The last birthday show sold out within weeks – and for good reason. This is a one of a kind show.

Tickets available now from Ticketweb

There will be no support at this show, instead Ginger (and friends) will play from the start. The show will start around 8pm so it is recommended that people start cramming in before then, doors are set to open at 7pm. So try not to stay at the pub too late or you’ll miss the fun.

Talking of pubs, the fine folk from the Ginger / Wildhearts forum will be meeting at the Famous Cock Tavern, just over the road from the venue – the more the merrier.

First things first, go buy the new Devin Townsend album, Addicted. Absolutely the best stuff he’s released since the awe inspiring City by SYL. You will absolutely not regret this purchase.

Oh, Antiproduct are leaving the sunny confines of LA to return to the rainy little winterland we call the U of K to appear as special guests at The Wildhearts’ Xmas shows. Given that The Loyalties are opening up this evening should effortlessly rank alongside any Xmas special we have ever put together.

And, while on the subject of the Xmas gigs the thorny issue of Chutzpah Jnr. The decision to make this available exclusively to people attending the Xmas shows is not a decision that has been made by me or, to my knowledge any member of the band. I’m sure this is a slight error and that the CD will be available at shows after Xmas. All I can personally say on the subject is that I hope the CD will NOT be on sale outside of the concert environment, dictating that you make some online friends and have them buy a copy for you. Who knows, actual friendships may subsequently blossom ensuring you all have international destinations for your future holidays? Having said this, we have management and a record label that make these decisions for us, so for all I know (and let’s face it I’ve been known to be wrong as frequently as any air breathing humanoid) you might soon be able to download it without any further effort or social value whatsoever. Yay.

Speaking of gigs, the birthday show sold out in a rapid and amazing blast of  excitement, at least for me. It’s a pretty proud old(ish) fart who knows that you are so keen to help me celebrate in style. So proud, in fact, that I have invited pretty much everyone to the party. Expect to see a veritable rainbow of familiar faces and musical masterchefs cluttering up the tiny stage at London’s Relentless Garage. I’d also like to take this opportunity to point out that we’d like you to familiarise yourself with this tune:

We hope to present a live version of this song at some point in the evening and your participation in the chorus would be greatly appreciated. We also hope to have a twitter address set up for live twittering during the evening. So whether you’re in the actual venue or a billion miles away on a nearby planet, or even somewhere in between, you can make your presence known.

We will NOT, it must be heavily stated, be streaming the show live or recording the event in any shape or format. Filming will also be strictly dissuaded. This is a private party after all. All I can say, in my meekest defence, is that I hope to have more than one birthday next year, failing that I suggest you get tickets even quicker next time. We may even make tickets for next years show available at some random point mid-next year, to give some of you the chance to arrange travel arrangements and organise a spot of Xmas shopping. For the rest of you dotted around the world, outside of practical range of this event, I can only offer, as some mild condolence, how the rest of us all feel at not being able to spend New Years in New York, Summer in Saigon and Easter in Egypt. Let’s face it, only God can be everywhere (and, between you and me, even She’s confirmed on the bill for the birthday bash).

I’ve been writing a lot lately. Right now I’ve been happy to write for other artists but it’s got my creative sword quite fiercely sharpened on this welcome stone of demand. Expect at least two albums next year to feature my strong involvement. A bold statement? You betcha. And if it doesn’t happen then I assure you that it won’t be through lack of trying. I’m itching to create like the monstrous creative force I intend to be next year, and I suspect this level of energy will be enough to make this happen. That and your positivity.

I am also pitching for my own radio show through which I hope to educate and entertain with a veritable barrage of unfamiliar delights chosen specifically to stroke the imagination and coddle the mind. Pray with me that it comes off and I know we can achieve this. Sharing my vast love of music is part of the vital service I hope to dedicate myself to in 2010.

There are a few other things that might or might not be happening, none of which I will jinx by announcing here at this point. Instead I’ll exercise a little more respect for the health boosting effects of good news and keep you all waiting.

Still, you know me. As soon as it’s safe to announce I’ll be laying it on y’all. As a bringer of good tidings I find much comfort.

Have a brilliant Xmas, and if I don’t speak to you beforehand keep your powder dry and your intentions brilliant.

Gx

2/12/09 Stockholm, Sweden – Göta Källare
3/12/09 Gothenburg, Sweden – Sticky Fingers
4/12/09 Jevnaker, Norway – The Untouchables Hard Rock Club
5/12/09 Copenhagen, Denmark – The Rock
9/12/09 Tampere, Finland – Klubi
10/12/09 Helsinki, Finland – Nosturi
12/12/09 Joensuu, Finland – Kellari

Special guests in Stockholm will be Conny Bloom and Dregen, and support for the Finnish dates comes from The Souls.

There will also be an exhibition of Wildhearts collectables and memorabilia at Helsinki City Library from the 8th December.

Following Ginger’s birthday show on the 17th December (Have you got your tickets yet?) the band will play some Christmas shows in the UK:

19/12/09 Leeds, UK – Rio’s
21/12/09 Wolverhampton, UK – Wulfrun Hall
22/12/09 London, UK – O2 Academy Islington

See the Tour page for full details and ticket links.

Oh man.

The set will feature many rarely played tracks by The Wildhearts, SilverGinger 5, Clam Abuse, SuperShit 666 and the solo albums, some of which have never been played live before, and never will be again.

Then there is the band.

Oh man!

Consisting of a million special guests, friends and colleagues (okay, maybe not as many as a million but more than, say, twenty) each performing different songs all evening.

The vast array of familiar faces as well as the guaranteed bonhomie that will undoubtedly take place make this event one that is absolutely not to be missed.

Yeah, I know it’s my birthday but on this evening it will be everyone’s birthday, as well as an early Christmas.

I’ve never tackled anything so ridiculously involved in my life of playing live shows, but with the aid of Rich Jones and Chris McCormack (both kindly helping in the logistics and arrangement of such a ludicrous challenge) I presume that this night will be one that we’ll all be talking about for the rest of our lives.

I absolutely cannot wait to share this evening with you.

See you there, you lovely, lovely people.

Gx

Tickets for the show can be bought from TicketWeb

It is being billed as ‘Ginger and Friends’ so expect plenty of guests and surprises.

A. Play Chutzpah! in its entirety alongside a handful of best of’s and old classics
or
B. Play a set full of old classics and best of’s with a few choice cuts from Chutzpah! thrown in

Rehearsals are right around the corner and we need to figure out what the hell we’re doing so let us know your thoughts.

Cheers.
Scotty

Straight into the rooms (VIP natch, this one I’m sitting in is fucking huge) and then down to soundcheck, in this cavernous, 4000 seater venue, where I find myself singing You Really Got Me with John 5 and Surrender with Corey Taylor and Mark McGrath singing backing harmonies, while Dave Navarro shows me their new arrangement of the track. Duff McKagan is here, as is Matt Sorum (watching them play It’s So Easy brings a shiver to the skin), and then Steve Stevens and Corey Taylor join the CF circus for an astounding rendition of Rebel Yell. Corey really has the best pipes in the business, no doubt about it.

Just ate the best catering I’ve ever eaten in the dressing room, and I’m now waiting for the meet and greet, where Ozzy and family will be present.

It’s a surreal day, and one that I thought I should share with you.

Vegas is a place that Camp Freddy were formed to play. Their ultra-pro, huge production sits at ease with the larger than life attitude that this place is famous for. No one acts like stars in this outfit, more like a mutual appreciation society that get to hang out and play their favourite songs with each other.

Tonight I will play Anarchy In The UK, with Steve Jones.

This could be the most wonderful live experience of my life.

I’ll let you know how it went.

Vegas, baby. First class. Life is sweet.

Gx

Only two weeks ago my family and I were sitting at Heathrow airport waiting for our flight to Sweden to meet and perform with Maria McKee, then to Finland to write with Michael Monroe.

Next I’m saying goodbye to my family at Heathrow where I’ll board a flight to LA. Luckily I can upgrade my seat to premium using my airmiles, so far so good.

After some spattered LA sleep peppered with jet lag we make our way to rehearsals where we write the first song for our new project, Mystery Number, which we will fine tune tomorrow. When tomorrow comes, however, things will begin to take on a momentum of their own based on the tangible life force of simple positive thinking. And nowhere is the power of positivity evident than within the characters of this band. Scott Lipps, the president of the biggest modelling agency in USA and one of the best loved guys in the business world, Billy Morrison, the heart and soul behind Camp Freddy, the biggest all start covers band in the world, and Michael Butler, a rock n roll historian, DJ, host and generally universally loved human being.

So the morning of the greatest day of the year begins with the mighty Mike Clink (Guns n Roses, UFO etc. etc.) coming to the studio to discuss the possibility of working with us. While were talking Michael Lee Smith, the magical voice behind Starz, turns up to rehearse. Suddenly I have to call Lemmy at home to ask if he’s coming to the show. Spinning in blissful confusion we make our way to the happiest place in LA, the home of our friend Mike, who furnished us with fine wine and conversation about the Secret , Dr Wayne Dyer and the power of positive thinking, my absolute favourite topics.

When I wake I have a funny feeling ‘the greatest day of the year’ is going to be beat. And sure enough at sound check on gig day Steve Stevens shows up to play Rebel Yell and shred his way through My baby Is A Headfuck. After a quick dinner with the Buckcherry guys, and successfully persuading Tre Cool to come to the show, we head back to the venue where I will be greeted by a flotilla of names and faces, Mickey P, Paul Cook, Casey Chaos, Duff McKagan, Donnie Vie, before climbing the stage at Viper Room to perform with a live stream, set up by the ubiquitous Billy Morrison and engineered by Beans and Butler, that will pipe the show out live to USA, UK, Japan, Brazil, Australia and Europe as well as to those gathered here in person to watch Michael Lee Smith sing Loveshit, Steve Stevens destroy Rebel Yell and own Headfuck, while we gallantly plough through an eclectic set. The greatest day of the year has officially been replaced.

In the morning I wake with the feeling that the greatest day (‘officially replaced’) may, somehow, be usurped by an outside horse named ‘the greatest day of the year, period’, only to be ushered into the truck of the lovely Chelsea Schwartz and taken to the Gibson offices where I’m face to face with Ace Frehley for a 30 minute interview. The greatest guitar player that ever lived is in great spirits and excellent humour as I ask him some very pressing questions about drugs, sexuality and his opinions on Ramones. The thrill that carries me from the interview takes me to the house of Matt Sorum, where we are recording our new song with Mike Clink (oh yes, it all went gloriously to plan), only to be told that Ace has mentioned me on twitter, saying I’m a nice guy.

This crazy trip has started with Maria McKee saying she likes my songs and bookended with Ace Frehley calling me a nice guy. Will someone wake me the fuck up?

Tomorrow I will head out to Vegas where I will perform with Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Navarro, John 5, Steve Jones and the entire Camp Freddy circus, in an attempt to override ‘the greatest day of the year, period’.

I think this is likely.

I’ll let you know how it went.

What’s that you say? I dropped a name or two?

You’re damned right I did!

Gx