David Arnolds?

I know that Dave Gorman based a TVcareer out of this but that aside, for a creepy experience, type your own name into the Facebook search engine.

I just did and it threw up 500 plus "David Arnolds"......here are my top 9 namesakes.

Bike Hauler

Just did an interesting interview for the upcoming issue of SIDEBURN mag with a guy called Vince Martinico. Now Vince races pre-1930 motorcycles and next year this is gonna be his transport to the race track.

It was built for the 1939 World Fair. Apparently the whole left side folds out to create an instant "Pit Area"

I shudder to think about fuel consumption but just imagine turning up at Buxton Speedway in this!!

Mini Ramp skating in the late 80's

Many thanks to Pete Rogers for sending me these skate shots. The first three are taken at Dave Davies backyard ramp, in Lark Lane, Liverpool in around 1987. First 2 pics are me (stand-up F/side Grind and B/side Air) and then the 3rd shot is Ian Barwick mid Rock 'n' Roller.

The last 3 are of my own backyard ramp from maybe 1988-89. We used to skate for hours and end up full of splinters!!

the 4th pic is Paul 'Cyb' Lewis with a stylee, relaxed F/side Grind. Next up is Ritchie on a Fakie Smith Stall.

The last shot is Natas Kaupas (F/side Ollie) skating the ramp on a visit with Jesse Martinez at the ramps original short-lived home......upstairs at Split Skates shop in Manchester.

I'm really hoping that Pete digs out some more nuggets for me to post here!

UPDATE: Here's a pic of Pete himself Smith Grinding again on my old ramp

The Stags Halloween Show 2010.....

Just confirmed a Stags Halloween Party for 2010. I'm excited....we haven't done this for the last 5 years due to not having a suitable venue that would allow us to take the place over and build all our dumb stuff!

I know it's a little early but put this date in your diaries: Friday 29th October at The British Legion, Wigan.

Should be a monumental night with games, dancers, DJ's and a few special guests on the bill too.

Here are a few shots from past Halloween parties 2003-2006

Glam Rock....as ugly as it gets

Following on with the recent early 70's Glam/Pre-punk theme, here's 3 shots of some of the ugliest bands around at the time.

First up is CHICORY TIP resembling the cast from an Estonian knock off of Dr.Who.

Next is a great shot of THE SWEET pre-dating the Sex Pistols in the 'outragious' stakes by a good couple of years.

to conclude, we have a promo shot of THE HAMMERSMITH GORILLAS whose bassist was so ugly...they had to dress him up as an actual gorilla!

Frank movie goes into development

Things have moved forward with a movie script based on Frank Sidebottom

Here is something I lifted from the FILM 4 website:

Film4 to develop Frank with Men Who Stare At Goats writers Jon Ronson and Peter Straughan - with Lenny Abrahamson to direct

Film4 Productions are proud to be developing "FRANK", a new film based on a fictionalised story about a musical genius and his band, with the writers behind offbeat comedy, The Men Who Stare At Goats.
In the strange world of the 1980s musical subculture one man stands out as the strangest of them all. FRANK tells the story of a hidden musical master and the disciple who loves him so much he might just have to destroy him. Frank - a mystery inside an enigma - inside a large plastic head.
Lenny Abrahamson (Garage, Adam & Paul) is now attached to direct the movie, which is being written by broadcaster and author Jon Ronson (The Men Who Stare At Goats, Them) and acclaimed screenwriter Peter Straughan (The Men Who Stare At Goats, How To Lose Friends And Alienate People), who will be updating Film4.com readers and Film4 Twitter followers on their work throughout the life of the production.
The film is currently at the script development stage with shooting scheduled for later in the year - look out for the first Film4 Twitter updates from Jon, Lenny and Peter, hashtag #frank, as they work on the script in a remote cottage. The script has been attracting industry attention since it appeared on the 2009 Brit List of recommended unproduced scripts, and Jon and Peter will be sharing the process of refining and developing it with Film4.com readers in a first for Film4 online.
David Barron, a producer on the Harry Potter movies, and Stevie Lee of Runway Fridge Productions are on board as producers. David Barron said "Stevie and I are very excited to be collaborating with such a brilliant creative team as Jon, Peter, Lenny and Film 4." Katherine Butler, Senior Commissioning Executive, Film4, said: "We are passionate about this brilliantly original script and Lenny is the perfect collaborator to take us into the wild and wonderful world of Frank."
Film4's current slate of British feature films either in post production or due to be released includes Chris Morris' Four Lions, Mark Romanek's Never Let Me Go based on Ishiguro's novel of the same name, Peter Mullan's Neds, Mike Leigh's Another Day, Richard Ayoade's Submarine, Hideo Nakata's Chatroom and finally Kevin Macdonald's Roman epic, The Eagle Of The Ninth.
You can follow Film4 on Twitter here for general news, views and chat, and look out for Film4 updates with #frank in them for news from Jon, Peter and Lenny as the project progresses.

Mark Radcliffe remembers Chris Sievey/Frank Sidebottom

It's been a painful couple of weeks for me since the death of Chris Sievey. Chris/Frank has been an idol of mine for almost 25 years and I got to know Chris as a close friend over the last 5 years. He was a real  inspiration to me and I feel honoured to have known him.
It was Chris's funeral yesterday. It was a relatively small, private service for family and close friends only. This Thursday 8th July is FRANKS FANTASTIC FAREWELL...a free public send off to be held at the Castlefield Arena, Manchester, 7pm-10pm
It's gonna be a celebration of Franks life in showbusiness, spanning 25 years. Lots of videos on the giant screens...his most loved work and some rare, unseen footage too. Guest speakers, music and a performance from the OH-BLIMEY BIGGEST EVER BAND.....every one we can get in touch with that did some time backing Frank!! It will be funny and sad in equal measures.
Heres ex Oh-Blimey member Mark Radcliffe remembering Chris.....