the World of Verbal Warning 18.11.08

We were all looking forward to the Greyhound gig, our only one in November, but in true Verbal Warning style things didn't exactly go to plan, first of all Singer Boy was not very well, no, he really wasn't very well this time, we know this cause he's not gone into work since, mind you he did go to 3 gigs last week as well as ours at the Greyhound, as Guitar Boy put it, he really is his own worst enemy. Anyway things were going well when someone at the pub got nervous about the strain we were putting on the PA and turned us down towards the end of the 1st set, and the vocals disapeared, at half time we tried to put things right without success, to cut a rather long story short the newly miced up snare drum finished up dominating the mix, it wasn't a disaster, but it could have been better.
Because of Singer Boys health problems he's giving practice a miss tonight, or is it cause England v Germany is on the TV? so the rest of us are cosying up in Drummer Boys office in an effort to keep warm, and it doesn't give much room for swinging fists if we discuss what went wrong on Saturday.
Just bought a new computer keyboard of ebay, £2.20, bargain me thinks, when it arrived it's an American one, you know the type, no pound sign on it grrrr. Lets hope the ear plugs and guitar lead are a better buy when they arrive.
Singer Boys off to China to visit his step daughter, no she's not Chinese she's teaching Long Eaton English out there, the mind boggles, anyway it was touch and go as to whether he got a visa on account of the fact his occupation is a journalist, but as soon as he explained he was Sports Editor with the Manfield Chad he was granted one.
So, I don't know when I'll find anything remotley interesting to say till after Christmas, because our next gig's not till December 23rd But if anything crops up I'll let you know. If not, have Merry Christmas, bah humbug.

the World of Verbal Warning 30.10.08

Well we all enjoyed the Penetration gig at Mansfield's the Mill, looks like they've got a new sound guy who doesn't turn everything up to 11 so everybody got a good sound, still loud but not distorted and Penetretion were superb. Now as you who know me know, I'm a big cask ale fan and think larger is the same colour as what it tastes like, so, if anybody saw me walking round the Mill with a cans of Carling in my hand I must explain that it was a band rider and therefore free, those of you who know me will also know I am not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, so it was principles 0 wallet 1. Our gig at the Salutation on 23rd October got cancelled, we'd been double booked with god knows who, so we were all a bit miffed, this week they're asking for bands to play, I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Guitar boys got a bad back to go with his bad amp, both are not working as they should, so it's perhaps as well we've got nothing on this week.
Mind you I think we'll all have bad backs soon, just bought some bass speakers for our ever expanding PA, the DHL driver was not amused at having to deliver them. Talking of equipment, the tweeter blew in one of our monitors, Singer boy took it back and its our fault for being to rough with them, treat them gently they said, they're monitors that sit on the floor at gigs, it's a bit like buying a car, then when it breaks down being told its your fault for switching the engine on.
That's about it I think, probably be a while till the next report, we've not got a gig till the Greyhound on November 15th.

the World of Verbal Warning 15.10.08

Here's the report about our busy weekend as promised. The Nottingham Beer festival gig was a stormer, the place was nearly a sell out, and the Amplifires very kindly stayed on so we could use there PA, we premiered our Dambuster theme tune intro, an idea we nicked from MFN, which seemed to work well. Me and Guitar Boy very nearly missed the chance to call Singer Boy a twat when he unexpectedly revived his intro to a Ploy Named Sue and we were chatting away about something and only just got to the mic in time. The security Guard was roundly booed by the crowd when he enforced the 11 o Clock curfew and an old DJ hero of mine, the one and only John Shaw came up for a chat afterwards and said how much he enjoyed it, he likes a bit of old skool punk rock does our John.
The next night was a reverse of the previous evening, we were on first and the second band, Fightback, borrowed our PA, a good time seemed to be had by all, a decent crowd, some of the Tiger lot turned up, someone even said the guy who tried to chin Guitar boy was there, throwing one fingered salutes at us, but as Arson Wenger would say I didn't see that. It's a nice venue at the Sportman in Long Eaton, pity they charge £100 for the hire of the room.
We've got the Penetration gig at the Mill in Mansfield to look forward to now then it goes very quiet, since the Sitwell gig's been cancelled we've only got one gig in November, might give us chance to work on some new songs for the new CD

the World of Verbal Warning 06.10.08

is it really 3 weeks since my last blog? time flys when you're trying to learn the bass part to Rock and Roll Christmas.
We've had 4 gigs since my last report, 1st one was at the Maze where we were first on in a 5 band bill, so as you can imagine there wasn't many there, and to make things worse a couple of guys turned up to see us for the first time since 1982 and we'd all gone home apart from singer boy, then the Sunday after by way of a complete contrast we were headlining at the Vic in Derby, and it turned out to be a good night with a good crowd, we even had a little mosh pit going and a bit of crowd surfing, well one lunatic fell backwards off the stage but that's near enough for me, we were already to do an encore to finish off our 1 hour set but the sound engineer was obviously in a hurry to get home as the music came on the lights went up and the mics had disapeared off the stage in the space of about 30 seconds.
On to the Tiger in Long Eaton last Friday, first time on there and what a cracking gig it was, a full house, beer being thrown, cheering and singing, and guitar boy nearly got chinned when he threw a pick into the crowd and it bounced off some pissed up punters head and landed in his beer, to say he was not amused would be an understatement, some people just can't enter into the spirit of things, anyway we're back there for our Christmas party on December 23rd.
The day after we were at the George in Ripley, what a difference, a small indifferent crowd meant we couldn't really get going after the previous evening and we didn't even do an encore, just packed up and went home, so down to earth with a bang.
Next Friday it's the Nottingham Beer Festival in the Castle grounds, I was looking forward to this till I found out we're in the tiny bandstand and the crowd are outside, in the middle of October? I'd imagined a Marquee, if it rains we'll be playing to ourselves, I'll let you know how it goes.

the World of Verbal Warning 11.09.08

Things are quietening down after our rather frantic August, had a gig at Sawyers, Kettering last Thursday, which was a rather sparse crowd but it gave guitar boy a chance to try out his new axe and we got all our petrol money, so fair play to Bamby, they must have lost money.
The Horncastle gig was a different kettle of fish altogether, the decent sized crowd were well up for it, I suspect the fact they'd been drinking all afternoon might have had something to do with it, but hey, a rocking gig, the rest of the band might think it's the way we played but I think the fact I'd got my council green trousers on had something to do with it, I was pleased there was a 10 o Clock curfew, I was well knackered after nearly a 2 hour set and they still wanted more.
Guitar Boy uncovered this, how bizarre Verbal Warning video's on a bridal gown site??????????
http://www.bridalgownsguide.com/bridal-gowns/watch-video/1PVE85K6i_0/florry40/verbal-warning-white-riot.html
I've just put my Fender Jazz on ebay after months of soul searching about which bass to off load, I mean, you can only play one at once, and I haven't got a rack to fill like Guitar Boy has, so, all you lefties out there get bidding.
No gigs this weekend for the first time in ages, I'll probably have the shakes by Sunday night, I'll have to have a few pints to calm me down.

the World of Verbal Warning 28.08.08

Three gigs to report on, first it was the Blyth Power ashes at Lumb Farm, a local gig for us, we didn't get the best slot, 11.45 on Saturday lunch which meant I was still pissed from the previous evening, couldn't remember half the bass line for white riot, and somebody's posted it on youtube, sadists. And after watching Bunny Boiler, which is also on youtube I have decided that perhaps the Rebellion tee shirt doesn't really go with my council green trousers and bright pink guitar strap, no wonder I wear shades. But I got better as the gig progressed and it did mean I could start drinking without worrying about an evening gig, um, not sure that was a good thing on reflection.

Just had a really busy weekend, 500 miles, 2 gigs in 24 hours, ROCK AND ROLL. Drove down to the New Forest in Hampshire for the Moto Guzzi GB festival on Saturday wondering how we would be received by the biker crowd, shouldn't have worried, 2 encores, a good PA, girls taking there tops off and dancing around in there bras, well 2 girls anyway, and 4 real ales on at the bar which was open for an hour after we finished, made for a storming night. I was falling over guy ropes, grinning from ear to ear, had to give up trying to get in my sleeping bag, and in the morning Wendy Verbett discovered I was still wearing my tie! not just my tie I should add, so yes, we had a good time..

On to Horncastle on Sunday for a outdoor charity gig, at Old Nicks pub, and very good it was too, drummer boy's bass pedal broke, and my bass lead didn't work after Guitar boy stood on it the previous evening, but luckily they happened before we started, and they're still having us back in a fortnight so we must have been ok.

I think we'll have to abandon plans for a national tour though, the 2 younger members of the band were so worn out by the weekends efforts we had to scrap wednesdays practice to give them time to recover.

On a sadder note, Singer Boy has altered his little speech before we play A Ploy Named Sue, so we no longer get the chance to call him a twat, so one of the highlights of the gig has disappeared, temporarily I hope.

the World of Verbal Warning 13.08.08

We've had 2 gigs since the last blog, first the Steamboat at Trent Lock which turned out to be a cracking gig, sound was good and a decent crowd, highspot of the evening was when we did our little joke before Ploy Named Sue and the pub broke into a chant of twat, twat twat at singer boy, highly amusing for the rest of us, if you don't know what I'm talking about you'd better come to one of our gigs, lowspot of the evening was me reversing my new car into a metal post dispite of have warning sensors on the back of the car, perhaps it's me thats the twat as well.

On to Blackpool which went well, we were third on the bill on Thursday but with only 2 stages in operation finished up with a good crowd which is a good sign, sold 11 T shirts and had some nice compliments. Some good gigs from the Revillos, the original line up of the UK subs and the Sweet, but surprise of the weekend was the Glitter Band, they were on at 11.30 Thursday night when everybody was pissed, had a replacement Gary and played all the hits with everybody in the crowd sreaming along. I don't suppose we hear any Glitter songs any more for obvious reasons which made it all the better, at the end the PA and lights were turned off and the crowd still carried on with about 10 chorus's of you love me love, the band couldn't believe it, imagine what they thought when they first got the booking to play at a punk festival.

the World of Verbal Warning 28.07.08

Me and Singer Boy went off on our hols, not together I hasten to add, just in case you're beginning to think we're more than just good friends, full of the joys at the thought of upcoming gigs, then disaster, our biggest gig to date, the Rock and Blues festival got cancelled by the pigs, then Llangollen got called off because of a date mix up, Singer Boy swears it wasn't his fault, as a sort of consolation prize Mick Moonshine booked us at the Sitwell for Saturday, the sound was awful in the first half, this horrible bass feedback kept happening every time I stepped near the mic, Wendy Verbett reckons it's the worst she's ever heard us, but the crowd were loving it, maybe we should sound crap at every gig, some might say we already do. Anyway at half time I changed back to my old effects pedal and twiddled with the EQ on the PA and second half was ok, Ace of Spades went down particularly well.
Guitar Boy has a new hair cut, U2 might have the Edge but we've got the Badger, and now the goverments called off the cull he should be pretty safe.
And finally our long awaited, well long awaited by us anyway, new track is ready for totally free download from our myspace site, get it now.

the World of Verbal Warning 10.07.08

gigs are coming thick and fast now, Mansfield supporters with Attilla, the Sportsman with Fightback, and best of all the Nottingham Beer festival at Nottingham Castle, although it looks like we've lost the Harrington, in spite of Singer Boys best efforts to keep them afloat by spending loads of dosh on booze in there they've gone bankrupt.
For those of you who are long time readers of my blog, err, that's probably about 4 people I reckon, I've finally got a new car, well a second hand new one, so as Guitar Boy reminded me, my mid life crisis is now well and truly in full flow.
We helped the Duke, of Showaddywaddy fame, out last Wednesday when a band booked for MFN let them down at the last minute, so instead of practice we shot off to do a last minute gig, totally unprepared and it showed, hand written set list are no good for Singer Boy we've foundout, he can't read anything less than a font size 20 without his glasses on, and the sound wasn't the best, but hey, we got some brownie points and some advice off a pissed up Duke, Drummer Boy thinks he wants to put us all in long bright coloured jackets and have 2 drummers, so I think we'll pass on that one.

the World of Verbal Warning 23.06.08

We've done a couple of gigs since my last post, the Sitwell Tavern proved a worthwhile, we went down rather well with some metal heads in the crowd, who, in spite of not getting us to play a Discharge song despite repeated requests, we don't know any, were highly delighted with our version of Ace of Spades, and the evening was finished off by us being booked to play the legendry Rock and Blues festival at Pentwich, 15000 hairy arsed bikers expected so it should be our biggest crowd to date by a long way. Last Saturday we were back at the Greyhound, the first set was possible out most acomplished to date, we were rocking, used my Stingray bass in the first half and my Fender in the second, which was best? no one was saying except Lee of Weston who prefered the stingray. Some Lads were up from Essex for the Donington bike GP and couldn't believe there luck that they had stumbled across such a "great band", there words not mine, maybe we should be playing more gigs down south. At the break someone said we weren't loud enough, red rag to a bull, so we turned everything up to 11 and everybody went home with tinnitus, result.
Our new release, A Ploy Named Sue is very nearly ready and being the generous people we are it will be available for free download, the reasoning behind this? who the hell would pay for it?

the world of Verbal Warning 05.06.08

Well I won my stingray bass on ebay, but was I ripped off? mine was the only bid at £749 until 6 seconds from the end when someone bid £811.50, 50p below my maximum bid, so I finished up paying £812, suspicious or wot? Now I have to wait for a gig to see if it cuts through as well as it does at practice, which is the sitwell tavern a week on Saturday.We had a practice last night without singer boy who's on holiday, so dummer boy, err sorry drummer boy, had the pleasure of me and guitar boy sharing lead vocals, I won't call it singing cause it certainly ain't, I think we've established that singer boy's job is safe.We've just landed a big gig at a biker festival at August Bank holiday, 700 hairy arsed bikers there and singer boy's told the organiser we know Jilted John, so we'd better get learning it.

the World of Verbal Warning 22.05.08

had a couple of gigs since the last post, travelled to the Jolly Tar at Nantwich which was an ok gig, the landlord told us we'd soon find out if the crowd liked us cause the pub would empty after the break if they didn't, well there wasn't many in to start with but they stayed till the end. Got a request for the Dead Kennedys so we launched into Holiday in Cambodia just as some gypies were having a punch up outside, so the pub emptied while we were doing this rarely played cover, typical VW luck. Talking of VW luck, we were at Junktion 7 yesterday and when was our slot? yep while the Euro Cup penalty shoot out was on downstairs, so we had a small but enthusiastic crowd.Got the buy a better bass bug again, but this time it's serious, a very rare left handed Musicman Stingray has appeared on ebay with a starting bid of £749, told you it was serious, well anyway I've put a bid in, hopefully there won't be another, I mean who's stupid enough to pay that amount out for a bass you've never seen or played? finishes on Sunday, if I win it I'll just have to buy a cheaper car, yes I'm still looking

the world of Verbal Warning 08.05.08

still not got round to doing the vocals for the new song, but next monday is arranged for vocals and mixing, if it's any good no doubt drummer boy will put it on my space.
Missed out on a Zoom b2 fx pedal on ebay the other day by 1p yes 1p, my maximum bid was £25 and it went for £24.01, now I know I've got a reputation for being a bit of a tight arse, me, I just think I'm a bit careful but I think even I'd have stretched to another penny if I'd have known.
Singer boy's been in his loft and found some old cassettes of an old Verbal Warning gig and some stuff by his old band, Potential Difference, and has asked me to put them on CD for him, now as you we all no doubt know this involves having to listen to at least some bits of them, god they're bad, bravery beyond the call of duty I call it, and I hope none of them get on to my space.
Had a gig at the Harrington last Friday that went well, eventually, there were only about 8 people in at 9 o Clock when we usually start so we delayed for 30 minutes and it was reasonable full by the end, no banjo smasher at this one though or band fall outs.

the World of Verbal Warning 28.04.08

I've just got over the shock of someone actually reading my blog so I'd better do another, after reading the basstalk forum, it's always a bad idea, I finish up spending money, I decided to try some Elixir Nano strings, they're supposed to last 5 or 6 times longer than normal ones, the bad news is the cheapest price is and eye watering £28 a set. Anyway I ordered some not realising the were coming from the USA, so I'm thinking VAT and Royal Mail handling fee going on here, they'll be the best part of £40, but fortunatly they wrote the cost was £15 on the export sticker so I got away with that one, and the strings? they sound pretty good so far, just got to see how long they last.Had a gig at the George Inn at Ripley which resulted in 3 encores and 3 very unhappy dogs, the canaine ears seem a bit sensitive to good old punk rock. The evening started off with only drummer boy being able to find the place in spite of the fact we'd all been there 2 or 3 times and halfway through the first set I was informed I'd forgot to put my sunglasses on, I wondered why I could see what I was doing, and don't even mention OCD, how the hell do we cock up a song we've done hundreds of times so badly we abandoned it and went on to Jet Plane, then it was the midsession break so everybody could calm down a bit.The second half was littered with mistakes as well but as I said earlier we got 3 encores and 2 more gigs, so there you go you never can tell.We are again having a go at recording tracks ourselves at the moment and early signs are good using home computers and free, what else? software. Got to add the vocals and do a mix them we''l be able to tell whether we can do the long awaited 2nd CD the same way.

13.04.08

3 weeks since my last blog, I'm suffering from writers block, or there's been bugger all to say. Had a couple of gigs since the last post, the Langley Mill gig was a bit of a wash out in more ways than one, the weather was awful, again, so not many there, we took about 10 cause it was guitar boys birthday and there were about 6 locals in, but the bar was so small another 6 and it would have been packed, still we did ok and the people that were there enjoyed it. So, on to the Malt Shovel, after the last time we were a bit worried because everybody left at the interval, but it was a decent turn out this time and it was still pretty full by the end. The real story of the night was this guy who walked in with a banjo, apparently he'd just been thrown off the bus for playing it and was definatly the worse for wear, now I thought we've got a bit of trouble here, thinking he'd ask us if we knew dueling banjos and could he join in, but no, half way through the second set, much to everyones astonishment, he proceeded to smash it to bits on the floor, Pete Townsend style, and we had to keep playing on while he was doing it, a great side show and it certainly kept everybody's interest, but I think he's probably regretting it now.Got new pick ups for my bass, ordered them from America because there're half the price and even with the robbing bastards from the Post Office adding on an £8 admin fee it still saved me £30, trouble was it required a bit of carpentry work to get them fitted, so now there's a bit of paint missing from around the pick up area. Still they are an improvement, but I would say that wouldn't I?

20.03.08

Guitar Boy turned up with yet another effects pedal at practice last night, he must have an effects pedal scrapyard in his back garden by now, I don't know what the word is for e bay addiction is but I think he's got it, how about e bayoholic, any other suggestions? if he ever gets round to putting them all in an effects pedal box it'll be so big we'll be able to turn it over and use it as a table tennis table. We were on at the Belle Vue at Mapperley on saturday, lousy night weather wise and a poor turnout, we got a decent sound though using a monitor for the first time with our PA, now we've decided we need another one, yet more gear to cart around, we'll need a roadie at this rate, any offers? must have his own transit and expect no money whatsoever. but talking of money the landlord paid us, which, seeing as how we didn't really have a confirmed amount was good of him. We won't be going back anyway cause he's leaving in a fortnight,looks like another live venue has been strangled by red tape.The gig front is looking quiet healthy now, until September, we've got about 2 a month which we think is about right, gives us time to work on material for our new CD, which won't ready till about 2012 unless we pull our fingers out.

01.03.08

Been a while since my last blog mainly cause not much has been happening, had an embarrissing gig at Stone in staffs, we thought it was a bit iffy from the start, a Monday night, with a 10 o Clock start, and a originals set, sounded like a disaster waiting to happen to us, and so it proved, about a dozen in when we started and about 3 when we finshed, we took the money and left feeling a little guilty, singer boy thought the landlady was about to burst into tears as she handed over the cash. Another disaster waiting to happen at the Chequers in Hucknall turned out OK, there was talk of pulling out after our Stone fiasco but hey, any gig is better than practice, there was about 30 in there and most stopped to the end, and we got paid. We have decided we need a monitor to hear singer boy, I know I know some would say he hardly needs a PA never mind a monitor, but he did have a bad throat, again, and there's still talk of a mic or 2 on the drum kit, well there is from drummer boy anyway. In a futile attempt to get anywhere close to guitar boy in the effects pedal race I bought Behringer amp modeler because some pillock on a bass forum said it made him sound like J J Burnell, which was bollocks, not a lot different from the one I use already, so it's heading towards ebay very shortly. Talking of guitar boys effect pedals, he's now put them in a special box to keep them neat and tidy, trouble is it's so bloody big when we play a gig on a small stage me and singer boy will probably be standing in the crowd, if there is one.

05.02.08

the 2 gigs we've had since the last post went ok, the Lurkers gig was a good one with 4 good bands on and enough people there to keep the monthly punk night going. We weren't at our best at Stilwell Tavern the next night although we were nice and loud, drummer boy now wants his snare micing up and guitar boy says the bass was to loud, seemed ok to me though made a right pigs ear of another girl another planet, I think we were all playing out of time, anyway everybody said it was a right balls up, and right at the end the PA packed up, well not just the PA, everything, perhaps on reflection plugging about 7 things into 1 extention lead with an overload cut out on it it wasn't the wisest thing we've ever done. After an early break and a redistribution of plugs we were up and running for the second half. We got 2 encores and Mick Moonshine seemed happy enough so it looks like we got away with it. If anybody other than the band has been following this blog since the start I've finally got my jobseekers allowance from last April, a nice liitle christmas bonus, I fought the system and I won, a new forum has appeared about Warnings infamous 1983 gig at the Union Rowing club check it out http://www.killyourpetpuppy.co.uk/news/?p=528#comment-1063

24.01.08

Just 2 practices and 1 gig since the last blog, oh and band illnesses, I managed to catch flu from somewhere and spent the journey home from practice sneezing all over guitar boy, but he's a lucky bugger he only got a bit of a cold. I may have stumbled on the bad practice equals good gig equation, after a bad practice before the Greyhound gig I spent a couple of hours practicing on Saturday, which I probably wouldn't have done if we'd had a good practice and the Greyhound gig was a stormer, we all had a thoroughly good time and kept the pub fullish till midnight which seemed to please the landlord, we're back again in June and November. Somebody did say to us "don't you ever do Daydream Believer again" and seeing as how we've never done it without making mistakes we probably won't, but you never know .Got a couple of gigs this weekend before a a bit of a break on on the live action front, supporting the Lurkers on Friday at Mansfield, which will be a quick 30 minute blast of Verbal Warning songs and Stilwell Tavern on Saturday which is another chance to impress Mr Moonshine, lets hope it goes well at least he should be able to hear us this time with our new PA, and we're taking some lights cause last time he took great delight in turning all the house lights off so we couldn't see what we were playing, I know we're an ugly bunch but the crowd expect to see something other than a black hole in the corner where the band might be

10.01.08

only one gig since Christmas at the Derby beer festival, but what a stormer, having 300 people screaming for more certainly does wonders for your ego. I was filled with apprehension before the gig due to the fact I'd been forced to have 3 pints, I say forced because I'd planned to have the regulation 2 then Lee and Di bought me another one cause it was my birthday, decisions, do I not drink it for the sake of my performance and turn down a free pint? not a chance, anybody who knows me will know I do not turn down free pints. Anyway, got away with it, only one major cock up in My Way which is an above average mistakes per gig ratio. No practice last night due to asbestos work at drummer boys lock up where he works and we practice, and he's worried about his clorestoral count! and singer boy having a wisdom tooth out, I would have thought losing any sort of wisdom was a bad move for him. I suggested the pub but he didn't want to go cause he's not supposed to drink for 24 hours and he could hardly talk. Both excuses turned out to be a load of bollocks, anyone who knows him will know not talking and singer boy should not be used in the same sentence and he was last out the pub still finishing off his 4th pint. One of these days he really will be ill and no one will believe him

27.12.07

Well, that's another over hyped, enforced jovality christmas done with I'm glad to say. Mind you you've got to feel sorry for Jesus, fancy having your birthday on December 25th.We had 2 gigs before Xmas on the Wednesday we were at Hucknall supporting, er can't remember, but nil by mouths guitarist and Green Dates 6 stringer were in the band, it went OK nothing great, but it was a good warm up for our excellent christmas party at the Harrington, everybody had a good time, the new PA was a success, best we've ever sounded was the general comment, we did 2 encores and we even played Ace of Spades for the first time after I said there was no way it would be played, but things were going so well I thought "what the hell" and started playing the bass intro which bought a puzzled look from drummer boy and singer boy scrambling for his lyric sheet which he hadn't got ready cause I said we wouldn't be playing it, how me and guitar boy came out of the guitar solo together I'll never know but we did, must be reading each others minds, now there's a terrifying thought, bet he's thinking the same thing.

10.12.07

Thought it was time for my latest installment on the life and times of Verbal Warning before Drummer Boy starts nagging me, trouble is we've had no gigs so not much to tell really, apart from, Verbal Warning have spashed out £840 on a new PA, I don't believe it, how thw hell did the rest of them talk a tight arse like me into spending that much money? it started with guitar boy suggesting a new PA might not be a bad idea in the light of recent difficulties with the sound system, who was quickly backed by Drummer and Singer boy. After much debate and web surfing it was decided to get a 1000 watt power mixer and some yet to be decided speakers, so we all trooped of to Nottingham on saturday morning after I had managed to get singer boy out of bed! no I was not there with him, I rang him up. First stop Millenium music who were not very convincing so next stop Sound Control. To cut a long story short we finished up with bigger speakers than I imagined, and a bigger price as well, and a cordless mic. Got the stuff round to my place and couldn't try it out cause I got no speaker leads, singerboy turned up with some that had the wrong connectors so Bearing in mind that Guitar Boy had already suggested new leads but I said no, the old ones will do we don't want to spend another £50, told you I was a tight arse, we finished up splashing another £60 on some extra long ones, I was in a state of total shock by this time and , just hope we've made the right chioce.

27.11.07

Bloody Hell, just done the latest installment of my fascinating blog, went for a cup of tea and got timed out, so I've got to start again!Due to popular demand, well Drummer Boys demand anyway, here we go.If by some slim chance anyone not involved directly with the band is reading this string go to http://www.gamingtrend.com/forums/index.php/topic,18667.0.html for and explanation of a couple of recent entries, we found it rather amusing .Against all expectations the Barge gig went well, a good crowd, swelled by Amiee cleverly arranging her works leaving do in the pub, got into it, and were joining in by the end. We even had a Chubby Brown impersonator helping us out with Alice, I'll leave it to your imagination which bit he sang. The landlord wanted to book us again for the pubs christmas party but sods law struck again, it was 21st December the night of our only December gig at the Harrington.So on to the Stillwell Tavern in Derby, we wanted to do well here as the owner, Mick Moonshine, is agent for the Almaboobies and we were hoping for some more gigs. Anyway it started off OK a good crowd doing a bit of pogoing and Mick highly delighted that he'd found a band as old as he was, well I am anyway, Guitar boy was a bit miffed, boy being the operative word. He didn't think we weren't loud enough, but he has got a million watt PA powering his disco so we think he must be a bit deaf. But after the break no one came back it was just the Verbetts and Lee Cooper, it did fill up again towards the end and Mick seemed pleased with us, he wants us back in the New Year.On Sunday we were doing a Punkish alldayer at the Holly Bush in Cradle Heath near Birmingham, and we thought we triumphed in the face of adversity, no sound check so it took us 2 songs to get the sound right the Guitar boy broke a string, then his vast array of FX pedals packed up, and he's only had the batteries in them for 5 years, so the last half of Bunny Boiler became a Drum and Bass version. But hey, like the true pros that we aren't we carried on and finished off OK and sold 2 CD's. I even got back for a couple of swift ones in the Vic.

12.11.07

done 3 gigs and a practice since the last post so you'd think we would be getting honed to perfection by now, not a bit of it. The Vice squad gig went off OK we were first on and got a favourable reaction. The next band Tolerence got up everybody's backs by suggesting that anybody who does covers was somehow musically inferior, seeing as how the other 3 bands all did 2 covers each perhaps they should change their name to Intolerence. The practice went well and we were all set up for the Malt Shovel gig, we should have known better, the PA played up, apparently I was to loud and we made more than our usual number of mistakes, by the time we finished the pub was rather empty apart from our loyal Shovel fan base at the front, exit Verbal Warning with our collective tails between our legs.So with some trepidation we set off to Horncasle the next day and had storming gig, good sound, and a pissed up crowd meant we all enjoyed ourselves, I'll even forgive Singer Boy for snatching Wendy Verbs drink out of her hand with his mic lead, he's obviously a dab hand with a whip . A female fan even had the hots for Drummer Boy , there's no accounting for taste.

29.10.07

it's all happening on the gig front, starting this sunday Verbal Warning are finally getting to support Vice Squad after being close 25 years ago. The orginal Warning were supposed to be supporting them at the legendry Retford Porterhouse but 3 days before the gig the drummer moved to Boston, thats Lincs not Massachusetts, and he decided it was too far to travel to do the gig, grrrrrrr, needless to say he didn't drum for us again. The guitarist curse has struck again, the one that makes us think the perfect instrument is just round the corner, I've bought another bass off e bay, unbelievable there were 4 left handed Mexican Fender Jazz basses on ebay last week the first 2 went for £270 and £300 so when I got the third one for £212 plus £20 postage I thought bargain. Then the the fourth one went for £195 and it was only in Sheffield, bastard.The Leamington Spa gig went ok, decent crowd and we sold at least 2 CD's, remembering what I said about the other bands having no gear, when we got there one of the other bands was supplying nearly everything, so I'd travelled down there in the back of the Verbmobile with Drummer boy and his side drum for company for nothing . As Led Zep put it Communication Breakdown.

15.10.07

well well after years of trying we've finally managed to get on at Rebellion Blackpool, thanks to singer boy nagging them into submission with help from guitar boys better half.The Boat and horses gig finished up OK after a quiet start and the PA survived a whole set although singer boys mic packed up a couple of times for a while, think it must have a limiter chip in it for when he gets carried away and starts screaming to loud, which is no bad thing, it saves everybody's eardrums, except mine cause they're knackered anyway. As drummer boy pointed out, it's the first time I've got to play bass on my way and Alice for ages due to amp failures, I'm normally at the bar by the time we get to play them due to singer boy having to use my bass amp for vocals.Off to Leamington Spa this thursday to play at Warwick Uni's punk club which should be interesting as the other bands on the bill don't seem to have any equipment at all, we've got to take everything except the PA, how do the others practice with no gear? or perhaps they don't.Final word, the Moss Cottage, where we have a pint after practice seems to have shut down, or they see us coming and turn off the lights till we're gone, anyway with moved location to the Gate down the road if anyone wants to come and buy us a pint , don't worry about the Alsation he hasn't eaten anybody in ages

04.10.07

well it's over 2 weeks since my last blog, does anybody care, probably not, but it does go to show what a boring life I lead. Given up with the car, my legendry tight fistedness has finally got the better of me I've decided to stick with my rusting Mazda for a while, unless something exceptional crops up. Got a call from Victoria, all together now Victooooria Victooooria, kinks fans will now what I mean, out of the Almaboobies late tuesday asking us to fill in the following night at Horncastle, how could we refuse, it was another good night, who'd think it, a wednesday night in Horncastle and a decent crowd and decent ale as well.We'll be testing out the modified speakers at the Boat and Horses on Saturday and hopefully will get through an entire gig without blowing the PA up, though Singer Boy's, or is that Boys or Boys'? little in joke there we currently have an A level english argument going on between Guitar Boy and Singer Boy, anyway Singer Boys a bit worried about my modifications which involved a circular saw, soldering Iron and information off the internet, but I'm confident it'll be alright on the night, but I have a plan just in case that Baldrick would be proud of. You'll all? will have to come along to see what happens.

18.09.07

still looking for a car, nearly went to see one in Birmingham, ran an HPI check first and found out it had been written off twice and it had been clocked, so that was £20 well spent. Made the appalling decision to go to see one near Burton on Trent last Sunday and got caught up in the Donnington Race track/ McCanns landing at East Mid airport traffic jam, every road going into the area was solid, managed to eat a sandwhich bag of crisps and have drink without moving an inch, eventually got to see the car 2 hours late and didn't like it!The gig at the Harrington produced another PA failure, the speakers blew this time, so once again I was forced to retire to the bar early, while singer boy used my bass amp, hate doing it but the band comes first, no one should question my comittment .Got 2 new songs out the way though, White Man at Hammersmith Palais and Holiday in Cambodia which went ok and the 2 new VW songs are coming along nicely. Next gig is the Boat and Horses on 6th Oct, lets hope we manage a complete set without equipment failure, any volunteers to help with the original PA speakers, the ones that are the size of the Portugese police's incompetence

08.09.07

well what an eventfull week, 2 more gigs at very short notice, in fact Old Nicks in Horncastle was about 8 hours notice, Drummer picked it up off my space and it all went rather well the Almeboobies seemed very impressed and asked us back, how could we refuse? and got a very complimetery email off Jason in Sheffield, who happened to be in Horncastle for some reason and we saved his night from total boredom, so there you go you never know who's going to be at a gig. Then we voluntered our services to the Robin Hood trikers on saturday for a charity rally so we're on at 8, I'm sure they'll be very tolerent of us seeing how it's for charity, or at least I hope they will. When I first read the email from Drummer Boy about it I though it said tinkers rally, thought we'd be playing to a load of Irish Gypsies, hopefully the trikers won't find out about that . Got yet another bass off ebay and very nice it is to, so my Hondo I bought a few weeks ago is up for sale as we speak. Also got a car CD player which arrived with no connecting lead no cage and the wrong manual, wonder where the seller got that from , went to halfords for a lead and they wanted £30 . thought I'd been shafted but found one on ebay for £4, including postage, all the way from Hong Kong, it's a strange world.

31.08.07

well what an eventfull week, 2 more gigs at very short notice, in fact Old Nicks in Horncastle was about 8 hours notice, Drummer picked it up off my space and it all went rather well the Almeboobies seemed very impressed and asked us back, how could we refuse? and got a very complimetery email off Jason in Sheffield, who happened to be in Horncastle for some reason and we saved his night from total boredom, so there you go you never know who's going to be at a gig. Then we voluntered our services to the Robin Hood trikers on saturday for a charity rally so we're on at 8, I'm sure they'll be very tolerent of us seeing how it's for charity, or at least I hope they will. When I first read the email from Drummer Boy about it I though it said tinkers rally, thought we'd be playing to a load of Irish Gypsies, hopefully the trikers won't find out about that . Got yet another bass off ebay and very nice it is to, so my Hondo I bought a few weeks ago is up for sale as we speak. Also got a car CD player which arrived with no connecting lead no cage and the wrong manual, wonder where the seller got that from , went to halfords for a lead and they wanted £30 . thought I'd been shafted but found one on ebay for £4, including postage, all the way from Hong Kong, it's a strange world.

23.08.07

Well it's 4.30 in the morning and I'm wide awake, the old newsagents blood is still in me. No blog last week cause nothing happened, no practice, no gigs more boring than Skegness. But last Friday the Bell at Derby had the pleasure of our company and it went pretty well, the stage was a bit strange sort of 2 levels and higher than it seemed with the result that me and singer boy fell down it and guitar boy fell up it, drummer boys dignity was still it tact though. Suppose there was about 30 left by the time we finished, which wasn't bad considering it was £4 to get in and undrinkable larger was £2.80 a pint, still somebody's got to pay for the full PA that wasn't really necessary. Played Is It To Soon and Shams If the Kids Are United for the first time live with no disasters. However, when I went to get my car some brainless junky had smashed my passenger window and stolen my totally worthless CD player, the front panal is held in place by a piece of wood and metal bracket, the volume control only goes up some of the time no matter which way you turn it and the reaction time of Louis Hamilton is needed to catch the ejected CD before it disapears back in to the player, so the only fix he'll get from selling that is a Polo mint, which is some sort of consolation. The new covers are coming along pretty well Holiday in Camdodia should go down well if we can get it right. Oh I finally got my motorcycle jacket but I'm walking all the time, good line that perhaps I'll put it in a song although it does sound familiar. Also off ebay yet another Hondo bass, just can't resist them.

09.08.07

should have been Tallington last weekend so three quarters of the band went to Skegness for the weekend which reminded me why I hadn't been for 20 years, flat featureless and crowded and that brown sea even with the sun out. Singer boy who is a twitcher dragged us round the bird sanctuary pointing out the names of all the birds with the aid of his telescope, no sniggering at the back, that's the thing you look through to make things nearer, anyway, am I bovvered? the morning wasn't a complete waste as Wendy Verbett heard a familier sound from her days in the land army and we all saw a spitfire flying overhead, err that's the wartime plane not a species of bird. Got pissed and spent the evening trying to ruin a sort of Elvis look a like's act at the Liberal Social club, by singing along, Singer boy was as loud as him without a mic, don't kow why we bothered about the PA packing up at the Shovel, we obviously don't need one. Spent sunday going round Igoldmells market, how punk rock is that? I soon lost the will to live in spite of a roller coaster ride and left for home at 1 o' Clock.Practise went well until we decided to do some old VW songs for the Derby gig and got them all wrong it's all very worrying.

the World of Verbal Warning 02.08.07

Well had an eventful week, first the shovel gig, my optimism that we would play ok after a ropey practice was totally unfounded, we were not good, I decided to use my new bass for the first half and have never hit so many wrong strings, changed to my trusty old one for the second half and things improved till the PA amp packed up, which left me and guitar boy singing like silly buggers not knowing nobody could hear us and singer boy playing with his lead. So we put the vocals through my bass amp and seeing as how there's only one input on it I retired to the bar, as you do, and left the rest of the lads to it. They carried on manfully doing My Way, 500 miles and Alice with no bass player at least it cut the chances of a mistake by 25%. The crowd and landlady loved it, went down a storm, which is rather really worrying from my point of view. So, despite our less than perfect performance the whole evening was a success and we've been booked for new years eve 2008!Started my new job yesterday and the omens are good, didn't do anything.Back to the new stuff at practice last night, Is It to Soon is nearly ready, should be unvailed at the Derby gig, the others think White Man at the Hammersmith Palais is ready to, but I'm not so sure. Did a few old ones which we played perfectly, sods law eh, me thinks we need a 2 hour set gig every month to keep sharp, we can practice as much as we like but there's no subsitute for doing a proper gig

26 July

Been e baying this week, the good news? sold my paintless bass for mind boggling £75, the bad news? bought a leather jacket that is so short it's half way up my back, so if any of you want a leather jacket that fits like Mexican's waistcoat it's going back on e bay today. Had a revision type practice last night went through a lot of old stuff, we were a bit ropey so we should be ok for the Shovel gig tomorrow. Went to the Moss Cottage afterwards as usual and the good news? they'd got Black Sheep on hurrah, the bad news? it was the worst Black Sheep I have ever tasted I only mnaged 3 and a half pints. While booking a couple of dates for next year at the Greyhound they advised me to join the nottinghambands web site and we immediately got offered 4 gigs in August, all of which we can't do. I DON'T BELIEVE

the World of Verbal Warning 20 July 07

Well I'm getting really bored now I've hit the dreaded 4 month out of work mark, decided to paint the fence seeing as how it was already blue decided to stick with it, and the good news? seeing as anyone in there right mind wouldn't paint a fence blue the paint was half price at Focus, result. Practice was a bit of a shambles from my point of view cause I forgot my FX pedal so I sounded worse than usual only one more practice to the marathon shovel gig so we'd better pull our fingers out.

the World of Verbal Warning 12 July 07

Hey I've got a job, and it's not the car park attendant, much to the relief of the rest of the band, not very punk rock is it? so I'll no longer be sponging of all you taxpayers out there, not that I've been able to get Jobseekers allowance anyway, but I'm working on it.Last night practice was pretty uneventfull, my newly aquired bass got the thumbs up, still waiting for the £15 refund cheque though. And 2 more covers were tentively tried I think Holiday in Cambodia could be good.Bloody car failed its MOT gonna cost me about £250 , thought about scrapping it but I can't be arsed to look for another one perhaps I should look on e bay, talking of e bay I've just put my paintless left handed bass on there, so get bidding

the World of Verbal Warning 6 July 07

Singer Boy was back for practice this week so interuptions and feedback were fully restored nearly finished the new song, Is It To Soon, no that's the name of the song, not is it to soon to finish it. Drummer Boys just got to figure out a 2 bar drum roll to end it. There's a lot of backing vocals in it so it's in the lap of the Gods how it turns out live.Won an auction on e bay for a Hondo bass and snipe really does work, put my bid in with 4 seconds to go, got it for £84 which I thought was a bargain until I got it home plugged it in and nothing happened!Someone had played about with the wiring, and it was strung right handed, how perverse, all the right handed basses about and someone restrings a lefty, anyway it meant fitting a new nut, cost a quid which I managed to snap trying to deepen the grooves.Anyway it's working ok now and I've negotiated a £15 refund, result.PS there isn't a face for smug bastard otherwise I would have used it

the World of Verbal Warning 30.06.07

Not much happening this week, had a practice on Wednesday with no John so me and Lee shared the vocals on a couple of new covers and a new original, fortunately Ian didn't record the session so no record survives of this appalling vocal performance. Decided to bid up to £400 for a 1978 USA P bass on e bay which evenually went for £823 think I'll have to stick to my £40 Hondo. Applied for another Postmans job and received an instant rejection, when I asked the reason was told only one interview allowed every six months why don't they state previous applicants need not apply grrrr. And finally much sadness all round, this years Tallington has been cancelled due to the Pub owners playing at silly buggers

the World of Verbal Warning 21.06.07

Well Lee's already beaten me to the punch with the equipment problems last night but it wasn't that bad, we started poorly and got better so, as Basil Falwty might say "I think we got away with it". Probably our most profesional venue to date, complete with proper dressing room, and it's run by Shawaddywaddy's old drummer 'the Duke' which was good and bad news for Ian as he spent half an hour tuning his kit, none of us new a drum kit needed tuning but it did sound better, or louder? when he'd finished, I'm just glad he wasn't their bass player! Anyway we got an encore and against mine and Lee's advise John decided to do Living Next Door to Alice which the Duke said was the best thing we did all night so, John 1 us 0. At the end of the gig the Duke said "Well that was certainly different" and we thought uh uh thats bad, but apparently he was just fed up with bands playing Smoke on the Water everyweek. I think we all benefitted by the experience, and who knows we might get asked back next time a U2 tribute band lets them down.Just off to Sainsbury's to do some shopping, ROCK AND ROLL!!!!!!!!

the World of Verbal Warning 18.06.07

The weekend away at Glastonwick went well the weather was remarkable good, a few light showers compared to the tropical deluge the rest of the country suffered. One piece of bad news though, a bottle of beer was again spilt in guitar boys tent, the good news? it wasn't me. The gig went well considering we got one of the graveyard slots, winding the whole thing up after John Otways set, well somebody's got to do it and on the plus side we can say we headlined the festival and Otway was our support act. There was about 50 people left to see us but they all enjoyed it and we sold quiet alot of merchadise after and more importantly as the bar was closing down the beer was free! A few cocks ups during the set, drummer boy forgot a hi hat clutch and had to gaffer tape the cymbols together I forgot the intro to Kill and Animal and guitar boy started playing it in the wrong key, one of the cymbols stands fell over right at the end of Tommy Gun which sort of ruined the ending and singer boy forgot to slow down in the middle of our glorious encore of 500 miles, so honours even I guess

the World of Verbal Warning 15.06.07

Really bored now, no job and waiting for singer boy to pick me up for Glastonwick, so I thought if I'm bored everybody else ought to be.Applied for 2 jobs this week one is a carpark attendant, should get that if I can grow a Hitler moustache in time.At practice on Wednesday singer boy suggested that we give kill that girl a rest due to the Madellne business, just had a thought though, we could change it to kill that boy and dedicate it to Barrymore and friends!Sharing a tent with guitar boy and Amiee this weekend and I've promised not to spill 2 pints of beer in it this time, don't know who was more upset, guitar boy cause he had to clean it up or me cause I wasted some beer