Rock and Roll stories #83 - Lets hear it for the girls in rock and roll!

 Yesterday, The False Dots appeared at the Camden Rocks festival at The Barfly in Camden Town. We had a spiffing time and I think we did a good show! There were plenty of compliments, but it was almost unique in one way. I am not sure if it was accident or design, but I arrived at 4pm and stayed until 10pm and saw five of the other bands on the bill and all had female singers, and one was entirely female. None of the bands were playing sugary pop music, they were all playing orginal material and I think its fair to say that all gave dead solid performances. Over the course of the career of the False Dots,we've had four female singers. The first was back when we were forming the band. We had Amanda Spokes. She was going out with Dave Edwards, who was our very first drummer. Her style then leant on Souixsie from the Banshees. She didn't sing with us for very long, as Pete who co-founded the band with me decided he wanted to sing all of the songs. I don't think there are any tapes from that era and I can only vaguely recall one song she sang called "The Factory". In hindsight it was quite interesting, a slow number with shreiking, banshee like vocals. I think Pete wanted to do fast, high energy songs.  But Amanda did help us get the show on the road. 

The next female singer was Eleanor Caine. Eleanor was the daughter of a friend of Paul Hircombes mum. In 1982, the winds of music were blowing in a very different direction and we decided that after  couple of years of the boys singing, we'd try a girl singer. Eleanor was an OK singer. One of the songs she performed on made its way onto vinyl in 1983. A song called  "A memory for you" was included in a 101 Records Compilation album. Oddly, and to my great surprise, it has been attracting airplay in the USA on the college radio scene in recent years. It has even been loaded up on to youtube, by someone I don't know, which I find rather flattering. It is very different to everything else we've done

,

Eleanor decided that I wasn't good enough for 'her band' and I got chucked out. Paul Hircombe came with me though and I kept the name. I don't think 'her band' ever did another gig, but we don't exchange Christmas cards so I don't really know. What Eleanor and the rest of 'her band' didn't know was that I'd met an absolutely brilliant female singer the week before her coup called Venessa Sagoe. Venessa was the flatmate of an ex girlfriend of mine and she turned up for an audition at the studio. I heard her singing and thought wow. The only other time I've been so blown away was when I heard Amy Winehouse singing in studio 9. Oddly, she failed the audition. I have no idea why. She was quite upset and I had a chat with her and told her to keep going. I really wanted her to join our band, but I am quite a loyal person. When the split occurred, I immediately phoned her and got her down. Within a couple of months we were gigging. We did a 'warm up' gig for my 21st Birthday at Bunns Lane Works, then a bikers rally gig to 400 people a week later. In fact three of Venessa's first five public gigs were bike rallys. We had them in the diary from before she joined and she had to learn a set full of Rock covers, as well as the False Dots originals set.

Venessa had never sang with a band before. She was thrown in at the deep end and given a baptism of fire. Our first 'proper' False Dots gig was in October at the Prince Albert in Golders Green, but after 10 seconds of watching her perform at the first bike Rally I knew she had what it took. Venessa did sixteen gigs with the band, Including four during a residency at The Bald Faced Stag. She also did what I thought for many years was the highlight of The False Dots gigging career at Dingwalls in February 1984. We were on fire and she was amazing. Sadly it didn't work out and that line up ended in September 1984. Venessa joined another band, which didn't really work out either. This is her doing her stuff in 1984 at The Bald Faced Stag. I am not generally a big fan of covers, but I think this demonstrates just how good she was.

I sort of thought The False Dots were done with female singers when Venessa left. We had tried to become more of a "pop group" and it hadn't worked. But in 2010, our guitarist (now bassplayer) Fil Ross told me a young lady who was a brilliant singer was interested in singing a couple of numbers with us. The set at the time had a couple of songs that would suit a female voice, so we asked Connie Abbe down. Unlike Venessa, Connie was an experienced singer. She had sung backing vocals with Sudanese rapper and megastar Emmanual Jal on massive tours. She'd not fronted a band though. Connie blew me away. She came in and it just felt like she'd always been there. She learned songs quickly, and soon started developing and adding to the material. 

This song, Put me in the spotlight was used by Manchester City FC as the theme music for their goal of the month show in 2012. It got played 49 million times! Connie played nine gigs with the band, perhaps the best being at The Purple Turtle in Camden, to a sold out audience. Sadly the music industry told me they were not interested in an artist fro Connie's demopgraphic, no matter how well she sang. It was very disheartening really. Until Connie joined the band, I'd been happy doing local charity shows etc. However she gave me the taste for gigging properly again.

As I the female singers last night, I couldn't help think of the various female singers that have played with The False Dots over the years. All of them in the early years stepped into a very blokish environment. It is a great testament to Venessa that she grabbed the bull by the horns and embraced it. By the time Connie joined, we had mellowed and we also had the maturity to recognise she had a great talent and we had to fit in to her sound, as much as she had to fit into ours. Watching the bands last night, was fascinating as the spectrum of ages of the bands was quite marked. I was especially interested in Bugeye, the all female band,as there are not enough such bands. They had a great sound and  definite vibe going. Now that the False Dots are Rock and Roll geriatrics, we can just relax and enjoy the whole thing and play our music without fear. We can be silly and take chances. For all of the bands, apart from the Green Ribbon Club (who were a similar sort of age to us and had a not too different attitude), I could see just how important the gig was and how much it meant to them. I wish that when I was that age, we had the sense of liberation that we have now. If anything, we try harder now to give a good show,but we also enjoy the danger of living on the edge and taking chances. I do think we didn't take enough musical risks back then and I'd urge the younger bands to do the same. I found that when I gave myself permission to make mistakes, they stopped mattering. I realised that a great 'performance' isn't defined by perfection, it is defined by grabbing peoples attention by walking on the edge of the cliff. I realised that because we have a great band, I have a parachute, even if I fall off, and that would really grab their attention. 

It was interesting talking to the other bands. I told the bassplayer of Catfight that I thought their third final song was amazing. He said "Oh that's a bit of an under the radar song". It is nice though to see so many bands doing their own stuff and a decent sized audience lapping it up. I get really fed up the our local radio station BBC Radio London doesn't play more of the sort of music from local London bands on their shows. To me bands like the Rolling Stones don't need the exposure. They do have the BBC Introducing slot, but I'd like to see one new, unknown London band be put on rotation every week. Everything I saw yesterday convinced me that they are missing a trick. I hasten to add that the individual presenters do support me in my mission to plug live music gigs, but they need to start playing it!

Here are some of the highlights I filmed last night

.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The False Dots (@thefalsedots)

.

The False Dots have one last gig this year. And what is more I am delighted to announce that we will be having (at least one) guest joining us on stage. Connie Abbe will be coming down to join us for a couple of numbers. I am as delighted as I could be that she will be there. I really think Connie should be a megastar. Please come down and see why. You can get a ticket here >>>>>  wegottickets.com/f/31380

The Sunday Reflection #105 - Remembrance

 I always write a piece to mark Remembrance Sunday. I think some of my best blogs have been  For some reason, this year I feel differently about the whole thing. I have and will always believe that remembering brave people who fell in the the service of Great Britain, Democracy and Freedom is one of the most important and solemn duties that falls upon us as members of a free society. But I cannot ignore the generala apathy of our society in this matter. I went up to the Ridgeway to watch the vice chairman of the Mill Hill Services Club lay a wreath on behalf of the club at the service. Vince was wearing the medals of our late President Jack Leach, who passed away earlier this year, as a tribut to Jack and his generation. About a hundred people turned out on a chilly and misty November day.

According to Google AI "The NW7 postcode district (covering Mill Hill and surrounding areas) has an estimated population of 28,645 residents based on the UK Census"

In other words, less than 1% of the population of Mill Hill  turned up.It breaks my heart that so few people seem to care. For me, the service was moving and was a chance to remember my Dad, a WW2 airman. There is something wrong with our society if so few people see fit to remember those who made what we have today possible. That is all I am going to say on the matter. 

The Saturday List #515 - My top ten images of mundanity from the family archive

 Next time you are out and about on your local high street, take a look around. See the most mundane thing you can. Take a picture of it. Print it and put it in an envelope, with a note saying "Not to be opened until 2076". You and I may not be around (if I am, I'll be 114!). Leave nothing to say why you too it. What will whoever opens it make of it? 

I saw a quote from Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols. He said there are no pictures of him as a child, as his family were too poor to have a camera. I was lucky, my Dad had a camera and was a keen photographer.  My Mum also had the bug. They would quite often snap the mundane. At the time, these pictures seemed dull. Now they are priceless to me. I've put various ones on my Flickr site. Here are some of my favourites. 

1. My Mum snapped this picture in the mid 1990's. A mundane high street scene. Two institutions that were fixtures of many London High Streets. Now just dim memories.

 

2. Dad took this snap in the 1960's. I suspect that there was a business related reason, as he ran MacMetals crash repair business. Usually such pics were related to disputes over payment with insurance companies. The picture was taken in his car park. There are a few details of interest. Howard Farrow who owned the van were a local builder. In the background is the old Mill Hill East to Edgware railway goods depot, now Flower Lane industrial estate. 

 

 3. This is a picture I took, A casal glance might think this dull, but there is something a bit odd. It was taken during lockdown. It is almost impossible to get such a picture with no carspassing, just the lorry emerging from Marks and Spencer car park. Nothing passing on the M1 either

 

 4. I took this picture during lockdown on a trip to UCLH at St Pancras. Again, you'd not see it this quiet during normal times.

 

 5. As I mentioned above, Dad ran MacMetals. This was his new panel shop in 1966. He was very proud of it! It is still there but the setting has changed beyond recognition. Click here to see it on Google Earth.

 

 6. Dad would've taken this in the 1960's outside the Sacred Heart Church, as some rellies I don't recognise emerged from a car. I am more interested in the cars and shops across the road. I find it tragic that modern cars are so boring looking! The COOP and Payantake stores were a integral part of the Broadway, like most things, they are gone. As are the red and white awnings. 

 

 7. Fast forward to the 1990's. Mum would've taken this picture. Who'd have thought Midland Bank would disappear and that the Broadway would have no banks at all! The knitting shop also is a thing of the past. I rather like the Cortina and the Jag in the picture!

 

8. Taken in 2019, just before Lockdown in the Midland Hotel, Hendon. The False Dots were playing. Our drummer Rambo posing by the chalk board. They couldn't even be bothered to put our name up. The pub is no longer open sadly. 

 

 9. I don't really know what possessed me to take this rather badly composed picture but I rather like it. The False Dots have played a few toilets over the years! We are playing tomorrow at The Barfly in Camden at 6pm if you are at a loose end.

 

 10. Graffiti fascinates me, as do ghost signs (old signage from long lost companies). This is one of my favourite ones that you see as you pass Kentish Town. I have passed this thousands of times on the train to London. I t constantly evolves. This was taken in 2020.

I hope I've managed to persuade you that mundanity is a wonderful thing! That's all folks

Rock and Roll Stories#82 - Crossing over to the dark side

 The 'music business' has always had a very dark underbelly. There have been some very unscrupulous people involved over the years and I've come across a fair few of them. Usually I give such characters as wide a berth as possible, however on occasion, you have to deal with devil if you want to get on. In the earlier incarnation of the band, when we were still teenagers, we had a decent following and were attracting a degree of interest. There was a venue I rather fancied playing and we dropped a casette in with my number on and a note saying "If you are interested in giving us a gig, please call us". I gave my home number. Mum acted as our secretary taking the calls and making sure I returned them promptly. I'd also leave a stamped addressed envelope and request them to return the tape if they weren't interested (no one ever did, whether they called or not). Tapes were expensive. 

A couple of days later, Mum told me someone had called about a gig. I called back. It sounded too good to be true. They would pay us a decent fixed fee, give us free beers and a sandwich and they wanted us to play with a band that there was "industry interest" in. They had head we had a following, so thought we were the ideal support. I agreed to the gig. Later in the week, I went out for a drink with a few mates. I was very excited. However my friend gave me some bad news. The promoter was 'a bit of a gangster', who would promise bands the earth, then not pay them. Bands were also presented with an inflated bar tab at the end of the night, usually by a large bouncer. I was in a quandry. I wanted to tick off the venue and I was genuinely quite excited, but I didn't want to be mucked around. I had agreed to do the gig. 

As we were discussing it, another mate of mine joined us. Big Ernie Ferebee. He was 6' 6 and had worked in the music industry as security, for some fairly shady people. Ernie heard the conversation and made a suggestion. "I've got a mate called Porky, he's into music, we can act as your management and make sure you get paid and don't get any hassle". Porky had a fearsome reputation. He had actually worked for my Dad in the motor industry and was known as one of the people in Mill Hill you didn't mess around with. I had my reservations, but I'd always got on with Ernie and I thought that the if nothing else it would spare us some aggro. 

When we turned up at the gig, I introduced Big Ern and Porky to the promoter and said that they were our managers and they'd deal with all financial matters. He turned a pailer shade of white. As we had promised, our fans packed the venue and it was a great night. The beers flowed, we got sandwiches and had a great time. TBH I'd almost forgotten the money issue. I'd agreed that I'd meet Porky and Ernie at the Three Hammers the next night and we'd sort the cash out. They had said "We want to keep you away from the negotiations". 

When I arrived at the Hammers, I was greeted by a beaming Porkie and Ernie. Ernie bought a round. Porky said "Ok firstly. The negotiations were more complex than I anticipated. We agreed a 20% management fee, but this doesn't adequately compensate us for our efforts" I thought to myself "Here we go". The fee was £100 which was a small fortune for us back then. I had semi expected  some sort of conversation like this. I didn't expect what he said next. "I renegotiated your deal, so you got £200, me and Ern get £40 each for our efforts and I've got you another gig there with £200 guaranteed". I was gobsmacked. He added "Thats the art of managment, we all do better!". He was right, inder the original deal, the band got £80, with Porkys negotiations, we got £120. He then said "At £40 its worth my while. 

For the next gig, Porky never showed up, but Ernie came and sorted things out. In fact we never really saw Porky at a gig again and he didn't arrange any more or take a cut. Years later, I discussed the incident with Ernie. I'd never really understood the sudden generosity of the promoter. Ernie explained that Porky had realised that music venues offered certain "business opportunities" that weren't entirely legal. Being able to say he was our manager gave him an in. As the promoter was a nefarious sort, he was quite up for some 'extra income'. The promoter disappeared quite soon after the whole business and a new one took over. The special deals ended but they were fair and proper. 

The False Dots next gig

It is funny because even though he passed away years ago, people still talk of Porky in hushed tones in Mill Hill. He was a true character and a proper scalliwag, but I have to say he was fair and decent with us. He was very much a man of pound notes. He would always advise The False Dots to become a covers band and tell us that he could get us "loads of well paid gigs". He never really got what we were about, but he was a good laugh as far as I was concerned.. 

The False Dots next gig is on Sunday. We play at 6pm at The Barfly for Camden Rocks Festival. The last 47 years has been a colourful journey. 

None of us are perfect.....

I used to be fascinted with Greek mythology, of all the stories, the one of Ixion used to fascinate me most. Here is an AI summary (the full story is even more interesting). 

The Murder of His Father-in-Law

The conflict: Ixion promised a rich bride price (dowry) to his father-in-law, Eioneus (or Deioneus), when he married Dia. When he failed to pay, Eioneus took some of Ixion’s horses as collateral 
The betrayal: Ixion hid his anger, invited Eioneus to a feast, and pushed him into a concealed pit filled with burning coals and wood.
The outcast: This act of kin-slaying and violation of xenia (guest-host hospitality) shocked the mortal world, and no one would perform the ritual purification required to cleanse his guilt.

Offense Against the Gods

Forgiveness on Olympus: Zeus took pity on Ixion, brought him up to Mount Olympus, and even offered him a place at the table of the gods. 
Hubris: Instead of showing gratitude, Ixion grew arrogant and lusted after Zeus’s wife, Hera.
The cloud trick: Zeus caught wind of his intent and formed a living cloud shaped like Hera—named Nephele—to trick him. Ixion coupled with the cloud, which later gave birth to the Centaurs (half-man, half-horse creatures).

Eternal Punishment

Tartarus: For his extreme ingratitude, arrogance, and betrayal, Zeus blasted Ixion with a thunderbolt and cast him out of Olympus.
The fiery wheel: Zeus ordered Hermes to bind Ixion to an eternally spinning, winged fiery wheel in Tartarus (the deep underworld), where he would whirl in agony forever.

I have always found the Greek mythology fascinating. It is filled with strange ideas, concepts and morality. The thing that intrigued me, as a child, brought up a Roman Catholic, to believe that there was one God, who was all powerful and all knowing, was just how human and petty the behaviour of the Greek Gods seemed to be. The story of Ixion is a  bit of an outlier, with Zeus showing fogiveness and giving Ixion a chance of repentenance. However Ixion, a vain and arrogant man, his response to his second chance is perhaps more interesting. He simply couldn't help himself. His personality reminds me of a certain promenant world leader. Sadly, I've met a few people who remind me of Ixion over the years, although thankfully, most don't hang around for too long. 

I think that such tales aare useful cautinary tales. Is there a bit of Ixiom in all of us? Are we truly grateful for our blessings. Do we recognise when we are being given a second chance? Do we show gratitude in such situations, or do we get caught up in our own hubris. 

We all make mistakes. I certainly do. When I do, I believe that the best thing to do is to apologise and move on. I there are amends to be made, make them. We don't have to win every argument. If you know you are right, isn't that enough? Sometimes, I do silly things, make silly comments, make bad decisions that affect people in a negative manner. I have learned that seeking to justify the unjustifiable is foolish. Far better to say "I screwed that up, how can i make amends and learn". Only fools never learn.

The punishments meted out by the Greek Gods are another thing that fascinate me. If Ixion lived, he would have lived around 1300-1200 BC. That means he's been stuck on the fiery wheel for over 3,200 years. I wonder if he's learned his lesson yet? Just remember Every turning wheel, every broken promise between kin, and every guest who forgets the laws of hospitality carries some echo of Ixion, the first mortal to dine with the gods and the first to be cast into their deepest prison.

The Sunday Reflection #104 - The end of a very bad week indeed

 I have had a horrible week. On Tuesday, we said our final goodbye to Bruno, our dog of 14 years. He was a very special dog, never easy, but always the most lovable companion. He was a rescue dog and he'd been extremely badly treated by his previous owners. He was extremely nervous and would completely lose his rag when spooked. He would get triggered by the strangest things. He once went mental in the pub when an old lady entered with a walking stick. She put the stick down then came up to us. She asked if he was a rescue dog, I said yes. She said "His previous owner must have beaten him with a stick". Bruno was now making a big fuss of her. He was a lazy dog, always loved a cuddle. When my daughter was upset, they'd sit cuddled up on the sofa. She has been hit particularly hard. 

We decided on Tuesday that the time had come. His legs had all but given up, he'd more or less lost his appetite, except for nice treats. He had developed an abcess on his back leg, which he was lying on. We asked the vet if there was any realistic prospect of improvement. She said "No, we could give anti biotics for the abcess, but it will come back when you stop as he's lying on it".

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Roger Tichborne (@rogtex)

So, surrounded by us all, we put his head on a pillow, a blanket over him, stroked him and the vet administered an injection. Very peacefully, his life just ebbed away. Within a minute, he was in peace and out of pain. Many tears were shed, but it was a beautiful ending for him. Now there is a massive Bruno shaped hole in our family. 

There are several thoughts I have had over the following days. The first is that if we allow dogs to have peaceful, pain free endings, how can we deny humans who want the same the choice? I am a Roman Catholic, but I cannot agree with the position of the Church when it comes to people who have a terminal illness and are faced with a life where the pain will get worse every day, with no way out. I don't really want to subject my family to watching me dying screaming in agony, if that is what it has to be. I see no moral or ethical grounds for preventing someone like Dame Esther Rantzen choosing the time and method of her own end. If someone has strong religious beliefs, then they should have the absolute right to refuse euthenasia. I may do so myself, but I do not believe I have the right to decide for other people. Watching Bruno just drift off clarified my views. I understand that there must be stringent controls. I understand that people may consent initialy and then change their mind. This must be respected and dealt with. But forcing people and their families to witness undignified endings is to me not kind, it is evil.

Another thing I've really come to realise is how great the effect of dog ownership is on our mental health. Most dogs are pretty empathic. They pick up when you are down and are there. They don't judge you. They don't want anything. They just want to be with you and help you. It has hit me is just how awful some members of the human race are. Bruno was an incredibly loving dog, who had been totally traumatised by cruel owners. I believe that people who abuse animals should be dealt with very harshly by the courts. I believe that anyone who hurts animals is a despicable bully and will most likely do the same to humans if they can.

We have another dog. The inevitable question of whether we should replace him has come up. If we do it will not be until next summer. I am proud that we gave Bruno 14 years that hopefull offset the first year, which was horrible. 

Camden Rocks Festival Returns next Sunday 8th November

Camden Rocks Returns

Camden Rocks Presents returns for another full-day takeover, bringing ten bands and ten hours of live, loud rock ’n’ roll to Chalk Farm Road.

Featuring Star Circus, Bugeye, Healthy Junkies, Glitter Kick, The False Dots, Catfight, Thegreenribbonclubband, Death by Bunny, Damned_ To Dirt and The Fourth Talisman .

Back in the heart of Camden Town, Barfly’s keeping that grassroots spirit alive with a new generation of hard-rock, punk and alternative artists.

Tickets are on sale NOW https://link.dice.fm/camdenrocks

Ten bands. One stage. All-day rock ’n’ roll in Camden Town.

STAR CIRCUS
https://youtu.be/WOTMbu6tVOk
Star Circus are a hard rock band based in London, with influences ranging from 70s hard rock to 90s alternative rock. Our sophomore album "From The Wreckage" was released in June 2025 via Renaissance Records US to much critical acclaim, with Classic Rock Magazine labelling the band "The missing link between ELO and Def Leppard" in response to the single "One Hit Wonder".

BUGEYE
https://youtu.be/hPIyZiWo7uU
Dirty guitars. Sharp lyrics. Big hooks. Zero apologies.Bugeye makes songs for dancing while the world burns. Expect biting social commentary, filthy riffs, massive choruses and a high-energy sweat fest guaranteed to leave a mark. Come for the tunes. Leave converted. Welcome to the Bugeye cult. Worship here.

HEALTHY JUNKIES
https://youtu.be/2rYvqmCW42g
Mixing Punk Rock with Grunge, Psychedelic Rock, New Wave, Garage Rock and Goth, add a soupçon of theatre: you have Healthy Junkies. Formed in 2010. Never stopped touring. Never stopped creating.

GLITTER KICK
https://youtu.be/40t8Lhi5Id8
Glitter Kick are a London based glamorous power rock band fronted by Roxi Gregory.Big drums come from the powerhaus of Ivan Panella accompanied on bass by Antony O’Neil with low slung guitars by Greg Paco Radcliffe.It’s all wrapped in smooth and rasping synths with haunting but distinctive vocals cutting through a barrage of sound. The vinyl of their debut album “ Make The Rainbow Sing” will hit the streets late October 2026.Until then you can have a sneak preview on Spotify

THE FALSE DOTS
https://youtu.be/UMAX23up0SI
The Falsedots - Barnet post punk legends, founded in 1979 showcasing their pithy blend of Ian Dury like London Town poetics and punky ska/ reggae party dynamics and we all love a party! as established by founder Roger Tichborne. This sees the punky ska, London Town inclined observational wits pondering issues such as Americanization of the UK, bully boy drug dealers and how it’s only certain species of corvids who avoid the slavery of everyday life- and all done with a smile, a lilt and a sizzling skank. That new album is called We Don’t Live In America, released Independence Day, 4th July…For fans of Madness, The Specials, The Piranhas, Alternative TV and other such street wise artniks

CATFIGHT
https://youtu.be/LNMPvaQ0vP8
Catfight are a London-based punk band self-proclaimed as “riot grrrl and anarcho’s cute baby sister”. They have drawn strong reviews off the back of their debut Rebellion Festival performance for their “sound that pulls hard from 80s rock, 90s grunge and modern punk frustration” (LOUD WOMEN). CATFIGHT’s songs include: the snarling ‘Gym Lads’ and how they’re killing the planet; ‘Security Fucking Love Me,’ the slogan on the back of the band’s t-shirts; and the grand finale ‘No Breakfast’ – a cutting and powerful criticism of the punk scene. Join the four piece (or five piece if you count their band mascot Siouxsie the Cat) for a fiercely feminist, sometimes funny, but always fun set!

THE GREEN RIBBON CLUB
https://youtu.be/091WaTs69aw
The Green Ribbon Club is Juan Solo on Bouzouki, Rob-o-rant on Vocals / Double Bass , Jane-Marie on Vocals / Ukulele, and Mad Vaz on Drums. The Green Ribbon Club play acoustic punk music, taking their inspiration from the rich heritage of non-conformism, equality, creativity and fun that infuses the darker recesses of history. The Green Ribbon Club is committed to playing great songs that hit you in the feels as well as the feet, four accomplished accomplices who know playing together makes them stronger and happier.

DEATH BY BUNNY
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2g2MisCAZGBJJCWK9XKjH5
Death by Bunny is a London‑based metal/industrial project blending cinematic tension, heavy riffs, and dark electronic textures. Formed in 2018, the band crafts a world of distortion, atmosphere, and visual storytelling, merging sound and image into a single immersive experience.

DAMNED TO DIRT
https://youtu.be/3WhUKWwLtvk
Alternative and metal powerhouse, Damned To Dirt offer a serious injection of raw intensity, groove and melodic depth, delivering a live show that is both heavy and immersive. Their self-titled debut EP established the band’s identity and sound, with a new album now on the way, pushing that sound even further. With a growing presence in London’s heavy music scene, Damned To Dirt are carving out their place as a rising force in modern alternative metal.

THE FOURTH TALISMAN
https://open.spotify.com/track/5kRjKPjQIyH2GadzGti2k4
Emerging from London, England 2022, The Fourth Talisman are a three-piece heavy metal band. They're known for their metalcore/groove-metal with prog and power metal elements. Their music is a combination of fiery guitar riffs, high-octane vocals alongside energetic drums and powerful bass guitar. With years of experience performing live, The Fourth Talisman have a dedicated following who recognise their expressive, other-worldly approach to music.

— at Barfly Camden.

The Saturday List #515 - My top ten celestial events

 I have had a lifelong fascination with the skies. I put this down to my father being a WW2 bomber pilot. Dad used to fly Wellingtons on night missions to bomb axis sites. He told me that pften he'd be overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the skies. He saw meteorites, lunar eclipses and all manner of other things. He was taught astral navigation as part of his pilot qualification. If your compass failed, you had to know where the North Star was to get home safely! Dad explained that with the North Star and a watch, you could navigate anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere. He also informed me that if Germans were chasing you and ou needed to evade them, move at night and navigate by the stars. He bought me a chart of the night sky and would point out the constellations to me. It cemented an abiding love. He also bought me a small telescope for my 11th birthday. I would look for the crescent of venus, the moons of Jupiter and rings of Saturn. I felt affirmation of this love when my favourite musicians such as Bowie did Starman, Space Oddity and Life on Mars and Steve Miller did Space Cowboy (although maybe I misunderstood this connotation!).  I have enjoyed many moments looking at the skies, although some have been a disappointment. Anyway here are my top ten moments

1. The partial Solar Eclipse on May 20th 1966. This happened at about 10 in the morning. I was 3 3/4 and I'd not started school. Life was good. Dad was very excited about it. He brought home a welding mask and showed it to me. He explained that the Chinese believed that it was a dragon eating the Sun. It never occureed to me to question this until now, but I just googled it and this was what came up "Yes, ancient Chinese mythology held that solar and lunar eclipses occurred when a celestial dragon or a heavenly dog (tiangou) tried to devour the sun or moon." . Dad explained all about eclipses and used a table tennis ball and a football to show how it worked. My Dad had been a pilot instructor for the RAF and I realise now he was an excellent teacher. Just because I was three years old, was no reason not to explain things properly.

2. Lunar Eclipse January 18th 1973. My sister Caroline was most excited about this. When there is a lunar eclipse, the Moon turns dark blood red. It was really spooky. We sat up on the balcony and watched it. Dad told us about watching a lunar eclipse when he was on leave in Italy in 1944. He said his crew drank wine and stared up. He said that he was wondering whether my Mum was looking up at the eclipse and thinking of him!

3.  Watching a satellite pass overhead with the family in our garden in 1966. I recall Dad dragging us all out into the garden to watch a satellite pass overhead. It seemed like a big event. Dad was always fascinated by such things. He explained that as we could only see sateliites because they reflected light, they were only visible just after sunset. Now there are so many that we've lost our wonder. 

4. Comet Kouhoutek January 1974. This was billed as perhaps the most spectacular comet ever, when first detected. It was going to be the brightest thing in the sky, barring the Sun. But it was nothing like that. It was a faint splodge in the sky when viewed through binoculars. I was much excited by comets at the time, however none has lived up to the hype.

5.  The Bovedy Meteorite in 1969. This was the single most spectacular thing I ever saw. As was my want as a kid, I was sitting out on our balcony staring at the stars and suddenly this amazing fireball passed overhead travelling south to north. I'd never seen anything like it. It was on the news later, it crashed in Northern Ireland. Had it been a bit bigger, maybe I'd have met the same fate as the dinsosaurs! It was one of those moments I'll never forget. 

6.  The Persiends meteor shower in 1982. This is the most spectacular of all the regular meteor showers. In 1982, a bunch of us decided to watch it properly. We went up to Dunstable downs and took a picnic. I thought it was amazing, my then girlfriend was far less impressed. She enjoyed the night out and the socialising, but thought it all a waste of time! I googled why it was supposedly a special one and the reason was because it was a new moon, so the sky was darker than usual.

7.  UFO in 1972. As I mentioned, I used to love sitting out on our balcony looking at the stars for hours on end, before I discovered punk rock and girls. The holy grail for me was to see a UFO. I used to hope they'd abduct me and give me trip around Mars, Venus and Saturn. I wasn't aware of the claims of the terrible things they are meant to do then. I usually sat staring at the stars, when I was supposed to be doing my homework. I never saw one until one time I was staring up at the night sky. I saw a strange orange cigar shaped object travelling from Southwest to Northeast. It had no lights or other markings. It made no noise. It travelled at the speed that a plane normally would. The conditions were perfect.  I never saw anything like it again. There were no press reports of anything. It was rather mundane in every other way. As it passed directly overhead, I got a proper look at it with binoculars. It had no distinguishing features at all. This is what it looked like. I did this on paintshop, but even if I'd had the best camera in the world it would look. What was it? I've always wondered. It was not chased by the RAF. It was either massive or at the height that planes normally fly over London. It was evenly lit, so I do not believe it was reflecting light, as it was well past sunset. It was moving far too fast to be a balloon. I am sure that there is a mundane explanation, but I've never had one. Apparently 17% of UFO sightings are this shape, but not normally this colour. I know what it wasn't. A planet. a metorite, a comet, a conventional plane, a balloon or a satellite. As I knew all of the stars etc, and checked the satellite tables in the papers, I knew it wasn't one of them. A satellite wouldn't have a shape like that visible with the naked eye. I asked my Dad about it, I assumed he'd know. He said "Draw a picture of it, describe all of the conditions, and sooner or later you'll figure it out". I haven't!

8. The near total solar eclipse in London. The 11th August 1999 there was a near total solar eclipse over London. I was working for Centrefile and we went up on the roof. It was quite eerie and the temperature dropped several degrees. I was pretty overawed by it. When the moment passed, we all went to the pub!

9.  Two Suns in the sky.  I saw this with my mates John McGeough and Pete Conway in the infant school playground at St Vincents in 1968. We all wrote about it in our "News" book. The teacher told us not to be so silly and that we shouldn't make stories up. I told my Dad about it, he said it was called a Sun Dog and was caused by ice crystals in the sky forming and orb like configuration and reflecting the Sun , appearing as a 2nd Sun. He told me it was rare and we were very lucky to see it. Around this time I started doubting whether my teachers were worth listening to at all!

10. A black line in the sky. Regular readers will know I walk my dogs regularly and I always keep an eye on the skies. About 10 years ago, I was in Mill Hill park and I saw the most strange straight black line, in a clear blue sky. It looked as if someone had taken a pen and drawn it across the sky. Apart from the fact that it was completely straight, I would have said it was a massive rope. I was thinking "That is really strange" when I noticed a plane flying along the line. Behind the plane is what some people call a chemtrail and others call a contrail, that blotted out the black line. It was the most curious thing I've ever seen. I have done some research and the best explanation I have seen is that it was a shadow cast by the contrail. Had I known this possible explanation, I'd have checked the postion of the Sun, but as mundane explanations of odd things go, it is very plausable.

Writing this blog made me realise just how much I miss my Dad, even though he's been gone for 39 years. He was a sane, rational man, who always sought answers and neve dismissed what even my teachers dismissed as childish fantasies. I often discussed UFO's with him. He said that he knew dozens of pilots who'd seen bizarre things. He said that people such as pilots are good observers and cannot be dismissed. He said that if something is unexplained, you shouldn't assume anything. He said that in his opinion, there is no reason why there shouldn't be more advanced civilisations in the Universe, but there are all manner of practical reasons why it would be very unlikely for them to account for most of the sightings. He said that usually a simple explanation eventually surfaces, such as undocuented atmospheric phenomina, experimental military craft, optical illusions. However to discount every testamony or to ascribe things that were clearly "bad answers" to difficlt questions was most counter productive. His view was that most sensible, advanced aliens would probably give us a wide berth until we learned how to peacefully co-exist with each other, before they sought to engage with us. It is a view that I have realised is very wise.  He sought to educate me and taught me to ask questions and seek answers. I couldn't be luckier really to have had such a man in my life.