So, now we're in June. Lovely, lovely June. Rain, wind, floods and I've gone and got bloody pneumonia.

I missed Witchfest in Cardiff because I thought the ability to actually breathe might have been handy for the trip. I decided it would be wiser to spend the time hooked up to a monitor in the local hospital getting pumped with antibiotics and having numerous blood tests. Did anyone else know that blood taken from an artery BLOODY HURTS TO BUGGERY!

Oh well, at least the tests show that my years of smoking have done no damage to my lungs, my cholestrol is normal and there's no evidence of any heart problem. I've had the M.O.T. and I'm road worthy for a few more years.

Anyway, I'm having a few more days bed rest (or armchair in front of the computer rest) and hopefully I'll be fit by next weekend when I'm off to Gloucester for a punk all dayer with 'The Damned', etc.

Week after that is the Cancer Charity bash that I'm DJing for my sister.

Me and Xa are now a registered company called 'MOHAWK MOGGY LIMITED' and my Maltese friends tour is our first proper business venture. Wish us luck.

Later Dudes and Dudess's.

Ken.

So,
Saturday 5th May 2007 - The LVG's 'Wake The Dead' bash. Didn't realise D. wasn't doing the do this time. Still the evening seemed to go well. I did my DJ bit as did Thunder and Carl (who did most of the work)
I only saw the first hour and a half and from 11.45 'til the (extended) end as I had to go to Stockwell.
Why Stockwell you fool?
Well, I'm sorting out the tour for 'Batteries Not Included' (my Maltese punk band) in September and I need to check out venues. The one I saw won't be on the list.
I have, however, sorted a gig at 'The Man In The Moon' in Cambridge for Thursday 13th September (with 'Kitty Hudson' and 'Dead Identities'), they've got the gig for Clive at the 'Dagenham Football Supporters Club' on Friday 14th September (with 'Holy Racket' and 'The Grit' and...

Yesterday, Bank Holiday Monday, I did an all day DJing stint at 'The Brief' in Croydon for the rock and metal weekender (MOST of the bands were ok). It's a good venue and I'm talking to the promoter (Peafish)about putting the lads on there (hopefully on Saturday 15th September).

So, that's 3 dates sorted but the lads want to play as many gigs in the 2 weeks they're over here as possible. Lots more work to do.

It's the LVG at the Intrepid Fox on Wednesday but I don't know if I'll have the energy.

The next big date is Saturday 19th May - Witchfest, Croydon, Surrey. Me and Xa are working in the 'Member's Only' bar area and I'll be providing the sounds. 'Kitty Hudson' and 'Torn Usunder' provide the evening's live entertainment amongst others. It's always a good weekend In Croydonia. Me and Xa are doing Witchfest Wales in June, Witchfest Glasgow in July and Witchfest 'The Gathering' in a field in Oxfordshire in August.

As well as that I'm DJing a Cancer Charity bash for my sister in July and I've got to fit in all those punk gigs I'm planning to go to as well.

Then it'll be September and time for the band's mini~tour.

And there's the 'Faerie Ball' in Penzance,Cornwall in late October and definitely be working at Witchfest International, Croydon, Surrey in early November (Date TBC).

I'm working harder now than before I 'retired'. But it's all good, clean fun. Well, fun anyway.

Ken (DJ Rockula Bacchus).

So, Me, Xa and Klif went to the Hope & Anchor on Saturday 7th to see 'Kitty Hudson', 'John Otway' and 'Foxy's Ruts'. It was a great day but what really made it was the DJ for the Monday was AWOL and Richie Hudson asked me to help him DJ the event. Monday being my birthday, and me being there to celebrate 30 years since I attended the first Hope & Anchor Festival it was an excellent bonus present.
And I got to meet TV Smith, one of my favourite singers from the original punk days. What was nice was he was a great bloke. No airs and graces or 'I'm A Star' behaviour. Great chap.
And the Hope & Anchor liked our 'style' (rude, hectoring, abrasive....in the nicest possible way) and looks like we've got future work there.

So, of course, I had two very heavy all~day drinking sessions in the space of three days and let my immune system take a battering. Hence my chest infection and no show for the LVG Quiz (sorry Paul) and Klif's mexican birthday bash (sorry Klif).

Luckily the Thursday 12th 'Angelic Upstarts' gig at the Electric Ballroom was cancelled due to them wanting an additional £900 for 'security'. Sounds like a protection racket to me. I wouldn't have been fit for that either.

However, now I'm nearly recovered we've heard that our mates from Malta in the punk / ska band 'Batteries Not Included' are flying over to do the Camber Sands 'Concrete Jungle' festival next weekend so me and Xa have decided to go. Short notice but we haven't seen the guys for, what is it, maybe 7 years.

Then on the 27th I really must try to catch up with Jeff and 'Spooftwat'. I used to see every gig they did but this year's been crazy.

And then we'll be into May and the next LVG party 'Wake The Dead'. I notice Darren didn't mention me on the flyer, only the Goth stuff, but there'll be no Goth from me. Pre~Goth and Post~Punk all the way. 'Kryptorium', 'Blood & Velvet' plus 'The Vortex'. Hah!.

Until the next time....

Ken (DJ Rockula Bacchus).

Current Mood: accomplished

Tuesday 13th March (Daytime) - Clacton, Essex - Visiting parents.
BEEN THERE DONE THAT, MY DAD'S GOT PROSTATE CANCER. BUMMER!. AT LEAST IT HASN'T GONE TO THE BONES SO THERE'S STILL TREATMENTS (BUT NO CURE) AVAILABLE.

Tuesday 13th March (Evening) - Colchester, Essex - Having dinner with my daughter Jade to celebrate her 25th birthday.
WENT WELL. SPENT EVENING IN COMPANY OF MY FIRST WIFE WITHOUT COMING TO BLOWS. BONUS!

Wednesday 14th March - Monthly 'London Vampyre Group' night at 'The Intrepid Fox', London. 2nd WEDNESDAY of EVERY month. This one's got a talk on 'Historik Vampires'. And 'ambient' sounds provided by yours truly, DJ Rockula.
MISSED TALK. ON PURPOSE. BUSY IN THE BAR. NO 'AMBIENT SOUNDS' AS DJ AREA BEING 'RENOVATED' SO INTREPID FOX CAN DO 'LIVE' GIGS. WORTH KEEPING AN EYE ON. THINK I'LL SEND THEM SOME PROMOS OF BANDS THAT COULD PLAY THERE. LIKE 'KITTY HUDSON'.

Saturday 17th March - 'Spooftwat' playing 'The Crown' PH in Hornchurch, Essex. My mate Jeff and the band providing unusual cover versions in their usual entertaining way.
EXCEPT MICK (GUITARIST) WAS ILL SO SPENT EVENING WITH XA'S MATE RICH LISTENING TO 'JURASSICA' DOING 70'S ROCK. IT WAS PRETTY GOOD ACTUALLY.
SINCE FOUND OUT THAT MICK HAS BLOWN AN EARDRUM AND THE BAND MIGHT NEED A NEW GUITARIST. BIT OF A BLOW.

Sunday 25th March - 'Sick On The Bus' playing 'The Underworld' in Camden. Great punk band.
DIDN'T MAKE IT. FEELING ILL.

Tuesday 27th March - NEIGHBOUR'S FUNERAL. WENT 'ROUND TO HELP SERVE DRINKS AND KEEP THE MOURNERS 'HAPPY'. GOT PISSED AND HAD A COOL TIME. WHO KNEW?

Thursday 29th March - BONUS DATE. Driving to Ipswich with Clive '77 to see 'The Grit' and 'Red Flag '77'.
RF77 DIDN'T PLAY AFTER ALL. 'STINKBOMB' DID. THEY STANK. THEY BOMBED. BUT 'THE GRIT' BLEW ME AWAY.

Friday 30th March - 'Stiff Little Fingers' & 'The Dangerfields' playing 'The Astoria' in London. Classic punk and horror punk together.
EXCEPT THE TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT SO GOING TO BROMLEY TO SEE 'WONK UNIT', 'THE SHARONS' AND 'KITTY HUDSON' INSTEAD.
AND NOW I'VE BEEN. 'WONK UNIT' WERE EXCELLENT, 'THE SHARONS' WERE TERRIBLE AND 'KITTY HUDSON' JUST GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.

Sunday 1st April - 'Mary~Jayne' playing 'The Admiral Vernon' PH in Dagenham, Essex. They do covers of recent guitar bands like Razorlight and that sort of thing.

Thursday 5th April - 'TV Smith & The Bored Teenagers' playing 'The 100 Club', Oxford Street, London. Performing the entire 'Crossing The Red Sea With The Adverts' LP live for the first time in 30 years. One of the first punk LP's I ever bought and still my favourite.
AND I'VE STILL GOT ONE SPARE TICKET.

Saturday 7th ~ Monday 9th April - Three day festival @ 'The Hope & Anchor' PH, Islington, London to celebrate 30 years since the original 'Frontline' festival of 1977 (Inc. 'Kitty Hudson', 'John Otway', Paul Fox's 'Ruts', 'Wilko Johnson','Neville Staples', TV Smith' and many more to be announced. I was at the original festival in '77 and now will celebrate my 45th birthday at this one. Gonna try and do all three days but it's £20 a day and tickets are limited. Definitely doing the 7th.

Wednesday 11th April - Monthly 'London Vampyre Group' night at 'The Intrepid Fox', London. With a quiz. And more of my 'ambient' sounds. In other words ''Turn it down, we're trying to talk''.

Thursday 12th April - 'Angelic Upstarts', 'The Vibrators', 'Drongos For Europe' & (young up and coming band) 'Middle Finger Salute' play 'The Electric Ballroom' in Camden, London.
APPARENTLY CANCELLED 'CAUSE THE VENUE WANTED AN EXTRA £900 FOR 'SECURITY'. I'D HAVE DONE IT FOR £300.

Saturday 14th April - 'Spooftwat' again. This time at 'The Wheatsheaf' PH, Romford, Essex.

Saturday 5th May 2007 - THE 'LONDON VAMPYRE GROUP' PARTY. (DATE TBC)With me DJing and 'other stuff'.

Wednesday 9th May - Monthly 'London Vampyre Group' night at 'The Intrepid Fox', London. Can I play a bit louder please.

Saturday 19th May - Witchfest, Croydon, Surrey. Me and Xa are working in the 'Member's Only' bar area and I'll be providing the sounds. 'Kitty Hudson' and 'Torn Usunder' provide the evening's live entertainment amongst others.

Wednesday 13th June - Monthly 'London Vampyre Group' night at 'The Intrepid Fox', London. If we haven't been thrown out yet.

Saturday 23rd June - Witchfest, Cardiff, Wales. Yep, I'm going.

Saturday 7th July - Witchfest, Glasgow, Scotland - Yup, working this one too.
W
ednesday 11th July - Monthly 'London Vampyre Group' night at 'The Intrepid Fox', London.

Saturday 14th July - Charity DJ gig for Breast Cancer T.B.C.
S
aturday 21st July - 'Spooftwat' again playing 'The Crown' PH in Hornchurch, Essex. They're really fun.

Wednesday 8th August - Yup, you guessed it! The monthly 'London Vampyre Group' night at 'The Intrepid Fox', London.

Friday 10th August through Monday 14th August - Children Of Artemis ' Gathering' in a field somewhere in Oxfordshire. Loads of stuff including.....me!

Thursday 10th August through Sunday 19th August - The 16th Annual Essex H.O.G. Rally'. That's 'Harley Davidson Owner's Group' in case you're not familiar. And I'm the DJ again.
EXCEPT I'M NOT AS THE 'COMMITTEE' HAVE FUNNY IDEAS ABOUT WHAT THE GOING RATE FOR THREE DAYS OF DJING SHOULD BE...AND THEY'RE VERY DIFFERENT TO MINE.

Friday 31st August - 'Spooftwat' at 'The Crown'. What? Again!

Wednesday 12th September - Another monthly 'London Vampyre Group' night at 'The Intrepid Fox', London.

Bit vague during the rest of September. Couple of DJ jobs await confirmation including another Punk night at the Dagenham Football ground. But I'll probably be going to the, ahem, 'Faerie Ball' in Penzance,Cornwall in late October and definitely be working at Witchfest International, Croydon, Surrey in early November (Date TBC).

Maybe see you at one or other of these events.

Ken (DJ Rockula Bacchus).