Napoleonic Association at Hyde Park London c1989

68th Durham Light Infantry - still going strong

18eme de Ligne from France

Neil Morrison leads the British out. He was a Yank connected to the military in Europe

Ralph Mitchard in the 46eme de ligne

Napoleonic Event in Czechoslovakia in 1990

Dr David Chandler leads the French - I am on this if you can spot me

18 de Ligne from France at the Austerlitz memorial

Richard Moore in Czechoslovakia

Renault Chenilette

Carrier used by the French in 1940. Details

Chuck Berry Performs "You Can't Catch Me" in 1956's "Rock, Rock, Rock!"

Jimmy Reed Big Boss Man (Live) AFBF

Radstock Jig

Here
RADSTOCK JIG, THE. English, Hornpipe (cut time). C Major/A Dorian. Standard tuning (fiddle). AB. The English collector Cecil Sharp noted this tune from one James Higgins (1819-c. 1910), a fiddle player who was living at the time in Shepton Mallett Union, a workhouse. It was originally simply called “Radstock”, or, as Sharp gave it in his notebook, "Radstock Tune." Sharp published it soon afterwards with the title "Radstock Jig," using the convention of the word 'jig' not to denoting musical meter but rather to indicate a tune played for solo dancing (see Sharp's Folk-Dance Airs: Collected in Oxfordshire, Glocesteshire, Devonshire, Somerset, and Devonshire, 1909). Higgins was a native of the village of Shepton Mallet (south of Bath), Somerset, where he was a clerk in the local Co-operative Society, and Radstock was a nearby mining town. There is some thought, although no evidence, that the tune may have been in the repertoire of the Radstock Band, an old village band.

Bad Detectives in Bath

Had a fun night last night at the Widcombe Social Club (ace venue) with the B-side the A-side dj team.

Delta 88 at Somer Valley Rock n Roll Club

Western Star trio from Devom came to Radstock Working Me' Club for a night of rockabilly. Next one is May 13th Tomcats. Photo Sue

Frome gets even more famous

So surreal to see Frome become centre stage for the rock

world last night when Foo Fighters played a secret gig in Frome's music venue the Cheese and Grain which was streamed live on YouTube. It was in connection to their appearance at Glastonbury. Quite a few Frome (pronounced Froom) people got in. Apparently. We didn't bother.

'24 hours from Radstock' The Tripes

Live at the Tyning Inn Radstock Somerset. The Tripes can be seen all over the West Country. Lead vocals Big Rich who wrote the song
https://www.facebook.com/The-Tripes-6...

Workers '- Peasants' Red Army

Trotsky and Lenin review the Red Army - some early colour footage here. Also check out my Pinterest page on the subject

1920 Bitwa Warszawska

Bought this cos I like the period.  Polish-Soviet war. Not bad. Watch it - its quite spectacular.

1980 - My Animals & men Year in Music.

Found my notes to all the dates in the for us in a momentous year. Here goes
Jan 8 - Don't Misbehave in the New Age out - 1st John Peel play
Jan 18 - Gig at King's College London supporting the Coolnotes - meet Mick Mercer of Panache fanzine
Jan 24 - NME review by Charles Shaar Murray. Number 14 in the Sounds Alternative chart
Jan 25 - Melody Maker review
 

Feb 1 - Geoff leaves
Feb 24 - Puddle in
March 7 - Support Toyah at the Bath Pavilion - Geoff in audience
March 11 - London Scool of Economics gig - Panache interview
March 14 - Leave TW Records
March 21- Corsham Art College supporting Essential Bop
April 2- Panache interview out
April 4th - Terraplane Fixation single recorded
June 7th - single out
Junw 18th - First John Peel play
September Nigel and Puddle leave
October 25/26 - Terraplanes formed with Dave and Andy
December 28 - First demo

Waterloo (1970)

I can remember the excitement I experienced waiting for this film. I saw the trailer. Blown away - Waterloo was a subject I was really interested in and there was an epic movie been made for seeing at the cinema. I went with my Dad and he knew the projectionist and he secured me a poster which I proudly had on my bedroom wall. These images are from a book that was made to coincide with the film

Ralph Mitchard at Sexey's school Bruton

Before punk.

Three Swans Frome nowadays

Photo Sue Mitchard

Back in the early punk days this was the hangout for us punk rockers. We had things like New Rose by the Damned and things like that on the jukebox and if anyone came in from out of town they knew where to find us. Not sure why it changed but the emphasis moved on in time.

Bunny Lake Is Missing Movie 1965 - full movie

Wiki here - features the Zombies

Pubs and premises of the Monmouth Rebellion.

My new blog
http://monmouth1685.blogspot.co.uk

Vintage New France and Old England

Go here to revisit those days long ago

Mark VIB

Being, in terms of numbers, the most significant British tank at the outbreak of war, the Mark VIB saw service with the British Expeditionary Force in France, the Eighth Army in North Africa and in various subsidiary theatres. As a reconnaissance vehicle it was satisfactory, as a fighting tank quite useless since armour protection was minimal and the armament ineffective against enemy tanks

Ralph Mitchard track from 1993

New Old Animals & Men tracks from 1980

Johnny Moped

Louise Brooks

Back in the early 80s we were really into Louise Brooks. She was our hero.

Wiki

Wilko and Lew Lewis

Photographed by the Bad Detectives at Dingwall's Bristol.

Bad Detectives in 1978

Ivan

More snaps from the Youth Wing here

Ralph Mitchard

Bunce

Henry

Terraplanes (Animals & Men) Frome Station

Early Bad Detectives publicity photo

Gardez Darkx

 Bristol Post-punk band

Wurzels frontman Adge Cutler honoured with bronze statue

Article on the Somerset hero here

Aberfan disaster

50 years ago was this tragic event. Read about it here

Trowbridge's Finest - Moskow

Around the 77-78 period this group was hot and in demand.

My Waterloo (1990)

Canadians from the War of 1812

Ali of the 46eme

the 3eme - my group

Ralph Mitchard

Joan before the model of La Haye Sainte

Frome

Listening to Stupidity and thinking about what life was like in Frome in 76. Saturdays were spent in the town centre and we processed from one record shop to another. For some bizarre reason we used to go in the Settle cafe for a pot of tea which would be tried to last as long as possible. Being cheeky and misbehaving was the order of the day but not far to get ejected or banned. Pubs chuck out in the afternoon so groups of semidrunk youths from the 3 Swans would emerge down cheap street. Any

thing on tonight? Has to be it's Saturday!

40 Years ago today - Dr Feelgood Stupidity is Number one album

I remember this LP well. It was well received to be sure around Frome. In fact me and Henry Hutton of the Bad Detectives tried our own version of the cover at my parent's house. A bit of Frome musical history - we were only a duo then bass and drums came later.

Adge Cutler documentary

The story of Somerset's greatest poet

Mud Dogs (2001)

Turn it Up! Somerset's blueswailing Mud Dogs (Ralph Mitchard guitar and Big Rich Vocals harp) from 2001 when the music (self-penned) was a hit on the Tyning Inn jukebox. Bass is by Oz and drums Johnny Rench. Recorded in a front room by Phil Cass. Download it for free here

Changing Radstock

When Radstock was a building site. By Sue Mitchard

Animals & Men free album download

Go here to get our recent compilation on Radstock records Where Are All Your Friends?

New Bad Detectives vinyl

The Bad Detectives

...Are In Mild Peril! 10-Inch Mini Album

10 Inch £13.00

Release Date: 04/11/2016 -  preorder here

Frome comic con

http://www.fromecomiccon.com/

Recorded in Lyon Animals & Men 2009

Photos by Caryne. We played a gig at Grrrnd Zero in Lyon and recorded some tracks - this is two - the others you can download from the Free Music Archive
http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ani...
Engineer Damien Paulet

CleyHill, Warminster. CROP CIRCLE 30-7-2016

Radstock Subway by Peter Kirkland

Here is a view no longer there due to the remodelling of the town centre.

The Divine Comedy - Catherine The Great

Lyrics here

Undertones book

Sue has been really enjoying this. I'm next.

Old pics of Animals & men and the terraplanes

https://uk.pinterest.com/ralphjmitchard/animals-men-and-the-terraplanes