I swear I just saw someone dressed up as John Lennon crossing it, and a guy in a big transit van (who must see fans and imitators all the time…) almost mowed him down!

http://www.abbeyroad.com/visit/

Pretty great video from Chicago’s ‘Ok Go’ -

How long will we wait to see a version of this on a TV commercial?

OK go

6 down, 6 to go. Seems like a good place to review the X-Factor so far. Like it or loathe it there’s no hiding from it (even here on the Cuckoo blog). Here’s my review of the fallen so far and my predictions for run in to Christmas.

Gone but not forgotten…

Kandy Rain - Personally these were my favorites! But as I’m a male, and over the age of 12 (therefore not daft enough to use my PAYG mobile allowance on premium rate TV voting) I didn’t have a say in them staying.

Next career headline for Kandy Rain – SEX FACTOR 4 WAY ROMP WITH ENGLAND BACK 4

Rikki Loney – This guy was the weakest of the bunch in my opinion. His name also sounds like a resort in Corfu. Thankfully the public and the judges agreed.

What next for Rikki? Will work in the west end… serving drinks during the interval.

Miss Frank – I think it would have made a better show if this 2nd all girl group could have stayed. Groups historically don’t do as well as solo artists. Girl groups even less so.

What next? Not alot… although main front-woman Graziella will release experimental Rap, Soul, Bluegrass, Hip-Hop, Grime, Rockabilly, Reggae fusion to not much critical acclaim.

Rachael Adedeji - This girl could sing. The voting demographic (mum’s and daughters) wouldn’t have got her though. I think getting voted off early was a good thing for her (think Lemar in Fame Academy). Interesting to see that the 80′s Grace Jones haircut was back now she’s out.

Next project – Sings on Ibiza dance anthem summer 2011.

Lucie Jones – Poor old girl next door Lucie. Just finding her feet as the ‘Valley’s’ answer to Avril Lavigne when she finds herself bottom 2 with Jedward (embarrassing in itself). Surely the judges will intervene and save the poor girl from even more pain? Not so. Let’s go to public vote deadlock to really show her how unpopular she is.

What next for Lucie – Plays the part of Dorothy in Merthyr Tydfil’s production of the Wizard of Oz.

Jamie Archer – Never got better than his auditions really. Should have been braver with his song choices. Just shows how wide off the mark Cowell is when it comes to ‘ROCK’. T-Rex’s Get It On? Primal Scream’s ‘Rocks’? Good songs in their day but nothing more than pub rock anthems for a guy desperate to lose that tag. This is coming from someone who knows all about Primal Scream’s ‘Rocks’ in a pub environment! Been there done it, cheesy and cliched.

Next steps for Jamie – Shaves hair off in self cathartic rebellion. Applies for newspaper ad in Phil Rainey’s pub rock band. Performs ‘Rocks’ as encore in the Pig and Whistle to much critical acclaim!

And then there were six…

Lloyd Daniels – Come in Lloyd your time’s up! You’re worse than Jedward at singing.

Next week for Lloyd… he’s sure to go. Been in the bottom 2 a few times now so not as popular as some seem to think. And the future? After finally realising he can’t sing he’ll join a children’s touring company, playing Fireman Sam.

Daniel Johnson – The enigma that is Daniel. Obviously can sing and perform but hasn’t got the X-Factor. What is the ‘X’ Factor? No one knows… you’ve either got it or you haven’t.

After he’s gone? Joins JLS when one of the current members get’s lost in the Utah desert and becomes a Morman.

Jedward - OK we all get the joke. Funny Ha Ha. Now go away please.

Jedward’s future career? It’s revealed they are actually two thirds of triplets and have locked up their other brother Ian (or maybe Eion coming from Ireland?). Ian escapes this week and appears on the next show with them as Jedwardian. The problem is Ian is good (better than the remaining soloists). The public hate them for being good and they don’t get one single vote. Blue Peter signs them up as the 3 new presenters. They are involved in countless tabloid scandals but as no one knows them apart they get away with it each time… those pesky kids! Jedwardian enters the Oxford English dictionary as a word to describe something that’s indescribable.

Stacey Solomon – Sings like a bird but looks and talks like a duck! Maybe this is what the X Factor is? A weird morphing of Dagenham Chav with Vegas Diva. She’ll do OK. Good luck her. She’s harmless fun.

The future for Dag’nam Stace? Christmas number 1 dressed as Mary (with Ollie as Joseph) in a stable with her child singing ‘Away in a Manger’

Joe McElderry and Ollie Murs – I’ve put these together because I’m sure they will be in the final two. It’s a close shot who’ll win it but I’m going to stick my neck out and say Joe.

What next for Ollie? Marries Stacey Solomon. Wedding of the year. ‘Hello’ gets billion pound rights to use the footage. Katie and Peter mark 2 have arrived. Weekly show on ITV6. Full red button ‘access all areas’ functionality brings the nation to it’s knees.

…and for Joe? The first X Factor winner not to get the number 1 slot (see above).

On 23rd September 2009 myself, Steve and James had the pleasure of being present at the unveiling of UK Heritage Blue Plaques outside 2 buildings in Heywood and Rochdale. The 2 sites were former studios that produced many classic recordings over the years from acts such as Joy Division, New Order, Inspiral Carpets, The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, The Chameleons, The Charlatans, The Fall, The Mock Turtles, The Teardrop Explodes and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.

Monaco's double bass ensemble

Back in the summer of 2000 I played guitars (4 and 6 string) on tour with Peter Hook’s post New Order band Monaco (you may have heard ‘What Do You Want From Me? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwk5oKU4Dr4). We did gigs in Amsterdam, Manchester and London to promote their 2nd and last album.

So it was great to catch up with Hooky at this event… even better that he actually remembered who I was!

Have a look at Hooky’s and John Robb’s speeches outside the old Suite 16 / Cargo studios in Rochdale.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of spending my Sunday afternoon watching some quintessential English culture in Saddleworth. The annual Rushcart Festival sees various pageants of Morris Men from all over the UK congregate upon this small area of Lancashire (or Yorkshire if you’re still debating the boundaries!).

I must admit I spent the first half an hour watching these grown men dance with flowery hats and bells on their clogs thinking, “How do they get into this?”. You see to someone who’s not from the countryside I think they look a bit daft. It’s not something I’d dream of doing myself but I suppose each to their own.

I think after all the dancing, bells and whistles the Morris Men need to let off some steam. To my surprise they do this by getting half naked and wrestling with each other on the hillside! Looked a bit dangerous to me at times. They didn’t half have a go at each other. Even the referee got booted in the face during one bout! After seeing this hill grappling I had a new found respect for the Morris Man. Be warned, under all that flowery attire lurks a beast of a man!

As tribute to the King of Pop, ol’ one glove himself, Sir Michael of Jackson – Cuckoo Design have been practicing (for a whole 3 minutes) our moonwalking skills for the excellent website: www.eternalmoonwalk.com

Treat yourself below:

Dear Britney,

Firstly, let me explain that I’m not a fan of yours. To me, you’re not particularly talented, or interesting.

Britney in Manchester, maybe.

So, just when I think you’re returning to your robo-Britney hey-day, knocking out the hits, dying the hair blonde, having nothing interesting to say – you wow me with another ingenious scheme.

This time, on your British arena tour, you decide, quite cleverly, to charge people loads of money for the tickets, and then – blamo! You straight-out refuse to sing! You simply mime badly and flop around the stage, dry-humping things! Excellent!

And also, when you greet a crowd of 16,000 fans in Manchester, you let them know exactly how much you cared by saying: “What’s up, London?” – like some demented Bugs Bunny. Fantastic!

Sincerely,

Stephen Fairbanks.

I was eating my sandwiches and came across
this quite saddening story on the BBC website.
The highly eccentric recluse of a man
Phil Spector without a wig! Either that or he
has gone for a very clever new style. 

His style has gone from this…………………….

to this……………………………………………

A couple of weekends ago (and with a MASSIVE thanks to Steve) I was lucky enough to see Girls Aloud at the MEN on their ‘Out of Control’ tour! Well out of control was definitely one way of describing my excitement when Steve told me that he’d not only managed to get me tickets to the sold-out concert, he’d sorted a free VIP box for me and 4 of my fellow Girls Aloud –obsessed friends! Thanks Steve!!!!

 The box was amazing, with a fridge full of drinks and our very own personal waiter, Dean.  The concert was brilliant and Girls Aloud didn’t fail to impressive us with their dance moves and gorgeous costume changes! Our view was incredible, the box was pure luxury, and I questioned if I could ever watch a concert in a normal seat ever again!

…..the following weekend I went to see Oasis in Heaton Park. What a contrast. Firstly, I wasn’t dressed in killer heels and a dress this time, there was no Dean on hand to battle the queues at the bar and there wasn’t a sequin in sight!

 But it was absolutely incredible. I’ve seen Oasis a couple of times before but this was by far the best, opening with ‘Rock n Roll Star’ and not leaving out any of the old favourites like ‘Slide Away’, ‘Champagne Supernova’ and ‘Live Forever’ and closing the show with ‘I am the Walrus’. I didn’t care that I was being squashed and pushed by 70,000 people and stood in 3 inches of mud, (apart from when I was on Lee’s shoulders!) or mind losing my voice,  I loved every minute of it!

I love the luxury and always will, but  from time to time I’m more than happy to grab my wellies and let the rock chick in me out to sing along in a field and play in the mud!

Bring on the V Festival!!! : )

Bread (sliced)

Downloading tunes is so last year… Have a look at Spotify and see how you can listen to pretty much any tune old and new for free. Streaming’s the future…

http://www.spotify.com