Music, some sports, films, reading, internet, travel, music history, rock 'n' roll.
Music
The Stooges, Iggy Pop, David Bowie, MC5, New York Dolls, Television, Lou Reed, Bad Company, Free, The Clash, Sex Pistols, The Damned, Mott the Hoople, Pink Fairies, The Ramones, The Stranglers, The Jam, Led Zeppelin, Social Distortion, Backyard Babies, Dream Theater, plus most things rock 'n' roll!
Movies
Favourites include, Midnight Run, Still Crazy, Spinal Tap,
Mask, American Beauty, Midnight Express, U-Turn, Bitter Moon, Payback, Helldrivers, The Full Monty, Elephant Man, Silence of the Lambs, The Shawshank Redemption.
Television
TV is finished.
Books
Currently reading "No More Heros" by Alex Ogg. A must read book for any punk rock 'n' roll music fan.
Heroes
All my heros are listed in the music listings, but I'd especially like to thank Arthur Kane (NEW YORK DOLLS), Andy Fraser (FREE), the late Boz Burrell (BAD COMPANY) and John Paul Jones (LED ZEPPELIN) for inspiring me to take up bass in the early '70's. Of recent bass players, John Myung (DREAM THEATER) and Johan Blomquist (BACKYARD BABIES)are a constant inspiration to me.
About me:
I am currently the bassist with The Machines, a punk rock 'n' roll band initally formed in 1977 by Nick Paul, in the style of The Ramones, Heartbreakers, New York Dolls etc. The band now features founder Nick Paul (NME: "this guitarist is so beautifully crazed even John Lennon himself would be proud to achieve this sound") with myself on bass and backing vocals, and the wonderful powerhouse drumming of Steve Pegrum, driving the songs behind Nick's crazed guitar playing.
Before The Machines reformed in 2006, Nick and I formed and played together in a band called, Raw Power (look us up on WWW.SOUTHENDPUNK.COM) which we named after our favourite Stooges album. We both loved American rock 'n' roll, like the Stooges, New York Dolls, MC5, Lou Reed etc, and these all featured in our Raw Power set, together with many Nick Paul songs. We caused mayhem at every gig we played, and we were highly popular with the local Hell's Angels, but we burnt out a year or so later, frustrated we could not break out of the local Southend R & B scene.
I played in a few local bands, but I was restless and totally fed up playing in bands that were going nowhere, especially after the excitement of Raw Power, so I retired from playing in bands to build a business.
The Machines - With The Machines - Live at The Bridgehouse 2
In 2003, Nick and I got together again. We went straight into the studio to work on some new songs.
In 2005 we met top drummer Steve Pegrum, and we started a tough schedule of studio sessions, resulting in The Machines reforming and playing gigs. We are currently aiming to play as many gigs as possible, including the USA, Europe and Asia. We are also planning to release a further EP, then a full CD. Have a look at our website WWW.THE-MACHINES.COM or click 'The Machines friends link' below to view our myspace site (WWW.MYSPACE.COM/77MACHINES) for all the latest news.
The Machines had a UK top 20 'alternative chart' hit EP in 1978 called "True Life", which is listed in Record Collectors' '100 most collectable punk records'. Various tracks from the EP have featured on many punk albums around the world, and has sold thousands of copies over the years. The Machines are the first two tracks featured on the new Bored Teenagers 4 CD, released July 2006 on the Bin Liner record label (www.detourrecords.com) offering a different version of 'You Better Hear' and our usual show opener 'Racing'.
The Machines - Racing - Live at The Bridgehouse 2
The Machines were voted 'top UK punk band' on a Japanese website.
Noisy Fanzine reviewed our live performance as 'brilliant' and our five track promo EP 'more iggy pop than sex pistols, fast, yet melodic punk illustrate the band's current direction'.
Total Rock Radio featured three new Machines tracks (Girl in Black, Weekend & Sue This Song)on their 'New World Order' show on 30th July 2007, saying on air 'we were pretty bloody fantastic' and emailed us saying the tracks were 'awesome'. We have also had our promo EP featured on radio stations in America, Germany, Italy, Portugal, France, Japan and Thailand, as well as many UK stations.
Bubblegum Slut Fanzine reviewed us as 'classic punk rock, served New York Style'
Street Voice ezine reviewed our promo CD in November 2007, saying, 'I have to say their sound also contains something fresh and vibrant that is missing from many punk bands doing the rounds today. In fact they sound much better than many of the larger punk bands that have reformed. If you love the early punk sound, then check out this band'
Mystery Island USA (www.mysteryisland.net) said 'you guys still have an incredibly honest sound'
London Music Directory said 'we describe their sound as free, strong and independent'
Andy Weeden, Sound Engineer at the Rebellion Festival 2008 said 'I love engineering for high quality acts, and it was a pleasure engineering for you - awesome performance'
To book us, contact us, purchase Machines merchandise, or our classic EP on CD format, write to us at 77machines@gmail.com. You can also contact us through this, or The Machines myspace site, where you can also hear two tracks from the 1978 hit EP, plus some new songs recorded, with the reformed line up, in 2007.
Click on the 'dont be fooled' video below and 'my videos' to watch us in action, and if you see us on a bill, come and watch some great rock n roll '77 style!!...it'll be an evening to remember and you wont be disappointed!!
Finally, I play a 1974 Fender Jazz bass for gig and studio work, although I have 4 Fender Jazz basses as backup, I use Marshall amps and Rotosound strings. By the way, Tash is the nickname given to me by Nick because of an inability to pronounce moustache correctly!
Who I'd like to meet: Backyard Babies, Mike Ness, Andy Fraser, John Myung, John Paul Jones, David Bowie, New York Dolls, Iggy Pop and anyone who can promote The Machines to where we should be!
THATS RIGHT WHERE BACK IN OUR OLD STOMPING GROUND OF SOUTHEND AFTER NOT PLAYING HERE SINCE LAST SEPTEMBER!!! WE'VE BEEN ON A FEW MINI TOURS AT THE END AND BEGINING OF THIS YEAR AND HAVE BEEN PLAYING REGULARLY UP IN LONDON AND WHERE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK PLAYING IN OUR HOME TOWN! IT SHOULD BE AN EXCELLENT GIG AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY ALL THE REST OF THE BANDS ARE EXCELLENT ON THE BILL AND I KNOW ALREADY THAT THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE PLANNING TO COME DOWN FOR THIS GIG SO MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR ARSE DOWN THERE AND GET THERE EARLY AS WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU THERE!!..
To all who have entered or plan on entering my "Bomb Ass Anime Music Video Contest" the deadline is July 4th. See the blog to watch videos already entered and enter your own AMV homes. Thanks a bazilliondey.
Just stopping by to say hi and give you some news. The new album 'Welcome To Murraysville' from Phil Murray and the Boys From Bury is now 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.
hi! iam wolfgang the guitarist of dreamscape. we should learn to be the best persons we can be and our world will change. i try. but it's not as easy as playing guitar in a high class band...
H. Jackson Brown: Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most talents are, to some extent, a gift. Good character, by contrast, is not given to us. We have to build it, piece by piece -- by thought, choice, courage, and determination.
kind regards! DREAMSCAPE (progressive metal from germany) (new cd september 2009! - buy or let die!)
hi! iam wolfgang the guitarist of dreamscape. we are part of your myspace family.
"You've got to follow your passion. You've got to figure out what it is you love. who you really are. And have the courage to do that. I believe that the only courage anybody ever needs is the courage to follow your own dreams." O.W.
we follow our passion! we love to make music with dreamscape! what's about your dreams?
kind regards! DREAMSCAPE (progressive metal from germany) (new cd spring 2009!)
Thanks for the kind comments. Yes, this was a bit of a surprise, but a nice one.
Look forward to seeing you soon, and tell that percussionist of yours that my entire archive of wholly shitty photography is his for the taking when he can make it over!
Hi, thanks for joining us. Would be nice if we would stay in contact. By the way: Our new album "Sweet Borderliner" will be released in August. Check it out here.
Good luck and all the best for you. Greetz from Hamburg, Germany. Bernd www. dorrn. de
McGreetings Tash - The Machines, Cheers for being our friend on myspace and we sincerely hope you enjoyed our music. Please Keep in touch as we value your friendship and support very much! All the very best to you, from McDave and the boys of Pegasus in Bonnie Scotland. ROCK ON! and have a great weekend.
Thanks for your interest in Bloody Tourists. If you have not signed up yet, Click the banner below to claim your free songs and you may even win yourself a t-shirt and vinyl. Speak soon
PURE CULT will be playing a full, headlining show at Club Riga,London Road, Westcliff (near Southend) on thursday 28th february. They will be playing material mainly drawn from the 'Dreamtime','Love','Electric' & 'Sonic Temple' albums and guarantee a great show, featuring all the hits and more! PEACE! -PURE CULT.x.
Many thanks for the kind words - very sorry I couldn't make it on Saturday but I'm sure I'll be at another gig soon! Have a great Christmas and new year!
Hallo! Hope you're well. This is our very first auto-comment, so please excuse us =] It's about the new single so we hope you understand.
Our single "The Digerati" is out on Monday 5th November! -Please order it by texting "F451" to 78789 - costs just £1.50, you then get a code to download it =] (UK) -Or go to www.indiestore.com/F451 to download it for 77p (worldwide) -You can see the amazing AphidEye Productions video for it on our front page
This is something we've been working towards as a band for a long time, so please order it - it's chart-registered and we've got a great chance of breaking the outer reaches of the chart!
Thanks very much mate, glad you're liking the single and thank you kindly for the nice words. A Machines F451 gig would be good, we're a bit hopeless on the organisational front at the moment but if anything crops up give us a shout. Cheers =] Jez
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