Upcoming...

As my website at www.darklordofbarnet.gb.net has been down for a while I haven't been able to post details of upcoming gigs of interest like I used to. So I've decided to try posting them up here instead. Note - I'm not necessarily going to all these gigs myself, so don't go expecting to see me there. Some are local, and most of the others will be in or around the London area. I will include some links to bands or venues, but if I don't - Google is your friend. 😉

 June 

6th: Turbine @ The Butchers Arms High Barnet

7th: AWOL @ The Butchers Arms High Barnet

28th: Horizon @ The Builders Arms, New Barnet

 July 

4-6th: East Barnet Festival

 August 

2nd August: Dirty Strangers with Guy Griffon + 🗲Electrics🗲 @ The Troubadour, Earls Court

15th: Healthy Junkies + 🗲Electrics🗲 + The Surgeonaires @ The Butchers Arms, High Barnet

21st: JoanOvArc @ Cart & Horses Maryland

 November 

15th: Amyl and The Sniffers @ Alexandra Palace

Things can and do change or get cancelled, so do check if you can before leaving home to make sure an event is still taking place.

STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES!

Dear Reaper. Again.

What is it about this time of year? In the last week us rock fans have been hit with a double-whammy. First we lost David Johansen - singer of the legendary underground band the New York Dolls, and now we lose guitarist Brian James founder member of The Damned and later Lords of the New Church. Although I never saw either of these guys first time round as I wasn't going to gigs back then, as least I managed to see them both in later years when their bands reformed - most recently when the classic original Damned lineup reformed for a few shows. I shall be playing those first two Damned albums tonight...

Even earlier this year...

Last year I was shocked to see daffodils appearing in late January in North London. This year they are starting to bloom in the first week of the New Year!

Daffodils didn't used to appear round here until February or March. This year I saw them on 7th January. And still there are people claiming Global Warming is 'fake news'. 🙄 Next week the Orange Hitler will take over power in the USA - expect a lot more 'fake news' in 2025...

 

 Dear Hot Damn! About last night... I was twatted by a unicorn! 🦄 True story.

R.I.P. Robin Guy

R.I.P. Robin Guy. This one hits hard, but not like how hard he hit his drums. Robin was an amazing drummer, and by far the best showman I have ever seen behind a drum kit. He was also a really lovely man - as anyone who ever met him would testify. Helpful and always friendly. Although I was never lucky enough to play with him myself, many of my friends did over the years, and Robin made every performance a special and memorable one. Among countless others Robin played with live or recorded with: Rachel Stamp, Bruce Dickenson (Iron Maiden singer), GMT, The Fiascos, AntiProduct, Sack Trick, Sham 69, All About Eve, Bay City Rollers, Conspirators, Adam Bomb, Tigertailz, Lilygun, Maleficent, Freewheeler, and Faith No More (on Top Of The Pops) - the list of artists Robin recorded sessions with, depped at gigs, or bands he was a full member of is endless...

I can't claim to have known Robin very well, but he always remembered me when we met even it we hadn't seen each other for years and his smile and greeting was always warm and genuine - not a showbiz 'sunshine smile' as often found in the music business.

I am shocked and deeply saddened this evening to hear of his passing. Robin will be greatly missed by a huge number of people in our scene - his family, friends, and countless musicians famous and less so, and of course his band mates who I know will be absolutely devastated. Robin will leave a massive hole behind, but also all the memories of the good times - of which there were many. Rest in peace my friend - our world of rock was a much better place for you being in it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kSiDXo-OLk

A little pick-me-up when I got home from work.

Got home from work nearly half an hour late today due to getting stuck in a jam on the M25 caused by an accident. Getting more and more depressed as time dragged on, but at least I knew someone or maybe a few someones on the motorway were having a much worse day than me - there is always someone worse off than yourself.

Got home eventually and felt the need to cheer myself up a bit as my plans for my evening at home had been pushed back by half and hour and I had a few things to get done. During my workout I decided to have a Bloody Mary - just the one though - slippery slope...

I have found recently that a single one of these can really perk me up before my evening meal. And I have also noticed that what I eat after a Bloody Mary seems to be noticeably enhanced in taste - is this normal or is it just me? I had one before eating jerk chicken a couple of days ago and I'm sure I enjoyed even more than usual as a result - I felt great afterwards! Tonight was a meat feast pizza - which I also particularly enjoyed. I shall have to experiment more to see if I find all foods are enhanced if preceded by a Bloody Mary - maybe even more mediocre dishes?

Anyway, I found a Bloody Mary and a good pizza an excellent remedy for impending mild depression. I'm sure this won't work for everybody though. 

 Dear Reaper,

Might you consider taking some time off? Very recently you have taken Jeff Moh, Dave Myers, and Pat Begent from our scene. Enough already! Maybe you could take a break and go away for a couple of  weeks?