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Issue #67, Part 2 - August 17, 2006

Gerard: Well, there's one odd and interesting occupation! And a bass player to boot! So, play her some more.

David: Toronto, Buffalo - hopefully the spring of 2007.

Mark Hugh - as above

Dennis: 'Ever consider a release of rare songs or songs that never made it to CD?' Getting there. Did Bowie have any input on AOTGOAT?' All these abbreviations! Took me a second to work this one out - no!

Heather (who has the IH my space page) says she's been away but it didn't stop people picking up on it. 200 more requests to be friends. Has herself become a Tracie friend. 'When we close the store at night we blast her songs.' Tell Andy I listen to Willie Nile's 'Streets of New York' all the time (Andy's playing on Willie's record). Nice one, Heather.

Dave Donner: We'll be in touch.

Jerry Ross Bradenton: 'Did Proby sing, 'We've Already Said Goodbye'? Wasn't that the Moody Blues? I think you're referring to 'Go Now'. Original? The name Bessie Banks comes to mind - I'm near, but I could be wrong on the last name. Says Joe Elliott rightfully gushes (he wouldn't put it like that) on the Leps new album. Jerry says I sound like a cockney Ed Sullivan. OK.

Bucks Burnett: Sad news, indeed. Terrible in fact. Thanks for the info.

Phil Monaghan: 'it's well known you dislike 'Overnight Angels' - but what happened to the live shows? Why the bad press? I remember the headlines - after all the bragging - Hunter goes back to the States with his tail between his legs.' (Of course!) You have to remember that 'Overnight Angels' came out right on top of the new wave/old wave thing. Writers were having a ball with us 'old farts'. Everything went completely anti-flash. So now I was out - until some of the punks started saying I was OK - and then I was in again. Never believe what you read in the papers. 'How many more tours have you got in you?' Who knows? 'Did you ever meet Ian Anderson in Blackpool? Did you know what you had in common? I never lived in Blackpool - my parents and brother, Bob, did. We did a fair few gigs with Tull in the early days. Nice guys; easy to get on with.

Mike Wagner's turned several of his friends in Cincinnati onto the music. Diego (Mike's son) is 7 and is totally convinced nobody can play rock 'n' roll like me. I get quite a few comments about how 6-7 year olds like what I do - what does this mean? Up the pocket money for a start.

Alan/NY: 'I don't care where your mother comes from; I don't mind just keep your raincoat on.' Not my finest hour!

Matt Nojonen got the live DVD. 'Dead Man Walkin' is the favourite cut - 'dramatic and powerful'. Can't be any other way, Matt.

Rod Wilson: Re: 'Mott the Hoople' in Brentwood, UK on November 26th. 'Presume this is Luther. Methinks a cease and desist is in order.' You can't cease and desist Luther. You can't resist Luther. It's probably the promoter - it usually is.

Greg: They listed it but never bother to contact my agent or me. Weird, and not very wonderful.

Fiona says I should have a my space - 'I know someone set one up on your behalf, but you should try it.' Well, I guess this is my 'myspace'.

Rick Lake: I think 5.1 is cool, but I'm not an audiophile - it's the song I listen to. Anything that sounds good. Doesn't have to be expensive as long as you like it. Just go blaring round Costco until you hear something you like. Everybody's different. I've got an expensive Bose system set up in one room but I still stick things in a little stereo by the side of the bed because it's easier and more comfortable! I do know the difference - it just doesn't bother me that much and I'm hopeless with knobs.

John (Mac): 'Will Ralpher join you on tour again?' He knows he can if he feels up for it. 'Why doesn't he do some of his material?' He just doesn't want to; he just likes sitting in.

Banastre Tarleton: Noted.

Bucks Burnett: Re: 'Idiot Wind' Love the song, but what a lot of words!

Neil: 'What do you think of John Prine?' Every time I've seen him I've always thought he should have been bigger. Perhaps he doesn't want to be huge. Class act.

Barry Cobb just picked up the CD version of Bronco's 'Ace of Sunlight' from the early 70's. 'I see you played on it with Mick Ralphs and Terry Allen (Phally). Despite close listening I struggle to determine which tracks. Can you remember?' No. I mean we were all on Island at Basing Street in London and the studios were next to the offices. It's conceivable we nipped in and did a few harmonies with Jess. Phally's playing is pretty unmistakable. Haven't heard it since.

David Shasha: There is a market for that stuff, but they don't offer good enough deals in it.

Craig Russel: Re: Cleveland Indians gig. We got a phone call from a third party and referred them to our agent. It was put on the program, but no deal was ever made. It was never posted on my website - which is the golden rule. Sorry if you were mislead. How was the game?

Doug: Re: 'Shrunken Heads'
Release date? Haven't even done the deal yet.
How many songs? Still mulling it over. 10 and up possible
Is there a title track? Yes.
Do you have a personal favourite? A couple.
Any chance of a DVD with it? No.
Any chance of a preview of the art work? No, incomplete.

Janey abbreviates 'Truth' Astoria gig to TTTWTANBT. Took me a minute to figure that one out. 'Shame on you for nicking Bobbys rack'. Actually, I didn't do the nicking - just the receiving. No, it's not a bootleg, so you don't owe me a cent, but thanks for asking.

Janey (again) 'Found it on the discography. Glad I didn't rip you off. Casual, but passionate. It's nice to hear grown ups sing sometimes.'

Edward: 'Did you ever cross paths with Johnny Thunders?' Way back.

Andy Sibson: 'I must confess that I was a little surprised and disappointed with the chosen title for the new album. 'Shrunken Heads' doesn't have a positive image in my mind and I wasn't sure of any significance that the title may have. Then I googled it, noted the url of the first entry….and salute you, oh mighty leader!!! Well, that's alright then….

Tommy Brown: 'Do you have any contact with Mats Ronander these days? Are you planning touring in Sweden?' I saw Mats the last time we played Stockholm; he got up with us for the encores (a little worse for the waiting). We had a great chat. Sweden, hopefully will happen sometime next spring if it can be worked out.

Mike Richardson: U.S.? We're trying for next March.

Hunty: What he does is his business.

Paul Coombs: The resurrected Roundhouse - any thoughts? Joss sticks, clothes booths, early light shows - wasn't quite us, but we had a ball there a couple of times. Saw the Who there, Elton opened. Mind blowing. They were on.

Scott: Dunno

Tom Davies: We synced 'Top of the Pops' - I think I did the vocals live but that was about it. I never liked the show at all. I never like most of the DJs. I just hated the whole charade. Johnny Hamps 'Ready, Steady Go' was the right way to do it. Mind you, it wasn't really a rock show - it was a pop show- so maybe I'm being hard on it. It was bloody powerful; and it sold records. It was a necessary pain in the ass. Kind of like the Dick Clark show over here. Live would have been better, but nobody trusted the facilities back when we were doing them. False enthusiasm from the audience. You see it over here now. Audiences going completely ape shit to people they've never heard of. All done to make you - the viewer- more 'appreciative.' What a bloody dumb sell. Tom says Tommy Lee's new band were looking for a new singer on 'Rock Star Supernova'. One of the performers absolutely butchered 'Dudes'. 'She had the glam look right - with the skin tight lame, dangerous stilettos and a top hat - but the vocals were shite. Somehow, she wasn't voted off - must have been the outfit.' Hughie Green with hype (and I thought he was bad). Don't get me started!!!

Stano: 'Pearl and Roy' - 30 years on and its Bush and Blair. Come to the 'Pool. P.S. Saw the game - congratulations. Socked it to the little Napoleon!

Bill Block turns chaps on - ' they all seem to like it.' Trouble is my stuff isn't immediate. A lot of people don't like my stuff at first - but they like it later. This doesn't do me much good at the time!

Ian Hollinghurst: 'Favourite Ronno track? 'Sweet Dreamer'

Terrance: Have you heard 'Perfect Situation' by Weezer. The lead player sounds amazingly like Mick Ronson.' A lot of people think Ronno was underrated - but he wasn't to many. Ask any guitarist that's good.

Randy: What are the critical factors on becoming successful in music? Of all the factors which is the most important?' The answer to both is desire. You get kicked so many times that if you don't have the most intense desire you'll give up. That's my opinion.

Tony Rudd - Spring 2007.

Ken Eggen: Thanks.

Joe Pic on artists using their old hits for car commercials etc. What you have to remember is a lot of the early hits by these artists are not controlled by the artists themselves - they are usually owned by publishing companies (who kept a lot of artists afloat in the early days by giving them retainers for a piece or all of the publishing). If the publisher has the copyright, he can do what he wants with the songs provided he still pays the artist his share. I'm not saying this happens in all cases, but it happens in a lot.

Ron Jones: Having a laugh!

Yugen mentions Ronno's playing on 'Death and Glory Boys'. I still remember that night. He was doing this great solo, but started to panic and I could see he was going to blow it. The chords changed but he stayed where he was - it was pure magic and it worked perfectly. I said to him afterward that I saw him freeze. He said 'Well, if you're lost, you might as well stay where you are.' Priceless.

Paula Brown: 'Do you believe the 60's and 70's will truly go down for all time as the golden age of rock and roll?' Probably, yes.

Susan: Alright, Susan!

William fi Caladonia: I'm resorting to aliases, now.

Steve McGough: Well, the Rant Band (which has a growing reputation of its own these days) should remain the Rant Band. Sod the album - it's a good name for a band regardless of whence it came. I'm proud of the chaps, and they're all on 'Shrunken Heads'.

Kevin Carlini: When corporations started buying radio stations WMMS in Cleveland held out for the longest time. Kid Leo was a champion and a deep feeler. It was extremely sad when WMMS passed. They were big and strong and I thought somehow, they'd withstand the pressure (and the offers). They didn't in the end and it was Cleveland's loss. We did Youngstown Agora, Akron, Springfield, Dayton - Ohio audiences are the best - that's why I wrote the song. Pity about the radio - PROGRESS!

Sully: Happy Birthday!!

Bryan/San Diego: 'Do 'Brittania' and 'American Music' on the next tour.

And last but by no means least- David Evans!! David lives in Tasmania, loves 'Strings Attached' and wears his Horse's Mouth t-shirt (probably, as David says) the only one in Tasmania. Nice to hear from you.

And on that happy note here endeth this chaper.

Pet Peeve: People on TV ads telling you of existing ways to take what is left of your money off you - and they do it so cheerily! How do they sleep?

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