Bob makes the headlines

Bob's preparations for a trip to London involved pasting his headline onto boards as promotion for the 'Maybe, maybe, maybe' song...
"Well, that's one way of getting rid of the evidence I suppose," commented a housemate as he tip-toed around the sawdust on the floor to unload the washing machine.

Friday Night at the Railway Tavern, Brightlingsea

Barry playing with the very lively and tuneful local talent.

The Bad Terrorists agreed to play on Friday night at the Railway Tavern, Brightlingsea. Their enthusiasm for the venue was no doubt influenced by the really great tasting 'Crab and Winkle Mild' brewed on the premises; the stage consits of great vats of bubbling beer sitting under a glitterball in front of an open fire; the pub has something for everyone in the Bad Terrorists; good beer for Bob, a glitterball for Barry and an open fire for soilman - Bruce on Bass.

But the Bad Terrorists were not alone, they were joined on stage by Mike whose astonishing lead guitar perfomances allowed Bob to focus on the lyrics, ham up his performances and practise his rock God poses, (arms stretched out and up, head back, eyes rolling) so 'WMD' -World Mating Day- was sung with Gospel style body language... Oh God! All for Terry whose birthday is Feb. 4th, so he claims. Anyway, the Bad Terrorists' songs were uplifted by Rob on electric mandolin from the Forresters Blues Band. Together they produced a rich and melodic sound, acclaimed by the audience to be reminiscent of early Pink Floyd, not the first time Bob has been compared to Syd Barret.

The Bad Terrorists were followed by several other great acts who were all happy to have a drumline added to their music, Barry ended up on stage all evening... behind the bands, at the back, uh, um. Nevermind Barry, one day you'll shine through as for now just sit on your bum and beat your drum, we love it and so did the crowd at the Railway Tavern. The evening wound up with 8 musicians on stage... directed by Terry of the Forresters Blues Band, it seems that good beer bodes well for a good time.

green bob in black and white

Check this link for a sharp picture of Bob taken at the Green Fair gig.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicmcphee/2040968396/

Thumbs up from Jan the Fan

Bad Terrorists played for 'Jan the Fan'. The songs were stylised to cover up the absence of the Hymn book...and without the Hymn book Bob had trouble remembering all the words:a groovy instrumental version of 'headbolt' was played reggae style which annoyed Bruce. Bob chose not to sing the words to his latest song 'Maybe, Maybe, Maybe the McCanns ate their baby' in front of a live audience; instead the audience shuddered to a chilling instrumental version that was quite disturbing enough for a Sunday afternoon. The Doggy song was also cut from the set list in case it upset Lola, Jan's black dog. But 'It's a problem' sounded great, a suitably dreamy and floaty version was played, Bruce of course was rooted to the floor with his eyes closed throughout and it was undeniably Jan's favourite tune of the afternoon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUdSfaYj9F8

Bad Terrorists at the recording studio

Bob, Bruce and Barry splashed out on a day at the recording studio. They loaded up the drum kit and a selection of Bob's favourite homemade guitars, headed down brook street, turned right at the mini roundabout, over the river with the broken lights, took a right at the next even smaller roundabout, first left, followed by a sharp right past all the kids and the Mums and Dads at 'Rollerworld', the van then trundled under the railway line past Mannicks mechanics to Unit One and here they are...
actually this is the band having a tea break, They did take a break even though Bob was very insistent that all 22 tracks could be recorded by 5pm - Adrian doing the mixing wasn't so sure, 4/5 was more usual he told Bob - so, having set up and got themselves ready they went in to the studio and blasted one track after the next into the mics, only hindered slightly by me tripping over wires and bumping into a mike stand in the middle of Abigail Ybarra take 5. My sister was there as a token audience and statutary groupy and she jiggled away in the corner to her favourite tracks and didn't knock anything over.
Adrian needed to go home at 5 so the set list had to be cut short, but 17 tracks were recorded including a version of 'Maybe Maybe Maybe the McAnns ate their baby' and the best version ever of 'I'm a drummer in a rock n'roll Band', one of Barry's songs.

knobhead's ode to pickups

Bob is making yet another guitar...

As Bob was drawing the shape for yet another guitar he contemplated all its parts; the neck that would be cut and hand carved from a chunk of rare mahogony, he muses over a variety of head shapes, whether to stick with traditional designs or something more radical, and then there's the question of pickups: Bob went off on one about pickups; Bareknuckle pickups, humbuckers, and about the number of times each wire is wound round the piece of metal and how the sound gets effected.

Uh, um, if you say so Bob.

The trip into the fine details of what makes the best ever pickups got him thinking about the people who actually make them - Abigail Ybarra - came to mind. So, after imagining a lifetime spent winding metal the size of a hair around a rod 800 times he got the feeling of a song, circular music that makes your head go round and round very slowly supporting lyrics that tell the tale of the most celebrated pick ups winder ever and her steadfast dedication to the guitar making industry, "she's been winding pick ups for over 50 years", goes the song.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bad+terrorists+abigail+ybarra&search=Search

Bob recommends the use of hand wound in UK ' Bare Knuckle' pickups, check the website ...

http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk

Bad Terrorists at the Green Fair

Bad Terrorists were invited to play at the Green Fair, St. Mary's Arts Centre on Saturday 27th October after a chance hit on youtube with Bob's song inspired by the green agenda of all the political parties in the elections last May:-
-----------------------------------
I'm going green
If you know what I mean

I used to be blue for a year or two
You wouldn't call me red now that we're nearly dead

My carbon footprint is nearly 8
I'm gonna change colour before it's too late

The summer solstice is now April the first
That's time for a new tax now open up your purse

Watch out for hot air
It's engulfing everywhere
-----------------------------------------------------
Could Bad Terrorists 'Going Green' become the Green Party anthem?
You decide...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNKoXulRHrs
The song got the green feet tapping, green hands clapping and the party members singing along. But, uh um, the Bad Terrorists carbon footprint rose to embarrasing levels as they couldn't help themselves turning up the amps, just a little now and then.
Green Bob was wearing his peas in the pod bandana and wishes that his brussel sprout plants were looking as good as the Bonka sprouts pictured above.
A jolly green time was had by all.

Lady Dre reviews gig at the curve bar 25th Oct. '07

If you weren't at the Curve Bar I hope you were at St. Mary's Art Centre because there's no other good reason to miss the Bad Terrorists debut gig.

The three piece warmed up with a 'Chemtrails' a track that is driven with noisy rythm guitar and lyrics inspired by a conspiracy theory about unusual cloud formations. This was followed by several numbers with a military theme; 'Don the Cammo', 'Friendly Fire' then 'Fingernail Factory' that paid homage to the Banana Splits.

Bruce on the bass was cool and steady later confessed he'd had to keep still because he couldn't see as he was wearing non-prescription sunglasses with hologram eyeballs.

Barry on drums was an overnight sensation with his 2 drum song solos. This was followed with 50 seconds of exhilharating punk sound in 'Nothing', that left the audience gasping but the second part of the set had less of a buzz after Barry's 2 solos. It was a family affair with the bands girls (sisters) and two brothers in the band.

The lyrics are a social/political commentary with tracks you can dance or sing along to and some great lyrics from Bob Breeks, 'Oops I've been caught with things I haven't bought, in fact I actually nicked'em' ... So, if you missed the Bad Terrorists' excellent gig at the Curve Bar on Thursday 25th then catch them at the Green Fair on Sat. October 27th at St. Mary's Art Centre.

Bob's anti social behaviour

Bob's poster campaign inviting the nice and comfortable, sleepy, middle class residents of Colchester to the Bad Terrorists forthcoming gigs at the curve bar and the green fair has annoyed the council.

Bob received a summons:"can I have a word with you in my office please Bad Terrorist Bob, the council have made objections to your poster campaign and have imposed a fine of £75".

Furthermore Keith Jelly Bag from the headling band for the gig couldn't resist a tut tut text to Bob - this caused a tough response from the Bad Terrorists - so Keith what have you spent on advertising?

Poster campaign no. 2 has now been officially scrapped, Bob's motorbike and pillion rider with a brush and a bucket of wallpaper paste will stay off the streets ... for now.

Check the link below for Bob singing "Oops I've been caught..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjfKIgTEE1k

Bruce away on tour

Bruce on bass is taking a break from Bad Terrorist's rehearsals as he tours with Dylan James.

http://www.roadtov.com/profile/12804

Bonka interviews Barry, on being 'Always at the Back'.

Barry Garnham,the Bad Terrorists drummer in the heady, early day when he was proud to be behind the drum kit. Click on the link below to check out Barry's latest drum song, 'always at the back' just released on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZJHJTjlWw0

The Song has alerted the band to the plight of the drummer, Becky Bonka interviews Bob and Barry to get the full picture.

What was the inspiration behind the song 'Always at the back' ?

Barry; There wasn't any, it just came, like...


Would you describe it divine inspiration Barry?

Barry; NO...just, can't actually explain where the lyrics came from, umm, umm, I am a drummer, the words just came to me and I typed out the words to the song. The words come naturally from feelings of being always at the back.

The song is about wanting to play under spotlight and glitterball, and that you don't want to play your drums in the sand, can you explain where you're coming from?

Barry; Didn't enoy going to the beach as a child, um, er, I don't like sand or knitted beachwear.

Did it take much persuasion for the band to perform your song and let you sing?

Barry; Only one person, me, the drummer, can sing that song.

Barry, this is your second drummer song, will there be more to come?

Barry; I've written 19 songs for a solo drummer album 'The plight of the drummer'.

Will your album be produced with the co operation of the band?

Barry; Um, generally will be played in a band situation...but I don't NEED THEM because if they listen to the songs and try to understand the lyrics, er, I don't enjoy playing with them, at the back.

Is this a Bad Terrorists'split? The drummer planning to launch a solo album? Will you be producing your album under the name Bad Terrorists?

Barry;Not exactly a split, just a concept album, a drummer album, all the songs are about drumming, er, no - my drumming, my songs, not Robert's songs and Bruce doesn't write songs - the drummer album will be under the band name 'Bad Terrorist too'.

Did you ever consider singing or playing guitar yourself?

Barry; I can if I want, but I dream of having the guitarist and the base player singing 'I'm always at the back...' I'm not resentful.

Er,Are you happy as a drummer in a Rock'n Roll band? Why play the drums?

Barry; Because I'm a drummer...Stupid Question.

playing live

All the Bad Terrorist's attempts to play live earlier this year had been thwarted: firstly by the headgate theatre back in April when 'Terror' the musical was deemed unfit for the sensibilities of Colchester theatre goers and the second attempt at Wivenhoe Mayfair, when the Bad Terrorists were moved on by the police as part of a tea time curfew. Bruce's back garden, filled with friends and family of the band provided a secure venue for the first live performance of Bob's songs, and the drummer song, of course. (The band has an inclusive approach to song writing, anyone can have a go, so Barry's drummer song, by popular demand was included in the playlist).

Zoe Zu - a former member of the band -(for 2 rehearsals), felt inspired to join Bob singing "I don't listen to the radio," she supported Bob tunefully as well as herself and 18month old Lolly, until the 3rd line of the song when she unfortunately toppled backwards onto the drum kit and the stage lighting - CRASH, CLATTER OF CYMBALS, GASP FROM BARRY, SHATTER OF BROKEN GLASS and a THUD - then quiet and dark. A show stopping performance by Zoe ZU.

Zoe's rock'n roll moment was timely, Bruce's legs had begun to ache, due to playing bass in the flamingo position; nevermind, now he has given up his 9 to 5 office job, he might have the time to mend his guitar strap. Anyway, the experience of Zoe and Lolly crashing into his drum kit may have prompted Barry to express a deeper appreciation of his drums; he now proudly sings of the 'oyster shell veneer' in the lyrics of his latest drum song. Bob modified the words to 'Fucking Hate Traffic Wardens' for the children of course and his Mum, really enjoyed the chocolate cake made by Marley.

FORMING THE BAND

Bob and Alan Wah Wah Blackwell thrash out 'Chocolate Muffin' on Bob's Homemade guitars.




Alan's guitar, handmade by Bob (pictured right of photograph)was back on loan from SPARKS tour October 2006 where it was played by guitarist Josh Klinghoffer. Now that Alan had his guitar back they made lots of noise together playing Alan's song about cakes. The energy consumed playing noisy wah wah guitar solos was soon replaced as Alan munched his way through a selection of sticky sweet confection throughout every rehearsal until it was mentioned to him - by a day job collegue - that actually sugar carbs were more likely to increase the waistline than other carbs, subsequent rehearsal snacks switched from cakes to foul flavoured pringles. Sadly, Alan Wah Wah's vocation to sell mortgages, overrode his enthusiasm for playing 'Chocolate Muffin' and Velvet Underground covers and he stopped playing with the Bad Terrorists. (Shhh, well, Alan Wah Wah failed to turn up to rehearsals around December time 2006 when the Bad Terrorists was formed). Being a Bad Terrorist is not everyone's cup of tea and cake.



Then Minors Aspired to being Bad Terrorists

Benny and Teymour played their wacky new hand built guitars during a bad terrorist rehearsal.

Click on the link below to a video of Ben and Teymour in Rehearsal.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=benny+and+teymour+in+rehearsal&search=Search

Good effort on the backing vocals side of things but they need more practice with their guitars. Benny can already strike a convincing rock pose no. 1 and has great potential as a rock God demonstrated by his enthusiasm to turn up the amp.

Next up: Zoe zu