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Monday, 06 August 2007 |
Month 2 on the tobacco front and it's going well - no slips as yet. I'll let you know if I do slide off the greasy pole, though! Nope - it's not going to happen...
OK first 3 days still away in Lanzarote. It's a pretty boring place in all honesty, and I won't be coming back here in a hurry that's for sure. But anyways, here are a few pics I took on my travels...
Here's MJ (Mike Jeffries )and Janet with Lou, friends we bumped into from the local village in Wales, who just happened to be on holiday nearby at the same time. It's a small world out there, that's for sure...
One of the overcast days by the pool. The umbrellas are down because of the wind - that's a feature of this place
And you see a lot of this kind of landscape - It's a volcanic desert with ash instead of sand. Frickin' 'orrible place really...don't bother!
...and more reasons not to, from the Lanzarote Tourist Board. It's Rock City
So holiday over, it's the 3rd of May and set off back to Brum airport - Whole day travelling but was glad to get back home. Was wondering how those local elections got on today...Got the good news late on that one of my mates, Nick Ramsey's got elected to the Welsh Assembly for the Monmouth SE Wales area. He lives near me, and he's a good Conservative boy. Another chum of mine from Usk, Laura Jones AM, unfortunately got bumped off the Assembly however. Now she's some girl 'Good Time' Laura, but that's another (and long) story...!!
May 4th
Back home waking up in my own bed. Beats that shithole in Lanzarote. So it's catch up day today. Trouble is when you go away, things mount up. Got tons to be getting on with. First off, went to pick the doggy up from the kennels in Chepstow. She went flippin' nuts when she saw me. It must've been a bit like being in the slammer for the poor little bugger - she never normally makes that much of a fuss when I've been away.
The weight is a disaster area right now. I'm in at 14.10 which is the heaviest I've been for some time. This is now going to require MAJOR surgery. It's what they call 'morbidly obese'. I got some drastic measures planned...One is blagging some pills I heard about that stop you absorbing fat. They're only available on prescription, but a very close buddy of mine gets 'em and has thrown a few in my direction. They cause you to crap out globules of orange fat like the coating on a pepperoni pizza. Should be interesting to observe that. (You're probs all thinking that I'm obsessed by bodily functions the way I carry on in this blog, right?). There's also the body-wrap thing which I'm looking into right now. Drastic measures are required - it's starting to depress the f**k out of me!
May 5th
Well had a right tickle at the bookies today for a £5 footie bet. Treble up on Watford (6-1), M-bor (15-8) going on tomorrow's game at Burnley. I got 3-1 on Coventry to win away which will net me a massive £405 (accumulated odds of 80-1!). There could be a celebration tomorrow...That might cheer me up a bit....
May 6th
Having a look round St. Flagans' today. This is a lovely free park just outside of Cardiff. It has all sorts of rustic stuff, old Welsh cottages, farms etc. Then they've put them all on this giant park, so it looks like a kind of olde worlde village. Very picturesque. It's a great day out for a walk about and picnic. Hey guess what? That bet came in, so I was 400 quid better off - so ended up going to a local restaurant for a slap-up meal later...Bingo! I can't stop eating - gastric bypass beckons!
Going walkabout at St. Flagan's, Cardiff
May 7th
Off up to Manchester this morning to see the Roger Waters show at the Manchester MEN Arena, got 4 tickets courtesy of Dave Kilminster (cheers buddy!). It's a 3-hour drive, motorways all the way. But what a shithole Manchester's turned into? The people are really grubby, the streets are filthy and covered in litter, and it's all very run down. I couldn't believe it. It was a sharp place when I was a kid, when my mum and dad used to take me on the tram to see the Halle Orchestra at the Free Trade Hall. I saw the great conductors there, Sir John Barbirolli, Malcolm Sargeant & Thomas Beecham. That was a real treat, and we also had 2 of the best football teams in the World there at the time. My elder brothers used to take me to see Manchester City play some Saturdays. There'd be 60-70 thousand at Maine Road back then when they could give United a run for their money. Those were the glory days of this city.
Now I've not been back to Manc for any length of time, usually it's been no more than a quick gig at the UMIST Academies then off over the last few years. The word was that they were supposed to have to vamped up this city centre, but I'd love to know where, because I didn't see any of that. Far from it. In fact most of the centre of Manchester looks like flippin' Beirut! Staying at the Novotel, and it's OK but not great. But as always it's great to see lifelong best buddy Benny and his old mucker, Tony...We met up at a pub on Dickenson Road in the centre, and headed off to the Arena near Victoria Station. Well of course I didn't recognize any of this as it has all changed so much since my day.
But the Waters show tonight was magnificent. Kilmonster is superb in his DG role, and the lights? Seriously great show. It made me think how great it would be to be a part of a production like this. Maybe our lighting guy needs to be sat down in the middle of the arena of a show like this and see how it's done by the professionals. Mark Brittman I believe, who put together all the big Floyd lightshows. It was breath-taking stuff as you will see...
The famous giant inflatable flying pig caught amidst the falling ticker tape, perhaps more synonymous with Floyd themselves than Waters, but still mighty impressive even after all these years
Dave Kilminster takes a solo centre stage
My buddies Benny and Tony, like kids in a sweetshop at this show, enjoying the spectacle immensely
Dark Side Of The Moon - Awesome!
....and just when you thought they couldn't top it off - Talk about the lights and the pyrotechnics...Wahey!!!
During the show at half time, we popped into say 'hi' to Dave and Roger Waters. They were doing a runner after the show, so they were doing their guest meet 'n greets in the interval. After the show (quite blown away by the experience) we headed into Chinatown. We just went in the first Chow we saw, was quite late by this time, and made a big mistake. It was shit. Now, I should've known better, because as you all know, the intrepid traveller that I am, should have been guided by the first chapter of the book "Restaurants To Avoid At All Costs". And rule number one is, if there are no punters in the restaurant - swerve. Because the simple reason there are no punters is, that the locals all know better, namely that the place is a dump and nobody goes there for that reason. I cursed myself for making this wrong decision - and paid the price, because I felt queasy as soon as I came out of there, as did all of us. I'm not a big fan of Chinese food at the best of times - far too greasy and bland for my liking - Ya know, have you ever seen a healthy looking Chinese person? Think about it. Exactly!
May 8th
Well I didn't have a great night's sleep after being poisoned by those bleedin' Manchester Tong last night. And I dreamt I was being tortured by dragons and all sorts of weird shit. Well, that's not too far from the truth, but I always get strange dreams on Chinese food. I reckon it's all down to the MSG, food colouring, pig's blood, saturated fats and any other crap they can find to chuck in there, but it really didn't agree me I can tell you. Also, I'm on the nico-patches, and they give you really weird dreams as well. In fact I actually met some nutter up in The Valleys in Wales recently, who smokes, but sometimes buys the patches in addition to give him 'wildest dreams'. How crazy is that?! Talking of the Valleys it's back to Wales from Manchester for my 3.00 appt at the shrink-wrapper in Abertillery. Now, you're probably wondering what the hell I'm talking about, right? I'll let you know in a while. It's a long and convoluted story - and it involves bondage.
May 9th
Apart from being my eldest daughter's birthday today, there's a lot of running around to do. PIQ's decided that the shoes she bought for Rhi and Matt's wedding are too large. So we head off into Cardiff to get a size smaller. You know, I'm beginning to hate women! They can really eff you around sometimes.
May 10th
It's good news week...Tony Blair has announced his resignation as PM....Marvellous. The only downside, actually there are 2. One, that it is 10 years too late, two, that slimy Jock, Gordon Brown is taking over in the chair. OK, now I don't mind the Scottish for the most part, majority I've come across being fairly decent geezers, although it has to be said, from a somewhat underprivileged and uncivilized part of the UK. - There are a few of them however that try on that Caledonian honesty/always trust a Jock image/says it down the line/we tell it like it is bla-de-bla - In my experience these are the most dangerous people from North of the Border, to be avoided, and not to be trusted at any cost. I'm guessing that Gordon Brown is in this category. He's just had his teeth done, is smiling a lot more as the affable Scot in waiting, and ready to continue the Blair legacy of fucking up our country beyond all recognition. I'll be watching this slime-ball closely over the coming months, and believe me, just because Blair is slithering off like a snake into the long grass, when the shit is about to hit the fan on Cash For Honours/Iraq/Fox-Hunting etc you name it - let's not forget, Brown's his little bumboy taking over the mantle, and expect more of the same. It could get even worse!
Strange thing today - noticed a weird vibration in my upper left thigh. Ah - it's the all getting old and decrepit bit. Probably Blair zapping me with payback!
May 11th
Newport today...M&S, Primark, just waiting in the car for her indoors to select a hair number for the wedding tomorrow...Can you believe I actually got stung by a wasp today? I was driving along and felt a bit of twinge up my right leg under my jeans - then it started stinging. I put my hand down and squashed this thing inside my jeans. Well got to the car park of ASDA's in Cwmbran (this is one of the most horrible places on Earth by the way), took one leg of my jean's out, and lo and behold, there was the remnants of what looked like a big bastard, probably a queen. Now I hope it wasn't planning on making a nest up my pants - that could've be very painful in a couple of months' time! But suffice to say, the offending insect was dead, but I must have looked a right plonker hopping up and down around the car park in broad daylight with one leg in a pair of jeans and the other leg out...Dental appt today as well - That was just a routine check-up...Met Sean at the studio going through all the stuff to go to USA ...Quick drink at the local with Lord Nelson then home - Fish for dinner tonight. Very slimming! I need it. Since I gave up the weed, it's been a right battle keeping the weight down as you know.
May 12th
Big day today - The wedding of Matt & Rhiannon. It's been a long time coming, but all the locals are geared up for it. Well I got to say, not being much of wedding dude myself, having had the misfortune over the years to have been tied to 2 of the biggest witches this planet has ever produced (probably close 2nd and 3rd behind Cherie Booth Blair and/or Victoria Beckham!!), I'm fairly ambivalent about weddings. In fact, once the crap's over with, I generally head to the bar and quaff a few shandies. That's the way forward, I reckon at these do-s, and ultimately the way backwards down the slippery slope as the day wears on. But I have to say this was one splendid occasion, superbly organized and really quite a day to remember for some time to come. The wedding of the decade for me.
So in the morning, we all head up with Kate and Ryan to a very quaint little church in the middle of nowhere some miles outside of Abergavenny in a place called, Bont. A tiny little remote church perched on the crest of a hill overlooking the valley. It was a fabulous setting for such an occasion. Despite a dull start, on cue, the weather brightened up just as the wedded couple were coming out of the church around lunchtime. That was a relief. So the whole party headed down for the reception in the town of Aber at the Angel Hotel, which is the swankiest hotel in the area. Fantastic meal, fun, and it was all downhill from there as the drink flowed. I think I had a good time. Tell you tomorrow!
Yours truly in full regalia outside the chapel - you'd think it was me getting married. Not a chance my friends!
Singing along inside during the service...
...and outside after the show when the deed has been done! The 2 page boys, Rhiannon, Matthew, (bride and groom) and 4 bridesmaids, Carly, Gemma, Amy, and Lisa - and just then the sun came along...
Leaving this little romantic setting behind in the heart of the Welsh Mountains...
...You can still throw confetti in this part of the World...it's off the radar for the PC Brigade, thank God!
Down at the reception in the afternoon, your one and only GD entertains this gorgeous bevvy of bridesmaids - well it put a smile on my face!
The proper wedding party
Ryan & Kate looking sharp
All the girls together - They're not a bad looking bunch of wenches in all honesty when you see 'em all done up in their Sunday best...They don't scrub up half bad!
Nice touch - My place setting
The happy couple, Rhi & Matt cut the cake
That's me, stealing off with the bride!
And me later on, being supported by my buddy Nick Ramsey, our new Conservative Welsh Assembly Member for South East Wales. Now this is what you need fine upstanding politicians for! It was time to go home as you can probably gather - It'd been a long day...
May 13th
Well, felt a bit tender this morning, but managed to re-surface to meet up with Kate and Ryan again at the local to recap on the events of yesterday. We all had a blast. Fun days.
May 14th
OK - back to work after the jollity of the weekend. Spent the whole day re-jigging my PC's with Andy Thomas. He's a bit of a whiz on this stuff and it's handy having him nearby in Aber. I first met him back in 1989 when I was working with Greg Lake and he (Andy) was the rep for PPG Synths. You may remember he did the Live St. Cyprian's show with me a few years back. So anyway, that was a full day, but got a lot of good stuff done.
May 15th
Going for the double whammy today. Morning - colonic irrigation (You know all about that one!). Afternoon - 'It's a wrap'. I am beginning to worry about my sanity, because I am now going to extreme measures to try to lose weight. This latest one is a treatment called the Universal Contour Wrap. Its aim is to reduce inches in the fattier extremes of the body, such as abdomen, upper arms, hips, buttocks etc. I'm on the 2nd of a 3/4-course treatment. It involves being bound head to toe in hot, clay soaked bandages. It's the sort of the thing you could imagine some dominatrix inventing as part of her bondage services to paying male perverts. So hear I am standing only in my undies while two young Welsh valley girls tape me up like a Christmas turkey. Believe me fellas, it ain't much of a sexual experience I can tell you - in fact it's pretty unpleasant. Apart from the fact that clay bandages are boiling hot, they go cold very quickly and you have to stand there for at least an hour and a half getting colder, unable to move because of the tight binding of the bandages. It's pretty horrible all round. What can I say? I just hope it bloody works! So that was today. It's about time I got on with some music really, ain't it?
The Universal Contour Wrap - You stand like this for an hour and half. I'm bound head to foot in clay soaked bandages under this very attractive blue plastic track-suit. Makes you wonder what's coming up next for me, eh?
May 16th
Oh Lawdy - here we go again. I'm in the dentist again for Brite-White treatment. Is there no end to all this pampering you're wondering? Well this is a good 3 hours messing about, and I'm not sure it's going to be that effective because it doesn't really work on caps and veneers. We'll see. Actually, nah did not make a lot of difference even though my dentist reckoned it had gone up a shade. He's a cool dude actually - brought in an album to sign. Turned out he's a bit of a fan and has been following the band since his days at dental college. I've invited him and his brother and friends to the Welsh gig in Ebbw Vale in December. Believe it or not, that will be the first time the original band will ever have played in Wales. I know I'll have a lot of people wanting to get on my guest list that night, that's for sure. Home (and London) gigs are always a nightmare like that. I dread them - too much to organize.
May 17th
OK - Got a ludicrously early start today, as it's the appointment at the US Embassy in London. I opt to drive the journey and I set out at 5.00am which should get me into Mayfair round about 7.30, before the traffic gets too bad. Also it's best to get in the queue around this time as it gets very busy, and you're more likely to get a quick in quick out. Duly parked in the NCP in the heart of London, I head for the fortress in Grosvenor Square, which is now known as the US Embassy. It's a formidable looking surround if you've never seen it - great flying buttresses of stone and fencing patrolled my police every few metres armed with sub-machine guns...It's a great monstrosity stuck in the heart of London's residential Mayfair, amongst possibly some of the most expensive real estate to be found in the capital, nay, whole British Isles. Ironically the actions of terrorists over the past few years have produced this fearful looking gunship within a stone's throw of some of London's most famous and picturesque landmarks. Word is they are due to sell the site over the next few years and relocate to more secure and secluded premises in Isleworth, Nr. Hounslow. Not wishing to upset my American chums here, but that's like putting a boiling kettle into a baby's pram. Hounslow is home to more Muslims than anywhere else in the capital (and hence probably more anti-American sentiment than many other part of London). In fact, apart from having some very good curry houses, it's got a very strong, fervent & heavy Asian community, with Southall just a few minutes away. And probs quite a few of Slim-Baden's buddies, sleepin' and awaiting for the right time to fuck us all over again. So, think twice about that one guys. But ironically, all the people working for the Embassy as ushers etc seemed to be of Middle Eastern/Asian origin - that was really weird!
Anyways, duly 3rd in the queue at around 7.25, a couple snuck up just before me otherwise I'd have been primo, I see Davvers and JW arrive by cab, who are also on the petition for the 1-year working visa. It's much of a formality, although, you've got to have legitimate reasons for getting one. They don't mess around these immigration guys and, you really don't f**k with them. Obviously we have bona fide reasons, due to the forthcoming touring. So I'm inside the building and early up for my interview. Now the guy's looking through my paperwork, and he says: 'Ah OK you in a band?' I say: 'Yes'....He looks at me kind of weird then says: 'Asia?' I say: 'Yes'...He looks me up and down again then says: 'What was the first video ever shown on MTV?' ...He's having his little early morning amusement with me, so I am going along with it and I duly oblige: 'Video Killed The Radio Star'...."Welcome back to America Mr. Downes" he says, and stamps my passport approval there and then. Now that kind of gave me a bit feel good factor, not necessarily that he knew who I was, but also that he actually brought some fun into what is a pretty serious business. So cheers for that buddy - so I was off and running back to Wales by 9.15am - That's the quickest by a long a shot I've ever been in and out of the US Embassy on visa day.
I carried on with more installs and a bit of writing at the studio this afternoon when I got back, but the 5-hour roundtrip journey up to London was quite tiring and I retired early.
May 18th
So I've got a good run at the studio to day and I'm constantly tuning up my computers, wiring, experimenting with sounds etc. It's a great way to spend a day, would probably bore the socks off most people, but I love it. Just tinkering around with the technology - you never know what you'll come up with. Just one sound can spark off the idea for a whole song. That's what's great about it all. Anyways, my buddy JT came up in afters and we carried on working a bit on building up the geoffdownes.net site. It's very much work-in-progress, but ya know these things all take time. You gotta be patient. Yeah then I headed out to Monmouth late afternoon, and got back home about 7.00.
May 19th
Well this is always a big day in my calendar if I'm around. The FA Cup Final, and not only back at the new Wembley Stadium, it's the dream final of our best 2 teams head-to-head Manchester United and Chelsea. I was there in the local watching it with my footie buds Ryan & Moose. Great game, but Chelsea edged it. Had a bit to eat with 'er indoors and sparked out.
May 20th
I set a side today to prepare some overdubs for a track we're working on with ASIA. I can't tell you too much about the track as it's a bit secret. I wanted to get a head start on it as we're working up Davvers Studio in Leighton Buzzard from tomorrow.
May 21st
Monday. Make the drive across country to Davvers place in the morning with a few keys and things, and get stuck into the track, JW's down doing a vocal on it as well, and Carl's got some interesting percussion to go on there...see below...
Bang a gong - get it on. CP with his extraordinary 'Spiderman' gong. It actually sounded much bigger than it looked
May 22nd
So it's wake up at Martin's again and another look at 'The Track'. Steve came up as well today and we played a few bits and bobs which are contenders for the next album. Yes, another album, you say! Drove home early evening, getting in at around 10.00.
We left Steve Rispin, the engineer to grapple with the technology
May 23rd
Was glad that I made it back last night as I now have the whole day to get on with stuff. Concentrated on installs today and it was a good day. Watched the Euro Cup Final at home tonight - didn't bother going on the razz with Ryan and the guys - we'd never top that final of 2 years ago when the Scousers came back from the dead against AC Milan. It was the same teams tonight, but this time there was no fairytale ending for the 'Pool. They got thrashed.
May 24th
Got one of those cosseting days today. Dentist in the morning (actually the hygienist), then last of the 3 body wraps in the afternoon. I had lost some inches when the Valley Girls checked me out, so was quite happy about that. It's a bit of an extreme way of going about things though. The only way I lost a lot of weight last time some 5-6 years ago was a serious gym routine with a fitness trainer. That's why I'm struggling right now. I don't think there is actually a physiological reason why quitting the cancer sticks makes you put on weight - I think it's more to do with food tastes better and you tend to eat at the times when I smoked - so it's probably that. If I really got serious with the gym for a few months, I know I could lose it....Work in progress!
May 25th
So I'm back in my own studio again to days and it's all go trying to get this stuff for 'The Track' up and running. After much messing around/transferring the song from Pro Tools into Logic and back, I eventually end up with something that sounds quite reasonable. I'd love to give you an insight into this track but daren't for fear of repercussions from fellow banditos! I'm sure it'll all come out sooner or later.
May 26th
Saturday, and it's a Bank Holiday weekend, but I'm in the studio again today - this time finishing off the track and working on the new additions to the show (Midnight Sun/Open Your Eyes/Starless etc), which we are including for the 2nd US Tour starting in June. Nothing suits me better than just pottering around like this. I love it. Ultimate control - not that I'm a power-freak or anything...just like to do my thing.
May 27th
Finishing off the prep at the studio. Still got this annoying sore throat on one side. It's quite noticeable when I swallow. Hope it's not the legacy of smoking coming to haunt me so soon after giving up. But apart from that, I'm feeling pretty chipper.
Even the cows came up to the back of my studio to see what was going on. They don't come this close very often - must've liked the music!
May 28th
Bank Holiday Monday. Well all work and no play as the say...so it's off to Chepstow Races today for a day out of the studio. It's always a good bash, and the old bag and Lou are generally up for a good time there. It's not too far a drive (bout 20 minutes down the country lanes). Well the races themselves are not usually that great at this course (bit pedantic), and there are quite few non-runners due to the soft going. But I'm going to have a flutter...We've got a picnic and another one of Lou's friends along. Well I was down about £50 up to the last race, but had done a £10.00 place accumulator bet, and luckily by the last race I was £90 up when the last horse came in. That was handy, and it paid for the day out. The weather was quite nice for a change. Here are a few pics from the day out...
The undulating race-track at Chepstow - the rolling Welsh hills provide the backdrop. It's a beautiful setting.
A day at the races - in the paddock the horses are lining up for the 1st event
Giddy-up. Can't believe how small and skinny some of the jockeys are - bloody lightweights!
Waiting at the Winner's enclosure...
..a bit of good old tic-tac-toe, as your favourite racing correspondent cops a bundle on the last race!
May 29th
The Girls are coming in tomorrow (Christina from Barcelona, and Alexandra from Oslo) so I always get a bit nervous. I don't see them that often so it's kind of weird that I've got these 2 daughters who live in 2 different countries. I'm sure we'll have a good time though - we usually do. Tim Stark (Steve's guitar tech) is picking up all my stuff (flight cases/keys) etc to go to Martin's place for the rehearsal next week so spent most of the day sorting that out with Sean. I've got a lot of shit to get together, and I've got be certain I've got all the ingredients together.
May 30th
OK it 's off to London - Christina's getting in slightly earlier than Alexandra and it's a different terminal at Heathrow. So of course it's great to see them and I've booked at nice hotel for us in the centre of London. It's a Thai meal, and early bed for everyone. Well no matter what I do, I just can't to seem to shift this weight - it's real pain-in-the-ass. Guess I eat too much, but my main priority for the next few days is looking after my babies, actually they've both grown up now. Here then are my 2 heiresses...
Alexandra - the party queen. I'd rather she didn't smoke, but I didn't exactly set a very good example over the years I guess. She can be a bit of handful, but love her to bits...
...and here's my eldest, Christina. Lordy, she's turned into a fine young elegant woman I think you'll agree. Don't know how much I had to do with it all, but I'm mighty proud of both of them.
May 31st
So woke up in the hotel this morning to a lovely clear day but one nagging thing, this sore throat is really bugging me. Seems to be sticking around a lot longer than I would have liked. It might be time to head down to the doc's when I get back.
Anyways...did a bit of shopping first thing with the girls, then had to go off for a couple of hours to Leighton Buzzard (Davvers' Gaff) to set my keys up for the rehearsal next week. Unfortunately took me 2 to get there and 2 to get back into central London. That's unbelievable, eh? Had a little Indian just round the corner from the hotel (Royal Lancaster), and that was some discovery. The Spice Of India in Paddington. Now I went to see Pirates Of The Caribbean 3 tonight with Christina in the fancy cinema in Marble Arch.... Not the greatest film you'll ever - very clichéd. Well in fact, I'm not much of a film buff to be honest. I don't tend to watch films a whole lot - I get bored too easily... so I'm pretty useless when it comes to who's in this, who's in that. But I must own up that I do always get a little twinge of envy when I see Hans Zimmer's name come up on the composing credits, because I know it is probably something I could have done, but never achieved. It kind of passed me by - but there again, I should be grateful for what I have achieved I suppose, the great people I've worked with and of course that I have my own musical set-up which is stylish and pretty much state-of-the-art. Yeah f**k it! Ya know, there's a lot of baggage with of all that Hollywood stuff, and you end up kissing arse to all those wankers. At least I am my own boss and can pretty much do what I like. But I take my hat off to Hans - he's gone a long way on from being my keyboard programmer from 30 years ago!
And so to wrap up, as usual few thoughts from the Old Moaner himself this month - Here's one for ya...
Doesn't that Sting guy really annoy you?...He's slightly older than me, is as fit as a butcher's dog, got a body on him like the effin' Adonis, has written a considerable number of evergreen songs in his lifetime, massive career as a solo artist and member of a huge band, actor, icon etc...Makes you sick, dunnit? - and he's still managed to remain - 'cool'. Yeah Sting is cool - never looked a prick in video (unlike yours truly in "Don't Cry"). The only downside for him in life has got to be waking up next to that ogre of a wife of his - Trudy Styler. Gawd, is she ugly? Makes Shrek look half-feminine. And - well you ever seen her trying to act? Board and stiff are two words that immediately spring to mind. No, blessed with the looks she ain't ...In fact when the looks were being handed out, she was so far back, she didn't even know where the front of the queue started. Absolute dog. Mind yous, he's not been too lucky on the totty front over the years for a such a good-looking charismatic guy has he really? His first missus Frances Tomelty, was the scariest looking thing you ever saw in your life. Flippin' weirdo. A walking horror show. She always used to get parts in the macabre British sub-plot dramas, usually as some weird psycho-woman. You could see that she was probably not dissimilar to that in real life. She had menacing black eyes. F**king scary!
Now it just made me think about some famous but miserable people I have come across in my humble life as a small part of this great bullshit music business, and I'm reckoning smart and cool as he may be, Sting's got to be in my top ten. He was pretty off-hand with me on the one occasion when I bumped into him about 20 odd years ago at a Synclavier convention. Other racing certainties from my "Miserable Musical Bastards of the Century Award" would definitely have to include: Tony Banks from Genesis (never seen him smile), the guitarists - Gary Moore, Pete Townsend, Eric Clapton (old misery guts), Van Morrison (he's right up there!), Marillion, anyone from the prog-rock band Arena apart from John Mitchell, in fact most people from the neo-prog bands, The Spice Girls (all of them - ah sorry not in the 'musical category - my mistake!), Billy Joel (as po-faced as they come), Bob Geldof (again, doesn't really qualify because can hardly be classed 'musical' - if he were, he'd be in there!), Paul McCartney (although I never actually was introduced to him - just stood near him at a party, and could feel his miserable vibe emanating profusely) and there are quite a few more I've encountered along the way. Can't think of them all right now - try to forget 'em generally, as they could make you morose even thinking about them. There is just something about these people where you just know whatever success has brought them; they are destined to be real miserable, humourless bastards forever and a day. You'd certainly never want to be stuck next to any of them on a plane that's for sure, let alone spend any more than 2 seconds with. Anyways - f**k 'em - boring old gits! Let's keep smiling shall we folks?
OK, so that's it for this month me dears. Times flying by as usual, and next month promises to be busy, busy, busy. Love to chat but must press on and all of that. Love yas all & TTFN.xxxx
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