Hello again…thanks for dropping by and as promised a new post to go hand in hand with a new day. I was working today and quietly having a very normal quiet morning with a cup of coffee when I turned on the BBC (online of course – I don’t have the world service aerial rigged up these days) when the news from Cumbria started being broadcast. So much for a peaceful morning and I’ll not even try and understand that sort of carnage which thankfully is a very rare event in the UK, but with Dunblane and Hungerford still in the memory that’s often enough for me. I hope that the communities impacted pull together after such a dark dark day – not much more to add. The Cumbrian coast and Lakes are amongst the nicest parts of England, which only adds to this surreal event shrouding those towns.

Fortunately a bit further South in Manchester, Manchester Rugby Club hosted a much happier event this past weekend. Strummercamp was apparently a huge success and under normal circumstances (the blog being up and running!) I’d have been able to be part of the build up to this years event. The two day non-profit festival celebrates the life and influence of Joe and was well attended again this year. The lineup was sadly lacking The Godfathers (what a great live band…I saw a few of their St. Valentine’s Day shows back in the day) but still offered a great festival where you didn’t have to travel into the wilds of the West country to get a fix of good music and entertainment. A good summary appears on this post from e-festivals.co.uk. If you happened to attend last weekend please write in and share your report!

Off topic (back to the old flow, you’re probably used to this) a great friend of the blog tells me that the new Iron Man film (imaginatively titled Iron Man 2…or IM2 she regaled me) features two songs by The Clash during the comic book turned Robert Downey career resurrection vehicle. Should I Stay popped up early on but of course that’s been used by Hollywood (and Levis) on prior shifts, more encouragingly Magnificent Seven also makes an appearance. Can you imagine….little Billy marveling (pun intended) at the antic of Iron Man and you’re mumbling ‘Cold Water in The Face’.

Trying to pull all the loose ends together, but as you might recall Carbon Silicon (Mick’s proper band) played a unlikely gig in Zagreb, Yugoslavia (fuck it I’m going old school) in early May and a very enjoyable video surfaced of the event. Thus you’ll find it beneath for your viewing pleasure.

We’ve got plenty of videos to get through including so many of Mick and Paul it may have been a good thing I wasn’t bombarding you with those the last 6 weeks. Back soon – and thanks for your messages condoning my return.

Tim