Tuesday 20th February - Frankfurt Das Bett

Ouch. Don't want to feel like this every day for the next two weeks. I sleep in the van and have nightmares all the way to Frankfurt about sliding down a cliff. Bad times...we pull up outside Das Bett and i stumble inside to be confronted with a huge picture of my nipples on the back page of the local paper (the bath tub shot which appears to have been circulated quite heavily). Upon loading in there are a few giggles when we discover our mountain of gear literally fills the tiny venue. We manage to squeeze onto the stage somehow and tonight ends up been a good one, probably the best up until this point. The audience were close up and personal, to the extent that even my tanning moisturiser was struggling to hide my pasty complexion.

Afterwards we hang round and chat with lots of lovely Frankfurters and do a swift trade in Merchandise. Fortunately the accomodation is right above the venue so I retire early in an attempt to repair some of the damage i inflicted upon myself in Berlin. I nod off contemplating that many a band member must have lied in this very bed, feeling like shit. And I take comfort in this.


Wednesday 21st February - Dortmund Barcuda

First of all, I would like to point out that as rule of thumb, when a band goes on tour it is standard that only two members will actually bother to bring shower gel or toothpaste. After a few days on the road tensions start to arise when the freeloaders like myself push their luck, so we vow to purchase some more. Today's first call of duty is a radio interview for Robin, but first we must have some lunch. Graham tackles a huge steak, whilst most of us opt for tomato soup which is simply too heavy on the basil. And the bread arrives when we are nearly finished. These things can upset a tired band.

Tonight's gig is for a local radio station , and the audience are competition winners so we are keen to prove ourselves a worthy prize. After a good soundcheck we head for dinner at an eatery affiliated with a venue and I enjoy a delicious Thai Green curry, marred only by the fact the rice was undercooked. Myself and Joe Bennett debate whether we should bring this to the staff's attention, not to be arseholes you understand but to be helpful. But then since the meal is paid for by the station, we decide not to.

Anyway, onto the gig before I turn into Alex Kopranos. Thank you Dortmund! Best gig of the tour so far. There was dancing, even screaming from the audience. We were well into our stride by this point, and at the end of the regular set the an encore was demanded, not simply politely asked for. Just what we needed really, because tiredness was beginning to set in, but we leave the venue a happy bunch of boys, looking forward to Cologne the next day.