2 posts tagged “hobo news”

On this post you'll find Hobo News items from the various issues of HOBO 1973 -75. News items relating to bands, discos and venues will be incorporated into the band directories etc. These are news items which don't fit into those categories. The regular column was called Streetnews and Shoestring Blues -

Issue one

• Hobo is designed to help people, so help us to help you. it is financed by adverts and distributed free (Ed note - only issue one was free - needed the money to print it) so none gains or loses financially, except us sometimes (Loses that is!). (by Bo)
• The Birmingham Streetpress holds regular gigs at the Fighting Cocks in Moseley on Friday nights with artists like Medicine Head, Trevor Burton Band, Graham Bond heading the bill and a multi-media cast of other acts in support. A cheap and good atmosphere. More info as and when it comes. (By Trev)
• No need to mention that Virgin Records have opened in the City Arcade, so we won't. Keep trucking Vir - Good Things. (by Trev)
• Buy Friendz Today (by Bo)
• We badly need advertisers, so groups, discos, shops - anyone - our rates are cheap and our need is great if we are to survive. (the mag that is). £2 for a full page, £1 for half a page, 50p for a quarter page. Classified ads are 5p for up to 10 words - for Musicians wanted (in fact any classification you require, in similar vein to Melody Maker. We want inprove and develop this mag so pleas don't hesitate to contact us with any help, article or ads you have. And if you think this mag is a load of crap, don't just sit there cricising over a pint, come and help make it good. YOUR SCENE NEEDS YOU _YOU KNOW IT MAKES SENSE (by Trev)
• Have you got into Hawkwind yet? (by Bo)

Issue Two (unpublished version)

• Anyone who knows of or can help obtain practice places for loud groups and vneues for concerts at preferably non rip-off rates, please let us know. There is a great need. Also, advertisers don't forget we still need you - don't be shy! We need you to get by. (by Trev)
• Watch out for Hobo dances and a Humpoesic Happening and also all night festivals...(by trev)
• Is it true Hawkwind are coming to Coventry? Someone confirm it please. The Co-editor has just fainted! (by Bo)

Issue 2 (Published version)

• I Am (the Alternative Boutique)  in Hales St. have started to manufacture their own original clothes at resonable prices (10% discount for students. They also have stocks of imported Soul and R & B records not available in this country (Fri and Sats only) via Pete Waterman's Soul Hole. (by Trev - Ed's note - I Am gave me a free pair of red flares - perks of being an editor I guess!)

Issue Three

• A great loss to the literary world - JRR Tolkien, author of (as if you didn't know) the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Our humble tribute to the man who gave so much to the world. Farewell friend....(by Babs Wainwright)
• Come on ADE TAYLOR "Get it together man" It's been a long time since Wandering John (by Trev)
  

  AdeTaylor Gnome
• BANDWAGONS ON THE RUN  "Uh know anyone with a van man" is a question on the lips of a lot of bands. So below I will give what information I have on the subject (which doesn't amount to very much!). If anyone either has or knows any one who has a transit van available for transportation of bands - with or without a driver, let us know and we can communicate tot he great unwashed! Here's the lowdawn - Bob Hopkins, 127, Overslade Cresant, Kersley 3185 has such a van but is playing in a band called NATURAL GAS and is not thus always available. (as is the case with many who have vans). Then there is a transit for hire (with driver) from Rogers, 78, Fenside Cov 412331 of whom I know no more about. Then of course there are firms who specialise in van hire and who tend to be more expensive. They can be contacted through the Cov Telegraph or Yellow Pages. eg Brady Van Hire have vans of the following description - 8,18,22,35 Cwt to 3 tons from £2.50 daily (wow times HAVE changed! Ed's Note) or if yu live in Brum, try Rob Cowlyn who runs the Green Goblin which is a Monster Merc. He does cheap removals and general trucking - contact him on 0214496184. Any more for anymore. Next month, if the petrol shortage gets any worse, we'll be doing an article on Horse and Cart hire, so if you know any groovy farmers, then let us know via the next pony express or pigeon post. (by Trev)
• Next month - free eyelashes!!
  

Issue 4

• Hobo require the use of an Electric typewriter with a carbon ribbon and preferably italics for typing the next mag! Also we require people to be be street and pub sellers of Hobo and especially around the colleges.(by trev)
• If you know of any flats, bedsits, houses or shops going for rent, let us know as we are always being asked. (by trev)
• With any luck the Social awareness group will be getting together a small supplement for Hobo. (By Trev)
  

In Feb 1974 Hobo ran a feature on Birmingham bands under the title of BRUM BEAT, with information gleaned from

my own contacts with the Birmingham music scene and the Birmingham Grapevine, a grat and very useful underground magazine with an extensive Whatz On section and feature articles, which was one of the inspirations behind the creation of Hobo - having first come across it in the summer of 1971, when I lived in Birmingham for a short while. There is now a Brimingham band index site called Brum Beat (which was also a column in the Birmingham Grapevine).

Here is the Hobo Brum Beat page -

TREVOR BURTON
Remember the Move, the name that conjures up visions of Roy Wood's bizzare stage make-up.
Well everyone is well informed of Roy's activities. Meanwhile the bass player - Trevor Burton - has been back in Brum with a new band, playing 'Good old Rock n Roll' on the Birmingham pub rock scene.

"We just want the truth to come out, the same as Cream did...I'd rather do this and come off smiling than hate the work I'm doing and have a £100 in my pocket...I mean, what the price of your soul?"

STEVE GIBBONS BAND
Another band on the Birmingham scene, who have been around for a while are the Steve Gibbon's Band. Says Steve " I've never been more convinced of anything than  that this band could happen.The band  has been together through a lot of bad time, a sign we all feel the same way"

Steve turned down an offer to join ELO in order to stay with the band.

JAMES LANGSTON
(Singer / songwriter - formerly with Tea and Symphony and Thunderlake)
James said - in an interview with the Birmingham Grapevine - "When you're in a situation like Trevor's band or Steve's band - because we've all been through it before - there is this realisation tht you've got to let it grow and at the right time someone in the music business is going to pick up on it. If the band has that potential, obviously everyone would like to make enough to at least live comfortably, cos most of the musicians in Birmingham are on the Social Security and who wants to be on the fucking social security for the rest of their lives."

WALRUS GUMBOOT
Walrus Gumboot are four highly talented musicians who have hit out at the dull Rock scene in Birmingham with their fast and exciting music. Already acclaimed by many to be the outstanding group in Birmingham on the semi professional front. They consist of -
JIM SLATER ; Lead Guitar. A fast flowing guitarist with an excellent showman streak in him.
TERRY LAWSON ; Rythem guitar and lead vocalist. Many have said that the days of the Rythem guitar are long gone but Terry tell you different.
DAVE MULLEN ; Drums and vocals. The main driving force behind the group. Songwriter, drummer, showman and vocalist.
PETER SLATER ; Bass guitar and vocals. Establishing himself fast as a very funky and inventive bass guitarist.

(Walrus Gumboot were promoted by the Coventry SUNSHINE MUSIC AGENCY in Gulson Rd Coventry.)