I can’t accurately recall but I believe Paul told Will we no longer required his services as a bass player. I know Will held a grudge for many years about his sacking, and shortly thereafter moved to London.
A word about Will. We must have met when the Maldon Grammar school turned comprehensive, around 1969, although I can recall seeing Will in the loos at Grammar school, hanging out with the bad boys, and smoking cigarettes. [Read more →]
With Will and I being so close as teenagers, it was inevitable that we’d form a band. We’d been to many gigs together in the early 70’s. We’d seen Hawkwind, the Pink Fairies, Humble Pie, Wishbone Ash and many other great Freak bands at numerous venues like the Kursaal, the Roundhouse and both the Sundowns in Brixton and Edmonton. [Read more →]
I don’t remember where I first heard the Who. It was probably on one of the two big Pirate radio stations(London or Caroline)but I think it was on Ready Steady Go one Friday night in the Sixties that they really made my head explode. [Read more →]
Having been advised by my Mother’s Uncle, Harry Day, that he could earn good money as a laundryman at sea, my Father embarked on the biggest adventure of his life. In May 1950 he signed up to sail with the Orient line, now known as P&O. [Read more →]
I’ve been listening to the new-ish Big Star box set, “Keep an eye on the sky”. It prompted me to dig out the Rock City cd(one of Chris Bell’s first bands, early versions of “My life is right” and “Try again” credited to Rock City but featuring Alex Chilton) which also has the Icewater version of “Feel”, pretty much the same as the Big Star version. I’ve adored Big Star since around 1975/1976. Their name apparently came from a grocery store Alex and Chris used to visit for snacks between recordings. [Read more →]
I’ve just got the Legacy edition of Raw Power, one of my all time favourite albums. As I’ve written previously, my dear friend Veronica Peyton turned me onto it, shortly after it’s release in 1973. Iggy was sort of rescued by David Bowie. Bowie obviously knew Iggy was a unique talent, and got him signed to Mainman, Tony De Fries management, who also handled Bowie(and Lou Reed in Europe for a while, and Mott the Hoople). [Read more →]
PROLOGUE:
In the last five months, I’ve driven myself to utter distraction researching GW’s life. I responded to a posting on the US circus site by Clare Mulley. Beneath her post is a comment by Fred Dahlinger who advises checking parish records, birth and death certificates, school records and other official documents for material. Simply put, newspapers are unreliable and usually inaccurate. As John Lennon once said “the only truth in newspapers is their title”. [Read more →]
When I was 10 I acquired a pet Jackdaw.
Well really I suppose it acquired me. I’d been playing on the top of the Prom in Maldon in the early Summertime. The Promenade in our town was once an amazing place. It had a huge lake which you could actually swim in! Of course that’s long since gone, inconceivable isn’t it, children swimming in a huge pool, unsupervised. But then, my generation had such wild, untamed yet still innocent childhoods, and navigated all the serious fun things with no casualties ( cept Tin Tin! ).
Prom lake, Maldon, by Doris Ruffle 1955
George Wombwell was born in Duddenhoe End, near Saffron Walden, on the 24th of December 1777. He was the son of James Wombwell and Sarah Rogers.
James married Sarah Rogers at the church of St Michael the Archangel in Braintree on the 10th of February, 1760. The register entry has his surname spelt UMBLEY, and curious spellings seem to be the norm for this family until they settle in the North-West Essex area. [Read more →]
Originally posted on Psychedelicgaragepunk.com on November the 4th 2008.
On the 11th of August, I had my second rehearsal with Second Offense, having had the first one on the 29th of July. Ralph initially called me in June, offering his services as a dep for George, the Surf Rats drummer. But he also asked me whether I’d be interested in singing with his band, who he described as Dr Feelgood / Pirates clones, which certainly intrigued me, as I love both bands. [Read more →]
