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From the Flight Deck Neal Kay |
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Neal Kay
- 04/12/09
- NEW
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Well
Soundhouse,
It’s that
time of year again when our thoughts turn to what used
to be the great Xmas event! Although I have no news
about a reunion show this year, I can however tell you
that on Thursday the 17th December, I have been hired to
play a set of pure Bandwagon/Soundhouse Classic Tracks
for the Earache Christmas Party!! Earache are one of
today’s specialist international rock record companies,
and have decided to put on a party for the industry and
friends in general.
There will be opening sets from 2 current “Thrash” type
bands, typically lasting about 30 minutes each, then,
from the USA, White Wizzard will be playing their UK
debut gig at this show. They are very like Iron Maiden
and I reckon that they show a lot of promise!
My set will start somewhere about 10.30pm and will last
about 90minutes to 2 hours. Finally, from then onwards
to the close, about 2am, Lady Starlight from New York
will be playing classic rock sounds as well. She has
taken everything she does musically from The Soundhouse,
even naming both her radio show and club directly after
us!! She freely admits to being a great fan of all that
we did and is looking forward to playing her sounds in
front of a UK gathering.
The venue for this mad caper is the Purple Turtle, 65
Crowndale Road London NW1 1TN. In fact it is right on
top of Mornington Crescent tube station and literally
just opposite Coco’s which we new much better as The
Music Machine!! The best news is that for all of you
that wish to be there, the admission is FREE! Of course,
I will be using the house PA and gear in common with the
others, so no huge Kayesque sound & lighting system
unfortunately, but I believe that it will be adequate
for the occasion.
Doors open at 7pm, and I will probably play some sounds
before and in between the band events with Lady
Starlight.
I realise that a Thursday night at short notice is
probably very difficult to organise, especially so very
close to Xmas, but rest assured that if any of you make
it up there, you will know that I will be very pleased
to greet you!! Anyway-I couldn’t take on an event
without letting you all know!!
Now more good news!! I recently received a phone call
from BBC TV regarding their Music Britannia series that
has been airing on BBC 4. Finally, they are going to
make Metal Britannia, and it seems, within the
structure, plan to feature the NWOBHM as a separate
programme!! I gave them a long interview concerning our
history together and all the achievements, and the fun
that we all shared including the madcap moments with Rob
Loonhouse, Superloon and his cohorts and explained how
our side of events came to be and what it was like at
the time!!!!! If only a tenth of what I recorded is
featured, then we will have been well represented. I
understand that the programme is going to be scheduled
for broadcast some time in February 2010, so keep your
eyes on the TV listings!-Hope you enjoy the show!
Lastly, know that some old Soundhouse friends are on the
invited list for the 17th. They include Sounds
journalist Geoff Barton and then freelance scribe
Malcolm Dome who together did 90% of the coverage on all
articles about the Bandwagon at the time. Classic Rock
journalist Dave Ling, and Sun hack and old Soundhouse
adversary, Gary Bushell!! It goes without saying that a
lot of folk from the rock sector of the music industry
will also be in attendance so an interesting and crazy
night is anticipated!
Oh Yes-nearly forgot to mention that on Saturday the
19th December from 6PM to 9PM, The Rock and Roll Round
Table Circus Christmas Extravaganza hits the airwaves
with the end of year round-up of all things Soundhouse!
Both Malcolm and I will be presenting the show as per
usual, being joined, this year by special guests Lady
Starlight and White Wizzard to name but a few. Father
Darryl may put in an appearance as indeed may a few
other reprobates, alcohol intake allowing!
So join us if you can at www.totalrock.com for the radio
show of the year! If you are on line, then let us know
by sending an E-mail to-:
studio@totalrock.com and we will talk to you live
and direct!
I look forward to your company at one of the events if
you can make it and on behalf of our Webmasters and all
involved, would like to wish you a merry Xmas and a
happy New Year.
Cheers Soundhouse!!
Neal Kay.
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Neal Kay
- 05/12/08
Greetings friends!
Well people, here we are once
again at the end of another year, which started out so full of
festivity, hope and promise, which now, unfortunately, is
finding many in a difficult and hard to resolve situation in
these most trying of times that we all have to live through.
Things are indeed tough for all, so the least we can do is keep
alive, in our memories, the incredible Soundhouse Years that we
were all a part of, and that featured and indeed guided us
thru so much of our lives together back then. In all that time,
we made sure that we could, in one way or another always be
together near Christmas to share our laughter, madness, fun, the
crazy antics of some and, above all else, the two things that
always held us together thru thick and thin-our spirit and The
Music!
For many reasons, a live show is
again, not possible this year, so the alternative will be a
special radio broadcast for 6 hours between 3 & 9pm on Saturday
20th December on Totalrock. Joining me for this marathon tribute
at Xmas to the Soundhouse Years will be my permanent
broadcasting partner Malcolm Dome. To help spread some seasonal
good cheer, spiritual guidance and general mayhem, apart from
presenting his own hour, Father Patrick Ignatious O'Flarharty
Darryl will also be on hand to represent the Gods Of Rock N'
Roll at this very important festive time.
Infamous Son of The Soundhouse
and my own "spiritual grandson," one Gerald Ewing Esquire,
journalist supreme, qualified Christmas tipple tester and
Rock'n'Roll wit will, also, hopefully join us for some of the
time to lend a hand in the proceedings and regale us with
totally untrue and over-the-top stories from his very
questionable past, whilst taking great care to insult all and
sundry at the same time!
Lastly, but not least,
representing all itinerant and bad-tempered truckers everywhere,
Martin "Mothertrucker" Willcocks, the eighteen wheeled "Fiend of
Milton Keynes" will be lending his support to some great rock
anthems, put together as only we all know how!!!
So join us for a real marathon in music at
www.totalrock.com. Click on
"listen to studio",
download the player if necessary,
pour yourselves a good glass of your yuletide favourite and
enjoy!!
You can contact us whilst on air
simply by sending us an E-mail to:-
studio @ totalrock.com and we will talk to you in real time.
We will also advise you on air, of a studio phone number that
you can reach us on during the broadcast.
Lastly, let me wish all of you a happy and
peaceful Xmas..............Cheers Soundhouse!!!
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Neal Kay
-
16/12/07
Well everyone!
Here I go again! (With thanks to Dave
Coverdale for lyrics.)
Firstly let me say that, sadly, once
again there will be no Annual Reunion this year either.
It always come down to firstly this
ever-changing world that we live in and the draconian rules and laws
that govern the old-fashioned art of going out, getting pissed,
listening to loud, raucous rock music the way we want to and then
falling over afterwards. Also, the lack of suitable venues in the
old homeland with all the necessary requirements and a door under
our control with the right licensing hours plus the obvious
accessibility via
road/rail/tube/buses make things almost impossible at this time. Our
Grand Poobah, Promoter-in-Chief, Gerry Kelly, has also had an
extremely busy year himself, and has
been promoted
to being the head of operations for a non-UK-based record label,
responsible for all things musical within the UK.
At the same time, old Soundhouse
regular, Mark Blake, continues to stun and awe his ever-growing
legion of fans in Q magazine, with his recently published book 'Pigs
might fly: The inside story of Pink Floyd' (check out Soundhouse
homepage), and elsewhere with his journalistic prowess -not to
mention his drinking ability or the staying power of his
liver....................which brings me to one,
journalist/broadcaster/entertainer/genuine nice guy Jerry
Ewing, also late of the Soundhouse, who is amazed to find that he
still HAS a liver left at all! A
state that he always blames me for, claiming that ANYTHING that he
does is my fault as I supposedly educated him during his formative
and more
tender years spent
at The Soundhouse whilst under my wing, and,
in fact, now he sees me as his
"spiritual" Grandfather! Thereby relieving himself of all earthly
responsibility for any/all or some of the more
rock n' roll episodes that
pepper his life so frequently and utterly and completely!!
Well all I have to say is that If I
did indeed live like that, I am very proud and were I not 358 years
old, (and that is only a conservative estimate) I certainly have the
yearning to go do it all over again -however, I don't have to
because..................I've got Jerry Ewing to do it for me -In
fact, think
that I will buy him a pickle jar for Xmas so he can put in it what
remains of his stressed-out, overworked liver,
and in the years to come, at Christmas time, he can gaze in
wonderment at it whilst warming his feet by the open fire, slowly
drawing and dribbling on
his pipe whilst sipping a nice warm mug of cocoa and reflect on his
past life
and times...................................and what a life -eh!!!
Here's to a great man!!!!!!
Anyway................I feel certain
that you all have many great stories of your times at The Soundhouse
so maybe you would like to send your memories to us and we would be
happy to see them on the Forum!
Next year, I am informed by
Webmistress Dawn, that the whole
website will be up for a massive rebuild with a new image and that
long-awaited Japanese Section, although you will all need to be
fluent in the language to get much out of the scribes!!!!!!!! -Still
that does give you all a few months to master the language!!!!!!! I
thought that what we have now is really brill, but Webmistress says
that, like Dr Who, the site has to be regenerated every so often,
and next year is the target, so let it be! Can't wait for it!
Our connection
to Totalrock remains strong still, and I can tell you that I, with
Malcolm Dome, the Green Team-Derak and Allen, with the good Father
Ignatius O'flarharty Darryl bringing some much needed spiritual
direction to the proceedings will be delivering a Christmas special
edition of The Rock N' Roll Round Table Circus on
Saturday the 22nd of December between the
hours of 3-9pm!!!!
Six glorious hours of some of Rock's
greatest tunes and NONE released after 1978!!!!!!!
It's going to be a
crazy crazy night, so I am hoping that you will be able to join us
on Totalrock.com for the Annual Soundhouse Christmas Broadcast! You
will be able to talk to us by phone, or E-Mail us while we are
On-Air to:-
studio@totalrock.com
or even join others in the Soundhouse chatroom on this site whilst
listening to the show.
I look forward to it all!!
Well Soundhouse (as I used to say on
stage!) the time has come to wish you all a very happy Xmas 2007 and
a successful New Year loaded
with all that the Lords of Excess would approve of wholeheartedly!
As for me..............I'm off to finish my cocoa by the log fire
and dream of those far-off, exciting, lunatic and now historic
fabulous Soundhouse Years!
Cheers
All........................................Neal Kay.
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Neal Kay
-
06/04/07
From The Cockpit.
Greetings All! Captain Kay reporting in for a quick chat with all of
you.
Well, winter appears to be finally heading out as I pen this
"communiqué" from the front line.
Firstly thanx to all our latest contributors for helping to keep the
old memories and friendships firmly afloat from dim and distant
pasts through to current times. Again, with this in mind I remind
everyone that the Soundhouse Chatroom is only a few clicks away from
our homepage!! Webmaster made it so for us all, and let us not
disappoint her! Try it. Boldly go and get talking!
Also with the same community spirit in mind, coming soon to the site
will be a community section and a video section, where you all can
upload your latest artistic offerings-no p*rn though!! You all know
how totally against that sort of thing I have always
been!!!!!!!!!!!! (snigger snigger!!) Seriously, all offerings will
have to be vetted first, so keep it clean gang!
We
are looking forward to finding out what you all have been doing with
yourselves-so to speak-however, Jerry Ewing need not participate in
this one!!!
Also coming to the site soon, a remarkable collection of memorabilia
from all my dealings with the Japanese, including the Bandwagon
story-part 1,as featured in Music life of 1978, a huge interview
from the rock magazine Ongu Senka approximately 1979,and various
press coverage of the day, all from featured Japanese music press
articles on us, and interviews that I gave at least 5000years
ago!!!!!! of course, the only problem is that nearly all of them are
in..........................Japanese! (If anyone is able to
translate, we would love to hear from you!) - But the pictures are
nice to look at!
Finally, some press coverage of a tour that I undertook at the
beginning of the 90s to Japan with Soundhouse favourites Praying
Mantis. Some very fine moments and photos there!!!
Anyway, all that stuff was recently found buried in a cave at the
bottom of Captain Kay's garden and has only just come to light so we
must make good use of it! When webmaster has uploaded it, I hope
that all of you find it interesting!
Lastly, there has been some (completely insane) chatter about the
possibility of doing an outdoor Summer Soundhouse gig in sunny
Portugal on the Algarve!!!! A kind of all-inclusive price with
hotel, air ticket and show entry all rolled into one. In fact, just
think-if we all paid enough, we could ask Bruce Dickinson to fly us
all there to Faro in his Boeing 757!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just
imagine.................."Good morning ladies and
gentlemen..........from the flight deck today, in the right-hand
seat, this is your first officer, and my name is.........Bruce
Dickinson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -Hmmmmmmmmm.
I
leave the rest to your imagination.
Well, still no sign of a useable venue on the horizon at the moment
in dear old Blighty, so onwards and upwards as they say. On that
note, I shall take my leave wishing you all the best and a happy
Easter to one and all!!!!!!
For
those that can, you can still join in the fun on our Rock 'N' Roll
Round Table Soundhouse/Totalrock Extravaganza, generally, every last
Saturday of the month, with Broadcast Buddy Malcolm Dome, aided and
abetted by The Very Reverend Father Ignatious O'Flarahty
Darryl-God's very own Rock & Roll Vicar complete with his own brand
of irreverence!
We
look forward to your company, and you can E-Mail us live to the
radio station at:- studio@totalrock.com whilst the show is on-air
with your comments, requests or moans and groans for the Rantomania
slot!!!!
Take care y'all!
Bye
for now.................................Neal.
This
months Total Rock Radio Show will be
TODAY
(Saturday 7th April) from 18:00-21:00 - Join us in the
Soundhouse chat room during the show:
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Neal Kay
-
08/11/06
Greetings all!
Firstly just a few words about the fact that we
have no Reunion Show this year. I know that Gerry has already
expressed his sorrow at not being able to find a suitable venue with
all our "old-fashioned requirements" in place, in the right area and
at the right time.
As the years go by, and modern day security
becomes a licensed matter due to the disturbing times that we now
live in, it obviously becomes equally difficult to satisfy our
"non-regulatory" way of running our show and having fun without
having to put up with "Monkey-Suited" officials on our door!!! The
other points have all been made in my previously posted note.
I understand from Gerry that he will redouble his
efforts in time to try and find us a place that does "fit the bill"
so to speak, with all our requirements, including our own door
control, capacity for at least 400 legally, 3-phase stage power
supply. A legal bar until at least 01.30. A nearby tube station.
Hopefully, a venue somewhere within the old Soundhouse operating
area of Kingsbury/Harrow/Northwest London. A car park. A decent size
stage. At least one very large bar, well-stocked with the most
popular ales (etc) that the majority are willing to fall over to! A
place with no sound limiters fitted. A place with a high enough
ceiling to put up our light truss. And finally, a manager who would
welcome some genuine and decent folk who want to drink his bar dry
and cause no trouble to anyone!!!-if any of you out there know of
such a place................please contact us via the site! - Thank
you!
Now instead of the live
show, this year, I have arranged to co-present with my broadcast
partners, Malcolm Dome and Father Ignatius Delaney Darryl-The
official Totalrock Vicar of Rock N' Roll, an evening of truly
outrageous musical and humorous content, which is due to take place
LIVE on Saturday The 23rd December between the hours of
15.00-21.00!!
That is 3pm to 9pm GMT. I have actually created a play list for the
occasion which resembles as close as I can make it a real
old-fashioned Soundhouse Christmas live show, including some of the
all-time greats from yesteryear, just as we used to play them at the
Bandwagon and the Soundhouse!!
In addition to that, I have also invited Praying
Mantis founder members, Chris and Tino Troy to play us a few tunes
on the night, unplugged, and join us on-air for a while to take part
in the mayhem that will probably ensue.
Also..............Webmaster informs me that she
will launch a new Soundhouse Chatroom for the occation, which will
remain active after the event so that you all can meet, greet and
get drunk together, just like we used to do!!!!!!!! (See links
below) In fact, if you time it right, you can also all fall over
together as well at the end of the show! we will also have the
studio e-mail and phone active during the event, and you will be
more that welcome to contact us as the show progresses to send
greetings to each other (and us!) if you so choose.
Standard features will include a special
Christmas-flavoured "Rantomania" and any other poor souls that we
can lay our hands on to join us in our "hours of greatest need"!!!
Finally, leading up to the day, full support from
Webmaster and the Soundhouse Site will be very much in evidence as
we pull out all the stops to bring you.........The Great Soundhouse
Christmas Rock 'n' Roll Round Table Radio Party on Totalrock.com
You have been warned...................be
there!!!!!!!!!!!
PS. Expect no prisoners, no mercy and no sanity
either!!!
I look forward to your company y'all!-May you all
have a Merry Xmas and a happy New Year!
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Gerry
Kelly
- 01/11/06
Hello to all our
soundhouse friends;
As most of you are aware
'The Rayners', the regular venue for our reunions,
closed its doors this year - and I have been assured it
had nothing to do with us! :)
Unfortunately, it has
proved very difficult to find an alternative venue and
therefore we have made the decision, with time running
out, to give this year a miss. The decision has not been
taken lightly and I know it is very disappointing, but I
can assure you we will sort out a venue for next year.
If anyone out there has any ideas for alternative venues
next year, I would be interested to hear your
suggestions.
It would certainly be an
idea for you guys to give us an idea of a location i.e.
would you mind if next years gig were closer to London
or further north e.g. Watford? Also if doing it in
December is preferred by everyone, as we may well decide
if we get a venue sorted out soon enough, to do it early
next year.
Please let us know your
thoughts, you are welcome to give me a call or email me
anytime, and once again many apologies for having to be
the bearer of bad news.
All the best, and keep on
rockin'
Gerry.
Soundhouse Reunion.
PS) keep a look out for
the Soundhouse in the press, an article In Metal Hammer
this month and in Mojo magazine's December or January
issue who I've just done a short interview for.
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Neal Kay
- 12/04/06
Hi all!
Captain Kay here and
reporting for duty once again!
Even though it
has been a while since our last get-together, (4 months and a
bit!!!) I would firstly like to thank those wild Italians for
posting on the Web a real fun-packed Vid of their experiences
when they came to London to be a part of our show!! The short
film includes great footage of their visit around London by day
and, of course, the show by night!-Well done lads and my
personal thanx to you for a job well done! I am sorry that I
didn't have the time at the end of the show to sit and meet with
you-as you could probably see, I was under a lot of pressure at
that time! Hopefully, that's one that I owe you whenever the
time arises!!
Also, as well as
all our regulars, let me thank all who travelled in from Europe
for the Reunion Show, especially those from Germany and
Switzerland as well!!
As you all can
now see, our Webmaster has updated the photo galleries with your
pics received to date, of the 2005 show, and they are now in
their rightful place for all the world to see!!!! please check
them out and, if you have contributions to add, then feel free
to upload them to Webmaster on the site, but, also, please be
patient, as it takes a while to process and sort everything.
For those of you
that haven't already heard, it falls to me to remind you that
the Rayners Arms is no more. It closed it's doors for the last
time sometime in January of this year, and I believe that the
site is up for demolition and re-development. This means that at
this moment in time the Reunion Show is homeless for the moment!
Our erstwhile
Promoter-in-chief and Grand Poobah, one Gerry Kelly, is trying
desperately to find us another venue in the area that suits our
somewhat old-fashioned requirements-i.e. our door control, at
least 1-1.30am finish, reasonable bar facilities, car park,
nearby tube station, no monkey-suited security staff on the door
but our own(!!!), and a stage large enough with ample
electricity supply to run sound and lighting. Of course, it goes
without saying that it also has to be somewhere within the
boundaries of the old "homeland area" of Kingsbury-Harrow, and
is readily accessible to all!! Quite a problem in this day and
age, so although the search goes on, I am not sure by any means
that there WILL be a Reunion Show this year.
We will continue to do our best,
but, as you are all aware, venues in general are a "dying
species", and our requirements are, in fact, even harder to
meet, so we keep looking, and if any of you know of a place that
might suite our cause, with legal licensing for at least 350-400
people, plus all of the above, then let me know through
Webmaster on-site!!
Finally, and for
the time being, please keep your site additions coming. More and
more people around the world are using the "artefacts" and
photos displayed in our pages as a reference point for their
various books, films, and in some cases, even their Thesis on
Social and Musical change Through the Seventies at both
University and PHD level in Europe!!!!!-Hard to believe but
perfectly true.-Who would have thought that all those years ago,
what we did, mostly in fun and on the "spur of the moment" would
have had such a far-reaching effect so many years later!
I can only thank
you for your support then and the continuing efforts of all
concerned today to ensure that our piece of history remains
here, on the Web for all to enjoy and, in some cases, learn
from!!
We will keep you
all updated here as time progresses.
I wish all a Happy Easter!!
Neal Kay.
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Gerry
Kelly -
20/10/05
Hello All,
Yes it's me,
alive and well and like everyone else really looking forward to
another night of mayhem at our 2005 Soundhouse reunion night. I
hope you all like our new website Tickets are now on sale for
the night of Saturday 3rd December at The Rayners. Full details
below.
It was thirty years ago today…or
near as dammit..
That Neal created
this phenomenon...I remember it all too well, a shy...well
probably not so shy young lad of 16 introducing myself to a
strange, yet beguiling bearded hippy looking DJ around 1975 and
getting him to play tracks off Force It, the new UFO album at
the time. He probably won't appreciate me saying this but I
remember him playing disco stuff at the time as well!!
This year also
marks what is highly regarded as the 25th Anniversary of the now
legendary NWOBHM which essentially started at the Bandwagon /
Heavy Metal Soundhouse. Although some would argue it started in
1979, 1980 was the year Neal's co-compiled Metal For Muthas came
out introducing many of the first NWOBHM acts. Here’s a piece
from Record Collector which came out earlier this year;
“So who was the
catalyst? Who set the snowball tumbling down the mountainside?
Who cranked up the faders into the red zone and caused this
avalanche of fresh new British rock ’n’ roll? Was it Iron Maiden
leader Steve Harris, in cohorts with super-astute manager Rod
Smallwood? Was it Radio One’s Tommy Vance, the only national
radio DJ with credentials that were remotely rock-related? Was
it David Wood, head honcho of Wallsend’s Neat Records, the North
East indie label that released so many fine early NWOBHM singles
and albums? Nope. None of the above. Instead, step forward Neal
Kay, DJ at the Bandwagon Heavy Metal Soundhouse – a hard-rock
discotheque jam-packed with speakers capable of huge power and
sound, and situated (believe it or not) in a hall dolled up like
a B-movie Wild West whiskey saloon, attached to the side of the
Prince Of Wales pub at the Kingsbury Circle, London NW9”
So there you go,
we were all part of history being made!
Some stuff coming
up; I'm in talks with Classic Rock magazine at the moment to do
a feature on the Soundhouse out next issue, also watch out for
our ads in the music and local press. I have also flyers being
printed which will be distributed at various gigs especially at
the NWOBHM anniversary gig at London's Astoria, featuring bands
such as Bronz, Jaguar, and old Soundhouse favourites Diamond
Head and Praying Mantis - anyone wishing to help distribute
flyers please let me know.
Hopefully all
emails will have reached you by now and all the purchasing
details are here on the site. The only thing we ask is that
tickets are applied for as soon as possible, please try and
avoid waiting until the night to buy tickets. There are two main
reasons for this, firstly we cannot guarantee tickets will be
available on the night - and this year looks like it will be a
huge turnout - Secondly, the ticket price fully goes towards the
cost of the evening and with the likes of the sound and lighting
and advertising etc all need paying upfront this makes it
difficult for us to fund. We are still negotiating with the
newly installed management at The Rayners to obtain a late
license for the evening - but it does look hopeful.
They are priced
at £13 pounds each for postal purchase and £13.64 for online
purchase. There is an order
form on the website for postal applications, as well as
online orders. Although this is our preferred method of
applying, within a week or so you can get them in person at the
Rayners. You will find all the details on the site with regards
to local travel and amenities. I’ll be in touch again, but in
the meantime please feel free to call or email me with any
queries you may have.
Here's to another
great night...
Keep on Rockin'
Gerry Kelly |
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VH1
Rockumentary ...
Neal Kay
12/10/05
I am
delighted to let you all know that I was invited recently, to take
part in an interview to be used in a forthcoming 4-part
serialised TV Rockumentary to be broadcast next year in the States
on VH1 about the history and beginnings of Heavy Metal, and,
specifically, the part played by The Heavy Metal Soundhouse and the
Bandwagon in all this!! Apparently, what we all went through
together so very long ago is of great social and musical
importance to a lot of folk today!
Along
with my broadcast mate from Total Rock, Malcolm Dome, and old
Soundhouse mate Geoff Barton, late of Sounds and Kerrang, I
completed a three hour interview, outlining how it all came to be,
the humble beginning at The Wagon, the whole Soundhouse Story,
including how some of you, the originals, first came to my
attention, with your crazy and extrovert floor behaviour!!!!!
Also
included were the bike runs to the coast that we organised with the
Colindale Bike Club, the coach trips to the various seaside towns of
the South, the coming of the bands to the Soundhouse, including, of
course, the Iron Maiden and Praying Mantis sagas. The various
"Spirited Individuals" of the front row, and, of course Headbangin'
Bands, the whole thing from scratch, including The Great British
Headbangin' Band of The Year Final, to prove, of course, that 30 odd
years ago, Rob Yeatman, better known as Rob Loonhouse, was
undoubtedly the very first human (?) to play the -Ahem- HARDBOARD
not CARDBOARD guitar!!!!!!
I also
covered The Wagon request chart and the various prestige personal
appearances, including, of course, Ted Nugent and Sammy Hagar.
In
short, I tried to convey how very much the Wagon and Soundhouse was
much more than just another club-how it was our social club, our
place............our home, our alter of fun and laughter, of tears
and pain, and, through the music, how very very much it meant to all
of us, as today's Reunion Show demonstrates.
By the
time that I had finished, the interviewer thought that it was a
truly great story ........................ and it belongs equally to
all of us.
If I
missed anything out of it, and I am sure that I did, then I
apologise now, and should the programme eventually surface over
here, then I hope that you will all approve!!!!
If
I hear any more on the subject, I will let you all know.
Lastly, of course, I am much looking forward to seeing everyone on
the 3rd, and confirm that we are just waiting for the confirmation
of music and bar times before announcing that tickets are on
sale...............sorry about the delay, but it is out of our
hands.
Finally, as it is the 30th anniversary of The Bandwagon, I have
decided to do this year's show on my own on stage...............just
for old times sake! To see if I can still remember how to and what
follows what, so if I screw it up, there is no one to blame but
ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You
have been warned!...................See ya there...........
Neal
Kay.
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Neal Kay
-
13/08/05
Hi there all! Welcome to
our new website! We hope that it will provide a sound basis for all
who seek to learn more about, or enjoy the history and legend of the
fabulous Soundhouse Years!!
Firstly, congratulations
go out to Mr and Mrs Mark Blake on the birth of their first child - a
son who weighed in at 8lbs 2ozs!! Seen the picture and what a beauty!!
Well done both of you!!!!!!
We have recently
undergone some changes to the Soundhouse Trust management team in
order to make it easier for us to handle and for you to
communicate with us.
We would like to take
this opportunity to thank Alyson and Collin, our outgoing Webmasters
for taking us on and looking after us originally at short notice and
wish them well in their change of direction to a more peaceful
existence in the wilds of rural Wales!! All our best wishes to both of
you and enjoy those Harleys!!!!
Dawn Foley has been
drafted on board as Webmaster
to facilitate the day to day running of the site /enquiries and
communications in general. That means that any questions you have will
probably be answered by her. She is also in direct
communication with both Gerry Kelly, our Promoter-in-Chief and Grand
Soundhouse Master Of The Gig, and myself, the Commander-in-Chief of
the Balmy Army - Long Retired!! We are all here to help,
facilitate, promote and provide any help/answers or education wherever
requested to keep alive and well and generally promote the Soundhouse
Reunion Trust and all it stands for.
Of equal importance is
the ever-growing need for our members, past and present to keep in
contact with each other on a world-wide basis To that end, we have
reverted to the original Forum format, which makes it easier for all
of you to talk to each other with the minimum of fuss and bother!!!!
We welcome your comments
regarding this site and all parts of it. equally, we are always keen
to accept any genuine parts of Soundhouse History, be it editorial or
pictorial from your private sources to be used on the various pages of
the site. For more info on
submitting content, please contact our Webmaster on the
contact form.
Lastly, plans for this
year's Reunion show are well under way even as I type, and Gerry should
be coming up with some more news in his own column soon. As this is my Thirtieth
anniversary of starting at the Bandwagon, we are negotiating with the
new management of the Rayners for a later Music and Drinks licence.
Hopefully, as soon as we have a confirmation, we will be announcing it
to all of you!!!
Please note that there
are now some very good links to various Rock sites, especially Total
Rock where generally you can catch myself and Malcolm Dome on the last
Saturday of every month, between 6-9pm on our own show - The Rock and
Roll Round Table Circus! It's Classic Rock with total madness thrown
in and the occasional guest or two!!! Use the
'E-Request'
link in the
'Listen Live'
window of
http://www.totalrock.com/ to
e-mail us whilst on air, this comes directly to the studio and we will talk with you in real time!
OK!.....................Nuff
Said!!!
Must get back to flying
now...............Thanks for all the continued support and kind
words.......
Hope to catch your
comments in the near future!!
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