bad detective

Phones

2010-05-23T11:52:00.002+01:00

Funny thing the phone. I seem to have a completely different approach to phone calls than most of the people i know in that - i don't really want to get them. When i was growing up in a red brick terrace in the Midlands we didn't have a phone, the box at the end of the road was used for the rare phone calls we had to make (our friends and relations didn't have a phone either and most of them lived within walking distance). So you popped in.
There was one house in the street who had a telephone and that was the number we gave people for emergencies and they would come and get you. They didn't seem to mind the burden of this and were generally first in the know of any gossip or tragedy in the area. The trouble was a visit from the phone owners meant a fraught walk down the terrace because calls were always important - like the hatch, match or dispatch column in the local paper it could mean wedding bells, pregnancy or death so my Mum or Dad's heart would have been in their mouth when making this short trek.
I seem to not be able to shake this attitude so i have a cheap mobile that i rarely use (twenty quid credit lasts months) and i keep phone dealings from my land line short and blunt. Nearly everyone else i know has embraced the mobile as a social and entertainment tool filling their iPhone with apps that sound like a dog farting which they will only ever open once and then forget about.
It's not that I'm anti social but i prefer the face to face debating arena of the pub or workplace, however, for some reason, i like e-mails and texts probably because there's no human contact and I'm turning into a Dalek!

Kursaals

2010-04-03T18:10:00.002+01:00

Quandary rhymed with laundry, superb!

Nick Lowe

2010-04-02T11:42:00.002+01:00

Here's Nick performing a song written by the great underated Mickey Jupp.

Skeet Surfin' from Top Secret

2010-03-28T22:11:00.001+01:00

The opening from the film Top Secret and a perfect surf parody.

The Standells Dirty Water

2010-03-28T20:30:00.001+01:00

Love this song and the fact that this clip contains some of the most lack-lustre miming you're ever likely to see, although it must be almost impossible to lip synch the spoken bits. Classic nuggets era rock though.

The Banned - Little Girl (Live!)

2010-03-22T14:18:00.001Z

I had this Nuggets-a-like cover version on vinyl. You could get on Top of the Pops on a slow week with any old schtick back then as long as you called yourself new wave.
The best part of this is the terrified look on the young girl that Tony Blackburn is manhandling at the end of the clip.

999 - Homicide

2010-03-22T14:11:00.001Z

Here's a bunch of image conscious lads. Still going i believe. I didn't put this at the top of my likes list in the punk days but i think it stands up pretty well now.

Jan and Dean - Surfin´Hearse

2010-03-21T20:50:00.001Z

Time for a surf song. This Jan and Dean song didn't trouble the charts but what a concept!

Lighten Up Morrissey

2010-03-21T20:43:00.001Z

This is another band i had on vinyl in my formative years. This is a recent track that shows they've kept their sense of humour.

Family - In My Own Time

2010-03-20T12:30:00.001Z

I'm trying to recall some of the bands that i really liked before pub rock and punk came along. This lot from Leicester were a big fave despite the double-neck Gibson. The book and film Groupie were based on their lifestyle. I saw them a few times live and whenever they came on they always seemed a bit of a gang as well as a group.
They split and Roger Chapman - after singing in Chapman/Whitney Streetwalkers - became, and still is, very popular in Germany ( the 'Hoff' it's ok to like).

Drummer Man by Tonight - powerpop on TOTP

2010-03-19T16:52:00.001Z

The bass player with this lot, Russell his name was, used to play with Wilco before Norman Watt-Roy and he was pretty good, as i remember, the B-side of this 'Stroll on By' is a terrific song and they had an album which never, as far as i know, got a release. I'd like to hear it though.

Heeeere's Henry

2010-03-19T16:22:00.004Z

I've been neglecting my blogging duties for a while now so i am making a concerted effort to put more stuff on here.
Over the last three weekends we've gigged at the Wheatsheaves, Frome cricket club and the Cross Keys at Corsley and had a fine ol' time doing the shows as per usual. I have got a weekend off now and am going to nip up the Griffin, Frome to have a couple of beers and check out the bands.
On the recording front we have recently recorded three new tracks at Western Star Studios. The tracks are called - Big Dawg, Tom Jones Show and Ton-Up Vicar - we also have a half finished number The Curse of Liberace's Tomb and these should all show up on our fourth album.

High School History 1950's B Movie Style

2009-09-03T18:36:00.001+01:00

Jiving high school history - beat stylee!

lew lewis reformer - chorus 1980

2009-04-25T15:58:00.001+01:00

Some rare footage of the great Lew Lewis. Sadly these days a very ill man with some addiction problems but i saw him a few times back in the day and he was exceptionaly entertaining. He was in the Hot Rods and played with Wilko Johnson and wrote songs for the Feelgoods.

Los Straitjackets: Tempest

2009-03-16T11:43:00.001Z

Here's a band i love doing the theme from a film i'd dearly love to see.

Popa Chubby and Galea/Race With The Devil

2009-02-21T13:03:00.001Z

Sleazy guitarist Popa Chuby whacks out a bit of Gene Vincent in the shadow of a giant ferris wheel - you've gotta love it.

B52s

2009-01-29T07:34:00.002Z

The obvious link with the vid below is that B52 is another name for the beehive hairdo i pressed the wrong key and sent it sans caption.

B52s Rock lobster

2009-01-29T07:31:00.001Z

Mari Wilson - Just What Ive Always Wanted [totp2]

2009-01-29T06:51:00.001Z

Forget yer Winehouse thats a proper beehive and this is much more fun. Nobody mucks about enough in pop music these days - not to my low standards anyway.

Fats Domino: My girl Josephine

2009-01-17T15:13:00.001Z

One of my favourite Fats Domino numbers he's managed to keep the same band together throughout his career and kept the same sound because of it - no Chuck Berry tactics of using unrehearsed pick up bands and then deliberately playing songs in the wrong key here! Class.

Griffin Xmas

2009-01-12T10:36:00.002Z

This is us playing up the Griffin Frome over Christmas. First time out for my new Hallmark Stradette guitar a design masterpiece - sounds good too!

Mighty Morris Ten - Episode Six - Deep Purple

2009-01-09T22:00:00.001Z

This pastiche of a hot rod song is brilliant Episode Six morphed into Deep Purple - pity!

Wilco Johnson Telecaster

2008-11-03T10:55:00.001Z

This is a brilliant little video diary featuring the restoration of Wilko Johnson's original Dr Feelgood Telecaster. Wish i could do this!

Dickies - Paranoid 26-7-1979

2008-09-05T23:10:00.001+01:00

This one's for Andy. Happy days eh?

Tiny Tim - Living In the Sunlight

2008-08-27T10:56:00.001+01:00

The makers of Spongebob Squarepants must be fans of Tim as well - they used this song in an episode.

Earth Angel- Tiny Tim

2008-08-27T10:42:00.001+01:00

I played some Tiny Tim on the radio show last time round. Have a look at this you've just got to love him.

Dr Feelgood Wilko Johnson Will Birch

2008-08-19T14:31:00.001+01:00

Here's a bit of a clip with Wilko sharing his thoughts on pub rock and living in Canvey Island.

B&T'S RIDES AGAIN !

2008-07-04T15:23:00.002+01:00

The publisher Felix Dennis has stepped in to help save Butler & Tanner. Hooray!
More news when i know the complete score.

New Job

2008-06-19T13:02:00.002+01:00

It looks like my old company B&T's is gone for good. So i've had to move on i'm working for a quirky little company called Telperion printers and it ain't bad. Civil hours, a good boss and money about to come in.

The Detectives are playing in Bradford on Avon this Sat and we are recording on Sun at good ol' Western Star - should be doing a song called "Binge Drinkin' Baby".

I'm a working chap again from Monday!

DR FEELGOOD

2008-05-27T21:40:00.001+01:00

I've been busy so i'm gonna be lazy and post one of my favourite vids here without much comment - but i'm back to monitoring the old blog again.

Where have i been?

2008-05-05T17:18:00.002+01:00

No posts for a month and a bit!
This venture capitalist bloke called Mike Dolan suddenly shut down the firm i work for and left me and my workmates high and dry.
Back now though - and i should be posting stuff in the next couple of days.
If you go to the Print Week website there's a good history of the dispute and i might make some comments on it as time goes by.
We're organising a fundraiser in Frome with most of the Bad Detectives and our sister band the U.K. Stiffs more on this as it pans out.

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - Goodbye Earl

2008-03-24T21:55:00.001Z

A redneck tale of desperate trailer-wives written by the Dixie Chicks and peformed for your edification by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Punk cover band in excelcis!

The Sonics

2008-03-22T21:31:00.003Z

We went up to the Forum in Kentish Town last night to see the Sonics. They were pretty damn good too.
Met up with my cuss Joss and Nadia his missis who took us to a pub called the Pineapple for a drink before the show.
The Forum has a dark past as it was a meeting place for Mosely's blackshirts in the 30's and there are still a couple of facisti emblems on the wall. These days it is a very good venue re-furbished from the old Town & Country Club by the Mean Fiddler mob.
A diverse group of Mods, Rockabillies, Punks and vinyl junkies gathered to watch the Sonics rip the place up and it is a delight to report they were still playing fast and loud.

New Tracks

2008-03-22T15:42:00.003Z

We were in Western Star for a couple of days last week recording stuff. The plan was to put out an e.p. but we recorded three new tracks - Demob Suit, Put My Stoneage Woo On You and Crazywell Pool - and remixed four left from other sessions - Drummer Owns The Name, True Crime, Roadkill Grill and Dunmow Flitch so now we've got half an album and that's the new plan after more taping later in the year.
The picture above is of Alan Wilson formerly of Rockabilly outfit the Sharks and now head honcho and all round big kahuna at Western Star enterprises.
The recording involved the consumption of six portions of fish and chips, one king-size deep pan pizza, two tubs and three packets of sweets, one family size bag of quavers, one family size bag of crisps, assorted John's Bakers pasties and sausage rolls (+ some horrible pies from Asda), numerous cups of tea and a couple of family size bottles of fizzy pop.
That's one debauched rider!

The Race Is On

2008-03-06T00:46:00.001Z

Here's George again performing a song thats been covered by the Stray Cats featuring Dave Edmunds. This must have been one of the hickest shows on American t.v. - but you've got to love the corniness of it all.

George Jones-White Lightning

2008-03-06T00:33:00.001Z

Sometimes my old pal Ralph and i bounce topics off of one another. He's just posted The Fall covering White Lightning best known in this country as a hit for the Big Bopper. The original version was by the songs writer George Jones almost a parody of the wife beating, much married, alcoholic country star. Here's a young George performing the song - dig the buzz cut and the suits from Nudies western tailors.

Alice Cooper - Elected

2008-03-05T00:04:00.001Z

A snake, a barrowload of money and a smoking chimp - i want to be elected too!

Ian Dury - Sweet Gene Vincent [OGWT]

2008-03-04T23:49:00.001Z

Computers working again so to celibrate here's the late great Ian Dury performing my fave Blockheads song with Wilko Johnson going bonkers nut crazy on his telecaster.

New Song

2008-02-29T14:40:00.003Z

We got the new song recorded last Friday - it's called Midnight Brighton Run. I sort of wrote the words, Andy wrote the skeleton of the tune, Paul stretched harried and shoehorned it all together, Chris tied it down and Ivan played bassline "B" of his epic repertoire.
Alan is going to submit it to the guys at the Ace for inclusion on the new c.d. (see previous post) so fingers crossed.
Quick post this as it's on a borrowed computer one of the kids has temporarily killed mine.

Ace Music

2008-02-20T18:13:00.002Z

The above pic is me stood outside Londons Ace Cafe. The good people there are releasing an album related to the motorcycle scene and featuring bands with a connection to the Ace. Thus this Friday we're going into the Western Star studio complex to record a contribution to this illustrious project.

The Ace cafe was the meeting place of choice for the ton-up boys in the 1950's and is conveniently located alongside the North Circular Rd in London. It's been restored and refurbished and now holds hot-rod, vintage car and motorcycle rallies. Bands play there too - and of course you can get a fry up with a mug of tea. Well worth a visit.

Monkey

2008-02-18T21:40:00.002Z

When i was posting that last video i remembered that Difford and Tilbrook wrote a song for Dr Feelgood (they toured together for a bit with Squeeze) called Monkey which nicks the riff and feel of the Undertones number. I searched for it without much hope but found this interesting clip of an unknown Japanese band covering it. Weird.

The Undertones - You Got My Number

2008-02-18T21:26:00.001Z

Loved this single when it came out - still sounds good now. That Feargal turned into a very grumpy old bugger didn't he?

MST3K- Here Comes the Circus

2008-02-04T11:39:00.001Z

They used to show this series on sunday mornings somewhere amongst the satellite channels. The premise is simple a guy is stranded in outer space with a crew of robots and forced to view b-movies and obscure shorts in a bid to crack his spirit. They resist this by taking the mickey out of the films and making comments over the soundtrack. Hugely enjoyable and a big underground cult success in the U.S.

Wanda Jackson - Cool Love

2008-02-04T11:18:00.001Z

Leather lunged rock 'n' roller Wanda is here backed by fast picking country ace Joe Maphis. I'm not keen on double necked instruments but this specialy made early Mosrite don't look too bad.

The Renegades - 13 Women

2008-02-02T16:04:00.001Z

British freakbeat combo The Renegades rip it up with a cover of Bill Haley's Thirteen Woman in one of the oddest promo films you'll ever see. Shot in a Finnish garment factory - unhinged and truly exceptional!

The Sunrays - I Live For the Sun

2008-01-29T19:30:00.001Z

When Brian Wilson's dad Murray fell out with his son in the studio he signed, recorded and promoted this direct rip-off and made a pretty good job of stealing the Beach Boy sound.

Bobby Fuller 4 on Hollywood a Go Go

2008-01-29T19:12:00.001Z

Covered by the Clash and written by Sonny Curtis of the Crickets this is the original version of I Fought the Law by Bobby Fuller.
According to music legend Barry "the walrus of love" White plays drums and produces on the Bobby Fuller track The Magic Touch. Tragically Bobby Fuller was found dead in suspicious circumstances, cut and covered in petrol on the seat of his car near to his Los Angeles home, at the age of just 23. Linking this to my love of beach movies the band appears in the film "The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini" with Nancy Sinatra, Boris Karloff, Basil Rathbone and Harvey Lembeck (as Eric Von Zipper).

The Saints - Lipstick On Your Collar (1977)

2008-01-27T21:57:00.001Z

I always think of the Saints as not quite punk. However they were a great live band with an eye for a cheeky cover version such as this one. It's also worth checking out their version of Elvis' Kissin Cousins on their first l.p.

Kings Arms

2008-01-25T11:20:00.001Z

Bit late with this one but we played at the Kings Arms Bath with the U.K. Stiffs on Saturday last and had a great time.
The people there were well up for a bit of live music and the place has a good atmosphere. We have been invited back to play gigs in the summer and autumn so looking forward to that.
The band received its first songwriting royalty cheque this week which by the time we divied it up came to about £13 each - a proper milestone!

That'll Be The Day

2008-01-17T19:42:00.001Z

The bit in That'll be the Day where Billy Fury (Stormy Tempest) would like to get shot of Keith Moon. Terrific film and also follow up Stardust who's cast includes Brinsley Schwarz and Dave Edmunds.

Peter Cook - Superthunderstingcar

2008-01-17T19:17:00.001Z

From Not Only - But Also - Pete and Dud take the piss out of Gerry Andersons creations. It was a bit of a curate's egg as programmes go but this is great.

Arrows, I Love Rock N Roll, Alan Merrill

2008-01-16T16:40:00.001Z

This is another song with a big hit cover version - Joan Jett of course - the Arrows tv show used to be on when i got home for me tea off the day shift during my apprenticeship.
Cup of tea, fry-up and third division glam rock boy bands on the telly .... unbeatable times!

Hoodoo Gurus - What's My Scene

2008-01-16T16:03:00.001Z

Top tunage from Aussie garage band and jangle rock specialists the Hoodoo Gurus. A big hit in their native country this did squat over here but it's a treat for the eardrums in my view.

Gary Lewis and the Playboys - Little Miss Go-Go

2008-01-15T20:36:00.001Z

Not one of his best known numbers but this is beachtastic in the extreme. Group leader Gary is the son of comedian Jerry Lewis - they got their first gig (at Disneyland) without revealing this fact and started to attract big crowds then management stepped in and made a big deal out of his pedigree.
Gary Lewis had a weak voice and studio trickery was used to make it sound good enough to win him Cashbox vocalist of the year in 1965.

Yul Brynner as Transvestite Cabaret Singer

2008-01-15T13:57:00.001Z

This clip is from the Magic Christian a film based on the book by Terry Southern. I'd read the book before the film came out and was quite disappointed with the adaption although it had some high points.
The cast included Peter Sellers, Ringo Star, Spike Milligan and almost every British character actor on the scene. There were cameos from Christopher Lee, Laurence Harvey and this one involving Roman Polanski and Yul Brynner. Paul McCartney, Badfinger and Thunderclap Newman were all involved in the soundtrack recordings so the film is very interesting to look back at just for it's "jam it all in" attitude.
It turns up in the schedules sometimes so try and catch it - there isn't much plot but it is a not very subtle reflection on greed and morals. The set pieces hit or miss in about equal measure.

The Velvelettes - He Was Really Saying Something

2008-01-14T16:32:00.001Z

When we were on Frome F.M. this year we played original versions of songs that became hits as cover versions and here's a good one. Bananarama covered this and had a big hit but here are the original artists the Velvelettes.
They had a northern soul favourite with the song Needle in a Haystack too - it's one of the best girl group songs ever.

Nashville Teens - Google Eye

2008-01-13T00:01:00.001Z

The Nashville Teens biggest hit Tobacco Road was written by John D. Loudermilk as was this great follow up. The Teens are the backing band on the superb Jerry Lee Lewis - Live at the Star Club Hamburg album.
Loudermilk was a cousin of the Louvin Brothers and also wrote Sittin' in the Balcony for Eddie Cochran. Other artists who covered his work include the Everly Brothers, Johnny Cash and Paul Revere and the Raiders. His own recordings, some made using the name Johnny Dee, are well worth looking out.

The Times - I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape

2008-01-12T21:21:00.001Z

I played this on our little local radio show to Ivan's derision - i have no excuse i just like it. They must have had oodles of fun making the video as well.

Yardbirds-

2008-01-11T20:53:00.001Z

Here's a rare and great clip of the Yardbirds - with Jimmy Page on bass guitar!

Rama Lama Ding Dong

2008-01-11T20:35:00.001Z

This is Rocky Sharpe and the Replays a British doo-wop revival group who did the groundwork for the more successful Darts to capitalise on (i've got an early single - Drip Drop on Chiswick). Den Hegarty and Rita Ray of Darts were in an earlier version of the backing band (then called the Razors). Den, who is now a lecturer in psychology, still sings and has recently recorded at Western Star with our producer Alan Wilson.

Dion and the Belmonts - The Majestic

2008-01-11T20:19:00.001Z

Was there ever a better white doo-wop singer than Dion DiMucci? I'm gonna help you out here - the answer is no!

Beach Party - Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello

2008-01-11T20:05:00.001Z

My favorite Annette song is Pineapple Princess but i couldn't find a clip of it. I never saw any of these beach movies at the cinema as they weren't such a big deal in this country. The fact that Britain had only just ditched rationing and post war austerity was still in the air in the early 60's meant that British teens failed to equate with the Californian sun, sea and surf scene. Televisions hunger for material meant that they turned up as cheap filler on wet bank holidays and, although i know i shouldn't, i bloody love 'em.
Annette Funicello was the Britney of her day as she had been one of Walt Disney's mouseketeers. The song Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen is a tribute to her from her friend Neil Sedaka. Unfortunately in later life she suffered from m.s.and her last appearance - in the final reel of her own made for t.v. life story - she appears in a wheelchair.

Iron Man Teaser Trailer

2008-01-09T19:19:00.001Z

I was marvel comic mad as a teenager and had a lot of the early Iron Man comics. The upcoming film seems to stick very closely to the plot of the original series and i have great hopes for it. It can't possibly be as bad as the Hulk film which was rubbish (i see they're having another go at that one - good!)

Hurriganes - Tallahassee Lassie

2008-01-09T19:04:00.001Z

I saw this Finnish band in the 70's supporting Dave Edmunds - i think - they were pretty good in a pub rocky way and this tune, originaly by Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon is a good example of their live set. Check out the version by the Flamin' Groovies too - it's ace.

Hippies

2008-01-09T18:03:00.000Z

Why isn't the world a better place? The hippy culture of the 60's preached love , sharing, peace and tolerance and there seemed to be a lot of high profile adherents to these tenets. The people who were amongst the movers and shakers of the counterculture often came from influential families and were well educated with every chance of changing the system as they inherited property and power.
Didn't happen though did it?
It seems that as the flower people grew older and reached middle age (during the "greed is good" 80's) they were worse than the generation they professed to despise. The hippies should have been able to change political goals and the exploitation of the least fortunate in society. They should have scoured the system like a peace and love enema. Instead when it became time for Moonchild and Bilbo to attend public school and living in a tee pee started to lose it's charms they grabbed everything that capitalism could offer. It's often stated that "if you can remember the 60's you weren't there" but i think it more likely this amnesia is caused by embarrassment that they had the chance to make life better and fairer and they blew it.
"Never trust a hippy" said the Sex Pistols, or at least Jamie Reid and they were right. The man that remark was aimed at was hippy poster boy Richard Branson who now fails to make the trains run on time - which makes him worse than Mussolini.
Joe Public smiles as Richard bleeds them dry in his role as the great British ballooning eccentric and alt capitalist icon so it's our own gullible fault really.
AND.....he's responsible for fuckin' Tubular Bells too!

Cud - Rich And Strange

2008-01-08T20:49:00.001Z

We used to stumble across Cud at various festivals this is great other material was perhaps not so good - i think they're still going but i aint sure.

Chesterfield Kings - 99th Floor

2008-01-08T20:38:00.001Z

Throwback garage sounds from 60's freakbeaty revivalists The Chesterfield Kings.

Camper Van Beethoven - Take The Skinheads Bowling (1985)

2008-01-08T20:31:00.001Z

This is a tune of marvelous stupidity on certain drunken evenings we are occasionaly called upon to perform this and do so with great enthusiasm.

Carl Perkins - Matchbox

2008-01-08T19:49:00.001Z

This is where i nicked the riff for Mole Man from. Carl Perkins is one of my favourite guitar players he got hooked on booze as the years went by but Johnny Cash hired him and stuck by him during the bad times.

Get Smart - First Season Theme - 1965

2008-01-04T12:59:00.001Z

Here's another top notch opening sequence. I used to love this show, a lot of the gags were written by Mell Brooks fresh from serving in the pool of writers for Sid Ceaser's "Your Show of Shows" (including Woody Allen).
The number of jokes that Mike Myers nicked from this for his Austin Powers movies probably explains why a couple of planned revivals of the show came to nothing.

Tv Theme Joe 90

2008-01-04T12:47:00.001Z

Our old pal Ralph has been suggesting favourite t.v. themes on his blog, Ralphadeus, this is one of my all time faves with probably more to follow.

Dickies Banana Splits theme song

2008-01-02T11:46:00.001Z

We did a couple of gigs over xmas at Coleford and up the Griffin - thanks to everyone who came along. As per usual we did a version of the Banana Splits song but nowhere near as manic as this take by Andy's favorite band the Dickies All together now "Na na na - na na naaa na.......!"

Screaming Blue Messiahs 'I Wanna Be A Flintstone'

2007-12-31T18:52:00.001Z

Here's a new year treat. A forgotten classic from a great guitarist and band. Yabba-dabba-dooooooooo!

70s Public Information Film - Alvin Stardust (Kids Heroes)

2007-12-26T12:09:00.001Z

Here's a reminder to keep yerself safe crossing the road when you've had a Christmas drink.
If you were about nine years old and saw Alvin coming at you with that dyed quiff and big verdant sideys you'd be more likely to run back into the traffic i would think.
Alvin was a sticker though he'd been in Billy Fury movies + Shane Fenton and the Fentones before having his big glam rock hits and just when you'd thought he'd had his chunk of fame he went to number four on the charts with "Pretend" on Stiff records. He does West End musicals now.
"We must be out of our tiny minds".

Merry Xmas

2007-12-26T11:43:00.001Z

Merry Xmas to all fans, groupies and followers of the mighty Bad Detectives may your zimmer frames never rust.
It's funny but even though i am skint and my credit card is sorely troubled by seasonal excess i have an almost irresistible Boxing Day urge to go out and invest in a new kitchen/bathroom with a red leather corner ensemble sofa and flat pack coffee table. I am going back to watch more festive commercial telly now to see if i can figure out why!

Duck and Cover-1951

2007-12-17T21:06:00.001Z

Imminent nuclear explosion? Just hide under your desk or picnic blanket - Bert the Turtle shows you how. This looks very funny and folksy now but in the 50's the paranoia about commies and the bomb was in full swing. Apart from public service messages like this nearly every sci-fi film had a "reds under the bed" sub-plot which makes excellent viewing for bad movie freaks like m'self.

Teenagers From Outer Space

2007-12-17T20:14:00.000Z

Apparently there is juvenile delinquency in outer space, at least there was in the late 50's. This is one of those good/bad movies that was the direct inspiration ( or as i like to call it "steal" ) for our song of the same name. The effects aren't bad for the time and budget but the pedigree of the film is that Warners purchased it as a job lot to be the support for a Godzilla sequel called Gojira no gyakushu - class!
They couldn't afford the giant lobster so it only appears in shadow - oh and all the teenagers look older than even the schoolkids in "Grease".
See it if you dare...

Radio Show

2007-11-30T20:12:00.000Z

Been too busy to do a lot on here lately because of the radio show but i'll get back on it soon. If you've enjoyed the show (or if you haven't) leave a message on the Bad Detectives guestbook on the main website. You can listen again to the shows on the Bad Detectives profile at the Frome FM website.

My Teenage Fallout Queen

2007-11-21T00:58:00.001Z

A hymn of praise to the atomic age.

Farrington Hootenanny

2007-11-20T23:46:00.000Z

We supported Jon Clare and the Fabulous Dough Boys at Farrington village hall on Sat. To be honest "village hall" doesn't do the place justice as it's a superb venue fitted out with the latest acoustic tiles and curtains giving a really clean sound quality. Many thanks to Clint for getting us the gig and to Trev, Geoff, Dave and anyone i've forgotten for help and multi-media support.
We were very well received and are delighted that we are being invited back in the future. We recorded the gig and if it comes out alright we may have some video and audio to post soon.

Watch the trailer for WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY

2007-11-16T13:50:00.001Z

This looks like a realy pointless and tasteless spoof - so all good there then. Jack White plays Elvis and the film sends up just about every rock 'n' roll biog' cliche going. Could be a good 'un.

Ricky Nelson Rockabilly - 3 songs featuring James Burton

2007-11-15T20:08:00.001Z

Ricky Nelson possibly the best teen idol ever. One reason for this being James Burton playing lead guitar on all his early hits. This was thought to be throwaway stuff in it's time but is actually superb.

The Thekla

2007-11-15T19:36:00.000Z

Tagged along with Paul, Ivan and Steve to the newly re-opened Thekla last Sunday night. It's been done up a bit and i think it's a pretty good venue.

We saw Kelly Stoltz who i liked - good tunes and a tight little band, Blitzen Trapper - sort of spikey art rockers very tight performance - passed the quality test and headliners Two Gallants - a monotonous, miserable drum/guitar duo who left me cold. The audio equivalent of getting all your teeth pulled out they had one gloomy song which they repeated ad nauseum until they decided to make it worse by slowing it down for the encore - dreadful.

If they were in reverse order it wouldn't have been a bad night, still gave me an excuse for a good moan.

The Olympics - Western movie

2007-11-09T12:38:00.001Z

Now i've got that off me chest - here's some good Olympics.

The Olympics

2007-11-09T12:09:00.000Z

I see they've published the design for the new Olympic stadium - it'll be half the size after the games 'cos they're ripping out a load of seats on the top tier. The reason for this is that the Olympics are over hyped crap and after the games athletics will return to it's non prime time spot in the schedules. Just like those compendiums of games you used to get for Christmas where they put a load of rubbish pastimes like snakes and ladders, ludo and dominoes together hoping that you would think quantity equaled quality they stick a massive amount of minority interest sports together to fool governments and punters into thinking they are getting great value for money.

There's very little interest from the younger generation - when was the last time your kids left home saying they were just nipping over the field to chuck a javelin about or they started moaning at you 'cos they couldn't find their throwing hammer and their best dressage jodphurs were in the wash. The best way to indulge in the interest that these sports hold for an elite few would be to digitise the whole thing and hold it online = no expensive stadia to build, no carbon footprint to speak of and no hours of training so anyone with access to the net could have a go.

There you go Seb sort it out.

Unknown Hinson - Venus Bound

2007-11-06T21:48:00.001Z

Talking about country gone crazy this bloke is an absolute one-off!

Webb Wilder

2007-11-06T21:43:00.001Z

I like Webb he's country gone crazy. Nice tune smart video.

Languages

2007-11-06T20:39:00.000Z

It says in the paper today that fewer people are taking up the option of learning new languages as part of their education. There are two reasons for this - the first is that we English have always preferred talking slowly and loudly to foreigners rather than actually attempting to converse in the dialect of the country we're visiting - the second is that unless we are starring in a major concert to raise awareness of global warning we're not really allowed to go abroad any more because of our carbon footprint.
Speaking of carbon footprints my lovely lady wife has spilt her mascara powder on our light coloured bedroom carpet creating a proper good carbon footprint problem right on my own doorstep. The first thing i tried was to offset it by planting an acorn in the back garden but this hasn't moved the stain probably 'cos they take so long to grow. So at the start of the week i put some cress seeds on a bit of blotting paper and they've shot up however there has been no effect on the stain which rather undermines the theories of some of the finest scientific minds in the world. Carbon offsetting doesn't work remember folks you read it here first!

STATUS QUO - DOWN THE DUSTPIPE

2007-11-05T20:19:00.001Z

Back in the early '70s UK Stiffs singer Grant and myself were like little lost lambs looking for some music to get excited about and to be honest there wasn't much choice.
We liked the Who and i nearly wore out my copy of Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy. So we liked the Status Quo - and what's not to like? There's a winning formula here when they can pin it down.

BARRENCE WHITFIELD Stop Twistin My Arm

2007-10-31T22:45:00.001Z

No explanation - no excuses - it's time for some rock n' roll!

Flamin' Groovies Slow Death 1972 (with sound !)

2007-10-30T00:11:00.001Z

Here's a delightful bit of archive footage of one of my favorite pre-punk bands. These lads have been in the dressing up box!

The Pleasers 'You Don't Know'

2007-10-29T23:39:00.001Z

I'm still on a powerpop kick.Anyone else remember Thames beat?

Danse Macabre

2007-10-29T08:18:00.000Z

Although recovering from man-flu i was determined not to miss our old friends Animals and Men performing at the Masonic Hall last friday evening. There was a mixed crowd of vampires, monsters and werewolves on hand to drink in the multi-media delights of the event. The night was warmed up with a mix of back projection and d.j. sets followed by the support which consisted of sort of free form jamming over a loop. I met up with Andy Strad's (legendary harmonica and keyboard player with the B.D's) and we enjoyed a pint at the bar whilst agreeing that the computer backing track was a tool of the devil.
The main attraction though was right up our street. The thumping throbbing backbeat and relentless drum attack of Animals and Men hit the spot straight away. They performed with a sloppy genius which, when i spoke to him at the end, Ralph thought was not up to scratch. He was unhappy with the sound but i have to say out front it came across as pretty good. Anyhow - who wants perfection? When you get that there's nowhere else to go.

TONIGHT DRUMMER MAN

2007-10-23T14:07:00.001+01:00

This is another one of those songs that i suppose are a powerpop guilty pleasure. I've got to own up i love this mockney vocals and all and have the single somewhere.

Animals and Men

2007-10-23T13:33:00.000+01:00

Most of the band are going to Frome's Masonic Hall to watch our old friend Ralph's band Animals and Men on Friday evening. This promises to be a cracking night out with a couple of bands in a unique atmosphere billed as Danse Macabre. I urge you to attend - it's refreshing to see bands making the effort to organise events such as this in the town.

Rezillos - destination venus

2007-10-12T13:00:00.001+01:00

I'm in a good mood so here's a classic!

Radio 2

2007-10-12T00:59:00.000+01:00

It's been a pretty good week this week all in. A couple of people stopped me and said they'd heard "Mole Man " on Radio 2 but couldn't give any firm details as to who played it but i tracked it down to Steve Lamacq - sitting in for Bob Harris. National radio eh? Rock"n" roll........ phew!
Then we got a nice little write up in the Somerset Standard so i popped into the Griff' for a swift pint and was entertained by the fabulous Leonardo's Bicycle. Mike and Andy are associates of my cousin Joss from when he resided in that there big black smoke. They performed a tight quirky and melodic set of carefully chosen tunage - they are playing at the Olive Tree in Frome on Oct 18th and at Oxjam at the Merlin on the 25th you should go and see them they're tip-top talent.
The Stiffs are on at the Riverside in Midsomer Murder this Sat so i'll probably hitch a lift to that and regale you with any stories that rear their ugly heads on the night.

Wreckless Eric - A Pop Song

2007-10-09T10:53:00.001+01:00

And what do you need to become a broadcasting supremo? That's right....you need a pop song - here's one Eric Goulden made earlier.

W.B.A.D. Radio

2007-10-09T10:35:00.000+01:00

Looks like we'll be back on the air with our local radio spot in November. The proposed dates are Fri 23rd, Mon 26th - Fri 30th around the time of the crazy consumer free for all that is the Frome extravaganza. More information nearer the date but there will probably be the usual chances to text and e-mail us with requests and comments. Expect special guests of the lowest order and prizes of the level of quality you might receive at a timeshare presentation.

The music however will, as always, be of the finest distinction.

Don't touch that dial!

Johnny Rivers - The Snake

2007-10-05T16:12:00.001+01:00

The northern soul classic version was a minor hit for Al Wilson but Johnny Rivers produced it and here's his take on the song. Johnny ran the Whiskey A Go Go house band in the early sixties and was a bit of a mover and shaker on the L.A. scene. Huge in America and a bit of a personal favorite of mine he never realy registered on the U.K. radar maybe 'cos he was a tad "showbiz" often donning the tux' for t.v. appearances.