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A bit late reporting, The Rock Formation played The Prince Albert in Milton Keynes on Saturday. Seemed to go down well.

16 hours ago, Gasman said:

Last night’s gig was one I never anticipated, wanted, but felt compelled and eventually pleased to do. My son died three weeks ago suddenly from a second heart attack a week after having stents for the first one, seems the surgeon did half a job. Julian was 46, three kids, fitness fanatic, my best friend, top DJ and drummer

 

Today was his funeral. His widow had booked an acoustic duo for the wake in the local pub. However, the girl singer had to leave early for some reason; the landlord knew I played and pointed me out to the remaining guitarist/singer suggesting I might help, so as my gear was in my car I played bass and sang with him for the second set.

 

It was good distraction therapy, busking 15 numbers I’d never played before with a guy I’d never met. Despite this glimmer of light in a dark, dark day I’ll never be able to rationalise why I’m still here at 74 to write this while he will never read it. 

 

Parents shouldn’t have to bury their children...

So sorry for your loss.

13 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

They were an amazing band. A lot more talented than they were credited for i reckon.

So many of the Glam bands were actually very good musicians. They did what they did through a lot of hard work touring. That's where you learn your craft. No social media and autotune in them good ole days.

Dave

A friend of my wife was friendly with Les Gray back in the day. I know the current guitarist/vocalist and the keyboard player of Mud2.

The Rock Formation returned to The Ashton Club in Bicester last night. Delayed start due to the football but all seemed to enjoy themselves. Dep drummer had a new kit which sounded good. We messed up All these things by The Killers somehow which is odd as it's always in our set list. Don't think the well oiled punters noticed though!

Sky Arts showing parts 1 and 2 Led Zeppelin In the Light tonight at 10.00pm. Interviews and rare recordings of performances apparently.

18 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

This was posted on our FB page last night by a local band reviewer for the Dreadnought in Bathgate.

Very humbled by it.

No pics or vids have appeared as yet.

Dave

 

 This year I've had some good nights, some really good nights, some great nights and some exceptional nights in the Dreadnought.. Tonight's gig was on another scale completely... For ny on THREE HOURS the packed Dread was treated to a Christmas Party of epic proportions courtesy of the phenomenal glam rock covers band Blockbustarz... Mike, David, Colin, Lynn and Barry were tinselled up, hairdoed up (Barry had a hat on), silver suited up, glam rock booted up and face painted up to the max.. The crowd were suitably attired as well, with Elton John style glasses, glitter covered hats, Christmas jumpers, flashing light necklaces and tinsel on show.... Appearing on stage to Rock and Roll Part 2, they were straight into the classics, Ballroom Blitz, 21st Century Boy, All of Me Loves All of You and Dance Dance Dance for starters. It was clear from the onset that the crowd were 'up for it'.... It was party central 'doon the front', led off by a lady wearing a white Christmas jumper and Santa Hat (who I was informed was touching 70!), who never stopped 'glamming' for 2 and a half hours before she had to leave for her bus Tremendous...... Some of us 1970's punters knew all of the words, but the younger audience members just boogied along.. The Cat Crept In, Hey Rock n Roll and Glass of Champagne kept the crowd dancing... Can the Can was followed by a Sweet song... As Lynn intoduced it as "This is Mikes song!", I immediately thought it was Hellraiser... Unfortunately for Mike it was Little Willy... (too much info from the Green Room). Virginia Plain, Get it On, and Let it Snow (which had the crowd singing along) kept the pace up. The white Christmas jumper wearing woman was still going 'aff her heid' and enjoying every minute. Coo Ca Choo , Dynamite and Rebel, Rebel saw no let up in the pace, with Mike and Lynn on vocals giving it welly, as was Barry Bazza Haywood on drums (what an incredible glam rock drummer he is), and more than ably assisted by Colin on guitar and David on bass. The stage was a mass of glittery covered suits and strange shaped guitars.. Saturday Night, Schools Out, Crazy Horses and Hellraiser took us and the band to a very well deserved break.. Phenomenal first half.. Waterloo and Teenage Rampage started off the second half before the call of "Where's Hastie?" went up.... It could only be Tell Him from Hello, the best punk/glam/ rock song ever! ... As sure as night follows day and apples fall from trees, I always migrate towards the front.. Now it was game on between me and the santa hat wearer.. Tell Him was followed by, I Love Rock n Roll, Under the Moon of Love and Children of the Revolution before the first Christmas song Lonely This Christmas was played... CLASSIC.... Next up was Rocket and The Jean Genie before we had a stage malfunction....During Let's Stick Together one big lad went down like a giant redwood... backwards. Before you could shout "Timber", a monitor was crushed and Lynn got banjoed on the eye by a mic... ROCK AND ROLL..! As Lynns shiner was appearing the lad was helped up and staggered away... I Love to Boogie and Fox on the Run led us into Merry Christmas Everybody.. MAGNIFICENT.... Come on Feel the Noise, Devil Gate Drive and Wig Wam Bam had me and the 'doon the fronters' giving it 'laldy'... Hot Love, Spirit in the Sky and the Time Warp took us up to Tiger Feet or as Johnstone 'Swagger Panther' Bowes was singing "Panther Feet"..... The big stage diver was back, but was cajoled around the floor and was still enjoying his night. Blockbuster, I Wish it Could Be Christmas Everyday and a rousing Loch Lomondy version of Shang a Lang ended the proceedings.... 100 out of 100 for all concerned tonight.. The bar staff, Pete on sound, floor security. (), door staff, the up for it crowd, the main man Douglas Croft and not forgetting of course the tremendous band... That's what you call a Christmas Night... ..... That's me and my reviews of the music scene over for this year. I hope next year's is just as good.... As Noddy Holder once said.... "Merry Christmas Everybody!" .... Ps.. I heard Lynn is auditioning for the 'Black Eyed Peas"' .... Big Hastie over and out from his big chair where I'm recovering from my 'pogo' off with the Santa hat wearer.... Rock On Folks..

Nice one Dave!

58 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

We'll be doing Xmas songs by Sweet, Slade, Wizzard with the Mud song being added this year too. Not sure how the Mud song will go down but our guitarists old band used to do it and it was a big hit with the audience so we'll give it a try. Relatively easy one to learn too.

Got gigs on 2nd, 16th, 22nd and 23rd Dec We have one on 31st but not sure Xmas songs will be suitable after 25th.  

Dave

We've played Wizzard and Mud ones in the past but with a different vocalist.

1 hour ago, dmccombe7 said:

Not a gig but next week i've booked a 3 hr rehearsal slot for the Glam covers band to run thru the Xmas songs we've not played for 11mths just in time for the first Xmas gig on 2nd Dec. WHOO HOO. 

Dave

 

We're playing it safe this year and just planning to do Slade on the 2nd and 9th December.

Great night for our debut at Halley's Comet in MK last night. Our drummer is quite poorly at the moment so had a dep who hadn't played with us for a while but he did a good job. Landlady very happy, paid us extra and promised a re-booking next year. No pics I'm afraid.

Last night saw us return to The Eager Poet in Milton Keynes. Smaller audience than last time but was quite lively at times. We had a dep drummer which changed the dynamic at times and a led to a couple of mistakes as a result but nothing too bad.

Another plus 1 for great service from Ashdown. A few years ago now I had a power supply blow a couple of weeks or so out of warranty. They shipped a replacement to me foc!

As a few have said, it takes more than just talent to be in a band.

Hope you get sorted one way or another.

5 hours ago, BigRedX said:

 

IIRC Ten Years After were Mansfield-based?

 

 

I think Alvin Lee was from Beeston bit not certain. I knew someone who claimed he lived next door to him in his younger days.

Played a local festival yesterday, late afternoon spot. We seemed to go down well and the rain managed to hold off!

He lived locally to me although I didn't know him personally, a couple of my friends did.

RIP Bernie.

Just back from Cowperfest, a local beer festival. Good crowd although we had a good downpour right on our last number.

Another Bass-Lead-Amp player here. Works for me in my current band.

57 minutes ago, casapete said:

Last night we played at Manchester Opera House, which is a magnificent Edwardian theatre right in the 

heart of the city centre. Had a nightmare journey up from Swindon - a major accident turned the M6 

into a car park - so arrived very late after a five and a half hour journey. Fortunately our sound and 

lighting guys had got there on time, having travelled up the night before. Had a fairly quick sound 

check, despite having more PA than usual due to the size of the theatre (around 1,900 seater), and

sounded fine. Lots of bass bins meant I was very happy!
The gig went well - had over 1,400 people in so it felt quite full. Lots of audience singing and dancing

which is always a good sign. People doing this in the upper balcony looked quite dangerous from 

the stage! Got another big theatre today at Sunderland Empire so looking forward to that one too.

 

( just noticed our PA guy Rik photobombed the 1st pic - looks like he’s praying!)

 

 

Looks an amazing venue.

@Gasman How is the HB "Mustang" weight wise and is there any neck dive?

The Rock Formation returned to The Ashton Club in Bicester last night. Was a great night with an appreciative audience, looking to re-book us again.

1 hour ago, tauzero said:

I forgot to mention that Mrs Zero informed me that one young lady had been jiggling along to us so enthusiastically that she jiggled out of the top of her dress. Mrs Zero was also rather surprised that I'd missed it. Must stop looking at the fretboard so much. Sorry, there is no photographic evidence.

We had a woman whose trousers and knickers kept dropping down somewhat at the back exposing a good bit of her backside at a gig a few years back!

Saturday night saw us return to The Victoria Club in Aylesbury. Room is up stairs (no lift) so not a good load in and finding somewhere to park a nightmare.

Small audience, but we seemed to have been well received. Our drummer was not available so his brother depped and did a good job.

Great night at The Prince Albert in Milton Keynes, really good appreciative audience and great feedback. Re-booked for December.

Great gig at The Eager Poet in Milton Keynes last night. Plenty of singing and dancing!

Although never played the song live I did try and learn the solo in Bullfrog Blues by Rory Gallagher. I think I failed pretty miserably though!