It was quite a thrill to be asked on to Desert Island Discs, a bit like getting a knighthood without the militaristic connotations. An endorsement if you will, a validation.. I've been a fan of 'Discs for quite some time, and the castaways are usually venerable politicians and esteemed writers, Nobel Prize Winners, former Secretary Generals of the UN, and captains of industry, basically some right top bananas. I'm guessing probably not many picked The Undertones. You can get my choices from the BBC website, but those 8 are the short list, I had to leave off quite a bit as you can imagine. Had to choose between Ever Fallen In Love and Teenage Kicks, the latter got the nod, only because I saw The Undertones at the Colston Hall and 'Desert is quite a personal journey through your life, and this was a vivid memory (if anyone was there, or can remember the year then let me know - would love to hear your thoughts on it). I seriously did want to be the Talking Heads keyboard player, and I will maybe try and shout that out at The Tom Tom Club gig at Meltdown next week..Would have loved to put in some of David Byrne's solo stuff also.. The King Curtis track, Memphis Soul Stew is a corker, and is about 7 minutes long, so they only had time to play the last 2 (instrumental minutes) but check out the whole track, because the best bit is at the beginning when King is introducing the band members one by one, as they start playing as 'ingredients' in the 'stew'...' a little pinch of Mississipi congeros' .. 'gimme 'bout a half a teacup..of bass!' - brilliant. We played a couple of Bowie covers in my first band, but Rebel made it in over Suffragette City, or Moonage Daydream. I was such a Pretenders fan, so that was a hard choice, Kid, Up the Neck, I Go to Sleep, Private Life, Message of Love, Back on the Chain Gang the list was going on..eventually went with Talk of the Town, great song and is typical of the sound, Chrissie Hynde's classic vocal and James Honeyman-Scott's jangling rich guitar sound -
don't get me started - I'll be here all day and the chameleons won't feed themselves..
hope to see you all at a large temporary marquee-type structure somewhere soon,
'Maybe tomorrow, maybe someday..'
b
Comments (13)
Hola Bill,
I heard you on Desert Island Discs the other day/week. Glad Ms. Young is getting a few more trendy types onto the show - hope you don't mind being referred to as trendy.
Are you really half Troll? You're not really just an Elf with delusions of grandeur.
Do you know a natural or herbal remedy for indigestion? Maybe I'll just try a nice glass of Merlot.
Cheers
gx
Posted by georgia | June 24, 2008 4:37 PM
Posted on June 24, 2008 16:37
Completely irrelevant to the story, but will you sign up to go for Eurovision 2009 - that is, now, before you arrange to go galavanting off to somewhere like Australia again whilst the competition takes place next year?
Britain needs you. See the links below to see how we'd all love it!
Facebook group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10224352826
Online petition:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/bbeuro09/petition.html
Posted by Piers | June 27, 2008 10:11 AM
Posted on June 27, 2008 10:11
Dear mr Bailey this is not so much as a post but more or a request. I hear on the that funny little talking box that some might call a radio that you will be visiting us in New Zealand. Yay, very good but alas my joy was only granted to me for a brief moment as i found out that you would be not visiting us in deep deep south. Are you scared or you just dont like us?
Queenstown is a beautiful place for a lovely break and perhaps one night only at a delightful club called revolver, i even asked the owner and he thinks it is a great idea to. I know you will be in christchurch but its so far and so expensive to get to and very flat. So if you would be so kind to just maybe think about it, that would be just lovely. Also maybe this will help my request but we do have the best tea and coffee making facilities for as far as the naked eye can see. PLEASE and thankyou
Posted by bethan parry | June 27, 2008 10:57 PM
Posted on June 27, 2008 22:57
hate to break the news to you, bill, but you are, basically, a right top banana.
Posted by meggo | July 1, 2008 8:00 PM
Posted on July 1, 2008 20:00
Hello Bill
I liked your varied choice of music on Dessert Island Discs. Have a look at this story I found about serious humor.
"Mechanism And Function Of Humor Identified By New Evolutionary Theory"
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Mechanism_And_Function_Of_Humor_Identified_By_New_Evolutionary_Theory_999.html
Posted by Neil Padley | July 2, 2008 1:16 PM
Posted on July 2, 2008 13:16
I knew I recognised Simon Amstell before, but put it down to 'one of those familiar faces. You know?' Then I found this old footage of 'Games Master' on youtube.com.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ezCSYdWFTKY&feature=related
It really is him! Brilliant.
Posted by Chris | July 16, 2008 10:35 PM
Posted on July 16, 2008 22:35
PS
An interesting film on Utube is
"Where the hell is Matt"
Music idea from poem
"Stream of Life"
Cheers Marlene
Posted by Marlene | July 19, 2008 9:11 AM
Posted on July 19, 2008 09:11
Sorry me again
Not sure if my question re "are you doing any more Sydney shows" went through - computers are not my strength
Cheers Marlene
Posted by Marlene | July 19, 2008 9:13 AM
Posted on July 19, 2008 09:13
Hi
Will you be doing a Friday or Saturday show in Sydney?
Posted by Marlene | July 25, 2008 12:11 PM
Posted on July 25, 2008 12:11
Hey Bill!
Looking forward to seeing you in adelaide/ australia in September. BTW I think I am married to your doppleganger... if it wasnt for his brown eyes that is!
Posted by Linda | July 26, 2008 1:50 AM
Posted on July 26, 2008 01:50
Hi Bill,
Looking forward to seeing you live in Christchurch, NZ on the 3 September. Maybe you would like to come for pizza beforehand(We'll shout)? Feel free to come if you want.
Posted by Francis | August 4, 2008 3:05 AM
Posted on August 4, 2008 03:05
Can't wait to see you in NZ! WOOP WOOP!
Posted by April | August 15, 2008 12:19 AM
Posted on August 15, 2008 00:19
Hi Bill,
Is it true that you went to school with Tim Birt.
Posted by John McCaffrey | August 25, 2008 6:09 PM
Posted on August 25, 2008 18:09