BAD MANNERS tour diary

L'aggiornamento di oggi è scritto in inglese. Forse alcuni storceranno il naso, ma era troppo gustoto in lingua originale, per riportarlo tradotto.
Era il 2003 quando i Bad Manners si esibivano in Spagna... e questo è il diario diretto del tour iberico, scritto dal buon Rob, batterista della ska band britannica...

FRIDAY 11TH
05:00 Load vocal PA, Snare and Cymbals, Sticks, Bow Tie, Passport.

06:00 Pick up Waz en-route.

07:00 Arrive Gatwick Airport and begin Queueing.......in BAA's infinate wisdom, those queuing for at least 10 different flights are put in one long snakeing queue - starting outdoors (near Brighton, I think!). After an hour and a half, we check in, instruments and baggage and proceed to security check-in, with 10 minutes to spare before the plane leaves. Concerned that we will miss the flight, Waz is despatched to find a 'Fast track' through. Noticing the 'Fast Track' lane is as full as the others, a British Airways official advises us - "just push in". In true Bad Manners style we "push in", and queue as long as those more patient than ourselves.

08:50 Enter plane and find seats. We are fairly spread apart and share our flight with some rather worried looking Spanish school kids.

09:00 Should be taking off. No announcements. No alcohol !!

09:50 Take Off. I think we're on our way !

12:30 ish CET. Arrive Bilbao airport. Met by Promoters with 2 very small cars. "Oh you have brought instruments and there are 8 of you, with baggage too". A Taxi is conscripted to join the convoy, which rapidly breaks up and we cruise into Bilbao without a clue where we are heading. We arrive at a hotel which does turn out to be where we are staying, but with no sign of promoter, no sign of the rest of the band, and no hope of explaining to the Taxi driver - 'we have no money'. 30 minutes later, the promoter arrives with the rest of the motley crew and hotel rooms are assigned.

With plenty of time to waste, Pete takes in the Guggenheim museum. (Well, he gets as far as the souvenir shop and buys post cards to, at least, prove he's been there). Some of us attempt to get some sleep, whilst Waz and Chris go in search of Nurofen and Tea - English Tea.

"What time's the soundcheck ?, dinner ?, gig ?" We discover there is no itinerary but plenty of blank expressions. When we do get called for soundcheck, we discover there is no transport, Andy re-discovers his shoulder pain lugging a full flight case with 2 guitars and Rob discovers he's still a fat bastard and doesn't like lugging parts of drum kit across town.

We arrive at Kafe Antzokia a converted Theatre in Bilbao, Basque Country. The drums, keyboards and back-line are generously provided to us by the support band - PROYECTO SECRETO. These guys travelled all the way from Belgium and Chile.

Soundcheck over we are treated to a traditional Basque meal. Salad, bread and oil and vinegar. Fish and Sausage and Mash !

Fed and watered we enter the Twilight Zone that is - waiting around in the dressing room.

Around 11ish we take to the stage and are met by a cracking reception.

Special mentions do go out to the staff of Kafe Antzokia, Jabi Zabala, Leire Labiano (our gorgeous Monitor Engineer) and the PA guys. Also, to the 2 dubious ex-pat Brits one from Leeds, and the Hammers fan from London. Cheers for the hospitality.

Whilst the stage is cleared after the gig, we rest and partake of refreshment, only to discover that the stage has transformed into a bar. Where's Carlton when such events happen ?

Much waving of hands, slowly enunciated English ensures we have no Taxi to get us back to the Hotel. Although we do manage to ensure Buster has a safe ride back as the hernia gives him a little grief.

Kebab time ! - Not quite. After a brief stroll round town, we end up with bacon and cheese rolls and are overwhelmed by the ambience created by the night life, and as Chris says - "isn't it encouraging to find a non-British city where one can freely piss in the streets ?".

Time for bed says everybody.

Apart from Les and Treacle, who like to chat all night - to the sound of CNN news and much farting.

Oh well, only another 40 hours until home.

SATURDAY 12TH

7.30am Breakfast.

9.00am Meet in reception.

9.30am Leave for Train Station. No transport. No Bass player !!

9.50am Arrive Train Station. No Bass Player !!

10.05am Depart for Barcelona. No Bass Player !!

Obviously, TIT of the Tour award goes to Les. Who wakes up late, follows us out of the Hotel, and promptly turns in the wrong direction towards a Train Station we are not going to.

Frantic telephoning, head scratching and much sniggering ensues. Poor Waz bares the brunt of it - again! (Who'd be a tour manager ?) We endure a brief playback of the previous night's gig on mini-disc, and then ajourn to the buffet car, conveniently located in the next carriage. We celebrate the eve of Treacle's birthday, mourn the passing of our bass player, and generally try our best to drown away the prospect of a 6 hour train journey.

Again the itinerary is sketchy to non-existant. But we improvise well. By partaking of more lager and bacardi. Thanks Ron.

Les is found ! The promoter kindly agrees to postpone his holiday for a day and drive Les to Barcelona. We will have a Bass player for this evening's gig. Hoorah!

According to Les - "it was a quiet journey - apart from the Promoter's girlfriend giving me dirty looks whilst completely bollocking her boyfriend".

4.00pm We (the 7) are met at a train station (memory loss here), collected and deposited at a Hotel. Dinner is not available until 9pm (Oh good !)

A promoter is called. Dinner is not available until 9pm (Oh good !) We will be collected after 11pm (Oh good !). We will be on stage after midnight. (Oh good !)

We rest, we wait.

9.00pm We eat. A very nice meal.

We rest, we wait.

SUNDAY 13TH

12.30am We are collected and driven to Plaza Ramon Folch, Bellpuig. Although dark, it seams like we're in an industrial area or something resembling Beirut. We are deposited in a dressing room (yes Treacle - it is like a F**king Bread Bin.) It's a building site tool shed, rattling like buggery from the over-cranked bass bins.

1.30am We hastily set-up on stage. No soundcheck. No time to soak up a beer, let alone the atmosphere.

Echo 4 - 2, This Is Ska .......... essentially we manage to 'Crimp Out' another gig.

3.30am Pack down and depart for Barcelona Airport.

Much relief is felt both by those who suffer an attack of the dreaded 'Red Bladder' on the way to the Airport, but also by those of us who know we're on the way home.

7.00am Take off.

9.00am BST. Arrive back in blighty. Fond farewells to all. Treacle departs to the prospect of Jelly and Ice Cream and ponders thoughts of his proposed new band 'Costa Del Soul'. Les ponders prospects of finding the right train, to the right destination.

Buster, Waz and Rob head for the London Marathon (not for the fitness aspect ! - although highly recommended for each of us !). Buster's new patronage of The Meningitis Trust is greatly welcomed.

Two large coffees for Waz n Rob, a large Guiness for Buster. And so it goes on. Until Rob n Waz slip away to sleep, perchance to dream...........zzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZ