'Get Up and Go Again Uk Tour 2019'... and beyond

Well, Hello there!

Yes. It's me again... It's been a VERY long time coming. I do apologise. Is anybody still out there?? Is anyone still listening? Still following? Does anybody care, even?!

Well, I'm here anyways and I'm still gona fill this all in.

It seems a whole lifetime has elapsed since last writing. The whole world completely veered off the tracks since I last wrote in 2019.

December 2019 saw the heart-breaking loss of our beautiful Neil Innes. A one of a kind. A kind man. A genuine legend. A huge, beautiful considered thinker and creator. A man I was equally in awe of as I was a friend of.

Neil, you gave me so much. Like a father figure. I thank you for everything.

The world has changed irrevocably since this moment.

A tribute event was booked for April 2020 in London. But, obviously this was not to be. We then waited almost 5 years and a huge celebration finally happened. I'll write a separate bit for this later.

I've written several albums of music over the last 6 years, moved house about 4 times, started playing lots of tennis, dipping in the North sea, recorded an incredible album for the 'Admiral' John Halsey with our Rutle band mate Ken Thornton, done a few hundred gigs all over the place and so many other things I can't quite recall!

NOW... Where was I? So, so long ago... Oh yes, the Get Up and Go Again Tour 2019! It feels like a completely separate, severed life. The memories. It seems like something we really have to make an effort to preserve and keep in our lives now. Like all the important memories. Which I’m very happy to do.

(I started this rambling below back in 2019, late summer)

Written in 2019 -

The dust has settled after our triumphant 2019 tour of the UK in May & June. The Get Up And Go Again Tour.

We did a 4 week stint covering a lot of the north of England, mostly. 

There was a gig in London and one down south, in Lewes near Brighton. But, the rest certainly had a northern way about it. Lots of moments stick out for me. This time around I was determined to take in a bit more of the places we stopped and gigged. To do this I was not going to write much. Which had certainly loomed over me on the previous tour. It was great fun to do, but I certainly felt like I was writing or thinking about what to write in all of the 'down time' moments instead of fully relaxing and taking in the simple things.

I took a few pictures here and there for 2019. These are included here.

One thing I did plan to concentrate a little more on was the social media side of things. I do the Facebook and Instagram pages for the band, so I push the gig events and interact a little bit online. But, this time around I thought it would good to do a little more videoing and photo editing on the go and post these bits and bobs. So, this felt like a little bit of a diary in a way.. more of an instant one though and making these bits are always fun and quite quick with a couple of apps on my phone.

Picking it up June 2025...

After all this time I'm nostalgically recalling via the medium of sheer memory waves, along with all my picture files collated, the videos taken by myself and others of the Get Up and Go Again Tour. Which would be our last. This means that I can't recall much of the smaller, fleeting moments in the gigs themselves but more the moments around them.

We did our now usual rehearsal routine of doing 3 days at Punch Studios in Ipswich, Suffolk and then packed everything up into a splitter style van driven by our stage hand Martin Lynch. 

Ipswich is my home town so I went home and the others were held up in a local travel log on the edge of town and set off on Tuesday 14th May.

One thing that stays with me intensely is the memory of recording everyone on the tour on 2 of my songs that I wrote on tour - 'Time To Pretend' & 'Flower Face'. The latter I actually wasn't quite on tour yet. I wrote Flower Face the day before going on tour in a classroom I was waiting to teach students in. Not having a chance to record anything I just did it while we were on the road. I use a portable device called a Boss BR80. A mini hand sized 8 track recorder with 2 mini microphones on it and a jack plug in for a direct instrument. A thing I use all the time. I recorded Neil on his Ukulele in his Travelodge bedroom and then later on on stage at The Robin 2 in Bilston. 

Neil recording Uke on 'Time To Pretend' in his Travelodge bedroom 

and keyboard on 'Flower Face' at the Robin 2 in Bilston 4th June.

This is also where I recorded John Halsey 4th June on the drums. It was the only chance and place it could have happened as we stayed at the venue over night and setup in the morning. Rare. Literally the only gig where this happened.

I recorded Ken Thornton in my bedroom on my 8 string Ukulele for 'Flower Face'.

He then recorded a 12 string electric guitar when he went back to the states for 'Time To Pretend'.

My friend Jay, who played bass on the 2016 and 2018 tours, recorded bass at home for 'Time To Pretend'

... and it was on the very last ever Rutles concert at the Colchester Arts Centre, backstage 2019 that I recorded David Catlin Birch on bass for 'Flower Face'. Now, where did I put that picture...

My music is all about capturing the moment, and the icing on the cake was at the end of that gig I also got our tour manager Gus Douglas to say the final words on the recording "Fantastic, Maaarvelous!" Which he was well known for saying. Always a character. A great moment to capture.

I found myself making some very silly pictures while traveling in the back of the van, of Gus.

Anyways, back to the tour. I think by this time we were all so comfortable with each other that we probably had the best time we've ever had. We had a lot of fun and jokes along the way. I videoed a number of silly moments in the back of the van, in the hotels, at the gigs. 

I've started a Rutles Youtube channel and hope to collate a few of those general offstage bits onto there, including some short rehearsal and stage moments.

The 2019 tour was a wonderful peak. 

Neil loved, more than anything, to be part of a band. Not the lead singer or focal point, just playing along with what was happening. Basically, being a musician. 

We all took it in turns to sing the lead on a song or 2. My song was always 'NUMBER 1'. Ken sang 'BABY LET ME BE', David ' Eine Kleine Middle Klasse Musik' and of John sang 'LIVING IN HOPE', EASY LISTENING' and his spectacular (depending on the season) 'OUT OF TOWN', 'AUTUMN LEAVES' or the christmas tour - 'I WAS BORN UNDER A WANDERING STAR'. Then myself and Ken would alternate, depending on the song, harmonising / backing singing with Neil. My very favourites to harmonise on with Neil were 'WITH A GIRL LIKE YOU', 'IMITATION SONG' & 'MAJOR HAPPY'. Every song in the set was a joy, though. Oh - and we all (apart from John) got to sing a verse on the Traveling Wilbury's Handle With Care (our George Harrison tribute, as he was a big part of The Rutles existing)... and Get Up & Go. Ken sang the first verse of Get Up & Go, I sang the 2nd and then the bass player - Jay or David (depending on the tour) sang the 3rd.

We played some very cool, memorable venues and gigs. One was the Cavern, Liverpool. Extraordinary crowd. A quick clip - RUTLES AT THE CAVERN

The first gig was at Hertford Corn Exchange 14th May. It was the last gig on the previous tour... and to be blunt, it wasn't the biggest crowd (lovely crowd, though) and made us check ourselves a little bit. The first few gigs always do. I drove to this gig directly from teaching in Colchester. 

John had actually rehearsed with us 'SUMMER HOLIDAY' (the Cliff Richard song) as his new spectacular and doing some very odd magic trick that involves a baby doll with a sheet and some rods under it. He would make it look like there was something hovering under the sheet. We would play some dramatic notes climbing to a crescendo and then... the baby would pop it's head above the sheet, appearing in a silly anticlimax. It was a slightly strange thing and the audience did laugh, but it was not a resounding one.. I think it's the sort of thing you have to see a few times for people to get the joke. In retrospect it might have worked better if it was a recurring joke through the show that John kept trying and it faltering. Hey ho.

John felt annoyed and very flat after this gig and said "I'm gonna throw this in the bin!". He didn't though. I found this baby doll again when visiting John's house after the tour. The baby never came out again and Summer Holiday was shelved. We felt we had to do a new idea each tour and the previous tour John had done a spring time spectacular. Which was very good. A great song with a dramatic beginning, solo parts, John blowing a cuckoo sound, fun props for our stage hand and john even did a magic trick mid song. This time round it felt a bit forced and we went with the summer theme instead. None of us felt particularly happy with it. But each spectacular had previously added a nice little moment to a very full and varied show.

We also did the Neil song gag on this gig - being our own support band. We did his Mexican song with our sombreros on. Again, we felt after this gig we don't really need this. It felt like one gag too many.

Wednesday 15th May

So, the next gig at Milton Keynes The Stables - we got on with what would be the main set we played for the rest of the tour.

MILTON KEYNES THE STABLES

This was a very nice gig in a new style venue. I think I joined everyone on the van from this point on. 

I can't remember anything sticking out about this gig particularly. But, this would also be because we weren't fully relaxed and were doing a lot of steady concentration, being the first couple of gigs. So, not a lot of 'off the cuff' stuff happening and just sticking to the planned bits between the songs. As the tour goes on though we loosen up and get sillier.

The same thing would happen each tour. Neil would spend each gig honing and improving all his connecting asides and comical moments. So, by the end of the tour we would have this very strong, slick show. Which was always a shame because we then feel a sudden stop and all go home for another year. But it was incredible to witness this process developing over the course of the tour and certainly had a huge influence on how I try to approach any live gigs I personally do.

THE GARAGE , LONDON 17th May

17th May we played The Garage in London. A 900 capacity rock style venue we'd played on the previous tour. it was a great, full gig, great crowd and felt like a good repeat. Only downside was the door staff were twats and rushed the crowd out of the venue at the end of the gig. There was a giant line of people waiting to get merch and autographs... and worst of all, John had a friend he'd been to school with there. He hadn't seen them for 50 years. John didn't get to see him. John vowed he would never play the venue again. A sour end to a great gig. You can see the whole gig here - LIVE AT THE GARAGE LONDON

18th & 19th LEWES

We then travelled the next day to Lewes, right next to Brighton. We were meant to play 2 gigs there - 18th and 19th May. Both gigs were half selling so they put them together for one big night. I remember it being a fun gig. A guy did a great drawing of us all performing which he then got us to sign. I got a picture of that - 

The venue was like a social club hall with a small storage room just behind the make shift stage. A place you might normally keep some tables and chairs. There was a curtain separating us and the stage. 

Also, memorably, poor Ken really hit his head heavily on the edge of the low ceiling of this so called dressing room. So much so he needed ice on it and decided to wrap his head in a purple towel. with some ice in it Making him look like some exotic king. Which of course he is. He just pretends to be a regular guy from Illinois. He's the king of Illinois!!

Lot's of signings afterwards. I remember David Christie (The Doo Dah Diaries) coming to this one. I think he took some photos too.

We were also, almost involved in a fracas as we were loading our gear out into the van at the end of the night. Some drunk idiot, strolling by, looking for a fight, took umbrage to us being parked on this narrow street and was trying very hard to start a fight with all of us. It went on for a while. Somehow, I think it was Gus who seemed to dissuade the guy. Drama on a Saturday night!

We then traveled on the 21st to play at the Platform in Morcambe. A very nice seaside town where I got my pic with the great man's statue, Eric Morecambe and wrote a giant Rutles love heart in the sand.

I then got to the venue and fooled Neil that I had found it there randomly on the beach.

 

I recall it being a good gig but not without it's issues. The venue used to be a railway station so the building was spacious with extremely high ceilings. Not designed for live music. So, the sound on stage was pretty terrible and uncomfortable. Especially for John at the back. The drummer's position is always problematic. But John's a pro. He's spent his life managing all these issues and letting his instincts take over. This left John not too happy and being reticent about signing things afterwards.

I think this was also where I took a great photo of Neil and John in the reception of the hotel, where I thought they looked like local news readers.

In my vague memory we went to Liverpool on the 22nd (I could be wrong).

But we planned to meet up with our friend Michael Livesley, a local to Liverpool and he had set us up visiting the pub that was John Lennon's regular to do some promotional filming. I think this was actually on the morning/lunch of the gig day 23rd.

We had a chance to push the idea to promoters in the USA of having the Rutles tour in the States for the very first time. Mike had set up a film crew in the pub recording us saying this and that.  A rare little time capsule, capturing us mid tour enjoying ourselves, dreaming of America. 

There is a video of us somewhere. Here it is -

THE RUTLES USA LIVERPOOL PROMO

It took a while for all this to be setup. Neil and John had their part to be filmed separately so I went off to see a cool area of Liverpool. I only had an hour and a half but I saw the Cathedral wasn't far away. I walked that way to the beautiful building and saw this in an alleyway, which I adapted for the Rutles socials. Obviously -

Onto the Cavern in Liverpool 23rd May.

This was quite a spiritual event. An extraordinary type of home coming. We were Liverpool's illegitimate son's. Every audience seemed to completely validate our existence. Even more than regular bands, because we weren't meant to exist... and Liverpool was always an extreme version of that validation. We love Liverpool. I got to have a wander, to go to the dock side and go to a museum showing a John Lennon / Yoko exhibition while the stage was being set. I also witnessed Neil standing next to his Cavern brick in the wall. I'm sure I took a picture of that as well...

The gig was fabulous. Intense. Every person sang with huge passion. The love in the room could be cut with a large knife. A small one, even. I don't think I actually have the words to fully do it all justice. Let's just say we were made to feel that The Rutles REALLY existed and meant a lot to people. It was a night I certainly will always remember. Not everyone gets to play the Cavern... and in The Rutles!! I also got my Cavern t shirt at that point. Great stuff. Again, you can see a number of songs from that gig on Youtube, posted by the audience.

PRESTON

The Continental in Preston 24th May was our next gig...

After the Cavern our sound man Ben Etchels sadly left us. We wondered what the best, immediate solution was. As, he was not just the sound man, he was one half of the backline team who load the gear in and out, set everything up, mixed and sound checked the stage and venue. We didn't have time to get anyone new on sound, so we were left to rely on the in-house technician. Which ended up actually being okay. The in-house sound man knows their own room and the gear he's using very well. All we then had to do was make sure he had an idea of who was doing what and when in the show. Our regular sound man knew all the moments when one of us was playing a solo and knew how to ride the faders on different moments that happened each night. Adding additional effects to instruments and voices. So, he really enhanced the show. But, as it turns out, all the sound guys we ended up with loved what we were doing and did their very best at getting into those moments of the show as they were sprung on them.

Every gig from this point, I took a print out of the set we were going to play and wrote the names of the lead singer(s) next to each song for the sound man - Neil, Drums, Keyboard, Guitar, Bass etc. And this worked.

The Continental was a lovely pub with a venue space on the back, right next to a lovely park. We all spent some time before the gig hanging out there and then having a nice pub dinner.

David Catlin Birch took this memorable picture of me and Neil in the park, putting our heads together and making a complete arse out of ourselves. Neil quickly chucking his tipping hat on the floor for anyone's generous donation.

Something I will always cherish.

I remember it being a very nice day and eve. A very nice gig. The whole thing was the sort of situation you hoped for at every gig. It always felt like we were just a bunch of friends hanging out who happened to have a gig that evening. At the best of times it felt like a musical holiday. We certainly tried to work it that way. All be it with a constant fatigue setting in.

We were then off on our Scottish leg (or thigh) of the tour for 3 gigs. Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee. After some thought, we asked our friend of the band, Lynda to join us as the extra member of the crew we needed. We were content with the in-house sound man and we could all help load in and setup our own instruments (God forbid) along with Martin Lynch our main backline guy (who also did 99% of the driving). I literally do not know when he slept or got to relax. I don't think he did. Lovely man. Great all round musician and songwriter as well. 

So, Lynda became a general assistant to Gus with whatever he might need doing to make the gig go smoothly.

GLASGOW -

We were originally booked into the Oran Mor. But as the gig approached , we were told the venue had double booked us and our tour manager Gus found a substitute venue The Mono Bar.

This gig turned out to be a slightly more snugger and rough around the edges situation. The bar was perfectly nice but there obviously a more makeshift feel about the stage ad situ. This aside, it was the same, hugely enthusiastic audience. There wasn't much of a dressing, so this made us a little more readily available to the public, sitting out in the venue. Which was nice. We got to meet several people...

I've just remembered a few things and need to backtrack.....

On the way to Glasgow, there were issues with a couple of amps and these needed some servicing. We ended up going to a place a friend of mine back in Suffolk (who originally came from Glasgow) suggested to get this sorted. A man named Stevie. Friend of my friend Stevie. The 2 Stevies. They used to be in a band, and the Stevie I know played in my band on a few occasions. Anyway... the amps were sorted and (Glasgow) Stevie had a free ticket to the gig.

Driving to the venue it was pissing with rain the whole way and Glasgow was pissing with rain the whole day. If I remember rightly it was a Scottish football cup game day as well, so people were out in droves and very merry already.

Ken arriving at the gig -

We were all a little bit tired, cold and ready to get this show going. We loaded the gear in. I desperately needed some trainers. As I had been wearing some gym style shoes and they had lost all their tread. This meant I was literally sliding all over the wet pavement. I went off with Ken, literally sliding down the high street, at times holding onto to him. I looked like an idiot. So, off we went to find the nearest TK Maxx to get the most budget friendly and Rutley footwear. Hey, wellies would have done for sure. But I eventually found something more casual. Ariiiiiiiiiite.

Anyways, back to the gig -

So, my friend Sam Smith moved to Glasgow a few years back and I always gave him a buzz when in town. He came down to the gig. Lovely man. Hip. Very quiet. Almost mysterious.

We met a whole bunch of people this eve that I'm still connected to on the socials. One of them, David James Wilson, a photographer, took lots of great pictures of us. See a few below.

One stand out memory, not a great one... and this is a great example of the reality of it all. 

There was a man who was obviously quite drunk but also seemed to be on the spectrum in some way, so didn't respond to our general "Could you be quiet(s)". He chose to whistle in an extraordinarily loud, 2 fingered style. Louder than us even, with our crazy technology of electricity and mica-ra-phones.  At every opportunity. In the loud moments, in the quiet moments, in the moments when Neil was chatting to the audience he would do an ear piercing whistle. And because it was a makeshift stage, this person could stand literally next to me while I was trying to hear myself and perform. I had to try and put a finger in my left ear and keep covering the notes with my right hand. Why was no one doing anything about this?! EVERYONE could hear him!

Because this was a substituted venue situation, there were a few things that lacked. Doormen for one. Any kind of security. In the other venue this person would have been shown the door. Unfortunately, we had to weather him all evening. We finished the gig and did our usual signings. This bloke was still there at the very end, last person to leave. Still out of it and being a noise. Eventually, he was gone and we were on our way. To the sleep we go.

We then ventured to the beautiful Edinburgh.

It was to be the Voodoo Rooms we would rock 'n' roll. I seem to remember we spent some social time around Beautiful Edinburgh. Myself, John, Ken and Lynda went a walking and eventually sitting, eating, drinking and chilling.

I remember having vegan haggis, which was very nice and then some type of afters which gave me an allergic reaction. I'm allergic to tree nuts but there seemed to be no nuts in the dessert. It certainly wasn't advertised. The place reluctantly took this off the bill. Oh, you're too kind! (angry sarcasm).

It took a little while for my throat to stop feeling it was trying to squeeze the life out of me. A good time was had after this, though.

John and Ken at the Edinburgh eatery.

I can't remember too much of this gig. It was a good one as far as I can remember. Nice sounding room.

Now, I was always the one doing vocal exercises before going on and this was the first time we all got into it and silly with it. The guys would normally be taking the piss out of me but tonight someone suggested it would help them all and would be a laugh. The dressing room was a lounge at the front of the venue, which meant we had to walk from behind the crowd along the left wall, past the audience to the stage. As we did this, we sang all the way "Baa Baa Baa, Baa Baa Ra Ann" replicating in our best Rutle-ease the Beach Boys classic.

I think after this we did something similar each gig.

I wish I could remember more of this gig. Love Edinburgh. Up North though, there is just more passion and feeling from all the folks.

It's normally the gigs where there are issues you remember the most, unfortunately. The nicer ones you feel like like you're just riding a wave and they can blend into each other.

Oh, I just remembered... John put my cap on in the dressing room. It's a fun one!

DUNDEE

And so... on to Dundee.

Each gig is always it's own experience. No venue seemed the same.

We were in a pub. Clarks on Lindsay. It was a nice enough place and we were by the sea... or certainly a stroll from the river that went to the sea. The River Tay, to be exact.

Our backstage area was upstairs in the venue and when they wanted us onstage, we took a route down the stairs, out a door, around the building and entered through the front door where the performing area was. I stop myself from calling it a stage. It wasn't.

It seemed as though there might be a rough edge to this evening. But I recall it being very enjoyable and us all making the best of it. Again, there was no proper stage. We were on the floor with the illusion of the Rutles and the crowd divide with a set metal barriers surrounding us they would normally use to corral the drunk and disorderly outside. The crowd could literally reach out and touch us. Neil joked and had good rapport with the few people directly in front of him, a couple of feet away. What choice did he have?! Haha!

No, it was a good gig all round as far as I remember. Very 'pubby' (-if that's a word) style. We put amps on top of boxes or a large window ledge and got on with playing. You get the vibe. 

Hey, it was a great show we were putting on! A lot of fun. Scotland gigs were always the most down to earth and real gigs. They don't let you get above your station up there. But that means they love you even more! If that's possible.

GRIMSBY.

It's grim. No joke. No, I'm serious. It's Grimsby. Grim.

My first (and only) time (to date) in the town of Grim(sby).

A curious fish. They fish here. The rest of the time it's grim. Grim fish.

Like most gigs, I had time to wander outside into the local town area to soak up the atmos. 

Hmmm. I'm not here to put down any place. But, it didn't seem the most pleasing feeling. 

I ventured back. The venue was the Central Hall. I'm not sure what the usual theme is but it was obviously some kind of church hall. I don't think I've ever seen a bigger cross. The only problem was this cross was hanging behind and above us at the back of the stage. Looming down while we performed.

It was a big, well kept venue. Big back rooms. Including our dressing room, the Choir Room.

This was an odd gig in some ways. We were up on this high stage in this large hall with a balcony. The only people attending sat on arranged chairs on the main hall floor. At one point there were a couple or rowdy dancers. 

The other random thing was that the promoter had arranged for there to be a local support group. Not how we normally roll. But this was part of the deal for some reason. Again, a nice enough crowd and not a gig I particularly recall much from.

One thing, trawling through the pictures, I'm reminded on the way to this gig Neil was dealing with the nightmare of the crowd funding company he had raised £10000 going bust, and all but a £1000 of the money his fans had invested was lost. He was determined to start another one for the new album's (Nearly Really) expenses to be covered. So, I said I could make an image for a business card for fans at the gigs.

Printed near Grimsby, you can see the cards below...

NEWCASTLE

As like much of the Get Up & Go Again Tour, there were several repeated gigs from the previous year's tour. Notably the Garage Islington, Newcastle Cluny and The Brudenell Leeds, which I'll get to.

These were all sure fire, great gigs. They had been great previously, so the good people in these venues booked us straight away again.

So, playing the Cluny on the 31st May was very much turn up, set up and repeat the previous experience. This is in a way what my memory tells me, as it's difficult to remember at this point much difference in the 2 times we played here. The previous year we'd had a couple days in Newcastle and took in the city and the ambiance and was much more memorable. It's always 'first times a charm' with these things. I think the gig went well and was similarly as full as last time.

Here's us sound checking - Cluny sound check

The Cluny - an enjoyable place, tiny dressing room, slightly hip venue with a little restaurant and bar connected to it. I remember having vegan sausage, mash and gravy. A little bit too peppery. These are things you remember.

This picture below confirms that myself and Kenneth did get out and about in the City and Ken certainly found some choiced vinyls! His happy place.

LEEDS

1st June

Onto the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds. A very nice place run by nice people. I regretfully can't remember much or anything about this gig, 6 years later. I think this is a good sign though. I think it was a healthy repeat of the previously year. I remember our first time here in 2018. It was a very excited, lively crowd. It felt like a very rock n roll venue with a cool stage. They also laid on the most extraordinary platter of eating / drinking delights. There was a big table of buffet style, backstage goodies... and then to our surprise they asked us what sort of pie we would like for dinner! I don't think we've ever been more well catered for and fed at a gig. Before, in the intermission or after. Sadly impossible to consume it all. I've only been to Leeds twice and all I know is - they like to feed em there! Gaw bless ya Brudenell!

MANCHESTER

2nd June...

Now this gig I do remember.

I'd played with Rutles in Manchester once before at the Manchester O2. This was in the winter time though when it was dark. Turned up, did the gig and went off. Which is the case sometimes, so you don't feel you've been in the town you're in at all.

I loved it here though. We played in a relatively hip venue called Gorilla. They have since moved to a different location. But this was a relatively central spot. Again a-joined to a restaurant / bar. A vegan one at that. Which was great for plant based me.

The venue out the back was rather cool, with a backdrop to the stage of what looked like electrical panels going from the floor to the ceiling. Upstairs in the dressing I remember at half time a famous DJ Marc (somebody) came and got us to all sign a Rutles vinyl.

There certainly is a certain noticeable Manchester attitude and swagger to people here that I experienced with the several stage hands at the venue.

Before the show I really got to take in the City centre. It's big, sprawling and a happening place. 

I was on a bit of a mission. John had been dealing with a certain amount of audio feed back onstage through the tour and it was apparent that he wasn't always enjoying himself. I went to a big music shop and bought him some basic in ear attenuators. Musicians earplugs to you. these things filter out the bad frequencies and bring the volumes down.

I came back and John was happy to give them a go.

We did the gig and John seemed happy enough, all be it slightly subdued with this new way of hearing the gig. His first time using earplugs. He said "I never knew how much I sang while I'm playing!"

Yes, this is how most people really perform. You need to follow the focal point, which is the singer.

All in all a successful gig, I wish I could remember more of.

3rd, 4th, 5th June

BILSTON.

Okay... 

So, any of you good folks following any previous blogs or videos I've done about tours, you will have seen me experiencing Bilston.

Now, I'm not here to dis any place, but... Bilston is not really a place I would recommend anyone visiting for any reason. Apart from coming to see the Rutles, obviously.

It just so happened that it made sense time wise and financially to travel to Bilston the day before the gig, as we had no gig either day either side of this gig to stay at the gig (the venue is connected to a hotel. Loose term for the random bedroom areas). stay the night of the gig and leave the next day. 

Of all the gigs, this was the one we could have done without spending anymore extra time at. The gig was always great but the town is, unfortunately, not the best.

We planned on the first night to all get a taxi to the next town and enjoy a curry. This is what we did and the curry was enjoyed. We went back to the venue as there was no other good place to reside. We sat outside the back where the entrance to the venue was and a few of us enjoyed a a few glasses of wine, as I recall.

Now, this is where things get a bit interesting. This I do recall quite clearly. This whole time in Bilston was rare. We had a lot of time to set up and use the venue. This did not happen at any other venue. Every other venue was arranged that they allowed us in from 3pm on the day of the gig, where we would load in, set up stage, sound check and get on with it.

We had already loaded in the gear the day before on arrival at Bilston. On the morning of this gig we went in and helped set up the stage, so everything was setup very early in the day.

I had already recorded at some point early on in the tour a take of my new song 'Flower Face'.

I had played the track to the guys here and there and mentioned I'd like them to play on it. They all loved this idea.

I set up my piano for the gig, I showed Neil how to record and re record takes on the device and left him to it... after I took a picture of him at it.

Neil recorded a beautiful, subtle keyboard line in the background of the track, that felt very fitting and gave the track a new layer of feeling. I listen to it now and emotes lots of melancholy and beauty.

It was now John's turn. He had his drums set up on this high stage in an empty venue and played on both Flower Face and Time To Pretend. John was nothing but stellar and took a few passes as he was learning the track as he went. Everyone was. This is what made it so special and have so much character.

After all of this I did wonder if any of these would have ended up as tracks on the proposed album we were talking about making the next April (2020). Probably not. But, I know these were big influences on Neil's thinking of recording. Because, here we all were on a recording and it seemed easy and natural. 

Who knows. What a world and moment it would have been if Neil hadn't died, if covid hadn't come along, we all went to France that April and somehow it all worked in a proper studio environment. 'Rutles 3'. What an incredible thought. The influence and ideas with all of this 'what could have been' has certainly imbued all of my create works since.

So, the gig came and went. I recall it going without any hitches. A nice crowd. Another sit down one. Which didn't make it too rock n roll. But still good fun. Thanks Bilston.

One fun memory, on the road to Exeter on a day off 5th June. We stayed in a hotel (I wish I could remember where. It may come to me.) outside of a town and walked to a country pub for a bit of food and drink and it turned out they had a quiz on, so we stayed for the giggles.

This was our team name -

EXETER -

We travelled to Exeter. This was slightly different again, as we were performing at a University, which was fun in itself.

I'd never been to Exeter before or since. The University seemed very nice though. It had a cool vibe about it. It seemed a very new venue style of setup with the room connected to the student bar.

Again, I remember it being a good gig with a nice crowd.

The main thing I remember very clearly was being back stage, which meant being a few floors up in a large classroom style room, kitted out with some food and refreshments.

This was memorable as we just got word about our next gig in Leamington being cancelled because the venue just went under and I suggested we needed to put something online for all our fans and show how sorry we were we couldn't be there and that we didn't want them to feel they were going without. So, it was decided to write some different words to the George Harrison song 'If I Needed Someone'. When we start the tour we always consider a new George song play as our tribute to him and played through a few. This was one of them. The other 2 considered were 'Any Road' and 'What Is Life'. I don't think we even really played through these 2. It was essential that we should be enjoying whatever we play and nothing was too much work. As this would eat into any time we had to rehearse the tour. So, for this tour we stuck with our previous favourites - 'Handle With Care' & 'All Things Must Pass'.

Anyways, we sang the new words to this George song on a video you can find here -

THE RUTLES LEAMINGTON

The lyrics we sellotaped to the back of a chair 6,6,19

It was great fun as we sat around, all getting involved in writing a couple of lines. It came out really well and we got a kick out of the four of us harmonising, all playing ukuleles while John played percussion on a toaster. He waited for the last beat and on cue flipping the 'done' switch and making the toast jump up. Very silly, great stuff. 'This' is what we're all about. Here's to you Leamington.

Onto BATH.

We travelled to central Bath to the Komedia venue. I knew Bath quite well as I'd visited there a number times having friends there. A really beautiful place situated in a valley with lots of history. Most notably the Roman baths. So, I knew where we were in the city and had a bit of a stroll in the centre.

I don't remember having much social time here though. The venue was another big theatre style place. So, big stage, lights and big sound. I remember it being quite old fashioned in some respects though, as the dressing room was upstairs above the stage, up a narrow stairwell. Not practical for John. I think he went up once and then said "I'm only coming up here once".

I'm also remembering the other stresses - this was another place like islington where there was some kind of DJ night happening directly afterwards. So, we had to actually shave a couple songs off the set. Ken was noticeably upset when we cut 'Baby Let Me Be'. A fun rocker that Ken lead and I sang harmony with him on.

Also, the sound guys were nice enough but very young and needed some lessons in people skills when trying to assist Neil with his fold back sound onstage. It didn't rub people the right way.

Saying this, I think all in all the gig went very well. There's certainly some great footage of it the youtube - The Rutles Live in Bath

We did the usual packing up quickly at the end. Eventually getting to the fans in the foyer. I remember Ken dousing his annoyance with a large wine.

So, we're now on the home stretch... after this next gig we'd travel back to Ipswich. So, no more hotels.

NORWICH ARTS CENTRE 9th June -

I've played the Norwich Arts Centre a number of times. With my originals band The B Goodes and my own covers party band The Phil Jackson Rock N Roll Experience.

By now we are a slick machine. Not what you start out planning, because it goes with the fun silliness of the idea of The Rutles. We're our own tribute band and we don't want to rehearse too much because (quote Neil) "If you don't rehearse, what can go wrong?!"

But, it's inevitable that you become slick after playing and jelling together for so long. This ultimately makes the gigs as fun as possible because we know our parts so well we're at our most relaxed and assured. When this is the case you start to find news ways to have fun. Through the tour John Halsey is always the eternal joker and would find ways of catching people out. John is one of thee great drummers and he can play completely out of time perfectly whilst not losing his place but definitely fucking you up on your part.

So, Neil said we need to get our own back this gig. John was not in the dressing at this point so we all planned to take over his most famous song 'Living In Hope' when he would take a pause singing a long last note "Hooooooooope...". So, we practiced taking over the vocal at that point doing a cascading bell effect with our voices from The Band song 'The Weight'.

John sang "Hoooooooope....". As he did, we all came in one after the other "Hooo...Hooo...Hooo...". And continued with "Take a load off Barry! Take a load for free!"

John loved this and almost fell off the drums laughing. Great, great moment. The crowd loved it too.

The crowds always knew that we were going to have as much fun as possible and do some random silly things. Neil's and John's humour was very well known and they taught a HUGE amount about being on stage and utilising the the simple, physical and word based jokes. 

Being on the stage is quite a different thing. I would realise on the next gig. We went home and prepared for the last gig.

Images from Norwich -

Set

COLCHESTER ARTS CENTRE 10th June - The final Rutles gig.

So, the very last gig (it turns out).

I drove from Ipswich this day, as I'd be taking my gear home with me this eve.

I'm writing this all in hindsight and everything couldn't have been more poignant. It was our close to home gig and was pure joy. The venue I've played many times and is one of my favourites. A beautiful place with their regular, great sound man. 

My friend Jay Goodrich (the previous tour's bass player) came to see the show. Along with a few others I knew locally. This is where I got David and Gus to record their bits backstage for the song 'Flower Face'.

We did the gig... and being the last of the tour it was a feeling of sitting back and enjoying every moment that happened. For me, I'm always watching from the side angle. Best seat in the house. I get to watch the band and project to the audience and see their reactions. Neil was a master of the stage. John Cleese once described him as the modern day Charlie Chaplin. Which I have to agree. He had everything and more. The ability to play and inhabit other characters along with the different themes and styles he wielded. Wether it was a highly crafted, intelligent comedy music pastiche or a simple small play on words that brought a huge crowd of people together singing "All alooone". 

It was an honour and utter joy to watch over the course of a tour. To see him tweak and hone every little nuance of word play, gag, character between a very eclectic catalogue of top quality, extremely unique songs. I remember on this day pinching myself and enjoying every ring side moment.

It was a wonderful gig. At the end my friend Jay came back and said "Wow! What a show! You guys should be playing in a bigger place, playing to a few thousand people. Not a few hundred!"

He expressed how you can't see what the audience sees. The show is so full and has so many different varied moments. It makes you feel great with hearty songs, then you have some pure comedy, character moments with Barry Wom. You have each one of us taking our lead singing turns and solos and then Neil adding in his comedy asides and joining moments. From start to finish it kept you and was all quality.
We all packed up. helped loading out to the van. I went and got my car and packed my bits. We had spent a little time gathered outside chatting before this and saying goodbyes. Neil wasn't there at that moment but once I'd got my car they were all about to drive off and I stopped. Neil got out, gave us a final and said his goodbye. This was the last I saw Neil. I almost didn't get the 'Goodbye'.

We all kept in touch after this for the rest of the year anyways, as the plan was to go to France in April 2020 to Neil's and plan this album idea.

You're always left on a high and left with an equal sadness that just as we get to our best and most connected version of The Rutles band - Neil Innes, John Halsey, Ken Thornton, David Catlin Birch & me Philly J - having so, so much fun. I've never known more joy.

Our last images together

After the last show. Photo by Lynda-Louise

Neil left his gear at John's house as he was coming back in October to tour with the Bootleg Beatles. There's an amazing video of Neil performing Cheese And Onions with a giant orchestra at The Royal Albert Hall on this tour. How it should have always been - NEIL INNES CHEESE AND ONIONS

Neil always deserved much more in his lifetime.

I feel completely blessed to have been in this moment at the right place, at the right time, with the right things Neil thought he needed. I'm indebted to him for all the things he unknowingly taught me. I hope the world as we now know it gets to know about him a lot more. So share him around! 

We need him and his honest beautiful vibes more than ever.

Thanks for listening in, folks. It's been a ride. Let's try and find the next one and keep riding it.

Phil Jackson x

Oh yeah, if you want to hear the 2 tunes everyone recorded on, here they are -

Flower Face (featuring the Rutles 2019) - FLOWER FACE

Time To Pretend (featuring the Rutles 2018/2019) TIME TO PRETEND