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TOUR
DATES 2010
APRIL
Friday 9th April - Kettering - Sawyers
Saturday 10th - Rotherham - Live@Dickens (with 999
and The X-Rippers)
MAY
Friday 7th - Friday 14th - Germany/Holland Tour - Details
to Follow.
Friday 21st - Errekalde Punk Fest, Onati, Basque Country.
AUGUST
Thursday 5th - Saturday 8th - Blackpool - Rebellion Festival
More
dates to be announced soon!
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Fat
Bloke Thin Book - OUT NOW!
The
book entitled 'Fat Bloke Thin Book', which is about the
life and times of Arturo Bassick in the entertainment
industry, has been printed and is NOW AVAILABLE.
It
can be purchased by mailorder, or at any of our gigs.
The price is £7.50 plus £1.00 p & p, to
the States it will be a little more, so please e-mail
arturob@live.co.uk
for a price.
All
copies will be autographed, so get your orders in now! |
| Here's
A Few Reviews
Fat
Bloke Thin Book - Review by Dolf
If
you have no idea who Arturo Bassick is, he is of the Lurkers
and 999. A musician/punk who has been around since day
one and tells you the story "of his life of total
glamour and untold riches in the entertainment industry".
But it is much more than this, since Arturo begins with
his birth in the mid 50's and tells about his childhood,
growing up in London without hot running water and such.
Rather interesting read I had to admit while reading it.
Soon
after that punk happens and Arturo writes about his adventures
with bands. This book is far from "complete",
since Arturo says he is way too lazy to write it all down
and I have to say it was probably a good decsion, since
the shortness of the stories keeps the reader's attention
from start to finnish. And I doubt that would have been
the case if the book had every single gig listed Bassick
played with all the storyies around them. No, this is
short and sharp, like a punk song and a nice read. Even
if you are not a big fan of his bands or that area.
But
it is a nice incomplete biography of a bloke who has been
there early and lived a interesting life and did some
partying. The author also speaks his mind about certain
subjects of politcal nature or morals and I'd say I agree
with him on most of what he thinks.
The
book has 110 pages, is small ( 170 x 120 ) and paperback.
There is also tons of newspaper clippings, photos, flyers,
art, etc. so you got plenty to look at. I was not expecting
much reading this, but after I did, I was glad I did so.
It
is self published so you will not find it in your regular
bookstore, but can get it from him directly for £7.50
plus £1.00 p&p.
Bassick Publications, 34 Newholme Avenue , Haltwhistle
NE49 9ET, United Kingdom
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| FAT
BLOKE THIN BOOK - Review by www.scannerzine.com
I think Arturo Bassick, mainstay of the LURKERS and bassist
in 999, would be the first to admit that he himself is
not a ‘Punk Legend’ per se. Who Arturo is,
is someone who was there when Punk hit in ‘77 and
has been playing away in Punk bands in clubs, pubs and
halls around the world ever since for one reason: the
sheer love of it. As a bonus, he has contributed to some
damn fine albums along the way. He is also one of the
most affable and likable guys you’re ever likely
to meet. Get the picture? Art’s a good guy and this
book demonstrates his wit with suitable aplomb.
Arturo doesn’t hide anything here. The book takes
us back to his birth in 1956 with relatively detailed
insight into his parents and school life and leads on
to a horrific spell in hospital. When writing about his
musical tastes, it’s also refreshing to read that
his discovery of Punk is not treated as a ‘Year
Zero’ moment as so many seem to eulogise about -
although his early obsession with THE STRANGLERS certainly
proved to be a precursor to his love of Punk. Arturo was
heavily into music long before Punk - although it is with
the formation of the LURKERS that the book really takes
off. From there he continues through PIN POINT, the BLUBBERY
HELLBELLIES, 999 and finally full-circle back to the reformation
of THE LURKERS. There’s plenty of hilarious stories,
opinions and the classic good-natured Arturo charm.
Running alongside the music are details of his private
life including his love of retired racing Greyhounds,
his attempt at a horse-drawn tourism venture in the north
of England, a few political and personal observations
and many other anecdotal incidents.
Not only has this got an excellent, concise text in which
Arturo has packed a wealth of information, but the book
is interspred with reviews, interviews and news clippings
from the music press of the day. Again, Arturo has given
the negative reviews as much space as the positive and
these cuttings lend greater factual sincerity to an already
very impressive book. It’s all rounded off with
an Arturo discography and ‘Favourite Things’
listings.
The book is also published in true DIY fashion via Arturo’s
very own Bassick Publications.
It’s not pretentious or self-aggrandising book,
the story flows in a way that makes the reader want to
continue reading, it’s funny and factual and, as
would be expected, Punk personalities aplenty get mentioned.
For anyone who is into ‘77 Punk, this comes as a
highly recommended read.
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| Fat
Bloke Thin Book - Review by Maindy
In the late seventies the flood gates opened and gave
anyone with an ounce of passion a sense of worth. No longer
was the arts the domain of the virtuoso. It was the dawning
of a new era for many. If you could get to grips with
the rudiments of an instrument, then you could join a
band. You could pick up a brush and create art, pick up
a pen and be a writer. For the first time enthusiasm was
just as important as talent.
This was punk, and with that in mind this is a punk book.
So if anyone is looking for a work of high literature,
then Salman Rushdie will be the man to give you a quick
fix. If however you are looking for a book that's the
equivalent of sitting reminiscing with a mate in the pub,
then Arturo has written the one for you.
It has got a rough narrative to it, but there's no hurry
to get to the end of a journey that takes in the early
punk years, (that for once isn't completely London-centric)
his time with the Lurkers and 999, and plenty of other
little points where he wander off on one anecdote or another.
It's the sort of book that when you say I'm about to slip
into something more comfortable you could be talking about
it. Arturo himself comes across as a sort of everyman
here, and within the pages of this book there are plenty
of bit's and bobs that we can all identify with.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and reckon Arturo should
use it as a rough draft for a more in depth attempt. I'd
certainly buy it if he did. A surprisingly enjoyable read.
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Fat Bloke Thin Book
- Review by Tony Beesley www.ourgenerationpunkandmod.co.uk
'Refreshing
and painfullingly honest and a gritty and very human story'
There aren't many totally genuine guys in the quagmire
of the modern Rock music scene, but true to it's basic
premise Punk rock provides one fella who is as honest
as they come - Arthur Billingsley also known as Arturo
Bassick...full time Lurker and 999 member and ex of the
much under-rated late 70's Punk band 'Pinpoint' as well
as a Blueberry Hellbellie back in the 80's. Here in 'Fat
Bloke, Thin Book' Arturo tells his life story within a
book that you can keep in your pocket: enabling you to
pull it out and read at your own free will - on the bus,
sneaking a read at work or with a can of beer in the other
hand. It's small in size but massive in heart and downright
honest story telling!
Art
tells us briefly and interestingly - but often poignantly,
sad, occasionally tragic and funny in turns - of his upbringing,
his first forays into the world of Rock music via skinhead
fashion through 70's Prog Rock right through to his first
initiation into Punk rock and becoming first a fan of
that scene and then a bass playing Lurker. The whole Punk
era flys by with tales of gigs, following the Stranglers,
bass playing with the Lurkers and being described by one
ill-informed DJ in Lancaster of being in 'some shit Punk
band from London' How wrong could the man be?.There are
Art's stories involving Lurkers fan Stuart Pearce (yes
that Stuart Pearce), his appearance in celebrated Punk
film 'Punk In london', pissing Sting and Adam Ant off
,auditioning for the Buzzcocks and forming Pinpoint. Its
all written in a 'I Can't put this book down' kind of
way.
Amongst the many stories from the Punk days and onwards
are many clippings from the music weeklies of the day..records
and gig reviews, ads and more... followed by tales of
Arturo's 80's bands and journey's through country and
western with a Punk attitude interpsersed with heaps of
boozed up tours and nights across the country and Europe
. But it is the way the story is told that is the true
atraction to this book. Arturo tells it as it is...no
hairs and graces or back slapping anecdotes to fellow
musicians...just a honest to the bone account of being
a music fan first and talented musician second.
In addition to all of the music related tales are some
of Art's poetry, his opinions on a few untapped slants
into the pyschosis of Rock music fans and their often
unrecognised idolising through wanting to be their heroes
- some of Art's rants really do make you think and question
the issues raised and can make you wonder what all of
the real appeal is for loving and living with Rock music
and all of it's related Rock n' Roll fantasies...Yes 'Fat
Bloke Thin Book' manages not only to grip, amuse, endear
and excite the reader ... but amazingly within such a
small size book - full and compact with countless empthatic
tales - it raises some very intriguing points; leaving
you to ponder on for much time afterwards. This is a book
rich in it's tapestry, Punk rock in its approach and realism
and MASSIVE in its' very real human heart. Go on buy the
book and make this old Punk's day!
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MySpace
MySpace
Site by Billy G is up and running www.myspace.com/thelurkersofficialmyspace.
Thanks Bill.
Interesting
Contribution
Gray
Reeves recently sent this contribution
to the website, which is worth a quick look - thanks Gray.
New Album - Out Now!
Our
new album 'FRIED BRAINS' has now been released
on Captain Oi and its a cracker. You can your copy through the
mail by emailing arturob@live.co.uk
with your requirements - price per is £11 inc. p&p
or alternatively you purchase directly from the Captain.
Also,
I have a limited number available on vinyl, and with a different
sleeve design, so get your orders in quickly if you want a copy.
Available directly from arturob@live.co.uk
at £11 inc. p&p.
Track
Listing is:
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T-Shirts
and CDs
Just
a reminder that the 'Go Ahead Punk' t-shrit, 'Freakshow'
and others are back in stock and are at all our gigs,
or you can order direct from arturob@live.co.uk.
See
Merchandise Page for more
details.
I
also have a few copies of hard to get CDs, such as "Live
in Berlin" from 1990, and "Ripped 'N' Torn"
from 1995, plus
some excellent compilation CDs which we appear on, along
with many other great bands from all over the world. More
details HERE. |
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Arthur
Rocks Wasted
Here's
a few photos from my Punktry and Western solo bit at last year's
Wasted Festival, which was a good laugh and went down pretty
well as usual.
Antifest
Photos
Photos
from Antifest (CZ) on www.musicphoto.cz.
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Gigbox
Interview
See
the recent interview with GigBox Click
Here For Details. |
Live
Freak Show

Kotumba
Records
K105 |
Intro
Freakshow
Wolverine
Take Me Back To Babylon
One Day
Going Monkee Again
In Richmond
Rubber Room
Red Light Girl
Gotta Go
Pills
Miss World |
I
Don't Need To Tell Her
Misery
Go Ahead Punk
The KKK Took My Baby Away
New Guitar In Town
Ain't Got A Clue
I'm On Heat
Shadow
Then I Kissed Her
Jenny
Interview
Bonus Video |
The
Live Freak Show CD, recorded at the Berlin Wild At Heart Club,
Germany, is available from me priced £9
inc. package in UK, €15 in Europe and $20 for the US.
E-mail me with your requirements to arturob@live.co.uk.
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