NORWICH - Waterfront, Friday 7th Ones day in Norwich started with a trip to Morrisons supermarket where I espied a truly ghastly selection of larger flavoured drinks - I mean, since when has anybody in the UK with half a brain started buying Coors Light and Budweiser - two of the worst beers ever in brewing history. On the way to the store Id spotted a gaggle of swans in the river while crossing the Novi Sad Friendship footbridge so bought a small wholemeal loaf to feed them with on the way back. Unfortunately, it turned out on return that theyd gone and effed orft... I thought maybe having a rest on the bankside opposite or summat so started chucking some bread in the river to entice them over. Now looking back, of course I mustve come over as a right plonker feeding bread to a birdless stretch of water so after a few funny looks from passers by returned to the venue and ones band mates - who also probably have me down as a nutter. Id emailed my occasional songwriting partner Martin Newell asking if he had a limo at his disposal to ferry him from Wivenhoe for the gig. He wrote back... Hello Captain! Predictably enough, I cant even muster a 1964 Green Ford Anglia to get to Norwich at present. And youre out playing stadiums with Motörhead too!? When melancholy autumn comes to Wembley And electric trains are lighted after tea The residents around there go all trembly The Damned are doing a soundcheck before three by Sir Jaawwn Betjeman have a good gig - Martin Anyway, after soundcheck someone procured a Chinese takeaway menu which led to a bit of a pre gig banquet... and all washed down by a dozen or so bottles of the bands new favourite tipple.... Youngs Double Chocolate Stout. Absolutely delicious it was too - and it certainly made the gig go with a swing... in fact Pinch reckoned it was actually a contender for one of the top 5 shows hed done with us. I confided with the audience that at one point that during the general election campaign in which that nice Mrs Thatcher became PM, along with fellow Red Wedgers Paul Weller, Billy Bragg and comic Phil Jupitas (then still known as Porky the Poet) Id undertaken a tour around the same formerly derelict riverside warehouse that we were all assembled in - being informed at the time by our guides that it was soon to be converted into a live music venue. And they did a splendid job too.... as I for one have had some bloody good fun here over the years since that day. During the show Montys keyboards broke down temporarily, requiring a quick fill in jam - which, to the tune of the Strugglers Peaches became a stream of consciousness tirade about all sorts of Sensible bees in bonnets... my sadly departed 80s pop career, Phil Collins, Cliff,and Scatman John... who is Top of my current Pops. I certainly had plenty to say, and in view of the fact that I was hogging the mic somewhat Mr Vanian did the audience a favour by unplugging mine, which got quite a cheer. Disgraceful! I thought it nice of the Waterfronts production team to arrange Gravedale High, a support act whos drummer was no less than a Crystal Palace fan... and as you can imagine the two of us spent a fair while backstage discussing the virtues of being a yo-yo club, similar to Stus Watford... and dare I say our host town Norwich. Rather have the excitement of regular promotion and relegation battles than some dodgy billionaire buy you the Premier League title. Anyway, the Championship is where all the home grown players are - its as good if not better than its cash bloated rival. As youre probably aware our resident intellectual Monty OxyMoron cannot for the life of him see any worth at all in sport so after a brief attempt at persuasion my Palace chum and I just put the clubs scarf round his neck and settled for a photo instead. EAGLES!!!
Posted on: Sat, 08 Nov 2014 13:49:52 +0000
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