Beat my head against a pole. Try to knock some sense, Down in my bones. And even though they don’t show, The scars aren’t so old. And when they go, They let you know. You can’t put your arms around a memory, You can’t put your arms around a memory. Former member of the New York Dolls, Johnny Thunders and considered by many to be his signature song from 1978. If East Leeds had it’s very own version of Johnny Thunders, it might well be Stevie Hulme aka Vayne former singer of the Vaynes. Johnnny was Stevie’s hero and he even supported him on tour. And although Johnny is long gone, Stevie might not be able to put his arms around a memory but he’s certainly able to put them in a book. We’ve made quite a big deal of Stevie’s story in this issue. when some of his peers might of thought he’d be lucky to see 30 years old, Stevie’s still here and his story is a fantastic, against the odds trawl through the last 40 years or so.

I could be red, yellow, white, orange or green. A la tomatina they go and throw me out in the streets. With some oil some pepper sometimes that’s all you would need. And I’m grown around the world so I’m never out of season.
The Tomato Song by the Canadian band Walk off the Earth from the Romeo Eats series/album. Alan Cuthbertson is going to the La Tomatino Festival in Buñol, Spain, where participants throw tomatoes at each other It is said to be the biggest food fight in the world. Sadly it will also coincide with his last article for us after nine years and almost a 100 articles. We haven’t heard the last from Alan, he’ll still feature occasionally and we also await his third novel. But until then a big thank you for his interesting articles over the years, giving us a unique perspective of life in Spain. We’ve four competitions for tickets this issue, see pages 20, 23 & 29. And if all this gig going is getting a bit much, join the party with Tonia and her Zumba classes!

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could wake up. In the morning when the day is new? After having spent the day together. Hold each other close the whole night through. But happy times together we’ve been spending. I wish that every kiss was never-ending. Oh, wouldn’t it be nice? It will probably be a few weeks after the sad death of Brian Wilson by the time you read this but we couldn’t let it pass. Wouldn’t it be Nice, from 1966’s Pet Sounds. Just genius. Lee Murtagh is feeling good vibrations after finally getting his latest movie Champ Tramp out. God Only Knows where we would be without Gill bursting with positive vibes. Meanwhile Warren tells us about the Heroes & Villians of the plant world. Craig Charles and Leo Sayer competitions this month, thanks to MP Promotions.