Tim now signs all his emails: Tim the bastard But many players remain notoriously shy and at this event the organiser, Roger Trobridge, was urging as many as possible to come out of the closet and take part in the National Harmonica League's annual bonanza at the Bristol Folkhouse I was one of them
Every child has attempted to blow life into a harmonica. It's going to have to be the Tina Turner wig and the battered top hat, I'm afraid. Crew and director, like all of us, are giving their time and talent for free.I may never do anything like this again. It's in a good cause, it's for Christmas and it is kind of fun. As sage old Captain Sensible says: "Dignity? Mine went out the window years ago." What happens if we do have a hit? Reader, I haven't the foggiest.I suppose we'll amuse many, annoy a few and raise a bit of wonga for those kids.I have rifled my wardrobe for my old pop singer clothes Amazingly, most of them still fit The thinning grey locks, though... Tell him he's not the pop messiah - he's a naughty boy." Captain wants the organ up louder So do I, but it really should have been done earlier. Tim now signs all his e-mails: "Tim the bastard".Now what of the video? I don't like filming I like writing poems and doing radio It suits me. At my age, I have the face and fashion sense for that sort of stuff. Robin Bextor - whom younger readers may know as Sophie (Ellis)'s dad - is directing the video The storyboard is wild It's being done on a shoestring "Nasty" Nick Bateman and Peter Wyngarde are in it And so am I. Years of knowing Captain the Perfectionist, Captain, Prince of the Last-Minute-Change-Of-Mind, have taught me wisdom.I reply "Well he can't It's too late now.
All hands on deck, please, for regional radio interviews, early-morning phone calls and garbled explanations in London boozers to hardened and cynical journos We may, on the other hand, just be ignored Morale is high, though... For a such a disparate crew, there's a growing sense of mission. Lob this punk grenade into the comfy lounge of the charts and raise some money in the process and it'll be the best Christmas ever. Fail to do it and what have we lost? A few working days and a bit of pride, that's all.The business is not without its comic moments, either Tim Vs rings, exasperated: "It's Captain." he says. "I've been e-mailing hourly to tell him what's going on - that we're cutting the record today - and now he wants to do a bloody remix!" I laugh. It says that Total Rock Radio, who have pledged airplay, commented: "It looks as if Captain and all will be representing everyone who's different." That about sums it up, I suppose.What will happen when the record is out? From what I can gather, the Captain, Tim, Charlie and I may have our hands full. And, of course, Tim and the team must never underestimate Sir Cliff. Can the spiky lyrics and beery chorus of our own "Ere's Your Christmas" go head-to-head with The Big Fella's favourite boy? One of Tim's bulletins is hopeful. So Punk Aid has as good a chance as any - as attested by William Hill's recent odds of 50/1 on our success On the other hand, we're up against some stiff competition. East Anglia's (and everybody else's) darlings The Darkness are contenders There are all the Fame Academy androids. |
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