Finally regained enough energy to post a few words on the Paris trip, 'cause wanting to include as much as possible in three days sure takes it's toll at my advanced age... But what the heck, it was well worth the bother. Highlights aplenty; Roy Loney joinin' the Barracudas on Fridaynight for a three song encore including a stellar take on Teenage Head, a moment that's sure to become the stuff of legends. The 'cudas own set was no slouch either, tho' a bit shaky in the vocal dept at times, but the guitar interplay between Chris Wilson and Robin Wills was amazing, a big chimin' Byrds/Groovies-styled wall of sound. Loney's acoustic set on Saturday afternoon was equally grand, tho' the hothouse temperatures drove me outside after a while. Roy still commands a lotta presence on stage, and finally seein' him in action for the first time connected some loose ends in my understanding of the what 'n whys of the Groovies eternal, uh, groovienes. Leave it to the Nomads to finish the festivities in truly fine style. Hell, they damn near tore the roof off playin' hit after hit to a (capacity) crowd of adorin' frenchies. Having seen the Nomads a number of times in recent years I'd say that they're currently way better than in their 80s "heyday". What else was up?, oh yeah, the Lee Black Childers/Roberta Bayley photo exhibit which was as cool as expected tho' could have used some more thought on the way the pictures were displayed. My long held believe that Paris is a wasteland when it comes to scoring 2nd vinyl was shot to shit as I discovered shop after shop offering the most amazing stuff, but with prices bein' equal to a petite bottle of Channel #5 I only brought back a modest stack of longplays. On a completely different cultural level I also visited the Musée d'Orsay for the wonderful New York and Modern Art. Alfred Stieglitz and His Circle exhibit. That, walkin' around endlessly in the autumn sun and shakin' hands and hangin' around with a large number of both new and familiar faces is the 'cause of my current zombie-like state, so I'll leave it at that and sign off with a tip of the hat to all those responsible for truly a memorable stay...

Miriam Linna, Billy Miller, Tim Warren and Dave Brown pay tribute to Greg Shaw on the Crypt Records site.

Jeremy (Gluck) posted this as a comment but I think it deserves a more prominent platform so apologies if you're industrious enough to pour over the commentary and this might be repetition to you...

"Dear NBT

I posted this on the Barracudas Group. It hasn't really hit me until now what a great creator and character we have lost. God gets it wrong again :( Post follows:

On the morning of our departure for Paris, Robin told me about Greg's sudden passing. From the time I was maybe 15 Greg Shaw and BOMP signified a very important part of rock'n'roll to me. I rememeber my friend's treasured copy of the Groovies single. I met Greg in 1982 when we played a show in Paris. He'd already released Drop Out on VOXX and I kept the letter he sent me about Drop Out for years, because for Greg to like my band was quite astounding and a validation of the highest order. I recall Robin and I rapping with Greg, his telling us about his mammoth record collexion. We kept in touch, he was always warm and very receptive and a true believer of the kind that is now in short supply. Few people have done as much for or meant as much to makers and lovers of real rock'n'roll. I'm proud to have counted Greg as a mentor and friend and am glad The Barracudas are still BOMP/VOXX artists. It's fair to say that Greg left a tremendous legacy and many are saddened by his passing. I know our feelings are with his family and closest friends. As Dylan said, Death is not the end. But sometimes, for a moment, that isn't much comfort. Jeremy"

Unbe-bloody-lievable. You have to look at all the pictures. Thanks to KP for the tip off. I might even buy a lottery ticket this week...

Great room. Fine music. Go get it...

It's been a peculiar few days. Got up at 3.30am on Friday 22nd to go catch a flight to Paris and caught J's post about the passing of our friend and utter inspiration, Greg Shaw. I knew he hadn't been well but I never exactly expected an exit so soon. It was made all the more poignant because we were about to be part an international breach of the peace keeping force heading France-ward to see The Barracudas and The Nomads. With the inclusion of Chris Wilson playing with the former and Roy Loney in town to play an acoustic set at the Roberta Bayley/Leee Black Childers photofest, there was heightened Groovies activity expected in the area. More about which later.

It's been a heady few days and I'm not in the condition to make much sense of any of it right now. It's 6.30am Monday and although I got up to go to work, I can't face it so I'm gonna bum around and try to make sense of what has gone down. I can tell you this though. There would have been no NBT if it hadn't been for the example and constant straight down the line enthusiasm that this guy breathed into his love for rock and roll. This is no time for the psychedelicized psoap opera that might have made up part of his real life but which ultimately made him the great man he was. With weaknesses like we all. When Andy Shernoff and I were in Kassel recently we talked about how Greg was really the catalyst of it all. The guy that took zinedom from a Sci-Fi thing into music writing. I just read Billy and Miriam's testament to Greg in The Norton Newsletter and had just been recalling the "Berlin Incident" myself. So more later, I'll try to make sense of all this when I'm a little more compus mentus. Needless to say we've lost a true Commander and Keeper of the Faith and that's not something that fills me with any confidence at all. I can tell you that his spirit was looming large in Paris this weekend though and I'll be pouring over those Bomps today when I should be working. It's the very least the man deserves...