Music Inspiration

I love music. It is my church and I sing from the gospels of rock, pop, blues and electro. The messiahs in my church are Morrison, Hendrix, Albarn, Smith and Barrett and I sing their praises at least once a week.

Okay, enough of the preaching already, but as a songwriter myself I have always marveled at the creative powers of all these names and how they were inspired to write the classics which make them the legends they are today.

Look at Damon Albarn for example. One of his early inspirations was Ray Davies and The Kinks and after a torrid tour in America with Blur he came up with the concept of a trio of classic archetypal British albums, ‘Modern Life Is Rubbish, Parklife and The Great Escape’, telling stories based around stereotypes, young lovers on Portobello Road and the day to day lives of everyday people from these British Isles. Every Blur album since then has owed to Albarn’s forever changing vision, from the loud Pavement influenced self titled album to the dark n subued 13 to his African hip hop fused cartoon group Gorillaz, he is a rock chameleon who will keep changing until he finds a musical skin that fits.

Jim Morrison on the other hand was inspired by the crooners of the 1950s like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin but was also heavily influenced by non musical factors like Greek mythology and poets such as William Blake a memory of a dead Indian at the side of the road after he witnessed the aftermath of a fatal road accident as a young boy, an image that burned into his psyche and of which he included in his work, making The Doors truly one of the all time great rock bands and turning Morrison himself into one of Music’s unforgettable icons.

The same can be said about Jimi Hendrix, whose decadent lifestyle and flamboyant stage presence preceded anything Freddie Mercury and Queen were doing by least 8 years. He was inspired by musicians such as Chuck Berry, Little Richard and James Brown, the stars who he played guitar for while he was working at his art. Without these people to show him the way artistically then the progression into acid rock may never have happened and Hendrix’s image as a Guitar Hero may never have surfaced.

Marc Bolan was one of the first Glam Rock icons of the 1970s, and he was influencing his peers such as David Bowie, Brain Eno and Elton John with his bright and colourful. His inspiration on the fellow rock stars around him at the time, like Hendrix, was having a huge affect on what became a whole new genre and he is just as influential to modern day bands like Kasabian and Placebo that he did back then. Without Bolan, there would have been no Bowie, therefore no The Smiths then no Franz Ferdinand and a whole host of modern day bands would sound a hell of a lot different. The Butterfly Effect in music form.

Those icons of the past, present and future are musical magpies. They have picked up the best aspects of what has gone before and have been influenced by the beautiful yet edgy aspects of what they have listened to.

And although some would argue that the quality of guitar bands has fallen over the last 15 years, there are still shining lights out there who will continue to have an effect on the worldwide music scene for years to come. 

Child Out Of Time

Recently, I submitted this article to Doctor Who Magazine about my experience as a Doctor Who fan in the nineties. I was a mere boy but thought my loyal follower(s) would be intetrested in giving it a glimpse.

Today, Doctor Who is one of the best-loved shows on our TV screens, but for long-term fans that were forced to fast for 16 years, there was a time not so long ago when it seemed that their beloved show was gone forever. But how did children who grew up in the 1990s become so captivated by a show that had was not broadcast during their early years? Hayden Gribble tells us his story.

“There are worlds out there where the sky is burning, and the sea’s asleep and the rivers dream, people made of smoke and cities made of song. Somewhere there’s danger, somewhere there’s injustice and somewhere else the tea is getting cold. Come on, Ace, we’ve got work to do”.

As the sunset on the Doctor’s adventures on 6th December 1989, I was just a babe in arms, barely six months old. My adventure had only just begun as another was coming to an end, just as it began to rise out of the murky depths of cancellation, poor plot lines and rather unfairly losing its dignity in a ratings battle with Coronation Street, back then this was no contest.

As I grew up, and became engrossed in books and TV shows about talking cars, puppets fighting Mysterons from Mars and brightly coloured Power Rangers, I was unaware that there was one adventure that I was missing out on, and I have been making up for it ever since.

The journey begun in May 1996, when on a family holiday to Leamington Spa my Father bought the Radiotimes and although I forget what the front cover looked like, my attention was drawn to the short magazine that was stapled in the centre of the TV listings. There were 8 faces floating through space - two in black and white, and upon asking who these men were my Dad replied, “Doctor Who”. “Which one?” I enquired. “All of them”.

I wanted to watch an episode straight away, and I did not have long to wait, as the TV Movie was about to air for the first time. My parents told me that the Doctor was to change in this face halfway through the film, and I was yearning to see more. But when I asked when the next episode would be shown, my Mum told me there wasn’t one.

I remember feeling both thrilled and disappointed with the TV Movie when it was originally broadcast, probably like many of the fans that had also tuned in, but my feeling was for different reasons. Here I had been caught hook, line and sinker by a truly brilliant piece television, but I could not watch anymore. I have never heard of one hour programming that can have such an effect of the imaginative mind of a seven year old since.

The concept of Doctor Who fascinated me right from the word go. An alien traveling through space and time, taking young humans on dangerous and exciting adventures, meeting important figures in history and fighting monsters as brilliant and original as the Daleks, the Cybermen and the Yeti thrived in my imagination. My birthday was just around the corner so I pleaded with parents and grandparents to buy me Doctor Who videos. It was not long until I got my first one, 1983’s Snakedance with Peter Davison, and the more I bugged my elders, little by little my video collection grew.

I used to invite friends around the mine after school to watch a video or two but to varied results. Some were engrossed just as I was a couple of years earlier, one time we even sat down to watch The Abominable Snowmen Episode 2 on The Troughton Years and we all saw past the black and white and polystyrene and gazed into wonderland.

Of all the tapes I owned, and still do, my absolute favourite was that Troughton Years video. The myth of Doctor Who was enhanced greater in my mind when I found that these episodes were the only ones that survived from their stories, and Patrick Troughton quickly established himself as my favourite Doctor. He was like the naughty uncle I never had, and I began writing stories based around the missing episodes and playing them out with my cousins. Heaven knows what my family must of thought when they heard, “Oh my giddy aunt! Jamie! Don’t go in that cave!” belting from my bedroom.

As my childhood dissolved into memory and the angst of adolescence reared it ugly head, I continued to write my own Doctor Who stories, replacing companions with myself and my friends and hiding them in a dusty file under my bed, praying my footballing friends would never see them otherwise I was doomed.

How many 10 year olds do you know who went to a Sci-Fi convention in Clacton and met Deborah Watling and the man who played Chewbacca? Not so many back then, but yet just ten years down the line, the world of Doctor Who is thriving again, the series has arguably never been stronger and children all across the world are playing it in the playground, writing about it when they get home, drawing pictures of Daleks and the Doctor and dreaming that one day they will find the TARDIS on the corner of their road, and they too will be whisked away to another world.

It is fairly safe to say that that one moment back in 1996 shaped my future and is now the main reason why I am a writer. Perhaps one day, when Doctor Who is no longer on our screens or in the public consciousness (heaven forbid) another young boy or girl will come across an old looking, long out of fashion DVD of Matt Smith’s first series, maybe he or she too will fall in love the programme just as we all have. Time will only tell.

My Top 10 Songs In Movies

It is popular knowledge that in moments of nostalgia and extreme boredom that people begin to form Top 10 lists on various things of general interest - especially in pubs. One such list arose at a slow day at work when we asked each other what the best songs from movies were. Here are my personal preferences.


Eye Of The Tiger - Survivor from Rocky III (1982)

It came close, but my all time favourite movie song has go to be Eye of the Tiger which is arguably more memorable than the film it featured in. For nearly 30 years it has put fire back into the bellies of those who lose their confidence and maybe even more but have bounced back to win against the odds, much like Rocky Balboa himself. This song is an effort for the underdog to hit back and the superb opening bars which are timed like the blows of the punches in the ring is one of the best openings to a rock song ever.



Ray Parker Jr - Ghostbusters from..erm...Ghostbusters (1984)

So unashamedly 1980's yet it still remains immensely popular as a film and as a song. But yet, Ghostbusters, both song and movie remain very much of it's time but also firmly in the affections of fans both new and old. A simple yet catchy number, it get's into your head and refuses to budge.



You Could Be Mine - Guns 'N' Roses from Terminator 2; Judgement Day (1991)

Many people confuse this adrenaline pumping GNR track as being for the first Terminator film but it perfectly accompanies the bigger, brighter and ultimately better sequel. Apart from it's shameless inclusion in the pointless and rib ticklingly bad Termnator; Salvation last year, the song bristles with all the cool swagger of a powerful force at the peak of their powers, and Arnie's in the video!!



Live and Let Die - Paul McCartney and Wings - Live and Let Die (1973)

You cannot compile a list of film soundtracks and not mention at least one contribution from the legacy which is the James Bond films. Live and let Die is by far the best of all the soundtracks, starting with a slow Hey Jude-style introduction before exploding into a hectic progression of chords with strings that makes it undeniably Bond but without that it would still have stood up as one of the best efforts from a Post-Beatle.



Stand By Me - Ben E King - Stand By Me (1986)

Another classic 1980's movie ( are you noticing the pattern here?) and another fantastic song. Ben E King recorded the song 21 years before the book The Body was written by Stephen King, which the movie was based on, yet it still fits the sotrylibe perfectly and it's title even became that of the film. It is a call to arms for those who value companionship and the vision of four friends walking along railway tracks becomes stronger because of it.



Don't You Forget About Me - Simple Minds - The Breakfast Club (1985)

If ever a song apitomised a film, a moment and even an era, it is surely this Simple minds classic. Everything about the record screams big hair, loud clothes and even louder youthful rebellion and like a number of films you can't imagine either the film without the song or vice versa.




All Along The Watchtower - The Jim Hendrix Experience - Forrest Gump (1994)

Forrest Gump is a tale told throughout changing times which shaped our modern history and All Along The Watchtower sparkles amongst other gems from the late 1960's. The song sums up all of the turmoil that America was going through in the late 1960's as the effects of Vietnam, the assasinations of JFK and Martin Luther King and LSD took a toll on the western world. Originally written by Bob Dylan, I sense that the reference in the title is that he is watching all of this happen and can't do anything about it. Much like Forrest Gump himself actually.



Stonehenge - Spinal Tap - This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

Stonehenge is perhaps the highpoint of the greatest mock-umentary ever made. Whilst designed to be a send up, it still carries enough weight to a decent song too, but then again that is coming from somebody who's father's record collection consisted of Alice Cooper, Led Zeppelin and Yes, the band's Spinal Tap were deliberately taking the mick out of. It is grandious, pompous, silly and includes an hilarious prop piece in the film, what more would you want from a comedy?



Fools Gold - The Stone Roses - Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)

A late inclusion into one of the best britich films og the 1990's, Fools Gold was originally released as a single 9 years before Lock Stock was even made. The song is the apitome of it's creators, who's brief spell at the zenith of British rock remains a watermark for guitar bands to emulate even to this day. The cool swagger and confidence sums up everything the film is about too, which became a huge hit and launched the career of director Guy Ritchie.




Doubleback - ZZ Top - Back To The Future III (1990)

Of all the songs used in the Back To The Future Trilogy, this one from the beardly blues men just gets the nod past the cult classic The Power Of Love by Huey Lewis And The News from the first film. Doubleback has a rockier edge and becomes a more excessible song as it has not been sent up as much as The Power Of Love. Even if the video is unashamedly 1980's, if you listen and look closely to the band playing at the clock tower party in the film, you will notice that ZZ Top make a guest appearance playing an acoustic version of the chorus!


And there you have it. God i hope I have a more productive day tomorrow to save u lot from another list like this!

A New Man For All Seasons

The wait is nearly over. After the flawed climax to David Tennant's reign as Doctor Who 3 months ago, a growing sense of anticipation is sweeping the who-niverse. In two weeks time, Doctor number 11, Matt Smith picks up the keys to his burning TARDIS and will take die hard fans both young and old on a 13-week adventure through time and space, which I am hoping will stand as the beginning of a new golden age of Doctor Who.

As a long term fan who found the programme as a seven year old slap bang in the middle of the show's hiatus in then nineties, I have grown used to the frequently changing nature of Doctor Who, which regenerates itself every few years so it remains fresh and exciting for the viewing public.

Many a fan, both old and new, have expressed their view that Tennant was and is the best Doctor to hold a sonic screwdriver and that Matt Smith doesn't stand a chance in hell of winning over those fans of David's who may even be baying for blood. This is a load of complete nonsense, as any long term fan of the show will tell you. To paraphrase the brilliant Second Doctor, the show depends on renewal, without it it would not survive.

Before Tennant exploded onto our TV screens in 2005, the Time Lord's shortest incarnation, Christopher Eccleston, had been hailed to take Tom Baker's crown as Top Time Lord. Each new Doctor has brought a new dimension to the role and Smith will make the part his own for however long he travels in time in space.

Another grumble from alot of fans is Smith's age. But people forget that back in 1981, when Peter Davison picked up the baton from Tom Baker, he brought a youthful and naive portrayal and he went on to be one of the very best Doctors (okay I admit there are alot of them). So give Matt Smith a few episodes to settle in and I'm sure you will forget all about David what's his name, you know, the one from Casanova?

Another great sign that the show is in safe hands is the head writer is Steven Moffatt. He has been by far the best writer for the show since Robert Holmes. And I know this may sound blasphamous to many Russell T Davies fans out there, but Moffatt's stories so far have been original, terrifying, full of humour and sentiment. Throw in some memorable monsters and you have the integral ingredients to Doctor Who, the character and the TV show. And I'm not the only person who thinks tihs too, as the statistics prove.

In October 2009, Doctor Who Magazine released the results of the 'Mighty 200' poll, a fan based project to see which story/episode was the best in the show's five decade history. It is unsuprising to me that all four of Moffatt's contributions so far (The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, The Girl In The Fireplace, Blink and Silence In The Libary/Forest of The Dead) were in the top 25, as apposed to RTD who could only claim three and he was the head writer for five years! The problem with RTD is that he relied on an over dependence on old adversaries, tear jerkers and camp shananagans.

So the stability of the countries favourite sci-fi/family show is safe as the show rides gallantly towards 50th anniversary in 2013. Rumour has it that Matt Smith has signed up until then, so if you do decide you don't like him, tough, your stuck with him or take up watching something alot less imaginative like any british soap opera.

I sincerely hope he can turn even those who wear David 'thing-magige' pyjamas (yes I'm looking at you adults too who probably wear such romance-killing doctor who pyjamas). He will be as difficult to ignore as Colin Baker's costume and even in the last 20 seconds of The End of Time, he excelled, leaving many a viewer begging for more, but good things cone to those who wait.

And now, after spoiler campaigns to wet the appetite and pictures we shouldn't have been allowed to see (Daleks, Weeping Angels, new TARDIS and the Doctor playing sunday league football!) we are nearly there.

See you April 3rd for my review of the Eleventh Doctor's debut 'The Eleventh Hour'.

Heres a tribute to the show, sorry for the shit music i didn't make it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AymEpaPsyyw

Mother Goose Review

I wrote a review of Steeple Bumpstead Players pantomime 'Mother Goose' a couple of weeks ago but unfortunately not all of it went in the paper. Here is the unedited version.

Steeple Bumpstead Players and Junipers: Mother Goose



Steeple Bumpstead Village Hall was the venue last Friday as Mother Goose opened to a near capacity audience.

This was Hayley Thorn’s directorial pantomime debut and her influence was seen throughout, especially with the dance scene at the end when the Junipers performed S Club 7’s ‘Reach’.

The pantomime was a usual mix of carry-on innuendo and references to popular movies, with a sound track as diverse as ‘You’re the One I want’ from Grease and ‘Gonna Fly Now’ from Rocky which greeted both Mother Goose and Priscilla the Goose, played by Ann Gladden, onto the stage.

There were also the usual ‘He’s behind you!’ and ‘ Oh no your not’ exchanges between audience and cast, especially when the Demon of Discontent appeared, played by Trevor Bishop, who’s hypnotic yet mad eyes were very much apart of the character we have come accustomed to in a Pantomime villain.

The star of the show was Mother Goose herself as Sheila Bronson delighted the crowd, who took a while to get warmed up, and who definitely became more vocal as the pantomime went on.

Another entertaining performance came from Jo Bishop who played daft as a brush Billy, but who unfortunately was not allowed to throw sweets into the crowd as it is now seen as a health and safety hazard, I like others was not aware that the PC police were in attendance!

Even though the King of Gooseland appeared half way through the second act, the King of Puns was definitely in attendance, shouting “Egg-cellent!” as Priscilla the Goose delivered three gold eggs and heckling, “Your really branching out”, when the Demon of Discontent was turned into a tree after hypnotizing himself.

Overall it went as well as an opening night can go but I am sure that as the Saturday matinee performance looms the audience and the cast will both get into top gear.

When The Year Has A 'One'

'It's lucky for Spurs when they year ends in one' sings Chas N Dave in their 1991 'classic'. But what about in a year with a one in it?

As the blue and white army embarks on the business end to the campaign, there are encouraging signs to say that this year could really be our year. For a start the draw for the semi's couldn't have been kinder. Throughout the season Spurs have been caught short with their trousers down against Wolves (twice - oh the pain), Stoke at home and away to Everton, and in each round against Leeds and Bolton, we either haven't taken our chances or just have not been at our best on the day, but after a masterclass of organisation against Fulham, I am hoping, I am praying, that we have scoring boots on next wednesday and capitalize on the brilliant prospect of beating Pompey in the semi's, who are going down quicker than a nymphomaniac miner.

However the flame of spirit has been ignited in Portsmouth during their FA Cup run, mich in the way both Gazza and our financial mess spurred (whoops i punned) us on last time we lifted the cup.

Another reason why this could be Tottenham's year is the form of three players who at the start of the season barely got a look in.

Gareth Bale, once the unlucky charm of the spurs team, has come a long way since the dark days of yesteryear. His skill going forward is exceptional and he is finally proving why we spent so much money on him when he was a teenager. His galloping runs down the left have taken many a fans breath away and his progression into our first choice left winger will hopefully come soon. David Bentley has also improved in similar terms, and during our worst patch of the season in January both came into the side after injurys to Aaron Lennon and Benoit Assou-Ekotto and were promptly the best players in the side.

Then there is Super, Super Pav. 5 goals in 4 games has brought firmly back into the affections on Harry Redknapp, who was ignoring the fact that he is second only to Jermain Defoe in superb finishing skills at the Lane. His even tracking back, and with more games in the team, Redknapp's U-Turn will surely pay off.

A squad with such strength in depth is surely capable of doing great things, and even if we don't win the FA Cup or break the so-called 'Big Four' then our time will come if we just keep on building and stay patient then the good times will keep on coming at White Hart Lane. Victory over Fulham will cement our third competative visit to Wembley in 3 seasons. Victory is upon us. COYS.

The Gulf Between Generation X and Generation X-Factor

This weeks blog is a bit of a rant im afraid. It's okay, normal service will be resumed next week but here is something that I just want to get off my chest. Here we go.

I have two sisters, one is sixteen and the other is almost ten. They are just the right age to be influenced by what they see and what they hear on television and on the radio and the everything that was wrong with the noughties. Reality TV such as Big Brother, obsessions with celebrities in the media and music which lacks originality and where commercial value means more than the sum of it's parts. Put all of this together and what do you get?

The X-Factor and other talent searching shows before it are surely the most degrading and worst thing that has slopped onto our TV screens since the turn of the millenium. Now Iknow that I am sadly a member of a growing minority but I really hope the world sees sense and one day people who do actual jobs such as those in the Armed Forces and Nursing, not to mention the everyday jobs that have to be done get paid better than some of the tits who subject us to such tripe. It's incredibly tragic to see judges who have all the talent of a pie to break the dreams of a poor member of the public who then is comforted by Dermot O Leary, who only shows compassion because it's great tele. Theres nothing that would make me more tempted to jump off a cliff than be comforted by that guy, who so manipulated he should have the word 'tool' tatooed on his forehead.

I'm not sure what it is, maybe its age or maybe a sex thing, but there is a growing gulf in the interests of those around my age and teenagers. Maybe were on the right side of Twenty and we are not as influenced by what we see and hear as much as used to be. For instance, most of the music my sister listens to is as irritating as a choir of nits climbing into your brain and singing 'Angels' at the top of the'ye tiny voices. I can see nothing of interest in Big Brother, OK Magazine and Jordan on ITV2 so i ignore it like a deaf Grandad sitting in a chair in the corner of the room ignores modern life.

Another show that really gets my goat is Britains Got Talent. Well the judges certainly haven't. The only thing Amanda Holden is fit to judge is an unhappy marriage. Piers Morgan, who has the charm of a wet biscuit, is slightly gormless and has the kind of smile which would make toddlers simultaniously busrt into tears all over the country.

Then there is Simon Cowell, who will stop at nothing until he is King of the World. His watermark for talent is so high you either have to sing like Beyonce or sell your children just to get through to the next round. Then again he is such a shrewed buisnessman that he could probably sell you your own hand. I'd like to think that the millions of people who watched that Youtube clip with Susan Boyle noticed the Judges almost dismiss her as a joke before she opens her lungs (not literally) and stuns the room (although that would be some talent if you could live after, i'd watch it, fickle much?). The only problem is that just as soon as she proves herself you can almost see the pound signs in the whites of Simon Cowell's eyes. Welcome to the machine, Ms Boyle.

So, to keep in the traditions of the evictions we have no interest in from these poisonous programmes, lets have a vote. It it an age thing or is it the views of people who need to get with the times because this is where the world is heading? You decide

P.S To see Simon Cowell dressed up as the dirty dog he is, watch this!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77Ym3GH5oBE