I was there with my teenage sons who wanted to go , for a big band they were decidedly average with Liam probably marginally better than a corpse as a front man , crowd were great though
Nice story for anyone interested. I have quite a few about the Gallaghers. I drank at the Wrestlers pub in Highgate N6. Tucked at the corner of the bar, drawing.. Chris Moyles the dj, was a regular. He had a nice house at the top of Peacock walk, a narrow steep snicket in Highgate , I lived at the bottom. Rented little flat. We’d walk down together after the pub shut, talking about music & football.. Good lad, actually. I saw him chatting to & helping his elderly neighbour. Taking her bins out etc, on more than one occasion.. Anyway, there was this other lad, James. About our age, simple minded, to use an old fashioned term. Nice, didn’t say much. Just stared at people with eyes of a serial killer. But an absolute genius with vintage engines & in high demand all over the south east. Everything from lawnmowers to speedboats.. I didn’t mind talking to James. One evening, we were all in the beer garden. Moyles was with that fella Rickie(?) who sang for one of those other bands. Not very good. & he went indoors to complain to bar staff that he was getting stared at by some lunatic..? I chilled it out & everyone was happy..? Another later evening, another lad comes to same beer garden, with some friends. I’m thinking- oh here we go- this **** thinks he’s Liam Gallagher?- But then he says ‘Alright Paulie, how’s Dave (Kusworth)..?’ quick cuddles etc. ( label mates, Creation, years previously.) James was there too. I had to go for pee & pint. Rushed back cos I was worried about James freaking out Liam & his friends.. Not a problem, they were chatting like old friends. I had never heard James talk so much? I let them get on with it. LG had been looking at, or had bought, a vintage E type. Couldn’t drive it, but had been told it was mis-firing.? & James was telling an instant engine diagnostics, in his own simple little way.. & they exchanged numbers.. Liam left his credit card behind the bar that night. Staff said, can you get it back to him, Paul? I said no, I ain’t touching it..
Difficult one that. He settled for 500k in 1999 - which was probably a decent amount at the time. He couldn't have forseen reissues, anniversaries, streaming etc.
I played guitar for Dave Kusworth & the Bounty Hunters. Early 90s. Dave had done a couple of records for Creation. I don’t play on those. We were making another record. But got dropped when Sony bought out the major shareholding. Along with many other great bands. Sony only wanted Primal Scream & Oasis. W4nkers..
Fair play, that's really interesting. Teenage Fanclub are one of my favourite bands - and Creation has always fascinated me in the 90s.
Paul, I love your stories but they are too and far between. I'd love you to do a post of your career, it would be really interesting, particularly all the bits about being around the Gallaghers et al of this world. I know you'd feel it was a little self indulgent but I for one and I am sure others would as well, find it really interesting.
I have told these stories before to London Tykes. & I don’t know how the Fannies faired afterwards. They were selling a few records with Grand Prix & singles..? & I don’t know why the brothers broke the original band..? But was thrilled when my pal Gem from Heavy Stereo got the job. He was really struggling, not selling & had been dropped by Creation. His partner is a teacher & they had just had their first child. & equally broke as me. He was working at a guitar/instrument/ pawn shop called Angel Music at Angel Islington. Barely scratching an earn. I saw him shortly after, at Elliott Smith’s last London show. Party time, I was just effing thrilled for him. x How much you on.? Weekly retainer £2k per week. £5k per show, more for festivals.. I was delighted for him, still am. Because he was really crapping it. Even signing on the dole.. Later, he asked if I ever got a call from Primal Scream? To fill in for Robbie, if he got too ‘tired’? I never did..
Holy hell fire my cousin has just messaged to say he's got 4 tickets and myself and the wife are in. Never loved him as much. This is not happening. Wish my Dad was here to join us, but we'll have a drink to him.
Saw them at Glasgow Hydro this time last week, with Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service. Ben Gibbard is a huge fan, apparently.