RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE

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 😬

Great year ! Especially for metal . Anthrax/ Stormtroopers of Death/ slayer/ Metallica/ venom / motorhead / Mercyful Fate/ Wasp 😬/ Hawkwind / Scorpions/ Deep purple / Blackfoot/ZZ Top / Nuclear assault / Jean michel jarre / Alice cooper / Klaus Schulze / Tangerine dream ( especially the Poland album at the time ) .got back into maiden realising my mistake .Rush Maxell c90 chrome

The van halen version of Dancing in the street , is equally as bad . Not a lover of the song anyway .😬

Metallica- whisky in the jar Judas priest - Johnny b Goode Tangerine dream - House of the rising sun/ purple haze megadeth - anarchy in the uk Motley crue- halter skelter