Back on the road this week with a vengeance: Pete Riley & I have got 6 gigs in 7 days....
The first 4 are all at the Everyman Theatre (Thurs, Fri and 2 shows on Saturday), with Liverpool favourites Deaf School, reformed in order to play a handful of ultra rare gigs...they're returning to the venue where I first saw them back in 1975 - and so blown away was I by their performance that, as mentioned in the song "Did I Fight in the Punk Wars for This?", the very next day I "cut off my hair, took in my flares and joined the Art School band"!. Apparently the London gigs last week were amazing, with the likes of Holly Johnson, Sex Pistol Glen Matlock and Kevin Rowlands all in attendance.
I can't stress how influential/important the band where for me (and for Liverpool music in general in those dark pre-punk days)....they were mostly in the 3rd year at Liverpool Art College, but had just signed a RECORD DEAL with Warners!! We were the snivelling 1st year band, but they took pity on us, lent us all their gear, gave us advice, got their manager to manage us, took us on tour with them; and guitarist Clive Langer (who would go on to have phenomenal success as a producer for the likes of Madness, Dexy's, Bush, Bowie/Jagger etc) was the first person who, on finding out our set was full of cover versions (albeit very obscure), said to me, "why don't you write your own songs?"..."eh, how d'you do that then?" was my reply....luckily I took his advice and learned how.
So we're on first tomorrow, but also on doing a short guest spot on the Thursday/Friday gigs is Ian Broudie...I caught him a few weeks ago with the Lightening Seeds at The Liverpool Philharmonic, but I'm looking forward to seeing him tomorrow with the music stripped back, and just a guitarist with him.

Then on Tuesday Pete and I have a gig in York (The Duchess, with good friend Amy Wadge), and finally, on Wednesday, I've been asked back to Biddulph (there's an album title!). I was there a month or so ago doing a lecture (as mentioned in an earlier blog), and the fools have invited me back to do a proper gig at the Biddulph Town Hall ...can't wait...these support slots are fun, but trouble is, I tend to want to natter on so much at my gigs, and don't get a chance at the support gigs...on my own gigs I can really relax, and gab for as long as I like (or as long as the audience let me!!).

Anyway, I'm looking forward to all these gigs...time for my vocal exercises, I feel...