| February 2010
HEEELLLLOOO you lot! Long time no speak eh! I won’t start talking about the album, tours etc, I will leave that to our webmaster, Ciaron. So, whats been happening? Well, I must say, the France /Switzerland tour was amazing, great to see you all again, and also lovely to see a loadsa new faces too! I was dying with the flu by the time we reached Paris mind ya, so I will apologize for the croaky old voice!
Hey, on a brighter note, what a great night I had at Ginger Wildheart’s birthday bash at the Garage in Highbury. London on 17th December, Although I was a nervous wreck! There were rehearsals the day before in a Shepherds Bush practice studio,
all very professional n’stuff. Met some lovely people at the show, me mate Chris McCormack (3 Colours Red/Gary Numan) was up doing a tune too, along with Nathan (Snow Patrol) & Tom (Loyalties) and host of other great guests, Ginger was brilliant by the way, a true professional, great performer and songwriter, and most importantly a gentleman. Of course songwriting for the album didn't stop over this period, don’t worry! Hey, I met up with ex-Peter and the Test Tube Babies drummer “Christophe”
in France, hes the one who plays the classical harp on this… Amazing isn’t he! So I have asked him to play the harp on the intro of one of the new songs on the album “MARTYS MAM”. Hope ya will like it! So, now, apart from taking a few hours to write this section and answer all Ciaron's interview questions!, its on with the rest of the album, and training, yuk! Talk soon
|
October 2009 |
| June 2009 I know, I know! I can hear ya sayin, where have you been!?! Well I can tell ya its been non stop here! We had a load of rehearsals for the 2009 festivals, new stage moves/songs/clothes etc to sort. Anyway, now the festivals are underway, we can kinda sit back n’ play! Makes it sound easy eh!? I wish! Looks like more festivals are gonna come in for 2009, great to see
ya all again, though I do prefer playing our own Toy Doll club shows,
with a full length set and more songs n’ stuff! However, the festivals
have been rockin! Thanks to you lot! Great to see you all again, and
as I keep saying, and will continue to do so, THANK YOU for your loyalty,
its coming up to 30 years now, can you believe it!?
|
| February 2009 Good Morning from NW London. Surely it cant be February already!? In fact surely it can be 2009! Well, here we are again, I am taking 20 minutes out to keep ya up to date! Working on the album everyday here, as well as rehearsals and training for the 2009 festivals. All coming along nicely, I am up around 6.30am each day training, first off is a boring pint o’ water, then training, then two pints of smoothies with fresh fruit, and 2 slices of wholemeal bread, after this I am ready to go back to bed! but no…its into me writing room… I did have a spell of writers block for a while, now suddenly I am on a roll! I guess that's the way it is when yer creating stuff, at least that's the way it has been for me for past 30 years or so! No alcohol for me either, trying to get fit for the shows, will be ready for a beer after the Passpop festival in April though I can tell ya! I can see a light at the end of the album writing tunnel now, been really enjoying it to be honest, but I am desperate to get back out on the road, more than ever! Our management have said there should be plenty of festivals in 2009, so that's keeping me spirits up! I know Duncan is working on his side projects and Tommy also, but we are all really in need of a Toy Doll fix ASAP! Gonna be great to play some old stuff that we ain't played in decades! Cant wait! It's a bit early to tell, but roughly, 2009 will consist of festivals, and hopefully by the end of the year the recording of the next album! If all goes to plan then this will be released in 2010, along with ..TA DA…Toy Doll shows, and more festivals. Isn’t this a great life!?…Thanks to you lot! CHEERS  |
| November 2008 Well, how are ya!? I know, I know, I haven’t been on here for a while, my apologies, but I have been so busy trying to get this album written! Everything's going fine here, in the middle of the 7th song, though I have also got bits n’ pieces done for songs 8 and 9 also, so that's good! I did get stuck for a few weeks, but the wheels are back in motion now! Though I love writing and recording, nothing compares to live shows, I am missing being on the road like mad to be honest, read about 2009 on the main updates. Ya probably read on the main updates about me part in Eastenders?! Fame at last eh!? Ha, don't blink or ya’ll miss me! Was up at Ciaron's house recently recording another string of guitar lessons for ya, these will start to be introduced from the next updates, enjoy em! Sorry it's took so long to get around to recording them! Anyway, been workin’ on lyrics all day, gonna visit the fridge for a beer! Will try to keep this section updated more often! Cheers for ya continued support x |
| May 2008 Happy spring time for NW London! Hope you lot are all well. Its full steam ahead here, working everyday on the next album, got 3 songs completed so far, hope to start the 4th this week, just fishing around for inspiration now. Meeting up with Tommy Goober and The Amazing Mr.Duncan in the next couple o’ weeks, for rehearsals in Norwich, before the Spanish show on 7th June, really lookin’ forward to that one, loadsa bands on, and been ages since our last show, September last year infact! In London. Been training like crazy and no alcohol for while, so will definitely have a few San Miguels after that night's show for sure! For now, its back to the grind, its 6.30am, so have to go training! a daunting thought, but will keep the Spanish beers in mind! Will keep you updated on the song writing, and when a few more are done I will let you have some titles. Ok…back to strumming…. See ya in Castellon, Spain, June 7th. Grasias! Take care |
 March
2008Well, good day to you all! Long time no speak eh!? If I spend too much time yapping on here, you will be wondering what's happening with the writing of the new album, right!? So I will keep it short n’ sweet… I spent a month or so writing in Tokyo, here's a pic of me on me lunch break! Now I am back in London, and writing 5 days a week, I will let ya know when I have a few songs complete. There will be a few one off gig/festivals throughout the year, but I cant take too much time away from writing, otherwise it will never get done! Anyway, this is just to let ya know that I am alive and hard at work on the album! Just incase ya interested, I am working on song number 1 now! And the way I am writing is with an acoustic guitar and cassette recorder, once I have a chorus written, and lyrics, then I move to the computer, and work on the format and demo in Pro Tools.. anyway, strumming to do! Speak soon. Take care Ps. I have to say, I caught a snippet of The Cockney Rejects new DVD, at the Mean Fiddler, superb sound and looks faaaantastic, I wish I coulda been there, and hope one day to make a DVD as good as theirs!. Wicked. |
| Dec 1st 2007 Good day to you all from a rainy North West London. The weather may be gloomy, but perfect for being stuck in me flat song writing! Everything goin’ fine here, I was in Tokyo for a few days until yesterday, for a bit o’ er..inspiration! Jet lagged as hell now, but ready to rock! The food n’ beer in Japan is the best! So, apart from song writing and goin’ down the pub, I did manage to get to see the mighty Penetration at the 100 club 2 weeks back, wow! A great set, lots of dynamics, well structured and a fantastic voice from Pauline, some classic songs also, very enjoyable. Also, the highlight of the year, was when me mate Chris (3 Colours Red) landed a couple o’ guest tickets for The Sex Pistols gig in Brixton, I took little persuading! What can I say, I have read good reviews, bad reviews, but the British press are so cynical, can’t believe any of em! I can only say, the introduction was fantastic, the sound and lights were fab, the set started with the guitar riff playin’ Pretty Vacant, which went on about 20 bars longer than the record, making everyone gasping with excitement (including meself) for the drums n’ stuff to join in, MEGA stuff, Johnnys voice was great, layered on top o’ the band, could hear every word, great set, great guitar sound, I will say that Jonesy is a guitar god, I was totally inspired! Great to meet up with Glen again afterwards, and Paul Cook for the first time, I am honoured! So, after Chris dragged me into Soho, drinkin’ till the small hours, I left him in some deafeningly noisy bar at 4am! Am I too old for this!? I needed sleep! I was up again song writing at 8am, But that was no problem, thanks to the Sex Pistols, I had a loada energy! Anyway, I am gonna try to get to see Sham 69 next Saturday in London, all good stuff! Meantime…back to the pen, blank piece o’ paper n’ guitar! Talk soon! Love ya |
 9th
October 2007Good Day y’all Heres a pic o’ me Tom n’ Duncan, after a few beers in Tokyo the other week! So, The UK tour is done! What can I say!? A HUGE HUGE thank you for being so loyal and waiting so long. We had an absolutely wicked time, fantastic to see so many old faces, and so many new!! Wow! Thank you!. Hope you enjoy reading the tour report on the updates. So, now we disappear off the face o’ the earth! Or so it may seem! But don't worry, I am taking a few weeks off, then it full steam ahead with writing the next album. It may appear like we are just putting our feet up, but believe me, we will be hard at work! Not sure how long it will take to write, a year maybe? Then it all has to be rehearsed, then recorded! The updates will be a bit less frequent for a while, but like I said, don't worry, work is being done! Thank you to everyone who came to the shows this year, its been fantastic, a personal thank you from me to Tommy and Duncan, its been a pleasure touring with you both, and thank you to our great crew Bernie, Merten, Matzi and Koen. And also a special thank you to TV Smith, it was an absolute joy touring with you. Thank you. Most of all, thank you to you lot, CHEEEEEERS! Speak soon. Keep yer Ask Olga questions comin in! TAKE CARE |
| July 29th 2007 |
| June 13th 2007 |
| April 22nd 2007 Evening All! Hope everyone is in high spirits, and all is hunky dory. It all is here for sure, spring is here finally, and some wicked festivals are seeing us throughout the summer! Then the biggy! The UK tour! I will take this opportunity to say THANKS LOADS to all of who have already purchased tickets for the shows! They are selling well fast, and looks likely to be a rockin tour! Its gonna be great to see you lot again! Hey, and what about TV Smith as support!? Wow! A hero of mine! Took a lot of courage to ask him! He took no persuading, and seems a real sound geezer! And its gonna make a very nice contrast. Tommy Goober saw his show in Germany last year, he says he is wicked! So if you don’t wanna see us, get yerself along to see TV Smith at least! Anyway, please let me know if you have any problems getting the UK tickets, and cheers loads again to those of you who already have them! Talk soon! Stay cool! Take care |
February 18th 2007 Well,
hello to you lot! Its been a few months! But if you think we have been
snoozing, ya couldn't be more wrong! There’s been non-stop meetings,
arranging, planning etc.First of all, you probably will have noticed the festivals starting to get confirmed for 2007, we are really excited about this, and there’s quite a few more on the horizon! Anyway, there will be a new set list, including some real Toy Doll oldies! The new set list will begin around May/June 2007. Shows before then will feature the Our Last tour? set, shows after then will feature our “Never Ending Tour” set! Things will go very quiet from around October onwards, this is because we will be taking time out from live shows to concentrate on writing another new studio album. Don't worry if you think we have disappeared off the face of the earth, we will be hard at work! I can assure ya! Which brings me to the next bit! Over the years people have been constantly writing and asking that question, “When are you gonna play the UK!??” The decision to not play the UK, since the departure of K’Cee & Marty, is because I believed that that line up worked fantastically, I was so proud of it, and, the UK is our home, its where we began, and I want the show to be at least as good as it was then, you lot deserve the best. Having toured South America recently, I was forced to realise that the present line up had surpassed the musicianship, professionalism and showmanship of the 1990 line up. I never thought any drummer could have the speed and accuracy of Marty, but having Duncan in the band has changed those thoughts completely! Duncan has the same speed and accuracy as Marty, but with added power and individuality! And he is a wicked singer also! And Tommy Goober, well, what can I say? If it wasn't for a great friend of mine, Ian, (The Dickies merchandiser) Tommy wouldn't be a Toy Doll! So you know who to blame Tommy! In a pub in North West London, Ian suggested giving Tommy a trail, just as kind of a stand by, incase things didn't work out with Reb! Over the past few years Tommys playing ability has improved beyond belief, and his stage performance has done likewise! I remember my brother, Ernie, saying to me in Porto, Portugal, “Tommys even better than K’Cee” and that was over 2 years ago! The clarity in Tommys playing is far more positive than K’Cees was, and his stage performance has become so much better, and, most importantly, more natural than any other member has ever been. Having said all that, I haven’t got any better since 1979! So, why am I saying all this? As I said earlier, we will be taking time out from October, to write another album, and, who knows what will happen from then!? We aint getting any younger for sure! But, I really believe that now is the time to tour the UK! The Toy Dolls UK tour, the first one in over 20 years, will take place in September 2007!! There wont be so many shows this time around, maybe around 10 just to test the water, so don't worry if your town is missing off the tour list!! If all goes to plan, we will be back to do more! I will say that I have decided to do very small venues, its what we prefer, and what is best for this band for sure. The actual gigs will start getting confirmed shortly, I am as nervous as hell, but. I can’t wait to see you lot again! If ya still out there!! I will take this opportunity to say that another reason why I believe this time feels right to play again, is because of having such a fantastic crew, Bernie (soundman), Matzi (backline tech), and Koen (merchandiser). Unfortunately, Ernie (lighting tech) resigned 2 years ago, but I am gonna try to persuade him to join us on this very SPECIAL tour! More news soon! Itchin’ to get to Bulgaria and Macedonia, gonna be wicked! See you lot soooooon! Take care |
| 2006 |
| 2005 |
One
of me favourite actresses “Maggie Jones” who played “Blanche”
in Coronation Street sadly passed away while we were on the tour, that
dampened me spirits somewhat…but, what can ya do… 
I
met up with our ex drummer “DICKY” a few nights back, 'aint
seen him since 1984!
So, what's been happening?