NEWS :
Summer 2000 :
The rareties CD that Universal are putting out will be available in September. I believe that it will include 'The Red the White and the Blue' 'Empty Dreams' and the last two singles. If you would like the chance to get your thoughts / story's / ancedotes in the booklet contact us on the contact page.

Plans for live dates may happen depending on how well the new CD is recieved, i.e. if it sells. Now that Billy lives in Ireland as opposed to Japan it will make it easier for the band to play. But as any one who has played in a band will tell, it is bad enough getting people to rehersals when they live in the same town, let alone a plane ride away.

Some video material is now available, it is on the Mod comp 4, put out by Derek Sheperd. The Chords part is the band on Top of the Pops singing 'Maybe Tomorrow'. I have yet recieve my copy, I will upload a small clip when I get it You can get a copy from Detour records please let Detour know you found out through the site. The LWT show featuring The Chords, Purple Hearts and others is in the hands of a collector who is hoping to get the rights to release it. Other video that is known to exists is an 'Oxford Roadshow' , I do not know if this was ever shown or is a full gig , details to follow.

The BBC sessions have been fully collated and are being shaped into a CD. Some of the tracks have come straight from the BBC but others from collectors, so the quality will vary. If you know / have any video / radio clips let us know.

May News :
Well at last it is done, Mark Brennen has the LP out with bonus tracks. The track listing is:

Maybe Tomorrow / Happy Families / Breaks My Heart / Tumbling Down / Hold On I`m Coming / I`m Not Sure / Something`s Missing / It`s No use / What Are We Gonna Do Now / She Said, She Said / Dream Dolls / So Far Away

BONUS TRACKS Now It`s Gone / Don`t Look Back / Now It`s Gone (Extended Version) / Things We Said / I Don`t Wanna Know / Hey Girl / This Is What They Want / The British Way Of Life / The Way It`s Got To Be / In My Street / I`ll Keep On Holding On

The CD is brill and the clarity really brings out the Cymbals, which I imagine will please Brett. The second version of 'Now It's Gone' is the rerecorded version which was given away with the lp. The rest is obviously the 'Billy Hassett' era singles with B-sides. It is a shame that 'One More Minute' and 'Turn Away Again' are missing. The booklet is well written and contains a good picture on the inside back cover. For real trainspotters now, if you have a copy of the LP you will notice that the cover is not actually Black and White but is in fact a slight dark green. To achieve this effect relies on a four colour process (printing talk) which is costly, probably why it hasn't been done here.

Prices are as follows:CD UK:£8.99 EUROPE: £9.99 / DM30 / FF100 / U.S.$15

If you are interested in getting a copy follow this link

http://www.captainoi.co.uk/nrel.html
Liverpool was brilliant, many thanks to Adam & Paula, hope they have a good time in America on their honeymoon. The gig was ace, the cherry on the cake though was The Chords performance. The band were tighter than at Mods Mayday and played with enthuiasam and verve. The ten song set included the singles Maybe Tomorrow, Somethings Missing and One More Minute. The highlight of the set had to be "British Way of Life" with pokying from the crowd (yes you Paul Robinson, Vic Vespa and Kev Lock).

There are some pictures on this page and in the pics section.

Have made contact with Martin Mason and Buddy, so expect some good pictures and antedoates on the site soon.
There also rumours the band will be playing in the summer. As I find out stuff I will let you know.

On the rareties side. Universal are doing a 'Best off' and 'Rareties', Detour is doing The BBC sesions. When these will be released I do not not know, but should be finding out soon.

The BBC sessions will be interesting as this includes the time the band first got the 'wall of sound'. One of tapes is missing from BBC sessions, if you have bootleg copy from the time, Me and the Band would be interested to hear from you. Don't worry no one will send you to jail. I also imagine there a small financial incentive for a copy.

I'm hoping that the rareties will include the 'Quadrophenia' demo that the band did. Were any of the songs later recorded ? Dizzy from Detour has told me several titles of songs that were never released, so the is still some recording on the vaults to come out.