Mike Spenser of the Cannibals wants to claim the airwaves on behalf of the garage rock community in Europe. Full details from Mike below:

As some of might or might not know, but should know because The Trash Can has been going for a few years now, I have been presenting this show on various radio, internet, and what not stations all over the world. From WCR to Total Rock and now at the legendary and world famous Radio Caroline, the original Radio Caroline pirate station broadcasting from a boat several miles offshore in international waters, started in 1964. While there only 1 month, I've come up with a plan that only yesterday was told that if I can get as much support in the form of emails during the show and callins, as each show is taped and the show will be sent to the "powers that be". So put your voice on record, and send in emails to the studio. All will be saved to pass on and this iswhat might be able to convince them at Radio Caroline to go ahead with the following plan....

It's been discussed to upgrade the present show, which seems to be stuck in the very safe mud it originally was set to bypass way back then. Something urgently was needed and my Trash Can was like a breath of fresh air to some, while a pain in the ass to others, who keep asking me to play Cliff Richard and the such. Hence the need to start another Radio Caroline, possibly called Pirate Caroline. The Ross Revenge,which you can see pictures of once you log on to the Radio Caroline web site, is a massive 100 ton frieghter that was used when the station was truely pirate and out in the safe waters. It is the biggest and most beautiful of all the pirate ships around. It is Radio Carolines own and could be yours- ours, if we get enough support!

My idea is to bring the ship to London, towed slowly for effect, and also because one of its engines is down, moor it permanently along the Thames near public transport, use the radio room which is still intact and can transmit over the whole of the SE of England on AM as well as on the net and SKY at the moment. I have enough equipment to kit out a proper 24 track analogue studio on board to record live sessions with some of your favourite bands, release some of these sessions on the new label assoiated with the whole plan, "Pirate Records", and turn the massive decks below into a truley fab venue. I've been told that it can hold several hundred people and even these gigs could be recorded and sent out live on air.

This is the chance to finally bring what I believe, and I hope all of you do as well, the bestest, most coolest scene that we've all been part of for so long. We've been waiting for something as big as this to finally catapult it into a massive movement so that more and more people get to know some of the finest bands and musicians who might otherwise keep struggling in the many clubs now dedicated to this music. The scene is real. You are all part of it and you all know the kinds of groups we are talking about....The Parkinsons, The Maggotts, The Dirty, The Mighty Stars, the many Swedish and Scandinavian groups-too many to mention, The Buff Medways, Billy Childish, Thee Excitors, the Unchayned, the Solar Flares, 53rd and 3rd, Hot Wires, Beatings, The Cannibals and so many more groups you've come to see and love hearing. The Trash Can plays all this stuff, demos that might never get heard elsewere, Stooges, Dolls, Cramps, Pebbles and Nuggets stuff, obscure garage and classic garage, the Sonics, 13th Floor Elevators, Chocolate Watchband, Electric Prunes..and on and on....

This could be a turning point from turning something big and growing into one of the biggest movements since the original punk days..really..it could happen but I must show the support for Radio Caroline letting me carry on with this ambitious venture. The format of the station will also include other really cool and exciting programs from other stations and great music throughout the day and night from Rock, to Metal, to Reggea to chat shows of really cool topics (underground Graffiti, and stuff not usually heard in public for obvious reasons)..all kinds of stuff you'd love to just turn on your radio 24/7 and just groove to...

It can all happen very quickly as the 40th Anniversary for Radio Caroline is only a few months away and things must be in place by then. Also, a few hours later, Sunday, December 28th, the boat will be open to the public so you can come and see it as well! Me and Paul will be there if we survive the show a few hours before. The number to call for that is 07890270049 and Vaughn is the man who will take names. By the way, the boat is easy to get to as it is almost directly under the old bridge in Rochester, Kent off the Strood Pier. People should be there before 11am.

The Trash Can, on Radio Caroline is easy to listen to but log on early because you might have to load a different streamer to listen to on the net. The one the station uses is Live365 and to register might take a few minutes. The instructions on how to get onto SKY are on the web site and the telephone number to callin we will repeat often (I know its 016824400 but I'm only 90% sure!!). Email the studio is right there as well...

Don't forget...it's Midnight Sat 27th December till Sunday morning 3am UK time. Please stay up and tune in....it's really important this time! I've worked fucking hard to get this music this far..as well as Paul from The Dirty Water Club and loads of you...

"Dreams can come true..for cool people like me and you..
just think of what you'd love to do...put one foot in front of another....
and just follow it through!"

Cheers,

Mike Spenser

www.radiocaroline.co.uk
piratetrashcan@hotmail.com

Been pretty busy of late what with the rebuilding The Garage links resource and the more mundane, but necessary, web duties required at work. Fortunately, there’s always time for listening to music and here’s a few discs that have grabbed my attention over the last couple of months.

The Legendary Too Drunk – Hobson’s Choice

At last the long promised mini-album from Too Drunk that by my conservative reckoning has been a cool sixteen years in the making. Think chunky rambunctious garage pop with Johnny Thunders guitar lines and cheesy organ fills. “Hobson’s Choice” comprises of eight memorable originals that will have you smiling from ear to ear and swinging from the light fittings in no time. In my opinion “Here Come The Good Times” and “The Shape I’m In” are two of the best songs to come out of the UK garage rock scene over the last few years. Rest assured that Too Drunk are a psychedelic garage band guaranteed to whisk you away on a “Magic Carpet Ride” and no mistake.



Uptight – Collars & Cuffs E.P.

The latest three track offering from this Yorkshire-based Mod band with strong garage rock leanings. Uptight has been recording infectious garage-pop-soul for the best part of three years and still remain without a record label. A bit of minor tragedy in my book. This time round on CD-R they pilfer from the Creation while adding a bit of the Supremes for “If It’s All The Same To You”. The other two tracks, “Technicolour TV Head” and “Collars & Cuffs” ain’t bad either. On disc or on stage, Uptight clearly enjoy what they are about. Somebody sign this band before the next hyped wannabies from Detroit hit town.

The Flakes – Stayin’ Single

A CD-R of their first two 45 rpms with a couple of extra bonus cuts. When the Flakes played the Dirty Water Club recently they visually reminded me of yet another 1960s fixated garage band, forunately they proceeded to deliver a set in an altogether more ‘70s punk manner. Perhaps it had something to do with the presence of ex-Mummie, Russell Quan, on drums, or even the fact that they were selling DMZ t-shirts on the merchandise stand. Blimey O’Conolly, if you dig the magic that DMZ applied to various nuggets then you will enjoy the Flakes big time. Step this way for loud, sloppy, and fun renditions of “Bip Bap Boom”, “Good Good Luvin’” and “Long Gone”. The disc is available at shows or from the band’s website.

I'm just takin' a look at J's list there and thinking, but there's another 5 days to go in 2003. Maybe I'll discover a whole new slew of records before I get around to compiling such a thing... It could happen... Today, travelling minstrel Jon Graboff and his girl are dropping by. Jon was here to play with Laura Cantrell at the John Peel Xmas Party which went out live on December 23rd. You can listen to that by clicking here! and following the directions to the requisite "play it again" area. It'll only be available until the 30th I guess so get weaving. It's a pot pourri of sound, some of which will thrill and some of which might have tou teetering on the brink so don't say I didn't warn you. I hadn't heard Can's version of Silent Night though and that was fun. Taking a look outside, it's pissing rain so some of the activities I planned will have to be rethunk. Or maybe not. Nobody is gonna make me go to the shops though. That's fer damn sure. Cadbury's Cream Eggs are on sale way early this year. Used to be Boxing Day was the first sign but not in the run-up to 04. Anybody know if Nostradamus predicted that?

As promised here's my year's end list (for whatever it's worth). I've skipped tryin' to say something about each disc 'cause everytime I started writing it became this endles rant against everything and everybody, so here's the bare bones, tho' I still figure they provide plenty to chew on.


1. Dirtbombs - Dangerous Magical Noise. (In The Red)
2. Leg Hounds - The Leg Hounds Date Your Daughters (Screaming Apple)
3. Fleshtones - Do You Swing? (Yep Rock)
4. Holly Go-Lightly - Truly She Is None Other (Damaged Goods)
5. Kidnappers - Ransom Notes & Telephone Calls (Alien Snatch)
6. Master Plan - Colossus Of Destiny (Demolition Derby)
7. Star Spangles - Bazooka (Capitol)
8. Little Killers - Little Killers (Crypt)
9. Turbonegro - Scandinavian Leather (Burning Heart)
10.White Stripes - Elephant (XL)

Re-issues:

1. v/a - Miami Sound (Soul Jazz)
2. v/a - Funk Soul Sisters (BGP)
3. v/a - 600% Dynamite (Soul Jazz)
4. v/a - A Soldier's Sad story (Kent)
5. Jackie Mittoo - Last Train To Skaville (Soul Jazz)
6. v/a - Looking Good (BGP)
7. Joe Gibbs - Roots, Culture, DJs and the Birth of Dancehall (Soul Jazz)
8. v/a - The Complete Meteor Rockabilly & Hillbilly Recordings (Ace)
9. v/a - The Dial Records Southern Soul Story (Kent)
10.v/a - Nice Up The Dance (Soul Jazz)