Out of my brain on the 5.15 !!!!!!

'Noses in Dresden'...or was it Cologne, either way the honker on the right looks like mine !!!(that's Darren's finger on the right, good job he can play guitar because as a photographer he's bloody awful ;)

Wuppertall Oct 07 video's

Tommy http://youtube.com/watch?v=qo7-nQ6iRLY

More Tommy http://youtube.com/watch?v=YhPwZQRImig

The Seeker http://youtube.com/watch?v=9pehhXhIJB4


Oct 30th Tuesday 1.10pm
WELL ,
believe it or not ...the hospital wants me there at 5.15 am tomorrow.
If you're a Who fan you will know the song called 5.15 from Quadrophenia.
Talk about coincedence !!!
Surgery is at 7.15.

I'll be back here on the blog later today with more on Germany and photo's , but for now I have a list a mile long which I've been putting off for days, but today is the last chance to do anything remotely connected to heavy lifting,cutting grass etc.....so I better go....don't want to ...but have to. :(
See you in a bit.

Barry

ps:Dunno where all the script and video's went from the right hand side of my blog , but I'll get on it as soon as I get the other 2 million things on my list done !

Germany photo's

A shot from the backstage area of our gig in Berlin, it was in an old (very old! ) cinema which sat about 50 people I'm guessing.
It even had a skeleton of Elvis in a closet, or so we were told by the owner .
(a real bloody skeleton !!!)
Thanngyoo thanguuuoo vurry much !

The 2nd row was Darren2's dressing room , row 4 /5 and 6 were Daves ;)
Mine was wherever, and Darren/Keith had the first 4 ront rows
(he's an exhibitionist dontyaknow !)

That is obviously a dyslexic peace sign I'm giving ;)




Bad Enbach...... Nice suit !
An appreciative crowd :)

Darren has a duel with an unknown cowboy to see who has the bigger pistol !


Updated 3pm Saturday Oct 27th
3 pages of photo's now up at http://www.fivefifteen.com/Thumbs07.html


More of mine coming, and still waiting for some more from the guys.


Don't forget to watch the Kaiserkeller show ! :)
http://www.onlinemusicstar.de/band/97?concert=435

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guest123

WHO ARE THE WHOLIGANS

A tribute to The Who since 1982

Honest enjun !

Updated Wed Oct 24th 9.15am

Oct 23rd 2007 10.55am

I'll blog about the German trip this week I promise, but right now I'm in between doctors visits etc and working here and there.
I only have until next Tuesday to write, as Halloween is my big back surgery day, and I'll be stuck there in hospital for 3 days ,then home for 6-9 weeks and recouperating with absolutely no computer access allowed for a minimum of 2-3 weeks, as I'm only allowed to lay down and not sit at a computer chair. (+I don't have a laptop)

So no-one will get emails or posts from me but I will have a phone by my side as I stare at blockbuster movies for a zillion weeeks ! :(
Call me if you want, but give it a few days as I'll be in pain/stoned for a little while ; }

This is my FINAL SURGERY (99.9% sure)
I'm having partial bone removal allowing nerves now being crushed that are cutting off access to my legs and feet allowing normal activity + removal of bone spurs and arthritis between L4 and L5 (lower back) all through a 3" cut in the lower spine.

This is the biggest surgery to date and hopefully will be a new day in my life as I'm tired of complaining as most around me are of hearing about it ( I know I know :( )
I'll be coming home after 3 days in the big house with a self medicating pain pump which will have the button permanently pressed down ;}

In a weird kind of way I'm looking forward to it as I've been not the nicest guy in the last few years and am going to try and change/turn around 100% my personality, but without promises...I can only try.

Being in pain for 3 years now and on meds screws a person up but that's all going to change after xmas.

My apologies to all those I've been a complete arsehole to in the last few years I hope you forgive me.

My wife who is surely a saint has been there every day through a lot of shit, god knows how she did it but she did and is still doing it, thankyou dear, I love you.

As for the future , I don't know if The Wholigans are in it, lets take a wait and see attitude, it's too early too call.

If not, it's been a wild ride,

if so then lets 'drive that train cos , I'm out of my brain on the 5.15'

Thanks to all the fans for 25 years, it's been great ! :)

Hopefully I'll be better for/by christmas.

To those who have photo's of Germany, please send them to me well before next Wednesday so I can share them with everybody, I seriously cannot do it after my surgery.

Barry :)

ps:Don't forget to see the concert link in the blog below and visit http://www.fivefifteen.com/ to see photo's and sign the guestbook.

WHO ARE THE WHOLIGANS

Germany ' Heaven & Hell ' Tour 2007

I just got back home to Florida last night and am being a bum today sleeping off jet lag etc.

I'll post a blog about the whole tour over the next few days (and it will take a while to remember everything )
Here's a link see our Hamburg Kaiserkeller show anytime ,the keller famous for being the club that The Beatles played their last show in Germany.
http://www.onlinemusicstar.de/band/97
click on the right link under 'rating' Aufzeichnung ansehen , then sign in as
guest
guest123

The Black Olives play to the 57 minute mark first, but you can fast forward to The Wholigans if you wish, but the olives are a great band and the drummer looks oh so familiar ;)

It takes about 15 minutes for the olives to start in realtime, but depending how fast your computer downloads the show, you can fast forward.
The Wholigans start at the 17 minute.30second-ish mark after the olives.... duh ;)
We play about 2 hours I believe, the first half is 'live at leeds' and a lot of 'Tommy' then a few Quadrophenia and various 'Who's Next' ending with WGFA.

I believe the show will be edited to a show with no gaps , but I'm not in charge of that, the website who did the show is.

Our website http://thewholigans.com/ is back up as of today Thursday at 12.10pm.

You can see photo's here http://www.fivefifteen.com/Thumbs07.html
and go here
http://www.fivefifteen.com/
for other info on the tour + sign the guestbook (left hand poster)
and also see photo's from the 2003 Hamburg Who convention (click on the right poster)

For the unitiated, right click on the page and see 'page info' and translate into English.


Be back soon.

Barry

2007 German tour Sept/Oct

Updated 2.30pm Saturday September 22nd

OO OO It's getting close ! :)
I leave Tuesday and I am trying to connect all the dots right now, but I have so many to join up I don't know whether I'm coming or going !

Hafta go do something right now (not sure what) but I know I have to do it !
oh yeah....I'm writing a setlist for the first few shows, it will change throughout the tour .

I'll be back here soon to update you on the trials and tribulations of being a Wholigan.

Getting excited, see you soon !:)


Hamburg/515 updates site


German http://www.fivefifteen.com/





GERMANY HERE WE COME !!!!!

Updated 9pm Thursday August 23rd
The band lineup will come as a big surprise to a lot of you, it is...........
Me (of course)
Darren Atkinson (drums)
Darren Lolk (guitar) fromL.A's 'My Generation' and formerly of 'The WhoShow'
Dave Smith (bassist since 85)
___________
Hamburg 2003 'Overture'


Unfortunately the current bassist Mark Tinker was unable to make it because of a severe family illness.(which is not my place to share, unless told )

Dave was kind enough (and very willing I might add) to step in at the last minute, and those of you that know Dave, know he is very capable and can be seen at the bottom of this blog/page in
'the real me' video taken at the Hamburg WHO convention in 2003 and in older video's on the right hand side of this page and in older blogs.
http://thewholigans.blogspot.com/2006/10/25-years.html
Also the other 2 at the bottom taken in Leeds in 03.

Darren Lolk (top photo) who also is a great 'Pete' can be seen here>>>>>
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIMveDCZKo8 Baba o'riley

www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3A7hmEQ1y4 My Generation
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmSSJU6v2BY Lrom
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H4WwX31Sxg Happy Jack 06
These video's are a 1 off gig I did in San Francisco with Darren's L.A band 'my generation' in 2006.
Darrren has played with us since then.

THE WHOLIGANS ……..25th Anniversary tour 2007
A tribute to The Who since 1982
w/special guests from the UK 'Black Olives' http://www.blackolivesmusic.com/

Germany
Thurs Sept 27th Cologne

http://www.blue-shell.de/live_music.html

Fri Sept 28th Hildesheim
http://www.rockclub-hildesheim.de/2006/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=9&Itemid=49

Sat Sept 29th Wuppertal: http://lcb.wuppertal-live.de/events/what=stage

Sun Sept 30th Off
Mon Oct 1st Off
Tues Oct 2nd Oldenburg http://www.oldenburg.de/stadtol/index.php?id=cadillac
Wed Oct 3rd Nuremberg: http://www.der-hirsch.de/index.php?id=376&month=10&year=2007
Thurs Oct 4th TBA
Fri Oct 5th Adorf http://www.rock-adorf.de/
Sat Oct 6th Dresden ... http://shorterlink.com/?1F19VV click 'Terminal' then 'Vorschau' at the bottom of the page.

Sun Oct 7th Off
Mon Oct 8th Off
Tues Oct 9th Off
Wed Oct 10th TBA

Thurs Oct 11th Hamburg http://www.grossefreiheit36.de/kaiserk.html
http://www.grossefreiheit36.de/august/wholigans

Fri Oct 12th Flensburg http://www.grossefreiheit36.de/kaiserk.html
http://roxy-music-hall.de/konzert/index.php?option=com_gigcal&Itemid=31
http://www.grossefreiheit36.de/august/wholigans

Sat Oct 13th Berlin
http://roxy-music-hall.de/konzert/index.php?option=com_gigcal&task=details&gigcal_gigs_id=52&Itemid=31

Sun Oct 14th Bad Enbach http://www.oxygen-eventclub.de/

Monday Hangover ;) (no NOT Hanover....HANGOVER)

To see updates as they come in , go here http://www.fivefifteen.com/

Or visit one of our sites.

___________________
I did a Q & A for the upcoming Wholigan German tour for the newspapers, that's how they promo shows.
The translation is far far far from the actual interview.(at the bottom of this blog is the English version)

Copy and paste this link http://www.grossefreiheit36.de/august/wholigans (German version)
Into here
http://babel.altavista.com/babelfish/tr
and in the dropdown menu put German to English.

It's fucking hilarious (imo anyway)seeing as I know what I said in English ! lol:)

For instance

These 2 are priceless!!!!

Quote……Who experienced The Wholigans 2003 in Hamburg, or wherever in the USA or Great Britain, will confirm:

"those sweep the roof of the hut!"

Or

A: Thus I played innumerable bad people with large dreams in these 25 years with approximately 20 different Wholigans and it to have with us played, and I am in principle the only constant in that volume.

The interview in English.

Actual interview in English
Interview with Barry Quinn – founder and lead singer of The Wholigans


1. 25 years ago, you founded The Wholigans. What made you coming up with this idea

A: Well it wasn’t so much of an ‘idea’ but more of an accident.
The band I was in based in Montreal were an original metal type band and played also popular songs of the day like Ozzy, Aerosmith, Queen etc and at some point we careened off into The Who with a couple of songs like ‘squeeze box’ ‘summertime blues’ ‘Pinball Wizard’ etc
They seemed to go down very well with the crowd and we added a couple more and it snowballed.
It just so happened I looked and sounded like Daltrey (neither intentional)
The guitarist also bore a close resemblance.
One day we changed the name of the band to The Whooligans’ taken from a best of Who lp called HOOLIGANS.
(note our spelling)

After a little while we removed one 0 and became The Wholigans, and many years later fans borrowed our name to refer themselves as Who fans calling themselves ‘Wholigans’
I’m very proud of the name.
We were one of only 3 tributes in the world at that point in 1982 that I’m aware of , and we were the first ever WHO tribute to take the act to another level.


2. The members of The Who were: Pete Townshend as one of the greatest guitar players in Rock who invented the power chord, and even Paul Weller admitted, that he’s not able to play everything on guitar, John Entwistle, who was elected ‘bass player of the millennium, Keith Moon, undoubtly the most energetic and wildest drummer ever in rock music and last but not least, Roger Daltrey, your alter ego on stage, also undisputed one of rock music’s icons and one of the best frontmen. How did you manage to find musicians that are able to do what the original line up of The Who did, with the same power, with the same anger – and in nearly the same quality?
A:
Well I’ve played with close to 20 different Wholigans over 25 years and I’ve auditioned many bad players with big dreams, and many great players with myself being the one constant.
I think I am the weakest link , but because I have such great players around me they make me look good.
This is not about 1 individual, it takes an army of 4.

It took years to find some, minutes for others and some by accident.
It’s not particularly the playing that makes a great Wholigan, but the attitude combined with great playing makes a great bandmember, you’ve got to feel the music, not simply go through the motions on stage.
Usually if I can’t get on with the guitarist then usually that chemistry works great ;)
Bottom line is , only the best musicians play with The Wholigans and would play for free (which is usually the case after expenses!!! )
Rockstars need not apply.

3. What were and are the reasons to do a Who tribute, instead of doing own stuff?
A:
As I’ve said it was an accident in the creation of this band so that was not a choice, but having said that we all as individuals have recorded/pursued original material and should something happen for an individual..great.
The Wholigans have now become a franchise and will continue with different members no matter what, even one day I will be replaced ;)

4. Who ever witnessed The Wholigans on stage, will confirm, that it’s almost like seeing the old original.. Even Irish Jack Lyons, one of the first ever Who fans who experienced The Who’s legendary appearances at the Marquee in London, back in 1964, and also one of the most famous fans (he inspired Pete Townshend to the main figure of Quadrophenia, Jimmy), broke to tears while seeing you for the first time at a Who convention in London in 2003, saying: it’s absolutely like being back again in the 60ies.
Did you do a special training to get the same attitude on stage as the original members, and what happens when you turn back from being Roger Daltrey into being Barry Quinn again?

A:No training necessary, love to play, & love to play The Who.
As for Roger back to Barry ?
Well, to be honest you see a lot of me on stage with just a few Daltrey-ism’s thrown in, I just do what I do and fortunately it works.

5.The Who are still working – and just have been on a worldwide tour, with also 7 shows in Germany. What’s the difference between the shows the people in Germany just witnessed attending the shows of the original Who and The Wholigans? Why should people, who’ve just seen the original come to see The Wholigans’ show?

“What’s the difference”
A: We only play material recorded during the day’s with Keith Moon from day one until his death in 78, although our main sound /style is that of the ‘Live at Leeds’ live album era.
The Who are a lot different band now in their 60’s, they haven’t lost that special something, but they are a new Who ....a different Who, they are not the band from Live at Leeds, and nor should they want or try to be.

If you want to go see The Who 2007 style , go see them they will still blow you away.
If you want a recreation of sorts and see the bands ferocity back in era when rock music could stop a freight train, come see The Wholigans.
The music/and show we play is borrowed from the great WHO.
We provide a brief glimpse into The Who’s history and try to make the audience feel they are there for the first time.

6.Have you guys ever met members of the original Who, and if yes, what have been their reactions?
A:
We all have met the members over the years including at the recent 2006 Who convention in London England where Roger sang a few songs with Simon Townshend’s band ‘the casbah club’ and we ended up the day with our own show at the convention having to follow Daltrey which is mean feat what with ton’s of fans clamouring for more Roger.

I have nothing but nice things to say about The Who (but too long to say here)
Between the band ,we all have our own Who stories and all 99% positive.

7. You’re even going that far, that you try to use as much as possible of the same gear, the original Who used in their prime years. Is this really necessary, and how and where do you get this old gear?

Uhm...”necessary” ?
Well yes it can be done no doubt, but it is our choice to be as faithful as possible to not just the look but ’The Sound’
The Who have a ‘sound’ that can’t be copied it must be felt , Who fans know exactly what I mean.
Quote “where do you get this old gear?”.....perseverance ole son n a bit of cash ;)

8. Don’t you think, you’re just doing some sort of ‘nostalgia act’ or is there anything, either in the music or in the show, that could be of any interest for younger people?

A: Of course it has a nostalgia factor, but the messages in the music are as much relevant today as when they were written.
‘My Generation’ and ‘I can’t explain’ say as much to today’s youth as they did in the 60’s.
I won’t waste your time with repeating the lyrics verbatim, sit and read/listen them with a 17 year olds eyes......you’ll see/hear and feel.

The Who and The Wholigans have fans from 9 to 90 , it’s amazing that their music spans such a huge gap and continues to.
Personally the word ‘nostalgic’ doesn’t belong in the same sentence as The Who it sounds like a bleedin medication for old farts !

9. In the USA and also in UK you’ve become a ‘big deal’ in the meantime, playing for thousands of people, what do you think might be the reasons for this success?

A:The Who ...1st and foremost......... and our fearlessness to tread uncharted waters with no guarantee’s.

I’ve always said YOU must knock on opportunity’s door .
Don’t wait for opportunity to call you, it usually doesn’t happen.


10. In Germany, you’re (up to now) relatively unknown, so you’re playing the smaller clubs. This means, there’s not much money to make. What are the reasons to do this tour nevertheless, instead of doing shows to a wider audience in America and make some good money?
(See above)
It’s not about the money, but it comes in handy sometimes though ;)

11. Will you be playing songs of the whole Who era, so will there also be new material?
Would you please explain, why you are playing the songs THAT you're gonna play?

A: as I said earlier it’s The Who era of
Roger Daltrey
Keith Moon
Pete Townshend
John Entwistle

That we proudly portray and it’s something you can’t see anymore.

LOUD N PROUD !

That’s our Who .
Maybe one day we’ll change, but with the The Who still touring…why should we?

Barry

http://www.thewholigans.com/
http://www.myspace.com/barrywholigan

http://thewholigans.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/wholigans

Smoke on the Water...and fire in the sky.

MAY 11th 2007 gig in smokey Florida

Updated VIDEO Sat June 2nd 3.30Pm

Photo is not the day of the show.

http://www.ballparkreviews.com/dunedin/dunedin.htm


May 11th.......

at the Toronto Blue Jays baseball stadium was *cough* not the most *cough* idealic *cough* situation as tv stations told people to stay at home for fear of health risks due to wildfires *cough* on the Georgia/Florida border.
Smoke covered most of the Tampa Bay area for 2 days making it very hard to *cough* breathe.
Thankyou to the brave souls who came out :)

Heres the setlist....
The real me
5.15
Drowned .....see video below here
Slip kid ............................I hadn't played this since 1984!!!!
Who are you
I can't explain
Substitute
The Seeker
Magic Bus
Love reign o'er me
My Wife
Baba o'riley
Love ain't for keeping
Amazing journey
Sparks
Pinball Wizard
I'm Free
See me/feel me/listening etc
Long live rock
Summertime blues
Shakin all over (roadrunner/join together)
Behind blue eyes
Boris the spider
Won't get fooled again

Encore
My Generation

______________________

DROWNED

I must say playing on a stage set up over 2nd base and having the outfield as backstage and looking out to the stands was a cool experience, as I'm sure it was fun for the fans who stood on the field/home plate in front of us.
How cool is that ?

Speaking of cool, I was coming down with the flu that night and spent the next week in bed feeling like crap, something that I'm not used to, so if you hear a couple of cracks in my voice thats what it is.....that and a lack of southern comfort ;}

Thankyou also to Bill Canell from ' Who's Next' NYC who did some fine 'Peteness' on guitar.

WHO ARE YOU


SUBSTITUTE

Here are some photo's Dan from Largo photo has up mixed in with others http://www.myspace.com/largophoto

More photo's to follow , just waiting on Bill n Darren to send them *cough*ahem!

Next up....
Friday June 29th Wild Wing Asheville North Carolina (Biltmore estates)
http://www.wildwingcafe.com/asheville.html

Saturday June 30th Wild Wing Knoxville Tennessee
('NEW' HUGE LOCATION)
http://www.wildwingcafe.com/knoxville.html
CB on guitar.

FREE

This is one of the greatest bands that never quite made it, unless you grew up in the UK in the late 60's-70's.
Most of the world knows 'Alright Now' but couldn't name the band.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Right_Now

Alright Now (rare)...it's a bit dodgy at the start quality wise but it gets better.

This is the 'clean' version before the pshycadelic version was made.

Here are a couple of classic Free songs, 'Mr.Big' being my ultimate favourite, but check out some other video's on youtube.
‘ FREE ' video’s .....Fire & Water
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5RVHcUdVPU&mode=related&search=


The Stealer



A brilliant version of 'Mr big'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLo5K4PUxKI

Another great performance of 'Mr.Big'



Paul Rodgers imo is the greatest singer in the world and has earned the nickname 'The Voice'

Paul Kossoff on guitar put's so much feeling into one note on guitar than many others can't put into one song.

Simon Kirke on drums is no Keith Moon nor needs or wants to be, but he is solid solid solid SOLID!

Andy Frazier on bass has such a cool style, and is more of a lead guitarist on bass imo

Free are no longer around and Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke formed another great band called Bad Company with Boz Burrell rip and Mick Ralphs.
I've seen them tons of times and was lucky enough to be front row centre on my 40th birthday 8 years ago (come July)......tickets courtesy of my wife :)
Also on that night they had cameras preshow interviewing people and I talked and sang a snippet of 'seagull' ...although out of tune, Rodgers I am not!!!!

The next night Bad Co showed the interviews on large screens either side of the stage and I had people I knew at that concert who did not know, and must have got quite the shock to see my ugly mug 20 feet tall on the screen !
Anyways I'm rambling, enjoy the video's.

A big thankyou goes out to my sister who weened me on great music like this , whodathunk ;\

Canadian dates , moved to November

According to our agent there wasn't enough interest from venues for The Wholigans to tour for 2 weeks in Canada, or should I say not enough confirmations came in before the deadline
So therefore we had to cancel Healeys in Toronto April 27th and others.

I apologise to all of you waiting to see the band , but you have NO IDEA how upset I am.
I can't really write here what I want to write as biting the hand that sometimes feeds you is not wise in this buisness. (but I guess I already did...oh well ;(

I'm just so exasperated and mentally drained and financially out of focus that it's all I can do not to up and quit this whole damn thing, but I won't ...don't worry.
Barry's bite is as big as his bark and this dog is hungry !

WOOF!
UPDATE>>>> I've been told that dates are being looked at for November

here's another larrf :)
Pommy can you hear me

Naked

Me singing with my mates "Highway to Hell' an AC/DCtribute band at GATORS on treasure island.

March 24th gig Chasco Fiesta NewPort Richeyun-official-ish Photo:Kirk Mason


OH MAN!
I feel like I've been running around naked for months and months with no contact with the outside world.
You see, my first computer bought in Dec 1999 (I believe..I could be wrong it was so long ago) anyway, it was soooooo slow and I refused to fall for the manufactures ploy and the undeniable pressure from 'the jones's' to keep up and buy the latest gadgets and new computers.

Well, it got to a point about a month ago (somewhere around there) where it was running so bad I had no choice but to get a new one.
Now, I really didn't want to go to bestbuy and deal with the kids there who sell everything from Godsmack cd's to computers and who basically know more about godsmack than the computers !
So I end up calling Dell and was walked through the process with babysteps as I really am an old fart when it comes to technology, and to be honest with you it's quite intimidating...but I manage.

So I get the dell xps,windows vista with all the bells and whistles , 19"flat screen etc etc
Man oh man this sucker does everything but make you breakfast (and it may even do that I don't know!)
One problem......I'm the one who has to figure it out ;\ .... aye- ya- aye

Long story short, I've been naked for months and disconnected to the outside world because of this, but I am finally immersing myself back into the technical waters of which I'm nervous about swimming in, but I seem to be floating and will eventually be surfing with the rest of you.

On another note, now that I have access to update shows on our website I'll just be posting them there and not here.
The new site is so so at the moment with a lot to be fixed up and to be honest I'm having real bad luck with webmasters.
I can't seem to find one who is as good as they say they are and who keep the site up, it's very frustrating, so bear with me ;(

The year is not panning out as fruitfull as I had wanted it to, and what gigs we do play have ended up being a lot of hard work and financially abismal.
I mean I love playing ,but it's getting to the point where I'm tired of the stress leading up to the 2 hours of pleasure playing live.
I don't know maybe this year will be my last, I'm leaning that way, but you never know.


On a happier note , the last gig with Foghat was a great one playing for thousands of people.
I have video and photo's, which as soon as I can figure out this damn computer I'll post them.

If you can't see this video, go here>>>>> http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/MusicMan515/Wholigans-Smashing%20Videos/



PHOTO'S

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/MusicMan515/Chasco%20Festival-March%202007/
_______________________________
We'll be in Canada April 26th/27/28 ...and Atlanta on the 29th for a big outdoor show
then back to Canada for a bit, and finishing May 10th there and on the 11th back in Florida headlining an outdoor show at the Toronto blue jays spring training baseball stadium in Dunedin Florida where our dressing room is the jay's locker room, how funny is that ! :)
Apparently the stage is set up over the 2nd base..............PLAY BALL! http://www.ballparkreviews.com/dunedin/dunedin.htm

OH YEAH..

I nearly forgot, I saw The Who in Tampa not long ago.(March 25th I think)
It was good,not great, but good enough, I enjoyed it.
They cancelled the show a week or two prior which I wasn't very happy about ,to be honest I was fucking mad !
But they made up for it.

I think that possibly this was the last time I will go see The2 (oops;) as it cost me a lot of time money and energy, and I'd rather put my energy (& money) into something a little less hard work and more enjoyable stresswise.
Don't get me wrong , I enjoyed it but I actually had more fun the next night going down to a club called Jannus Landing about 10 minutes from my house, and we saw an excellent band from Australlia called JET. http://www.jettheband.com/
They were fantastic , and they had so much energy that it poured out into me and I danced my ass off all night down at the front of this 1000 capacity outdoor venue.
Great band !

Also I went out last night and saw my mates in an AC/DC tribute band and I got up and sang 'Highway to Hell' and also got up and butchered 'whole lotta rosie' , but hey everybody seemed to like it and apparently so did I , or at least so I was told when awoke today in a stench of last nights liquor still clinging to my tequila soaked throat ;} (see photo's at the top of this page) http://www.highwaytohell.info/

Rock n roll is so much fun ,I don't how I'd live without it :)


Here, have a laugh
The Wholigans 2045....talkin bout my generation






Barry

WHO ARE THE WHOLIGANS

25 years !!!!!!

I just liked this photo, no other reason for posting it apart from that.

Updated Wednesday 8.40am Feb 27th

New gigs +

a new Wholigans website is up.

THE WHOLIGANS
25th Anniversary
A Tribute to The Who since 82
2007 World Tour
http://www.thewholigans.com/

The Wholigans celebrate 25 years of paying tribute to the greatest rock band in the world THE WHO .


WATCH THIS SPACE
March 24th http://www.chascofiesta.net/music.asp go here and click on Saturday rock n roll tribute day

...New Port Richey Florida USA ,opening for FOGHAT

June 28th http://www.wildwingcafe.com/suwanee.html Suwanee GA

June 29th http://www.wildwingcafe.com/asheville.html Ashville NC

June 30th http://www.wildwingcafe.com/ new location Knoxville Tenessee

September & October...UK + Germany

Some of the shows especially the Canadian gigs will feature the band playing one of the classic Who albums in their entirety , such as.....' WHO'S NEXT '..... 'LIVE AT LEEDS ' & 'TOMMY' + a selection of The Who's greatest hits .

.

.Ran across some old videos 86-ish-to-2003

.These video's are courtesy of Dave Smith former bassist for The Wholigans 86-ish-2003
These vids are from around then .
Recorded at 'rock n roll heaven' yonge & bloor Toronto Canada.

The guitarist is John Walsh (till 89?) haven't heard from him since,...John, where are you ?

Bass.Dave Smith
The drummer is Paul Holman , who I believe is still drumming in Toronto/Woodstock, who's mother makes great pickles :) ......love ya Paul and Jenny and Mrs Holman for keeping the band from starving to death : )

ME..singing duh ;)

While I'm reminiscing, good memorys and thanks go out to....

Gerard Popma ..not in this video).,,,,,,(Pete wholigan 83-84ish-? )

Steve Mckenna (now living in Ottawa) Steves health is not the best and I wish him well, .that man knew his way around an alembic bass guitar, man he had 'the sound'

In the 80's our roadie Poo...(as in shit ..not as in bear....his words ....not mine) ..

"We can't afford this place" he shouted out as we entered this fancy restaurant in Novia Scotia or Newfoundland..can't remember..anyways. We were dressed like bums and probably (more than likely ) drunk.....we quickly left.

&

Jim 'nice hair' Popma (roadie) and 'Crazy Al ' soundman, expert "cigarette" roller and connoisseur of fine alcohol. ;}

One day I will attempt to list all of The Wholigans over the years as they were all invaluable to our story.

Video's ...all from 85-ish? (a couple of 03's thrown in)

Sister disco 85 ?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=PEYCcEHqUBA

Hey how about that short hair and miami vice suit huh :) .......jeez!!!!

Eminence front 85 ?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=SfVSHgkNmUk

Your's truly wailing on guitar.....yeah right ;)

_________________

Baba o'riley 86

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9gsBy_48LrY&mode=related&search=

_________________
Magic bus 86

http://youtube.com/watch?v=GCipv-DHNN8&mode=related&search=

____________

Young man blues 86

http://youtube.com/watch?v=hbXnYwxAc-c&mode=related&search=

______________

The real me 2003 WHO convention London Astoria UK

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pj8t-WLbzoc&mode=related&search

_________

My Generation..from Tom Wright opening photo exhibit in 2003 ,Tom was The Who's tour manager and is a friend of Petes and a celebrated rock photographer (see our links page on our site + our photo's section)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=y4DJsZ7GOvU&mode=user&search=

update Feb 2nd

more 80's stuff

Cry if you want http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlqFGgwNJu4

Substitute http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTN7ftd7Wko

Who are you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3apAsoiu8Q

Dr.Jimmy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnRO-DQbgcU

Love reign o'er me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPfCCIQXEqM

I Can't Explain http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObzjSwGOxg0

Pinball Wizard/see me feel me/listening to you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LQswgYUZ6g

WGFA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INQaII3JW5A

___________

OH !...btw heres some video from the 2006 WHO convention in London, scroll to the bottom of the blog.

http://thewholigans.blogspot.com/2006/04/pure-madness-aka-2006-who-convention.html

A few dodgy bits here and there, alright A LOT of dodgy bits , but it can't all be good right ;)

Footnote:

Thanks to all of you who have sent me best wishes re: my back.

I AM ready to rock n roll, as adrenaline is my only cure all fix, so that goes to show you the power of the Who's music and their fans really "HAVE THE POWER TO HEAL YOU.....NEVER FEAR !"......'Tommy'

That said ....lose yourself in the Who tour that is now and when that is said and done and you still need a WHO fix , come see us .

WE WILL WELCOME YOU TO THE CAMP as I hope you welcome us.

Barry

WHO ARE THE WHOLIGANS

One day you're nobody ,the next day you're on top o'the world ma !!!

Sat Oct 14th photo's courtesy of Kirk Mason semi-official photo guy ;)
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/MusicMan515/Wholigans-Bike%20Fest%2010-14-06/.

I've tried uploading more images here but my flippin ' 2000windows Me' gives me a hard time, I guess it's time for a new dell huh :\



We played Friday Oct 13th at a local watering hole for a lot of mean ass just out of prison type characters and strippers on crack and a few die hard Who/Wholigan fans.
Nobody clapped apart from the small % of wholigans.
Lets just say Friday the 13th lived up to it's reputation as a bad..really BAD day.
The owner told us we suck and we would never be back (like we want to go back to hell!) and he tried hard to start a fight and have security kick our butts, but we kept our mouth shut,
got paid (just) It helps when your agent/manager is 6ft 5 and 250lbs !
but then we got the hell out of dodge!!!
We have never been treated with such disrespect in 25 years.....EVER !
This is not the end of the story....stay tuned. ...there is soooooooooooooo much more !

As for Saturday the 14th, it was f'n magic in New port richey Florida for an estimated few thousand crowd, although the total estimate turnout for the day I was told was 40,000 people !!!
We opened for Blue Oyster Cult whom I met and were very nice guys, and Buck Dharma came up to me and told me we rocked which was cool, but to be honest I didn't know who the hell he was until he introduced himself.
B.O.C's management however were a different story, we were told at one point to play longer so I added Naked eye close the end of the set and was planning on playing Won't get fooled again then my generation to finish, but then during Naked Eye we were told to play only one more and that was it.

Our agent/manager really wanted us to play my gen and smash ,so I had to cut WGFA(which we've never done)
So we start MY GEN and within the first few bars BOC's management tells our guy that we have to stop playing immediatly or BOC was going to cancel and leave (because they (the management)knew we were going to smash)
Our manager and our roadie tell them NO F'N WAY! ...so we play the song anyway and smash the hell out of the guitar and drums and the crowd ate it up, we absolutely destroyed the stage.

Now no disrespect to BOC but there was no way we were going to stop in the middle of MY GEN, and we weren't trying to steal the show , we were just doing what we always do and I think the BOC management was just a bit power crazy.
BOC band members watched us from side stage and complimented us afterwards and were really nice so obviously the problem didn't stem from them.
Apart from that debacle the show was greeeaaat!

BOC although I was not too familiar with a lot of their material, I did know 'godzilla' 'don't fear the reaper' and a couple of others.
They were really tight and Buck is a great guitarist and the show was excellent.

I have some photo's which I'll post eventually, but for now here is our setlist.

THE REAL ME
DROWNED
5.15
I’M ONE
WHO ARE YOU
BEHIND BLUE EYES
THE SEEKER
I CAN’T EXPLAIN
SUBSTITUTE
HAPPY JACK
BABA O’RILEY
LOVE REIGN O’ER ME
MAGIC BUS
SQUEEZE BOX
SUMMERTIME BLUES
SHAKIN ALL OVER (inc roadrunner/join together/my generation blues)
LONG LIVE ROCK
A QUICK ONE
Tommy
OVERTURE
SPARKS
ACID QUEEN
PINBALL WIZARD
I’M FREE
WE’RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT
SEE ME FEEL ME/LISTENING TO YOU
NAKED EYE
MY GENERATION

You can never have enough 'Pete's'

Darren the 'Pete' from TheWhoShow in L.A. will be playing these gigs with us, as Chris can't make it.

Friday October 13th
St. Petersburg
FL
Carlies

Oct 14th
New Port Richey
Fl
Opening for Blue Oyster Cult
thttp://coteeriverbikefest.com/event1.php
Expected crowd 5000+

The Who,Who'sNext & The Wholigans,,,,,,,,

All in one night is enough Who for any Who fan to keel over in a drunken whostupour, but that is exactly what happened Sept 18th 2006.
I was in NYC staying at Bill's house (guitarist who's next) along with all of the other band members including The Wholigans own drummer Darren who was filling in for the evening.
It was kind of strange waking up and seeing another Roger across the kitchen in the form of Dave.
A lot of people think that there would be animosisty between who tribute bands but it's quite the opposite we all have a comradrie anongst the east/south/west coast bands. (rappers could learn a lesson)

I went to to the who's next rehearsal which was a little weird for me to watch and probably just the same for Dave, but we ended up at an irish pub to cap the night..

Next day I headed into the city and met up with tons of Wholigans inc actually too many to name but here goes:
Mike,Marc,Rob,Scott,Meg,Joyce,George ,hirbormort,Alan Mckendree,ratboy was noticably missing as was bjorn and majik (who showed the next day) there were many others whom I met at thestout which was an ok place to meet but too big & loud for me, I prefer the smaller intimate...molly wee's pubs(next time guy's?)

We head up to the gardens 90% of us without tickets, I bought with the help of Rob a $50 sidestage ticket and headed gleefully towards the entrance only to be turned back with the words 'it's a fake' echoing in my head...oh well.
So I bought a dirt cheap ticket of $20 to get in the door and walked in with Rob and we ended up in$250 seats 10th row up Petes side and a fantastic view.
I can't repeat the setlist forbatem except for the fact there was a lot of new stuff which I thought was great and I do think in fact ' WE'VE GOT A HIT !'

I've posted elsewhere that the closing song 'Tea &Theatre' was/is the most emotional song Pete has written and had the most emotion I've heard/seen come out of Roger.
Very VERY well done boys, it was excellent !

After the show I head to BBKings where who'snext were playing midnight till 2, it was a bit of a rough start for the lads but as the night wore on the pieces fell into place along with the additions of a steeelslide player for a few songs and also The OX'S guitarist Godfrey Townsend played a few songs , one of which I sang
'shakin all over ' with Stoney from the quadropheniacs(another who tribute) I also did 'substitute' with who's next.for the encore.

It was about 3.30-4am by the time we headed home and one of the lads in the van found out he had just become a proud papa that night (not my place to say who) so after that we all toasted with a beer (at home) then crashed immediatly as most of us had to to leave for the airport within a few hours.
Myself ,I was Who'd out and didn't care if I heard another Who song in my life, yet hear I am about to embark on a couple of gigs in Georgia 2 weeks later!!!!!!
One in Augusta where we are playing the entire live at leeds + others, then it's off to Stone mountain park in front of 15,000 people !!!!

My back is still very sore along with my legs, but once I'm on that stage I'll be superman, but when I walk off I'm sure the kryptonite will kick in.
How can you NOT get excited singing The Who for all those people:)

Barry

Sore back ...what sore back ?..rock n roll will fix it !

OH MAN !!!!!!!
I am worn out from the Flogging Molly gig last night, I danced/pogoed/jigged my ass off all night and all on one count em one drink
They were fantastic and I bought the t-shirt.
I was obviously the oldest one there but I didn't give a damn, I went within 10 feet of the stage amongst the skins and the punks and the bodysurfers and sweated my butt off and had a smile on my face all night long

The place was in an outdoor courtyard holding 1200 people in a place called Jannus Landing in downtown St Petersburg.
If you like the pouges,the clash,elvis costello, the levellers,seven nations,great big sea ,celtic music in general and add punk attitude you get Flogging Molly
.If you get a chance to go to a live show GOOOOO!
You will have a blast.
Part of the fun for me was getting to look at all the real young people who had anticipation,excitement,and that look of a first time concert goer ,and the look in their eyes was incredible.I remember those days and still try to retain that magic and flogging molly did that for me last night.
http://www.floggingmolly.com/

I came home jumped in the shower,came out then cracked a beer and prepared to watch The Who on David Letterman , then promptly fell asleep
Thank god for DVD recorders.

Up next...Wolfmother Saturday at the same venue, then The Who Monday in NYC.
I hope my old bones (back) carry me through the next few days.

Thank god prohibition is long gone or I'd have to find alternatives to pain medication ;}


Music will keep you young ,people and will keep the kid inside of you alive, so keep rockin don't let ANYBODY tell you, you are too old.
Look at Pete or me for that matter, it works I tell ya !!!!!!

Rock your bloody arses off till you die !

Here we go again

As some of you know I had a major back operation a couple of years ago (you can read the story on our site 'dear diary' http://www.thewholigans.com/dear_diary.html
What I didn't tell people just prior to this years convention in London in April , is that I had another back surgery , not as big as the first one but scary enough that it had possibilities that could have caused me never to walk again amongst many other problems, but anytime you enter that realm those possibilities exist. This all happened 2 weeks prior to the tour.

I just didn't want to let the who fans know and especially the tour promoters as it would have created a lot of problems.
Thankfully the procedure worked and I was able to do the tour but with help of many pain prescriptions.

Well since then the problems still persist and my daily activity is limited so that said I went to see my specialist and I'm going on the table Sept 25th for a 1/2 day mini surgery/procedure.
Everytime you have surgery, scar tissue is left in the body, and after having an MRI last week it was discovered that here is a lot of tissue pressing on my nerves causing a lot of lower back pain,down the right leg and into both feet.
So I'm having a new procedure done which works but is still not an automatic thing for doctors to go through yet, it's still fairly experimental.

What happens (the squeamish should not read on) but they cut a hole just above my anus
(about the size of a dime/sixpence) then they run a cathetar/or some kind of hose up through the lower hole in my tailbone and up into my spine.
From there they release enzymes into the area of the scar tissues, the enzymes slowly eat away the tissue.
I am going to have this done twice including the regular steroid shots over the next month or so.

OH....I forgot to mention that they keep me awake during this to make sure they don't screw up, why they do this is beyond me.
They do medicate ,but the fact they keep me awake sucks!
It hurts just thinking about it :(

If this does not work then they will put a small piece of metal transmitter inside my back which sends signals which confuses the brain ,I don't really want to go that far.......but.

I have been going nuts with the pain for years since the initial operation but never really told anybody just because.
My band members knew but I don't think knew the extent.

On stage I feell like a kid again, the adrenolin works wonders (they realy should investigate that) afterwards is a different story.
I'm no cripple so I'm not seeking sympathy as millions suffer the same deal, I just needed to get it off my chest.(or off my back so to speak)

The procedure on the 25th will not hinder my gig on the 29th, I'll have my buddy southern comfort with me ; }

Thanks for listening, and see you in NYC : )

Thinking.

Hello all,
thought I'd let you know that there is a lot going in my world,some sad,some painful , some good and a lot to contemplate.
Mentally and physically I am not the man I was 10 years ago.I'm really having to dig deep before I come up with solutions.Can't really give you details but time will tell the tale.
I will see a lot of you in NYC both before and after the show, but it's times like those that helps one think about tomorrow and look forward to...we all need something like that otherwise whats the point ?

I apologise for lack of blogs re San Fran and Ft Lauderdale and hell even lack of uk photo's and our web updates, seems my brain is on a temporary wholigan hold right now.
Life is bigger than The Wholigans......Whodathunk ?

Barry

Remember 911

I urge you all to take a moment to remember 911 today and to please leave politics out of it, it was just not an American tragedy but a human one.
Take a moment.

Just one flippin decent seat..........puhleeeeeeeeeeeeeeese

I decided tonight to go to the 1st night at MSG BUT IT'S SOLD OUT!

Can anyone get me a half decent ticket,I know how to get there and I have a place to stay.But without a really good ticket I'm not going.

Also after the show I'm going down to bbkings to sing with bills who'snext show (I' m not singing all night long just a few)http://www.whosnexttribute.com/ wholigan darren will also be playing!!

Someone please find me a decent ticket without breaking the bank....I don,t have Rogers money!!!!!


Barry

update
I booked a fairly cheap flight $183 , leave on Sunday ,go to Bills and then watch those 'other guys/who'snext' rehearse (which will be strange)
Monday head into the city and meet up with whomever wherever, (where and when is everbody meeting?)
After The Who I'm off to see who'snext afterparty at bbkings and probably sing a couple (if I'm sober)Anybody else going ? www.bbkingblues.com/sched...gi?id=3235
Then go home on Tuesday.
All I need now is a decent ticket, Bill seems to think I'll get one last minute unless a sweet deal walks in before then .....anybody ? :)

GIG UPDATES ETC ....Oct 2nd 11.30am

August 10th
2006 WHO Convention dvd's now available.
http://thewholigans.blogspot.com/2006/04/pure-madness-aka-2006-who-convention.html


Sept 6th update, June 'Tommy' board audio
http://thewholigans.blogspot.com/2006/06/radio-twoligans.html

















Upcoming gigs n'stuff updated October 2nd 11.30am
http://thewholigans.blogspot.com/2006/04/upcoming-gigs-n-stuff.html


Review of a July gig http://ampubs.com/news/bands.html

July 4th weekend

July 2nd at New Port Richey Florida at an outdoor festival.
















Here are some photo's taken by Kirk Mason who is slowly but surely becoming the unoffical/official photographer of The Wholigans.
http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/MusicMan515/New%20Port%20Richey-July%202006/?

The band is not playing the rest of July as all four of us have tons of other stuff going on.
My next gig is with members of TheWhoShow in San Francisco on Aug 12th at a scooter rally, then August /Sept/Oct looks pretty busy for the band playing everywhere from Ft Lauderdale to Detroit and a possible mid west USA tour in October.



WHO ARE THE WHOLIGANS