Chaz Jankel in the studio with The Spammed

Chaz Jankel and Ian Dury co-wrote classics such as; 'Sweet Gene Vincent', 'Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll', and 'Hit Me With Your Rythmn Stick'. Aside from The Blockheads, Chaz has collaborated with everyone from Quincy Jones to Sly & Robbie to Robbie Williams. Yesterday Mr Jankel had another reason to be cheerful - he was invited to spend a day with the studio with The Spammed recording a track for the next Specialized CD compilation ('Punk Pioneers: The Roots of Punk')

(Above: Singer Kevin Eldon, Guitarist Micko Westmoreland, Producer Chaz Jankel, Guitarist Paul Cuddeford, Drummer Rat Scabies, Keyboardist Micky Gallagher, Bass player Horace Panter, and Sax player Terry Edwards.)

Specialized is a musical community that was created in 2012 to raise funds to improve the lives of teens and young adults with cancer or who are living in difficult circumstances. The Specialized Project brings together amateur and professional musicians with the shared goal of creating musical projects for cancer research and support agencies, particularly The Teenage Cancer Trust, The National Foundation for Youth Music and Tonic Music for Mental health. They’ve done this by the production of themed albums supported by live music events across the UK. The two main organizers of The Specialized Project are Paul Willo and Paul Ayriss. The albums they’ve put out over the last decade have raised over £100,000.

To find out more about the project visit: https://specializedproject.com/

(Above: Rat, Kev, Micky, Terry, Paul, Chaz, Horace and Micko recreate the photo on the back of The Blockhead's Do It Yourself L.P.)

The Spammed (whose original line-up was put together by Harry Pye and Micko Westmoreland) have appeared on every single one of the Specialized Cover Version compilations – these albums included tributes to acts such as; Bob Marley, The Clash, Madness, The Beat, and The Rat Pack.

(Above: Kev, Micko and Chaz)

Yesterday The Spammed were delighted to work with extra special guests guitarist Paul Cuddeford (from Tony Visconti's band Holy Holy) and Blockhead keyboard legend Micky Gallagher. It was great to be in the legendary recording Premises studio in Hackney watching these talented chaps record a cover of ‘Louie Louie’ for the next 4 Disc Specialized CD  “Punk Pioneers:The Roots of Punk Rock”

Read Harry's interview with Chaz about his Glad To Know You anthology: HERE

The last day of the London Coffee Festival

This year's London Coffee Festival closes today. The festival's Artists In Residence are; Gordon Beswick, Cristina Calvache, James Lawson, Harry Pye, and Olga Suchaanova. 

Above: Affordable prints by James Lawson are looking for a home

Above: A visitor grabs one of Team Beswick & Pye's Elelphant & Castle screen prints.

Above: James Lawson's artwork making people happy

Above: Olga Suchanva hanging her work

Above: Visitor taking a close look at Cristina's artwork

Above: Pye paintings of Nookie Bear and The Beat

Above: Fans of Gordon Beswick paintings

Above: This CMYK screen print by Harry Pye and Gordon Beswick could be yours for just £40

Above: A rather serious fellow in hat infront of 'Masks' by Harry Pye

Above: Nice chaps

Above: Cheers!

Above: Good bean Cristina

Above: Wall of doodles

Above: Cristina Calvache: 'Gadgets resting on a tree at Cheshunt Lake (Lost & Found nº10)'. 42x29.7cm. Digital print in 250gsm of recycled paper. Edition of 5. £70

Above: Another fan of Mr Beswick's painting

Above: Close up on Olga's amazing Nocturne painting

Come to level one's Soho section and feast your eyes on the fab art of Olga, James, Harry, Gordon and Cristina. For more info on the festival click: HERE

60 Photos from the first day of The London Coffee Festival at the Truman Brewery

Gordon Beswick, Cristina Calvache, James Lawson, Harry Pye and Olga Suchanova were all delighted to be "Artists in Residence" at the 11th London Coffee Festival.

 The festival is open tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets start at £21

 https://www.londoncoffeefestival.com/Tickets/Sessions 

Don't miss out.

Above: The artist Harry Pye

Above: Nana poses with a painting Harry Pye made in collaboration with Gordon Beswick called 'Can't Get Used To Losing You'

Above: Nice ladies enjoying a Gordon Beswick painting

Above: James Lawson getting some feedback on his paintings

Above: Nice lady smiling at Harry Pye paintings

Above: Mr James Lawson

Above: A nice man with splendid tattoos clutches a James Lawson print

Above: Nice lady looking at the work of Cristina Calvache

Above: Nice lady with some Pye paintings

Above: Nice man taking photos of Gordon Beswick paintings

Above: Two nice chaps pose next to a painting by Olga Suchanova

Above: 3 nice ladies with a painting of 2-Tone legends The Beat by Beswick & Pye

Above: Nice men who like the paintings of James Lawson

Above: Lawson fans

Above: Affordable prints by James Lawson

Above: A nice lady giving out free biscuits

Above: The people from Dappa who claim they can make thick, rich creamy ice cream from nuts"

Above: A nice man who appreciates Harry Pye's tribute to James Ensor.

Above: A lucky lady who was awarded a free Cristina Calvache badge

Above: Artworks by Cristina Calvache

Above: Fans of Olga Suchanova's Nocturne painting

Above: Gordon Beswick fans

Above: Nice lady who likes Gordon Beswick art

Above: A child being introduced to the work of James Lawson

Above: A nice lady looking at a James Lawson painting

Above: Nice ladies made happy by Harry Pye paintings

Above: Calvache fans

Above: A nice lady with an inexpensive print by James Lawson

Above: Painting by Olga Suchanova at funny angle

Above: the cat in the hat enjoys a painting called 'Can't Get Used To Losing You' by Team Beswick & Pye

Above: Painting by Gordon Beswick

Above: A lovely artist called Rosie Lovelock pointing at a painting by Harry Pye called 'Fantasy Football'

Above: A nice lady gets up close and personal with a drawing by Cristina Calvache

Above: A nice couple with the funsize version of Nocturne by Olga Suchanova

Above: A nice lady pondering the merits of the paintings by Pye

Above: Sunbeams painted by Gordon Beswick

Above: Happy young people posing with a Pye painting

Above: Nice man looking at work by Cristina Calvache

Above: 'Nothing Personal' painted by Harry Pye

Above: 'Masks' painted by Harry Pye

Above: A young man feasts his eyes on a painting by Gordon Beswick

Above: Painting by Olga Suchanova

Above: A nice lady reflecting on the virtues of Cristina Calvache artwork

Above: A happy young person who gives visitors free shots of Ginger standing in front of paintings by Gordon Beswick

Above: Nice lady in impressive suit admires a James Lawson painting

Above: Beautiful Beswick artworks

Above: Tasteful paintings by James Lawson

Above: Harry meets Victoria

Above: Victoria gets Harry to draw on the wall

Above: Harry meets the nice man from 'AKTION MUSICK'

A nice lady who gave me free chocolates

Above: Nice people thinking about Pye portraits

Above: The work by Olga, Gordon, Cristina, Harry and James can be found on the first floor in the Soho section (S08) they are next to the bar.

Map of London Coffee Festival: HERE