Archive for December, 2009

Happy New Year 2010-The Best Party Songs Of The Noughties

Thursday, December 31st, 2009
The Party Songs Of The Noughties As Voted For By LMM DJs

The Party Songs Of The Noughties As Voted For By LMM DJs

Happy New Year to all LMM clients and acts.

Feeling a little nostalgic today and looking back to New Years Eve 1999.

Back then I was about to become  a father for the first time and I had just become part of the LMM team.The next few years were a blur as LMM sourced acts throughout the UK for the massive expansion of the Walkabout and Bar Risa/Jongluers chain throughout the UK.We spent the early part ofthe decade searching every major town in the UK for the very best party DJs and covers bands so that we were able to satisfy the demand for top quality entertainment in the Walkabout and Bar Risa bars.

Looking back I can recall the excitement of finding acts like Platform Six,Plan B,Storm,Union Jack,Freak Out and many others and also the massive disapointment when promising demos or reputations resulted in lacklustre auditions from live bands who were not up to the challenge of performing in city centre venues.Particularly vivid in my memory was a weekend spent in the Gower Peninsula at a showcase put together by a contact down in South Wales.Myself and a colleague saw over sixty acts during the course of that weekend and we were only able to find one band worth booking.The good news is that members of that band are still with us as part of the brilliant Swansea based act Radar-an exceptional act who are perfect for any events or weddings in the South Wales area.

Besides our large roster of hand picked bands we have also managed to retain,in our opinion,the very best DJs in the UK.Guys and girls who are the very top of their profession and able to entertain a huge crowd or a small party with well judged tunes,great mic work and an intuition and skill about what is required to make the party.

To commerate the end of the 2000′s I asked a small team of DJs to hand pick the most memorable party tunes of the decade.Some of the tunes below have dissapeared into the ether now-long forgotten maybe to be revived by use in an advert or movie in the future (in much the same way that Journeys “Don’t Stop Believing” has been rediscovered by a new generation from it’s use in shows such as The Sopranos,Glee Club and X Factor.) There are other songs in the list below which will still attract a crowd to the dance floor.Some of the songs are naff or have become naff by their over familiarity but I asked the DJ team to think back to the initial impact that the songs had….to look at the excitement which the songs fostered when fresh.

A good example would be Tony Christies “Is This The Way To Amarillo.”Long before it was propelled to number one by Peter Kays Comic Relief performance it had been rediscovered by a generation of students who had heard it as the intro to Peter Kay’s stand up.I remember standing in Nottingham Walkabout as DJ Rick Bennett played the song a long time before it was a noughties hit.The response was amazing with the whole venue singing and jumping around.

So the list below is not meant to be the best songs of the noughties and,remember,some of the songs below are well past their sell by date awaiting a future generation to rediscover them.Interestingly the list also contains a number of re issues reflecting our obsessive recycling of the past…..one generations naff track is the next generations classic anthem.

The list is in no particular order but I have put a little observation at the side of many to explain why the song is included.

1.Tony Christie-Is This The Way To Amerillo ……before it became inescapable it was an ironic discovery for a generation of students.

2.Beyonce-Crazy In Love…..still a dancefloor classic and a real contender for song of the decade.

3.Christina Aquilera-Dirty….inspired a generation of girls to get down and dirty!

4.DJ Casper-The Cha Cha Slide….like swine flu and herpes this tune was brought to the UK by returning holiday makers who duplicated the dance moves.The first time I saw a full dance doing the Cha Cha slide up in Middlesborough Walkabout still remains a memorable noughties party moment.

5.The Killers-Mr Brightside-there were some great guitar anthems in the noughties before the formula turned into “indie landfill”

6.Fatman Scoop-Be Faithfull….this track was filling dancefloors for at least eighteen months before it gained a proper release and then,inevitable,overkill…I am remembering the times at Machester Surfers Paradise when the dance floor was jumping!

7.The Arctic Monkeys-Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor…..before Nat King Bings jazz version and when the track was fresh and exciting it was great to hear this in the venues.

8.Jimi Jameson-The Baywatch Theme Tune…another revival song rediscovered by the students who looked back with nostalgia to the 1990s.

9.Girls Aloud-Love Machine……just one of many classic girly anthems from this surprisingly enduring reality TV (Pop Stars-The Rivals) discovery.

10.Pussycat Dolls-Don’t Cha……RNB anthems dominated the dancefloors in the noughties in the same way that Dance music shaped the 90s.Our DJs chose this RNB light song because it continues to fill a floor in the way that some more credible RNB fails.

So thats it the top ten party tunes of the 2000′s,or the noughties if you’d preffer,as voted for by a team of talented party DJs who continue to fill dancefloors throughout the UK with the top tunes of the moment and the anthems of the past.You can be sure that LMM DJs will be discovering the songs which fill the city centre dancefloors in the next decade.

Myself I can’t wait!!! Happy New Year 2010.

If you want to book a cover band or quality DJ for your special event please call 08454 900515 or email info@lmmuk.com

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Merry Xmas and A Happy New Year-LMMs Top Ten Xmas Songs.

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
Merry Xmas From The LMM Family-Seen Here Around Our Office XmasTree

Merry Xmas From The LMM Family-Seen Here Around Our Office XmasTree

Just wanted to wish all our clients and acts a very merry xmas.

THE LMM TOP TEN XMAS (Christmas) SONGS OF ALL TIME

1.The Christmas Song-Nat King Cole

2.Slade-Merry Xmas Everybody

3.Greg Lake-I Believe In father Xmas

4.Mariah Carey-All I Want For Xmas Is You

5.Bruce Springsteen-Santa Clause Is Coming To Town

6.The Band-Must Be Christmas/Must Be Tonight

7.Anything from The Phil Spector Xmas CD

8.Bing Crosby-White Xmas

9.John Lennon-Merry Xmas (War Is Over)

10.The Pogues-Fairy Tale Of New york

Postscript to this blog.

I used to work in HMV in Sheffield (along with Pete McKee the Sheffield artist and Richard Hawley the singer/songwriter) There seems to be nary a year goes by without Richard Hawley being interviewed and mentioning the special torture which comes from being subjected to Xmas songs for eight hours per day as we all were back in the late eighties/early nineties.

This was,not to put too fine a point on it,our personal ‘Nam.

It was survival of the fittest when NOW THATS WHAT I CALL XMAS went on the decks in late October and stayed in heavy rotation till the January sales.Even now when I hear a sleigh bell I shudder and try to close my eardrums lest I am subjected to Shaking Stevens singing Merry Xmas Everyone.

The excrutiating horror that is Chris De Burgh singing A Spaceman Came A Traveling can still,nearly twenty years later,ruin my Christmas.

The list above of top ten christmas songs includes some of the very songs which graced Now Thats What I Call Xmas.Why you might ask do I list them.Well,for one,I was outvoted by some of the LMM DJs.Secondly the John Lennon and Slade Xmas songs are such great songs that repeated listening didn’t,quite,manage to kill them.

If I only had to name one Xmas track for inclusion in this blog it would be The Christmas Song By Nat King Cole.Thats if I was in a Chestnuts roasting by an open fire kind of mood.

If I was in a euphoric “twelve tequilas and a galloon of beer” kind of mood I would have to plump for Slade.

But,truthfully,if someone sticks the Phil Spector Xmas CD on the decks on Xmas day I will be happy.

Merry Xmas-Hope Its A Good One.

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Let It Snow,Let It Snow,Let It Snow!!

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009
Snowing like a demon-no problem!!!!!

Snowing like a demon-no problem!!!!!

Okay I don’t want to jinx anything.As I write this there is still two inches of ice compacted snow outside my window and snow is falling heavily in some parts of the UK but I wanted to thank our acts for their efforts over the last few days in getting to their gigs in treacherous conditions.

Whilst the chairman of Eurostar is apologising for his train service breaking down in the Eurotunnel at the first sign of snow LMM acts should congratulate themselves for making the extra effort and  making sure that everyone gets the entertainment they have booked during the Xmas period.

With over 200 hundred acts working on Friday Dec 18 2009 as the snow began to fall in many parts of the UK and traffic reports stating that roads were impassable and the UK was coming to a standstill we were rightly worried about delivering our acts to the venues and two of the LMM team were on hand with the emergency phones to ensure we could help where possible.

As it happened a couple or acts were,understandably,late but everyone turned up in time for their shows and clients were all happy.

Special mention needs to be made of the following.

Sugar Rush played a duo show for us at Oldham Wahoo club and played a great set of sing a long acoustic covers.They then legged it up to Middlesboro Walkabout where the drummer and bassplayer were already waiting and soundchecked ready to play a mega party set.Despite black ice,snow banks,traffic accidents and Motorways with backed up traffic the Sugar Rush band were on stage at the allotted time and played a fantastic set.

Platform Six were up in Edinburgh on Thursday Dec 17 and were due to fly back to Luton Friday morning in order to get their van and drive to Sheffield ready for a 3 oclock soundcheck at Ponds Forge for Irwin Mitchells Law firm.Should have been simple.

They got to the airport to find all flights were cancelled.So they rushed to the train station and got on the first train to London.They got off the train at Stevenage (because the train was running so slow they didn’t dare risk going to St Pancreas and getting the train across to luton) and got a taxi to Luton. Picking up the van they set off in a snow storm only to break down 30 minutes on route!

With a local mechanic on board they got on the road again only to get a flat tyre outside of Sheffield!!

Despite all of this Platform Six were on stage on time and the client reported that they were one of the best bands they had ever seen.They went down so well that an immediate re-booking came in for the December 2010 party came in on Monday.

Well done boys…..real troupers.

Special mention also needs to be made of The Jacks who made it to their wedding at Bovey Castle in Devon despite shredding a tyre whilst sliding backwards down a hill road covered in black ice!!

Nat King Bing And The Kings Of Schwing plus DJ Johnny Gibson made it to their show in rural East Humberside despite zero visibility oon the motorways with the freezing fog and snow blizzards.

So just a little note of thanks to all the bands and DJs who really went to some length to ensure that no ones Xmas party or night out in a Walkabout,Rewind,Jongleurs or Bar Risa venue was ruined.

LMM acts-We Salute You!!

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Rock n Roll Phew-Glory Days Bruce Springsteen Tribute

Sunday, December 20th, 2009

 

Bruce Springsteen-Rock and Roll Phew

Bruce Springsteen-Rock and Roll Phew

When I was a teenager there was a documentary on BBC2 called Rock N Roll Heroes. It was hosted by Jeff Bridges in a corny fashion and started a trend (at least amongst my friends) for saying “Rock N Roll Phew” in imitation of Jeff Bridges cheesy commentary. It also started my obsession with Bruce Springsteen.

 

When Bruce Springsteen came on screen singing Rosalita. When he jumped into the audience surrounded by screaming fans. When he looked at the camera as if to say “isn’t this great.” I was hooked.

 

Learning acoustic guitar had led me to Bob Dylan. I had already started listening to soul music and I loved the energy of punk bands like The Clash.

 

Springsteen had all of these things wrapped in one package.

 

Plus he was as cool as Al Pacino in Serpico.

 

I bought Darkness On The Edge Of Town and Born To Run and I stayed in on New Years in order to see Bruce Springsteen on The Old Grey Whistle Test New Years Eve Special. This was way before Youtube.

 

Bruce Springsteen was my obsession.

 

 No one at school was into him. In the mad rush of post punk the music press rarely wrote about him. I can only recall hearing him on the radio once during these teenage years.

 

In fact it was sometime before I realised that he had made The Wild, The Innocent And The E Street Shuffle and Greetings From Astbury Park two albums which I had to order from Bradley’s Records on Chapel Walk in Sheffield.

 

I had tickets to see him on his 1980 tour and saw him at Roundhay Park in Leeds. Springsteen at Bramall Lane was a revelation at a time when I had totally lost interest in him then after seeing him without the E Street Band in the 90’s I thought my love affair was dead.

 

Last year I saw the Boss at Old Trafford. In the past twenty years I have barely listened to Springsteen’s music but he blew me away. It was everything great rock music should be…life affirming, uplifting entertainment .At 60 years old he has the energy and enthusiasm of a man half his age and he carries with him an outstanding back catalogue which he picks from, seemingly , at random. He is not tied to a greatest hits set and is not an “oldies” act. His music lives and breathes.

 

Summer 2009 saw Springsteen doing a performance at Glastonbury which divided the audience but probably won over a new generation of new fans. Watching at home the relentless energy and enthusiasm jumped through the TV set.This was a man in love with the power of rock n roll and if, as the critic from the Guardian claimed, it was like watching a guy singing songs from a musical about a car mechanic I felt sorry for those cynical non-believers.

 

Without doubt loving Springsteen’s music requires you to cast aside all cynicism and become a believer. Trying to convert one of the guys in the LMM office with a You Tube clip of Rosalita I saw a power packed rock n roll ballet with Clarence Clemons and Bruce Springsteen performing a street cool piece of theatre…he just saw some blokes running around on stage to a soundtrack of old fashioned Meatloaf style AOR.

 

Back in March 2009 I went along to the Diamond in Sutton In Ashfield to see Glory Days The Bruce Springsteen Tribute Band. I went with reservations but left having seen a band playing with the spirit and love of the E Street Band and with a frontman who had the voice, the guitar sound and the look of Bruce Springsteen . More importantly , for me ,he seemed to  love being on stage in the same way that Bruce loves being on stage. He had the same look in his eyes that Bruce had in that 1970’s Rosalita video when he looked at the camera as if to say “Isn’t this great.”

 

As an entertainment agent it’s that look that we have searched for in the eyes of every act who has worked for LMM.

 

”Isn’t it great” to be allowed the privilege of getting up on stage in front of an audience.

 

LMM do not currently work with Glory Days and we have no affiliation with The Diamond which appears to be an independent venue….it’s obviously run by someone with a deep love of live music and classic rock. We wish both of them the best. Thanks for a great night out.

 

On Dec 19 2009 I went with a whole bunch of neighbours and friends to see Glory Days at the Boardwalk in Sheffield This great little venue, where the Clash played their first show (supporting the Sex Pistols back when it was The Black Swan) and members of The Arctic Monkeys worked behind the bar, was packed to the gills with true believers.

 

It was Glory Days last ever show with the current line up after fifteen years of playing as a Springsteen tribute. It turned out to be a memorable evening with the band putting in a three hour Springsteen-esque performance featuring loads of fan favourites, audience participation and suspension of belief. My neighbours who travel throughout the world to see the real Springsteen where there and bumping into people they had met in Seville, Miami or New Jersey at Bruce Springsteen shows. None of them left disappointed last night. It was a great gig.

 

Good luck to the Glory Days boys in whatever they get up to you made a lot of people happy last night….but I suspect we also made you guys happy with our sheer enthusiasm for the Bosses music and your playing.

By the way if you’re wondering what the fuss is about with Springsteen check out his performance at the 2009 Superbowl.

Bruce Springsteen (and Glory Days Tribute Band)-We Salute You.

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LMM Support Rage Against the Machine For Xmas Number 1!!

Friday, December 18th, 2009
Rage For Xmas Number One!

Rage For Xmas Number One!

Regular readers will know that we supported Jame Archer (Aka Afro) for X Factor winner.Jamie has worked for LMM in Walkabout venues and at weddings and parties for several years and we like to suppport our guys.

Now the competition is over and  Jamie is long gone we are adding our voice to the growing throng calling for an end to X Factor dominance of the UK Xmas Number One slot.Kind of ironic that we are all flying our flag for originality and progression by supporting a seventeen year old metal track for chart supremacy but heyho.

The LMM team were out last night on our xmas do.We started out with a spot of rock climbing at an indoor centre in west ten.We then went to the Chicago Rib Shack for a great slap up meal (we are very lucky to have supplied the live band for the New Years Eve party at this prestigious venue opposite Number 1 Hyde Park ….. if you are looking for somewhere to have a great night out on New Years Eve you might still be able to get tickets to party the new year in with Flipside http://www.lmmuk.com/band/Flip+Side ) After the Chicago Rib Shack we headed off into the West End where we just had enough time to be entertained by  close up magician Adrew Prince who was working the crowd in Leicester Squares All Bar One .Andrew kept us entertained with some sleight of hand and card tricks which amazed us all.There’s nothing like close up magic to transport you back to childhood wonder.We then popped into the Odeon in Leicester Square to watch Avator in magnificent 3D.(Ill not bore you with a review suffice to say that the plot may be slight but the effects are astonishing.)After that we got down to some serious drinking in the West End and in Garys local Slim Jims in Islington.Despite the snow,the cold and the lack of black cabs we had a brilliant night…thanks Timbo.It was about 1.30am when the beers led to talk about the Xmas number one and the battle between Rage Against the Machine and X Factor winner Joe McElderry for chart supremacy.

LMM have fond memories of Rage Against The Machines “Killing In The Name Of” blasting out of the speakers on a Sunday afternoon at Shepherds Bush Walkabout with DJ Deano pushing up the ante and hyping the crowd to the max.Our fantastic band Brainscape http://www.lmmuk.com/band/Brainscape  have also been known to rock out to Rage Against The Machine at gigs where the audience demand them to turn it up to eleven (don’t worry they won’t play Killing In The Name Of if you book them to play at your wedding-not unless you request it.

My oldest daughter (age nine) wants Joe McElderry to get to the number one slot with his insipid cover of Miley Cyrus The Climb.However the rest of the LMM team and family (including the seven year old) are backing Rage all the way.

So Rage Against The Machine for Xmas Number One-We Salute You!

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Gavin And Stacy Go Walkabout

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
Gavin And Stacy Go Walkabout

Gavin And Stacy Go Walkabout

Did anyone else see this weeks episode of Gavin and Stacy?

When the the boys went down to Barry for a lads weekend (staying at Brynn’s) they talked about where they would go for a drink in Cardiff…..”lets go to the Walkabout and maybe Tiger Tiger ,”they said…..and that’s why this programme is so brilliant….because thats what every other lad/lass about town would say.

I’ve spent many nights in Cardiff Walkabout (most notably as about the only Englishman present during a Wales/England Rugby fixture (the atmosphere was fantastic by the way.)

LMM have been privileged to book the entertainment for the whole of the Walkabout chain since the day they opened.We book great acoustic duos for Friday evenings in Cardiff Walkabout (including many of the acts on www.lmmuk.comwho are also available for weddings and parties.) We also have a great team of DJs working for LMM down in the South Wales area.We have been booking the entertainment for Cardiff and Swansea Walkabout since they opened around seven or eight years ago so we have built up a terrific team of entertainers in the area.

Back in the early days prior to the Cardiff and Swansea Walkabout venues opening I spent a memorable week camping in the back of the venues (which were still  building sites) whilst auditioning local DJs and bands in order to vet them ready for booking at Walkabout.We have held regular auditions in the area since so you can be assured that LMM are representing the cream of the crop of South Wales entertainment.

Should you need any advice about the right DJ,acoustic act or party band in the South Wales area please call our office on 08454 900515 or email info@lmmuk.com   alternately you could check out the following acts who are all based in the South Wales area (or at least within easy travelling distance.)

7th Floor http://www.lmmuk.com/band/7th+Floor

Radar http://www.lmmuk.com/band/Radar

The Hi Fidels http://www.lmmuk.com/band/The+Hi-Fidels

Penfold  http://www.lmmuk.com/band/Penfold

Gavin And Stacy go to Walkabout Cardiff-We Salute You

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Platform Six Bandeoke/Rockaoke

Friday, December 11th, 2009
Platform Six Are A Great Party Band who also do Rockaoke/Bandeoke Sets

Platform Six Are A Great Party Band who also do Rockaoke/Bandeoke Sets

I had the great pleasure of working last night with our fantastic party band Platform Six who were providing a Rockaoke/Bandeoke set for a major phone company at a swanky and exclusive West End nightclub.The audience went wild as over thirty key staff and personell got up on stage and got their rocks off singing big pop anthems with this great Australian band.

Platform Six have had an incredibly busy couple of months with shows throughout the UK both as a party band and as a Bandeoke/Rockaoke act.

One of the highlights for the guys was playing at the beautiful Australian High Commission for the Australian High Commission Ball.We had marvelous feedback saying it was the best ball they had ever held and all the committe agreed that the band played a blinding set.The band told me last night that some of the guests even followed them down to Temple Walkabout the next night where they played another great concert.

Platform Six are an amazing band for weddings,events and parties and,just as importantly for the people who book them,a lovely bunch of guys who are very helpful and easy to work with.

Last nights show was a double header for LMM as support was from our unique jazz swing rock covers act “Nat King Bing And The Kings Of Schwing”  who played a set full of pop and rock anthems in the jazz swing style.A sophisticated start to a great evening in an amazing venue.

With a black tie guest list and the champagne flowing both bands had a brilliant evening (and so did the guests!)

If you are interested in booking either act call 08454 900515 or email info@lmmuk.com   you will not be disappointed.

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LMM Office Staffed by Bird Brains!

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
The LMM staff often multi task as demonstrated by Alex answering the phone whilst acting as a bird stand.

The LMM staff often multi task as demonstrated by Alex answering the phone whilst acting as a bird stand.

It isn’t as clear from the picture as I would have liked but please enjoy this photo of one of LMMs staff sat in the office with a bird perched on his head.Please don’t ask why he is sat with a bird on his head because the answer would be long,complex and boring.

No animals were harmed in the making of this picture and no alchohol had been consumed.

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Last Minute Bands For Xmas And New Year 2009

Saturday, December 5th, 2009
Merry Xmas Everybody

Merry Xmas Everybody

Heres hoping everyone is well and that you are all enjoying the build up to the festive season.I was out last night on a Xmas reunion and many other people looked to be doing much the same thing….the pubs and bars were jam packed.

If you are organising a Xmas or New Years party for yourself or for your company LMM still have some availabilites for DJs and bands in December.We have an incredibly busy month with lots of party bands,Rockaoke/Bandeoke Xmas parties and DJ nights at venues up and down the UK.We have even put together a Xmas Swingaoke act for December 2009 giving guests the opportunity to get up on stage and sing swing style Xmas songs like Santa Clause Is Coming To Town,Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer and White Xmas with a proper live jazz swing band.

If you have been let down by an act or you are still in the process of deciding what act to use for your Xmas party please call the LMM office on 08454 900515 or email info@lmmuk.com we will be able to help and advise you.

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The Limit Club Sheffield Top Ten Tunes

Saturday, December 5th, 2009
The great Sheffield Artist Pete McKee's Sheffield Band Painting

The great Sheffield Artist Pete McKee's Sheffield Band Painting

I was out last night in Sheffield with old friends from school who are now spread across the country and in view of the Limit Revival night at the Casbah which two of us attended last week we started reminiscing.

We all agreed that there was some great music played at The Limit in the early 80s and we all had pretty much the same views on which were the top ten tunes played by DJ Paul Umwin back in the Limit circa 1981 to 85ish .

The Limit Top Ten Tunes (Not neccesarily the best songs just the ones we most associated with the place.)

1.Dillinger-Cocaine In My Brain

2.Bauhaus-Bela Legosis Dead

3.Theatre Of Hate-Do You Believe in The West World

4.Cabaret Voltaire-Nag Nag Nag

5.Pigbag-Papas Got A Brand New Pigbag

6.Clock DVA-4 Hours

7.The Clash-Londons Calling

8.Teardrop Explodes-Reward

9.The Human League-Sound of The Crowd

10.Joy Division-Transmission

(and also Looking for Lewis And Clarke by The Long Ryders)

If you buy the Neil Anderson book Take It To The Limit you will find many of Phil Stanilands anecdotes which have entertained us on similiar nights out for the past twenty five years or so!You will also find mention of Mark Johnston and Andy Parr who were both out last night but,much to his annoyance,there is no mention of Paul Lawley.So just for you Paul…. I state on the record that prior to moving to Scotland and out of your beloved Sheffield you too were a regular at the Limit.

In fact I believe you were there on my 19th birthday when I fell asleep with my head on a table to be woken up by the cleaners and on the night when I got kicked out by one of the bouncers for no good reason.You were also there when I  stood on a table by the DJ booth and drank a yard of ale….you’ll remember that it took me about 15 minutes and that Paul Umwin turned the music back on and called the competition off while I slowly slurped the beer.You were there dancing in a circle with Jarvis Cocker to Irene Caras Fame one New Years Eve when Paul (probably ironicaly)played this non typical Limit track.I think you were there when Wham did a PA in the club to their debut single on Innervision records “Wham Rap.” They came on in jeans and leather jackets.There was just George Michael and Andrew Ridgely with these two backing singer/dancers (who we later found out were called Pepsi and Shirley.) The fact that they mimed and danced through their performance (no instruments) seemed so bizzare…we’d seen nothing like it at that time although,of course,this became the standard way for pop acts to promote their records in the late 80s and through to the current day.You will remember that the whole Limit club crowded around the stage and watched them as if it was the most ridiculous thing we had seen…they may as well have been wearing bear suits and whittling elephant shapes from wood for all the sense it made….miming in the Limit….whatever next!I think you were there on the night The Mirror Cracked played and people reported snow coming through the air conditioning vents whilst we played Totally Yours prompting Murray Fenton (well known Sheffield guitar slinger) to comment that “it were dead Xmassy that gig.” You might even have been there when we went to see Pulp play one of their shows there (my favourite being the one where they hung fish shapes and mobiles from the ceiling and Jarvis Cocker said “penultimate” on stage and I had to ask somebody what the word meant.I am 100% sure that you were their the night before the Falklands War broke out because we stood on Fargate shell shocked the next day fully expecting to be called up…..for about fifteen minutes we thought The Falklands were in Scotland and we were astonished that The Argentinians would invade The Outer Hebrides .

Anyway you were there in the thick of it quite a bit and you have many anacodotes of your own but I hope this blog makes up for your absence from the Take It To The Limit book!

I hope you all enjoyed ABCs Lexican Of Love live at Sheffield City Hall tonight….its a shame I couldn’t make this show.I bet it was great with the 50 piece orchestra….next time.

On a side note the picture at the top of this blog is by the great Sheffield artist Pete Mckee and I am very proud that the little white poster on the wall has mention of mine and Phil Stanilands first band ,The Mirror Cracked, on it written alongside some of the great bands that played The Limit and The Hallamshire and the other West Street venues back in the day.We shall salute Pete Mckee in a future blog but for the time being Paul Lawley -The Limit Years-We Salute You!!

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