Ticket
Die Kunst, Goldblade
The Roadhouse
14th July 1995

“Moral Sense, which promoted this gig, was a Manchester-based garage punk fanzine.”

“Ironically bette davis and the balconettes wanted this support slot - but moral sense reckoned we were too shambolic (for a girl garage punk act..? Richard Hector Jones - hang your head...!) and gave it to Goldblade instead.....We played a year later in at the garage in London with Man or Astroman and we went down a storm!! Man or Astroman were a great band and the Roadhouse gig was probably as good as they got!

Goldblade? Dad rock.”

“Richard, although a much-loved and talented part of the Moral Sense empire, had nothing to do with booking the bands for the very small, but even more select, handful of garage, surf, blues and frat rock gigs that were put on under the 'Moral Sense' banner. Gold Blade played because Jay Taylor was and is the Stopfordian heart of Manchester music.

Incidentally, I have a whole book of these tickets in the loft somewhere.”

“Hi Mike,

Fair enough, all I am saying is that the reason bette davis played infrequently in Mcr is because people who I assumed would support us did not. And that includes moral sense. And Jon Robb. Jon once phoned me up to ask if we could change places on the bill with BREATHER!!! - had we not paid our dues.... !! Ludicrous, and honestly, the Membranes were at least relevant at the time. I LOVE music - thats why I am posting, but I dont agree that Goldblade or its members are the heart of Manchester music. The unconvention was good, a friend of ours was a guest on the panel, but I dont honestly see anything relevant about Goldblade as a band.”

“I wasn't really talking about Gold Blade, I was talking about Jay. As for not supporting you, I don't recall you ever asking if the band could play at the gigs. In fact, I don't recall anybody ever asking if their band could play, and relied instead on friends (Die Kunst), bands who came with the main act (The Strip Kings), or no support (IIRC there was no support for The Oblivians).”

“Hi Mike,

We did ask about this gig, we came into your shop and gave you a tape and video. Probably rubbish quality.......!

Getting back to Man or Astroman - what I remember being particularly funny at the London gig was that for a band who pretended to be from outer space - they couldnt understand our bass player. From Wales.

All the best.”

“Just for clarity. Which shop?”

“Under the corn exchange.”

“I feel like we are hi jacking the Goldblade page a little, but something I remember Richard saying about us wanting this gig was that 'at least the Trashwomen can actually play their instruments'!! - now you tell me Mike, if that rings true....
What i meant about us not being supported can be summed up by Peel booking us for a session as soon as he heard our first single, Melody Maker article, single of week, so on so on..... even our radio debut was on Radio 4! I think we were the only proper garage punk band in Manchester - moral sense never even reviewed us (if I missed it I apologise..) and City Life said we were awful shouting girls but that the b side was actually quite good...!
a lot of Manchester wasnt interested. Unfortunately there are still a lot of middle aged careerists out there (I am one but in Visual Arts..!) intent on keeping jobs and in the process turning Manchester into a marketable (Factory obsessed) commodity. I cant wait for the Tony Wilson sightseeing bus...”

“Blimey, I genuinely can't remember getting a video and tape. I also can't remember even hearing you. I can't disagree that Richard may have questioned the quality of your musicianship; he was always had higher standards than myself. As for a review, I suspect that Moral Sense may have ceased publication before your single came out (there were only four issues).

Funny to hear that you are a middle-aged careerist in the Visual Arts as I am too. Ha ha. Now all I need to do is work out who you are. (If you went to the Saturn V gig then I'll know as I could account for everybody in that tiny, but happy, audience).”

“Ha ha, if you ever do come across the video or tape bin em!!

You might be right about moral sense, how come you only did 4 then?

Cheers”