Writing, recording producing my own songs and videos. Performing my music as a busker. And of course making my own movies and video diary of my life and performances.
And I've been doing it since the age of 14.
My lucky number is 4. Below are four video clips. Starting with a very early video taken when I was 21, singing my song "A Million Miles Away" getting ready for an audition for TV talent show "Opportunity Knocks." However it didn't knock... I didn't pass the audition to get on the show.
A Million Miles Away
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The third clip is the most recent, taken March 2007 at the Bridlington Jam Night. For while opportunity didn't knock all those years ago, an opportunity did knock for me to sing a song that seemed to have followed me wherever I go, Bob Dylans "Knocking On Heavens Door", a song I learnt 12 years ago in a psyciatric unit recovering from two suicide attempts... where I literally did knock on heavens door... but was refused entry!
knocking on heavens door- brid jam night
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But the final clip is when I fulfilled an ambition in the saddest way. Having sang outside Bath Abbey it was always a dream of mine to perform inside. That occured when sadly Bath busker of many years Peter "Piper/Potter" Attenborough who played penny whistle regularly to accompany my songs died. His funeral was held at the Abbey and I performed "Danny Boy", a song we often played, accompanied by fellow buskers Kevin Eric Gardner on guitar, Jools on accordian and a wonderful penny whistle solo by Fiona Coulter. Set to video I took of Peters funeral.
Peter RIP
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I love comedy too. I have written many sketches and at times performed them. Of course as mentioned I was a childrens entertainer also for 15 years and performed over 2,000 shows. They were great fun and seemed to be enjoyed not just by the kids, but also the adults present too. I wrote the show on two levels.. so while there were things for the kids to laugh at there was also a line for the adults to keep their interest and refrain from chattering over the show. A bit like the Simpsons.
Music
I write my own... check it at www.myspace.com/happygrod check out more free mp3s & more at www.geocities.com/grodcds
We all get our 15 minutes of fame... and mine was playing an outdoor concert at Royal Victoria Park where I got and impromtu band together, and is still the only ever live performance of "Grod Groddler & The Grodlings"
Below is three video clips taken from the rehersals,featuring my songs "This Lady Is My New Song Of Tommorow" "Sing To Me Sweetly" and "Time For Amendment."
This is followed by two video clips of the actual concert, live at the Royal Victoria Park "Soundsfree Festival"
This Lady Is My New Song Of Tommorow
Vanity Fair Grod Appearance .. Add to My Profile | More Videos
I appeared briefly in "Vanity Fair" as an extra. They turned me into a victorian gentleman with large sideburns! I made the final cut too... being shown briefly walking behind Bob Hoskins as he approaches a door in a scene shot on Great Pultney Street in Bath. But of course keeping a video diary I made some behind the scenes footage, as shown below!
Grod Groddler - Vanity Fair
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Of course I make my own movies too, from my video diary, set to music I have written and recorded, in my project and musical documentary of my life "Diary Of A Millionaire"
Here are two clips from that musical documentary.
The first "Mabuza", is dedicated to the memory of Bath busker and sax player Jorge Mabuza, but featuring the press publicity from the Bath Chronicle regarding the council trying to ban my amplifier, then me, claiming I was too loud even without my amp!
The second is a keyboard piece I wrote and recorded, "Cascade" and the video is a memorium of the death of "Grod Groddler" !! Because after the attempts to ban him in Bath so everyone could "Rest In Peace." In fact I have made a seperate documentary about this period in a 6 one-hour DVD series "Rest In Peace Grod Groddler"
mabuza
Comedies, music & documentries. So check out the the two documentries made about my work as a childrens entertainer and also my TV appearences, on BBC 2's "Every Home Should Have One"
wire tv interview
I rarely read.. I am a writer! So if I don't read it's hard for me to accused of plagourism.
I used to read "The Good Book" but the only "Good Book" I now strongly recommend is Richard Dawkins "The God Delusion" and here is a video of him talking about this book. Buy it as a Christmas present!
But also, if you didn't catch it earlier in my "Who I'd Like To Meet" section (& more below in my "Hero's" section) HERE IS THE VIDEO of "THE GOD DELUSION" from the series "Root of All Evil" ... presented by none other then Richard Dawkins himself.
And so I wrote my own book, a diary. Something I have done since the age of 12, except I then turned into a video diary, and then a musical diary documentary, "The Diary Of A Millonaire"
Playing the role of Grod Groddler has been a challange. He was meant to be just a fictional character in a musical I wrote when I was 21. But I then brought him to life in my work as a musician/songwriter/performer, to distingish as a different entity of my other moniker "Happy Graham." "Grod Groddler" allowed my other sides of my character to be brought out, my musical side, my serious and depressive side and occasionally my anger.
But there again, the characters name was based on my old school nickname, "Grod", so in many ways I've been Grod for most of my life!
See below the clip from my musical documentry "Diary Of A Millionaire", the opening sequence of the film "Reign-Grod Groddler", featuring the keyboard piece I wrote "Reign" and clips showing "The birth and early life of Grod", from cine film taken by my father. The first chapter of my musical book.
reign _ grod groddler
Eric Clapton! I even got his autograph on a party invite for my 21st birthday saying sorry he couldn't attend... even though there was an Eric Clapton theme to the party. "Layla" is my favourite song of all time and I've been singing "Wonderful Tonight" in my sets since the age of 14!
But below is a video clip of me rehearsing with my student band "No Names Mentioned" the Eric Clapton version of JJ Cales song "Cocaine"... with Grod attempting to copy Eric's famous lead guitar solo!
Cocaine
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Another hero of mine is Father Christmas! Always loved him as a kid... all kids do. He brings much happiness with his presents each year. And so when years later as a kids entertainer I was offered the role to play Santa at Debenhams in Swindon, I just couldn't turn it down! Being Father Christmas is the only job you enter into knowing you'll get the sack on Christmas Eve. It's part of the contract, it's the "Santa Clause!"
Santa Grod
About me: GRODFEST2008 FINALE!xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
GRODFEST FINALE Knocking On Heavens Door ..
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First things first... if you haven't already... watch the film Zeitgeist and enlighten yourself. Pop the link below in your browser.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-594683847743189197
And also the next it's easy to call the person below crazy, unless it's happening to you. Only the recent advent of the internet and video has it been monitored, reported, and victims can contact each other, you are not alone. There are many more vids on youtube.
They say music is your friend... well'll I've made friends with all my CD's! Check my friends section and you will see them all, click on them and enjoy the four free downloads for each one.!XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
GRODFEST! BIRTHDAY CONCERT 20th APRIL- Cellars
SEE MY BLOG!!
SNEAK PREVIEW OF LIVE REHEARSAL WITH "THE ACOUSTIC PROJECT!"
break heart ..
NEW VID BELOW FROM MY RECENT TRIP TO SLOVAKIA!
knockms .. Add to My Profile | More Videos
Hi! I am Grod Groddler... a busker seen mainly playing by the Abbey Squares in Bath from 1998 to 2005. More recently in Scarborough, Bridlington, occasionally in York and Canterbury.
VIEW THESE PICS INDIVIDUALLY IN THE "PICS" SECTION!
MORE MUSIC!!! I have set up a MYSPACE for each of my CD's!
Each one has 4 tracks from the CD to listen and DOWNLOAD!
Some even have videos also of live performances of the songs or special videos created I've created to accompany the tracks. FREE! That's how nice I am. But please then buy the CD by email from here or via ebay/grodgroddler.
Paste the links from here into your browser or simply use the active links in my BLOG!
The mp3's are at the following sites. Enjoy them, rank them, use them, download them. I'll leave it up to you to pay, but please do. This, is my work, I give freely... but in the belief that people will respond.
http://www.myspace.com/grodgroddlerlookingfortrouble
http://www.myspace.com/grodgroddleryoursmine
http://www.myspace.com/grodgroddlerdiaryofamillionaire
http://www.myspace.com/grodgroddlergrodsong
http://www.myspace.com/grodgroddlergreyfield
http://www.myspace.com/174906077 (The Three Tenners)
http://www.myspace.com/grodgroddlerunnoxxwwxx
http://www.myspace.com/grodgroddlerthekitchensessions
http://www.myspace.com/grodgroddlertolivethelifeofchrist
http://www.myspace.com/grodgroddlergrodlive
http://www.myspace.com/ggfantasy
http://www.myspace.com/grodgroddlerhaveagrodxmas
http://www.myspace.com/ggfantasy
Maybe invite to come and play in your town/city and am open to offers of concerts. here's a couple or so examples of me busking live. Including "Vincent", "Where Do you go To my Lovely", "Medley of Everley Brothers", "Ob-la-de-bl-da" and "Wonderful Tonight"
VINCENT
Vincent
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CHECK OUT MY VIDEOS BELOW AND MORE IN THE VIDEO SECTION!
What you read see and hear on this website is the Grod's honest truth.
For ten years I have kept a video diary, including my performances as a childrens entertainer "Happy Graham", as busker/singer-songwriter/recording artiste "Grod Groddler" and personal blogs... even before blogs weren't invented!
But I was always working on a project, to produce a musical documentry of my life, featuring the music I wrote, recorded and performed and using my video diary clips of the successes and struggles of my life as a self-employed performing artiste, including my personal life and the relations I entered into.
The concept was based on a fictional musical I wrote aged 21, but became a reality when I took on the role of the fictional character "Grod Groddler" and brought him to life.
I decided to perform as an entertainer to the age of 40, then put together the story and publish it, keeping a firm eye on the development of technology and the internet. The whole thing is my own work and done in poverty. Everything you see and here is my own work, with no help from anyone. Even on my recordings I wrote the songs (except the obvious covers) play all the instruments, sing all the vocals, recorded and produced it all by myself on a cheap PC. Then set about producing the videos to tell the story.
The musical was always going to be called "Diary Of A Millionaire."
It was completed a year ago... but remains largely unseen. But is only now it is being revealed. And anyone who has preconceptions that I am a millionaire, I was made bankrupt two years ago.
I have since been discharged from bankruptcy. But make no mistake, despite my Honours degree in Business Studies and Chartered Diploma in Marketing, my life has not been about making money but living a life entertaining others. That my life bring joy to others as an entertainer and that has been my dedication.
But if you want to help me be a millionaire and enjoy my MYSPACE and websites, which have been created from my dedication of my life to my art then simply contact me here to buy my CD's and DVD's or from ebay. Or if you see me busking, which I still occasionally do.
But there again I've lived the last 15 years off an income of around £5,000. it's what I do with my time that's been most important, not the money. I want to bring joy, and make people think about what they are doing in their own lives and relationships, with their friends, family and lover.
The "trailer" of my musical documentry is shown below, set to my song, "Diary Of a Millionaire"
diary of a millionaire - single
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Below is a short video of me busking one of my own compositions "All Those Lost years" which I wrote in Bath while staying briefly with a friend in Great Pultney Street. Occasionally other musicians who travel to Bath ask if they can play with me, and on this occasion it was two wonderful violin players from Slovakia, Eva & Maria.
Maria & Grod "All Those Lost Years" Bath Aug 2006
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However I am also a songwriter and recorded 11 CD's. All the recordings are my own work.I have done everything I have done in my life with a budget of pennies. Just the desire to do it. Without any support whatsoever...in fact quite the opposite.
Like when officials in Bath tried to stop me busking claiming my amplifier was too loud, though they received just four complaints in 9 months of busking to thousands. It ruined my income, took away my joy of busking and the pleasure my performances gave the tourists, and also the Bath locals who very supportive. In the campaign to have the ban lifted the story was covered by BBC South West News.
bbc sw news amp ban
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I briefly took refuge in Yorkshire playing in York, where they welcomed me and my amplifier and my act was very much appreciated On hearing of the ban in Bath I was invited to do an interview with Radio Humberside, which gave me the opportunity to express my feelings and the motivations behind my busking and life dedicated to entertaining people. The interview can be heard in the video below, also featuring some of the publicity in the media I was receiving, especially in Bath's local paper, The Bath Chronicle.
Grod Groddler- Radio Humberside Interview
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Refusing to remove the ban I returned busking acoustically, with a sing-along set. Only for the officials to then claim I was too loud even without an amplifier. It was obvious this was just a witch hunt against me.
HTV News Grod too loud even without his amp!
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It seemed that Bath Council had decided they were going to get rid of busking in Bath. And that would be a great shame. I imagined that if all the musical buskers got together at the end of each day and played an improvised symphony together at dusk it would be a specatular event for the tourists. So I wrote a special piece using only instruments that could be heard on the streets of Bath and called it "Duskbusk." I then set it to video clips of the various busking acts who entertain both the locals and tourists... but could soon be just a memory if Bath & North East Somerset Council has their way. And that video "Duskbusk is shown below.
duskbusk
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With the public support I received, and also the media highlighting my campaigns I returned to busking acoustically in Bath. In fact doing so vastly improved my singing voice as I learned to project it, it actually made me a better singer, and not restricted to singing down a microphone also allowed me to dance and move around my audience... it became a whole new act. But show I genuinely loved Bath and wanted to help make it a good place I even stood in the local Council elections as an Independant in the Abbey Ward. Then a couple of years later I even stood in the General Election, my deposit paid for by several of Bath's city center businesses, who felt rather then a public nusiance, I was good for Bath. It could have been Grod Groddler MP! And proof I have no criminal record, otherwise you can't stand to be an MP.
Hear more tracks of mine at www.myspace.com/happygraham
Or check out www.geocities.com/grodcds including mp3 downloads from www.geocities.com/grodcds This site also gives the stories behind the songs, CD's including the song lyrics.
Or buy "The Complete Grod" CD-ROM with 88 mp3s and 25 videos from EBAY! Just type in Grod Groddler in the search engine of e-BAY for lists of the cd's and DVD's.
You can also find out more from www.geocities.com/unbangrod
Who I'd like to meet: A wonderful woman who doesn't lie! But knows about how to enjoy life and has mutual interests.
And while that includes music, comedy, fine wine and dining. But no-one I think would blame me for being cautious to whoever I trust with my heart, mind and sperm in the future.
So if you are over 21, loving, caring, into music comedy, fun and fantasy, want kids, then after four years of being celebate and single, recovering from the despair and to make repair of my heart, my hats in the ring. I'm ready to smile and play again.
(Sorry gay guys, I'm totally stright and always have been.)
I would like to echo Johns sentiments there, and just say that it was very whimsical very inspirational and just a jolly good show, looking forward to the next one.
I've still not completley read your myspace contents or listened to most of your music, but it doesn't take a genious to summarize the fact that you are talented, intelligent, and a very charismatic person! Thanks for enriching my life just by being in the world!!! You're outstanding and unique!!!
Alright my son - how goes it? I've had a lunatic couple of months, mostly involving alcohol and loud music. Things have settled down a bit now and my head has stopped spinning.
