Posted: 10 December 2009 at 3:02pm | IP Logged

I have to confess, I have no idea about forum etiquette, and I'm just trying to find a legitimate way in for an opening comment or two - hope that' alright! I've been catching up recently with all things ATF from a distance because I've lived in Germany for 12 years, although I havn't seen Der Kommissar yet. My credentials? Well, I saw ATF at Southampton university, probably in '82, and then in London - not sure where, but then Banksie was on the move all over the stage with a portable synth slung over his shoulder for a while. And so to my first question: Is it just my fevered imagination, over the mists of time, or did he really climb up onto his A Frame, and leap off? If so, can he still do it? Anyway, I also once shared a house with a vinyl copy of Signs of Change, and really appreciated it then, before I realised it would one day become gold dust. I have just orderd the CD. The Radio Sessions is also really good - I just found it in our local store. My family hasn't voiced an opinion either way yet - I don't know if they get ATF, so its no good forcing the issue...

Its so encouraging to see the recent developments in the band, and I think with Rob they've really found a Good Thing. I appreciated Jon & Pete's brave efforts holding the vocals, but it did seem like hard work sometimes. I like some of their more recent (semi) accoustic versions, such as Like the Power of a Jet . I love the original version, but think if any song survives accoustic treatment, then it has proved its inherent worth. So, has Pete done a version of Joy on the pump organ yet? I really do want to know! If I lived in England I could have come and found out for myself. But its nice to revisit the past, and then discover that the present is also alive and well, not just a stagnation.

Keep it up, ATF. Now the English tour is over I won't hold my breath for the European tour....

Best Regards, Seagull (newest newbie at time of writing)

Posted: 15 December 2009 at 11:36pm | IP Logged

Thanks, Didi for the welcome. The only time I feel a bit homesick is when,for example I see the name Billericay (such a modest little town in my memory!) linked with ATF, since I lived for a year in Southend, and then it would indeed been possible just to pop along.... O  well! They did used to tour in Germany didn't they?

I realised that I spelt Banksy's name wrong - apologies. I have also started listening a bit to some of Rob Halligen's (now have I spelt that right, I wonder?) own material and performances - really inspiring: powerful, and what I would term "organic" (as referred to in my limited profile) in the best possible sense! I stumbled upon the "Outlaw" video with Rob, Banksy and ...the other talented fellow. Its a great interpetation of a great Larry Norman song!

Enough for now. Greetings from Sankt Augustin, near Bonn, no longer really the centre of Germany.

Seagull

Posted: 30 September 2010 at 10:59am | IP Logged

OK, its more ths 3/4 of a year later, so I'll try another approach!

In the booklet accompanying the Radio Sessions CD, there is a colour photo of  what I assume to be Mr P Banks, apparently hovering, like a spectre above his keyboards.

Does this answer my question, or did someone just push the eject button ?

Can I expect anything like this at Kingston 2010 ?

Posted: 30 September 2010 at 11:19pm | IP Logged

It looks to me as if he is just about to bow.

Hey Pete, come out of hiding and resolve the jumping/diving issue !! 

Posted: 02 October 2010 at 1:27pm | IP Logged

I have asked the question.... the answer -

Pete used to jump over his keyboard at the end of Starflight.

But the youngan Robster has taken over these duties now !!