Hello all. A nice picture of Fergal Sharkey congratulating John Peel on the BBC news website today - see http://news.bbc.co.uk/ (Look for the Peel photo down the right hand side)

Congatulations cliff. How about Norman / Terry or Jimmy. When 'it going to happen'? I'm sure he's going to be a 'boy wonder'. I suppose you'll be 'window shopping for new clothes' now? Come on you lot there's loads more puns out there.

Oldcastle date is the day before my daughters first birthday. May not be able to make it, but I will start gaining the brownie points now. Is anyone else definately going? And what time are they on? Website didn't say how much tickets were? I'll need to know the times to see if I can get back for my daughters birthday bash. Let me know by e-mail if you can as I can rarely get on the site now and its a bind to track back since your last message.

Hi Derek. I think we need a gig over here really don't we. There’s always going to be complications during summer hols. for people to get over to Ireland, it’s also more expensive and some of us are just plain scared of flying! Did anyone see the JP 'Men Behaving Mildly' take-off on Alistair McGowan last night. Very funny.

I saw that one of the talk-ees was saying how the world has changed; Joe Strummer at the Cambridge Folk Festival etc. etc. Has anyone out there listened to JS & the Mascaleros? If you haven't do so ..... listen and then listen to 'real Clash'; it is where the Clash were going; their last real punk album was 'Give Em Enough Rope' since then the music changed; Sandanista is pure Mascaleros. The World moves on.

So what you ask? Why is this prat putting this stuff on the Undertones.net? Well;....are we all living in the past? Yes, the Undertones were the best band of their era, the shows were a celebration of their music. We all felt we knew them - most of us had actually met them (at one Cambridge gig I was watching the support & realised that the guys next to me with beers were 4 of the 5 'Tones (including 'Feargal 'the outsider' Sharkey)) they were 'normal' stars. The Undertones were a big part of my teenage/ university years ....... now I am am an old fart, should I still be listening to Male Model etc.? Shouldn't the Undertones move on? Shouldn't we be listening to 'Feargal Sharkey 'Unplugged''.... shouldn't John & Damian be doing something else and re-interpreting the classics? Isn't an Undertones gig just a tad sad? I really am a huge fan but are we all losing the plot? .....

When you look at all the photos on the site do you think it could have been Billy's 'Flock of Seagulls' hiardo that stuffed up the band?

Hi Bradley - we've been over your point to the point of boredom. Went to see Evan Dando last night and he was brill doing an acoustic show.

Bradley....Calm down.....I know things move on and rightly so....I doubt that in 1977 that Joe Strummer would have seen himself in 25 years time headlining a Folk Festival......I'm just as bit peeved i cannot make it to the festival as I'm on holiday.. Been to a few of the Cambridge Folk Festivals and have always come away wanting to find out more about the artists that I have seen. Yes I have heard the Mescelaros and I really like the Ragbag of musical styles on each disc, closer to world music than punk and thank god for that.

I would'nt want to hear Strummer trot out endless rewrites of White Riot or London's Burning, The Clash were a fine example of a band maturing and moving on that is'nt to say they got it right every time but, Hey how many bands do. The Undertones also matured and moved on to different styles Sin of Pride could'nt be further away from the 1st LP if it tried. I'm probably the only person on here that thinks the reformation is a bad idea. I can understand why they have done it and what fun they must be having but ultimately it's not for me. The idea of a different singer makes me think of them as no different to one of these tribute bands that seem to have become very popular recently. For me it's the same with the Stranglers...I have'nt been to see them since Hugh Cornwell left.. I could'nt believe they carried on with a new vocalist....Again to me it's no better than a Covers band...This is just my opinion of course.

As for wether we are all losing the plot.......No way, what harm is there in this site just a group of people who like simillar music enjoy remeniscing/ debating or just chatting, even if that does involve nerdy football. Most of the people here have enjoyed the gigs of the reformed Undertones....How can enjoying yourself be sad...Sad, I think you just need to loosen up a little from your midlife crisis Bradley.

Life's too short Steve (and take note, Bradley). You won't get another golden opportunity like this again. Sadly if you don't go, you never will taste a new experience and thus miss the point of what life is all about but that is your loss not mine. (When you reach 40 you might have a clue what I'm on about!). I could accept your comment if you had been to see the new line up and thought they were crap but you cannot possibly comment on something you've not witnessed. And aren't you even just the teeniest bit curious to hear the new songs?? Like I said last week, we will get you there somehow!

Hey you lot - it's a bank holiday weekend. There seems to be too much stress around. There was (is) no greater Clash or Undertones fan than myself. I've seen The Mescaleros and want to see The Undertones. But it's not for everyone. I know where Steve and Rick are coming from. I wasn't sure until I saw some of the videos of the gigs from the last few years. The energy is still there and those songs are too good to not be heard live again. I'd like to hear some new material - If The Moondogs can do it so can The Undertones.

Did anyone get the NME copy to Julius?

Now I think about it I'm so glad Strummer & the Mescalero's didn't do White Riot when I saw them. Their style wouldn't have suited that. I can see where Bradley gets the connection to The Clash and how the Mescalero's sound would be what the Clash would have developed into - or would it. By now Mick Jones would have been into something quite different I suspect. Are BAD still without a deal? Scandalous.

Bank Holidays are meant to be stressful aren't they? Persistent rain and long traffic queues usually see to that. Unfortunately I left it too late to get a copy of that NME special (busy week, mad dash to Warwick etc) so if anyone wouldn't mind making good use of their office photocopier... Jackie, do you have the article from M.M. April 80 covering a tour in Ireland? It's my favourite pic of Damian.

Is this background taken from an advert off Channel 4 around 3.30 pm for 'trousers for old people, your bollocksd don't bulge, any colour as long as it's brown'?

How do you go about 're-interpreting' classics ? I like them the way they are. If you'd been to a gig then you realise that sad was far from the truth. Everyone here is a huge fan. Bradley go to a gig and see Paul in full flow, he's shit hot. Steve your obviously at the wind up so stick to your medication and maybe up the anti-psychotics a wee bit.

Hi all. I just had a conversation tonight with a group of people who went to see the UNDERTONES film late last year and then had the good luck to see THE UNDERTONES live and they loved every moment of it. EVERY one of them was 20 or under. They can't wait to see the band again. What is wrong with that?? People(ie Bradley and Co?) have to remember we are talking about The Undertones here and not any other band who were around at the same time. They were always unique and there was no-one more sceptical than myself about a 'reunion' but it wasn't that in July 1999, it was a 'get together' based on various things and

I still think GEER (for Cliffies sake the last word is rope) is a travesty - the production almost ruins the songs forever. Luckily SEH and TG rise above it all. ECW is astounding when Strumemr sings it these days - cunning lyrics - so why did the album sound like he'd sung it down one of telephones you make from baked bean cans and string.

Vinny what are you doing up at 02:45 ?

And as for the second side - seems to be a collection of songs about being in band - not the greatest of subjects.

..........then Paul joined the band and it's and understatement to say he has and still is brilliant!!I honestly don't mind people who say that things should be left the way they were, we don't wanna spoil the legacy blah blah blah but these are usually the same people who haven't seen the band live again as well as the amazing new songs that the Tones have penned!!The Undertones' music has reached and has always hit a new generation so what is wrong with that? Can I push a conclusion/ opinion that it is they who object that are living in the past? THE UNDERTONES with Feargal were a brilliant band and THE UNDERTONES with Paul McLoone are a briliant band. Reactions now welcome!

CMOS: Working late tonight/ this morning writing my latest masterpiece!!!!!!What are you doing up at this time??