10 years and me....

Sitting on ya arse with nothing much to do has always been an incentive for me to become creative. In recent months/years it's been with the still camera, but occasionally, I have been known to fanny about with the camcorder.

Usually this has been around my "brother-from-another-mother" Goober, when he's been either gigging, rehearsing or maybe the odd road trip.

So. I dug out the "Simon Wood shagged this Video" DVD which I compiled in 2003 from a weekend trip to Cambridge in 1998 where we (Goober, Simon, myself and not forgetting Pete Moore) hired a studio for no other reason than to celebrate 10 years since the last time we were actively in a band.

So it's 10 years on. Lots of things have changed. I no longer have to imagine what it must be like to work alongside The Wonder Stuff, nor do I feel the need to ignore Mr Wood..... maybe I need to explain.

Mr Wood and I seldom got on (he's the guitarist.... actually, do any drummers and guitarists get on?), lets just put it down to a personality clash.... He probably had one and I didn't.... or something along those lines. Anyhow, I've not spoken to the fella since August 1998, and I think it's worked out just fine but I'm always open to new experiences and if anyone from "Edd Smash & The Dinosaur Wangs" wanna do a 20th anniversary get together then I guess I'll be up for it....... I even know of a decent rehearsal/studio.

I digress..... I sat down yesterday morning, and played the DVD "Simon Wood Shagged this Video". I was quite surprised how good the "shagged" bits were, even more surprised how funny the The Wonder Stuff piss takes were and just a little impressed with Goobers "Miles Hunt" impressions.

So, here they are, warts and all.

Pete Moore: Rhythm method guitar
Goober: Bass, Vocalist, songwriter and Vehicle delivery operative
Simon Wood: Lead Guitar, antagonist and shagger of videos, accommodation
Dave Dawson: Drums, gobshite, cameraman

Suspended by Stars

Last year I was given the golden opportunity of being the Drum Tech for The Wonder Stuff's 2006 Tour in the UK. That 3 week trip brought more emotion, experience and insite into how my favorite band puts things together than I could of imagined. From the camaraderie of everyone involved to the sheer professionalism I witnessed...... It was simply magical

I can only assume that to the rest of the seasoned crew and band I must of looked like a rabbit caught in headlights..... and for good reason, it's not often you get to work with pure genius.

Anyhow, I took an awful lot of photos, some of which had found there way onto the cover of the new Live double album soon to be released.

Just how honored and chuffed am I?

very chuffed indeed!

Check out the thanks section in the scan from the inside cover above

A trip throught your brains, ride the scarlet train...

My hip will be having one last shindig later this month and you're all invited.

Miles Hunt will be playing Guildford's Boiler Room on Thursday 25th October (7pm kickoff)



So, I'f you're up for it and would like to be entertained (either by Milo or by the pain I'm in) then simply get ya Tickets from these chancers..


PS: there's a pint for the first to complete the lyric in the title of this post. And another pint for the title of the song*


*you have to goto the gig to claim your free pint(s)

Dave "Battenburg" Dawson......

Last week saw another live gig by Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls to promote Mr Hunts new solo album "Not an exit". As usual, a fine performance which has a tendency to restore my faith in humankind just long enough to get me to the next live event.

When Milo does a solo tour it usually includes a stop off at the Half Moon in Putney, that means it's a local gig.... which in turn allows me to get horribly drunk and to revel in Mr Hunts creations.

Now, Miles is well known for his banter between songs, sometimes he explains the story behind the song, sometimes not.... it can be a lottery. What you don't expect is to hear your name mentioned with regard to one of his songs, which is what happened last week.

Unfortunately, I'd past the point of being attentive to what was being said and missed the gist of why I'd been named.

The song I'd been linked to was "The Cake", a title on the new album...... Thank heavens it wasnt "Size of a cow". I didnt have time after the gig to ask what the connection is as Milo was busy signing stuff and I had a lift to catch.... anyhow, whatever the connection, its bloody great being associated with anything that fella produces.

Note to self....

Who needs drugs when you've got music? It can change your mood quicker than a dose of prozak..

So, Mr Hunt is out and about on another tour along with Miss Fidley (aka Erica, pictured above... ain't she scrummy!). I urge you to pop over to his new Myspace page and have a listen to Note to self, to say its bloody marvellous is an understatement in the extreme.

The tour is planned to coincide with the new album released at the end of this month (Not an Exit), so if ya liked the samples on his webpage then get yaself a ticket or two and who knows, I might see ya soon....



I'll be in the usual place at the Half Moon in Putney May 22nd, in the usual drunken state I expect.

The Groove Controller

"The Groove Controller"

Stuffed and remembered

A video of all the stills I took while on tour with The Wonder Stuff.....

Music by Miles Hunt "These Things Remembered" Demo, used with kind permission

If you like what you've heard then why not buy the album

Last second of the minute.....

...thats the time to begin it.

Available to download from most on-line vendors today
(there's a live version on there, with me as special "kit-setter-upper" guest*)









* probably

EDIT: I've just been informed that the "Miles and Dray" picture on the cover could very easily be in next months Viz..... in the column entitled "Up the Arse Corner".

Quote from Wikipedia about Viz... "There's also 'Up The Arse Corner', where photographs are submitted of people whose pose, and/or facial expression, could be misconstrued as being in the midst of an act of buggery."

Looking at it now even the title seems a little suspicious......

.......damn. It's all spoilt now.

Interlope..... not antelope

Thank feck its a Miles Hunt Solo gig night.

I've reached my limit of having to put up with "people" and need to have my internals straightened. Only two things can do this for me, a Miles Hunt solo gig or "heroic" amounts of Lithium intended for the dangerously bewildered.

Luckily for the dangerously bewildered, the Half Moon in Putney have Milo on stage at 8pm tonight.

Unfortunately I have to stay sober as I'll be driving, not something I like to do at a Miles Putney gig but I've no choice as everyone I hold dear* has decided a Monday night infront of the telly is more appealing..... I cant begin to tell you the bile I'm spewing forth over this right now..... your ears (if you actually had ears) should be glowing white hot right now.

I'd normally plaster this page with references to websites, ticket outlets, venues, promotions...... but why bother? you lot wouldnt look if your entire future happiness depended on it....




*I dont hold anyone of drinking age dear..... except when I need a lift to the Half Moon in Putney to see a Miles Hunt solo gig.. My shallowness is exceeded only by my utter contempt for public transport.

Well done Blackburn......

for possibly THE most scary gig I've been to. I did take photo's but to be honest, they aren't worth showing.

Blackburns free festival probably sounds like a great idea on paper, but when you open the beer tent at 10.30 am you can pretty much guarentee most of the audience will be lying in pools of their own piss and vomit when the headline acts appear.

And it was just that, I quick stroll around the field at 6pm and if it wasn't for the myriad of lurid coloured shirts, flip-flops and fat birds with their beer guts hanging out it would of looked like a battlefield. Add to that the overflowing "Lost Children" tent awash with abandoned "mistakes" and I think you get the picture.

The Cops decided to make "camp" within the artists area backstage which gave the crews a fantastic insight into the inner workings of how to disable a drunken fuckwit with nothing more than four O'levels and a blunt object.

Anyhow, here's a picture of my cat.

Careful what you wish for....

20 years ago I made a wish. I wished for a chance to play on stage with The Wonder Stuff.... and its kinda come true. I always thought of myself and Goober would somehow end up playing with TWS. Admittedly, I thought we'd have instruments and would be joining in and making the music, instead we find ourselves tech'ing together for Miles, Malc, Andres, Mark and Erica on this years 2006 Suspended by Stars Summer tour.

So, here's to my brother-from-another-mother..... dont dump on the bus and bring lots of gaffa tape and lashings of Ginger Beer.

The Wonder Stuff.....

Well, I'm Tech'ing again.....

Tomorrow is the first of nine TWS gigs I'll be drum tech'ing for. So, if you'vbe got a ticket for the Rock Cafe in Stourbridge or Guilfest (in Guildford) then I might see ya there.

Love, Light and Laughter.....

I thought I had something really useful to say

He will be missed......

Wonder Stuff drummer dies at 41

Former Wonder Stuff drummer Martin Gilks has died a in a London hospital
following a motorcycle accident.
The band enjoyed success in the early 1990s with hits such as The Size Of
A Cow and Welcome To The Cheap Seats.

After the group split in 1994 Gilks, 41, went into management, working
with rock bands A, Reef and Hundred Reasons.

A spokesperson for his company, Furtive, said: "He was greatly loved by
many and will be sorely missed by all his family and friends."

Gilks also featured in 1980s indie band The Mighty Lemon Drops before he
joined the Wonder Stuff, who were formed in Stourbridge, West Midlands.

After a brief reunion for live shows in 2000, vocalist Miles Hunt revived
the Wonder Stuff name in 2004, but with a different line-up.

Gilks died at St George's Hospital, Tooting, on Monday of internal
injuries following Sunday's accident. He leaves a son and daughter.

A book of condolences has been opened here


"shut up....... grow up....... and get off the f*cking car"

Inertia, I'd call my child all the same

Well bugger me, that was an experience. Sorry to lots of people who thought I'd be updating the Lobster while "on tour" but it was just non stop and I was having far too much fun to bother about all this shite.

I simply cant thank everyone involved in "suspending these stars" enough. I had a ball, I really did. I know its taken about 2 weeks for me to write this, it's just the whole thing was one MASSIVE head feck for me. I've needed a little time, space and interface to get to grips with what I've experienced.

Twas a shame I didn't get to say my goodbye's to everyone in the crew and band, but that's what happens when ya get yaself all excited!

Russ was the star of all this really. He kept an eye on me and kept me in check....(and real ale) along with Matt & James of course!

Bollocks with it, I'm crap at thank-you's...... if you know me, you'll know how much this has meant. If ya don't know me, then your perception of a me as a twat is not 100% true.

The lobster lives....

Janice Longer...

Nope the Janice Long thing didnt happen.....

It's along (no pun inteded) story involving pluggers and producers and all that kinda stuff.

Anyhow, it'll be Norwhich Waterfront tomorrow, after we get the heating fixed on the blunder bus

It’s 01.30 am…. And I’m sitting in the “blunder bus” on my tod. There’s a very good reason for this, I’m knackered.

Everyone else is still in Cox’s Yard enjoying the hospitality and will soon be wandering back to continue the party atmosphere.

I’m just not quite ready for all that just now. There’s too many things flying through my head, like Dray’s floor tom…. I don’t think I really boxed it right…. I’ll have to sort that tomorrow when we get back into the venue to collect the gear.

The gig was fantastic, but to tell ya the truth, I was so concerned about something falling off the drum kit I didn’t notice what was going on….

Anyhow, tomorrow (nope, that’ll be today) is gonna be a late one as we’re “in Session” with Janice Long. Not too sure of the details but I think we need to be setup and ready for about midnight. Have a google for it if you’re interested.

T minus 10 hours and counting...

It's all go init!

I've just about finished packing.... but what exactly do you pack for 3 weeks on a tour bus with no hotels?

buggered if I know.

It's probably best to keep it that way, If I need anything, I guess I can buy it somewhere.

I'm gonna try an post while "on tour" but I've no idea if I'll get any "tinternet" time so I'll just wing it.

Hay Ho.....

Suspended by Stars.....

\\Clothears need not apply//

The wheels on the bus.....

So, it's official (I think.... maybe me posting on this blog makes it official), I'm on The Wonder Stuff payroll!

I was asked a few days ago if I fancied pulling drums apart and putting them back together again for TWS's Andres Karu..... for the entire tour. Thats 12 (maybe 13) gigs in about 16 days

Seemed a bit daft not to really. It's not every day ya get the chance to work with a bunch or Lords.

So, here I am....

Booked time off work....
Stepping out of the comfortable and into the unknown....
No illusions of grandeur here, I'll be worked to near death....
A welcome change from my normal.

Shopping List:

Sanford Sharpies (it's a kinda permanent marker... apparently)
Maglite
Drum Key
(I may have to sneak in a cow bell somewhere)

Something may be happening......

I had a call today, an offer I could only accept.

If work don't throw a spanner into the job, I'll be doing stuff I've only dreamt of.