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"mini album 6 update n 2009 summary" - 14.12.09

Hey. Sorry 4 the extreme lack of my presence on the Blog, but it's been the kind of year, that has again warranted silence. Iv been ill 4 vast quantities of 2009 with Laryngitis, from start of June to around nowish, and I'm still bringing my voice back in2 gd health 4 the 2nd time in 2 years (to me, it's a bit like braking a leg, and then having to eventually run pretty hard on it again).

Life on the whole has been pretty challenging, not overly rewarding, or flattering to myself, which is unfortunate maybe yet fully understandable. It's probably been my most challenging year on the road, being called a c*nt a few times, a liar, had my guitar stolen (me screaming at the thief to give it back and fortunately getting it), had my speakers thrown to the floor, had stuff thrown at my tour van, as well as being blessed with the gift of Laryngitis to wash it all down with.

However, it's not been all gloom on the road, which has been met with some tremendous compliments, iv met some phenomenal people, in amongst the baddies!! :) ... and I thank those people dearly for making my year worthwhile ... after all, those are the people I go to gigs for, and that I started doing music for, and so yeh ... thanks ... gd to meet you.

Im pretty aware that there will be change 4 me come 2010 and have already devised gd plans. Minor alterations as far as touring goes, as I hope to do around 20 UK dates next year forseeably, as well as just enjoying myself. I'll be focusing on new recordings, and a few secret projects, and just arriving hopefully back in2 pretty cool health.

OK ... enuff of the 2009 tour ... Id like to discuss my latest up and coming release.

I won't give too much away rite now. It's being released prolly on 25th of Dec. It will be my 6th mini album. It will have another 6 King Rich recordings on it (all of my own material. It will be the 1st mini album that I will have recorded at my brand new own studio (Helcott Studios). So yeh, keep an eyeball out 4 it, as I hope it ill be available online at some point during January, and available from the human me even sooner than that!!. I will prolly enlarge on my commentary of Mini album 6 once released.

Xmas is a coming, and hope you all have a fantastic 1!!

Take it easy and keep an eyeball out 4 me :)

King Rich Xx

p.s. Thanks for all your support over the past year, beyond, and also the future to come!

"2009 so far n polar bears" - 03.03.09

It's jus rolled past the hour of 6am, n iv woken up feelin pretty curious after a nite of sippin whisky, n eatin potatoey things :S This mornin im on the apple juice, n debatin how best to spend my next few days, pre gigs (gigs on Thurs n Fri this week). Iv been slightly injured in the voice department over the last fortnight, n so im in the process of contemplatin how best to recover from it ... (it's not massively excitin, but somethin which im havin 2 deal with :) )

2009 so far has been a tough year already, although, with the optimistic feelin of gettin better for sure. Iv met with some interestin challenges so far, non of which I shud go in2 too far, which have been n still are tough 4 me to handle from a psychological, emotional, spiritual n physical point of view, but if life ain't a challenge at times, then I guess it isn't life.

To pass the time between gigs, Iv been playin a few hours of poker (which has been fun, annoyin n challengin), as well as thinkin bout life, n wat I shud be doin as a person to enrich the world around me n to live more fully. Iv been watchin quite a few shows on the iplayer to do with nature. A poignant 1 was to do with the arctic n how Polar bears are in big trouble (which was quite a hard show to watch, seein Polar Bears starvin cuz their world is meltin, n them fallin thru ice in2 the sea cuz the ice is too thin) ... is a shame to see somethin so natural n beautiful strugglin to survive n depressed. Also currently watchin a nature doc on Salmon, n it's set in North America, n that's an amazing landscape. I spend a lot of time indoors, n watchin shows like that makes me wanna get on out n see the world and nature for sure. I wanna get out quite a bit as soon as the weather warms up a touch n go n camp out in my van n see some places in the UK ... mayb Ireland, Scotland n Wales, especially North Wales as it's not too far n a place I think i'd dig.

Id also like to thank photographer, Si Green who took the photo of me that's currently on the home page of the website (a shot that was taken at the Town Hall in Kidderminster last year).

1 of the notable positives of the year so far is how my piano playin is ploddin along. Im practicin here n there when I get a chance, n it's 1 of the best things I do with my spare time at the mo. The piano is 1 of the best n most diverse instruments, n Im lovin learnin n tryin 2 improve on it. Playin mainly my own tracks on it at the mo, but who knows wat may come out over the next decade or so :) Im enjoyin it though so that's positive.

So yeh, back to 2day, n the next few days, where Im hopin 2 relax, unwind, be happy n recoup towards 100 percent :)

Take it easy n catch you on a hike soon, or a gig (if you fancy poppin to 1 of my gigs to hear some tunes.)

King Rich Xx

"the great escape n 2008 overview" - 24.12.08

Tired is the word. Im currently sat drinkin normalish tea, with a bit of a skin on it, in a porter cabin in Slough. Im that sleep deprived that it's gonna be a little tricky to write with any fluidity or direction, but hopefully my ramblins will be accurate n worthwhile enough.

Merry Xmas my dears. December has been well monitored n evaluated n anticipated by myself. I've lost my rag only once or twice, or thrice, under the mayhem n carnage which is always December, but generally, it's been a calmer ocean than usual.

Im currently on my grand escape to Reading, stayin at my buddy The Mung's house. It's been a hostile offering from a health and sleep point of view.

Last night for example, I slept on a dirty floor with magical items all over the place (such as skanky underwear) underneath my stiff body on the surrounding floor on which I lay. Went to bed at 3am, to be up at 6am, to be raped of cash by train ticket purchases, to arrive at my friend's workplace in Slough for a kinda office party. Went 4 a dirty kebab n chips last night to buoy up the health come the hours of midnite, sippin coke into the early hours. I was that tired yesterday, after a very spontaneous drinkin session on the 22nd, which was promoted as a 'casual drink or 2', n turned in2 mixed ales n Guinness n numerous shots of sambuca, followed by a raucous house jam with a few Reading yocals till 3am - me screamin my head off, n playin very obscure piano, in complete juxtaposition to my fellow comrades who also were very drunk n twangin away passionately on bass n guitar, N very random jam at the house it was. I was awoken at 6am, after another casual 3 hours sleep by folks needin to tread to their office jobs. I made it down Reading town shops for 9am ish, in a complete drunken daze, fallin over badly placed security posts in shops, n generally resemblin a zombie for many hours whilst Xmas shoppin. Got it done pretty much though. But yeh, my body has certainly taken some punishment over the last few days n I can certainly feel it. Got a nice 4 hour motorway journey to come later, on my way back to Kiddy via Northampton 4 Xmas ... rock n roll.

I feel now is a gd time to speak a little of my life in a 2008 overview.

2008 has prolly been my worst musical year to date in some ways, mainly due to coppin laryngitis back in April, which Im still not fully over, n mayb wont ever be but if life wasnt a war, mayb it wud lose it's humour. It's cool though. A few gigs played durin my illnesses most ravage n savage period were poor for sure but there is much to be gained from hittin musical battlefields without a voice, n takin the beatins when you're ill off a people who know better. Beatins r gd 4 development of understandin. That's why I did the gigs. You learn a lot about music, life, people, humanity, when you're near death's door. I was sleepin 3 times a day n not speakin for weeks on end between gigs, to play a 2-3 hour gig, n be shot at by the genius of the common genius. But it was my choice, and a very valuable experience was experienced which all adds to my musical experience - possibly my greatest journey of the year. How can you ever know yourself or how great things in life are unless you throw yourself in2 a dangerous world every now n then. ('What doesn't kill yer will only make yer stronger')

Released my fifth mini album in 2008, which was received with generally positive reviews, n given some prime time radio air play without me even askin - which was a very generous offerin.

Ive started carvin out some new KR tracks, mainly on piano, though some on guitar, which I will complete in the natural evolution of song creation, when it time, n if it's ever time.

On the vast plus side, ive done well this year on the road, playin numerous venues to reasonable plaudits, n it's been a good touring year on the whole (gaining ground).

If I had to score my musical year out of 10 (10 bein gd, 1 bein not gd) id prolly say 5 out of 10. Nothin amazin 4 sure, but a brave year, n sometimes you need some of those.

I sense it's been a gd year, n I can smile about it as I sit in a blue spinney chair in Slough. I have loved it, and still have much passion for beautiful music, n magical music. Im very lucky to still be doing music, n will pursue it for as long as is possible. It can be a tad daunting at times, but on the whole it's a grand n fortunate trail.

2009 will see the setting up n finalizing of my home recording studio, in my pursuit of home recordings for further KR releases, which will be prolly more hardcore than ever, and it shud spark a very interestin n new KR era / chapter.

I love music.

Take it easy, thanks for coming to the gigs n buying the albums, n hopefully taking something from the music I do. England's a great country and its' because of all of us.

Merry Xmas, have a great 1 ... and New Year!!

King Rich Xx

"Lonesome times n tea leaves" - 21.11.08

Much like the bus therum, two blogs have come along in a short spate of time, and about time to. I feel the absence of my blog writin was mainly down to my laryngitis, n tryin to get over it fully (even 2 this day it quietly lingers). With a fairly severe illness, it's best not to dwell on it too much, and so I didn't wanna write durin the period, as it was a time of recovery and thought for myself (if that makes any sense) :S

The time is currently 1.18 a.m., n Iv jus gotten out of a pretty perky bath, full of water and oils etc, and have yet again come alive in the dark hours. After midnite is a funny time of day 4 me, as I feel most at ease and carefree come that time, due to there bein no need 4 stresses or demands / the days kinda done, and so all is cool. I'm also drinkin a hot lemon drink which I make from a real lemon, and have started drinkin pretty much nightly.

Another reason why my blog is back on the boil is down to havin plenty of time on my own at the moment. Iv got much freeish time round the gigs, and every1 is workin and busy, and I'm jus creatin n deveolpin as an artist. I have also found it a gd way 2 reflect and delve in2 myself to search 4 direction and answers. Times are a lil lonesome at the moment, as many a new chapter in my life seems to be creepin towards me. Many of the workin compatriots iv had with me over the past few years have had to move on to distant locations, and so I'm havin to teach myself a lot of wat I need to do sides of my music I had others brains for. I'm enjoyin the task (ooo a light has jus gone out in my room n left me in the dark lol) so yeh, Im enjoyin the task of masterin new skills, and Im sure these new skills that Im teachin myself will keep me occupied and excited for the next few months / years.

Im also doing a lot of cooking at the moment, and spent £30 on cook books but 2 days ago, which I see as an exciting investment. I like eating and drinking, and so I may as well make it as versatile as I can. Iv also bought about 7 lots of loose tea, n I do love a cup of tea, ... tea is quite an amazin, cheap, n beautiful thing with so many varieties! My favorites at the moment are prolly Earl Grey (Aromatics & Lady Grey), Gunpowder Tea, and Liquorice - all loose tea.

Tea Tea Tea
I love thee :)

Drink some tea with me soon

King Rich

Xx

"the cold days n snowdonia in autumn" - 11.11.08

Hey all. Hope all is well. Iv been up since around 6am, n feel as groggy as ever. Iv been battlin away since Friday to try n stave off a cold, n it's not far off the feel of tryin to tip the scale in a healthy direction, n the scale is currently tryin to tip that way. Life at the mo is hardish work, tryin to stay well, and I haven't been able to really 'live' much over the past 2 months, with attemptin new secret life ventures, which are works in progress.

What is life for?

Wen u wake up at 6am, tired n dreary, somethin is wakin u up. Is it life's question ... what is life for? Lately, I haven't been able to 'see' the world ... Iv been very isolated within my own thoughts n mind. I missed most if not all the Summer with illness, n Summer 4 me equals ... gettin away. I jus aint been able 2 do it. I was in bed for much of the Summer.

Now Winter is here, with rain, wind, cold, n it's still pretty beautiful, but it's tough to be a human singer.

As 4 the rest of life ... Iv been playin a twiddle of piano, which i enjoy. iv been havin baths ... which I enjoy. Im on page 164ish of Lord of The Rings full edition ... enjoyin it, n I escaped to Snowdonia on Saturday jus gone with my mate The Vard and saw the most amazin Autumn reds all the way, which i guess hit home how important the World outside my window is to me. I feel caged without it ... spiritually sapped. Hard bein a singer though in cold climates. Mayb I shud throw myself in the sleeting ocean naked and parade across the Atlantic to a beautiful mountainous landscape in Wisconsin n pitch a tent 4 the evenin. Id kind of like to, maybe one day.

King Rich Xx

"mini album 5 release date confirmed & laryngitis" - 08.08.08

It's been a while since my last release, as Iv been goin thru the war of Laryngitis since April MAy, n it lingers on here and there, but Im hopefully grindin better, so that's all cool :)

Yeh, times have been interestin, if not great in fact. Life feels like a holiday right now. England is my new Caribbean. Iv giv up worryin n stressin as much as poss ... jus can't be bothered with it ... as Jimi once said "LAy back n groove on a rainy day", and Jimi is often rite. Life is great though. I have many good friendships on the boil, and I'm up 2 my old tricks of goin out doors a lot, lookin for random natural objects which could hold some interestin value (like pine needles and seaweed etc). On a slightly differing subject, I'd jus like 2 pass comment on a real annoyin key on a keyboard in my opinion ... the insert key ... I often press it n start typin sdrawkcab... it wud take me 50 yrs 2 get my head around usin that keys function in a natural way.

Yesterday was fun ... I went for a van ramble with my mate Queen LuLu ... n we ended up at a pub which overlooked around 30 miles of countryside ... it was in the midst of nowhere ... a great find. I also was invited 2 a religious thing yesterday ... I don't do religion myself, as I often jus dream around the world ... but yeh ... a religious thing called Quakers ... an interestin 1 4 sure ... we jus sat in silence 4 30 mins ... all of us ... n then had a cup of tea in the backyard ... this was a great idea actually ... no real methods ... I jus ended up watchin gnats outside buzzin around a sunny tree ... Rock n Roll I say.

OK .............. MINI ALBUM 5 ........................ MINI Album 5 ........................ kr mini album 5 .......................... %$£^ kr mini album 5 .................... yip ................................... RELEASE DATe ....................................FRIDAY .......................................... 26th ................................. SEPTEMBER ......................................... 2008 .................................................. 6.59PM

So yeh ... life is well ace ... havin a grand time in general ... hope u r 2

King Rich Xx

p.s. Come 2 a gig soon

"lightnin & musical elephant" - 29.03.08

I'm currently sat on the beach @ Aberystwyth, with the sun beamin down, middayish, tide on it's way in, a real millpond of an ocean, with quite a few yachts out, cormorants perched on a nearby rock, and sand makin a new home in my writing folder.

Gigs n the tour recently have been goin well, n last nite saw me trundle in2 New Quay 4 a gig & The Cambrian Hotel.

A couple of nites ago, I traveled down n stayed the nite in Aberystwyth on the sea front. For 100miles, there was lightnin in the sky, which crescendoed on a mountain top between Leominster & Rhayaderat Lldegly near the Radnor Forest. The rain was like some1 was chuckin big constant buckets of the stuff, n the lightnin struck every 5 seconds. It was very touch & go, my van being the highest metal object for miles around, with the worst lightning I'd ever seen in my 28 yrs existence. Extremities and near death adventures are cool when you survive them, as you're often left with an amazin experience-to-mind.

Life at the mo is pretty gd. I'm not really doin 2 much, but thinkin n surveyin lots. I bought a whoppin cool upright piano the other week, which to me is like havin a new buddy in the room. It's got a lot of character, and is like the elephant of musical instruments 2 have; just a phenomenal work of art. The character is in it's individuality, outta tune top notes, a random A# key with a tone of it's own, quality ... you fall in love with it. Flaws often make things beautiful even humane. Today is Sunday -day after the gig. I'm in 1 of my spiritual places which feels like another home 2 me. I'm about to have a listen 2 some music n songs iv laid down, see if I can create some new tracks. Currently goin thru the process of familiarizin myself with the material. May have a cup of cinnamon tea whilst I do that :)

Life out of 10? About a 5. Feel I'm strugglin to truly live at the mo. HArd 1 to sort out though.

Take it easy and get to a gd beach soon!

King Rich Xx

"police riot van & electric violin" - 29.03.08

Hey hey!

I'm currently sat in the middle seat of my white van, listenin 2 a crackly reception of an old firm match on my wind up blue radio. I am parked in the rainy Lake District, in a car park in Thirlmere, awaitin a gig 2nite @ The Brook Inn in Cleator Moor, in the North West lakes.

Last night was the 1st time Iv stayed out in the van this year, n it was certainly a tester. I arrived in Lancaster at 1.40 a.m., n found a quiet back street to park up and sleep in the van for the night. about 10 seconds after parking up, there was a big argument kickin off in my rear view side mirror between a uni male & female. Next thing I know, another Uni male comes flyin out of his house, tryin to have a fight with the other male. there was lots of screamin in the street, with many screamed 'F*cks' & 'C*nts', and then a gang of about 10 people were involved, and screaming ... every1 was hysterical. No1 was keepin calm (the booze ;) ), n all about 5 meters from my van (no1 knowin I was inside). I went quietly in2 the back of my van, in2 my sleepin territory, n peered thru the gap in the curtain. Amazinly, the fight ended up with people bein pushed against the back of my van n I was jus sat there. Quite bizarre 4 there 2 b me in the back of my van, in secret, whilst every1 else was scrappin around me.

10 minutes later, 3 police cars n a riot van came to tow the lot away,,, and silence descended around me ... quite an unbelievable turn of events. Iv never felt more like Kate Aide!

Last night (the night of the violence) was a very cold night in the van, but I awoke 2 pop down Lancaster town, 2 go beautiful vinyl record shoppin. Out of a number of cheap beauties I purchased, highlights included a Gil Scott Heron record, n a Stevie Wonder (Little Stevie era) live vinyl ... love vinyl shoppin!!

Only other slight nugget of news, is that I've bought an electric violin to chill away those lonesome nights. I play it with a sporadic uneducated style, n 2 be fair, my 2 yr old nephew was prolly better on it than me :) but always gd 2 b openin yourself up 2 new challenges.

Come 2 a gig soon me dears

King Rich Xx

p.s. Jus 2 let the world know, n jus 2 log it, on the way homeward from the Brook Inn gig, I was drivin thru snow blizzards and 60-80mph (mayb faster) winds comin across the Lake District mountains on the motorway at 3.30 a.m. .... beautiful times, beautiful times.

"Gamblin n herb growin" - 22.02.08

Ello me dears

Apologies 4 not writin in the blog 4 a decent while, but not 2 much has been a goin down of any grand ilk.

As i write this here blog, I'm currently sat at my window, syncing Bill Hicks 2 my MP3 player, n recoverin a wee amount from las nites gig.

As iv said b4 gigs generally are draining on the energy (as any 10 - 12 hours of pure focus per gig shud b draining) ... n the day after, it can well feel like a hangover :) My eyes 2day feel a tad heavy, but I aint 2 bad.

Jan in2 Feb 08, has been a busy family time 4 me, (as my sister got married at the weekend jus gone), n iv been out 2 stag n hen parties etc :P

Generally though, iv been feelin a wee bit lethargic, n iv been doing a lot of background work on the world of KR.

Soon, there shall be an online shop facility on the KR website (tba as soon as it goes live). Iv also been touchin n proddin on some home recordins, n playin a fair whack of piano 2.

Iv also discovered over the past month some musical hobbies, n new 'things' which give me a buzz.

Herb growin has commenced on my kitchen window sill ... I'm currently tryin 2 grow edible herbs (6 in total ... sage, dill, coriander, parsley, basil n cress) n I'm pinnin my hopes largely on the cress 2 come gd.

Gamblin is also a new pursuit of mine, and Iv found it invigorates my day a fair jot, but I'll survey how it goes over the next few months :)

My only other thing worthy of a mention possible tourin plans over in Ireland come late Spring. I'm currently debatin it with myself, but I do love Ireland 4 sure!

Take it easy folks n come check out a King Rich gig soon :)

King Rich Xx

"tv performance n the tyne" - 20.01.08

It's 2.08pm (I read the time off a cool pepsi clock, which makes me feel like buying a cool clock) and 4 the 1st time ... in the history of my life ... on planet Earth ... as me, I'm in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.

I arrived las nite at around 1am.

Newcaslte thus far is a cool hang. I expected it 2 be cold (and it isnt) (the day after I wrote this, it snowed!!) and as I walked down the streets, even at 2am, friendly locals (Jordy's if u wish) are sayin hello n smilin. (quite surreal but great).

I was up las nite till 5am, drinkin Stella, with my buddy Aveline Alien, n her chap Chrissy, who is a cool geezer (who randomly attempts 2 occasionally set fire 2 himself) (a novelty item!).

2008 so far has been as cool as I'd hav hoped, if not more. After the battle of 07, 2008 is a tropical breeze.

Iv stayed in a gypsy caravan, n a wooden shack, drinkin red wine, listenin 2 Hendrix on vinyl, chillin with the local cats in the Black Mountains of Wales.

Yesterday, I did my 1st tv interview n performance on a Sky channel called Red TV, which i enjoyed (The Sky channel was based in Birmingham).

Iv stayed a pretty cold nite on a canal boat, drinkin copious amounts of Guinness.

So 08 so far, has been a breath of fresh air.

I'm in the North 4 the next week (Newcastle & Wakefield) so jus gonna hav lots of fun n adventures! It's gonna be ace!

Take it easy guvnors!

King Rich Xx

p.s. Newcastle has got a great bridge! Oh yeh, n every1 is goin Keegan crazy atm! Bad boy!

"xmas n 2007 overview" - 27.12.07

Currently sat in bed, sippin green tea n home made tomato soup, with a bit of a cold on the boil.

Merry Xmas 2 u all, n I hope uv all had a gd 1. Mine was v cool, seein a lot of family n friends, n obviously eatin n drinkin lots :P

So yeh, im a bit ill at the mo, but it's a planned illness - 1 iv encouraged. It's the typical kinda run down illness - headaches, tiredness, acheyness, etc but as i hav stenciled in a few weeks without music, there's no better time 2 b ill.

2007 has been a hard fought year, full of ups n downs, a constant tourin year, with little sunshine, a bit of darkness, n plenty of cloudy days. It's been beautiful though on reflection. Tourin is amazin, rewardin, expendin n exhaustin. It's brutal. Iv learnt a lot about the UK, n tourin in general in 2007. It's been my hardest musical year 2 date, with all dates completed n attended, missin none through illness, injury or any other disposition.

2 of the major developments which have occured have been the completion of KR mini album 4 - (T'Apparitional), n Iv also taken a new instrument in my repertoire 2 the road over the last year ... the piano, which is gradually by gradually improvin as the months roll.

2007 outta 10 .... 4

2008 is gonna be different 4 definite, prolly my most transitional year since major tourin began some 5 years ago. A map of developments is in my head (some / most of it out on paper) and is a plan iv been mouldin n modifyin as 2007 has unfolded. There are many secret n exciting developments ahead on the KR agenda, n I'm really lookin forward 2 it.

Hope you've had a gd year, n come n see me play in 2008. Keep an eyeball on the dates page.

Merry Xmas

King Rich Xx

Additional Tourin Info 2007

2007 has been the toughest tourin year-to-date. 1 of my goals n ambitions as a human is to get as gd at music as possible ... and to place in my music layers of emotion, honesty, reality - to create the music which comes from my innards - my art.

2007 has been tough, mayb due to these reasons:-

1) The late licence

When I 1st started tourin extensively (100 gigs a year) 5 years ago, venues (pubs etc) expected you to play from around 9-11pm, or 2x45mins. With the late licence (a new policy introduced by our dear government), Im now expected 2 play 4 towards 3 hours at quite a number of gigs.

I hav a few points on playin 4 3 hours.

a) In a day n age of such speed, 2 listen 2 any1 4 3 hours - is an achievement. To stay in 1 place 4 3 hours - is an achievement.

b) I went 2 see U2 with a mate at a gig in Manchester a couple of years back. They played 4 1 hr 30 mins n it cost me £50. Apparantly best rock band in the world. It bored me intrinsically, the Edge's guitar sound almost deafened me, so even the best in the world have trouble entertainin in general.

2) The UK's overall depression / oppression

I class this point as The Robin Hood therum - robbin off the poor 2 feed the rich. We're all bein robbed. We're all workin lots 4 zero. Playin 2 a crowd who are depressed is never easy, n it does sap energy from you as a performer.

3) The Smokin Ban

With most leavin the pub every 5-10 seconds 2 smoke, an atmosphere is impossible 2 make. Yet, it's better than gettin lung cancer on the job.

4) Respectin the Performer

My mate Zee once said to me

"When any1 is performin, an audience shud give them their full attention n respect."

This human, n his opinion, from everythin iv seen, is by far n away a minority opinion, in an age of such poor gratitude, respect, and wisdom.

5) Lack of Finance

Again, close to the point about general UK oppression, comes our general poorness as a nation. Can we, the public, afford to drink in a pub? As numbers dwindle, we see the government at work once more, tryin to see off underground musical art, n venues, as there's not enough revenue n control in it 4 them. I await borin chain pubs, owned by mass superstores, all boring, conforming, where 'life' in pubs will be a thing of the past.

6) Press play performers.

A surge in tribute acts, n karaoke acts, is rife. Both, 2 a degree, require a lack of talent generally, a lack of drive, a lack of ambition. I personally hav started listenin 2 Radio 3. My reasons are cuz Im tired of listenin 2 the same monotonous songs, shovelled down our throats. There's v little art left on our radios. Radio 3 is music which has less boundaries, n I don't understand much of it fully.

The underground of music is the way forward. It's where the dirt is. It's where reality is. It's where life is. It's where truth remains. Forget gettin 2 the top. The top is now merely the rock bottom, in all aspects of UK life. Rebel, Rebel, Rebel, Rebel!

King Rich Xx

"Now chillin it n buggar off the world (i'll go my way cheers) " - 04.12.07

Apologies, that I haven't had a new blog 4 u 2 divulge over the last few weeks, but here's my latest 2 hav a butchers of!!

It's been vastly busy times, possibly the busiest of my career, with perfectionism comin 2 the curiously shaped table, along with jus a pile up of work 2 crackle on with. Printin, cuttin, producin, mixin, gigs ahoy, recordin, thinkin, masterin, finalisin, drivin / tourin, sellin, fightin, street fightin, almost dyin - are a few of the genres my life has beaten in2 over the last 6 weeks. It's been kinda hell, but the hell is over now.

I once heard a quote which sums it up well:-

Pain is temporary,
Failure is forever

It's been kinda painful, drainin as well I guess, but a lot of goodness may well seap out from the past 6 weeks of the KR world :)

Album 4 is now released (and wen I get a second, u'll be able 2 preview a few tracks, n see the album cover, on my media page on the website) (in the CD section). I also organised a charity event for Make a Wish Foundation in November, and I'd also set 1 up 4 them in July, and was like a joint fundraisin event 4 the charity. Both events 2gether hav raised £150.33 4 the charity, and you can read more about that in my News bulletin (which is on the news page! :) )

Now is a time 4 rest, recoup, n seein n socialisin with a lot of people that I hav 2 averagely neglect with the rigours of tourin n recordin. An artist like myself is very tunnel visioned , not only wen tourin heavily, but absolutely wen recordin - so I'm not really around often lately - Im in my own deep thoughts, somewhere remote, but that's kinda jus the way it is. So yeh, now it's time 2 spend some proper time with some absolutely amazin people!!

My mother is sum1 I need 2 devote far more time 2. I see my Mother properly not 2 often particularly, but certainly try n aid her wen she needs me. My mother's the most important person, n some1 I shud find plenty of time 4 all the time. She's absolutely amazin ... greatest person Iv ever met ... a true legend, n I love her very much.

My mates as well are bountiful n plentiful. Iv got sum unbelievable buddies ... really honest, carin, lovin, fun, open minded mates ... whom I also need 2 make decent time 4. Yesterday, I went 2 see 1 of my mates, Tony, who is currently ill (wont go in2 2 much detail), but he is a great human ... a very positive character. I took my gd mate, n phenominal musician friend - Abie Budgen, around 2 see him, and she played acoustic n sang some old old blues music, from 1920s 2 1940s, over around a 2 hour period. There were around 5 of us in the room, with the log fire burnin, and it was a fantastic n memorable afternoon! It was really gd of her 2 enrich our ears n memories with her playin, and she is certainly a great musician in the makin.

As 4 me, Im goin my way (buggar off the world) from here. I just intend 2. This world is vastly ridiculous in this day n age, and has completely lost the plot. The world is vastly expensive in the UK, which I feel is makin the majority of UK citizens unhappy. Diesil prices are goin up n up (not 2 mention house prices), with our spirits n souls goin down n down. It's no wonder there's so much depression n aggression, in a world where the rich r robbin from the poor gettin poorer n poorer. Im off, back 2 my world thanks. If I wanna spend time with family n mates ... cool. If I wanna sit in a field 4 5 days runnin ... cool. If I wanna stroll neath the beautiful stars n await a mornin sunrise ... cool. If I wanna walk thru a beautiful forest ... cool ... n funnily enough, the only thing these things cost is time, n Im more than willin 2 spend time on all these things, as much as is possible ... Cheers

King Rich Xx

"exotic dreams n death preventatives" - 16.11.07

If you're in a rush 2 live,
U'll prolly be in a rush 2 die.

Ahoy ... I'm currently sat on a v uncomfy brown dying couch in Reading, at my mate 'The Mung's' house, n from this couch yesterday, he was throwing up 4 about 14 hours solid :S hardcore 4 sure.

2day is Friday, the sun is trying 2 burn down the closed curtains of the room, n I shall soon be takin a trundle in2 Reading town ... mainly 4 light exercise n fresh air purposes.

The last couple of weeks have been like:

a) punching a brick wall with yer bare fist a s hard as yer like

b) diggin with ur bare hands so far in2 sand u hit concrete, n continue 2 dig a bit further

With the releae of KR Mini Album 4 imminent (imminent ... not a word I believe iv ever used in the blog :) ) (album 4 released 10 days from now) the usual prangs of last minute modifications, n polishin have been undertaken, with my brain thick in the process of album observations, from many frontiers - from music, art, pr n production sides, my head has been assessing, modifying, assemblin, n shakin the foundations of all the albums varyin angles.

As 4 me, I've hit my usual parade of pre Xmas riggers, n feel that my body is often in need of a bloomin good rub down (preferably hot oil, in a warm country off a bit of a foreign genius of the massage trade).

As it's vastly unlikely that any1 will be wishin to prod my bod back in2 life anytime soon, it has resulted in me takin the followin measures:- (Here's jus a few examples)

1) Breathin slower n deeper

2) Try to make my head get nearer 2 the floor (at times), to bring the blood of my body 2 my head, in kinda an upside down KR position

3) Being generally less stressed n more care free

4) Lyin in bed 4 longer each morn

5) Tryin 2 balance which areas of my tonsils the food which I devour goes down

It's quite an agenda, n 1 I feel I'm undertakin quite well :)

Hope all is like a field of bloomin red action, or blue actually, as red is of violence apparantly

King Rich Xx

"neutron tears n mini album 4" - 31.10.07

Hope all is well. Life currently for myself is pretty busy ... much, much action, n v difficult 2 gain the balance between staying alive, n work.

My first topic of approach 4 this here blog, is my great buddy, n recording engineer for the last 2 (n soon 2 be 3) mini albums ... Neutron Tears. I've been recording with Neutron 4 the past 3 years, n no1 over the last 3 years, has aided my music more than Neutron. King Rich Mini Albums - T'Artistic, T'Crossroads n soon the 4th mini album, have sprung from our work 2gether over the last 3 years. Without Neutron, it's hard 2 know what KR music i'd hav been able 2 record n put out :S A deep thanks 2 Neutron from myself, who's done a great job on capturing my songs. It's been a fortunate meeting of people 4 myself, and has been an ultimate experience, and hopefully gd 4 Neutron 2 :P

As 4 the KR Mini Album 4, the hour of release is v nigh. It should hopefully be released n will be on sale at the end of Nov 2007 @ the Kiddy Library charity event, and contains 6 new KR recordings. I'm currently in the process of finishin/ polishin the final track with Neutron, n tyin up the other loose ends (of which there are numerous), pre release. The album is a Wintery number, with a return to dark n atmospheric recordings, with some glances of light :)

All is busy, but jus gotta chill it.

Hope ur enjoying the entrance of Winter ... n v Happy Halloween 2 all!!

King Rich Xx

"brutal crowds n beautiful crowds" - 12.10.07

As I peel back my eyelids, I reflect on my busiest month of the year, which has left me a wee depleted, at times volatile :S n possibly with enhanced wisdon :)

It's been a moderately successful month, with the most random crowd exploits at my gigs. It's ranged from being paid by a crowd 2 continue due 2 them lovin it so, 2 being ignored 2 the hilt by another vastly noisy bunchon another occasion :) Gigs generally are bizarre :-

A Bad Gig: (it's a bit of a rant, so watch out!!) a strange affair, where uv musically practiced n practiced, year upon year, minute upon minute, to at times arrive at a venue, to generally be ignored, almost hated - probably hated actually, as if you've brought the darkest plague in2 their sunny world - welcome 2 the UK, where karaoke is King, being loutish is to be applauded, to be ignorant and disrespectful is to be applauded, and so forth. A bad gig can leave me pretty cynical at times (ud never hav guessed), occasionally even ill - and definitely moody. It's hard 2 leave a bad gig with an honest smile on yer face :S

A Good Gig: it's a breeze. Musically, I do nothing different from a bad gig, n my music generally just 'works' for that crowd. You leave the venue feelin v great! On leavin a venue, I often mumble with myslef :) in the van, mumblin away, 4 at times 20 mins or so, considerin wats jus gone on, often replayin the gig in my head, n summarisin it generally. Wen a gig is gd, my word, life is gd, it makes those years of practice worth while, u know ur doin the right thing, n behind the scenes, I continue 2 chissel away at my art (whether the gig's gone gd or bad). At a gd gig, u'll also discover some of the beautiful souls which exist in modern day England, Wales, Scotland n Ireland, up n down these great countries, n it's a pleasure to meet these lives :P

I'm currently in Reading on the Mung's (Si the Poet) floorboards as I scribble out this blog, with a pretty gd pen, n a contemplative mind. As my mate, the Mung said about the music biz in general, which I felt a concise n accurate statement :-

"In this day n age, the face goes b4 the talent."

A fair effort :)

On a further note, I've also been slanting my energies t'wards further recordings, with sessions going intersetingly and well, n also, u may wish 2 glance at 2 newly modified pages on my website :-

1) the gallery

2) the cd page with audio clips!!

Take it easy my darlings, n pop down 2 a gig as soon as you can, n give up work generally as well :)

King Rich Xx

"conquering mountains (small 1's) n aberystwyth" - 09.09.07

I'm currently sat on Aberystwyh promenade on a wooden bench awaiting breakdown assistance for a flat tyre. I wanted 2 try n change it, but I've lost my spanner :S

This week has been hardcore good, with much 'on the road' action takin place. It's been a week of quite a few 1sts, and new things are always a way forward.

New things:

1) Conquering Mountains: Ok, it weren't massive, but still phenominal 2 get 2 the top. Elan Valley mountain, is about 573 metres tall, and I was well knackered afterwards. Pleased 2 say, I took my camera along, so I've got proof :P & I've caught the magic. It's a good achievement reaching the summit for me, as I normally only get 3 quarters of the way up ... well pleased!

2) Hexiburner: Wow, what an instrument, great fun, I've been cookin all my soup on it, it's a bit of metal genius, and I bought it the other day.

3) Canals: I spent Tues & Wed on a canal boat, my buddy Dave's 2 be precise ... and wow .... it gave me a great insight in2 'canal life'. It was the 1st time I've ever slept on a boat, driven a boat, and also opened the locks ... great experience and a great time.

4) Seaweed: I came up with this brainwave to fry some seaweed fresh from the merry ocean ... amazinly, it worked to and I'm still alive! Seaweed is apparantly 1 of the most nutritious things u can eat, so it seemed a cool idea :P

So yeh, I'm in Aberystwyth now, and hav been here since Thurs (now Sunday). Played a gig out in Haverfordwest on Friday, which was hard work due to still havin sore tonsils (the left 1), all derivin back from when I had my tooth out 3 weeks ago ( a long story). But yeh, Aberystwyth has been it's usual ace self! Been doing quite a bit of cookin on the beach. I went out drinkin last night (Guiness) and ended up in Y Bae, consuming decent quantities of Guiness, and gradually grindin my dorment dancin body in2 some kind of peculiar rhythmic motion ... fair 2 say my dancin is not great, partly because I'm v self concious of my manouevres, & secondly due 2 my ability 2 generally not dance 2 great anyhow :) Met a cool lass there called Emily, who was a cool dancer, cool person, and had a cool taste in music & life in general, and was nice of her 2 come & dance n chat with me.

So yeh, life is gd

King Rich Xx

"further recordings n tricky tonsils" - 03.09.07

Ahoy there ... I'm currently sat awaiting a meeting with the Inland Revenue in the car park :) My tour van is littered with debris, but so be it.

This week has been a tricky 1 as slightish ill health has dogged me, with tricky tonsils (which have hindered the usual function of my voice). 4 around 4 days, my left tonsil was havin a bit of a moment, and decided to chill back out by Sunday (yesterday), 4 Sunday's gig in Tetbury @ The Priory Inn ... quality place - pop there if you can!

I've awoken 2day in slightly run down fashion, can feel the run down feel at the back of my mouth, n so I've gotten back on the vit trail. Life at the mo is v gd, if not tricky due 2 the current slight illness.

Recordings have also occured over the past week, with quite intensive / extensive work on 1 track, layin down instrumentation in a delicate manner, towards an eventual future release.

I also have been watchin a fair stack of the World Champ Athletics. 2 highlights 4 me were the ladies marathon ... run in 36 degree heat (fair play 2 every1 who ran in that), and also Steve Redgrave's punditry, when the ladies coxless 4 (I believe) won a gold medal, and came over 4 a hug off Steve, at which point he was so overwhelmed by their achievement, he cried with emotion ... awesome .... Steve Redgrave (5 times Gold Medallist @ 5 different Olympics) .... we love yer!!

Peace n all!!

King Rich Xx

p.s. Writing in pencil cud well be the way forward!

"ouch!!! n reflections" - 27.08.07

Mmm, it's been a pretty curious last few weeks, which has thrown me in2 a very 'life orientated mode'.

To be painting you a pretty picture - I've had my back tooth ripped out of my mouth by a very good dentist, and I've been bleeding away for quite a few days now ... wakin with blood on this face of mine :S

All is ok though :) I'm currently in Scotland (South West), in a very beautiful seaside village called Rockcliffe, chillin it with my great buddies Jing, Reeves n the Jing's extremely cool family.

I've just been sat in the cold alone on a bench overlookin a v beautiful landscape as the sun modified it's glory, bit by bit by bit. Not far from where my right hand scribbles away at this here blog, in a room a few rooms from this very 1, I can hear elder musicians passionately singin folk songs whilst they consume varyin wines.

Life at the mo is a v reflective time 4 me, posing such questions as:

What's important in life?

What shud I be doin over the next 10 years?

My thoughts also flicker across the life of the musical gypsy, touring all over the shop, and attempting to 'survive'. Musical survival is tough as life is tough in it's own way. What is great about life on the touring road is you unquestionably get to live!! It's an extremely thorough life - differing all the time ... hostile n encapsulating ... welcoming n tragic. Life on the road is a way of life though, and I'm thrilled to have chosen it. It's impossible to know where the road will take me, and it's best I just dive in the deepest end I can find.

Peace n so forth

King Rich Xx

As I sit with a bottle of beer on a sofa in a darkening room, I can overhear a 98 yr old man singin a love song ... quite something!

"wee stains n red vomit" - 12.08.07

The sun has hit, and it's brought with it a real cool 2 weeks.

My birthday was at the foot of July, which saw me thow up red sick all over my floor during the night b4, and I woke in a puddle of red vomit on my birthday morning! (alcohol induced sickness). Ahoy!! As 4 my birthday, I spent it with around 20 buddies n a bbq in my backyard, where we sat n chilled, n I pumped out some random classic vinyl in2 the nite air. Had a great b'day n thanx 2 all who attended ... safe 2 say, I drank no alcohol! (honestly) :)

Touring is goin v well with lots of cool gigs over the last 6 weeks, and good times have been had round Nobby's in Leominster, listenin 2 tunes whilst drinkin Raspberry Tea, after a gig at The Bell Inn. (Nobby is a regular devourer of the KR blog!). I also stayed a few days at The Munger's pad (Si The Poet) in Reading. The new house is a real hole ... I felt my health deteriorate over the 3 days I was there ... as an insight, an 18 yr old black mouldy wee stain was up the wall in the bathroom ... the house was n is shockin, but we love The Munger.

I've also resumed recordings, just generally layin down a few bits n bobs, havin loads of fun with it, n I'm really jus 'groomin tracks' during the current recording process.

Life is ace!!

Take it Easy

King Rich Xx

"allen n natural health" - 23.07.07

It's been 2 weeks since my last entry, n it's been a pretty extreme 2 weeks!

I'll start with London, n my 4 days there last week. In brief, I went 2 a Lilly Allen gig at Somerset House ... a really good gig with a good atmosphere on a pleasant Summer evenin, I visited the Tower of London ... naturally a great sense of history at that place, and I also visited Madame Tussauds ... had 2 queue 4 2 hours, but it was worth it, n I thought Morgan Freeman was the best wax model.

After my tourist bit, I played a date in London on the Wed in Fulham, at a cool hang called The Arbiter, with plenty of friendly faces in the crowd :) ... So London was a good time.

Other happenings over the last 2 weeks, and especially over this week just gone, has been spent focussing upon natural health. My word, it's been a curious last 3 or 4 days. I've been garglin sage n thyme, investigating white willow bark tea at fair length and concocting liquorice and cinnamon tea ... a fair effort!

Also I've been exercisin quite a fair bit, doin a gd dose of walkin (hikin if ur cool), weights, cyclin ... and as 4 more unorthodox King Rich Activities: I've begun yoga (I'm not the best at standin on 1 leg or at bein 2 flexible in the slightest); I've been workin hard at improvin my poor posture; n I also have a sneaky desire 2 undertake some naked bedroom trampoline dancing" 2 whatever takes my fancy! Ahoy! I sail! We love! ... I may take my dancin escapades on the road with me some day!!

Easy!!

King Rich Xx

NB: This blog has been brought 2 u from on top of a sunny hill, in a nice field, where a hornet has jus landed on my paper and is in the process of cleanin it's back hooves.... enjoy the floods X

"baez n bad teeth situation" - 08.07.07

Ahoy there!! At the moment I'm sat in my garden, 7am, drinkin Nettle Tea! 4 the last 3 mornings on the trot I've awoken at 5am, n then gone back 2 bed at 9am 4 a few more hours rest. My body has keen urgencies of the morn! However, I've spent my mornin times wisely, strollin over fields bloomin in early sunrise, and muddyin my new 'trainers of joy'.

Yesterday was a classic day in my year so far. I finished a book off in the back garden 'The Overload Solution' by Jane Alexander, whilst half naked (top half - tryin 2 get some sun). I also had the great fortune of seein an amazin musician of the last 50 years at a gig in Wolverhampton - Joan Baez. 2 b quite honest, she was completely fantastic! The songs she performed were all exceptional songs (Farewell Angelina, With God On Our Side, she did an amazing foreign song that I've no clue what the title was, Love Is Just A 4 Letter Word, Suzanne and a real cool song about London) and she performed with the genius of a lady who's given much great musical time to the world - my thanx 2 Joan 4 an amazin night at the gig!

As 4 my teeth situation, it's an interestin period! I believe, though unsure, that finally my wisdom teeth are breakin on thru 2 the other side!! Ouch!! Ouch!! So it's makin my mouth v v sore, with toothache etc. n it has also seen me alter my diet so that most of what I consume is liquid based (soup, milkshake) - all home made.

My own gigs have also been v cool this week, with 1 of my favourite gigs of the year, performing at a Kiddy College showcase, playing on a bill with lecturers Kevyn Gammond n Rick Lamb. I've known Kevyn well 4 6 or 7 years, and I've a true respect 4 what an amazin guitarist n musician this man is. He's a boundary n rule breaker, and a vast inspiration as the world droughts of any real visionary or pioneering music / musician in this day n age. Kevyn has been round since the 1960's, playing many key music roles including Robert Plant's guitarist pre Zeppelin in The Band of Joy, and has aided me and been a good friend of mine over the past 7 years.

So I really enjoyed the gig, as I just let fly with my music, performing Gettin Down 2 T Guita, When I Was Dreamin and The Unknown.

Rest well my dears!!

King Rich Xx

"paignton n art hangings" - 30.06.07

I'm currently sat in Hyde Park Cafe in Paignton, Devon, n it's an early rainy morning down South. I'm here 2 play a gig 2nite at The Coach House, and crashed over here last nite in the tour van.

Got 2 sleep last nite around 3.30am, n woke around 7am - so feel a little grizzly!

So yeh, been 4 a stroll along the promenade this mornin, listenin quietly 2 tunes driftin out of my MP3 player - notably Led Zeppelin (Physical Grafitti) and Nick Drake (Five Leaves Left).

I'm awaitin a breakfast I've ordered called 'The Big One' which shud see me put on a few pounds 4 sure :) I'm also checkin out paintings on the wall of the coffee shop, that I'm considerin buying. 1 is 'The Lady of Shallot', which I've wanted 4 about the last 7 years :) and is £20, and the other is a bizarre bark ensemble, which is collaged 2 produce a castle scene - quite me n quite impressive!! - which is £15. What du reckon?? Shud I buy it?? I think I shud, but 2 be fair, I'm v skint at the mo, so best refrain :P

Enjoy some more sunshine eventually!

King Rich Xx

p.s. Love 2 my Dad, RIP, who died 8 years ago today - a great human who gave me all he had ... for that I'm eternally grateful! X

"whisky n reading (the PLace)" - 19.06.07

As the battery on my fone has carked it, I find it tricky to tell u the time (by the look of the rain, perhaps the time ain't a concern) :)

Drank a lot of whisky last nite in classic Reading, and was talkin 2 a buddy of mine called Freddie till 5am.

It's been quite useful 2 let myself wind down 4 a few days since a cool gig out in Watlington, and I'm currently pretty hungover.

Yesterday was a pretty action packed day, after hanging out with Sarah n The Poet. Think I had Guiness at around 4pm, n I also have bought some mihty cool vinyl from Oxfam (Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix n Joni Mitchell 2 name a few), then we all got absolutely soaked in the torrential Summer rain offering of England. It was most harsh 4 Sarah who is wheelchair bound - though she was in hysterics - which is great!

After we returned from our wet excursion, we drank and chatted about America (that's where Sarah's from) for about 2 hours, n then ate cottage pie.

It's been an unhealthy time away, but it was always gonna be - and that's what Reading is to me .... I always end up eatrin lots of junk food n drinkin many various alcoholic numbers ... I am fond of the place though :)

Catch u in the rain

King Rich Xx

"london N Home recordings" - 19.06.07

Currently sat on East Croydon Railway Station awaitin the 10.55am to London Victoria. I've just spent a peculiar weekend in London, stayin at my mate Abbs' flat. We popped 2 Wembley Stadium on Sunday night to see Muse Play their final date there. I'm not a Muse fan particularly, but I thought they were superb last nite so fair play 2 them.

Since I last wrote, I've had gigs up in Northwest England (Cumbria), as well as down in the Southwest (Gloucestershire).

***(3 hours later)

I've just been shopping in Camden - and bought nothing :S Many of the shops sell the same kinda stuff, but there were some well cool shops! I also ate this extremely hardcore chinese meal from Camden markets. London is not the kind of environment I overly hang in, although it is very encapsulating. Give me an ocean 2 look at, or a field 2 chill in anyday :)

My Home Recordings are on the boil at the mo, and I really have developed a passion 4 it, as you can really experiment on them. I don't believe I'll purposely release any that I've done-2-date (though u may find them on the black market :P) - but they r v humourous (in my mad mind), with lots of swearing and ridiculousness within them. Home recording to me is currently therapeutic, and a major creative process indeed. The songs I've recorded since ensuing home recordings are Dig Mo Fo; Hang On My Sweetheart (Alternative Mix); n Live Ur Life (Funk Mix) ... crazed 4 sure

Catch u at a beach some time soon

King Rich Xx

"vinyl addiction n irish prospect" - 04.06.07

The time's 7.30am, I'm sat on a picnic bench in a park in Audlem, n I've jus finished breakfast (porridge, raisins and banana). I've currently got a cup of pineapple and rooibus tea on the go. Woke up 2day at 5.30am (v early), after a cool gig last night in Audlem at The Shroppie Fly - and then crashed over in the tour van.

I'm currently tryin to get myself "van orientated" as come September, I'll be giggin, sleepin n livin in it for 3 weeks on an Irish gig tour.

I decided an Irish tour would be a superb remedy for breakin the circular effect of a 12 month after 12 month after 12 month English tour ... kinda to wake my body up and challenge it. To be fair, the prospect of the voyage has ignited me - it's awoken my spirit (which had become dorment).

Life at the mo is superb - best it's been this year so far ... jus down 2 a real attempt by me to grab life by the nuts and "attempt" to live it in a vibrant way.

It's pretty nice to be sat outside at 7.30am, for it 2 be sunny n the birds r havin a gd sing

King Rich Xx

p.s. Addictions r interestin ... n I've developed a new addiction which is as excitin as it gets 4 me ... 2nd Hand Vinyl Shoppin ... my word ... my favourite addiction of the last decade!!!!

p.p.s. Massive thanks!!!! to Seth Butcher who's at Lancaster University and is 1 of the Big Don's of the North, well actually, probably the South as well!! He has written an article on myself and my career-to-date. Check it out f you wish (the link 2 it is also on my links page): http://www.butchersreviews.fusiveweb.co.uk/MusicArticles/DiscoverKingRich/tabid/522825/Default.aspx

"vomit n detonate karaoke machines" - 27.05.07

Woh, quite a few poor n educational weeks since my return from the Northern Tour.

The action has been 2 gigs, 1 of them in Shrewsbury, 1 in Wolverhampton - both of which were poor efforts. Shrewsbury was brutality - the gig axed after 30 mins wen I didn't arrive with a karaoke machine 2 sing along with. On the way home, I was travellin in torrential floods, n decided to drop into Bridgnorth to see my buddy Hannah for a quick outing. I felt real ill, n by the time I'd struggled home (1 am) I vomitted heftily, n it was all grim 4 abvout 4 days. I believe it was some mad bug, but yeh, it was more than welcome :)

Saturday saw my arrival at a gig in Wolverhampton. I was in a fairly experimental mood, n also quite a reclusive kinda mood. I played a Blues fest where I jus played my own material (not blues) as I guess playin my own material is wat I shud be doin. I quite enjoyed the gig, as it was v low pressure, and some of the crowd took a bit from it, but May 07 has been quite a curious musical adventure on the whole.

A further negative was my hamster Boris (Bozzler), died of old age on 19th May (RIP).

A positive is my 4th mini album is nearin completion after about 5 months of chiselling. It's sounding quite intense n cool :P

My song of the moment is Joni Mitchell's 'Woodstock' - bit of an Ox!

But yeh, life is gd ... and bring it on!

Take it Easy

King Rich Xx

"New Website" - 21.05.07

Well about time . . . . . I now have my new look website up online, this will be far more informative and provide my fans with a wealth of materials.

Free down loads, online purchasing of individual tracks by download, and CD's and DVD's by post, as well as additional merchandise.

Please bookmark my site and watch for forth coming performances, recordings and other features.

King Rich Xx

"Northern Exposures, The Endless Mountain Drive, Unbelievable Sunrise, & Dream Of Smugglin Treasure Chest!" - 10.05.07

I feel with my blog, it’s for me to speak with the people interested / disinterested in me; a diary with as few pretences in it as I can manage, so people can get an insight into my existence.

I wish people to know a very real account of who I am, and my experience of the world. My experiences may at times be a little dulling, sometimes a little enthralling, but the honesty within the accounts will be paramount, as it's important in my opinion that folks know of my trials, glories etc.

This blog will hopefully be the real deal, so people know of my musical journey / undertakin.

This is a long blog, and also 1 of my 1st of the new website, but it's unlikely to be a measure of what's to come, as it's vastly rare that iv the opportunity to sit down n write without time constraints arisin :(

Thurs 26th - Sun 29th dished me out a busy schedule. Thurs saw me play my Market Drayton residency - quite an experimental gig on a musical front. Friday saw me perform live on BBC Radio Hereford & Worcester, as well as then headline the night at a Worcester German Folk Festival. The fest was cool, n was held on the racecourse, with me n a few artists playin in an outdoor marquee. There was a classic Bulgarian Oompah band on b4 me who were a bit of a revelation to say the least :)

Sunday saw me leave the Midlands at 1am, n trundle up the M6 to Lancaster, where I slept at 3am till 9.30am. I set off 4 Edinburgh (1st time I'd ever been to Edinburgh) shortly after wakin, and I arrived there around 1pm. I got lost around the Scottish capital 4 an hour, n finally found somewhere to park where it wasn't pay n display, 2 miles outta town :S I took a stroll, pre gig, to witness the classic historic castle (an unbelievable structure) and come 8pm, went to my gig destination - Whistle Binkies (a cool underground venue beneath the capitals high street). The gig went pretty cool, with me maybe overcookin it a bit, n musically goin off on 1 a little, but I’m averagely harmless really :P

I left Edinburgh at 1am n headed for Anglais as le French wud say. I picked the straightest road 4 Wakefield - the A68!! Beautiful. An hour along this road, I came 2 the realization the A1 wud have been faster :S This was the scenic route, and my journey became enveloped in extreme mountain fog. I bet the views wud have been mind blowin … if I cud have developed fog glasses J

I slept around 2.30, till 4.30am on the roadside in the back of my van, where I was unfortunately awoken by the passing of merciless vehicle big boys shudderin my very foundations :S Up I got n headed for Newcastle over more dense mountain, where I had the great fortune to crop along the most unbelievable sunrise I’d ever seen (up a mountain lookin down on 50 miles of thick puffy fog, with the unrisen sun illuminating the tip of the far edge of the fog clouds with an almighty orange glow – unbelievable! I also saw 2 deer sprint infront of my van, and about 1, 003 rabbits. It took me 3 hours in total (excluding sleep) 2 get from Edinburgh 2 Newcastle, but well worth the tiring diversion. True n near deadly living was undertaken whish was fantastical!

I’m currently in Wakefield, visitin my mate Beccy (Spud), and kickin back 4 a few days, prior 2 hittin the M62 4 a gig in Kendal on Thurs. I love bein at Beccy’s in Wakefield, as Beccy’s 1 of my best n longest mates (buddies 4 13 years now) but I also get a chance 2 be me 4 a while, due to havin less ‘work’ around me.

I get to do things like drink odd teas (chai, orange); also drink a beer or 4 – like I did last nite at a pub on Wakefield’s heath called The King’s Arms. It’s rare 4 me 2 drink more than a pint, as I’m often driving or have gig health to consider, so it’s classic to kick back.

I slept on a brown leather couch last nite, and as my mind wound down, I had the strangest dream! 4 some reason I dreamt of tryin 2 smuggle (with about 14 of my family members) a treasure chest out of a loft area of a random rural house - smuggling it from my dead Dad (who was alive in the dream) J - but we got busted. It was all very real in the dream, but quite ludicrous in awoken life J

So yeh, my sleep pattern is quite wayward at the mo, but it’s great to be tourin n vastly imperative to be living!!!

I’ve been listenin 2 a lot of radio whilst travellin, Radio stations 4, 3, n Scotland, n listenin off these stations to mainly old classic jazz (Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald) n old muslim chantin mosque music from 1936.

Take the scenic route my dears n thanx 4 readin

King Rich Xx

"life of king rich ... 2007 thus far" - 25.04.07

National Touring; Underground Recordings; Filming Music Videos; Photoshoots; Charity Event Successes; and a new KR website have all been positive aspects of the year so far.

There's always many incidents within these developments which add to the painting of life.

In January, I ended up in a Haunted Hotel in the Bridal Suite (I'm not married btw) with a party of people after a gig in the heart of Wales. On my trundle back t'ward the Midlands, I swung thru the Elan Valley, and was caught in a fantastic Fog Blizzard late at night, with the wind sweepin past at close to 100mph.

February was mainly about intensive and extensive recording sessions, with me and Neutron Tears (classic sound engineer) using our analytical ears to the hilt to push new recordings to cool heights. The recordings are nearing completion. (check back for developments)

March saw another creative push, with focus upon a Live Music Video (shot in a secret location on Sunday 4th March 2007). 26 track performances were recorded on the evening, with my good buddy and ex band compatriot, Dave Swift, doing the audio recording duties; and visual dynamo and gd buddy, Mags Yip, capturing the visual side. The editing process will be taking place over the next few months. (check back for developments)

April witnessed the surpassing of the cumulative £1, 000 barrier of the charity event I set up in Kidderminster (see News page for more info), which is a great achievemnt by all involved with this musical event. Other positive aspects were being offered to Headline a night at a Worcester Festival (see News page for more info), and also being offered a slot at Kidderinster Art Festival at the Town Hall on Friday 27th July 2007 (see News page for more info). April has seen me launch my new website as well - a beauty you may agree.

2007 thus far has been a very positive year, with many interesting projects on the boil, and hopefully things will continue to improve. Keep checking back for more information, and pop along to a gig if you fancy some musical action.

Take it Easy and cheers for supporting ;)

King Rich Xx