Maude

The thing I love about the 80's is the variety and changes the music scene went through, it started out with the last throws of punk and disco, then new wave, post punk, new romantics, electronic, goth, alternative, rap, hip hop, acid house, hair and glam metal and everything else in between, all in a decade, amazing. Here are some of my alternative 80's favs.

The year was 1982, I was 9, I had been given (second hand) a 70's Bontempi Hit Organ and Yazoo's 'Don't Go' was riding high in the charts. I fired up the Bontempi, which roared into life with its overbearing fan noise, and I learnt how to play the opening riff of above song. I was the coolest person ever While not the best 80's song, this brings back fond memories. Back then everything Vince Clarke did was magic to me, I'd never heard these sounds before.

I once bought a 1967 Volvo 123GT from a chap in North Devon. Whilst on the phone to him asking his location (pre mobile phone and Internet days) he told me, "A small village called Woolsery", he pronounced it 'Woolsree'. No matter how much I studied the map I couldn't find 'Woolsery'. I said, "All I can see in that area is a place called Woolfardisworthy". "That's it" he said, "Woolsree". Turns out 'Woolfardisworthy' is pronounced 'Woolsree', who knew? Even the signposts up there have Woolfardisworthy, with Woolsery bracketed underneath on them.

I'm still going with the Spanish pronunciation, after all it was Salvador Ibanez that started the company in 1870. From what I've read Hoshino Gakki imported Spanish guitars from Salvador Ibanez and sold them under that name, when the Ibanez company was sold to another company (not Gakki) Hoshino Gakki started making his own guitars using the Salvador Ibanez name, later just Ibanez. So it has never been a Japanese name.

A pub I was having a meal in had a board uo with who was playing there next Friday, Saturday, etc. One of the bands were called 'The Wives Aren't Happy', I had a little chuckle at that one.

Being, originally, a Spanish company I'd say so. I quite like the Spanish pronunciation.

"That's a lovely rack tom." "Agreed, but don't call me Tom."

We played Teignmouth Scooter Rally last Friday. Great night with a good sized stage. I'm hoping for some video footage or pictures from later in set when the dance floor was packed to surface.

Without trying to sound patronising, years ago I'd have said there's probably a lot of stuff a lot people shouldn't be doing. Since getting older and learning to just let go of the stuff that really doesn't matter I wish FM all the best with a new tour. If they want to play and there's folks that want to see/hear them then who am I to tell them, or anyone else they shouldn't? If you don't want to see them then don't go, seems fairly simple to me.

Repair other people's guitars and basses so you've always got a flow of different instruments going through the house. "What that one? Of course it's not a new one, it's [insert name]'s, he wants me to fit new pick ups and give it a quick once over and set up"....... "I know it's been here a while, tell me about it! He's only gone to South America for a few months"........ "No I don't know how people afford either, I'll never be able to doing these little guitar repairs, oh well".

Fakes aren't what they used to be are they? S&M58, isn't it? Or 69, marvellous.

The Dastardlys played Teignmouth Scooter Rally last night. Really nice set up with a decent sized stage. We had to be there at half six to set up and soundcheck before they opened the doors, then start playing at half ten so a bit of hanging around but there was DJ's playing vinyl so all was good. The DJ's warmed the crowd up nicely and they were dancing from the start of our set, and the not long into the set the floor was packed. The usual dance floor chaos ensued when we moved into our Ska set but it's all par for the course at these events. Only got a live picture of when we started but hopefully some from later in the set will surface.

I thought I'd read a while ago that this upcoming tour was to be their last, if so it seems odd doing a 'farewell' tour with a new line up. Also read last night that LB hadn't so much been fired rather than just unwilling to tour at the moment. When the tour was being discussed the other four were eager to do it but LB wanted to concentrate on his solo album, so the rest said "fair enough, we'll do it without you". Apparently he's still part of Fleetwood Mac, just unavailable to tour at the moment, make of that what you will.

The Dastardlys had a storming night last night at The Thistle Park in Plymouth. They had moved the stage since last time to kind of 45° in a corner, so with drummer in the corner and us in front we all had a decent space for a pub. People up dancing from the off and by the end the whole place was pumping and the dancefloor packed. Ended up playing about 20 minutes of encores as the crowd were so up for it and cheering so much we felt obliged. Nights like that make this job a joy to do. First of the scooter rallies next week, looking for to it after last night

Not really, but I've made up a little adapter with a battery clip on one end and a plug on the other that will fit into the 9v socket so it's all good

I'll just link this thread I started last year to this current one. A few of us had clones built by Dan and I use mine every week with no issues. He will build it to whatever spec you want, I had mine built without the volume control and changed the battery clip for a 9v input socket.

Eh? You've put 'em on the wrong side.

Yeah, my two grumbles are very minor compared to the fun and enjoyment I get out of the band. I have absolutely no issues in my other band, such a joy.

My number one annoyance is guitarist and drummer not being able to keep quiet at rehearsals. If we're working out new stuff, how the hell do I communicate with anyone if you pair of feckwits insist on playing random riffs and fills. The only other thing is placing the singers microphone dead centre on the stage area. Sounds wierd but there's three of us across the front all playing guitars, I have to stand to the singers left at the guitarists request as, for some reason, he can't cope if he's that side. If the singers mic is dead centre on a small stage that means his headstock is over in my area so I'll just stand behind the PA speaker then shall I. If we all take a step to our right then we'll all fit, but they just don't get it. Then they comment that in most pictures or video I'm obscured from vision. It's a small stage tonight (The Thistle in Plymouth if anyone's that way and bored ) so we'll see if they've worked it out yet.

^^^ There you go, next topic

I just use rechargeables. I only have one active bass and two rechargeable batteries, every couple of months I'll swap the battery over and put the one that came out on charge. The charger and a pair of batteries is only the price of three or four decent 'normal' batteries. Some people say the rechargeables don't last as long on a single charge as a standard battery but, erm, well they're rechargeable so who cares.

I was going to say mint, but I didn't have a picture to show you. And then Discreet came along and proved the point.

I have one of those Epiphone's in the 'Worn Vintage Sunburst'. I love it. Although it confuses me that it's called a 'Dot' when it doesn't have dots.

I used to go out with her!

I'd like to think the music industry is an area where you would encounter less intolerance to gender, sexuality, race, colour, whatever differences folks might have than a lot of other areas. Music has brought together all manner of different folks and pushed the boundaries and lead the way as far as all these issues are concerned. A lot of the time being a positive driving force in a negative era. I probably haven't quite explained myself well, maybe not using the correct terminology but hopefully you get my meaning.