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Post by desertrat on Oct 1, 2015 13:56:19 GMT -5
A post-script to the evening follows. After a smoke upstairs and taking in a set by Fireball Ministry which frankly was vicious and saw the bathers in the swimming pool in front of the stage creating their own whirlpool, we retired to our room for the night. But I was restless. Couldn't relax. My wife suggested I go up to the Sky Casino to see if Lem could be found playing the slots to say hello to him. She advised me not to take anything to sign or take any photos and of course she was right. The poor fella just wanted to unwind. So up I went and bumped into Luc and after a quick chat he suggested I ask permission to one of the minders to go to say hello. This is a person who I spent a lot of time with in the 80s. Whose house I stayed at from time to time. Who took me to the Embassy Club in London to 'meet some chicks', who took the piss incessantly but affectionately because he knew how much him and the band meant to me. But times have changed. The great man is in his 70th year as we all know and I have to say physically diminished by his recent health issues but still. I wanted to say hi. So after agreeing to nothing signed and no photos I greeted his very pretty black girlfriend and amazingly for me approached him nervously not wanting to disturb his wind-down from the gig, not wanting to puncture the bubble around him. Then there he was. Suddenly as I remembered him in the flesh. Still there. I wanted to ask him if he's got the books I'd given Phil for him. One of his security detail had told me that he'd been happily showing the Record Collector Rare Rock N Roll Records book to everyone in his circle. That he'd been so enthused by it that he'd already read it twice. He thanked me with genuine heart turning to me and smiling both with his mouth and his eyes. Those sad old eyes that have seen so much. He liked the other books too but this one had got him. It's at the essence of his spirit. Just a rock n roller from Stoke. Who likes Brenda Lee singing Sweet Nothings. Who marvels at the swagger of Gene Vincent and mastery of the form by Eddie Cochran. Who sees Little Richard at the heart of it with Elvis playing a relative bit part in it all. Who adores the twin harmonies of The Everley Brothers, who shakes a now trembling hand to The Killer Jerry Lee Lewis and who thinks that Mick Green of Johnny Kidd's Pirates is one of the most under-rated guitarists.
So then I said it. I thanked him for changing my life. Because Lem you have. You have enriched my life so much. He looked me straight in the eye and simply said Thank you very much Ade. And it was all worth it. I shook his hand, patted him on the shoulder, thanked him and quietly walked away. He turned away and fed the slots with another dollar. Then I welled up a little. I don't know why but I suppose we're all human aren't we? I saw Luc and asked him if he wanted a Cohiba cigarillo I had bought earlier in the day in Nassau. I took one out then offered him one. He saw it was my last one. He hesitated. It's your last one, he said. Yes, but you are my friend. He smiled and together we stood there smoking the best cigars in the world, watching our hero sitting playing the slots in a casino floating on the Noth Atlantic.
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milan
Lawn is Nauseous
Posts - 41
Likes - 5
Joined - January 1970
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Post by milan on Oct 1, 2015 14:46:15 GMT -5
Thanks.
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Post by mark321 on Oct 1, 2015 14:50:42 GMT -5
Once again great reviews Adrian-mind you ive never read anything else from you- a master of the English language you certainly are Anyway im glad you and your wife are having such a great time. Don't forget to let me know when you find out what leave you have in January and enjoy the rest of the cruise. By the way how much longer does it last ? Oh did Lemmy remember you or did you have to remind him ?
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Post by desertrat on Oct 1, 2015 15:16:03 GMT -5
Once again great reviews Adrian-mind you ive never read anything else from you- a master of the English language you certainly are Anyway im glad you and your wife are having such a great time. Don't forget to let me know when you find out what leave you have in January and enjoy the rest of the cruise. By the way how much longer does it last ? Oh did Lemmy remember you or did you have to remind him ? Cheers Mark! Glad you enjoyed the read. This is the last day of cruise. Thursday, that is. I will let you know my leave ASAP. Anyway, stupid me I got two tickets for Saturday but if no leave in January, I will have to get a ticket for the Friday show as I can fly in for that gig on Thursday but will have to leave on Saturday to work on Sunday so if anyone on this forum wants to exchange a Friday ticket for two on Saturday I would gladly do it! Yes, Lem remembered me as I had dedicated the books I gave him. I offered to source any of the records in the book for him so will have to see if he goes for that. I still have a much treasured handwritten letter from him from way back in 1985 when he asked me to get him some albums by Murray Roman - a counter-culture 60's comedian in the mould of Lenny Bruce, the first two Ramones albums and a Stones bootleg! I got them for him and as a bonus gave him a video of Hendrix and The Plasmatics.
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timtelford
Lawn Killing Metal God
MHB3718
Posts - 712
Likes - 85
Joined - January 1970
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Post by timtelford on Oct 1, 2015 15:16:54 GMT -5
Bless you DR, beautifully written and a pleasure to read, hope you and the good lady have a brilliant time rest of the cruise
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Post by desertrat on Oct 1, 2015 15:18:11 GMT -5
Oh, and another thing. Motorhead are playing again tonight. Tomorrow we arrive in Miami if Hurricane Joaqim doesn't get us first. I fly back to Riyadh on Friday night and back to the chalk face on Sunday.
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Post by desertrat on Oct 1, 2015 15:20:14 GMT -5
Bless you DR, beautifully written and a pleasure to read, hope you and the good lady have a brilliant time rest of the cruise Thanks Tim. I'm just a Shropshire Lad like you. Hopefully we'll get to meet up for a pre-gig drink in January if you go to see them in London.
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Post by desertrat on Oct 1, 2015 15:33:13 GMT -5
rasnagamal.tumblr.com is where I blog if anyone wants to follow me and see some of my Motorboat pictures including a proud picture of me me with my lovely missus. I also suggest you check out fuckyeahmotorhead on tumblr. Some of the pictures that lady posts on there are phenomenal!
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Post by mark321 on Oct 1, 2015 16:12:26 GMT -5
Once again great reviews Adrian-mind you ive never read anything else from you- a master of the English language you certainly are Anyway im glad you and your wife are having such a great time. Don't forget to let me know when you find out what leave you have in January and enjoy the rest of the cruise. By the way how much longer does it last ? Oh did Lemmy remember you or did you have to remind him ? Cheers Mark! Glad you enjoyed the read. This is the last day of cruise. Thursday, that is. I will let you know my leave ASAP. Anyway, stupid me I got two tickets for Saturday but if no leave in January, I will have to get a ticket for the Friday show as I can fly in for that gig on Thursday but will have to leave on Saturday to work on Sunday so if anyone on this forum wants to exchange a Friday ticket for two on Saturday I would gladly do it! hello mate- I said id have the tickets. If you are able to get off on leave you can have my Friday ticket and swap it for one of the Saturday ones and I will meet up with you on the Saturday,and if you cant I will swop my Friday ticket for one of your Saturday ones. I will also look at the age limit for hammersmith and ,if my lads old enough to stand downstairs,i will buy the other Saturday ticket off you as well
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Post by desertrat on Oct 1, 2015 18:34:27 GMT -5
Ok Mark mate, sounds like a plan! They will send the ticket to my UK address the week before sI can arrange for the tickets to be sent to you if my flight back to the sandpit is too early on the Saturday. Motorhead coming on stage in the next 15 minutes! Woooaaaarrrrrrgggghhhh!!!! ?
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Post by desertrat on Oct 1, 2015 18:34:40 GMT -5
Ok Mark mate, sounds like a plan! They will send the ticket to my UK address the week before sI can arrange for the tickets to be sent to you if my flight back to the sandpit is too early on the Saturday. Motorhead coming on stage in the next 15 minutes! Woooaaaarrrrrrgggghhhh!!!! ?
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Post by desertrat on Oct 1, 2015 18:57:21 GMT -5
Set list tonight seems to be as last night so far. Lem is wearing white brothel creepers tonight. They were red last night. Bomber Stay Clean Metropolis Over The Top Phil solo The Chase Is Better Than The Catch. Strong voice tonight! Let me hear us I can't hear us!
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Post by desertrat on Oct 1, 2015 18:57:54 GMT -5
Set list tonight seems to be as last night so far. Lem is wearing white brothel creepers tonight. They were red last night. Bomber Stay Clean Metropolis Over The Top Phil solo The Chase Is Better Than The Catch. Strong voice tonight! Let me hear us I can't hear us!
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Post by desertrat on Oct 1, 2015 19:00:20 GMT -5
Set list tonight seems to be as last night so far. Lem is wearing white brothel creepers tonight. They were red last night. Bomber Stay Clean Metropolis Over The Top Phil solo The Chase Is Better Than The Catch. Strong voice tonight! Let me hear us I can't hear us! This is a song written long long ago before you were born from the Another Perfect Day album. Written before I was born! Rock It!
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Post by desertrat on Oct 1, 2015 19:00:54 GMT -5
Set list tonight seems to be as last night so far. Lem is wearing white brothel creepers tonight. They were red last night. Bomber Stay Clean Metropolis Over The Top Phil solo The Chase Is Better Than The Catch. Strong voice tonight! Let me hear us I can't hear us! This is a song written long long ago before you were born from the Another Perfect Day album. Written before I was born! Rock It!
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