Post by UK Psychobilly Gig Guide on Mar 17, 2009 15:59:54 GMT
Introduction
After the releases of Let’s Wreck (Craig Brackenridge) and Rockabilly Underground (Billy Jones) I was encouraged to write my own memoirs of the psychobilly and scootering scene in the 80s, a tale of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll from a female perspective. Now as I am a mother, tales of drugs are out the window. As I am wife, tales of previous sexploits should not be mentioned, plus I was always brought up with the ethos that “a lady never tells” and should present a certain mystery about her person. So without the sex and drugs is there really any rock n roll?
Now whilst I was unsure as to whether I could produce anything worthy of a publication, or even that my memory would serve me well with enough words to fill a page, it got the old grey matter ticking. I decided that I’d have a go, more for my own benefit, just to record some of my thoughts, photographs and memorabilia. I know I like reading about the good old days so figured other like minded souls might feel the same. So in the summer holidays of 2007 I made up a few notes of dates, places and people then filed it away under a list of things to do at some point in the future. With a full six weeks of holidays upon me in 2008, I set about putting fingers to keyboard. As I started to write, I ventured down memory lane and it all poured out quite easily. Dates were hard to place sometimes, so please excuse any errors in that department. It was a long time ago and I’m sure many of you will understand why so many of my brain cells got destroyed during that era.
My musical journey through life has been a varied one taking in many genres of music. I don’t think that’s me being fickle, I know what I like and what I don’t like. Many early tastes were governed by what was in the charts, and one genre seemed to overlap and flow onto the next. I’m sure many of you will have travelled that same road. If you were there you will know exactly what I’m talking about, and reading this may have you picturing your own memories, friends and experiences. I hope that the music listed will make you delve into the depths of your record collection and rediscover past gems, get hold of some of the cult movies I’ve mentioned, or even just recall the days without multi-channel televisions, videos, mobile phones and computers with a smile. Rest assured you will not find any raving about heavy metal/rock, disco, rave, hip hop or new romanticism.
I’ve given a little background information on some aspects for those who were simply too young, or took a different route. I also hope that now it’s finished, I can print it off as a piece of history, so that when I’m about 80 I can show it to my children and any future grandchildren that I may have, in the hope that they might realise that I wasn’t always the batty old woman that was sat in a rocking chair in some old people’s home stinking of wee!
As this is a personal journey there will be an abundance of names, some you will know some you won’t but most of them are relevant to the events I’ve spoken about. There are many friends, boyfriends and acquaintances who havn’t been mentioned and played a part in my life, but if I was to list everyone this would be twice as long.
Hope you enjoy and that it might make some of you might write you own memoires.
After the releases of Let’s Wreck (Craig Brackenridge) and Rockabilly Underground (Billy Jones) I was encouraged to write my own memoirs of the psychobilly and scootering scene in the 80s, a tale of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll from a female perspective. Now as I am a mother, tales of drugs are out the window. As I am wife, tales of previous sexploits should not be mentioned, plus I was always brought up with the ethos that “a lady never tells” and should present a certain mystery about her person. So without the sex and drugs is there really any rock n roll?
Now whilst I was unsure as to whether I could produce anything worthy of a publication, or even that my memory would serve me well with enough words to fill a page, it got the old grey matter ticking. I decided that I’d have a go, more for my own benefit, just to record some of my thoughts, photographs and memorabilia. I know I like reading about the good old days so figured other like minded souls might feel the same. So in the summer holidays of 2007 I made up a few notes of dates, places and people then filed it away under a list of things to do at some point in the future. With a full six weeks of holidays upon me in 2008, I set about putting fingers to keyboard. As I started to write, I ventured down memory lane and it all poured out quite easily. Dates were hard to place sometimes, so please excuse any errors in that department. It was a long time ago and I’m sure many of you will understand why so many of my brain cells got destroyed during that era.
My musical journey through life has been a varied one taking in many genres of music. I don’t think that’s me being fickle, I know what I like and what I don’t like. Many early tastes were governed by what was in the charts, and one genre seemed to overlap and flow onto the next. I’m sure many of you will have travelled that same road. If you were there you will know exactly what I’m talking about, and reading this may have you picturing your own memories, friends and experiences. I hope that the music listed will make you delve into the depths of your record collection and rediscover past gems, get hold of some of the cult movies I’ve mentioned, or even just recall the days without multi-channel televisions, videos, mobile phones and computers with a smile. Rest assured you will not find any raving about heavy metal/rock, disco, rave, hip hop or new romanticism.
I’ve given a little background information on some aspects for those who were simply too young, or took a different route. I also hope that now it’s finished, I can print it off as a piece of history, so that when I’m about 80 I can show it to my children and any future grandchildren that I may have, in the hope that they might realise that I wasn’t always the batty old woman that was sat in a rocking chair in some old people’s home stinking of wee!
As this is a personal journey there will be an abundance of names, some you will know some you won’t but most of them are relevant to the events I’ve spoken about. There are many friends, boyfriends and acquaintances who havn’t been mentioned and played a part in my life, but if I was to list everyone this would be twice as long.
Hope you enjoy and that it might make some of you might write you own memoires.