RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE

I couldn't read and run , but I'm still traumatised by the vacuous st.Bono who destroyed the gig I saw them at Twickenham on the vertigo tour . He single-handedly changed an okay rock/ pop gig into a telethon telling us all to ' make a difference' and a text no was shown all round the stadium . Telling us all to co-exist while wearing some graffiti like bedsheet on his head in a pope like manner. What caught my eye here , is you wondering about the potential cost of their next mission/tour l I paid £75 from the ballot from Twickenham Rugby Association . I only went because one of my friends wanted to go, and crash over at mine as I lived not too far from the rugby ground at the time . Never ever again ! I can't listen to them now at all . I did think ( ironically ) that the October album was their best . That was the second time , as I saw them at Wembley on the Joshua tree tour previously . That was okay. Lou Reed was abysmal ,and Shane McGowans popes were imho the best band of the day . I think that you had a lucky escape not seeing them when I did that's for sure . with all his virtual signalling , and tax avoidance maybe they are best paying you for the privilege 😬

I despair . I see a large banner at the bottom advising me of Affordabke north east counselling , with a small white tab next to it mentioning anxious minds . Guess I'm confused . Con 🤦🤷‍♂️ it's a long way to walk for counselling from my neck of the woods ..

Before I log in , I see a large orange banner ' Affordabke north east COUNSELLING' with a small tab next to it Anxious Minds .🤷‍♂️🫤 Must admit It's a long way to walk for counselling if I did have an anxious mind . Has a cookie missed the target ?

"We value your privacy " Yes , we believe you 🤣 Having said that , an ex pm did say a couple of years ago that we wouldn't be getting anymore of this nonsense , yet here we are ..

These cookies are leaving a nasty taste in the mouth There is also a small privacy banner on the left hand side of my iPad , like an irritating bluebottle 🪰 please make it stop

We live in changing times . When I did the meet and greet thing ( or what I was back in the day ) , it was pre internet / pre social media etc. we all know the music industry has changed somewhat when downloading became a thing etc. Now it seems ( and I stand to be corrected ) that bands make more from touring , merchandise ,and charging fans various prices for after show autographed meet-ups . More of an exercise these days .Some smaller touring bands allegedly struggle with merchandise sales and have to pay x amount fo the allowance to sell their wares in various venues so it has been said . This can turn some bands into corporate money making machines on a par with Kiss . I'm bored with metallica as one example . Then again , is it really their fault as they are embracing the new narrative ? I think I'm lucky to have seen most of the bands I like ( d) at the right time , and the days of queuing up on a Saturday morning for iron maiden tickets outside hammy odeon as one example was much more fre and appealing than trying to go online at 9am trying to get a ticket to more or less any name band for exhorbitant prices . That is provided you have access to a computer at that time of day . I am/ was of the mindset hat if you have various prices for a ticket ...always prepare and hope to pay for the dearest one you can get. my friend got tkts for the clockwork angels gig at the o2 , and didn't get the dearest tkt . No, he went for the next price down . great gig, but we couldn't see alll of the backing orchestra 🤦. Greedy promoters unfortunately will charge what they want , as they know a lot will pay and gigs more or less sell out anyway. Then there's inflation of course , so I can't really criticise Geddy prices here . Train prices in the other hand I do have fond memories of those times , but I'll just wait for the audible release in November

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In my younger years , I'd be anxiously looking forward to meet and greets like this . That was then , and Living in London at the time I'd manage to get to them 99% of the time . One of my friends ( a big rush fan like myself ) highlighted the Portsmouth date but knowing south western railway on a Sunday ( with over 2 hrs each way ) I just said that I couldn't be bothered . Not very rock'n'roll I agree.😬 In my reply to his email, I did point out that if he was working in London on the Barbican date that he should go . Having said that , we were both lucky to see Geddy at the Haymarket premiering the film . If I did go, I would think that times are hard but it's worth paying for . Plus it's a collectors item if you're into that. As I say , I did do a few meet and greets . Always seemed to be on Monday lunchtimes . This involved asking / begging my boss and work colleagues to allow me and give me more flexibility in case I was late back . Waiting 4 hrs for metallica in shades in showery conditions was not fun ! Meeting the various rock / pop stars was always a Rush ( sorry ) . The 2 nicest people I met and queued up for were Bob Calvert and Jean michel Jarre . Was among the last dozen allowed . Metallica ; Cliff was the best . Lars was confused by the test pressing I had of their first 12" single . Meeting Mercyful fate was very odd ; I rushed into shades to get the 12" and Mike pointed the band to me over on the table . It was just me , and they all spoke in Danish . I got a handful of signed stickers and left . Most miserable ; Alice Cooper ! The band were great , but he looked angry and didn't talk to anybody . I didn't realise until years later that he nearly died from hanging at the gig I saw at Wembley ! I guess that's why he was a tad grumpy . I'm sure Geddy won't be like that I have Geddy's book of Bass , but if his autobiography is on Audible I'd prefer that .

That green telecaster looks the business . Not sure of cost, but if my 2 basses for sale go then I'll have to see if.I could afford it . The best sound I got from my last gigging band was tele and Aguilar head and cab . Apart from seeing this, there was no more gas 🤦

I was there also . Plus all the hawkwind gigs . I saw hawkwind so many times at the hammy , but stopped after 1987 . Probably traumatised by nik turner in his frog suit 😬