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Well the Homo Electric gig went really well, bit of a blur really, but it was a brilliant night thanks to Ryan and Luke, who run the club,and thank you to everyone who came up from London to see us. We are really looking forward to the Nag Nag Nag gig now,Oh and to getting the single out, it's sounding really cool, but we have to go back into the studio the first week of January to do a few extra bits just to finish it off, I cant wait.
Happy Christmas from Kim Phaggs. |
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Its been a busy month on planet Wife.
We completed Fuc Dup after about four months of tinkering. We reworked Bitch at the Brits in preparation for its release as our debut single. And we played a gig at the Water Rats in rainy Kings Cross. On top of all that I've been in the studio to work on some new songs (a glam stomper, a perky electro number and a piano ballad) while Kim and Chelsea have been charming journalists at watering holes dotted around the capital. Oh & I think Satanic has been touring with Robbie Williams ..... |
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Its been a busy month on planet Wife.
We completed Fuc Dup after about four months of tinkering. We reworked Bitch at the Brits in preparation for its release as our debut single. And we played a gig at the Water Rats in rainy Kings Cross. On top of all that I've been in the studio to work on some new songs (a glam stomper, a perky electro number and a piano ballad) while Kim and Chelsea have been charming journalists at watering holes dotted around the capital. Oh & I think Satanic has been touring with Robbie Williams ..... |
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| Chelsea, Satanic and Jeremy came round to my place last night. Our friend Bryon, (who took the lovely pictures at the Vauxhall show) wanted to do some more "posed" shots, and we wanted some new images for the website and other stuff anyway, so... There should be some pretty cool ones in there, if they come out! We did a set on my bed, some using blue neon strip lights, and some in front of my silver window blinds, VERY "Breaking Glass"! It was a bit of a shame actually because Jeremy has the flu, and Im sure the last thing he wanted to be doing was standing around trying to look moody holding a neon tube with me flashing a laser pen into his eyes! Still Bryon said it would make for a nice picture!! We should have the finished results for the weekend and you can see them as soon as our Webmistress puts them into the gallery. After Jeremy and Satanic had gone, Chelsea, Bryon and me watched "The Office" on video from Monday night and had more beer, it was a lovely evening. |
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| Very productive day. Finally finished mixing Broken Angel. Chelsea's sending it to Julie Burchil this week. It'll be interesting to get her feedback. C & K arrived at about 4.30pm and the four of us crammed in the studio to work on Fuc Dup. After calling on the spirit of Dusty Springfield for advice on phrasing we recorded the vocals and relocated to the lounge for a nice cup of tea. Very Rock 'n' Roll. Last business of the day was to write a new middle 8 for Bitch at the Brits. It was quite odd listening to the original multitrack recording after all this time. Brought back memories of Kim and Chelsea clinging on to the mic stand, too drunk to stand up screaming 'Alien! Alien! Bomber! Bomber!' Who'd have thought 18 months later they'd be singing ' I Know Him So Well' on ITV's an audience with Will Young....... |
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| Very productive day. Finally finished mixing Broken Angel. Chelsea's sending it to Julie Burchil this week. It'll be interesting to get her feedback. C & K arrived at about 4.30pm and the four of us crammed in the studio to work on Fuc Dup. After calling on the spirit of Dusty Springfield for advice on phrasing we recorded the vocals and relocated to the lounge for a nice cup of tea. Very Rock 'n' Roll. Last business of the day was to write a new middle 8 for Bitch at the Brits. It was quite odd listening to the original multitrack recording after all this time. Brought back memories of Kim and Chelsea clinging on to the mic stand, too drunk to stand up screaming 'Alien! Alien! Bomber! Bomber!' Who'd have thought 18 months later they'd be singing ' I Know Him So Well' on ITV's an audience with Will Young....... |
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| The four of us met up at the Retro bar to regroup after the gig at the RVT. Kelsey and Phaggs had been on holiday so it was our first chance to talk about recent events. We were all really happy with how the gig went and really appreciative of all the wonderful feedback we received, but now have to sort out what we are doing next. The forthcoming release of a single is quite a major thing and incredibly exciting. Looks like it will be a double A side. I was a little distracted during the meeting, having just bought a new mobile phone which is very sexy, you know, with colour screen and stuff. My penchant for serial texting got the better of me, I'm afraid. And of course drinking too much beer didn't help either. Still a good meeting was had. |
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Having been at work all day I arrived at the RVT to see sound checks and rehearsal in full swing. Kelsey, Phaggs and Kimberley already in boiler suits. Our mates already had set up the video recorders, it was to time rock and roll. We ran the set twice which was to be final run through before the performance. I think we were all pretty happy and knew everything was going to work out. Weeks of meticulous planning was going to pay off.
Then it was time to relax (and stay sober!!!) and just wait until the doors opened. It was so amazing to see a steady stream of punters walk through the door. By the time the Strand were on stage I think the four of us started to feel the excitement of the evening and some nerves (just a little, mind) too. Just before we were to come on a fuse somewhere in the lighting system blew. Fuck! Typical! but thank Christ it was sorted minutes before we were on stage. I think we were all amazed to see everyone's faces in the audience - smiling and enjoying the night. Thankyou to all who came. Thankyou to all who said nice things. It was
really appreciated. Now to do it all again tomorrow at Duckie! |
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Well here we are, not quite Seven Hours To Showtime but not far off it. The last couple of weeks have been fairly hectic, what with rehearsing, buying more DRAMATIC NEW LOOKS, Jeremy desperately tinkering and tweaking in the studio, oh and more
rehersals!
Finally everything seems to be in order
for what should be a really cool evening.
I dont want to give away too much at
the moment but we have roped a lot more
people into helping out and doing bits
and pieces for this show. So . . .
Love Kim Phaggs X |
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| Round
to Mark and Jeremy's again, tried on
the outfits for the show on the 27th,
looking lovely! I hadnt seen Chelsea
Kelsey all week! Listened to "Broken
Angel" again, it now sound fantastic
because Jeremy's friend Jess had been
round and done some vocals on it and
it just sounds brilliant. Then we all
got stuck in to the Gin and Tonicses.
Ended up very drunk and back in the
studio doing Gary Glitter handclaps
and "HEY"s at about midnight,
to a new song Jeremy had been working
on, listened to it the next day and
realised I am completely out of time! |
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| Went
round to Mark and Jeremy's flat as I
had the afternoon off work, Jeremy had
been reworking "Broken Angel"
its sounding much better, but my vocals
didnt really sit comfortably with the
new arrangement, so I sang it again
and again, and eventually ended up with
something I was happy with. |
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The
Wifes met up at Sloane Square tube in
order to go and see our wizard / God
/ guru mentors The Boilerhouse Boys.
The BB's are actually proper posh record
producers who've had trillions of pop
hits with people like Gabrielle. They're
kind of helping us out with advice and
contacts. In fact, increasingly, it
looks like our lives will be in the
hands. They know everything.
Anyway, having slogged down the entire
King's Road we finally got to the studio
and played Ben and Andy Seven Hours
To Showtime, which they liked. They
took us to the pub over the road where,
over gin and slimlines (we are ALL on
detox) we talked through getting Bitch
At The Brits out as a single. Hopefully
we have found a good person to mix it
(turns out I know him anyway) and the
BB's are gonna master it for us.
The BB's and Jez then had a bewildering
conversation about computer program
formats for the mix while Mark S smoked
coolly and me and Phaggs rolled around
on the floor fighting and shouting
"Let's Rock!"
Then Ben and Andy went away and we
put the final touches to our set list
for the live extravaganza on the 27th.
But if I write those plans on here
you won't need to come so I won't.
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Busy
day in the studio. Worked on Fuc Dup
for a while. Added a distorted bass
line and looped Phaggs singing "you
don't know how to rock and roll"
Its starting to sound quite good. Had
a cup of tea and started work on an
extended version of Shiner.
Kim arrived at 4.30ish followed by Chelsea
at 5pm (she'd been stuck in traffic
for ages) Listened to Fuc Dup and Chelsea
came up with different phrasing for
the vocal. After a cup of tea we set
to work on a new version of Broken Angel.
Kim and I originally wrote it as a piano
ballad but the recorded version sounded
a bit labored. I rearranged the backing
track and its now a 120bpm hands-in-
the-air stormer. Kim re-recorded her
vocal in a snappier style and we finished
the day by listening to the rather fantastic
12inch version of the Jackson's Shake
Your Body (Down to the Ground). |
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| Jeremy's
Birthday, Chelsea and I just got back
from lovely Dublin, and went round to
Jeremy's for a couple of drinks, Jonathan
had done the artwork for the flyers
and posters for the gig, really lovely,
very council. Some of which should be
appearing on this site soon. Anyway
then we all got drunk and played records
all night. |
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| Met
Chelsea Mark Jeremy and Brian, (the
Wifes official photographer) at Liverpool
Street station, then went out to Hackney
to Simon Strange's Mums, for a photo
session. Simons Mum is lovely, she had
made little cakes for us all. Once we
were ready Brian took some shots in
her back garden, then we went out round
his Mums estate, lots of funny looks,
but most of Mrs Strange's neighbours
were really nice, we got some really
cool photos(hopefully)of us in front
of the tower blocks, and round by the
recycling bins. Again a really HOT evening,
standing around in wigs and make up
with a gang of kids on their mountain
bikes staring at you, sadly none of
them wanted to be in the photos! |
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| Spent
the afternoon in the studio, trying
to do the vocal melody for "Broken
Angel", it took ages because there
was one bit where I just couldnt get
the timing right and I either kept coming
in too early or missed my cue completely,
plus it was boiling in there! Not really
the ideal conditions to be recording
a Christmas number one! Anyway we managed
to get a rough version of the vocal
melody down, then Ryan came round and
we all walked to Duckie together. |
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| Phaggs
came over to record the vocals to Fuc
Dup. Chelsea's written another outstanding
lyric & Kim gave a fantastic performance.
His vocals get better each time he sings
in the studio. Just hope I can come
up with an arrangement that does them
justice. I'm trying for an early '80's
NY disco vibe, kinda Walk the Night
or Dirty Mind/Controversy era Prince.
Afterwards we sat 'round the piano and
bashed out a chorus to new song "Broken
Angel" (words by Chelsea's mate
Julie) It could've been the wine clouding
my judgement, but it sounded great.
Possible Readers Wifes Christmas smash. |
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Hey
Everybody ...
All quiet on the recording front at
the moment, the studio is being re-fitted.
Jeremy has been working all week on
it. It should be complete any day now,
and will feature lots of new equipment,
so as soon as that is done we will be
back in there to finish "Fuc'd
Up".
While all that has been happening we
have been busy working with Stuart,
who is doing the video for our new single,
discussing ideas and locations etc.
Its going to be brilliant.
Love Kim Phaggs. |
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Hey
Everybody ...
All quiet on the recording front at
the moment, the studio is being re-fitted.
Jeremy has been working all week on
it. It should be complete any day now,
and will feature lots of new equipment,
so as soon as that is done we will be
back in there to finish "Fuc'd
Up".
While all that has been happening we
have been busy working with Stuart,
who is doing the video for our new single,
discussing ideas and locations etc.
Its going to be brilliant.
Love Kim Phaggs. |
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Saturday
22nd June
Round to Jez's house to hear final playback
of Seven Hours To Showtime. It's finished.
Imagine a cross between Sylvester and
The Strokes with a tune written for
the Shangri-La's and you're almost there.
It's our poppiest one yet. Then we "went
through" to "the studio"
and Jez played us an early version of
a creepy loop he's made for our next
one, our fisting classic. It's very
different. Very heavy. Working title
is Fuc Dup and it's sort of about an
episode in the life of Casey Donovan,
a US porn star who died at the start
of the AIDS epidemic. Then we discussed
doing a Christmas song and writing one
or two other tracks before September.
We're planning a gig for then. Lovely
Ryan Homoelectric was down from Manchester
and so he popped round with beer. Went
to Duckie feeling quite, erm, motivated.
We've got a meeting on Wednesday with
our Boilerhouse Boys friends to discuss
getting Bitch At The BRITS in the shops
before next year's awards. Nothing too
big. Just a 7" in Rough trade or
summat. Also, my friend Stu from Popbitch
is a qualified film maker and he's got
an editing suite. He's gonna do us a
proper video for next to nowt! |
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Saturday
22nd June
In the studio with Chelsea,Mark and
Jeremy. Listened to the final version
of "Seven Hours To Showtime"
it sounds great, its my new second favourite
song we have done, "Boy Aint Right"
is still my favourite. Then we listened
to the first version of our new song
"Fucked Up", this sounds brilliant
already! The title comes from one of
the last films to feature Casey Donovan
(also credited in other titles as Ken
Donovan), he was one of the first "celebrity"
gay porn stars. EVERYONE should read
his biography "Boy In The Sand"
its BRILLIANT. |
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Bristol
Titties!
Phew! Last date of our rock 'n' roll
art school trawl round the cuntery and
Bristol was the best yet. For some reason
we all arrived in the city hours early
so Kim bleached my (real) hair white
in the afternoon and then we vegged
out on the bed watching QVC. It was
"fairy jewellery" day and
an old leather bag-faced American woman
was selling loads of old tat like Yorkshire
terrier necklaces made of gold with
enamel stuff on them. The Yorkies -
by the way - had wings too. Well worth
thirty five pounds. It transpired that
the fairy jewellery woman was a single
divorcee with a bit of a man-hate thing
going on. Honestly! These hippies! You
scratch the surface and they're right
nasty underneath.
The gig itself rocked. It was on a boat
called (for some reason) THEKLA. The
dancers put in their best performance
so far and there was real punk rock
in the air. There was a gang of tough
looking Bristol girls wearing Poly Styrene
t-shirts, really gay arty boys and,
after they'd taken off their 6-inch
spiky heels - the dancers themselves.
The perfect Readers Wifes crowd. Although
it was a Wednesday the dancefloor was
packed constantly between 10pm and 1am
and the whole thing culminated in the
Cholmondeleys leading the entire place
in a Saturday Night Fever-esque dance
routine to Sugar Baby Love. It was like
Saturday Night Fever. |
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| Viva
Glasvegas! The Wifes were in Glasgow
this weekend with Duckie. The gig was
a bit of a slow starter actually,(the
CCA being a sort of Scottish version
of the ICA) meant that initially it
was just a few bookish types hanging
around not drinking, like they were
at the cinema or something! Things started
to "hot up" a bit when Amy
started the longest game of bingo I
have ever witnessed, about thirty five
minutes I think. The winner was a bit
embarrased when he was handed his "prize"
of a pencil sharpner and rubber set!
Anyway things loosened up a bit after
that, the dancers were fantastic and
went down really well.Chelsea and I
were half expecting the audience to
kind of drift away after that, but they
really got into it, everyone stayed
and was up dancing, we had no disco
lights so I guess I was going a bit
mad on the smoke machine to compensate,
then at about a quarter to one a security
man came over and told me to turn off
the music as there was a fire alarm
set off, and we all had to evacuate
the building. It was quite a strange
experience, one minute we are DJing
in a sweaty theatre the next we are
standing in Sauchiehall Street in the
pouring rain on a Friday night, waiting
to find out where the fire was! Luckily
there was no fire, apparently the alarm
was set of by some overzealous DJ a
bit too trigger happy with the smoke
machine, Oops! We can smile about it
now but at the time... Love Kim Phaggs
X. |
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| Wifes
convene to finish off Seven Hours To
Showtime. Chelsea has finished the lyrics.
Do a final run-through to check that
words will actually fit Kim's melody.
They don't. Chelsea modifies the words
so they do. Rest of band make Kim sing
words in several different styles several
times because he's doing it "too
Suede". Band settle on breathless
Boy Ain't Right style which Kim does
beautifully. Jez has modified the drum
track slightly and reveals that they
are a sample from an Isley Brothers
song. Chelsea wants to recreate the
spoken intro to Sylvester's Dance (Disco
Heat) during the track's instrumental
break so him and Kim do it and then
collapse into laughter. Jez leaves the
laughter in, along with Kim's "can
you turn it up a wee bit" from
last week's session. Whole band have
soup and watch the Simpsons before K&C
rush of to Duckie. Now it's up to Mark
K to add his vocals for the playout.
Undoubtedly Jez will fiddle with track
until he's happy. Sounding good. Really
poppy. |
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