Avon Calling / May 12 2008
I have just been invited by Sonny Starr via a late-night telephone conversation (I was actually in bed – early riser me, I need my beauty sleep) to play guitar on the new Dysons album and European tour. I declined the offer.
‘It’s a turgid dirge, Sonny,’ I explained when he asked me why I wouldn’t [...]
Doc True / December 18 2007
When comedienne Catherine Tate let slip on Jonathan Ross’s Radio 2 programme the other day that the next series of Doctor Who could be the last for actor David Tennant, she was confirming something that I already knew.
Hamilton Bentley, an actor friend of mine (from the Mr Sheen ads) is acquainted with Tennant and was [...]
Space Oddities / November 8 2007
An actor friend of mine has been telling me that he has a part as a ‘background Vulcan’ in the new Star Trek movie.
According to him, his odd appearance gave producers the idea to hold open casting sessions for people with ‘unique’ features to appear as extras in the film. The studio said it was [...]
Dreaming of Electric She-Males / August 7 2007
Another weird dream. I think I may need psychiatric help very soon if this carries on.
This time, I was surrounded by famous politicians from around the world who were all wearing scout uniforms. We were inside a large, cavernous tent sitting upon very uncomfortable Iranian rugs that were decorated in lurid colours with intricate designs [...]
Muppets In Space / July 27 2007
I can be pretty irresponsible at times but I have never driven a vehicle whilst under the influence of alcohol. Especially a spaceship.
The fact that NASA are so meticulously cautious and controlled in everything they do, and should then allow two of their astronauts to blast off into space while drunk is reckless and absurd [...]
Ask Me the Question, Noel / April 20 2007
Due to a fractured ankle bone, I have been forced to take a couple of days off and have had the unfortunate experience of having to endure the execrable nonsense that is daytime television.
I have only had half an eye on the screen – I have been reading Spares by Michael Marshall Smith, mostly – [...]
Kurt Vonnegut RIP / April 12 2007
How sad I am to learn of the death of Kurt Vonnegut.
One of the outstanding figures of modern US literature and of 60s and 70s western counterculture, the writer has died aged 84 in New York.
He has long been one of my favourite authors and indeed, my erstwhile band Slaughterhouse 5 was named for his [...]
Night Rally / March 16 2007
I am having trouble sleeping at night. It’s the horses, you see. They gather outside my bedroom window in the early hours, around half-past two, three o’clock.
I haven’t managed to do a full head-count yet, but I would say that on average there are always about twenty or thirty that regularly assemble there, waiting.
It is a [...]
Are You A Virgin Yet? / March 2 2007
Don’t bother.
I for one will be switching from Virgin Media to Sky. I’ve been a customer of Virgin/NTL/Telewest for about 7 years now, and have, by and large, been fairly satisfied with their cable service – for digital TV, broadband internet and telephone.
As you may be aware, as of 1st March, Virgin dropped some BSkyB [...]
Bones / December 13 2006
I can’t tell you how pleased I was that the Killers have recorded a song about Bones.
Over the years, I think, as the subject of a popular song lyric, he has been woefully ignored.
Other members of the Enterprise have long since been celebrated or at least happily alluded to in several jolly compositions. [...]
