VfB Stuttgart

Yesterday I wrote down what happened to my team and I was hoping that we still continue the way we had chosen. But things change in this business as soon as our ink was dry. The president and the manager chosen a manager for the team that everyone among the rest of the supporters can't agree with. It is the one no one would like to see at this place, even if he grown up in the neighborhood of our place. So now in my opinion the road to League two will be reserved for us. It is still hard to see the that plans for the future were destroyed by leading persons in this club. I think about to give my season ticket give away to someone else who is willing to watch this team suffer. Anyway, on Sunday I booked a flight to Sri Lanka again for three weeks recreating my little soul. Only two weeks and I will be in the sun again for a couple of weeks and none of these themes will bother me in  these times.

McCarthy - Red Sleeping Beauty

Money, Money

As usual as every second weekend we went to support our team in Stuttgart. Knowing well that we are rightly at the bottom of the table and this means less to most of the supporters. Looking back in history we played Champions League against Manchester United and had a bright future. But stupid presidents and corrupt management took us to the second league at last. Therefore we changed management to replace the old system (as we was told by all those who had something to say). Trying to get a new idea of playing football with young and talented payers. We had success with this concept in league two and we promoted to Bundesliga with a young and promising team. I didn't saw great football during this season and we lost more games than we won. The last games were hard to watch and in only a few games I missed passion in playing. Anyway, last Saturday we lost against Schalke 04 and the result is totally okay. But when I switched on my laptop on Sunday morning I read the headlines that Stuttgart suspended the manager and asked myself why. Probably the machinery works well in this business and the discharge of the manager is comprehensible but for me this club lost its soul and honesty. Typing these words don't mean that I lost my affection to the team but my aversion against the management is growing day by day.

Horace Andy - Money, Money

I'm Alive

Last week I heard the latest record by Beth Dito I'm Alive and I asked myself if she's turning now into R&B and where I know this song before. Some investigations and I had the answer. The original is sung by Johnny Thunder, an American R&B singer from Florida. It is one of those classics released 50 years ago now. A fuzzy guitar makes the intro to Thunder's soulful voice. This song made me investigate more by him. Thank you Mrs. Dito.

Back again

During the last years I featured The Limiñanas at this place. For me it is a band that can't make anything wrong. These French couple help oneself by a lot of music from different eras. I can hear influences by Velvet Underground, surf rock, Ennio Morricone and New Order as well. All mixed assorted to their very own unique style. After they released an EP last year they are back with an album that is on heavy rotation at my home and on the way to my office. Give them a little chance and listen and I am sure you won't be disappointed.

Mark E. Smith 1957 - 2018

Many tributes were made today and all words are spoken. Like many of you I don't like everything he did but I have a great respect to his output over almost 40 years. I don't know him personally but for me he had always a fierce aura. And so was his music: not giving any shit to mainstream just doing his very own thing. He accompanied me since his first record Live at the Witch Trials and during the decades he surprised me with something new.

Rest well Mark and may you have always a place of honour in the pub in heaven.

And as a bonus: Back in 2005 BBC invited him to report the results of the Saturday English football leagues. He did it in a very uneuphoric way with his inimitable Northern accent. What proves: MES could also read out of the phone book.

Ska Wednesday

During the past days I turned into Ska again and stumbled into The Skatalites once again. They were more than a band - they were an institution for Jamaican music. Formed in the early 60's they played for vocalists like Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff or Peter Tosh. For me they are the godfathers of Ska and had a huge influence to every other band playing this kind of style. I don't have to say more because I am sure a lot of you will know them and every one have a special song for your favourite.

The Skatalites - Guns Of Navarone
The Skatalites - Rock Fort Rock
The Skatalites - Al Capone

Poisen Ivy

There was a time in the late 70's/early 80's when there was a mod revival going round in Great Britain. We haven't got the feeling and the background in Germany to to or feel the same because it was a very British style. We also had some motorcycle gangs around here but no scene like mods or rockers in these days. The Lambrettas and Poison Ivy were one of the big things at these times for me. Ska, mod and basically R 'n' B sounded great at this times. Great to remember these days.

Metron Parkas and Stepping Stone were another band that impressed me at these days.