Bob Dylan at the Royal Albert Hall (2013)

Bob Dylan will return this year to play the Royal Albert Hall London for the third time in his career, 21, 22 & 23 October.

The first time was in 1966. The Beatles were in the audience and he was a bit off his trolly, even playing drums at one point (borrowing the drumsticks of Levon Helm). During the show, some heckler shouted at him and told him he was rubbish (which, to be honest, Bob Dylan is not a great drummer). But he heard the guy and replied, "RUBBISH? I wouldn't use that word if I picked it up off the ground in the street" (according to my friend Myles who was 4th row centre).

The second time was to play a set of three nights in November 2013.
I was at the second night.

I managed to get a ticket at the last minute from 888 Tickets on Shaftesbury Avenue. Their office was in a little Charles Dickens building with a tiny little front door. However when you're buzzed in it's like that house in the Beatles movie. loads of staircases and corridors.

I managed to locate a little broom cupboard door to an office with the precious ticket.
From there I got the bus.


Took my red velvet seat in the stalls and sat in a state of levitation most of the night. The sound in there is wonderful. A very respectful audience. He doesn't play guitar these days. He has arthritis. He stood at the piano or walked to the center mike to sing.   He wore a glittery shirt and a pair of trousers with embroidered chain-links up the side.

This was a highlight - (not the quality of the video - the song) (maybe just close your eyes and listen ... there wasn't supposed to be any recording...)

The Royal Albert Hall is a round buidling and walking towards the train station afterwards I happened to pass the bass player, Tony Garnier.


Shortly after this photograph was taken a car that had seen better days screeched on to the forecourt. Tony got in and was screeched away up Kensington Gore.

I overheard someone say  Bob Dylan's coach was gone.
If indeed there was a coach.

sex and drugs and rock n roll and debit cards and credit cards

ooOOOoooo Subversive

Bit of a mind blower, isn't it?
When I first saw it, I was like, "OOooh Johnny Rotten would be rolling in his grave if saw this ... Wait! he's alive!! And taking the money to the bank."
Never thought I'd live to see the day...
Except ... did we have a God Save The Queen stamp when the Royal Mail was royal?
Maybe I imagined that.

Yes, I know there was a butter advert. But if there wasn't a butter advert,  you wouldn't have seen Public Image on tour.
You know all the proceeds from the commercials went to fund the band on tour, don't you? (And isn't that understandable when you look John Lydon's past history with management and record companies.)

The record business has certainly leaked into different areas since I was a young punk with a bank account that had like TEN PERCENT interest on my savings account which meant banking was actually a GOOD idea.

Is this good PR for banks?  I'm confused.  The thing that I might recommend kids is the leaflet how to manage your money. 

18.9% APR in case anyone's comparing.

 more information here

For your LONDON Calendars - 10 JULY 2015 Vic Godard and the Subway Sect on the Big Screen down the East End.

Date:      Friday 10 July 2015

A World Premiere screening of DERAILED SENSE  at 7pm 

followed by a Q&A

Graham Bendel's film about the legendary singer Vic Godard and his band the Subway Sect

featuring interviews with 
Irvine Welsh, 
Viv Albertine, 
Bobby Gillespie  
Edwyn Collins, 
and many more guests.

Expect musical re-invention, post-punk, Northern Soul as well as the trials and tribulations of being a well-dressed rock star who didn't give up his day job (at least that's what I heard).

Tickets available HERE

The film is part of the esteemed East End Festival 2015.

This clip by our Flo Globe - not from the film - is in fact Vic Godard playing live at Nambucca at one of their John Peel Memorial evenings.  Can you name the drummer without googling?

Graham Parker and the Rumour on tour (New album May 18)

-**--[This just in: Tickets for the Forum gig]

Graham Parker and the Rumour are playing New York next week at the Highline Ballroom but they don't get to London til October 12.   Their only date so far is at The Forum and the ticketmaster office is "Closed"** but I see there are still tickets available at The Brook, on the River Itchen, Southampton
Now don't be fooled - not every band that plays there is a Tribute band.
The ZZ Tops are a tribute band.
TResxtasy are a tribute band, plus you should know that one of TRex has gone beyond the velvet rope...
Peter Hook, Tom Robinson and Graham Parker are all the real deal.
So if you fancy an away day down the motorway or a few tins on the train - it's Waterloo and change at Southampton Airport and then get the local to Swaything (or if you miss that stop, St Denys.)