The View from the Bridge | Another snapshot from a fortnight ago. Waiting for the gang to fill up at the Mount Carroll gas station. I always thought the windscreen had cat ears atop it…
May 21, 2019
Ursa Presley
There’s a fella down the chip shop… | This image was doing the rounds a couple of weeks ago. Late night talk show host and former Saturday Night Live member Jimmy Fallon dressed as Elvis riding a Triumph Bonneville with a bear sitting at pillion. Vegas is undoubtably the destination.
April 14, 2019
L’ amour
Je t’aime | French musician Serge Gainsbourg (L) gives a cheeky smile to his muse Jane Birkin who sits astride a high piped Tiger on some Rue de Paris. She’s sporting white thigh high go-go boots which puts the photo late sixties. – Moi non plus…
March 21, 2019
Thinkin’ ’bout the times you drove in my car.
Badge | The story goes that when Eric Clapton was putting the finishing touches to a George Harrison written piece he thought the middle bridge was labeled ‘Badge’ hence the Cream song got its name. George played backing guitar under the name “L’Angelo Misterioso”. This bikers vest is covered in Triumph embroidered patch badges.
March 18, 2019
Trouble Starter
Firestarter | Woke up to the sad news that The Prodigy frontman Keith Flint died over the weekend. If you were at a rave in the mid to late nineties you will have danced to their music. Fluorescent hair and wide-eyed he was the vision of a Century making a last gasp for excitement. He was also an avid motorcyclist to the point that he owned a race team – Team Traction Control – who, with Ian Hutchinson on a Yamaha R6, grabbed some wins at IofM and the Ulster GP. A lot of people said he was a friendly down to earth bloke. Sad day. RIP Keith Flint (1969-2010)
March 2, 2019
Wanted Dead or Alive
Jon and Dorothea – Mr & Mrs Bongiovi lookin’ like a happy couple riding a Harley softail across the desert of Moab where he was filming the video for their chart topping hit from Young Guns II “Blaze of Glory”. Jon Bon Jovi is 57 today. Cowboy boots ‘n’ all!
February 26, 2019
“Hello I’m Johnny Cash”
The Man in Black – Johnny Cash was born this day in 1932. He wrote humbling music which could pierce the coldest heart and sang with a calm but authoritative voice that sent shivers down your spine. “He walked the Line.”
February 23, 2019
Maniac
Pleasant Valley Sunday – after Peter Torks passing last week I’m adding this excerpt from a ’68 Monkees Monthly ‘zine that was unearthed showing drummer Mr Dolenz haring around the Hollywood Hills on his Triumph.
February 21, 2019
For Pete’s Sake!
Monkey Magic – sadly earlier today saw the passing of another Monkee; prime goofball Peter Tork died at the age of 77. Here he is in ’67 at the height of their fame grinning big on a Honda Monkey bike.
February 20, 2019
Here we are; entertain us
“It’s better to burn out than to fade away.” Kurt Cobain -he would have been 52 today. Hard to think… his alternative music was evocative and inspiring for a youth in a post Thatcher/Reagan world.
February 9, 2019
Pantechnicon Man
Marcus Motorcyclist – lead singer of folk rock musician troupe Mumford & Sons enjoys Triumphs old and new. His distinctive raspy voice is a perfect accompaniment to the upbeat music that husband performs. Lookin’ cool MM!
February 3, 2019
Heartbeat
The Day The Music Died – Sixty years ago today a small aircraft took off from Mason City Iowa flying into winter conditions with poor visibility and crashing near Clear Lake killing all on board. Of course this was Buddy Holly 22, Richie Valens 17, and JP Richardson (The Big Bopper) 28; as well as the pilot.
Waylon Jennings gave his seat up on the flight to Richardson.
In regards to Buddy and his love of motorcycles; here in Jennings’ words:
“They loved Marlon Brando in ‘The Wild One,’ and when they got to Dallas…they decided on the spur of the moment to buy motorcycles and drive back home on them.” Waylon recalled. “They took a cab into the city and walked into a Harley-Davidson shop. They had their eyes on a trio of 74-inchers, but the proprietor didn’t think they had any money and treated them like a bunch of bums. ‘Hell, you boys couldn’t even begin to handle the payments on that.
Then they went over to Miller’s Motorcycles, which specialized in English bikes. There, Joe B (Maudlin, the Crickets’ then-bass player), and J.I. (Allison, the drummer) bought a Triumph each, a TR6 and Thunderbird, respectively, while Buddy picked out a maroon and black Ariel Cyclone, with a high compression 650cc Huntsmaster engine. They paid cash, bought matching Levi jackets and peaked caps with wings on them, and rode home through a thunderstorm.”
January 14, 2019
Learn to Fly
Fifty Foo Fighter – Drummer and front man Dave Grohl celebrates his fiftieth birthday today. As well as heavy garage rock he’s also an ardent biker. His compositions are perfect music for a road trip. Highway soundtrack.
Tom Rowland Photography
December 21, 2018
The Edge of the World
Jagged Little Pill – Canadian American singer songwriter Alanis Morissette poses at an overlook near Big Sur California with a hazy Pacific melting into the hazy west. Her black Bonneville is a suitable ride for PCH Highway 1 with its endless twists, turns and open views along one of the prime roads in the world.
December 9, 2018
My hat’s off to you…
Old Folk Rock Curmudgeon- we went to see Richard Thompson perform at the historic venue Thalia Hall in the Pilsen neighborhood. A good set with a sampling of rock pieces interspersed by the technical guitar virtuoso work he’s also known for. Midway through the gig he sang his most widely known ballad: Vincent Black Lightning 1952. The story of ne’er do well James and his red headed gal, Molly. Wonderful stuff!
