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December 05 

Jeez, I love it….it’s that time of the year and I can’t wait to hang my stockings up over the fireplace. Didn’t I tell you all??? I’m Maureen the Tea-lady – but only on Sundays !!!!!! Christamas – I know loads of people who hate it for various reasons – me?? – I love it for various other reasons. Still, internet is sorting out most of the pressy buying – how cool is that?? Me – Mr. Technophobe – looking on the web at shops all over the country, and at 2-00 in the morning as well. That’s brilliant, that is. So pressies sorted, 10 days off work, Homer Simpson as a role model……..can’t wait.

But before we get there, there is still a matter of some gigs to do. Up to see Jeff and family at the Railway, Aldeburgh. It is quite a trip for us but well worth it. Very compact and cosy is one way of putting it – and lots of regular friendly faces makes it worth the effort. Nothing remarkably out of the ordinary happened, just another good gig. The following Saturday was a “different” ball game completely.  Our first ( and last ? !!!!) return trip to Barrow – remember? – end of the world and keep straight on?? Diz rang from work in the afternoon saying he was running late due to work and could I let the pub know? Yup, happy to ring Sean because we do appreciate that landlords must sometimes worry if a band is going to turn up when the clock is ticking away and there is no sign of frantic activity. “No probs” says his wife Sue, “Got people eating at the pub tonight and that will give us extra half-hour to clear up”. Good, that’s that sorted. We are so organized it’s scary, sometimes.!!! So, when we did arrive, 45 mins. later than normal, we marched as one into the bar where we played last time. DOH!!!!! It was full of tables and peeps in very nice clothes munching merrily on Christmas dinner.  “Don’t worry” says the pub “nearly finished – come and have a drink”. Seemed rude not too, to be honest. So time clicked bye, the free drinks kept sliding nicely down the throat, peeps in the bar -  or now a restaurant(????) -  kept munching and at 10-00 we thought it only fair to find out what the F*** was going on. Needing about 1-hour to unload, set up and sound check we were now looking at an 11-00 start to finish at 11-30…So, we negotiated, got paid, drank some more and came home again. Funny old gig then. I was driving but there were 3 other giggly ones in the back !!! And yes – we went to see Uncle Albert and gave him a Christmas card !!

Sunday, the next day, Andi and I went to Cambridge Junction to see a favourite band of mine – Porcupine Tree. I didn’t think Andi would be too keen on them but fantastic gig, fantastic band. She loved it and now searching out all their cd’s. The hand-of-fate gremlins were in good form for the journey though. We are destined to have crap journeys to gigs these days. Heard a traffic report on the radio about an overturned car on the A12 so I said lets go via another route – same distance it will be quicker. Oh No – not bl***y likely. Another smack up on the M11 saw us sitting still in an 8 mile jam. Perhaps I will only see bands now that play in my local pub…….

On the following Thursday we had a brand new gig for us – Splitz at Felixstowe – and guess what? No lugging gear up 2 flights of stairs. Heaven. Great night we all enjoyed it and made several new friends/ fans and a good crowd was there – especially for a Thursday with Christmas looming.  I have a feeling we will be back there again. We also suffered a cancellation this week. The Priors at Bury, changing hands faster than a schoolboy with a porn mag.  The now new landlords of 1 week standing thought they had better let us know that there will be no music from now on. Another venue off the list – not just for us – but for the many bands who play there regularly. Still, I suppose there’s always busking on the street corner.

I bumped into Jason in the supermarket, both of us frantically stocking up on beer and mince pies !! Anyway, I passed on the many good wishes from fans who still fondly remember him, and he asked me to thank those people for their kind thoughts via this diary page. Jason and family doing well and he is enjoying his role as a dad even looking forward to a bit of Ho-Ho-Ho………but I didn’t dare ask him what he meant. !!

And now it really is Christmas – and from all of us – Diz – Mark – Dunc – and me – HAPPY CHRISTMAS to you all.

Well, that came and went !!! A fantastic Christmas for all of us but ooooohhhhhh sooooo quick. That was never 10-days, was it???  End of the month and Thuderbird-3 was trundling along Felixstowe sea front aiming for the Cork Bar. All of us totally lazy after a break, totally stuffed on turkey and mince pies, dreading the thought of lugging the gear up 2 flights of stairs. “Bit dark around here” was heard to be mumbled by someone. Huh-hmmm – no lights anywhere to be seen. There had been a massive power cut taking out most of the Suffolk coastal region. Could this be another Barrow gig – no power this time, get paid, free drinks and a trip home???? Nope-  bang on 8-30 back came the power and so the gig was on. Still, to be fair, we had a laugh and once we were playing I think we were all glad to be back doing it again.

It is HAPPY NEW YEAR Time to everybody and we all spent it in our separate ways. I must admit though, at midnight in our home town I thought I had been transported to Beirut. The bangs of fireworks were rumbling around for ages just like cannon fire, and the sky looked like George Bush had pressed another wrong button again !!!!!!!! Mind you both our dogs were far from impressed with the midnight firework displays and were quite happy to scoot for home and hide.

For me, New Year is ALWAYS a reflective time and this year I started to think of all the things I have witnessed during my ½ century or so. Pirate radio ships off the east coast; our first tele and then later, colour t.v.; first heart transplant surgery; space exploration; mobile phone technology; banning of capital punishment; end of apartheid; the Berlin wall coming down; sky t.v.; Elvis, the Beatles, punk, glam rock, every genre of music culture; the millennium and many more earth shattering events. And I have realized now what has left the most amazing long-lasting impression on me………………………………………………………………….

WALLACE AND GROMMIT    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So that sums it all up, thanks to everybody who cheers us on, supports us and generally makes all the S*** and Hassle worth while. Take care all and see you in 2006 – we hope….

HAPPY NEW YEAR

from

LOADED..

Be Happy, Be Safe, Keep Rockin' 

the Old Git 

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November 05

            With Halloween fresh in our minds, Andi and I decided to arrange a little treat for the 10,000 or so kids who plague us on Trick-or-Treat night. Not that we object, its great to see as long as everyone kind of behaves. The pair of us dressed up – yeahhh I need to as well!!! – face make up the lot – eat your heart out Kiss…..We borrowed the smoke machine and lights from the band and filled the front porch with red lights ( sorry, that’s our other income!!!!) and smoke to await the the local darlings after sweets. It must have been good because the first little girl, with her dad, legged it down the drive screaming at the top of her voice.!!!! US – 1, Kiddies – 0. That was it, word was on the street that our house was going for it this year and even parents were knocking on the door to see for themselves. Fantastic night, the local children ( with the first as an exception) loved it and have promised to return next year. Well, kiddies, we’re ready for you….Be Afraid – Be Very Afraid!!!!!!!!

            Dunc had booked two weeks off from band duties for work reasons and Diz took full advantage of the internet to bugger off to the Maldives for 14 days. Mark and I took full advantage of the spare time to catch up with bits of our lives that are still important, but generally have to sit on the back-burner.

Certainly wasn’t a restful time, but that was a few more bits crossed off the list of things to do!!!

            Back to reality, Diz golden brown and totally chilled we gigged at the Brewers Arms in our home town…..about the only one we do. Most of the places in our stretch of the woods are karaoke or duo orientated, precious little in the ways of live bands, unlike neighbouring Suffolk who are really up for it. It was a chance for friends to turn up and either laugh or aplaud!! Another embarrassing version of “Socks” put smiles on faces. Ohh dear, I forgot that not everybody can see when we are taking the P***. At the end of the gig I had quite a chat with an ‘old-boy’ who wondered why I really felt that fronting a band was a good career move!!!!!!!! IT’S A JOKE – OK? GOT IT? LAUGH MATEY – IT AI’NT SERIOUS.!!!!!! Ho Humm – Rock’n’Roll…….Next night we were back at Claire’s pub, the North Street Tavern. What more can be said, cracking pub, cracking gig.

            Last night of the month had Cradle of Filth doing a warm=up slot in town, ready for their big tour. Well, Diz knows most of them and me a couple due to Diz’s friendship. So I said it had to be done…….let’s go and see them. 3 of the band had important things on that night, like brushing their teeth, walking the dog or counting grains of sugar in the bowl, so Andi and I, along with Karen and Marty made the effort. The girlies certainly “Goth’d” it up, fully aware that they could have been the oldest in the crowd – Hmmmmm – suprising enough – they weren’t – and even more so – neither was I!!!!! Never mind, enough said, we went.

 Soon be Christmas – Yeeeeaaaaahhhh – love it.

Be Happy, Be Safe, Keep Rockin'

 the Old Git

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October 05

            First day of the month, first gig of the month and it’s back to Tollesbury Kings Head. We are quite lucky to get more than one gig a year there as Paul’s licence only permits music 8 times a year, and we seem to get a fair slice of that. No complaints though because followers of this diary ( Hmmm I know at least 2 people who moan that it’s not always up to date) will know that it is a favourite venue of ours. Setting up is normally Fun (!!) because the place fills so quickly we are all falling over each other. Sound check was a bit of a heart-stopper. I hadn’t secured a cymbal clamp properly and half way through sound check a cymbal succumbed to gravity and hit the floor edge downwards. At the same time power disappeared from one half of the “stage”. We all feared the worst – cymbal cutting through power leads and live electricity flowing through anything metal in the vicinity – like drum kit, mic stands etc. Panic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh ye fickle fate who likes to P*** all over us occasionally.  Pure coincidence then that the cymbal had caused no damage and a power trip in the pub chose that exact moment to exercise its right to do its job. B*****d! That panic over, the rest of the night went superbly with the usual local “mob” head-banging down the front. It is a pub that I would dearly love to visit for a night off sometime. One of the friendliest in Essex I’ll guess.

            Next week saw us at the Cork in Felixstowe, the place has had a refit and has changed the regular crowd although it was great to see some of our die-hards supporting us and being totally blown away by the remarkable performance of ME singing “Socks in the River”. They even joined in the chorus, bless ‘em. Apart from the nightmare of shifting gear up and down stairs, it was an enjoyable night. Saturday saw us trundle on a long journey to a first ever gig at Barrow. Where?? I said Barrow – you know – wilds of Suffolk – sign says End of the World – and you keep on rollin’.  Fun filled journey along the A14 in the pelting rain and the windscreen wipers pack up! Oh joyous hand of fate – thank you for your efforts!!!!!! Arrived at the pub and made ourselves known while Dunc frantically called the RAC and also tried to get the weather forecast for our journey home. RAC arrived – death certificate signed for the wiper motor and us praying for a dry journey later that night. A real mixed crowd ranging from a few who appeared to want no music and some girls who danced the night away. There was also a goodly crowd from London ( not just for us surely!!) who were staying with friends in the village. Boy, were they fun. Cheers for that and hope our paths cross in the future. End of the night the rain had stopped and we trundled back to our respective beds, not of course, without the compulsory stop to check up on the health of Uncle Albert.!!! Was he wearing our T-shirt? NO!!! But he did assure us it was worn the previous evening. Somehow I actually believe him.

            A weeks break in the gig calendar. Diz frantically booking a last minute holiday some where warm for November, Dunc and Mark both busy with “life”. I went to Norwich with my bestliest mate Graham to see Fish - I have seen him many times and for Graham, the first time. Great night out and a good chance to spend quality time with a mate.  Fish was superb – but so was the support artist. She was not only a great singer/performer but actually stunning as well – wonder if she needs a drummer??? EEErrrrrr , Andi said no she doesn’t! Ouch – still bruises heal – don’t they? Then Andi and I went to Nottinham to see Steve Vai (again!!). Main reason this time was his support artist Eric Sardinas.  We both think he is brilliant, but for different reasons – I actually like the music and power of his performance – Andi??? Well girls, if you saw him you’d know why!!!!! We had met Eric before in London and were lucky enough to bump into him in the foyer just as we were leaving.  We had a quick chat before flying off to find the car park. The trip to Nottingham was a nightmare – armed with maps etc to find the park-and-ride tram service we thought that everything would fall into place. 1-1/2 hours of driving round Nottingham, seeing the outskirts of Derby(!!) had our  normal laid-back temperaments at screaming point. We ended up flagging down a taxi driver and paying a fare for him to lead us to it. Nottingham for another gig?? I Don’t Think So…….

            End of the month was The Grapes again in Bury. This time the A14 journey was uneventful, Thunderbird-3 on best behaviour, and so this time was the Grapes’s crowd. We had a stonking night. The sight to remember of the night was a group of people passing the window. Being close to Halloween time there were many “witches and ghoulies” abroad in town, so to speak. The sight of a 7ft Frankenstein monster boogying down the road outside was certainly enough to put me off the stroke, and all of us in the band who caught sight of the apparition were laughing ‘til it hurt!!! So ends another month.

 Be Happy, Be Safe, Keep Rockin'

 the Old Git

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September 05

            Remember me scribbling about things coming back to haunt me?? Well try this. We had a gig booked for the Swan at Needham Market. A week before the gig Dunc. received an email from a T.V. production company – working on a new series for Channel-4. “You are playing at the Swan” they said. “The same week-end we are filming there” they said. “Can we film part of your set?” they said.  “Too Bl***y right you can” we said. So certain legal documents were faxed, and signed, and returned and word went out like wild-fire to our fans. “We’re gonna be filmed for T.V.” we said. So the gig came, so did loads of fans and with one exception, it was a cracking night. During sound check, a pub worker asked us if we could turn it down. We were then still only on monitors and hadn’t the full p.a. switched on. Hmmmm, one of those nights. Especially as we thought he was the owner. No!! don’t be silly. He was the Chef!!!!!!!!!!!!! Couldn’t hear his eggs sizzle, we reckon. Anyway chat with T.V. crew and away we go. Funny isn’t it????  The minute the cameras roll, everybody becomes John Travolta or Madonna. Still, it made for good viewing from behind the kit……..Yup, you’ve guessed – Diz drags me up to sing Socks. Embarrassing – especially as the film crew were homing in on this one – I’ll get you one day Diz. Bed and no Tea – that’ll do it.!! The gig was great, all good fun etc etc. Until one week later and the emails are flying. T.V. crew say” sorry, but due to copyright laws there is a lot of the set you played that we can’t show on tele. – “ Uhuh – you’ve guessed again “who has the copyright for the song about socks????????”. I’m not telling any of you when its being broadcast – no I’m not – no – stop grovelling – I’ll still not tell you.

            That actually ties up with something that happened earlier in the year, and I was possibly too embarrassed to mention it. But, ney, now will do – although no names to protect the guilty. Somebody in the band had a phone call from a p.r. company in London and they had been surfing the net and found our web-site. “Would you guys come for an audition?” they said. “O.K.” said 2 band members, we can make it. So off they trundles to the big city, only to find they were being auditioned for a part of the backing band for a new single by – oh dear – do I have to – what really? – say that name – urrrrgggghhh – it was for the new Charlotte Church ROCK single!!!!!! Apparently, 2 said members had difficulty in keeping straight face. And no they didn’t get the part. Street cred. remains in tact!!!

            Andi and I zoomed off to Santa Pod to watch the European finals. I’d never been before and Andi said it was impossible to describe the event, as she had been before. Bloody ‘ell – I have never felt or witnessed power and speed like it. 0-300 mph in ¼ mile – gobsmacked. Fantastic day out – definitely going again this year. Perhaps Loaded could play it?? Last week of September Andi and I zoomed – that’s all we do isn’t it? – off to Gower peninsula for holiday. Took the dogs and spent week walking, drinking and chilling. Fantastic holiday – complete opposite of TT tour!!!!

            Came back on the Saturday ready to trundle up to see see Jeff and crew at Aldeburgh Railway. Small pub with good atmosphere. Always made welcome – cheers Jeff – and nice to see new faces as well as the familiar. Oh why do I have to work for a living – life just seems so good.

Be Happy, Be Safe, Keep Rockin'

 the Old Git

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July 05

            In a way this could be one of the shortest diary pages on record. Not a lot going on. Mark was very busy most of the month doing ‘sorting out thingies’ at home, making the most of the fine weather to catch up with jobs etc. Dunc kicked the month off in style with a birthday party Bar-B-Q and because it was the ’05 Live Aid day, he had rigged up big screen TV in the garden!!!! Love your style Dunc. As with all parties, it’s a good chance to catch up with friends and ‘faces’ to have that chat and laugh that so often eludes all of us during the year. Sod inflation!!! Please can we have another 5 hours a day. Diz was doing things that only Diz does – whatever they are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Daren’t even give it thinking room. I was out on my Suzuki as often as possible – yup it was hot but I lived in leather for quite some time.

            Loaded had some quite disturbing news about a fan of ours from Cheshire who always looks us up at the TT. Apparently he didn’t feel too good, doctor gave him codeine, or summat like that, and he had major reaction to it. Hospital the lot. Bless him, we know now he is ok and up and about, but take care Dave, we want your support in 2006!!! Also thanks to your mate Steve who kindly emailed us to let us know what was happening. You a great couple of lads – see ya 2006.

            Brewers Arms gig, yup that was fine, and then to the Rising Sun at Bury St Edmunds. Being that far up north can only mean one thing for us – Uncle Albert time. I’ve mentioned this guy at the all-night garage before, and he really does deserve special mention. Always helpful even at 2-00 in the morning when we are being – hmmm – shall we say – Playful!!! Bless you Uncle Albert – we will put your photo in our gallery one day. Diz had his birthday the night before the Rising Sun gig, so it was only right and proper that he ‘celebrated’ at the gig. Must have been record bar takings that night.

            Anyway, that was July, a couple of gigs, and loads of time out. 

Be Happy, Be Safe, Keep Rockin'

                                                             the Old Git

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May 05

            We went to the Royal Oak at Sudbury to find another good night. The sound was great and plenty of people turned up on a lovely evening. Towards the end of the night we think that we must have been playing the right stuff because the bar staff were up on the bar singing and dancing. Great sight that was . . . . . yes girls, you know who you are!!!

Well, the next gig was one that Andi and I and the Thunderbird 1 crew went to see. The girls were having AC/DC withdrawal symptoms, so us blokes took them to see Dirty DC in Stowmarket.  That was it, didn’t see them all night. Mind you, we were all up there somewhere rockin’ and rollin’. It’s good to relax and go to see a good band somewhere different. Great band as the real thing don’t come out to play enough.

            The next night we were in North Street Tavern in Sudbury. It was the usual rocking gig there. It’s a favourite of ours; a gig that never lets us down. Big congratulations from LoaDeD to the Landlady Clair and her partner for their impending wedding. We know where they are going for their Honeymoon even though Clair doesn’t. It will be a trip of a lifetime, enjoy.

            The following week saw one of our best ever gigs at the Milestone in Ipswich. We were all in a playful mood that night and happened to be served by a new, young barmaid working her first night. I told the band about the new barmaid game of ordering Guinness shandy and Diz couldn’t wait to put it to the test. Seeing her face and a pint glass erupt in an explosion of brown foam was just too much. It was so funny, we were all in tears! This really set the mood for the night and we played our hearts out-all the hard work previously put in with Diz-everything clicked into place that night. What a gig. We carried that spirit forward to the King’s Head at Tollesbury. A pub we love and are always treated like old friends. A brilliant night and we spent a long time after the gig sitting around drinking and chatting with the locals. 2 o’clock - best we go home then!!

            The last gig lined up before the TT tour was at the Brewers Arms in our home town of Colchester. Yeah! Another good’un under the belt and here we go – time to take all our respective gear home for a thorough clean and overhaul – get Thunderbird-3 ready for take-off and all the last minute bits on the list ticked off……..Isle of Man….Here comes LoaDeD – again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! – and we is kookin’.

 Be Happy, Be Safe, Keep Rockin'

 the Old Git

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April 05

 April Fool’s Day saw us return to the Harlequin in Ipswich, a frequent venue of ours in previous years. The usual story; change of owners, change of fortunes, the pub seemed to be in a wilderness for a year or so. But now under new management and they are trying to revive the live music scene there. An enthusiastic group of my work colleagues came to cheer us on- which they did loudly! One of them, Caryn took loads of piccies, one of which we have used on the remix, Roar at Rehearsals cd cover. Cheers for that. All in all, it was a really good night.

Dunc and his family then scooted off for a chilled out holiday in wet and windy Wales. This left time for the rest of us to catch up on socialising and more importantly, behind the scenes preparation for the Back on Track tour. You would never believe just how much work and time goes into playing ‘abroad’. So many times you think that everything is sorted, only to hear rumours which make you double check all the best laid plans.

 Andi and I nipped up to Norwich UEA for the rescheduled Thunder gig, where we found them in the usual brilliant form. (I have to say that ‘cos she’s a big Thunder fan. Keep the peace and all that!) Not as ‘rocky’ as the past collection, but cool all the same. Soon after that we nipped back over the border to the Ipswich Railway to see a mate’s band who have just formed recently, called Pump Action. Diz and I have known L’il Al for simply ages. He is a great musician and it was lovely to see him fronting a band again. This was Pump Action’s first live gig and went down well with the Railway crowd.

With Dunc returned from holiday, we didn’t dare mention sheep, enough of that one I think . . . . .!!!  Our next gig was the Bum in the Mud bikers rally. This was going to be a good, pre TT tour ‘run out’ for all of us. And what a cracking night it turned out to be. We met up with lots of old faces there before taking the stage for a storming two hour set. This was the old Arse in the Grass rally, run by a small, new group of people; and what a brilliant job they made of it too. Ministry of Loud rock disco were there doing their usual great hard core stuff; nice to see you guys again too. Love ‘em. The next night saw us up at the Aldeburgh Railway. This small and intimate pub really knows how to rock and ‘mosh’. It became so wild at one point, that Andi went ‘monitor surfing’! She says she was pushed, but I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt!

That’s pretty much April sown up. There’s only four weeks to the I.O.M. tour and we can’t wait!

             No time for watching or listening to anything . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 Happy, Be Safe, Keep Rockin'

          the Old Git

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March 05

                     March has been a real hectic, manic month. Going straight to Good Friday, it has to be said; CONGRATULATIONS to Diz on becoming an uncle and Steve on becoming a Grandad. Their Brother and Son respectively, Kev and his wife Rebecca, had a girl named Isla. All is well after a tense end to the pregnancy and the proud parents are home with baby Isla getting used to strange nights and the rest of it. Even though she weighed in at a healthy 7 pounds, I’ve been banned from taking her out on the bike yet! (spoilsports, she’d fit in the tank bag nicely).

                     At the beginning of the month, Diz popped over to Portugal for a rest and to soak up the rays. The rest of us were recording four brand new tracks for the up-dated Roar at Rehearsals cd, and were frantically trying to find a suitable Thunderbird 3. The Thursday of the first week of March, Dunc proudly announced that he had tracked down a suitable van. Only problem was that it needed collecting that weekend. Foolishly, I agreed only then to discover I had to travel to North Wales to pick it up!! On top of that, I was to pick Diz up from Gatwick as well on Saturday evening. Andi and I had also arranged to go down to Eastbourne one day that weekend too!! Gosh, isn’t life fun? So Saturday night, with my blonde head on, I was sitting at the arrivals gate at Gatwick, wandering why there was so few people about at such a busy airport. After 3 cappachinos the penny dropped. It was the channel isles arrival gate; what a plank!! Anyway, after successfully meeting up with Diz, my first task was to ask him to run me to city airport the next day. It was my turn to be the ‘jet setter’. Sunday saw me meeting up with the seller of our new Thunderbird 3 and to be totally amazed that he had no idea where he had parked his car at Manchester Airport! Perhaps being blonde is infectious . . . . ? The car was duly found after 30 minutes of trudging around; bloody hell, it’s a big airport!!! So, off to Rhyll and start the long drive home through the night. Rock n Roll, I love it.

                    No-one has seen much of Mark this month, not even his family. Every spare minute has been spent glued to the computer sorting out artwork for T shirts, posters and fliers for our Back on Track TT tour this year. When not in front of the computer he is glued to the mixing desk recording Diz’s vocals now he is back from far away lands; but Mark’s efforts have not been in vein ‘cos on hearing the first mixes, the whole band is excited. The cd really does show a more beefy side than before.

                    The first disappointment of the month was that Andi and I had tickets to see Thunder at Norwich UEA and it was cancelled. But this was quickly followed with the good news that it was rescheduled for a few weeks time. The next day Andi and I whizzed off to Glastonbury to stay just the one night for the Spring Equinox. We stayed at St. Michael’s which is the fab house within the Chalice Well Gardens. The weather was superb and we attended the Equinox Blessing in the Gardens on the Sunday at midday. This is a very spiritual place, well worth visiting if you like that sort of thing. We also had to visit our favourite Indian restaurant in the high street, Elaiche. It’s wonderful food and great service. Andi went off to purchase some crystals and ended up being ‘Nandi’ and buying pink fluffy things for Isla!! We also watched the sunset from the top of Tor; that’s great, even if you don’t like that sort of thing! That was a great weekend again.

                        During all these frantic events, Dunc discovered the joys of having a child at school. Yup, they bring home pretty pictures for the cork board and the fridge magnet, but they also bring home the other goodies – like projectile vomiting of a strain so rife it goes through the whole family in hours!!!!!!. That laid him low for quite a few days, and still he clung on to his guitar…….Now down to 40 patches a day the battle against smoking is still being won (?) we think.. Diz has been moved for 1 month to work in Norwich – and that for a top Ipswich Town supporter – ha ha ha ha…..where are ya???

                        Next in line was Easter, and two nights on the trot in Bury St Edmunds. Fantastic, because we always have good gigs up there, and, we got to see Uncle Albert two nights on the trot. Diz had yet to be honoured with a visit to U.A. and he wasn’t disappointed. He soon got into the swing of it. Believe me – if you could have seen U.A trying to put an easter egg through the night hatch – we laughed all the way home, crying can be so much fun at times. Yeah, I know – were buggers, but it’s cheaper than driving Rollers into swimming pools!!!! Both the gigs, The Grapes and the Rising Sun were terrific. Just the shot in the arm we needed, especially as March had been all work behind the scenes and no rehearsal time at all. So, it buzzed us up. And in the new Thunderbird-3 which now seats all the band and friends in comfort, and the gear, oooh – and the drinks cabinet!!! It makes for a lot better ambience on our journeys and tours to far flung regions of East Anglia. Watch out – if its big and red – it just might be us on your tail…….

                        Superbike season is now underway and must get a visit or two in sometime this year.  John Reynolds had a credible outing considering he broke his leg in 5 places only a few weeks ago. But my buzz was in World bikes. If you follow the diary you will know that I have enormous respect for Yukio Kagayama, now riding world series for Suzuki. Two wins out of two – Yissssss. Good on ya kid. Poor Jamie Toseland had a poor start, and being British and reigning champion can only look for him to improve. But go, Yukio, take that title this year.

                        So, a worn out LoaDeD as we turn into April, the Back on track Tour only 8 weeks a way……’eck!!!!!! We are all really up for it and just hope for a smooth run into it.

                        By the way, this drummer wants his son to play in a band, so goes into a shop and asks for a Fender guitar and Marshall amplifier. “You must be a drummer?” says the shop owner. “How do you know that?” replies the drummer. “Well, mate, this is a Fish &Chip shop!!!” 

             Mark listening to our new cd evolve and watching NOWT – no bloody time

             Dunc listening to Becks new cd – Guero  and watching Dr Who

             Diz  listening to the first mixes of our cd and watching babes on the beach!!!

             Steve listening to new Steve Vai and our 1^st mixes and watching Saw

Be Happy, Be Safe, Keep Rockin'                                                                                                                        the Old Git

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February 2005 

            Happy february readers! We seem to be whizzing through the beginning of the year. The weather has been as unpredictable as our gigs; in respect of what you may get and where it'll happen. We've 'aired' one or two new numbers in the last couple of venues which went down really well, and we are still working on a whole load more. The Milestone, which we did on the 4th, was yet another cracking good night. Although it starts earlier than most venues (for 'neighborly' reasons,) there was a good, full crowd to blast the new Velvet Revolver number too. And it was certainly appreciated by you guys. It was great to see the peeps from the Dulux shop in Colchester have a good time. Lovely to see you and your mates and other halves. Who was the rowdy one!??! Doesn't matter, everyone was the same by about 10 o' clock. You have to sink ya beer good and proper there before going home time.  Still, it makes for earlier bacon rolls when we get home for supper. (and more beer). It's as well I stick to shandy on gig nights 'cos I drive the jollopy home. The Ipswich police were out doing an over zealous job that night. (They must have been bored). We were stopped approaching the A12 as a matter of 'routine'. One quick glance at the gear crammed into the back seemed to satisfy them that it wasn't full of groupies (we should be so lucky), or 'visitors' straight off the docks!!!! Still, they were polite and friendly. Perhaps we'll be booked for the policeman's secret ball!

            That leads us onto saturday 5th; when the Thunderbird 1 crew (see 2004 TT review), ventured off to the Ipswich Railway to see No Shame. Excellent band, great front guy with great voice. A 'must see' for those that haven't. (wondered whether the rest of them were doing a sponsored weight gain for charity?) Andi volunteered as taxi driver and off we set. As the 'quiet' one, I opted to watch coats etc while Karen and Andi went head-banging, and Marty, well, lets just say he had a good night!!!! Reckon Karen had her hands full when she got home; won't add to that. Mmmmmmm. Hangover anybody next morning?

            The following Saturday saw us at the Sudbury Royal Oak. Not visited there for a while. Another good night proved to Diz that the smaller pubs can sometimes be as good as the top rock venues. It’s what you make it. And we certainly had fun as it got darker and louder towards the end of the night. Didn't know you could fly kites in there. Some of that didn’t help Dunc as he has given up the weed, generally speaking that is. So he is on the patches; some say he has them all over his body up to the neck line of his tee shirt and tucked in his socks! That should do the trick then Dunc . . .

           Diz is hunting for a last minute break and could be jet setting off to Portugal for a few days. It’s alright for some, coming home in the middle of winter with a suntan. Get us a gig out there Diz, we could do a beach party; we’re good at those.

           Friday 25^th saw us back at The Brewers Arms in Colchester. The usual mouthy crowd was in attendance. Sooooo, another night, another gig. It all goes towards the Isle of Man proceedings of which we are all now getting very excited about. We now have 5 gigs confirmed including top spot at Bushy’s on Mad Sunday for the third year running! The Bushy’s Brewery has a new venue too, so we hope to see you die-hards at The Bushy’s Basement Bar in The Rovers Return at Douglas over the TT fortnight. We’ll be packing them in for a good party atmosphere, the usual sing-songs and plenty of booze! We’ll also have some more TT tour T-shirts with the new tour name on which will be decided in the March newsletter. Ooh, the expense of it all!!

            After The Brewers Arms, we set up camp in our rehearsal room, living off of beer and cold sausage rolls. For a couple of weeks of recording new tracks for Raw at Rehearsals, these will form the backbone of a new demo. We expect to carry on well into march. 

             Mark listening to Rooster and watching Guns ‘n’ Roses videos

             Dunc listening to Athlete and watching Casanova

             Diz  listening to Seal and watching Holiday brochures

             Steve listening to Blind Boys of Alabama and watching Midsomer Murders

 Be Happy, Be Safe, Keep Rockin'

 the Old Git

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January 2005

                        Happy New Year everybody! How did you spend yours? If you can remember!!! Loaded all seem to have spent new year celebrating in their respective homes, maybe because the 'new year ticket' thing is getting to be a rip off; so drinks and good times are better had with friends and family in the comfort of your own homes sometimes. Anyway, it passed with a 'rip-roaring' good time and plenty of falling down juice.

                        First, and most important, job of the year for Loaded was to have deep and meaningful chats with both Diz and Jason. The ideal of running the band with two singers has proved to be a major hurdle, rather than an advantage. With having to do everything twice, Mark Dunk and Steve felt that progress was becoming nigh on impossible. So after discussing commitment fully with all concerned, Loaded are now 'back on track' with Diz as the bonafida front man. Cutting ties with Jason was never going to be easy, but it's great to say we all remain friends. It's a good time now to officially thank him for the years of dedication and we all wish him well with any new avenues he explores.  Now we all know what we are doing, the level of progress in the rehearsal room has been fantastic. Apart from working hard on new material and polishing up the old, we are looking at using Diz's skills as a guitarist. This should give the band an even fuller sound, but it could well be that his fretboard skills will not be unleashed upon you for a little while yet.

                        The first gig of the year was at a favourite haunt of ours, The Tavern in Sudbury. Considering it had been many weeks since people had been paid and the dreaded bills must have been drifting in, it was quite amazing to play to a packed pub. We  had a great time, and with Diz now feeling part of the set-up, we went on to give everyone a cracking night. We had some good feedback from people there and on our messageboard.

                        At the Blockhead's gig at Christmas, Andi and I promised to go and see Dylan's new jazz band. (Dylan being the Blockhead's drummer). So, at the end of january, we kept our promise. Off we tootled to the Boxford Fleece in Suffolk, a well known local jazz venue, to taste the 'pipe and cravat' samples of the jazz world. Boxford is like a little 'Mid Sommer' village, well kept gardens, chocolate box cottages. Didn't hear anyone scream though . . . We payed our ticket money, went upstairs in this quaint little pub into 'the room' and took our seats. Well, we have to say, they were superb. If you like that sort of thing. It's obvious that they are all great musicians, but we couldn't fathom out how the hell they could rehearse any of that stuff! 'Praps they don't. Still, we did have a nice chat with Dylan. Glad he appreciated our sacrifice.Thats our portion of jazz for quite a while, me thinks. Maybe we will go for country and western next time, or Andi says industrial gothic would be best. We're not shallow minded when it comes to listening to music.

                        The month found Dunk,, Mark & the girls going to  Green Day and Velvet Revolver gigs in London. Both were awsome gigs and still raving about Velvet Revolver, rating them as one of the best rock bands ever. So expect some of that in due course, rehearsals getting busier after each gig we go to 'cos we love the music so much.

   Dunc      watching Velvet Revolver

                           listening to Velvet Revolver         

                    Mark        watching Velvet Revolver

                               listening to Velvet Revolver

                         Steve      watching Angry Kid dvd

                                  listening to Black Label Society

                         Diz     watching girls

                                               listening to countless Loaded songs!

  Be Happy, Be Safe, Keep Rockin'

                                            the Old Git

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