GoJo' Music Newsroom

NEWS and UPDATES

2008-05-19T19:19:00.002+01:00

For current news and updates on Gary O'Dea and GOJO' MUSIC visit Gary O'Dea's MySpace page at www.myspace.com/garygojomusic - keep the faith brothers and sisters the groove is still on.

Raga Muffin

BOING BOING Champions

2008-05-07T08:59:00.002+01:00

Congratulations to The Baggies on winning the Championship...at last after 80 odd years we get promotion as Champions.

Shame the club have decided not to have a civic reception and open top bus celebration around the region...as usual they have to put their foot in it somehow and piss on their own fire...their excellent supporters feel the effects more than the club...nothing new there.

Gaz

WE DID IT...!!!

2008-04-19T10:48:00.006+01:00

Tom and Gaz at the end of the canal / road...Paddington Basin - London 13-4-08.

Well me and my old soul brother mucker Tom Hicks completed the gruelling cycle challenge down the canals (and some roads) of England last weekend in aid of Mary Stevens Hospice - Stourbridge. It was a real challenge as well. The first day proved really tough - over 70 miles and with nine punctures between us, and the bikes taking a real battering - some parts of the canal around the Warwickshire / Northamptonshire border being really hard going. My own (The Jink) having the front brake cable grip snap, then the gears selection got a bit mashed...me only being able to select 2nd and 3rd gear and having to keep stopping as they locked up. We soldiered on with the help of a couple of lovely people Diane and Farmer Dave - who helped get us back to civilisation so as we could get ourselves sorted and get to Blisworth in Northamptonshire - arriving at 9:30pm...like two mud men and completely knackered!!!

Punctures were a feature of the first day...and Tom set the precedent by having one before we'd even got to the canal in Wolverhampton to start the journey! His Dad (Geoff 'Massive Hands' Hicks) sorted it for him though...while Tom did his limbering up exercises..:-).

We set off from Wolves canal basin at 8:30am - slightly behind time...but raring to go and looking rather resplendent in our Tipton Town Football Club shirts...C'mon The Toon!

...Tom said goodbye to his Dad in case he never saw him again...!

We got a few soakings early on between Wolves and Brum but our spirits were high...but not as high as the tramps we saw under the M5 Motorway in Oldbury who were really on the juice early that morning...it was a kind of 'Gentlemen on Hard Times Drinking Club' we encountered (ha ha)...but they wished us well on our way!

Got caught in another downpour out near Solihull...and I had my first puncture of the day here. My front brake cable grip had snapped off earlier as well so the front brake was hardly usable. Set off again and soon we were out in the wilds of Warwickshire. Going well really - despite the weather...we were to experience all the elements this first day...rain, wind and sunshine.

Tom had his second puncture of the day around about mid-day...in the middle of a downpour!

Then the sun came out...the towpaths were a bit muddy but not too bad and although we were slightly behind time we were going well. Came to some moorings near Rowington called Tom O' The Woods - with a pub...well we'd got to stop here hadn't we :-)

...good nosh there as well - steak baguette went down a treat :-)

From here we had an excellent run down to and through Warwick and Leaminington Spa. Passed through Leamington about 3:30pm-ish...well on track (or so we thought) for getting to Blisworth (Northamptonshire) our first stop over point for about 6pm-ish.

As we passed through the junction with the Oxfordshire canal we turned left to carry on along the Grand Union Canal towards the Braunston Tunnel. I had my second puncture of the day here...back tyre...and I lost the locking nut off my gears...this is were the problems started. The banks were starting to become covered in bramble thorn branches. Tom noticed that he too had a puncture (his third) so the two of us were repairing punctures and then I had to sort my gears out. I could only select 2nd and 3rd gear. The tool bag on my bike broke - so the tools had to go into my rucksack...adding weight which was not good.

Got going again but the towpaths were getting worse and worse - like trying to ride through marshland - real heavy going...and I had another puncture (my third)!

Repaired this but the going was getting worse - the canal towpaths were really deteriorating as far as trying to cycle. We slowed down considerably. We'd got to come off the towpath at Braunston tunnel - we were told we were only about 5 mile from there...but this was wrong...we'd gone about 10 mile and still hadn't come to it. It was now about 7pm and we still had about 20 miles to go to get to Blisworth. I had another puncture (my fourth)!

We had two inner tubes left...my gears were locking up and my back brake block was damaged. We carried on a while further...and then both had punctures...AGAIN! It was now about 7:30pm and starting to go dark. We fixed the punctures - got my gears sorted again - still only 2nd and 3rd gear though...and managed to get the back brake working by using bits from the front brake. These repairs were costing us a lot of time.

We got going again but it was getting too dark on the towpaths and we were hardly moving with the state of them - so we decided to get onto the roads and do the remaining distance to Blisworth by road. We got onto the road...went about 500 yards and both had punctures AGAIN...loads of thorns in the tyres. We were stuck...no inner tubes left and having to try and repair them on the road side...it was now dark - about 8:30pm. This is were a wonderful lady called Diane came to our rescue with her friend Farmer Dave. He got us to civilisation (ha ha) with his Land Rover truck. Tom had fixed his puncture with a repaired inner tube...but it was my gears that were now the problem - the selector needed totally re-setting up I could not use my bike. We had to get to Blisworth - by now we were both completely knackered. We arrived there at 9:30pm in the back of a mini-bus...we were about 8 miles short of making it!

Next day we were both up at 7am repairing inner tubes in our hotel room - I then had to more or less strip my bike down and try and re-set the gear selection up. If this failed I was going to have to get the bike to some sort of repair shop...probably in Northampton about 7 mile away...and if they couldn't do it i was going to have to get a new bike!!!

It took until 10:30am to get my bike in some sort of usable state - sorted the gears although I was going to have to be careful...and fixed the puncture...and made the back brake a bit more secure and usable . We rolled out of Blisworth at 11am.

Tom seeks divine intervention with the bike repairs!

We had to do a bit on the roads after we left the Walnut Tree Hotel in Blisworth on Sat 12th because the Blisworth Tunnel is about 2.9km long and has no towpath through it. We needed to get some supplies from a bike specialist shop and decided to bike to Milton Keynes to get new inner tubes, brake blocks and to get a new tool bag for my bike...we also didn't want to get stranded on a remote canal bank somewhere if my gears packed up again. We biked 15 mile to Milton Keynes...and about 5 mile around it (horrible place) until we found a Halfords - unfortunately with extortionate prices! Anyway - the way my shoulders were feeling because of the tools being stuffed in the top of my ruck sack I'd have paid almost anything for a new tool bag for the bike...the relief was something else! Gave the gears another check over and away we went...but I'd forgot about getting my front brake fixed so my training shoes still had the job of helping me stop!!!

We did a few miles on the canal from here until the tow-paths got a bit deteriorated again - we then returned to the road and got into Dunstable to check the bikes again. We stopped at a pub in the town centre - The Saracens Head - the barman Sean bought me and Tom two rounds of drinks (none alcohol of course) while we checked the bikes over again...spraying WD40 liberally over the bikes and us :-)

We headed off again down the canal heading toward our destination of Hemel Hempstead where we were spending Saturday night in a B&B - The Alexander. We did nearly 50 miles on Saturday and arrived in Hemel Hempstead about 6pm...ready for a shower...chill out...a meal and a few beers!

Sunday 13th after a hearty breakfast (thanks to Morag at The Alexander B & B) and a check over of the bikes we're ready for the last leg of the journey...from Hemel Hempstead to Paddington Canal Basin in London. We cycle off through Hemel and a right dodgy roundabout system in the middle of the town. We get onto the canal on the outside of the town and get talking to some local barge owners who tell us that a mile or so outside of Hemel heading south the tow path ain't much good and advise us to use the roads to Watford and get on there...so we did.

From Watford and into Harrow when Tom has the idea of going to Wembley Stadium to get some pictures done in our Tipton Town tops...wicked. So we hit the roads from Harrow to Wembley...and Tom got a puncture!

We didn't realise there was a charity game at the stadium that day (Sunday 13th was also the day of the London Marathon...but we'd done a marathon of our own) Wimbledon were playing Corinthians, so as we got near the stadium the were loads of fans about. We had a great reception from some Wimbledon fans who were taking photos of us once they'd heard about our charity ride...we of course also informing them of the great TTFC...C'mon The Toon!

Tipton Town FC @ Wembley Way...and Sir Bobby Moore gives us his blessing.

We left Wembley and re-joined The Grand Union Canal for the last leg of our journey about 8 miles to Paddington Canal Basin where we were met by Tom's brother Andy and his girlfriend Adele plus Tom's old mate Neil and his girlfriend Anna...and Champagne - get on!

Later in the evening - after a much needed soak in the bath at Neil's lovely Shoreditch Apartment...and Tomazco blagging some of Neil's clobber (typical K-Ford Pikey ha ha ha) we were ready for a few pints...and to do an interview live on BBC Radio WM with Saul Abner on The Wolverhampton Show via our mobile phones.

On our travels that evening we found a wicked pub called The Albion...an oasis for Baggies fans down the smoke and the gaffer made a real fuss of us asking us to sign his guestbook and presenting us with a bottle of plonk for our efforts.

The Albion pub in Hackney...Neil, Andy, me and Tomazco enjoying a pint.

A casualty of the trip after serving me well over the years was my trusty old Adidas trainers...who had acted as my additional brakes for most of the trip...they were consigned to Neil's dustbin ...the soles being wafer thin after the journey here's a pic in their memory:-)

We returned home courtesy of Virgin Trains giving us free travel back on Mon 14th. Finally here's a pic of my trusty old steed 'The Jink' - named after Celtics flying winger of the 60's and 70's Jimmy 'Jinky' Johnstone. Battered and due a rest...but not beaten...sounds a bit like me and Tom :-)

MASSIVE THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT HAS SPONSORED AND SUPPORTED US - ESPECIALLY ALL AT TIPTON TOWN FC - OUR FAMILY's and FRIENDS AND OUR COLLEAGUES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON...we wanted an adventure and we had one...and we've raised over £2,000 for The Mary Stevens Hospice in Stourbridge in memory of Tom's father-in-law Roger Brookes. Anyone wishing to add a donation via our on-line web site can do so at www.justgiving.com/rogbrookes

Thanks again...GARY & TOM

Update info on Gary O'Dea's Charity Bike Ride from Wolves to London

2008-04-05T20:24:00.003+01:00

THE WRONG WAY DOWN

Wolverhampton to London Charity Bike Ride in aid of Mary Stevens Hospice - Stourbridge.Charity Fund set up in memory of Roger Brookes

Okay groovers as you know me and my funky Soul Brother Mr Tom Hicks are planning to cycle from Wolverhampton to London in aid of the Mary Stevens Hospice, Stourbridge. The event has been set up in memory of Tom's father-in-law Roger Brookes, who passed away two years ago and spent his last days at the Hospice.

We are planning to cycle along the Wolverhampton to Birmingham Main Line Canal into city centre Brum, then join the Grand Union Canal and cycle a total distance of approximately 150 miles to London.This event will take place over the period of the 11th till the 13th April 2008.You can pledge an on-line donation by contacting the following web site that has been set up via the JUST GIVING Charity - here's the address http://www.justgiving.com/rogbrookes

As an update on the fund we have (at the time of writing) an approximate total of £1,700:00 pledged via sponsorship donations - both on-line via the web-site and via sponsorship forms. We have had some excellent support from sources such as Tipton Town Football Club (club officials / management / players and supporters), The University of Wolverhampton (staff and students), Virgin Trains (free return travel for the journey home with our bikes on the Monday 14th) and Fred Williams Cycles of Wolverhampton (some equipment supplies).

Coincidentally the day we arrive in London (Sun 13th April) is also the day of the London Marathon...you never know - if we can manage three Weetabix on the last day when we get to London - don't be surprised if you see us on the telly weaving our way in and out of the runners...on our bikes of course!!!See below for the planned stages of the trek.

Friday April 11thWolverhampton to Blisworth - 78.65 miles (approx)

Saturday 12th AprilBlisworth to Hemel Hempstead - 45.96 miles (approx)

Sunday 13th AprilHemel Hempstead to London (Paddington Canal Junction - where the Grand Union Canal ends) - 28 miles (approx).

On Sunday 6th April we are being interviewed live on The Wolverhampton Show on BBC Radio WM - available via DAB Digital and 101.8FM. Listen live via the internet @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/local_radio/ - we will also be featured on this show on Sunday 13th April via live phone link from London after completing the ride...don't miss our 'Tales from The Canal Bank' stories of our journey :-) Next Thursday 10th April (the day before we start the ride) were on the Wolverhampton Now Show (presented by Saul Abner) at WCR FM (101.8 FM) Wolverhampton between -2pm - for the full show playing some groovy tunes...and playing Saul up as well - ha ha ha! Listen live via http://www.wcrfm.com/

We also feature on an updated report on the BBC Black Country web site - many thanks to Ciaran Ryan at the BBC for the feature and his support. Hit the link to 'read all about it' -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blackcountry/content/articles/2008/01/30/ride_for_hospice_feature.shtml

Thanks for your support.

Gary and Tom.

Some upcoming gigs you may/should be interested in...

2008-03-15T16:06:00.002Z

Hello Groovers - here's a few Wolverhampton and Birmingham gigs that are happening that you may/should be interested in attending...I'm on one of them - but the other two are well worth getting along to as well - so do so if you can. Read on and check out the links...

Vijay Kishore plus special guest Ragz @ The Varsity - Wolverhampton. Wed 26 March.
www.myspace.com/vijaykishore & www.myspace.com/ragzmusic

Vijay Kishore plus special guest Gary O'Dea @ The Hare & Hounds, High St, Kings Heath - Birmingham. Wed 2nd April.

I Am Kloot - The Civic Hall Bar - Wolverhampton. Wed 16th April.
www.myspace.com/iamklootmusic

Keep The Faith Brothers and Sisters.

Gaza
X

Highs and Lows...lovely Linda Millard R.I.P.

2008-03-10T21:43:00.002Z

After a great few days via musical accomplishments in Liverpool and football accomplishments via the FA Cup and the Baggies being in the semi-finals...a big cloud of sadness descended on us today with the sad news of the sudden and tragic death of a dear friend, music lover and Baggies / Tipton Town supporter Linda Millard partner of Steve Finn.

My own and Debs thoughts go out to Steve and Linda's family - it's been an absolute tragedy and terrible news - she was a lovely lady and a proper Tipun' Wench god bless her.

R.I.P. Linda...there's a big hole left little lady.

Gaz & Deb XXXXX

Mellowtone...Cool n' Out

2008-03-09T16:45:00.002Z

Hello Groovers,
Thanks to all at Mellowtone for a cracking night in Liverpool...talk about Chilled Grooves...wicked crowd and an excellent evening.

We must do it again...another branch on the network of grooves tree grows strong...big thanks to Dave McTague for looking after me and the Liverpool groove masters Jonnie / Ritchie and Monkey...keep on keeping on brothers and sisters.

Gaza
X

Gary O'Dea Brumcast Radio...and LIVE in Liverpool

2008-03-02T19:20:00.003Z

Hello Groovers,
Gary O'Dea is featured on this weeks excellent Brumcast Internet Radio Show - show 89 titled 'Hey, Hey Babylon Is Dead' - present by Little Chris. He may be little but he's perfectly formed - bless him. It's a great eclectic mix of music from the Midlands - it's how radio should be - John Peeel style (RIP) where the MUSIC matters. Check it out via either Brumcasts MySpace page www.myspace.com/brumcastbirmingham or via www.brumcast.podomatic.com

The track featured is the live favourite alternative bluesey groover Big City Blue - which was released on the 'Sittin On Your Fence' EP/CD back in 2000 and features ex-Cocksparrer / Little Rooster Gary Lammin on guitar licks.

Also - Gary hits the road again on Friday 7th March when he appears at The Mellowtone Promotions night - The View Two Gallery, 23 Matthew St, Liverpool, L2 6RE. Tel: 0151-236-9555. Doors 8pm - £4. For more info visit www.myspace.com/mellowtonenight

Keep The Faith Brothers and Sisters...and for those that don't - well as Brendan Behan once said 'critics are like eunachs, they see it done, they know how it's done...but they can't do it themselves'!

Raga Muffin.

Angelgear...heaven must be missing angels!

2008-02-24T22:57:00.002Z

Massive thanks to Angelgear for a great weekend in Portsmouth. Excellent gig and turn-out on Friday night and a very productive recording session on Saturday with Amanda and Nick from the band. Check them out at www.myspace.com/angelgearmusic

Much love and respect to the Angels for looking after me and for their support.

It's the ties that bind brothers and sisters...the ties that bind.

Gaza

Up Pompey this weekend

2008-02-21T10:47:00.003Z

Visit the gigs page http://www.gojo-music.co.uk/gigs.php for info on Gary O'Dea's solo support slot to the excellent Angelgear tomorrow night in Portsmouth.

Also check out the forthcoming solo gig in Liverpool on the 7th March.

Keep The Faith

Ragga Muffin

Charity Bike Ride Update - 'The Wrong Way Down'...but the right thing to do.

2008-02-10T21:52:00.000Z

Hello you Chilled and Charitable Groovers...this is just a quick update after the BBC Radio WM and WCR FM (Wolverhampton) radio events of last week, to say that we've got over £1,150:00 pledged so far...and me and Tom are both gobsmacked at the response...it's been brilliant so THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH those of you that have donated so far.

The web page we've set up for on-line donations http://www.justgiving.com/rogbrookes (at the time of sending this e-mail out on Sunday Feb 10th) - has £415:00 pledged - the remaining £735:00 of the current total has been pledged via sponsorship forms.

See above a picture of me and Tom giving it 'The McCartney' thumbs up on an old TISWAS couch @ WCR FM - Wolverhampton 7/2/08. Radio promo for 'The Wrong Way Down' charity bike ride.

Thanks again for all your support...excellent stuff.

Gary O'Dea

Great response to 'charity' radio broadcast...another one for your ears on Thursday 7th Feb 2008

2008-02-04T21:38:00.001Z

We've had a great response to the interview that me and Tom Hicks did on The Wolverhampton Community Show - (BBC RADIO WM) broacast on Sunday 3rd Feb - regarding promoting the Wolverhampton to London - 'WRONG WAY DOWN' - canal bike ride to raise cash for The Mary Stevens Hospice in Stourbridge. We've had over £300 pledged via the web page alone www.justgiving.com/rogbrookes and around another £575:00 from sponsorship form pledges so far. The response to the interview has been great (considering Tom sounded like Dale Winton - ha ha ha ha...he'll kill me for that - bless him). For those of you that missed it - it's available via the BBC 'Listen Again' service @ www.bbc.co.uk/wm - click the 'Listen Again' button at the top right hand corner of the screen and then select 'The Wolverhampton Show'.

Thursday 7th Febuary see's us back on the local airwaves of Wolverhampton again via WCR 101.8 FM and Saul Abners Interactive Afternoon Show (2-3pm) - also available live via http://www.wcrfm.com - we'll be on spinning some of our favourite tracks with the help of Saul and raising the profile of the charity cycle ride even more...and no doubt we'll be playing him up as well...and Tom may do a few of his famous Bez style dances in the studio - it'll be happening people...really happening!!!

You can join in the show if you like by sending any song requests / pledges to the show via saul@wcrfm.com and we'll do our very best to play what we can. You can start e-mailing right away - that gives us more chance to sort the tracks out - you can also call in live on 01902-572257 if you'd like to chat to us. Join in the 'CRAIC' it'll be mighty and accompanied by some of the coolest sounds we can slip into an hour of madcap chaos on air - get on it!

Thanks again to all those of you that have donated and supported us so far - we've been gobsmacked by the response!

God bless

Gary & Tom...the G-Man and Main Boy!

THE WRONG WAY DOWN Charity Bike Ride (Wolves to London) takes to the Air(waves)!

2008-01-31T22:23:00.000Z

Well things are really gearing up now as the promotion gets under way to raise as much money as we can for The Mary Stevens Hospice in Stourbridge via our cycle ride from Wolverhampton to London via the Birmingham Main Line and Grand Union Canals across the dates of Fri 11th - Sunday 13th April.

First of all we've had a great feature on the BBC Black Country web site - many thanks to Ciaran Ryan at the BBC for the feature and his support. Hit the link to 'read all about it' - http://www.bbc.co.uk/blackcountry/content/articles/2008/01/30/ride_for_hospice_feature.shtml

On Sunday 3rd Feb we are being interviewed live on The Wolverhampton Show on BBC Radio WM - available via DAB Digital and 101.8FM. Listen live via the internet @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/local_radio/

Then next Thursday 7th Feb were on the Saul Abner Interactive Afternoon Show at WCR FM (101.8 FM) Wolverhampton between 2-3pm - for the full show playing some of our favourite stuff as well...and playing Saul up - ha ha! Listen live via http://www.wcrfm.com/ you can phone in as well and have a chat to us via 01902-572257 and also e-mail the show via saul@wcrfm.com - you can send any requests and messages into this address as well prior to the show and we'll do our best to play them all and read them out.

We'd like to say a big thank you to the University of Wolverhampton Press and Marketing Department for their support in promoting this as well - especially Vickie Woodward who had a hell of a job coaxing Tom Hicks real age out of him...she eventually found it in the Magna Carta - (ha ha ha)!

Please help as much as you can - see below details on how you can pledge a donation

Thanks again for your support.

Gary O'Dea

On me bike...The 'WRONG' WAY DOWN!

2008-01-18T20:57:00.000Z

THE WRONG WAY DOWN

Wolverhampton to London Charity Bike Ride in aid of Mary Stevens Hospice - Stourbridge.

Charity Fund set up in memory of Roger Brookes

Okay groovers me and my funky Soul Brother Mr Tom Hicks are planning to cycle from Wolverhampton to London in aid of the Mary Stevens Hospice, Stourbridge. The event has been set up in memory of Tom's father-in-law Roger Brookes, who passed away two years ago and spent his last days at the Hospice.
We are planning to cycle along the Wolverhampton to Birmingham Main Line Canal into city centre Brum, then join the Grand Union Canal and cycle a total distance of approximately 150 miles to London.This event will take place over the period of the 11th till the 13th April 2008.

You can pledge a donation by contacting Gary via ext:3435 / g.odea@wlv.ac.uk or Tom on ext:3435 / T.J.Hicks@wlv.ac.uk

A web page has also been set up for donations and pledges as well via the Just Giving Charity web site - here's the address http://www.justgiving.com/rogbrookes

We have had a very generous pledge from the Chairman of Tipton Town Football Club (Mr Bill Williams) in order to start the fund off and other pledges are beginning to come in as well...can you help?
We're also looking for some equipment funding / donations etc (spare tyres / inner tubes / lights etc), from local cycling outlets.
Coincidentally the day we arrive in London (Sun 13th April) is also the day of the London Marathon...you never know - if we can manage three Weetabix on the last day when we get to London - don't be surprised if you see us on the telly weaving our way in and out of the runners...on our bikes of course!!!

See below for the planned stages of the trek.
Friday April 11th
Wolverhampton to Blisworth - 78.65 miles (approx)
Saturday 12th April
Blisworth to Hemel Hempstead - 45.96 miles (approx)
Sunday 13th April
Hemel Hempstead to London (Paddington Canal Junction - where the Grand Union Canal ends) - 28 miles (approx).

Thanks for your support.

Gary and Tom.

Make It Count...STOP THE WAR

2008-01-10T21:54:00.000Z

STOP THE WAR COALITION
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7278 6694
Web: http://www.stopwar.org.uk

HOW TO MAKE YOUR VOTE FOR PEACE COUNT:
SEE BELOW CHANNEL 4 NEWS AWARD FOR POLITICAL PERSONALITY OF THE DECADE
THE VOICE OF THE ANTI-WAR MAJORITY IS SHORT LISTED

SEE: http://tinyurl.com/3yl9gh The shortlist is in for the Channel 4 News Award for the most inspiring political personality of the last decade and Stop The War Coalition and the majority of people in Britain who have opposed the illegal and immoral war in Iraq from the start are on the shortlist.

So is Tony Blair? Who will win? You decide.

We have nine days to give voice on national television to the majority peace movement in Britain. The closing date for voting is 18 January. Brian Haw, Parliament Square's permanent peace protester, won the 2007 Channel 4 News award for Most Inspiring Political Figure, with Tony Blair receiving only 8 per cent of the vote. Let's ensure we have a similar result this year.

Please vote for peace and spread the word among your family, friends, work colleagues, fellow students, trade union, community group, church or mosque. There are 5000 British troops in Iraq and 8000 in Afghanistan. Let us remind Gordon Brown, as we did Tony Blair before him, that this warmongering is not in our name.

HOW TO VOTE:

BY EMAIL: IT'S FREE Go to the Channel 4 News Political Awards Page: http://tinyurl.com/3yl9gh Under Anti-Iraq war protestors, click Email

BY TELEPHONE (Cost 25p)Call 09011 27 27 06

Make it count...STOP THE WAR.

Peace n' Love n' Sex n' Drugs n' Rock n' Roll

Raga Muffin

HAPPY NEW YEAR - all the best in 2008

2007-12-31T11:08:00.001Z

Wishing you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR - thanks very much for your support this year - here's to 2008.

Love & Respects to you all.

May your groove be massive!

Gaza
X

GOJO' MUSIC on Christmas Brumcast

2007-12-22T11:48:00.000Z

GOJO' MUSIC feature in the Christmas Brumcast Radio Show via www.myspace.com/brumcastbirmingham - the show is listenable via the links to part 1, 2, 3 and 4 of show 81 titled Bloodknot. Many thanks to Little Chris for his tremendous support this year. Chris plays a great eclectic mix of music reminiscent of the late great John Peel's style of broadcasts.

Have yourselves a very Merry listen.

Raga Muffin

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year

2007-12-20T22:32:00.000Z

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year to all of you and many thanks for your support this year. There's been (as ever) highs and lows. Got to mention the support of Ecka, Dave and Nicci through the shit times and the good times...and the mud of Glastonbury.

I'll endeavour to once more make a nuisance of myself and upset the stale apple carts of corporate music...it's the only thing that keeps me out of trouble!!!

Here's to 2008...please click the link it kinda' sums things up pretty good.

God Bless!

Gaza
FROMME2U.pps

GOJO' MUSIC / Gary O'Dea Christmas Grooves...

2007-12-12T22:49:00.000Z

Special Offers...

GOJO' MUSIC / Gary O'Dea Merchandise Christmas Specials...

GOJO' MUSIC 'The Peoples Republic of Tipton' t-shirts (black shirts - white print 'neat font' style or 'white motto' style) £10 (plus £2 p+p).

GOJO' MUSIC - t-shirts (white with black print or yellow with green print - only medium left in stock) £8 (plus £2 p+p).

Visit http://www.gojo-music.co.uk/merchandise.php

GOJO' MUSIC - 4 track EP/CD 'Twenty Years of Love and Pain ...they hurt the same.' £4 (plus £1 p+p).
http://www.gojo-music.co.uk/press/quotes2.pdf

Gary O'Dea - 4 track EP/CD 'Sittin' On Your Fence' £4 (plus £1 p+p)
http://www.gojo-music.co.uk/press/fence.pdf

Gary O'Dea - CD/Album 'Love Hounds and Fortune Cookies' £8 (plus £1 p+p)
http://www.gojo-music.co.uk/press/loveandfortune.pdf

Contact us for purchasing details.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and thanks for your support.

Raga Muffin

Gary Lammin - Cocksparrer / Little Roosters - on US Cable TV Show

2007-12-09T00:47:00.000Z

Hello Groovers,
Back in 1979 I saw at JB's old King St venue in Dudley a band called The Little Roosters featuring a guy called Gary Lammin - they changed my life...that sounds dramatic - but they did in the sense that I was music mad anyway - but when I saw this band I knew that making music / doing music / being a musician was all I wanted to do...and being the drummer in this band was what I dreamt about!

Fast forward 28 years to December 2007 - me and Gary have been mates throughout these years - me being a total fan of his music and style and also playing and recording with him over a number of years. As mates we've laughed / argued / been up / down / exuberant / demoralised and loads of other emotions that turn you upside down in this game...there's been times we've wanted to strangle one another and times we've been there to cheer each other up...basically we've never lost respect for one another. They say in this music game that sometimes you need to get away from where you're from to get appreciated and then return. Well in November of 2007 Gary Lammin got a chance to go out to the States and record in Keith Richards studio (yes that's Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones) and also put a tour together along the East Coast taking in major city's such as New Jersey and Boston - he also got to do some TV on a cable music show in New Jersey called Sonic Lobotomy - this is where Gary finally started to realise what many of us have tried to instil in him for years...that he his a great rock n' roll songwriter / guitarist. The response he got in the States to songs he's written from his time in bands such as Cocksparrer, The Little Roosters and The Zen Buddha' Boot Boys (who I was involved in) blew him away.

Please hit this link - http://soniclobotomy.com/page10.html to view the Sonic Lobotomy Music Show Special on Gary in the States. What you see with Gary is what you get...a real personality - not a fake mock up celebrity - he's the real thing and hopefully those values are starting to be cherished and sought out in the 'oh so flaky celebrity' dominated world of 'spoon fed' music we get now.

Hope you enjoy it - please pass the link onto other like minded souls...Gary Lammin is once again 'Roostering With Intent'!

God bless

Gary O'Dea

Electrical storm at The Little Civic

2007-12-02T12:12:00.000Z

Hello Groovers - first of all apologies if you get this message more than once it seems that the gremlins in the electrics at the Little Civic on Friday have infiltrated my mailing list as well (again)!!!

Thanks for the turn out and support. It was one of those nights on Friday - don't know what the problem in the building was but it scared the shit out of me and Martin and probably you as well - as the electrical fault seemed to be getting worse! We were laughing about it later and I don't think I've ever seen the big Geordie move so fast in my life as he did when he jumped off the stage owing to that shudder and loud humming noise that happened at one time during his set - ha ha - like I say I'm laughing now but wasn't laughing on the night.

In comparison to Martin I got away lightly with faults during my set although I was pretty pissed off at the end with the fold back cutting in and out during the last two numbers...it really throws you on stage - because although the sound is still going out to the audience - on stage it's as though you're being un-plugged and the plugged back in.

Not blaming the PA engineer (Jim) who was pulling his hair out trying to sort it - it seems the fault was likely to be a bad in earth in the buildings electrics - and also Phil Turner the promoter who apologised profusely and was pissed off at the whole set up of the night - from rows of chairs being left in place from the previous night and not enough tables and chairs being put out...to him not getting any response until the gig was over, for someone from the technical support at the Civic Hall to come and look at the electric fault in the Little Civic...frustrating night all round.

Anyway - I hope we managed to salvage some sort of musical entertainment from the evening for you.

Thanks again for your support.

Gaza

Martin Stephenson & Gary O'Dea - LIVE in Wolves - Fri 30th Nov

2007-11-28T18:31:00.000Z

Martin Stephenson & Gary O'Dea

LIVE

The Little Civic - Wolverhampton

FRI 30TH NOV

£9:50 - doors 7:30pm

Martin Stephenson: An extremely gifted singer, songwriter, musician, and performer. Originally influenced by the Punk Rock era, his free spirit incorporated a musical range from Rockabilly, through Show Tunes and straight Rock to the success of The Daintees, of which he was a founder member.
www.myspace.com/martinstephenson

http://www.daintees.com/

Gary O'Dea / GOJO' MUSIC: Acoustically driven, blending
together elements of classic chilled out grooves such as blues, funk n' soul, with a contemporary twist - plus the passion and attitude of old school punk / rock n' roll to
produce a rockin' - groovin' organic mix of rhythms to soothe your soul in these troubled times.
www.myspace.com/garygojomusic
http://www.gojo-music.co.uk/

LITTLE CIVIC
North St, Wolverhampton, WV1 1RQ .
Tel: Gen Office 01902 552122 /
Box Office 0870 320 7000 .
http://www.wolvescivic.co.uk/

DO NOT MISS...TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Viva The Revolution

2007-11-19T20:10:00.001Z

In any Revolution you first need to command the means of communication...

Assembly...The Little Civic - Wolverhampton Fri 30th Nov - 7:30pm

Fighting fund £9:50.

MARTIN STEPHENSON (Geordie songwriting revolutionary) & GARY O'DEA (Tipton Freedom Fighter and urban 'guitar' guerrilla).

For more details comrades - hit the link

http://www.wolvescivic.co.uk/index.asp?loc=whatsonshow&woid=8776

NEW...Official...GOJO' MUSIC 'The Peoples Republic of Tipton' t-shirts now available

2007-11-13T22:11:00.000Z

Hello Groovers,
Hit the link http://www.gojo-music.co.uk/merchandise.php to view the new (official) GOJO' MUSIC 'The Peoples Republic of Tipton' t-shirts - plus see the MySpace slide show for pics as well www.myspace.com/garygojomusic !!!

The 'usual' male model was not available for the promo shoot today...he's been hired by Marks & Spencer's to launch their Christmas vest, socks and pants range...but he promises me he'll get into the new shirts a.s.a.p and we'll have his rippled torso on the page as we had with the previous shirts!!!

These are now on sale - cost £10:00 (plus £2:00 p+p) - for purchasing details reply to gaza@gojo-music.co.uk

PLUS....don't forget (tickets now on sale)...

MARTIN STEPHENSON (plus support) Gary O'Dea/GOJO' MUSIC...Fri 30th Nov...Little Civic - Wolverhampton...Doors 7:30pm - Tickets £9:50.
Ticket details http://www.wolvescivic.co.uk/index.asp?loc=whatsonshow&woid=8776

Print the flyer off and help with a bit of promo if you like - give them out to only your coolest friends mind...

Respect.

Raga Muffin

GOJO' MUSIC...Peoples Republic of Tipton t-shirts...come the revolution!!!

2007-11-07T09:51:00.000Z

Just to inform you - that next week I'm about to launch a new style of GOJO' MUSIC t-shirt with the slogan The Peoples Republic of Tipton on them... a slogan I've been using for many years - CD releases etc, web sites, e-mails, promotional material etc, etc.

A good slogan / idea - some of you may think so...other's know so - that's why this guy who knows me has gone and put his own out http://www.cafepress.com/whatiftees/3990659 - I just feel a bit cheated - I should keep my mouth shu....but you see some of us are creative types...other's are just parasites. I'm just a bit pissed off with having my ideas stolen - so I'm asking if you'll kindly point people in the direction of the true source of the slogan (i.e. - me) and get them to buy the GOJO' MUSIC ones.

Gary O'Dea
GOJO' MUSIC
The Peoples Republic of Tipton