At the moment, I am assisting my exceptionally talented mates, Graveyard Johnnys, book gigs. So, if you are a venue manager/promoter or someone with 'contacts' don't be shy and send me a message. Let's not be strangers !! Please go and check them out in my top friends, have a listen, buy a CD and book a gig. Job Done !!!
My interests are wide and varied .....which results in not knowing an awful lot about anything but knowing bits about lots of silly things !!! Therefore I can talk to people about all sorts of things ...... but not for very long !! I have taken time to dedicate my spare time to discovering what is the best alcoholic mixture to result in extreme drunkeness BUT a moderate hangover .... this is a work in progress ...
.......and usually involves loud music, mayhem, stair surfing and more recently 'pavement twister' ....... I am particulary enamoured of odd beverages, such as
and I'm always up for a game of cards, as long as it isn't too hard. Recently have been enjoying drunken board games also.
It has recently dawned on me that I am crap at saying no to things, and I often end up with a million and one things to do for other people, usually for no material gain .....
Music
I LOVE music - its makes me feel happy, it galvanises me into action, it calms me down and it works me up (especially certain shite) - there is something seriously wrong with people who don't like music. My tastes have evolved over the years - favourites include Rezurex, Graveyard Johnnys, The Grit, the Wildhearts, Yo Yos, Plan A, Nick Cave, New Model Army, then there's the goth stuff like Sisters, Nephilim, Mission, Siouxsie and don't forget Meteors, Spear of Destiny, Guana Batz, King Kurt ........ oh and um, Gene Loves Jezebel, Foetus, Pop Will Eat Itself, Sex Gang Children, lots of Ennio Morricone ...Vincent Razorbacks, Vince Ray & the Boneshakers, Urban Voodoo Machine, Nero Burns, Stray Cats, depends on my mood really !
I love going to gigs and watching live music ... such as this at The White Horse in High Wycombe on 23 June 07 - not much of an audience but the bands were fantastic ... being Deadbeat Deluxe, Radio City Riot and the Scourge of River City ...it was a big night ...
Movies
I have a big problem with sitting still long enough to watch something right the way through, hence I don't go to the cinema very often because I can't stand being stuck there and I usually focus on whether I am too hot, too cold or too hungover to enjoy the film. However, some all time faves of mine would have to include The Crow (only the first one), The Lost Boys, Mrs Doubtfire (not ashamed to admit it !), Ghosts of the Civil Dead, Nightbreed, old Hammer horror films, Guest House Paradiso and Carry On films.
Television
Don't watch much, flick thru the (usually dire) music channels, get engrossed in Masterchef and can't resist Bottom (on DVD. TV is usually crap and extortionately priced for both licence fees and cable/satellite and a terrible waste of time. When my brain isn't functioning I like watching Two and A Half Men for a bit of decent entertainment.
Books
I am a voracious reader, when I have the time and my head isn't filled with other things I am supposed to be organising. I like all sorts of books, from chick lit to horror, factual history and am currently reading 'Protocols of Riding with the Lwa' - an interesting book on Haitian Vodou.
Heroes
My very good friends (some of whom I don't see as often as I would like but those 'special' people know who they are) ... the ones who help me out when I've had a bit too much alcohol, cheer me up when I'm down and rally round if I'm not feeling too good and are at the end of the phone when I need to vent my spleen. Everyone will say 'I'll help' - it's only in times when you actually need the help that you find out who your truest mates are. Talk is cheap until it comes to the crunch and actions really do speak louder than words where I'm concerned. Talking of heroes ....
Here are a few lovely pics, taken during various fun (er ... drunken) times ... including an all time fave -Anton Drongo's bloodshed accident at the bottom of our stairs .....
COFFIN NAILS
GRAVEYARD JOHNNYS
THE OPTIC NERVES
SPEEDKINGS
THEE KISS OF DEATH #16
XMAS SHOW - 23 DECEMBER 2009 TJS NEWPORT
DEMENTED ARE GO !
THE HANGMEN
THE DEVIL WRAYS
THE ADJUSTERS
+ SPECIAL GUESTS
TIX AVAIL NOW AT http://www.wegottickets.com
ROOMS AT NEWPORT TRAVELODGE CURRENTLY ONLY £19 A DOUBLE IF YOU BOOK NOW WWW.TRAVELODGE.CO.UK
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.. Voodoo Blooms is my new venture, and will provide you with the finest hair accessories !! Click on the words Voodoo Blooms below the logo to be directed to the website. Please go and have a browse !!!
APART FROM TRAVERSING THE COUNTRY TO SEE MY FAVE BANDS + MATES, I KEEP OUT OF TROUBLE BY DOING SOME GIG PROMOTION MYSELF - UNDER THE GUISE OF 'DRINKINGGWENZILLA PRESENTS...'
OVER THE YEARS, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, I'VE BEEN TO GOOD GIGS AND I'VE BEEN TO BAD GIGS AND I WANTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT GIGS ON THAT I'D WANT TO GO TO AND STAY ALL THE WAY THROUGH + REALLY ENJOY MYSELF.
THERE'S NO DENYING IT'S INCREDIBLY STRESSFUL + FRUSTRATING ON TIMES BUT IT'S ALWAYS WORTH IT IN THE END ! PLUS IT GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET BRILLIANT, TALENTED PEOPLE AND INTRODUCE THEIR MUSIC TO OTHERS.
I ENJOY DRINKING (SOME MAY SAY A BIT MUCH) AND SPENDING TIME WITH MY LIKE-MINDED FRIENDS.
I HAVE A VAST FOOTWEAR COLLECTION, COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT HAIRSPRAY, HAIR DYE OR MAKE UP AND I LOVE COOKING AND HOSTING SOIREES AND BBQs (a legacy from spending 10 years Down Under) FOR MY FABULOUS MATES.
BACK TO THE SUBJECT OF GIGS - HERE ARE THE FLYERS FOR THE GIGS I'VE PUT ON TO DATE, MOSTLY DESIGNED BY ME. I'VE GOT THE MIGHTY VINCE RAY TO THANK FOR MY KISS OF DEATH TEMPLATE - HE ROCKS !!
I'M ALWAYS READY TO TALK TO BANDS ABOUT POSSIBLE GIGS - YOU CAN SEE WHAT I DO, SO IF YOU THINK YOU'D FIT, BY ALL MEANS SEND ME A MESSAGE !
The Vincent Razorbacks, Nero Burns, Deadbeat Deluxe, Viva Knievils gig at TJs on 23 Feb 2007 was a rip-roaring success, as those of you who played or attended will know. Big thanks to Ian Cook Photography for the pics below.
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BORNE OUT OF THE SUCCESS OF THE ABOVE GIG, AND THE FEEDBACK I GOT FROM THE BANDS AND THE PEOPLE WHO CAME, I FELT IT WAS TIME TO ACTUALLY HAVE A SPECIFIC NIGHT WHERE PEOPLE WOULD BE GUARANTEED A GREAT LINE UP OF BANDS AND KNOW IT WAS ONE OF MY GIGS .... DRINKINGGWENZILLA PRESENTS 'THEE KISS OF DEATH' !
THE FABULOUS VINCE RAY DESIGNED MY FLYER AS I WANTED SOMETHING EASILY RECOGNISABLE, YET IN A STANDARD FORMAT. DON'T YOU THINK IT'S BRIL ??
MY GOAL IS TO DEVELOP THE ROCKABILLY/PYSCHOBILLY/PUNK ROCK + ROLL LIVE SCENE IN NEWPORT BY PUTTING ON BANDS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY, ALL OF A SIMILAR GENRE, CREATING A BRILLIANT BILL OF ALL KILLER AND NO FILLER !!
TO KEEP THEE KISS OF DEATH GOING, I NEED PEOPLE'S HELP, SPREADING THE WORD AND ACTUALLY TURNING UP TO THE GIGS. ALTHOUGH I DO THIS FOR LOVE NOT MONEY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT DOESN'T COME CHEAP TO PUT GIGS ON. THE ONLY WAY TO COVER COSTS IS GETTING PEOPLE THROUGH THE DOOR !! I PROMISE, WHEN YOU'VE BEEN TO ONE, YOU'LL WANT MORE !
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'THEE KISS OF DEATH' Episode 1 KICKED OFF ON 4 MAY 2007. IT WAS A SPLENDID NIGHT, BIG THANKS TO ALL WHO ATTENDED AND THE BANDS WHO WERE AN ABSOLUTE BLAST !! YOU ROCKED ! THANKS TO DEVILISH PRESLEY, THE HANGMEN, SPEED KINGS AND DEADBEAT DELUXE.
Small slideshow below, thanks to Tress, Jane and Wendy for your pics !
..THEE KISS OF DEATH Episode 2 WAS ON FRIDAY 13TH JULY 2007. ANOTHER GREAT NIGHT OF AMAZING MUSIC AND FABULOUS PEOPLE. THANKS TO VINCE RAY + THE BONESHAKERS, JUNKYARD, RADIO CITY RIOT AND DEADBEAT DELUXE FOR GRACING THE STAGE
A BIT OF A CHANGE FOR THEE KISS OF DEATH Episode 3 ON 20TH OCTOBER AT LE PUB NEWPORT. IT FEATURED TYLA (DOGS D'AMOUR) AND KITTY HUDSON - CHECK OUT THE SLIDESHOW UNDERNEATH AND SEE FOR YOURSELF - THANKS TO BEAN AND EMS FOR THE PICS ... IT WAS A TRULY SPLENDID NIGHT OF EPIC PROPORTIONS ! A BIG THANKS TO ALL WHO CAME.
THEE KISS OF DEATH Episode 4 HAPPENED ON 1ST DECEMBER AT TJS NEWPORT AND THE LINEUP WAS THE LOYALTIES, THE GRIT, RADIO DEAD ONES & DEADBEAT DELUXE. Big thanks to everyone who came, it was fantastic !! Pics courtesy of Sam and Dave !
THEE KISS OF DEATH 5 TOOK PLACE ON 21ST MARCH 2008 - GOOD FRIDAY .. AND IT WAS !!! STORMING PERFORMANCES FROM THE GRIT, DEVILISH PRESLEY, DRAGSTER AND RADIO CITY RIOT.
Thanks to Joe Sullivan for the brilliant photography shown below http://www.myspace.com/joesullivanimages
THEE KISS OF DEATH Episode 6 WAS ON 22ND APRIL 2008. THREE AMAZING BANDS TOOK TO THE STAGE, NAMELY REZUREX, THE STELLAR CORPSES + LAS PISTOLAS. ALL PLAYED BLINDING SETS AND WERE REALLY GREAT PEOPLE. THANKS TO SAM FOR HER PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS BELOW !
THEE KISS OF DEATH 7 TOOK PLACE ON A WET AND WINDY 31ST JULY 2008. I WAS PROUD TO PRESENT LEGENDARY USA ROCKERS THE QUAKES WHO WERE SUPPORTED BY A STERLING LINE UP COMPRISING A SAILORS GRAVE,BROUGHTON HACKETT & THE GEIN BROTHERS (cheers for stepping into the breach at the last minute !) + THE GRAVEYARD JOHNNYS. THANKS TO ALL WHO BRAVED THE WEATHER AND SUPPORTED THE NIGHT (and thanks to Sam for some of the pics below !)
THEE KISS OF DEATH 8 WAS ON 20 SEPTEMBER AT TJS. DESPITE THE OPTIC NERVES BEING UNABLE TO PLAY, BRILLIANT PERFORMANCES WERE GIVEN FROM THE GRAVEYARD JOHNNYS, LAS PISTOLAS AND THE GRIT. ONE OF THE BEST NIGHTS TO DATE - BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY MICHELE AND HER FANTASTIC EFFORTS ON THE TILL !!!!
THEE KISS OF DEATH 9 WAS ON 18 OCTOBER 2008. AGAIN, FOUR AMAZING BANDS - HOLLYWOOD SUICIDE, LUNA VEGAS, THE HIP PRIESTS AND HEADLINING - VINCE RAY AND THE BONESHAKERS. GREAT NIGHT ALTHOUGH VERY LATE AS HOPING TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE IN AS POSSIBLE, SO BIG THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAD REALLY LATE NIGHTS AND THANKS TO THE BANDS FOR PUTTING ON STORMING PERFORMANCES WHEN OTHER PEOPLE WERE TUCKED UP IN BED !!! SOME GREAT PICS BELOW, FROM THE MARVELLOUS SAM !! THANKS TO EMMA FOR DOOR DUTIES AND EVERYONE WHO MADE THE EFFORT TO COME - WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT, I COULDN'T KEEP THESE NIGHTS GOING.
WE MADE IT TO THE 10TH KISS OF DEATH !!!! 2ND DECEMBER 2008 SAW THOSE FABULOUS PEACOCKS HEADLINE, WITH SUPPORT FROM LOCAL FAVES, GRAVEYARD JOHNNYS, BRIGHTON'S BEST DRESSED - RADIO CITY RIOT AND EXETER'S DEAD CITY STEREO .... THANK TO ALL WHO MADE THE EFFORT ON A TUESDAY ! THANKS TO LIZ BARKER FOR SOME OF THE MARVELLOUS SHOTS BELOW ...
THEE LAST KISS OF DEATH FOR 2008 WAS ON 12 DEC AT LE PUB. ALL MY NIGHTMARES CAME TRUE WHEN I RECEIVED SEVERAL CALLS FROM STRESSED OUT, MANCHESTER-BASED BAND MEMBERS WHO COULDN'T GET TO WALES OWING TO MAJOR ACCIDENTS ON BOTH MAIN ROUTES DOWN. THEY HAD THE OPTION OF TRAVERSING THE WELSH MOUNTAINS, AND POSSIBLY ARRIVING ON THE RIGHT DAY OR CALLING IT A QUITS AND TURNING BACK, THEN GOING OUT AND GETTING PISSED - WHICH IS WHAT I RECOMMENDED !!! SHIT HAPPENS, AND BOTH A SAILORS GRAVE AND THE ADJUSTERS WILL BE PLAYING FOR ME NEXT YEAR. DEADBEAT DELUXE - BACK TOGETHER AFTER A 10 MONTH HIATUS AND WITH A NEW LINE UP, WERE BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER AND PLAYED A BLINDING SET AFTER ONLY 14 HOURS OF REHEARSALS !!! HUGELY IMPRESSIVE SO
KEEP YOUR EYES AND EARS OPEN FOR THEM NEXT YEAR !!! GRAVEYARD JOHNNYS WERE PREDICTABLY EXCELLENT - AGAIN, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY CHECK 'EM OUT NEXT YEAR, YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED !! HUGE THANKS TO COLIN CREAMCROP FOR LOADS OF GREAT PICS !!!
THEE FIRST KISS OF DEATH FOR 2009 HAPPENED ON VALENTINE'S DAY AND WHAT A NIGHT IT WAS. BEST EVER TURNOUT, LOADS OF NEW FACES AND AN AMAZING GIG FROM START TO FINISH. GRAVEYARD JOHNNYS WERE ON FIRE AND PLAYED ONE OF THEIR BEST SHOWS TO DATE, THE HYPERJAX WERE FANTASTIC AND I WILL DEFINITELY BE INVITING THEM BACK AGAIN AND DEMENTED ARE GO ? SHOWMEN TIL THE END !! HUGE THANKS TO STRIPE FOR DJ-ING AND THE LOVELY KATIE FOR ALL HER HELP ! FINALLY, A BIG THANKS TO ALL WHO DONATED PRIZES FOR THE BEST DRESSED - TRUFFLESHUFFLE, VS2 GIFTWARE, TOXICO, LIPSTATTOO AND MISS FORTUNE - IF YOU WON A PRIZE, PLEASE SEND ME PICS OF YOU WITH IT !!!!
THEE KISS OF DEATH #13 HAPPENED ON 29 MAY 2009. THE GRIT WERE SHOCKED TO ARRIVE IN NEWPORT AND SEE THE SUN WAS OUT - FIRST TIME EVER !!! EXCELLENT SHOW, DEADBEAT DELUXE KICKED OFF THE NIGHT, FOLLOWED BY THE SUPERB SICK LIVERS WHO'S DEBUT PERFORMANCE CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS 'STORMING'! MORAL DILEMMA PRECEEDED THE MIGHTY GRIT - WHO PLAYED TRACKS FROM THEIR AMAZING NEW CD. BRILLIANT NIGHT, AMAZING ATMOSPHERE AND LOADS OF GREAT PEOPLE ! THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR COMING !!!
THEE KISS OF DEATH #14 WAS ON 18 JULY 2009 AND HOSTED FOUR BRILLIANT BANDS. THE HYPERJAX HEADLINED AFTER AN AMAZING SUPPORT TO DAG EARLIER ON THIS YEAR AT TJS, ACES AND EIGHTS MADE THEIR FIRST VISIT DOWN AND LOCAL BANDS, GRAVEYARD JOHNNYS AND DEADBEAT DELUXE COMPLETED THE BILL. GREAT NIGHT HAD BY ALL. BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THE EFFORT, AND TO JULIAN FOR SOME OF THE PICS HERE !
PLACES TO STAY FOR GIG-GOERS/BANDS
I have added this bit simply because I personally travel to gigs and know what a drag it can be finding somewhere cheap and decent to rest your head after boozing all night.
The TRAVELODGE has just opened in Central Newport. 10 mins walk to Tjs and round the corner from Le Pub. You can get rooms for £19 a double if you book 21 days in advance !!! Here's the link ...
http://www.travelodge.co.uk/saver_rooms/
Check out the ETAP NEWPORT - only opened in June 08 - offers basic, clean accommodation for the mere price of £32 per room for up to three people. Free, safe carpark + 10 mins walk or about £3 in a cab from Tjs.
Who I'd like to meet:
It's always a joy to meet anyone who supports the 'drinkinggwenzilla presents ...' gigs, comes along and who helps me promote via myspace etc.
I am always delighted to meet people who like to drink excessively and stay up all night enjoying themselves.
Just stopping by to say hi and give you some news. The award winning album 'Welcome To Murraysville' from Phil Murray and the Boys From Bury is available worldwide from CD Baby and directly from the merchandise page of the official website. You can also get the album from Apple iTunes, MSN Music, Rhapsody, Napster, Amazon and many more.
J'sais pas si t’es au courant mais en 2010 c’est la fin du monde !!! Alors profites en vite, sors toi les miches de ton canapé et viens assister à nos messes d’enfer. Une chance ultime de sauver ton âme d’un paradis chiantissime
Online Now!
hope you have time to check out a few tunes
