Many thanks to all of you that came along to the gig at The Little Civic in Wolverhampton last night with Martin Stephenson - what a great turn out. We were surprised to say the least. Pre-ticket sales had been around 30 (a rather expensive door ticket price not helping) - but the walk up on the night was excellent (considering the weather as well). Great atmosphere in a full room - as the Little Civic was transformed from a live 'rock venue' into an intimate little cafe style bar with the addition of tables and chairs - the chandelier was the finishing touch - great stuff (and Max on the PA was 'boss sound').

Me and Olly both being big fans of Martin Stephenson were chuffed to be offered the support to him on his first major British tour for many years (many thanks to Phil Turner at the Civic Hall).
Martin's a lovely bloke - top Geordie. His attitude and performance was as refreshing as a warm shower after a shit day. The entertainment biz being what it is attracts - or creates - some very flaky talentless /soulless /egotistical ridden fame craving parasites - who'd basically shaft their granny for 50 pence's worth of fame. Martin - disillusioned with all that stuff - took himself away many years ago - he is a free spirit and boy does it show. Top notch performance and excellent rapport with the audience. For me and Olly the whole evening bought back to us why we do what we do, because believe me there have been times - especially just lately - where I've wondered why I /we bother. To say we were pleased with the response to our set (and Olly getting cramp in his hand!!! - it was one of those 'you had to be there' moments) is a bit of an understatement - thanks for your support.

Martin's also joined the growing ranks of the Tipton Town FC Supporters Club - him being a big Newcastle fan he was well taken with the clubs black and white striped kit - he's now our official North East and Scotland (where he's now based) branch secretary - (ha ha).

Once again - many thanks to you all for a very memorable night (and the cramp in Olly's hand did ease later and he was able to get his hand around a few pint glasses).

Gary O'Dea

If rock n' roll was football it would be called Georgie Best. An absolutely class footballer - the coolest ever...as well as being a drunk, womaniser, gambler etc, etc.

Good on ya' George - the original.

A rebel with a ball at his feet - thanks for the memories.

Rest In Peace.

The Gazzers.

GOJO' MUSIC (Gary O'Dea and Garry Oliver) will be playing a short acoustic set prior to the screening of the nationally released film documentary WHO SHOT THE SHERIFF? @ The Light House Cinema - Wolverhampton on Sat 10th Dec - approx 5:30pm. The Gazzers' are honoured to have been asked to take part in the screening event. There will also be a talk by Lee Billingham from Love Music Hate Racism.

The film details the history of the Rock Against Racism campaign from it's roots in the seventies through to the present day with the re-birth under the Love Music Hate Racism banner.

Directed by Alan Miles, Who Shot the Sheriff? tells the story of one of the most exciting mass movements in British history. The film features interviews and unseen footage of artists from the Rock against Racism (RAR) movement of the 70s and the Love Music Hate Racism (LMHR) movement today including The Clash, The Libertines, The Specials, Ms Dynamite, Pete Doherty, Steel Pulse, Hard-Fi, Misty in Roots, X-Ray Spex, Sham 69, Estelle and Babyshambles.The film tracks the rise of racism and the National Front in Britain during the 70s - and how a generation, black and white, fought back against the Nazi threat, and there's lots of rarely seen archive footage from the punk & RAR era - including the infamous 1978 Carnival in East London's Victoria Park where 100,000 marched to the show headlined by The Clash and Tom Robinson Band.

The story uses a wealth of interviews with the leading artists and activists who created RAR - many speaking for the first time about what happened - including Mick Jones, Jerry Dammers, Neville Staples, Jimmy Pursey, Poly Styrene, Don Letts, Billy Bragg, and RAR founders Red Saunders and Roger Huddle.

As well as documenting a great political and musical movement, Who Shot the Sheriff? links the struggle to stop the National Front in the 1970s with campaigns like Unite Against Fascism aiming to stop the likes of the fascist British National Party gaining ground in Britain today.

Who Shot the Sheriff? was made possible by the generous support of the Amicus trade union. For more information please visit the Love Music Hate Racism web site http://www.lmhr.org.uk/events/

For further information and/or ticket prices contact either of the following:
Black Country Unite Against Fascism - tel:07960 553349
e-mail: info@blackcountryunity.net National website www.uaf.org.uk

The Lighthouse Cinema direct on tel: 01902 - 716055
e-mail: info@light-house.co.uk web site: www.light-house.co.uk

Last nights BBC Radio WM Sportsnight broadcast from Tipton Town Football club was a great success. Thanks to presenters Daz Hale and Mike Taylor for doing the show from the club and giving a great spotlight to the whole set up at Tipton.

I'd like to say a special thanks to everybody associated with the club that took part in the broadcast last night - Daz Hale and Mike Taylor from Radio WM said it was one of the best shows they've done. Great stuff from club historian and ex-player Stevie Mills in getting club founder and President Bill Powell and a load of old players such as Roy Whitehouse along to talk about the early years. Bill (now retired) travelled nearly 60 miles to take part in the show. There were excellent contributions from Chairman Kevin Jennings (Jenna), Match Day Secretary Neil Smith (Scouse), the assistant under 16s manager Tony Vaughan, supporter Steve Finn (Man of Kent) and then Morcambe and Wise (sorry) Voicey and Rollo at the end who where great. When Voicey grabbed the microphone off Mike Taylor we all thought he was going into his Tom Jones routine (ha ha) - it was classic.

Man of Kent perfectly summed up the reason for the uptake of interest in lower league / Pyramid Passion football when he said:-

"It's my footballing equivalent of punk rock. In the mid 70s in music when everybody was getting fed up with your Emerson Lake & Palmers / Led Zepplins / Deep Purples etc, that were up on the stage earning millions and millions and weren't at all connected to the man on the street, well to me that's what's happening to football now. The guy's in the Premiership don't know what it's like for the blokes working in the factory and going along on a Saturday afternoon - when its on a Saturday afternoon these days that is - Sky TV permitting. So for me this is my footballing equivalent to punk rock."

To which Daz Hale responded "What a great analogy that is"

Well said Man of Kent - couldn't have put it better myself.

I'd also like to say many thanks to Tiptons Press Officer / Programme Designer and Web Site Manager - Dan Simpson for helping me organise the night at Tiptons end...well done Dan, we were both in need of a beer after it.

I had an e-mail from both Daz Hale and Mike Taylor today with the following comments -
"We really enjoyed it - yo' did a bostin' job" Daz Hale

"Glad it went well - it was certainly successful for us. Thank's for making us so welcome and for sorting out so many good guests for us to interview. Thanks again and we'll hopefully see you all again soon" Mike Taylor.

C'mon The Toon!
Visit: www.tiptontownfc.co.uk

Gary O'Dea

PS - Bully's non-participation was nothing to do with us.

Don't forget to tune into THE TOON on Tuesday 15th Nov from 8 - 10pm on BBC Radio WM. Yes - the mighty Tipton Town FC are live on BBC Radio WM on Tueday evening. Sports presenter Daz Hale (and one time member of local indie rockers The Moneygods - anyone remember 'Suck Me In and Spit Me Out' ?) will be presenting his show live from Tipton Town FC - It'll be a cracker. He'll be interviewing loads of folks connected with the club - old players / current players / club officials and fans and gaining an insight into the history and development of the club over the years since it's formation in 1948.

Ex - Tipton / West Brom / Wolves and England player Steve Bull will be taking part in the show as well. Turn up if you can - if you can't - then tune in on 95.6FM/VHF. For more info on the night and other exciting things happening at 'The Den' visit this linkhttp://www.web-teams.co.uk/NewsItems.asp?team=tiptontownfc#id128

C'mon The Toon.

Gary O'Dea

Tickets are starting to fly for the gig with Martin Stephenson at The Little Civic - Wolverhampton on Tuesday 29th Nov. They are £9:50 in advance. Ticket information can be obtained from visiting http://www.wolvescivic.co.uk/gigs/songwriter's.htm and also the Civic box office on line at www.wolvescivic.co.uk - or tel:01902-552121.

Martin Stephenson..."One of Englands finest, a supremely gifted singer, songwriter, musician and performer." Dave Smith NEMS Productions.
For more info on Martin visit his web site http://www.daintees.com/

Hope to see you all there - it'll be a cracker, thanks for your support.

Gary O'Dea.