Depois de produzir um belo álbum em carreira solo, Peter Doherty, volta a compor e tocar com sua banda Babyshambles. Ontem a noite (19/11) eles tocaram em um clube de Londres incluindo músicas novas no setlist e começando o show com o cover da belíssima Kinky Afro do Happy Mondays, deve ter ficado muito boa essa versão, procurei no YouTube mas não encontrei, vamos ver se entra nos próximos dias. Enquanto isso ficamos com a verão original do Happy Mondays de 1990, e um shozinho bem intimista do Baby em Londres também.

Veja a lista de todas as músicas que rolaram no show do Kingston McClusky, em Londres:

‘Kinky Afro’
‘Carry On Up The Morning’
‘Delivery’
‘Beg, Steal Or Borrow’
‘Fireman’
‘Side Of The Road’
‘There She Goes (A Little Heartbreak)’
‘Stranger In My Own Skin’
‘Pipedown’
‘I Wish’
‘Pipey Magraw’
‘I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles’
‘UnBilotitled’
‘Killamangiro’
‘Time For Heroes’
‘Unstookietitled’
Untitled new song
‘Baddie’s Boogie’
‘Albion’
‘Fuck Forever’

Hello there,

this week we played a couple of gigs. The first was in Spitalfields at a place called The Luxe. Twas an adventure in itself just getting to the gig! We were picked up from Camberwell by our friend Dave Ashby from Rum Shebeen (great band) after a quick rehearsal at Mahood’s flat. Then we drove to Dave’s to pick up a guitar amp, then onwards to Penge to collect a bass amp for Alfie. The van kept pulling over to the left but we thought nothing of it until we arrived in Penge, only to be told by a local man in beige and graduated tint glasses that we had a catastrophic puncture. So once more into the breach, we all piled into Dave’s Mum’s Fiat and off we set for Spitalfields. The gig itself was okay and it was good to see a few familiar faces, thanks guys!

The next day was much more straightforward. We were playing with Babyshambles at the Dirty South in Lewisham. It was an excellent gig, we played well and I managed to give away all of the Gaoler’s Daughter Badges I’d taken with me. If you want one yourself, get yourself to a gig and pester us! Had to un-invite people though as the gig was completely sold out the day before, so sorry if you didn’t get in. The guys in Babyshambles played a blinder, as did The Thirst, who we’ve always thought were excellent. Afterwards I had to drive back to Brighton for Uni the next day with my Sister, and so felt it only fair to buy chicken from my favourite chicken shop; Amir’s Fried Chicken in New Cross (once i only had 75p, i was drunk and tired and hungry and gave him the ‘I need chicken’ eyes, and he gave me chips and 5 hot wings! This is one of my best chicken based anecdotes)

Anyways, E.P is only a couple of weeks away from release so that’s very exciting. The second E.P is in the pipeline, having already been recorded, and yesterday sent away for mastering. So it’s all moving along nicely!

see you soon

Gaolers Daughter x

I spent this afternoon at a friend’s party to celebrate the publication of her book. The do was at The Rosemary Branch in Islington, in one of those parts of London where poverty and riches lie side by side as in a Dickens novel.

While fetching drinks in the downstairs bar a scruffy young sod ambled in. It was Pete Doherty.

The first thing that I noticed was his height. He is a six footer. I am only 5′7″ so he dwarfed me.

Then I noticed the tattoos on his neck. Not a good look, Peter.

His hair hadn’t been washed for a few days. I cannot claim the moral high ground on that – when I was 18 I didn’t wash my hair for six months.

Making my way back upstairs he was blocking my way. Whichever way I went he followed. Knowing that everybody was looking at him, Doherty put on a performance. It was like the scene in the Marx Brothers’ Duck Soup when Harpo copies Groucho’s moves exactly until they eventually collide.

Doherty asked “Which way are you going mate?” and then finally I was able to pass.

So that is how I “met” Pete Doherty on a Sunday afternoon in north London. I am not a great fan of his music – Carl Barât was the brains in The Libertines, I reckon. And as far as cocky young musicians go, Johnny Borrell of Razorlight is for me the best. He likes cricket, which is always the sign of a gentleman.

My friend Ann Tilyer’s book is called An A-Z of Possible Worlds. It is a collection of 26 short stories presented in a box.

It is great. Please buy it.

From a gig back in October

Check out the full review here

Ta opowieść powinna się kończyć tak, jak zaczyna się teledysk. Smutna, mokra, pieprzona jesień. Obskurne kino – bardziej Krosno niż Londyn. Ciemne i siwe od dymu przestrzenie. Gdzieś w kącie, przy stoliku, otoczona fanami siedzi była gwiazda podkarpackiego rock’n'rolla, której sława docierała nawet do Rzeszowa. Twarz ma spuchniętą od wódki, ale mówi składnie. Opowiada o koncercie w Lesku, w osiemdziesiątym siódmym, kiedy do klubu Zenit wpadli milicjanci ze skinheadami. Bijatyka, jakiej Bieszczady wcześniej, ani później nie widziały.

Od tego stolika wstaje w tym momencie młody mężczyzna. Kamera podąża przed nim. Robi kilka kroków, z nieobecnym spojrzeniem idzie w kierunku małej, okratowanej dziury w ścianie. Po drugiej stronie siedzi ona. Ma pewnie dwadzieścia, dwadzieścia trzy lata, ondulowane włosy do ramion, zbyt czerwoną szminkę i mało niebieskie oczy. Pyta go, w czym może pomóc. On mówi, że nie wie.

Tak naprawdę się znają. Przed miesiącem wrócili ze wspólnej wyprawy po Europie. Kupionym za trzy tysiące volkswagenem golfem przejechali cały kontynent. Spali na stacjach benzynowych, jedli w barach szybkiej obsługi i makdonaldach, kochali się, pili albańskie wina i portugalskie rumy. Nie odbierali telefonów ani nie sprawdzali poczty.

Na hiszpańskiej autostradzie, gdzieś między Grenadą a Caceres, w suchości lata i czerdziestostopniowym upale, 21 sierpnia 2006 roku stało się to, co rozpoczyna tę opowieść. A śmierdzące kino w Sanoku i nieobecne oczy tego chłopaka są na samym końcu.

Uma das bandas que nasceram com o fim do The Libertines, mais agitada que o Yeti, banda terminou em 2008 mas vale a pena conferir o som.

Faixas do álbum:

1. Deadwood

2. Doctors and Dealers

3. Bang Bang You’re Dead

4. Blood Thirsty Bastards

5. The Gentry Cove

6. Gin & Milk

7. The Enemy

8. If You Love a Woman

9. You Fucking Love It

10. Wondering

11. Last of the Small Town Playboys

12. B.U.R.M.A.

LINK – Waterloo To Anywhere

Parece com? The Libertines, Babyshambles, Yeti, The View.

Vídeo com a música Bang Bang You’re Dead.

Enjoy o/

Yes, it matters.  If you were to — as I did — just preview Doherty’s solo album via the iTunes 30-second snippets, you might hear the notoriously dissolute Libertine and Babyshambler in the Kinks-influenced guise all British rock stars at some point don — part music hall showman, part busker — and be tempted to pass.  It was only with the arrival of the December Uncut and its boss interview with Blur guitar genius Graham Coxon that we learned he’s the axeman on it.  And of course, when you hear a song like “Palace and Bone” it all comes clear, and it is pretty wondrous.

I didn’t succumb to the charms of Coxon’s folk album, The Spinning Top.  I want to hear him play those weird, twisted tunings like “Song 2″ all the livelong day, not an update of Bert Jansch.  I want his solo albums to be like Happiness in Magazines, the best British Powerpop album of 1979, even if it was released in like 2004. On Pete Doherty’s “Grace/Wasteland”, Coxon’s able to shine the light on both sides of his musical personality, the rough and raw and the fey and magical, gloriously twisted in both camps.

Admission: Tulip Frenzy ranked Babyshambles’ Shotters Nation one of the best albums of 2007, and the resistance to Doherty’s solo album was a reluctance to commit, to take a leap of faith.  It took the knowledge that Graham Coxon — perhaps the most brilliant guitarist between Nels Cline and the White Cliffs of Dover — was standing there on that Albion precipice to get us to jump.  Thank Heaven we did.  An eye opener, and ear pleaser, this one is.

If I haven’t taken too much time from the world of RKC, here is the print Ficek will have on t shirts for the November tour avec Peter Doherty, check out Adam’s sites for more and come and say hello if you see me in any of these destinations….

www.roseskingscastles.com

www.myspace.com/roseskingscastles

22 Nov 2009 20:00 Utrecht – Tivoli Utrecht

23 Nov 2009 20:00 Rotterdam, Watt Rotterdam

24 Nov 2009 20:00 Einghoven, Effenaar Einghoven

25 Nov 2009 20:00 Cafe Central Brussels

26 Nov 2009 20:00 Antwerp – Trix Hall Antwerp

27 Nov 2009 20:00 Cafe Kairo Bern

29 Nov 2009 20:00 Munich, Backstage Werk Munich

30 Nov 2009 20:00 Cologne – Essigfabrik Cologne

1 Dec 2009 20:00 Hamburg – Uebel and Gefaehrlich Hamburg

2 Dec 2009 20:00 Berlin – Kesselhaus Berlin

4 Dec 2009 20:00 Stockholm – Debaser Medis Stockholm

5 Dec 2009 20:00 Malmo – KB Malmo

6 Dec 2009 20:00 Oslo, Rockefeller Oslo

So off to Scotland, Ogidan in tow….

First stop off the train ‘Traditional Local food’ should have known not to expect too much as it’s 1 min from the station, the tourist trap. In we go, microwave hell!

Catch, or at least try to catch a few zzzz at the hotel to no avail.  Tonight I’m playing the caves, it turns out to be one of the best venues I have ever played, it  literally is a hollowed out cave or so I’d like to think. The accoustics in the room are unbelievably. I always get scared when the support is a folkster, these chaps normally have top skillz on both the guitar front and the singing. (will find the name of the support – please excuse)  Anyway this guy was amazing, still waiting for him to send me his stuff.

The gig wasn’t packed but nothing really mattered in that room, I would have been content just singing and playing to myself and the cave walls, I will definitely go back here.

From there we wandered across the road into the local pub, a little unfriendly to start but ended up with one of our entourage helping out in a brawl. Can’t comment for legal reasons! I remember lots of apple flavour shots the rest is ??

Next stop was Glasgow, I love Glasgow, the grit and the twists and the turns it holds. But…….Last time I had an RKC here I played ‘Captain’s rest’ this venue is perfect, I knew it would take some beating.

Perhaps I’m being over sensitive but it was decided that a band would go on before me, if you’ve read my moanings on here before then you’ll know I’m not a fan of going on after bands, it’s the sonic environment and energy it creates. It’s very hard to compete with as a folkypoppy tone. Unless you have a catalogue of known songs or a media presence, it’s a grim challenge. It just felt wrong.

The other band grudge I do sometimes have is that lots of bands hide behind the power of the ensemble, loads of energy but no songs, when I’m up there I can’t rifferama or pull some fancy but louds fills, it’s all about songs when playing accoustically! Not a bad or a good thing, just an observation!

So glasgow this time didn’t really go off. Weren’t in the mood for a knees up but headed to nice and sleazys which was rammed packed so off to bed for me, picked up the worst pie I have ever had on route, bad choice, OG came to the rescue with noodles.

Off back to London, was supposed to be playing Ipswich that night but the venue had again put me on after two energetic bands, we always specifically send out emails pleading…..So I put my foot down like a sulky teenager!

Also had a Herts solo show pulled, they contacted saying that the tickets are slow, and not wanting to lose dollar they wanted to pull it. The next day they called back after a big press piece went out, it seems it was suddenly going to be busy…bit late says I, either commit or don’t.  Am getting a bit harder in this self managerial role.  Give em an inch and all that, any how it’s rescheduled for the new year.

Few days off, resting, well…..

Babyshambles time, a week of getting the ship back on course. I spent the week in the country with the band working on new stuff and entering the first phase of our 3rd album. It feels great to be digging back into it. Everyone’s had a chance to do their own thing for a while so it feels refreshed and rejuvenated. We listed about 25 songs to work on and we’ll probably write another 10 so there’s loads of weeding to be done. It’s all taking shape nicely, I don’t want to temp fate with a release date but we’re working towards a summer 2010 completion. The plan is to fine tune 10 songs at a time then demo them hopefully with Stephen Street again

So now, here, I’m in Milan, hold on I forgot to mention my RKC solo in Guildford, after a hectic day of rehearsals I squeezed in a lovely little accoustic set in Guildford. After the last Glasgow show I was feeling a little weary but this venue reinstalled my faith, the perfect environment, fairy lights and a warm listening crowd.

So Milan.. had a ‘record playing’ booking last night – still loathe to use the word DJ as the term is now used by the masses, especially in London, as a poor excuse attempt of being a performer of sorts. I do ‘DJ’ in certain environments (which involves pitch and beat mixing, and generally being creative with the weaving song forms) Last night I played the role of ‘record choosing’ which is also fine but ‘record choosing’ is not an art. Anyone can ‘record choose’ I do it well but it’s not like learning to play the piano!  I’ve ‘record chose’ since the ripe old age of 16, back in my hustling days it was my only source of income so I know how to please crowds. The club was wickedio but I got stung on a massive cab journey to the airport which practically wiped my fee out! oh well, we live and learn, off I go to Brussells.

Here I am in Brussells, it seems I have landed in the ‘other’ Brussells airport to the one the promoter is meeting me at! Sod’s law, oh bugger!

Was going to train it but the promoter is being a diamond and coming here for me.  I reckon tonight’s going to be ’stonking’ am playing some tunes with Paul Gallagher so it should get messy.

Am running out of things to talk about….er, I bought a new washing machine last week, the old one wasn’t cleaning and all my wool wear came out with some kind of tissue embellishment, I blame the previous owner.

Oh here’s something funny, was flicking through the mags at the airport, actually no, no more moaning about young famous people’s kids dressing in charity shop attire. lower working class chic without the struggle? This chip sometimes takes over, I’ve repressed it for now though…it tends to shine on twitter more so, had a run in with the Fly mag the other day, tweeting about the traditional Babyshambles topic, bit rude to us all I felt, but alas no one came forward to justify when challenged. I’m sure any subsequent music I release will now get an anonimous kick in. Got to stand up for what’s right sometimes even if it makes enemies of the ‘Roman Empire’ of music reviewers.

Anyway are the Posties still out?

I was a postman for a while.

FPOTP = Moscow – Orange Juice

It’s raining here but I like Belgium, good bit of beef in Belgium.

Coming weeks we got…Me solo in Cardiff, me solo in Nottingham then hitting the European road solo with Peter, I might use an electric with some pedals to spice it up a bit, who knows, you might get lucky or unlucky. Will bring a ton of merch to make ends meet. keep an eyeball on the myspace.com/roseskingscastles, if anyone fancies doing a bit of street teaming on the europa dates grab me on the mysp or face book or twittski.

Christmas solo London show (me) being announced shortly. Bettsy Trotwood late Dec with Tommy Williams and his boats. Ogidan will dress up as santa and invite you into his grotto. Followed by another repeat of the last London outing back at Ogidan’s bar.

See you later…..

PS. Roses 2nd Album all done as you know, it’s out in Feb, waiting to build the sizzle on the recent ep still. 2010 Roses Kings Castles ‘Suburban Time Bomb’, Babyshambles III, RKCTVP and perhaps sneak in an Adam Ficek solo ep towards the end, am thinking 100 only to chums and gang members.

Excuse the PS. I’m back.

Am now Eurostaring back to London, last night was bonkers, It went off like a Tyson clump. It’s always these smaller but buzzed up places that surprise me!

I’m definately coming back for ‘Hindu timesII’  in the future. Don’t want to sound like a ‘London Polyester smiler’ but everyone I met last night was top dollar, real bunch of no bullshit chaps and chappesses.

This red wine on the Eurostar needs some attention!

As I have some time to kill til Kings cross thought I’d share some insight into the RKC trail/struggle/fight against nob eds.

It’s been a year or so now since the first album release and loads of things have changed. My biggest problem is working out how to place the live thing, I played all the instruments on the first album and a great deal of them of subsequent recordings(Ep and Suburban time bombs) am now faced with trying to work out a way to perform the songs to the best of my ability and resources. The most enjoyable shows I do are the ones where people are used to listening to accoustic acts, leaning towards the folky type venues. This is great but I’ve never really been that comfortable with the folk tag, I see my stuff as more indie pop but being performed in a stripped down fashion. I think the problem with some of the ‘folk’ tagggers is that they take themselves far too seriously. also the term ‘folk’ is a bit dated now and no longer relates to what was essential music of the people, this whole new folk thing happening now seems to be have a real exclusive middle class snobbery attached to it, maybe it’s that insecure chip taking over my mind again…I think perhaps the term ‘folk’ is more consistent with the sonic environment rather than the ethos?

In my opinion the closest thing to localised ‘Urban’ folk is probably the music and ethos that the estate kids and grimesters are making. It reminds me of how jazz changed from the 60’s as being a real popular inclusive art form into the schooled ‘high brow’ exclusive music type it is today.  I studied a bit of jazz and it’s development and used to love the freedom that improvisation held but the place I studied at drained me of any excitement and energy I had for it due to it’s one upmanship snobbery….

To conclude it might sound odd but a band like ‘Oasis’ are far more folk than ‘Laura Marling’ can ever be, in regards to ethos and creating a sense of community and social commentary.

Where was I, RKC live, right, as I said in the previous blog I’m looking to push the live forward, I’ll probably start going out with a semi accoustic and a few pedals to give me some different sounds, and perhaps in the future RKC will be an ensemble and I’ll do the Adam Ficek solo thing. I’m at a bit of a cross roads musically at the moment, I can write loads of songs in the style of my first 2 albums, but It’s important for me and any artist to try and push things along to open up other areas, looking back I do feel that some of the music I’ve written is far to melodic and slightly lacking in the swagger side of things so that’s what I’m moving towards. I personally think that it has to be a bit dirty and at the moment that dirt comes from the words, my next set of songs whatever release they get be it Adam Ficek solo, RKCIII, or Babyshambles will be much tougher with more restraint on the melodic content.

So that’s where I’m at, if you think this is all a load of balls, please email               Ogidan@Icouldntgiveaflyingmonkeys.com

aaahhh back in Blighty.

Many thanks to Clare Sinclair for her review of Adam’s gig up in Scotland a couple of weeks ago

Check it out here

The Only Ones - Photo : D.R.

Dommage collatéral de la scène punk londonienne, les Only Ones reviennent à Paris (cet article a été écrit le 10 juin 2009), vingt-sept ans exactement après leur explosion en vol. C’est au Trabendo que ça se passe, pour une seule date et un Peter Perrett physiquement au plus bas. Et musicalement ? C’était le pied, mais on a peur qu’après trente ans à lutter contre ses addictions, Perrett ne tienne pas bien longtemps.

a

« Vous avez pas des invites en rab ? », me demande un petit chauve, les yeux globuleux et un peu trop rouges pour être tout à fait clean, devant l’entrée du Trabendo. Je fais signe que non, et il rajoute « dommage, c’est vraiment une chance de pouvoir les voir ce soir ». Encore un qui va raquer, mais il est loin d’avoir tort. Les Only Ones sont, comme qui dirait, plus proches de la fin que du début et ce soir, c’est la seule date parisienne de leur nano-tournée. La moyenne d’âge du groupe frôle la soixantaine et, comme Peter Perrett (le chanteur) me l’avait confié la première fois que nous nous sommes rencontrés, « c’est un miracle que je sois encore en vie aujourd’hui ».

Depuis 2005 et le jour où j’ai mis la main sur leur premier album, les Only Ones sont devenus une quasi-obsession. A l’époque, je les avais tout à fait légitimement qualifiés de comètes : trois albums et puis s’en vont. Seulement, là où je me fourrais le doigt dans l’œil, c’est que leur trajectoire allait former une longue ellipse, et les revoilà, vingt-sept ans plus tard, dans une petite salle paumée près de la Villette. Au moment où ils débarquent sur scène, le public comprend : Peter Perrett est aussi blanc que sa Stratocaster, squelettique, minuscule (il m’a même juré avoir perdu onze centimètres de colonne vertébrale pendant ses années noires) et sa démarche est vacillante. John Perry (guitare), de son côté, a bien doublé de volume. Mike Kellie (batterie) et Alan Mair (basse) n’ont presque pas changé. Perrett s’avance, remercie son maigre peuple de s’être déplacé. Son brushing est parfait et ses lunettes noires rigoureusement opaques. Il est physiquement au plus bas, mais il dégage toujours quelque chose que je ne saurais expliquer, et je ne suis même pas sûr de vouloir en être capable.

Je suis un mec égoïste

Être fan des Only Ones, c’est peut-être le trip le plus égoïste qui puisse animer un mélomane ; un peu comme le gouter avalé en loucedé à la récré quand les copains crèvent la dalle. En 1977, l’une des années les plus prolifiques du rock, sortirent les premiers albums des Clash, des Pistols, des Jam, Stranglers, Television, ou encore Wire : des albums majeurs, suivis de très près dans le temps par The Only Ones, resté très confidentiel. Mike Kellie m’avait confié qu’à l’époque, le groupe « baignait dans l’impression que l’engouement autour de [lui] était beaucoup plus faible » par rapport à d’autres. Musicalement, les Only Ones ont été parmi les plus aventureux de la scène punk londonienne, si bien que certains se refusaient à leur coller cette étiquette. Pourtant, tout concorde : moins de profusion, plus de brièveté, une rage brute dans les textes. Ils faisaient peur car savaient se servir correctement de leurs instruments. Et vint l’explosion en vol, une histoire de dope et d’égos pendant leur tournée nord-américaine de 1980. « On aurait pu énormes, mais on a tout foiré en route », m’avait concédé Peter Perrett, avec son accent cockney. Et voilà ce groupe aujourd’hui oublié, toujours sous-estimé, qui se réforme et joue devant une centaine de personnes, pas plus. Du premier rang je n’ai qu’à tendre le bras pour atteindre Perrett. En eut-il été de même à Bercy ou au Zénith, s’ils avaient eu la carrière qu’ils méritaient ? J’en viendrais presque à remercier les drogues, les égos et finalement leur séparation, car d’une part les Only Ones ne seraient pas aujourd’hui le groupe le plus mésestimé de l’histoire, mais ils ont également échappé dans ce cas précis au caractère inéluctable de l’érosion.

Car s’il est une muse à Peter Perrett, c’est la drogue. Une seule occurrence du mot « héroïne » (juste pour dire aux kids « don’t touch heroin, it’ll fuck you up » dans The Beast), aucune de « drogue » dans ses textes : tout est métaphore et paraphrase. Another Girl, Another Planet, seul véritable hit des Only Ones est, derrière ses airs de soundtrack d’American Pie, une ode à la défonce et une déclaration d’amour à la dope : « long journeys wear me out / but I know I can’t live without it » (« les longs voyages m’épuisent, mais je le sais, je ne peux vivre sans ça »). Dans Miles From Nowhere, Perrett, de sa voix spectrale et nasillarde, balance froidement « if you ever start thinking what you’re doing to me / maybe you will set me free  » (« si tu commençais à penser à ce que tu me fais / peut-être me libérerais-tu »).

Culpabilité, ouais

Dès la première note de la première chanson, une image s’impose : trente ans après, ces quatre mecs prennent un pied monstre à rejouer ensemble. Kellie et Mair se lancent des regards complices. John Perry, guitar-hero toujours nonchalant, attaque très fort sur The Beast, sa cigarette fixée grâce aux cordes en haut du manche de sa Stratocaster. Dans le public, beaucoup prennent des photos et ma voisine de droite filme l’intégralité du concert (je n’ai jamais compris ce réflexe, n’ai jamais pris la moindre photo ou vidéo en live, mais cette fois j’hésitai : je ne les reverrai peut-être plus). Âge moyen : 35 ans. Du cadre sup’ en costard, à la fille tout droit sortie du lycée (c’est elle qui fait joujou avec son appareil photo) en passant par le dandy de caniveau déchu, la composition du public est assez hétérogène.

En plein milieu d’Another Girl, Another Planet, qui est censé être le climax incontestable de la soirée, un sentiment épouvantable m’envahit, de ceux qui s’imposent à vous mais qu’il faut quelques instants pour déchiffrer. Culpabilité, honte, ou quelque chose d’assez voisin. Tout le monde saute chante et jubile et moi j’ai une crise d’angoisse, ce mec est mon idole et je suis peut-être en train de le tuer. A ce moment précis, tout mon cynisme a foutu le camp, et je ne pense qu’à un seul truc : ce mec (Peter Perrett) est si mal en point que son bras droit manque de se désolidariser à chaque riff, il se prend un shoot de ventoline toutes les deux ou trois chansons, se plaint de douleurs au poignet, et chante comme s’il avait un cathéter planté au milieu de la gorge. Il a même fait une infection pulmonaire après l’enregistrement de l’émission « l’Album de la semaine » pour Canal +. Et c’est pour moi, petit fan lambda, que ce type est ici, pas même pour promouvoir un quelconque album (ils n’en sortiront pas avant la fin de l’année), alors j’ai envie de tout arrêter, de me casser, pour ne pas assister à la mort d’un de mes héros en direct. Il me faudra une bonne dizaine de minutes pour m’en remettre.

“Tu le maintiens en vie, en fait”

Pour preuve, lors de l’encore, Peter Perrett s’adresse à l’audience « what last song do you want us to play ? ». Un péquenaud (moi), crie Miles From Nowhere, qu’ils n’avaient pas encore joué. Blanc. Perrett zieute sa Stratocaster et tourne son poignet. Alan Mair prend le micro, me regarde droit dans les yeux et annonce avec son accent écossais à couper au couteau « Peter’s wrist won’t make it for Miles… » (le poignet de Peter ne va pas tenir pour Miles…) coupé par Perrett qui commence à jouer. La tête lutte avec les bras, les poumons, la gorge et les jambes. Fragile, c’est le mot. Mais la tête gagne et Alan Mair met dans la foulée une grosse raclée à sa basse.

Je rentre chez moi, je suis retourné. Je croise Jamie Perrett (ex-Babyshambles et fils de Peter) sur Facebook. On discute et je lui explique mon expérience, il me rassure : « non, tu n’étais pas en train de le tuer, mais au contraire tu le maintiens en vie. Il préfère jouer pendant encore cinq ou six ans plutôt que de ne rien faire et pourrir chez lui pour les vingt prochaines années ». Avant de conclure, « mais c’est sympa de t’inquiéter, je crois que même lui n’en a absolument rien à foutre ». Que dire de plus ?

Kerry “been dumped by Iceland and punched my accountant – allegedly” Katona, Pete “Babyshambles – what do you mean you ain’t heard of us” Doherty, Amy “following a long line of wasted talent down the popstar shitter” Winehouse. Need I say any more?

Look mum! I'm on TV!

Well, yes. The world would be better off without the media continually exposing people who are famous for being celebrity fuck-ups. Personally, I don’t find anything remotely entertaining about seeing yet another newspaper story about Pete Doherty’s latest drugs arrest with yet another photo of him with his ‘Crowman from Worzel Gummidge’ hair, druggie complexion and spivs clothes as he’s led into/away from court. I mean, if he’d been remotely famous for some truly excellent music then perhaps, perhaps, his misdemeanors would be worth reading about. Once or twice. Maybe. But mention Babyshambles and I can only imagine some crappy pink and neon nightclub in Essex full of slappers – the only reason I know there’s even a band called Babyshambles is because of headlines like “Pete Doherty – lead singer of Babyshambles – sent to Prison. Again”. Basically, the guy’s a waste of time and space. BANG – there he goes, tumbling headfirst, his hat flying off and his fags all snapped and soaked in his own piss as he lands head-first into my very own ROOM 101.

Look at ME! I'm back! Again...

…But his landing is cushioned by the gurning face of Kerry Katona. Let’s see – another ex pop ’star’ (allegedly) who’s screwed themselves up with drink and drugs (allegedly) lost weight, gained weight, lost weight again (allegedly), relaunched career several times only to fuck themselves up again (allegedly) and punch (allegedly) their own accountant in the face (allegedly) – probably the last person you want to take it out on when you owe a bunch of cash to the inland revenue (allegedly). So desperate for cash (allegedly) that I and other commentators had better use ‘(allegedly)’ to make it clear that we’re only reporting allegations, and therefore not open to being screwed by any ‘no win – no fee’ type company. (allegedly).

"Fame! I wanna live 'til Tuesday! Light up my pipe with a flame.. FAME!"

Amy. Amy Amy Amy. Please, someone, buy her a nice coffee-table book for Christmas called ‘The Lives and Deaths of Rockstars Who Had it All But Pissed it, and Themselves, Away’. Surely she’s heard of Hendrix? For Pete’s sake (not Doherty… he’s probably beyond all help by now) do something original. Just because you’re a pop star doesn’t mean you have to fuck yourself up – do something original instead. Or, y’know, you’ll end up spending eternity in some cosmic ROOM 101 with Katona, Doherty and a hundred and one other celebrity fuck-ups. Allegedly.

GZS

a list of my current addictions this October..

M.I.A.
I love her style and her music… and I swear if i’ll be preggy (which probably will not happen, but if in the case that i do..) i’ll dress up like this lady

Kate and Pete
i know this is soooo 2007.. but i obviously can’t get over it.

versus Kate and Jamie
they look good together too, but i’m really a sucker for Pete Doherty

Garibay’s Art
i am also currently addicted to Emmanuel Garibay’s art and plan to own one someday. I am currently doing a lot of research about artists and galleries and his art is consigned
e v e r y w h e r e.

The couple I look up to,
Rachel Zoe and Rodger.
I admire how they worked their way up the ladder.

BLACK
It might be because i am mourning, but I somehow managed to love wearing black lately.
sometimes too much actually

SAVING and CARDING

cos I’m planning another trip
cos I miss  s o m e o n e

^_^

Musical Rooms has five pairs of tickets to give away to see Roses Kings Castles, the “quixotic pop project” of Adam Ficek, whose day job is as drummer in Pete Doherty’s band Babyshambles. The gig takes place at Whelan’s, this Thursday, October 8th. To be in with a chance to win, just answer the following question and leave your answer in the comments below.

What instrument does Adam Ficek play in Babyshambles?

Tickets for the gig are €12.00 plus booking fee from WAV Box-Office (Lo-Call 1890 200 078), City Discs, www.tickets.ie and Ticketmaster outlets nationwide. Doors are 7.30pm and there will be a support act.

Link: Roses Kings Castles on Myspace

1) Kim Kashkashian playing Hindemith’s viola sonatas. This is just one example; the rest are equally amazing.

2) “We Are Marching in the Light of God”–I spent the weekend hanging out at the church in West Philly where I’m doing fieldwork and sang this at a choir rehearsal on Friday.  The church’s version was, of course, more awesome.  Imagine this with gospel instrumentation and a touch step.

3) Babyshambles, “Pentonville.” I can never quite figure out what’s going on with the patois here–whether it’s a guest artist or what.  I don’t know how well it sits with me; but here’s the song, as it’s stuck in my head.

4) The Wailin’ Jennys, “The Parting Glass.” I am trying to bring back the custom of singing this at parties, starting with the one I attended on Friday night.  Mark my words, it will return.  This version isn’t quite the one you’d want to sing in a social setting, but it’s still nice to listen to.

Concert qui à priori avait tout pour être exécrable, placement des spectateurs en places assises dans le grand odditorium du Palais des Festival de Cannes, un public ayant une moyenne d’age de 16 ans à majorité féminine lâchant leur soutien gorge pour leur pseudo-idole Pete Doherty.

Le concert commence très bien, un Pete présent et dans un état quasi sobre, il a réussi a et chanter et jouer de la guitare. Une rareté bien apprécié par le public. Ou du moins en minorité, à part les tubes diffusés à la radio (Delivery, You Talk et Fuck Forever), les “fans” ont arrêté toute reaction face à la musique, à croire qu’on était la pour la forme et non plus pour le fond. L’apogée est à son plein lorsque le groupe reprend le collector What Katie Did des Libertines qui a laissé perplexe les petites pimbêches que l’on a entendu s’exprimer  “attends c’est quoi ce truc qui nous chante la?” . No comment.

Le concert bat son plein lorsque Pete, plein de bonne volonté a voulu mettre de l’ambiance dans ce public endormi et a invité les fan à monter sur scène, environ 15O ont répondu à l’appel et le concert s’est transformé en joyeuse émeute laissant sur la touche les 3 agents de sécurité se retrouvant débordés. Une tuerie. Le concert est menacé d’être annulé mais la bande revient pour deux derniers titres avant de tirer leur révérence définitivement.

Bilan: un concert “court” dû a une set-liste inachevée, un son désastreux mais une super ambiance sur scène et une prestation du groupe très positive qui rehausse le niveau de la soirée. De plus, un groupe jouant le jeu au maximum à signer des autographes et prises de photos avec les fans.

her er noen flere tips til band/artister som er verd å ta en titt på:

- Fjorden Baby! (lokalt Bergensband)
- Kaizers Orchestra
- The Dead Weather (Jack White sitt band med flere kjente medlemmer)
- A Fine Frenzy, rolig men det jeg har hørt er bra etter min mening
- Lily Allen, det nye albumet
- Muse, de kommer nå snart ut med nytt album, hvis jeg ikke tar feil
- Babyshambles, albumet “Shotters Nation” var bedre enn forventet

og for de som liker nice pop, er det jo alltids Rihanna, Lady Gaga og Britney Spears, som endelig har kommet seg opp fra asken

Finally, Doherty does something decent.

Depois de uma das separações mais triste do mundo da música, o que era The Libertines…

virou Dirty Pretty Things

e também virou o Babyshambles

só que alguns meses atras eles fizeram o seguinte clipe juntos…

…e ai fica a pergunta… what now?

It’s been a while I know, I’ve been a busy bee though, what with baby birth, Peter shows, babyshambles shows, RKC shows, Adam ficek shows, DJismz, house moving, remixing, getting my lips done.

Anyway I’m sure you’ll understand. I’m currently flying to Dublin for a solo show in Whelans, Ryanair is as impressive as always.

So forgive me if this blog doesn’t run in any coherent chronological order.

The past few days have been ace, been all over France supporting Peter, and then playing drums in the backing band with Graham Coxon, Drew, Stephen Street and some great string players, cor, what I’d give to have that opportunity to perform with such a rich musical backing. One day!  The shows were far more organised than our babyshambles shindigs, set lists, sound checks and all that grown up stuff, these shows have really raised the game so us Babyshambles are gonna have to step up to the mark.  The sets have been much longer also, some nights playing up to 2 hour shows, for me it’s a really versatile experience starting with me playing guitar and singing then percussively I get to use beaters, Brushes and sticks. It’s like being in an orchestra, very ‘musical’.  The key to all these performances has been Stephen Street without him none of these shows would have been as high calibre.

It’s been great watching and listening to Graham’s stuff, he goes on after me (RKC) playing songs mainly from his recent album ‘Spinning top’ , some top class playing there. So glad I go on before him, my guitar playing can best be described as adequate!’

These French shows were the last ones of Peter’s solo tour as a band so it’s on to Babyshambles now. We finished in paris playing the ‘Zenith’ a massive bunker like place holding about 6000 people, I was on first then Dot Allison, followed by Graham, and his band, I hadn’t seen Graham and his band before, was blown away, great players. We all then joined up for the Peter show which was good, not the best we had played on the tour but still good fun. Although it got off to bad start with us all going on to a dark stage with a song still being played over the speakers, we normally go onto the sample of ‘English Roses’ then the the lights get set but unfortunately it all went wobbly in the biggest venue we play, sod’s law really! 

We pulled it off and began the celebrations, about 4 glasses of champagne/few lagers/drop of wine in, I remembered I had another show down the road in a hotel bar below a hostel. oops! I was a bit drunk but i couldn’t get out of it. I can’t remember playing much but I’m sure it was a funny one. Bed time, not so fast! I had all the intentions of getting myself to bed to prepare for the manic week ahead, next thing I’m a fashion party in a flash club in Paris. I don’t really feel that comforatble in these type of places, I know it’s supposed to be something to aspire to in the ‘rockstar world’ but it all feels a little synthetic, all these places like the flash bars of London don’t really do it for me. It doesn’t help with this working class chip on me shoulder. Ya ya ya ya…

So that was France, forgot to mention, I also had a little solo show and radio sesh in Paris, they were fun, will post some links when I find them. 

generally on this tour I’ve been playing stuff from my new album, released next year, it’s all mastered and ready to go but I didn’t get the press I wanted on the last ep ‘apples & engines’ so decided to wait until the press gets moving. It’s a funny old game PR, will save that one for another time! So yeah, RKCII ‘Suburban timb bombs’ in the new year, I think there’s a plan to release a single before christmas but not quite sure at the mo.

Am now on route home from Dublin same Ryanair experience, it’s bumpy up here!  last night’s show was top, a good turnout and it feels as though my performance is getting better all the time, the room was perfect for vocals, loads of space to resonate. Had a nice chat with the staff there, it’s refreshing to find people passionate about the music they book. I find it so reaffirming to meet people in this industry who are driven by the art not the dough. I also had another ‘Phantom Fm’ radio session (if you live in Ireland, you’ll know it as the best alternative music station) and ‘balcony TV’  which is always amusing! 

Back to the ‘previous month’ blog.

V Festival – well this was a manic one for me. For the past few months I have had my fingers crossed that the pending birth wouldn’t arrive on one of my live dates!  obviously these things can’t be planned but….If I can just get the V fessie done I’m home and dry, alas, the day of the first show, we have movement!  No sleep that night, in the middle of labour and I have to play V festival in Essex, what can a poor man do, I have two choices, call up the gang and tell them i can’t play or keep my fingers crossed zoom to the show and back, I chose the latter and lady luck smiled, during ‘Time for Heroes’ I looked down to my phone under my low tom and the phone was ringing! Shit!  OFF STAGE, IN CAR, GET TO HOSPITAL. All was well and 6 hours later we had a boy.  the next day was a bit of a blur as the sleep deprivation was kicking in. I don’t know how I got to staffordshire but I did and played a show, I remember Amy Winehouse being there or was that the night before??

I became a father in the middle of V, a story to tell when we’re older. Since then we have had loads of other shows, let me open my memory, Babyshambles Cannes.

This was an interesting show, Cannes is not the typical place a band such as us would be invited!  We flew in a day early to get some rest and the explore the city, it’s a cross between Bond St and Bognor, althugh the beaches are somewhat more golden. It’s generally quite flashy but we did manage to discover some grittier places. The venue was a fairly modern theatre, which was all seated. As soon as I saw the stage I knew it would be invaded. The security were warned but they bragged about how ‘Iggy Pop’ was there the week earlier and they knew about ‘Rock n Roll’, ha, we’ll see. Insurance, I thought.

The show started and it was a little sterile the all seated thing always tends to be more difficult.  I knew it wouldn’t be long until the crowd were on the stage, obviously being a band that, ‘purposely speed up and slow down the music to whip up the crowd into a frenzy’ it was inevitable. Peter started Bollywood to Battersea and gestured the crowd to come on, so I naturally sped up the pace to try and get some energy out there, it all worked the kids were on. Just like the old days security getting bamboozled and mania on stage, it always gets nasty when security’s ego’s get knocked they tend to take it out on the poor indie kids. I could see some wallopings going on! But all credit to the Cannes fans they were on and they weren’t getting off, we were all surrounded, what else could I do but give out some sticks and invite the stage invaders to partake in a helping me drum. Lost loads of sticks, in fact all of the sticks but it was grand. We then all came off got a warning and were allowed to go on for one more song, after a quick plea to the crowd for my sticks back we went and finsihed the set. A glorious, well needed moment. We spent the night on a beach where a member of our gang went swimming in pants, lost pants, almost got arrested!

Next up, some RKC stuff, Brighton was the first musical thing I had done since the hospital, twas a wobbly one, some bright spark put a band on before me, why oh why, unless you have hits and media I find it so diffiut to compete with the sonic levels of a band. It’s so inappropriate. some people. 

The saviour of my RKC stuff was an amazing little outing to Portsmouth, I didn’t expect the place to be such a hub of musical appreciation but to my surprise ‘The Cellars’ in Portsmouth is now one of my favourite places. If you want to go and watch real music get yourself down there.

That was then, this is now, on a train to Edinburgh for a show in the caves then onto Glasgow. Had a day off yesterday! well needed, it’s a bit manic as Peter’s been quite ill but he looks on the mend so all seems well. Played Southampton the other day, and a good turnout of old faces and a couple of angry girls at the front calling me a ‘dick head’, I only asked them to settle down as they were fidgetting about, they settled down then realised that they should have perhaps put up a bit of a fight. ‘Shut your stupid little mouth’ can come in sooo handy at times.

Won’t bore you all with the manic amount of ‘Ficek DJ skillz’ sets but there’s been quite a few, been getting into loads of new tunage, currently digging the whole Mike Snow, passion pit, temper trap tang. It’s growing on my guitaresque tastes.

Want to create another ‘ElectrindieII’ but need more time.

As you can see I have been a busy bee. 

The next move for me is to start getting the babyshambles wagon moving and to make sure my second Roses Kings Castles album gets the attention it deserves. it’s all finished and mastered now, just tweaking the artwork, it’ll be out in Feb latest. It’s an odd thing when writing music, I don’t like to leave the songs sitting there for too long as they date so quickly. It’ll be 6 months old by the time it’s released and my first ‘Adam Ficek’ solo’ will taking shape  aswell as in the middle of a babyshambling spurt of recording, I hope. My second RKC album is much bigger sounding with the usual mix of instruments, 11 songs, some of which most of you have heard from my live sets or blogtv stuff. (www.blogtv.com/people/roseskingscastles) so make sure you all pick it up when it’s born. In the meantime, the ep is gathering a bit of pace so get em while they’re hot. www.roseskingscastles.com

Thanks as always for the support, it’s well appreiciated. 2010 the year of Das shambling Rose.

PS, I’m currently growing my solo soundage, so expect some interesting solo shows from me in the new year, trying to work in midi drum triggers on my feet to play whilst I do the guitar thing, realised that I’m restricting myself on the solo accoustic thing, I’ m not Donovan, it’s not the 60’s.

It’s bloody hard to cut it on the solo accoustic guitar tip unless you got media or big radio hits no one really pays that much attention, so I’m getting tough. bit of wizardry and gizmos. 

The plan is to have a group of musicians doing RKC shows then separate ‘Adam Ficek’ shows will be just me and my inspector gadget outfit!  

FPOTP = The Nolan Sisters. I’m in the mood for dancing

There are interview opportunities for both all-girl, basement rock sensations the Kut and former Babyshambles drummer-turned-acoustic guitar wielder Adam Ficek as they continue their respective UK tours..

The Kut will be playing in Liverpool at Zanzibar on Thursday 15th Oct and then in Manchester the following day at Roadhouse.

Adam Ficek’s Roses Kings Castles meanwhile will be in Ipswich on Thursday 15th Oct at the Swan before playing at the Boilerroom in Guildford on Monday 19th Oct.

Contact dan@raw-material.co.uk for interview/guestlist request for any of the above dates. We also have cd’s/gig tickets available for competition prizes so get in touch!