Alex Green now fully re-assimilated into live line-up, alongside Dooj Wilkinson, Gabriel Turner, Dave Henderson and myself. Since when we have played:

FESTIVAL ROCK AU MAXIMUM, CLERMONT-FERRAND, FRANCE

Very good. Big hall, big P.A., big crowd. Also on the bill; The Posies, who all wore dresses, and Nyan Ferties, who, being Scots, all wore kilts. Thus, it was left to the JBC to wear the trousers, which we duly did. Dooj's were exceptional. Our Friends The Filth made its live debut and worked well.

3 Aug 94

As detailed already by Matt Cockerill, who had a chat with me that evening. Very enjoyable to be able to put on the whole band here in Northampton, and - indeed - the local folks seemed glad that we had bothered. Lots of mad decor out in the yard where we played; it looked more "Apocalypse Now!" to me, with all the drunks stumbling about in the psychedelic half-dark, but I guess early Floyd is pretty cool, too. A deliberately good-natured set, complete with gratuitous Velvet Underground cover right at the top.

6 Aug 94

Transambient Communications were billed to open, but recording commitments prevented them. Instead their collaborator, Dave Kirby, presented his live sound system. On the dark and stormy night, under lights, it was hypnotic. The Black Eg, on the other hand, were just chaotic. Amid rumours that Karel was being impersonated by someone else, and confusion as to the origins of the mystery live vocals that had no visible source, violence broke out between the audience, the promoters, the bar owner, and, eventually, the band. The event closed in confusion, during which it was observed that neither the brothers, not any member of the JBC could be found. We were here getting pissed.

JBC in business success shock horror! Pissed at our agent for being useless, we booked this ourselves. As a consequence we were sent a contract more suited to joke pub-rock groups from Petersborough. You know the sort of thing: "You get 47¾ of the door between 8:45 and 10:17, minus £125 for the lights". Very un-trusting, and a bit insulting, really. Well, we went down there and played, and it looked like there were a good few civilians there. When Kathie went to get paid they gave her just over £400, which is twice what we would have asked for in the bloody first place! Still, if that's the way they wanted to do it, hey gang?

The show was loud and swinging. It seemed a little chaotic to me here and there, but Gabriel, who is fussier than me in this department, said he thought it was the best that this line-up has played. So that's okay, then. Also, we met an old friend who is now organising tours (for The Cramps, among others), who was well into the band, and who has since replaced that scaley and unemployable agent. Nice evening! Also re-united with Harry, of Magic Stick fame (US '89), who had turned up, having just returned to London from living in Germany. Yes, a lovely night.

Nearly forgot this one, as it came before Northampton and London. A smallish crowd, but perfectly formed. All of Strangelove showed up with wives, girlfriends and family pets, as did half The Blue Aeroplanes, and Donald Ross-Skinner. We played well, the P.A. was fine, and the party afterwards was long. Dave Henderson, Dylan nut, had been warned not to talk Gerard Langley about the Big Z., but went ahead and did it anyway. Most amusing.