The Mr. And Mrs Chalkley At Pendley Manor 27th September 2024

It would only be for friends that I would indulge in such revelry, but to be invited to anyone’s wedding, let alone perform music for their special day is always a total honour in my opinion.

After a brief meeting which now seems like months ago, the groom and I discussed background and expectations, especially with my regard to ensure the knowledge that this was my first wedding gig.

More months of waiting for the guests to select favourite songs as well as the ‘must plays’ on the night by the bride and groom, certainly was an anxious time for me. When I first met Jeff and Julia in March, I was DJing goth/industrial , 80s and Ska, so when the set of 70s soul and funk arrived as well as more commercial modern tunes arrived, I was a bit shocked! Talk about being out of my comfort zone! Still, keeping the party happy was my prime concern and a great night was had by all.

Plus I got to work with the band “Fishing For Robots” once more, and having spent most of the day with them at the wedding, was great to get to know them all better and I’m hoping more dates will come of it too.

So after a delayed start, I did actually lose about an hours worth of playing time in order to get the band on at the allotted time, but no one was bothered, and the night went without a hitch, although my laptop froze before I could do my soundcheck which was a scary few minutes, especially after I’d originally turned it on earlier to warm up. Bloody technology!

Background:-    
Surface - Falling In Love
Fern Kinney - Together We Are Beautiful
Brooklyn Bronx and Queens Band - On The Beat
Heatwave - The Groove Line
George Benson - Lady Love Me (One More Time)
Gene Chandler - Get Down
Burak Yeter - Tuesday
Change - A Lovers Holiday
Phyliss Hyman - Under Your Spell
Narada Michael Walden - I Shoulda Loved Ya

Start               
Andy Gibb - I Just Want To Be Your Everything (First Dance)
Earth, Wind & Fire - September
The Whispers - And The Beat Goes On
Billy Paul - Bring The Family Back
The Brothers Johnson - Strawberry Letter 23
               
Fishing For Robots
               
Second Set

Patrick Hermandez - Born To Be Alive
Sophie Bellis-Baxter - Murder On The Dance Floor
The Killers - Joy Ride
Average White Band - Let's Go Round Again
Chic - Good Times
Earth, Wind & Fire - Let's Groove
Kool & The Gang - Celebration
A Taste of Honey - Boogie Oogie Oogie
The Whispers - It's A Love Thing
War - Low Rider
InDeep - Last Night A DJ Saved My Life
The Gap Band - Oops Upside Your Head (Edit)
Wham! - Club Tropicana
Van McCoy - The Shuffle
Shalamar - I Can Make You Feel Good
Cheryl Lynn - Encore
Hot Chocolate - You Sexy Thing
Men Without Hats - Safety Dance ®
Madonna  - Crazy For You ®
Imagination - Body Talk
Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive
The Brothers Johnson - Stomp!
George Benson - Give Me The Night
Sister Sledge - He's The Greatest Dancer
Luther Vandros - Never Too Much
Billy Ocean - Get Out Of My Dreams (And Into My Car)

A Kick Up The 80s - 13.7.2024

 So, after a thirteen year break, I find myself back in the room I originally started in back in 2006! As some of you know, I was hoping to get the main room, but due to disappointing advance ticket sales, the event was moved downstairs, although that worked to our advantage, and to a degree, it was kinda nice being back ’home’!

So set up was very easy, thanks to the efficient techs at the venue, and I was pretty much left to my own devices. No surprise that the first hour was pretty slow, although I got to play more of the alternative selection I originally based the night on plus we did have people dancing immediately, but hitting our peek and having a full dance floor was just an excellent experience. I guess with hosting the night around this time of year is always going to be problematic, and for someone who has no interested in sports, having the football on doesn’t help either! But hell, we all had a great night, and that’s all that matters. 

So thanks to all that made the effort, especially those that travelled from Guildford, Corby and London. You’re dedication to my nights is fully appreciated.

Clan Of Xymox - Stranger
B-Movie - Nowhere Girl
Ministry - I Wanted To Tell Her
New Model Army - Small Town England
Talking Heads - Burning Down The House 
Thompson Twins - In The Name Of Love
Play Dead - Propaganda
Time Zone - World Destruction
Jesus & Mary Chain - Just Like Honey
The Clash - This Is Radio Clash
The Flowerpot Men - Jo's So Mean ®
Love & Rockets - Yin & Yang (The Flowerpot Men) 
New Order - Ceremony
James Ray & The Performance - Texas
Blancmange - Living On The Ceiling
The Passions - I'm In Love With A German Filmstar
Strawberry Switchblade - Since Yesterday ®
Lords of The New Church - Dance With Me
Kraftwerk - The Model
Yazoo - Don't Go
Psychic TV - Godstar
King - Love And Pride ®
Animotion - Obsession
Spandau Ballet - The Freeze
Gene Loves Jezebel - Cow
Jona Lewis - Always Find Me In The Kitchen At Parties
Re-Flex - Politics of Dancing
M - Pop Musik
Front 242 - Headhunter V1
Sly Fox - Let's Go All The Way ®
Propaganda - P:machinery
DAF - Der Mussolini
Teardrop Explodes - Reward ®
The Cure - 10.15 Saturday Night
The Smiths - What Difference Does it Make?
Siouxsie & The Banshees - Christine
Thompson Twins - Hold Me Now ®
R.E.M. - Stand ®
Soft Cell - Memorabilia
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Enola Gay
Adam & The Ants - Dog Eat Dog
Gary Numan - I Die : You Die
Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart
The Mission - Tower Of Strength ®
Transvision Vamp - Baby I Don't Care ®
Talk Talk - Talk Talk
Depeche Mode - Never Let Me Down ®
Blondie - Call Me ®
Toyah - I Want To Be Free
The Selecter - Three Minute Hero
The Jam - Gong Underground ®
Echo & The Bunnymen - The Cutter ®
Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes
Human League - Sound Of The Crowd ®
A Flock Of Seagulls - Telecommunication
The Cult - Rain
The Primitives - Crash
Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime ®
Bow Wow Wow - I Want Candy
The Sisters Of Mercy - Walk Away
Tears For Fears - Pale Shelter ®
Japan - Quiet Life
Bauhaus - Kick In The Eye
U2 - I Will Follow ®
Billy Idol - Dancing With Myself
The Clash - Should I Stay Or Should I Go ®
Simple Minds - Alive Or Kicking ®
Split Enz - I Got You
Duran Duran - Careless Memory
Dexy's Midnight Runners - Geno ®
The Specials - Rat Race
The Beat - Mirror In The Bathroom ®
Bad Manners - Special Brew
Madness - Night Boat To Cairo
The Undertones - My Perfect Cousin
Department S - Is Vic There?
The Vapors - Turning Japanese
Ultravox - All Stood Still
Visage - Fade To Grey (12")
The Ramones - I Wanna Be Sedated

Micks 60th 23.3.2024

So once more, the laptop comes out of retirement, and another set is released into the wild. This time, for my good friend Mick, with an added incentive of having the brilliant "Fishing For Robots" playing too. It was great to finally work with these guys having seen them play so many times over the past twelve months, and I fully appreciated running my decks through their PA.

So musically, the set had gone through some drastic changes since its birth, including bands such as Skinny Puppy, D.A.F. and The Normal etc, but as time gets closer, finding out the bands set, running times, plus the fact there are kids and families, the final set including Micks Ska and 60s requests ended up pretty well imo. Good crowd throughout the night, plenty of dancing, plus making new friends alway equates to a good night out. Oh, and plenty of cider too ;)

 

Gary Numan - Asylum
The Shadows - Foot Tapper
Keith West - Excerpt From A Teenage Opera ®
Kraftwerk - Radioactivity (The Mix Version)
Killing Joke - Follow The Leader
Bad Manners  - This Is Ska ®
The Specials - Hey Little Rich Girl
Simple Minds - Thirty Frames A Second
Fad Gadget - Love Parasite ®
B-Movie - Nowhere Girl
The Meladions - Sweet Sensation ®
T. Rex - Cosmic Dancer ®
Toots & The Maytals - 54-46 (Thats My Number) ®
The Selecter - James Bond
Thompson Twins - Lies
She Wants Revenge - Written In Blood
Talk Talk - Talk Talk
Japan - European Son [Steve Nye 7" Remix, 1982]
Depeche Mode - Photographic [Some Bizzare Version]
Joy Division - Heart & Soul
Ultravox - The Thin Wall
Blancmange - Waves

Combichrist - Get Your Body Beat
Gary Numan - Metal
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Bauhaus Staircase
Yazoo - Don't Go
Dandy Livingstone & Rico - A Message You Rudy
The Associates - Club Country

Men Without Hats - Safety Dance
Martha & The Muffins - Echo Beach
Human League - Sound of The Crowd
Soft Cell - What?
Hazel O'Connor - Eighth Day
Gary Numan - Down In The Park
David Bowie - The Laughing Gnome ®

Cerberfest IVX 1.7.2023

OK, first real DJ event for me since January. Certainly not my usual style of event, but it was good to get back out there again, plus this time, it was all for charity. Also good for me to play material I rarely get to play, and while a majority of the sets were played to somewhat quieter audience numbers due to the heat and in between the bands, I certainly hope those that heard the sets enjoyed them. Cheers to Chris Cummins for letting me join in the festivities.

12.00 – 12.45 Pixie Styx Music

13.00 – 13.45 George Zafirakis Music

14.00 – 14.45 Kermori

The Devil & The Universe - Cloak Of Dispersion

Radar Men From The Moon - Darkness

Sonic Jesus - Dead Man

White Manna - Evil

The Awakening - Indian Summer Rain

Longbottom Leaf

Aeon Sable - Into Oblivion

Monster Magnet - King Of Mars

Baba Naga - Plná Krvy

The Janitors - Here They Come

Cult Of Dom Keller - Ravens And Rockets

REIGN

Cream - White Room

Black Sabbath - Supernaut

Motorhead - The Chase Is Better Than The Catch

Iron Maiden - Killers

AC/DC - She's Got Balls

Epicede

The Cult - Dark Energy

Alice In Chains - Dirt

Rammstein - Mann Gegen Mann

Soundgarden - Slaves & Bulldozers

Heathen Kings

White Hills - Under Skin or by Name

Danzig - Black Mass

Korn - Prey For Me

Garden Of Delight - Sangreal

Paradise Lost - Soul Courageous

Queens of the Stone Age - Hangin' Tree

Reverent Son

Godflesh - New Dark Ages

Amyl And The Sniffers - Some Mutts (Can't Be Muzzled)

The Exploited - Anti-U.K.

Killing Joke - Rapture

Prong - Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck

Godsmack - Bad Religon

L7 - Fuel My Fire

Dead Vibrations - Reflections

Kyuss - Asteroid

Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats - Mt. Abraxas

Cerberus

Rogue - Punk Rising

Napalm Death - Evolved As One

Carcass - Incarnated Solvent Abuse

Pantera - Walk

Slayer - Seasons In The Abyss

Eminence Front Band

The 60th Wedding Anniversary Bash (Private Party)

So going back to the 13th April 1963. My parents tied the knot, and 60 years later, managed to notch up their diamond anniversary (although I saw no signs of any precious stones exchanging hands!) I was so proud to be part of their special event, happily performing DJ duties once more at The Leaside Hotel in Luton. Armed with just my laptop, and the venues own bluetooth speaker, we whipped up a storm with the showcase of playing music in the order of 1959. 60, 61, 62, 63 (x2), 64 and the odd one from 1965 to make up the numbers, which worked well for the majority of the night. Considering too that the average age must have been 75+, good to see a well attended night and I received so many compliments regarding the music played. Job well done I do believe!

Percy Faith & The Orchestra - Theme From "A Summer Place"

Anthony Newley - Why?

Same Cooke - Cupid

The Shirelles - Soldier Boy

The Searchers - Sweets For My Sweet

Gerry & The Pacemakers - How Do You Do It?

Chuck Berry - No Particular Place To Go

Ramsey Lewis Trio - The In Crowd

Shirely Bassey - As I Love You

Emile Ford & The Checkmates - What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For

The Allisons - Are You Sure

The Miracles - You've Really Got A Hold On Me

The Shadows - Foot Taper

Freddie & The Dreamers - You Were Made For Me

Diana Ross & The Supremes - Where Did Our Love Go

Wilson Pickett - In The Midnight Hour

Bobby Darin - Dream Lover

Eddie Cochran - Three Steps to Heaven

Dave Burbeck - Unsquare Dance

Frank Ifield - I Remember You

Buddy Holly - Bo Diddley

Kathy Kirby - Dance On

Gloria Jones - Tainted Love

The Walker Brothers - Land Of 1000 Dances

Dion & The Belmonts - A Teenager In Love

The Everly Brothers - Cathy's Clown

Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound

Ernie Maresca - Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out)

Elvis Presley - (You're The) Devil In Disguise

Adam Faith - The First Time

Nashville teens - Tobacco Road

The Drifters - At The Club

Paul Anka - Put Your Head On My Shoulder

Del Shannon - Little Town Flirt

Curtis Lee - Pretty Little Angel Eyes

The Four Seasons - Sherry

Jet Harris & Tony Meehan - Diamonds

Brian Poole & The Temeloes - Do You Love Me

The Searchers - Needles And Pins

Sandie Shaw - Long Live Love

Lloyd Price - Personality

Bobby Vee - Take Good Care Of My Baby

Bruce Channel - Hey! Baby

Johnny Kidd & The Pirates - I'll Never Get Over You

The Beatles - Twist And Shout

The Drifters - Saturday Night At The Movies

The Rolling Stones - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

The Shirelles - Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow

Roy Orbison - Only The Lonely (Know The Way)

Susan Maughan - Bobby's Girl

The Ronettes - Be My Baby

Cliff Richard & The Shadows - Bachelor Boy

Dusty Springfield - You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me

The Ventures - Wipeout

Frank Vaughan - The Lady Is A Square

Duane Eddy & The Rebels - Peter Gun

Del Shannon - Runaway

Brian Hyland - Sealed With A Kiss

The Crystals - Then He Kissed Me

Lesley Gore - Its My Party

The Animals - The House Of The Rising Sun

The Seekers - I'll Never Find Another You

Marv Johnson - You Got What It Takes

Sam Cooke - Twistin' The Night Away

Ricky Nelson - Hello Mary Lou (Goodbye Heart)

Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - Big Girls Don’t Cry

Cliff Richard & The Shadows - Lucky Lips

Billy J Krammer & The Dakotas - Bad To Me

The Shangri-Las - Leader Of The Pack

Bobby Fuller Four - I Fought The Law

Ritchie Valens - Donna

The Ventures - Walk Don’t Run

Ray Charles - Hit The Road Jack

The Beatles - Love Me Do

Dave Clark Five - Glad All Over

Al Martino - Spanish Eyes ®

Conway Twitty - It's Only Make Believe

Gerry & The Pacemakers - I Like It

Herman's Hermits - I'm Into Something Good

Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs - Wooly Bully

The Everly Brothers - (Til) I Kissed Her

Johnny Burnette - You're Sixteen

Bobby Vee - The Night Has A Thousand Eyes

Buddy Holly - Brown Eyes Handsome Man

Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - Walk Like A Man

Petula Clark - Downtown

Them - Baby, Please Don’t Go

Hank Ballard - The Twist

The Shadows - Apache

Pat Boone - Speedy Gonzales

Chris Montez - Let's Dance

Sam Cooke - Another Saturday Night

The Fourmost - Hello Little Girl

The Ad Libs - The Boy From New York City

The Isely Brothers - Shout (Partys 1 & 2)

Jimmy Jones - Good Timin'

Helen Shapiro - Walkin' Back To Happiness

The Contours - Do You Love Me

Dusty Springfield - I Only Want to Be With You

The Beatles - All My Loving

Roy Orbison - Oh, Pretty Woman

Vince Taylor & The Playboys  - Brand New Cadillac

The Kingsmen - Louie Louie

Neil Sedaka - Calendar Girl

Dion - Runaround Sue

Elvis Presley - She's Not You

Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - (Love Is Like A) Heatwave

Freddie & The Dreamers - I'm Telling You Know

The Trashmen - Surfin' Bird

CerberStacks, Dois Padres & DJ Russ at the 'Orse! 14.1.2023

My first venture of the new year, with great thanks to Cerberstacks for their very kind offer to host the DJ duties. I haven't actually DJed at the 'House since May 2017, and considering I used to run my Thursday Fury nights there, it still feels odd to return to my old local after all these years. But this is the closest thing I have to a friendly local now, so expect to see me in there a bit more often!

Anyway, tonight gave me the chance to play tracks I haven't touched since my last Whitby horrorpunk appearance back in Halloween 2009, mixed in with extra garage 60s and psyche. Also playing around Dois Padres and Cerberstacks served up what turned out to be a great evenings entertainment including a great bonus for me in meeting friends and an old flame I haven't seen in 25 years+!

So thanks to all involved, especially Matt for the necessary DI box!!

Chuck Rio and The Originals - Blue Kat

Link Wray & His Wraymen - Comanche

The Immaculate Deceptions - We Eat Your Flesh

The Amazing Snakeheads - Here It Comes Again

The Cramps - What's Inside A Girl?

Deadbolt - She Walks With The Dead

Nekromatix - Gargoyles Over Copenhagen

44 Double D - Three Poison Kisses

The Meteors - I'm Not Mad/Get Off My Cloud

Amyl And The Sniffers - Monsoon Rock

Baba Naga - Popo Bawa

Dois Padres

Vince Taylor & The Playboys - Brand New Cadillac

Cult Of The Psychic Fetus - Devil Woman On The 199

Goldblade - Out Of Control

Devilish Presley - The Beast Must Die

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Let The Day Begin

Rezurex - Psycho Radio

Eight Ball Grifter - What People Throw On The Floor

Pussycat & The Dirty Johnsons - Trouble With The Devil

Blitzkid - Bloodletting

Cerberstacks

The Sonics - Have Love Will Travel

Stray Cats - My One Desire

Horrorpops - It's Been So Long

Empress Of Fur - Johnny Voodoo

Inca Babies - Phantom Track

Scarlet And The Spooky Spiders - Zombie Werewolf

The KVB - Sympathy For The Devil

The Strangeloves - I Want Candy

The Cramps - Elvis Fucking Christ!

Frankenstein - Lovecraft

Mad Sin - No More Trick Or Treat

The Janitors - Here They Come

Link Wray & His Wraymen - Ace Of Spades

The Champs - Tequila

Armagideon Times 11.11.2022

"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it"

So did anyone else that attended get the relevance of the title of the night? Coincidence? Fate? Who knows. All I can tell you is, this is certainly not the first time Greene King has fucked over its punters and entertainers by putting ignorant landlords into a pub with such a strong history, and if the sub heading is anything to go by, doubt it'll be the last.

So, musically, somewhat of a departure for me, but surely another string to my bow (?) and after having the original date scrubbed due to Covid, this was my best chance to play this set. Unfortunately, the new landlords had other ideas. Welcome to Friday nights in Luton! 

With no passing trade, and very little to even venture into Luton for these days (so God bless Andy Chesham for his continuing nights at THF.) But they, I'm professional right? 20 years under my belt, I can read a crowd well and I'm also open to requests and obviously had a very good idea whom would be attending (hence the event anyway!) Yet I still had praise and people dancing from what few people were in the pub. Even if you only please that one person, its never a waste of your time. 

But what is a waste of my time is being constantly told the new landlords don't appreciate what I'm playing and insist I start playing 80s. Hello - have you seen who's in your pub? I even get blamed for people leaving throughout the early part of the night. Nothing to do with the fact your bar is very poorly stocked, and you've put out those god damn uncomfortable chairs that the previous tenants have been trying to sell for over 12 months!!

Well, after four arguments with the power tripping landlords daughter, I've had enough, close it down, pick up my posters, inform the supporting punters and walk, leaving them with no entertainment, and an even emptier pub. I think their line "We own this pub. We didn't book you.' Do what we tell you" was the clincher. I gave up trying to explain I was trying to help them make money, but they obviously know better. Last time I'll drink or entertain in there whilst its under its present occupancy. Think you know better than me? Fucking good luck to you - you're gonna need it. As most of you know, it took a lot of courage for me to do the night considering my recent past, but that's me done now until the landlords are replaced.(Apparently their last straw was the 'house' music I was playing. That was the Killing Joke track. Think that says it all!)

Dexy's Midnight Runners - Burn It Down
New Age Steppers - Problems
Scientist - Jab
Willie Williams - Armagideon Time
Killing Joke - Ghosts Of Ladbroke Grove (Portobello Dub)
Phillip Fraser - Bad Boys
UB40 - Don't Let It Pass You By
The Revolutionaries - 79 Rock
Stiff Little Fingers - Barbed Wire Love
Willie Brackenridge & Soul Syndicate - Blood Money
The Specials - Too Much Too Young (Album Version)
Earth And Stone with Trinity - Why Girl - Did We Have To Part
The Ruts - Give Youth A Chance
Jubba Tate - African Girl
The Slits - I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Bob Marley & The Wailers - No Woman No Cry ®
Sugar Minott & Ranking Dread - Superstar
Lacksley Castell - Jah Love Is Sweeter
Jolly Brothers - Conscious Man
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Jigsaw Feeling
Bad Manners - Echo Gone Wrong
Dub Specialist - Lagos
The Beat - Twist and Crawl
Max Romeo & The Upsetters - War Ina Babylon
Judge Dread - Big Five ®
The Police - Reggatta de Blanc
Dennis Brown - Your Man
Magazine - Light Pours Out of Me (Peel Session)
Grace Jones - Private Life (Long Version 2)
Third World - Now That We've Found Love
Black Uhuru - Sinsemilla
Tony Tuff - Chant Down Babylon
The Selecter - Black And Blue
Brain Damage - Hurtful Dub
Sneaker Pimps - Tesko Suicide
Kerogen - Hope
Jah Division - Transmission Dub
Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Watching The Detectives
The Damned - Anti-Pope
Culture - Two Sevens Clash
Madness - Swan Lake
Bill Loveday - Reggae For It Now
Public Image Limited - Death Disco (12")
Blondie - Pretty Baby
The Cramps - Garbageman
The Meditations - Miracles
The Members - Offshore Banking Business  ®
Roy Ellis - One Way Ticket To The Moon ®
Madness - My Girl ®
Generation X - Gimme Some Truth
Augustus Pablo - Golden Seal
The Valentines - Blam Blam Fever
The Skids - The Saints Are Coming
The Fall - Stepping Out
Killing Joke - Turn To Red