You're an Idiot, Babe

Idiot Wind

I can't even touch the books you've read

Some books I’ve been reading:

The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz by Ron Jeremy
As promised here is my review of Ron Jeremy’s Autobiography.
It’s a great book. Not only for the funny porno tales, but for the honesty with which he reveals his frustrations at not being taken seriously. His work means that he has lost all the women dear to him in his life. But it is like a drug for him and he can’t change his ways. By the end of the book, he’s accepted that he will forever be known as Porn’s most famous star. And it’s a little sad in many respects. But overall it is a very funny read punctuated by real humanity.


Tony Visconti: the Autobiography.
This book is on the world famous producer who worked with Marc Bolan and T-Rex and David Bowie (among many others). Again this was an interesting read, although it lagged a little towards the end. Some of the stories surrounding Bowie’s songs are very interesting though - it would make a great read for a Bowie fan.


Gangs: A Journey into the Hear of the British Underworld by Tony Thompson.
This was given to me by my mate Will as a birthday present. He assured me that this wasn’t some crappy book aimed at FHM readers and was really interesting. And you know what, despite my worries that he was completely wrong, he did have a very valid point. The author goes undercover with British gangs and charts their history. Looking at various aspects of the criminal underworld (Guns, drugs, robbery, people-smuggling), the book does a great job of teaching the reader about how incredibly dodgy these characters are and does reveal the lack of success the police has had in stopping organised crime. As a fan of the Sopranos, it was great to read about their English colleagues.


The Progressive Patriot by Billy Bragg.
I’m now tucking into Billy Bragg’s book. I’ve only read a couple of chapters so far, but it is very promising indeed. The premise of the book is Bragg’s interpretation of patriotism and how where he has come from has defined the person he has become. As would be expected by a book from Bragg politics are important throughout and he does a great job of mixing current and past political issues and linking them to his personal life and experiences. Looking forward to finishing this one while I’m on holiday this weekend.





Other things:

Some other stuff I’ve been doing recently includes seeing the Arctic Monkeys at the Astoria in London. I’ve also been listening to Willy Mason’s new record. Click on the links to see what I thought of them.



Idiot Wind

I found hopeless love in the room above

A new song from Bob Dylan! Always an exciting event for myself, I have yet to hear this. It is available on the Lucky You soundtrack, a film about some dude who gambles or something. The soundtrack also features the Boss.

Here are the lyrics to the new Dylan song, 'Huck's Tune'

Well I wandered alone through a desert of stone
And I dreamt of my future wife
My sword's in my hand and I'm next in command
In this version of death called life

My plate and my cup are right straight up
I took a rose from the hand of a child
When I kiss your lips, the honey drips
I'm gonna have to put you down for a while

Every day we meet on any old street
And you're in your girlish prime
The short and the tall are coming to the ball
I go there all the time

Behind every tree there's something to see
The river is wider than a mile
I tried you twice, you can't be nice
I'm gonna have to put you down for a while

Here come the nurse with money in her purse
Here come the ladies and men
You push it all in and you've no chance to win
You play 'em on down to the end

I'm laying in the sand getting a sunshine tan
Moving along riding in style
From my toes to my head you knock me dead
I'm gonna have to put you down for a while

I count the years and I shed no tears
I'm blinded to what might have been
Nature's voice makes my heart rejoice
Play me the wild song of the wind

I found hopeless love in the room above
When the sun and the weather were riled
You're as fine as wine, I ain't handing you no line
I'm gonna have to put you down for a while

All the marry little elves can go hang themselves
My faith is as cold as can be
I'm stacked high to the roof and I'm not without proof
If you don't believe me, come see

You think I'm blue, I think so too
In my words you'll find no guile
The game's gotten old
The deck's gone cold
And I'm gonna have to put you down for a while

Huck's Tune

I need something to support me

Q: What do the Queen, Osama Bin Laden, Zammo from Grange Hill, Johnny Rotten, Rachal Stevens (from S Club 7), Dale Winton and Greg Rudeski have in common?

A: They are all Arsenal fans.

It was a slow news day for the sun who brought us the "Royal Exclusive" that the Queen supports Arsenal. What a load of bollocks, how lazy are their journalists? 12 people died in a police station bomblast in Iraq on Sunday, by the way.

Money Blues

I'd throw all the guns and the tanks in the sea

I've not commented on the shootings in Virginia. The guy was obviously a nut-job. But discussing this in the office today revealed this nugget of information (originally from the Economist magazine).

Since 1963 more American citizens have been killed by guns in the USA than American soldiers killed in the foreign battlefields of the whole of the 20th century.

WWI and WWII were pretty bloody as well. Draw your own conclusions from that.

Let Me Die in my Footsteps

You've Got a lot of Nerve

Does anyone else want to go round this kid’s house, smash up his computer, punch him in the face and steal his tickets ? Read what I’m on about here.

I mean he's making money off the back of music fans so he can go to the cinema with his mates. What a tosser. Get a fucking paper round you little shit.


Alternatively you can read my live review of Tiny Masters of Today. They are a punk band from Brooklyn, New York. Their average age is 11. They were hilarious.

Positively 4th Street

Even the bloodhounds of London couldn't find you today

Some random thoughts from Dylan's two concerts at Wembley... this is not a review.

1) After treating me like a piece of shit at Bruce Springsteen last year, the security were at it again, accusing me of smoking cannabis in front of the venue when it quite clearly was a rolled up cigarette and despite there being no smell of pot anywhere. I almost got thrown out before I had even entered the gig. What a bunch of tossers. It seems as if all they need is a yellow jacket (which ironically had 'customer support' written on the back) to become complete and utter nazis. I hate them with a passion.

2) There is a deaf guy who goes to Dylan concerts and has all the lyrics printed out from the website. I guess this is how he follows the songs.

3) Dylan fans are a crazy bunch - from wild old hippies, to people entering their mid-life crisis to some of the most beautiful young women in the world. Odd mix of people.

4) There was a pissed-up Scottish bird shouting Dylan related football chants before the show. This was funny.

5) One of Dylan's roadies has a serious limp in their left leg.

6) Dylan's concerts are the only ones where they burn incense on the stage throughout (at least out of all the concerts I have been to)

7)'It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)' (from where the title to this blog is taken) is always an excellent song. I think that it is impossible for me not to enjoy it live.

8) 'Ain't Talkin' is now my favourite song from Modern Times. It was great last night.

9) Wembley Arena's pricing is ridiculous - £6 for chicken and chips, £3.50 for a crappy hotdog. Bollocks to that!

10) Frederica, is a woman who goes to every concert with a sign saying 'I need free ticket'. She often gets in. What you don't know is that she collects numerous 'free' tickets and sells them on to fund her Bob obsession. She should be avoided like the plague. I saw her on both nights in London.

Bring on Birmingham tonight, let's hope there's more random stuff going on.

While you're waiting for me to return with news of Birmingham, please read my review of Neon Bible.

Something's Burning Baby

Do you remember where you been?

In case people are wondering what i've been upto... I am still alive.

Firstly I assulted a grandmother who was close to getting the last £3 primark T-shirt in the new shop on Oxford Street. I was arrested and thrown in prison for a while. When I was released I went to County Durham to attend an unofficial Skins party I saw on MySpace. In case you're wondering, I was the one who urinated on the wedding dress.

No really, I went to Amsterdam to see Bob Dylan. I had a wicked time, met lots of Dylan friends and spent most of my time in pubs and other local establishments. I've drank so much over the last few days, I think my body will soon give up on me.

Then I returned to the UK to celebrate my birthday with friends in my local. I got some cool presents like some model Meerkats, the Extras DVD boxset and the Big Lebowski on DVD (I only previously had it on video, but my copy is worn out, so that's nice).

Tonight I'm going to see the Arctic Monkeys at the Astoria. Bring it on. I've also finally had my review of the best gig of the year, Arcade Fire, published over at Rockbeatstone.

Rita May

Is to say I've been hittin' some hard travelin' too

As you may remember, my youngest brother has decided to go travelling. He’s just finished his stint at a farm/factory farm in Mildura, Victoria, close to the border with New South Wales. It’s basically a remote Australian town. On their website they helpfully list all of the town’s facilites such as petrol stations and banks. As you’d expect from an Australian Town, the section on Arts, Heritage and Culture is particularly weak…

I haven’t heard/spoken to him in months. But he did find the time to send me a link to his travelblog. So this is basically a photo montage of all the exciting things he’s been doing in Australia for the last six months.

And it only has three photos, one of him on a forklift truck, one of a kangaroo road sign and one of him in a pub drinking with his mates.

What a complete and utter tosser – he’s not even bothered to send me any real news or real photos. I hope that he’s done more than that in his six months! Idiot.

[note: do you see my jealous streak coming out?]

Song to Woody

Dignity never been photographed

One of my best friends from school is a Canadian bird called Bree (yes, she is named after a cheese). She's been living out in East Timor, the youngest nation on the planet, doing amazing stuff out there with the UN while a civil war rages. She is a true kind soul with not a bad bone in her body. Yes, she is often hyperactive and unable to stop speaking, but apart from that she's cool and I love her to bits (as a friend, before you start mocking me like you probably did at primary school).

While she was out in Timor, she met a Scottish guy called Robin who was a photographer. He sadly and unexpectedly passed away. In order to honour him and his work, Bree has set up a website with his photos. It would be great if you could take a peek. He really was an amazing photographer and they will move you. She's got some slideshows and stuff sorted on there as well.

Check out the website here.

Dignity

The Lone Wolf went out drinking

Hello world.

I am tired. I spent all day drinking on Saturday. Not recommended. Started with a Liverpool v Arsenal football match and finally eneded at 4.30am on Sunday morning.

More worringly is the fact that I woke up six hours later and didn't have a hangover.

You may remember that I went to see Gwar. You can read my review of the gig here.

Tough Mama