Mike Outram’s Weblog

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.

I play in a band with Asaf Sirkis and Steve Lodder, it’s called the Inner Noise. It’s an unusual line up in that we use church organ, gtr and drums and because of this it’s a reviewer’s dream band. Here are some of the best review/quotes…

• ‘The Phantom of the Opera Meets The Who.’ - Pittsburgh Tribune Review

• The drama comes in the contrast between sepulchral chill (Lodder) and the forces of light (Outram), as Sirkis splinters the rhythm into jagged counter-patterns.’
• ‘At their most reserved, the trio waxes bittersweet on the gorgeous “Miniature” and the haunting title track with euphonious delicacy. Conversely, “Nothingness First Part I, Nothingness” and “Hymn” are ablaze with raucous vigor, while “When You Ask Why” merges these disparate worlds, gradually increasing in intensity from supple acoustic meditation to roiling electric tempest. Responsible for the majority of the session’s most explosive statements, guitarist Mike Outram has been favorably compared to a restrained Allan Holdsworth. Tempering blistering fret-board histrionics with contemplative lyricism, his soaring, wah-wah fueled excursions transcend conventional virtuosity, transforming minor thematic variations into epic meditations.’, Troy Collins All About Jazz. - (I like Troy)
• ‘Asaf Sirkis seemed to play only between the beats, achiving a state of rhythmic levitation’ - Millenium Hall Review
• ‘The music is doom-laden and bombastic, yet strangely compelling.’ - Jazz UK