index

I am going to try my hardest to write up our AFSC Germany Party, I of course have the dilemma of being biased so please forgive me if I start to wax lyrical.

After we held the last thrash in 2004 it was only right and proper that we follow suite for 2005. Our Ted volunteered to step into the fold to organise this year’s do, a Herculean endeavour based on the success of last year and like most things like this we started small, and I mean small, with a budget of zero! Please remember that our club members pay no subs at all so it is very much a leap of faith whenever we host an event.

Ted and I discussed some time ago what exactly was expected from our club and what we could expect in the form of support from the Paderborn and Sennelarger AFSC members. As per normal the usual faces leapt forward with the kind of help and support that makes our club so god damn good!

Dave Bellis did what he does best, thanks mate, and the “Ubiquitous” Dia Ransom was always on hand as our “Mod Father” providing his safety net. I would like to mention Paul at this moment who loaned us his entertainment rigg, decks, amps and effects lighting for free. Danny Ransom was the hero of the night, he took on the responsibility of crisis manager rectifying all the last minit dot com problems with coolness and calm far beyond his years, he was also mortally drunk whilst doing this so kudos to you dude! Mark Sillet, Urte and Ted’s mate Andi Mac did the thankless task of collecting the monies and sorting the raffle prizes. Urte, love hugs n kisses for putting up with Ted and the endless phone calls over the last few weeks XXX.

I can not begin to thank enough those people who gave up their valuable time and effort in order to make our thrash so successful. I watched our Ted juggle more than five fast balls during the night, at one point I did think he would reach critical melt down but he didn’t, Ted you did the club proud mate!

The night consisted of a full, and I must say very ambitious program with two bands, one coming over from England (more on that in a mo) three of thee best German DJ’s and I do mean thee best! Dave Gibbs doing an acoustic set, cheap bar (one euro a bottle), a raffle, fish and chip van (as rare as hen’s teeth in Germany) plus an AFSC decorated cake!

“I did toy with the idea of making this write up a lot shorter, it can’t be done I’m afraid, there was just too much worthy of reporting”.

A large hall had been secured for the thrash, the Shootzen Halle in Sennelarger; this was kindly paid for by WARRIOR CLOTHING GERMANY, and please have a look at their web site it is the top place to get all ya bootz n sootz! (Ted again!)

An early kick off gave those early drinkers a chance to see a SKA Band who I sadly missed due to kirsty, Elaine and Carol gassing! Thank you Elaine for your hospitality I have insisted that carol return the towels. If any one would like to send me their revue of the SKA band, I will of course add it to this write up.

On entering the do it was a smile a second as all the Germany based AFSC family met up for the night. Womble had travelled over from the UK and had offered a complete scooter re-spray as a raffle prize, I belive that this would be better served at our AFSC AGM 2006 so watch this space, thanks Womble. Brooky and Kirsty had made the same trip over the water to Germany and a party atmosphere was heavy in the air. To my shear amazement I caught the site of our very own Ian Botham who is supposed to be in Canada! Pity Lisa wasn’t with you mate! Brilliant to see every one, great to meat Dinx after all this time. The AFSC HFC where in attendance and our Kathleen had flown over from Scotland to find out why Craig hadn’t started packing yet!!!!!

The Paderborn Cloud 9, The Hidden Power and the Jetsons plus a more than healthy smattering of German Faces from the scene where here. Thank you all for travelling to support the Armed Forces Scooter Club Party, we appreciate it immensely.

I personally look forward to catching my last few Allnighters here in Germany and meeting up with many of you at Mersea Island 2006 plus the Birkenhead Cloud 9 do 2006 where Rosi will bring the Chilli Schnapps!

Next up was the raffle, the prizes where all donated and you had the chance of walking away with the likes of King and Queen seats, 34mm Amal carbs, new tires, CD and DVD’s and a selection of clothing again donated by Ted of Warrior Clothing.

Dave Gibbs stepped up to the mike armed with only a guitar and a bag full of talent to surprise us all with a mini set. The only one who enjoyed it more than Dave was us! Dave it was so unexpected mate, fantastic! Talk about dark horses!! I stood with an open mouth watching as one of my oldest friends amazed us all! Rob da Mod told me about their band, my thoughts now are when are we going to see more of this on future AFSC events, remember Dave that we knew you before you where a star! (I have got the pictures to prove it!!!)

Danny “does this beer smell off” Ranson took to the decks after Dave to provide a bit of back ground music, the saga of the deck leads is another story!

Next up where Grasp. Before I go on it should be known that I am not a massive fan of live bands at Scooter do’s. I am all to weary of yet another “sounds like the Who or Jam tribute” so it was with a cynical ear that I took in Grasp’s set. I was interested in hearing exactly what all the fuss was about due to Rob and Marshy almost wetting themselves like seventies Osmond’s fans every time I asked then what Grasp where like. Another thing, Blocky the manager is an ex squaddie and AFSC member so I was very cautious of not appearing to big them up just because they are part of the AFSC family! So it was with this in mind that I stood by the stage as GRASP exploded onto Germany’s Scooter Scene.

I've looked under chairs
I've looked under tables
I've tried to find a key
To fifty million fables

My first thoughts I must be brutally honest was, “here we go again………….same old same old” This thought lasted until…………..

They call me the seeker
I've been searching low and high
I won't get to get what I'm after
'Til the day I die

The realization that I knew the words but this was not just another, look how much we can sound like THE WHO band, no it was a kick you in the balls, attention grabber and it worked! The set was blasted by one of thee best guitarists I have ever heard, Gary Weeks who was never sucked into any over dramatic stage action, rather letting his wizard like skills dazzle the audience who by now where all listening. Mark Hines the drummer spurred the band along with a controlled violence, comparing him with Mr Moon would just be the easy way out, Mark does not need to be compared with any one, he has that unique gift of knowing exactly how fast or slow to push the roller coaster and he does push it to the max! I loved ever second of his drum solo, he was using another bands drum kit and belive me he owned it! Watching Mark is more like watching a formula 1 driver piss all over the track leaving the other drivers in his wake! Too cool for school!

Spen on bass is left to bring order to the battle field; this is done with gusto and poetry. Anticipation and aggravation are the lot of the bassist; Spen takes it in his stride and thumps the strings like the row master on a slave ship! Andy Taylor the front man and Gibson SG wielder connects immediately to the audience; his enthusiasm and energy are infectious. Never once did he play safe and lean on a Daltry or Weller impression to pull off his songs, his voice needs nothing but a mike and an audience.

Did I enjoy grasp, too right I did and I am now a fan. Carol and I listened to their new single over and over again in the car coming home and we are mega impressed with it! Grasp you rock! If you want to visit their web site just click here.

After Grasp finished their set it was time for Germany’s finest to serve up the best in rare soul and scooterist tunes. We are so lucky having our very own Martin “Sunny the dancer” Driever, Carsten Fox and special guest Champ from SOUL FLAT http://www.soulflat.de/ . I never take for granted your sets and I am always in awe of the sheer dedication and genuine love for rare soul music that keeps us all on the floor going mad to the very best of the best.

All this and English fish n chips, what more could we ask! It was a fantastic thrash, if I have missed any one out, please please forgive me. The AFSC Germany Party was a great success and I am now looking forward with eager anticipation to our AFSC AGM in Skeggy May 2006.

Yours Simon Cuerden.