Leaving The 'O' Out Of Count Basie
October 2005

Hi again

Thanks again for slipping in - as the actress said to the bishop, or some such lame joke. Sorry again that this month's News & Views is late - I'm sure you simply haven't been able to function without my monthly bulletin of, well, news and views.

Work is really starting to gather pace on the new Mustangs album, which will be our first under the terms of the deal we are signing with Blues Matters - the UK's biggest blues label. We're signing a 3 album, 5 year deal so you won't be getting rid of us that easily. All the songs are up and running and the whole band is really excited about them... there's no question it will be our best record yet. We're looking at a New Year release so don't hold your breath quite yet, but I'm sure it'll be upon us before you know it and then the shops will be filled with queues of Mustangs fans waiting to buy the CD, the airwaves will be ringing with the sound of our new songs, and the our pockets will be lined with all the gold and money we can eat. Well, at least one of those predictions has a one in a million chance of coming true as you will actually be able to buy the new album in Virgin megastores, on Amazon and on iTunes - all part of the deal with Blues Matters.

It will be nice to pop into a record store and see my own album in there - makes a change from working in them, as I did many moons ago for HMV. Next month I may tell you about the time I was writing the artists' divider cards and accidentally left the 'O' out of Count Basie...

Moving swiftly, nay pertly, on; it's been a hugely busy month. In February I am establishing a Rock Academy for young teens. More on this soon, but it is an opportunity for young kids to get together and learn about being in a band, with a big concert at the end of the week for them to perform at. I can't say too much yet ("You've said enough already!") but I am extremely excited about the potential for the Academy and what it could bring to budding young rock gods everywhere.

The gigs this month have been largely solo shows - including another at the fab Kolebka Bar in Southampton - can the staff be any nicer? But next month it's back in band mode as we have 7 big shows to do, including two in London and one at the Farnham maltings for the Boogaloo Blues crowd - the most discerning, knowledgeable blues punters in the country.

Anyway, so much to do, so little to say.

See you next month...

Adam