THE PUPPETS ARE NOT WHAT THEY SEEM...

I like to collect all things Gerry Anderson-related. Here are some simple, customised 12" action figures I have. All aquired very cheaply at car boot sales. We have: 

Joe 90 dressed in a Captain Scarlet uniform.

Brains in the International Rescue uniform.

Barbie dressed in a Captain Blue uniform.

I have a ton of Anderson memorabilia but these cheap, simply customised dolls from the 90's are very pleasing to my eye!

I think it's the 'What if?' factor of mixing up elements of the different shows.....I think they look better than any of the standard issue figures released at that time.

ACTION NOW MAGAZINE TV SHOW 1981

My good friend Tim Stamp had a VHS copy of this that we hammered when we skated in '83-'84.
ACTION NOW magazine rose out of the ashes of SKATEBOARDER magazine when the skateboard boom took a dump in 1980.
It was a last ditch attempt to stay afloat and the mag opened its doors to other action sports: BMX, roller skating, surfing, skimboarding etc. Unfortunately, this ploy didn't work out...it totally alienated the hardcore few that still skated, the lowpoint for me being a photo of someone on a horse down at the beach.
On a plus point, the mag did have a reasonable music content and it was quick to champion the LA punk scene. Lots of Circle Jerks, Black Flag etc as well as features on the big UK punk bands at the time.
The mag didn't last long and around this time a new, truly independent skateboard magazine was launched called THRASHER that drove the final nail in the 'Action Now' coffin.
The Action Now TV show was a self financed 30 minute showcase produced at one of skateboardings all time low points. By todays standards it looks nothing special but the skate footage blew me away. It was the only way to see moving images of the new 'bionic' skating that was starting to come through. particular stand outs are Neil Blender and Steve Alba....totally inspired by this, me and a few friends built STIFFNECKS RAMP.
I wish the rest of the show was on Youtube. Its been over 25 years since I saw it but I recall some good footage of Jeff Watson on his BMX in the Upland fullpipe and some early Bob Haro ramp riding.

PROJECT:ODDJOB

Whilst plebbing around on Myspace (first time in a long time) I stumbled upon this dormant page for a  band we put together for one gig only back in 2005. The recordings are intentionally crude and fizz with energy. We only recorded 4 songs: DIRTY ROBBER, I DON'T LIKE YOU, HEATSEEKER and RIP YER HEART. All covers by The Wailers, Skrewdriver and The Rip-Offs respectively.

 I don't entirely remember what we played in the set but I vividly remember a stonking version of MY BABY DOES THE HANKY PANKY with Topsy Stag on vocals.

Here is the blurb from the page:

 "FOUR TRAINED ASSASSINS....... UNDERCOVER AGENTS........... ARMED WITH GUITARS ......... PLYING THEIR DEADLY TRADE......EXECUTING CRUDE, SNARLING, UGLY GARAGE-PUNK!! "

 THIS IS PROJECT:ODDJOB ................... A SMALL BAND PUT TOGETHER FOR OUR OWN AMUSEMENT AND DISTRACTION......FEATURING EX-MEMBERS/CURRENT MEMBERS OF.........THE STAGS, DOKTOR COMBOVER, JAILCELL RECIPES, DRIVE. OUR MISSION IS TO PLAY OFF THE CUFF, THICK-NECKED, SAUSAGE-FINGERED THUG-ROCK. AMPED UP, IN THE RED, ROCK 'N' ROLL .....A TIP OF THE STEEL-BRIMMED BOWLER HAT TO THE TOUGHEST SIXTIES GARAGE BANDS AND BEST '77 ERA PUNK BANDS

Listen to the songs HERE

Verona: the not-so-good, the bad and the ugly

Ben Part prepares to cut down the Sideburn banner he sewed up with a hotel emergency sewing kit

Hideous neon green Harley with a constant crowd of people ogling it.

Passion-killer lace calf socks....not a good look.

    Poor, stressed-out exotic moggy

Lame, lame, lame!

                                           Horrible 'Highlander-esque' spoked wheel

Toughguy!! Hope he was getting paid to do this...

The model on the ARLEN NESS stand... some famous porno star?

Verona Bike Expo 2012....part four

Verona Bike Expo 2012....part three

On Friday we were joined by Sideburn's Rome correspondent Mick Phillips and our friends at CO-BUILT Anthony, Geoff and Anna and Wilky #99.

We hosted a party at MR. MARTINI's bike shop that involved DJ'ing from a hydraulic car lift, nice food, drink, dancing and a charity raffle that involved some poor sod bidding 100 euros for a box of Thornton's chocolates, concealed in a plastic bag... donated by the Ace Cafe. There was some nice items donated by DAVIDA, RUBY HELMETS and MR. MARTINI himself.