07/04/2009 by Andy.

When I was congratulated last week on the success of my new musical “Blokbusta” I had to investigate, after all it was April 1st! A friend of mine is the author and he had asked me to write a prologue for the programme, I also attended the opening but that is where my involvement ends. Of course the show is full of Sweet songs and many others from the Glam-era. Apparently The Times reviewed “Blokbusta” and that is how I got the message. The review wasn’t too good but that isn’t important because it was in The Times and that in itself is what matters not the content. “There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about and that is not being talked about” - Oscar Wilde. How true. I then got to thinking if the review doesn’t matter then why bother. There was a time in New York on Broadway when a new play/musical could stand or fall by certain critics reviews. Times were very different and communication fairly limited so a bad review in the New York Times meant something. These days communication is not a problem - in fact reviews can appear on the internet within minutes of the event - in fact we have had reviews of our gigs before we have got back to our hotel! So who can be a critic today, well we all can of course. We all have opinions and that is where the problems start. I love Art, Opera, Theatre etc but there is no way I could be a reviewer because my opinion is exactly that and so it goes. Anyway I digress, the success of a musical like “Blokbusta” no longer lies in the hands of the critic so if the music of the 70s is your thing, go and see it while it is still running and make up your own mind.

FYI - the review of “Ballroom Blitz” in the N.M.E (enemy) was just two words “Unadulterated Rubbish” - it went on to sell almost 2 million and hung around the BBC charts at number 2 for 6 weeks beaten to the number 1 spot by “Eye Level” (Van der Valk TV theme) - “Blitz” actually went to number 1 in the N.M.E chart!

Andrew Scott - 59 years and 9 months

ps - see you at the Robin in June where we can have a pre-birthday celebration.

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20/03/2009 by Pete.

I don’t know if you are familiar with this small innocuous gents’ 
shaving accessory. Before the advent of the safety razor, it was an 
essential part of a shaving kit.  In the event of a small nick or cut, 
a dab with the old styptic pencil would stem the flow of blood – 
although it does impart a bit of a sting – just like magic!  I don’t 
know how it works and I don’t care – it just does.

I always carry one of these little demons in my wash bag and it has 
come to my rescue on numerous occasions.  Recently however I found 
myself away from home and standing in front of a bathroom mirror with 
my weapon of destruction in my hand . . . yes - my bloody razor of 
course - what else?!  (By the way aren’t those magnifying mirrors 
found in many hotel bathrooms – you know, the ones with the light in 
them - scary f***ers?   I always seem to have hairs growing out of my 
ears and nose that definitely aren’t there when I’m at home!) Anyway – 
I digress . . .

Suddenly disaster struck and I nicked myself just under my nose.  
Pain!  Blood!  No problem – reach for the styptic stick.  Nowhere to 
be found. Oh Hell!  Show time less than an hour away.  Ah well, just 
have to resort to wandering around the room for ten minutes with a 
piece of tissue stuck to my face.  Glam eh??

Of course, once attached, this is easily forgotten about and I settle 
back to watch TV.  So, cut to a few minutes later when I happen to 
catch sight of myself in the mirror.  The tissue, now saturated with 
blood, has dried out completely and stuck fast to my face.  Oh F**k!

Grimacing into the aforementioned magnifying mirror, I gingerly try to 
prise the tissue away from the wound.  Almost . . . bugger!  I’m 
bleeding again – and worse, it seems, than before.  And this is where 
the madness takes over.  I search through my wash bag once again in 
the vain hope that the little styptic miracle was simply hiding from 
me earlier.  Then I see it.  Smiling up at me.  A Lynx roll-on 
deodorant!  I wonder . . .could it? . . would it work?

Desperate times call for desperate measures so I decided to give it a 
go.  Well!  PAIN! OW! PAIN!  Followed by a lot of swearing and some 
very bizarre naked leaping and dancing.

I can happily report that a Lynx roll-on deodorant will stop blood 
from a shaving cut more or less instantly.  But you better brace 
yourself for a bit of a shock!

Next time – the effects of red chillis when applied as a remedy for 
haemorrhoids!

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06/03/2009 by Andy.

When the Millenium Dome was unveiled most people, me included, saw it as a white elephant until I paid a visit in 2002. I was amazed at the sheer size of the place and almost immediately realised that the “building” (ok tent!) had not yet found its forte. 2005 saw it unveiled as the O2 Arena and from there my view turned from scepticism to admiration (if only it were in West London). I have been to see many events now and apart from its location I am really taken with it especially O2 Indigo as a venue - I don’t go to many shows these days but Chick Corea and Return to Forever July 2008 is a true highlight . Last year I got an invite to view the “Tutankhamen” exhibition in the Bubble because this is where the BME was to make its home. BME is the British eqivalent of the American “Hall of Fame” and it has been a long time coming in my opinion.

So last night was the launch party for BME  and I went along with Jan Tucker to see how “Sweet” fitted into the equation. Mick’s “Blockbuster” suit and my Gibson 335 looked great in a display case alongside Marc Bolan’s Flying V, Dave Hill’s “Yob” guitar and one of Suzi’s leather jumpsuits. We were amazed, it really is a great experience. I suggest you go asap! Apart from the exhibits there are so many interactive areas, so much so that we didn’t realise how time had flown, 2 hours later we left for the party and we’d only skimmed the surface. I met quite a few faces from my past, ranging from Kenny Ball (a young 79!) to Rat Scabies plus other band members of all shapes, sizes and age groups. I won’t spoil the finale but let’s just say it’s like being at all the great gigs all at the same time. BME will stand as a testament to British Music - Lonnie Donegan and Cliff and the Shadows, The Beatles and Stones, The Who and Led Zep, 70’s Glam Rock, Punk and 80’s New Romantics, 90’s Boy/Girl bands and the Noughties singer-songwriters, something for everyone.

British is still Best!

ps We got caught up in the “Michael Jackson Experience” and had to wait to let him through the security gate. After 5 minutes and a few laughs the extremely likeable security chief lifted the barrier and said “he’s already kept everyone waiting for 90 minutes so who knows if or when he’s coming - in you go, sorry for the delay”. A very nice man.

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10/02/2009 by Andy.

I have a lot of books in my house, almost a library or a bookshop. I have also realised that many are unread which is unforgivable. So to put things right I am setting about this task by reading the John Gardner “Bond” books and this has left me with a dilemma. I read the original Ian Fleming novels in the 1960s and have subsequently returned to them on a regular basis so much so that I now have them as 1st editions (all bar Casino Royale, you would need a small fortune to buy this book). I always connected with Bond and therefore as a fictional character this was how I perceived myself (Bond, Sherlock Holmes, Number 6 etc) so why am I feeling more like Blofeld? Well Spike might have something to do with that.

Last summer Spike would visit during the morning coffee break on the patio, my son Damian would be reading the newspaper and Spike would sun himself whilst licking his nether regions. He would venture into the house and I would remind him that he didn’t live here but I am now very sure he didn’t get the message. Spike is quite a handsome tom-cat, tabby and white with a lot of attitude. Now I am not a cat person but I can’t turn any being away that needs help. Spike needed help when his owners moved away from our small community and he was left behind. I am sure that I am not the only person who feeds him or gives him shelter but when I am at home so is he. I also now get the odd “present”, a headless rat etc, very nice. The recent cold spell has meant that we have spent more time in each others company than previously. So to the dilemma - friends down the pub (piss-takers) have commented that a man living alone (well ok with his son from time to time) with only his cat for company……now you get the picture - I am not Bond but Blofeld and I am not comfortable with it.

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16/01/2009 by Andy.

This Christmas and New Year was a bit different - I enjoyed the experience immensely. Having someone to play with helped. Christmas with my favourite inn-keeper (and family) and New Year in York with Suzi Q at the Theatre Royal Panto (Berwick Kaler’s 30th year!) with a visit to my family in Wales wedged in between. I drove a fair few miles so over indulgence wasn’t an option but quite honestly I feel better for it. First weekend in 2009 Bruce came to stay with his new “block of flats” on wheels (seriously his American Motor-home is as big as my old London flat!) - dogs and all - we terrorised my local pub - the dogs looked on in amusement and were very well behaved.

As the New Year trundled on the inevitable sad news of Dave Dee’s death from cancer hit me. I first met Dave and the “Dozies” in 1965 when I was in a support band (Missing Links?) playing at Connahs Quay Bath Hall. He was always supportive and always great company and even when diagnosed was always positive. When he was an A&R man at WEA we took a couple of his acts into the studio but sadly without success. Eventually we ended up playing together on many shows in Europe and putting the world to rights in the hotel bar afterwards. Dave, I will miss you my friend. I would also like to pay my respects to two more icons who passed away this week. Patrick McGoohan had a profound impact on me with his brilliant series “The Prisoner”. As a Welshman, his choice of location, Portmeirion, was genius. Likewise David Vine was from a golden era of Sports Anchormen. I was having dinner with his daughter and her new husband (a good friend of mine) last Saturday only to hear the sad news the next day. We are all mortal.

I am 60 this year! I keep telling myself it is only a number! My head understands but does my body? The plan is to have an event in the UK in the summer which will probably involve an afternoon get together followed by a gig in the evening. Stewart will have the details as soon as we can get it organised. We may film the day for posterity.

Sweet have come a long way in 40 years and we are still on the journey. Life’s too short for regrets so just get out and do the things you always dreamed of before it’s too late. I don’t know what 2009 holds but I’m looking forward to it.

Andy Scott (59 years 6 months)

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22/12/2008 by Andy.

Firstly, I would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. The sentiment is there even if the practice is harder to come by. I am not sure what has happened to Christmas and am also sure that I am not alone in this. Put the religious aspect to one side and all that is left is iconic commercialism and a fair amount of over-indulgence. This is not meant to be criticism but I do feel that with age I have joined the “You won’t fool me again” society. I look at the world today and I just don’t buy it anymore, so the unstoppable force that is Christmas happens around me.

There are reasons for my lack of enthusiasm - I have lost so many of my lovely family at this time of the year. We get older and winter heralds bad tidings so my view is now naturally clouded. I am also aware that I am not alone in this either.

When I was young I loved Christmas, the house full of family, everyone singing their party-piece, all ages all together. There was a respect for our elders that is missing today. My family has a strong bond and a religious upbringing but not overly so. We sang in the church choirs and because of the high voices were called in for many Christmas services in many places across North Wales. I eventually grew out of religion and found a new one in music and from there I guess many normal aspects of life, including Christmas, slowly diminished.

With progress comes change and as we know not all change is good. Christmas is now a time for contemplation and keeping in touch, if nothing else. When I get together with what family I have left, the conversation usually ends up in the past because life was good then. We still have the future but Christmas was better in the past.

The Sweet’s spirit of Christmas was liberal amounts of port and brandy, in the same glass! How times change. I am still here and will be toasting all memories and your good health, sensibly of course.

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18/11/2008 by Andy.

I have been accused of being a perfectionist (I prefer idealist) and therefore if the definition of perfectionist is making sure that you always do your best then so be it. We tend to forget that not everyone is on the same page and so we cut a bit of slack here and there, inevitably creating “Perfect Imperfection”. The band have noticed a big change in me during the last couple of years - no more barking at monitor men, throwing the guitar around the stage too many times (even Pete Townsend doesn’t do that anymore) etc etc - so what has happened? When Pete joined after the year of uncertainty (2005) we found ourselves late one night in a hotel somewhere in Europe discussing life, the universe and everything, eventually saying that nothing can ever be perfect, really perfect, we can get very close to perfection but if we achieved it then what is left? We had been drinking, however it got me thinking that life is too short to have any shortcomings so I said to myself that in order to fully appreciate and enjoy what is left of my life then I had better do something. Bearing all of that in mind, there has been a marked improvement not only with my persona but with band’s performance too. The “Sweet Fanny Adams” tours in Europe and the “Glitz, Blitz and 70s Hitz” tours in the UK are evidence enough. Now this is not meant to be a back-slapping exercise but I do see things a lot clearer and we as a band are committed to being the best on the touring circuit. The playing is tight and the harmonies even tighter (and higher!) - whatever the event, from the nostalgia shows where we play the hits to the SFA tour or festivals where we bring out the heavier stuff, as you may have gathered I am proud of what we do and represent. To my mind, the point of touring, especially as a band with history, is that you give the audience what it wants - a band performing the hits, sounding the way they should and looking like they are enjoying the experience - simple really.

Perfect Imperfection.

Andy (PS: thanks for your support - see you at the next gigs).

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06/11/2008 by Steve.

Hello everybody, and for the hard of herring, a Danish thing,  HELLO EVERYBODY! My name is Steve grant, I play things with “The Sweet,” not always in the right order, but that’s rock n roll for ya. Stewart Roney said if I don’t do a blog he won’t sleep with me again, so here goes. (Stew: Thanks for letting that out Steve). October 22nd, 2008, Weds. I am catching a flight from Manchester to Prague approx 1400, Czech airlines terminal 2. Have to go one day early to exchange dog for a cat in Marks and Spencers in Prague old town. Plus logistical reasons. Usual rush to airport, trying to do too many things. Check in at business counter, just hand luggage, flash my Virgin inactive card, Brittania rescue card, and KLM card and blag fast track. Andy’s’ good at that too by the way. 27 coffees in lounge then I hear my name called for final boarding. Good, I like to be last on the plane, scan for a good seat. Sad? Maybe, but why not. Arrive Prague airport and will be met by somebody. Who?

What does he/she/it/ look like. Will they have a board that says “welcome spillage”. That’s my nickname. Next time you put fuel in your auto, look for the sign ” all spillages must be be reported, no matter how small” that’s me. Anyway I do get met, makes a change, and 40 mins cab ride to city. £22, 970 krowns or whatever they eat. Hotel 7 days! Thats it’s name!   Opposite gay sex shop, makes me feel at home. Check in sketch something like this; “I need to take an imprint of your credit card Mr Gran”t. Why?” Hotel  Policy”, “Why”? I”‘m sorry” etc. “No”! “Hotel policy”, “No”! “Hotel policy”, “No!” Etc .  After I’d looked around the sex shop, oops shouldn’t put that, I walked, yes Bruce, walked! Into centre . Must eat healthy meals, must eat healthy meals, must………………….
Big mac menu please! Full of guilt and rubbish walk back up hill to hotel,  no sleep. Crap breakfast walk into town, buy cheap sunglasses, shampoo, leave them in hotel room.  then get picked up at 11.45 to meet band at airport. Talk bollocks in the car for 2 minutes then headphones on, goodbye world. Classical music of course! We all get in huge coach, all 6 of us, few hours drive to Liberic. Pete Lincoln spreads the word hotel is 16km from gig, toys out of pram, storm off bus, blah blah . Hotel is actually walking distance. Great hotel. Big entertainment complex , I can treat that now I’m qualified.

Shouting contest, sorry, sound check, then awful food, back to hotel for about 1 hour. Down to reception to pick up hotel, free! Internet. Send e mails etc. Always doing something me, I like it like that. Great gig, great audience, all 3 of them. There was about 800. I think. Dressing room, coach, bed, sheep, I mean sleep, or do I?
After kicking dolly out of my room, breakfast. Long drive ahead in big coach,  fine, get lots done.  7 hours later and we are in Moravia!  Hello Kunovice! Boring hotel, deserted town. Packed gig but band not firing up tonight, In my opinion. Pete now has the nickname panicky pete and everything is 16 km away. 7am leave so not too much hanging around tonight, good. Damien buys a horse to take back too Russia. Might be tricky through customs. 4 hour drive to Prague airport, text from Will , my youngest, he is in Germany on an exchange, we get a 17 year old au ……………stop it!  He had lost the camera we bought him . Nice one son. Fly to Frankfurt. On being met, told we have to wait 1 hour for another band, I think you know what’s coming! Bollocks to that, Pete and myself catch a train to hotel. Andy and Bruce get taxi, Damien and Adam take camel. Oldie night tonight . Yahoo!!!! But good fun in the end. Come morning guys take bus to airport, I take
 train, I prefer it sometimes, it means I can travel naked for free. Back to Manchester, 1 hour 15 mins and home that’s after the barrier in the car park does not work game, a classic family favourite.  Then, wearing another hat until the next time.  Regards. Steve.               

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29/10/2008 by Andy.

For reasons best left unexplained Bruce and I were known as Balloon-face and Square-head last month. Now these are not exactly the most flattering of nicknames but they capture the moment brilliantly. Panic and Greta (Pete and Steve) complete the latest in-band offerings. You do not choose your nickname, you have it thrust upon you and you hope the best one sticks. The original line-up used to conjure up quite wild versions, some fairly obvious some not. On one tour we thought it would be hilarious to be known by our middle names hence, Brian was Frank, Steve was Norman, Mick was Tom, Mick Angus (our TM who was always party to these pranks) was Jim and I was Dave. Not quite as off the wall as Android (Steve’s creation for me), Oracle (Louis Austens name for me, our recording engineer) or Clutch (coined by Mick Angus after a night of clubbing in Berlin when I managed to move from place to place still clutching a glass) - these were my highlights. The oddest nickname, but thinking back quite appropriate, was given to me by Herman’s Hermits long before Sweet. In 1966 The Silverstones won Opportunity Knocks and therefore ended up appearing at Granada TV Studios, Manchester, on a show with the Hermits. Both bands played live and were set up opposite each other. After a short while I noticed that they were pointing and laughing, one of them said “How long has Alfred (me!) been in your band?” We scratched our heads and then were told “Alfred E Neuman” the face of MAD magazine. Well if you had seen me in those days as a fresh faced 16/17 year old you would have completely understood their logic. The late Derek ‘Lek’ Leckenby (Hermits Guitarist) became our Record Producer and it was during those sessions that I first met Mickie Most, John Paul Jones, Brian Auger and Clem Cattini but that’s another story.

Stew: Andy - could it be this photo??

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10/10/2008 by Andy.

When a lady in my local pub called me a liar a couple of weeks ago, it was in response to my statement that I don’t take holidays. She said that I was away so often that I was constantly on holiday and this got me thinking that peoples’ perception of my lifestyle must be one of luxurious glamour. Now I’m not saying that a bit of pampering is out of the question but you would have to go back to the 1970’s to find total hedonism. We were even sponsored by British Airways, flew Concorde so often that I was given a pilot’s flight jacket and bag. Flying was glamorous and in my eyes one of the better perks of being in a successful band but today things are a little different. We had a couple of weeks off in September to recharge the batteries (a spot of fishing, watching a Wrexham match etc) but it didn’t take long before I was missing it (the early starts, the angst as the guitar eventually appears on the carousel, at security - shoes on/off, laptop in bag or out, German security’s humourless search and wandering hands).

So here is an abridged version of last weekend’s trip, you decide whether glamorous or not.

Friday, awake at some ungodly hour to drive to Heathrow for a 7am flight to Berlin. I don’t know what I would do without on-line check-in, I fly through security and am found by Bruce and Adam, having my usual kedgeree at Wagamamas in Terminal 5. Not too bad so far. Arrive in Berlin as morning breaks and go straight to bed at hotel, we are not needed until 9pm for a “meet&greet” before the show. This weekend is the celebration of German reunification and there are events everywhere. Our event is well attended but it is freezing cold and the fingers aren’t quite behaving themselves but noone notices and the evening is big success. We have a reasonable 10am leave from Berlin on Saturday, 350km 3-4 hours in a bus and an early show in Suhl, near Erfurt, at 6pm. It is “Schwartzbier” time (dark beer) and our show at the Congress Centre is sold out. Marvellous. The bad news is that on Sunday we have to leave at 7am for Frankfurt Airport. Whilst passing through security with Bruce, my bag was searched, eventually my talc was held up for all to see and because I felt something needed to be said, I uttered that it was used to stop my balls from chafing, this completely sent Bruce into hysterics and the guy put it back in my bag and told me to move on. Humour can still be the best defence. Over the weekend I estimate we travelled more than 2000 miles, were out of the country for more than two days and literally worked for less than 3 hours. However I wouldn’t change much because I still love playing and travelling. A Tardis or Starship Enterprise would greatly improve the travel side of our business but the normal way keeps your feet on the ground.

Thanks for your interest - without it we have no audience.

Andy

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