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A NEW PAGE OF THE SYCOPHANTIC, THE PSYCHOTIC, AND THE UNCOVERING OF GUILTY SECRETS.... |
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Dear Mr. Clayson, I would like to thank you for being with the Brian Jones Fanclub in Cheltenham last week-end. I really appreciate the trouble you and Mr. Dick Taylor took to entertain us the way you did. Please do tell him when you seen him. I will certainly never forget your astonishing rendition of Paint It Black ! ( I sure hope you've got your voice back ) Kind regards. |
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Hi
Alan, Just felt like saying "hello" to you. I went to school
with you - Farnborough Grammar - left in 1969 to pursue a mega
boring career of academia and business, which I hate. Do you
remember having your sideburn (only one) cut off? Your life
looks like it's been fun and probably still is. I'm really
envious of all the biographies you've written and researched - no
doubt you'd say I could have done it myself. But I didn't and you
did. I think I was in the year ahead of you at school, which only
means one thing - I'm a year older! Anyway, I will continue
to read more of your writings and remain envious. Best of luck to
you. G.M.
Dear G. You're mixing me up with someone called Steve Allen, who was in the year below us. He was also the drummer in some local group whose name escapes me. He was dark; I was blond. Moreover, while you were among the elite "X" stream, I was in the thickest class - and worse - from start to ignominious finish at FGS. For reasons that you, perhaps, were unable to appreciate, I was quite sensitive about my lowly academic status, and an associated comment about it by you led to us turning the air blue during a spat that almost came to fisticuffs at a party hosted by Spot Hopkins while his parents were away. Nevertheless, I recognised a certain intangible affinity between us, and it says much for you that I did not erase your message immediately - as I have when contacted by others from a past that seems like a previous existence nowadays. I notice from your e-mail address that you still live within these islands. If you pinpoint the region, I will send details of any Clayson performances in the vicinity. Maybe we could meet up and exchange persecution complexes. Best wishes - yes, really! Alan. Bloody hell,
Alan, you've got an amazing memory! |
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Hi Alan, A while ago I
helped a mate of mine who was writing a book about the Granary Club
in Bristol. There were lots of details to check, and one of them
was about a gig by Clayson & The Argonauts
(1 October 1977, fee £100!). The story we heard was that there was
a lot of trouble from a big gang of punks that turned up after a
punk show somewhere else was cancelled. Some people reckoned it
could have been the Pistols, but the date makes that unlikely. The
book is now published, but there is a web site for additions and
corrections, so if you can remember the story and who the band that
cancelled were, we'd still like to know! Cheers, S. B. |
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Dear
Kevin, Here is an excerpt from an Amazon review by someone called Christopher "Weirdears" Forbes of Edgard Varese:- "The single worst
book I have ever read...mind-numbingly braindead...don't waste your
money on this drivel". |
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Dear Kevin, Alan Clayson is weird with a capital W. If Des O' Connor was an acid casualty, Clayson would be frightening his audience. He's got the scariest eyes I've ever seen. Indeed, he's a veritable horror figure. His very presence sends a shiver up your spine. He sings like a pantomime dame with a backing pianist on grand piano. He also waves his arms a lot. My companion for the evening, Steve, feels duty bound to mutter, "It,s like Catweazle on acid," and is told to "Shoosh" in no uncertain terms by half the audience". |
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| I get to the Bread and Roses late, I think, but find Robb Johnson sitting at the bottom of the stairs looking unconcerned, so it's alright. I go up and find the room full of people. It's a nice room, and even nicer when there are people in it. I should talk to the management and see if I can get them installed permanently. It appears that I'm on in the second half. Des de Moor is in charge for the evening, and does a couple of songs to begin with and then introduces the Official Support for the evening (I am Official Floorspot) - Alan Clayson. I describe him as "John Otway's Grandad", not that he is. There is a level of chaos to the performance that could be either calculated or not. It really is difficult to tell. His lead guitarist (who turns out to be Dick Taylor of the Pretty Things) is playing through a Marshall stack whilst everything is virtually acoustic, so there was a definite imbalance there. A bit of an outsider artist himself, Mr Clayson is an afficionado as well - it appears that he has written a book about death stars and did an affecting song dedicated to David "Lord" Sutch, of whom he was also a friend, so there. John Peacock. | |
| hi alan! i am the bass player of glassglue, a band you played with at the 12 bar club last saturday 5 november. i was really impressed by your performance. i really thought it was a well balanced and funny blend of music and comedy. i will definitely try and come to see you on 3 december! you have a new fan! :) i don't know whether you heard our performance and liked it or not. but i'm gonna ask you anyway... i'd like to include you mail address to our mailing list. so that you'll be always updated for the forthcoming gigs of glassglue. looking farward to seeing you on stage again, gianluca. Dear Gianluca, Thank
you for your most flattering message. Because I was being sidetracked by
various people and situations demanding attention, I am
unable to offer constructive criticism of Glassglue - except to say that
I found you intriguing enough to want to experience under less
distrating circumstances. Therefore, please keep me informed of
your activities. Also, if you have anything |
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| hi alan, just to say that you've always been an inspiration for me, as i play my onemanplus keyboard solo gigs around the north west. my song COME BACK MADELINE SMITH (remember her?) is now an established manchester anthem. Thanks for showing what can be done!!! john | |
Hiya Alan, We spoke after your cellars
gig last week if you recall and, after
I mentioned the fact I'd emailed you
afore the Argonauts first descended on
Portsmouth in the Summer, you urged
me to write again. So here I am!
As I said to you then, I saw you in
London town - think it was the 100 Club
when you did a peculiarly manic version
of, not only "Arnold Layne", but
"Sweeney Todd The Barber". I refused
to wash the blood off me coat for
weeks afterwards -- until a wayward
dog decided to lick same. However,
the Argonauts roundel stayed
on the jacket for many years
until sun and rain ended its life.
Great to finally get a copy of
your Roundhouse set - shame that
there were just not more to see you
down here (As a bit of an amateur
statistician, I've calculated that,
in all probability, of the 997 people
who attended that show, 698 have got
married/co-habit and 'don't do that
sort of thing anymore', 77 refuse
to admit they were there in the first
place, 67 have died, 46 have been
sectioned, 35 are in prison
[2 for stealing women's underwear from
washing lines], 22 have emigrated,
15 are in bands [5 of whom were inspired
by after seeing yourselves to do same],
13 were persuaded to become barbers
(11 of whom ended up in prison for
re-enacting your Sweeney Todd tricks],
17 are policemen/women, 2 are
strippergrams in a North-east town,
1 is a dog walker in Islington - and
4 are still trying to find their way
out of the Roundhouse toilets.
Such are stats hey??
OK, see you when you return!!! Andy
Dear Andy,
Thank you for your most
entertaining message - which got through
this time. As I mentioned during our
conversation, I suspect that it probably did
previously, but got wiped in error during
a particularly virulent week of spam.
Best wishes. Alan.
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The Thunderbolt show last night was excellent. As you know, the last time I saw you perform was Reading 2006. It's possible that memories become hazy over time but I really thought that the overall performance in Bristol was better balanced and even better than the 2006 show. The new songs, particularly I Hear Voices, are good and I just hope you can keep this going as it improves like a fine wine! Frankly, I think the whole show is much tighter than the one captured on DVD and I wonder if a new live CD might sell to people who make it to the shows. Lorna's only previous exposure to your live work was a solo show in Liverpool (2004?). She also enjoyed the evening greatly and was surprised by the contrast between the band and solo show. Our girls were very tired by the end but were impressed. To be told that you were nearly as good as the Jonas Brothers may not be the ultimate accolade from your perspective. I understand that this is, however, a highly positive comment from a 12 year old. I'd have to say that our consensus about Badger Trap was a lot more negative. Certainly the act was memorable and the artiste was undoubtedly correct when he stated that he had our attention. At the end of the evening I had a quick look around to see if you were free but the dressing room door was closed. I thanked John Harries for a great evening but I think he was in a bit of a rush. Hanging around was not an option as Alice needed some sleep by that time after a full day viewing Bristol's Brunel heritage. I am going to have another crack at this local festival organiser. It is hard to believe that, in the context of a festival in a city that is fast-changing, an evening like that could not be successfully promoted. I look forward to the new CD and seeing the show again sometime. Perhaps we'll even get a few words at that time. With all good wishes D. |
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Hi Alan, Do you recollect playing a free concert at the Abbey Ruins in Reading. I am now 50 and living in Austin, Texas and find myself easing the burdens of insomnia, by trying to unravel memories addled by years of booze. I spent my teens in Reading and think a local band called Justin Cans may also have played, or was it just the Special Brew playing tricks on me again. I thought you guys were just the neatest and newest thing that I had seen. Theraputic help sought !! Cheers and best wishes. D. Dear David, Thank you for your message. Yes, I recall the Abbey Ruins show most precisely. It wasn't one of our best - far from it. You should have seen us on a good day. Justin Canns did not play as far as I recall - though they are genealogically connected with the Argonauts in that our guitarist, Pete Cox, was once their drummer. As you've probably gathered, we're now a functioning group again, and it's not beyond the realms of publicity that we may work in the States some day - as I have already in a solo capacity about ten years ago, during the worst blizzard New York had known for a century. Please keep in touch. Best wishes. Alan |
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thought you were fucking brilliant the other night by the way - from the eye shadow and posturing to the pulsing dramatic and dynamic sound... and thanks for zipping me badger up- all the best for your future appearances /hal (Badgertrap) |
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Dear Mr Dorset, I am writing to thank you. Myself and 3 mates came along to your gig at the Stables last night and to be honest we didn’t really know what to expect. What a fantastic treat it turned out to be – a really professional and outstanding show from start to finish. Without doubt, the best money spent on entertainment in a very long time. Very best regards and have a great Christmas. S.W. |
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Copyright Alan Clayson