Scrubbed From Head To Foot
By Ginger | August 16, 2009
After finally reaching the hotel, complete with super stealth power shower, the battering removal of the grime of three days of farm life and trekking frees the mind to wander through a myriad of corridors, each storing memories, each promising a banquet of misplaced delights.
Singing Panic Beach around the campfire with Maria McKee, enjoying, for the first time ever, an acoustic show alone- sans accompaniment- to a hushed and reverent audience, eating delicious crawfish while wearing a paper hat and attempting to join in with Swedish drinking songs, enjoying a farewell lunch of home grown produce that makes the stuff they sell in supermarkets taste like McDonalds, Taylor riding a pony in the garden, a vegetarian restaurant that pick the stuff that morning and give you a plate of what they know you want to eat, our wonderful new friends, the awesome hostess that is Maria Anderberg, Taylor laughing at his first face to face with a cow, awesome schnapps and little woodland creatures falling asleep.
We left Mrs McKee with a birthday gift (that we miraculously found after 5 minutes of searching) and said goodbye last night. It’s also the last we’ll see of Maria A, Krystal and Esther for a while, all true treasures to a girl. Well miss you until next time.
The 6 hour train ride to Stockholm today to meet with Conny Bloom and discuss the set we will play on Monday will provide more invaluable memories. I hope Dregen will show up but we aren’t sure of he’ll be in town. Wonder what Stockholm is like in Summer? Hope we find a babysitter, and a laundrette.
Then we take an overnight boat trip to Finland, which I’m really looking forward to taking Taylor on, where I’ll be reunited with Michael Monroe to carve out some new tunes for a few days before embarking on a huge press day in Helsinki.
I’m busy and I’m clean, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
See you somewhere nice.
Gx
Couch Surfing
By Scott | August 15, 2009
I’ve got to say, I’m really happy to find out that the DIY ethic has not completely died. Instead, it may be getting stronger.
Been on the road with The Sinatras for a few days now, and we’ve been treated better, put up in better conditions, and completely supported by our new friends more than I could ever have imagined. We haven’t been stuck for a place to stay yet and it means the fucking world. It’s nice to see that in a world full of free downloads and credit crunches, people will still find a way to support music. We couldn’t do this without that and God damn does it makes me smile.
Crawfish, Schnapps And Song
By Ginger | August 15, 2009
If anyone has a more sociable method of dining than the Swedish then they’re keeping it a secret.
The show (which was sublime, by the way) included my set, many more players following, then I guested with Esther Rose Parkes on Am I The Only One Who Ever Felt This Way and finally got up for the finale to growl through Rocking In The Free World with the entire bill performing. A truly brilliant moment. After being presented with a bottle of champagne each onstage (thanks Maria Anderberg) we retired to the country house where the wonderful Maria Blum and family cooked crawfish and drank schnapps (each drink precluded by a drunken Swedish song). I can’t remember ever eating anything better than crawfish. Delicious doesn’t even scratch the surface.
All in all as perfect a day as I’ve ever had.
And singing onstage only to look around and see Maria McKee smiling behind me, sharing the chorus, is a memory that is indelibly etched into my consciousness.
Off to Malmo today for more fun ‘n games today. I absolutely LOVE Sweden.
Gx
The Snake, The Lion, The Monkey And The Spider – FREE NEW SONG
By Ean | August 15, 2009
There are two brand new tracks up on the Band’s Myspace and Facebook music players for your listening pleasure.
The Snake, The Lion, The Monkey And The Spider is an exclusive non-album track which is now available for FREE download!
The Only One, the first single from the band’s fantastic new album Chutzpah! is available to stream.
The Snake, The Lion, The Monkey And The Spider – FREE DOWNLOAD
(Right Click > Save As) (192kbps MP3, 3:45, 5.2MB)
CJ’s World
By CJ | August 14, 2009
So hi to you all… Been a crazy couple of weeks with Sonisphere, the Kerrang! awards and then our small trip to Germany.
Sonisphere was a strange one. We turned up around 5 pm and had a full 6 hours of press, which is good but when you’re on stage at 12.15AM not the best of plans. Anyway we all managed to stay up and the show was a little strange. We tried out some new amps and they did not quite work according to plan, hence our major sound problems. Next time we will try out new gear in rehearsals and not at a major festival. Problems aside I really enjoyed the gig and the tent seemed to be rocking.
Next up was the Kerrang! awards and they were a hoot. It’s always nice when we get invited anywhere and to win an award was very cool. It was a good night and catching up with old friends is always great, I did not party all night but I know various members of the band did not get to bed till 6AM… fools.
Well after the awards we had to fly to Cologne and seeing Scott at the airport my plan not to go crazy at the awards payed off, he was a in a right state and in need of some sleep. After a short flight to Germany we made it to our gig only to find out that Buckcherry had to cancel as their singer was ill. We got bumped up to headline and had an amazing show, our first headliner in Germany. On the bus feeling victorious we settled in to our 7 hour drive to Berlin.
Berlin was cool and although the gig had been cancelled we got to go to the Ramones museum and did a bunch of German press. Berlin is a great city and I’m looking forward to playing our own shows there. And the food is good.
Well I’m home now in London knee deep in pizza dough and sauce as I’m cooking for 6 tonight. Hey if you’re very lucky I may post a recipe for the best pizza this side of NYC… Let me know and I will stick it up.
Well that’s all folks… be good and take care… CJ
Swedish Magic
By Ginger | August 14, 2009
So, after a very long day travelling we finally arrive at our destination, a dreamlike country retreat straight out of a Swedish kids book.
After feeding and bathing Taylor, and settling into our accommodation, I venture into a guest house with an array of seasoned musicians jamming extremely professional quality cover songs, where I’m lead to a microphone to sing Rocking In The Free World.
As I hit the chorus I look across the table to find that Maria McKee is filming me, and then she starts singing harmony with me. Maria McKee is singing harmony vocal to my lead vocal.
Bizarre event no.1.
No. 2 happens over a campfire after dark, where Maria compliments me on my songwriting following a slightly drunk version of Inside Out. I don’t think a compliment ever resonated so deeply before. Feeling freshly cocky I request Maria sing Panic Beach and I’ll strum along. She does. I do. It’s awesome.
After filling our bellies on amazing BBQ meats, and passing my acoustic guitar around the fire, Esther (a lovely English girl that Maria is grooming for success) and I go into an impromptu version of Am I The Only One Who Ever Felt This Way? that moves Maria into suggesting we sing the song this evening. After one more rendition (for Maria to record) we agree. And so came bizarre happening no.3.
After a hug I thank Ms. Mckee for the wonderful music and lifelong inspiration and we head off to our Country lodge in which I’ve just woken up and took Taylor out to meet his first cows.
Dreams are coming true as we speak.
I think God must have based heaven on Sweden.
Gx
Bruce Dickinson’s Friday Night Rock Show
By Ean | August 13, 2009
Ginger and CJ will be interviewed on this week’s Bruce Dickinson Friday Rock Show, between 9PM and midnight, 14th August.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/bruce_dickinson/
Or the show will be available on the BBC iPlayer for seven days afterwards.
Dreams Come True
By Ginger | August 12, 2009
“Dreams come true, say they do, say they do, say they do” Maria McKee
After a criminally insufficient amount of sleep (thanx Taylor, boy am I gonna keep YOU up when you get older) we are ready to leave for Sweden, where I will perform with the greatest living female vocalist and writer on Gods earth, Maria McKee. We will hang out, maybe even write a song or two together, but the point is I will get to thank her in person for the years of great music and inspiration she has given me. This whole thing came about because I was talking to a friend of our manager about Maria. This friend not only knows the great woman but invites her to stay at her little Countryside retreat in the heartlands of Sweden. It was mentioned that I should visit too, next time.
No more thought was given to this, slightly drunken conversation. And now, through honesty and positivity, I am about to get on a plane to this very retreat.To meet Maria McKee. Honesty and positivity, the energy of dreams. If you ain’t got both you ain’t got any dreams coming true, and you sure ain’t making any come true for anyone else.
Y’hear?
Then, after a brief acoustic show with my buddy Conny Bloom I’m off to Finland to write with Michael Monroe, one of Rock’n’Roll’s last true icons. He’s planning a new solo album and I’m helping write it with him. Who knows, I may even play in the band he’s going to put together for it? Stranger things have happened.
And usually to me!
Stay positive out there and remember to be honest. Not just for yourself but for everyone around you. It works, it really does.
Now, where did I put that passport?
Gx
It’s All About The Fans
By Ginger | August 11, 2009
I used to like being reclusive. I wanted people to think that I lived in a netherworld of darkened rooms peppered by candlelight and occupied by shady Keith Richards types.
The truth is I wake up and I change a dirty nappy/diaper before I get to urinate. I feed my baby his breakfast and when he’s done I get my coffee. I take him to nursery then I come back fully intending to sleep a few hours, but I hit the Safari option and my email world begins. I research, I reply, I communicate and then I’m on the phone, while I’m running around shops looking for baby cream, clothes that fit a rapidly growing infant and the dinner for this evening, twittering, texting, emailing and being interviewed all the while.
And why?
Essentially because I don’t live in a netherworld. I live on the same planet as you do, and judging by the amount of people that recognise me the same neighbourhood, the only difference is that I’m on this side of the deal and you’re on that side of the deal. Without either of us there is no deal.
And this is why communication with fans is so important nowadays.
MTV won’t do the job for you, and rock magazines are read either by people too young to remember a different age or people taking a shit at work.
If you want to be distant from your public then don’t be surprised when your public have suddenly went with a better deal.
You get nothing for nothing in this day and age. It’s tough for everyone. The recession has hit people in the confidence as much as in the pocket. We need to regain that confidence by trust. You trust me, and I trust that you do. I’m a trustworthy guy. If you’ve given me the benefit of the doubt I’m going to honour that by commitment.
I’ll be here tomorrow.
Try the veal.
Gx
Design A Chutzpah! Tour T-Shirt Competition
By Ean | August 10, 2009
The Wildhearts want you to design a T-shirt for the forthcoming UK tour dates!
The Brief:
• The name of the tour is Chutzpah! but the brief is open and we want your ideas.
• You can design just a front print, or both front and back, it’s up to you.
• The colour of the shirt is up to you.
• Please limit your design to as few colours as possible (plus your background shirt colour).
The winner and a friend will receive Backstage Passes to meet the band at the UK tour date of their choice, and shirts bearing their new design.
Designs should be submitted by email, with ‘shirt design competition’ as the subject line, as an image attachment** no larger than 1MB.
Entries should be sent to the following address only:
Your entry image should include your name, email address and phone number somewhere on it.
Only one entry per person, and the closing date for entries is midnight 23/08/2009.
Notes, Terms & Conditions
• The font used on the new album cover is Spyroclassic.
• **Image attachments should be in the form of JPEG/PNG/GIF/TIF. Avoid formats that will produce files larger than 1MB and proprietary file formats.
• The winner will be contacted as soon as possible after the closing date and judging has taken place. Any, more detailed, image files you may have produced for the design will be collected at this point.
• The name of the winner will be posted on The Wildhearts’ website – www.thewildhearts.com
• The Backstage Pass includes entry for the winner and one friend to the winner’s chosen date only. You are responsible for getting yourself to and from the venue.
• By submitting your artwork, you acknowledge that your design becomes the property of The Wildhearts and Backstage Alliance.
• The Wildhearts’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
• The Wildhearts reserve the right not to use any design if nothing suitable is entered.