Any body watched “The Right Stuff” – not the movie – the documentary – superb , the US had a few test missile explosions while trying to get Alan Shepard into space , finally launch day came and Shepard was in the Mercury module , they had 3 hours of niggling gremlins and they were getting uptight – finally Shepard shouted over the intercom ” Light this candle and lets go” – and they did – one brave man !!.

What was the rocket called – was it an Atlas ?? , I heard Vanguard mentioned too – were these used ??

Originally posted by SteveYoung
Something’s been nagging away at the back of my mind for a few years – the desire to actually see one of these things lift off. Just out of curiosity more than anything else, I mean I’ve seen lots of pretty spectacular things in my time, but watching a rocket or a shuttle mission blast off the pad must be the absolute ultimate. Anyone know whether it’s possible to pitch up in Florida and watch one go up?

Steve , my boss ( sorry , old boss – he got made redundant last Friday ) did just that , apparently there is a website giving approximate launch dates – so he just combined a holiday in Florida with a bit of Shuttle launching . He said there are areas set up for spectators but it’s a couple of miles away across some swamp , he turned up early as people turn up in droves to see it , he said it was awesome – he watched the ignition and a second later a noise like someone tearing the sky up , he was well impressed – pure , raw power .

I don’t think any of us or the Armed Forces are going to have any say in the destination of any of the Iraqi aircraft – no doubt there will be some unscrupulous dealer out there who intends to use the confusion at present to export the Fury and other airframes for further sale .

While talking about Hornets , A while back there was a rumour that a gentleman from the Edinburgh area had some Hornet parts and was looking for plans etc , with a view to building a static airframe ?? , doe’s anybody know anything about it ??

Originally posted by Ren Frew
Nothing wrong with a bit of Ozzy ! He’s playing the SECC in October I think ? Might take a mosey down there.

I’ve seen him a few times starting with the Bark at the Moon Tour 1982 ?? ( still have the T-shirt must look up the date ) I was only 14 at the time, then Donington – that was good , pitch dark , total silence then the opening bars of Mr Crowley started , that made the hairs on the back of my head creep !!!. I might actually get tickets for the SECC to try to rejuvinate myself !!

Originally posted by Ren Frew
1984 was my first time at the Barrowland during the Unforgettable Fire Tour aged 14. (I was tall from an early age so I mangaged to sneak past the under 18 police ok.)

I ‘d love to see U2 again at that point in their career musically. They were still something else live and still making every show something unique. I’ve got a bootleg tape of the 84 show I attended and can’t believe just how alive that night was and how much they’ve changed since then.

I saw them again in 1987, 1992, and 1993. 1987 was the last time I saw them just play a gig on a bare stage without big lighting and stage gimmicks. That was possibly the best U2 gig I’ve ever been to. I’ve kind of lost interest in them as a live act since they became stadium rockers but I still listen to the music. 😎

The Old Grey Whistle Test ran a session with SLF for half an hour and U2 for half an hour – I don’t suppose you could ask one of your TV colleagues to find it for us !!!!!!!!!!!

Originally posted by Arthur
New Order is nice, but IMHO nowhere near as good as Joy Division. Interesting about Joy Division is, that Ian Curtis never reached the same level of moronic adoration which seems to have happened with Jim Morrison (yuk) or Kurt Koppijn.

The Cure – yes, but the older the better.
Smashing Pumpkins – If i’m in the mood for pompous bombast i think it’s great. But only then.
Cocteau Twins – OK, but not enough to warrant a tape of them somewhere in my car.

Why hasn’t anybody mentioned Killing Joke yet? Still alive and recording too.

I absolutely hate the Doors. A former housemate of mine totally adored them and had this strange fetish for Jim Morisson (“He was definately the greatest poet ever!”) which turned my attitude of not liking them into utter disgust. I tend to sing Modern Talking or something whenever a Doors song is playing.

Very good point about Ian Curtis – maybe he just wasn’t photogenic enough , every video I’ve seen of Joy Division he looks seriously stoned.

Killing Joke !!! ,

Red Sky in the Morning ,
Four Minute Warning,

Lets Go ( To the Fire Dances )

The new single “Loose Cannon ” is superb – the video is a bit bizarre – a Maori breakdancer body popping while singing along!!

I have a load of EP’s on Vinyl – must look them out , Jaz Coleman is a serious nutter , superb ( he went to live in Iceland as he thought the world was going to end ?? , then announced he was going to live in Colombia as the Coke was cheaper)

Anybody remember Xmal Deutschland ?? , what about Gary Numan – his new stuff is pretty good.

Anyone into the following:

New Order, The Cure, Smashing Pumpkins, Cocteau Twins….

Yup , except The Smashing Pumpkins – I don’t like Billy Corgan for some reason – just can’t get into them .

Anybody ever listen to John Peel’s Festive 50 ?? , on a 1992 tape I have a song called “Commercial Rain ” , I think it’s an Inspiral Carpets track ?? , but can’t find it on any of their albums , anybody any ideas ???