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To ask Michael Shelley a question just drop a note w/ your question, your name & where you're from to ask(AT)michaelshelley.net.
----------------------------------------- April 11, 2006 Q: Dear Abby, How am I supposed to qualify for disability benefits if I am physically & mentally too unstable to 1) efficiently work *anywhere* OR to 2) even apply in person for said benefits? Is there some panic button somewhere I should push? Thanx in advans! A: Believe it or not, this is not my exact field of expertise. But I’ll take a shot at it for you. First of all, I think you’re selling yourself short. There is indeed a job out there for you. I guarantee it. (aka: get your lazy ass to work). Getting “Benefits”: it’s like calling PSEG, just keep hanging up till you get the kind & patient person who works there, she’ll help you. Lastly- there is no panic button. Press “play” on the record player with Rubber Soul on the turntable. That might help. ----------------------------------------- April 6, 2006 Q: Are you coming to Southern California to play any time soon? A: I would like to. I think (again) there is a small problem in the supply & demand department. Realistically, the next time I'm passing through for fun or to see friends I will try to book some sort of gig. But I have no Idea when that might be. Any suggestions what would be a good venue? ----------------------------------------- April 5, 2006 Q: Thanks for the earlier response. Good to see your still about! Your daughters 'vinyl rules' shirt is brilliant by the way. So to ask a question, if its all a bit quiet over here how did you hook up with Heliotone for one of their beautiful 8" records? A: I'll try to make a long story medium length; Around 1997, while DJing at WFMU, I heard some of the 45s released on the Scottish SHOESHINE label, and thought "I bet the folks who released these would like my music", so I send a cassette of my just finished 1st album over. Shoeshine's Francis Macdonald & I hit it off like old chums & he agreed to release a 45 (and subsequently my first 2 albums & our "Cheeky Monkey" collaboration). At the time, he was playing in The BMX Bandits. A short while later I was signed to the US record label BIG DEAL. It was a small but might company, looking to sign some good acts. I told Francis to send them a package of, and I bugged the Big Deal folks to put out a BMX Bandit cd. Big Deal released the excellent "Theme Park" album, and the Bandits toured the USA. I pitched the idea of a "Best of the Bandits" cd, which the folks at Big Deal said was a fantastic idea, so I stared to choose songs & compile information for the liner notes. I was looking for some objective thoughts about the band and I think it was Duglas from the Bandits who suggested I get in touch with Ed Jung, who ran (and still runs) the unofficial Bandits web site. Big Deal ended up prematurely going out of business and that project died. BUT - I kept in touch with Ed Jung (a nice guy), and one day he emailed me and asked if I wanted to do an limited edition eight inch record for his Heliotone label. I said "yes". It was that simple. We filled it with unreleased & rare stuff & it turned out to be a charming little release. -----------------------------------------
Q: So, when will you be striding out across the world, rocking our tiny socks off and playing the odd tune or three? Are you still in cahoots with Shoeshine? Bugger, that's two questions! A : I would very much like to return to the UK, but there is a question of supply & demand, and I think there are some problems on the demand side. There is a label in Spain that is going to put out Goodbye Cheater, and says they'd like to have me over for some shows, but that all seems to be moving slow, if I do get to Spain I will try to add some UK shows as well. As to Shoeshine: it seems like they have had better luck with their Country & Folk releases lately and are concentrating on that direction for the label. I can't bleame them, they have done a lot of great things for me. I've been searching for a new UK home for a while, but so far no success. I am still in contact with head-honcho Francis & we communicate often. ----------------------------------------- |