile phone.) You choose which card you need (Euro, US Dollar or Sterling), decide how much you want available to spend on it and then transfer that amount to it. You can't spend more than that, unless you top it up, something that makes prepaid cards a good for sticking to the holiday budget. The Caxton FX card charges no ATM withdrawal fees abroad, no transaction fees, no monthly fee and no application fee, which makes it unique in the prepaid card universe.
2. Choose the date carefully
Choosing your dates is important when it comes to saving money. Christmas, Easter and February half term are by far the most popular dates to be abroad. For example, Lastminute.com offers a 7 day break in New York in January, for two people, with hotel and flights, for £1075. A break at the same hotel, with the same flights, during the February half term (starts from the 14th) will cost you £1299.41. The weeks commencing 13 December, 20, 17, 24 and 31 January, and 7 February are also really good value.
3. Book a last minute deal If you are travelling in a small group - between two and four of you, it may be worth waiting for a last minute deal as they are so much cheaper. Check out uk.travelzoo.com for great last minute deals.
4. Catered accommodation is cheaper
Staying in catered accommodation means you won't spend a fortune on food in restaurants and shops. The fewer Euros you have to buy, the cheaper your holiday will be. There are good deals available on all-inclusive packages, with flights, transfers and food included.
5. Avoid the hot spots
Steer clear of the big winter sun locations - Barbados, Mauritius and the Maldives, and try a different location. If you're looking to hit the beach this winter without spending a fortune, a break in Ghana offers excellent value for money. Not only is it cheap, Ghana are in the same time zone as the UK so you won't spend your holiday recovering from jet lag. Other options are India, Cuba, Thailand and Bali. Flights to India are extremely cheap, costing around £270-£250, depending on who you fly with and when.
6. Buy a local SIM card
Using your English mobile can cost up to 10 times the price you would pay in the UK. Instead, buy a local SIM card on your holiday so local and international calls are more reasonable. Lycamobile are also doing an offer at the moment - if you both have a Lycamobile sim card, calls and texts are free. Visit lycamobile.co.uk for more details.
7. Dynamic Currency Conversion
If you're given the option to pay in local currency or sterling, always choose the local currency. This is a new process called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). The retailer or ATM invites you to pay in sterling and then does the exchange rate at an unfavourable rate, which costs you money. During last year's ski season, research shows that around £30,000 was wasted at just five of the most popular ski resorts in Europe through DCC.
 

   As the first stop on a three-day musical bender, The Roadhouse is home to Front Magazine's picks for the best in new music. As I walk into the basement venue - the walls newly decorated with Front's famous ahem, lady posters rather than the usual band shots - kicking off the noise below are London's trendy Loverman who are, I fear, more used to the screamo scene kids of Shoreditch than the ten blokes with mullets watching in Manchester tonight. Not that they seem to mind much. They look like they live in a glam rock graveyard, sound like they stalk Nick Cave and have a front man who has wrestled with a bottle of peroxide, just about won and come out the other side with a chemical-induced deeper voice. They're nowhere near as vile as The Horrors (this is a good thing), and if the sound of eighties electro/goth/rock is gonna haunt us, it may as well do so in some killer jeans. 

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin
Up next are Wall Street Riots who love their band so much, they're wearing their own tee shirts! It's cool though; I'm rolling around in a (rusty) tin can...
WSR would make your hips shake even if you were in a full body brace; not exactly challenging but as they chug out the disco-punk of 'One More Ride', turns out it's a pretty comfy one too and lucky for us we called shotgun. They're ruling the evening with hormonal melody and I like it.

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin  
 
   Then the stage is handed to a Welsh combo of misplaced energy and some dance moves no one's seen in these parts since (rough estimate) 1987. And these knee spasms were cheesy even then. That'll be thanks to The New 1920, a bunch of impressively sweaty yet entertaining (for the wrong reasons) rockers.

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin
   Just as the crowd of punk grrls and leather-coated macho men are gearing up for Welsh punks Attack! Attack! there's some rubbish news; they're ill and can't play. Boo! The poor Front folk look gutted so we combine forces, them with beer and us with bright pink doughnuts for a quick 'pick me up' and head over to Night & Day Café for some Ou Est Le Swimming Pool action. Turns out to be a good plan; during 'Dance The Way I feel' there are some mighty funny shapes being pulled offstage and who the hell are we not to laugh out loud?

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin
   These perfected dance beats are followed by Manchester's latest hype machine, Egyptian Hip Hop. Man, that machine needs an oil check. I'd love to say I 'get it', that I love their youthfulness and effortless bad dye jobs, their clumsy fingers being sometimes unsure of the right direction are in fact endearing, but they're as confusing as their name. Maybe they're a grower and before I know it they'll have me itching to see them again. Mind is open to possibility. Then again, no one ever enjoyed a yeast infection.
   Onwards then to The Deaf Institute where Manchester charmers Dutch Uncles are up for some hometown glory.

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin
I come to the conclusion whilst watching singer Duncan Wallis that if I did have a Dutch Uncle, I imagine he would both dress this backwardly sharp and dance in a similar fashion: like an epileptic nympho in the red light district. Performing their second gig of the day, the new wavers certainly know how to work their live sound. This is like having a really ace cup of tea before realising it's been spiked with rat wee, which is pretty much the sort of fear that consumes me once Kong arrive on stage.

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin
   I feel like warning the birds of paradise on the wallpaper to look away or be scared forever. I don't though 'cos imagining even the wallpaper is crapping itself is way more fun. The moment my bladder has been impatiently waiting for is here and as that familiar tingle of fear and excitement sets foot onto the turf that is my gut, suddenly the doughnuts seem like a badly thought-out idea. Classic Magpie lines are reeled off and motion sickness sets in for the awesome 'Blood Of A Dove' amongst other album tunes (if you don't own a copy of début album Snake Magnet, why is this you scumbag?) and instrumental haemorrhaging finishes the set. Well, before that northern cheek sees the band dismantle their kit and use the audience as roadies. Lap it up freaks.

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin
   The perfect end to day one of In The City 2009; I've probably not seen the best in new music yet, but I've seen some of Manchester's most diverse and with a hint of smug beaming off my face all that's left to do is leave thinking "these one's are ours". We'll share though - shall I put the kettle on? I heard Kong are coming over for a Brew...
 

Concrete Wardrobe is an independent retail space run by designers James Donald and Fiona McIntosh. 

With over 30 years experience between them in their own private practices as a weaver and a printed textile designer, James and Fiona, the founders of Concrete Wardrobe have a wealth of experience that has included exhibiting at national and international design trade events like Artisan, Chelsea Craft Fair, Origin, The New York and San Francisco International Gift Shows, The Philadelphia Museum of Modern Art Craft Show and trade and exhibition events in Japan.



Set up to promote Scottish based or Scottish trained designer makers whose work is high quality and affordable, Concrete Wardrobe stocks work from over 200 Scottish based or trained designer makers, from disciplines as diverse as silk screen printing, weaving, ceramics, knitting, fashion design, jewellery, lighting design, glass and print making.
Work is manufactured and supplied as one off pieces or as small batch production ranges, many of which are exclusive to Concrete Wardrobe. The staff have process knowledge and understanding of the products within the space as well as practical and making skills and they all supply the space with their own products.

 
 

 
 

Below: Fiona McIntosh










 

50A Broughton St, Edinburgh, EH1 3SA Ph - 0131 558 7130

 

...mixing the complex & abstract washes of Battles & Squarepusher with the pastoral & harmonious reflections of Prefab Sprout & Crosby Stills & Nash, he discovers Silver in LCD Soundsystem & Gold Sound in Pavement but struggles to find 'a decent yellow'!

Norway is a stunningly beautiful country with mountains, forests, fjords and waterfalls contributing to the spectacular scenery. One of the best ways to see the country is to take the train from city to another, the Oslo - Bergen train ride is particularly beautiful.
Cities like Oslo and Bergen are great places to get a feel for Norway. There are several great museums to be explored, many of them highlighting Norway's viking history. The night life is cool too, but be prepared for the price of alcohol! As with most Scandinavian countries, it's very much more expensive than in most European countries. A night on the town can blow your budget very quickly.
Be sure to travel north to experience some of Norway's great fjords and wilderness areas. Camping is free, so long as you're 150 metres from a building, and so long as you clean up after yourself.
 








 
Four ski resorts in Norway have launched the first 365 day lift pass to enable skiers to enjoy the snow all year around. The resorts - Voss, Myrkdalen, Røldal and Folgefonn, are based on the west coast of Norway and are quite close to each other so season pass holders can now use all four resorts on one lift pass.  The card offers the possibility of skiing 12 months a year as Folgefonn is on a glacier and opens for summer skiing when the other locations close in May. From November to May, the resorts offer guaranteed snow with the unique backdrop of magnificent fjords and mountains, and is perfect for off-piste skiing as well as family friendly slopes. Many British skiers are surprised at how easy Norway's ski resorts are to reach, it's just a two-hour flight away and offers good quality and quantity of snow, even at low altitudes. Norway has uncrowded slopes, efficient lift systems and queues, and modern ski equipment which make it a really attractive place to ski.
 

In The City. By day, chance for the music industry to put its collective heads together and discuss the issues of the day (or judging by the updates on the ITC website, hurl abuse at each other). By night, chance for them to run the rule over the country's top emerging talent. Like a big box of chocolates without the map, ITC scatters its gigs across Manchester and you hit and you hope. So who were the Milk Tray and who were the Green & Blacks? (Yeah, yeah...I'll stop with the chocolate thing now) 
 
So, the journey begins in Australia. Not literally, but the Aussie-themed Walkabout bar over on Quay Street. London's 1914s couldn't be more 'now' if they tried. Female fronted? Check. 80's synth n' drum machine? Check. 80's wardrobe? Check (guitarist Jimi Scandal sports a nifty moustache that's about the only thing about 1914s that reflects their name). Gotta love the band that issues itself with fantasy noms-de-plume - Jimi is joined by vocalist Shay S. Phibbs and keyboard/bassist/beatsmeister Miss Jospehine. Shay (for that's what we'll call her) is a captivating presence onstage, possessed of a titanic voice and losing-it dance shapes. I shouldn't think too many of 1914s' reviews get very far without mentioning Yeah Yeah Yeahs and I'm not for bucking the trend, although it's as much to do with Jimi Scandal's Zimmer-framed guitar riffs as Shay's insouciant delivery. The songs themselves feel a little unfinished, but there are enough moments within them to add up to a lot of promise. Shay's a little disappointed with the crowd reaction - "You're not pissed enough" she glumly mock-admonishes - but all in all, ITC's off to a good start in this part of town.








 
Quick glance at the schedule reveals time to hang on at Walkabout to catch Outside Royalty. We've already visited the 1980's tonight, and we're time travelling again with Outside Royalty fairly quickly revealing themselves steeped in the seventies. More specifically, with their Eno-ish keyboard stabs and frontman Adam Billing's Ferry-ish croon, Outside Royalty don't so much wear their Roxy Music influence on their sleeve as their whole smoking jacket. There's a strange dichotomy between Billing's chirpy showman between-song banter and the, at times, rather overwrought performance, but Outside Royalty do have songs that will appeal - single 'Lightbulb (Turning Off)' has a nagging hook, 'Falling' could come straight from the Roxy songbook (and that's no criticism) and closer 'Palladium' sees them take a turn for the 90's (yep, it sounds a bit like Pulp).








 
Time to move on though, back up Quay Street, over Deansgate and on to Peter Street's Chicago Rock Café.  Usually home to the weekend handbag & gladrags hordes, tonight, Chicago Rock is stuffed full for (nearly)hometown stars ascending, Dutch Uncles (playing the first of two gigs in two hours - grade A for effort, boys). They're fresh from a support slot with Maximo Park at the Apollo and given that they share a lot of common ground with that band, they'll have come away from that with a lot of new friends. That said, Dutch Uncles are a band with Their Own Sound; spiky, intelligent punky pop where thick slabs of bass underpin weaving, angular guitar lines. In Duncan Wallis, Dutch Uncles also have a frontman of genuine star quality, an effete, engaging character with a pure, pure voice. And the worst shirt this side of Primark, but let's not hold that against him.  You have to remind yourself that this is an industry organised showcase for unsigned bands - seriously, in crowd response and Dutch Uncles' evident zeal, this has all the feel of a headline show all of their own. And if we're looking for the ultimate rubber-stamp of approval, there's indie kingmaker Steve Lamacq casting a favourable glance over things. It's tempting to leg it to Deaf Institute to catch them all over again, but that would just be greedy now...wouldn't it?








 
And so, down the steps to The Studio for The Tatianas. Now then, a quick glance across the ITC schedules throws up bands from across the country, with a pretty heavy loading of Manchester and London. Well, here come The Tatianas all the way from Paris. As in France. Now that's commitment. In a way, The Studio should be the perfect venue for a bunch of Parisiennes - small, dark, vaguely decadent. And so it is. The smallish crowd that greets The Tatianas swells throughout their show and by the end it's largely won over by their Gallic take on British pop n' roll. The Libertines are a clear reference point - it's in their jaunty guitar riffery, the occasional Carl n' Pete style face-ups between band members and mostly in singer Pierre's throaty delivery which very much recalls the heyday of Pete (as he was then) Doherty. They tear up a terrific noise though, Pierre spending a fair bit of his time lurching about in the void to the front of the stage, appropriately louche bassist Timothée drifting around all in a reverie of his own. Worth the trip? Time will tell. Pierre flings his guitar into the drumkit and they're off, entente cordiale secured for this Sunday night at least.








 
Same time tomorrow? Be rude not to...
 
www.myspace.com/1914s
www.outsideroyalty.com
www.myspace.com/dutchuncles
www.myspace.com/thetatianas
 

And so it came to pass U2 chose to bring their stage spectactular to my new home of Tampa Bay around the time of my book's release. How weird. I say weird because a show of this magnitude takes over two years to tour and another year to plan (and probably another year to get over it!) How nice they should turn up now when I have a quote from Paul McGuinness on the front cover and the book is littered with the lessons we all learned from professionally working together. It's was a perfect time for us all to be growing up in the music business and learning from it's masters.
 
Suffice to say they now have an audience of global proportion, in fact if I had known I was going to write a book when they were meticulously planning this I might have blagged the support slot. However Muse applied themselves admirably, they were quite brilliant and good on U2 for allowing them a stage and sound worthy of their talent. Both sound and lighting was excellent and clearly the audience loved them. It reminded me of when U2 supported Talking Heads at the Hammersmith Palais and their sound guy was none too pleased with the audience reaction for the support band. Strangely during the second half of the set the sound wasn't quite as good. U2 fear no one, why should they? They worked long and hard at this and having seen what went in to it I have nothing but admiration for the whole razzamatazz. I thought I'd share a few insights.
 

 
This little mother of a rollercoaster is a tour and a cost of epimedic proportions. It's been reported it costs nearly half a million pounds PER DAY to keep 'The Claw' on the road. Close encounters of the costly kind.
When U2 tour everyone wants to go, even the people who aren't fans of their music NEED to say they went to the U2 show. It's vital to their share options. If they didn't go they'll lie about going. This is quite simply the greatest show on earth and in Tampa last Friday it was the biggest, even bigger than The Superbowl they staged there in January (70,000 v 72,000.) Better too. No men with big shoulders bouncing off each other and kicking the ball out of the ground.
 
If a band becomes this big then give the audience something they can go home and talk about. And they do. Let's face it theirs, like everyone elses records aren't selling like they used to so let people know you came to town. And don't let that be just a conversation about the ticket price. While some tickets were $250 'down front' or whatever they call that cess pit at the front where you fry for 5 hours in 90 degree temperatures. (a portion of which incidentally went to Third World countries) However, there were still some tickets at just $30, albeit it high up in the third tier of the monstrous Raymond James Stadium and directly on the flight path to Tampa International Airport. You may have got a closer view of the passengers sipping a rum n coke in club class than you would of the four little Irishmen on stage. I lied! It's not directly on the flight path but close enough. I was thinking all the time what the hell 'The Claw' would have looked like from above with it's huge tower rising skyward, together with it's own beacon lit at the top to warn off low flying aircaft!
 








 
I'm not going to review the concert, just google U2 and give yourself four or five hours and you'll hear from the media and the masses. I'm here to pour fond memories over the event and give you my humble little story from it's inception in my heat frazzled head to the culmination of the night.
 
Now being the 'not wanting to hassle people' old fool I am I don't like blagging. Why I haven't a clue, I've given millions of records away over the years to radio and TV stations and hardened blaggers. I've sipped coffee and vented with some who I'm sure loved my stock room more than they loved me. At one time in my offices in Manchester at the now legendary 48 Princess Street everyone from Happy Mondays to World of Twist to Hooky to Simply Red and beyond all had their appointed management set ups there. There wasn't enough room to swing a rock star. It had it's drawbacks though when DJ's, band members, their girlfriends, wives, gardeners and drug dealers would all think they could take the lift up to the top floor where we were hiding and raid my cupboards. I have to say there were laced with the crown jewels as we worked some mighty fine acts at the time, The Pixies, New Order, The Police, Iggy Pop, David Bowie, Cocteau Twins, REM etc. But I had a job to do and it wasn't to supplement their record collection. I'm sure half of them ended up in some record store, somewhere...anywhere?  In fact it got so ridiculous I asked the landlord if we could 'freeze out' the button for the top floor so no one could get up there with prior consent! There was only his and my offices up there so what the hell, it would have stopped me hiding under the desk and pretending not to be in.
 
Anyway back to basics...huh, a U2 tour basic, hardly. I'd had a couple of conversations with old friends back in the UK and they had all been telling me, forcing me to go. 'You have to go Toe, your book's coming out you have to be at these things.' I can't say they were wrong, on the contrary if I have something coming out I have a duty to promote it. Damn it I am after all a promotion guy, I should know as well as anyone. Eventually after my friend and work colleague Darrin who had put so many sweat hours in to building the website, facilitating the cover design etc said, 'Any chance?' I surrendered, it was after all payback time. That's not to say I didn't want to go, I did. I just didn't want to go through going, it's a pain...please, if at all possible could I possibly just be picked up and lowered in to the stadium and when they're done take me home and deposit me in my bed.
 
I relented on the Wednesday evening and sent an e-mail to Principal Management, or more specifically to Susan, Paul McGuinness' pa who's personal e-mail I fortunately hadn't mislaid. 'Please, I know it's a hassle but if at all possible blah blah blah..' I thought nothing more of it and sloped of to bed. The following morning I logged on (to my computer , not my bed) and there before me, a reply. 'Paul McGuinness has two tickets for you and two passes. Please collect at Will Call.' (Yes I thought that too when I experienced my first ever guest passes in the USA. What or who the fuck is Will Call and what has he got to do with anything? Why would I call anyone anyway if I was just collecting tickets? It's the American's way of saying 'guest list at box office' Will call, I ask you. And I suppose if you can't go then you're a 'Will Can't' Nonsence, but happy nonesense.
 
We arrived at THE BOX OFFICE and I blurted a half hearted 'Tony Michaelides' nervously dreading they may not be there and I'd have to go back and watch Gossip Girl. The luscious cutie at The Raymond James box office (Wilma Call?) smiled and slid a crisp envelope under the window. 'Enjoy the show' she whispered. I melted and thought of dumping Darrin and inviting her. I gently opened up the envelope and there before me were not only two tickets but two laminates, two wrist bands, two more for passes to the band's mixing desk. Instructions how to get there and two invites to the backstagew hospitality. How terribly nice I though, how thoughtful and considerate. Now I'm glad I went, maybe there would be a chair somewhere and I could enjoy a diet coke and some nimbles before it got noisy.
 
Joking apart and not for a minute am I ungrateful, on the contrary I haven't worked with U2 for close on 25 years and remarkably they seemed to have managed OK without me! It's amazing that they still remember the few of us that were there right from the beginning working long and hard on helping to build their profile. I did my bit with radio and TV but to be honest I was the only one in the promotion department at that time that 'got it.' The Head of Promotion at the time was too intent on promoting stuff that was easier to get on the radio like Steve Winwood and Robert Palmer. I won't mention names except to say they aren't in the business now! The real champions in those formative days were Neil and Rob in the Press Department at Island Records, where the buzz really first began. They got people like Paul Morley to write about them and go along and see the endless London gigs they were playin back then in the late 70's culminating in a coverted NME front cover. (Remember when an NME front cover actually meant something....)  In fact it was the late Rob Partidge who 'discovered' U2 and passed them on to the A and R department and gave a heads up to 'Captain Bill,' one Nick Stewart and Annie Roseberry who duly did the decent thing and sign them. By his own admission Chris Blackwell, not a bad A and R man himself didn't see it at first! U2 though, never forgot. When Rob lost his battle against cancer late last year they canceled a days recording and all four of the band and their manager Paul flew to the UK for his funeral. A sad day for U2 and for all of us, Rob was an unbelievable person and a magnificent record company person. A true giant.
 
This I fear could be very very long. When I start to write about U2, obviously one of my career highs it isn't hard to find words to explain how they became what they are, how it's a work ethic everyone should admire irrespective of personal musical tastes. How inspirational a journey it was. It gave me ample material for my book and they are living proof of how you grow from making mistakes, taking risks and embracing the opportunities when they come your way. Success by your own making.
 
There's plenty more information and advice from me and many others on my website www.insightscollection.com and my You Tube channel which is TMTV although I think we had to register in the name TonyMichaelidesTV as some inconsiderate dared to use my initials! They'll be ample footage, interviews and archive material. It'll be a load of fun and laced with a load of knowledge from the people who lived through an exciting time in the music industry and who have plenty to say about it. Their achievements are worth admiring at any time. And I dare say they'll also be a bunch more on this wonderful evening. How I met my old friend Joe, U'2s sound guy for close on 32 years and part of the 'inner sanctum.' Now with wife and daughter on the road he told me there are over 400 people on the road on this tour. And as I looked up and looked around at the vastness of it all it still brings a lump to my throat. Who'd have ever thought....... And how amazingly after nearly 20 years I met and spoke with Paul McGuinness.
 
It was a special night for everyone who was there on that beautifully warm Floridian evening. With the sun setting directly behind the stage and shimmering on to the giant 'claw' it made for some extra special effects. But for me just being there was extra special. Sometimes the past doesn't seem that long ago.Wonderful times laced with wonderful memories.
 

A packed out and mega cosy Ruby Lounge was decked in homely elegance as pretty tea cups (way too delicate for my gob) and fairy lights cluttered the tables where mums and kids were seated for a top secret performance by Franz Ferdinand at the weekend. Far from the usually loud-as-hell stage area, the venue was snug and prepared for an afternoon of acoustic delights.
Sonic Boom Six made an appearance minus their plugs for a wicked set of handclap infused reggae stylings. Lead singer Laila Kahn looked gorgeous as always and dare I say, became a kid's communication expert. I'm generally terrified of small children. Not in an 'Arr! What if it's like that evil Chucky doll and is carrying an implement of death?' kinda way, but in the same way a bird watcher might panic if it had to baby sit a Terradactyl.
Anyway SBS are still a genre-bending, ever-evolving reason to make us proud they're from Manchester. They played stripped down versions of 'Play On', 'Passing Through', 'Through The Eyes Of A Child', 'Rum Little Scallywag', 'Scatter' and Boney M's 'Rasputin'. Yeah, seriously mint. We've nicked it off Youtube so you can see for yourself:
 








 
 
 
Photo: Jade Danielle Martin
By the time hush, hush special guests Franz Ferdinand were let loose on the situation, I was sat on the kids rug at the front. Where as I thought I was getting into the social mix with young music fans, my friends (stood at the back with the majority of adults) thought otherwise and were texting things like this: "You look like a big kid sat there. Literally, your head is MASSIVE next to that four year old", however, this did little to kill my secret-show-vibe; I'd eaten a slice of Victoria Sponge AND a chocolate brownie. Yeah, in your face 'adults'.

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin
Half of the band in the form of frontman Alex Kapranos & guitarist Nick McCarthy nipped in to see how Manchester takes her tea just before their gig at the Apollo later that night. The radio-friendly Scots played 'Do You Want To', 'Walk Away', the now classic 'Take Me Out', latest single 'No You Girls', 'The Dark Of The Matinee' and 'Ulysses' all in polite acoustic fashion.

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin
Check out the video for 'Do You Want To' at Mrs. Boon's Tea Party:
 








 
Mrs Boon may have been absent at this gig due to morning sickness (congrats! I'll start practising now in case you want me to baby sit...no?) but with surprise acoustic shows, and some mighty yummy cakes on the go, not to mention the free tea, she's giving a far tastier meaning to 'Shut yer cakehole!'
 

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin

Album Tracks Fake Records of Rock n Roll by Daniel JohnsonHellhole Ratrace by GirlsIsland, IS by Volcano ChoirThis Blackest Purse by Why?Here To Fall by Yo La TengoTropical Disease by AirSee America Right The Mountain GoatsLosin' Yo' Head Monsters Of FolkBang! by The RavonettesReaders and Writers by IdlewildI Became a Prostitute by The Twilight SadLittle Lion Man by Mumford and Sons Single Tracks Back From Beyond by Kid HarpoonStellify by Ian BrownCharlie Darwin by The Low AnthemHard Believer by First Aid KitWhile You Wait For The Others by Grizzly BearSwinging Party by KindnessSurf Solar by Fuck ButtonsLet's Go Surfing by The DrumsSave It For Someone Who Cares by The Leisure SocietyYou're a Target by No AgeTwins by The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
 
This week This week Mike talks to San Francisco’s Girls, currently in the chart with Hellhole Ratrace

 
 

Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison all died within a 10 month period, and Jim Morrison and Brian Jones died on the same date two years apart, the 3rd July.  All were just 27. 
This spate of deaths in such a short time period led to the myth that has now become the 27 Club, a group of musicians who all died at the age of 27, sometimes under mysterious circumstances and sometimes with a white lighter in their possession.  Not that the colour of their lighter has any relevance whatsoever, but it adds that obligatory supersitious twist to the story.
It would be interesting to find out how many accountants had died over at the age of 27 too...  Yes, it's all bullshit, but it does give us a great reason to get all these musicians in one place and remember them for what brought them to public attention in the first place, their music.
 








 
Louis Chauvin - Ragtime musician. Died: 26 March 1908 - Syphilis
Robert Johnson - Bluesman. Recorded very famous and influential set of 29 songs that influenced many famous musicians after himncluding Bob Dylan and Led Zeppelin Died: 16 August 1938 - Unknown, but typically credited to strychnine poisoning. Possibly shot
Jesse Belvin - R&B singer and songwriter








Died: 6 February 1960 - Car accident
 
Johnny Kidd - Leader, singer & songwriter for Johnny Kidd & The Pirates








Died: 7 October 1966 Car Accident
 
Brian Jones- Rolling Stones founder and rhythm guitarist/multi-instrumentalist.

Died: 3 July 1969 - Drowned in a swimming pool 

Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson - Leader, singer and primary composer of Canned Heat Died: 3 September 1970 - Barbiturate overdose, possible suicide
Jimi Hendrix - Pioneering electric guitarist, singer, and songwriter for The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and Band of Gypsys








Died: 18 September 1970 - Asphyxiated on vomit after accidental overdose of sleeping pills
Janis Joplin - Lead vocalist and songwriter for Big Brother & The Holding Company, The Kozmic Blues Band and Full Tilt Boogie Band








Died: 4 October 1970 - Possible heroin overdose
 
Jim Morrison - Poet, lead singer, songwriter, and video director for The Doors.








Died: 3 July 1971 - Official cause of death is listed as "heart failure" but, as no autopsy was performed, so the actual cause remains mysterious. Possible accidental overdose
 
Les Harvey - Guitarist of Stone the Crows Died: 2 May 1972 - Electrocuted by a microphone
Ron "Pigpen" McKernan - Founding member and keyboardist of the Grateful Dead Died: 8 March 1973 - Gastrointestinal hemorrhage associated with alcoholism 
 
Dave Alexander - Bassist for The Stooges

Died: 10 February 1975 - Pulmonary edema
 
Peter Ham - Keyboardist/Guitarist, leader of Badfinger Died: 24 April 1975 - Suicide by hanging
Gary Thain - Former bassist of Uriah Heep Died: 8 December 1975 - Drug overdose
Chris Bell - Singer-songwriter and guitarist of power pop band Big Star and solo Died: 27 December 1978 - Car accident; drove into a telegraph pole
D. Boon - Guitarist, lead singer of punk band the Minutemen Died: 22 December 1985 - Lying down in the back of a van when it left the road, he was thrown from the van and broke his neck 
Alexander Bashlachev - Russian poet, rock musician and songwriter
 

Died: February 17 1988 Suicide by jumping
 
Jean-Michel Basquiat - Painter and graffiti artist; formed the band Gray








Died: August 12 1988 - Speedball overdose. Painter and graffiti artist; formed the band Gray
 
Pete de Freitas - Drummer for Echo & the Bunnymen








Died: 14 June 1989 - Motorcycle accident returning from filming a music video
 
Mia Zapata - Lead singer of The Gits Died: 7 July 1993 - Murdered
Kurt Cobain - Lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for Nirvana








Died: 8 April 1994 - Officially recorded as suicide by self inflicted gun shot
 
Kristen Pfaff - Bass guitarist for Hole








Died: 16 June 1994 - Heroin overdose 
 
Richey James Edwards - Lyricist and guitarist for Manic Street Preachers








Disappeared: February 1 1995; officially presumed dead November 23 2008
 
Fat Pat - Rapper and member of Screwed Up Click Died: 3 February 1998 - Shot 
Sean Patrick McCabe - Lead singer of Ink & Dagger Died: 28 August 2000 - Choked on his own vomit after ingesting too much alcohol
Jeremy Michael Ward - The Mars Volta and De Facto sound manipulator Died: 25 May 2003 - Heroin overdose.
Bryan Ottoson - Guitarist for American Head Charge Died: 19 April 2005 - Accidental prescription drug overdose
 
The 27 Club Movie, inspired by the myth and dealing with the effects on those left behind








 
 

Mike Garry is an acclaimed Mancunian poet who has performed poetry since 1994, worked in hundreds of schools and held residencies in prisons, hospitals and art galleries.
His work celebrates the beautiful ugliness of the city. His heroes are the underdogs and lost souls who wander the streets searching for answers. Mikes' poetry has been published widely and his live performances are explosive and unmissable.
Mike Garry has been published in a range of newspapers and magazines including Pulp Magazine, City Life, The Big Issue and Arvon Anthologies. As well as his work in education and the community, he has performed poetry on BBC Radio 4, Granada Television and on many local radio stations. A prolific writer, he has published three collections of his own poetry and been the 'Writer in Residence' for magazines, prisons and local authorities.
 
His poem Manchester Haiku was shortlisted for the Poem For Manchester Competition, which was judged by Andrew Motion. Manchetser Haiku is displayed around Manchester City Centre where it is enjoyed by thousands of Mancunians and visitors to the city every day.
Mike has been officially recognised by The National Literacy Trust as being a motivating and positive role model to the young people he works with and is one of the Trusts Reading Champions, nominated because of his passion for reading and his success in encouraging young people, particularly boys, to read fiction and poetry.
Mike closed the Tony Wilson Experience in 2008 with his tribute to Wilson, Saint Anthony.

 
Below: Mike Garry - Saint Anthony, A Tribute to Anthony Wilson








 
Roger McGough CBE was born in Litherland, part of north Liverpool, a city with which he is firmly associated in most people's minds. He was educated at the University of Hull at a time when the chief librarian was Philip Larkin. Returning to Merseyside in the early 1960s he met Mike McGear and John Gorman, both multi-talented entertainers. Together they formed The Scaffold, a comedy group, hitting number one in the British charts in 1968 with Lily the Pink. McGough co-wrote many of their songs. He continues to perform widely. McGough was responsible for much of the humorous dialogue in The Beatles' animated movie Yellow Submarine, although he did not receive an on-screen credit for it.  Along with Adrian Henri and Brian Patten, with whom he published two best-selling volumes of verse, McGough did win fame of a slightly more serious nature as one of the "Mersey Poets" of the 1960s and 70s.
In 1978 McGough appeared in All You Need Is Cash, a mockumentary detailing the career of a Beatles-like group called The Rutles.  Roger now presents the BBC Radio 4 programme Poetry Please and records voice-overs for commercials. He was awarded the CBE in June 2004.
 
Below: Poet Roger McGough reads his poem about Sir Paul McCartney's trousers, To Macca's Trousers, at National Museums Liverpool. Filmed and edited by Jo Kelly








 
Punk poet John Cooper Clarke first began performing his work backed by a local folk group called the Ferrets, but in 1977 signed to the Rabid Records label to release the single "Psycle Sluts" produced by Martin Hannett. 
With his rapid-fire delivery and biting social commentary, Clarke quickly emerged as the poet laureate of the punk movement, reading his work as an opening act for groups including the Sex Pistols and the Buzzcocks.  An LP, Disguise in Love followed on Epic in 1978.
After supporting Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Clarke scored a Top 40 hit with the single "Gimmix; " a live disc, Walking Back to Happiness, appeared in 1979, and a year later he released a second studio effort, Snap, Crackle and Bop. While hugely popular as a stage performer, his records sold poorly, and 1982's Zip Style Method was his final release for Epic; He still managed to maintain his popularity as a live act but appeared less and less frequently in the years to follow, spending the better part of the 1980s battling an addiction to heroin. He also spent several years romantically involved with former Velvet Underground chanteuse Nico. 
By the following decade Clarke cleaned up his act, returning to the stage and is still performing regularly all over the UK.
 
Below: John Cooper Clarke performs Beezley Street on the Old Grey Whistle Test 1980








 
Learn more about the art of Performance Poetry here:
What is Performance Poetry?
 

The snow is falling and the temperatures are dropping in Lapland, heralding the best time to see the 'Aurora Borealis', the Dawn of the North. This is one of the planet's most spectacular natural performances when the dark skies of the far north are lit up by a brightly coloured lights dancing across the sky.
Mesmerizing, stunning, other-worldly, spectacular. When conditions are favourable the display lights up the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions, leaving everyone who sees the lights with memories that will last forever.
 

 
 
What are they?
The aurora borealis appears when solar wind particles collide with air molecules in the earth's atmosphere, transferring their energy into light. Displays can vary in intensity, from a glowing curtain of greenish yellow lights, dancing in the distance to a spectacular, multi-coloured fusion stretching across the sky.
NASA sent a fleet of Themis satellites into orbit to observe and record the goings on of the Earth's magnetic field over the poles. By watching the data from Themis while simultaneously conducting ground-based observations at the poles, NASA was able to determine that the lights correspond to magnetic explosions caused by the stretching and retracting of the Earth's magnetic field as we orbit the sun
Sightings of the northern lights can never be guaranteed, even when the conditions seem just right.  A clear cloudless night is essential and for the most intense sightings, it's important to be away from any sources of artificial light, like street lights. Sightings not only vary in intensity but in duration too, from just a few minutes to hours.
Where is the best place to view them?
Although the northern lights can at times be seen as far south as the UK, you really need to travel north and visit such places as Iceland, Lapland, Canada and Greenland during the darkest months of November to March for the best opportunities possible.
Two locations that are considered as the best in the world to view the northern lights are the virtually cloud-free sky at Abisko Mountain Station, within the Abisko National Park in Swedish Lapland and Hotel Ranga in south Iceland.
When?
Usually during the best period is when the sky is darkest between November and February, although they can be seen as early as late August and as late as mid April. The phases of the moon also have an affect too. If you have a full moon then it can greatly detract from the spectacle, whereas around the time of the new moon, if sightings are possible then they should be at their best.
 








Photographing the Lights:
A sturdy and preferably heavy tripod is essential since exposure time exceeds 10 - 20 seconds. You won't achieve the best results holding your camera.  Bring the fastest wide angle lens you own, f2.8 is good enough, f2.4 is better and f1.4 is best Use a good digital camera or film camera with at least 400 asa film. Wear warm clothes and boots as you can spend several hours standing still in cold weather.
See www.iww.is/art/shs/pages/thumbs.html for beautiful shots of the lights by Sigurdur H Stefnisson shs








 

“The staggering energy and intensity radiating from the stage never let up… Cobain’s ravaged pop songs coming off like some dream marriage of the Sex Pistols and the Beatles, borne on bracing waves of distorted guitar noise.” --Rolling Stone (October 29, 1992)











Ranked number one in Kerrang Magazine’s “100 Gigs That Shook The World” and voted as “Nirvana’s Number One Greatest Moment” by fans in an NME poll, Nirvana’s historic August 30 th 1992 headlining appearance at the Reading Festival is one of the most bootlegged concerts in the annals of rock’n’roll. 
Now, for the first time fans will have an opportunity to own a pristine copy of that entire performance, with colour-corrected video from the original film and audio sourced from the original masters.  
 
Nirvana Live At Reading will be issued in a limited edition DVD+CD Deluxe Edition as well as DVD-only and CD-only on November 2nd, followed by a 2 LP version on November 16th. 
 
While the show’s centerpiece was a performance of nearly the entire Nevermind tracklist, there were also early performances of three as yet unrecorded songs which wouldn’t be released until two years later on - In Utero’s  All Apologies, Dumb and in its first ever public performance, tourette’s.
The career-spanning setlist also reached back to the band’s 1989 Sub Pop debut album, Bleach, for Blew, About A Girl, School, Negative Creep and first single Love Buzz and even further back to the mid-‘80s for Spank Thru. 
Other songs from the Reading set would appear in studio form on the Incesticide compilation later in the year: Aneurysm, Been A Son and Sliver.  Additionally, the band played a pair of beloved covers by two bands that helped shape the formative Nirvana sound – The Money Will Roll Right In by Fang and D-7 by The Wipers.









 
Only 2 of the 25 performances on the DVD have ever been released before. 
 

 
Nirvana Live At Reading DVD:
 
        1.     Breed
2.     Drain You
3.     Aneurysm
4.     School
5.     Sliver
6.     In Bloom
7.     Come As You Are
8.     Lithium
9.     About A Girl
10.   tourette's
11.   Polly
12.   Lounge Act
13.   Smells Like Teen Spirit
14.   On A Plain
15.   Negative Creep
16.   Been A Son
17.   All Apologies
18.   Blew
19. Dumb
20. Stay Away
21. Spank Thru
22. Love Buzz*
23. The Money Will Roll Right In
24. D-7
                 25. Territorial Pissings

 









  
“Nirvana headlining at Reading in 1992 was something you had to see, and if you didn’t see it then it was something you pretended you saw.” --Kerrang (October 2003)

 

Ok, so after my look at the coalitions between people that had already made their names famous within the music industry, let’s have a look at those picking up instruments after gaining celebrity status in other walks of life.
 

KEANU REEVES
 
The face of big-screen blockbusters such as Speed and The Matrix trilogy, good old Keanu is also an able bassist, believe it or not. A chance meeting with a fellow hockey fan and aspiring actor in 1991 saw the birth of his grunge band, Dogstar. It took a few years for them to get going, but the three-piece gained support slots for Bon Jovi, David Bowie, Rancid and Weezer in the mid-to-late 90s. Two albums and one EP, world tours, a Glastonbury appearance and featuring on film soundtracks were notable achievements considering how Reeves’ career had escalated to him becoming one of the hottest commodities in Hollywood. The band dissolved in 2002 due to work commitments, but what an excellent adventure! Bogus, Ted!
 









 
JULIETTE LEWIS
 
She’s one of those actresses that you just can’t put a film to her name. Thought of one yet? Well, she’s done at least 40 of them. Cape Fear, Kalifornia Natural Born Killers, even the recent remake of Starsky & Hutch. Anyway, to possibly distance herself from the rest of Brad Pitt’s Hollywood conquests, in 2003 Lewis picked up the microphone and formed Juliette & The Licks. An EP and album followed, with busybody Dave Grohl providing drum tracks on the second full-length ‘Four On The Floor’. Support slots for Foo Fighters, Muse and Chris Cornell happened either side of this 2006 release, but band members came and went over the next couple of years, leading to Julie forming The New Romantiques. Their debut album “Terra Incognita’ was released earlier this year.
 








 
ADE EDMONDSON
 
The comic genius behind Vyvyan Basterd (The Young Ones) and Eddie Hitler (Bottom) has a few musical pastimes to occupy himself when he’s not hitting Rick Mayall with a frying pan. He’s directed music videos for Squeeze and The Pogues, performed and recorded vocals for the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, and just last year formed his own band, The Bad Shepherds. The quartet play new wave and punk anthems on folk instruments, without a hint of slapstick in sight.
 








 
SHAQUILLE O’NEAL
 
One of the most dominant forces in American basketball’s history, Shaquille O’Neal is 7’1”, 325lbs of power. So if he picks up a mic, you can be damn sure most people with sense would listen. He’s done 4 albums over the years, his debut ‘Shaq Diesel’ going platinum. Hell, he even featured on Michael Jackson’s ‘2 Bad’ - admittedly one of MJ’s less well-known numbers. The Man Of Steel’s NBA career may be coming to an end, but it remains to be seen whether he ventures back to his rhyme-spitting ways after almost a decade of silence.
 








 
ANDY COLE
A special brief mention must be given to Andrew Cole, former goal-getter for no less than 13 professional football clubs. The nomadic striker released a cover of The Gap Band’s ‘Outstanding’ following his and Manchester United’s treble triumph in 1999. It flopped, amazingly.
 








 
LOYD GROSSMAN
 
“Who lives in a house like this?” Well if it was a house adorned with punk posters and vinyl records, you probably wouldn’t think it’d be the Through The Keyhole presenter himself. And that’s where you’d be wrong. Because the well-spoken Grossman, also host of Masterchef for a decade, was kickin’ out jams back in ’77 with his outfit, Jet Bronx and The Forbidden. Charting a single at #49, the band was short-lived as Loyd went on to journalistic and then on-camera notoriety. In 2008, he resurrected the band for Blackpool’s Rebellion Festival and The New Forbidden are active once more, albeit sporadically. Mind you, he’s probably quite busy with all them pasta sauces.
 









 
CHRIS JERICHO
 
File under sports athlete or actor depending on your view on professional wrestling. What isn’t questionable however, is just how big the main players in the industry are. We’re talking serious dollar and fan worship here. And Mr Jericho has had a pretty successful near-20 years in the business. Mass merchandise, selling out stadium events and arena tours week in-week out. That’s still his wrestling career, not his band by the way. Fozzy (apparently named after crazyman Osbourne, as opposed to the Muppet) play heavy metal and thanks to the frontman’s status, they’ve done alright by themselves. Their last album shifted 100,000 units and the follow-up is due out soon. Started only as a project whilst injured and out of action, Jericho and Fozzy may be fighting for time now he’s back in the ring.
 








 
BRUCE WILLIS
 
The man hated by all terrorists; how is he so hard to kill? We’re talking about his Die Hard films of course, just to clear up any confusion. Uncle Brucey is a bit of a dude. He gets the girls swooning without saying a word, and the guys cheering whenever he blows something up. Pulp Fiction, Armageddon, The Sixth Sense, Sin City; the man done good. And it kind of all started in 1987 with his debut flick, The Return Of Bruno, for which he sang the entire soundtrack of R&B covers. The album and subsequent singles did very well, helping John McClane’s career to take off with a vengeance.
 








 
JARED LETO
 
Considering most actors don’t get all that famous until they turn 30 these days, 28-year old Jared has done pretty well thus far. Fight Club, American Psycho, Requiem For A Dream, Panic Room, Lord Of War. He’s a star in his own right. But when he and his brother formed 30STM in 1998 before any major acting success, Leto couldn’t possibly have seen them becoming one of the biggest modern rock bands on the planet. 2005’s ‘A Beautiful Lie’ harboured the monster singles ‘The Kill’ and ‘From Yesterday’ and despite a much-publicised $30million lawsuit handed to them by Virgin (now annulled), their third album is due early next year. One of few celebrities to have gained noteworthy success as a musician, Leto has Hollywood and the music business at his feet.
 









 

Two Librans by The FallCan't Go Back by Primal ScreamPolice Sign by Pop LeviCold Morning by Lost KnivesSweets (Barratt 200 Mix) by World of TwistLet's go Surfing by The DrumsCoast on by by King Creosote
Red Travellin' Socks by Malcolm Middleton
Mike Interviews Malcolm Middleton part 1
Kiss At The Station by by Malcolm Middleton
Mike Interviews Malcolm Middleton part 2
Box And Knife by Malcolm Middleton
Repeated by The LongcutIn The Year 2525 by Zager And EvansTrapped Animal by The SlitsAnimal Rhapsody by The RaincoatsLie Awake by A Mountain Of OneSoon by My Bloddy ValentineIsland, IS by Volcano ChoirTreat Me Like Your Mother by The Dead WeatherGet Innocuous by LCD SoundsystemLittle Lion Man by Mumford and SonsLove Sensation (12" Mix) by Loleatta Holloway
Recorded and mixed By James Trott at SSR Creative Media Academy, Downing Street, Manchester
www.s-s-r.com
 

 
And the best seats in the house will be in Kenya.
The African solar eclipse myth tells of a snake emerging from the ocean that grew so large it moved to the sky and swallowed the sun. The snake was scared away by the beating of drums.
The eclipse of 2010 will be an unforgettable experience made all the more exciting by the stunning surroundings that Kenya offers.  You could share the experience with over a million flamingos from the shores of Lake Nakuru in Kenya, enjoy it in peace and quiet as you descend Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, or watch in awe from the brim of the 'cradle of mankind', the Ngorongoro Crater. 
 
Below: Solar eclipse in real time from 2008








 
 
If you choose to enjoy the solar eclipse from the shores of Lake Nakuru, as the darkness falls it will silhouette hundreds of thousands of flamingos, bringing them to an eery silence.
 

 
 
Highlights include: Game-viewing in Samburu Game Reserve, the Masai Mara and Serentgeti National Park, Lake Nukuru and Nairobi.
Enjoy a 15-day trip from 10 to 24 January for £1759. Price includes accommodation, some meals, tours with local guides and transport.
 
 
Watching the sunrise from the top of Africa's highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro at 5895 metres, is an once-in-a-lifetime experience - except on 15 January when you will be able to do it twice.

 
Highlights include: Climbing nearly 6000 metres to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Enjoy a seven-day trip from 11 to 17 January for £729. Price includes accommodation, most meals, a guide and transport.
 
The view from the Ngorongoro Crater, often described as one of the natural wonders of the world and home to an abundance of ever-present wildlife, is spectacular at the best of times, but you'll be able to enjoy it  at dusk and dawn in the space of 10 minutes...

Highlights include: Lake Manyara, Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro conservation area. Enjoy an 8-day trip from 10 to 17 January for £979. Price includes accommodation, most meals, park entrance fees and transport. For details on all of these trips see www.gapadventures.com.
 
Gap Adventures was established in 1990 by avid adventurer, Bruce Poon Tip. The company is now the world's largest independently-owned adventure tour operator, focusing on wildlife encounters, active travel and cultural interaction and appealing to those who want to get off the beaten track and experience local culture.
Its non-profit organisation, Planeterra was established in 2003 as a way for the company and its passengers to give back to the communities visited around the globe.
From helping protect endangered sea turtles in Costa Rica, to lending a hand at a pre-school in South Africa, you have the chance to make a real and positive difference in the lives of local people through your tourism. Planeterra encourages a desire to lend a hand and learn more about what life is like in communities around the world.
See more about the work, projects and opportunites that Planeterra offers here: www.planeterra.org
 

The Leisure Society began in Burton-Upon-Trent when Nick Hemming formed a band with Shane Meadows, Paddy Considine and Rich Eaton. Meadows and Considine would later go on to forge successful careers in film while Nick, in his own words, spent a few years 'working to support a music habit.' After contributing scores for Meadows's films (A Room For Romeo Brass & Dead Man's Shoes) as The Leisure Society a spell in The Telescopes, Nick moved to London where shared a flat with fellow Burton boy Christian Hardy. The pair began writing together and playing in a several bands.  Nick joined Brighton bands Sons of Noel, Adrian and Shoreline and they both played in Christian's band Christian Silva. It was through Nick's Brighton connections that they met and began working with the Willkommen Collective, a loose collection of Brighton based musicians promoters and artists.  And it was from this collective that they drew the musicians who joined to form the permanent line-up of the band: Mike Siddell, Will Calderbank, Helen Whitaker, Bas Hankins & Darren Bonehill.
 

 
By the end of 2008 Nick and Christian had written and recorded almost thirty songs, eleven of which would end up on their debut album, The Sleeper. They produced and mixed the record themselves, and it was initially self-released through the collective's own Willkommen Records. The first couple of singles from the album, The Last Of The Melting Snow & A Matter Of Time, picked up considerable radio support, being dubbed the English answer to popular US acts like Grizzly Bear, Department of Eagles and Fleet Foxes. In April 2009 The Last Of The Melting Snow was nominated for an Ivor Novello award. Guy Garvey named it his favourite song of 2008.
 








Now signed to Full Time Hobby, they have re-recorded album track Save it For Someone Who Cares, which has been released as a single and is included on a special bonus EP accompanying the re-released album.
 








 
www.myspace.com/theleisuresociety
 

Ivy Nicholson was born Irene Nicholson in Queens, New York in February of 1933, to working class Irish Catholic parents. She started modeling at the age of 16, and became very successful, gracing the covers of Vogue and Elle.
 
In those days there was not much in the way of work for older models, so when she turned 30, Ivy sought out acting roles, eventually landing in Andy Warhol’s Factory. There she appeared in minor roles in a handful of Warhol films, and met and married Ciao Manhattan (1972) director John Palmer who was working as a camera man at the Factory.  John is often credited with the idea for the film, Empire.
Ivy became a Factory regular performing in Andy Warhol's "Les Femmes" (1969), "The Loves of Ondine" (1968) "I, a Man" (1967) and "Batman Dracula" (1964)
 
Below: Ivy in 1964


In 1970, Ivy moved to Paris, where she painted and guided her children's careers. Ivy has four children. Her oldest son, Darius DePoleon is a viscount and a musician in Paris where he is in a band called "Eurotrash" with other European royals. Her second son, Sean Bolger, is a fashion photographer in Los Angeles. Her daughter with John Palmer, Penelope Palmer, was a child actress and starred in Le Femme Enfant alongside Klaus Kinski. Penelope's twin brother, Gunther Palmer, was a child model and teen actor in Paris and the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band, Mandrake, before going on to become the vocalist and percussionist in the band Stagefright.
Ivy occasionally performed with Gunther’s band in the late nineties and she recently finished making a new film in New York, The Dead Life



 
Below: The Trailer for Ivy Nicholson's new film The Dead Life








 
Below: Un-edited beach scene from The Dead Life
Dazed and confused Miestorm washes up on a beach as the witches search for him...
Starring: Ivy Nicholson Penelope Palmer Miestorm Donavan Palmer 








 
http://warholiansuperstar.com/
http://www.miestorm.com/
 
Below: Ivy Nicholson Singing Stairway to Heaven at Lucky Cheng's in NYC 2008








 
Below: Ivy on Andy Warhol

Late in the evening of Monday 12th October, TinCan published an article about Bobby Jameson, a recording artist, who within that article alleged that he has been unfairly treated by Ace Records, Rev-ola Records and Cherry Red.We reproduced information given in an online petition in good faith, but we retracted the entire article on the afternoon of Tuesday 13th October as it has come to light that, as with everything, there are two sides to the story and we recognise that our article did not reflect this. The parties that have allegations levelled against them by Bobby Jameson are prominent in the music industry and are well respected for their probity. They wish to state that any issue that Bobby Jameson has over royalties should be taken up with an entirely separate label as they are not connected with these issues.We realise that by failing to represent all parties involved, we have added to the significant distress this wider, ongoing situation is causing to specific individuals, particularly Joe Foster, although he wasn't mentioned in our article by name.  We wish to sincerely apologise to the affected parties for any distress that our article caused.

Dixie, Al and Horsey meet with spiritually challenged Burnsey (Ciaran Griffiths) and supremo Francine Hardy (Michelle Gomez) at Sorted Records HQ. Also appearing are Candy McCullough as Sherry and Eleanor Owen as Natascha, 'the best PA in London.'
 

Green Day has commissioned 21 original pieces of art inspired by music from the band's most recent album release, 21st Century Breakdown.  The paintings will be shown exclusively at the StolenSpace Gallery in Shoreditch from 23rd of October until 1st of November to coincide with Green Day's sold out UK tour and opening the day before the band's shows at London's O2 Arena.
The band, who have sold over 60 million albums world-wide, feel that art and music share a common bond. "We're really excited to be associated with this incredible show," Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong said, "Seeing the pieces that our new album has inspired is very exciting. We feel a strong connection to that type of creative expression; we think the fans coming out will love it."
 

The show's curator, artist, Logan Hicks, said that the gallery will feature contributions from an international pool of artisans, such as world renowned New York-based painter Ron English, Amsterdam-based street artists The London Police, French stencil artist C215, British illustrator Will Barras along with artists Eelus, Chris Stain, Sixten, Adam 5100 and more. Each of the collaborating artists were each sent through a lyric sheet and asked to produce a piece of art that reflected that song, to highlight the connection between music and art."I chose artists whom I felt had a similar visual approach to art as Green Day does to its music," said Hicks, a stencil artist and die-hard punk-rock fan, whose portraits of band members Billie Joe Armstrong, Tre Cool, and Mike Dirnt will also be on display. "Although most of the artists represented are well-established in their careers, they embrace the same emotional rawness with their art, which speaks from the heart and swings with the fist."A number of the participating artists were featured with Hicks in Banksy's "Cans Festival" which took place last year in an abandoned taxi tunnel behind Waterloo Station and attracted over 120,000 people on the opening weekend.
 
StolenSpace GalleryDray Walk, The Old Truman Brewery 91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL United Kingdom www.stolenspace.comOPENING TIMES: Tuesday - Sunday 11:00am - 7:00pm
 








 

Bands both well-established and those just starting out are giving away songs/EPs/albums for nothing, with the realisation that a) money is sparse, b) there are more bands around than ever and c) it’s much easier and cheaper to release tracks digitally, so why not go for broke and put them up for grabs.
 
Each month we’ll be highlighting the best free music around; mostly of bands and artists from Manchester and the surrounding area, but also if we find any goodies of acts set to grace our city in the near future, then we’ll chuck them in too.
 
Ok, let’s start with one of the hottest bands of this chilly autumn, Delphic. Having supported Orbital on two sell-out Academy dates and also playing to the masses beneath the streets at Warehouse Project, the Manc trio have expanded their free EP by another mighty track. Brand new song ‘Alternate’ accompanies live versions of the monster singles ‘Counterpoint’ and ‘This Momentary’, as well as a remix of the former. Simply sign up to their mailing list and download the goodness. http://delphic.cc/
 
Sonic Boom Six, Manchester’s genre terrorists aren’t busy enough with their high-energy band touring constantly. No, this past year they’ve started their own record label under the name of Rebel Alliance Recordings. Featuring the punk & ska likes of Random Hand, The Babylon Whackers, Mouthwash and SB6 themselves, they’re giving you the chance to download a label sampler with brand new and exclusive tracks from all the aforementioned. Here you go. http://www.rebelalliancerecordings.com/freedownload.cfm.
 
Peterborough horror-punk-rockers The Ruined are hitting the road on tour, stopping in Manchester this Thursday as part of the 3 Way Dance gigs. They’ve oh so kindly put up a ‘Best Of The Ruined’ for those who aren’t scared of the undead. A personal highlight is the splendid cover of Dramarama’s ‘Anything Anything’. Dig it.
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?qtmmtymqy1t
 
They’re heading out on tour this month after a summer of big support slots and national press. Kid British are the modern day equivalent of The Specials. With their hip-hop influences, reggae-pop just got a 21st century twist. Sign up to their mailing list for a free early demo. http://zaphod.uk.vvhp.net/reg/reg.pl?id=3853-80627
 
This update has come too late for this to be of use, but The Longcut’s long-awaited return to the fore has come with new album ‘Open Hearts’. And boy, is it super. They had the whole darn thing available for nowt for anyone buying tickets to their recent Manchester Academy gig. The offer’s gone though, but the album’s so good (check the review on here), that you’ll feel like you’ve robbed them in any case. Buy, buy, buy. http://www.myspace.com/thelongcut
 
The Shadowcops are punk n’ roll in the vein of The Replacements and The Wildhearts and debut full-length ‘A Big Pot Of Hot’ remains one of this year’s favourite local releases, with it’s relentless riffs and hooks. For a taster of that record, get your mits on this free live album from a gig in Stockwell last year. Raw recordings, but they’ll give you an insight. http://www.theshadowcops.co.uk/downloads/liveinstockwell/
 
Air Cav are also guilty of feeding us with awesome sounds this year, with a few bloody brilliant singles falling through our door. Soaring post-punk indie-pop that is so hard for both expert musicians and the most passive of radio listeners to ignore. A free bunch of live tracks are here for you to have.
http://www.aircavmusic.co.uk/showscreen.php?site_id=44&screentype=site&screenid=44&newsaction=showitem&newsid=2624&dc=6&sn=News
 
Beauty without words comes next in the form of Tim & Sam’s Band (I think they’ve renamed themselves to avoid typos/tongue-twisting). Instrumental delicacies of the highest calibre. Almost lullaby-esque, the experimental/folk collective have gifted one of their tracks to those who sign up to their mailing list. A fair swap, surely. http://www.myspace.com/timandsamstimandthesambandwithtimandsam
 
They may not be from here, or playing here anytime soon, but Sheffield gruff-punks Calvinball have warmed hearts on their previous visits to Manchester’s DIY scene. They’re playing the super-sweet Fest in Florida next month and their debut album, ‘Live Fast, Go To Bed Early’ is totally free, man. So get on it. http://notshyofthediy.blogspot.com/2009/10/calvinball-live-fast-go-to-bed-early.html
 
Well, that’s your lot for this month. All that music for zero pounds, zero pence. You’re very welcome.
 
This music was all made free with the intention of it being shared, so if you like it, spread word. If you don’t, but think you know someone who might, pass the link on. Likewise, if you’ve come across any more freebies, let us know by leaving a comment below.
 
Ciao for now!

 

Words : Mike Pollitt. I was both excited and dismayed in equal measure about the prospect of this being held in the smaller Club Academy - it seems, as Ginger himself remarked, that next time everyone should buy their tickets earlier so they can play at the big one! Nevertheless it was completely sold out (with touting fuckers ripping people off for £60 outside), and it was certainly an opportunity to watch the boys in a more intimate setting despite the catalogue of (mainly technical) gripes I have with Club Academy. I'm not sure if it's where you stand in the venue or the system they've got in place but it can be very much hit and miss. Tonight started off as one of those misses I was so dreading. The guitars were pretty inaudible and I couldn't even hear CJ's microphone. Things did rapidly improve by about the 3rd or 4th song to give them their dues, and by the time album highlight, "Tim Smith", was blasted out we were back to full-on rock goodness. Speaking of the set list, I'm really not a fan of the way they've gone about it on this tour. The set was split into two halves with a full rendition of the album in the first and then a second half of classics for the masses. I understand completely why they did it, of course some of the songs would be played here and then never get another airing, but I'm personally not a big fan of doing it. Of course if you poll the option out on your website though, then you're more than likely only going to get complete die-hards responding who are going to want the whole album. For me, part of the fun of any gig is not knowing the set list and getting that bit of a tinge in your bollocks when you hear the intro riff to one of your favourites. Doing it this way turns it into more of a showcase, and I think you should save that until it reaches Earth Vs. status! Right, so up to now you might think I'm a right whinging twat. You'd be right of course, but I can be positive when I want to be, and the boys were in fine fettle tonight it must be said. "Plastic Jebus" was played a couple of keys lower which sounded a bit weird, and I dare say "The Only One" and "You are Proof..." might have been better suited to the All Time Low gig going on next door, but I suppose that's what you get if you want to appeal to the Kerrang! generation. The rest of the new Chutzpah! album is immense though, and it really was performed well once the technical side of things improved. "Nothing Ever Changes..." and "Red Light, Green Light" were also both quality inclusions. In all honesty it probably wasn't the best time I've seen Ginger and his men and I would rate it fair to middling on the points scale. Had it not been for the venue issues and the showcase set list, however, it would have fared much higher!   Set List: 1. The Jackson Whites 2. Plastic Jebus 3. The Only One 4. John of Violence 5. You Are Proof that Not All Women are Insane 6. Tim Smith 7. Low Energy Vortex 8. You Took the Sunshine from New York 9. Mazel Tov Cocktail 10. Chutzpah! BREAK 11. Nothing Ever Changes but the Shoes 12. 29X The Pain 13. Red Light, Green Light 14. Sick of Drugs 15. Suckerpunch 16. TV Tan 17. My Baby is a Headfuck 18. Caffeine Bomb 19. I Wanna Go Where the People Go                 

Words: Tea N' Cakes
I’m a total and self-confessed Suns novice, but word has it they’ve been causing quite the stir - Later with Jools Holland is interested no less (insert necessary eyebrow raise and “ooh get you” noise here). They’re a bunch of lads from Chester; a “garage band from garage land” according to them, with influences including The Rolling Stones, The Clash, The Doors, The Velvet Underground and John Lee Hooker.
Flolloping onto the stage came one of the most motley bunches I’ve clapped eyes on. But when the music began an odd black magic happened and I understood why.
Every visual genre was represented. Guitarist 1 - high Beatles guitar with hair cut and knowing smile to boot, 50s happy go lucky/90s minorly strung-out looking and skinny sort of bassist, a man straight out of the 70s graces the other side of the stage complete with phallicly hung guitar and inordinate amount of ample hair tossing. The drummer is your ordinary looking bloke aptly named Dave - injecting some normality to the band. Lead singer Jono, is wearing a farmer’s wax coat, hands firmly in pockets and stares trance-like into the middle distance throughout the show. Picture painted - now for the sounds.
Still, the genre-spanning continued. To describe it in a nutshell would be impossible so I won’t bother. The first couple of tracks had a 70s punk vibe overlaid with an almost Smiths-like 80s vocal. Which to listen to is as passionately delivered as they come, made all the more compelling by the complete woodenness on stage. The 70s punk sound meanwhile has proven too much for the 60s Beatles guitar, who’s strings have stubbornly snapped. Kerfuffling happens on stage while a new guitar is sought
“Ere Joel,” shouts the Jono to the manager, “can ye choon this to a D?” The crowd laughs, and suddenly the band are human. They follow up with a western-influenced track reminiscent of horse riding and hooten' tooten’ – which raises in tempo to a riotous crescendo. It’s like they’re a Buddy Holly, spaghetti western Kaiser Chiefs. A scintillating mouth organ filled folk number follows, and the set rounds off with a 70s stomp fest T-Rex-y crowd-pleasing treat.
I do realize quite how many references to other eras and bands I have made - but I don’t care, 'cause to be frank, who wants to boxed in anyway?
Not Howard Marks, it would appear…
http://www.myspace.com/00thesuns00

Sonic Boom Six are on tour throughout October 2009
See them at...
TUE 13th Oxford AcademyWED 14th Norwich WaterfrontTHU 15th London GarageSAT 17th Liverpool AcademySUN 18th Glasgow StereoMON 19th Aberdeen TunnelsWED 21st Manchester Academy 4THU 22nd Newport TJSFRI 23rd Peterborough ParkSAT 24th Sheffield AcademySUN 25th Newcastle Academy
http://www.myspace.com/sonicboomsix
 








 

A specialist Volkswagen camper van rental company is benefitting from a shift in the UK's music festival culture. With over 150 music and performing arts festivals planned for the UK next summer, and with the great British summer weather proving notoriously unreliable for yet another year, a camper van is an increasingly popular way to survive the festival season. In the past four years Southampton-based Kamper Hire has seen a huge increase in the number of their Volkswagen camper vans being hired to take to a festival. Many organisers have been quick to react to this new trend by selling tickets for camper van-only sites. "The generation who spent their teenage summers at Glastonbury and Reading have grown up and had kids, but that doesn't mean they want to change their lifestyle completely," said Kamper Hire's Mark Daysh. "Every year more and more people are taking our vans to festivals because they're a really civilised way of coping where facilities are often pretty basic. Festival rentals have trebled since 2004 and the 2009 Glastonbury weekend was fully booked from last January."
 

One of the first festivals to embrace the new multi-generational trend was The Big Chill.  Described as "where dance music went when it grew up", the event was one of the first festival to feature a children's area with special facilities and services laid on. Latitude (Henham Park, Suffolk) followed suit with a children's area as diverse as the rest of the festival, with books, art, music and theatre activities. Camp Bestival had a Kids' Garden complete with dressing up tent, maypole and the Breastival Mother and Baby Temple. All three festivals offered free entry for children 12 and under and had dedicated camper van sites. Kamper Hire's fleet of brand new VW 'California' conversions are fitted out to the highest specification, with everything required for a week on the road - or in a field. The £38,000 vans are equipped with a gas cooker, fridge, sink with running water, and all crockery and cooking utensils. The vans can accommodate four people with ease: the front seats swivel round so everyone can sit around the dining table; the main cabin seats convert to a comfortable double bed, and everyone loves the electrically powered pop-top roof bedroom. "Taking a camper to a festival means everyone has a comfortable bed, the vans are safe and secure, and having heating, hot water and a fridge can make a huge difference when the weather turns nasty," said Mark Daysh. "Then, after the festival is over a lot of people carry on and go and chill out somewhere else for the rest of the week." Located only 30 minutes drive from the ferry port at Portsmouth, Kamper Hire is well-placed for travelling throughout southern England and Europe, and customers can leave their car at Kamper Hire's depot while on holiday. Portsmouth has the largest choice of ferry destinations in the UK, with routes to France, Spain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Wight. Weekly rental rates for the T5s start at £550 inclusive of VAT, unlimited mileage in the UK, insurance for one named driver, roadside recovery and a welcome pack. Optional extras include cycle and surfboard racks, awnings and sun canopies, and European satellite navigation systems. More information can be found at the website, www.kamperhire.co.uk, or by contacting Kamper Hire on 0845 226 7869
 

The latest form of surfing will be gracing the Cornish waves this weekend (17/18 October) to decide the new British champions. In a brand new event for Watergate Bay, the Extreme Academy will host the final round of the British Stand Up Paddle Association (BSUPA)'s national championships. The sport, which blends longboard surfing with paddle power, is one of the fastest-growing activities in the country and has attracted numerous celebrity afficionados including Hollywood stars Jennifer Aniston and Kate Hudson.








"Stand up paddle surfing has really surged in popularity over the last couple of years," said event organiser Richard Marsh of the BSUPA. "The sport is really accessible. It appeals to people from a wide range of watersports backgrounds, from windsurfers to fishermen, but this year it has been the competitors with a strong surfing background who have been dominating the events. "We have two different disciplines - there's a distance race where the competitors paddle a set course of anywhere between two and six miles, and we also run a traditional-style surf competition where riding waves is the focus." As the deciding event on the four-stop series, the 'Extreme Academy BSUPA 2009 Series Finals' is expected to attract many of the country's top paddleboarders, who will go head to head not only to win the final competition of the year but also battle it out for the overall BSUPA 2009 Series Title Crowns. Physical fitness and good technique are essential for the energy-sapping distance race, while in the surfing division the judges will be looking for classic surfing technique combined with stylish use of the paddle. With the stand up paddle (SUP) boards typically between 11ft to 12ft in length the discipline suits experienced longboard surfers - such as series leader Jock Paterson and pro longboarder Eliott Dudley - who are used to manoeuvring larger boards in the waves. Said Richard Marsh: "The people with a surfing background know how to surf heats and they know what the judges are looking for, but at the other end of the scale we've got some novices who take part in the distance races and find it really accessible. At the moment there is some close rivalry in the middle of the fleet - it's always changing and always entertaining." Competition begins at 10am on both Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th October. Entry forms and information about the sport can be found on BSUPA's website at www.bsupa.org.uk. For information on the venue go to www.watergatebay.co.uk
 







 
Learn, Hire and Hang Out:
 The Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay is one of Britain's leading venues for beach sports and events. Founded in 1999, the Extreme Academy comprises specialist schools for surfing, kitesurfing, waveski, stand-up paddlesurf and mountainboarding; technical equipment hire; and the Extreme Store, stocking a wide range of clothing and technical equipment. The Beach Hut, located on the ground floor of the Extreme Academy, is well known as Cornwall's coolest beach hangout, and a great place to eat. www.watergatebay.co.uk
Stay:
The Hotel, Watergate Bay has emerged from a £2 million programme of investment as a must-visit beach destination. With the public areas and bedrooms all refurbished in the past three years, the décor is beach house chic throughout. The contemporary modern look, award-winning dining and relaxed atmosphere are only topped by The Hotel's unbeatable location right on the beach. www.watergatebay.co.uk
 

Housed over six stories in a former Edwardian warehouse Trongate 103 occupies almost the whole street block between King Street, Parnie Street, New Wynd and Trongate.  The venue will be the new home for a range of Glasgow based creative organisations. 
All gallery spaces are located on the ground and first floors, which are the main public spaces in the building. These will be the exhibition spaces for  Glasgow Print Studio, Street Level Photoworks, Transmission Gallery, Glasgow Project Room, Project Ability, Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre and the Russian Cultural Centre. Café Cossachok will also be based on the ground floor.
Above ground floor are the workshops and studio spaces that are primarily for use by professional artists but are accessible for education projects, classes, workshops and a range of events aimed at engaging people of all ages and abilities in the arts and creativity.








 
This is the place to see art, make art, enjoy art and just be creative. Trongate 103 opens the doors to individuals from all backgrounds to develop and enhance their creative abilities and interests through access to a wide range of art forms including film, photograph, printmaking, video, painting, ceramics, new media, kinetic sculpture and public art.

To book a space or find out about courses, events and exhibitions see www.trongate103.com
 

You'll find Café Cossachok, Scotland's first and only authentic Russian restaurant here too.

The unique furniture, the red of the walls, the vivid shawls on the ceiling and rich aroma of home cooking combine to create an intimate authentic Russian atmosphere with a menu of Russian, Armenian, Georgian and Ukranian cooking.  You can access Cafe Cossachok either by the main entrance at 103 Trongate or via the cafe's entrance on King Steet.
For more information or to make a booking please call 0141 553 0733 or email cossachok@yahoo.com

Mott the Hoople            All the way from Memphis   Mott the Hoople            Honaloochie BoogieDavid Bowie                  Drive in SaturdayMud                               Dyna-miteThe Sweet                     Block BusterSlade                             Skweeze Me Pleeze MeSuzi Quatro                   Can the CanThe Arrows                    I Love Rock 'n' RollHello                              New York GrooveThe Glitter Band            Angel FaceT Rex                             Metal GuruMott the Hoople             All the Young Dudes
 
Recorded and mixed By Nick Shakibai of SSR Creative Media Academy, Downing Street, Manchester
www.s-s-r.com
 

At the turn of the 19th century, Brussels went through a period of unrivalled refurbishment.  The city was transformed under the guidance of King Leopold II, with new districts formed and turned into neighbourhoods.  Predictably, the middle classes, merchants and artists had their houses built in the most fashionable style of the time: Art Nouveau. 
This style was launched in 1893 by two architects, Victor Horta and Paul Hankar: the Tassel House and Hankar's own private home were the examples of this new aesthetic. The use of metal structures allowed the architects to indulge in amazing innovations, and to open out the facades and interiors to allow light to flood rooms.
Below: Tassel House

 
Below: Three types of motifs tend dominate art Nouveau: the arabesque, the floral or animal pattern and the feminine silhouette.

 
Hundreds of houses, but also schools, cafés, and shops rivalled for originality. Craftsmanship in ironwork, wood, stained glass and mosaics attained really high levels of quality. The buildings of Strauven, Vizzavona, Hamesse, Sneyers, Cauchie and many others turned Brussels into one of the European capitals of Art Nouveau, alongside Vienna and Barcelona.
The decorative arts too found new impetus: posters, gold and silver work, jewellery, ceramics and glassmaking would find their place in the artistic salons - particularly those of "Les Vingt" (The Twenty) and "La Libre Esthétique" (Free Aesthetic). Under the influence of the English Arts and Crafts movement, of William Morris and Japan, the decorative arts, often referred to as minor in the past, were placed on equal footing with the Fine Arts: the decorative ensembles of Serrurier-Bovy and Van de Velde, the posters of Crespin and Privat Livemont, the jewellery of Philippe Wolfers, the ceramics of Finch and De Rudder would contribute to making daily life more beautiful.
Articles in the decoration reviews of the period proclaimed art in all and, if possible, for all.








 
Whereas the blaze of Art Nouveau would burn bright for a dozen years or so before being followed by Art Deco, also very richly represented in Brussels, it still lives on in many streets of the Belgian capital.
The month of October will offer visitors to Brussels the unique opportunity to access more than 50 exceptional Art Nouveau interiors of buildings ranging from private houses and mansions to industrial buildings, schools, hotels and shops, some of which are not normally open to the public. Every weekend, the Brussels Biennial of Art Nouveau will focus on a particular district of Brussels and its Art Nouveau masterpieces, while a wide range of guided tours will be available on foot, by coach and by bicycle, and a number of concerts, conferences and screenings on the style will take place across the city. This year's fifth edition of the festival will also extend for the first time to Art Deco, enabling the public to discover some of the city's lesser known architectural gems from the inter-war period. Some interiors will only be accessible by prior reservation and numbers of visitors will be limited. Reservations can be made on www.voiretdirebruxelles.be, or in person at the special Art Nouveau Biennial Event counter at the Brussels Info Place (BIP), Rue Royale 2-4, 1000 Brussels. www.voiretdirebruxelles.be
www.bruxellesartnouveau.be/index.php?pos=histo
 
 
 

what it means to the industry and to the listeners

Dennis Carl Wilson was born on Monday, December 4, 1944 to Audree and Murry Wilson in Centinela Hospital, Inglewood, California, the middle of the three Wilson brothers, Brian was born 1942 and Carl in 1946.  Growing up, Dennis was the rebel of the family, constantly in trouble with their notoriously harsh father Murray. Dennis was the pretty one. He loved life, loved booze, loved drugs and loved women.
Urged by cousin Mike Love, Dennis' brother Brian formed the Beach Boys to write songs about surfing.  The band formed in August 1961 and were immediately managed by the svengali that was the boys father Murray. Dennis was the only real surfer in the band and was given the role of drummer, he had very little musical experience but picked up the basics quickly.
From the beginnings of the band, Murray Wilson pushed the boys and they quickly found success, the pay off were the psychological extremes that Murray also pushed them to.  Dennis couldn't cope and Brian didn't do any better, paying the price of Murray's attitude toward him for most of his adult life.
In 1965 Dennis married Carole E. Freedman. Carole had a son from a previous marriage, Scott, whom Dennis adopted. The couple had a daughter, Jennifer who was born in 1967. It wasn't to last though, Dennis filed for divorce from Carole on December 21, 1966, the action was dismissed and then in June 1967, Carole filed for divorced and the couple finally split.








It is as a direct result of Dennis' friendship with Charles Manson that The Beach Boys were associated with Manson and the Family. In 1968, Dennis picked up a couple of female hitchhikers, and took them back to his place on Sunset. That was opening the door. By the next night, the place was crawling with Family members, including Charlie himself. Dennis became fascinated by Manson and his followers. The "Manson Family" lived with him for a period of time afterwards, at his expense.
Initially impressed by Manson's songwriting talent, Dennis introduced him to a few friends in the music business, including Terry Melcher whose home on Cielo Drive would later be rented by director Roman Polanski and his wife, the actress Sharon Tate. Tate and several friends would later be murdered at their home by Manson Family members.
Recording sessions for Manson were held at Brian Wilson's home studio and have never been released though The Beach Boys did recorded one of Charlie's songs that made it onto the 20/20 album. Charlie's version was called Cease To Exist though The Beach Boys changed the lyrics and renamed it Never Learn Not To Love. Dennis was once asked about the integrity of recording that song and he responded by saying that Charlie didn't want a writing credit, he wanted cash and as he'd stolen enough from Dennis there was a justification in recording the song without giving Manson any royalties.
 
Below: Charles Manson - Cease to Exist








 
Below: The Beach Boys - Never Learn Not To Love








After the high peaks and deep valleys of the Beach Boys career during the late '60s, Dennis began writing songs, and finally matured as a songwriter 'Little Bird,' and 'Be Still' for 1968's Friends. Throughout the early '70s, there were at least two Dennis songs on each LP, often ballads that suited his voice and persona beautifully. He made his first attempt at a solo album as early as 1970, but quietly just released a single called 'Dragon' credited to Dennis Wilson and Rumbo.
Dennis' tumultuous personal life continued.  He married Barbara Charren on August 4, 1970. Their son Michael was born in February 1971 and their second son, Carl, was born in December 1972. They divorced in August 1974.
1975 saw him resume work on his album, recording with friend and producer Gregg Jakobsen to complete Pacific Ocean Blue. Dennis Wilson had completed his solo debut before either of his brothers, and it charted inside the Top 100, higher than either of the Beach Boys' next two LPs.
Dennis' next marriage was to a second Barbara.  This time it was Barbara Lamm the former wife of Robert Lamm, keyboardist of the group Chicago in 1976. Dennis and Karen divorced on September 19, 1977. They reconciled and were remarried in July 1978. Dennis filed for divorce two weeks later, and their second divorce was final in June 1980.
Though Dennis had started work on his second album (provisionally titled Bamboo) even before the release of Pacific Ocean Blue, he was facing increasing problems in his personal life.  His substance abuse was causing delays. While two songs ended up on L.A. (Light Album) the sale of the Beach Boys' Brother Studios prevented him from having a place to experiment with his music. Though he and Carl Wilson temporarily left the band during 1980, he eased back into the regular touring rotation during the early '80s.
Dennis married for the last time in 1983, his bride was Shawn Marie Love, allegedly Mike Love's illegitimate teenage daughter. that Dennis supposedly married to piss Love off.  They already had a child, Gage Dennis Wilson, who was born on September 3 1982.








 
Dennis had owned a 62-foot Yacht, called Harmony when he had money in the bank and The Beach Boys were at the height of their fame.  It was his pride and joy. Once he stood on the ship and looked out into the water and said that the ocean is where he belonged, and that's where he wanted to be buried.
His passion for alcohol and coke held fast leading to a very tortured relationship with the rest of the group. He would be invited back to perform with them, the addictions would get in the way and he would get the sack. He'd enter rehab, rejoin, relapse and then leave again. He had fallen behind in payments for the yach and the bank had repossessed it. The band had cut him off financially in the hope that he would complete a rehab program but nothing worked.
At the end of December 1983, Dennis was once again out of rehab, unsuccessfully. He took to hanging out at the docks where his old Yacht used to be berthed. He met up with old pal Bill Oster, who had a yacht called Emerald.  Separated from his wife, Dennis and his girlfriend Crystal McGovern spent the night of the Tuesday the 27th December on the yacht drinking.
When he woke on Wednesday morning, he began the day with screwdrivers. He and Bill cruised around the marina in a rowing boat to visit old friends, and returned to The Emerald. After lunch at around 3 o'clock, Dennis announced he was going for a swim. Nobody took him seriously because the water was so cold but equally everyone knew that he was unpredictable and determined.
Dennis plunged into the water wearing only cut-off jeans, and swam to the spot where the Harmony was docked.  He combed the ocean floor and emerged from the water holding a picture of an ex wife, that he had thrown from Harmony years before in a fit of anger. Dennis dove again for more treasures.  He resurfaced after the second dive, stating that there was a large box at the bottom of the ocean and he needed rope to lift it up.  After the third dive, he didn't resurface.
Dennis was known as a joker and nobody worried too much., but after checking the local bars to see if he was hiding out there and not finding him, the Harbour Patrol was alerted.  Dennis had drowned, it took four divers working in the dark with a pole to probe the ocean floor just 30 minutes to find his body. Dennis was buried at sea, he was only 39 years old.
When Charles Manson learned of his death, he said 'Dennis Wilson was killed by my shadow because he took my music and changed the words from my soul'.  What else would you expect?
 








 

Katie Roberton creates functional art that is not only beautiful but risque and humurous.
'After years working in London in a variety of jobs; a Japanese Bank, Christies selling cars and guns, Savills selling fine country houses and for an internet design company, I decided to leave and embark on a new adventure. After spending time with Paul Jackson whilst undertaking a ceramic workshop he inspired me to take up a place studying Studio Ceramics at Falmouth College of Art. As soon as I arrived in Cornwall I knew this was the environment I needed to study and establish myself as a designer. In September 2002 I began my course at Falmouth College of Arts, as it then was. Looking at how my work has developed over the years at Falmouth was interesting. I began making moulds, throwing and hand building and I finished purely mould making, although the complexity had altered greatly! My specialism is making plaster moulds and I began by using found objects, for example rocks from the beach, to form my own mini rockery. I then inserted lights inside the rocks and drilled holes in the tops of the rock so the light shone through the holes to create an abstract source of architectural furniture. Other more complex work includes the riding crop and the love bead chandelier which were made with many piece moulds and were incredibly fragile pre and post firing. Falmouth gave me the perfect base for my career being a University that offers a contemporary and sustainable approach to learning. We were taught to experiment and develop our own individual style. It often meant learning through making mistakes and overcoming difficulties in making work. Throughout my time at Falmouth I used a variety of techniques when creating pieces, learning and experimenting through throwing, hand-building, glazing, adding decals and through other techniques. I finished my degree in Falmouth in 2005. My work had evolved from rocks to love bead chandeliers, something that did not overly concern me, but might have caused my parents a fright when they visited my degree show!'

Katie started designing her Outlandish Creations in 2008. Her quirky objects are often risqué, but their light, fresh lines allow them to harmonise distinctively with both traditional and modern interiors. Always engineered with precision and flawlessly finished, her provocative works are both tactile and pleasing to the eye. Katie states "I want to arouse emotion by showing my feelings through my work. Delicate, luxurious, feminine, provocative and pristine. Clean and serene but at the same time hinting at a 'dark' edge."
"Without being obscene, my pieces are definitely suggestive. I use clean lines to hint at dirty thoughts," she says. Indeed, their delicacy and beauty both offset and counterpoint her visceral themes. The elegant and soft Love Bead Chandelier diffuses the light from electroluminescent strips through translucent slip-cast porcelain, while the Scorpion Rock Light, also slip-cast porcelain, was inspired by the zodiac and by the ever-present influence of the sea. The Salt & Pepper Cockshakers are a tongue-in-cheek poke at the discerning host. Beautifully made in slip-cast stoneware, these pieces are practical as well as being elegant to the touch.

 
Daintily made, the Tea Cup and Saucer is an antithesis to the traditional tea set. The pictures and lettering contrast, at second glance, with their polite and conventional form. More tea, Vicar? Riding crops carry a suggestion of dominance and submission, a secretive glance at intriguing masochistic possibilities. Cast in fragile porcelain or clear resin, these are supremely impractical: one strike and the crop will shatter. These are unabashedly flirty, delicate and entirely coquettish objects. 'Crop', made in resin, was created to signify the relationship between men and women; happy-ever-after turns in to not-happy-at-all, with emotional and sometimes physical pain. For many the riding crop turns in to the ultimate symbol of pain and control. Riding crops signify dominance and submission, a secretive glance at a masochistic world, conjuring up images of inbred perversion. Katie states that it is important not to limit the potential of a creative mind. Her drive to create bizarre and unique work was so powerful that she was not prepared to be shackled by restrictions of traditional ceramic making. Katie continues, "With this particular series of work I want to shock and produce a reaction. I want my work to instil a feeling in a viewer so they understand where my world is to theirs. Outlandish Creations enables me to open up secret rooms and explore the sensuality of my work". Katie is clearly passionate about her practice, with new ideas emerging from her inspiration from the sea and Cornish landscape and from lost and found objects delved from second-hand shops, "Beauty can be found in the simplest objects". Her daily challenge is to produce something distinctive and unexpected that encourages a smile, "I hope viewers will find the confessional nature of my pieces conveys a sense both familiar and startling."
 
www.outlandishcreations.com
 

 
Berlin has always had a reputation as a place filled with people from somewhere else. Someone who has lived in Berlin for ten years will see themselves as a "true Berliner," looking down on the person who has only been there for five. It may seem tough to find someone born and raised in the city but this is part of Berlin's charm: it never gets stuck in a rut.
German is of course the main language in Berlin but you can easily find information in English and sometimes in French. Due to the football world cup in 2006 all public transport staff got language training and should be able to help you in English.
Berlin is a beautiful city, so allow enough time to get to see the sights. A good map or iPhone app is highly recommended. While the public transport system is superb, it can be confusing to visitors, due to a lack of directional signs in some of the larger stations, so again a map or iPhone app is essential.








 


There is no city in Europe that parties harder than Berlin; the nightlife of most cities is tame in comparison. There are lots of great clubs and dance parlors.  You only need to ask around to find the most popular hotspots in town. Most of the usual good places to go are in the center of Berlin (Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg, Kreuzberg), but the eastern part of the city has all the nightlife. Berlin has also played host to the "Love Parade," an outdoor rave that attracts millions of people from around the world who dance to rhythmic techno and electronic music and crowd the streets at night.








 
So what should you see?
 
Tacheles (Oranienburgerstraase 54-56a, tacheles.de)
This was a department store damaged in the war and then squatted in 1990. It is still full of interesting artists, galleries, a cinema, a theatre, a club and lots of fun people. Videos are projected on to a huge wall opposite the complex from the top floor bar every night. The whole thing was almost torn down a few years ago when a four-star hotel was built next door, but a couple of timely lawsuits saved it.








 
Zosch
The weekends start on Wednesday in Berlin - one of the advantages of 16.5% unemployment is that nobody works on Thursdays. Zosch (Tucholskystrasse 30) is where a local Creole jazz band plays for free drinks and fun. Entrance is always free, and the setting is vintage; with low ceilings, smoky ambience and constant chatter








 


The Kit Kat Club
 
This is one of those rare clubs that has achieved legendary status before it's even been closed. It can chart it's history back to 1994 when a rather liberal Austrian couple decided to try and combine two scenes together: the hippy vibes of a Goa trance party and the hardcore love action of a fetish night. Well you can probably guess the rest. Although the orgies these days are said to be tamer than of old, let's just say that should someone offers you two fingers or four, it's nothing to do with a Nestle chocolate biscuit. If you are planning on paying KitKat Club a visit please note that only highly original, and revealing, glamour/fetish outfits will get you past the door.
www.kitkatclub.org
 









 
 

 
Kreuzberg - Berlin

Checkpoint Charlie - This is one of the most popular of Berlin attractions and lies to the north on Friedrichstrasse, it was the point which marked the end of the former American sector. Standing there now is a museum called the "Mauer Museum am Checkpoint Charlie”, Wall museum at Checkpoint Charlie which describes the history and recounts countless escape stories.U-Bahn: Kochstrasse
Friedrichshain – Berlin

 
East Side gallery – Just across the Oberbaumbrücke bridge (made famous in the film Run Lola Run) stands the largest remaining section of the wall, saved by artists who’ve turned it into a canvas for their work. Called the East Side Gallery it runs along Mühlenstrasse at the river’s edge.Between Warschauer and Ostbahnhof S-Bahn stations.
Berlin – Mitte

Auguststrasse is a good street to explore the modern art gallery scene. Just down the road is Tacheles on Oranienburger Strasse, which is a great stop off on your sightseeing adventure, as it is one of the last authentic places in Berlin to be occupied by squatters. It acts as an artistic, creative commune that’s a great place to visit, if you dare to venture upstairs! It’s open to the public and there’s always artists working and exhibiting there. During the summer the beach bar at the back is also a great place to have a drink. See Tacheles before it’s made into another luxury development.S-Bahn: Oranienburger Strasse.
Hackescher Markt - You will find a food market here on Thursdays and Saturdays. The rest of the time it’s a hub of tourists frequenting stylish Berlincafés and the two authentic style cinemas called kino central and Hackescher Höfe film theatre which sometimes have films in their original language. This part is also only a stone’s throw from the river Spree where you can take a boat trip in the warmer months. Also nearby are Alte Schönhauser Strasse and Münzstrasse which have some of the more exclusive boutiques and flagship stores, a must for any serious shopper. Check out the Be-My-Guest shopping guide for a run down of the highlights.S-bahn: Hackescher Markt U-Bahn: Weinmeisterstrasse
Alexanderplatz or ‘Alex’ to the locals, named after the Russian Tsar who visited in 1805, used to be the Berlin Centre for the inhabitants of the former East Berlin as it is today for residents of the surrounding area. The huge square is a popular meeting place and has great transport connections. There you’ll also find one of the most famous of Berlin landmarks, the iconic 386m TV tower (Fernsehturm), affectionately know as the Telespargel (Tele-asparagus) because of its shape, it’s a ‘must-see’ for its views over Berlin on a clear day. On the far side of the station you’ll find the Nicolai-Viertel, the Nicolai quarter with its famous double steeple church and slightly further on, Museum Island in the middle of the river which, as the name implies houses most of the major museums including the Pergamon. If you enjoy exploring a city on foot, carry on walking from here towards the Brandenburg Gate at the end of ‘Unter den Linden’ and on to the Reichstag (parliament building).S-Bahn/U-Bahn: Alexanderplatz
Charlottenburg 
Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche - In the centre of the busy shopping area of Kurfürstendamm near the Zoo is another of the most famous Berlin landmark. The Gedächtniskirche (memorial church) is a preserved ruin of a once great church which was partially destroyed during WWII. The damaged spire of the old church has been retained as a memorial and its ground floor made into a memorial hall.Kurfürstendamm, U-Bahn/S-Bahn: Zoologischer Garten
Treptower

 
Soviet Memorial - This is one of a number of Soviet war memorials in Berlin but this one is on a grand scale. It’s a real must-see on your Berlinsightseeing tour. The statue alone is one of the largest in Europe. Set in a corner of the expansive Treptower Park, south east of the centre, it’s well worth the effort. A nice thing to do is to sample some of the Berlin cafés along the river whilst you’re there.S-Bahn: Treptower Park
 
Looking to experience the real Berlin as a local?
Be-My-Guest is a new on-line experience specialising in short stay Berlin Bed and Breakfast's, Guesthouses and stylish Berlin holiday apartments. It's designed for the culturally curious traveller with taste. For the price conscious family, businesses, couple or friends wanting to feel at home in Berlin!  Be My Guest publish holiday apartments in Berlin which cover all central areas as do the Guesthouses and Bed and Breakfasts in Berlin...
www.be-my-guest.com
"The concept of Be-My-Guest came to us in the year before we moved from London to Berlin. At that time we were frequent travellers to Berlin. We came to realise how difficult it was to find accommodation with local character and style, places that were affordable, with all the comforts from home.
When we first built the site as well as wanting it to look clear, stylish and inviting, we wanted to make the pratical on-line experience of finding and booking an apartment an easy process. That's why we work with developers who are really focused on make the browsing, searching, locating and booking an apartment, a near pleasurable experience to use.
We also thought about what other aspects of an on-line holiday accommodation service that we would like. One thing that we decided is that we would only publish accommodation that we would feel happy in staying in, ourselves. We're hoping this gives you, the guest, a little reassurance when staying in one the places that we represent.Additionally, we thought aspects of other on-line holiday accommodation websites that we found were lacking. We pinpointed the lack of good information about the city that they were promoting. That's why we wrote our guide to Berlin. It's on the left hand side navigation and covers lots of interesting information: Berlin sightseeing tips, shopping/restaurant guide as well as how to get around. In addition to the guide to Berlin, it's sometimes annoying not knowing what district you should stay in, so check out the area information guide. Great to read if you’ve never been to Berlin before.'
 

Friday 23 & Saturday 24 October sees the return of Wildscreen's WildPhotos event, the UK's largest premier photography symposium for those passionate about nature photography. With a sensational line-up of the world's finest nature photographers and industry experts, including winners from the prestigious Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, this two-day event, held at the Royal Geographical Society in London, promises to inspire and enthuse.

WildPhotos is aimed at anyone with a passion for wildlife and high-quality imagery, whether amateur or professional photographers, working in the photography or publishing industries or wanting to make more use of the power of nature photography to move and inspire people.
2008 Wildlife Photographer of Year category winners David Maitland and Brian Skerry give their feedback on last year’s event:
“I learnt a great deal from fellow photographers and was thrilled to meet and rub shoulders with so many ‘greats’ in the nature photo world! You put on a wonderful event - brilliant” said David.
Brian Skerry echoed David’s enthusiasm, “I thoroughly enjoyed the entire event and made many new friends.  In fact I can honestly say that the time I spent in London, between Wildlife Photographer of the Year and WildPhotos, remains one of the finest experiences of my career!…I feel privileged to have presented lectures.  I very much hope to be part of all of these things again soon.”
This year's event, hosted by Springwatch presenter and wildlife photographer Chris Packham, includes a keynote presentation by Michael 'Nick' Nichols, National Geographic Editor at Large for Photography.
Chris Packham said, “There is nothing quite like this in the UK. It really is a gathering of the top wildlife photographers in the world - a unique opportunity to meet them, hear them and see their latest work. Testimony to the quality of the event is that such high-profile speakers are willing to join us for this international event.”
Other confirmed speakers include Daniel Beltré (Spain), Niall Benvie (UK), Orsolya Haarberg (Hungary/ Norway), Vincent Munier (France), Markus Varesvuo (Finland), Solvin Zankl (Germany) and Kevin Schafer (USA).
Over the course of the two-day event, more than 20 expert speakers will present their work, deliver inspiring talks and offer technical advice on topics ranging from marine, black and white and macro photography to how to sell your pictures.
 

WildPhotos is an initiative of UK-based organisation Wildscreen, a charity whose mission is to promote the public understanding and appreciation of the world’s biodiversity and the need for its conservation through the power of wildlife imagery
A one-day ticket costs £105; two-day tickets are £175. You can register online at www.wildphotos.org.uk

 
Sylvia Plath was born October 27, 1932 middle class parents in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. She was the first child of Aurelia Schober and Otto Emil Plath. Three years after Sylvia was born, her mother gave birth to a second child, a boy called Warren.
 
In 1936, the Plaths moved to Winthrop, Massachusetts, close to her mother's parents. Winthrop was also close by the Atlantic Ocean and Sylvia was mesmerised by it. During this time, her father, Otto, was diagnosed with lung cancer but he refused medical treatment and in 1940 he died.








 
Two years later, when Sylvia was almost 10 years old, the family moved away from the ocean and back inland to Wellesley, Massachusetts. In Wellesley, Plath and her brother started school at Marshall Perrin Grammar School. Sensitive, intelligent, compelled toward perfection in everything she attempted, she was, on the surface, a model daughter.  In 1944, Plath started Alicia L. Phillips Junior High School and managed to maintain an "A" average. She also wrote poems for The Phillipian, the school's literary magazine.
In 1947, Plath graduated from Phillips, and began her legacy of winning scholarships and awards, she won Honorable Mention in National Scholastic's Literary Contest, and remains only student in the school's history to earn a sixth letter, as well as an Achievement Certificate from the Carnegie Institute.
 
In 1947, Plath entered Bradford High School. She graduated in 1950, receiving a full scholarship to Smith College, and it was here that she wrote over four hundred poems. Smith was an all girls' school in Northampton, Massachusetts. She was ecstatic to be a 'Smith girl' though she immediately felt the pressures of College life, from the academic rigors to the social scenes
August of that year brought success, Seventeen Magazine published her short story, "And Summer Will Not Come Again," and The Christian Science Monitor published "Bitter Strawberries" a poem.
 
In 1953, Plath won the chance to be a guest editor at Mademoiselle magazine in New York. She spent the summer there. The experience was not at all what she had hoped it would be, beginning within her a seemingly downward spiral in her outlook on herself and life in general. Upon her return home in late July, she learned that she had been rejected from a writing class at Harvard summer school. She was already depressed and exhausted from New York, and the rejection made her state of mind harder to cope with. Her mother sought psychiatric help, this resulted in a series of painful electric shock treatments.
 
Finally, on August 24, 1953, she tried to commit suicide. She left a note saying she had gone for a walk and swallowed a large number of sleeping pills then crawled into a small space under her house. She was discovered three days later and rushed to a hospital. To recover, she spent five months at a private hospital called McLean's. This was paid for by Mrs. Olive Higgins Prouty, a generous benefactress of Plath. In 1950, Plath had won a scholarship from the Olive Higgins Prouty Fund and wrote to her to express her thanks. Mrs. Prouty responded and continued to be an adviser and friend of Plath throughout college. This period of her life, from New York to the end of her stay in the private hospital, Plath recorded in her book The Bell Jar. Her doctor was Ruth Barnhouse Beuscher, and Dr. Beuscher would go on to be a great help to Plath in the years to come. Her recovery was not easy, but Plath pulled through and was readmitted to Smith for the spring 1954 semester. This is really the beginning of Sylvia Plath, poet.








 
In 1954, Plath won several poetry contests at Smith College and wrote her honor's thesis on 1955 Dostoevsky's use of "doubles" in two of his novels. She graduated summa laude of her class and won yet another scholarship, this time to Cambridge University, England. Plath was excited about Cambridge for many reasons, two of which were its possibility for the best education and to find a man to marry (at that time men outnumbered women at Cambridge by the astonishing ten to one).
 
As the English winter began to bite, Plath began falling ill and sinking into a depression. She suffered from a splinter in her eye which became the subject of the poem "The Eye-Mote", and along with a cold & flu, began to think she would not conquer Cambridge after all. At the age of 23, Plath really needed someone to love and to love her. To be 23 and single in 1953, she felt she was passed her prime.
That afternoon Plath bought a copy of the St Botolph's Review and read impressive poems by E Lucas Myers and more impressive poems by a poet called Ted Hughes. Plath was told of a party that evening celebrating the publication of this new literary review to be held at Falcon Yard.
 
The meeting of Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes is probably the best-known meeting of two aspiring poets in the 20th century. Plath walked into the room with a date named Hamish and quickly began enquiring as to Hughes' whereabouts. She found him, recited some of his poems, which in the few hours since first reading them had memorized.
 
According to her journals and letters, they were dancing and stamping and yelling and drinking and then he kissed her on the neck and she bit Hughes on the cheek, and he bled. No matter what sort of hyperbole was used in the retelling of their meeting, it was dramatic and life changing. Hughes' voice boomed like the thunder of God, and his Yorkshire accent was deep and intense. She wrote the poem "Pursuit" to him and in the poem she calls him a panther. It is also in this poem that Plath announces with some insight that "One day I'll have my death of him."
 
Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes both found influences in W.B Yeats, Dylan Thomas and D. H. Lawrence, to name a few. Hughes read these poets as well and also Hopkins, Blake, Chaucer and Shakespeare. There is no doubt that Hughes helped Plath achieve the major poetic voice she would later find. The voice might have always been in Plath, the talent and drive was certainly there.
 
At Cambridge, her great academic success continued and in June of 1956 this was complemented by personal happiness when Hughes and Plath were married. The newlyweds spent their honeymoon at Benidorm, at the time this was still a quiet fishing village in southern Spain. The couple also spent time in Paris and Alicante before visiting Yorkshire to be with Ted's parents, who knew nothing of the wedding.
 
In 1957, the couple moved to Massachusetts, where Plath taught English at her old college, Smith College. Plath had extreme paranoia about her teaching ability and showed this face to nearly no one except her journal and later, possibly, to her psychiatrist. No one on the faculty that year at Smith could sense the terrible feelings eating at Plath's mind. By November, Plath and Hughes had made the tough but crucial decision to leave academia and turn to a life of writing. In a letter to her brother, Plath justified this decision saying, "Every time you make a choice you have to sacrifice something." Still the year passed and she had moments of assuredness, and moments when her mind became doubting and frail. The next year, Sylvia and Ted moved once again, to Boston. Here Plath wrote and attended poetry classes at Boston University, which were taught by Robert Lowell.
 
The couple stayed in America until 1959, when they returned to London, England. The next year Plath's first child was born. Her name was Frieda Rebecca Hughes. This same year, Plath published her first major work, a collection of poems called The Colossus.  In 1961, Plath got pregnant again, but unfortunately had a miscarriage. She also had an appendectomy, which left her stitched & hospitalized for a number of weeks. The surgery was performed at St. Pancras Hospital. It was the experience of being hospitalized that charged Plath in a writing frenzy that produced "Tulips" and "In Plaster" and also gave her momentum on writing a novel. According to Bitter Fame, Sylvia Plath began writing The Bell Jar sometime in March 1961 and she worked like mad for the next seventy days on the novel. A number of her poems directly addressed the miscarriage.  Following these events the family moved to Devon, England.
 
In 1962, Plath's first son was born, Nicholas Farrar Hughes. Unfortunately, it was around this time that the couple began to experience some problems in their marriage. During the summer of 1962, Sylvia learned of Ted's adultery and they were separated.
 
Plath took the children with her and moved to a flat in London. The winter of 1962-63 was one of the coldest in centuries and found Sylvia living in a small London flat, now with two children, ill with flu and low on money. The harshness of her life seemed to increase her need to write, and she often worked between four and eight in the morning, before the children woke, sometimes finishing a poem a day. In these last poems it is as if some deeper, powerful self has grabbed control; death is given a cruel physical allure and psychic pain becomes almost tactile.








 
In 1963, The Bell Jar was published under the pseudonym, Victoria Lucas. However, ill health was starting to effect Plath and she said, "I am fighting now, against odds and alone." Although she seemed to be recovering, and even said, "The next five years of my life look heavenly," the "odds" must have overwhelmed her. Sylvia Plath lived just long enough to see The Bell Jar in print and tragically committed suicide on February 11, 1963.
 
Plath completely sealed the rooms between herself and her sleeping children with "wet towels and cloths." She placed her head in the oven while the gas was turned on. The next day an inquiry ruled that her death was a suicide.
It has been suggested Plath's suicide attempt was too precise and coincidental, and she had not intended to succeed in killing herself. Apparently, she had previously asked Mr. Thomas, her downstairs neighbour, what time he would be leaving and a note had been placed that read "Call Dr. Horder" and listed his phone number. However, in the book Giving Up: The Last Days of Sylvia Plath, her best friend, Jillian Becker says "according to Mr. Goodchild, a police officer attached to the coroner's office . . . she had thrust her head far into the gas oven.  'She had really meant to die.'
 
Plath's gravestone in Heponstall churchyard bears the inscription "Even amidst fierce flames the golden lotus can be planted."
 








Below: 2 part interview with Plath








 








 

 
Independent film Under The Mud depicts a hectic day in the life of the family from hell. Or are they ‘one hell of a family’? Either way the Guardian says Under The Mud “may be the best British film you’ll never see”.  It’s an “upbeat comedy film [...] energetic and surreal” according to The Times. 
Filmed in Garston Liverpool, Under the Mud is made by Hurricane Films in conjunction with young people from across the city, the result of a feature film screenwriting project with a group of young people from Liverpool.  The project started when Hurricane Films (based in the city) approached a youth-led community centre in the Speke Garston area, ‘Interchill’.
Young people from Interchill and many from elsewhere became involved with the project, originating the idea and characters for the film. Over two years the core writing group cemented the plot and characters and wrote the treatment, with the backing of CAMEO, a youth empowerment organisation based in Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts.
The result is a film that critics, cinema-goers and film festivals alike have fallen in love with.
 
The action takes place over twenty-four hours, centering around the Potts household – second home to teenage slacker, Magic, who’s such a part of the furniture that his longing for the eccentric beauty Paula Potts goes completely un-noticed. To the love of his life he’s just her twin brother’s best mate.
With the family set on a course of self-destruction, aided by an old enemy of dad’s, and Paula arguing with her imaginary friend about running off to Ibiza with the local slime-ball, Magic realises that he only has a few hours to save the family, get the girl and change all of their lives forever.
 








Under The Mud is going to be available for download from iTunes from 2nd November. Under The Mud HQ is also currently packed to the rafters with boxes of hot-off-the-press shiny new DVDs, each complete with an hour of extras, and these are going to be available to buy in HMV and Borders from the November release date too.
Despite the acclaim from critics and film fans alike, the big distribution companies won’t release the film because it doesn’t have any Hollywood stars. There’s an audience out there, with plenty of people who already love Under The Mud, so Hurricane Films have decided to go it alone.  SO yes, they’ve got boxes of DVDs ready to sell, they just need to tell people about them.
This is where you come in, over to the Under the Mud team for details on how you can help tell the world that this film exists. Click the link...

 
The team have managed to find an authentic 1950's style old fashioned bus that they're going to paint with everything and anything Under The Mud and drive it around Liverpool - and not just through Garston (where the film’s set).  The bus is going along Penny Lane, past Paul McCartney's old houses, and then passed John, George and Ringo's too.  Then it will pass all the other famous Liverpool landmarks across including Liverpool and Everton's football grounds. They will even take some of the cast along for the ride!  Anything to spread the word that this film is out on DVD from November and well worth watching!
Keep track on their progress and spread the word...
-become our fan on Facebook
-follow us on Twitter (with plenty of indie film and Liverpool links)-look at stills from the film and our festival antics on Flickr -read our blog and check out our gorgeous new website -watch a trailer of the film on Vimeo
 

Below: The Under the Mud team with Ben Affleck

 

Mark Burgess is the singer and bass player in The Chameleons also a member of The Sun And The Moon, Mark Burgess And The Sons Of God, Black Swan Lane and John Lever's Second Skin amongst others.The three songs that influenced Mark are:The Beatles - I Am The WalrusSex Pistols - ProblemsT-Rex - Children Of The RevolutionMark played these three songs:ForeverLying EyesBeast
 
About Chameleons Vox'I believe in a higher intelligence to the limit of God as outlined by the astronomer Fred Hoyle is his book ‘The Intelligent Universe’. I do not subscribe to the concepts of God as outlined by Judaic, Islamic or Christian dogma, believing that the genesis myths associated with such deities have their origins in something altogether different.I believe in an underlying network of consciousness that permeates all matter and that ultimately it is this that drives the mechanics of evolution, but that the human race has cut itself off from the mainframe, giving rise to the mythical analogy known as “the fall from grace”.I believe that the final stages in the evolution of Homo Sapiens specifically were the result of genetic tampering by an unknown intelligence and that DNA from the first successful female hybrid provided the basis for our species; and it is she who has survived in human memory in the form of religions, myths and legends associated with Isis, the black Madonna and the Virgin Mary.I believe that had our civilisation continued to evolve as matriarchy, as it originally was before being usurped by those who greatly feared feminine power and principles, then the world would have been and indeed would today be a far more pleasant and civilised place in which to exist, just my own, personal opinion.I believe that civilisation is a great deal older than is generally supposed and that a fairly sophisticated, sea-faring civilisation existed on this planet at least 100.000 years ago, at a time when, so conventional thought tells us, our ancestors were still dragging their knuckles along the ground searching for tasty grubs.I believe in the conscious survival of bodily death and believe the mystery can be better understood through an understanding of the nature of time and consciousness’ relationship to it.I believe that in a great many cases the phenomenon termed ‘UFO’s’ represent intelligently guided events of unknown origin, not necessarily extraterrestrial in nature, although I don’t exclude that hypothesis entirely.I believe that the debris found at Roswell, New Mexico in the summer of 1947 was something other than a weather balloon or observational equipment associated with project ‘Mogul’ and was highly unusual in nature. I also believe that what was found scared the authorities of the day so profoundly that it led to an official cover-up of the phenomenon in general and a re-organisation of the U.S. intelligence divisions and contributed to the formation of the National Security Agency and the CIA.I believe that the murders of John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King were the result of meticulously orchestrated conspiracies involving members of the Mafia, disgruntled extremists, powerful right wing industrialists and certain government agencies that are basically fascist in nature, rather than by alienated or mentally disturbed “lone-nuts”; and that some of the people involved in one or more of these crimes still hold positions of influence today.Finally I believe that the official explanation offered for the 9/11 tragedy, that the buildings fell due to impact from passenger jets that had been hijacked by a mythical international terrorist network using box-knives as weapons is not supported by a significant amount of evidence and by witness testimony, including that provided by many of the surviving rescue teams that were in the buildings when they started to collapse; and that a full, objective and politically independent enquiry into this tragedy is long overdue.You of course are entirely free to believe whatever you choose based upon your own research, experiences and insights, which is precisely as it should be.'
 
Recorded and mixed By Craig Sanderson and Tom Harris at SSR Creative Media Academy, Downing Street, Manchester
www.s-s-r.com
 

In August 2000 Sebastian Horsley travelled to the Philippines to experience a crucifixion.
'Hours of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint-rending cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation and loss of tissue fluids.' 'Jesus was,' says Horsley,' a glorious revolutionary.'
He travelled to the Philippines with Dennis Morris, a photographer who became known from his work with the Sex Pistols and Bob Marley, and the artist Sarah Lucas, who recorded the proceedings on film.
Horsley was nailed to a cross in the Filipino village of San Pedro Cutud in order to gain an insight into crucifixion for a series of paintings on the subject. In doing so, he passed out with pain and then fell from the cross, taking the nails with him when the straps holding his arms broke.
The Filipinos, for whom the crucifixion ceremony is an annual event, claimed afterwards that God had wanted to spare his painter’s hands, although Horsley disputes this.








 
 








 
Talking about his reasons for putting himself through this ordeal, he says "An artist has to go to every extreme, to stretch his sensibility through excess and suffering, in order to feel and communicate more,"
"I wanted to break the limits of life, to test the boundaries of reality. I wanted to hack off the ball and chain of personality. To see with real eyes - painting not to imitate reality but to make it real. No pain in the artist, no pain in the viewer. No tears in the artist, no tears in the viewer."
'I have to say, Easter never really meant anything to me. That season when we remind each other of the judicial murder of a Jewish revolutionary two thousand years ago by distributing chocolate eggs to the children of people we dislike.But then I got crucified. Now, Im not religious. Well its true I worship beauty, and beautiful people like myself, but I never seem to be able to find the right church. But Ive always had a bit of a thing for the crucifixion. A host of ideas are seen to meet at the site. God and Religion, good and evil, life and death. A man should always test himself in the most superficial areas of existence.'
Sebastian Horsley's memoir Dandy in the Underworld is available to buy from Amazon

 
ANY MOVIE, EVEN THE WORST, IS BETTER THAN REAL LIFE.
 
Features
LONDONER'S DIARY
BY STANDARD REPORTER
16 February 2009
 
The Evening Standard
PICTURE THE REVOLTING DANDY
IT SEEMS Sebastian Horsley is to be a dandy on celluloid now that his scabrous no-holds-barred autobiography, Dandy in the Underworld, has been optioned by Stephen Fry's Sprout Films. Horsley's memoir was widely regarded to be one of the most revolting of recent times, and only last year he was thrown out of America on grounds of moral turpitude. He is delighted at the news, claiming that: 'Turning your book into a movie is like turning your daughter over to a pimp. Fun.'
This is despite his reservations about making the film in the UK. 'British films are usually awful,' he tells me. 'They are as boring as life in England really is. The Americans make movies, the French make films, the English make adverts.' The artist, who is perhaps best known for crucifying himself while being filmed by Sarah Lucas, likes to be the centre of attention so will he play himself? 'God no, I'd be completely miscast. It will have to be Robert Downey Jr. He is perfect. He is from the methadone school of acting. And if he is not available, I guess it will have to be Bruce Forsyth.'
Posted at 08:41 AM
 
February 08, 2009
I LIKE REVIEWING BOOKS BECAUSE IT MAKES ME WANT TO READ THEM
The New Statesman.
Swinging: the Games Your Neighbours Play Mark Brendon The Friday Project Ltd, 320pp, £12.99
Mark Brendon used to be only an alcoholic. Then he went off to a chemical finishing school to well, finish off. At this clinic he learned that everyone goes to a therapist, is a therapist, or is a therapist going to a therapist. He left and discovered that an orgy was the only form of group therapy he approved of.
I am delighted that Mr Brendon chose tissues over issues. Orgies are one of the few subjects I know anything about. I have been to many, both here and abroad. In fact, I have a feeling Mr Brendon and I have met before.
If you think the world swings like a hanged man, think again. It is very much alive. Mr Brendon tells us that there are millions of swingers worldwide (four million is the generally accepted estimate in the United States alone) and he seems to have had it off with most of them. "Over the past three years I have had sex or - as swingers have it - I have 'played' with several hundreds of female strangers. Sometimes they have been alone, sometimes in pairs. Sometimes there have been as many as seven or eight in one afternoon or evening." Mr Brendon makes me feel like a chaste whore.
Fortunately, he is as skilled with penetrating insights as he is at penetrating orifices. The book is divided between reflection and erection. We learn that swingers are faithful to their spouses and partners. That though they may play with hundreds of others, they do not have illicit affairs or unprotected, private, penetrative sex, save with their own partners. Swinging is not casual sex - it is rather well dressed.
Swinging works on the premise that the only thing boring in life is a lie. It is the opposite of civilian life, where hypocrisy is the lubricant of society, the Vaseline of social intercourse. He asks us to throw off the straitjackets of religion, morality, upbringing, and to value the impulses of the heart above social convention. As a result, the book is completely naked, unlike the rest of society. Truth can walk about naked; but lies should always be clothed.
This book is genuinely exciting and liberating. Have you ever watched the person you love have sex with someone else? He has. Me, too. Trust us, it brings you closer. The terrible dragon that slays love under the pretence of keeping it alive is finally slayed. As for lust? "Swinging takes lust - the wolf that snuffles and growls at the door of every marital home - tames it, and brings it into the house as an amusing and stimulating pet," he writes.
"I am, I think, a romantic," he tells us at the conclusion. Indeed, he is. A romantic with a little "r" is someone who talks to you after sex. However, he is also a Romantic - in the immortal words of Wordsworth: "Something evermore about to be." Like an alchemist he takes the dirty mud of jealousy, possession and coercion and turns them into the transcendent gold of acceptance, liberty and tolerance.
What he may lack in clothes he more than makes up for in good prose: "Good sex makes it very easy to get on with people - a lot more effectively than getting on with people makes for good sex"; "Tenderness and worship may tentatively foster union, but the damned are united too, and they get there faster"; "Courtesy need not wait for its reward in heaven." If language is the dress of thought there is never any excuse for denim.
When we think of swinging we think of something somehow silly and squalid. This image of it has been given to us by hack whores of the prurient press, with their moralising. They are the ones who are perverse. Journalists need scandal as the police need crime. Mr Brendon has refused to be a hypocrite. He has lived the truth of his life and it will make others question theirs. He is no different from them; he just chooses to be honest about it. He knows that without daring, there is no beauty. Of course, they will call it immorality and are envious because he dares to live, while they have not the guts. But that is England for you.
This book should however come with a warning. One thing Mr Brendon doesn't undress is that, once you have taken a bite of this particular apple, you can no longer tolerate saints. I am sure they are fine in heaven, but they're hell on earth. I mean, what is the point of a person who doesn't share themselves? It is like a bank without money. A lighthouse without a light. Christianity without Christ. By being monogamous, you are making one person happy but all the other people in the world unhappy. What right do you have to do that? No, you will no longer be able to tolerate the famous stiff lower lips of the British. They are but weeds in a garden whose flowers are players.
Posted at 09:03 AM
 
January 08, 2009
 2009 THE NEW FEAR.
All you need to be a successful prophet is to be a profound pessimist. Everything will get worse. We're in a sewage pipe baby. We're going to have to crawl along it until we die. "Oh, but what about Obama?" I hear you squeal. A black at the White House! He's no more black than you or me. Everyone's coloured, or you wouldn't be able to see them. He's half-black half-white. Must be confusing for the cunt. Doesn't know whether to rob you or shoot you. Don't be fooled. Men who have greatness within them don't go in for politics. He's just another white at the Black House My fate lies not in the stars but in a star - myself . I am sure my triumphs in the coming New Year will be as short-lived as my resolutions. My New Year's resolution: to prove physically in front of an audience that male sheep cannot get pregnant. Fuck you. Good night.
Posted at 10:39 AM
 
December 20, 2008
HAPPY KISS MY ASS
They say Christmas is for the kids and considering just how ghastly the whole thing is and just how much I loathe kids, I would tend to agree.
I must have inherited my festive feelings from Father. Father was not what you would call a religious man. He believed in nothing. It was only sheer indolence that stopped him from being a nihilist. "Easter is cancelled this year," was his annual joke. "They've found the body." Christmas was treated much the same: "Xmas? What's that? A bloody skin disease."
My childhood days were the happiest of my life which is only a reflection of the misery I have endured since. I grew up in a house riddled with standards of living. High Hall could have accommodated an entire family of Catholics. It was a soaring, rambling red-brick mansion with a maze of rooms to get lost in. At the heart of it all was the great balconied entrance hall. It was here that the sequoia-sized Christmas tree was every year planted, festooned with tinsel and piled with gifts. It was here that my parents and their coterie annually assembled to turn away the local carol-singers, to drink themselves stupid and collapse insentient instead. Yes, every luxury was lavished on me at Christmas: atheism, alcoholism and insanity.
This year will be my 45th Christmas. But how many since childhood can I actually remember? Only two. The first, I spent in Amsterdam alone I wanted to wake up on Christmas morning in the arms of someone I loved. I checked into the Grand Hotel. When the day dawned, I rose in solitary splendour and prepared myself to dazzle the prettily frost-dusted world. The streets were abandoned. The ice glistened on the canals. Down a side street, two lovers were leaning together and laughing. Away in a backyard a chained dog was yapping. Sparrows scuffled for dropped crumbs on a bridge. Solitude moaned across the city like fog horns over the sea.
But the Salvation Army was open. The true spirit of Christmas lies in people being helped by people other than me, of course. I joined the small congregation and sang. The service was touching. Men fear loneliness because it opens a glimpse into life's emptiness. But every taut sense thrills when you are alone on a day like this. Every footstep becomes philosophical. Every decision takes on a romantic cast.
I spent the afternoon chained in the arms of a whore. The brothel is a true home to the spiritual. You go there to pray. Stripped of your finery, you step into the holy of holies. You offer yourself up, your beating soul laid bare. On your knees, you discover that virtue and sin can exist in everything. This is the holy prostitution of the human spirit.
The other Christmas which I can remember was spent in company. There was no snow on the streets. But that didn't matter. I had made the preparations. And I was dreaming of a brown Christmas that year. Our presents came gift-wrapped in Cellophane. I and my friend proceeded happily to unwrap them: a sparkling mountain of extremely dangerous drugs.
Our living-room looked like a police narcotics laboratory. We spent the day roasting heroin on an open fire.
Like all creatures with a habit we did nothing. And then we did it again and we looked great not doing it. We shared our day. We slobbered sentimentally. A storm as turbulent as the traditional Christmas argument may have been brewing about us. We may have been utterly at sea. But we were jolly in our lifeboat. We pulled on another Christmas crack pipe together. The cold turkey only came later.
At Christmas we meet ourselves as we really are. That's why it's so hard to bear for the depressed. The day glows like a fire through dimpled cottage windows in an unforgiving season. But for those who can only peep through the curtains, for those who will never be invited in, it only opens even wider that empty gulf of yearning between other people's happiness and your own cold despair.
What about those on the inside? What about those who descend into the bunker of the family? It shouldn't take Christmas for us to recognise that Santa Claus definitely had the right idea. Only visit people once a year and make sure, while you are at it, that you don't actually meet them.
But aren't we forgetting the true meaning of this day: a joyful celebration of the birth of Jesus? Isn't it strange how the whole world observes Christ's birthday while absolutely nobody observes his beliefs.
Jesus was a great and radical philosopher. Here was a truly autonomous mind; here was someone who was prepared to do his own thinking, no matter what the price. A Jewish thinker enrolling in the school of the Greek cynics, he drew on traditions of outspokenness, shamelessness and unconventionality. He spoke of anarchy, anti-materialism and identification with the poor.
His message, quite simply, was that family and personal property must go. Only then could we have peace on earth and goodwill to all men. So we celebrate Christ's birthday by gathering our families together and stockpiling mountains of possessions to wage war on one another over TV schedules and who will clear up.
Gentle Jesus, meek and mild? No one made more trouble than this baby. The ass-like cult of Christianity that stands around his manger is the antithesis of the man. Christ was an anti-Christ. He was a true radical.
So do celebrate Christmas, my dears: that season when we remind each other of the birth, 2007 years ago, of a Jewish revolutionary by giving tacky commodities to the children of people we dislike.
Christ came to save us from sin. You might as well make his birth meaningful by committing them. Happy Kiss My Ass.
Posted at 03:37 PM
 
October 05, 2008
BEAUTY IS A TEMPLE TO HORSLEY'S LAW - WHERE VANITY AND EXTRAVAGANCE WORSHIP AT ITS SHRINE, AND ARROGANCE AT ITS ALTARS
Clearly God loves ugly people. He makes so many of them. He shows his contempt for life by the kind of person he selects to receive it. Crawling from primeval waters you waddled, slaves, cripples, imbeciles, the simple and the mighty, fighting for the right to breathe oxygen. It was a mistake but you did it. Little did it matter to you t