His Majesty's Indian Allies

Last night in my current interest in the War of 1812 and its bicentennial I picked up and read this book by Robert Allen - the full title is 'His Majesty's Indian Allies - British Indian Policy in the Defence of Canada 1774-1815' -it's a really good book on the subject of the relation between the British Crown and the Indian nations and from my English perspective is a useful slant on the usual whites v indians theme as often found in Hollywood.
Checking out the web for reenactors of this era there are some great Indian living history groups in the US like the Woodland Confederacy Trekking is popular in the US - but we don't have the weather or the scenery do we?
Check out the Eastern Woodland Trekkers for something of interest in that department.
Pic Ottawa chiefs c1814 at Michilimackinac.

Battle to save Green Springs Battlefield

Interesting little movie about the efforts to raise awareness and save the site of the Revolutionary War battlefield. Lionheart films have made some excellent historical shorts - check out their Youtube page to see more.

The Alamo - arrival of Santa Anna's army

Of course my interest in American history probably comes from watching John Wayne's Alamo at the cinema as a small boy - it's a great film and this is one of its most visually exciting scenes - the music by Dmitri Tiomkin is stirring too.

Wargaming the War of 1812 blog!

I found this new blog created with the view to creating sets of rules for doing this conflict in miniature in 2012. Good on him. I'd probably do it in 1/72 scale though with Imex doing some useful figures. I've been looking around the web for this era in history and I don't think the Yanks are switched onto the potential for the bicentennial of this pivotal and colourful conflict. Yet. I think I've said this before on this blog but the fact there are no major Hollywood movies dealing with this war between Britain, Canada and the US means that its profile suffers. If you can think of any let me know...

Remembering the Raisin

Napoleonic reenactment takes place all over the world - here's a news article about the Battle of the River Raisin reenacted recently in America. The battle was fought between British and their native allies and American troops. I'd love to do a War of 1812 reenactment - not sure what side I'd be on though - probably a native ally if I'm still about. Maybe I ought to go over for the bicentennial. Found this quote on the British Indian allies at the Raisin

Of the militia there are only four killed, and I dare say not more of the Indians, who behaved with the utmost bravery. It was them who took the General, and is said to have killed some hundred who took to flight; indeed very few escaped. You may rely on it that without the Indians we never could keep this country, and that with them the Americans never will take the upper posts, for let them send forward as many men as they will, if we employ the foreign Indians we can have equal numbers, which is more than is wanted, for in the woods where the Americans must pass one Indian is equal to three white men, let the nation be what it will. Source

Anyone in Britain interested in the War of 1812? I suppose I know the answer to that question from when I used to do the French and Indian war - there are people interested but of course we're none of us getting any younger. Off the top of my head I suppose the best thing would be to aim to have a big get-together in Europe in 2012 that doesn't clash with any big American events so people could go to both. A register of people interested in Militia, Indian or Regular could enable people to gradually get kitted out and keep in touch. Maybe I'll set up an internet forum - or maybe I'll have an attack of sanity and not bother...

More on the Raisin and another set of photos here.

Glengarry Light Infantry website

Radstock Jig

Here's a short little movie Susan made this afternoon - of our home town in North Somerset - the music is by John Kirkpatrick and is his rendition of the Radstock Jig - a locally sourced reel noted down in the Shepton Mallet Union (workhouse) from the playing of fiddler James Higgins (1819 -c.1910) by Cecil Sharp . The film shows off the centre well I think - see if you can spot where the Somerset and Dorset railway used to run and where we buy our groceries. The obelisk is a memorial to the coal-mining heritage - the subject of an excellent museum depicted too in what was once a covered market.

The sacking of St Augustine 1668

If I was a globetrotting reenactor I'd go to this event in March in Florida recreating the sacking of St Augustine in 1668. Maybe some British 17th century enthusiasts might be interested - the novelty of doing an event in March where the weather isn't terrible might make it worth the flying.

Man With the Movie Camera (1929)

Some kind soul has uploaded this Soviet masterpiece of experimental cinema up in 9 pieces. To try and explain this movie is not easy - it's a whole day in Moscow recorded by director Vertov...I'm not really able to give it justice in a few flip phrases - maybe it's the forerunner of films like -koyaanisqatsi - if that's any help - but anyway I recommend you give it a try - it's a fascinating piece of art that is unique and artistically up there with the great films of cinema - try it - but at least watch a few reels as it is really a film like no other. By the way if anyone from our band is reading this have a look - Susan and I think this would make a great projection at a gig. See what you think...

Sing Beast Sing

Here's something really special -an animated short from 1980 by Marv Newland I loved to bits when I first saw it - I'm sorry but I am going to have to insist you watch it - it has at its heart a performance of Chicago piano bluesman Willie Mabon's 'I'm Mad' but there's more to it than that - you will just have to watch it - I think there is a Robert Crumb influence in there - I don't know - you watch it and see... there's a slow build up but it's worth persevering honestly - do I ever give you bum steers?

R. Crumb draws the Blues

Cartoonist Robert Crumb's work is now part and parcel of the landscape of the blues from a modern perspective and love him or hate him it's hard to approach the subject without considering his contribution. I find his work entertaining and useful - let's face it - rural blues is not the most accessible form of music and any attempt to interpret the lives of the greats is worthwhile - this book brings together all of Crumb's blues pictures amd strips and is a must for comic and music fans. R Crumb wiki

Why not visit the Official website where you can get t-shirts and so forth.

Booker White 'The Jelly Roll Blues'

While I'm having a bit of a blues phase I thought I'd better put up this clip of Booker - sometimes called Bukka - White - one of the great primitive delta bluesmen and certainly someone who was influenced by Charley Patton in the gravelly voice department. Another former inmate of the famous Parchman prison farm Booker White was rediscovered in the early 60s by John Fahey by simply addressing a letter to him care of Aberdeen Mississippi - one of the towns immortalised in song by him. Watch him play that very song here. You know I'd quite like to visit the places immortalised by the great blues singers - don't suppose I ever will though.

Sam Chatmon

Here's a clip that is a joy to behold - Sam Chatmon of the Mississippi Sheiks a family based band who were huge in the 30s playing like he's still a young man - I wish I could play like that, but then I'm not the half-brother of Charley Patton and I haven't been featured on Robert Crumb's heroes of the blues cards.

Great Northern War blog!

Last night - I kid you not - I had a vivid dream that I went to a museum in Sweden dedicated to the Great Northern War - and bought this huge poster of a battle and looked around at the various uniforms and so on - my parents were with me and I visited the gift shop before I was chucked out due to it being closing time. Of course it was just a dream but perhaps it represented some repressed desire or other - anyway I found this new blog - mostly about wargaming the period - maybe it will inspire me to do something positive other than occasionally writing about it.

Front Rank 40mm figures

At £2.45 each these lovely figures covering the American Revolution look well worth investing in. So far only Redcoats and Militia available - ideal if you want to recreate the Patriot but as a 'Revwar' fan I do hope they get round to producing Indians, Loyalists, French and cavalry, artillery etc as what they have produced so far looks very high quality indeed - and that is what 40mm is all about - collectible quality.

Of course if they were to send me some freebies I would be able to properly review them but from what I have seen on the website they are some of the best 40mms around and I hope they do well.

WW2 Italian 1/6th scale figures

I don't really like covering ww2 subjects - partly because there is simply too much out there and I am not interested apart from 4 exceptions - the Italian, French, Japanese and Russian armies - these nations tend to be ignored and overlooked in the rush to sell the more lucrative German and American ww2 stuff so I am pretty pleased to see someone producing 1/6th scale action figures of the Italian army. I don't agree with the politics of Italy at the time but I have a great deal of respect for the army and what it did in the circumstances and saddened to see them so often maligned in the mainstream media.

Sad death of Heath Ledger

I am going to go all sentimental on you and post this collection of scenes from the Patriot featuring a great actor who has tragically passed away.

Little Walter; musical genius

So Little Walter is about to be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March in the 'sideman' category. What!? Sideman? Talk about an anti harmonica bias. Little Walter was the first musician to use amplified distortion for its own sake and his song Juke was the first and only harmonica instrumental to hit number 1 on the Billboard R and B charts. Apart from his ground-breaking harp work Little Walter was a talented vocalist - John Lee Hooker placed him as his favourite singer. He wasn't a nice man - his life was shortened by his tendency to get into brawls - but surely it's time to give this man some respect for being more than a session man on Muddy's records - he outsold Muddy Waters frequently with his solo stuff - this man was a genius - up there with Charlie Parker and Hendrix for pushing the boundaries of his instrument to new levels - practically single-handedly creating a genre. He didn't leave much in the way of film footage sadly - but his records are some of the highest quality Chicago blues put onto vinyl and every music lover should own at least one compilation - if they want to be called a music lover, that is. Check out the webpage http://www.littlewalter.net/ where this photo comes from - from the section on his amplifiers. A book on this great man is available called 'Blues with a feeling' by Tony Glover (yes THE Tony Glover who wrote those great harp tutorial books) ... well worth tracking down.

Plastic swords

An amateur dramatic group are told to lock their plastic swords away - article here. Totally pathetic - what a country.

Johnny West tv commercial

Why don't they make decent toys anymore? This is a commercial for a cowboy action figure series from the 60s that I didn't have but I knew a few people who did - I did have one of the Marx knights though not one of their horses which used to have wheels for jousting. Apparently there are reissues available - when you have got one how about asking me round to play with it?

Reenactment nostalgia

I don't know - maybe it's the weather but I have been getting nostalgic for my reenactment days - this pic is of me demonstrating a tumpline at an event I did for the National Trust at Box Hill Surrey. I got lost in the woods when it got dark there and spent about 5 hours trying to find my way back to camp - some scout!

Wanna see some puppies?

Our next door neighbour's dog has had ten puppies - they're delightful. All taken so don't ask...

Bo Diddley 'Bo Diddley'

Great clip from Hollywood a Go Go - why aren't there any decent music programmes on tv anymore?

Iron Man theme song

Everyone is no doubt going to go Iron Man crazy this year but let's not forget this lovely theme song from the 60s.

10,000 BC trailer

Official site. This big film for March looks interesting. An epic from Roland Emmerich featuring Mammoths and sabre-toothed cats. Wiki on the movie

City of Vice

I don't normally watch tv history - it usually annoys rather than entertains but this new Channel 4 series set in London in the mid 18th century got me tuning in to see whether it was any good and I must admit I was pleasantly surprised. Based around the Fielding brothers' attempts to bring the rule of law to the capital and using computer images to recreate Georgian London it was both educational and entertaining this first episode using the infamous Harris's list as its centrepiece. (Harris was a man who called himself 'Pimp General of All England' and published a gazeteer of prostitutes recently republished in an accessable format). Each of the ten episodes will be an hour long but it didn't seem to be at all boring - I was almost ready to watch it again on 4 plus 1 so much did I enjoy it. Check out the micro site and watch the video clips to see if it's your cup of tea - some of the subject matter - bathing houses, prostitution and so forth - is pretty near the knuckle for its 9pm transmission time but on the whole I think the gamble has paid off and some worthwhile television has been created. Times review

Manchester evening news review

Stranded in the Jungle radio

Susan has taken to DJing like a duck to water and is getting really good at this easier-than-it-looks skill. She's on nightly 6-8 monday to friday GMT - if you want to contact on air use MSN Messenger Strandedinthejungle. I am acting as producer and planning a Blues Soul and Rock and Roll show. She's already got features on local bands having done the Cortinas, Bad Detectives, and Kill Van Helsing and generally heavily features old school punk bands like Penetration, the Lurkers and the Models. http://www.strandedinthejungle.tk/

'Charge of the Light Brigade' opening titles

This animation by Richard Williams for the 1968 movie is a real treat and I encourage all of you history fans to watch it - it's a work of genius. Using the style of line drawing popular in the 19th century it manages to show the diplomatic scene as well as showing Victorian England in all its industrial glory. My ancestors all started work as carting boys underground and this is depicted alongside all the other hellish ways of earning a crust in Imperial Britain. Is there a better opening title sequence ever? Ich don't think so...

The Four Pennies 'Black Girl'

What was the first band you ever saw live? For many years I always thought it was Wings on their Red Rose Speedway tour at the Hippodrome but seeing this clip reminded me that it was the Four Pennies - they played in Radstock - outside at a shop opening or something - anyone out there remember that? I also saw the Bachelors in pantomime too. Anyway this is a pretty good version of Leadbelly's original most famously covered by Nirvana as 'My Girl'.

March of the Emperors

I am sure you will find this funny - unless you don't think a long column of Napoleons getting attacked by a seal not funny...watch it and see of you are amused.

Bath's blues festivals

I'm not much a festival fan - but in my current Canned Heat phase I was caused to read up on some classic festivals and it's quite an interesting subject. Bath's Blues festival of 1969 was, if you like, Britain's Monterey with Led Zeppelin and the Nice stealing the show. This took place in Bath with the Pavillion acting as a backstage area with bands setting up in front of where the sport centre now stands. This was followed up the next year with a bigger festival at the Bath and West show ground Shepton Mallet and was the precursor of the concept that became Glastonbury showing movies like King Kong and having giant projections of the bands. Bath's 1970 festival had Zappa, Canned Heat, Floyd, Zep and many others but a log jam with band's equipment threw the schedule into chaos with Canned Heat playing 6.00 am Sunday morning instead of headlining. This festival even had its own Hell's Angel security and of course John Peel was present at both events. The fame of these key music festivals has suffered over the years as there is no one film record of it unlike the Isle of Wight, Hyde Park etc but if you want to see some great festival footage the weekend before the second Bath was the huge Dutch festival Kralingen which has the reputation of being Europe's Woodstock - there is a great film of it 'Stamping Ground' up in parts on Youtube featuring Canned Heat and an early Mickey Finn T Rex. The crowd scenes are what make these festival films - seeing people frollicking on a lake in what looked like giant plastic pyramid tea bags is a good antidote to this wet wintry weather.

Stranded In the Jungle

OK tomcats! We're going into the world of selfcast radio. It's going to be called 'Stranded in the Jungle' and it's going to be a mix of all sorts of music that is pushing our buttons old and new. We'll manage some chat too and hopefully get some guests dropping in. It's going to be 6-7 pm GMT nightly for a trial period.
tinyurl.com/289m3n

Butterfield Blues Band at Monterey 'Driftin' Blues'

While revisiting the great blues bands of history we have to post a Butterfield clip. An authentic rendition of contemporary Chicago blues. This is of course the seminal Monterey festival - worth watching for its eye candy-like visual clarity even if you don't like the blues. There's some great Monterey footage on youtube - watch out for an alumni of 60s legends. Brian Jones was supposedly 'King' of the festival with Nico as his companion wandering serenely smiling among the crowd. Heady days.

George Macdonald Fraser dies

The German trailer is all I can find for this, the only movie adaptation of George Macdonald Fraser's classic creation Harry Flashman posted here as a tribute to the great author. Starring Malcolm Mcdowell Royal Flash is a colourful comedy that should be recognised as a classic. Oliver Reed as Bismarck - come on - directed by the great Richard Lester... loads of great cameos - what's not to like? Royal Flash wiki

Canned Heat 'Turpentine moan' 'On the Road Again'

I am having a big Canned Heat revival at the moment. I reckon they are the world's greatest blues band - and I kind of hate saying that them being Americans and all but credit where credit's due. I was definitely big on them when I was about 13 and their version of 'Help Me' was the song that probably got me into playing the 'Mississippi saxophone'. They were blessed by having 2 great singers, one singing deep and grittily a bit like Jim Morrison and the other higher and sad-sounding - and this clip shows them off to perfection doing one song each. It's a tv show from 69 and there's a nice interview section in the middle where they ask the Bear about collecting 78 records and the like.
Watch them play 'Human Condition' at a Dutch festival in 1970 here. Watch this clip to the end - it's lovely... 'You people have a beautiful country' . Studio and live session history

Canned Heat 'On the Road Again'

My music history pieces are not all about black guys from the old days - some white musicians are worthy of respect - the great Alan 'Blind Owl' Wilson is someone from the 60s who has never received due acclaim. A musicologist who had hit records and played at the big festivals - retaught Son House to play guitar - all in the deeply unpopular blues genre at the height of the 60s. And an ecologist. Anyway if you haven't heard this song - I guarantee you'll love it Also watch them play it here
Blind Owl Net

Captain America theme

'When Captain America throws his mighty shield. All those who chose to oppose his shield must yield'. What lyrics! I am going to post some comic themed songs...hopefully they will get stuck in your head all day like this one...

Mick Farren's blog

I associate Mick Farren with the book 'Watch Out Kids' but you might know him for his sci-fi writing or his work with the London counter culture but anyway he has a blog. Very readable - I think he's a US resident now but it all seems pretty good writing. Deviants wiki

Revolution (1985)

Time for the great Revolution revival.
I have been waiting for someone to post clips of this on Youtube but there's the trailer on Amazon - that'll have to do. This was made by the same British company Goldcrest that did Chariots of Fire and they lost heavily with this film and its star Pacino didn't work for 4 years in movies afterwards. Which is a shame as I reckon it's a good historical film. OK some of the locations are obviously Britain (Exmoor and King's Lynn among others) and it is a dark and grimy take on the 18th century but I think it's a realistic take on it - I think 18th century American cities were like that - it might not look like the myth - for that check out The Patriot but I well recommend you rent or buy this movie for its unique take on the War of Independence. It isn't a great movie like Barry Lyndon but I maintain its the best movie about the American Revolution after Drums Along the Mohawk. It's very 1980s right down to having Annie Lennox and Robbie Coltrane and the bald guy from the Crystal Maze is in it - he does a great foppish officer type. Not to mention Donald Sutherland. By the way one of my reenacting mates lived in King's Lynn and had quite a few stories about it - his brother was an extra who actually got a speaking part with Natassia Kinski but it was cut. Shame. Preview on Amazon here
NY Times review 'what revolution is this?'

Russian version here

Sweet Home Chicago Johnny Shines

I asked Susan what she wanted to read on my blog this year and she said 'music history' so here goes. 1930s Blues legend Robert Johnson. Probably the most influential musician of the 20th century(I changed my mind from Charley Patton) despite dying young - why was he so influential? Well he popularised a certain style of playing that underpinned most of the best Chicago blues - a kind of walking bass figure and a rhythmic style that was actually quite rigid but allowed the band style to develop. He was also the patron saint of the British blues boom and his demonic imagery provided a blueprint for the rock songwriters of Britain. What's that got to do with Johnny Shines? Well Johnny played with Robert Johnson and was an exponent of a similar style. Here he plays Johnson's 'Sweet Home Chicago' check it out - maybe you have to be a guitar nerd to enjoy it but I'm hoping you might find it an interesting link to a legend.

Wassailing

I am probably the least Christmassy person I know - well someone has to try and balance things out but Wassailing - as that predates Christmas - that's another thing. Read the wiki on this great Somerset and elsewhere tradition and see if you can revive it in your area. Armed response units might result but it should be easy enough to explain.

TV theme covers

Henry of the Bad Detectives has a Blog! Read it here. All music, trash culture and humour - great stuff - latest posting has the Dickies doing the Banana Splits theme song (also covered by the BDs) which is quite a coincidence as we were going through all the old 60s tv theme songs last night wondering what would make a good cover song - obviously I am inclined to the Flashing Blade theme - is Marine Boy too obscure? Susan being a girl was enjoying 'White Horses' and likes the Belle and Sebastian theme we both liked Champion the Wonder Horse and Casey Jones but how about this one? -Here comes the Double Deckers? Pure bubblegum. If you dont know the Double Deckers it was this awful series trying to sell itself to the Yanks about a bunch of kid cliches including obligatory American getting all sorts of typically British japes like staying in haunted stately homes and so forth - awful but the credit sequence is worth a look, honestly.

Singles of the year

We thought we'd pick our singles of 2007. Susan picked 'Charmer' by the Kings of Leon - watch it here. I don't know. She played it a helluva lot - too much some folks might say - I think she thinks of the Kings of Leon as some sort of Waltons type setup as they come from Tennessee they wear check shirts and they're all related and all. Maybe they are. It caused me to create my own Somerset version 'she's always looking at I' (belch).
My choice is a B-side - it's Brooklyn's Effie Briest and their version of Jim Pepper's the Newly-wed song - off the flip of their Mirror Rim single. Watch them performing it here. I wish I had thought of covering that song.

Horse Soldiers trailer

I wanted something good to start the year off with for my blog so I thought long and hard and came up with this - it's a great little chunk of Americana that makes me think of watching movies on television over the holiday period. When is someone going to make a compilation album of all the songs featured in John Ford movies?

The Spotnicks 'Rocket Man theme' 1962

You may laugh at their space suits but this Swedish band is still going and have sold over 18 million albums. Official site

Mance Lipscomb 'Sugar babe it's all over now'

Texas songster - from the era when 'whupping your woman' was being sung about - absolutely brilliant vocalist and guitarplayer even with a finger bandaged as here, he still manages perfect picking. Watch him play pocketknife slide on the old Blind Lemon song Jack O' Diamonds Hard Card to Play

happy new year

Magic Sam

1960s era blues suffers a bit from a bad image - mostly thanks to idiots like Clapton so I try to convince you otherwise and what better person to convince you than the late great Magic Sam, part of the late 50s early 60s 'new wave' of West Side Chicago players who took the brassy soul sound and played it on guitar creating something wholly amazing. Magic Sam never got the credit he deserved as his label Cobra couldn't compete for airplay with Chess and the boss Eli Toscano was to go under in a gangland murder. Watch these two songs - please play it to the end as he lets rip with his version of Junior Parker's Feelin' Good and he cooks up a storm - close ups of his fingers will give you the shivers. Using no picks Magic Sam was a cracking guitarist and seering vocalist - so sad that he died of a heart attack when he was so young. Check out the Cobra Records Story cd for more of this and the other great artists who for a while challenged the big boys. I Can't Quit You Baby Otis Rush

Bad Detectives live at the Griffin

If you're in the Frome area then tonight why not pop on down to see local heroes the Bad Detectives and the Stiffs play the Griffin Inn at Milk Street. The BDs have had a great year with serious airplay for their album 'B-Movie Beat' and lots of exposure locally including their own show on Frome FM.

Punk's dodgy debut albums

While listening to the Cortinas' debut and only album 'True Romances' I had a thought - how many otherwise decent punk bands brought out totally pathetic debut albums? Quite a few when you think about it. I know - I was there - I remember the phenomena so well - great band - great live act but once they got a deal to do an album went totally rubbish bringing out some sanitised version of what their basic career had been up to at that point. I will now produce my list of over produced and disappointing debuts and see what you think. 1. Slits 'Cut' 2. Siouxsie and the Banshees 'The Scream'. 3. Joy Division 'Unknown Pleasures' 4. Ants 'Dirk Wears White Sox' 5. Only Ones 6. Subway Sect 'What's the Matter Boy' 7. Cortinas 'True Romances'
8 X-Ray Spex - that's what I come up with off the top of my head - I am sure you can think of some too - you might disagree with some of my entries but all of these bands if you took Peel sessions and live tracks to make their debut would have made a more honest record of what they were about to get an album deal in the first place. I suppose part of the reason was time - by the time these bands had got into the studio for the big one they had stopped being the thing that we all knew and loved. Or something.

'If....' (1968)

One movie I got this Christmas was this classic from Lindsay Anderson - set in a boys public school - it was filmed at Cheltenham College thanks to a bogus script cooked up by Anderson to deceive the Head. My schooldays were pretty similar in certain aspects - got caned a few times and I think looking back probably thought of myself of a Mick Travis character while I was actually at school though I was probably a much more horrid type in reality. The Malcolm Mcdowell site has some great insights into this great British black comedy and its follow up movies 'O Lucky Man' and 'Britannia Hospital' all of which form a trilogy which is in my mind a work of genius.

Abel Gance's Napoleon

History fans are in for a treat. Pump this badboy up to full screen. It's the tryptich (three screens) sequence of Napoleon addressing the army of Italy in Abel Gance's 1927 epic masterpiece. I saw this with orchestra on the 3 screens once - phenomenal - it really captures the ragtag look of the French revolutionary army so well it's like watching history. Dieudonne who plays Napster is masterful too...playing Napoleon slightly deranged this actor and he became obsessed with him.

Johnny Moped live in the back garden 1974

Merry Christmas to all you readers of my blog - thanks for dropping in - enjoy this slice of punk history as my gift to you... Johnny Moped live in the Back Garden 1974

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Son House 'Death Letter Blues'

Stomp your feet to the great Son House - I bet you'll like it - very accessible rhythms - great everything - it's about time someone made a movie about Son House - he spent time in Parchman farm for shooting a man - had the whole religion thing going on - field recordings - fading into obscurity - rediscovered in the 60s - fame and success. Wiki on Son House

Johnny Moped 'Incendiary Device'

Clip from 2007 with the legendary Johnny Moped giving it some. JM have been the subject of a reissue compilation entitled 'Basically... the Best of Johnny Moped' that brings together the Chiswick studio recordings including the should-have-been-a-hit of 'Darling Let's Have another Baby' and some of their anthems of madness - quite a unique act. Legends follow Johnny Moped most of them apparently true. It makes a pleasant change to listen to stuff as full of fun as this - if you are a fan of the Damned and the more light-hearted pubby side of punk then you need this album. Interview and Biog here Johnny Moped Myspace

Eddie Cochran 'Money honey'

Probably my favourite white rock and roller Eddie here does a great cover of Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters' 'Money Honey'. Great song - great performance.

HaT 1/72 French infantry (1914)

These look promising.

World War One Cannon blog

This is an excellent blog based on surviving examples of 14-18 artillery pieces still out there in the world at large. It's well worth going through the pages seeing some of these monsters in their final resting places - some well cared for some hideously neglected. Also see the Lovett collection for some restored beauties.

Joyeux Noel

Trailer for a film set at Christmas 1914. I haven't seen it but it got good reviews and it would be a surprise if it wasn't good from this trailer. See what you think.

Front Rank 40mm American Revolution figures

Cycling and the Great War

As someone interested in cycling AND the Great War I am very interested to see someone actually putting the two together. Check out the article on how they did it on the The Army Cyclist Corps and The Khaki Chums.

Joy Division 'Shadowplay'

Here's the real thing from 1978 on Granada television. When we saw them I was quite shocked to see the bass player had a beard! It sounds to me like he's singing 'To the centre of the city where there's roast beef waiting for you' in the opening line - see what you think. Lyrics here

Some jokes in Control

After some consideration there were quite a few jokes in Control - I just forgot them - there's one where someone says 'where's my 20 quid?' and is answered 'In my f**k off pocket' which we thought hilarious and one where they say 'cheer up - at least you're not the lead singer in the Fall' which was a ribtickler. Here's a clip from the film set in the studio showing how they got the swishing sound in She's Lost Control. (French subtitled version).

carol singers

Last night some carol singers called and as we knew in advance they were coming quickly filmed them and uploaded it onto youtube. Why? Not sure but I bet in 50 years time someone will care. If you want to feel all festive give it a spin - can't see much but the sound quality is good.

Sculpting

I'm thinking about trying my hand at sculpting figures again - not sure what scale yet - probably 42 or 54 mm - I'm thinking 1914 at the moment - maybe using dollies this time - noticed Irregular Miniatures do naked figures (in the scenics/accesories sections) which would make life easier simply having to just sculpt the specifics.
HaT Masters for 1914
Anyway these masters and schematics of 1/72 1914 German troops from Hat are pretty interesting to me - backpacks large enough - things look good. Doubt my sculpts will be as good. 1914 Jagers here.

Friedland 2007

I haven't posted anything about the Napoleonic wars for a while so here's some footage from this summer's reenactment of the battle of Freidland (June 14 1807). Fought between the French and the Russians this clip is pretty good - worth watching if you have an interest in the subject.

Energy Drinks

I am old school enough to be a bit suspicious of these energy drinks - they're banned in many countries. The French Scientific Committee concluded that Red Bull has excessive amounts of caffeine. They also can contain taurine - why is it called that? It was first found in Ox bile, that's why. Ugh. French ban on Red Bull upheld by European courts.

Hanged Men Dance

On a totally different note this band from the southeast of the US are well worth checking out. Their own description primitive beats, out of tune guitars, spacey slide, catatonic urghs, arghs & La La LAs, out of tune and in (((STEREO)) sums them up pretty well. I love it - reckon they'd do really well if they get to gig over here. Kind of bluesy in a good way. Recommended.

No Jokes in Ian Curtis Biopic

I watched the Ian Curtis biopic 'Control' last night. Thought maybe the story of a working class youth afflicted with epilepsy killing himself wracked with guilt might make me feel a bit festive but it didn't work. Just joking. Still it is a great film well done but well short on laughs - a few references to flatulence was about all you got for humour in this monochrome and gritty slice of cinema - in a way reminding me a little of the kitchen sink dramas of the 1960s but then I suppose it wasn't that long after that era that it was set. Period detail was good though I can't imagine a scenario where the Velvet Underground would be coming out of a pub jukebox at that time, but I suppose they didn't want to ruin the soundtrack. Shame they didn't use the song At A Later Date in the Electric circus bit as its lyrics are pretty interesting in a way
Only thing I'm thinking of is why are we all here ? There must be more to do at nights than drinking rotten beer. The world's a very shady place, and you can't trust a soul. "grin and bear it" seemed the thing, when it just gets a hold.
In a way an unmissable film if you are interested in the music of the era but don't expect to feel at all fuzzy after watching it. Did I tell you we were at Joy Division's first ever London gig? There wasn't many there as depicted in the film - it was just after Christmas - according to a website only 30 people paid the 60p admission price but we certainly did. I wish we'd spoken to them now but being Mancunians we probably felt that they were from a different planet. Incidentally if you want to get the Ian Curtis trenchcoat look as featured in the film it's a US army ag-274 raincoat - they're still quite cheap on ebay.

Civil war bubblegum cards

Do you remember these? I still have a few knocking around the house - you used to get them with real confederate money - I must have been about 4 or 5 years old - some of them are particularly grisly... excellent fan site here - there was also 1 a world war 2 set that was heavy on the scenes of torture.

'Somerset Railways' by Colin Maggs

This new book looks worth getting if you are looking for a gift for the steam enthusiast. Review here

Death of Ike Turner

One of the all-time greats Ike Turner died today. Shame he will always be remembered for the dark days rather than his massive musical achievements.

Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs (J.B. Lully)

The other day I was so shocked to see they made a movie about Lully - court composer to Louis XIV I failed to really convey my enthusiasm for the music of Louis XIV's court so I thought I'd go back to this clip from Tous Les Matins Du Monde with the great Depardieu and let the music speak for itself. A fascinating man Lully the son of a miller and a libertine who made some great works of music though long in the shadows - he seems to be getting something of a revival - about time. Go Lully. Shame he had to die from spiking himself in the toe and getting gangrene - (see clip below from le Roi Danser). Watch it also being played here

Spanish Civil War RTS!

Getting some controversy this is - for a game...

Sombras de Guerra - Shadows of War. This looks really interesting - an rts game based on this pivotal conflict in the 30s. Can't find much in English but the various sides and their technology trees and troop types are in the section marked Bandos. Looks well researched and interesting. Shall be able to review it soon. Maybe controversial but I like the idea - why is WW2 acceptable and SCW not?

Spanish Civil War; this time fought in pixels New York Times piece

Guardian:Video game of Spain's Civil War causes outcry

(Look Out) Here Comes Tomorrow The Monkees

The Seven Years War dioramas of Rüdiger Fischer

These are amazing - really bringing the period to life. Works of art.

'The Young Franc-Tireurs' G A Henty

And Their Adventures in the Franco-Prussian War. (1872)
This is one of Henty’s first books and is based on his experiences covering the Franco-Prussian War as a correspondent and from interviews he conducted with French veterans. G A Henty wiki
By the way Franc-tireurs are 'free-shooters, French volunteers, chiefly peasants, who carried on a guerilla warfare against the Germans in the Franco-German War; were at first denied the status of regular soldiers by the Germans and mercilessly shot when captured, but subsequently, having joined in the movements of the regular army, they were when captured treated as prisoners of war'. Nuttal (1907) Picture by Knotel here
Thinking about it this would be a good fun project for a bunch of French people living in the region - recreating Franc-tireurs...anyone out there do it? Images of Franc-tireurs here
Photos of Franc-tireurs here

The pickelhaube is back!

For German football fans at least it is - buy them here.

Read about the historical originals here

Vehicles by Aroutcheff

These are really charming - vehicles from BDs by Aroutcheff.

The Fnords '21st Century Malaise'

This Scottish three piece mixing garage rock and roll and punk rock are excellent. Give them a spin - I think you'll agree... another one here 'Non Verbal Adjective Agreement'. Rock and roll at its best.

La Débâcle (the Downfall)

Novel by Zola set in the Franco-Prussian war. Project Gutenberg English language version here. My Christmas reading sorted. Wiki on it here. It starts thus:
In the middle of the broad, fertile plain that stretches away in the direction of the Rhine, a mile and a quarter from Mulhausen, the camp was pitched. In the fitful light of the overcast August day, beneath the lowering sky that was filled with heavy drifting clouds, the long lines of squat white shelter-tents seemed to cower closer to the ground, and the muskets, stacked at regular intervals along the regimental fronts, made little spots of brightness, while over all the sentries with loaded pieces kept watch and ward, motionless as statues, straining their eyes to pierce the purplish mists that lay on the horizon and showed where the mighty river ran.

'We're All Going to Die' Malcolm Middleton

'Malcolm Middleton comes in to Radio 1 for a session with Colin Murray to promote his push for a Christmas number 1'. Great song. I support this wholeheartedly - not just because I am a miserable person but it's actually quite a Buddhist concept that - acceptance of this fact will ultimately liberate you. Malcolm Middleton Myspace

The War of 1870-1 in pictures

This is my favourite website at the moment. Every winter I get interested in some historical war or another - it's a bizarre form of escapism but I don't go reading loads of boring campaign histories any more instead I like absorbing images and this site has plenty. Postcards, chocolate box images, photos... it's all here - check it out if you like this sort of thing. This image of German Uhlans is from the section Menu des pages "curiosités, images et textes divers

Paris' new bike scheme

As fans of the bicycle (which we think of as the transport of the future rather than a relic of the past) we're pretty pleased to see Paris getting a success with its bike loan scheme. Let's see some British cities take this on.

Le Roi Danse (the King is dancing)

A film from 2000 set in the Court of Louis XIV about the relationship between the Sun King and the composer Lully. I used to always look out for Lully discs years ago and they never had them even in the classical music shops that Bath has a lot of - and now they have made a movie about him and it took me 7 years to hear about it. Suppose it shows how few friends I have. Anyway watch this clip - it's great - I'm going to get it - this is an era depicted also in Depardieus Tous Les Matins du Monde.

Reg Presley interview

Troggs frontman Reg Presley is interviewed on his music on this audio podcast. It's a brilliant interview as he talks humorously and intelligently about the music, coming from Andover and all manner of interesting anecdotes. Mentions the now fashionable DDBMT...
Here's them in their heyday.

Zouaves of the World Blog

Image 3ème Régiment de Zouaves
Global Zouave community. A great blog for Zouave fans like me. Lots of interesting links to all the groups who recreate these African-inspired elite infantry and all manner of articles about the worldwide phenomenon. Did you know a Zouave invented cigarettes? Apparently during the Crimean war a Zouave soldier broke his pipe and used cartridge paper instead creating a global craze - this is why you see a Zouave on Zigzag rolling papers. Anyway check out the links - there's some interesting groups out there - the 3eme Zouaves from Germany look the business - doing the brilliant idea of doing Civil War as well. This image is from the reenactment of Thionville from the Franco-Prussian war. Not featured but of interest to me is the new US based 2nd Zouaves recreating French troops of the period 1852-1918.

Taras Bulba

This Russian epic historical movie isn't out until next year but it looks interesting - based on the famous novel about Cossacks by Gogol. The 1962 Hollywood version starred Yul Brynner and Tony Curtis and was shot in Argentina. Let's hope this version is an improvement.

Turkish Gambit

If you like Russian historical films this clip from the 2005 movie Turkish Gambit might be up your street. Based on the novels by Boris Akunen which are published in English they tell the story of a 19th century spy. This scene depicts the storming of Plevna in the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-8. Review of the book here - Review of the film
The siege of Pleven wiki

Great War blog - a French perspective

If you have an interest in the French perspective of the Great War you must get over to this site - it's full of excellent illustrations by André Jouineau that are a breath of fresh air on the subject and its a fascinating look at the 14-18 war from a different angle. Don't be put off by the language - it's heavily illustrated.

Balaclava helmets

While on the subject of the Crimea take a look at this bad boy - a 1940s balaclava helmet - Susan found it on a friend's myspace and tracked down the pattern and is going to make me one as she is a good knitter. The earholes will be great for headphones - I will put up a picture when it's done.

1940s patterns to knit from the V&A

WW1 red cross patterns

Charge of the Light Brigade Documentary

Documentary on the Charge of the Light Brigade written and narrated by Terry Brighton for The Queen's Royal Lancers Regimental Museum. Excellently done it uses clips from one of my favourite films which is on tv this week. The Channel 4 documentary on the Crimean war is worth a look too - its here.

New Bob Dylan biopic 'I'm not there'

If you enjoyed Todd Haynes' Velvet Goldmine you might be intrigued by his latest project - Bob Dylan being played by 6 or so different actors including Cate Blanchette, Heath Ledger and Christian Bale. Quite a brave take on the biopic genre. Article here . The soundtrack also looks interesting with folks like Tom Verlaine and Yo La Tengo.

'I'm Bad Like Jesse James' John Lee Hooker

John Lee Hooker in 1986 playing in his great menacing style a minimal groove that shows his style off well. Jesse James must have inspired more songs than any other western figure. Some good ones out there...any suggestions? Last fm Jesse James playlist

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

What a title? You're probably sick of hearing about this movie already but it is supposedly a critical success and I have to say I am a little curious to go to the flicks to see it as there's nothing quite as much fun as a western on the big screen however longwinded and boring it might be. Heaven's Gate was brilliant and that was pretty epic in length. Goes with the territory, getting saddle sore at the cinema watching cowboy films.
Wiki on Jesse James

Astrud Gilberto 'Girl from Ipanema'

More 60s easy listening this time the bossa-nova classic - sounding strangely melancholic in my opinion but nevertheless one of the great female vocals of all time.

Wide Boy Awake 'Chicken Outlaw'

A band from the early 80s led by ex Ant bassplayer Kevin Mooney and managed by Jordan if I remember right. I think he got kicked out of the Ants after mucking about during a Royal Variety Performance but I imagine the fact that he wasn't much of a bass player also had something to do with it. This style mixes electro-pop with cajun and was pretty much on the button at the time being a bit like Hayzee Fantayzee who were popular at the time. It wasn't a hit nor was Bonaventure, another single. Interview with Mooney

Pikes at Bila Hora

I'm quite a fan of the pike - the weapon that is, and I've often looked on youtube to see if anyone has posted some good pike fighting clips but all there is is the inauthentic wigwams done so often in the UK until this clip from the reenactment of the Battle of White Mountain turned up that is. Bila Hora was fought outside Prague in 1618 kicking off the 30 Years War. This segment was very pleasing to this old pikeman - at last seeing it done properly. Notice the crab-like gait of the unit in the background. Excellent. More clips here here and here.

Bad Detectives on Frome FM

Managed to catch the BDs on Frome FM last night - it's the last night tonight if you want to tune in - amusing stuff with plenty of good sounds...

World War One RTS?

I've been wondering if there are any WW1 real time strategies out there - after all the Great War was the ultimate war of attrition and I imagine it could be great managing your resources and come up with a tank...you know the sort of thing. First one I found is a new one called Aggression: Europe 1914 which goes from that date up to the 50s with the atomic bomb.
Trailer here
This was made by the same company who released Entente - a 1914-18 Rts - from 2003 so likely to be a little out of date but maybe worth a try.
Anyway I'll keep looking - anyone know of any more?

Everett True reviews our gig in Brighton

Yes indeed - here you can read about Animals and Men's foray to Brighton in a write-up by the legendary Everett True.