Thank You

Hey, thanks so much for all your offers of help, I am awed by your generosity. I can assure you that I don’t deserve it but will take full advantage anyway because, as Phil Oakey sang in lines immutable; ‘I’m only Human/of flesh and blood I’m made’. Ok, so that’s that sorted, I haven’t actually replied to anyone yet, I’m still reeling. Most of you are woefully overqualified, all I wanted was for someone to do a spot of hoovering and look after Sonny while I nip down the bookies.

Worked in the studio today on a Black Serpent Choir track called ‘New Brighton Baths 1983′ which will mean nothing to some and everything to a very few. Hopefully the music should bring all those disparate parts together, if not it would make a great theme tune for a cerebral Sunday night arts show (BBC4 commissioners take NOTE!). Later Mary, Sonny and I drove round to see a very old friend of mine, Mark Waring, who used to sing in the band that gave The Boo Radleys their very first break. They were called The Dandelion Adventure and they were awesome. I’ll stick a track up sometime if I can find the time to rip one off vinyl. Let’s face it, it would have to be the all conquering ‘Speed Trials’ although ‘Infant Child Gutter Vulgar’ would be close.

photo by Gill Caven

The year was 1989, so very long ago. We were playing fifth on the bill at a Planet X all dayer, headlined by The Senseless Things. We were awful, an utter shambles, all of which we blamed, naturally, on our drummer. This is the cowards that we were, listen… We hired a manager on the spot and told him to go sack the drummer. Unbefuckinglievable.

Anyway, the Dandelion Adventure, who had obviously got us confused with one of the other bands, thought that we were ace and took us on tour with them. Nine of us in the back of a transit, starving to death and listening to ‘Baby You’re Just You’ by the Pastels over and over again. We played our first London show at a pub in Stockton (Queens Head? Arms? Foof?) and Harlow Square and, I can’t remember anywhere else. Later on Mark managed Cornershop and worked at Domino, it was great to see him. Tonight I received a mail from another member, Ajay, who tour manages now (Dinosaur Jr, MBV etc). After twenty years I am so grateful to them. They rule.

It’s 11pm, I have to go to bed. So strange going to bed so early. Much to do tomorrow, records out soon, exciting times ahead.

Sleep tight.
Friday Morning - I located an MP3 through my friend Anthony (DJ Scissorkicks, Collapsed Lung) on Twitter who was the teenage promoter ay Harlow Square the night we turned up unannounced with the Dandelion Adventure. He later produced the first bravecaptain recordings ‘Captain America, Let’s Stick Together and ‘Bravecaptain’s Blues’. All these wonderful links that intertwine around the rotted old stump that is me.

The Dandelion Adventure - Speed Trials