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Monday 18th Oct 1999
Well, that was a long show, in fact it's Monday morning, and we've rocked Cardiff as well, anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, after Newcastle we then drove up to Glasgow on the Saturday for a day off, which was class, then Sunday we played the Clyde Auditorium. A new venue for us, beautiful room
acoustically, but the backstage facilities must have taken, I don't know, about 20 seconds to design, and must have been done with very thin dwarves in mind, it was more like a pub dressing room, so of course we spent no time at all in trashing it, as only T4OGATMFB can, we moved the chairs out and completely changed everything around until it was a room where you could almost swing a cat, what am I moaning about, I could be in a Saudi prison, now that lot are unlikely to say; Not a bad life really.The gig was ab fab as usual, the Scots make more noise than anywhere else, but it's not just that. The vibe is so damn FRIENDLY, which is amazing when you think what the Sassenachs did to them over the centuries, and now we're going to knock them out of the Euro 2000 championships. Hey, may the best team win, which England indubitably (how quaint) are, By the way for those of you Philistines who don't follow TWFMBFC, we're now unbeaten in 26, so yah boo sucks, ye of little faith, and better than that, more than 3 of our squad are English. God save our..........etc By the way, we were ace, best show of the tour for all of us, thanks a lot, you are always the BEST!!!
Then down to Blackpool for the Empress ballroom, an absolutely stunning venue if you want a Party Political Conference, as the Tories had done the previous week, but crap for Rock and Roll. Andy our sound man fought manfully against the acoustics (and I use the word loosely), but was always on a hiding to nothing, you can't win 'em all. By the way, thanks to Rupert Fabulous and the Singing Guitars, the latest local support band, who had 2 singers, and played one of my top tunes, Swords of a thousand Men by Tenpole Tudor. 10 out of 10 for taste, guys. 
By the way, the set at the moment is:Down Down The Wanderer Little Lady 20 Wild Horses Under the Influence 4500 times/ Roll Over Lay Down Living on an Island Gerdundulla Rain/Keep'em coming Whatever you want In the Army now (dedicated to Yasser Arafat) Rockin' Something 'bout you baby I like Roadhouse Anniversary Waltz -------------- Matchstick Men Caroline Burning Bridges And there you have it ladies and gentlemen boys and girls, for those that aren't coming, that's what you're missing. Sheffield was good, we do a bit at the end of Gerdundulla where we all retreat to the front of the drum riser at the end, I'm playing away, suddenly I turn round and I 'm on my own at the front, the others have gone early, and they're all in front of the shortest member of Status Quo cracking up laughing, still I felt at one with my audience for a couple of seconds, I LOVE YOU ALL!!! The City Hall is a great place to play, it's been too long since we were there, the other place is an enormodome, but lacking in atmosphere.. Name check for the youngest support we've had in yonks, called Ellise. They all looked about 10, but sounded really good and energetic.They were really fed up, and after their set were saying the bass was out of tune. I couldn't hear it like that, what does that say about me? 
From there, it was up to Carlisle. I won't go on about the Star of David (could that be Walker?) and a day off, during which I proceeded, along with the Man from Barnes to get mortalled, which was great at the time, it always is; " Love you man!!
Yeah, I love you too man, you're the best!!!" etc. However, the next morning, Ouch! I went on the Carlisle to Settle Railway for the scenic rail journey, and it was totally top, but did nothing for my head, which felt about the size of a medicine ball. Dave Salt told us the gig was warm before we went on, I feel young David was a little economical with the truth, it was an inferno, we were soaked by the end of the third song, the one good thing for me was that I'd got rid of my hangover after 30 seconds! Then it was on to the NEC, in Birmingham. Birmingham joke: A Brummie goes for a job interview, so puts on his best suit and decides to wear a very big flared bright tie . At the beginning the interviewer is making conversation, and says "Kipper tie?" "Yeah thanks, I'll have 2 sugars please" Boom boom! The NEC has been quite up and down for us over the years, but this was definitely one of the best, we all enjoyed it except for Rick, who still had an OK time. In some ways, it doesn't really matter if we don't enjoy gigs as long as long as the Billy does, but it's a definite plus if you do. Again, superb audience. We've got Richard Parfitt junior on the bus at present and it's his birthday! 25 today, and quite a hunk, according to the chicks ..... Last night was Cardiff, that stadium sure looks impressive, I really hope Wales do well and get to the Final, where they lose to England by a narrow scoreline. The Welsh sure got Lung power, I saw a kid and his dad who've been coming to Cardiff every year since the boy was 4, he's now 15, it's good to grow up with your audience, Rick is still trying to do that, but why do it if you don't have to? I want to be maturely immature, I've achieved half of that..... Any way' that's your lot. By the way, for all you legions of women out there who want to have my baby, sorry to burst your collective bubble honeys, but I've had a Vasectomy (the snip to all you non university educated peeps),.....never mind, maybe in another life...... Byeeeeee...... Yer Uncool Uncle Rhinoxxxxx  |
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