gizzard
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BLONDIE BRISTOL ACADEMY 6 JULY.Picked up my good buddy Greg and off we set to Bristol. I had’nt see Blondie since Guilfest 2004 where they played with the Stranglers and the Damned so was really looking forward to this. Had been playing Parallel Lines quite a bit recently to remind me what a fine album it is.
Got to the venues some 20 minutes before the doors open only to find a queue over half a mile long!  The gig had been sold out some weeks in advance so it was’nt really a surprise. Parked the car and joined the queue which was a mixture of old folks(like me) and plenty of youngsters and a few Debbie Harry wannabees.
Got in the venue and managed to get about 2 rows from the front.  Could’nt tell you the name of the support band except to say they were foreign and reminded me of Duran Duran! Thankfully they were only on for about 25 minutes. 
The lights dimmed and the band minus Debbie came on around 9.00ish and started a warm up instrumental which kicked into ‘Hanging On The Telephone’ and then the ageless Debbie came on to a mighty roar. I cannot believe she is 63. She still looks damn good and moved around the stage all night dancing and playing to the crowd like she was 21.
The whole of PL was played in order and the highlight of which was a simply stunning version of ‘11.59’ which to me is the best track on the album.
After PL was played we then got Rapture, Maria, Call Me, Screaming Skin, Necessary Evil, The Tide Is High and a fabulous Atomic plus others and also a fast paced punky version of the Titanic song ‘My Heart Will Go On’.
About halfway through Debbie took off her shoes and threw one deep into the audience, she then threw the other and hit one of the security guys on the back of the head to which she was deeply apologetic. 
She also had before the band came on a vase of Red Roses placed in front of her mike stand and towards the end of the set she took them out and threw them into the crowd and I was lucky enough to grab one.
The band were excellent with the three new guys complementing the three originals and another highlight was watching the drum work of Clem Burke, This guy is amazing! He can throw a drum stick high up in the air catch it and carry on drumming as the hand comes down. Quite stunning.
I do hope this is not the last time I see Blondie and those of you going to see them in Liverpool with our boys are in for a treat.
I took loads of pics and will upload a few to the gallery.
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Claireinblack
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Great review Gizz, cheers !!!!
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PaulinLondon
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Great review Gizz.
Did Clem have a large plastic screen in front of his drum kit ? He did at Guilfest. Apparently, he hits the skins so hard that Debs can't hear herself sing.
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gizzard
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| PaulinLondon wrote: | Great review Gizz.
Did Clem have a large plastic screen in front of his drum kit ? He did at Guilfest. Apparently, he hits the skins so hard that Debs can't hear herself sing. |
Yes he did Paul. And yes does he hit the drums hard or what!
No wonder he wears headphones.
I've uploaded a few pics to the gallery awaiting Jim's approval. 
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Damian
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| gizzard wrote: | | PaulinLondon wrote: | Great review Gizz.
Did Clem have a large plastic screen in front of his drum kit ? He did at Guilfest. Apparently, he hits the skins so hard that Debs can't hear herself sing. |
Yes he did Paul. And yes does he hit the drums hard or what!
No wonder he wears headphones.
I've uploaded a few pics to the gallery awaiting Jim's approval. |
Debbie H. suffers from bad tinnitus and the sound levels are turned down very low on the stage to help this, hence the plastic screen and ear piece monitoring are used to overcome the low sound levels.
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PaulinLondon
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| Damian wrote: | | gizzard wrote: | | PaulinLondon wrote: | Great review Gizz.
Did Clem have a large plastic screen in front of his drum kit ? He did at Guilfest. Apparently, he hits the skins so hard that Debs can't hear herself sing. |
Yes he did Paul. And yes does he hit the drums hard or what!
No wonder he wears headphones.
I've uploaded a few pics to the gallery awaiting Jim's approval. |
Debbie H. suffers from bad tinnitus and the sound levels are turned down very low on the stage to help this, hence the plastic screen and ear piece monitoring are used to overcome the low sound levels. |
Cheers Damian.
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Freddie Laker
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Great review Gizz.
Has the shoe turned up on Ebay yet? 
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gizzard
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| Freddie Laker wrote: | Great review Gizz.
Has the shoe turned up on Ebay yet? |
Not seen it as yet but the rose is in a vase taking price of place in the kitchen.
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Freddie Laker
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Will you be drying it, pressing it and keeping it forever darling ?
If so, Mrs Laker may be able to offer you some wise words as she has floristry experience.
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gizzard
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| Freddie Laker wrote: | Will you be drying it, pressing it and keeping it forever darling ?
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That's exactly what Mrs gizz said.
NOT
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Claireinblack
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| gizzard wrote: | | Freddie Laker wrote: | Will you be drying it, pressing it and keeping it forever darling ?
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That's exactly what Mrs gizz said.
NOT |
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gizzard
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One of mine.
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Claireinblack
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| gizzard wrote: |
One of mine. |
Thanks for that Gizz.
63 ?!!!
She looks good.
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PaulinLondon
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Great picture.
Look at Clem. What a star.
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FenDale
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| PaulinLondon wrote: | Great picture.
Look at Clem. What a star. |
He appears to be in some sort of perspex box - never seen a drummer in a "booth" on stage before, studios yes but not live. Any sound engineers out there with an explanation?
Nice to see Sol Campbell getting in a bit of work during the closed-season!
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Damian
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| FenDale wrote: | | PaulinLondon wrote: | Great picture.
Look at Clem. What a star. |
He appears to be in some sort of perspex box - never seen a drummer in a "booth" on stage before, studios yes but not live. Any sound engineers out there with an explanation?
Nice to see Sol Campbell getting in a bit of work during the closed-season! |
Scroll up to page 1
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FenDale
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| Damian wrote: | | FenDale wrote: | | PaulinLondon wrote: | Great picture.
Look at Clem. What a star. |
He appears to be in some sort of perspex box - never seen a drummer in a "booth" on stage before, studios yes but not live. Any sound engineers out there with an explanation?
Nice to see Sol Campbell getting in a bit of work during the closed-season! |
Scroll up to page 1 |
Thanks for that, obviously missed that as I don't usually read Paul and Gizz's ramblings 
Sorry chaps, don't mean it, honest
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Freddie Laker
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Nice pic, Gizz, and good to see Linford Christie's found employment in the West Country after retiring from athletics.
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gizzard
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From their Russian gig on Wednesday.
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Claireinblack
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| gizzard wrote: |
From their Russian gig on Wednesday.
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One for the Jodie Foster page...???
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BazinBlack
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Great picture, cheers Gizz,
Bazza
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Steve64
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:re | gizzard wrote: |
One of mine. |
I was at this gig too, that is a great pic, never known the Academy packed like that before..
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