Old News & Info

[TerryMurphy]

well Peter ,you know i have had my hair cut,i saw you at the book launch,Joe Lucy sitting down with the other bottle,he was the owner of the ruskin arm in high st north.
were Iron Maiden played ,some one told me it was in the neham recorder this week.
thanks for showing it.T.M

[peter]

thats ok terry hope you didnt mind me sending it cheers

[Oggy]

Re: Lou martin.......... hi terry, i recall a couple of years back reading on the internet that lou had suffered a stroke, i unfortunately lost the page on me computer, but said that lou was recovering well, and living in Brentwood, there  was an address, but alas i havent got it here.
 I no doubt will try to locate it though 
 Regards
Oggy

[rappo]

Lou is feeling much better, is taking walks and is having physiotherapy on his left hand. He hopes to be playing piano soon!

If you would like to write to Lou to wish him well you can do so at the following address:

Lou Martin
C/O 4 Rose Valley
Brentwood
Essex CM14 4H2



Lou is 3rd from left.

This was posted online about 6 weeks back :-

We called in to see Lou Martin on our way home from Southampton on Sunday and I'm delighted to report a definate improvement (and so we should as we hadn't called in for over a year, a fact that Lou's mum Margaret let me know good and proper!)

Lou was looking a lot more mobile although he still needs his walking stick / cane thingy, he's certainly faster than last time and he's managing to get to the shops and stuff. Also his speech is much better and he had us laughing as usual with stories from the band.

When I asked Lou if he had anything to say to the fans who remembered him his exact words were 'Tell them many thanks for the cards and letters and I love them all for remembering'

No nicer man have we ever met in this business!

[Oggy]

Cheers rappo, thats the address i lost, thanks so much!
 Regards
Oggy 

[Steve Fisher]

I'm so glad to hear Lou's doing better, he was such a sweet guy, I remember doing a gig supporting a band he was in at the Bridge way back when. We were't very good, but Lou was very encouraging.

Rod De'ath had a bad accident in LA also, and I seem to recall lost his memory for some while, but now doing much better I believe. they where and doubtless still are 2 realy good guys. I remember when they got the Chuck Berry gig, how cool was that. Lou told me it was a no set list, join in once you've guessed the song and the key type gig, and seeing Chuck a few years later I cold see want he meant, but that would have been easy for a man with Lou's talent.

[rappo]

Here's a short excerpt from an interview with Rod in 1996.............

Jakob:
After that you kept on playing with Ramrod and sessions at the Bridgehouse with Gerry & Lou-etc. What did you do afterwards?

Rod:
I did some studio work and played in some local pubs & clubs and then moved to the States, where I lived for a number of years. Towards the mid eighties, I went back to the UK for a production with a band called Road Erect. They wanted me to produce it and I knew London, so off we went. It was then when I had a severe accident at which I lost one eye, had severe brain damages and got into a coma. As I had no permanent address in London for my house, and because were in the States, it was very difficult for the doctors & nurses to find out who I was and where I stayed.

It was much later when I regained consciousness and was able to move a bit, that I realized that I was  awakening, but in the beginning I did not recognize anyone or anything.  Very gradually this changed and when the first relatives were at my bedside, I sensed something familiar, but I could not place them. That only happened later on. As I had stayed a long  time unconscious in London, my house in States had remained unoccupied for a very long time with the consequence it was looted & I had to start all over again in London with my wife and daughter. I am still seeing doctors regularly for checks and still have bouts of pain regularly, but have outlived their expectancy of my life span, which I celebrated.

Jakob:
You cannot play the drums anymore, I guess?

Rod:
No, that's over, unfortunately. I can look back, however, to a long career as a professional drummer with Rory,. Killing Floor.

Jakob:
It' s amazing how much you can recollect now!

Rod:   
It finally got back and I'd say for 95 %.

Jakob:
So you have lost all your possessions and have nothing which reminds you of your career as a professional drummer?

Rod: No, my mother kept an album with all the articles that had appeared in news and rock papers from say my childhood years until 1980 . She  even went with me to see Irish Tour '74 when this was shown at ABC Cinema in London. Unfortunately, she died and my father burnt everything she had kept for and on me.

Jakob: I'm sorry to hear this

After  this, our conversation came to an end and Rod got some Dutch" stuff". Anyone who has photos and articles for Rod, please send them. I will send the over to Rod with your name etc.

[Steve Fisher]

Bloody hell Colin, how did you pull that up so quick?

[TerryMurphy]

Reading about Lou now Rod,makes you realise how lucky we are,I would like to send him a book,Colin if you can get his Address,Bloody shame, they both gave us so much entertainment.T.M

[Oggy]

Thanks rappo for all the info on lou and rod, like terry said we dont how lucky we are!, those two guys were part of my growing up, and watching their performances both at the bridge and on dvd with rory, makes me realise what a special time it was.
 I am going to write to lou, send him my best wishes.
 Regards
Oggy

[rappo]

Terry. Sending Rod a copy of the book is a fantastic idea. Here's an address for Rod that I got from Mick Clarke, although Mick has not been in touch with him recently.

Rod De'Ath
74 Dumont Rd
London N16 0NJ

Hold off on sending the book for a few days as I'm waiting for a reply from Gerry McAvoy as I'm sure he will have the most up to date address.

It may be an idea for anyone that knew Rod well to write to him, but, hold off on doing so until I can confirm the address................

Terry, You'll have to send a copy to Lou as well..........................

[Oggy]

Cheers rappo, if address for rod is ok, i will write to him too, let me know if its still valid address......i've got a card written to send to lou to wish him well.
 Regards mate
Oggy

[rappo]

Still hold off on sending anything to Rod until I can confirm the address...........

Sent a message to Gerry on October 3rd, but haven't had a reply as yet. He's most probably busy as I think they are gigging in France this week.

But..............

Got a reply from Donal Gallagher. He's currently in Greece working on a project. He said that when he gets back to England he'll see if he can supply any info.

As soon as I hear anything I'll let you know.

[TerryMurphy]

Colin ,Donal Video the Rory Gallagher gig at the bridge house,be great to get,a view of that,if he has kept it that is.There is also a video of the incedent with Us and Johny Rotten,after the McCroom gig,just wondering,a yea or nay on either would be good.
well done Col,keep the ship afloat.Regards Terry M

[rappo]

I know that the film from the BH and Macroom is out there bececause I caught a glimpse somewhere. But, I've had no luck in finding it recently.

I'll ask around and try to find out if anyone has anything to do with either occasion.