The Afterword

Musings on the byways of popular culture

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Beatles cars

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This was posted on FaceBook. Thanks to Steve Bradley, wherever/whoever you are. It’s a great read. 1,2,3,4 ………

Who’s gold cigarette lighter was worth more than a car? Who climbed back into his car after crashing it? What was left in a car after John died? Beatles historian Steve Bradley takes the road that stretches out ahead…

Ringo was the first of the Beatles to buy a car – although he wasn’t actually a Beatle yet. In 1959 he bought his first wheels from Liverpool drummer Johnny Hutchinson, a Standard Vanguard Estate (station wagon), hand-painted (not sprayed) in red and white. He needed an Estate for the same reason Johnny had – big enough to carry a drum kit. The days of carrying drums on a bus and carrying from bus stop to venue were over. Ringo didn’t let the fact he had neither driving licence nor insurance deter him from enjoying the freedom the car gave him.

By 1962 he was earning more and upgraded to a two-year-old Ford Zodiac in cream and eau-de-nil, which is pale green to you and me (registration number NWM466). Later in the year he would load his drums into this car in » Continue Reading.

Electric cars?

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Battery life seems to be the main problem. Why don’t they make the car roof out of a solar panel? You would need to charge less often.

I imagine the playlist will be more sedate. I don’t picture the wind in my hair driving an electric car. I’m bald for a start. Gary Numan regarded machines as friends. Are ‘Friends’ Electric? is about the right pace.

Cruisin,…..

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Summers here and its time to enjoy all that thumpthumpthump bass-heavy gubbins eminating from the local youths tricked up Astras. I frequently despair about the lack of originality in the music choice of these dudes. I would hope the Afterword massive, cruising the local McDonalds drivethru would be accompanied by some Nick Drake, The Residents, Eskimo or a little early Van Morrison. I remember on a road trip to the States, coming out of a screening of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and exiting the mall to the sounds of Carter USM doing The Impossible Dream or the 50th anniversary of the Mini, driving along Blackpool sea front with The Self Preservation Society blasting from our Minis cd player while we sang along with gusto. I will actually purchase and then doff a cap to anyone who has this playing on their car stereo…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-2IIJ2YKGw