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This issue (finally) contains news on the long awaited new album but before we get to that, for any new readers, S.K.O.H. is available quarterly and is free on receipt of a large S.A.E. or I.R.C. (or some other means of return postage outside the U.K.). Thanks to everyone for their support and contributions and especially thanks (as always) to Irene, Wilko, Sav, Norman and S.

The new album, 'Going Back Home' is to be released on October 19th on MYSTIC records, distributed by Pinnacle. It should be readily available in the shops, or can be ordered by credit card from Mystic. For further details of Mystic releases, you can write to: Mystic Records, 60 Babbacombe Road, Bromley, Kent, BR1 3LW. Hopefully copies will also be available at gigs.
The CD features all original songs, some of which will be familiar from recent live shows as well as a re-working of the old favourite, 'Down By The Waterside'. I'm sure I don't need to tell you what a great album this is - just go out buy it and tell all your friends! As mentioned last issue, there are some new 'T'-shirts available (white with a black & white picture of Wilko). If interested, send a cheque or postal order for £11.50 (£12.50 overseas) payable to IRENE KNIGHT at the newsletter address. Apologies to anyone who ordered a copy of the 'Pull The Cover' CD and has not yet received it. Demand was such that the CD is being repressed and hopefully will be available (and all orders will be dispatched) before the end of the month. If anyone would like to order copies, the cost is £12.00 (U.K.) / £13.00 (overseas) - cheques / postal orders payable to A.P. Grundy at the newsletter address.
Readers of S.K.O.H. will probably be interested in the latest edition (Spring '98 #3) of a Canadian Rock'n'Roll magazine 'MOHAIR SWEETS' which features interviews with Wilko, S. H. and Tony Moon (who wrote the recent Feelgoods book) as well as a host of other informative features. It is available by post from 'Mohair Sweets', 67 St. Michael Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R2M 2K7 cost being $6 U.S. or £3.U.K. although Tower Records in London (and I assume their other branches) did have copies for sale recently.
Another recent interview with Wilko appeared in the Summer Issue '98 of 'Feedback' magazine which is distributed in the Runcorn / Widnes area.
The new Ian Dury & The Blockheads album 'Mr Love Pants' which of course featured Norman on bass was released on June 29th (and a month or so earlier in Holland) to complementary reviews and features on Mr Dury in the monthly music papers. The band played as support to Paul Weller at Victoria Park London on the 8th of August, the Guildford Festival on the 9th and a gig in their own right at Dingwalls, Camden Lock on the 10th. They also have a number of dates lined up for October.
Norman also featured with Madness at Madstock IV in June which was a Radio 2 'In Concert' at the end of August. Deputising for Norman at any of Wilko's shows clashing with these dates was either David Hunter or Russel Strutter (who l'm sure many of you will remember from the band some years ago). Russell will also be filling in for the October dates effected by the Blockheads tour.
Sav's wife is due to give birth to a son at any time now so I'm sure we all wish them 'congratulations' when the happy event occurs.
Best wishes as well to Lew Lewis who was recently released from prison. Let's hope things go well for him and he can make a contribution to the Southend music scene. Expect an archive release from Lew within the next few months - details when available. Also released recently: the CD re-issue of the Hot Rods' 'Teenage Depression' on Demon Records (what! no bonus tracks) and a German CD by The Pirates - 'Land Of The Blind' on Bluelight Records which may be a live release?
Some of you may have noticed Wilko mentioned in connection with John Otway recently. Wilko will be appearing at the Royal Albert Hall concert on the 30th of October as a 'special guest' and will join Mr Otway on stage for one or two songs. Wilko will not be appearing at any of the other shows.

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First new album since 1992 for much loved Brit, now a thespian.

There's no point dodging the issue. Ian Dury's legacy to music will always be Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick and Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, one a Number 1, the other not a hit. They happened on the back of punk because of their attitude rather than their jazzy influence and Dury now sits on the very outskirts of the rock community and it's impossible to imagine that Mr Love Pants will see him drawn to the epicentre again. But these 10 tracks will please his old school of followers, because they draw heavily on the sound of his heyday. The talkalong voice has hardly changed and the irony of a lyric like Jack Shit George counterpoints the musicianship, just like it used to. As he faces his toughest battle yet - against cancer Dury has produced an album where the songs are strong enough to stand a bout of nostalgia ***

As you know here at the S.K.O.H. headquarters, as well as established artists, we also like to promote bands which you may have not heard of. Mad Men Blues are an Italian based group keeping the Pub Rock flag flying in their own country. Their name is a variation on a John Lee Hooker song which l'm sure will need no introduction to followers of the later line-ups of Dr Feelgood. The band was initially formed in 1983 and with various personnel throughout the years has built up a considerable following all over their native land by the simple approach of playing everywhere they can and giving the audience a damn good show, honing their initial 'Ramones Play The Blues' approach to a more Blues-Rock vein. During the years, they have received good reviews both locally and in the Italian music press, played a few gigs in Slovenia and even met some of the artists which have influenced them such as Wilko and Lee. They are hoping to release a CD shortly but until then, have a cassette release available show-casing some of their favourite songs including Dr Dupree (don't tell Wilko, he'll want paying!) done in their own style with the distinctive vocals of Pit Ryan. Cost is only £5.00 including postage and anyone interested can obtain a copy from: Roberto Pettarini, Via Gramsci 3, 33040 Corno di Rosazzo (Udine), Italy. Who would also be pleased to correspond with anyone interested in Pub Rock.
Tracks of the "Mad Men Blues" demotape: My Buddy Buddy Friends, Cracking up, Something you got, My sugar turns to alcohol, Home in my hand (self written song), Dr. Dupree, Hong Kong money, Can you please crawl out your window (Dylan), Brand new you, brand new me (Lowe, Brinsley Schwarz), I want to be loved (Dixon).

Well, that's about it for this issue. The next one is due early December and will probably feature an update on the Wilko discography and possibly Norman's as well. Until then, don't forget to make a note in your diary for October 19th.