Part 2: Down under the cloud

Oh, it's just like home here, Launceston, Tasmania, it's pissing down, the hotel's crap, and I've got the ache. What the heck, seems like a fine time to ramble on... We then got to the really hard bit. Based ourselves on a place called Magnetic Island, just off the coast by Townsville, which is near the Barrier reef for 5 days, to prepare ourselves for the 1 show that week. Oh, how we worked, NOT! It's one of the most fantastic places I've ever been to, they get 320 days a year of sun, the locals are lovely people, more laid out than back. We played in Abu Dhabi a few years ago, an outdoor show, 'cept that on the day of the gig, they had the biggest rainfall for 55 years, this is cloud talk, by the way. There are so many others stories like that but Abu Dhabi is one of the cloud's finest hours. I'm only saying this because the weather was fantastic, our friend must have got lost. Only problem was we had to do a gig in Townsville in the middle of the week, so off we trolled on the ferry with about half of the populace of the island, who we all felt we'd known for years to the gig. Which was a fine one for me, but the Gomorr felt the billy were a little restrained. I tell you, if I lived in Townsville, I'd be more than a little restrained, the pace of life is so easy. The top totty department has been well represented on every show, by the way. We had the Chakra BC girls opening up for us again (I just realised what I wrote then, double entendre or what?) I feel they should keep it up (not again!), they were more nervous than at Cairns, but did great. At least I haven't fallen over since Cairns, famous last words. We dropped Army from the show, as it's largely unknown here, by the way, we're number 3 in Lithuania with Old time Rock and Roll, dada! The Aussies are very much into the 70s stuff, much more of a hard rock audience, somehow I don't think we're going to be replacing Army with Restless! Then we all went back to the Island and lived happily ever after, The End. Sadly all things must come to an end, and on Friday it was back to Brisbane in readiness for the Saturday show there. Did the Enormodome or whatever it's called, with grin and grip for about 70 people, things are done quite differently here, everything is sponsored, so there's a lot more flesh pressing. We as a band don't have a lot to do with sponsorship, although I will say that we are the real thing, because we're worth it, and of course are never alone in Marlboro country. Sorry got to wash and go. That has nothing to do with Pepsi, L'oreal, fags or shampoo, shut it you nonce!!!! Great gig, Rick seems to have got over his noise problem, but you never can tell. (C. Berry) From there to Newcastle via Sydney (a flight) and a couple of hours north, driving through blinding rain, the cloud was just giving us a break on Magnetic Island. One thing the Aussies are crap at is driving. We had possibly the worst driver ever on that trip, Mr. Mild Mike Hrano, who's on the trip for a holiday, oops, to write a fan club special was close to slugging the guy. He was about as good at driving as my Mae, who's 9. In fact it was her birthday on Nov 9th, and I was here, big bummer that, like I keep saying, that's the only down side of this job... Where was I? A show we'd played before, we always meet the billy afterwards when we finish here, what a nice bunch you lot are. Yet another great opening act, Outback Hippies, how come there are so many shit hot bands out here? It's not fair. Not only that, they were really nice guys as well, good luck to you.. I'm off to stuff me guts, so you can all get stuffed... Bon appertit, Monsieur Rheno d'Edwardes, maitre d'i at le Poof Restaurant, Cheam, Paris, Ugandaxxxxx

All photos on this page were taken by Dave Coulson, except the bottom pictures of Pat Marks' great Quo lighting designs, which were taken by Shazam in Sydney © 2000

To the UK 2000 Tourlog: Part one    Part two     Part three     Part four     Part five

To the Oz 2000 Tourlog: Part one     Part two    Part three    Part four