Doctor Who, Dalek I Loved You, Dalek, Memoir, Nick Griffiths, Gollancz, Orion, seventies childhood, david bowie, matt smith, radio times, tom baker, david tennant, jon pertwee, patrick troughton, william hartnell, peter davison, colin baker, sylvester mccoy, christopher eccleston, harrison dextrose
THAT IS SO COOL! God, I would kill for the Brontosaurus. (And the Sea Devil, Sutekh etc.) Dear She Who Controls the Finances - you MUST let Royston buy the lizard. You might think you know best, that Royston is delusional, but trust me - in this
single, isolated instance, you are wrong.
This is totally beyond sad but-I'm currently persuading She Who Controls All Financial Endeavours that bidding for the 'Invasion' brontosaurus would be a good thing and excellent investment and living room conversation piece. The current sticking point is it being 2m long.
Blimey
I haven't been keeping tabs on the number of visitors to the WGT site, but I just spotted the figure while doing some admin. 25,326! As it says above, Blimey.
I go on and off Q like a lady doing step aerobics, but this month's is a decent issue and I had to relate this Q&A snippet from Kasabian's Serge Pizzorno's:
Q: Are you famous enough to have a stalker?
SP: We live in Leicester and any stalker is soon going to think twice when they see what's involved travel-wise.
Ah yes. I should have guessed before I even hit return. Imagine owning the fucker! Having paid for it! And someone will. Someone will. (Royston?)
I'd have thought that you'd go fo this one Nick... http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=EUR&screen=LotDetails&iSaleItemNo=4510974&iSaleNo=18192&iSaleSectionNo=1&sServer=http://images1.bonhams.com/&sPath=2010-01/11/7975347-17-1.jpg#
Mrs Dextrose Update!
Over the 20,000-words mark. Quite shocked. Going amazingly well. Am practically enjoying self! Follow my progress here: www.twitter.com/mrsdetrose
PS
Best of luck to freshly Oscar-nominated Carey Mulligan. Sadly suggests we might not be seeing her reprising her Who role for some time to come.
AUGH!
Want this one: http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=EUR&screen=LotDetails&iSaleItemNo=4499013&iSaleNo=18192&iSaleSectionNo=1&sServer=http://images1.bonhams.com/&sPath=2010-01/11/7975347-17-1.jpg
Come onm if you could have any one item, which would it be. Just paste the link.
WOW!
Just chanced upon the biggest auction of Who props in quite some time. Get past the Mickey costumes and you're into some serious Cybermen, Daleks, a vervoid(!), Sea Devil, even a Brontosaurus from Invasion of the Dinosaurs. Naturally, I can afford none of it, and thus my heart bleeds.
http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=EUR&screen=Catalogue&iSaleNo=18192
Brilliant
Now someone tells me they saw a fucking BNP ad on my site! I AM NOT NICK GRIFFIN! Gonna have to call a halt to that crap idea while I sort out the details.
Clearly Google Adsense is creepily sneaky, as the moment I typed that lost Bob, all the ads changed to Who-related. Beaten by AI. Brrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Yuck!
I've added Google Adsense, since it costs nowt, however it looks awful. May have to reconsider. At least it's well targeted. Football tips, driving lessons and an alternative to flashing. Please do click on something mindlessly, however, as I get some tiddly sum if you do so. Thank you.
I can see the character now-a mad drunk who spends all day sitting in the pub muttering communication only in one line jokes about cats. Or a Big Issue seller who rewards his customers with a joke-curiously about cats letters to Santa.
Royston - nice work, you are a genius.
Couldn't a character in your new Dextrose book quote extensively from the Cat's Letters to Santa draft?
No. I'm still alive.
Famous people?
Robert Plant - twice - once at The Cropredy Festival browsing the merchandise at a 'hippy clothes' stall, the other time at a Peter Gabriel gig at the NIA in Birmingham. Nice bloke - just another punter at both places.
Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush backstage at Birmingham NEC. Very polite. Geddy was a tad smaller than I imagined. But still awesome nonetheless.
A fair point well made.
I once met Peter Hook, bass viking extraordinaire of Joy Division/New Order fame, when he played at Huddersfield Uni (my old alma mater!) with his first solo band, Revenge. They were rotten but 'Hooky' was very friendly & approachable in a bluff Salfordian sort of way when I asked for his autograph after. I then had to ruin everything by drunkenly slurring "Cheers, Hooky. It was your bass-lines that got me through 6th Form". He smiled & said thankyou. I then left him alone. I am wincing now as I type this...
I was also called a 'damn disgrace' by Andy Kershaw, former late-night Radio 1 dj & erstwhile supporter of obscure music, due to the train I was working having failed at Crewe. It was the usual scene of chaos with no-one really knowing what was going on, least of all me, so he might have had a point! Interestingly, this is the same Andy Kershaw who was imprisoned for stalking his estranged wife - Who's the damn disgrace now, hmm?
Quick interlude
Sad to report that Cat Letters to Santa will not be seeing the light of day. Differences-in-sense-of-humour issues. Speaking of cats, I woke up to find ours had puked all over my desk.
Right, back to celeb encounters...
Contributions! Thank you, M & R - both made me chuckle. Let me think of one to add... Erm. I got off a train next to Mo Mowlam once. Nah. I went through a brief folk music phase in the early 90s and was the only person to ask the Oyster Band to sign my album after a performance at the HMV in Oxford Street. As one of them signed he dribbled on my LP cover. I had to wipe it off with a sleeve as he didn't seem to notice. Hnnnn. Oooh, and Wendy James of Transvision Vamp - remember them? Neither does anyone else - called me "babe" during an interview. I think it was a ploy to get people to write nice things about her (she once claimed she'd win an Oscar, hilariously). (It worked. Cough.)
Keep em coming...
erm..haven't really met anyone famous (John Humphreys apart-and as he doesn't actually engage with the contestants he cant really count. William G Stewart was a thoroughly nice bloke though). I did get Ian Gillan's autograph when he was on Pop Quiz and I was in the audience though. I asked him why he had just joined Black Sabbath and he said it was because they were steaming. Like a turd as things turned out.
20 years ago I turned up at Oxford train station to catch a train to Gloucestershire, and noticed a film crew. I sat down next to an older man who was watching the filming and politely asked him what it was that was being filmed. He told me it was 'Inspector Morse', and I waxed enthusiastic about how much I loved the show, and the books as well. Eventually I ran out of words and he smiled and said "You don't know who I am, do you?" I agreed I didn't, and he introduced himself as Colin Dexter. I flushed bright red and bolted after mumbling something incoherent. 20 years later I wish I hadn't panicked in my utter embarrassment at fangirling him unknowingly. I've met him on a couple of occasions since the at Oxford Literary Festival talks and he has never recognised me. Which is actually a relief because now I'm embarrassed at having run away so rudely.
Has everyone died?
OK, following the theme, how about some tales of meeting heroes (or just barely famous gits)? Even a spot in the street will do. Who's first?
Update on the TB facebook encounter, and I so know how he feels:
Adam Macqueen Despite the fact that he is one of the very very few people I would actually like to have the autograph of/my photo taken with, I was utterly unable to speak to him. I just kept thinking "I used to pretend to be you in the playground!"
As an occasional journalist (boy, has the recession hit my "industry" hard), this story amused me greatly. PRs can get ideas way above their station. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mediamonkeyblog/2010/jan/27/peter-andre-pr-3am
Just spotted this exchange on facebook (and was hugely jealous):
Adam Macqueen took no notice at all of the old man sitting behind him on the train until he stood up to put his coat on and realised it was ONLY BLOODY TOM BAKER!
40 minutes ago · Comment · Like
Marcus Berkmann and Tom Lee like this.
David Smith He's a big man isn't he? He lives in this neck of the woods - a few months ago I was crossing the road to go into Sainsbury's Local just as he was bombing past down the cycle lane in his shirt-sleeves.
PS And don't forget to follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mrsdextrose
Hmm. I dunno. Most of my compos thus far have involved the Doc. (Anyone been around long enough to remember my Adric-based poetry compo? The first and the best, I feel.) This one should involve Dextrose... Have a few ideas, but nothing yet that sticks. I'll keep whirring. No rush - not gonna finish Mrs D for a couple of months at least. Please feel free to add suggestions. Chin chin!
How about best anagram using a Dr Who phrase picked by your good self?
Mrs Dextrose News!
I'm back on Twitter - I know - with Mrs Dextrose, as decided could only add to the momentum (and distractions). Each day (ideally) I'll post my favourite line from the day's endeavours plus the word count. To follow me, look for mrsdextrose or Nick Griffiths. Plus I'm sort of considering running a new competition. The prize: immortalisation(!) - to have a character named after yourself in Looking for Mrs D. (The character might be a lunatic or a total shit, however you takes your chances.) Can't find anything to hang the compo on, though, and feels like quite a decent prize, so what to ask in return? Will have a think. Any thoughts out there?
David Jason also played 'No-Good Boyo' in the film version of 'Under Milk Wood'. Dodgy Welsh accent aside, he delivers the cracking line "I wants to be a good boy... but nobody will let me!". Ah, Dylan Thomas - soul of an angel, liver of a wino!
I do. And The Darling buds of May! Or am I being sarcastic? I honestly can't tell!
Just caught 'Micawber' starring David Jason. Missed it entirely when it was aired around 2002-think they filmed 4 stories. It is an absolute gem, which I can only assume sank without trace as amusing/whimsical Victorian drama based on a Dickens character doesn't exactly have widespread appeal. But I feel that Mr Jason is probably the finest actor of his generation on t.v. bar none-Del Boy, Frost, Micawber, and anyone remember 'A Bit of a Do?'
Have just watched DT's farewell speechette, and was rather moved. Made me feel bad about not enjoying his last ep. Let's hope in a couple of years they'll do a multi-Doc special and we can see him in his thin suit once again. Deep, reverberating sniffle. http://tennantnews.blogspot.com/2010/01/davids-leaving-speech.html
Bob Recommends!
Saw two great, very different movies last night. Lars von Trier's dogme comedy, The Boss of It All, which despite being in Danish with subtitles managed to be very funny. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Boss-All-DVD-Henrik-Prip/dp/B001716E2E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1264338971&sr=1-1
And Guillermo del Toro's The Orphanage, also subtitled (from Spanish), one of the genuinely creepiest horror films I've seen in a while.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Orphanage-DVD-Belen-Rueda/dp/B0019GJ3WU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1264339205&sr=1-1
Both highly recommended.
Thanks to Vicki for this one: http://twitpic.com/qnng9
This too ("I once tried to kiss Barbara Dixon in a lift" ... "Sorry, I'm panicking, I don't know any gays" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iLzZf8aTiw&feature=related
You're right - it is very funny. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJbjAwvRWLs
Hi Ade - Yes, I saw Grizzly Man a while back and know what you mean. Not what you'd call a Happy Ending. Didn't his missus get eaten too? With the camera running? Gruesome fare, but that's what happens when you make friends with bears. Ditto The Wall happy-wise. I've seen that movie too many times, and it does have its moments, though the music has dated badly in parts. Actually, I haven't watched it in years - must dig out my musty VHS and bung it on. Someone put Moon on a DVD for us yesterday so I'll be watching that again this weekend. I feel a night on the sofa, don't you?
PS Will check out the Partridge tip, ta.
Hi Nick. Speaking of Werner Herzog, I watched 'Grizzly Man' a while ago. Some of the footage, actually edited & NOT shot by Herzog, is incredible. Timothy Treadwell, the self-appointed guardian of the Alaskan bears, comes across as one strange albeit well-intentioned individual. Ironic that one of the bears that he says he "would die for" actually killed & ate him.
If we're talking 'heavy film sessions', whilst at university a housemate & myself got a take-out & a shed-load of beer one Saturday afternoon & settled down to watch... 'Mississippi Burning' followed by 'The Wall'! I fell asleep towards the end of 'The Wall' due to the demon drink taking it's toll & was only woken by my mate's verdict on the whole evening's entertainment - a rather slurred "Fuckin' 'ell!". Not said in a light-hearted manner, I hasten to add.
If you haven't already, check out 'Alan Partridge Kate Bush medley' on YouTube. You won't be disappointed - comedy gold!
I have a big dinner plate, even though I don't live in a Travel Tavern. And I've been to Birdworld about 20 times. (It was shit. Just some birds.)
Blimey-bit of existential dread Nick? I've been doing my Alan Partridge impression the last month-every Weds and Thurs. Amusingly there is a bird sanctuary within driving distance though I've resisted the temptation (and also have not yet bought my own big plate). I am typing this dressed as Dracula however.
Strange
Been and odd night. Wife out, so I watched Werner Herzog's Encounters at the End of the World - a couple of hours in Antarctica, from odd people to unbelievable beauty. It got pretty existential and Herzog reckons global warming will have killed off humans within thousands as opposed to tens of thousands of years (which I was kinda hoping). Towards the end his camera dips into a former blowhole - I forget the scientific name - which was so stunning my eyes misted over. After that I watched the end of Gimme Shelter, the bit where the guy draws a gun and the Angels kick and stab him to death. I remember watching Bowling for Columbine and Donnie Darko one day, in a row, and feeling similar. Reality currently seems less of a certainty.
Dextrose News
Am happy to see that Harrison Dextrose has been chosen among this month's ten titles for the Exclusively Independent initiative, meaning a new push in London's indie bookshops and libraries. http://www.exclusivelyindependent.com/
Meanwhile I'm safely into five figures on the Mrs Dextrose word count, though currently stuck in plotting issues featuring a serpent and some poison. Nearly there, just need a minor brainwave...
Moving on swiftly, I watched Carnival of Monsters again at the weekend (while the wife was out, natch). It's one of those stories I distinctly remember watching when it first aired - well, how could you forget those costumes? Interesting that it co-starred both Ian Marter and Michael Wisher before their time, as it were, and that it wasn't a great waft of entertainment, despite being a Robert Holmes script (which I'd forgotten). Talking of crap monsters - as we have been - it featured the Drashig, which on first glance looked suitably rubbish, but the more they appeared onscreen the more I admired them. Though the CSO work didn't add to the realism, you could feel the love with which they'd been modelled - those multiple boggly eyes and the jaws that didn't seem to shut, writhing around like, well, glove puppets. Did I spot the lack of realism as a seven-year-old, I wondered.
Augh. Royston, Royston, please.
' I was glad her particular force appeared to be experiencing a shortage of skirt material - not why they were experiencing it. Blokes, tsk. '
I'm pretty sure an author who I recently read once admitted that his partner had dressed as a nurse. Pretty sure I alluded to that on some blog or other last year. Now, if I could only remember the authors name...
So you're REALLY looking forward to the new Who then Nick?
In the same way that the actress playing Peri insisted on wearing low cut tops and bikinis.? It's just PR puffery and placed 'controversy'.
According to the newest DWM (which I'm finally reading after a week delay getting it owing to a snow-bound delivery lorry), it was Karen's own idea to have short skirts - Louise Page (chief costume person) wanted her to wear trousers because it's more practical for running - but Karen insisted on short skirts to go with her 'sassy' character as Amy... (Silly, SILLY girl!)
...'Doctor Who & the Cistern of Doom'
or 'Doctor Who & the Deathly Aroma'
or (my own personal favourite) 'Doctor Who's in there for Christ's sake? I'm bloody desperate!'.
I think I'll leave it there...
I'd found it very odd, too, however failed to get past the fact that I was glad her particular force appeared to be experiencing a shortage of skirt material - not why they were experiencing it. Blokes, tsk.
Geez! I've been saying since the first photos of Karen in that police woman's outfit were leaked that she wasn't a real police woman, because real police women don't wear skirts, even in the height of summer (all the police women I see these days wear trousers), and especially not skirts THAT short! In fact, I speculated at the outset that Amy was either a kissogram girl, or Eleven had met her while she was on a friend's hen night!
Doctor Who and the Poo at Pauls.
PS http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/2812063/New-Doctor-Who-assistant-will-have-a-saucy-job.html
If we're leaning towards the lavatorial, gentlemen, may I suggest 'Doctor Who & the Andrex Operation'! My old English teachers would be so proud...
Doctor Who and the Piles of Peri!
The story being called 'Dr Who and the Piles of Peril'
... with the Swarm, Terraleptils & the Garm on the subs bench in case the air of overall crapness wanes at all. Tegan & Peri to provide good vibes & sunny personality. Oh, the irony...!
...aided by the penis attached to a shed from Creature from the Pit! (Any decrease on the below?)
PS Today is officially the Worst Day of the Year: the day I finally compel myself to do my tax return, with 16 days to go. (My accountants hate me.)
I look forward to the episode that sees the Nimon-Myrka-Mandrill-Zarbi alliance (led by the Kandyman) use an attack force of dinosaurs and Gell guards to defeat the new Doctor with his guest star companions of Mel and Adric. Episode written by Marc Platt, naturally.
Hi, Nick. Glad you enjoyed 'Moon'. Cracking film, isn't it? Had a very similar tone to a lot of classic 70's sci-fi such as 'Silent Running' I thought. I'm looking forward to young master Jones's next offering...
Had a marathon 2009 Who session over the last 2 days. Great! High-point was 'The Waters Of Mars' but even both parts of 'The End Of Time' work well back to back.
The new series looks great. Glad to see the Silurians are getting another airing. About time we had something aquatic! Are the Sea Devils involved as well? Just as long as they don't bring the Myrka...
Hang on
...it gets worse!
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/health/article-1242411/It-felt-like-heart-attack--fact-spine-exploded-How-Bob-discovered-men-brittle-bones-too.html
I had to
...pinch myself to assure myself this wasn't a spoof:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8451754.stm
Hello, I'm the Moon
Finally got around to watching Duncan (we know who you are) Jones' Moon movie last night, and was blown away. Chap alone on moon base discovers he's not alone, but not in the cliched watched-by-bug-eyed-aliens sense. Looked fabulous (models rather than CGI), hugely atmospheric and wonderful performance by practically the only actor, Sam Rockwell. Hugely recommended.
Check dis, Silurians 'n' all
http://io9.com/5443387//gallery/
(Link via Rob - cheers)
Feel free to help yourself to the two foot or so of snow that fell on Ipswich the last week!
Nick 1 : Burglars 0
Ha! Despite being "trapped" in Cornwall by the overenthusiastic reporting of weather types - there's barely an inch on the ground here in London, when I was expecting Antarctica - all my stuff was still here when I got back. And with plans to auction off plenty of my Who collection on eBay soon - new year, new broom (less clutter just sitting in boxes in cupboards, basically) looks like they'll be too late to get their hands on my Denys Fisher Cyberdoll. Hmm. Just realised means will have to try to get my K-9 and Dalek talking again - I fixed them once, but then they stopped working again, and the last time I took them apart I just stuffed the bits in bags. Anyway, that's coming up. Plus I plan to redesign this site to be far more blog-led, in between writing Looking for Mrs Dextrose, which lest we forget, is due to be finished in March. Giant, reverberating cough. But I'm gettin there slowly. For now, it's just lovely to be back home in the bosom of limp snowfall.
Chin chin!
Blow away, Royston (sounds wrong) - a 2nd edition is a major achievement. congrats!
Poundland! reaching the masses now Nick (-:
Now as a fellow author I hope you don't mind this minor own trumpet blowing but-today my first book, after 6 or 7 reprints, came out as a 2nd edition expanded version. Am a bit chuffed.
You know you've made it when...
http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/577072/dalek-i-loved-you-by-nick-griffiths
*splutters into brandy, drops monocle, and sits upright in wing back hand tooled leather chair*
That Lythgoe fella, wrong sort of chap entirely, what sort of club allows such dissention?
*reaches for blackball*
Nah. Sod any problems with the plot and the like. It was brilliant entertainment. My daughter loved every minute of it and I enjoyed sitting and watching it and watching her enjoying it. It's good to know that the programme still achieves one of its original aims - Great family viewing.
Hello everyone. Thought 'The End of Time Part 2' went on far too long really. Like Part 1 there were some good things about it but overall it wasn't the best Christmas/New year special they'd ever done. Then again, 2009 was an odd year all round Who-wise with no actual series, etc.
Agree with Roy that it seemed as if we were saying goodbye to David Tennant as opposed to the 10th Doctor. On the subject of 'goodbyes', the little coda at the end with Rose, Martha et al milked it a bit somewhat. Having said that, I thought the Jessica Hynes cameo was a nice touch & Wilfrid's tearful goodbye in the churchyard was heartbreaking. Mr. Cribbins has been the man of the match for me as far as these last 2 instalments go. Faultless.
Looking forward to Matt Smith. As Cat said, it looks like it's going to be darker although the bloody Daleks have turned up again by the looks of things! Still, at least the Weeping Angels are back. Geronimo!
After watching the little online trailer for the Matt/Dr episodes my real hope is that it is all a bit darker :) I like dark and think the new series may just deliver on that front :)
Anyone else's thoughts on the finale? I'd agree with much of the below. Where did the Master go?! And Timmy Dalton? After what I thought was a fab first instalment, it all just fell apart. And those farewells, though inevitable, simply overboiled the bunny. I'd also agree with Jim Shelley in the Mirror, that Matt Smith's opening lines weren't the best of introductions to the new Doc. But, you know, we've been spoilt - so many classic episodes. Perhaps we should just sweep End of Time pt 2 quietly under a small rug and look forwards.
The story appeared to be written to say goodbye to David Tenant rather than the Dr. and more to celebrate his success in the role rather than the role itself.
I think RTD was a little too close to the subject matter to write a genuinely cracking finale. I really wish that RTD had let another writer construct the story and just script edited it.
Actually Roy, I thought that wheeling around in the chair was a steal from DT's performance in Greg Doran's Hamlet - as were several other bits of that episode (eg the Ood singing the Doctor to his sleep, and the Doctor taking so long to die that he had time to visit all his companions to make lame farewells...) . I've just been asked by a friend for my reaction and summed it up in three words: McGuffins, Bobbins & plotholes! That was NOT the swansong DT/Ten deserved!
Liked the homage to the Master a la Frontier in Space-he simply vanished from the plot, and also the stea..homage to 'Spearhead' with the wheelchair 'comedy.'
Apart from that the final episode was self indulgent rubbish, and the whole two parter needed about 40 minutes and half the plot lines excised before broadcast. But I think the Script Editor/Producer was a little too emotionally involved in the story to make the necessary cuts.
Tellingly all the casual viewers I know drifted away from watching both episodes quite quickly. Definitely one for the fanboys only.
Hi Cat, Dean et al. Thanks to all for the fine wishes. My fingers are crossed for '10. Personally, though I thought the last part of Who was rather poor, I was still hugely saddened to witness the demise of DT's Doc. The man was fabulous. Right up there with Baker T, which is saying something. So, look forward to seeing what Matt Smith makes of the role - onwards & upwards...
Happy New Year one and all !!
Can't believe David Tennant is no longer the Doctor. It feels more like a death than a regeneration, it's weird.
Matt Smith looks every bit 'the Doctor' though, so i think it's gonna be a great Series 5. I really hope the Ice Warriors return.
Well, hours have passed since the end of time part two and the sadness of losing David Tennant have passed. It was a great episode and I even enjoyed Mat Smith at the end. What I found sadder was the BB3 Dr Who Confidential show which showed the 10th Drs many highlights and the filming of his last scenes - DT has been my fav Dr for as long as I can remember. I look forward to the new show and the new direction it will no doubt take. Anyway Happy new year Nick and everyone else on here!
Happy New Year everyone! New Year - New Doctor. Let's hope they both turn out alright...
Happy New Year Nick, and Mrs Nick, and Nick minor.
Big Country - there can be no better way to see in a year. Cheers and Happy New Year to everyone!
PS Looking for Mrs Dextrose - out summer 2010! (Once I've finished writing it!) Get yer pennies saved!
Sod all that hippy bollocks...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YsHkPJjeCw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK5N4ZIU11s&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_IKIjdLjHg&feature=related
...25 years on and it's still the business.
Have a great New Year!!! See you on the other side of the regeneration...
cough.
Hmm... playing a tin tray & pretending to be a robot? Maybe that's where I've been going wrong all these years with the ladies! Must give it a try...
Not read Herr Flur's biography - must give it a go. Saw Kraftwerk in Manchester a couple of years ago at the Apollo. Phil Oakey of the Human League (another quality electronic band) was spotted in the audience looking very dapper as well as Marc 'Lard' Riley of BBC Radio looking... well, not so dapper! Kraftwerk were great - the effect that 4 middle aged Germans stood motionless behind keyboards had on a room full of 'mad for it, our kid' Mancs is something to remember, believe me. It was had large that night, shall we say!
Never, ever, ever had anything to do with Gong I'm proud to report. Too 'far out, daddy-o' for me. Although I am partial to a bit of Dukes of Stratosphear, XTC fans...!
All the hippies crawling out of the woodwork? You like Barclay James Harvest!!!!
Like, Man, Dr Who is a documentary filmed with hidden cameras-right? *gets down with the Grateful Dead Live 72 album*
Why thank you, Dean - at least someone cares. As for you, Royston - look what you've started, all the hippies crawling out of the woodwork. Bet someone out there loves Gong. Roy? (Ade, thank you for a voice of sanity. Kraftwerk are gods. You read Wolfgang Flur's bio? Very unintentionally funny in parts, and I couldn't believe he used to get groupies, despite playing a tin tray and pretending to be a robot.)
Hey man just be cool and lose the negative vibes, like just be far out and groovy.
*turns up volume on Steve Hillage 'Motivation Radio' album*
Sorry to hear you were poorly over Xmas Nick.
I really enjoyed 'The End of Time' pt 1. IMO John Simm stole every scene as the Master. 'Waters of Mars[ was always gonna be a hard story to follow, but it's looking good. Roll on part 2 :)
Nowt wrong with Tangerine Dream.
Hawkwind I've never really 'got'.
As regards Ozrics, everything I've ever heard by them sounds like outtakes from 'Green' by Steve Hillage.
Which is a fab hippy album.
Man.
Ah, Hawkwind! Saw them a couple of times when I was a student. Always a good night out if only for the scene of utter devastation that would greet those of us still standing at the end of the set when the house-lights came on! Rarely have I seen so many 'pharmaceutically challenged' people in the same room undergoing all sorts of meltdowns... You weren't one of them, were you Roy?!?
The kings of electronica have to be Kraftwerk. The newly re-mastered albums are well worth anyone's money. In fact, I might have a blast of 'The Robots' or 'Autobahn' now...
You bloody hippie.
Only three bands I like can be classed as 'electronica'- Tangerine Dream, Hawkwind and Osric Tentacles.
Hi Ade - Have been dying to get Moon, given its director's provenance (plus my love of all the Apollo guff), plus adore all the Electronica compilations, however as you point out, the first few tracks are great, then some right old rubbish starts creeping in. Beloius Some are bad, but Sigue Sigue Sputnik were genuinely pathetic. Their "sound of the future" was like two OAPs trying to tune their wireless sets to Capital. (I would recommend The Dark Side of the 80s, which the wife bought at a car boot sale and I scoffed at, but which has some magnificent tracks. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Side-80s-Various-Artists/dp/B00008GER0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1262092443&sr=8-2-catcorr)
Fingers crossed indeed! Is it just me, or are the BBC just prolonging the agony? Anyway, 2 quick reccommendations for you all: 'Moon' DVD = well worth a go if you like your sci-fi clever as well as emotional (ring any bells?) as well as Ministry of Sounds 80's Electronic Anthems = a trip down memory lane for those of us of a certain age - although I could have done without Belouis Some, Johnny Hates Jazz & Sigue Sigue Sputnik...
Ah, Countdown. (The Rush song, not the C4 show for old people.) Pretty sure I have a space-shuttle-shaped picture disc of that somewhere. Class.
TWAT
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PS Was going to mention, before I got too excited about a lizard, that Who locations hound, Dave Edwards, has been in touch and has sent some fabulous pics of the interior of Fields House (from Blink), complete with Who graffitti. I shall be adding to the WGT site when time permits (prob Weds). Chin chin