18
as usual before any gig, stress precedes. Last min packing and sorting out other stuff til about 2am.
19
Sun shining in London. Security alert at Victoria.,Gatwick Express -anxiety inducing- running slow
Tweet “aboard the gatwixk express 1stclass. En route to Athens the city where the name ‘Detachments’ was concieved “
Made it to checkin 8:30am on time though.
it’s a long flight to Greece
Bastien (reading up on 3,500 yrs of Greek history) was stuck with; to his left some fidgety bloke picking his face , to his right; some massive fatwoman eating smelly meaty food. Pete sat behind with selecting places to roam in Athens from the recently picked up Athen guide, and perusing Tim Burton book ‘Oyster Boy’ and
Arrived at airport – mobile phones, rather worryingly – unable to send/receive. Luckily, Second Skin club promoter George Fakinos recognised us.
Cloudy skies out there. The Georges drove us to hotel,
Salem on the stereo.
…
Stunning 5-star hotel, feeling good.
Noticeable Riot Police and soldiers presence in area. Remember this is a country in crisis.
Checked in then went out for a 3 course meal with George and Big George.
Big George (3 degrees and PHD) imparted knowledge regarding Athenian history and discussed the philosophers.
The 2 Georges drove back to airport to pickup max.
After slipping through the free subway
Pete n Bastien mosied on up to the Acropolis area. Sun now out.
Climbed up to the rock with the classic view of Athens.
Wandered round the entire circumference of the Acropolis hill.
Back to hotel for coffee…
went up to roof terrace, blown away – Pool, jacuzzi, bar etc.
And incredible view.Max arrived, everyone digging the 5-star hotel.
Went out to a bar, DJ played some rather interesting tunes; mainly UK Alt early 80s.
Saw some band nextdoor, acoustics good, all walls padded, no echo at all. Only problem – could hear us 3 joking around n shit a bit too loud.
Got steadily drunk.
With our excellent hosts, swayed over to another joint, again with intriguing music policy, e.g. DJ drop ‘United’ by Throbbing Gristle.
All, foggy, memory now. …
Ended the night with shish kebab.
20
10:29am Sgt Bastien somehow made it for breakfast by 1min. Waiter then informed him 20E+ breakfast is ‘not included’, message relayed to Pete and Max as they blearily staggered in to do a 360, heading up to rooftop.
5min later waiter informs Bastien that breakfast actually IS included.
Spent several hrs sprawled out on sofas by pool on roof terrace,
cushions and chairs all messed up, assorted pastries(brought up for the lads) littering and crumbing the table in front. feet on tables,half dressed, dozing in sun getting patches of burns. Eventually got told to put feet down. WTF! Sodded off for a pleasant stroll around local area. Greek coffee – ooh, not so nice.
Wandered into central
really feeling like lads on hols.
shopping district, . Search for toothpaste continued, all chemists closed despite neon signs pointing to sidestreet illuminated. Eventually located some in a mimimart.
Got back on subway to Panepissoffimo. Soundcheck time. 5pm.
Very high stage. Venue had a balcony, impressive looking joint.
Thorough check, pleasing results achieved. 10% beer to accompany.
Afterwards on way to cafe, Bastien stormed up to a quartet of Detachments posters that had been postered over and tore off the offending selotaped waste paper.
Out in the open, cafe, Din dins, gourmet shish type kebab with Big George. Excellent.
Chilled out backstage, then went out to chill and get fresh air boozing…
Checked out Support band, audience slowly building.
Stagetime- marched out from sidestage, the place was now packed.
Bastien wears Versace, Max wears Fred Perry ltd edition.
Crowd attentive. 45MIn full set.
Slipped out down the stairs to backstageland. Got called back for the encore, threw down Messages.
Heard ALL merch sold out. We should have brought more Album CDs.
Free bar time.
Backstage powdered our noses.
Entourage Cruised over to another another joint,
Peaches on decks.
She climbed up and performed Fuck The Pain Away live. Mental. Too packed in there, strolled back to Second Skin. Later,
realised it was 6:00am! WTF. Home James.
Max crashed into early quick breakfast at 6:30am.
bastien staggered there 10:10
Pete didn’t make it.
Max woke up on floor.
Orangejuice,coffee,slowstroll,
endedup at acropolis area again.
Big George drove us to the airport. Played us CD of his band.
Sat out in early dusk sun admiring the landscape.
Athens, we love yer.
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-fuck writing blogs. justice is never done.
next time we’ll just do a photoblog.
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Maxback flew to Belgium.
Bastien and Pete flew to Gatwick; In flight -hypothetical forfiets game. For x amount would you… …everyone’s got their price. For £1,500 would you…etc. Got pretty sick
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OK back in the LD…
To save £20 (on a taxi), sober would you….
wait around for ages(40min?) amongst scarey shouty drunks and to catch a slow bus fromVictoria to Camden. Then get the (usually quick short distance bus) 134 from Camden to Archway…. The 134 is the nightbus from HELL. If you are sober(senses not muffled) and surrounded by these cretinous chavvy fucks shrieking/screaming… faith in human race begins to dwindle. 3 incidents where driver had to stop the bus, the amount of abuse he got, what a nightmare job. This is London. But anyway these are the things in life to forget. Trips like Athens are to remember.
22
black in LD, bleary, but content.
Detachments 
