JANUARY
January 4th: Back to work, was neat having another bank holiday it really gimme time to get into work mode again. Still aint fixed my puncture so no bike just the thrill of public transport and the stranglers on my I-pod. Oh and this years backdrop was a little project ive been working on with the vein hope of compiling my personal collection of punk in an online archive which will be full of trivia and facts you may find amusing or, downright crud, but as you know these things take time lol. Oh and it seemed to match my dark mood!
January 5th: Dark mood recedes as Wolves give the Chelsea headhunters a 1-0 pasting at Molineux it sure shoot up those gobby Cockneys.... the sleeping giant awakes!!!!!!! Plus I get another great punk book called The Ecyclopedia of PUNK which has a great design and and is like a bigger version of Fucked Up And Photocopied but with more band info included and is coming more from an American angle. Review will be posted soon.
January 11th: Hmmmm we are told in July Royal Mail (my employers) could be closing or amalganating 7 mail centres in our area. Well it was nice while it lasted, ill keep you informed.
January 13th: 12 months ago today I had a heart attack which changed my lifestyle drastically. So I was dreading this day, even though I kept telling myself lightning don't strike twice. But you know what, it felt a little unerving when I was sick like a dog at 1 in the morning. Dunno if i had something dodgy to eat or the 2 pints I had after work was the cause? Coz i didn't feel sick before or after and after a good nights sleep felt ok for the rest of the day phewwwww.
FEBRUARY
February 18th: Yippeeeee finally got the Terrorizer punk special mag off E-bay today. Been searching for this fucker ever since I sussed out how to get a paypal account loaded. My original copy which dates back to 2002 was purloined by Mitch from 4 Minute Warning fanzine who seems to have forgotten to send it me back along with a few other items tut tut. As you can see the front cover is still the best Terrorizer has put out ever.
February 20th: Had an e-mail off Macky former bassist in Blitz who was a regular reader of Nihilism On The Prowl! He has a new project/band called Epic Problem who have recorded a demo it arrived today and has strong elements of Blitz. Good to hear he's still into punk any Blitz fans should check em out too.
February 25th: 49 years old today and didn't get one card, not that I'm complaining but jeez I must be getting old. It also makes me question whether my punk presence online or in this skum fuck world they call life is required any more, or at least viable for anyone under 30... lol. Well it can't be the money, or the girls, and it sure ain't the fame, so wonder why I still love doing this site and listening to punk? If anything it would be neat to be remembered for my punk prose and arty layouts, although some of my music I was involved in didn't sound that bad to the decadent few out there. I think survival is the issue at my age, which I intend to do. But would hate to end up like Charlie Harper, who may get a lot of fun out of it but is looking decrepid although this site does dwell in that era it still would love to promote red hot new punk bands and individuals with flair and originality but the few I do hear don't ignite that passion half as much however bands like Burnt Cross are one of the few exceptions. But like most, I'm ever to eternal optimist if nothing else.
MARCH
March 2nd: John Lydon appears in Birmingham to talk about his over priced scrapbook amongst other things at the Mailbox. If I had more notice could've booked the night off work, but as luck would have it found out way too late. My mate Kev Harris (who had his copy of 'Rotten' book signed) went and his brother Brian (who got pissed on the free wine that was on offer guffaw!) joined him. Mr Rotten noticed and wryly said to him "young man, you need to learn to handle your alcohol" tee hee. JR was on fine form ranting about life in general and away from the media was very down to earth signing lots of items, when not being pestered by moronic poseur punks asking stupid questions. He and his mate John 'Rambo' come by train and went back by train on the same night.
March 4th: Been diagnosed with a Vitamin B 12 deficiency (yeah me neither?) but it means a course of Vitamin jabs for a week, then once every 3 months for the rest of my natural, ain't life grand?
March 16th: New edition of Vive Le Rock punk rock 'n' roll magazine hits the shelves, and I just got hold of it (thanks to Joe D's tip-off). Features a dashing looking
Adam Ant on the cover, who looks more like Johnny Depp these days. Inside is a much needed interview with Mr Ant who despite nearly getting sectioned off for
life in 90's, is as wacky and passionate about Punk as ever. A full UK tour is being launched this summer where he will perform some classic Ants tracks. A review
up soon!
APRIL
April 10th: Failsafe #8 arrived in the post today kindly sent in by its global travelling editor David who has got himself a very impressive publication. I'm amazed I
never really heard much about it before via the zine grapevine, till a copy dropped through the letter box late last year. Highly recommended if the early 80's
punk scene is your thing.
April 15th: Oh what a bummer! Missed Hugh Cornwell doing his Stranglers set in Wolves tonight boo hoo. And I was just playing 'Rattus' on my strole through
town to work earlier in the evening, such is life. I really do need to go gigging again and try out my camera properly in my soberly state. I should at least conjure
up a few decent images for gig reviews. And it looks like there's local rare punks picnic I'm gonna try and review in May (see gig guide for details).
April 26th: Really sad news hits the punk world as we lose yet another outstanding female artist. Poly Styrene (53) former lead singer with X-Ray Spex whose
1977 punk anthem 'Oh Bondage Up Yours' 45 ignited a whole generation of dis-enchated youth. Poly lost her battle to fight Cancer today and will be sadly missed.
Punk Rocker paid tribute HERE
April 28th: Happy 4th birthday Betty.
MAY
May 2nd: Osama Bin Laden the worlds most wanted man is caught and killed by American Special Forces in a compound in Pakistan (no suprise there then)
after tens years in hiding. Not sure the world breathed such a sigh of relief when we all realised there will be more nutters to take his place, once they regroup
or whatever it is they do. And the almost rushed burial of his corpse at sea seems a little iffy to the outside world. No pics as yet but we do get to watch as
President Obama and aides watch in shock and obvious relief from the comfort of Whitehouse pondering their next move.
May 8th: YYYYYYYEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wolves beat the shit and secure a place outside the relegation zone. 3 more points from 2 games
could rescue our premiership status!!!!!!
May 9th: Begin a 3 week break from work which is very much needed and is only sullied by my black Toshiba laptap going into trouble (something to do with
the directory?) and the more I tried to fix it, the deeper the damage seemed to be inflicted. Can't even turn it on now! Why the fuck can't they give you rescue
disks with these new models anymore? Or at least make the process of doing your own rescue disks so much more easier arrrgghhh! I was really gonna go to town on Punk Rocker over these coming weeks with much needed time, but this
setback has made it way more difficult. Looks like PC World or whoever else I can find to fix it will be getting a call. However, all is not lost I can still get internet access with my cracked screen 2009 Sony which has spent the last year under my chair gathering dust. And of course my lumbering ancient but strong as an Ox Zoostorm PC which is good for nothing else but storage, but still lumbering on 7 years later, and is where I will be updating this site till the laptop is fixed.
May 11th: Another scary op rolls round and this time it's for my second Cateract op on on my left (good) eye. This better work! Get there at 12 so was it gonna work? Was it gonna be painful, was it another 4 hour wait? Was there gonna be difficultys like last time? 2 o'clock and I'm in the procedure seemed different this time round the staff were more caring and friendly. The needle to freeze my eye was put into my tear duct area and I have to say the whole thing seemed over with in 25 mins. No pain, no trauma, no fuck ups. This time it was performed by a lady Doc and she was brilliant. Everyone who had had it done said to me that it was an easy procedure and I have to say thankfully I can join in on that chorus this time. What a relief!!!!
May 11th: Wolves lurch back from the drop with a suprise win at Sunderland yeeee haaaaaaaa!
May 20th: Costs me £50 nikker to get my laptop fixed (directory prob) on my way home bump into a bloke who lives round the corner who tells me his brother wouldve fixed it for a tenner!!! Oh well one for the future i bet.
May 22nd: Wolves stay in the premiership by the skin of our teeth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 27th: Attend Wolves mini punks picnic at the Gifford Arms tonight. First gig this year and a pretty good result for blowing the cobwebs away and testing out my camera,
which after getting some Lithium batterys worked well all night long with the help of Charlie who also took some snaps for me (cheers bab). Good to see some old and new
faces including the scribbling zinester Tom Freefall and Jessie Eastfield who is a punk trainspotter in all its enthusiastic forms. Review and pics will be posted very soon!
Magazine are due here in June and Lou Reed but depends if i can get time off work. Gonna miss Adam Ant though too boo hoo.
May 28th: Reaquant myself with facebook... oh my god what have I let myself in for?
JUNE
June 1st: Suffering from World Of Warcraft deprivation syndrome. Since I lost all my stuff with my laptop remat ain't been able to play it for weeks and with about 6 discs to
download its proving tricky boo hoo. Punk Rocker is safe though and I just installed the June editorial which is all 'Penis Envy' that was released can you believe 30 years
ago this month. Phewwww still plays great though!
June 4th: Record producer Martin Rushent died today . He was responsible for producing the early classic Stranglers era of recordings. And also produced the Buzzcocks
first 3 albums amongst many more.
June 8th: Finally got round to some zine reviews. Now Im in the mood I wanna write more, but got the punks picnic
review to do and an Adam Ant one from the local rag decisions, decisions.
June 10th: Get a Magazine ticket today and suprised only 235 have been sold so far. I maybe tempted to catch
Bad Religion if I can get more time of work there's also quite a few DIY punk gigs in the local vicinity too.
Working nights is a bummer sometimes.
June 30th: Go see Magazine at the Slade Rooms Wolverhampton, first time in this newish nite club sized venue
but more importantly first time seeing the reformed Magazine. And you know what they didn't disappoint, despite
no John McGeoch on guitar. Original members were Devoto, Dave Formula on keyboards and Drummer Doyle.
The new members more than adequately made up the sound and more importantly Howard Devoto's vocals are
a great incentive to other vocalists to sing the songs how they were recorded. We get practically all of Real Life
plus a load of the classy singles barely going into the later more funky territory. It was hot 'n' sweaty but a perfect
recoil!!!!
JULY
July 1st: It's Friday night and Lou Reed is in town at the Civic Hall. You don't get many chances to see a living
legend in wolves, however this gig was anything but legendary. He did give us 'Venus In Furs' after a looong
wait and 'Sunday Morning' and 'Femme Fatale' plus 'Sweet Jane' on the encore. Which may have been
enough for the legion of fans, but me expecting a little more and didn't recognise any of the rest was lets just
say left short changed. The set although was other worldly and musically proficient, you found yourself watching
his almost dictator like control over his bands volume and tempo a lot more entertaining. Despite sound
checking since 4.30 in the afternoon Lou wasn't happy with the acoustics. There was a delay in the doors
opening at 7.30 plus he had the nerve to banish all photos and demand the bar be shut at 8.30! How draconian
is that? Wonder if Lou's drug dealer had said no more smak after 8.30 what Lou would've thought? Much to my
annoyance after doubling up with a few pints it barely got me halfway through the set, which was then spent
for an hour watching and waiting for 'Walk On The Wild Side', 'Waiting For My Man' or even 'Perfect Day'. Of
course they didn't materialise boo hoo! I was glad I went, but felt the £35 quid ticket way too expensive for what we got. And sure enough it was only 75% full, not the expected sell out. On a funny note, I noted he walks with his feet pointed inward, he nearly tripped over the mike stand and bares a scary resemblance to England football manager Fabio Capella in the looks department. His voice however was still as legendary.
July 2nd: Heaven forbid get some Torcha Shed/ Stench t-shirts... 3 years later from California. Cheers Nat lol.
July 25th: Billy Riot sends in the debut Hardcase album for review.
AUGUST
August 10TH: Tom Freefall sends in a Poundaflesh EP he's currently putting out.
OCTOBER
October 8th: 2nd low key punk gig of the year this time at the salubrious Old Wharf in Brum to see Devilish Presley and all girl Ramones tribute The Ramonas who both put on a great performance see review.
October 16th: Wolves lose to the shit, but to quell my disappointment Kathryn walks into my life!
October 17th: After being seduced by the fascinating reviews I submit and buy the mesmerising Dark Souls game on the Xbox.
October 20th: On the day newspapers and news channels report that Gadaffi has been killed.Im doing a spot of overtime at work and on this particular shift meet a guy. We got talking about music he's not into punk but asked me if i heard of his nephews band? Who just so happens to be the uncle of Justin Sane outta Anti Flag! I was a little shocked and was a little in disbelief but when he started telling me he comes over to visit his Birmingham relatives house regularly whilst on a UK tour it dawned on me he isn't just kidding. He even chucked me 4 of their albums for free because he said he don't play 'em! tee hee. I immediately changed my views and later on showed him the interview I conducted with Anti Flag for the Suffragette fanzine back in '97, which was the first UK punk press coverage the band ever got. Ain't it a small world!?
NOVEMBER
November 19th: I'm off to Wigan to meet Kathryn. Gotta say its a damn site more friendly than poxy Wolverhampton despite the Wigan V Blackburn football crowd and my hostess was certainly a lot more accommodating!
DECEMBER
December 3rd: Kathryn's turn to visit me, I did my level best to entertain in Wolvos dank surroundings
and the Ramada was about my tenth choice, but she seemed happy.
Popped in the Moon prior to her journey home.
December 9th: Last gig of the year and after a stunning review by Joe Donnelly was really looking
forward to this SOLD OUT Adam Ant gig . Kev and Julie were there, both before their respective
night shifts and lucky for me coz Kev took some shots. Everyone I spoke to agreed it was a
fantastic show. Adams voice like Howard Devoto's was. just like the records, he's a true
professional and in a packed Wulfrun Hall played for what seemed like and hour and half we even
got 'young Parisians' and the set was a well thought out sprinkling of punk pop and 'Red Red Scab'.
It's a shame a great night was only spolit by some wankers at the bus station on my way home who
I ended up having a fight with and 2 black eyes.
December 10th: Wake up to blackeyes oh no!!!
December 16th: Sad news i hear Jennifer Miro of the Nuns has died from Cancer.
December 19th: Shock Horror!!!!...New pub opens in Wolverhampton! After what seems like
loads shutting or turning into everything but a pub the former Greyhound in Princess Street which
was once home to the Wolverhampton punks back in the 80's, is now a neat looking Billy Wright
named after the old Wolves footballing legend. Despite no Carling, the Fosters is selling at a can't
complain £1.90 a pint. Smart and comfortable, not sure how long it will last and those windows are
asking to be broken, but a welcome neat addition to the city bar run.
December 23rd: Happy 9th birthday Trinny.
2011
