An Interview With Vivienne S. Jones - Author OF 'Rhydian's Quest'

Rhydian's Quest

AmeriCymru: Writing a book is quite an undertaking, requiring many hours filled with some frustration and much doubt. What was the motivation for writing Rhydian's Quest?

Vivienne: Originally I had no intention of writing a book, the book sort of happened after the story was finished. It had been written in episodes over several months, giving me a lot of pleasure in the telling of it. When it came to an end several of my friends who had been following the “saga” suggested I made it into a book. Some had not joined the story until halfway through and wanted to read the whole thing. I had always been a keen writer and several times started a novel and had written short stories when younger, purely for my own satisfaction, so I thought why not? I asked my husband – who is a just but honest critic – to read the finished manuscript. He said “Do I HAVE to?” and then read it over two nights and said he had actually enjoyed it and thought I could certainly have a go at getting it published!!

AmeriCymru: Your choice of subject matter, Welsh Mythology and history, requires an in-depth knowledge of both. Were these subjects known to you before you started writing, or did you have to spend much time in research? If so, why choose a topic requiring that much time and effort? 

Vivienne: I had much of the basic knowledge of many of the main strands, for instance Llewellyn the Great, and of course Merlin and Arthur, although they had been Cornish and Somerset based. Some of the Roman occupation of Wales was also known to me, but as I delved deeper into the myths and legends of Wales the interest grew and I found it so fascinating how the same legends, with a slightly different slant could be found in many cultures. Some were almost certainly inventions by the storytellers of the time, others have come from folk memory, embellished and changed over the years. A good example of this is the drowning of Cardigan Bay, almost certainly an actual event, but not as recent as some stories tell. There are submerged forests that can be visible at very low water and one possible reason is low lying land that suffered a major Tsunami some time in the ancient past.

I researched as I went along, having a rough outline of the next phase of my story I read and studied online as well as drawing from existing tales before taking my hero onto his next adventure. Sometimes I wanted him to go in one direction, but he seemed to have a will of his own and took me down a different pathway! I had for instance wanted him to go to the Preseli mountains home of the bluestone rocks possible used at Stonehenge, but he went northwards instead, and I just gave him a bit of the stone purported to have healing qualities in the ring and cup of Emrys!!

The research was certainly was a labour of love, not a chore!!

AmeriCymru: How long did it take you to write Rhydian's Quest - from the time of inception to sending it to a publisher? 

Vivienne: That is really two separate parts, the writing of the saga took about 18 months, then the editing and publishing took about another year. I certainly rejected some of the original episodes, including the opening poem, which was very bad and kicked into my recycling bin!

AmeriCymru: It is not common to find a modern book written in verse in the U.S., is it more common in the U.K.? What made you decide to write your first book in verse?

Vivienne: The original idea was given to me by a friend from an online poetry group, so it started in verse, and carried on in that format. Because it was written in parts the rhyming style was not always the same, sometimes each line rhymed, sometimes every other line did, and a few were blank verse. When I decided to make it into a book I did consider various options, such as re-writing it in prose, but that would have taken away a lot of the feel of the story, which I had written much as a wandering troubadour would have in the time it was set. I also considered rationalising the verse, so it was all the same, but I did not think this was necessary or important, each part could stand on its own, as the final format of the book is set.

As for this being a common format for a book, the answer is a resounding no, and one which will make it a niche market and almost certainly lessen its chances of selling in any great numbers!! On the book website www.rhydians-quest.co.uk there are some excerpts from the book read by Philip Knighton and this shows how it does in fact read more like prose than verse.

I did find that writing in this format meant I was giving more attention to each word used being relevant and having more meaning, it stopped me being woolly and rambling. Sometimes I wished I had more scope to expand and describe, but overall I am pleased with the tightness that I feel it has given to the story.

AmeriCymru: You used changes of verb tenses to emphasize an action or event. Was this an intentional tool?

Vivienne: I was delighted that you picked this up, yes I found it was a good tool to use, I also use it in places to indicate a change in time, during his dream sequences for instance. I could also speed up or slowdown the narrative using this.

AmeriCymru: Rhyming couplets appear throughout the book, but don't seem to have a particular purpose or order. I found that they caused me to stop and go back over the passage to get a better understanding of the sense and meter. Was that their intent? 

Vivienne: Again this was sometimes the story independently dictating the form, it was as if it gathered momentum and so changed the rhythm as the story progressed. Certainly some of the original verse form was a bit “Tum-de-tum” and quickly replaced with a less obvious rhythm. It is probably not a purist piece of writing, and I do not claim to be a real poet, but it is a form of writing that I enjoy and find I can express my feelings in.

AmeriCymru: You used places which actually exist or did exist whether in Mythology or History. I have begun to gather the places and plan to travel the route through Google. Was this your intent? 

Vivienne: All the places are real, some have almost completely disappeared now, for instance Castell Du is difficult to find and nothing is known for sure about its history, who build it or when – so I could take author liberties with it!! Some are only found by looking at place names, whilst others have grown and are now large thriving communities. To say nothing of becoming a tourist place such as the Gold Mines, or still remain a spiritual retreat, like Bardsey Island is.

I would love my story to have given people the desire to look the places and their history up, maybe even visit them on a Rhydian’s Quest Trail!!! Some places I already knew others I have since visited and some hope I to soon, but they are all within a lovely country and well worth visiting. I found the roman road to Y Pigwen especially atmospheric and I could well imagine souls from long ago still to be found there. The Glaslyn Estuary is now land, with the wall built across from Porthmadoc, but imagination can fill in the sea and rebuild castle walls, bringing alive every place along the trail!!

AmeriCymru: Most fables have a moral or object lesson, and Rhydian's Quest certainly follows this mold, so I wasn't disappointed. How would you summarize the "moral" of this work? 

Vivienne: I suppose it is that a person must remain true to themselves and have the courage to take a different route to others if that is what they truly believe. But also to realise that your ideas can change and to keep your mind open to what is important in life.

It was not started as a morality tale, although I suppose that is what it became, though not I trust a sanctimonious or preaching one. That is far from me as a person and not what was intended.

However, I do believe that there is a need and a place for a tale told without the input of excessive violence or blatant sex. Will not do it much good on the bestsellers list though!!

AmeriCymru: We are both fans of Rhydian Roberts, one of Wales' rising vocal stars, and you have given clues about him in the pages of Rhydian's Quest. At what point during the writing of your book did you decide to include Rhydian Roberts? 

Vivienne: You have found me out!! The circle of online poets that encouraged me in the writing of my saga are all supporters of Rhydian Roberts, and the original poem came during a quiet time when nothing much was happening. One member, who my book is dedicated to, gave all the poets a task to do, all in fun, and knowing my passion for them I was given the job of looking after his horses. Now to the best of my knowledge Rhydian has no interest in horses [can’t be perfect] so instead a young man from medieval Wales rode into my mind and the story took shape.

Naturally my hero being Welsh could sing, and luckily there was a castle site in modern day Rhydian’s home village. However I must stress that this book is not about Rhydian Roberts, although according to my husband I have idealised what I would have liked him to have been in medieval times, it is simply a story and nothing should be read into it.

It is fortunate that his name is three syllables and so lends itself to a good cadence, not sure if I could have used some names in the same way.

AmeriCymru: Your first published book has been a real hit with me and my family; from wife to grandchildren. What are your future literary plans? 

Vivienne: It is very rewarding to hear people have enjoyed my tale, I want people to have a smile on their face at the finish and say – Ahh I enjoyed that, hopefully enough to re-read it and gain more from the story on a second visit.

In my wildest dreams I would like Rhydian’s Quest to be set to music, but I cannot write music and realistically I know that will remain just that - a wild dream!! 

I would very much like to write another book, I have an idea running around my head right now; I just need the time to sit down and do it. The next one will not be in verse, but I hope with have the same attention to the writing and meaning of words.

Interview by Howard Evans

Read our review of 'Rhydian's Quest' here

David Garland Jones - The Man, The Legend - A Christmas Interview

For our special Christmas interview this year AmeriCymru spoke to David Garland Jones - Welsh living legend, Actor, Guru, Raconteur,  Poet and future Penderyn Whiskey, Welshman of The Year 2010. David took this opportunity to introduce a selection of his groundbreaking work on YouTube. He would also like to  wish all our readers Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda! 

Americymru:  Who IS David Garland Jones?

David: He… (or should that be ‘I’. Think I’ll go with I… but then ‘I am an actor…’ sounds a bit grand and pompous). Ok, have another shot of Penderyn’s Finest Welsh Whiskey… I (cue fanfare), am an actor, guru, raconteur, poet, and latterly male model and YouTube phenomenon. I was born on the grubby fringes of Port Talbot, South Wales in 1962. ‘Anthony Hopkins, Ivor Emmanuel, Michael Sheen, Richard Burton, David Garland Jones… what other town ever produced such a quinvirate of acting talent?’ as the Port Talbot Guardian (now sadly defunct) put it. A potted history of my life featuring Michael Sheen (as well as Brothers & Sisters’ Matthew Rhys) and can be found here: 

Roger Garrick - 'The Acting Guru's Acting Guru'

Americymru:  What was your first big break and how did you come to star in so many groundbreaking roles on YouTube?

David: I realised that to reach an audience I needed two things: I needed a small cheap camera (for any nerds out there I use a Flip video camera and the Power Director 7 editing suite). Three things. I needed three things. The above two things and an amiable presence to hold the camera and do all the technical stuff. So I enlisted my brother Jake. As I produce the films actually getting the leading role in them isn’t so difficult. I was up against Rhys Ifans for the lead role in my epic, Grand Theft Actor, but he didn’t return my call so I stepped in.

Grand Theft Actor (Spoof)

Americymru:  Has fame changed you?

David: No. There are still holes in my socks, but there are still dreams in my soul. One change is that I have started acting as a guru to younger actors… though in the case of Jonny Hollywood I encountered a few difficulties.

Ep 11. David Garland Jones - 'Jonny Hollywood's The Kiddie'

I also have a number one fan/stalker…

Sandra Bolton No.1 Fan

Americymru:  What is the current supply situation with 'David Garland Jones In A Can'? Will you be continuing this line after the holiday season?

David: Sales have been better than expected especially since our US rep, Mr Iain Sewell has been appointed. I may become the first actor who breaks America in ‘can’ form. In the UK there have been reports that fake DGJIAC (for short) have been seen in marketplaces alongside fake Prada, Gucci and Calvin Klein handbags. There have been reports of other actors crudely jumping the bandwagon, or can-wagon if you prefer, e.g. I’ve heard that the light entertainer, Rob Brydon, is bringing out ‘Bob In A Bag’.

DGJ In A Can #1 - 'Advert' (Spoof)

Americymru:  Many of our readers have asked what really happened at the Damian Dark audition. Care to elaborate?

David: Let’s just say that there is now a legally enforced exclusion zone around the BBC in Cardiff which I am not allowed to enter:

Ep 6. David Garland Jones - My Name Is Damian Dark

However, I did manage a brief live appearance there:

David Garland Jones Live At The BBC

Americymru:  Does David Garland Jones have any future plans for live stage appearances after the triumph at the Goldie Lookin Chain concert last year? Can you tell us how that appearance came about?

David: It was all down to Jay-Z and Alisha Keys. Thanks guys! They recorded a song called ‘New York’ which was then appropriated by some Londoners and re-recorded as ‘New-port’. However, it quickly emerged that they had never been to Newport. I was in a bar one evening and someone suggested that I did a song called ‘Ain’t Seen Ruthin Yet’ based on the classic Bachman-Turner Overdrive song ‘Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet’ as I had never been to Ruthin. My brother Jake downloaded the karaoke track, I sang it and the rest as they say is history. To date it’s had over 31,251 hits. So thanks Jay-z and Alisha, if you’re ever in Treforest please pop in.

Ain't Seen Ruthin Yet (Spoof)

But here’s some more history – Newport’s finest Goldie Lookin Chain then recorded their own version of ‘New-port’ then spotted the ‘Ruthin’ track and went on Sky News and mentioned it…

Goldie Lookin Chain plug 'Ain't Seen Ruthin Yet' on Sky News

A relationship developed and they kindly asked me to appear with them at their big Ryder Cup gig… Which I’d rather not talk about, what with the booing and the heckling and the breakdown I suffered afterwards…

'Who Are You? Who Are You?' - DGJ & Goldie Lookin Chain live in Newport

(However, if I was asked to perform it again I would remember the pink suitcase air guitar solo…)

Americymru:  More 'spoofs' along the lines of 'Aint seen Ruthin Yet' have been promised but I notice that Pontypool was not on the list. Is that because it's hard to rhyme or is there some other, more sinister, reason?

David: Someone suggested Little Jimmy Osmond’s ‘Long Haired Lover From Pontypool’ (formerly Liverpool) but it’s not even funny when you read it, let alone when you try to sing it. There will be a video in February featuring 12 of the best, ‘Spoof Songs With Welsh Place Names In The Titles’. Some of my favourites include Boston’s ‘More Than Rhydfelin’, KD Laing’s ‘Constant Aber-craving’ and my personal favourite, Odyssey’s ‘How ‘Bout Usk’.

Americymru:  You're a shoe-in for Penderyn 2010 Welshman of The Year, what will you do when you win?

David: Not a shoe-in, or even a shoo-in. I will need the votes of my Americymru friends first. Can I just mention that Penderyn’s Whiskey is the finest whiskey and the drink of kings. When, or indeed ‘if’ I win, I will run naked down the lanes of Treforest … ah, already done that.

M.A.D. - Mothers Against David

Americymru:  After your principled stand on cigarette smoking did you succeed in getting any sponsorship money from Big Tobacco?

David: Interestingly the pro-smoking lobby group FOREST regularly blog about my work. Did they not realise that this video is actually anti-smoking? And no. No sponsorship. Nothing at all.

David's Quickies No. 7 - Cigarette Trick

Americymru:  What's next for David Garland Jones? Any plans to visit the US?

David: I would love to visit the US. I have a live show which includes performing Under Milk Wood in mime. This went down really well at Treorchy Rugby Club where Max Boyce famously made his name:

Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood... In Mime

Americymru:  Any messages for the members of AmeriCymru and your other fans?

David: I am an internet pioneer. Like all the great pioneers of yore I am badly dressed, ill-prepared and lacking funds. However, I am not asking for clothing, skis or money. I simply ask that you keep watching my videos, subscribe to my Youtube channel and pass the links on to your more sophisticated and cultured friends. Have a lovely Yuletide weekend and an inspiring and theatrical 2011!

www.davidgarlandjones.com 

www.youtube.com/davidgarlandjones

The Latest From David Garland Jones 'The Man In A Can' - Live in Aberdare

New Tom Jones Biography

A new warts-and-all biography tells the full story of Tom Jones' amazing career: his innumerable affairs, his friendship with Elvis, and his brush with Charles Manson. It decscribes how he hit the heights, outselling Frank SInatra at the Copacabana night club, New York and the 5,000 bedroom keys that got thrown at him at Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas.

However there were many lows as Tom Jones continually reinvented himself from young rock-and-roller in Pontypridd to sixties hip-swiveller to seventies cabaret king, and then, under the strict direction of his own son Mark, to mature rocker and born again gospel singer with the recently released Praise and Blame.

Now 70 years of age, Tom Jones says, "I'll still be belting out tunes when they're trying to nail me down." The biography also highlights Tom's attachment to his Welsh roots and to his wife and childhood sweetheart, Linda Trenchard -- which is, according to the author, "the craziest thing of all in the rascal's ultra-crazy life."

Author Aubrey Malone, says: "Tom is a flawed icon but an irresistible one, going up the down staircase, refusing to stay down for long. His huge belief in himself as The Voice made this the thing people would always remember when the knicker-throwing stopped."

Aubrey Malone has also published biographies of Ernest Hemingway, Charles Bukowski and Brendan Behan. This biography, Still Rockin', sells for £6.95 and is published by Y Lolfa at www.ylolfa.com.

An Interview With Paul Steffan Jones

Paul Steffan Jones

Americymru: Your first published collection of poems "Lull of The Bull" has been very well received and reviewed. Do you have any further works in preparation?

Paul: I am currently working on another collection of poems, provisionally entitled "My Enclave". I hope that this will appear in the summer of 2011. It will be a more claustrophobic, introspective, partisan and surgical work than my debut.

Americymru: Care to explain the significance of the title - "Lull of The Bull"?

Paul: Firstly, I consider it to be internal poetry in a small way in itself, almost musical in a Middle Eastern by way of West Wales route. Secondly, I live in a rural area and am of farming ancestry but have no practical experience of this former family lifestyle like many of my contemporaries though we are surrounded by farms our families used to own. Thirdly, it could be a comment on artificial insemination, emasculation, enforced celibacy and the changing roles of both genders, more pertinently the male in this case. Essentially, I don't really know. I just write the stuff, waiting for shapes to appear in a log jam of words. I like the look and sound of it like a magpie might. I prefer the reader to reach his or her own conclusions.

Americymru: For my money one of the most interesting and powerful poems in the collection is:- "I Opened My Mouth and Set Free Twenty Thousand Demons Who Had Accompanied Me Thus Far" Can you tell us a little more about the poem?

Paul: This poem is the result of a planned one hour session of instant writing, all the baggage of that moment saved up for one Friday midnight. This partly explains its apparent randomness and disconnectedness and it is a precursor of much of my present favoured method of writing. The title refers to a cathartic process which is ongoing. I guess that some of what I write makes no linear sense which is how I and the Druids like it.

Americymru: I must ask you about 'Bombstar'. A great poem and a strong lyric. Was it written with musical adaptation in mind? Do you plan to adapt more of your work in the future?

Paul: "Bombstar" was not written with musical adaptation in mind. I would like to collaborate with more songwriters as I feel this is an exciting way of presenting my words.

Americymru: What significance does 'Y Gododdin' have for you personally and in your writing?

Paul: That epic poem speaks to me of a different, heroic age. It describes a glorious, doomed raid on the invader at a time when Wales could have been independent had it been united or even existed, a recurring theme. I don't dream of going back there that often but sometimes feel an outsider in my own land . The stylised depictions of weapons, armour and carnage have informed some of my own imagery as has my own personal collection of edged weapons, itself a response to that age, that poem.

Americymru: On your website there are a number of short stories. Is this a genre that you plan to explore further?

Paul: I am interested in exploring the short story genre more fully. Ultimately I'd like to publish a collection of short stories but that's some time off.

Americymru: What's next for Paul Steffan Jones?

Paul: I intend finishing "My Enclave" as soon as possible and ensure it doesn't turn into a sort of "Gangster Gododdin"! I am experimenting in poems culled from excerpts from magazines. I'm eager to resume writing in Welsh. I will be involved in industrial action against Government cutbacks soon, no doubt. I hope to pick up a long story called "Lovetown" I'm not writing and do more photography, using it differently. I have a number of poetry readings in Pembrokeshire in the coming months and have ambitions to take the poems overseas. Oh, and some romance and adventure would not go amiss, either.

 
Americymru: Any final message for the members and readers of AmeriCymru?

Paul: Lull of the Bull is available at www.starbornbooks.co.uk . I'm glad to be on Americymru and am delighted at the interest shown in my country. I am a Welsh speaker and am happy to receive communications in that language.

Interview With Jonny Owen - Star of 'A Bit of Tom Jones'

Ceri: How did you get into acting and theater? Jonny: Basically I was in a band in the mid 90's called The Pocket Devils. We became quite well known on the live circuit especially in Wales where we did quite a bit of TV. There was a drama series starting in my home town of Merthyr Tydfil called 'Nuts and Bolts'. The casting director at ITV Wales had seen me in this band and approached me about auditioning for a part in the series (the Character was called 'Richey' and in a band you see?). Anyway many weeks and screen tests later I got the part. From there I got an agent and parts in other series. So, you could say there was a bit of luck! Ha.   Ceri: You won a BAFTA Cymru, Gwyn Alf Williams Award in 2006 for your part in the making of documentary "The Aberfan Disaster". Care to tell us a bit about that experience? Jonny: Yes of course. The town where I come from, Merthyr Tydfil, has a small mining village just outside where tragically a Coal Tip fell onto the Primary School and surrounding streets in 1966. The 'disaster' was seen by millions world wide as over a hundred school children and local people were killed. My Father worked at one of the local Mines at the time and was one of the first on the scene to help with the rescue and clear up. Forty years later I was working at ITV Wales as an Assistant Producer in the Factual dept as well as acting. They said they were doing a documentary in conjunction with S4C and SKY about the disaster. They asked would I like to work on the program. Now being from Merthyr I was acutely aware of how sensitive the subject was and how poorly the people had been treated by the Coal Board and Government after the disaster so I said that I would only be involved if we could tell the truth about how appalling the disaster was for the people of the village both during and after. They not only agreed but wanted to go down that path too. So we did just that. We were pretty scathing of the Govt of the time but felt justified when the people of the village thanked us afterwards for telling the real story. That meant more than anything. That year it seemed Bafta Cymru also agreed and gave us the special 'Gwyn Alf Williams' award for program of Historical significance. Ceri: You've starred in a number of critically acclaimed films. Care to tell us a little about your roles in two of them:- "Little White Lies" and "Good Arrows"? Jonny: Little White Lies was about a family torn apart by racism. There is a lot of tension in the UK about immigration. Wrongly people seem to think it's a threat. The truth of the matter is that the UK would pretty much stop functioning without the work done by people from across the UK. LWL tells the dark tale of a Welsh lad who gets into right wing politics with tragic results. It was a difficult role to play but also important and the film carried a good anti racist message. Good Arrows was about a Darts player who has fallen on hard times. He also finds out his wife has been financially bleeding him dry. It's a comedy but also is a sad story about people's obsession with celebrity. Ceri: How did you come to be involved in A Bit of Tom Jones? What do you think about the final film? Jonny: I was cast by the Director/Writer Peter Watkins Hughes. Years ago (On Nuts and Bolts) he told me Roger (my co star) that he would write a film for us one day..and he was as good as his word. It was as simple as that really. I think it's what it is. Just a funny film. A bit like a cross between Monty Python and the Carry on films in the UK. I just thought it was gonna be another film that went to DVD I didn't expect it to become a Box Office smash in the UK and win a Bafta Cymru for best film. That's a nice bonus obviously! Ceri: The response to the film has been very positive in Wales, how do you think it will do outside the country? Jonny: I think it'll be cool. They love Python in the States and Japan and it's of that ilk. You know, you cant make things for people's taste, I don't think anyway. That way you just end up chasing your tail. I think you make what you think is funny and then if someone liked it then fantastic, but trying to second guess is pointless. It may need subtitles in the US for my accent mind..;-) Ceri: You created and star in the internet series, "Svengali," which can be seen on youtube, what can you tell us about that? How did that come about and what are your plans for this? Jonny: It was an idea between me, Dean Cavanagh and Phil John. We just wanted to do something based on the music industry where (we believe) there is a lot of room for comedy, after all it's the only industry where bad behaviour is encouraged, and that's ripe for parody. We filmed some short Ep's and put them on the net and people loved it. We've been approached by some TV Production companies and Broadcasters who are interested but at the moment we are gonna keep making them as they are as we have complete control, which is great. The main character is Dixie and is based loosely on the manager of my old band The Pocket Devils. I also want to bring in his American partner Bobby Poe who I want Jack Black to play. I must get him the Ep's actually.. Ceri: What's next for your professionally? Jonny: A follow up to A bit of Tom Jones called Wales v's Uranus. We are pretty fed up that only the Americans get to take on Alien Invasions so we fancy having a pop ourselves...;-) Filming later this year. I'm back on Shameless for Channel 4 again this summer. Ceri: On your MySpace page, you cite the following quote from Aneurin Bevan as your inspiration:- "You know what happens to people who stand in the middle of the road don't you? They get knocked down....". Is it the quotation or the man himself that inspires you? Jonny: Yes but more Nye himself really. Astonishing man who left an incedible legacy. We are very proud of our universal health care system in the UK, the fact that treats you equally, whether you are rich or poor. Nye was the founder of this and Welsh too. He was voted 'The Greatest' ever Welshman in newspaper polls in 2000. I have to say I agree with that too! Ceri: You are known to be a big Cardiff city supporter? What did you think of their performance on Wednesday? Jonny: It was a disapointing end to the season...but we have new backers now and I fancy we'll go that one better next year. It would be fantastic to get a Welsh club into the English Premiership as it has such a worldwide profile...I'm sure we will next year. Ceri: Any final message for the readers and members of AmeriCymru? Jonny: Just to say 'Hi and Diolch for asking me to be interviewed. There'll always be a welcome in the 'Old Country' for you all and I'd love to drop by to see you all sometime soon. Find more videos like this on Americymru Interview by Ceri Shaw Email

“Park Life” The Best Bits 2010

Jeff Jones is a former Welsh amateur footballer; a Boys Club’s of Wales international in 1979. The same year he scored a hat-trick in the final of that season’s Welsh Youth cup final. During a long and undistinguished football career in the game he played in every position on the pitch and has occupied every position off the field of play from club chairman to programme editor. “Park Life” The Best Bits is a collection of the funniest articles from the RTB Ebbw Vale FC match programme edited by Jones, and despite the club being so far down the football pyramid they were almost on the Sphinx! Park Life proved an award winning match programme completing a hat-trick of Gwent County Programme of the year wins and was also voted best in its category (level 3 and below) 3 years running in the Welsh Football Magazine’s Programme of the year wards. Three times in it’s 6 year history the programme was named in the top 5 in Wales finishing 3rd Twice this in the overhaul category, beating programmes printed professionally by clubs playing at the highest levels of Welsh football. Park Life ran from 2003-2009 though Jones continues to write humorous articles in the Welsh Football Magazine on a monthly basis. Ebbw Vale, made famous by politician Aneurin Bevan can also boast Oasis manager Marcus Russell as famous sons, as well as former world number one snooker player Mark Williams and rugby internationals such as Clive Burgess and Ian Watkins. Jones used his match programme to share numerous stories of his struggles with football teams at the lower end of the football pyramid though also used an array of fictional characters to air their views on professional football at a world level, so there is something of interest for any football fan amongst the pages of his book. Contact details Email address: Jeff1961@btinternet.com Book ISBN number: 9781449073886 Check out the web site at www.jeffjonesbooks.co.uk “Park Life” The Best Bits Includes Humpty Dumpty Did he Dive or was he pushed? Never one to sit on the fence we at “Park Life” asked some well respected footballing figures to help sort out this mystery from yesteryear and having received no replies from anyone made the following ones up! Ron Atkinson “Spotters badge Clive! For me it was handbags, the big fella should not have been anywhere near the wall, he should have been hanging around the back stick. I’ll tell you another thing for me Clive. The big fella went down far too easily! Kevin Keegan “I tell Ya...I, I When you say that about professional soldiers not being able to put him back together again. We’re bigger than that I..I..I’ve kept quiet for too long, but I tell Ya he’s gone down in my estimation!” World Exclusive Interview Shep the Blue Peter Dog I immediately became friends with Stan Bowles he passed me a ball and said “hello show us your pedigree chum! With you in the side we can Winalot!” Stan would bet on anything and one day he was playing “keepy uppies” and said “there's nothing I can’t do with a ball!” I replied “I bet you a tenner I’ve a trick you can’t do” “You’re on mate” he cried. So I sat down and licked mine and said “you can’t do this!” “In off the post!” Letters Page * With all this talk about a credit crunch why don’t we all move to that place called jeopardy, because apparently there are thousands of jobs in jeopardy! Yours Bryn Picca * A man in the pub told me that England’s Theo Walcott is so young that he was not only awarded with a cap but also a satchel after the recent Croatia game! Yours Barry Island Touché! Ed Film Night Wales Stuck for a DVD to buy for Christmas? Check out these Welsh titles Trefforest Gump The Lost Boyos An American Werewolf in Llandudno Huw DaresWyns Dai Hard Evans Almighty Meet Dai Idris Jones and the temple of Dyfed The Wizard of Oswestry Treasure Barry Island The Eagle has Llangynidr The Golden Cwm by pass The Good the Balla and the Ugly Doctor Dai Little The Magnificent River Seven Haverfordwest Was Won Saving Private Ieaun Independence Dai The Welsh Connection The Bridge on the River Wye Lawrence of Snowdonia The Welsh Patient Ian Rush Hour The King and Ira Look Back in Bangor Dial M for Merthyr Dai another Day A Rhondda world in 80 Dai’s Caerphillydelphia Merthyr on the Orient Express Ponty Pythons Life of Bryn A Fishguard called Wanda Daddy Dai Camp Where Eagles Aberdare From Rassau with Love

The Ninth Wave by Russell Celyn Jones – A Review

"You cannot be a true Mabinogi fan without reading this book" The Ninth Wave is a retelling of ‘Pwyll, Lord of Dyfed’ from the First Branch of the Mabinogion. Jones paints a world in the future where planet earth is out of oil. The horse is the preferred mode of transportation, sailing ships rule the seas and centralized governments have failed. Cars, trucks & vans are all roadside relics many of which are now inhabited. Wales is ruled by cantrefs (like our counties), which are inherited or won by conquest. While this Mad Max setting is intriguing, it seems slightly unpolished or needing more thought and attention to detail to make it work. However, there is enough here to make an interesting tale as long suspend your disbelief and ignore the awkward parts of it. When Pwyll drives, his mint condition saved and stored Bentley convertible on a tour of sacrifice while using its last tank of gas. The climax being to drive into a lake on another Lord’s property as a peace offering, yes that is what I said! (Here my lip trembles) I got out my hanky, well I will spare the details just saying it ended up wet and snotty. I have sat on this review for some time now, hoping to gain a more unbiased view of the work. In rereading the original tale of Pwyll, you find a young Lord who meets the Lord of the Otherworld. He swaps places with him for a year and a day including total shape shift of bodies. Slays (only a human can kill a god) the only competing Lord of that realm. Kills the suitor of the woman he wants to marry, has a son, son is kidnapped, wife is blamed and punished. Son is restored as a teenager and Pwyll rules happily ever after. Briefly an awkward paced fast then slow tale, deserving more space for a retelling. Jones by the nature of the assignment follows the same path but does not take enough space to fully develop the tale, as should be. The old tales involved a ‘Geis’ a magical binding or prohibition laid upon central character of the tale. Geis are behind the mythological tales in folklore, but now writers do not use Geis. A Geis would place a hero into legend, but now we must build a mighty saga to do the same. Considering that, Seren wants only novella length tales this is still a fine story. By explaining the limitations set for the task and then having my wife read the book her experience was thus. Struggled through the first half of the book not being a fantasy or science fiction reader, and then enjoyed the slower paced second half. There are pleasant surprises such as the return of the surfing son with a talent for leadership. The landscape of desolation will give you the shivers. You cannot be a true Mabinogi fan without reading this book. Buy the book HERE Review by Bill Tillman

An Interview With Darren Parry

Darren Parry is a singer/songwriter from Dowlais In Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales. He has toured the US extensively and has just released a new single - "Just The Mention Of Your Name". He spoke to ameriCymru about his life and career:- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Americymru: When did you first become aware that you were intent on a musical career? Darren: I realised this when I started writing songs seriously at around the age of 18. I'd grown up listening to my parents (and especially my mother) playing old 'Motown' ('Four Tops', Diana Ross, 'Temptations', Jimmy Ruffin etc.)records, and lots of 'Free', 'Carpenters', Kenny Rogers and so on and thought, "hmmmm... I'd like to sing and write songs like that". I was always a fan of the big sorta raspy voices, e.g. Joe Cocker, Ray Charles, Michael McDonald, Richard Marx, Joe Lynn Turner, David Coverdale, Bonnie Tyler, Michael Bolton etc. and was always amazed (and still am) by the power and emotion that the human voice can express...what an instrument when used effectively! Americymru: You are from Dowlais in Merthyr Tydfil. Care to tell our American readers a little about the area? Darren: I'm originally from a small village called Troedyrhiw in Merthyr Tydfil and have lived in various areas of Merthyr Tydfil (and a few yrs in Swansea) but now reside in Dowlais. Dowlais, like many areas in Merthyr Tydfil is an old mining village as Merthyr Tydfil was renowned in the 1800's for making iron (exported all over the world) and coal. Merthyr was situated close to reserves of iron ore, coal, limestone and water, making it an ideal site for ironworks. Small-scale iron working and coal mining had been carried out at some places in South Wales since the Tudor period, but in the wake of the Industrial revolution the demand for iron led to the rapid expansion of Merthyr's iron operations. The Dowlais Ironworks was founded by what would become the Dowlais Iron Company in 1759, making it the first major works in the area. It was followed in 1765 by the Cyfarthfa Ironworks. The Plymouth ironworks were initially in the same ownership as Cyfarthfa, but passed after the death of Anthony Bacon to Richard Hill in 1788. The fourth ironworks was Penydarren built by Francis Homfray and Samuel Homfray after 1784. The demand for iron was fuelled by the Royal Navy, who needed cannons for their ships, and later by the railways. In 1802, Admiral Lord Nelson visited Merthyr to witness cannons being made! Americymru: How would you describe your musical style? What kind of material are you most comfortable performing? Darren: My musical style varies as I've written over 150 songs in lots of genres but mainly my music is Adult Contemporary(AC)/Pop/Rock. Americymru: Do you have a regular backing band? Can you tell us something about the musicians you perform with or other performers you have met? Darren: Yes I have a small band comprising of myself (lead vocals/keyboard and or acoustic guitar), Juan Lozano (backing vocals/keyboard/acoustic guitar) Robert Devereux (backing vocals/lead guitar)and sometimes Steve Sims (lead guitar). I'm very lucky that these guys are both superb musicians and my friends. Very often the only payment they need for recording (they play on my albums)and playing gigs is usually I buy them a curry...well worth a few Kema Nans and Chicken Tikka Masala's !!!! Other performers I've met/performed with include - Michael Bolton, Michael Ball, Bryn Terfel, 'The Sweet Inspirations' (Elvis' original female backing singers), DJ Fontana (Elvis' original drummer), 'Scouting For Girls', 'Goldie Lookin' Chain', Peter Karrie, Donny Osmond, Brian Conley, Max Boyce among others. Americymru: We learn from your website that you performed at Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones' wedding. What are your memories of that occasion? Darren: Well I need to clarify this, bit of a strange story! I was on a 3 month, 45 date USA tour with ' The Black Mountain Male Chorus Of Wales' ( which is a 20 man all male choir - check them out on MySpace) in the year 2000. We were performing near Los Angeles and got a call asking if we'd like to sing in MD's and CZJ's wedding! The connection was that our tour manager, Adrian Metcalfe was in school with CZJ's brother in Swansea I believe. Of course, we were very honoured and said yes! The problem was the wedding if I remember was in the East Coast (New York) and it was impossible to break our contract of performing our booked concerts on the West Coast to fly over. Unfortunatley due to this we had to pass and another Welsh choir sang instead. Doh!!!!!! ...but at least we were the first choice! Americymru: What can you tell us about your current release - "Just The Mention Of Your Name"? Darren: It is a melodic AC pop ballad that is my latest song. It is available for commercial download on iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody and Napster. It is a single from my forthcoming EP entitled..."That Feeling" that will feature songs co-written with 'Dazzle Music' (who's written for/had songs recorded by Charlotte Church). Find more music like this on Americymru Americymru: Where can our readers go to hear/download your music? Darren: http://www.darrenparry.com http://www.myspace.com/darrenparrymusic Americymru: You recently toured the US with the Black Mountain Male Chorus. Care to tell us a bit more about the tour? Darren: This was the second large tour I've done of the States with Black Mountain (BM). The latest tour was in Jan/Feb 2008 and we did 22 concerts. We started in Chicago then went to, wait for it, deep breathe... Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, New Mexico before finishing off in LA. We performed in venues for up to 2000 people and were fortunate to get fantastic, enthusiastic crowds every night. BM has now completed over 200(I've done around 70 of these)concerts in the US over the past 14 yrs or so and have a good fan base who are keen to hear male voices sing our repertoire of Welsh hymns, pop songs, rugby influenced songs, folk songs, opera and Celtic music. Americymru: Any plans to visit the States again in the near future? Darren: I've just signed a licensing deal with a company called 'Rock Talk Music', based in LA, California so who knows? I may be coming there in 2010. I've now been lucky enough to have visited around 40 of the 50 US States in the last 10 yrs and I always look forward to coming there! Americymru: Any final message for the members and readers of Americymru? Darren: I'm a member and I'm very glad to see the American and Welsh links being proliferated with a site like Americymru...keep up the excellent work :) Buy the new single here:- http://www.amazon.com/Darren-Parry/dp/B002AVTMQA Interview: Ceri Shaw Email

MR URDD AND PRINCE CHARLES

Mr Urdd, the cuddly little character and mascot of Wales’ largest youth organisation Urdd Gobaith Cymru, was an overnight success and grew into a favourite with tens of thousands of children and young people all over Wales. Mr Urdd was born in order to fight off a major crisis facing the Urdd following a deep and bitter internal conflict over the investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales in July 1969. The Investiture triggered one of the most turbulent periods in Welsh modern history and the story is revealed in a book published today. ‘Y Fi a Mistar Urdd a’r Cwmni Da’ published by Y Lolfa is written by the man who dreamt up the idea of Mr Urdd, Wynne Melville Jones, and tells the story of how and why the character was conceived and developed and follows his personal involvement in the organisation. The publication is also the first attempt to delve into why Urdd Gobaith Cymru, Wales’ largest youth movement, suffered more that any other organisation in Wales as a result of the strong and divisive opinions on the Investiture in 1969. Wynne Melville Jones was appointed Public Relations Officer for the youth movement after the Investiture at Caernarfon Castle. “I realised that my job was much more than raising the profile of the organisation in the press and media and that something radical had to be done to both the image and the spirit of the organisation. “Younger leaders of the organisation felt dismayed and had lost interest and moral was very low”, said Mr Jones The question as to whether the Urdd should send representatives to the Investiture at Caernarfon had developed into a bitter and heated argument. Members of the movement’s governing committees expressed concern that the movement could loose out considerably on public funding if a decision was made to snub the Investiture and the its reputation could be severely damaged within the Welsh establishment. Others, including the majority of the younger leaders, saw the ceremony as a political stunt, and a waste of money. Some were anti-royalty and others were simply just not interested. A deeply divided Urdd National Council decided by a slim majority that an invitation to send a small group of representatives from the Urdd should be accepted. Later as a result of considerable lobbying by younger members, the Council was then recalled and the decision was reversed. Some key members of the Council resigned. A compromise was reached by inviting Prince Charles, who was at the time a student of Welsh Studies at the University College of Wales in Aberystwyth, to the 1969 Urdd National Eisteddfod at Aberystwyth to present the main trophy for the County gaining the highest marks at the Eisteddfod, and that he would make the presentation in the main pavilion in Welsh. When the Prince stood on the stage to make his presentation a highly organised protest took place when hundreds of young people shouted anti-investiture slogans and walked out of the marquee. The Prince, at his own request, also visited the Urdd residential centre at Glan-Llyn on the shores of Bala lake, on the day following the investiture at Caernarfon, where he wanted to spend a relaxing afternoon with young people before going on his whistle-stop tour of Wales. “Many questions have been asked, over the years, as to why the Urdd suffered more than any other organisation as a result of the internal quarrel on the Investiture. “Was it a devious political stunt by George Thomas, the then Secretary of State for Wales, well known for his negative attitude towards the Welsh language and his obsession with the rise of Welsh patriotism and nationalism? Was it an attempt to cause damage to a Welsh language organisation by confusing some factions of the public in Wales who could not differentiate between the Urdd and the Free Wales Army or Cymdeithas yr Iaith? “Was the Urdd an easy target and an attempt to embarrass the founder Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards and the Urdd Director R E Griffith both highly respected and recognised national leaders in Wales and both had been nominated to sit on Investiture Committees? “Other important Welsh institutions including the National Eisteddfod of Wales and the Gorsedd of Bards attended the event in Caernarfon with no repercussions. Plaid Cymru, decided to leave the matter of the Investiture on the table and although Party President Gwynfor Evans refused to attend, which some say contributed to him losing his seat in Carmarthen, both Dafydd Wigley and Dafydd Elis-Thomas were elected to Parliament in February 1974 but the Urdd was still suffering from the aftermath 8 years after the event. “It’s too easy just to identify and blame outside influences, although without doubt they did play a part in this damaging episode. “There were also tensions within the organisation especially among the younger leaders who felt they had very little influence on policy and on the decision making process of the organisation. The members of the influential management committees tended to be middle aged or older people, highly respected people who had strived over the years to support and nurture the Welsh language. “The generation gap and miscalculated judgement of how Welsh identity had evolved and how the younger generation perceived the ‘new’ Wales in the sixties and seventies is a lesson for all organisations. Recognition must be given to the aspirations and visions of the membership the organisation exists to serve and the voice of the younger generation must be heard in the decision making process. “It was in this climate of low moral and fatigue that I began as PR man for the Urdd. It needed much more than a re-branding exercise and I was given the opportunity to work with others to develop new attractive ideas to appeal to a new generation of young people in Wales and Mr Urdd was one of the most successful of the campaigns and a turning point for the organisation. “The Investiture had left a bad taste and it took almost ten years of hard work by many people for the Urdd to recover from the after effects of what appeared to many of its supporters to be an irrelevant and insignificant Investiture. “The most important lesson is yet to be learnt- that falling into the trap of quarrelling amongst ourselves has a damaging effect on Wales “The effort to rejuvenate the organisation paid off and the Urdd today is a highly successful and a vibrant organisation with a turnover of almost £8M, 50,000 members and 200 professional staff and is considered to be one of the world’s best youth organisation and the envy of many countries”, said Mr Jones. MR URDD - Milestones. * Mr Urdd, a character based on the Urdd’s triangular badge became an overnight success for Wales’ largest youth organisation and 34 years later continues to be highly popular as one of the main attractions at Urdd events. * The huge demand for Mr Urdd merchandise led to the setting up of a business section within the youth organisation resulting in a relocation of the production unit from the Urdd headquarters in Aberystwyth to an advanced factory in Llanbadarn on the outskirts of town, the opening of a boutique and the setting up of a mail order service. * Sophia Gardens Pavilion in Cardiff, Wales’s premier venue for major events at the time, was packed to capacity in January 1979 to welcome Mr Urdd live on stage which was followed by a 12 week tour of Wales taking Mr Urdd and his roadshow to tens of thousands of children and young people in all corners of Wales. * Mr Urdd has travelled far and wide and has accompanied Welsh astronaut Dafydd Rhys Williams on a flight through space to the International Space Station on 17 April 1998. Recently, the Urdd acknowledged former library van driver Gareth Lewis of Bow Street, Ceredigion for travelling 384,000 miles in his private car with a Mr Urdd soft toy always on his dashboard. * Mr Urdd songs have been released over the years by Super Furry Animals, rugby legend Ray Gravel and Emyr Wyn (Dai Scafalde) in the S4C soap opera Pobol y Cwm. * Mr Urdd was one of the first major successful a biggest marketing campaigns in the Welsh language. Wynne Melville Jones A native of Tregaron in Ceredigion grew up as a member of the Urdd, spent ten years on the Urdd full time staff, became Chairman of the Urdd National Council and is today an Honorary President of the organisation and one of the Urdd’s most influential leaders. In 1979 he founded StrataMatrix as the first bilingual PR agency in Wales. The company has its headquarters in Aberystwyth and has evolved over the years into a full communications agency and is now one of the leading public affairs companies in Cardiff Bay. He is also a founding Director of Golwg Cyf – the company responsible for the Welsh weekly current affairs magazine and on-line news service and a Director of the community interest company the Vestri Foundation ‘Y Fi a Mistar Urdd a’r Cwmni Da’ is being launched at 6.30 pm on Thursday 25 March 2010 at the Marine Hotel, Aberystwyth and is published to coincide with the Ceredigion Urdd National Eisteddfod which opens at Llanerchaeron on 31 May. www.ylolfa.com

'Sexbomb' About To Burst Over Portland - Left Coast Eisteddfod 2010

'SexBomb' is a two-piece Tom Jones tribute band from Hanford CA, combining the musical talents of William Parry ( vocals ) and Bobby Z ( guitar, trumpet ). The band will be performing at the Left Coast Eisteddfod in Portland Oregon 2010 ( watch this space for further details ). They agreed to a world exclusive interview with Americymru which we proudly present below. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Americymru:  'Sexbomb' are about to explode on the Portland music scene in October 2010. Can you tell us a little about how the band came to be formed? Sexbomb: True, I’m excited for Portland.  We’ve been terrorizing, uh, I mean, rocking the California music scene for months now, so a little “West Coast Tour ‘10” will be epic.  Sexbomb came together as a natural progression; an ‘evolution’ really of all my past musical forays and experiences . . . that and my other band broke up when my bass player went to jail for his second DUI.  Plus, Bobby Z (SB’s other half, and guitarist / trumpeter supreme) had just been asked to leave his church’s band, so the timing was perfect. Americymru:  Can you explain the symbolic significance of the bands name? Sexbomb: ‘Sexbomb’ is named after Sir Tom Jones’ 2000 hit song of the same name, from his massive “Reload” album.  We can’t really play ‘Sexbomb’ live yet (it’s disco beats don’t lend themselves well to a 2-man acoustical arrangement), but it’s a way cooler band name for us than, say, “Daughter of Darkness” or “Letter to Lucille”…. No symbolism, Bob and I are both married (not to each other). Americymru:  Can you describe a typical 'Sexbomb' performance? Sexbomb: I’d say that we’re the greatest band in the world by default, as we tribute/cover the greatest performer in the world; makes sense.  (But, “Surprisingly good” was the overall audience consensus at our world debut in October ’09…. We’re a 2-man acoustical/unplugged act.)  We’re fun, upbeat, disinclined to take ourselves too seriously, but always respectful of Sir Tom and the material . . . Bob and I like to rock the house, and get off stage quickly so we can go get properly pissed (Ok, ‘more’ pissed.)  Bottom line, we’re a very fun, entertaining band; what we may lack in talent and ‘classical training’ we more than make up for with enthusiasm, good humor, and a love for Sir Tom. Americymru:  Who, besides Sir Tom, are your biggest influences? Sexbomb: Good question.  Vocally I’d have to say Chris Cornell, Dick Haymes, and Dean Martin.  Onstage, my biggest “performance” influences are David Lee Roth, the late Robert Palmer, and Big Ernie McCracken.  Bob has a range of guitar influences, including Johnny Cash, Jimmies Hendrix and Page, Richie Blackmore, Brian May, and even some heavy metal guitarists, which has something to do with his ejectment from the church band. Americymru:  How long have you been a Tom Jones fan? Sexbomb: Since birth, I’m Welsh!! I first saw Sir Tom live in August of ’84 at the Paso Robles mid-state fair; that was my “Woodstock.” Blew me away.  I’ve seen him live many times since, and even shook his hand at the August 9, ’95 gig in Visalia (nearly took a savage beating after from a group of insanely jealous, panty-less housewives), and again in Vegas on April 27, ’06.  Epic.  (Bob’s been a fan since I begged him to form SB with me last year.) Hear 'Delilah' and 'She's A Lady' performed by Sexbomb (recommended listening level is .14% blood alcohol l!! ) Find more music like this on Americymru Americymru:  'Sexbomb' celebrates Welsh culture with particular reference to 'Tom Jones'. Can you explain the significance of drinking in Welsh culture? Sexbomb: Ah, wow, big question… I could more easily break down the I Ching, the Koran, or the DeNiro vs. Pacino debate…. It’s kind of at the Heart of our culture isn’t it?  (um, have I revealed too much about my own personal habits here?) Americymru:  We have pictures of you in a kilt at a Chicago Mass transit station. Can you explain what you were doing on that occasion and were you arrested for it? Sexbomb: Under advice of my counsel, I’m really not supposed to talk about that as litigation is still pending, and I’ll thank you to drop the subject.  I will say this, just to clarify:  I was never “arrested,” merely detained for questioning.  And that was mostly the fault of fellow Americymru member Phil Morgan (for plying me with copious amounts of Newcastle at the Wales v. USA rugby match earlier that day, where you may have seen me – a tattooed dancing Gorilla waving a Welsh flag if you watched the game—I’m told I made the ESPN2 and BBC telecasts.)  The statute of limitations for drunk in public and indecent exposure doesn’t expire for another 20 months, so, no further comment.  (ps – you’ll be subpoenaed and we’ll be setting your deposition soon to ferret out exactly  how you came in to possession of said photos.) Americymru:  Does 'Sexbomb' have any plans to record? Is there anywhere online where people can hear the band? Sexbomb: Yes, we’re recording now actually at American Made Studios, in Fresno, California, with our good friends Marc Kapetan and Paul “Smokin’ Joe” Turner.  When our master recordings are mixed down and ready, we’re prepared to debut them here on Americymru !!  (you’ve still got that case of Penderyn you’re sending me, right?) Americymru:  You are rightly famed on the Americymru site for an incident involving a flight of stairs in your student years. Care to tell us a little more about that? Any chance of a demonstration at the Eisteddfod? ( we need to know for insurance purposes- Ed ) Sexbomb: My only comment is to advise others never to slide head-first down a cement stairway on a lousy 20 quid bet (particularly after 9 JR Tenant Supers).  I should have counted the damn steps… 34 steps at that blood alcohol level is ill-advised, from what I remember anyway. (Hey, did I ever get paid for that?!@?)  And will I be recreating that feat at the LCE? Oh, no, I’m much more mature now and . . . um, why?, you gonna have any JR Tenants Super there?? Americymru:  Any upcoming gigs you'd like to mention? Sexbomb: We’re playing the Sky Line Room in Fresno, Calif. later this month, with a couple return dates tentatively in the works.  (ie, if we don’t get too drunk and stink up the initial gig.)  We’re also set to rock Joey Rubinstein’s bar mitzvah in March, and the Kings County Fair this summer.  Things are really taking off. Americymru:  Any final message for the members and readers of Americymru? Sexbomb: “To live for today and to love for tomorrow is the wisdom of a fool, because tomorrow is promised to no one.  You see, love is that wonderful thing that the whole wide world needs plenty of.  So, if you think for one minute you can live without, then you’re only fooling yourself.”  – ‘Without Love’ by Sir Tom Jones.  Amen. Interview: Ceri Shaw Email