A Napple a day.....keeps the doctor away

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.....

I AIN'T THICK...IT'S JUST A TRICK

I first read about CRASS in a fanzine in 1978 and went out and bought THE FEEDING OF THE 5000 album at the first opportunity.That introduction to Crass and their ideals as a 14 year old has shaped the way I think and conduct myself today. The "D.I.Y." ethic, questioning authority, vegetarianism and endeavoring to "not fit in" and be proud of it, all come directly from Crass. Here was a band that actually practised what they preached, they lived together in a punk open-house in the country and took the ideas they sang about of anarchism, peace and liberty and really did put them into action.
The band really did achieve what it set out to do and even had the politicians talking about them in the house of commons along with the KGB!
I was lucky enough to see Crass live a couple of times along with other like-minded bands FLUX OF PINK INDIANS, D.I.R.T., OMEGA TRIBE, THE SYSTEM, THE SUBHUMANS, ANNIE ANXIETY, THE ALTERNATIVE.

 Here is a  really great 1 hour long documentary from 2006.

Self help literature

Advice on how to tackle the credit crunch and improve your financial situation.

BILL SHEA......Words of wisdom

from Shea's gas station museum, Sprinfield, Ill.

I have ton of great shots of this place. I will do a bigger post soon