ok here I go- I used to video tape performance artists through a company called Rehab Video and there was a performance artist that liked what I did, filming wise and pretty much requested me all the time- so I became like his own "taper" if you will. His name was POPO- he was from Japan and he and his troop were always painted white - like kabuki (sp?) with a very modern twist.- He always ended his pieces wearing a wedding dress- I know- very 80's. So POPO was performing at PS 122 - (independent artist spot that used to be a school) and I had to stand on the window pane to film POPO , at his request. So while I was trying to balance myself on the ledge with a tripod and camera and trying oh so hard no to fall, I saw Iggy Pop come in and sit down right in front of where my window was. It was funny because through out the whole performance I was checking out what Iggy was doing instead of concentrating on Popo's dance moves. After the performance I joined everyone one the floor and was still a little googly eyed from seeing Iggy. I turned toward my friend and said in " Iggy Pop's here." Then I heard someone near us say, "Yeah he was." It was David Byrne and I just looked at him and was like " whhhaaaaa". I was embarrassed, but I remember thinking that it was such a cool night. -- I am easy to please, I guess. Cheers.

THANK YOU!!!!! I am eating up your stories!!! I love it!! Thank you for taking the time to write, I really appreciate it!!!! I miss the early rawness of music sometimes. I know there is some rawness now, but it's a little "shiny" if you know what I mean. I walked by where CB's used to be--it's going to be a clothing store- so I think it's important to keep stories alive! In return I'll trade a story with you. Cheers friend! B

Hello, here we go! The 1976 Punk Rock Fest. It was held at the 100 Club, a mostly jazz cellar at 100 Oxford Street. I had become aware of Brit punk about a year before when I was watching the Stranglers at the Nashville club in Fulham. The support band was Bronco Bullfrog. They were about to change their name to the Sex Pistols. They had about five fans with them. One of the girls started a fight with a hippy girl, then there was pandemonium, with Johnny Rotten making some guy bleed by hitting him with a mic stand. I can't remember the music much. Well, by the next year there was a movement of sorts. The 100 club is not that big, although the stage is a fair size and there is a bit of width to the place. The bill was amazing, with the Pistols, the Clash, The Jam, Buzzcocks (with Howard Devoto) and Siousie & The Banshees making their debut with one Sid Viscious on drums kind of. They did this unpleasant version of the Lords Prayer and that was when the mayhem started. I learned later that Sid had gotten up and glassed Charlie Murray, an NME journalist. Then everyone hit everyone else, just like a western bar fight from the movies. I was with an old school friend, Mik, and his friend Kim who had a punk band called 'The New Beatles'. When thinks kicked off, we dove for cover under a wrought iron bar table, and only emerged when the police arrived. We got out ok. I do remember some of the music that night though. I thought the Buzzcocks were incredible, a cut above anything else I heard. I never went to the Roxy, which became London's main club hangout, but a short while after that I went tro the Marquee club and saw a bill that featured Chelsea, (a so so London punk band) Talking heads, Blondie and The Ramones. That was extraordinary, as was a Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers gig around the same time. I never saw trhe Pistols again, although I saw PIL's first gig at the Rainbow a couple of years later!

That's pretty awesome about all the gigs!! I would love to hear about the punk festival of 1976 sometime. Maybe a weekly or monthly story? I am sure you got some great stories.
ps- i am glad you like my mix- i consider that a prize!
Cheers! B

I played on the same bill as Killing Joke a millenia ago. I would like to see them again. There are now three blues fests I am playing at with people you have heard of at one end and 'The Stepsons', my band, at the other, but these shows are so much better than the bar/dinner gigs I have been doing to help pay the rent!

you know, Killing Joke is reuniting for a tour ---minus Raven of course, but it will be the original group. And by the way Congratulations on the May blues gig! I am real happy for you!!

Thankyou. My Dad passed today. Making that mixtape the other day was a good thing to be able to do. He was a pretty cool bloke!

Swap yes! Hmmm, I really have to give dig deep in my archive of music to make you the most specialestest mix. Artwork included. :)

It will be available on amazon, lulu.com, on order from any bookstore, but I will swap you one for a mixtape. I wanted to have it ready by the end of February but it might take a little longer. There will be a web site up in a few weeks!

Oh good ole community theater. It sounds interesting anyway. could i purchase a copy if it's out?

apple juice-nice and cold, raise high, drink fast, piss later. CHEERS!

It's not very exciting. It's called "Raising The Barn" and is about community theater. The local community theater is 60 years old this year, and I am using that fact as a frame to hang a hopefully funny short book about the whole CT thing! My third book, which I hope to have out by Christmas is already half written and it is back to a music theme, a personal history of blues music in Britain. I certainly don't pick best seller subjects do I!

Anyway, I raise a glass of apple juice to you! Cheers

Hey there, you can still lift a glass no matter what is in it, so I lift a glass of yummy cherry soda your way!!! Happy New Year!! What is the title of your other book?

Happy New Year. Have a bloody great music filled twelve months! If I still drank anything fun, I would raise a glass

I am doing pretty well, and am lifting up an imaginary hot toddy (they have to be imaginary these days I am afraid) to you. Cheers!

Hope you are doing well junior! lifting a glass of homemade eggnog to you!!! ching-ching!!

You must keep farting and fighting!!! Be well friend!

That sounds like a blast!!

I am hoping to promote a 'Night Of Surf Guitar' here in Porterville sometime next year with Dick Dale and Agent Orange as the main attraction!

I know I said it already, but Happy Birthday!!

thanks man, that's what those songs do.