Andy Cheesemaker et al

Vintage Cheesemakers Relics No.1

2011-11-03T12:45:00.001-07:00

Been doing a lot of digging recently and keep coming up with loads of old Cheesemakers printed ephemera and have decided to scan anything of real interest and publish them here from time to time. Some real gems I'm sure you'll agree. You have to have been there of course to get the benefit. More soon.

a) Promo print issued in 2002 featuring Frankie Dodgers cracking caricature. Just love Jim on this, how shifty does he look?

b) first print test of 'things explode every day' live ep, recorded at Buddle Arts Centre. Whole show was recorded and was pretty good apart from Come Out at the beginning where the bass was out of tune.

c ) front and back pages of Promotional Booklet from 2002, pretty good gear really for our level.

These would always go at gigs, so we were doing something right

d ) and the 2 inner pages. These were printed on quite heavy stock card and were a BASTARD to get through a printer.

more soon...Andy

Vickys Eulogy

2011-10-12T15:37:00.001-07:00

Quite a few people have asked me for a copy of what I said in the church and I have no qualms about publishing it here because I wanted no-one to leave that room with any doubt about how Vicky and I felt about eachother right up until we were parted and how we felt about the magnitude of the vows we made when we were married in that same room 17 years ago.

The photo here is roughly about when Vicky and I got together, around when we were 17-ish, to give you an idea of how long we've been inseperable.

This is what I said in the church:

"For a man of words like myself, as you can imagine, I have written and re-written this dozens of times and you’ll have to be patient with me no doubt over the next few minutes. There is so much to say about and to Vicky and it seems so little time to do it. Where do I start?

I have to say that over the last week and a bit, that I have had literally hundreds of people, from all around the world saying that they are sorry for my loss. And that is beautiful and correct at this time. But I would like to say to you, while you are all here in one place. That I am so sorry for YOUR loss. The amount of people here today is testament to how Vicky affected people’s lives.
Just have a look around for a moment to see all the people that Vicky touched.

Life is all about decisions and where those decisions take you. Like the decision Vicky and I made to come to this church and be married in July 1994.

People say this at virtually every funeral and memorial service, but it has never carried more resonance than it does today when I say that Vicky was the most selfless, loving, considerate, compassionate and absolutely fabulous person I have ever known. I’m bound to say this of course, but most of you in this room will feel that as well, which is the real proof.
Vicky was a genuinely good person who lived her life mainly to be of benefit to others both in her personal life and her professional life, saving the children of Gateshead along with her beloved team-mates, all of whom are with us today as they loved her so much.

Vicky filled all of our lives with so much joy and laughter and these are the things we must try and remember in due course. At this point I was going to say 'please don’t ever forget her', but I don't think there's much chance of that, is there?

A word for Val. They say no mother should outlive her children, and this is of course true. Just know, that I’m always here for you, as you have been for me, not just over the last couple of months but also over the years.

And I’m so proud of my girls, Charlotte and Gabrielle, for the way they have faced up to this most terrible of situations. Your Mam will be bursting with pride at this moment.
I promise to try and fill the hole that’s been left in your lives as best I can. No man can replace a Mother’s love, but I shall try.

So as I mentioned at the start, Vicky and I made the decision to come here to be married in July 1994 and we’ve had 17 wonderful years, I’ll treasure and remember every day we had.

On that day we took solemn vows: to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part. And today, Vicky, we have succesfully completed all of those vows.

And now I must say goodbye to Vicky. She truly was a wonderful wife, she was my one and only soul-mate, my best friend, love of my life and rose of my heart and I shall miss her every day of the rest of my life in ways you can’t possibly imagine.

The greatest comfort of all that I will take with me is that I was able to be with Vicky in her final moments. I was able to wrap my arms around her and hold her and I knew she knew it was me and that she could hear me. The last words she heard were, ‘I’m here for you, don’t be frightened, I’ve got you, I’ve got you’.

Goodbye Vicky, I will love you forever."

Vicky Update Thursday 22nd September

2011-09-22T13:48:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone

Thanks for all the messages of support, truly astonishing. I shall never forget everyone who is helping me and my girls through this.

Here is the entry that was placed in the Shields Gazette tonight by myself, thought would be handy to those out of the area. It also has details of the service if you wish to come.

"FERGUSON (South Shields) Victoria Elizabeth (Vicky) tragically, suddenly but peacefully in her husband's arms aged only 42, on Friday September 16, at South Tyneside Hospital. Darling wife and soul-mate of Andy and precious Mam to Charlotte and Gabrielle. A truly wonderful person whose life has been cruelly cut short for reasons I will never understand. We miss you like words cannot describe and you leave an enormous hole in our lives. Thank you for everything you gave to us, the love, devotion and care you shared with us alone. At least you're back with your Dad again, one blessing in all of this. "I'll clear an avenue just for you, a path with silent sound." Chapel of Rest Co-op Funeralcare, Westoe Road from Thursday, close family only please. Funeral service Monday September 26, at St. Hilda's, South Shields, Market Place at 1.30pm followed by Crematorium for committal at 2.30pm then on to Hedworth Hall, Dean Road, South Shields around 3.15pm for celebration of Vicky's life, where all will be welcome. Family flowers only, donations to South Tyneside Hospital. I.T.U. Unit and Ward 8."

There is also a page which runs on the Gazettes website for the next 11 months where you can post messages, photos, memories etc. I should be very grateful if you wanted to share anything.

I want to collect as many photos of Vicky as I can to compile an album.

Gazette link - https://announce.jpress.co.uk/11603043

If this doesn't work, just go to shieldsgazette.com then onto announcements and search Vickys name and you'll find it.

Thanks again everyone
Andy x

Vicky Update Saturday 17th September

2011-09-17T10:30:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone

I think many of you will have heard this news already but here is a short message from myself.

It is with the very greatest sadness and heaviest heart I have ever known that I have to tell you that last night on Friday 16th September at 8.15pm, my beloved wife, soul-mate, best friend, love of my life and rose of my heart, Vicky, passed away peacefully in my arms.

I was able to tell her, with her last breaths that I was there for her, as I had promised, for her not to be frightened, to visit me in my dreams and the last words she heard me say were, 'I've got you, I've got you...'

She is simply irreplaceable and was everything to me. I am bereft.

Thanks for the messages and visits so far

I shall post more early next week regarding 'arrangements'.

Andy

Vicky Update - Saturday 3rd September

2011-09-03T15:57:00.001-07:00

Hi chaps. Well not a great deal has changed since last Saturday. The main improvement we've seen this week has been that Vicky has been in a medical chair for a few hours each day. This is to try and make her breathing stronger and more independent, which in time, will allow them to make more progress with the physio program.

Last couple of days she's been very tired and rarely awake, just sleeping, but very low on energy.

As I mentioned last week there are still many dangers with her condition and they are today investigating a new infection in her lungs. To you and I it's a chest infection, to Vicky it's potentially far worse. The people on the Ward have been good, I have to trust them. I have to trust them with my wife's life and future, and also that of my daughters, which is very hard to deal with. I'm used to being able to keep tabs on everything, but i feel kind of helpless really at the moment. Waiting. It's not something I do best. 'As I wait for your smile'.....

On to a visiting update. My view is that the style of visiting has to change a little. Because the emphasis from the hospital has been in recent days that a lot of the recovery is now actually up to Vicky, in terms of getting her limbs, body and brain moving, I'd like you to emphasize to Vicky the importance of motivation and telling her that she has to respond to what they ask her to do if she wants to get home. This is what I've been telling her for the last three weeks but I need you to join in also. Of course telling her of gossip and recent events and general chat is still good and looking back at personal experiences you've had together is all still relevant, I feel the time has come to try and impress to Vicky that she's gotta start battling her way out herself also. If she hears that from everyone as opposed to just me, hopefully that will make a difference, and YOU will have made a difference also.

In terms of numbers. On review, I think I need to keep numbers down a touch, as this period of time seems to suggest to me that vast numbers of people at a time wouldn't be beneficial to Vicky, and that's the whole point. I'm happy to see anyone at any time but it's what would benefit Vicky that's important and I just think she's needs a lot of rest at the moment so please continue to ask me about visiting.

Because none of us know when she's taking information in and when she's not, it means we all have to try when we're there, in the hope that at some point the messages get through.

At this point I'd like to make a special mention to Natalie and the rest of the girls at Gateshead Council on Vicky's team. They are a truly astounding bunch of people and the greatest set of friends a person could have. I know that Vicky already knows this but I shall be reminding her of this when she comes back to me and making sure she's aware of everything they have done for her and our precious girls. Simply amazing. Thank you everyone.

I also hereby appoint Viv as Motivational Team Leader :O)

Five weeks is a long time to not be able to communicate with or have a hug from your wife when you love her as much as I do. I hope I don't have to wait for too much longer. With all your help, hopefully we'll succeed.

Thanks, Andy x

Vicky

2011-08-27T12:41:00.000-07:00

Vicky Update - Saturday 27th August 2011

Hi folks. This blog is normally used by me to upload info about my various musical endeavours but for now I have decided to add periodic updates on how Vicky is doing. If you are reading this it'll be from invite via my Facebook wall.

The reason for this is of course I don't mind hearing from folks who want updates about Vicky (and please don't stop) but i'm finding I'm spending a huge amount of time answering phone calls and text messages when I generally can't give YOU the info you really want to hear, especially by text, which is a bit of detail. So hopefully my updates on here will be of more use to you than me replying to you and saying, 'yeah she's comfy today...' etc.

*Please keep all of this info private on-line, in other words, don't quote me publicly about details of her condition on Facebook or Twitter on walls and things like that, as I don't want that. Of course pass on to others by phone or private email who are genuinely concerned and want to know how she's doing.

Please keep Facebook for general good wishes, song dedications etc, appreciate it thanks.

Ok, heres a brief overview of whats happened the last month to bring it up to date and then a few words on how she is right now and what's foreseen in the future.

On the evening of Sunday 31st July from a sprained ankle Vicky suffered blood clots on the lungs, experienced severe respiratory problems as a result and went through 3/4 cardiac arrests. The amazing staff at South Tyneside A&E managed to save her life somehow. At 10.30pm that night they came to tell Val & I the above and had no idea how she had survived, they said she really shouldn't have and that she may not survive the night.

At 11.30pm that night I also had to sit Charlotte and Gabrielle down and tell them all this.

She was then transferred to ITU and they began working on her. I'm not going to go through everything that happened in there, as there was so much, but she spent the first 11-12 days without waking due to sedative. When she woke they were able to work on various things such as kidney problems where she was hooked up to a dialysis machine for maybe 10 days or so until the point where most of the life support machines could be taken away as they stabilised her bit by bit.

The last of those machines was the ventilator 5 days ago and she has been breathing entirely on her own since then through the tracheotemy tube (in the neck) she had fitted 3 weeks ago. The ventilator still sits on standby in case she needs it again as she could at any time.

As such she was then able to leave ITU into a Ward yesterday.

At this point I have to highlight the STUNNING work put in by the staff in the ITU at South Tyneside Hospital. As a generally cynical bugger, I have been stopped in my tracks at the level of expertise and almost more importantly, personal care those people showed when looking after Vicky. Just thinking about the care they gave her while she was in there brings a tear to the eye. You see programs on TV about how good these type of people are but I've now had to experience it first hand and it's simply AMAZING. I will be making my feelings known in length to the people there in due course. These are the people who should be earning £60,000 a week, not self important egos like Joey Barton! Sorry, I digresse..

So she has moved to specialist stroke Ward 8 as it has become clear in the last 2 days that she also suffered a stroke on 31st July in addition to everything else and initial scans in the last few days (ECG and CT) have sadly revealed a level of brain damage consistent with a stroke and 4 cardiac arrests. The exact level and detail of the brain damage will only be revealed after an MRI scan which is due in the near future.

So at present she is settling into Ward 8 where they will be beginning work on her rehabilitation. At the moment, and since she woke up nearly 3 weeks ago the only movement she has been able to achieve has been in her left hand and arm, a little facial movement and very slight twitches elsewhere. She hasn't talked although she has a speaking device fitted to the trachy. What we don't know is if she can't or won't talk. What I know, and I know her better than anyone, is that she's really depressed about what's happening. I can see it in her eyes. I'm working on that every day to try and encourage her.

So we've been told that the road to recovery is definately going to be a long one. Of course no-one can state a length of time or even a level of recovery (i.e. how much she's actually going to recover) as it's way to early for that. The foreseeable future will find the staff at Ward 8 giving her as much physio as they can and for the likes of us we need to show encouragement and support as best we can.

Please note at this point that she is not out of the woods and on a plain sailing route to recovery. She's still receiving 'critical care' and there are still many dangers around her current condition.

Visiting - Important

For this reason the hospital still wish to keep a lid on the level of visitors Vicky receives as she gets extremely tired from just about anything, even having too many people in the room. She needs a huge amount of quiet rest inbetween physio periods.

So therefore, even though official visiting times are 2pm-4pm and 7pm-8pm as per normal Wards in STH, I must ask you to be patient about getting to see Vicky.

They are still wanting to restrict visitors to 2/3 at a time. Bearing in mind one of those will almost always be me and very often Charlotte, Gabrielle and Val we are very restricted in what we can do at the moment.

Of course I know that there are so many of you lovely people who want to see her and you will be able to, just please be patient while I can get it gradually sorted out. Everything is pointed to what's best for Vicky on any given day/hour/minute.

If I can manage to get 3/4 in at one time I will, believe me I'm going to be working on the staff to that end, because I believe Vicky needs to see people and you need to see her, but unfortunately it's got to be managed sensibly. Please ask me or Val if you want to visit and we'll work it out in time. You wouldn't believe how many people want to visit her and help in any way they can.

So that's where we're at just now. Hopefully this will answer a lot of your questions for now. I will attempt to update you with anything of significance as regularly as I can on this page.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank you for the amazing level of concern and love (and patience) you've all expressed over the last four weeks for Vicky. I'm sure that when she hopefully comes out the other side she'll be overwhelmed by it all. None of us know what the future holds but whatever it is, whoever you are reading this, relative, friend, workmate etc, I can GUARANTEE you that I will be beside her and with her through every single step, come what may, because she's the light of my life, the rose of my heart, my wife, my best friend, my soulmate and quite literally my other half. Vicky and I became literally one person when we were married.

That's all for now folks, so thanks again.

With regards, Andy x

NEW ALBUM UPDATE

2011-07-23T13:35:00.001-07:00

RECORDING DATES SET

Can confirm that The Cheesemakers will commence recording their next album on Monday 1st August. The working title is 'Hard Freeze'. More details very soon and perhaps some tasters as well. Cheers, Andy

New Cheesemakers Date!

2011-06-02T06:37:00.000-07:00

On Saturday 16th July, three bands with family connections will be coming together to raise some money for my daughter Charlotte's trip to Kenya in 2012. She will be going there for a month with Camps International to work on lots of projects that will help local communities, such as building schools, working on water purification sources and giving people an infra-structure so that they can help themselves. Anyway, you can read more at www.campsinternational.com .
The point here is that we need to raise over £3K for the trip!!! (Gulp) So what better way than to gather 3 bands from the extended family and have a gig. So Fight The Flood, The Cheesemakers and another very special guest band (TBA) will be hammering it out at The Office in South Shields. It's a ticket event to begin with and any remaining tickets will be available on the door on the night. So come on folks, support Charlotte and have a great night out to boot. I want to see 200 people in that venue on the night.
Please spread the word around Facebook, on Twitter, in the pub, on the phone, everywhere.
Tickets will be available in a few days from everywhere mentioned on the poster. Please note, this is a pub over 18 event, so little uns unfortunately won't be allowed but a few older teenagers will be Ok as long as they behave and dont drink. The adults? Well, anything goes :O)
Many many appreciations in advance.Andy

NEW DEMO

2011-02-05T14:01:00.000-08:00

Hi folks

Here is a taster of the demo recordings we're making for the new album. This is live in the rehearsal room with no overdubs or anything else. We're making 'live' recordings of all the tracks before recording them proper. So of course this is pretty rough for now.

This one's called 'Tony' (story of why later) and concerns the rise of the scum on the streets in the UK, akin to the subject matter of Taxi Driver in 70's New York. Well it's now in the UK.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NIPI7FUH

Enjoy and let me know what you think

Cheers for now

Andy

Picture - Jim playing at the Live Up The Oriface gig recording supporting the Ralph Wiggum Experience, early Noughties (Hesh will probably confirm the date)

New Cheesemakers album in progress!

2011-01-12T07:32:00.000-08:00

Hi folks, just wanted to say that a new Cheesemakers album, title TBC, was commenced Monday night in the form of demos of 3 new songs. We are going to follow this up very quickly with demos of further songs until we have a set of 10 and then record them.

Songs demo-ed were 'Tony', 'Pinball' and 'Lyin' To Me'.

We are recording on the cheap this time in our rehearsal room and with luck the whole process shouldn't cost a penny and our plan is to make it available for free download upon release. A bit like Radiohead's 'pay-what-you-like' revolution just with the added uncentive that people are not likely to pay anything for it anyway! GUFFAW.....

So regular updates here and we promise it won't take 7 years this time. A much rawer and direct sound.

Cheers Me Dears

Andy

THE CHEESEMAKERS - TELEGRAPH REVIEW

2011-01-03T13:04:00.000-08:00

Been such a while since this gig and only just got the time/motivation. Got the time as it happens because we just went to a practice and there was a band already in! Double booked on a block booking - thats us all over. Ah well, shit happens.

So Sunday 5th December 2010, The Telegraph Newcastle. I shall start with the set list:

HATE THE MILKMAN

THE BIG HAIRY WHEEL

HIGHER THAN YOU

TONY

BOB BIZARRE

YESTERDAY'S PAPERS *

STREET TALK *

PANIC NOW

SOUL TRAIN *

LICK MY HOOP

MY SO-CALLED LIFE

PINBALL *

LYIN' TO ME *

SHEILA'S ON THE BUS

FLY BUSTER

ENCORE:

LEICESTER

HIGHER THAN YOU

*Denotes new song!

I think there were more songs in the encore but I can't remember so someone please remind me :O)

Well a combination of the bad weather (it was at its height) and a good night for bad excuses (see political reference) caused the turn out to be poor, but every person there mattered for one reason or another. We certainly made it up to two of our most ardent (if not THE most ardent) followers after that debacle in South Shields by being determined to put a full show on and a bloody good one. So we did it for Gary and Phil and I've now exorcised the demon of The Ship Inn.

Several people at the gig, who had seen us countless times before, said that was one of the best, if not THE best, gigs they'd seen us do, so we must be doing well as we are and as a three-piece.

I decided to drop the possibility of doing a solo set prior to the band as 30 minutes of rehearsing before hand had put my voice on the edge but several beers helped soothe that and only one bum note was recorded.

There are no photos and no video unfortunately as the equipment (a digital camera) wouldn't fit into the cars with all the other gear!

As the band was so good, and the new songs were well recieved, especially Pinball and Lyin' To Me (two upbeat happening catchy numbers) we have resolved to carry on into 2011, we'll just have to do it differently somehow. Doing gigs that you invite people to just doesn't work anymore, we're gonna have to try a different route. Gets harder the older you get though, venues that do original music are still painfully thin on the ground and they want young bands as well, but our music is young at heart.

The next few weeks might see some demos of the new songs and I'll post them on al the usual places if we get em done so you can offer opinion. Indeed, another new song was written this afternoon especially for the first practice of 2011 tonight to no avail...it's called Water Falls and is terribly good :O)

Anyway, please offer any comment to this and add anything you feel. Were you there? What was your favourite song, what was your favourite new song? Input!

So I wanna thank everyone for coming and for keeping the faith as you would say in the 80s and watch for more happenings in 2011. We're goona try and record a new album this year as well. Got the songs, just need the time

Until the next one, cheers me dears
Andy

Fly Buster Pic Video

2010-11-11T16:19:00.000-08:00

Can be viewed at:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=133081626745982&comments&ref=mf

A little taster to reinvigorate your taste buds for 5th December

Move in for the kill!

Andy

CHEESEMAKERS XMAS GIG 2010

2010-10-17T16:08:00.000-07:00

Just announced, The Cheesemakers will revive their annual Xmas gig at The Telegraph in Newcastle on Sunday 5th December. All are inclined to be there. The debacle of a couple of years ago in South Shields is about to be slaughtered, we won't let you down this time, we promise.

Songs old and new will be aired in an hour + set, with support from a new/old Newcastle band massively worth seeing, details TBA.

So make it a date.

And send any requests for Cheesemakers songs of the past right now.

Cheers all
Andy

Tynemouth Boat Club Review

2010-09-08T09:32:00.000-07:00

Hi folks, apologies this review has taken so long to put together, couple of things, been waiting for some photos of the gig to go with it but just not recieved them yet, will post on here and Facebook when they arrive.

Well, where do I start? I guess with the pivotal moment of the gig, which was when we arrived at 6.30pm and the I felt the feel of tappy tappy rain on my arm, with clouds gathering down at the mouth of the river. So there was the decision right there...we play indoors. Quite a lot of gear to set up and no chance to get it all inside safely if the heaven's opened.

And a vintage 60s PA to look after.

I then realise it's an end of term primary school 'do' and not a drunken boat club members gig! I am sure I will have been told of this, but being stupid, I let it slip from my mind.

So the kids games and aforementioned ice-cream van and a suitable DJ were our support for the show. Millions of kids charging around while we sound-checked, wanting to have a go of the drums and perilously close to the instruments....agh

So we set up and come gig time (9.10pm, we were delayed by 10 minutes cos he ice-cream van was late!) wasn't it just a real pleasant evening outside? So all the adults that had come with their kids, around 100 of them, were all outside on the beach either chatting or sitting round a beach fire. And that's where they stayed for the duration of our set!

The line-up for the audience was as follows : Vicky my wife, Charlotte my daughter and her boyfriend Jordan, Jim's wife Ellen, a couple skulking in the shadows (i never saw their faces), Alan Eagan who was taking photos and one little girl who was particularly taken by our unfetered racket (One mans racket is another man's symphony)...and that was it.

I learned later that the folks outside really enjoyed the music from outside, which is fair enough really and I'm not going to criticise them because they weren't really gig going types, and I think a covers band outdoors doing Bryan Adams would have been more suitable. But my artistic demon comes out a touch when I say, there is a certain courtesy to such situations. Enough said I think. Having said that, if i'd been more adventurous we would have set up outside regardless of the weather and probably had a great night. So there we are, my fault!

Anyway the fish and chips were top and the beer was great also.

And we played a blinder, our audience of 8 concurred, so it's not just me saying it.

And here for the record is the set-list:

HATE THE MILKMAN
LEICESTER
STREET TALK
MY SO-CALLED LIFE
PICTURE YOU
PANIC NOW
BOB BIZARRE
YESTERDAY’S PAPERS
TONY
THE BIG HAIRY WHEEL
HIGHER THAN YOU

With big thanks to ex-Cheesemaker Hesh for his efforts bringing the drums over before the gig. Maybe one day he'll stay to watch us :O)

You may notice a few new song titles in there and a couple of older numbers. Some more new songs have been written since then and demos for a new album are forthcoming in the next few weeks. This next album will be quicker, shorter and simpler and will be made using a much more DIY ethic as no bastard bought the one we took 6 years to record and spent £1,000s on...so there!

Thanks though if you were one of the few who did buy Panic Now!, the very essence of the phrase 'lost' classic.

Photos of the gig to follow soon, (top photo is from SLF support gig) along with some autumn dates hopefully.

Anyone have any suggestions for venues we could play, I'd be massively grateful.

In fact anyone fancy managing the band for a few months and organise gigs and promotion etc we'd be very interested.

That's all for now folks

Andyx

p.s. anyone remember this gig? Vintage poster alert

FINAL UPDATE FOR GIG

2010-07-19T12:47:00.000-07:00

GIG UPDATE - SAT JULY 24th
TYNEMOUTH SAILING CLUB

So heres the final crack

It seems that IF the gig is indoors, there may be some tickets still available on the day at £10 which includes Fish n Chips! They say 'may' because they're not sure, a fair few tickets left at this moment but they 'may' sell in the coming days.

Of course, as you were, if the weathers fine they're gonna frog march us up onto the roof at 9pm and play, so you'll be able to stand on the beach willy-nilly!

New songs, old songs and the old vintage WEM PA gets dusted down for the pleasure!

Lets face it, anything could happen. Someone please come down and video it for the You Tubes, very bloody picturesque it is as you can see.

Maybe see some of you there :O)

Wish us luck
Andy

YET MORE GIG UPDATES 24th JULY

2010-07-07T06:08:00.000-07:00

Thought a picture of the setting for the gig on 24th July would be of benefit. Its Tynemouth Sailing Club, obviously just below the ruins at Tynemouth and we'll be playing on the white two-storey roof, weather permitting. If its poor we'll be inside and Joe Public won't be able to attend.
So scan the pic, plenty of public access available, you just walk down from Tynemouth main strip. Weather forecasts to follow, maybe even the shipping forecast....Dogger, maybe 4,5, occasionally 6, moderate later.....

Ciao for now
Andy

MORE GIG UPDATES 24/7

2010-07-01T16:50:00.000-07:00

And so it seems that decree has been passed by the committe at Tynemouth Sailing Club (venue revealed right there) and guests are NOT permitted at the gig on 24th July. This means people are not allowed INTO the club, because everyone going has paid for the event and they don't want interlopers, which is fair enough.

So, basically we have a situation where the weather is king.

If the weather is poor, the gig will be in the club and no-one will be able to come and see it

BUT

If the weathers fine, and those cruel people make us play on the roof, it seems folk can come and watch us play on the beach, (cos that's where the audience will be) on the premise that they then don't proceed into the club. I haven't been yet but there are apparently many vantage points where the set can be viewed from that are quite public, so maybe a protest can be arranged, placards and banners and people with torches! Or even people on porches?

So that's the basic idea. I understand where they're coming from but I really want to see you chaps there but I know it's tough, given that if it starts pissing down at 8pm, it'll be indoors and you won't see it. I guess I have to leave it all up to you folks to make a decision.

The set is due to begin at 9pm although I may petition for an 8.45pm start as we currently have a 14 song set mapped out, with new songs and everything!

I'll keep you updated on that

I'm planning a recce to the venue soon to see how vantageous the vantage points are

More soon

Cheers
Andy

GIG UPDATE

2010-06-16T15:43:00.000-07:00

IMPORTANT NEWS RE: JULY GIG:

A few things, firstly the date has changed, it is now the night after on SATURDAY 24TH JULY.

Secondly, it seems that if the weather is fine, because its right down by the river, the band will be playing on the ROOF, which is a 2nd floor building! Could be, er, interesting. Beatles, U2....anyone?

And thirdly, still awating clarification from the organisers as to whether 'guests' can come, as its a private party that people have paid for and it has to go to the committee to see if we can bring friends, so will keep you posted.

Cheers all to our ever dwindling crew :O)
Andy

Cheesemakers return to the stage SHOCK!

2010-05-22T14:04:00.000-07:00

It is with great pleasure and not a little hint of anticipation that I announce the return of The Cheesemakers to the live stage in 2010.

They will be appearing live on Friday 23rd July at a venue to be announced and confirmed. It is a private show on North Tyneside but band guests will be allowed entry, details to follow.

The set will include old favourites and new material and will only be the 2nd opportunity to have seen the 3-man line-up since Hesh left. More solid info here soon! :O)

Hope to see you there???

Andy

Vintage Interview & NEW 2010 News

2010-05-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

Calling all...calling all. Being ill often makes you think of the past and now that I'm well enough to sit at a computer I've managed to find this original interview from 2001 after we had played the legendary Cellar Club in South Shields. Really odd to read something you only said once all over again. Interesting stuff though I think. Naomi was/is a nice lass, hope she's doing ok out there somewhere.

Also News In Brief - The Cheesemakers have found a new rehearsal room (shock) and are back in the swing. The plan is gigs by late summer (yes Ive said that before) but some momentum is on the boil and thats better than nowt so watch this space for further announcements. I won't bleat on about anything else 'we're gonna do' so I don't let you down again!

Also coming soon on this blog, some cracking vintage posters I've found...were you there?

If I had a picture of Naomi I'd print it so you could picture the scene but haven't, so you'll have to sketch yourself.

Anyway, the scene. In the downstairs reception area at The Cellar on the double seat next to the cloakroom, me and Naomi chew the fat....

Interview with Andy Ferguson of The Cheesemakers
27/11/01@The Cellar Club, South Shields. (c) Naomi Watters 2001

Naomi: Can you start by introducing the band?
Andy: My name's Andy, I work at Changesone as well, and we have Jim Hitler as he likes to be known on drums, Hesh on guitars, and Geoff on bass.
(At this point Danny and Neil come along and congratulate Andy on a great gig, Neil also announcing that Newcastle have won, and Andy announces this is the first football match he has missed in 15 years just to play tonight!)
N: Why are you called The Cheesemakers?
A: It comes from the film, 'Life of Brian'. At the beginning of the film, and everyone that reads this will probably know, Jesus shouts, "Blessed are the cheesemakers!", and somebody says, "What's so special about The Cheesemakers?", then somebody replies, "I don't think he ‘s just referring to the cheesemakers but to any manufacturer of dairy products". So, it's from Monty Python. Most good things are derived from Monty Python.
N: How long have The Cheesemakers been together?
A: This paticular line-up has been together for about a year or so. The Cheesemakers as such has been about five years but bass players are generally a bit, urm, flighty and moody to say the least . But this particular bass player has been about a year or so , and doesn’t have any of the aforementioned traits ! This is the best line-up.
N: How has working at Changesone helped the band?
A: Well, it's always a benefit to work for a record company, 'cos you can sign yourself, as I said at the instore, but I think that we're as good as anyone on the label, musically, you know, four guys that work everyday and then turn up and practise every week, as you've just seen, I think we're ok...and I certainly think that we do ourselves justice. And my bass player, this is the first band that he's been in, and after we played he said, "So are these groups professionals, do they do this for a living?" and I said "Yeah, they do it for a living", and so he was well impressed with himself that he had managed to do that, to go to work during the day, finish work and hammer down here - you know, we can't sit around in the pub all day and do whatever some people do, just turn up, plug in, play, we're as good as the two bands that are playing tonight, in our opinion, and I'm not frightened to say that.
N: Good for you!So, what was it like playing with The Chasers on their first unofficial gig?
A: It was good, 'cos I didn't know they were playing, apparently it was hatched whilst we were playing! I knew there was three of 'em there and they'd practised in the afternoon, and Mark joined on the afternoon and I thought that was fairly impressive that he'd managed to get up and do five or six songs after playing with them for two hours, and I thought it was great, yeah. and I think that was impressive that they managed to get up and do that. We've been together for about a year in this line-up, and we're so well-rehearsed now that we can just get up and play, whenever we are asked to - but to get up after two hours of practising is impressive, yeah.. As far as selling the CD goes , we are being dragged along on the coat tails of the bands on the label like The B-Movie Heroes, and Johnny Zhivago, and it’s excellent to be mentioned in the same breath as bands like this , even though we're as good as them! J But more and more people are getting the CD and finding out for themselves .
N: What music are The Cheesemakers listening to at the moment?
A: I listen to all kinds of music, before I came out I listened to Bob Geldofs album...I listen to all sorts, as you get older, your musical tastes broadern, and I listen to all kinds of things, right from jazz, classical up to The Clash...But the main sort of things I listen to are REM, Television, Iggy Pop...I suppose as a group interview, we're mainly inspired by the '70s punk thing - Patti Smith, Television, Iggy Pop and stuff like that. The Jam as well. I wouldn't say as a whole The Jam is a big influence musically, but I think it does come across. I suppose we do like the short two and a half minute songs like The Jam used to do. Can’t hide the obvious influences , wouldn’t want to . The Who are always an overbearing presence too .
N: In your opinion, what's the best venue that you've played so far?
A: Well I've always wanted to play at The Cellar - always! When I first started coming here 20 years ago , it was called The Chelsea Cat, it was just a nightclub then, and it's been three or four different venues in the last year or two and I've always wanted to play, because I think it's great, I think it's the right shape for a venue, like The Office - we love playing at The Office. The Cellar Club has got the right atmosphere.
N: It's got the same atmosphere as Trillians, I think.
A: It does have, I've never played at Trillians, but I've been to Trillians so I can guess what it'd be like, but I just like the idea of a stage and a semi-circle of people to play to, you never, though there's a dance floor, expect people to dance...well, Nick was there! There will be when The Chasers are on but that's to be expected, but you never expect to have people right in your face, and I've experienced that once or twice and it hasn't bothered us in the slightest. I'd have to say that The Cellar is a place I've always wanted to play and I'm proud I've played here, because of the history of the venue as well . The first 2 acts to appear here in the late 60’s were Cream and The Jimi Hendrix Experience . It’s just a shame the revolving stage isn’t here anymore .
N: What one band has most influenced The Cheesemakers style?
A: I think it was quite a half conscious thing, when the new bass player Geoff arrived about a year ago, the only sort of thing I was listening to at the time - which is also in answer to your question previously - was Television, which is a group from mid-70's New York. And that was an enormous inspiration, the song 'White Trash' is made to sound like Television, so perhaps that's the answer, but I think that things are in-built in me like The Jam, and REM, and U2 as well - 'Higher Than You' sounds like U2, it was probably meant to as well - but I think Television is the answer, certainly the coolest answer! And Iggy Pop as well, we did an Igg song tonight, but it's such an obscure song that people don't really notice, so we've turned that around to make it sound like our own song. So Iggy Pop/ Television.
N: Can you tell me about the tribute album to Television that The Cheesemakers are featured on?
A: Right, that's not a very big thing, it's just basically a Television list on the internet, in the same way of The Wildhearts, and the Antiproduct chat thing, and what's it called, the Antiproduct Peoples Rock Army...Which I should really become a member of - Sorry Alex!! It's just a Television list, and they're all fairly old guys most of 'em, but they get people to record their versions of Television or Tom Verlaine's songs There’s already one volume out which is a compilation and it's already distributed, but the best thing about it, is that it's such a small thing - there's only about 100 people on the list - but it's ran by people in New York, who know, Tom Verlaine, Richard Hell, - all the people in Television, they know Patti Smith, they know Iggy Pop...They know all of those people, ...And basically all they have to do to put this out is to play the songs to Tom Verlaine, and say, "Is this OK?", and he can let us know, because he wrote all the songs, and he's legendarily picky about what he does! And that's the greatest thing about it - that Tom Verlaine will actually hear our version, of the Tom Verlaine solo trackwe’ve done, but the greatest thing about is that it's distributed and sub-distributed and it’s very prestigious that Tom Verlaine will hear it. It's not an enormous thing commercially but it is artistically, really.
N: Can you tell me about the songs on 'The White Trash EP', and what inspired them?
A: The track that we've just been talking about is on, it's called 'Without a Word' and it's a Tom Verlaine solo track' that's on because it was recorded in the same session; thought it was good enough to put on so it’s there . The first track, 'Sheila on the bus', is a punk song , I bought the 'Punk 1, 2, 3, 4' box set, which features great stuff like The Saints - that's an Australian punk band - and The Buzzcocks etc., etc....It was all two and a half minutes, hammer it out, couple of choruses, couple of verses, hammer it out, do it, and that came from that, it's just basic chords.There’s actually a very serious message in there under what seems to be quite a silly storyline . The person who goes on the bus doesn’t really want to , then when he finds that Sheila’s ‘not there’ – metaphorically if you catch my drift – he doesn’t care because he’s tried and tried to do something . So it’s serious shit disguised as silly shit ! ' Higher Than You' is basically us sticking up for ourselves against the mindless cover drivel bands - "we're as good as you" kinda thing, it was written fairly recently, the words are things like "We're travelling at high speed, we are higher than you...", It's not...I don't mean to diss anyone - if that's a word a white person can use! But it's meant to say, we can hold our own kinda thing. 'White Trash' is fairly similar lyrically, and 'Bob Bizzare' is actually about my brother in-law, who used to be a big fan of the group I was in which was called World of Spam – who were actually a mindless cover band - , ten years ago, and he used to look like Robert Smith, and regardless of the gig or the context, he'd always come down and get absolutely pissed and just charge around on the dance floor and generally knock the PA over, and that's what it's about! So we had a setlist of about 30 songs, and they're all originals, and we were suddenly thrust into the position of having to pick four songs for the EP when I'd probably written about 300 in my days, probably 30 or 40 of which are any good, and those were the ones that happened to be best at the time.
N: What is the 'Cuban Paint' LP going to be like, and when do you expect it to be released?
A: The 'Cuban Paint' album, is something quite different from The Cheesemakers, it's myself and Hesh from the group and also Dunf from that legendary mod group The Leapers and the basic idea is, when people need somewhere to go after the pub, some go home and get the Playstation out, some people get the porn on and older people will get The Trivial Pursuit out, our crowd when we go home we get the guitars out, and we sit and play songs, and you'll just sit and play the songs until the early hours, and somebody will say, “one time we should record these songs, you know, we should do them”, and most of the time that just gets forgotten the next day and that's it. What The Cuban Paint album is going to be is the sound of that idea actually coming to fruition , and we're actually recording it, and it's basically just songs that I've written over the past few years that aren't suitable for The Cheesemakers because they're acoustic, and songs that aren't suitable for The Leapers. We've worked our way through each track and we now have a great master tape of demos for 14 songs and what's exciting now is to re-record it and get it done professionally, perhaps on the Changesone label – although I don't think so honestly, 'cos I don't think it's the kind of thing that suits the label - but do the songs justice 'cos they're great songs. It's such a great set of songs that that's what we've decided to do, and that's what it's all about, and all will become apparent next year. There’ll be a few small select gigs where people who are in the ‘in crowd’ , like yourself , will get invited for an acoustic evening with Cuban Paint …ha ha ha
N: What's the name about?
A: It's a fairly obscure thing. When you form a group you try to think of a name and you tend to write things down, what about this, what about that...the best thing's always come from thing's people say, off the cuff, and I was talking to Dunf on the phone, and the original name was Wizards Sleeve, which has already been used apparently we found out afterwards, and we were trying to plan a rehearsal that night, and I said are you gonna play tonight and he said "No, I've got to go back to work tonight" - he works at a paint factory, and he said, there's something going on at the factory and I've got to go back tonight, so I said "Oh, it's sorta like a paint crisis!", and he said I suppose it’s a ‘Cuban Paint Crisis!” So the original name for the band was Cuban Paint Crisis and then over 25 beers it sounded better as Cuban Paint! The actual title for the album was 'The Breakfast Situation', 'cos me and Dunf were on the way to practice, and we got to McDonalds drive thru and we wanted some breakfast and it was ten minutes after they'd finished so they refused to serve us breakfast, so that became the breakfast situation!
N: What upcoming gigs have you got planned?
A: We’re resting over Xmas, but we have plenty of things lined up for next year, no firm dates yet. But there will be lots of stuff and we are hopefully doing a gig with Darrell Bath to help promote his solo album which comes out on the Chanagesone label soon, also Cuban Paint are doing the aforementioned acoustic things , and hopefully more things with all of the bands on the label , 'cos we have to sell 500 CDs! We're not here to make money though, I doubt we ever will, we're just here for our own enjoyment.
N: Where can people get hold of The Cheesemakers CDs?
A: There was an album called 'It's Toasted' which was a home reocrded thing, which was ok, but it was a CD-R, and there's also 'Live in the Orifice' which was live at The Office, but those are both out of press now to be honest. The 'White Trash EP' is available from Changesone now, within about three or four weeks you'll be able to get it anywhere in the country, 'cos as the same with everything on the Changesone label it's going to be through Shell Shock distribution, if you can't just walk in anywhere in the country and buy it you'll be able to order it, and hopefully also overseas as well. I've also got a deal with a guy in a record shop in New York, he's taken some CDs in the past and so hopefully he'll take some for North America. And distribution is going really well for stuff like Antiproducts Van EP, I doubt you'll know about this but we got an order for 300 copies of that today! Hopefully in the future it will be similar for The Cheesemakers and anyone in Britian will be able to at least order The Cheesemakers CDs.
N: Finally, how can you be contacted?
A: I can be contacted at the ChangesOne shop

More release info can be found at http://www.changesone.co.uk , then onto the label page.

SPRING ROUND THE CORNER?

2010-03-04T12:11:00.000-08:00

Who knows? Still bloody cold here. Anyway, will be posting details of a few exciting, and maybe un-expected, projects I've been working on shortly.

For now here is a picture of a REALLY RARE Jam 12" I picked up today. Town Called Malice/Precious SPANISH 12". Cos the pics a bit crap you may not make it out straight away but the centre piece is NOT die-cut like the other editions, i.e. in the middle is an actual picture of the label rather than a hole that you see the label through, terrifically rare and would like to hear of anyone else who's got one.

I also ended my 18 year search for a copy of Above The Clouds on 45 this week so I'm a happy bunny.

More very soon

Wake Up The Nation!!!
Andy

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND ON WE GO

2009-12-31T09:27:00.001-08:00

Just a quick burst to say All The Best to my merry followers and friends.

Hope 2010 brings you everything you would like and need. 2009 has been quiet for musical goings on for me apart from my much lauded Words Falling On The Page album, a thousand thanks to those that have sent me their thoughts and reviews, and if you havent checked it out you can still download it for free, along with full artwork, liner notes and lyrics from the link to the left

2010 promises much though including a follow up to the above forementioned album from me, a rebirth of once saluted acoustic trio Cuban Paint, featuring legendary hanger-on Dunf and the newly Ukelele'd Hesh and The Cheesemakers? Well, we just need a place to bloody rehearse!!! Help anyone!

Many many new songs to unfold next year across all three formats, solo acoustic, trio acoustic and band, so here's hoping you're still along for the ride

Please keep checking the blog for updates on what we're up to, I expect a nice little update and maybe a recording or two to appear in January from the first fruits of the CP reunion.

So all the best for New Years Eve, drink deep and remember, always enjoy music responsibly

CheersAndy

Brand New Reviews just in...

2009-11-11T12:42:00.000-08:00

After whats seems like, and actually has been, months without email/a reliable PC etc I am finally able to post these superb, very different, new reviews of 'Words Falling On The Page' from two different corners of the world. Massive thanks to folks below who took the time to read the sleeve notes, the lyrics and listen to the album properly. Read on MacDuff...

###

So as you tell in the liner notes, the recording took place at home, and we all can hear this. I don't go further on the quality, which is good, but no studio quality. So we don't have to quote this on
every track.
Cover
I don't like parents talking 'bout their kids with talent, but this time you are definitely right. As I
think these are some superb shots made by your daughter. They show a grim looking Andy in
sunlight – so I think it's the theme for the record. As you tell – you are not happy with life in
england nowadays, but I'm sure you have a lot of hope – that's the sun. So nice cover, with an
superb photo. Congratulation to your daughter, I would like to make pics on that level :-)
Songs
The Silver Torch
The album starts with a fantastic song. Great chord-structure, lovely melody. You play some
amazing guitar and I am not missing any other instrument. I love the chorus. There are all the notes, that fit the song, but nothing else. So there is space for your own thoughts. Great track!
Picture Postcard (sing but never leave) A critical text here about the new digital world and against rubbish music, composed, recorded and mixed with no passion. I totally agree with this song. The chorus is really beautiful – both text and melody. Great song, which would be perfectly suited by a complete instrumentation.
Wishing & Believing
In this song, the chord-structure characters the whole song perfectly. Grim text that comes from the heart – you can really hear it. It sounds great only with guitars, but I can imagine this as a full instrumented song – drums, bass, guitar, organ/keyboards as well. Listening to it, I can really hear the “other” version, even if it's not existing yet. So I call this your “foot of the mountain”, 'cos it's great in 2 versions – nearly acoustic and complete.
When You Close Your Door
Even if you say, that there's a grim mood again, it is clear, that you're a person with great hope.
Love melody again with a guitar-playing, perfectly fitting the song.
More To Life Than Sorrow
A nice riff, but I wouldn't have played through all the song. So it seems to me like having an idea
for a song, but don't get farther. In my opinion a good demo for a coming song. Sorry for being
honest, but you wanted me to be so ;-). Even the part in the middle, not bad at all, but for me not finished yet.
My Life Over
Great song, sounding a little bit like a Lennon-Demo round about 1965/1966 :-)
I love this song, 'cos the text is perfectly for the father-child relationship. The kids show you the
way to be young again... So this is my own interpretation of this song. Lovely text. And you're right, the feeling of the performance is just great.
You Never Win
Another favourite. I love the nice flowing feeling of the verse. And really flowing the message: you never win. Fantastic. You can see this from two positions. The one is the looser, that always groans: no matter how hard I try, I never win to a fictive third person. Or the winner, that tells the second.... love this song. And the guitar work is admirable... perfect sound for this song.
Picture Postcard (Quality Quills)
A true text, packed into a nice melody. Well, it would have been better to write this complete review with my pen on paper and send it by regular mail... but I'm grateful for not having your postal address ;-)))
But I loke this song, 'cos it's so true. No one's writing cards or letters. Just mails and sms... I really hate this sms-thing... So great song, even if it's not a big thing.... just simple, true and GREAT!!!
Brave New World
Again, as in “you never win”, there's a critical, nearly brutal text with a lovely flowing melody. The text, great and again really true shows that you're thinking 'bout the world around. And you have to be cautious to get the message. It is easy to listen to your songs and say – well, great, lovely... sound really good. But that's not the point. The point here is, that you have something to say. You're looking round and you see, there's something going wrong – just as you tell in the foreword...
Hiding in Sunsets, Trading in Tears
Again a great text with a lot of possibilities to interpret it in my own way. In your annotations you give a hint of what you mean to say... nothing more to this. A lovely performance with a lot of passion in it.
Summary
All in all, this is a fantastic little home-made album. It's hard to compare it to studio-albums, 'cos of the lack of perfect production. But I really love the songs. They show, that you are a intelligent
person, looking round and seeing, that there a many things going wrong nowadays. But you're not going to hide, you tell with a lot of hope, that there is a light at the end of every tunnel... you just have to go in the right direction. As I told in the beginning, it is stupid to talk about the sound, knowing that it was made at home. But one thing... a little bit different guitar-sound would be fantastic. The older songs are great, 'cos the sound was a little different, so it's not going to be a boring sound.... why not trying some acoustic-guitar with pick-ups? But that's my opinion.
Well to be honest. I'm glad I did the download, and I'm glad to have listened to this album. I'm also glad to have contacted you. It would be easier for me to write in german, but that would be no help for you. So I hope you understand my english and there are not too many mistakes in it ;-)
Have a nice day
Peace & Love
Wolfram Jaschke, Germany

###

There's a sense in which the common complaint about a lack of authenticity in music misses the point. Pop music can be glorious fun whether or not the artists wrote the songs, played the instruments, or whatever. Anyone who denies this is a lemon-sucking grump. On the other hand, there's a sense in which the complaint hits the point. Fun though pop is, there's something intrinsically valuable about music that articulates a clear artistic vision, a vision that belongs wholly to one person or group.

The complaint is, then, that the modern music industry tends to deprive us of such music by ensuring that every act it promotes appeals as much as possible to the mass mid-market, or to some carefully selected demographic, at the expense of allowing the artist to really express themselves. This tendency explains why it's so refreshing to hear records like Words Falling on the Page. Just from the cover photos, it's apparent that Andy isn't oblivious to his image. But you know that the carefully chosen objects with which he appears have been chosen by because they express something he wants to say, not because they might say something to a target audience. The heartfelt, detailed liner notes make it clear that this record is a deeply personal endeavour. We really are getting one man's music, his take on things he cares about, played and produced just how he wants it to be.

So let's talk about what that vision is. From the notes, you might expect to hear an angry, despairing record. And certainly, the mood isn't positive. But the album strikes me as something both less and more than angry. It's less than angry, in that the mood is more mild; resignation, sadness, futility perhaps. The world, as Andy sees it, is in a pretty bad way, and there's not much to be done about it. There's occasional rays of hope and sunshine, and nostalgia can provide an escape, but all in all, “today it's the brainless, thoughtless and gormless” who run things.

It's more than angry, though, because anger is a simple emotion, and its expression slips over into parody too easily. Instead, Andy spins us a nuanced, complex, fragile web of affect and feeling, one that is much easier to be drawn into and sympathise with than some string of crude fuck-the-world songs. It's understated; an elegy, not a requiem. It's undoubtedly authentic; it's authentically human. We get a genuine portrait of the artist, in the whole and in the round.

Still, authenticity's all very well, but it doesn't matter if the music is rubbish. Thankfully, it's not. Nothing's perfect here; Andy misses notes occasionally, once or twice the recording becomes raw and a little roughshod. But the record, in part, is about the world's imperfections, and it would be incongruous were that theme conveyed by perfectly glossed guitars and faultless vocals. Instead, the record is as accomplished as it needs to be, and no more than it should be. There's a perfect match between the themes and their expression. The melodies and their underscoring are delicate, ethereal, and in a way insubstantial. but several of them stick in your head, repeating as fragments. Again, this matches the mood; the feelings expressed are hard to pin down, evanescent, and yet the overall effect is lasting and engrossing.

The main strength of Andy's songs is his lyrics. He employs a vocabulary that's broader and more expressive than the standard rhyming-dictionary palette, without straying too far in the other direction of ostentation and pretension. He manages to be evocative of both particular times and places, and at the same time of more abstract moods and atmospheres. Rather than try to nail a subject or a feeling with a single line, he lets each song gradually unfold, in a voice that, again, is is surprisingly delicate, vulnerable, tremulous at times.

I've not said anything so far about individual songs, and in a way I don't want to. The moods and themes of the album are expressed by its whole, and singling out one tune or another detracts from the sense of the whole. But the melody of the opening track, The Silver Torch, is a perfect example of those haunting phrases of music that Andy does well. Picture Postcard (Quality Quills) evokes, in the same song, nostalgia, regret, specific sentiments, general ones, and a final twist of hope that maybe, it might be OK after all. Its counterpart, Picture Postcard (Sing But Never Leave) is both a heartfelt complaint and a defiant celebration. You Never Win is perhaps the closest the album comes to simple, outright despair, but it's tempered by the preceding two songs, which express, in a quiet way, thankfulness for what Andy has and hope that there's more good to come.

It would be stupid to exaggerate; this album is not revolutionary. It has antecedents, lyrically, melodically, and thematically, that Andy himself acknowledges. But it is, genuinely, an authentic record, and one that achieves a neat fit of mood, music, and lyric. Finally, perhaps most importantly and impressively, it's a brave and honest record. Andy has given us an eloquent and open picture of how he feels and what he thinks, and the experience of finding out is richly rewarding.

Nick Wiltsher, Miami, Florida

Back back back

2009-08-01T13:18:00.000-07:00

Hi all, I'm back from two superb holidays in Northumberland and Norfolk, maybe next time I'll move onto another letter. nb - I once was a quizmaster at a pub at there was a team there called Norfolk & Chance, took me months to figure it out, but I was reminded of this last week.

Anyway just wanted to drop these thoughts into the ether or whatever it's called these days, just spent a week with family and a few songs came to fruition as the manor house (no shit) I was staying at had a resident guitar and I just couldn't help myself and maybe the themes are about love and peace (not in a hippy sense, more seperately, peace in a quiet sense rather than war and that) and serenity so perhaps the next album is finding a direction already, one song has a title and that is "Whoever, Wherever, Whenever". Your comments so far are inspiring me to begin work on another record almost immediately.

Anyways, trying to settle back into mundane, terrible regular life so ciao for now lovers

Andy

First words slipping in

2009-07-12T14:10:00.001-07:00

The first few tentative words about the album are filtering in from the world, and I'm overjoyed to see that people really taking their time with it and giving it the time of day and here are a few snippets:

"...digesting...notes to follow..." Guru Greeny, Somewhere out There

"on the same lines as Greeny,after reading the notes, instructions etc i thought F*** it! its a bloody good album - I'm going to listen and enjoy it for a while rather than study it like homework. i'll hand in my essay b4 the end of term though. Promise! i'm onto my 3rd full listen of the album. I'm more into melodies than lyrics which is what puts me off a lot of acoustic stuff but i should have known better. you always have a decent tune!!" Dodgy Gary, UK

"Due to some technical problems, I have only been able to listen to the album at low volume at the office.
Here are my first impressions...
I do like the album as a whole. I fear that this will sound like a cliche: this album feels more honest and true to Andy as an artist. As a member of The Cheesemakers, Andy writes good tunes. His lyrics usually feature clever wordplay and tell stories. And I enjoy that. When I listen to the solo piece, I feel that Andy has created songs about things that are personal to him. I have not had a chance to see the lyrics so this may be off-base. Having said that, the feel of the songs seems to convey that to me.

As Andy Cheesemaker, he is the frontman/performer/entertainer. As Andy Ferguson, he is the artist." JR Remke, Chicago, USofA

"My review will be a very very cautious one, Need to have all my senses on the record, you know what I mean! I need to be in the right mood. Can’t listen it once in my car and make a review." Yann Viseur, France

(Check out Yann's wondrous Blog here - http://musiccornershop.blogspot.com/ )

It should be noted at this point that there is no-one out there whom has put more effort into promoting this album than Yann, and for no other reason than he likes the album and wants to help! It just helps a little to restore ones faith in human nature, I think. Yann and his Blog is Magnifique!

"Shite! Never liked him" Hesh, The Boldons, UK

So some tentative words here but I'm looking forward to the floods of detailed and extensive reviews that will no doubt be piling in this week :o)

Cheers me luvs

Andy

Ps - Go see Quadrophenia the new stage play when you get a chance, caught it last night at Sunderland Empire and was superb

WORDS FALLING FROM THE PAGE - SOLO ALBUM RELEASED TODAY!

2009-07-01T16:23:00.000-07:00

ANDY CHEESEMAKER - WORDS FALLING ON THE PAGE

It is with great pleasure that I can announce that my debut solo album, 'Words Falling On The Page' is released today and can be downloaded for free using the link below. The package is zipped and comes with the ten music tracks, full colour artwork to be printed and fitted into a PVC sleeve as opposed to a jewel case, lyrics to all ten songs and detailed liner notes.

I'd be very happy indeed if you would give this album a listen, in the proper listening environment, accompanied by both the lyrics and liner notes so that you get the full picture and I'd be overjoyed if you could find time send me your thoughts, either by posting here on the Blog or by mailing me direct,

afne04343@blueyonder.co.uk , good or bad, detailed or brief, your time would be much much appreciated.
And so I surrender this work to the public and hope you find something from it.

Feel free to copy, distribute, give to relatives for Xmas etc, I want as many people as possible to hear this stuff.

Link to download on Megaupload - http://www.megaupload.com/?d=QTU7L37C

*Please note this new link takes you to the updated version with the improved Lyric Folder.

Cheers

Andy 2nd July 2009

Cheesemakers Rare Video Link Update

2009-06-23T15:09:00.000-07:00

It seems, for a change, that the link below doesn't work!!!!! Agggh

Anyways, go to youtube.com, search Cheesemakers and on the first or second page will be what you're loooking for, the footage is from The Archer. Once you get one of them you'll see the others on the right in 'more from dodgygary'.

"Technology shows us, up to be bogus" Andy

Rare Vintage Cheesemakers Footage Found

2009-06-22T12:28:00.000-07:00

Some fantastic new live gig footage has appeared on the You Tubes courtesy of long time Cheesemakers follower Dodgy Gary. It features virtually the whole set from The Archer, Jesmond, Newcastle on 21st September 2004.

The lot can be found at

http://www.youtube.com/resultssearch_type=&search_query=dodgygary&aq=f

some of it even seems to be in High Definition! The sound is great and it's a pretty top performance by the band including the amazing microphone juggling act during Leicester quickly followed by my attempt to sing into a mic stand without a mic on it, and then carrying on ANYWAY! Priceless. The perfect example of the show must go on.

Many thanks to Gary for unearthing this footage and making it available.

...In other news....the solo album is now in the artwork stage and should be up here for your delectation very soon

Andy

Solo Album COMPLETED

2009-06-17T15:05:00.000-07:00

In other news...the world rocked on its axis today. Dodgy Gary will be happy for some SHOCK news.

Andy of The Cheesemakers met a deadline that he said he would and completed the recording of his debut solo album today!
Still standing?

The ten songs are now 'in the can', as they say and ready to rumble, although due to the delicate nature of the tracks, a rumble isn't too likely, more a brief murmur.
Now all that awaits are the taking of photos for the sleeve (great Fathers Day present in my opinion) writing of sleeve notes and loading it up to the mother-host. Having been stung by financial sums in recent releases, this will be an internet, Free Gratis, download only situation. Almost Bespoke in its nature.

With the 10 tracks will be a file of Liner Notes, a file of the Lyrics and a PDF file of the artwork for you to print out your damn-well-self.

This should occur within the next 7-10 days, after which I would request, nay beg for, some great and serious reviews that will appear, un-edited, here, on the Cheesemaker Blog.

I feel a sense of achievement, in that I set out to do this, as one piece of work based around one subject. Maybe a concept album, but more of a themed album. is there a difference?
The achievement is that Ive always written songs, always put releases together, but this is the first time I have written 10 songs for a particular purpose and reason, recorded them and put them out as one body of work. Im very proud tonight, I hope you share my projected pride.

Spoiler - Its a solemn listen with rays of light splitting through the curtains, so buy in suitable alcoholic accompaniment. 'Don't worry' though, Curtis Mayfield helped me complete the album today, because the record was so full of grimness I felt it needed some light and 'More To Life Than Sorrow' became the last song written and recorded for the album today in it's entirety and it brought me some hope, hope it does to you also, Brothers and the Whiteys!

Thats all for now
Details very soon on this Blog on how, and why, to get it!

Cheers all

Andy

p.s. - some fabulous news just in as regards archives on the band, more soon...

Jealousy Bites Archive Track & RELEASE DATE

2009-06-14T13:47:00.000-07:00

Evening all

I'm feeling quite excited about the looming completion of the solo album, this will happen on Wednesday and the album will be available to download in full for FREE 7 days after that. Im so excited that Ive felt the need to upload another long lost treasure, nothing to do with the solo album but a long lost unused Cheesemakers track. Here it is in its rough, early demo crappy tape deck variation. Its called Jealousy Bites and harks back to the days when Hesh still strummed the strings for us.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ZDXYU5G6

Enjoy and please be sure to check back on Wednesday 24th June for the solo album release links. Christ! That sounds like a release date, gadzooks! Best get the cover shots taken then!

Cheers me buggers
Andy

I Can't See Out of the Window

2009-06-10T08:13:00.000-07:00

A bonus update. Today's solo album session was superb, two more new tracks recorded, mixed and fully completed. The tracks are called 'Brave New World' & 'Hiding in Sunsets, Trading in Tears' and both are pivotal to how the album runs. That takes the total to 8 done now, with one more on the slab requiring minor surgery and one final tune to record from scratch. I now have the dilemma of which one to choose from a list of about 25! Choices choices. I'll be doing that next Wednesday so the album will be completed then, without any doubt at all! Wow, that sounds like a deadline to me.

So then it will be knocking up some artwork and getting all the files together for a nice tidy package upload which will include all the stuff mentioned below. Exciting eh? Hope you're as excited as me! If anyone's there, of course.

I shall post more on what the albums about etc shortly, cos its a type of concept album or at least a thread running through it but I'll be able to tell the story better when the running order is decided and notes have been written.

That's it for the noo', time to get those sausages on for tea

Andy

Warm, sultry Wednesay afternoon in Northern England 2009

Summer Always Goes So Quick

2009-06-09T13:36:00.001-07:00

A quick update here for you lovers. Its been such a long, long, time since I passed on any info, been obsessed with the past recently but I'm back now in the present and focusing on the future. Some status reports:

The solo album - Coming to fruition quite quickly now. Six songs finished, with four more to complete, two of which will happen tomorrow. Thinking of artwork etc now so I envisage completion in about 4 weeks. As stated before it will be available as a download, with all relevant bits n pieces such as full artwork, lyrics and liner notes. Let's embrace the future, eh?

The Cheesemakers - Not so good. We've lost our rehearsal space of about 8 years and are at a loss as to where to go. Going to Newcastle to practice wouldn't be high on my list of things I'd like to do, but we gotta get something sorted out. When Jim went on a forced hiatus, for several reasons, in mid-January we were hot, really happening, having grasped the shock of Hesh leaving with all six hands and making a real FIST of it. But delays are nothing new to us and we will abide. The Dude abides...

Live - Once the solo album is completed I will be embarking on playing it live, hopefully you'll see fit to come and take it in. The band will without question be back on the boards once we get the logistics sorted out, I can't do without it.

So that's it chaps for now, things are slow but sure at the moment, I have high hopes for the solo album and I hope you do too.

Hope you're also enjoying all the vintage stuff I'm culling from various sources and posting on here. Would hate to think I was just doing it for my own amusement, although it wouldn't be the first time....until the next time

Andy

Album Update from October 2002!

2009-06-06T13:47:00.000-07:00

Another selection from the old website, what a lying bastard I was, the album was still 5 years off at this time!!! Ha ha

Andy

###

Album Update October 2002

THIS IS THE SECOND ENTRY INTO THE JOURNAL OR DIARY FOR THE CHEESEMAKERS ALBUMOK FOLKS . HERE'S THE TRUE DEAL ON THE NOW 'LONG AWAITED' NEW CHEESEMAKERS ALBUM
FOR AGES NOW , PROBABLY SINCE APRIL , I HAVE BEEN TELLING YOU THAT THE ALBUM HAS BEEN ABOUT TO GO INTO RECORDING AND EVERYTIME YOU LOOK , IT'S GONE BACK A MONTH . THIS MUCH IS TRUE AND I KNOW THERES A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WAITING FOR IT . SO HERE'S THE CURRENT SITUATION
A FEW MONTHS BACK , THE CHANGES ONE LABEL HAD TO STOP PRESSING NEW RELEASES FOR VERY GOOD REASONS , REASONS WHICH WE WON'T GO INTO HERE . IN THE FOLLOWING PERIOD , 4 OTHER RELEASES WERE RECORDED AND READIED FOR RELEASE AND GIVEN CATALOGUE NUMBERS . SO BASICALLY , WE KEPT SHUFFLING OURSELVES DOWN THE QUEUE BECAUSE WE COULDN'T AFFORD TO SHELL OUT A GRAND ON RECORDING KNOWING THE RELEASE WOULDN'T HAPPEN FOR SOME TIME .
THE WAY WE WORK WITH THE LABEL IS WE PAY FOR RECORDING AND MIXING AND THE LABEL PAYS FOR PRESSING AND PRODUCTION . THIS WAY THE LOAD IS SPREAD
IN RECENT WEEKS THE LABEL HAS BEGAN TO MOVE AGAIN AND THE NEXT RELEASE IS CLOSE TO PRODUCTION , SO WE CAN BEGIN OUR ENGINES ONCE AGAIN . I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT THE CASH TO BEGIN RECORDING IS FORTHCOMING SO I CAN SAY WITH EXTREME PREDJUDICE THAT THE NEW CHEESEMAKERS ALBUM WILL BEGIN RECORDING BEFORE THE MONTH OF OCTOBER IS OUT !!!
THIS IS MY TRUTH

CURRENT STATUSTHE FIRST RECORDING SESSION WILL HAPPEN BEFORE THE MONTH OF OCTOBER IS OUT ONE SATURDAY MORNING/AFTERNOON & EVENING . WE WILL AGAIN BE EMPLYING THE SERVICES OF MAD ALAN AT WASHINGTON ARSE CENTRE . Each session will be a 10 hour affair with roughly 4 tracks recorded in that time . The first set of songs due for commital include :
LEICESTERCOME OUTYOU SOLD YOUR RECORDS (1983)
The track listing you can view on this page is nowhere near final and songwriting continues apace . very few songs are certain for inclusion and the race is well and truly on
Only one track from WHITE TRASH will be on the album - a completely new version of HIGHER THAN YOU
ONCE THE FIRST SESSION HAS BEEN COMPLETED I WILL UPDATE THIS PAGE WITH THE FULL STORY IN WORDS AND PIKSURES
FEATURESAll of the songs for the album have been written but there will be a fair amount of tinkering going on in the studio . I don't mean trouser shuffling ( although that's possible ) but changes to songs here and there . Geoff , our piano maestro will feature heavily on one track , as it's ridiculous to ignore such a talent . A prime fart from the anus of Jim the Fart Master will also appear somewhere on the album !
Samples will also be extensively used . Not in the dance music way , you undertand , where one sample is continually repeated over a repetetive drone , but mad soundbites and samples from films etc thrown in at any given point . I love this shit , can't wait !
The main style of the group will be prominent but the album will have it's fair share of eclecticism as we're no one trick pony , my lad !For instance , something special and unexpected is planned for the end of the album , a tune quite out of kilter with what most people see The Cheesemakers as , but is really quite a part of my songwriting . Also the aforementioned long lost punk classic , which may or may not be used and anything new that gets written in the meantime ( see "You Sold Your Records") Confused ? You will be . More will be revealed .

NEW SONGS ? OLD SONGS ?'Sheila called me on the telephone , what she say ?
Because of the recent surge in popularity of the band , the new album will be a mixture of completely new songs and completely old songs . The normal mindset of the band , is once something is recorded , then that's it - it's in the past . But recent months have proven that the band is becoming familiar with a whole new audience , who don't have the old recordings . Recordings which are now rendered old-hat by the quality of the White Trash EP . So the decision was made to select a few of the classics and re-record to higher quality along with the great batch of new songs already written .The only track from White Trash to feature on the album will be Higher Than You , and this will be a completely new , different sounding version
Along with the dozen or so original tracks , there will probably be a very special hidden cover version of a long lost song from the anal cleft of punk folklore
All in all , this should provide a very quick recording process and the album should be ready for release in the time it takes to cook a fresh chicken ! Mmmmmmm .....
WHAT'S GOIN ON ?HERE IS THE PROPOSED TRACK LISTING FOR THE ALBUM:
LEICESTERCOME OUTDON'T SAY IT WITH FLOWERSGET YOURSELF OFFSOUL INTO THE SKYHATE THE MILKMANTHESE THINGS HAPPEN SO WHAT DOES IT MEANYes folks ! the opera!THE BIG HAIRY WHEELHIGHER THAN YOU - new versionPICTURE YOUFLY BUSTERTHE CIRCLE OF A CIRCUS RINGDEMONSYOU SOLD YOUR RECORDSNIGHTMAREand of coursethe Secret Cover Version
Some of you will be familiar with most of these titles but I guarantee no-one will know all of them ( apart from me , obviously)

BACK CAT ?NO , NOT A FELINE ANIMAL YOU MOUNT ON YOUR BACK OR A DISLEXIC SUNDERLAND FAN ( aren't they all ? ) BUT WHAT YOU CAN GET . ALL OF THE CHEESEMAKERS BACK CATALOGUE IS AVAILABLE ON OFFICIAL BOOTLEG AUDIO CASSETTE , YES , EVEN THE DELETED ONES - GO FIGURE ! ALL IT MEANS IS THEY'RE NOT AVAILABLE ON CD ANYMORE BUT THE BAND ARE HAPPY TO RUN OFF A FEW COPIES ON MONKEY TAPE IF REQUIRED . MAIL THE CHEESEMAKER GENERAL OR SEE DISCOGRAPHY PAGE FOR MORE DETAILS . CIAO !
ALSO AVAILABLE BY THE CHEESEMAKERSCURRENTLY AVAILABLE !
WHITE TRASH E.P. on CD
LIVE UP THE ORIFACE - LIVE ALBUM on cassette only now !
IT'S TOASTED EUROPEAN CD VERSION on cassette only now !
IT'S TOASTED - 1999 featuring the original superior mix of the opera!
ELBOWS ARE NOT PSYCHADELIC - 1998 .
ALL OF THE CASSETTES ARE FREE OF CHARGE FROM THE E-MAIL ADDRESS ON ALMOST EVERY PAGE , AND FROM CHANGES ONE RECORDS . SEE LINK .FULL DISCOGRAPHY NOW AVAILABLE ON DISCOGRAPHY PAGE - makes sense really ?
DON'T SPOOK THE HORSE !

INFLUENZA THE INFLUENCE OF THIS BAND WILL NOT BE LOST ON THE ALBUM . I HEAR YOU LAUGH , BUT I SHIT YOU NOT ! CHECK OUT THE 'INFLUENZA' PAGE FOR A FULLER DESCRIPTION OF THE ANTZ' IMPORTANCE
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE PUNK VERSION , BEFORE THE NONESENSE .

if(window.OAS_AD) OAS_AD('Bottom');

Discography

2009-06-06T13:27:00.000-07:00

Good Lord! You shut your eyes for a moment, then 4 months have passed. Shocking behavious. Well here is another section of the old Cheesemakers website for your edification. This is the bands discography as it was at the time. Some fascinating old chestnuts here. Enjoy. p.s. updates on what's happening in 2009 soon......

Notes Ive added today come under '2009 note'

Andy

###

HERE'S ALL THE RECORDED OUTPUT AVAILABLE BY THE CHEESEMAKERS . MAKE THEM YOURS !ALL THE TITLES ARE AVAILABLE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER . THE ORIGINAL CASSETTES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE CHEESEMAKER GENERAL'S E-MAIL & YOU CAN GET THE CD'S FROM CHANGES ONE IN THE UK AND SUBTERRANEAN RECORDS IN THE US of A . DO IT NOW !

ELBOWS ARE NOT PSYCHADELIC - original Cassette
TRACK LISTING :
Come Out , Twenty To Ten , Bomb Bag , Get Yourself Off , Are You Gonna Sue , My New Pin , Waste Of Mind , Picture You , Space Doubt , Nowhere Man ( the same ) , Down , Alone In The Black , Soul Into The Sky , Fly Buster , The Kids Are Alright , Dum Dum Boys , Rain , Don't Say It With Flowers , Funtime , Melancholy Rains , Black Eyed Dog , A Lifetime Is A Longtime , A Lonely Dedication , Funtime - Live , Flowers - Live , Fly Buster - Mothership Mix , Soul Into The Sky - Lava Mix
That's right folks , 27 tracks ! That was the days when we'd put something of this magnitude out every bleedin year . Madness . Some lost classics in there which just don't make the set anymore . Also our first attempt at the 'opera' , ie a 3 song medley thing , pretty neat - pretty good . A few covers there for good measure as well .

2009 Note - There are some top songs on here that need revisiting and re-mastering. All of the releases here btw are slated for re-mastering onto CDs in the near/mid/me future.

IT'S TOASTED ! Original cassette versionTRACK LISTING :
These Things Happen So What Does It Mean ? , The Big Hairy Wheel , Hero , Beautiful Soup , What A Thing To Know , Fly , Silence , My So-Called Life , Place , Me & My Friends , Magic , I.D.E.A.S. , Just One Smile From You , My Room , My Brain Hurts , Holes , Radio Free Europe , Endlessly , Wishlist , Everyday Should Be A Holiday
Yup , another monster , 20 tracks this time , lightweights , eh ? The original appearance of These Things Happen , and the best mix for me . Also includes possibly the worst song I've ever written ? The best selections here were lifted and put on the below CD

2009 Note - Look at the classics on there inc the best ever rendition of the opera, never could be bettered, my greatest achievement in recording I think.

IT'S TOASTED - European CD VersionTRACK LISTING :
These Things Happen So What Does It Mean? , The Big Hairy Wheel , Hero , Beautiful Soup , What A Thing To Know , Fly , Silence , My So-Called Life , Soul Into The Sky , Come Out , I.D.E.A.S. , magic , Just One Smile From You , Holes
SOLD OUT - DELETED !
Cassette copies available on request

2009 Note - This was a self produced CD with reduced track listing to fit! Shows how prolific things were in them days

LIVE UP THE ORIFACE - CDTRACK LISTING :
Get Yourself Off , Hero , Don't Say It With Flowers , Bob Bizarre , These Things Happen So What Does It Mean , Uptight , Sheila's On The Bus , Fly Buster , Funtime , The Kids Are Alright
SOLD OUT - DELETED
Cassette copies available upon request

2009 Note - A memorable night indeed and a heavy performance. The other bands that night were also recorded including Rat:Daddy

WHITE TRASH E.P. - CDOUT NOW . 5 TRACK E.P. ON CHANGES ONE RECORDS DISTRIBUTED BY SHELLSHOCK IN THE UK . AVAILABLE AT ALL GOOD RECORD STORES BUT PREFERABLY AT CHANGESONE . FREE BADGE WITH FIRST 100 ORDERS !SEE DEDICATED WHITE TRASH PAGE FOR MORE INFO

2009 Note - sold out now I believe. Features the superb Tom Verlaine cover, never performed live

CUBAN PAINT - THE BREAKFAST SITUATION - CDFORTHCOMING RELEASE - NOTES TO FOLLOW

2009 Note - Never issued, which was a crime as this was superb album. I still have the Master Tape and this WILL be re-mastered onto a CD in the very near future. Cuban Paint was the acoustic outlet for me, Hesh and Dunf.

Cheesemakers Archive # 1 - London

2009-02-04T05:10:00.000-08:00

Have just found a very old Cheesemakers site - even older than the three bravenet ones and thecheesemakers.co.uk - that dates back to about 2002 or so and am now in the process of retrieving all the articles and stuff that was on there are transfering here.

So first here is the story of a trip we made to London for our first gig in the capital city.

Enjoy
Andy 2009

###

CHEESEMAKERS AT LARGE - LONDON SPECIAL
HERE IS THE STORY , IN WORDS & PICTURES , OF THE CHEESEMAKERS DEBUT GIG IN LONDON ON JUNE 23rd 2002 AT WEST ONE FOUR , WEST KENSINGTON

The gig was an indoor festival type of thing with 8 bands playing . The promoters were Five Miles High , a promotions / management company who provide a magnificent rock 'n' roll resource at their website ( see lynx page ) . They manage B-Movie Heroes & Plan A , both of whom played at the gig
The gig was called Damofest , in honour of an Aussie dude called Damo who is strongly linked with all things rock and FMH and whom was also present at the gig .
The Cheesemakers were asked to play due to FMH strong link with Changes One , our label , and so we were wedged in at the bottom of the bill - happy to be so , I must add
There are many more photos available of the trip , far too many to put on this page , they will soon be uploaded into the photo section of The Cheesemakers Yahoo Group pages
So on to The Cheesies 2 day tour in words & pictures .

I must say this must be one of the best pictures I've ever taken . Jim silhouetted whilst perusing a publication Although Jim looks serene , the photo must come with the advisory that Jim was in fact leafing through Viz !!The journey down from the North East was a good one , and not un-eventful . One particular event was truly memorable and I will recount it for you laterPresent on the trip were all four band members : Me , Jim , Hesh & Geoff and Mr.Dunf Dunford , the bands 'roadie' . Geoff handled all driving duties over the two days will style and panache and got the vehicle back to the miserable hire company in pristine condition , although he 'hit a lot of flies' !!!

Another great picture , if I may say so , with Geoff's reflection deliberately caught in the mirror
So , to the event that occured on the journey down It was one of those things you normally just hear about . Someone tells you this kind of story but it never actually happens to you , familiar with that ? Well this time , it happened to US !!

There we are , travelling down the A1 , around Sheffield . There's a sports car in front and in the inside lane . Suddenly we notice some kind of activity in the car , the sunroof opens and out comes an attractive blond lady . Hmm , nice you say So we're all wondering what's goin on but we haven't time to discuss it before the top is whipped off , the bra goes next and there , not 10 yards away , travelling at 70 miles an hour is a semi naked blond lady with her perfectly formed breasts in full freshness there for all to see !!!

Our reaction ? What else could we do but cheer very loudly . A few seconds later and the car had taken a turn off ( perhaps they even pulled off ) and we spent the next 10 minutes looking at each other wondering if it had really happened .
Whatever happened from now on , we mused , it'll have been a good trip !!!

JIM @ SOUNDCHECK
Picture - James Tomlinson
Which we just made , thanks to GIT Van Hire not letting us have the vehicle until 9am on the morning , meaning after our much needed McDonalds breakfast it was 10am by the time we hit the road , so getting there for a quick 10 minute soundcheck was good going and ample time for us . Doors opened at 3pm and the floodgates of beer began at roughly the same time .

AND THEY'RE OFF
Picture - James Tomlinson. After a good hour drinking and meets mates and new aquaintances it was showtime and we ploughed into our set , which was made up of our short sharp punk numbers . The rock opera material had no place in a half hour set , and thankfully there was a great attendance as early as 4pm , which had been my only real concern about the whole event . Thanks for turning up to see us at that strange hour .

HESH PLAYING A BLINDER ON THE ELECTRIC LEAD GUITAR
Photograph - James TomlinsonThe sound on-stage was almost perfect . The band could all hear each other , which always helps , and we were thoroughly enjoying ourselves . The crowd were as well !
Including.....

BOB BIZARRE !!!
The question was raised in the song , 'Where are you now Bob Bizarre ?' and here's the answer . This is he dancing to his own song , albeit in slightly more sedate clothing
Remember this is at 4.10pm with a throng of strangers looking on , to quote the ong , 'Bob never cared , if they stared '
As Hesh pointed out , Bizarre was a star throughout our trip to London
All hail the magic of Bob Bizarre !

GEOFF ON ELECTRIC BASS GUITAR
Photo : James Tomlinson
Both Geoffs driving and bass playing were smashing ( as Ray Wilkins would say ) and he is a true team player . And the 'tache has gone , the 'tache is dead !!!

SETLIST
LEICESTER

BOB BIZARRE

THE BIG HAIRY WHEEL

HIGHER THAN YOU

HERO

HATE THE MILKMAN

SHEILA'S ON THE BUS

FLY BUSTER

'...AND THIS IS ME'

The phrase that would have Mike Yarwood haters galloping for the exits , thankfully no-one galloped for the exits when I opened my mouth to sing . For my part I felt I done good , no bum notes to speak of and some decent guitar flourishes and most importantly , no shit between-song patter which I'm occasionally prone to . Not enough beer or time at this gig , so the crowd were spared my Townsend-esque mumbo jumbo ( although of course not in the same league as our illustrious Pete )

APRES GIG
We alight downstairs near to the Westway to indulge in such fripperies as oxygen , more beer , cigarillos and passing young ladies
Here is Jim and Hesh partaking in a little horseplay to attract the opposite sex - notice she is laughing !
The Westway is where The Clash were born . All kneel .

GEOFF WITH MR & MRS BIZARRE
On the legendary Westway , roughly about 5pm . The beer was by now really sloshing and the band and entourage were well and truly settling into the post show reverie
Greeny , The Cheesemakers' guru , was present at the gig but remained un-photographed - watch out for the next installment of his column very soon

BACKSTAGE
All of the bands on the bill are jolly nice chaps and the backstage area was a small area crammed full of bands gear and belongings which created a great air of trust and humility , one which is rare in the world of gigs and tours - so I salute the other 7 bands present :

JOHNNY ZHIVAGO

PSYCHO A GO-GO

THE CHERRYKICKS

B-MOVIE HEROES

INHALE

PLAN A

STICKY SWEET
Check these bands out if you get the chance

AMAZING JOURNEY
We knew we had to get to Bizarre Mansions in Essex so we hit the road about 9pm . Sanity & and anyone familiar with road use in London would suggest using the ring road , but Bizarre - not being one of these people - decided a trip through central London was in order , so off we went up hammersmith and into the lions den , with Geoff at the wheel . Geoff who hadn't even been to London before let alone drive through it on a weekend evening !!!
Needless to say the journey was amazing and very eventful including many sights and sounds of England's capital city
People were shouted at , tramps were urinated on and we even saw Gandhi somewhere up near Westminster Ever heard the story of Ozzy Osbourne slashing on the Alamo ? Well in years to come , the legend of Jim and Bob Bizarre slashing on the houses of parliament will come to the fore
And so it came to pass that we arrived in Barking with just enough time for a few swift ones at Bob's local shit-hole before an absolutely superb Chinese curry for two English pounds , then more beer !!!...

4 am
And the lightweights are in bed - TOGETHER ! Jim and Dunf share a bed and god knows what else whilst me and Hesh brave MTV for another hour

EARLY MORNING COLD TAXI
Not that early actually , we arose from 8am onwards about every 15 minutes until we were all up and about , enjoying the morning sunshine in the Bizarre Gardens ( some kind of burning there )
After coffee , laughs , video games and more laughs we headed off back up from whence we came having conquered , got pissed and watched videos
Hesh read an entire book whilst sitting at the table on the morning after . Outstanding
A fairly un-eventful return journey followed apart from an amusing bait stop off in Cambridge
Thank to all who helped make this trip a success and here's to the next one

UP YOURS ME DEARS !!!

Andy, Summer 2002 (c)

The Elbows

2009-02-03T13:39:00.001-08:00

I feel I will occasionally add something un-me related here when it merits it, and this certainly does. It's only an hour of your life, give it a try, who knows, it may well change your life!

I know someone it has had that effect on.

Video

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/event/elbow/

Audio

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/radio2_aod.shtml?radio2/2100_sat

Andy

Moving The Goalposts

2009-02-02T07:02:00.000-08:00

I'm allowed to do that I think, move the goalposts. At the arse end of last year I said I would set goals to achieve by the end of each month, thereby ensuring progress throughout the year. The goal at the end of January was to have the solo album recorded, well, that hasn't happened.

The reason for that is the songs that have been coming out, cos theres always songs coming out, have all been band-type songs that have needed to be worked on imemdiately, so we've spent all of January doing that, writing, working out and demo-ing a batch of new songs that will do the set-list proud, you will have listened to a few of them below.

So the achievement this month has changed, we've created a batch of new band songs instead that will probably now complete the track listing for the new album that we'll be working on in the spring.

Another aspect we've been working on is the the visual medium, and the shots you can see with this post were taken by Geoff (apart from the one with Geoff in) with his new mega-digital-pixel-ultra camera, very nice too. Many more to follow.

So the goal for February NOW is to complete the solo album....although that's subject to change. The bloody band keeps interfering!!!! Ha ha ha

Until then

Andy

Pick It Up As You Go

2009-01-22T14:27:00.001-08:00

THE ROUGH SHAG SESSIONS Pt2 - And here is another one, another new track recorded the same way as two weeks ago. You need to have imagination to really envisage how these songs will turn out, but this was written at 5pm yesterday, introduced to the band at 9pm and recorded at 9.30pm.

This song has SUPERMASSIVE HUGE potential, 12 strings, brass, bagpipes, the lot! Please make comments to your heart's content. This is now serious, we're back.

You can download it NOW here:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ZAEU25BJ

And here are the lyrics because the vocals are a bit quieter than the last one:

PICK IT UP AS YOU GO

There need to be some joy / For every girl and boy
This world is now a toy / That needs new batteries

You pick it up as you go / And carry this heavy load
From a prince into a toad / Compliments & flatteries

It’s all over before it’s begun

Twenty days go by / Without a fresh alibi
Now I don’t mean to pry / But it feels the same

As when Weller put it down / With a growl and twisted frown
We are gonna drown / And we’re all to blame

It’s all over before it’s begun
It seems our day is done
We need to feel the sun………on our skin

When I was growin up / When I was just a little pup
They said things were looking up / That was 30 years now

Its worse than ever before / You can stick your holy war
Its all been done before / Theres no sacred cow

Its all over before its begun

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So some themes developing I think and a very strong record on the way. Things are certainly looking up for the band at the minute and achievements are being made.

One last note, be wary that Geoff got his camera out last night and was taking some snaps...maybe see some here soon! ;o)

Thats all for now good buddies

More soon

Andy

Radio Killed The Video Star

2009-01-10T12:43:00.000-08:00

Anyone for tennis? Here's an idea. For one of aforementioned videos for a Cheesemakers song, I'd like to use random footage of Cheesemakers followers and associates and piece it all together to make a video. Doesn't matter what you're doing, making a sandwich, taking a shower (ahem), gardening at night, just send me a short clip, 30 seconds or so, and we'll put together a tribute to the hardyest of followers in the world. Send them direct to me at afne04343@blueyonder.co.uk If we have no takers we'll assume everyone hates us! :o)
Thanks for the comments so far on new stuff.
Andy

Calling All The People!

2009-01-08T13:56:00.000-08:00

THE CHEESEMAKERS RETURN
As if to prove that The Cheesemakers are rumbling back into gear here are some photos from 24 hour ago in our brand new state of the art studio and also a brand new rough as a badgers' track.

The band are working hard at a new set list, bringing back in old favourites and polishing a few turds and it's coming along well. Live sets and another album are in the offing, as stated in the post last week

The song is recorded using the method we have to get rough working recordings so that we may develop and work on songs. Don't be put off by the roughness of the sound, here is how we do it:

We use a simple, back to the eighties Boombox type contraption, stick it on the floor with a pair of old mans size 48 kegs draped over it as a baffle, and record direct into the crappy in-built microphone. We then enter the 21st century and stick it through some audio cleaning software before changing it into an MP3 then usually sticking onto a CD. Now, we have embraced future technology by throwing up to Megaupload so that it may be the mother-host, where you can download to your hearts content.

Anyone unfamiliar with the process, click on the link, select Free User, watch the clock tick down 55 seconds or so in the queue, then click Download, then select whether you want to Open or Save, then Bob's yer bleedin' uncle. "You look like the PLUMBER!"

Here is the link:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=1AGC0BIB

Anyway, japes aside, make no judgement on this song, or any of these type of tracks, they are mere working tapes, just wanted you to see how we work. This one was written Wednesday afternoon (48 hours ago) and the recording you hear is the third take ever!

So give it a listen, let us know what you think, get involved and be safe in the knowledge that sometime, someplace in the cold still of the night, these men are still making a bloody racket!

What's it about? Pretty heavy gear, the state of the nation, increasing unemployment, store closures on a daily basis, bank crisis', ministers caught with their pants down....sound familiar anyone? As the lyrics may be hard to pick out on this roughshod recording, here they are in their infancy, subject to change.

CALLING ALL THE PEOPLE
Here is the tale, its a closing down sale
Here is the tale, its a closing down sale
This is a live broadcast, Top class news
Its not a bleedin' podcast, but you still can't choose

It's all over the radio
You can't see it on a video
It's all over for us now

Calling all the people, Time to leave now
Calling all the people, It's time to leave now
The economy's and icon, Photographed in the nude
No astrology in Zion, I'm sorry if that's rude

It's all over the news
No prizes up for those who lose
It's all over for us now

The UK / It's not OK
Time sifting from the UK / Not OK
What's the UK / If it's not OK
Its all over for the UK
Andy 08/01/09

Brand new recording Exclusive

2009-01-02T16:11:00.001-08:00

See? Told you I would post more often, although I have had NO responses or comments, ah well, I talk to my f###### self half my life anyway!

Anybloodyway, here is a link to an exclusive track, the first of the year, being made available due to a Paul Weller tribute album being shelved for the time being, so I can 'air' it. Hope you like it, fitting I think for the beginning of a year, it's called, As You Lean Into The Light.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=W3J1MMJP

Enjoy, speak to myself soon

Andy

Silver Torch Video Added

2009-01-01T13:51:00.000-08:00

And another thing...have just added the video for The Silver Torch from the solo album at the base of the blogs for your edification and listening pleasure.
Stay safe
Andy

Two Thousand & Nein

2009-01-01T13:08:00.000-08:00

And so another year begins after another ends and what can we say? Same old same old I guess? As I sit here late into 1st Jan listening to the endlessly brilliant Wilco at Tanglewood I guess I'm a sucker for the old 'new year, new opportunites' lark. What can I say I'll be doing this year? I usually make all sorts of predictions about what I'll be doing in a new year with my various artistic avenues but I've decided to not do that this year as in recent years I've ended up doing nearly bugger all!

No, this year I'm just gonna tell you what might happen and hope that you're still along in the interested seats. I've had a few words of encouragement from familiar and unfamiliar sources of late so I shall hopefully this year be cranking up The Cheesemakers for maybe a final blow out, persuing my live acoustic shows with (or without) Dunf and will DEFINATELY be completing the solo album, in fact that is my primary project for January. I have decided to take each month on its own merit and do something each calender month! so that's the agenda for January. By the end of January I intend to have all the tracks completed and made ready.

For the solo album I will be breaking with tradition and will only be pressing up 'physical' copies for those that want one and shall be employing one of those Savefile type sites to 'host' the album along with lyrics and artwork where people can download for free. I mean, come on, let's face it, no-one's gonna pay for it are they? If people are paying 1p for a Radiohead album, I've got no bloody chance have I? Bloody Radiohead, you gotta love em.

So come early February, I shall be using the darling You Tubes to promote the solo album, some sketches already up there, in the form of short, self-made videos, hopefully building up into a full length version of the album on You Tubes a la Midlake. BTW, keep your eyes open for a new Midlake album this year, brilliant band

The Cheesemakers? Well, we were encouraged by our one and only live set this year (see previous post) and we will be wheeling out the machine for (maybe) some final shows this year. We're looking for helpful people to help us out with dates, venues, gear shifting etc because unlike most 12 year ols behemoths, we're still ridiculously crap are arranging and executing the simplest of gig type tasks. The 100 Club gig in London has been shelved until 2010, hope we're still around then. There are also building up a big batch of new songs as well so hopefully a return visit to Royston Vasey to record the follow up to Panic Now will be in the offing, but if it happens it will certainly be quicker and much more 'live' sounding as I plan to record all of the basic tracks in a live room and add very little after the stew and it will be shorter as well, maybe 11 tracks.

As for other things, I'm feeling particularly arty and enjoy maiking short films that will accompany the music. If anyones out there who makes short movies that can be matched to Cheesemakers or solo tunes please feel free to send em over, as long as you don't expect any money, cos I can't remember the last time I made any money from playing music! Internet is great isn't it? We used to make £200 a night playing at a shit-hole in South Shields and for years now we can't even get a free pint for playing. Ho hum.

This will sound vain, but I really want people to be interested in what i'm doing and follow this blog and listen to what I'm doing, it's natural for any artist to want that, and I'm not asking much really. To quote Uncle Jeff, 'it's just a dream he keeps having'. So if you're into this please tell someone else who might be also, cos thats' what social networking is all about, is it not?

And rather like the idiot of the class who will throw pens at the teacher the more he gets encouraged, I will post more often if people express an interest.

So, I will NOT be telling you what I'm doing this year, just in case I actually end up doing nothing as usual and people go, 'ha ha, what a surprise'.........or maybe I will tell you some day ;o)

So until next time hardy followers, 'our love is all of God's money, every one is a burning sun'

Talk to you soon,

Andy

'No matter how late the time, I shall keep on trying'

CHEESEMAKERS IN GIG SHOCK!

2008-10-03T13:21:00.000-07:00

SPREAD OUT!

And so it came to pass, on a wild Saturday evening in August, The Cheesemakers took to the 'stage' for the first time since that embarrassing debacle in 2007. I say, 'stage' because it was really under a canopy on a farm in Northumberland! We had kindly been asked to play at an annual August Bank Holiday 'do' that occurs from a friend of Jim's family and we duly obliged, thanks also to the immense help from Dunf, without whom...

Amazingly our first full set since Hesh left the band it went very well indeed to an assembled throng of people who had not seen us before (and a few who had). Here is the set-list:

THE CHEESEMAKERS - EARSDON FARM, NORTHUMBERLAND, SAT 23rd AUGUST

WAIT FOR THE RAIN

HATE THE MILKMAN

LEICESTER

MY SO CALLED LIFE

TONY

FLY BUSTER

ROAD TO KNOWHERE

PANIC NOW

SOUL TRAIN

THE BIG HAIRY WHEEL

HIGHER THAN YOU

LICK MY HOOP

I also believe, if my drunken mind recalls properly, we also did Funtime, don't Say It With Flowers and Sheila's On The Bus. The band then took on a loose form as Dunf joined in and various line-ups played some sloppy standards such as Rocking In The Freeworld, She Sells Sanctuary and Blitzkrieg Bop.

Later in the evening, about 1am, a few hardy souls gathered to strum through various acoustic numbers such as Losing My Religion, Wild Wood and several Dunf originals. A rendition of Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Mr Hitler also cut through the midnight mists!

As Dunf & I left at 9am the next morning, Jim was just completing an 18 hour drinking session with a final can of cider! Quite a night.

I am hopeful of some photos coming from somewhere, there were some going off from time to time and will post should they become available.

Speak to you soon, lots on the turn

Andy

The Cheesemakers - Panic Now CD - Details

2008-08-16T13:38:00.000-07:00

To continue with the transferance of data from the old sites to the new, here are a bunch of details about the magnificent, but under-selling, album by The Cheesemakers.

###

STREET DATE
MONDAY 10th DECEMBER 2007
The time has come my friends...
...time to Panic Now!
OUT NOW
Out now on Limited Edition CD with free badge while stocks last. Available at Reflex, Amazon, Play and all major and minor music establishments.

THE SONGS

15 songs in all that make up the magnus opus that is 'Panic Now!'. Here we guide you through them all telling you what you need to know on a need to know basis.
1 YOU SOLD YOUR RECORDS (1983) - A traditional set opener when the band play live, this song automatically lent itself to begin with The Ramones chant, although none of the band are particular fans of the band - with the possible exception of Jim - it just felt right with the punk/new wave angle of the bands music in general. The song itself tells of when school friends see eachother again years after they've all left their seat of learning and you find that all the things you talked about when you were youths in the parks and seafront seat-stalls have dropped out of their lives. All the things you said you'd never do, they've done them. And the music you listened to, you said you'd always listen to it, and they don't. It's about still being true to the beliefs and ways of life that you fermented in high school when all others around are succumbing to the norm and what popular culture tells them. For detail enthusiasts, the 'names on the wall' in the chorus can still be seen in the pavilion of the bowling greens at North Marine Park in South Shields. An electric intro to the album and a real stomper
2 ENDOSCOPE NIGHTMARE - A far trickier song subject wise. The riffing at the beginning seems to come from an earlier period, maybe the garage bands or early rock bands of the late 60's and swells into a somewhat heavy beast with a sting in its tale. The quick part in the middle and end (there must be a name for that in the Art of Songwriting book) is made unique by two guitars, one of which decends whilst the other ascends, making a somewhat dizzying spiral. Lyrics? Well, the title comes from a terrible surgical procedure, obviously. I could say that the words tell of a journey through the body as metaphor for life, through all the various organs and tubes that all need to work at the same time to uphold it...but....it's just a batch of very cool rhyming words. 'Eusebio-Subbuteo'. Say no more! The phrase 'top navigation skills' was also a top insert. A good follow up to the opening number.
3 THE BIG HAIRY WHEEL - Why is it that people always switch their dirty minds on when they hear the title for this song, or indeed the chorus? It's nothing of the sort. 'Hairy pop' is the drink which is left on your bedside table in the morning, dust has settled on the surface so it becomes hairy! Other great lyrical couplets from the 2nd verse include 'no TV detector van - no DSS grass', both phrases taken from graffiti sprayed on a wall near my house, and 'nothing on the telvision but Mike Neville and too much soap', ironic given that the longest serving regional news TV presenter has now actually retired before the bloody album has come out! The chrous is a couplet of a nice piece of word-play I thought up in 'the curtains are drawn, but the furniture is real' added to the legendary words that were sprayed on the also now (criminally) gone Westoe Netty, 'one pence a look, two pence a feel, three pence a ride on the big hairy wheel!' Folk who know not of the Westoe Netty need look it up on the Interweb. I also find it odd that some high flying musical legends would be lauded for memorialising a local landmark (Waterloo Sunset etc) but no-one pays a blind bit of notice when it's The Cheesemakers! Just a bitter observation there folks. Some cracking Who-like chord sequences thunder this song along until the very odd sounding ending. To part-parody Lennon, 'it's Geoff on the Wheel'
4 THE CIRCLE OF A CIRCUS RING - Curious one this in that it never really cut the mustard live but became this struggling monster in the studio, topped with the terrifying genius that is Guru Greeny! If there is one person who understands what the band is on about when we talk of demons and monsters and hairy wheels, its the Green. The master of understanding metaphor, his mantra in this song made it so much more than the sum of its parts. The only thing that really saves this song lyrically from being yesterdays papers today is the harmonies that were slipped in at the last minute.Musically however, it has reared up as a veritable tour-de-farce with huge monolithic guitars battling eachother for space and roaring drum 'n' bass, the likes of which Pete Fing Tong has never laid ears on! The finish is reminiscent of some of the heavier bands of the early seventies, the types that used to urinate in Mott The Hooples shoes at Top of The Pops. In trying to nail 'the future sound' we only
5 BUILDING - I often like to think of the bands sound as a journey down the motorways of Great Britain with regular trips off the slip-roads to take in the views and unique-ness of many a B-road and country road, with all the twists and turns that entails before re-joining the M1 and hurtling along to the enxt destination. This song is a case in point. This is one of many songs where we dabbled with a sound and feel that we hadn't before and never returned to. It was never meant to sound like Talking Heads and only actually does with parts of the drums and bass-line, the other instruments take it elsewhere. Lyrically and vocally a homage to great female artists of our times such as Patti Smith and PJ Harvey, the guitars saw Tom Verlaine sitting in the shadows on a wooden chair facing away from the audience both feeding back and acoustically angelic whilst the middle eight explodes in Dexys Midnight Runners stomping madness. This would need a hell of a line-up to recreate live and would take on the form af a revue. Who knows, maybe one day. A particular favourite of mine and a toekn of genius sits on the lap of the person who decided to chance his hand at bringing horns into the bands sound.
6 LICK MY HOOP - The only non-original tune on the album and penned by one of musics great losses. A band that plied it's trade in true Modernistic fashion in the late part of the 20th century, The Leapers. This band forged a deep furrow of their own playing the high roads of Tyneside whilst also putting together a mean canon of their own material. Believe me, this song is one of their throwaways but seemed to fit for us, they have many other songs that deserve to be exposed on a higher plane. The fact this band slipped under the general publics horizon before imploding in a haze is a true tragedy and begs the wider question, how many more other great bands never get to reach their true potential or audience? Subject matter? Well, you would have to ask the author for the details but I know it involves a somewhat pleasure-giving feline, which I must add, never belonged to me. See The Cheesemakers new website in the near to mid future for a specila page on The Leapers. NewOriginal Records also have plans to release an Anthology of their work so that at least a few more people get to hear their great work.
7 SOUL INTO THE SKY - A truly deep song this one, and one of the oldest on the album, finding birth around about 1998. The original riff was lifted from an early tune by the then-great Verve (before the word The was added) and was changed in feel by the tempo of this song being so different to it's origin. The idea for the words came from something the late-great Joe Strummer once said. 'You can solve a lot of problems on a five-mile walk' he said. I immediately dug this statement and realised I had already done this on several occasions. If you are troubled or confused with life, just set out on your own in the great wide open and let your mind work through all of your petty problems without the distraction of other people or machines or all of the other horrbile noises infesting our ever-packed country and world. You come back a few hours later somehow enlightened and I would recommend it to anyone. I am proud of the lyrics to this song. If these words came out of Hendrix or someone equally as lauded they would be classed as genius or legend by now! Some other-wordly acoustic guitar from Hesh on this tune send it off into the ether, it was very pleasing that he came round to the song shortly before leaving and said it was 'me favourite!' A great moment. I can now reveal that this is part one of a trilogy. Part Two has already been written and is moving into the band's set. It deals with the same topic but in a different way. Just maybe there is a metaphorical train somewhere about to pull out of the station and on it there are similarly troubled people who can help to share the burden and the weight. The idea being that there is another way if walking alone doesn't work. That song will come to you all very soon. Part Three has yet to be composed but will follow in due course.
8 LEICESTER - Now we come to the true centre of the album, both metaphorically and actually. The centre-piece. Folk of Leicester need not look over their shoulders too much, nor be offended that their town be immortalised in this way, Leicester could be any town or holmstead in our septic isles which is infested with this half-breed of human. The word Leicester came out because someone miss-heard what I had actually sung the first time we played it and in true time-honoured rock 'n' roll fashion, no-one can actually now remember what the original word was! These things are meant to be this way,and these things happen! Look around you in every bushy pathway or overgrown roundabout and they are there, dragging off poor sorry souls for a grissly end. The epicentre of this lies closer to home for us up here in the North-East and we must not reveal it here (a bit like our surnames) for fear of reprisal. Thom Yorke knows its true. You know it's true, you just need to see it and MAKE IT STOP!
9 WHITE TRASH (SLIGHT RETURN) - A very odd reprisal of the title track from our E.P. 'White Trash'. God alone only knows how this came about or why, but here it is to provide a nice natural link from parts one to two of the album. This is what some would refer to as a natural remix with added Cherman. Ever odderer is the fact that Ian of White Wolf studios plays this to all new bands in his studio to tell them 'what we're like'! Of all the tunes on all the album....Don't ask me what it's all about.
10 HATE THE MILKMAN - I do, quite literally, hate my milkman! For many reasons, although I should point out here and now, not the traditional reason for hating milkmen which usually invloves you being at work and the wife entertaining. No, that's not the reason. The title just came about and there are no other references to milkman, nice or otherwise, at any point in the song and it's not about hating milkmen in general. Just a great title which also made a top chorus without disturbing the rest of the song. This has developed over a few years into a real heavy mother whan played live. There were several techniques used to cover up the phone numbers given - of Hesh and Jim - in the verses but this is possibly the best, and evidently reproduceable in concert. For the techincally minded there was also an immense piece of editing involved where the intro to the coda (if there is one) just sounded lame and needed to be chopped out and replaced with something. What Hesh came up with sounds like a nuclear arsenal going off and when the drums and bass thunder back in the song dissappears into the earths crumbling o-zone. Inspired use of two hours if ever there was. No particular message in the songs lyrics other than little one-off toss-offs that worked at the time.
11 MAGIC - Another real old tune and finally imortalised correctly on this version. For the final record, it should be noted that several people have looked at me suspiciously and said 'ooh, that sounds like Unintended by Muse', well I can put that vicious rumour to rest once and for all by saying I have recorded evidence of demos of this while Muse were still sitting in their own shit! So bugger off. Let the song rest in peace. Thematically a thunderous chronicle of what happens when several momentous things happen in your life at the same time and it all collides and we wait to see what the aftermath will be when the dust settles. We have all had these, and we all get them from time to time but this one describes the mother of all of those cacophonous coming-togethers. Not an event you want to repeat too often in your life. 'This is a truth that one day you'll detest'
12 PANIC NOW! - Obviously the title track and basically the flag ship of the album. This is what holds it all together. The lyrics talk about trying to hold it all together through all lifes twists and turns including the bigger bangs mentioned in Magic. Musically this is one of the best pieces on the album, with lots of 'bits' as we call them, arrangement wise one of my greatest creations. The genius of the coda is that the bass takes off on a line it hasn't so far in the song allowing the guitars to re-assemble for one final assault which no-one could possibly survive. This is one of the songs where the band feels like it's one unit, one being, pulsating together towards a fundamental pancreas....of something loik that
13 FLY BUSTER - A very early favourite on the live circuit and a cracking post-punk pop song to boot. Unlike Hate The Milkman, this is about what the title tells you. Advising everyone everywhere to 'have fun killing flies'. The lyrics talk about the big problem of flies and there is seriously no methaphor within this songs pages, just strictly talking about what bastards flies are! 'Is it a bluebottle, or one that flies in squares', we've all had those little sods that fly in squares around the light bulb havent we, lets face it. Lyrics talk about 'covering your dinner up' and my personal favourite 'you tried the strip and the rolled up Ronnie Gill' (again, un-knowers should look up Ronnie Gill on the Geordie Interweb) That rare entity of a Cheesemakers song you can easily dance to! Total nonesense of course but a cracking bloody song!
14 HIGHER THAN YOU - For many people the signature tune of The Cheesemakers. My thought is that this is the most easily-memorable, with a catchy main riff, verse and chorus. Not over fussy in any way and short and to the point. As Keith Richards once said, 'the essence and ket to any hit single is that there should be something new happening every ten seconds'. Ah, there it is. There is the reason why most people see this as our theme tune. It's the one that most resembles a hit single, proving the gnarled ones thesis 100%. It does exactly what it says on the tin. Originally conceieved as a U2-type song with soaring chorus, we achieved this totally and in other hands, or even ours, WOULD be a Top 10 single, without a shadow of a doubt. Lyrically it captures how we were feeling at the time, that although we were distinctly underground, whilst we were writing this kind of tune and playing them in the way we were, there wasn't a local band that could touch us, and that was so true. We were travelling at high speed, and we were higher than YOU!
15 CREATURES - And we come to the final tune. This track is of extreme seriousness and is massive in every single way. I wanted it treated with respect in the studio and we probably spent more time on this than any of the other 14. Hesh and I certainly spent many hours pouring over various acoustic guitars, keyboard drop-ins, codas, backing vocals etc. I always see the last song on a studio album is the opportunity you don't get with a live set, to produce something really heavy, long and meaningful. In live shows, especially the type we do, you need to finish off with 2 or 3 of your shortest and fastest songs. Only people like Floyd get away with ending with long, deep songs. On an album, anyone can do it, and unless you're The Ramones, you need to grasp this opportunity. Some fabulous playing here by all of the band throughout, particularly the coda where all manner of things are going on and fantastically the guitar solo performed by Hesh midway through the song, a complete one-off one-take piece of genius that we were lucky enough to capture when an errant microphone happened to be turned on when recording the drums at the beginning of the process. This solo has been attempted many times since but never has it had the cutting edge nor the blistering accuracy that this take has. This is guitar playing as it is meant to be, no effects, no dabbling, just a man and his Tele, blowing all and sundry away. I am flabbergasted by this evertime I hear it and the structure of the song comforts it perfectly when the solo drops back into the sullen chorus from whence it came. Truly awesome and never to be repeated. Creatures deals with maybe the heaviest topic of all, that of life and the ability to be able to take it away from yourself. Having never seriously considered taking my own life I tried to take it from my angle and tell how I imagine it must feel. The 'creatures' in the song are the diseases and demons that inhabit the mind of a person who seriously contemplates that most final of self-help. The 'plastic trapeze' is life itself, precarious to even those that struggle on without the thought of self harm. The 'circling vultures', 'laughing and toying monkies' are the people sent to torment, cold phone callers, beggars in the street, general scum, all stacking up the reasons to clip off this mortal coil. The song can easily be down-graded, if you like, to people who just get clinically depressed or even fed-up, because the beauty of the song is that the metaphors can all be as big or as small as you like. 'It's brought me to my knees' can mean whatever it feels to you. Either you are on the brink of suicide or you have had a bugger of a day and just wanna curl up on the settee, the song can be taken on so many different grades of misery. Proud of this song? You better believe it. And this comes from the heart, not some made up cock-end nonesense from people like Blunt. This is the real deal from the street bozos so swallow that if you will.
Anyway, glad we ended the album on a lighter note. Hope those notes enlighten you and provide a little more insight into what you've bought or are now going to buy. This album has lots of tricks up it's sleeve and not all has been revealed above. This is an album of considerable weight, girth and longevity as it's gestation period was so long - see the whole story of 'Panic Now' elsewhere on this site - so purchase with the confidence that it really does belong alonside all of your other favourite albums such as 'Stanley Road', 'OK Computer' or 'Abbey Road' The list could go on. It is my hope and belief, that this album can make it into those hallowed realms, even if only for a fractious few. We know what's going on, don't we?
Andy November 2007

Order Panic Now!

PANIC NOW ON LIMITED EDITION CD WITH 8-PAGE BOOKLET AND FREE BADGE WHILE STOCKS LAST IS £7.99
Shipping from Reflex is 50p UK / £1 Europe / £2 Rest of World
There are three ways to order 'Panic Now!'
As follows:
1 - You can walk into any record store and pick up a copy in person. Please ask for it in detail, The Cheesemakers, Panic Now, Catalogue Number NORIG003 Distributed by Proper. This way the store will be able to order one for you if they do not have it on the racks (shame on them!)
2 - You can order online for delivery with secure credit card. Please go to https://www.reflexcd.co.uk/secure/request.asp?mode=Request and fill in the page there, whcih is fully secure. Your credit card will be charged only when the album is shipping. If you require more than one copy (Aunties, Uncles, Sisters etc) please be sure to mention this in the 'other' section.
3 - You can order with Paypal payment. Please send Paypal money to phil@reflexcd.co.uk and fill in the form as above, including full delivery address, quantities required etc.
All orders come with free badge while stocks last
Any problems please contact either info@reflexcd.co.uk or afne04343@blueyonder.co.uk for arsistance.

IF YOUR LOCAL STORE DOES NOT STOCK PANIC NOW
MAKE THEM!
TELL THEM THE FULL DETAILS LISTED RIGHT AND TELL THEM TO STOCK IT IMMEDIATELY!

SONG FACT 1
The brass section that perform on 'Building' and The Royston Vasey Messing and for reasons best left alone, this performance will be their first and last anywhere on record. They were last seen crossing an overgrown roundabout West of Sunderland!

SONG FACT 2
One of the percussive sounds on one of the songs (can't remember which now) was attained by sloping off into an oily car-park and filling an empty 2 litre bottle of cheap pop with gravel (luxury). This unique percussive instrument still resides at White Wolf so please ask for it by name if you choose to record there

Solo Album Update

2008-08-02T12:53:00.000-07:00

Another quick update, the solo album is coming along nicely and 7 out of the 10 tracks are completed now. Another video will be posted on the You-Tubes shortly - the first one can be found by searching 'Andy Cheesemaker solo' - so you can have another taster. It's very much a trial and error type thing for me as I attempt to find a new voice - or 'vehicle' for the precocious amongst you - but I think it's sounding pretty OK. It's meant to be totally different to The Cheesemakers and it's coming out that way. Basically singing an octave (or two) lower to extend my range.

I shall be slowly transferring the content of the 'other sites' across here so below are the details of the first live show I did.

First announcements on release dates etc will now be posted here

Cheers me luvlies

Andy

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DEBUT LIVE PERFORMANCE
BERNACCIA, THE SIDE, NEWCASTLE
THURSDAY 1st NOVEMBER 2007

SETLIST - Twenty To Ten / Sky Blue Sky / Road To Knowhere / You Never Win / Are You Gonna Sue / Streets Of Indifference / Clues / Creatures / Lick My Hoop

A crowd of around 50 witnessed the debut slot and reacted favourably. Many more photos taken on the night, here is but the one. A review below from local music hack...
Photos - Andy @ Bernaccia 1/11/07 taken by The Cutter (c) 2007

"From the opening notes here, we were convinced there was something possibly geniotic going on, but we were never sure. Not saying much, Andy Cheesemaker strummed and picked his way through a set that was tinkered with occasional cover versions, but so odd were they that you never knew. The first geniotic point - If you play covers, choose some odd ones. We were told briefly that Andy has previously been a member of The Cheesemakers, the type of band you say, 'oh yeah heard of them' but you've never actually seen. 2nd geniotic point - Mention what you've done before but do something totally different! Well, one of our party had seen The Cheesemakers and he said this was radiaccly different, about as far removed as you could get. Pastoral glides gave way to loud strumming Vedder-a-thon sing-a-longs with surprising ease. Andy said he weren't much cop as a singer or a guitarist and that the songs themselves were the brightest hope in this act and he wasn't much wrong. Although hes a better singer and guitarer than he says, the songs are stronger than the stoutest mature cheddar. Apparently performing songs he had only written IN HIS HEAD is very much geniotic stroke No.3. The 4th and final item of geniosity was the length of time he had been doing other things, 20 years! Not possible say the audience! Make them believe you are a seasoned old pro with history and you're well on the way to respect in a tough genre - acoustic singer-songwriter - already. So genui on display here? Very possibly! Catch him soon, and be sure to listen, cos he knows when you're not!"
Words - Rachel Stringer

The Cheesemakers Update

2008-07-29T15:41:00.000-07:00

You will probably have read something along these lines before I guess, but this is how things stand, and it's never been quite like this before for us. The three of us, myself, Jim & Geoff are now really getting to grips with being a three piece after several eminent (front) guitarists turned us down when asked to join to make a four - bit like filling the table at doms!

It really is now coming together, but it's been tough as I've never been the only guitarist in a band before, well once, but that was like a starter band, or like an aid a baby uses to walk for the first time and was palpaby terrible, but a necessary starting block. After that I was mainly the singer in bands until I picked up a guitar in the Cheesemakers and quietly went about my business to find my own personal high road and by-road. I think I'm there now so I'm confident about stepping out without a second sword at my side, kind of like the long swordsman (like most blokes!).

Not only have we been picking through all the old songs to see if we could do them, like a fussy eater picks out all the slightly smaller chips, but we have been furiously writing and several new ones ave risen to prominence amongst the Greatest Hits. You should be hearing them soon.

The hardest part will be finding promoters willing to pick up a band who haven't played for so long that their audience has either passed on or passed away!

So, we're still rattling on, when all our enemies are gone, we don't know when to give up, do we?

Also getting the hang of this blog lark...enjoying it

Gonna dig out more of these old pieces of memorabilia and stick em unto these posts, just for the bloody fun of it, see if it brings back any memories

More soon

Cheersmedears
Andy

Small Beginnings

2008-07-23T09:25:00.001-07:00

Having never been too good at these things, I'm trying again. The three sites set up to promote my various outputs, my solo 'act', The Cheesemakers and The Cheesemakers' album Panic Now have seemingly been destroyed by web arsonists, or whatever they're called. Anyways, hopefully this will work better and I shall attempt to provide info etc for all of my arms, including some new ones. so, here's to the future.....et al. Andy July 2008