Friday: Got a phone call about a job in Rochester, I'm not sure if I'll be able to go because it's on a Wednesday and I know for a fact Donna is busy that day, sent her an e-mail asking if she can, still haven't got a response. Stayed in, watched two more episodes of Heroes (nearly watched the whole first series now).
Saturday: Got to Sounds Perfect just in time for the vigil, never seen that place so packed, Manny's girlfriend Esther was there with her video camera interviewing people, I was too shy to go up and ask to be in the documentary, managed to get in the background for most of it though. Many had everyone sign the old sign with marker pens, I wrote "Goatboy is thy one true God of which there is none HIGHER!" Everything was half price but Manny chucked me a few free things (Vision Of Disorder album, Fu Manchu poster, Stooges sticker). It was meant to end at half five but they had to get all the CDs behind the counter into their cases before next week, Esther had to force Manny to come outside and make a speech. The shop remained open 'til about six, James from Lakes swung by as he just finished playing at the Tap and heard that they were closing down (he used to work there when Chris started if anyone remembers) and came down to say hello. Esther filmed the shutters going down for the last time, then some Pikey kids came along and asked what was going on, Esther explained that the shop was shutting down and she was making a documentary, and asked if they wanted to be in it. One kid was like "yeah, I remember when I bought my first guitar here" another said "I was here for the last day AND IT WAS SHIT" then ran off like Esther was going to scold him for it. Hung around after they closed as I didn't have anywhere else to go, watched many count and then recount the money in the till to make sure the right amount was in there. Eventually I left at half six to get something to eat and train to Rochester. Walked from Rochester train station to the Civic Centre in Strood, I was about to call Steve to ask were Liam's party was when I heard live music coming from the building next to the Mayor's office. Saw Ben and Gabriel in the building, tried to get in through the door but it was locked so I had to bang on it to get their attention, Gabriel tried to open the door but it was locked so they met my round the actually entrance. Came in to find Liam jamming with his brother on drums and his Dad on guitar, later Steve turned up with his girlfriend, Nadine and Mills. It felt a bit weird, on one side of the room were Liam's family and the other side his college friends, associates and sister with cousins about the same age as the rest of us. Liam's old band Anticomplex played for the first time in nine months, and also the last time ever as Wired had become Liam's full time band. Liam's Dad got back on guitar and they were about to do a Rush cover with Steve singing (a prospect Steve wasn't looking forward to as he can't sing like Geddy Lee), when Liam's Dad got a phone call that a bunch of fifteen Chavs were trying to get in, he stormed out and sensing a fight most of us followed to watch. When I got outside I heard a bunch of shouting then Liam's Dad came back saying "Fooken English bastards!" Liam's Dad was now pissed off so they were going to play the Rush song (much to Steve's relief) Wired were getting ready to play when a traffic cone came through the window, most of the male members of Liam's family ran out but all the Chavs had ran across Rochester Bridge. They started packing up the equipment when Liam's Dad told them to carry on as he had to stay around 'til three am to wait for the glazier (the reason they got this place was because Liam's Dad was the caretaker), it didn't matter if they came back to smash more windows, it was Liam's Birthday and he should do what he wanted, so they went ahead and played. Not so much between song ranting from Steve as he was getting scolded by Liam's Mum every time he said "Fuck" as there were two children present. They played really well. Some of their college mates started two stepping, then later Paul from Anticomplex and Liam's brother started moshing in swivel chairs until Liam's Mum put a stop to them. During the break in Police State, Steve and Gabriel got everyone to sing Happy Birthday to Liam.
Liam's cousin Jasmine was a bit pissed, came up to Steve's mic and announced "I am a whore" fucked off an older female member of the family and angrily escorted her out while she weakly insisted "No, it was Steve that said it." Gave Gabriel shit for wearing big leather cowboy boots when he was Vegetarian. Helped Steve carry his equipment to his car and saw another fight between one of Liam's cousins and his ex who came with one of Liam's college mates (well I say fight, it was more just her yelling at him while repeatedly slapping him in the face). By the time Steve and Gabriel had loaded their equipment into the car there was only room for two people and Steve had to give Nadine and Mills a lift home, I said it was cool as I wanted to get something to eat anyway. Walked to the kebab shop across the road from the Civic Centre, got chips in pita then started walking home.
Saturday: Got to Sounds Perfect just in time for the vigil, never seen that place so packed, Manny's girlfriend Esther was there with her video camera interviewing people, I was too shy to go up and ask to be in the documentary, managed to get in the background for most of it though. Many had everyone sign the old sign with marker pens, I wrote "Goatboy is thy one true God of which there is none HIGHER!" Everything was half price but Manny chucked me a few free things (Vision Of Disorder album, Fu Manchu poster, Stooges sticker). It was meant to end at half five but they had to get all the CDs behind the counter into their cases before next week, Esther had to force Manny to come outside and make a speech. The shop remained open 'til about six, James from Lakes swung by as he just finished playing at the Tap and heard that they were closing down (he used to work there when Chris started if anyone remembers) and came down to say hello. Esther filmed the shutters going down for the last time, then some Pikey kids came along and asked what was going on, Esther explained that the shop was shutting down and she was making a documentary, and asked if they wanted to be in it. One kid was like "yeah, I remember when I bought my first guitar here" another said "I was here for the last day AND IT WAS SHIT" then ran off like Esther was going to scold him for it. Hung around after they closed as I didn't have anywhere else to go, watched many count and then recount the money in the till to make sure the right amount was in there. Eventually I left at half six to get something to eat and train to Rochester. Walked from Rochester train station to the Civic Centre in Strood, I was about to call Steve to ask were Liam's party was when I heard live music coming from the building next to the Mayor's office. Saw Ben and Gabriel in the building, tried to get in through the door but it was locked so I had to bang on it to get their attention, Gabriel tried to open the door but it was locked so they met my round the actually entrance. Came in to find Liam jamming with his brother on drums and his Dad on guitar, later Steve turned up with his girlfriend, Nadine and Mills. It felt a bit weird, on one side of the room were Liam's family and the other side his college friends, associates and sister with cousins about the same age as the rest of us. Liam's old band Anticomplex played for the first time in nine months, and also the last time ever as Wired had become Liam's full time band. Liam's Dad got back on guitar and they were about to do a Rush cover with Steve singing (a prospect Steve wasn't looking forward to as he can't sing like Geddy Lee), when Liam's Dad got a phone call that a bunch of fifteen Chavs were trying to get in, he stormed out and sensing a fight most of us followed to watch. When I got outside I heard a bunch of shouting then Liam's Dad came back saying "Fooken English bastards!" Liam's Dad was now pissed off so they were going to play the Rush song (much to Steve's relief) Wired were getting ready to play when a traffic cone came through the window, most of the male members of Liam's family ran out but all the Chavs had ran across Rochester Bridge. They started packing up the equipment when Liam's Dad told them to carry on as he had to stay around 'til three am to wait for the glazier (the reason they got this place was because Liam's Dad was the caretaker), it didn't matter if they came back to smash more windows, it was Liam's Birthday and he should do what he wanted, so they went ahead and played. Not so much between song ranting from Steve as he was getting scolded by Liam's Mum every time he said "Fuck" as there were two children present. They played really well. Some of their college mates started two stepping, then later Paul from Anticomplex and Liam's brother started moshing in swivel chairs until Liam's Mum put a stop to them. During the break in Police State, Steve and Gabriel got everyone to sing Happy Birthday to Liam.
Liam's cousin Jasmine was a bit pissed, came up to Steve's mic and announced "I am a whore" fucked off an older female member of the family and angrily escorted her out while she weakly insisted "No, it was Steve that said it." Gave Gabriel shit for wearing big leather cowboy boots when he was Vegetarian. Helped Steve carry his equipment to his car and saw another fight between one of Liam's cousins and his ex who came with one of Liam's college mates (well I say fight, it was more just her yelling at him while repeatedly slapping him in the face). By the time Steve and Gabriel had loaded their equipment into the car there was only room for two people and Steve had to give Nadine and Mills a lift home, I said it was cool as I wanted to get something to eat anyway. Walked to the kebab shop across the road from the Civic Centre, got chips in pita then started walking home.