A NIGHT ON THE PISTOLS

A NIGHT ON THE PISTOLS
SEX PISTOLS BRIXTON 12.11.2007
I am a "the glass half full not half empty" kinda guy and so I tried
to get the word out that SPIZZENERGI were willing to support the SEX PISTOLS when their one-off gig in Brixton was announced. I even started a campaign via a forum on Gigwise.comwhere 84% of those who respnoded the wanted SPIZZENERGI on the bill. I then received an email from a Pistol "Spizz, Not down to me mate... All the best, Glen" I resigned myself to not going as tickets sold out in a flash then I got a call from a mate called Dave who happens to worship at the altar of The Small Faces (so much so he co-compiled the definitive book about them called Nice One). Due to work commitments he and his partner Carol could not go and did I want to go instead. Arrangements were made and permission asked to transfer guest status to me and Will. Will knows Dave because his son goes to the same school as Dave's boy. As I emerge from Brixton tube I run into Phil who does the Pistols website the thefilthandthefury fancy seeing you here "what are the chances" we joke. Last time we met we were attendees of the Timeslip convention back in May which was a hilarious alternative to the Chelsea v Man Utd FA Cup final which I won money off Coral the bookmakers as I had Chelsea to win on Penalties. I meet Will and have the first of two beers in The Prince pub in Cold Harbour Lane, Brixton. An incoherent Glaswegan in his late fifties invites himself onto our table and blabs on about pick pockets and real anarchy so we finish the second pint quickly and head for the Academy. Arriving at the entrance we announce we are on the guest list only to be asked "which guest list?" A quick call to Carol and we drop the name and we are directed to the stage door because we are on the promoters guest list. We get our tickets and VIP wristbands this is more than I expected! Well we go straight to the VIP bar and I get the first round in, shocking as people who know me. So was the cost we chat with Eric Idle lookalike Mark who has been to all the Pistols gigs as Glen's PA. X-Ray Spex girl Poly Styrene strolls by and Mark gets the next round as there are 17 minutes to go. We guzzle the Grolsh down and make our way to the right hand side at the back and the full house is chanting abuse at Goldie well since when has playing records constituted
a support act. Vera Lynn's 'There'll always be an England" and the band stroll on. Lydon lets us in on his glee that Maclaren has left I'm a Celebrity Jungle show. Pretty Vacant sounds great and a couple of songs later I want to take a closer look as anyone who has been to see Mick Jones's brilliant new band Carbon Silicon I am always right at the front. So I ease my way near the front and I can't help myself I'm in the mosh pit! Big grown men of all ages and even some punkettes of a slighter build are hurling themselves at each other and its like being in a huge human cement mixer. I start to laugh as we all buffet around and some very scary men push the bounderies of friendly violence. When 'Holidays In The Sun' starts it really goes mental and I'm loving it, laughing uncontrollably. It's very hot and smelly some BO whiffs are revolting. There's a big sign saying no crowd surfing (y'know cos it's dangerous), but someone is riding the crowds every other chorus. Well I'm glad I've got my Matrix boots on but after five songs I return to where I left Will and blimey he has got a pint waiting for me just what you want after some loony moshing. Show over back Will had to go catch a bus so upstairs to the VIP and Mark is getting the beers in and Kirk Brandon and I have a chat and Scottish Jenny's daughter from the days when I used hang out on Portobello Road Saturday market exclaims in a loud voice "Spizz!" and we chat - nice. Moving through the bar some big bloke says something manacing I turn around its big Steve English who spent most of his life looking after Pistols or The Clash's on stage security. Some more old days remembered and banter exchanged say hi to Buzzcock Tony Barber, then another "Spizz!" shout and its Maggi Ronson and she's with Ian Hunter's daughter Tracie! What an evening, we hug and I sit and we chat and I start looking at my watch fretting about catching the last tube. Maggi says she can give me a lift and so time for another beer! Finally after bumping into Phil (Pistols site) at the tube station we meet up again just as Glen and Paul Cook emerge from their dressing room and scoop a few of us back for some drinks and more comfortable surroundings. Glen says help yourself to a drink and before he can finish the sentence I've opened a 500ml can of Red Stripe. I get asked what is happening on the Spizz gig front and I whip out my flyers for the gig at Filthy MacNasty's on Saturday 15th December all of which this talking makes me thirsty and another can of Red Stripe opens taking the evening up to seven pints. Cooky prepares to leave and throws me a T-Shirt with Sid Viscious on it. A limited edition by some artist called Paul Broderick I don't think he's impressed by it and leaves to grab a cab and Glen packs up and we're all set to leave. I grab a couple of beers to take home well someone has to it is a punk gig and Tracie says take the vodka too. So clinking through the empty centre of Brixton a tramp begs for money so I give him the vodka his face lights up for him Christmas has come early! Into Maggi's sporty BMW and head for Tower Bridge where they drop me off.
The Pistols were awesome what an evening.

THE WORLD'S 1st EVOLUTION FESTIVAL

I finally found a way to celebrate my 30th Anniversary as a performer. Suitably it will be an intimate affair at Filthy MacNasty's performing live with guest guitarists. SATURDAY 15th DECEMBER - The World's 1st Evolution Festival - 30 Years Of Change, featuring songs from SPIZZOIL, SPIZZENERGI, ATHLETICO SPIZZ 80, THE SPIZZLES, SPIZZ SEXUAL etc. FREE ENTRY Start 8pm @ the legendary Filthy MacNasty's 68 Amwell St. London EC1R 1UU If you are stuck for Xmas cheer or need some last minute gift ideas there will be some 20 different new Spizz designed T-Shirts!
http://www.spizzenergi.com/shop.htm
http://www.myspace.com/filthymacnastysofficial
http://www.spizzenergi.com/images/filthyflyer07.jpg
I have also uploaded some new vids on You Tube a couple of which are classic 'before they were famous' typle things made in London in 1986 A Pop TV News programme for syndication. This is pilot No.2 and co presenter was Spizz's girlfriend at the time - CLAIRE KING - later went on to play Kim Tate in Emmerdale and ITV's Bad Girls and BBC's Strictly Come Dancing 2006. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1Nob43uy5w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1Jz07x_-EE
Also coming up SPIZZENERGI will be performing a couple of numbers on the Dexter Bentley show on Resonance 104.4fm on Saturday 8th December, 12noon - 1:30pm in London or online at
http://www.resonancefm.com
Wow so much blog must be my biggest yet

The Oldest Footbal Club 150th Anniversary Oct 24th 2007

I watched The BBC's News 24 with interest this morning Wednesday 15th August 2007. The topic of the oldest footy club in the world was featured, which is Sheffield FC. This year is their 150th Anniversary and I think it is something worth supporting. I see that they do not float around the Champions League or the Premier League but bravely survive in the Unibond Northern Premier League Division 1 South League. I then remembered a few years back when the football community (possibly with the help of the Football Supporters Association) rallied to help out struggling Brighton. Supporters from many clubs turned up to swell the gates and in doing so improved the cash flow of the club. I got to thinking maybe something similar could be organised on the club's birthday on October 24th or on the nearest home fixture on either 13th or 27th. Because of the capacity of the club may not be able to take the extra attention maybe support could be by way of buying the replica shirt (or perhaps an anniversary shirt?). Imagine if a mere 1000 took up this suggestion there would be £34,000 swelling the clubs coffers. Then I had bigger idea: Perhaps FIFA could celebrate October 24th and make it "An International Football Day". Then I started to think even bigger and perhaps it should become a public holiday like May Day and people could be encouraged to go into their local recreational spaces and have a kick-about. A healthy thing to do in these obese times. In time this could turn into Footballs greatest day for the People's game.

Summer 2007

Alright proper blogging starts now. Time is running out. I am currently in the middle of the school summer holidays. Exam results for my eldest, Molly are due soon. The boy Neo is five and a half. My recurring leg injury is a cause for concern latest twinge happened as I ran down a steep railway bank after I videod some blackberries. Stupid idea. Got complacent about the sun. We were on the beach at Camber Sands on Sunday and whilst we ensured the kids were covered head to toe with sun block. I went to swim without sunblock and two hours later Mr & Mrs Lobster left the beach. I keep having loads of ideas for the 30th Anniversary of my 1st public performance at the Birmingham all day Punk Festivalk at Barbarella's August 29th 1977. Except I have probably left it a little late to book a gig. My next target was to be in September when my 2nd ever gig was at the Music Machine on 22nd September 1977. However my bass man, Matt Broughton and drummer Jeff Walker have many other commitments in September. The months of October and November at many venues have all the best nights booked and then its Christmas, bah! Humbug. Next up is the 30th Anniversaries of SPIZZOIL - 1st John Peel session, 1st record release but with original guitarist Pete Petrol now living in New Zealand, do I recruit a replacement axeman? I think I may have found one - more on that story later. I intend to target all the music festivals for 2008 as it is increasingly unlikely I can get to visit faraway towns any other way so I have created a web page as a billboard for festival organisers and booking agents for all major rock, indie & punk music festivals to stumble upon or be redirected to:
http://www.spizzenergi.com/festivals.htm
Have to leave now - lets hope I can do this more regularly
Spizz
http://www.myspace.com/spizzenergi