Where were you when  you heard  John Peel died?

The UK had one of those defining moments in time today.  The news broke that our beloved John Peel, radio broadcaster had died suddenly while on a working holiday in Peru with his beloved wife Sheila.  He was 65 years.  John's death joins those other defining moments...John F Kennedy's assassination, Man landing on the Moon, The Hillsborough Disaster [in the UK] and 9/11. 

I make no apology to those outside the UK for taking this time to honour the great man.

He was Public School educated [meaning the best of private education], from a wealthy Cotton family and had the stuffiest voice imaginable when he went to the USA around the time of The Beatles.  With his adopted Liverpool accent he had instant success as they all felt he 'knew' The Beatles.  John F Kennedy met him in Dallas and befriended him...what an unlikely pair.  He returned to the UK, got his toffee accent back and joined Radio London [a pirate radio station, then].  The early recordings of him accepting his many awards revealed a very un John Peel accent!

He was one of the first DJ's on Radio One and now 37 years later was still a regular, a mentor to all the younger contributors and he had what was called "his own Pirate radio station within BBC".  He played exactly and precisely what he liked.  He broke bands such as Undertones, The Clash, Cure, Manic Street Preachers, Rod Stewart, Blur, Pulp, David Bowie...the list is endless....one of the only DJ's ever to play a track twice immediately after the first play [The Undertones]

"John Peel was the most important man in modern music "

Paul Gambacccini

"Forget about John Paul George and Ringo, John Peel was the most influential man ever in Western music"

Andy Kershaw

He proved the point that education was so important [Shrewsbury College].  "When you are educated you can act uneducated, but when you are uneducated you cannot act educated"

He started a wonderful series on Radio 4 [ the up-market station in the UK] called 'Home Truths' and after a rocky start proved that by baring his own soul, on so many occasions, he made a whole new raft of new fans.  That programme was quite wonderful.

John simply loved music....he was responsible for the breaking of Punk, Thrash, Zimabweyan [yep!] music, R&B and Hip Hop in the UK.  Not because he felt he had to be trendy but because he genuinely liked new music.

I like to feel that I share his love of everything new and innovative.....I simply loved his programmes....on the best combination in the UK: Radio One and Radio Four. 

He was awarded a much deserved O.B.E. in 1997.

So where were you when you heard that John died?  I was on my way to Gatwick Airport.....and I shall remember the fact that the radio waves were chock-a-block full of glowing, non stop, tributes to the great man...... 

"Never do anything to compromise your integrity.  Anything worth achieving is worth an honourable and honest effort"

The 'Ben Sherman' book launch

I was invited along to the launch of the new book on the history of Ben Sherman....the guy who gave 60's Great Britain and whole new look in clothing.  Yep, we all had Ben Sherman gear and still buy his stuff.  They came down to Eastbourne to take pics. of me in Ben Sherman gear. 

As usual, with those kind of bashes, I was was the most famous guy there....sad, I say!

   Dec with Daphne Sherman                            Dec and pals wear Ben Sherman in the studio

You don't know me?  F**k Off!

I felt I should mingle.  I saw a guy who looked like a left over from the Punk days, a little worse for wear [not from the night, from his life!].  I introduced myself.  He rambled on about a musical he was writing.  I asked about his friend who was in the group of people around us...he looked odd...weird clothes...so I thought he must be somebody [as you do!].

I gave him my hand, said my name, and issued the immortal: "sorry, I didn't get your name?"

"If you don't  know who I am - then f**k off".  Hmmmmm!  I went back to the main party.  I bumped into the editor of Mojo magazine ... and asked the guy's name.  He said: "you do realise that if he does that he likes you?"  Hmmmmm.....again.

A Celestine moment

The members of The Serious Writers Guild will understand what I am abut to say.

I took out a pad to write the guys name, got his first name down and there he was in front of me.  Coincidence?  He wouldn't leave me alone for the rest of the evening!  He was a publisher, called Steve Connolly .... he published the works of a great modern poet Jock Scott....and went bankrupt in the process.  You could say he is a tad bitter.

Check out John Waterman's 'Bandit A&R Newsletter'

The only one I recommend...full of info on what the studios, managements and production companies are looking for.  Run by my pal John...and I know the dedication involved in producing it....he works extremely hard.  He'll send you a sample issue:  bandit.76@aweber.com and just say Dec sent you.  Click on the banner and ask for a free sample.

Tickets to the biggest Show Biz Ball of the year?

The last Sunday in November, each year, sees the biggest Show Biz bash in the UK.  The Water Rats Ball.  A chance to rub shoulders with the biggest names in the Business....yes, really rub shoulders...it's a massive black tie party.  At The Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London, UK.  Of course I am a Past King Rat and a councillor.....a Trustee for 20 years plus.

I have arranged that 'One Minute' guys and members of The Serious Writers Guild can be seated together.  A good chance for networking.  Of course, I will be there and I will ensure that you get to meet all the fave guests.

   Dec, Jimmy Page and Vicci Esselle at a Water Rats 'do'.

Simply call Gary at 020.7278.3248 and say Dec told you to call for tickets.  We have tables reserved already and lots of guys have booked.  Gary can give details of special rates at prestigious hotels to stay in London overnight....even The Grosvenor itself.  Make it a special night - or weekend?

Have you got your own Publishing Company?

You are stark raving mad if you haven't.  Right from the start I did...and am I glad?

A note on my desk this morning from Rose at MCS [I use them as a collection agency for all my Publishing Companies] : "Just phoned to say hello and to congratulate you on 'lots of royalties coming in'".  So should you have your own publishing company...for less than £100?  You are stark raving bonkers if you don't. Check out www.makehits.co.uk/publishing.htm .  And you get my direct private telephone number to my studio desk, for any help or queries.

A good thought from a good Guru [applies directly to marketing your music]:

 Stop unproductive marketing activities, thus boosting your profits.  Advertising pros know that most advertising doesn't work, but they continue to spend like crazy because part of it does. 

If you can identify which marketing efforts of yours are not giving you a return, and stop spending money and energy on those, you'll be earning more from what you spend.  Admittedly, it can be difficult sometimes to pinpoint what actually brings in customers and clients.  However, if you begin asking each new buyer how they heard about you and keep track of the answers, patterns almost always emerge.  One graphic artist learned through this kind of research that nearly all her clientele came from word of mouth and none from her ads in the local business journal.  Of course, the opposite discovery could have happened, too.  Don't assume, find out!

Marcia Yudkin <marcia@yudkin.com>

If you run any kind of proper music business [and you should!] you can learn a lot from Marcia.

A strange compliment for my band from BBC Radio?

"Thanks for the great music that we continue to play...

D*** S******

BBC Radio Lancashire"

Support Fellow 'One Minute guys?

Dear Stone Cat Fans,
 
We'll be playing at:  Monday, October 25, 2004 Lil’ Nikki’s 1551 S 7th St Louis, MO
Showtime 9pm or 10pm
 
Hope to see you there!
 
Stone Cat - Niki, Mark, Jeff & Chad
www.stonecatband.com
 
ps hear us on the "homegrown" show every Sunday night at 9pm CST on 101.1 The River.  www.wvrv.com
 
 
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And a big thanks to Dec (www.makehits.com) who has been incredibly helpful to us. He really knows his stuff and is always there to help - Bedface

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Oh, and by the way the master class rocks!  Thanks ever so much, and have an astonishing day!  Quincy Ellis [Alabama]
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Dec, you did it again. Your every release is better than the previous one. Great stuff and even better putting it in action. My friends are scratching their heads listening to some of my new materials wondering how did I do it. Thanks, Zelimir Vukasin [Canada] 

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Charts:

USA [my thanks to Charles in the USA for supplying this]

(1) My Boo, Usher And Alicia Keys

(2) Goodies, Ciara Featuring Petey Pablo

(3) Lose My Breath, Destiny's Child

UK

1) ERIC PRYDZ -  'CALL ON ME' 

2)  MANIC STREET PREACHERS -  'THE LOVE OF RICHARD NIXON' 
 
3) KELIS FT ANDRE 3000 -  'MILLIONAIRE'

Download Chart

(1) 'Vertigo' - U2  Island

(2) 'The Damage' - Marillion

(3) 'Lose My Breath' - Destiny's Child

Chart Comment:

Interesting change in the 'download' chart .... Destiny's Child hit Number 3 with the new one.....good track .... and proves that it is not just music nerds that are downloading.

And that Eric Prydz still there at Number One ... mind you ... own up....great track...well deserved.  Quite a flat time for sales though.

For the second week running though everyone has been caught out big style as there was every expectation that the Manic Street Preachers would storm to the top of the charts thanks to a very clever marketing ploy. Yet again Eric Prydz has surprised us all and after returning to the top of the chart last week, 'Call On Me' holds firm yet again to spend a second straight week at the summit and its fifth in total, putting it ahead as the most successful record since 'Where Is The Love' by the Black Eyed Peas managed six weeks at the top in September last year.