May 19, 2000 - Issue #3

On the road

Leeds was hot and so was Cuddle's amp which blew up obligingly at the last bit of 'Once Bitten". Joe Elliott sang "Memphis" and then he sang "mirror" from the Hoople album - which I hadn't heard in a long time. In fact, I thought it was a track from Overnight Angels! Joe would have gotten away with it if it hadn't been for the 97 chords involved! What a bloke!

Had a lot of great comments about Tracie and her band last night. My band was great and I made 72 pence on pay for view. More of that later. I'm now on the M62. Darrell's new album Same Old Brand New is now available on the Delicious label. I've had a listen and it's Darrell. His singing is great to me and he's not bad on the old razor either.

Britain is still the same. Costs about $3,000 to fill up your car, but its a gorgeous country to traverse. Just encountered one of England's road works management snafus. Basically it consists of three lanes merging into two - causing a two mile back up. You are then in two lanes with bollards occupying the third. Unfortunately, the bollards are the only thing inhabiting the lane - no work being done - no workmen in sight - no vehicles - just bollards for two miles and then three lanes again!

Trudi informs me that we've lost the "Horse's Mouth" bit for Edinburgh and Newcastle. This can happen in the heat of battle. Edinburgh was (as last year) a terrific crowd in a great town.

Newcastle was a big up as the promoter there has finally found a suitable venue. Yes, I know it is sit down (ish), but what a place. Autographed pictures of all the old greats in the dressing room - vaudeville, opera etc. I'll go there again if he manages to hang onto the gig.

Back to the hotel with Roy Eldridge, MD of Papillon Records. We had a great two hour conversation. Roy was with me when I was at Chrysalis. He and his partner, Mike Andrews, are actively supporting established artists to produce new material! So it looks like we're in business again!

Horses Mouth

Tuesday, May 23, 2000 - London, England

Sunday was come down day - the day after you finish and the adrenalin leaves and you really don't know what to do with yourself. Both Bilston and London seemed great to the band. I think we clicked both nights.

Yesterday went down to Hereford to see Pete Overend Watts, Verden Allen and Stan Tippins and had a great time. It looked dangerously like a piss up at one point, but we managed to stifle our more primitive urges and wound up at Pete's cottage relatively sober. Watts is mad on "The Monks" and another bloke who wants him to go to Paris. He played me some of his, I played him some of mine and Phally put on a couple of his older tracks. A good time was had by all.

We have a couple of meetings today and then tonight it's a curry with Tracie and Ritchie Anderson (MTH's original roadie) on the Holloway Road.

Another meeting in the morning and then it's back to New York tomorrow afternoon. Had a great time. Wish we could stay longer, but I've got the N.Y. gig to prepare for now.

Thursday, May 25, 2000 - Connecticut, USA

Got home last night. Tons of messages. Web site averages 10,000 hits a day! Got bumped to first class on the way home so the end to a perfect trip!

Reading some of the e-mail - see what happens!!! I start with "Once Bitten" and people moan. I don't start with "Once Bitten" - and people moan! That's why I do what I feel like doing! Lovely fan comments - thanks a lot. We had a great time. I preferred this set list for two reasons: 1. It starts quieter and when you're doing six gigs in a row you have to be careful that the voice doesn't go. 2. I also like to arrange the set so I don't have to change guitars too often. I use different tunings. I tend to block open tunings in one spot and ordinary tunings in another.

Haven't got a clue who the girl was in Bilston; haven't got a clue who the little lad was in London. He was there with his Mum and I think she got more of a thrill out of it than he did! He was cool though. He was cool.

We had a bit of a do at a pub in Marlborough Street afterwards. I think Dave Walker (one of Tracie's managers set it up). I'd also like to thank Dave for his help with the posters. They were huge and the best ones yet. And to Tracie's other manager, Ian, thanks for the lovely night out at Portland Square with Tracie. Thanks to Joe, Ian and Lyn for your great company.

Start rehearsing for the Bowery on Sunday the 28th. It is sold out by the way. So if you haven't bothered to get a ticket as of yet - don't bother now. Other promoters are asking us for gigs now, but more about that later. Jesse's coming up from the city tonight with his band (American Degenerate) to practice - practice - practice. That's all it is.

Bye for now,

IH