Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

What do you reckon is occuring here and do you recognise anyone in the picture?

That was a trial run of the first London Underground Passenger train, which, curiously, was steam-hauled, not electrically powered. The line was to open a year or so later. The picture depicts them leaving what was, at the time, Paddington Station. It would have been heading East, towards Farringdon maybe?

Don't recognize anyone, no, but I do seem to recall that the Prime Minister or somesuch was on board.  

[Karabiner]

What do you reckon is occuring here and do you recognise anyone in the picture?

That was a trial run of the first London Underground Passenger train, which, curiously, was steam-hauled, not electrically powered. The line was to open a year or so later. The picture depicts them leaving what was, at the time, Paddington Station. It would have been heading East, towards Farringdon maybe?

Don't recognize anyone, no, but I do seem to recall that the Prime Minister or somesuch was on board.  

Egdware Road underground station acccording to the source, which might well have been Paddington at one time.

I thought I spied a chap who looked a little like you with a big black beard and wearing a top hat.

[MANTIS01]

Rod Stewart, or more correctly Sir Rodney Stewart, was seen in Paris yesterday, celebrating the 13th anniversary of his engagement to Penny Lancaster.

Looking pretty cool for a 73 year old, huh?

Click to see full-size image.

Well talking about clothes this fella is the complete fashion icon. Whilst most folk his age are shuffling about in beige M&S ensembles or burgundy coach driver jackets he always steps out looking sharp as a tack.

[Marky147]

Incred pair of daps!

[tikay]

An eye-opening documentary on BBC Four last night featuring the reggae band UB40, named after their album, Promises & Lies.

Cliffs:

8 lads get together in 1978, including brothers, form UB40, & agree to share equally all royalties & income for ever more.

All goes well, they sell 70 million records, including 50 UK chart singles, & perform to sell out crowds at arenas worldwide, touring 10 month per year non-stop.

Soon, they were all millionaires, living the dream, with their own (8 way ownership) record label, studio, & everything.  

This idyllic life continues for 30 years, before it becomes clear that the income they were generating has somehow disappeared, and there's no money to pay the wages.

Lead-singer Ali Campbell quits the band, & soon Mickey Virtue & Astro join him.

Soon, all 8 are bankrupt, had to sell their homes & chattel (great word, chattel), & the finger pointing starts.

The brothers all fall out & have not spoken to each other in 10 years, both sides engage lawyers to sue the others, & the legal bills for each side soon soar past £250,000. They both know if either of them agree to halt litigation, they will have to pay the costs of both sides, neither of whom have a penny to their name. So it continues endlessly.

And so now, in 2018, UB40, despite all that, continue to record & tour. Except that there are now TWO UB40's.

One is named "UB40", the other "UB40 with Ali, Astro & Mickey". (The latter rather in the style of "Jeff Lynne's ELO", which is nothing to do with ELO as we all knew them, just Jeff with pianist Richard Tandy and session musicians).

Between them, over a 30 year period, they lived the dream & made millions, enough to live in wonderful comfort for the rest of their lives. Now, every one of them is busto, the family have been split asunder, & it's all bitterness, recriminations & writs flying back & forth.

Not sure I feel sorry for them, there are far more deserving causes for my sympathy, but it's a pretty sad story. Promises & Lies indeed.

So, if you plan to attend a UB40 gig, make sure you know which UB40 you want to see.





 

  

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

One oddity of the documentary was that it featured all - or most - of UB40's hits down the years, except my favourite.

Memories of happy days this.

[nirvana]

Saw the Ali version at Tring fest a summer or two ago. Deece to accompany alcohol and a warm summer evening

[RED-DOG]

Sounds like the name UB40 is quiet apt.

[Karabiner]

Sounds like the name UB40 is quiet apt.

It was apt as they were all on the dole when they started the band.

[tikay]

Sounds like the name UB40 is quiet apt.

It was apt as they were all on the dole when they started the band.

Correct.

So when those 8 working class lads from Balsall Heath & Small Heath, Birmingham, which is not exactly Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, had made it big time & were all minted, they released this album, to signify their progress.



 

[tikay]

When Ali left the band, the search for a new lead singer alighted on a guy who seemed to fit the bill - Ali's brother, Duncan. That was never going to go down well, and the 2 have never spoken since.

 

[tikay]

Saw the Ali version at Tring fest a summer or two ago. Deece to accompany alcohol and a warm summer evening

You went to a pop festival?

At your age?

Good grief.

Not sure The Chomps would ever be so down with the kids.

[booder]

Sounds like the name UB40 is quiet apt.

It was apt as they were all on the dole when they started the band.

Correct.

So when those 8 working class lads from Balsall Heath & Small Heath, Birmingham, which is not exactly Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, had made it big time & were all minted, they released this album, to signify their progress.



 

Terrific album , in my top ten for sure.

[tikay]

Karabiner posted a nice railway picture for me a few days ago, so by way of returning the favour, here's 2 photos of Herbert Holt, (far right in both photos) who had a Billiard Room in London which Ralph used to frequent, presumably in hustle mode.

Perhaps Ralph will oblige us with one of his stories from his degen snooker days at Herbert's club.

The 2nd photo was Herbert v Joe Davis in a 3 day (THREE DAY) billiard & snooker exhibition.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

By a remarkable stroke of luck, I chanced upon a photo of Karabiner during his snooker heyday.

Click to see full-size image.