Had a decent lay-in this morning. Got up, then watched a vintage episode of Frasier in favour of the news. Some mornings dear reader, I'm just not in any rush to learn about the world outside.
Thus, I have only just discovered that Hilly Kristal, founder of the legendary CBGB nightclub has sadly passed away.
This is the man who gave The Ramones, Patti Smith, Television and Talking Heads their start in life. Hard now to imagine quite how the musical landscape from the mid-70's onwards would have looked without those bands.
Oddly enough, I got a CBGB t-shirt for my birthday earlier this year, from a friend who lives near the club, or rather, what used to be the club. I'd slip into it right now as a sign of respect but I'm too fat at present to do it justice. It would cut off the blood-flow to my arms and typing would become hazardous.
Instead, I've put my original vinyl copy of my favourite Talking Heads album on the turntable. Spookily, I've just been reminded that CBGB's actually gets a mention in track 5, Life During Wartime.
Oh yessum, that's the stuff. (Reaches for bag of Werther Originals). Y'know, I remember when all this was fields...
Anyhoo, a moment's silence is in order Blog-kids...

Listening to: Zapp - More Bounce to the Ounce

Greetings Earth-people. What's new with y'all?
Not a lot going on at this end I have to confess. Doing the workin'-for-the-man-12-hours-a-day thing at present. Gotta keep them big wheels a-turnin'.
Thus, not many laffs. But then, for me the World of the Worker is a cold and hostile planet upon which I have never really felt at home. I certainly harbour no plans to take up permanent residency there.
In fact, at some point I will expunge this necessary evil from my life forever and good things will ensue. All the people in the village will rejoice. You'll see.
Anyhoo, what else? Well, staggering around the vast outer-reaches of the blogosphere, I recently stumbled across this guy and he's got good taste it must be said. I need people of taste and refinement around me.
You can never have too many of these I find.

Listening to: Magazine - Shot By Both Sides

Sad to report that Tony Wilson died last night of cancer.
Personal TV memories of him are as anchorman for regional evening news prog Granada Reports and presenter of it's music-based offshoot So It Goes, way, way back in a far-off land called the Second Half of the 70's...
The Sex Pistols appearance on the latter is an oft-cited flashpoint for the Northwest's Punk generation, but the Buzzcocks appearance (featuring a live rendition of Boredom) on the same show that featured Lauren Bacall is a memory I've often wondered if my fevered imagination has somehow cooked up over the years. It may have been Elvis Costello (doing Alison, My Aim is True) I'm not too sure. Mind you, I'm not too sure about the whole thing, as you can no doubt tell.

But Lauren Bacall is definitely in there, I can see it now... sitting with Tony-W post-chat, with Buzzcocks/Elvis/whoever playing the show out behind them. I'm finding evidence of this hard to come by though, it must be said. It's enough to make me question whether Lance Percival is really my uncle.
Mind you, a lot's gone on since then, and my brain has too much useless information in it at the best of times. Even back then it was struggling under the weight of TV theme-tunes, crudely fashioned advertising slogans, and the ongoing development of exercise-book back-page-but-one bubble-writing. Then as now, every day is a new fight.
As someone who generally avoids bio-pics, especially those concerning bands, it was a while before I got round to seeing 24 Hour Party People, the story of Tony Wilson and Factory Records, incorporating the rise and demise of The Hacienda nightclub.
However, it quickly became evident that this was/is the greatest music flick ever made, as well as a fantastic evocation of life Up North at the time depicted ... lots of great cameos from the original players too. Steve Coogan plays Tone.
Blog-lads and lasses, if you've never seen this 'un, do so ASAP.
Anthony H. Wilson, I salute thee.

Yessir, back from the Land of the Leek, and it must be said, the Weathergods did indeed smile (or at least grin knowingly) upon us over this last weekend. As the view from the window of my Welsh boudoir will attest, Summer eventually arrived in Westerly Wales, albeit with a few clouds in tow. Still, it was enough for us to get the general idea. Much wine was poured, SBBQ2 was duly put to work and a fine time was had by all.
In addition, the Most Miserable Landlord in Wales had even packed up and gone. The replacement staff kind of smile, occasionally... mind you, at £8.60 for 2 pints and a small white wine I can guess why. But yes, things are definitely looking up pop-kids.
Thankfully my helicopter ensemble (previous post) wasn't called for.
The Summer of Sonic begins.
Better late than never I say.
Onwards™....