If you go down to the woods today... you'll see them goin' through a tight wynd!

Info from Prof. R. Stim, SF, CA.

"Dearest Friend,
Let's spend the night together, shall we? Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co. hopes you'll say "Yes, I'd like that very much, thank you" and come to Otto's Shrunken Head, located at 538 East 14th Street in Manhattan, on Thursday, February 17th. It is then, from 8:00 until 10:00 sharp, that we shall present two most intimate shows that will express our deepest feelings for you. Both love and admission will be free and without obligation.

Yours most truly, Michael, Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co.

It came from Memphis... to the BARBICAN in London.

Thundercut Alters Downtown WALK Signs in NYC.
"On the WALK/DON’T WALK sign outside CBGB on the Bowery, the orange DON’T WALK hand has had its middle two fingers and thumb obliterated with black tape, turning it into a devil’s horns—the universal hand signal for “Rock!” The white walking man is now wearing sideburns, a skull-and-bones T-shirt, blue jeans, and a pair of Converse."

Atomic Affair is a new company specializing in vintage clothing. And if you are inclined to such matters, these gals deserve your support.

Crawford Smith spotted this train info...

Mr Martin Percival passed this along...

"Brothers & Sisters,Bow yr heads & pray to yr respective gods for the sadly departed soul of Dave Goodman, legendary Sex Pistols producer & regular all round good guy. Dave passed away following a heart attack at his Malta home this week. Our thoughts go out to his family & friends. RIP, Jean Encoule, trakMARX.com"

JIMMY SMITH - RIP (info from El Rapido)

I heard a funny expression for what’s happening to all of us. “Silvering” would appear to be a new tag for getting older. In this process, time seems to accelerate but only in your free time. When you’re going about the day to day guff then ol’ person time seems to travel painfully slowly. This can manifest itself in all manner of ways. He measure of time itself now is something I’m very aware of. As is thinking about using this precious commodity wisely. In reality though I’m prone to wasting big, hairy chunks of it. Nobody’s fault but mine I know but how does one actually get with addressing and more importantly actioning this condition? It occurs to me that I haven’t got a scoob. With age comes wisdom they say… so how come that wisdom stuff is in such short supply around these parts? Could be the “silvering” I guess…

Some Southern Culture headed our way in May...

I can't access the website but dates are

Wednesday 11 • London • Borderline

Thursday 12 • Bristol • St Bonaventures Parish Club

Friday 13 • Glasgow • Oran Mor (Part of Big Big Country Festival)

Saturday 14 • Newcastle • The Cluny

Better get to brewin' that 'shine now!

Up next from Norton: "RON HAYDOCK & THE BOPPERS - 99 CHICKS. Norton kingpins wild CD now on vinyl! Chicago's answer to Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps! Insane 1950's rockers and Ray Dennis Steckler soundtrack numbers plus rare demos, all culled from original master tapes! A MUST FOR EVERY ROCK N' ROLL FAN!. VARIOUS - SHAKE IT UP AND MOVE. 20 Primitive rockabilly demos by Elroy Dietzel, Jimmy Johnson, Johnny Fallin and others! This is the vinyl version of Ace Records phenomenal GENE VINCENT CUT OUR SONGS CD - sensational stuff!. VARIOUS - WILDCAT JAMBOREE. Live late 50s broadcasts from Corinth, Mississippis DIXIELAND Jamboree radio program! LLOYD ARNOLD, CURTIS HOBOCK, BILLY WAYNE, LEON BASS, BOBBY WOOD, WAYNE and BOBBY PRATT and more! Includes liner notes by Jamboree bandleader Hayden Thompson, interview with Jamboree boss Charles Bolton, additional commentary by the legendary Eddie Bond and many rare photos."

Two hours of Billy Miller and Lenny Kaye spinnin' old Fortune 45s on WMFU's Fool's Paradise. Essential listening !. (link c/o Jan Kooi).

Also on In-fidelity, you’ll find these Aussie outfits might hit some kinda spot with that craving for real rockin’ thrills you've been rasslin' with. That country has a fine pedigree of producing acts that can show 95% of UK grown bollocks how it’s done and well, here’s further proof of that claim.

THE SPECIMENS, that’s plural and not to be confused with the Batcave crowd, are a post-Hellacopters Detroit rock swillin’, potty mouthed ensemble that kick up quite a racket on their album, “The Quick And The Deaf”. It’s pretty def at any volume.

I thought that THE CANTS were from Detroit too being that their album was produced by Jim Diamond (not the Scottish JD). They knock out a nice Hoodoo Gurus-esque line in melodic punk which also owes a nod to 60’s garage but not in that authenticity over substance kinda way. Taking the Aussie accent into consideration when you say their name, you might arrive at a Pete’n’Dud appropriation of a very rude word indeed. Those scamps…

And what kinda name is THE ROYS? Especially when they’re not all called Roy? Well, it’s the moniker of a group with a sound that harks back to the cream of 70’s rock. Their EP contains 6 songs, the most immediate of these being “Till Next Time” which sounds like a collision between The Dictators and Big Star. In the gatefold of the cd booklet, they can be seen performing in front of a kid, a dog and an elephant. Now that’s crossover.

I guess I'd clocked THE COME ONS name but hadn't done anything about it. This, of course, was a slip up and of course, why would Sympathy have put out two records if they weren't at least worth checking out? Anyways, THE GHETTO YEARS is a collection of tracks assembled by In-Fidelity Records out yonder in Australia and it makes me wonder why their star hasn't ascended further by now. A sticker on the case suggests the contents sound "like Darlene Love quaffing Spanish brandy from a high-heeled sneaker" and tasty as that goes it's not entirely accurate. This punked-in, souled-out torch pop is way more fluid than that. Their sometimes tranquil fragility sits comfortably beside such monster grooves as "Complicated" (see the video on their website). This is sophisticated and savvy and it doesn't sound like anybody except themselves. Singer, Deanne Iovan, is also involved with fellow fine Motor City combo, THE SIRENS.

On Tuesday (8th February), BBC Radio Scotland will start a new series called Indie-Pendant Scotland about "the rise of independant labels" here in the auld country. Presented by Vic Galloway, it goes out at 11.30am but will be available on the station's "on-demand" facility.It will also be repeated on a Sunday Evening.

I need to clear something up. I have no contact with The Cramps. I've had no contact with them since they shut down the LOTC in August 1983 because the "tail was trying to wag the dog" or however it was put. Ergo, I can't put anybody in touch. I'm sorry if that's disappointing but that's the way it is. I still believe in them to an extent, especially now that Bill Bateman is involved but - I reiterate - I can't put anybody in contact with them. I believe that you can contact their agent/label/whatever via their website so I suggest you try those channels. I've just replied to the most recent request to be connected but won't address this matter again. Not outta rudeness, just because I'm tired of it.

I hold great store in loyalty and tend to be true to my school wherever possible. I've burned boats and done some daft, inane things in my time. Things way beyond having allegedly "wagged the dog" but sometimes mistakes are made in good faith via good old fashioned stupidity or because events dictate it. That said, life has to go on, y'ken... so please... hear this plea. It's the last one i'll make on the subject.

I just heard Janice Forsyth say that MARTYN BENNETT died last week and sure enough...

The great Alex Harvey would have been 70 today. That reminds me about the Neil Wilson Publishing published book, SAHB STORIES by Martin Kielty. Select music from the drop down menu at the top, the link doesn't seem to want to take you direct to the page for some reason. There was also a special edition available but those could well be gone.