LETTERS AND COMMENT

From Penelope Swales, PO Box 136, Emerald 3782, Australia, December 1st, 1997

Dear Mike

Thanks for your letter and review plus the most welcome spondoolies, always a pleasure to hear hear from you.

Hope you enjoy the new CD. There's a new one coming very soon. Live, just mixed and mastered called "Live At Woodford". Woodfords like a cross between Cambridge and Glastonbury. It should be out by Xmas.

So the Rose and Crown has gone eh? Terrible loss to the Nation. Glad to hear that Duncan and John are partying on regardless. Give 'em both a hug and big sloppy kiss from me.

Lost in London isn't on the new CD. Wouldn't fit. Most of it was already recorded before I came over last year. However, I'm hoping to start on a new studio album in April/May and it's a must for that one.

Things are looking pretty hopeful for another overseas tour this year. My new distribution company are writing a grant application for the airfare, which is handy coz I still owe big one's on Homemade Wine.

Anyway m'dear hope you're well and happy and have a merry cultural excess festival for me.

Love Penelope

See Penelope Swales Lost In London
and Alias Jones and Wroath unplugged at the Rose and Crown

A letter from New York - 14th June, 1997

I have recently exchanged some info with Vic King. Since then, new developments have occured, so this time I decided to write to you. First of which:

I have photocopied another article from the Doors Collectors, a US magazine. This season's issue has a great review of Message To Love and an interview with Murray Lerner, featuring a revelation. Will the Doors complete set at Afton see the the light of day?
Melanie will be doing a free concert on August 1st. I'm bringing a tape recorder and some questions. If all goes well you'll have an audio of a 1997 Melanie concert plus an interview about her memories of the Isle of Wight Festival. Anything in particular you're interested in? I'll take a copy of your book and the business card in hopes of getting a good interview set up.
Do you know of other friends who were at the festival who would like to correspond with me? I would like to read other people's memories of the music, artists and festival in general.
Do you have any photographs of Ritchie Havens, Zal and John Sebastian, Terry Reid, Gilberto Gil, Voices of East Harlem, Cactus, Chicago, Tony Joe White, David Bromberg, Rosalie Sorrels?
I'm really obsessed with trying to figure out exactly what Sly and The Family Stone's set list was. I know they only played about 30 - 75 minutes. Do you have any information?
I wondered how Kris Kristofferson's second set on the 30th August, 1970 worked out compared to the disastrous one on the 27th?

Barry Smith

A letter from Ryde - 19th December, 1996

How about a video of live performances from I.W. bands, drawing on people's Standard 8 /Super 8 cine film and Camcorder recordings?

Rob Martin, lead singer Be Bop Dustbins '84-'85

Vic King replies:
This is an extract from a longer letter some of which has been used in our Archive Section. We thank Rob for his comments and encouragement.

The idea is a great one. Something which has been talked about in relation to promoting current local bands here and on the mainland. The idea being to shoot some live footage to show interested prospective agents, pubs and bookers. Anyone with archive or current day footage please contact me, Vic King on (01983) 730930, evenings or send us an email via our Quicksilver Messenger Service. Or via the postman at Palmer's Forge, Newport Road, Niton, Isle of Wight PO30 2DB