Leonard Smalls

I got into punk as a 15 year old at school; previously I'd been into 50s type rock and roll, anything that jumped. But the 1st music that "spoke" was punk. I remember all the other lads in my class (never the girls!) had nice clean denim jackets with Yes or Genesis (or similar) patches sewn on neatly by their mums. Me'n'Swamp'nSgav were the only ones in the school who dyed our hair pink, wore old prison jackets with "Slits" or "Members" handpainted (badly)on the back in fluorescent orange (we couldn't afford to pay proper punk shop prices!). We were basically our own little tribe, with folks staring or shouting abuse or even attacking us. This feeling of rejection meant a reciprocal rejection - everything that wasn't punk was crap. Though Slits counted as punk, as did many new wave bands that most certainly didn't sound like punk; nowadays punk has to be a stereotype of what punk was, which was then a sort of rejection of the elitism of 70s rock and prog, basically an idea that anybody could have a voice or make music, even if they weren't fellows of the Royal Schools of Music! Talking of which, my neighbour (Tull keyboards 76-80) tells a story of a tour in the US in early '78. They were waiting in the transit lounge of Chicago airport, which was like a hub for flights across America and bands would often meet there while touring. So Tull were there, as was Queen. Then in walked the Sex Pistols. Freddie Mercury was at the bar, and Sid walks up to him and says "Oi, aren't you that geezer that did an album about faahkin ballet?". To which Freddie replies "I feel you were mistaken, it was about the opera, dear Mr. Ferocious"...

Loved that when I was a wee-un! Me and my m8 Swamp started a band called Bunsen Burner and the Peanut Roasters after hearing it... We had a broken Farfisa organ, an out of tune Kay bass and a large pan. Our best song went: I wish I was a Paramecium Cos then life would be very easium... (Etc) We never got as far as a gig!

A special thanks also has to go to the 70s progsters for making music go so far up its own arris that punk rock was born. I don't mean all that fake underground US stuff like the New Yoick Dolls'n'MC5, but proper manufactured Sex Pistols-type punk, which gave rise to all sorts of exciting noises...

Eek! It's like "Daisy, Daisy give me your answer true (do?who?)" sung by a dodgy redneck with Animal from the Muppets over-doing the drums. Poorly executed and clichéd - C-. Could do better!

However, it sounds like a track or bus input or output routing type thing...

I usually just put a bit of sellotape over the record tag... 😁 (Sorry, bin 20 years since I last used ProTools, and that was tracklaying for TV - no idea!)

It's like something that's way past moist 😁 I'd be a lot happier if AntwanTheSwan did less singing and they stuck with a Big Groove!

I've been using superglue for about 25 years if my tips get sensitive... It's only needed if I have a couple of weeks off playing, which is rare. But I've never had any cyanoacrylate problems. I also play using my thumb as a sort of pick, so the outside and cuticle of right thumb also get the occasional dose. Just be sure it's dry before touching owt or playing bass (I've only stuck fingers together once!)

It's been cancelled! They only sold 10 tickets, but then they hadn't mentioned half the bands on, including us.

Trouble Funk live

I bought a Parker PB51 cos it looks crazy! Plays well, mind and is comfy if you have it high...

Here's Chilli's 1st time on tv in 1984.... Jack Sherman in guitar! They may have been perhaps a touch overwhelmed!

Is there a word that goes beyond "wet" in terms of describing moistitude?

Funnily enough, when I was a youth I used to watch Top Of The Pops every week in the hope that something more interesting than the usual chart fodder would come on... Hated at least 95% then, and still would now if I could be bothered! When you get to my age etc...

Me too! And haven't seen Primus since stumbling across their gig at the Paradiso in Amsterdam in 1990, having gone there to see Urban Dance Squad at the Melkweg the night before. Proper trip out that was!

It's funny, because I can't be dealing with Geddy's bass and vocals but love Primus! Hope he turns it into his usual slapfest... 😁

Cheers! Booked as well for Manchester, including hotel and dogsitter!

Odd, but groovy and soulful!

Trevor Dunn of Mr Bungle is also a great unsung hero... Here's a bit of their latest "new" material, a Van Halen cover with Dave Lomardo on drums:

'Nother one... Amin Ali, son of drummer Rashid Ali. Proper groover, here keeping it funky with Calvin Weston while James Blood and George Adams go crazy...

Here's a bit of jazzy groove with a soporific feel. Or not! Either way, it's inspired by Frank Bough eating daffs on Nationwide 😁 Tis a Lightwave fretless, Vienna sax and keys from AAS sounds. Drums programmed in EZ Drummer, with percussion made from Digicussion sounds. All mixed in Doblys, with a good spattering of Ozone 9.

Here's one, Ryoji Orihara of the Ken Sato Experience. Their version of 20th Century Boy is also excellent!

Choked are playing their next gig as part of the Ukraine benefit at Mid-Wales Pavilion, Llandrindod Wells, Powys on 2nd April. It's a 1.5 dayer (i.e. Friday 1st April evening, then all day Saturday 2nd April - we're on in the eve on the Saturday...