Can apply now via BBC link above

ArrGee wrote:

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Get in there!

Now spread the word.  I am willing to be someone's significant other

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 Mastertapes: The Boomtown Rats

Radio 4

Tuesday 18 November

At: BBC Maida Vale Studios 

Doors open: 6.30pm

Please note that applying for tickets does not guarantee you a seat. See the FAQs for more details.

Thank you

Your request for tickets has been submitted.

Thank you for applying for 2 tickets to Mastertapes: The Boomtown Rats, which is being recorded at BBC Maida Vale Studios on 18 November 2014. Doors open at 6.30pm.

ArrGee wrote:

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 I am willing to be someone's significant other

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 What he said ;)

Too late now

Just in case anyone wasn't aware the album under review is Tonic for the Troops

suss wrote:

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Just in case anyone wasn't aware the album under review is Tonic for the Troops

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 Now that makes it even better!   I'll bring my copy along to wave!

I trust you have a pass.

ArrGee wrote:

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Tango wrote:

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ArrGee wrote:

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eTickets in my inbox! Lovely - saved me £400 plus

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 Rub it in, why don't you ;) But well done, anyway!

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I currently have a spare.   Friend at work also got a pair.

Just need to check if my friend whose Kentish Town forum ticket I ended up flogging for a fiver is going to appear.

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 Just got mine through, I thought I applied for 2 but got 1, but still, should be good, and the best album, stellar.

suss wrote:

I just applied via link (successfully I'm pleased to say) but was ready to make contingency plans at a push. Luckily no need to impose now.

 

I have a pair along with a work colleague.  Third ticket definitely gone, fourth is a maybe.  You are always welcome to impose  

PS I can get you that drink I owe you for the taxi back from Cambridge.  Show ends at 9pm, so a couple of hours drinking time!

ArrGee wrote:

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I have a pair along with a work colleague.  Third ticket definitely gone, fourth is a maybe.  You are always welcome to impose  

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 And now the third and fourth man has had his application accepted!   This is gonna be good!

Tango wrote:

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Agreed, only just got in last time I went to the Beeb. An afternoon off work beckons.

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 That's my ulterior motive to invite Jules as my significant other. I know she would queue from noon and save me a place at the head of the line.

Mark L wrote:

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ArrGee wrote:

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so at the end of the day, who is going? suss, tango, arrgee, anyone else?

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 I wish I was able to go but no holidays left so didn't consider applying.  I think it will be a fantastic evening and I'm very jealous but hope all who go have an amazing time which I think is all but guaranteed.

Look forward to the feedback.

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I will have to take a day off cos I have to collect my son from school and ferry him to the dentist and back in the day.  My original plan was to work a long day around it, but now I'll just head to Maida Vale in the afternoon, and watch the queue from the local pub.  Must be some kicking pubs around there considering the BBC studios are there.

ArrGee wrote:

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Mark L wrote:

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ArrGee wrote:

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so at the end of the day, who is going? suss, tango, arrgee, anyone else?

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 I wish I was able to go but no holidays left so didn't consider applying.  I think it will be a fantastic evening and I'm very jealous but hope all who go have an amazing time which I think is all but guaranteed.

Look forward to the feedback.

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 I'll just head to Maida Vale in the afternoon, and watch the queue from the local pub.  Must be some kicking pubs around there considering the BBC studios are there.

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 My thoughts exactly, it's all a bit residential round Maida Vale but there must be one somewhere!

Lisa wrote:

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Apologies for perhaps a stupid question (probably not the first or last!!), but does this go out live on the radio on Tues 18th, or does it go out at a later date?

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Not that stupid to be honest.  At least a fortnight later as they have the Manics this week and Angelique Kidjo recorded yesterday to broadcast, so most likely Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd December as it goes out in two parts.  Could be 8th/9th December if the Sinead O'Connor show is already recorded. Also it will all be on the red button/iPlayer so you can watch it and look out for some familiar faces in the audience

Noel Gallagher is on the week after the Rats, but sadly those tickets are long gone.

Loops wrote:

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 I was too late to apply for tickets

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 I may have a spare or two. If anyone wants a ticket PM me and I will see what I can do. 

My question to the band would be: Did you see Tonic as being 'the difficult second album' or were you confident about being able to follow the debut and the hit singles it contained?

Obviously I won't be there it ask, but what killer questions have those of you going lined up to ask? Another one from me: Who came up with the now iconic title?

Could be a bit like 'Everything you wanted to know about Tonic For The Troops (but were afraid to ask) until now.

suss wrote:

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noelindublin wrote:

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Another one from me: Who came up with the now iconic title?

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I was wondering about that one, but came to conclusion it was a line he liked from She's So Modern, although I'm not sure if album title was disclosed by early '78? Seems a fiar question.

I'm dying to know who asked 'are you really going out with Adolf?'

 

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 Maybe someone could ask Bob to explain Watch Out For The Normal People. I always find this song a bit confusing. Or why Can't Stop was not a b side, and some of the Tonic B sides should have been on the album, like So Strange, how Do You Do or Lying Again?

noelindublin wrote:

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My question to the band would be: Did you see Tonic as being 'the difficult second album' or were you confident about being able to follow the debut and the hit singles it contained?

Obviously I won't be there it ask, but what killer questions have those of you going lined up to ask? Another one from me: Who came up with the now iconic title?

Could be a bit like 'Everything you wanted to know about Tonic For The Troops (but were afraid to ask) until now.

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 My question is would you mind signing my copy?  

Anyone (Tango?) got a good idea of how early to arrive. I'm loathe to be there about 5pm and find there isn't much "competition" for another hour.

Melv, you trying to get a ticket? Fairly sure my other is taken (subject to their work commitments vs arrival times) but others on here may be able to assist?

suss wrote:

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Melv, you trying to get a ticket? Fairly sure my other is taken (subject to their work commitments vs arrival times) but others on here may be able to assist?

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If a ticket's going spare, I'd love to be there! If not will be good to have a beer and a catch up after anyway, cheers.

Melv

suss wrote:

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Anyone (Tango?) got a good idea of how early to arrive. I'm loathe to be there about 5pm and find there isn't much "competition" for another hour.

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Not sure myself, queues fill up hours ahead of time for telly stuff at TV Centre, but haven't been to anything at Maida Vale. Anyone been before? Would've though it wouldn't be so bad seeing as it's smaller/lower profile, but I'm off work at 4/4:30, will head over not long after and see what's going on, on the principal that if it's dead there's always the pub.

Tango wrote:

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suss wrote:

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Anyone (Tango?) got a good idea of how early to arrive. I'm loathe to be there about 5pm and find there isn't much "competition" for another hour.

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Not sure myself, queues fill up hours ahead of time for telly stuff at TV Centre, but haven't been to anything at Maida Vale. Anyone been before? Would've though it wouldn't be so bad seeing as it's smaller/lower profile, but I'm off work at 4/4:30, will head over not long after and see what's going on, on the principal that if it's dead there's always the pub.

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 My plan is to get there around 4pm and check it out. If no one is there go to the Gerry Cott Arms for a beer..My work colleague did say not to turn up too late else you can miss out. My parents missed the cut off for the chase by 2 people a few weeks ago. I have suss's mobile number so I can let him know what it looks like. It's a shame jules won't be there at the front as she could let us know when to leave the pub   If anyone wants q updates send me a pm with your mobile number.

ArrGee wrote:

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 Send me a pm. Can meet you on the night. You have to queue behind me, not giving tickets to people to get in front of me.

-- Edited by ArrGee on Wednesday 12th of November 2014 07:57:41 PM

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 Many thanks- pm sent!

Jules wrote:

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 No one is ready to take up my role in my absence and start queuing at 10 am?

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 No.  Only The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar noneTM does that.  

Well, there's 10 minutes of my life I won't get back...

Me: Could you advise from your experience if there's a time beyond which you're likely to be unlucky in queue, e.g. do people who arrive after say 5.30 usually get turned away?

Maida Vale: If it's full you get turned away

Me: Yes, get that, but is there a time by which queue is generally at full?

MV: You can arrive as early as you want to be sure

Me: Yes, get that too, but in your experience if I turned up at 1pm would I still be the only one there at 4pm or 5pm?

MV: It depends on the band and the size of studio

Me: Ok, thanks for all your help.....

Logic tells me it's the Rats, targetted by the more mature audience, most likely working, so 5pm to 6pm ought to be fine. One Direction fans would be forming queue about now.

I'll gladly take ArrGee recce offer up, but hoping to be there by 5pm whatever so wil lprobably be en route and about as able to influence a tube driver as I was Maida Vale reception.

suss wrote:

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Any indication of crowd size/capacity on the clip?

I might arrange to get there 4pm ish too, to be 'safe'. Only hassle is whether my friend can make that time. Don't want to hold a place for them to cut in. Hate it at theme parks etc when people do that to me!

I might also ring studios to get some idea of usual crowd numbers and likely cut off time.

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 Well replace your friend with one called Howard (maybe speak to Jules!), get him to line up while you sit in pub and have a pint, thus saving you the hassle - AND you get two great songs to boot: Looking After Number One and Me and Howard Queues

ArrGee wrote:

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PS Maybe you could call MV on the day and ask them how many are in the queue

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Tuesday 4pm...

(ring, ring)

Suss: Hello, could you let me know if anyone is queuing for masterbates (sic) ?

Maida Vale: Hold on, let me have a look. (pause)  Seems like there is some sad old cnut at the door necking a bottle of Rjoca and wearing a green Arsenal shirt. Pretty sure it's not John's dad. Doubt he's here for the gig though.  I'll get security to move him on.  No queue.

Suss: Thanks

Tuesday 5pm...

(ring, ring)

Suss: Hello, could you let me know if anyone is queuing for masterbates (sic) ?

Maida Vale: Hold on, let me have a look. (pause) Yeah, there's a blond girl out there, and that dirty hobo has returned and seems to be hassling her.   I'll get security to move him on.

Suss: Thanks

Tuesday 6pm...

(ring, ring)

Suss: Hello, could you let me know if anyone is queuing for masterbates (sic) ?

Maida Vale: Who's doing it?  

Suss: The Boomtown Rats

MV: Who?  Never heard of them.  Don't think they have turned up yet.  Funnily enough, there were some old fcukers in charity clothes who turned up about half an hour ago,  for the old folks Christmas lunch.  You won't believe it, but one of them has a fake snakeskin suit.  How sad.   By the way, did you call earlier?

Suss: Yes

MV:  Hold on, let me have a look. (pause)  Well, there's still the blond girl along with a few old codgers and that's about it.  Jesus, that fcukin hobo is still there!  What the fcuk are security playing at?  

Lisa wrote:

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suss wrote:

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Any indication of crowd size/capacity on the clip?

I might arrange to get there 4pm ish too, to be 'safe'. Only hassle is whether my friend can make that time. Don't want to hold a place for them to cut in. Hate it at theme parks etc when people do that to me!

I might also ring studios to get some idea of usual crowd numbers and likely cut off time.

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 Well replace your friend with one called Howard (maybe speak to Jules!), get him to line up while you sit in pub and have a pint, thus saving you the hassle - AND you get two great songs to boot: Looking After Number One and Me and Howard Queues

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 Brilliant . 

ArrGee wrote:

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If Rufus Wainwright is anything to go by they should do about five songs. Rat Trap, Clockwork, She's So Modern, Howard Hughes and Eva Braun at a best guess. Too much to hope for Don't Believe What You Read, Blind Drunk(sic...

 

or (hic)....

Tango wrote:

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To help us ensure we have a full range of questions to use in the recording, we are asking for them to be sent to us in advance.  Please submit your questions as soon possible  you can submit as many as you like (though if your question is chosen you will only be able to ask one).  

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 I can think of a hundred questions or so.  Better get writing...

Scottie wrote:

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This week the Mastertapes have been on the red button on BBCTV. Hopefully the Rats will be too.

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 They all are, also on iPlayer and a podcast too that you can download from iTunes.

To who are going: enjoy!!! I wish I could be there. 

Unfortunately, the iPlayer and Red Button are not available outside the UK... not really fair, because I pay good money to watch BBC 1 to 4 on the cable here. 

Anyway, I'll have to settle for the radio2 broadcast and / or the podcast. 

If someone can record the TV thing and upload it on YouTube or something, I'll be grateful! 

And good luck with the queueing 

ArrGee wrote:

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ArrGee wrote:

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Weather forecast for the queue:

A drier and brighter day than of late, although rather cloudy at times. Showers will ease across the south coast, with isolated light showers possible more generally by afternoon 10°C

www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/gcpvj0v07#?fcTime=1416268800

Bring yer brolly.

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Ah ha!

Got an email from the beeb... "You and those on your ticket will be given priority entrance to the event."

I shall be in the Gerry Cott Arms until about 6pm!

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As shall I most likely, one of mine picked too!

ETA: "What do you do?" In the past few years I have never found a room full of people that responds positively to "I work for an MP" but Radio 4 might be the one.

I met suss in the Gerry Cott Arms along with Tango and Melv, and with total utter complacency let suss go and queue up whilst I had my third pint of the afternoon having arrived at about 4.30pm with no one waiting outside the studio.  I was quite well oiled when the three of us headed to the venue at about 6.15pm, only to be told it was full and no one else was getting in!  The reason we were late was we were sent emails saying "You and those on your ticket will be given priority entrance to the event." so saw no need to get there that early.

I was a bit hacked off at that point thinking I had made a massive mistake considering I could have queued for a couple of hours ala Jules, but then someone confirmed we (Tango and me, Melv was my significant other for the night) had questions and were to be admitted, so we were taken down into the bowels of the studio where we waited outside the studio door to be let in.   No queuing for us!  We politely let the others with questions in ahead of us.  They all filed into the second row from the front, and as we were sitting down in the third row, we were told to get up and go and sit in the front row!  Turned out these were pretty much the best seats in the house, as the way the stage was set up John Wilson who was doing the interviewing had his back to us, but Geldof whilst side on to much of the audience directly faced us.

The Rats kicked off with the riff from Rat Trap which we we told to applaud enthusiastically, absolutely no issue for me.   They opened with She's So Modern.  I noticed various audience members recording and taking photographs which I didn't believe was permitted,   Anyway as everyone was seated, and there was no one in front of me, I got my iPad out (which I had only taken along to stave off boredom in the queue) and recorded Rat Trap, Like Clockwork (along with a false start), Howard Hughes and Eva Braun.

The interview was captivating. Geldof dominated proceedings, but the other three did chip in from time to time.  There was a lot about Mutt Lange and his input with Pete admitting that Mutt came up with the bass line in Rat Trap and Bob playing the song acoustically to explain what Mutt brought to the song.  I also recorded that bit.  Bob talked about writing Eva Braun and Howard Hughes in the same day. If only he could have more days like that.  

I even got my moment in the sun when I asked my question.  I even had to stand up so people could see me in my full Dennis the Menace regalia.   I was a little apprehensive as I was asking if Geldof was the best singer in the Rats.  He said no, and then gave a really interesting answer about how Simon and Mutt Lange provided the harmonies, Garry interjected to say Geldof's presence and performance made him a great front man which I wholeheartedly agree with.

I suspect there will be a fair amount of cutting, Some of Bob's more colourful answers definitely won't be broadcast, because John Wilson repeated a couple of questions saying that his first answer wouldn't be going out on Radio 4 at three in the afternoon!  

The show ended at 9pm, which left two hours of further drinking time with Tango and Melv, where we looked back at my footage and talked music.  The two of them were great company and like being with old friends even though I hadn't met Tango until a fortnight ago and Melv that evening.

It was an absolutely superb evening on a par with getting to play at Highbury and meeting Charlie George before they dug up the pitch.  The best night out this decade!

Another one

ArrGeeStillInMaidaVale

Crackin' evening! ArrGee about covered it, was a great time.

ArrGee wrote:

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 The best night out this decade!

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 Just about beats Pulp at The Royal Albert Hall.  Rats in Cork down to #3.