Working Wednesdays - Managing a rock band! I managed the Waves in 2006 and we toured Bournemouth, Poole, Southampton and London!

Working Wednesdays: Managing a Rock Band

Of course travel leads you to random job opportunities all the time, some voluntary, some well paid, some just for the hell of it and others because of a pure passion for something (such as my travel writing and organising football events). For today’s Working Wednesdays we head back to a cheeseburger counter in Bournemouth, Read more about Working Wednesdays: Managing a Rock Band[…]

Jonny Blair using his iPod in China

My Top 10 Travel Tunes!

Travellers need music. Sometimes it’s the only thing that keeps me sane on my days of endless bus, train and plane journeys. I have owned an iPod (the same one) for 6 years now, since I was working for Apple and though I have thousands of songs on it, to get me psyched up on Read more about My Top 10 Travel Tunes![…]

Rock and Roll Bands: Manic Street Preachers

I’m surprised its taken me this long to actually do a full post on the Manic Street Preachers, probably my second favourite band of all time (behind Oasis). I’ve been lucky enough to see them 5 times (in 4 different countries) and own all their albums and most of their singles. Unlike Oasis, they take Read more about Rock and Roll Bands: Manic Street Preachers[…]

Manic Street Preachers – International Treasures (Tokyo, Japan 18.05.2012)

Manic Street Preachers first came into my ears about 20 years ago, in 1992 when on a chance radio listen, I was enthused by their hit single “Suicide Is Painless” (Theme From M.A.S.H.). At the time I didn’t realise it was a cover version, nor knew anything about this band. As the 90s progressed I Read more about Manic Street Preachers – International Treasures (Tokyo, Japan 18.05.2012)[…]

“If you wanna be my baby, it don’t matter baby yeah yeah yeah…” Michael Jackson

It really doesn’t matter…but it once did and in some parts of the world it still does and always will. BUT IT SHOULDN’T, OK. I’m hardly justified by posting this, but having now returned to what is considered a more “white culture” in terms of lighter skinned people, rather than darker skinned people. This “black” Read more about “If you wanna be my baby, it don’t matter baby yeah yeah yeah…” Michael Jackson[…]

Goodnight Planet Earth, As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

It was all so surreal like a childhood dream or a Norman Whiteside World Cup goal. Back in 1986 I got the Norman Whiteside World Cup goal. A free kick in an impressive 1-1 draw with Algeria (which we could have won 2-1). That was enough for me in those days. A draw for Northern Read more about Goodnight Planet Earth, As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)[…]

The Last Plane Out Of Sydney’s Almost Gone

Not quite, and “hardly end of the rainbow stuff” (as Del Boy once said to Rodney in ‘Only Fools And Horses’) but I have a flight booked out of Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport this very Friday morning. Not since I was aged 8 have I spent so long in the same country. I will have Read more about The Last Plane Out Of Sydney’s Almost Gone[…]

Manic Street Preachers are back!!

As if they were ever away…last year’s highly acclaimed album, “Journal For Plague Lovers” ranks amongst the best I’ve ever bought. A band with meaningful lyrics. A band drenched deep in history, culture, travel and world politics. I’m even more excited now, at the prospect of a new album…and an Australian tour! Yes that’s right Read more about Manic Street Preachers are back!![…]