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 Captain Sensible, If over fishing, of one species, produces a glut (sometimes something referred to as a plague) of another species - will careful fishing (and eating) of the glut species redress the balance?
Pam, Babybob of Beldycott.
 Good question, but I'm not sure there would be many takers for jellyfish recipes as THAT's what is the main beneficiary of selective overfishing in the waters around Europe. I got stung by one while swimming in the Med.... and looking around me was horrified to find I was surrounded by the bloody things. It was a slow and laborious return to the shore avoiding any more of the sods I can tell you. Jamie Oliver has his work cut out to get jellyfish on the British dinner table though. |
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Hi Captain. As a keen collector of your records I was wondering whatever became of the I'm A Spider 12". It was listed in Record Mirror as a potential release in late 1983 and even mentioned an extra track Telex From Spain which to this day I've never heard. Have you a copy of the track lying around? Also who wrote The Power of Love? The credits for the song changed from B. Jones to yourself on a reissue.
P.S. I have The Whip soundtrack for which you produced the band A Short Commercial Break. I read they did a John Peel session with more covers of theme tunes to adverts and would love to hear it.
Nick, Liverpool
Did the Spider 12" not come out? I haven't a clue I'm afraid as I didn't collect any of my records at the time.
I too would love to hear the Short Commercial Break session to which you refer, maybe someone would plonk it up on t'net somewhere and tip me off via my Facebook.
I loved the review they got in one of the music papers.... Short Commercial Break - their set was short.... they were not at all commercial..... and they don't deserve a break. Frightfully witty Wilde! |
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My dearest Captain - In your career, what music lessons have you taken? I'm counting "piano with Mrs. Noggin when you were nine", but also anything once you became a, ahem, rock star. It's easy to think of rockers as just getting up there and having a go at it, but surely there'd be some benefit to working with a teacher now and again. Has that happened for you? You're one of the gems. Don't ever quit.
Kirk Glerum
I had one guitar lesson where I took in a record that I wanted to learn saying "teach me how to play THIS". Probably something by the Kinks or Small Faces as I was big on THEM at the time. The bloke told me I had to learn scales first so I never went back instead learning everything by ear from the records. While using this method gives you an inferior technique it DOES teach you how to jam and improvise, which is how I can manage to pick out semi correct basslines when playing other peoples songs at impromptu gigs having never actually heard the tunes before. The secret is.... if in doubt mime! |
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Hi, Cap! How's it going? First of all, thanks a lot for things you have no idea you've done for me and for others; problems, rainy days, subway and train trips, depressions, fights with my parents and friends, life in general, every day's revolution and anorexia recovery wouldn't have been the same without musicians like you... really.
Now, here's my question: Being from such a far away side of the world, I've always wanted to know what someone like you thinks about anticapitalist and/or anti-imperialist social movements, such as the Zapatistas, or 'left' governments like the ones in Venezuela or Bolivia...Or What's your opinion on Cuba, the relationship between the USA and latin america, etc?
- Of course I'd also love to ask if you're ever gonna come and play here, but that can wait, I'm a very hopeful person who likes surprises... thanks again!
Ani, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Well, thanks for the opportunity but I don't want to come over all anti American.... and the English have their own history of Imperialist misadventures anyway so may I just say that when Blair let Pinochet scuttle away from his date in a Spanish court my heart sank as nobody who commits crimes against humanity should be allowed to get away with torture and murder with impunity.
Why does Washington seem to love fascist dictators like Augusto Pinochet, when the likes of Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez who nationalize the countries oil industries and build schools and hospitals with the proceeds are persona non grata for some reason or other.
Beats me. |
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Hi Cap'n. As you are a conniosour of excellent beers, do you have a favourite to recommend that we could all purchase and enjoy as we sit and listen to the Damned of course? Would you consider the Damned having a tour with Hugh Cornwell in the future?
John
Since the breweries attempt to foist keg beers on the drinking public in the 70s and the fightback by CAMRA there's plenty of great beer to be had in pubs up and down the country. Check out the CAMRA yearbook.
My faves?
Dark Star Brewery - Hophead / Oakham Ales - Inferno / Fuller's - London Pride / Young's Special
From the USA:
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale / Stone Breweries Arrogant Bastard Ale (which the tour manager banned on one US tour having been the cause of several disturbances backstage) /
Sam Adams Boston Lager
Belgian and German:
Too many to name but a few years ago, while gigging in the south of Germany I fell in love with the wonderful beer from Bavaria's Postbrauerei, and not just because they have animals on their labels. |
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Hey Cap. L-O-N-G time Damned fan (since Marquee July 77 with Moped). Years ago I had a lovely old C90 I recorded from a Peel show when he did the 'ex Damned' sessions: King, White Cats & Tanz Der Youth. Loved the King tracks especially - Baby Sign Here With Me & Anti-Pope plus two others whose titles I don't recall. Anyway, I lent the tape to a pal who was stupid enough to get his car broken into & have all his cassesses nicked. And mine. Is there anywhere I can get these recordings & can you remind me of the two other tracks (one pop, one punk I seem to remember)?
Nige Narcotic
Nice punk name you have there Nige. You could've been in Eater with that one, laughs. The other 2 King Peel session tracks were 'My Baby Don't Care', co-written with Johnny Moped (one of his American rock star fantasy lyrics) and 'Jet Boy, Jet Girl'. Once again there's no way of getting hold of this apart from copying from someone who has it. Best of luck. |
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Good news. Huey Lewis is recoding a new album. Have you ordered your copy yet?
Brian P
That is indeed sensational news, especially if it contains songs of the calibre of 'It's Hip To Be Square'. |
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Hey Cap'n, long time fan of your work and of course The Damned. My problem is this, I can't find much Damned tablature to work out what your doing at the start of the brilliant P9 C7 just after you've played the open low 'E' note. I reckon you're doing a 2 note bend but if you would be so wonderful as to explain your activity in the first 10 seconds of the song say, then i'd be really chuffed (interestingly you don't play this part on the side 4 Black album live).
Craig, Edinburgh
Thanks Craig but I simply don't understand tab or staves so cannot describe that guitar intro to ya.... even if I knew wot it was as, once it's played that's pretty much that. I haven't listened to the song for decades.... played it of course, but with different widdly diddly stuff each time. There is a Damned message board frequented by some excellent guitarists who may be able to help you though. |
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I am pondering over the marvelous 'There Aint No Sanity Clause' track. Did Giovanni Dadomo write the whole song, or was it just the lyrics that he supplied? I recall Paul Gray saying once that you wrote the main riff, based on the Buzzcocks 'Lipstick' riff. Also was the song recorded at the same time as the Black album session?
Barry, Chichester
I believe it was Magazine's 'Shot By Both Sides' that inspired this one..... same riff as The Buzzers song though, right enough.
Giovanni was a good chum of the band, one of a few journos that we treated at all pleasantly - no wonder the music press steered clear of us wherever possible with the consequent repercussions for out 'FAME QUOTA'. Gio wrote the autobiographical lyric for us, a later version of which follows - revamped during an xmas tour for the Patricia Morrison lineup.
Happy Talkin Captains' tutu's too tight
Means there'll be no more snookering you tonight
P just looks bemused to be on foreign Shores -
AH HA There ain't no Sanity Clause [x4]
[Chorus]
Vanians got a visit from a guy named Drac
Says he's from the bloodbank wants his 10 pints back
Singers rather sickly when it rains it pours -
Oh no, there ain't no Sanity Clause [x4]
[Chorus]
Did you expect that I would believe
the tale you told last Xmas eve
About the man that man is fat and round
Delivers gifts without a sound
[Solo]
[Chorus]
Monty Oxy Moron's Mozart on natural gas
Always playing symphonies out of his ass
Pinch's about to get tied up with Las Vegas laws,
Oh No, there ain't no Sanity Clause
Ho Ho Ho etc |
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An obscure and seemingly privately recorded song was put in a web site for discussion about it's origins. Here is a link to the thread and site.
The song in question is quite a sweary affair and the disc and song contain no clues that anyone outside the recording of it could understand. Here is a link to the song on Youtube.
We have already asked the following and got nowhere:
Brian Conley (denied all knowledge), Robert Llewellyn, Tony Hawks and a few others including a myspace site that is apparently of yourself but that could be run by anyone. If you have any info or thoughts we would be happy to know about them.
Martin Titterington, Chatburn
I can see why the finger of suspicion might be pointed at my good self..... That track is simply Croydon - through and through!
My memory is not what it used to be but if I was possibly involved it must've been a riot in the studio with gallons of strong ale flowing cos I can remember nowt about it.
For some reason use of the 'C' word is still frowned upon in polite society - but it still gets ample airing in the streets of Croydon on a daily basis. Oh, and on the terraces of my beloved (and bankrupt, boo hoo) Crystal Palace FC too of course.
It is also by far Monty's favourite profanity after he's had a few. Which he most certainly does - fairly often. Belch! |
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Hello Captain, Do you know where I can get downloads of songs like Brenda, Martha the Mouth, and Geoffrey Loosens His Tie? I'd love to download to my ipod and expose others to some "sensible" music. All the Best.
John, Clearwater, FL, USA
I know it may be an old fashioned idea in this day and age but if you pop over to Captainsensible.com these records (real ones with sleeve notes, pics and plastic case, etc) are available for purchase at a reasonable price...... and I'll sign 'em too if so required. Cheers John. |
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Dear Ray, While looking through my vinyl Damned collection I discovererd there are still some great tunes unissued on the cd-reissues. For instance 'Fun Factory' (featuring Robert Fripp). Or 'I'm so Bored'. The fiddling about version of 'Sanity Clause' (my all time Damned favorite). And of course there might be more. The Schoolbullies song with Magic Michael. You could even include an extra cd with your Crass-single. And of course 'Jet Boy, Jet Girl', with The Softies from Amsterdam. A cd with all the oddities from The Damned, the perfect Christmas-gift...
Dieter Bruls, Amsterdam(ned)
Once you have left a label they do pretty much whatever they want with your music.... not necessarily always to the bands liking either. Not that that comes into consideration as the band is often seen more as an annoyance in record company offices - asking for this, complaining about that. Why can't all re-issues be by deceased artists you can imagine them wishing.
I had a devil of a time getting my Cherry Red 80s cds done right - boy did I fight my corner, with the result that they did turn out fairly ok in the end. I dread to think what they'd have been like if I hadn't badgered, cajoled and yes.... threatened the buggers occasionally!
As you say, a nice collection of Damned obscurities would seem to make sense - we'll see what we can do (now where's those boxing gloves) |
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Captain, Not so much of a question but a (very, very) belated thank you.
I was (and am still) a big and very early Damned fan. Back at the Hammersmith Clarendon one night in 79 I stopped you at the bar and asked you the chords for Smash It Up. Not only did you take the trouble to tell me them, you also gave me some time to go find a pen and paper and wrote them down for me. Way back then my then girlfriend, now long time wife worked in a book shop in Piccadilly and used to send you Flashman paperbacks.....I wonder if they ever got there. I was a struggling guitarist then and I still am, but much improved!!!
Lastly.....do you remember the Shepperton Studio gig and some idiot decided to fire tomato sauce at you from one of those tomato shaped containers...all over the SG....not sure it was what you would have chosen!!
Peter
Yes, thanks for the Flashman novels..... I read every one of them - cackling away like a goodun while doing so.
Harry Flashman is a wonderfully flawed character to base historical novels around - a incompetent drunken coward, liar, bully and serial womanizer.
As an anti hero he appealed to the Damned of the late 70s as we were going through what I affectionately refer to as the 'CHAOS YEARS' where any disaster could and usually did occur while the band were seemingly intent on auto destruct. How we survived relatively unscathed is beyond me - maybe Mr Vanian has some portraits in his attic of hideous old punks that he keeps hidden at all costs........ |
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Dear Cap, After seeing your recent gig in San Francisco, I have listened to So Who's Paranoid about 50 times (partly a function of the ipod replaying the same album when I have the cat sitting on my lap and I can't get up, but also cuz I love it!) I am curious--who sings on Dark Asteroid?
Also, I am intrigued by the use in many Damned songs of barely audible chatter and nature sounds. Very cool--who comes up with this stuff? I hope you guys go into the studio again, cuz that means a tour, right? Your music continues to inspire me, make me smile, sing, jump around, etc.
Deb, San Francisco
Thanks Deb. The key to understanding the vocal on 'Asteroid' is to understand that Mr Vanian is actually a pretty accomplished actor. He would have been great in movies, you should hear him in the van as we travel to gigs - impersonations, character voices and whole chunks of dialog from films, it can get quite entertaining I can tell you!
So, in Dark Asteroid he is acting - It's not 'HIM' singing.... He's in character. But who is he playing I hear you ask? My theory is he is singing the song as Johnny Deep playing Syd Barrett. Play it again and see if I'm not fairly close to the truth here! |
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Fancy getting involved with a LOVE MUSIC / HATE RACISM concert in Barnsley? It's to show the BNP that were not going to stand for that S**T This is a national thing.. but it would be great if you could come up maybe do something on the main stage or at our afternoon gig where 10 venues are holding 10 gigs before the main outdoor gig starts at 6pm, it has be rumoured that the Specials are playing. Might be a great platform for the BLAH party to pick up some voters! Hope you can help.
Gravedigger
I haven't got a current solo outfit to gig with and am a little out of practice with that material (forgotten it? - ed) but if I did this would be the first date on the list.
This racist garbage, whipped up by the tabloids in a time of financial uncertainty and unemployment has gained converts amongst the dissafected working class - while the bankers are once again running off with vast bonuses under their very noses.
It's classic divide and conquer stuff when as human beings we are all in the recession (let alone the climate change) crisis together...... I've got nothing against Muslims, Poles, Afro Carri-beans or even the French. In fact, I love the latter most of all 'cos they put Wot at No 1 in their charts for 7 weeks running!
Good luck with the gigs Brian.... and if anyone out there fancies helping out with the Blah! thing do get in touch as I'm pretty slack at organising anything at all..... and it's a fun way to get some occasionally serious points over while being completely dogma free. Therefore we can say wot we bloomin' well want, like pointing out the elephant in the room that everyone else seems to be ignoring.
Things like we can't afford any more warmongering because the nation is f****g bankrupt.
Like if we invested in renewable energy technology now the country would be well placed to export these systems to the rest of the world which will shortly be coming to terms with a future with no oil.
Etc, etc.......... |
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Hi Captain, In the year of '79 I went to my first Damned gig (in fact my first concert) at the Brighton Top Rank and have never been the same since.
For the next 23 years I travelled the country seeing the many different lineups of the Damned and many formations such as Naz Nomad, The Phantom Chords, Punk Floyd, The Stink Insects (Rat and Brian).... the list goes on. Many memorable gigs like Brockwell Park 1984 (where Ken Livingstone refused to join you for Anarchy in the UK), The 2 dayer at Milton Keynes Bowl (where you were joined on stage by Joey R), The Punk All Dayer at Birmingham (with Sham 69), the double headliner at Brixton (with The Ramones), your reunion gig in Wales, The Fan Club gig at The Town & Country, and great days at the now defuncted Hammersmith Palais.
Then 7 years ago I decided to move to Denver Colorado USA, settle down and get married, alas I have only been able to catch you once over here for a short support gig to the Misfits at the Fiend Fest. I keep promising my wife she WILL see you live one day. I wrote to the "Ask Captain" pleading for the Damned to return to Denver and to my surprise you answered saying next visit to the USA you will try to make it. Last year to my surprise, Denver was amongst the tour dates (Captain had kept his promise). I checked the dates and guess what???
I would be in Maryland at the time (1,000s of miles away at my sisters). I searched venues near her and booked up Pittsburgh the night before her wedding. It took her some convincing a Damned concert and an 8 hour drive (4 each way) was worth every bit and we would still make it back in time (hopefully!!). However, just 2 days before the gig, the tour was announced as cancelled due to visa issues and we would miss you lot once again. BTW... We also lost our ticket money as the venue's "Joker Productions" never refunded the money.
2010, we book our trip to England for May having to return to the USA on the 21st, the proposed start of your new tour dates. Therefore my question is.... Will we ever get to see you again or are you deliberately avoiding us :-)
Phil Gander, Denver Colorado USA (Originally from Worthing, West Sussex)
That's criminal not getting ticket refunds.... It can't be right. Demand your money back and if it doesn't happen please write back.
I'm still unsure who's to blame for our visas being put in the slow lane, we applied several months in advance of the shows and purchased flights, employed crew, booked hotels, etc but for some reason our applications got considerably more time consuming scrutiny than usual.
Apart from that, thanks for reminding me of some of those gigs. I remember in particular the Brockwell Park one with Paul Weller and the lovely Hazel O'Conner. We had a right laugh with 'Red Ken' backstage but he simply wasn't up for joining us during the show. Very nice bloke though..... especially for a politician. |
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Do you think President Obama is worth a shit?
Ron Riot, Dallas, Tx
I think we have here a well intentioned, intelligent man who is floundering due to circumstances beyond his control. I find it amazing that poor people who really should be supporting his health-care package are swallowing the fox news line that its some evil communist scheme that has already been a disaster in the UK.
Our national health service is the jewel in Great Britons crown, and the nurses and doctors who work hard there are nothing short of national heros. So when I hear them being slagged off in the US media to score points against Obama's health reforms it makes my blood boil.
As for his middle east policies, sure - he should bring the troops back home immediately..... and while he's at it end the nightmare for the peoples of Gaza and the West Bank but then United States presidents dont tend to tell Israel what to do that often nowadays. |
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Capt. Seeing as how you are familiar with ex Hawks Nik and Lemmy, how do you stand with the current Hawkwind situation, I mean are you a Dave Brock or a Nik man? Staying on this subject what is your favourite Hawkwind era and are you a Gong man? You old hippy!!!
Al
Actually, I was never a massive Hawkwind fan preferring quintescence and the pink fairies for that early 70s festival music vibe.
Lemmy of course is more than just an honorary punk - he lived down Portobello Rd when we were all forming the bands in 75 / 76 and would let you sleep on his floor if you couldn't get home after a gig...... there were no night buses in the mid 70s dontcha know! Lem's the real deal, theres nothing phony or disappointing about him... current rock stars take note!
Nik Turner had a fabulous punk prog hybrid band called 'Inner City Unit' who records I occasionally collaborated on. Well worth checking out.... especially the track 'Raise The Bones Of Elvis'. Here's a clip of them murdering Glen Miller's 'In The Mood'.
You don't hear so many nice things spoken about Dave Brook though, it has to be said. I'm told there's one in every band...... |
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Hey Cap, Ummmm... How much are to hire for a private party? (For Solo or The Damned)
And If you were a fruit or vegetable, what you be and why? Have you seen my latest animations? I have made one to the turkey song and have university interviews coming up and showing a few then! Might get some new Damned fans on the way! Hey Hey! And can you give me the most random fact in the world?
Olivia (Jet Boy Jet Girl)
Ha ha. Youre the one who ruined the show in Oxford..... I hope you've been practicing on guitar you never know, you may get invited up to jam again sometime!
Anyone can book a Damned performance through our long suffering agent Chris Monk at officialdamned.com, things must be going well of late however as he's shaved off the worry beard he used to tug on incessantly.
And if I was a fruit I'd probably prefer to be a pear cos they're my fave. I find there is only one optimum day to consume a pear once purchased.... eat early and you'll lose your teeth they sell them so hard, leave too late and the things just gone to mush. Bit like the old career, laughs.
A random fact? Trains in the early days of the London underground were hauled by steam locomotives with no roof covering for the poor old driver. This was to discourage him and the guy with the shovel from stoking the fire too much.
PS - We like your animations too - very clever indeed Madam.
Acquiring younger fans is vital for any band but is not easy when you consider the fact that the Damned get almost zero support from the UK media for some reason or other...... so get them animations out there Olivia! |
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Hi Ray, I am from Austria and really like your music - especially the LP's "Women And Captains First" and "The Power Of Love" from the 80's. I am still listening to all those great songs when I am driving around in Vienna with my car. So a while ago I asked myself if there will be ever a chance to see Captain Sensible again - live on stage performing his old songs.
Of course I saw on your homepage that you are still touring with "the Damned" in the USA and UK. But I think you will not play all the Captain Sensible songs from the 80's on this tour. So my simple question - will you ever go on a solo-tour again as "Captain Sensible"?
Norbert, Vienna, Austria
I may test the water again but am guessing that there wouldn't be massive queues outside the gigs. Thanks for the nice comments though Norbert. |
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