Mike Outram’s Weblog

I have taken up Glockenspiel. My instructor is Robert Millet, he is a percussion genius. I have 5 simple goals - (we all need to dream)

• I want to read the music without looking at the notes (not the notes on the page, that would be foolish) When I attempt this task it sounds like Schoenberg in a doorbell factory.
• I want to hit it well, however there seems to be no good method for Glock. Perhaps when I get good, and after the purchase of my helicopter from the proceeds of my Glockenspiel school, I’ll record the world’s first Glockenspiel instructional DVD.
• I want to play this
• Ruth Underwood. She’s eye-wateringly good and will be persuaded to come out of retirement to record a Glockenspiel/Marimba duet album called ‘Rock Around The Glock’
• I want a mug with a glockenspiel on it (Update - I have now, with the help of the utterly fantastic Ellis Hynd, achieved this goal. I have the mug. I may post a picture of it soon. Life is good.)

The Scene -

Mark Jones and I, Monsters of Rock Festival, Castle Donnington, Saturday August 22, 1987

Headlining are Bon Jovi. Also on the bill are Dio, Metallica, Anthrax, W.A.S.P. and Cinderella.

It rained a lot.

Cinderella were up first, here they are

Can’t remember anything about what they played but they look tremendous. It seemed like the entire crowd decided to rain down sods of grass, mud, bags of piss, beer bottles and so on. I’m sure the band had fun. Lovely.

W.A.S.P were up next and Blackie Lawless’ exploding cod-piece did not disappoint. unfortunately I can’t find a picture of it, but I carry it in my heart.

Anthrax were splendid, see here for actual concert footage.

Metallica also good

Dio was and is a God. 3″ high.

Stargazer is one of my all time favourite songs. Dio is my favourite singer ever. Very good lyrics –

High noon, oh I’d sell my soul for water
Nine years worth of breakin’ my back
There’s no sun in the shadow of the wizard
See how he glides, why he’s lighter than air?
Oh I see his face!

Where is your star?
Is it far, is it far, is it far?
When do we leave?
I believe, yes, I believe
—

And I do indeed believe.

Bon Jovi. I’d just figured out the guitar solo to Livin’ on a Prayer and to see this live was brain meltingly good.

Can’t remember much about how we got there, where I stayed or anything else but I had a nice day at Monsters of Rock.

(what an extraordinary tale, jackanory beckons)

• The Banzai Buddy Band! have re-commenced work on their debut album. 10 songs have been written. Explosive stuff. This year should see the release of the CD and subsequent take-over of the UK governmental system. There will be substantial contributions from Mike, Laura and Dr. Rhythm (the Rhythm Machine) - Milo and silent japanese rapper and triangle virtuosa Liz.

• Quite a lot of free time in March it would seem.

Hello good people of Earth

Jan/Feb 08

• I’m only doing private tuition now on Saturdays and Sundays between 9 and 12.
• Rebecca Hollweg released her new album (which I’m on), it’s called Orange Roses. She writes very good songs, tremendous in fact.
• Recorded Harvey Brough’s ‘Requiem in Blue’ with Clare College choir (here they are) and a host of other soloists.

• Did a tour of the UK with Theo Travis, Roy Dodds and Pete Whittaker. Got to play almost loud. Here it is on YouTube, I do a slide solo and where I throw the slide on the ground but it smashed into tiny pieces, splintering into jagged counter-patterns if you will. But, fear not, I carried on - tremendous professional focus. Slide is quite hard, and I decided on this tour I would have a crack at it. If you can imagine the sound of a theremin being played by someone who’s injected toothpaste into his head then you’ve a pretty good idea of what I sound like. In a gesture of band solidarity Roy smashed his stick.
• Here’s another gig of us at the Boxford Fleece, the crowd went mental that night.

  Recorded the music for a film called ??. score written by tremendous composer Laura Rossi.