| Tigers at Layer Road 21:11 - Sep 23 with 46761 views | SparkfilmsTV |
In a strange twist of events l found myself in conversation with a young lady who had attended Layer Road for a match against Hull City in our first season in The Championship. The 5-1 encounter.
We were attending a promo evening for a band called The Datsuns in North London in 2008.
During the evening she explained that she had been present at a party that made the national news due to the tragic death of someone by the name of Mark Blanco.
The incident occurred in December 2006.
This incident will be shown on Channel 4 on Monday night at 22.00 in an hour long documentary and several people known to me have made contributions.
It may be of interest to some.
I am very much hoping that the police will reinvestigate the death of Mark Blanco as a result of what will be included in the content.
I know that what l was told by this young lady 15 years ago has been instrumental in the making of this documentary.
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 09:44 - Mar 12 with 3116 views | SparkfilmsTV |
A little more on how BBC News 24:were operating during 2006 as that seems to be of interest to some.
I spent time in the 'media encampment' at Suffolk Police HQ at Martlesham Heath - mainly with the Sky News team and the conversations and exchanges were enlightening to say the least.
There was a degree of animosity towards the BBC from multiple broadcasters and media folk at that time and l mentioned the white board l kept in my kitchen as a means to working out where l needed to be, at what time and who my contact would be.
That simple mode of keeping a diary seemed beyond the comprehension of the BBC as they consistently got locations and contacts completely wrong.
Everyone else kept to the timings and locations etc, it did occur to me that the public were paying for a service that was wasting their money at every twist and every turn - albeit, a relatively small amount.
Back to the 'bugging' of Suffolk Police by the media.
Several sources at that time hinted that it may have been the BBC who were behind that. I consider it most unlikely that the BBC were that forward thinking.
More likely one of the red top tabloids.
I might do a follow up on that one day. I was unsure if Suffolk Police had CCTV within the HQ area where the canteen and wc's were located.
Suffolk Police should have made more of that. It appears to have been kept quiet for some reason. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 12:46 - Mar 12 with 3092 views | SparkfilmsTV |
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to PETER DOHERTY!
Hoping you and Paul R reconnect.
🦮🦮 | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 12:44 - Mar 13 with 3002 views | SparkfilmsTV |
CANADA WATER
Taking in
Information
Feel the static
In the air
You could be someone
I could be anyone
Does anyone really care?
To a concrete-lit domain
Postcards from Berlin
Taste the sulphur in the rain
Sleek lines
And textured skin
This city
Steals our souls
Style in overkill
Moving atoms
Making patterns
IMAGE is everything
The rush relayed
On plasma screen
Super slomo
Edit cut
On line magazine
Twenty simple movements kit
Factor eight at speed of light
Self indulged
Anaesthetised
Chrome reflects the night
Touching your skin
And breathing you in
This is Canada Water
Taken from BLUEPRINT FOR LIFE
And featured in GRAPHIC POETRY / VICTIONARY - Hong Kong.
Written in the hours following a party ( of sorts ) at The Daily Telegraph. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 14:47 - Mar 13 with 2987 views | SparkfilmsTV |
SHE SAID
So here we stand
In the black sky neon circus
Treading needles
In the acupuncture wasteland
On the tropic of torture
With your alter ego
And the script
From your third phone-in
To Vibe City Radio
From nerve gas alley
Of users and abusers
Behind the kebab house
And lesbian bar
With your nail file
And hard house
Where you break into cars
Sleep naked on the backseat
And l distinctly remember
You saying these words
'Men are killing women'
As you looked straight ahead
Gazed out through the windscreen
Into a future
That held nothing but panic
And it's all here
On your skin
And in your skin
On your clothes
And in your hair
Nicotine
Gasoline
And a dream that blew out
Long ago
A path that you follow
From a seedy room
Fast food and Dove perfume
Where you rip down curtains
And smash into wardrobes
With your fists clenched
Throwing bathroom mirrors
Through windows at dawn
Your storm
Will it ever relent?
And though your actions scare me
I have grown to crave
The drama that you bring
This thing
Has drawn me in
( Lost in a Rumour / Soundtrack variant ). | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 17:14 - Mar 14 with 2943 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Am in the process of helping several associates ( some of whom have followed this marathon thread ) with assistance ( as best l can ) with their book and writing projects.
One of them is a former Labour MP ( 27 years no less ) who has written in excess of 6,000 sonnets.
That would likely make him the most prolific in the world at this 10 syllable 14 line art form over the past decade.
A musician has sent some stunning illustrations he has produced.
He began drawing / painting / collaging in lockdown and just carried on.
It's fun recieving art and written works from people who sometimes have multiple mobile numbers and email accounts and assume l know who they might be.
When l reply l do so knowing they are likely asleep having worked through the night - or several nights.
Sometimes l hear nothing from them again for weeks or months. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 11:52 - Mar 17 with 2885 views | SparkfilmsTV |
BLUEPRINT FOR LIFE ( Taken from BFL ).
Written on the streets of Liverpool, Southport and Port Sunlight in street cafes and the occasional Indian restaurant.
Part One
It must have been
The angle of the sunlight
Or something
From no more than two feet away
She was leaning forward
Applying lipstick
I looked into her eyes
And through the other side
A boarded up newsagents
And litter burned
The surface off the road
Stolen cars passed by
I'm holding a menu
And I'm disengaged
In her two inch heels
I imagine the soundtrack
Of footsteps
Echoes deflect
Off cranes at the docks
As an executive
Turns his car engine off
Silver wires
On an ink blue photograph
Processed moments earlier
At the all night chemist
By the all night cafe
24 hour cutting edge
As it happens....
And in the restaurant
The Scouse sort
In the tight black dress
Gets up from the table
At last
Watched by the waiter
And any other that dares
A newspaper
On the counter says-
'MUM DEAD IN BLAZE'
A YOUNG mum died
And here baby daughter
And husband were injured
When fire tore through
Their home today
Firefighters pulled the woman
From the flames
But we're unable
To save her.
West Brom 1 Everton 2
TWO MEN JAILED
Who stabbed care worker
To death
And left him to die in the street
Have both been jailed
JERSEY - Cruise and Fly
UNIT MANAGER ( Project Delivery )
£23,358 to £24,726
Our Beautiful Grand - daughter
Is 18 today!
TOP SCHOOL MUST CLOSE
CAVERN CLUB
1957, 1961, '62, or '63
Membership Cards Wanted
N REG ESCORT TD
1.8 LX £1,250 o.n.o.
Posters were peeling
Off the hoardings
Cans strewn
Across grass verges
Where office workers
Engaged in tacky conversations
And the streets were aglow
With shell suits
And midriffs
It's been a long hot day
In the city
On every street corner
There are signs ..
Meet in a public place
Inform a friend
Of your whereabouts
Do not accept a lift home
( However kind the offer )
Do not give out your address
Until you are ready
STAY IN CONTROL...
And so
To the twilight world
Where streetlights glow
And Peugeots float
In a sleepy haze
In the distance
Out of the blue mist
A forlorn figure waves
To a varied section of society
Cruising at 15mph
Others are lurking
Extras with walk-on parts
In an underworld
Being filmed
By a freelance production crew
All in view
Of security guards
Moving cards
At the bulk container depot
Discussing the likely contents
Of cheap designer handbags
An insight into this world
Soon to be exposed
By Damien Hirst
At an exhibition
In the south
Held in four disused
Aeroplane hangers
In close proximity to
A convenient turn off
On the M25
( tbc ). | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 20:15 - Mar 17 with 2865 views | SparkfilmsTV |
This is a continuation of BLUEPRINT FOR LIFE which was an experimental piece written on scraps of paper, receipts and menu's. When l joined the component parts together it had to be raw and unedited which might explain including newspaper extracts and such like.
A former housewife
Now an insomniac
Pores over small ads
In the early hours
And contemplates
How she wrote to
A agony aunt
At a PO Box number
In Chorley
'We still have sex
but we rarely kiss,
it's all very abrupt,
less like love
and more like lust...
It isn't enough
I have to be needed Christine...'
Now she has a new life
Where the concept
Of everlasting love
Does not exist...
Toyah drinks
From a chipped Mr Man mug
At a formica table
With coffee stains
And last night's remains
Of paranoia in an ashtray
She surveys the manikin bus queue
Their glass eyes glazed and frozen
Since the last episode
Of the Patrick McGoohan
Thing with the giant bubble
Burnt out cars
Line the horizon
And the garages in the block
Where doors are ripped off
Seep battery acid and poison
Aerosol stencil graphics
Depict gas masks
Smeared on street signs
And walls
Even over a Roni Size poster
While rats pillage bins
Down at the school
The next generation
Are spat out on the landscape
Arriving in recycled buggies
Courtesy of Mothercare
One has a wheel missing
A mother tells her grizzling son to
'Shut the xxxx up you little bxxxxxd'
Another sports a black eye
Swollen lip
And an array of love bites
Possibly the work
Of more than one partner
And throws down a dog end
In the gutter
( tbc ) | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 11:11 - Mar 18 with 2834 views | SparkfilmsTV |
BLUEPRINT FOR LIFE - continued
There is excitement in the air
Tonight is talent spotting
At The Bull 'n Bear
Last week a sort got nutted
At the top of the stairs
By the fag machine
Some little slag
From the roller hockey team
And Madonna singing 'Ray of Light'
Was hit full in the gob
By a steak 'n kidney pie
And a few chips
For good measure
Take your pleasure
This is
Modern City Living...
At the end of the bus route
Kids shoot at corporation personnel
Wearing bullet - proof clothing
Funded by council tax contributions
That never get paid
Word has it
There's just been a raid
At the launderette
Two duvet covers
And four flanlette sheets
Speed off in a Vauxhall Chevette
With a broken windscreen
Kevin has a history of violence
The report said
Used to keep bread knives
And barbed wire in his bed
Pictures of criminals
On the living room wall
A collection of blunt instruments
From the scene of crimes
In his chest of drawers
'ad temper tantrums
when 'e was two
and it got xxxxxxx worse
his step brother six
and in an 'earse
'e let out a scream
that was 'eard fa miles
people say they can still
'ear it now ten years on
'e developed this craze fa
'edbuttin people
xxxxxxx anyone that came near
the window cleaner
the postman
'an that woman 'cross the road
the one that never spoke
'e xxxxxxx caught 'er one night
she needed dentures
think she 'ad to go into an 'ome
then there was these people
turned up one mornin'
said something 'bout some therapy
'an experiment they said
been tried in New Zealand
a tape recordin'
of xxxxxxx wilder beasts givin' birth
or summit
told 'em to xxxx off at firs
'e was monitored by a panel of specialists
white coats they 'ad
'e seemed to reach a sense of calm
they were really pleased with the progress
but then Kevin tried to bite off
someone's arm
a couple of weeks lata
I get this letta'
sayin' they were recommending Kevin
for a career as a social worker.....
I WANNA be able
To walk around with no clothes on
And have a bath with the door open
On a double decker bus
I WANNA see that programme tonight
About Lithuania liberating America...
It's
Been
A
Long
Hot
Day
In
The
City
Posters
Are
Peeling
Off
Hoardings
Midriffs
Are
Showing
Glad
I
Got
That
Number
( end ) | | | |
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 07:02 - Mar 19 with 2800 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Back to the music scene here in Colchester.
A punk duo called The Meffs who are Colchester based are the subject of a separate thread l began on this forum yesterday.
I love to hear stories of artists finding success from relative ( almost total ) obscurity. The Meffs are such an example.
As l have mentioned previously on 'Tigers' Colchester has recently become home to artists and musicians who have moved to the area from London over the past few years.
I asked a couple of local musicians yesterday about The Meffs as l was curious to hear their story and it reminds me of how 'The Kills' were born - virtually from meeting on a landing at a property in London some years ago.
Lewis the drummer was working behind a bar when approached by Lily ( vocals / guitar ) who having been in previous local groups asked if he would like to start a band with her around COVID /lock down time.
There just happened to be a certain energy / chemistry between the two that has created a formidable act and they have been assisted by Frank Turner who moved to the area and has given the local music scene a boost.
I watched several 'Meffs' videos yesterday on YouTube and they are virtually created on Lily's mobile phone but this does not detract in any way as they are skillfully and sensitively produced.
They support Alice Cooper later in the year and are performing in Europe in the coming months.
This is quite a story and it's nice to include on here.
'Tigers' has had a few twists and turns since l began it some months ago, and l appreciate the time taken by those who have followed the content - some of whom appear to be in different time zones!
Sending peaceful vibe from Colchester Central.
🦮🦮 [Post edited 19 Mar 7:05]
| | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 14:37 - Mar 21 with 2750 views | SparkfilmsTV |
The following is a piece that l wrote to be performed by a female and filmed as a short. I made a collage artwork of the piece as a self project, framed it and it is leaning against a wall in a spare room. If we get to shoot it the 'speaker' will be asked to smoke and drink ( all supplied ) as l want the smoke blowing onto the lense etc.
LIQUID HONEY
Some gravitational pull
Coastal bound
A bombed out town
Inhabited by zero hours workers
Where sofa surfers
Text and vape
Yeah...
Text and vape
Like all xxxxxxx day
I made the papers
My face on posters
Just the kind of fame
Nobody wants
Even me
In my xxxxxx up state
Forever labelled
'A vulnerable person'
Yeah, that's right
'A vulnerable xxxxxxx person'
Prone to drinking binges
Episodes of self harming
They put an alarm in
Panic button glowing
My erratic behaviour
Likely to explode
In a millisecond
In this freshly painted room
The sound of the waves
Did sooth my soul
I'm in from the cold
But l know
I will never grow old
October
Stripping on a webcam
November
Clipping
Where the doves ran
Payment by substance
And designer trainers
That l sell on for dirty cash
I ain't never gonna make a stash
But this
Is just a passing phase
Up there
Where the seagulls soar
I watch the cloud formations
From this side door
I ain't got no dreams no more
I'm prone to indulge
In sexual favours
Easy come
And easy go
Down by the promenade
I go with the flow...
Just go with the flow...
'Hello, you wanna take me home?'
I got the moves
If you got the money
Forever yours
I'm liquid honey
Yeah, liquid honey [Post edited 21 Mar 14:40]
| | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 11:41 - Mar 22 with 2691 views | SparkfilmsTV |
While dog walking last night in Colchester l found a little note book / order pad thingy. I like discovering items like this because sometimes l find content that can be copy and pasted into something l am writing - which is unlikely to make much sense but much better than attending a creative writing course ( imo 😔😔😔 ).
I would like to include a few extracts, and l will reproduce them as l am attempting to configure the content - because they are written in minute form in black biro and likely written very quickly, and this provides some form of abstract content.
No.36
Spanish mixed grill
Coleslaw sut
Hoozsubinnal fries
Diet Coke
Capele
Steak Baagutte red well fries
DBL Bacon
No potholes
No crispy aims
Pur & Sleek
( Not sure what the spell checker will make of this )
No.37
Minide steak Mel ue goles
1 bozrilluep mal BBQ handed
Renk Scretthing
Pint Blueth gege
Coke zero
BBQ holes
Alien rings
No 39
Steak Baguette well due goles
Steak Fritter Med
Wings BBQ Garmesh
Looserumo roe
Sut
Ger meth even brad
Calami
Minute steak
And rol real goles
Mr Slalk Qr but
Hubbah goles
Cheeseburger grey
Minute steak Mal goles
Cotell
Diet Coke
Pia calena | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 16:38 - Mar 22 with 2669 views | SparkfilmsTV |
No.40
KWC
Penes
Cabrei
Chikn escalope svees
KP
8oz fillet peppercorn sut
Medwell
8 TFI
No 41
LK
KP
Croquette
BBQ Ribs
Camabert eleta bread
Fries x 11 ( means two l think )
DM
Sxh
UK lime & soda
No 42
Chicken burger no lettuce m slow
Fries No burger source
Chicken burger slow on the side
Series no burger source
Chicken burger one slow burger
Source on the side
Mexican Burger fries
Chicken waffles fries 2
Cheeseburger fries 2
Damp pickles on the side
No 43
Eftrella
GFS
Aim ki
Pell ( Colchester United former player? )
Arli
PMI
Chicken Burger fries
Cheeseberon fries
No 44
Peroni x 2
SD
PM
Peri
Marlheath 250
Apple sub
80 pm
Chicken Waffles sut
Chicken burger fries
SX SD
4pm 2 br 2nd
No 45
Pne
Sex
And
Wings Berg Dog
Loos fillet
Fries
Pork loaded
Peppocan
Ralph Fizz
2 Coke
Ger mully
Beef Wellington well done fries
Lobster dauph
Well done primo sut med well
No 46
8oz ribeye med fries
Mealtime lager
LK scrallers
Ho Oz ribeye Rae peppercorn
Fries No mushrooms
Looz ribeye med
Ger but sut
No 47
SD
Apple & Blackcurrant
Courses
PG & t
Certille red 2 band
Dbl Oaresas
No. 48
8oz med rare 2 prawns decelled
Fries
Peppercorn dauph
Scampi Buffalo Steak
8oz sirloin med rare fries
16 Oz ribeye blue
Peppercorn sut
Classic sut
No 49
Zefadel DTL 2 glasses
Spirit x 2
LK Croquettes
Waffles feng
Steak fries medium sut
Steak Fries medium
No lamb codmellons
Gruis
Greens
No.50
8oz Cat food
Irish Coffee
Pindage 4 glasses
8oz Fillet pelican
Pink daughter
10 Oz fillet rare fries
Greens
No 51
Ribs
Berg bap
LK
PB
Sp
Calamari
Covert IC
8oz ribeye
Blue cheese
Gerbert
8oz ribeye med peppercorn
Huge laukel
Ribeye headed mai house loaded | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 20:48 - Mar 23 with 2642 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Taking a trip back to Whitechapel here where Peter Doherty wrote and recorded 'At the Flophouse' on his second visit to the home of Paul Roundhill who became a mentor, advisor and helped Peter in multiple ways over a period of 13 years.
The title of the song was likely something that Paul was none too enthusiastic about at the time as it portrayed his dwelling as a drug den - something it may well have been on occasions but it was also a place of creativity in music, writing and many art forms and hosted an extraordinary cross section of society. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 13:15 - Mar 24 with 2604 views | SparkfilmsTV |
I have another thread on this forum that is music related and I'm in the process of helping a researcher with the background to Iron Maiden.
Some way back on this thread l refer to birth dates and mention that l share the same birthday as Peter Doherty - that being March 12.
This birthday thing really is quite incredible because 12 March is also the birthday of Steve Harris, founder member of Maiden.
The birthday thing has followed me around throughout my lifetime. It's occured on numerous occasions and in the strangest of circumstances - like on the top of The Empire State Building in New York in 1986 where l met a girl from Cardiff who was at the same party l attended a few years earlier - at 178 Newport Road, Cardiff and she just happened to say 'It's my birthday' - and l replied 'Mine too'.
Can't say that l had remembered her from that party ( or anybody else ) but recall there were pots, plates and dishes everywhere with magic mushrooms - l have not been near one since, far more powerful than LSD. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 17:56 - Mar 25 with 2563 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Have spent the entire afternoon in conversation with Dennis Willcock former lead singer of Iron Maiden ( '76 to '78 ).
I was relaying questions to Dennis about the graphics we produced throughout the summer of 1977 as l am assisting with early Maiden history for several production companies & individuals and they regularly send through requests.
( It's good that they take an interest 😊😊 ).
One of the items we put together was a poster known as 'The Lips Poster', and l got confirmation of the artist's name in full. That being Reg Suffolk. We need the names for authenticity and they have never been in the public domain.
We were laughing about the fact we have both had near death experiences in the past couple of years and while we are still breathing we might have information that should be made public.
Hence the reason for some of the content on this thread.
Dennis set up the blueprint for Iron Maiden and we discussed an element of that today that wasn't actioned in '77.
There was a salesman selling fire extinguishers who had a party trick who visited our studio.
He would set himself on fire ( yes, really ) and save his life in front of us by setting the red thing off.
This became an idea for the stage show ( already using a sword and blood capsules ) but didn't get actioned for whatever reason.
Pyrotechnics soon became popular in stage shows - especially in heavy metal, although Arthur Brown was on the case circa 67 in the UFO Club. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 12:35 - Mar 27 with 2509 views | SparkfilmsTV |
This is a transfer deal of sorts - IE transfering some aspects of 'The Birth of Iron Maiden' onto this thread that has drawn a larger audience for some reason.
I can see how some of the work Dennis and l did throughout '77 was misrepresented in what is officially 'The History of Iron Maiden'. There is a certain point in the film when Malcolm Dome ( music journalist - R.I.P. ) actually stated that Steve Harris designed the logo. He is referring to a prop with the Iron Maiden lettering that appears with a mask ( pumping blood ) and perimeter lighting. In respect of that description that is a fair analysis - l can see why that was not taken out of the film in the production stage.
Also in the footage leading up to this point the information that Steve Harris describes during 76 - 77 is accurate in every way.
Somehow though, and because during the production of this film Dennis was pretty much off radar which meant l would have been too so we were not able to explain how so many aspects of the logo / posters / graphics and strap lines were designed and written.
Perhaps l can explain some of this in a further thread.
It has taken 47 years to unravel this and this forum might be the only place in the world where it is recorded - l have explained the Iron Maiden logo design with magazines in Europe and USA but never some elements of the poster designs and creation of early marketing ploys.
STOP PRESS
Have just noticed a glaring error in the film where Steve Harris says Dennis Willcock left the band in the spring of '77 - he means the spring of '78. We did the Maiden graphics in the summer of '77.
I know some of Steve's memory has faded over the past few years but not during the making of the film. Nothing intentional on his part, my memory of this period has served us well.
And just to say, Steve has been a mighty leader of Maiden on it's wondrous journey and Paul Di'Anno was magnificent when he took over from Dennis.
Something else. The Soundhouse tapes EP was an initial run of 5,000 - not 15,000 as hyped up by Rod Smallwood at the time.
😊😊🦮🦮
[Post edited 27 Mar 20:01]
| | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 20:15 - Mar 27 with 2480 views | SparkfilmsTV |
I wish l could divulge the content of an email exchange that l am currently having.
A British film maker has admitted that he 'went along with what he was told' in a particular piece of footage that has been viewed 6 million times on YouTube.
I have managed to convince him that a highly sensitive piece of information is incorrect which he now accepts.
I think it has come as quite a bombshell, but l respect the fact he contacted a third party for confirmation.
I informed a retired music executive about this last summer and he said 'Please keep me out of this' ( which l did ) - but he admitted 'Mistakes were made'. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 20:06 - Mar 28 with 2445 views | SparkfilmsTV |
I contacted Garry Bushell yesterday to draw attention to something in his 1984 book release 'Running Free' ( Iron Maiden ).
He told me that the information was something that would have been relayed to him at the material time. I was able to convince him that the information is in fact incorrect.
This was similar to a music executive at EMI being given inaccurate information for song writing credits several years previously on Maiden's debut album ( and a track on their second album ).
The information was effectively cast in stone from those two points.
Last summer l raised these issues with Iron Maiden's Manager ( Rod Smallwood ). I emailed the information to Rod and l printed it out and posted it to their office in central London as back up.
I received a reply from a royalties executive.
I learned today that Rod Smallwood resigned from 21 companies that were linked to Iron Maiden in the weeks that followed the exchanges.
That may well have been a coincidence. He deserves a peaceful retirement and has been the best kind of Manager that Maiden could ever have hoped for.
He was instrumental in the acquisition of Bruce Dickinson who was the perfect match for the band.
I have attempted to get people together - ideally around a table for half a day or so to discuss this ( Royalties ) in detail. It's unlikely this will ever happen. [Post edited 28 Mar 20:10]
| | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 20:21 - Mar 29 with 2424 views | SparkfilmsTV |
There is further research required on aspects of the Iron Maiden logo.
The lettering that we used had previously been on 'The Man Who Fell to Earth' ( Bowie ) film poster that was designed by Vic Fair ( R.I.P. ).
Vic died in 2017.
He produced the Bowie poster in 1976 and l have only learned today that he didn't always work on the headline fonts ( typefaces ) and had another Art Director who would sometimes be responsible for the typography.
Somehow l need to try and find out who that person may have been, and because of the timings it may well be that the individual is no longer with us.
Back then l worked on the British Airways account and the type director had the final say on every last comma.
He was Harry Turner. His name just came to me out of the blue!!! 😊😊😊
The advertising industry was very different back then. Fantastic fun though. I still dream about it. And especially while recalling information we need to put something worthwhile together for this.
I want to get every detail in place if someone is going to film this at some stage. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 07:01 - Mar 30 with 2396 views | SparkfilmsTV |
There are virtually no music journalists in the UK or US who are willing or brave enough to write about what really goes on behind the scenes.
The music papers ( as they were ) and rock magazines are very much in the pocket of record companies, music executives and management etc - not to mention some of the major artists.
People have an agenda - self protection.
The result being that the public are only informed of what is not deemed too case sensitive.
( Just like the football world on occasions ).
It will come as no surprise to anyone that so many spineless people are happy to be paid off ( money or cocaine or expense free holidays etc ) to keep certain issues out of the public gaze.
Having worked in advertising for much of my life l witnessed the 'cocaine and cash presents' at first hand at various times.
I was offered cash payments as a Design company owner, Studio Manager and Art Director to use certain typesetters, printers and photographers etc throughout my career.
I declined on every occasion.
In my final weeks of employment at a leading advertising agency in London we had a major incident on the stairwell.
Two members of a drug gang jumped the security barriers in our reception and tracked down an individual who had a large drug debt - he was beaten to pulp and nearly died.
He never returned to the agency but did recover.
When the police arrived they did a search and found a large consignment of cocaine hidden behind a toilet.
The individual who was beaten up was supplying staff - Account Directors, Creatives, Admin etc - internally by dropping off little packets with the post. [Post edited 30 Mar 15:37]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 15:30 - Mar 30 with 2385 views | SparkfilmsTV |
A few of us are beavering away in Colchester, Norwich and West London on this sunny Easter Saturday and we seem to agree that the first time the logo for Maiden appeared in print was in an advertisement in Melody Maker and possibly the NME for a series of dates that included THE BRIDGEHOUSE, CANNING TOWN E.16, THE HARROW in Barking, WAPPING FESTIVAL, THE PLOUGH and HARROW, HiGH ROAD, LEYTONSTONE, E.11 and TEVIOT STREET JUBILEE PARTY, E.14.
With the strapline that was borrowed from Backman Turner Overdrive 'You ain't seen nothing yet!' This possibly refers to setting things on fire that was put on hold ( kind of ).
The dates are from 2nd June through to 7th June 1977, so this would indicate we put the logo together at the latter part of May 1977.
I thought we did this work several months later but apologies to mags in Germany and the US. [Post edited 30 Mar 15:39]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 11:14 - Apr 1 with 2301 views | SparkfilmsTV |
WORLD EXCLUSIVE! ( Of a kind 😊😊 )
I refer to the work Dennis Willcock and l did on the Iron Maiden logo in May 1977 and our master artwork in it's initial incarnation was with the word 'Iron' over 'Maiden' with the two words being ranged left. This has been confirmed by what we think is the first ever stage photograph of the logo being taken, with the image in close proximity to Maiden's drummer at that time - Ron 'Rebel' Matthews.
To confirm the line up at that time -
STEVE HARRIS - Bass
DENNIS WILLCOCK - Vocals
BOB SAWYER - Guitar
DAVE MURRAY - Guitar
RON 'REBEL' MATTHEWS - Drums
The typeface was called 'BUSK' in solid ( there was also an outline version ). The font was ordered from ALPHABET Phototypesetting. 'Busk' was later redesigned and altered by Ray Larabie and rebranded as 'Metal Lord'.
Ray Larabie is ( was ) based in Japan and we have been it touch.
The initial logo was designed as a back drop for the stage set and this was some considerable time before Maiden signed to EMI.
We must have produced 'Iron Maiden' in one line too - as it was to appear on advertising in the music press and posters
STOP PRESS - the original logo artwork was reproduced on The Roundhouse Tapes EP that was recorded at Spaceward in Cambridge. Spaceward was chosen after Steve Harris heard a recording by V1 ( Dennis Willcock's new band ).
Iron Maiden booked the Spaceward studio on New Year's Eve '78 for the recording to save on costs and were going back to do some extra work on the tracks - but the tape had been wiped so the EP was the pressed from the copy in their possession.
The Roundhouse Tapes were recorded by -
STEVE HARRIS - Bass
PAUL DI'ANNO - Vocals
DAVE MURRAY - Guitar
DOUG SAMPSOM - Drums
( Some guitar parts were played by Paul Cairns who was uncredited ).
😊😊🦮🦮 [Post edited 1 Apr 14:31]
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| Tigers at Layer Road on 20:42 - Apr 2 with 2248 views | SparkfilmsTV |
A documentary film - 'Dawn of the Damned' was produced in 2003 and is effectively covering the beginning of Iron Maiden.
The three piece Canadian film crew travelled down to Barrington Road in Colchester from London to film one of Maiden's very first followers.
Just about all of the other footage was shot in East London at a couple of venues.
The fan who still lives in Colchester ( yards from my home ) went to school with Paul Di'Anno in Leytonstone and has shared some valuable information about the band.
The docu has had around 300,000 plus views on YouTube and was put onto DVD around 2009.
Although Steve Harris appears - along with Dennis Stratton, Paul Di'Anno, Garry Bushell and others it is not in any way an official release by Maiden and doesn't feature their music.
It's a good reference point though for some on going work.
Several former Maiden personnel are currently moving homes this week but when the dust ( and blood😊🥺 ) settles we will be catching up. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 17:55 - Apr 4 with 2193 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Had the origin of the track 'The Ides of March' that appeared on Maiden's second album 'Killers' explained to me today.
Another version of this track appeared on a Samson album ( different title ) around the same time causing a bit of a meltdown down at Maiden HQ where the full force of the beast confronted a drummer associated with both Maiden and Samson - resulting in him effectively having to forego some royalties.
There are enough Maiden tracks that have had writing / ownership issues over the years to release a double album. That would be quite a project! The royalty value likely to be in excess of £5 million. ( That's paid and unpaid ).
When the house moves are bedded down l am hoping to fire off a few Q&A's on the matter.
One positive from today's exchanges is that some members of Samson actually thought my associate Dennis Willcock was the joint leader of Maiden in '77.
That was my impression too.
Over in France l believe Peter Doherty has taken a giant leap forward by living without a mobile phone!
The exodus from London continues with musicians and various execs moving East, West and South.
Brighton and Hove proving very popular. 😊😊🐴🐴.
The moves range from a £7 million property on the South Coast to a rented flat in the Dutch Quarter of Colchester.
Several home studios likely to emerge from these moves. | | | |
| Tigers at Layer Road on 11:25 - Apr 5 with 2160 views | SparkfilmsTV |
Kiss are the latest act to sell their back catalogue and brand this week for around £270 million.
This has become a common occurrence in recent years and might explain why a small group of us are busy doing some homework while we are still alive and kicking ( just ).
'Intellectual Property' can be more valuable than land on occasion.
Sometimes that intellectual property goes through a number of makeovers over the years and evolves with an enhanced look - but the DNA coding remains and acts as a bargaining tool that cannot be disputed. ( One hopes ).
The internet pumped up values of intellectual property overnight by astronomic proportions when it hit the planet.
Things moved so quickly that even the most fleet footed and innovative global accounting firms and law practices were left trailing in the shadows.
Some have caught up now. | | | |
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