Save the Asian Network, close News 24.

On the back of the saving of 6music, the BBC shouldn't close the Asian Network, it should close News 24. There I’ve said it. Don’t get me wrong I can watch it for ages and when there’s not much happening it serves itself well. It’s just that when something does happen it goes to pieces.

I should point out now that I hate Sky and everything about it. Murdoch is the devil. And I try to avoid every single company that he has his fingers in. I even missed the 2^nd of the political debates on the telly so I didn’t have to watch sky. Why they were in the running to show them (except of course it was Murdoch and his scum press. who wanted the televised debates) makes no sense the viewing figures were the lowest of the three.

The other day a father of three and a former drugs dealer died and it was all played out live on tv. Hour after hour after hour. Nothing happened. Except over excited journalists and “experts” threw out everything they were ever taught. Investigation and verification of facts make way for idle gossip and rumour. Scare mongering and knee jerk reactions replace good old fashion journalistic talents.

Now I expect this of Sky News and the way it is turning into the new Fox News (also owned by Murdoch) style right wing antagonistic style with awful presenters like Kay Burley. But not from the Beeb which is all and good of this free and great land.

We lost Football, Rugby and Cricket to Sky, many series started out on terrestrial only to end up on Sky. But let’s give them rolling news, it’s an awful way to keep up to date with what’s happening and it suits the profile of  Murdoch’s company.

So lets keep the Asian Network and give up on News 24.

Can't Get You Outta My Head #6

On Sunday we had to go out and all of a sudden I had a desire to listen to this and others of the great Dream Warriors - "And now the legacy begins" album. In the car I think I played this about 9 times. The kids didn't moan.

Cliff Worley died (again) today

I have lost count the number of times I've watched True Romance and there is no doubt that the Sicilians speech Cliff Worley gives just before his untimely death is one of the most memorable in modern cinema.

And now the real speaker of those words, the late, great Dennis Hopper has passed away too. Luckily not at the hand of Christopher Walken or any other Sicilian mobsters, but unluckily by Cancer.

Hopper has had an amazing film career, yes for every Easy Rider or Apocalypse Now there might be a Super Mario Bros. movie, but surely no one can begrudge an actor who has to live and has families to support (Hopper had 5 marriages - 1 for just 9 days), their job is to act - not to write the script. Besides just imagine the meeting where the casting agents thought Frank Booth would be great in a kids film.

Being a child of the 70s, Hopper came into my life in my late teens with Cool Hand Luke, Easy Rider, Apocalypse Now, The Trip, River's Edge and Blue Velvet all being watched on videos late into the night. Hopper isn't for daytime or evening consumption - he's a creature for the night. Hopper brought Feck and Frank Booth into our cinematic consciousness in 1985 how bonkers is that? For those who haven't seen River's Edge it has the also fantastic Crispin Glover out Dennis Hopper-ing Hopper and even Keanu Reeves pulls a half decent performance.

I sat and watched mesmerized by True Romance at the cinema it's almost perfect in every way, I went with a few mates and we probably snuck some bottles of beer into the cinema, which we always did around then - always a far more civilised way to watch a film. A friend went to see it on a first date. I've always been jealous of that, what a great first date movie.

Hopper was also a photographer and an artist with exhibitions around the world. His work graced Ike and Tina Turner and The Smiths Greatest Hits record covers.

The last Hopper film I saw at the cinema was Land of the Dead. Hopper meets Romero, yeh sure, it's not Dawn of the Dead but hey, a decent zombie movie none the less.  "Zombies, man. They creep me out." He said as Kaufman.

Whilst Hopper won't be around to make anymore movies, he'll always be around when we press that play button on that movie and you know it's a better movie for having him in it.

Goodnight Dennis Hopper, tonight I'll raise a cold one to you.

Malcolm Tucker - Chris TT

Chris T-T rocks. It's a little known fact that should be more widely realised. On his Christmas EP Chris wrote and sang a homage to the greatest fictional spin doctor since the last - Malcolm Tucker (from BBC political comedy The Thick of It). Due to boredom, procrastination and a liking of Mr T-T's musical offerings I watched the whole of series 3 again and then edited down some clips to look suitable for the song as I don't have any footage of Chris. Enjoy.

Can't Get You Outta My head #6

I've was making this (more to be revealed soon) and this came into my head to be added. SInce then I seem to  have it stuck in my head a lot. this morning it was played on the 6music breakfast show, so I took the hint.


***25 May UPDATE*** 
I meant to add that if you look at the video they look interesting, then watch the TotP performance and see how boring they really look. But then again they are from Swinedon,

Steampunk meets Nazi Chic

I've always quite linked the idea of Steampunk, victorian style design on modern day objects and can't really afford to go out and buy the clothes that go with it, but i was looking for some goggles that will fit over my glasses and look the part.

So I've been looking on ebay and came across these:

and I have to say they just look fabulous.

I really want them but can't justify the cost. They do look ace though.

2012 Mascot

I hated that stupid London 2012 logo and it looks like I wasn't alone, however I really do like these 2 characters. Yes the do look like something Pete Fowler would do for the Super Furry Animals or as a vinyl toy and that's no bad thing. 

Yes the Hate Mail and the Torygraph will be up in arms over the cost, the fact that it isn't World Cup Willie
and that there is nothing decisively British about them but hey ho hum, up yer bum you old bastards they look ace.

For once we got it right.

third stone from the sun.

as one of my first can't get you outta my head's I did Cozy Powell - dance with the Devil. Well it's the guitar riff played throughout this and the Cozy song why I like it so much and why I often find it just running around my neurological settings.

Just thought I'd add this as just played the Cozy Powell tune and it reminded me.

Can't Get You Outta My Head #5

For the last few weeks I've had this coming in and out of my head. It's the opening lines that got me:

I got a letter from the government
The other day
I opened and read it
It said they were suckers
They wanted me for their army or whatever
Picture me given' a damn I said never

Black Steel is the best track on "It Takes A Nation..." and cemented Public Enemy as the best Hip Hop outfit ever in my mind.

Album Cover of the Week #4

In my teens I went into a bit of a 60s trip. The summer vibes of 'Do You Believe in Magic' "You Didn't Have To Be So Nice' and 'Summer in the City' and songs like 'Nashville Cats' and 'Daydream' won me over as a Lovin' Spoonful fan.

I never had this album but always loved the sleeve, it's ace.

the World's favourite serial killer.

I had somehow managed to survive until now without seeing Dexter, which is kind of strange as it's the kind of thing that appeals.

Anyway have managed to get through 4 seasons of the show pretty quickly and am now a fan. I fear I might be preaching to the already converted when I say if you like good tv, then you should check it out.

Season 5 starts this autumn and I can't wait.

on my itunes today

It's not so much a can't get you outta my head, so here's just something I've listened to a few times today. I've been listening to She & Him a few times recently and then in amongst the umpteen Monkees tracks and 90s noise records it came on again this morning. This afternoon I listened to the 2 albums on random, so I thought I'd post it. Enjoy!

Can't Get You Outta My Head #4

When I was a kid I was a massive Iron Maiden fan, not so much these days, though I do have a listen from time to time.

Yesterday as we wondered around the supermarket like all the other zombies, this not only came into my head but stayed there for the rest of the day.

So here is a piece of the mighty Maiden. Enjoy!

Hang the Parliament, Hang the Parliament

I've always hated that "Sun wot won it" cover after the Tories won the 1992 election and thought it might show it's ugly head again this time. As they didn't win, here is my commemorative special edition cover.

Murdoch normally backs the most likeliest of candidates, hence the switch to Labour in 1997. This time Rebekah Wade (the ex- Mrs Ross Kemp) convinced Murdoch to back the Tories earlier. Ha Ha.

Let's get the party started!

Tomorrow we'll probably awake to a new government and probably the toughest financial times I've had to deal with.

So tonight I think I'll have a cocktail before the sun goes down and tomorrow when what should be a day of hope realised, is just another day with the same old people getting richer and the poor getting poorer the hangover kicks in.

Make mine a Gibson! Cheers.

19/05/2010 - For ages I've been meaning to add the recipe for a Gibson and here we are:

• 2 measures Gin
• dash vermouth
• 2 silver cocktail onions
• handful ice cubes

Instructions

Place ice, vermouth and Gin in cocktail shaker. 

Stir for 1 minute then strain into martini glass. 

Put onions on cocktail stick, place in glass

Serve.

• 
  
  
  

VOTE!

6th May 2010 the UK goes to the polls. PLEASE VOTE!

Can't Get You Outta My Head #3

 Everyone harps on about Nirvana and quite frankly after Bleach they got a bit boring. Nevermind was never the album I hoped for and apart from Territorial Pissings and Endless,Nameless I can't think of much I'd play from it now.

But Mudhoney they were the original and the best. A Stooges for the 90s. And they rocked. Oh boy did they rock. Never meeting the acclaim and fandom of Nirvana but they did have longevity.  Good Enough is a great pop song from a great garage band. Holly Golightly does an ace cover of this too.

Nice Tee

In the mid 90s with references from Sonic Youth and UNKLE 'Sun Ra and his Arkestra' came on to my radar. These days I have about 20 Sun Ra albums.

You can believe wiki and that he's an American but the truth that I want to believe is that Sun Ra came from Saturn and had his orchestra and they rocked out. And why not? it's a bonkers mad story.

Anyway I was shopping this morning and a kid in the Supermarket was wearing the yellow one of these and I had to say to him that it was a great Sun Ra tee.

I have an addiction...

I can't stop making these posters and adding them to the  facebook page Vandalised Conservative Billboards here they all are:

Slot Jockey Jr.

Went to Blackpool yesterday and found this dummy sucking slot machine coin filling jockey he must have been 2 or so. Was kind of surprised at the sight of all these kids in pushchairs next to their gambling parents. it's not something that would ever occur for me to do with my two.

The day was an absolute blast though, we ended up on the beach, wandering around the amusements and eating hotdogs before getting back for the school collection.

Album cover of the Week #3

Godflesh are one of my favourite bands of all time and Pure is almost as good as it gets.

Released 18 years ago it's artwork is partial to blame for my obsession with photographing trees, cemetaries and moss. It was looking at mossy tree stumps today that made me think about the album sleeve.

The artwork was originally intended to be used on the Tiny Tears EP, it was shelved when the EP went unreleased. It is quite stunning with the gold lettering on the 12" sleeve.

The quality of sleeve artwork continues with the successor to Godflesh - Jesu and I'm sure one of those sleeves will appear here soon.

Vowel Movements!

I came across this a few years ago late one night and when I finally unpacked my CDs yesterday from when we moved originally in Nov 2008 I saw the Evens albums and remembered the song. The thing that I love about it is that it's the singer of Fugazi doing a sesame street type song. Genius!

I want a new tattoo.

I was in Booths today (a Northern version of Waitrose, but with only 23 or so stores, to the uninitiated) and the kiddie shelf stacker had a great Sonic Youth tattoo on his forearm and I was totally jealous. It looked really cool and me being a geeky fool went and told him so. He seemed chuffed that I know who Sonic Youth are.

The tattoo was a working on the Raymond Pettibon picture shown here.

Album cover of the Week #2

Not their most popular album by any stretch of the imagination but Sonic Youth have had some inspired artwork for flyers, posters and packaging often using the young and the hip before they make it big time and there is no pretence, there is no Saatchi style buy all artwork and see what becomes popular going on. They just have an eye and a gift for selecting interesting work.

The Murray Street album is no different. A couple of kids under some strawberry netting may not be an obvious cover for a now ageing experimental noise band from NYC, however it doesn't seem out of place either.

Sonic Youth rock, there's no debate required, it's fact.

The Death of Thumper

I started cycling again this week and the aim is to do 100 miles a week at the moment and build on that. I cycle up and down the A6  when it's dusk, however I don't have lights at the moment and so the return trip is currently a bit of a daredevil one.

As a reminder of what can happen, as I was headed towards Lancaster I watched a small rabbit make it across the road, only for it to turn around and be caught under the wheel of a car as it went back onto the road. I had hoped that the car would have seen and swerved or something but to no avail.

To make things worse I don't have a cycling playlist on my ipod at the moment, I have one called "Music to paint to" from when I was decorating the new house and music I wouldn't normally have for cycling is on there.

I had grabbed the most played songs (more than 5 times) on my ipod and bunged it into the playlist folder. A fatal mistake as the playlist littered with kids tunes, which I keep on finding more of despite having removed the majority of them.

But as Thumper met his untimely end it wasn't a kids tune that came on as I cycled on passed. It was REM's 'Everybody Hurts'
and it made the sad moment even sadder and the next mile or two didn't go by as fast as it should have done.


This one goes out to you Thumper!

viene la tormenta

There's a storm coming. There's an election imminent and the last bastion of Britishness  - The BBC itself is in the firing line. It knows it. Murdoch and his hate-fuelled clan are demanding everything should be paid for and that the Beeb is too powerful, quite funny for a man who owns the media world.


Or at least it would be if the Beeb didn't try and slit it's own throat trying to placate what could be the next Tory government. A government where the key advisor (Director of communications) to Cameron is a former Murdoch employee. Andy Coulson was the editor of the News of the World whilst cheques were written to people who spied on, bugged and checked on phone messages of celebrities, sports personalities and some politicians. 

Coulson was also found guilty of bullying a former employee (details can be found here), hardly the kind of person I'd ever want working for me. But he'll have the ear of (possibly) the next prime minister the same way Campbell had Blair's.


On the weekend the Guardian ran a rare interview with (soon to be former) controversial BBC employee Jonathan Ross (full interview here) and he said pretty much the same thing about the Beeb: "...the whole place has changed quite dramatically. I think it's a shame that the people running it are always trying to second-guess what the newspapers will say about them – and whatever the next government we wind up with will say about them. The experience of being there isn't quite the place it was. And it's a terrible, terrible shame." 


6Music one of the stations due for closure, now has an unlikely allie in Gordon Brown. he stated that the BBC "should not have succumbed to pressure" to axe some of its output. He said: "I don't think politicians should make that decision about what the BBC
produces."

It's got to the stage now that what ever the election outcome, the losers will be the licence payer with a reduced quality BBC.

Can't get you outta my head #2

Was cycling along the A6 tonight and this came on the ipod. My MPH went from 18.1 to 20.3 for the next three minutes. It was no co-incidence.

I saw something good today

Current scientist superstar professor Brian Cox is everywhere at the moment so why not here too? This is him playing with super slow motion and is quite good except for the awful music. But around the 50 secs is the crowning glory when he pops a water balloon.

Can't get you outta my head #1

It's not intending to be a list blog but that's how it's going at the moment. Can't get the 12" version of PiLs '(This is not a) love song' out of my head at the moment, the version is very different from the one here but is Plastic Box. Check it out it's ace!

Album cover of the Week #1

Here's the first of the Album cover of the Week section. Please note that this may not be as regular as the title suggests.


Here we have Herb Albert and his Tijuana Brass and the their album Whipped Cream and Other Delights


And what did they do? Just put a woman covered in whipped cream on the cover. When people mourn the end of sleeve art with digital downloads, I don't think that this will be used as an example.

Back once again the Renegade Master.

I started this yonks ago and then kept on binning it, however as a victim of procrastination I've decided to re-light the fire and use this as yet another tool to stop me from doing the things I should be doing.