TOP LIVERPOOL BANDS THAT HAVE PLAYED GLASTONBURY

THE BUNNY MEN

The Bunnymen Glasto 85

Ian and the boys first major slot at Glastonbury was back in 1985 . It was a mud bath it never stopped raining my first Glastonbury no tent. But I wanted to see the Bunnymen borrowed a car parked in country lane 2 miles from site. Looking in the boot before we left the car. Amazingly there was 3 all in one yacht survival suits .Left in there by mates brother, who I borrowed the car off. Bunking in got chased by a bull in a field a mile from the site . It was like something from a Carry On film. . So we lived in them suits for 3 days before the Glastonbury mud eat through them. The Bunnymen played a great set , McCulloch making many comments about the weather and mud . But Eavis has got a streak of Scouse humour in him , The Bunnymen have been invited back many times the latest a couple of years ago , to headline the John Peel tent . John was a big fan.

Click link to play 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqV8fw9-Wog&feature=autoplay&list=PL97D6508E672FB95A&lf=results_video&playnext=2

THE LIGHTNING SEEDS          

The Lighting Seeds first big slot was in 1998 coming on the back of the footie song with Baddel and Skinner . Which out doubt was the biggest footie song hit of all time . With probably the exception of You’ll Never Walk Alone, World wide must of sold more units over the years. But I recall seeing them at Pilton Pop on Pilton Village Green . Mr Eavis puts it on every year in late Summer to raise money for the Village , All the big names have played there it is not very well publicised but word of mouth sells about 5 to 8 .000 tickets each year . Ian Broudie point blank refusing to play 3 lions to a screaming crowd . It was defiantly the musicians version of being type cast so who can blame him . But the Life of Riley to name but one good tune . Still getting a lot of air play now , Rightfully so . After all it is easy to name the Liverpool Bands that Ian Broudie has not produced or been involved with .  He also gave a job to a Beatles son (Zak Starkey)      Well in mate. 

Click link to watch some vids 

http://www.last.fm/music/The+Lightning+Seeds/+videos/+1-Acd8h2eB0rs

THE ZUTONS                    

My personal favourite have played Glastonbury a few times to huge crowds . The last time with a guest appearance from Mark Ronson .Who played on the Zuton track Valerie , which he covered with Amy Winehouse on vocals, a huge hit . But to me it will always be a Zuton number. I recall saying to a female singer in an open mike night in Bristol doing a rendition of Valerie . “Its good to see a Zuton number being sung” . She looked at me as if I was stupid . “No its Amy Winehouse” I felt like saying your music knowledge is as good as your voice, but I resisted . The first time I saw the Zutons at Glastonbury there was loads of my mates on site from Liverpool and loads of my mates from down south , All into the band . We all met it was the meeting of the two groups, strange old feeling , but a brilliant laugh the set rocked with loads of Scouse humour . Come on Dave, Abi and co, new album for Glastonbury 2013 . !!NICE!!!

Click link to see Glasto clip (great gig)     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrNQ7RJGxKM

THE WOMBATS        

The Wombats first Glastonbury slot was in 2008 the same year, They where the the opening act at the Echo Arena in Liverpool’s City of Culture year .There music is described as Indietronic With mad stage antics and props. Gave the mosh pit a whirl with my son he had turned me on to The Wombats. He gave the mosh pit a 9/10 for madness,he has been in a few . More to come at Glastonbury form these kids I think watch this space.

Click link to see the Wombats   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4KHCQ98mzs

THE CORAL          

Always welcome at Glastonbury they seem to go from strength to strength . They are more the fine wine of Liverpool or the Wirral to be more precise . Gaining friends from all over and influencing many including the Zutons . Also working with, you guessed it Mr Broudie and Portishead to name a couple . First playing Glastonbury in the mid 90s . Some how they stick to there guns being appreciated from all quarters . They are going to be around for a long time thank fuck. So for the Coral I would say there will many more Glastonbury’s to be tucked under their belts bring them on. I can see them doing a set on the Acoustic Stage ,If you ask any body who knows Glastonbury well the sound in that tent is to die for . It would suit the Coral to a tee .

Click link to see Watch The Coral great sound  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5B--1X_qWk     

MORE GLASTONBURY STUFF COMING SOON

UNITED LOSE THEIR LUCK RUNS OUT watch highlights

Maloney winner

United lose to Wigan and they deserved it . To me they have been shit all season . Lady luck has been defiantly on there side . WELL WHISKEY NOSE IT HAS FINALLY RUN OUT. United this season have been a average side . As their European run will prove that . So its come on City who have been a far more entertaining side this season . Who with out a doubt deserve the Prem crown a lot more

To watch highlights with joy click the link .YNWA  http://footyroom.com/wigan-athletic-1-0-manchester-united-2012-04/

Carroll saves the day watch highlights

Carrol after his winner at Blackburn

Andy Carroll went some way to justifying his 35 mill price tag by putting in a shift and a half.  Topping the cake by scoring the winner in the 90 minute . In a amazing match that saw Liverpool getting a goal keeper sent off for the second time in as many weeks . Also letting a 2 goal lead slip but unlike against QPR, Carroll popped up to score a excellent header to claim the 3 points . Lets hope this is the kick start he needs to move on to be a great Liverpool player . To prove all the doubters wrong especially !!BITTER BLUE NOSES   YNWA!!

TO WATCH HIGHLIGHTS CLICK LINK
http://footyroom.com/blackburn-rovers-2-3-liverpool-2012-04/

Hatem Ben Arfa TOP GOAL+Dempsey BAGS ANOTHER watch

Hatem Ben Arfa

Top goal what a find for Newcastle one of many, Come on Kenny get the scouts to pull their fingers out.

click link to  to watch
http://footyroom.com/newcastle-united-2-0-bolton-wanderers-2012-04/

Dempsey bags another click to watch http://footyroom.com/fulham-1-1-chelsea-2012-04/
He would play good for John Henry MAYBE?

Has CARROLL missed the plane ?

It has been an event packed week for Andy Carroll who just a year ago was amongst England’s most valued assets. He was “A proper England number 9” who looked destined to form a fearsome international partnership with Wayne Rooney which would last a decade. This weekend however as he returned to Newcastle he threw himself to the ground instead of sliding the ball into an empty net. What has happened to England’s £35 million man?

The giant Geordie once had the world at his considerably large feet but Sunday represented an all-time low. Booed at his former stomping ground mercilessly he looked a shadow of the bustling bundle of terror which Kenny Dalglish paid £35 million for. Carroll had no choice in the move to Liverpool, the 35 million was a ridiculous over valuation and it is likely Mike Ashley and co accepted the money with a bemused look followed by a euphoric laugh. For Carroll to then have his every touch booed at the club he grew up supporting is harsh; he didn’t hand in a transfer request, sulk for a move or fly to Argentina and remain there for 6 months.

The Newcastle faithful should be grateful to Carroll. It was his sale after all that allowed Newcastle to enter a new phase of development and finance deals for some real gems. And for Dalglish to take off Carroll with the game lost and a hostile reception guaranteed was nothing short of disgraceful. Carroll obviously agreed and fired abuse at his manager.

For the PLANE at the moment Carroll is probably in the “maybe” pile, he has the rest of the season to stake his claim and let’s hope he manages it. Carroll can be a physically imposing specimen. When on form he holds the ball up as well as any striker in Europe and terrorises defenders in the air. A fit and firing Carroll of old would be a real asset at the Euro’s, and alongside Rooney would pose a devastating threat.

To elevate his chances from maybe to definite he needs to return to his bustling best, to run the channels and use his physicality. Unfortunately Liverpool’s style of play doesn’t suit the player who needs to be the focal point because he certainly isn’t a poacher in the form of Fowler or a complete world class striker like Torres was on Merseyside. He is a battering ram, a nuisance who creates chances rather than finishes them.

Carroll didn’t set his own asking price and he almost certainly regrets that whoever did set it, set it so high. Let him be what he is and play to his strengths.

Come the end of the season Carroll will hope to be boarding the plane and to do that he simply needs to go back to basics. To work as hard as he can for his team and to become a nightmare to mark. A few goals wouldn’t hurt his chances either.

“FRENCH FROGMEN GET LIFE GLASTONBURY BAN”

Jacques Cousteau (SOME FRENCH MAN STICK TO THE SEA)

After spending the 90s on the two main stages . Mean Fiddler took over the main stages so I moved to pastures new . In the form of the Markets the front line Babylon and all that , it was just what the doctor ordered . We got the meet and greet job at the bottom of muddy lane . Dealing with everyone not just markets . The job was to focus on people going to were they were supposed to go, as quickly as possible . Radio through so they were expected . So the party could get going as quick as possible. Before this was done people arrived roaming the site ether on a jolly or totally lost . The site would get snagged up in no time with traders de-livery’s artists staff lost all over the site . So with a team of 8 are aim was get every one to their Festival home ASAP . So when the party kicked off on time it was job done but it was 16-17 hour days .

You where working with everyone people made a bee line for you for what ever . There was many bizarre situations medical problems people freaking out over one thing or another . But in that first year was one of the strangest . For those who know Glastonbury festival site the bottom of muddy lane there is a large long drop toilet block . Long drops are huge pits with a iron frame over with a dozen separate toilet cubical s on either side . You do your business and it falls into the pit below a tanker comes 3 times a day to empty it . For me the long drops are the best toilets on site .

LONG DROPS (muddy lane)

While we were doing the meet and greet it was so busy they had just opened the gates for the people . A girl approached me panicking “I THINK SOME ONE HAS FELL INTO THE TOILET PIT”

I knew that was impossible, unless some one had smashed the plywood and he or she was thrown down. I was talking to one of the market managers at the time we dashed over she showed us the cubical she had been in .

Sure to her word in the corner waste deep in umshka (With Nail and I) . Was a wet suit clad male with video camera , We were not amused , What s more he sensed that . We cleared the toilets of the half a dozen people using them at the time . Security was called it took half hour to persuade him to let us pull him out . Not helping was the fact he was French and that a Scouser and a Cockney were leading the negotiation. He was finally dragged out dropping his camera down back into the pit it slowly sank never to be seen again . He was led away by security who were in disbelief . I never learned his fate . But the job of toilet Monitors was created , to put everyone at ease.

I would not mind U-tube did not exist then so what his bag was I can only guess. But from then on anyone in a frogman suit was viewed with suspicion . The fact that he was French did not surprise me having worked with the outfit Archos on the Pyramid stage a few years earlier. The stuff they would get up to .....

But hey that s an other story.........

More Glasto stories on the way soon     

"Toilet Humour with John Peel"

Festival season is fast approaching with no Glastonbury more memory’s of previous years flood back . Plucking out one of my many memory's I cast my mind back to 1993 . Crewing the then N.M.E stage it was a scorcher weather wise . The guy responsible for sorting out the water and sanitation on site had unfortunately died in Australia only weeks earlier . He had done this unglamorous job for years . So some one new was thrown into the breach . Not knowing all the unique tricks of the job . The water was late coming on with it being so hot it was under great demand.

The first water to come through the pipes had not been flushed through properly . I remember well jumping off my push bike on the way back to the stage . Rushing to a stand pipe in the hedge and taking my fill of water it was so hot . With it being so early there was hardly no bottle water on site .Many people who were working in that heat filled water bottles . Before the word went around that it had not been flushed through properly . One by one people started to fall ill including myself all the crew went down with the bug . Then it went air born with the lighting crew going down . Followed by the P. A crew, it was all hands to the toilets . It was the worst shits I have ever had feeling generally unwell with severe gut aches. Before the people where let in the water was flushed through properly . But for the people putting the show on it made hard work a lot harder .

John Peel was always there early setting up for his D.J sets on the the 2 main stages . He also went down with the shits . The toilets were getting a hammering , it was put a band on shit, put a band on shit, After nearly shitting my self twice . I locked the porta loo from the outside with screw driver hiding it outside under a piece of wood . That way I would have access to a toilet all the time . Coming out of the Toilet John was waiting about to drop at any second . I obviously was a huge fan of John having no hesitation showing him the screwdriver stash . He nodded his approval , So we shared the porta loo through out the festival taking turns , with nods across the stage .

It was a great ice breaker and it was not long before we started talking footie , more to the point Liverpool F.C . His knowledge of L.F.C was immense.

John's passion for Liverpool F.C was reflected in his childrens names,William Roberta Anfield,Alexandra Mary Anfield ,Thomas James Dalglish,and Florence Victoria Shankley.  After that John would take time out to talk to me at other events. Such as BBC Sound Citys in Liverpool, Bristol and Sheffield .

I would always get a buzz from talking to John he would always plug the bands I was working with at the time . The likes of The EFF WORD a trip hop cross over band from Bristol . I remember him getting on his high horse to me about the way players shield the ball to let it run out of play . He hated it saying . “the day Liverpool did that it would be a sad day . Well we do and when we do I instantly think of John and what he would of thought of the present Liverpool team.

John would have been in his 70s now his memory will never die. The John Peel stage at Glastonbury is a fitting legacy . He would of loved that, it gives me the biggest buzz at the festival these days and I am glad to say my kids as well.

JOHN PEEL 1939-2004 YNWA

More Glastonbury stories coming soon (the amazing tale of why Glastonbury banned French Frogmen)