He took her hand, they took the floor, she was his all time favourite dancer. Smiled lopsidedly, decidedly awkward he asked her, take my hand, take me and, I’ll take my cue, Ain’t you guessed by now I’m sold on
you. The late bus is leaving from the lonely station, so grab your silk stockings and your dance invitation. And that was all for the legend that is Edwyn Collins as he recently visited Leeds on his farewell tour. A well earned retirement for a song writing genius. The South carry on regardless despite another of our gifted songwriters Paul Heaton sailing his ship alone a fair few years ago. However life certainly goes on for the nine piece band and there a chance to win two tickets for their Holmfirth gig. And former radio one DJ Gary Davies hasn’t retired either as he’s doing an 80’s night in the same venue. Another final gig in the offing as Stevie Hulme and his band the Dead Vaynes also bow out in style along with a host of Leeds music royalty at his book launch on 2nd November at the Brudenell.

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!