It’s been a long time since I wrote a blog. So a lot of
catching up to do. It’s been a hectic month with one thing and another.
I write this from my premium single room in Iceland, I have
come out here to promote the band and my book. Which is selling like hot cakes
and getting great reviews. Amazon has already sold out of stock twice and has
restocked for a third time.
It is good to have Andy back on guitar, he has been away for
a month so we had Chris Cawte on guitar for London and Holmfirth. A fantastic
player he is too, a big thanks for standing in. It was just like the old days as we had Simon Jeffrey back on the drums for a re-union. A big thanks to Simon.
The Borderline was really where it all began for us, and
when we first performed in front of Jimmy Page, (it’s all in the book wot I
wrote) and got to meet the great man after the show. In Dorking last Friday we
played in front of Jimmy Page again!!! Only this time it is the son of Jimmy
Page, also called Jimmy. Jimmy Page, the next generation.
Little Jimmy was at the very front all show and stayed
around to greet the band, he said that his Dad had come to see us years ago and
thought we were fantastic, and now his son agrees too. Nice chap actually, and
looks just like his father. He was impressed with Andy's guitar playing.
We had a great little trip in The Balkans with Damir, our
fourth show in Slovenia, and another packed house. It was literally one of the
loudest audiences we have ever played in front of, actually deafening roar at
the end of the songs. Jack, our new John Paul Jones, couldn’t quite believe it
and had to take a few steps closer to the edge of the stage to get a better
look.
Jack played a blinder and his solo in No Quarter is fast
becoming a highlight of the set.
And a day off to explore the Dragon Bridge and the castle,
Ljubljana is a beautiful city, and we had plenty of offers from locals to show
us the sights. Peter is keen to add to his expanding fridge magnet collection.
So, onto Croatia, we have played here once before at a
festival along with Wishbone Ash. But not in Zagreb before. The Border was
closed for some reason, and 6 hour delays at the border, thankfully our local
driver knows of a smaller check point and we are through with no problem.
A fantastic show and well attended. After two encores no one
wants to go home and we play Babe I’m Gonna Leave You to end the night. Lot’s
of well wishes appeared backstage for photos and a pick from Andy, Jack has no
picks left after just 2 shows. One guys said he had been waiting for us to come
there for 5 years and it was well worth the wait.
The party somehow managed to carry on back to the hotel,
Andy forgetting what room he was in, at one point he was sleeping in Pete’s
room, then found his way into Jacks room. Finally came stumbling into my room
at 4am and fell asleep on the floor. A spanking good time was had by all.
I think we all needed to let some steam off after a
stressful month.
As we are not actually in Europe anymore smoking is allowed
everywhere, amazing how we get used to not smoking, in Belgrade we are treated
to local dishes at a traditional Serbian restaurant. At tonight show we have
promoters and agent from all over the region, and well as everyone who is, or
has ever been, in a band, as well as some local TV celebrities, including the
bloke who does a mystic show on the telly and his beautiful assistant, chatting
to her she is very interesting and well informed on local culture and art.
The show is slightly delays due to a protest march through
the city. The lights go down, the roar goes up and Bam Bam……, we blast into
Good Times Bad Times. The next two and a half hours are pure magic, what a
great audience and a great show. After the show I had an in depth interview
with a local journo, she was very tall, elegant too. Somehow again, there seemed to be a
party back at our hotel! What is it with all these parties all of a sudden? Or maybe they have always gone on and I just wasn't invited!
I’m sure Jack is inviting everyone who was at the show back to our hotel. Anyway, as usual I
am first in bed, it’s been a long day.
Anyway, here I am now in Iceland and the weather is awful,
but things are looking up, there is a knock at my hotel room door, it is the girl from the hotel reception, she is still in her hotel uniform,
though it doesn’t look exactly regulation, the skirt is a little shorter and the heels
are higher, she is interested in my book apparently, well I better go then, see
ya!!!!!
