Photos: Gary Williams

January - June 2005

June 2nd 2005
My visit to England last weekend was a typically hectic one.
I arrived at Gatwick on Friday and stood by the baggage carousel, like you do, and was still standing there 20 minutes later having watched everyone that was on my flight get their luggage.
Everyone that is .. except ME. My case never arrived.
It wasn't tagged it at the airport.

They can send a probe to take pictures of the surface of Mars, but they can't put a luggage tag on a suitcase, put it on a conveyor belt, and stick in in the hold of an aircraft!
Not happy .. I had a really busy schedule and didn't need that kind of aggravation especially on a Bank Holiday weekend.

The man at the Global Baggage Solutions helpline assured me that an email had been sent to all the airports in the world and a trace had been put on my bag.

I told him that it wasn't in all the airports in the world, but it WAS in a room in Prague Airport and asked him if he'd phone them ........
"er no sir can't do that ... I have to wait for the system to work".
Came his lame reply. The system didn't work.

Almost totally useless .. GBS is a call centre in Manchester they're not equipped to use their initiative .. so I got on the case (geddit)
I phoned Prague Airport, in two calls not only had II located my luggage, but I got them to put it on the next easyJet flight to Gatwick and drove to pick it up.
On Bank Holiday Saturday .. on the M25 ...100 mile round trip .... deep joy!

My Saturday gig was in a village near Odiham bloody miles away on the M3.. which was jammed with traffic going to the coast. Made worse by the multi-car accident right by the junction I needed.

Any road, I got to the venue and the day ended on a high .. I met some great people played a fab gig (in a barn dating from 1722!) and really enjoyed myself.
Stayed over night then drove to London

Had a fab Sunday lunch with friends, then went to see James Henderson
(he of www.bluescene.co.uk) and did a bit of work on his website.
Then off to Richmond to play at 1 Paradise Road. Amongst my audience were friends from along way back in my past and a guy who saw me recently at Marquis De Sade .. truly international.
Hi to the Gaspers Wine Bar crew and to Dan and his delightful teenage daughters, whose beauty so overwhelmed me I forgot their names (guesses Amy and Hannah) Sorry if I'm wrong!

Monday was a series of the usual Bank Holiday delays (including my return flight) and restructured timetables interspersed with some roadside car maintenance
(not on my car!) in the rain.

Perfect Bank Holiday weather .. it did cheer up later though I'm pleased to say..

May 17th 2005
The world is indeed a small place.
On Friday at Marquis De Sade, I met two young guys Tom and Rich Evans from the same town as me .. friends with my youngest niece Laura, knew a lot of the guys (all 40 somethings) I used to play rugby with as a kid.

Last night, also in Marquis, there were group of men on a football tour (mercifully they weren't cut from the same cloth as yer regular football tourist visitor to Prague) from Berwick On Tweed. Some of you will know that I have played in Berwick three times at the very wonderful Barrels Alehouse run by Mark Dixon.

Not only is Barrels the local pub for several of them, but one of them had actually caught a gig of mine there!
Great crowd last night .. real pleasure to play for them.

May 15th 2005
Another busy week!
Four gigs this time not five, but now the total has reached 14 in 19 days.
I also managed to fit in two sessions at the gym .. ok so not major workouts but it's a start for goodness sake. There were big celebrations here in Prague last Sunday to mark the 60th Anniversary of the end of the Nazi occupation here. Included in the celebrations was an enactment of street battle fought around the site of the Czech National radio station.. which is a block away from the street I live in. Gearing up for my three performances at the Prague Fringe Festival

May 9th 2005
The Czech National Karaoke Championships heat last night (at which I was one of the judges) was a riot.
Held at a big venue here in Prague, the Lucerna Music Bar, the entrants were of a standard that varied between " couldn't carry a tune in a shopping trolley" to
"really very good".

I didn't get to hear "Anarchy in the UK", but was treated to a great version of "White Wedding" (the Billy Idol hit) by a stunning looking American woman called Aileen Lloyd. Even more remarkable than her looks, was her voice, which is about the same - or possibly slightly lower - baritone register as mine!
Spoke a bit like a cross between Marge Simpson and Fenella Fielding.
Could make a small fortune in the chat line business.

The best singer on the night for me was a young Czech guy called Jarda .. one to watch for sure. He chose "I believe I can fly" as his tune of the night. I struggled not to think about the Ali G version.
Amongst the other entrants were a bloke from Brno in a suit and tie who sang
"My Way" .. his way .. and a young Czech student in hoodie and baggy jeans sang Barry Manilows "Mandy" from memory. Which is more than
"blokeinasuitandtiefromBrno" did with "His Way". How can you be middle aged,
sing Karaoke, and NOT know the words to "My Way" for goodness sake!
I actually marked him down for that .. heartless aren't I.

The early part of this week is mercifully quieter, so I'll have an opportunity to catch up on my unanswered email and renew my acquaintance with the Gym.

My gig dates in the Prague Fringe Festival have come through, and I've posted them on the gig page (where else?). On the subject of gigs I'm playing at Parkers
every Wednesday in May .. again, check the gig page for location.

May 6th 2005
Having the busiest period work wise since I got here.
By the time Saturday 7th comes around I'll have done 10 gigs in 14 days!
Fab, and just how I like it.
Well maybe half the gigs for twice the money, but you won't find me complaining.
Started at a new venue (Parkers in the Jewish Quarter right opposite the Spanish Synagogue) this week .. a very swish bar .. looks like becoming the new hip place
Been getting some great audiences too, all over town.

Wrote an introduction piece for David Farrs play "Elton Johns Glasses" being performed here in Prague at Svandovo Divadlo .. a quick 600 words on football fanaticism and it's history. What it really means to be a diehard footy fan.
Took as my inspiration the famous Bill Shankly quote ".. some people think that football is a game of life and death .. let me assure you .. it's more important than that" Great website dedicated to the man .. one of Footballs real characters.

Amusing misheard lyric scenario last night.
I was playing at my regular Thursday night gig "Red Hot and Blues" when after the show, a Swedish guy came up and asked me about "the song that you play about the sheepdog" .. I looked at him quizzically .."Sheepdog??" I enquired
"Yes nothing cheaper than Sheepdog" ... I pause for a moment and realise he's talking about The Question Why and the line;
"nothing cheaper in this great big world than cheap talk" !!
Must be my enunciation. People tell me about it .. I guess they may be right.

I've been asked to be a Judge in this Sundays heat of the Czech National Karaoke
Championships .. a rare opportunity so I said yes of course. Not sure what it'll be like but they do more than just cheesy cabaret stuff. Included in the list of songs people can choose are Heavy Metal and Punk titles.
Can't wait to hear Anarchy in the UK sung in broken Czechlish
I'll be going in Simon Cowell mode (minus the high waisted kecks and smugness)

Oh and don't forget, that I'm coming to England at the end of the month and doing a gig at 1 Paradise Road .. check the gig page for details

April 20th 2005
Had a brilliant time in England (again) the gigs were just fabulous.

At The Lion, Grahame and I blew the roof off the place. So many people came from far and wide. Reading, High Wycombe, Crowthorne .. Twickenham even.. it was fantastic and really humbling. Testament too to how well the website works.
Two cracking sets, and a first airing for one of one my new songs "Forever You".
The guvnor Don was in the doghouse because he wouldn't let us continue beyond 11:10. Ha Ha matey. Even better they had Hook Norton Best Bitter as the guest ale as well .. I was in Heaven.

Sunday I played solo at 1 Paradise Road in Richmond.
It was the bar manager Adamas' last Sunday and I felt privileged that it was me who played it. Again a full house, and a fab gig. Thanks to the Chiswick crew and to Dan England for not only roadying for me but also putting me up.
On Monday Grahame and his wife Chrissie followed me out to Prague to stay for a few days. I played Marquis on Monday and, thanks to local blues supremo Stan The Man who loaned Grahame an amp, we played it as a duo .Grahame playing my Tokai Strat.
Hard taskmaster me .. get him working even though he's on holiday :-)

I want to say a big public thank you to all of those who made the gigs .. you know who you are. It makes the journey more than worthwhile. Thanks especially to Dan and Elaine for their hospitality and to Karen and Martin for the wonderful curry on Thursday night in Alresford Hants, and stuff way beyond the call of duty.

April 11th 2005
Busy weekend .. I played with the Tonny Blues Band in Karlovy Vary a spa town
in the North West of the country. Mention KV to a Czech and the first thing they say is "Russians". Apparently half the town is owned by Russians .. some of dubious provenance .. The gig was at The Hotel Imperial, a fantastic building set on a hillside. Gig was great the band were a real hit. The following day it was back down to earth at the less salubrious surroundings of Marquis de Sade.
I've written some songs for Vera Martinova, the two I've finished and played her she's really happy with and has asked for some more.

March 31st 2005
It was my step-daughter Jesse's 15th birthday yesterday
Happy Birthday Boo.
I'm really chuffed, because with her birthday money she's buying a second hand
full-sized drum kit, and wants to join a band. Attagirl !!

Work has been busy this month, 16 gigs, and some songwriting for Vera Martinova's new album. I did a gig in Sumperk with Tonny Blues Band the week before last and it was a real rock and roll affair.
A 13 hour round trip for 1 hour on stage. There were 4 bands on the bill, 2 Czech, 1 from Slovakia, and 1 from Germany. The Slovakian band were "Bobos and Frozen Dozen" (a four piece .. do the maths). Fronted by Bobos (Bobosh) who is a blues harp player .. the best in Slovakia some say.
In a slightly Spinal Tap-esque situation, he had the most ridiculous amp set up I've ever seen. Two custom made Brazilian harmonica amps each the size of a Vox AC30.
You could have booked Johnny Mars for the money they cost.
Shame too that their set was dominated not by his harp playing, but by seemingly endless one sound guitar solos.

The gig was recorded LIVE for broadcast later. I played a solo set for 30 minutes and then the band joined me for another half hour session. I have to confess considering I'd never even met the drummer before, and never played with the guitar player, it was pretty damn good!

I was saddened today to read news of the death of Crowded House drummer Paul Hester. From what I read, it appears that he hung himself following a bout of depression.CH were one of my favourite bands of the past 20 years. I saw them play along with about 30 other very lucky people in the basement of the the GLR studio .. must be about 8 years ago now. It was their last live show in Britain.
By that time Paul had already left the band, but the performance was little short of pure magic.
Check this link for a view on his life and legacy.

On a brighter note, (sorry to be so News Channel about this) Spring has arrived in Prague. It an absolutely stunning day here today. Right .. I've got some songs to write. Catch you later.

March 11th 2005
It's nearly a month since I posted any news.
Which is not to imply that I haven't got any .. quite the reverse.
I spent a weekend in Holland in mid march with a gig in Apeldoorn.
Had a great time, but on my "return to Prague" day got my check in time at the airport wrong which meant a dash on the autobahn at 190+ kph (about 120mph)
so I could get to the check in desk with one minute spare literally. 2:14 for 2:15.
Thanks Patrick !

To make matters worse, the exit slip road to the airport was closed so that added another 5 minutes onto the journey time. Talk about cutting it fine. Had to run for the plane, through TWO security checks .. bugger bugger.

Any road .. got back ok and in one piece. Gigs are picking up, there are 3 new ones in the pipeline so we'll see how that develops.

The gig with Glenn Tilbrook was just fab. Almost sublime. All the hits and more were played on the stage and in the bar. We went out the following night to see an 11 piece Romanian Gypsy brass band. Wonderful stuff. A little too much too drink.
But then who cares ...

The cold continues, -10 today I'm gigging tonight at Pragues smokiest venues Marquis De Sade. As if my cough isn't bad enough.


February 14th 2005
Happy Valentines Day .. think my cards must be still in the shop!
The Glenn Tilbrook gig is now being sold by ticketpro.cz.

Go here if you'd like to make the gig. I can help with Hotel / B and B addresses.

February 8th 2005
I can barely believe that I've been in Prague for a year now!
It's weird when I think of it .. but there's been an awful lot crammed into the past 12 months and I'm still so in love with this city.
I've been suffering with the 'flu for the past week, and to make matters worse I had four gigs at the weekend.
My usual Thursday at RHnB, then a visit on Friday to Trutnov a town in the mountains to the North of the country - a three hour drive and about 50 miles from the German border. Cold ?? .. you bet. There were icicles the size of broadswords hanging from the gutters. The roads were like The Cresta Run.
It was a band gig but with a difference. The first set was me doing my acoustic schtick and then the band joined me for three songs before a break.
Gig was really well received, I sold loads of CDs and there's a return is expected soon.
I was really knackered by the end of it all. Slept in the Van on the way up and back. Got home at about 3 in the morning. It was so cold on the way back the inside of the Van windows had frost on them!
Then two gigs on Saturday and Sunday at Marquis de Sade - Saturday was great and I didn't feel too bad but the Sunday one I limped through.

Went to watch England play (like a bunch of girls) against the Taffs on Sunday afternoon. A room full of Welshmen being irritating. My take on it was not that they won but that we lost. We were truly duff. One of the few shafts of light in the gloom was the immediate impact Olly Barkley had when he came on as a replacement for the debutante Matthew Tait. I bet he starts this Sunday against the French.

I went to the Doctors on Monday. Yes I have the 'flu but I also have laryngitis, pharyngitis, and inflammation of the vocal cords. See I knew I was ill.
I walked out of the surgery with a small pharmacy. Worst bit? The antibiotics means no beer for a week. Ah well the return of my boyish figure awaits. He He!


January 27th 2005
Just back from a week in England.
Three gigs and a wedding. Congrats to Martin and Karen .. now busy honeymooning in Australia. It was great to be home. Saturday nights gig with Grahame was fantastic. Real off the cuff stuff .. we hadn't seen each other for about 4 months. Loads of familiar faces. As there were at 1 Paradise Road.
Including a couple from Chiswick who first saw me playing in Red Hot and Blues in Prague! Small World.
On Monday, I went to see a new American artist named Amos Lee at The Bush Hall in Shepherds Bush. He has toured recently with Norah Jones, and opened for Bob Dylan. He was good, very engaging personality, good voice, some very good and some iffy songs. A touch of the emprerors new clothes about it.
Jack Johnson has been doing stuff like this for 5 yrs or more. The crowd loved
it so what do I know? Great young Double Bass player who also played piano.

January 17th 2005
Finished the recording with Vera Martinova last night.
Had a day long session mostly working with Dobro and Lap Steel player
Lubos Novotny (amazing musician) but also did bits of editing and tidying stuff up.
I'm in England from Wednesday 19th to Tuesday 25th for 3 gigs and a wedding.
So if you able to make The Lion Hampton Wick or 1 Paradise Road it'll be great to see you. Happy Birthday for Thursday 20th to Grahame White my long term duo partner and good friend.
The Glenn Tilbrook (Ex Squeeze) gig I've been organising here has been definitely confirmed. It takes place on Saturday March 5th in a theatre in the centre of Prague.
I'm opening for Glenn with double bass player Petr Dvorsky.
There are only 120 tickets available so if you fancy a long weekend in this beautiful city,send me email via the website, and I'll reserve some for you

January 11th 2005
Happy New Year!
I had a fab time with friends in Teddington on New Years Eve.
House party very civilised then off to the Lion for a beer or three.
Saw Don and Myff who run the Lion and got a few gigs over the coming year.

I returned to Prague on the 3rd and have been busy ever since.
I've started recording with Vera Martinova but the big news is that .............
I'm no longer the singer in Rene Trossman Band.
I'm not entirely sure whether I quit before I was fired, but I won't be singing with him again.
The reason ... well, ... two days ago, he sent me a text telling me that a friend of his would be in town in March and he would be singing with band on one date.
No "are you OK with this", no "would you mind if.." just a fait accompli.
(Which incidentally he thought was Latin).

Not even a phone call or a face to face, but a text!
Had he phoned and asked, I'd have said "sure that's OK" but no, not Rene
... a text. I was livid.
Eight months of singing with the band and I get treated like a hired hand.
We had an exchange of views where the F word was used extensively by me .. no apology forthcoming from him .. no thought even that he'd done anything wrong.
So that's that.
The bass player Tomas called me and said "I'm sad you're leaving the band" I say "Am I ... since when". Turns out he'd phoned all the band to let them know and I hear second hand from someone else.
I had a conversation with one of his former band members two nights ago who told that once he fired his entire band by text. Shades of Van Morrison.

PS - The noise you might have heard was the sound of a American guitarist of my acquaintance shooting himself in the foot!

December 29th 2004
Back at "home" in England for Xmas. Hope yours was great. I'll be in Teddington at my old local The Lion in Hampton Wick for New Year. The Xmas Eve gig at 1 Paradise Road Richmond was fun apart from when a drunken ditzy Australian blonde thought it would be amusing to grab the end of my mic stand, and smack me in the mouth with my mic.Twice. Second time I was prepared for it and ducked.
Words were exchanged along the lines of rude go away.
She then proceeded to take me to task.

"Aw c'mon mate don't you know what it is"?
"Xmas Eve" I reply
"Do you know what Scrooge is"
Me smartarsed "I know who Scrooge is"!

"You're not even a good guitarist" (probably true)
yeah right .. drinking on an empty head. She tried a few more insults and left with her head very firmly up her arse.

I've been watching the England vs South Africa test match today in between bouts of doing my end of year accounts. One of these things is fun!
Have a great New Year. Thanks for checking in throughout this year. It's been a bit of an up and down one for me but on balance, I'm really enjoying my new location and the opportunities that now seem to be presenting themselves.
Take Care
Lots of Love xx