2000

16/09/00 Blow Up, Soho, London

Jonny Collins, David W.Brown, Gregory Jones, Clem Courtney, Julien Clapperton

In preparation for the German tour we played in London, also partially to try out a driver. Lacking match fitness we didn't play well and the driver? He seemed surprised that we didn't finish until 3am and that he then had to drive back. We didn't take him to Germany.

03/11/00 The Atomic Cafe, Munich

Jonny Collins, David W.Brown, Gregory Jones, Clem Courtney, Julien Clapperton

After a 22 hour drive, mostly by Hancock, we got to the venue via Frankfurt to pick up Bernd from Apricot Records. Failing to learn the lesson of the first night in Spain, we did not play brilliantly and experienced a curious technical fault with amplifiers. Dave injured himself by falling off a ladder whilst trying to get to the toilet ( the toilet wasn't up a ladder, by the way) and, in a strange reversal of normal rules, Gregory bottled the audience.

04/11/00 The Blue Note, Gottingen

Jonny Collins, David W.Brown, Gregory Jones, Clem Courtney, Julien Clapperton

Up the Bavarian autobahn to play in a citywide festival. Played with the mighty Rockformation Diskokugel and a Tom Waits tribute band (so, which one of you is Tom Waits then?). The finest hotel of the tour, Julien locked himself out of his room and had to go to reception straight from the swimming pool dressed only in a towel. I watched The Great Escape dubbed into German. They still don't escape.

05/11/00 Glashaus, Bayreuth

Jonny Collins, David W.Brown, Gregory Jones, Clem Courtney, Julien Clapperton

Back down the same motorway to a university venue unsurprisingly similar to a greenhouse. Good place, especially for a Sunday. Everyone getting very ill by now.

06/11/00 Bei Chez Heinz, Hannover

Jonny Collins, David W.Brown, Gregory Jones, Clem Courtney, Julien Clapperton

A cold Monday night in Hannover was not promising but we played well. Bernd told us that we hadn't been playing for long enough so at this show we played everything we could remember. Support was from a band that did Pink Floyd covers.

07/11/00 Markt Halle, Hamburg

Jonny Collins, David W.Brown, Gregory Jones, Clem Courtney, Julien Clapperton

This venue was huge. Supported by Dr.Koenig Arthus who eschewed our football challenge by not bringing a football (our Hancock is better than yours). However, they did play "Pop Star" in their set for which we thank them. Went to the Reeperbahn after to see The Kaiserkellar and where The Star Club used to be.

08/11/00 Gleis 22, Munster

Jonny Collins, David W.Brown, Gregory Jones, Clem Courtney, Julien Clapperton

I really enjoyed this show. Good little venue, great crowd, good sound. Munster is one of the few places in Germany with an extensive array of roundabouts.

09/11/00 MTC, Koln

Jonny Collins, David W.Brown, Gregory Jones, Clem Courtney, Julien Clapperton

This didn't look promising at all but turned out to be a decent concert, a small but appreciative audience and we loved them all. Johannes from Apricot brought the vinyl version of Melancholia for us to see for the first time.

10/11/00 Ilses Erika, Leipzig

Jonny Collins, David W.Brown, Gregory Jones, Clem Courtney, Julien Clapperton

Bernd surpassed himself by leaving the Apricot video camera in Munster. So our journey to Leipzig was made even longer by the detour. I finally made it to the East! This was my favourite show. Fantastic club under a cinema, and we played well. Julien trashed his drumkit because we let him play at the front and he got a bit excited. I remember walking the cobbled streets (the roads in Leipzig are terrible - see next German tour) with Dave discussing whether we were happy. We were, then we got to a restaurant and I ate ostrich. We do like to do local food when abroad.

11/11/00 Privatclub, Berlin

Jonny Collins, David W.Brown, Gregory Jones, Clem Courtney, Julien Clapperton

The drive to Berlin was great along an empty Autobahn with Brahms Deutsches Requiem blasting from the cd player. Groovy club and one of the finest concerts we ever gave. We left straight after for the long drive back to England but, sadly, the Schlampenschlepper, our Mercedes van, blew up just over the border into Holland. A day and two breakdown trucks later, we got back to Bristol.

16/12/00 The Cube Cinema, Bristol

Jonny Collins, David W.Brown, Gregory Jones, Clem Courtney, Julien Clapperton

Final show with this lineup, Julien had announced his departure before the German tour. We played with a screening of the film from whence we took our name. People came from Berlin, Austin Texas and Sydney Australia. And some came from Bristol too. Injuries were sustained, including inner thigh bruising, pulled muscles and possible concussion. A fitting end. There is sound and video recording of this show, which I've never seen but if I can find it and it's any good we may release.

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