New Practise Venue

Wishing Well have secured the use of new practice facilities at Long Crendon with full use of PA and recording studio etc. Simon Cowell said " this will bring the band screaming in to the nineteenth century!" - Will the last one out please turn off the lights.

Wishing Well re-brand for clarity

Wishing Well has for some time now been wrestling with itself to understand where the band would like to sit in the world of music. We keep coming back to the Sixties even if not all of our music is from that decade. The bands style is certainly Sixties based and a lot of our newer material eminates from that time. You will notice that the website is now starting to position us as a Sixties covers band and we will see how this fits with the loyal Wishing Well fan base from Thame, Stone & Chinnor.

Anonymous wellwisher

Wishing Well were great at the festival - thanks guys - Anonymous

No Sleep Till Bledlow Ridge!

After a rocking set at the Wheatsheaf last Saturday night, fans of Colin the "Juggler/Styx" Vose were unimpressed at stand-in drummer Rob's chops (on kind loan from Bootlegger). The rest of the band, and the Saturday night punters, however, were very impressed with Rob's skills - so much so that rumour has it that managers of both bands were seen in hard bargaining negotioations after the gig. Could this mean a transfer is in the offing. Thankfully, for both bands, I fear not, as the drummer transfer window is now closed for the season. Punters were asked if the Well sounded any different on the night. A drinker, who wished to remain anonymous said " It was like the Well we know and love, except tonight they were in time and right on the beat, like". Another punter commented "We did miss that number they did recently at the Beer Festival where the guitarist played each string in turn for ages, where it sounded like a cat in pain - that was a good number, man".

As the band members drove away in their tour bus after the show, a handwritten sign in the rear window could clearly be seen - "TODAY CHINNOR, TOMORROW HOLMER GREEN - NO SLEEP TILL BLEDLOW RIDGE! (AS LONG AS WE GET A GOOD NIGHT'S REST AT SYDENHAM)"

Has the Juggler really had a shave???

Fans of popular band member Colin (Also known as 'The Juggler') had to do a double take on Saturday night at the Wheatsheaf. Had The Juggler really shaved of the haven of local wildlife and preserver of at least a weeks dinner, his beard.
The band performed their tribute to The Beatles and The Everly Brothers + a bit of Dion, and all was well as the Wheatsheaf rocked, but we are pleased to announce that Colin has not removed the furry wonder but had been replaced for the night by Rob from the Bootleggers so that he could take a well deserved holiday after a long summers touring had taken its toll.
The Band would like to thank Rob and look forward to working with him and The Bootleggers in the very near future, and will be welcoming Colin back in to the fold when he returns from his Villa in San Tropez sometime next week.

Mr Bass rolls back the years

Mr Bass 'The Hat' rolled back the years last night discarding the wooden bass that has become his trademark and picking up the dusty Fender. This was all down to the fact that 'The Axeman' (AAKANT - Artist also known as No tune) has been away on business.
Band management said the practise session went so well that they hadn't realised anything had changed. We are not sure if this is a reflection on The Hat or on The Axeman but The Hat definitly went to bed with a smile on his face (not that we were there you understand!)

Styx, OneStick and now something new!

The 'Wells' Lead guitarist 'Axeman' has suggested a name change for the bands experienced drummer. After holding two drumsticks in one hand and a Cow Bell in the other and dropping the lot whilst doing the intro to the Bands version of the Stones, Honky Tonk Woman, on saturday night, Axeman has suggested the name 'Juggler'.
The other band members find this name change agreeable but understand that 'The Jugglers' loyal fan base could be outraged.
A source close to the band said "we can do what we bl***y well like cause 'The Juggler' is on holiday, so who cares, stuff his fans!!!"
The bands Management Company, Wishing Well Music, have made funds available for re-prints of all tour memorabilia (which wasn't much!)
The band now consists of The Hat, The Juggler, The Axeman and OneTake.
NEWS JUST IN.................After Saturdays Beer Festival guitar tuning issues experienced by the Axeman the reporting press have coined the nickname 'NoTune' for the Axeman. This is not expected to be adopted by the band although is highly amusing.
A source close to the band said "The guys will not be affected by the media and will not have seen these reports. In fact none of them can read so no problem!"

Drummer Jokes - Sad but true

What do you call a drummer without a girl friend? Homeless.

Did you hear about the time the bass player locked his keys in the car? It took two hours to get the drummer out.

What sentence do drummers use the least? "Hey guys, why don't we try one of my songs?

A drummer tried to teach himself to play the flute. After practicing for months, he still could not get a good tone from it. He finally decided that he was hitting it too hard with the stick.

What's the difference between a savings bond and a drummer? Someday the bond will mature and make some money.

How late does the band play tonight? About half a beat behind the drummer.

What's the first thing drummers do in the morning? Walk home.

Is Learning The Bass Really That Easy

We asked Mike 'The Hat' Thompson how easy it was to learn the bass and he told us this.....
'As a birthday gift Loretta (his wife) decided to get him a bass guitar and some lessons. After the first lesson the Loretta asked him how his lesson went: "It went great Dear, I learned to play on the first 5 frets on the top string!"
Loretta applauded his efforts. The next week she asked about the second lesson: "It was great, today I learned to play the first 5 frets on the second string!"
Once again Loretta applauded him. The next week she again asked about his lesson: "Didn't bother going . . . I had a gig!'
Blimey it must be!
Mike'The Hat' is now the best Bass Guitar player that Wishing Well have ever had!!! Theres nothing like a great Bass player.........you know the rest!

Access To All Events - Sadly we know It Is True

St. Peter's still checking ID's. He asks a man, "What did you do on Earth?"
The man says, "I was a doctor."
St. Peter says, "Ok, go right through those pearly gates. Next! What did you do on Earth?"
"I was a school teacher."
"Go right through those pearly gates. Next! And what did you do on Earth?"
"I was a musician."
"Go around the side, up the freight elevator, through the kitchen ..."

Styx Now OneStick

In the spirit of the band and with evidence to back it up Styx will now be known as 'OneStick'. Or if you prefer AFKAS - 'Artist formerly known as Styx' !!!
This is due to the many occassions he has been seen flailing around trying to catch the second stick whilst laughing uncontrollably.

I Found It !!!

As the strap on the young ladies dress gave way revealing her left (censored) and the whole band got a right eyeful several things happened. The Axeman missed a whole BAR (we are not sure if this was because of the incident or whether it was just another saturday night !!!), The Hat realised his glasses were not so bad after all and OneTake went up two octaves. Styx however, claimed he had found a long lost drum stick last used in 1977.

Does the size of the stage really matter?

Saturday's wedding gig proved to be a resounding success for The Well despite a number of technical set backs...... Styxx swore that he had remembered everything this time, but he still had to be provided with two stackable chairs to sit on. The Hat's amp gave up the ghost during the third song requiring a good kicking to bring it back to life. What can I say about the stage, once Stixx's equipment was in situ to put OneTake, 6Slice and The Hat on it, and remember none of them will ever fit into their 32" jeans again, was something to behold. Lighting, well we should have had our music written in brail for the first set, fortunately the ever resourceful Onetake saved the second set by coming up with some with music stand lighting! Still our drunk fan thought we were fantastic and the bride confirmed that they were dancing in the garden if not in the sauna euphemistically called a Village Hall. Rock On.

Major Sewer Problems In Chinnor

Thames Water were yesterday alerted to strange smells at 'The Wells' secret practise location in the Chilterns. The band do not have much luck and sewer issues do tend to follow them around. Our contact in the band said that it was about time the source of the smell was located and a thick rod forced in the offending orifice and forced in and out until things were quite clear.
A thick green cloud was later seen moving between the secret location and Thame at about 50mph and Thames Water declared the practise location safe and healthy.
UPDATE - We have just heard Thames Water are investigating a similar incident in Thame, Oxfordshire. The mystery deepens!

Important Equipment Missing

Did '6Slice' turn up without his amp? Did 'The Hat' turn up without his bass? Did 'OneTake' turn up without his microphone. No............but Styx turned up without his Cymbals.
We thought disaster had been averted when a friend living nearby provided replacement items but no..............thats a very loud NO...............there was still indeed a major disaster. So big a disaster indeed that '6Slice' nearly melted, 'The Hats' feet froze, and 'OneTake lost his voice.
Yes you guessed it 'Styx' had forgotten the beer!

Younger Drummer Joins 'The Well'

Preperations for the summer touring season were almost thrown in to chaos yesterday when Colin Vose AKA 'Styx' apparently missed the afternoons practise session. 'The Well' are in final preperation for the Amroseden weekend.
However the younger model seemingly sent as a stand in for 'Styx' was not some mystery drummer plucked from the Yellow Pages but simply Styx minus 10 years facial growth. Sources close to the band say he didn't look a day over 75 which they said was an improvement of some ten years on the normal Monday night look !!!.
Those sources refused to be named and the life in a Rock band continues.
Sex, Drugs and Sausage Rolls!

5.........4.........3.........2.........1.........GO !!!

Only 5 days until 'The Well' adorn their glad rags and hit the Ambroseden stage. Yesterdays practise was interrupted by an unidentified musician slipping in the odd bum note (in fact sometimes more than the odd one). Rest assured though 'Pop Pickers' he will apparently not be available Saturday and therefore all will be well.

Has Styx Vose Done A Maxwell

Rumours eminating from the Mediterranean area suggest Styx Vose may have done a Maxwell, the rest of the band were sad to hear last night. Was Styx really to be found floating dead in the Med with his Multi-Million pound yacht left deserted like the Marie-Celeste? Had life got to the respected Drummer with the story about the 'Rent Boy from Bangkok' about to break in the media (sorry wasn't meant to mention that one) or were the government looking to assasinate the 'Drummer who knew too much'???.
Happily, when they said doing a Maxwell, they didn't mean a Robert Maxwell. No stupid, they meant a Maxwell House! A Coffee before bed for Styx. The band are glad he is still with us and have cancelled interviews for a replacement (although if you know any tall blonde females we may still be interested)

The Well soldier on

Despite the inconvenient taking of holidays by Styx the rest of the band soldier on in order to give a polished performance at a wedding gig we have in couple of weeks. Will Styx regret lying in the sun for two weeks instead of diligently rehearsing....... time will tell.

O2 Arena "Not Bovvered" At All

The spokesperson from O2 Arena has just confirmed that contrary to earlier reports - the Jackson 4 will NOT now be headlining the cancelled Jacko gigs - in fact, they will be supporting Wishing Well who have successfully negotiated the headline slot.

I Blame it on the Boogie, the spokesperson said.

O2 Arena "Not Bovvered"

Media reports that O2 Arena were in a state of meltdown over Jacko's untimely death are completely unfounded, an O2 spokesperson said late last night - in fact we're "Not Bovvered". We have been in high-level talks all night with other artists to cover the 50 cancelled dates. The O2 spokesperson added confidently "the 50 date gigs will go ahead - ticket holders will not be disappointed - the Jackson 4 will be headlining".

Where Did You Get That Hat???

Mike 'The Hat' Thompson, 'The Well's' bass guitarist has been in hiding since the untimely death of Michael Jackson last night. Conspiracy theorists beleive that the death is a huge spoof after Michael was apparently seen in Thame last night. However, a source close to the band can confirm that this was actually Mike with his now famous hat.
To avoid confusion, one is a talented artist with the world at his feet, the other was in the Jackson 5 !!!.

King Of Pop Is Dead

Wishing Well Management were burning the midnight oil last night talking to the O2 after the sad death of Michael Jackson. Sources can exclusively reveal that 'The Well' could be in line to headline the 50+ shows vacated by the singers untimely death. The plan would be to link up with another major artist like Queen or McCartney who would back the 'The Well' and then all that would be left would be world domination..........................That is of course if the O2 turn off their answering machine!!!.

Paparazi hunt 'The Well'

A mystery photographer was spotted trying to get shots of the 'The Well' at yesterdays Chinnor Festival. Spotted a number of times drinking with Styx, Fingers, The Hat and One Take the female snapper then mysteriously disappeared in to the straw. If anyone see's this lady please do not approach her or you too could end up on our website!!!

Concerns in the crowd

Concerned Chinnor festival goers rushed home yesterday all concerned about one thing. Was it the rain, was it 101 raffle prizes (10% off voucher for Nicholls - wow!!!), or was it removing the straw from their festival outfits. No it was none of these - they were worried that Roy Orbison had only told half a story in his famous song Claudette (some will remember the Everly Bros version) and they will have wanted to know what happened next. Did he write a follow up song to explain.................well Wishing Well can confirm that Claudette did indeed get married and she did indeed get married in this song. It's just that Lead Guitarist Geoff 'Fingers' Cotton decided to leave the hungry crowd wanting more! After several injections and a night in a secure unit you will all be pleased to know that he is now on the road to recovery.

Will he or won't he? - that is the question

As festival lovers and music fans descend on Whites Field in Chinnor for the first ever Chinnor festival there will only be one thing on there mind. No it's not the weather, not the venue and not the beer tent either!. The question they will all be asking is about the wells Bass Player, Mike 'The Hat' Thompson. The question is will he wear the hat or won't he??? Today is the day we all find out.

Our newest fan

Baby Aaron came into the world on Friday..... a future footballer or rock star ? We will just have to wait.
The Well are now not only available for Wedding & Parties but we also do a nice line in Christenings.

Chinnor Festival

The Well will be headlining(ish) at the Chinnor Music Festival on June 20th....... just another day at the office. Be there by 16:00 or you will miss the sensational act.

NEW MEMBER FOR THE BAND

Rehearsals for The Well's July wedding gig may have to be put on hold this weekend as lead singer "One Take" Ridgley looks to become a father for the second time. Sources in the Ridgley household say that this minor inconvenience should not last for more than a 48 hours. The Blog will keep our interested fan apraised as events unfold.

Local venue will miss the Well !!!

Local venue 'The Wheatsheaf' in Chinnor will be without 'The Well' for the next three open mic nights. The change of venue and dates has clashed with a busy working schedule for one of Oxfordshires top function bands and they are unable to attend.
A source close to the band said "if the Well aren't there it will just not be the same!". Later speaking from the same secure unit in a local hospital he claimed not to have made this statement but it was good enough for us.
Lets Rock & Roll

Oh No - Saturday is just no good!

Wishing Well will be missing from the next three open mic nights at the Wheatsheaf in Chinnor. The move of dates when the venue changed and the shift to saturdays has found the band working on the next three events. The band are extremely dissapointed but thats the price you pay for being one of the leading function bands in Oxfordshire!

Wheatsheaf Gig Cancelled

Drummer Styx Vose has pulled out of the Wheatsheaf open mic night on the 4th of July. A source close to Styx explained that the endless touring had taken its toll and he was suffering from exhaustion.
Actually he's going away for the weekend but the fist paragraph sounded better!!!
Have a good weekend Styx

Fingers & One Take

Fingers Cotton and One Take Ridgley hammered out a few songs at the weekend with just guitar and vocals. These are the links - see what you think and any constructive comments will be welcome.
Angels - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifyzFvL0YcA
Cathy’s Clown – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hvVWjY0xjQ
Claudette – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZBVo45Ax6Y
Wake Up Little Susie - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEEO_ZAya_c

Wishing Well Rock The Wheatsheaf

Along with a number of other acts Wishing well continued their Chinnor Tour!!! with a visit to the Wheatsheaf on Friday 19th May. Set list included Honky Tonk Woman, Pretty Woman and All or Nothing. The second set especially went down well with the whole audience singing and dancing (well Kenny was anyway!). Roll on July 4th back at the Wheatsheaf.

Set List

Just to let you know our Set List as discussed is as follows;

All or Nothing – The Small Faces
Dock of the Bay – Otis Reading
Bad Moon Rising – CCR
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds – The Beatles
My Girl – The Temptations
Kingston Town – UB40
Valerie – The Zutons
Hard Days Night – The Beatles
Cathy’s Clown – The Everly Brothers
Wild Thing – The Troggs
Take Me to the River – Al Green
Pretty Woman – Roy Orbison
Use Somebody – Kings of Leon

Ticket to Ride - Beatles
In the Midnight Hour – Wilson Picket
The Letter – Joe Cocker
The Wanderer – Dion
Summer of ’69 – Bryan Adams
Wake up Little Suzie – The Everley Brothers
Get Back – The Beatles
Something Else – Eddie Cochran
Honky Tonk Woman – Rolling Stones
Eight Days a Week – The Beatles
Claudette – Roy Orbison
Wishing Well – Free

Brown Sugar – Rolling Stones
Angels – Robbie Williams
Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
Summertime Blues – Eddie Cochran
Johnny-B-Goode – Chuck Berry
Can’t Get Enough – Bad Company
Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen

I heard it through the Grapevine – Marvin Gaye
House of the Rising Sun – Animals
Love is all around – Troggs
California Dreaming – Mamas & Papas
Needles & Pins – The Searchers
When will I be loved – The Everley Brothers
Can’t Help Myself – The Four Tops
Another Saturday Night – Sam Cooke
Maggie May – The Faces
You got it – Roy Orbison
All the Lovin’ – John Mayall
Addicted to Love – Robert Palmer
Stay with me – The Faces

Haircuts All Round

Monday night threw up the biggest surprise of the year. 4 haircuts took years off us all. Even Colins beard was trimmed back for the summer so the birds couldn't nest in it. Weird how great minds think alike!

Friday Looms Like A Big Black Cloud

Bass Man Mike's shook some structure in to a couple of new risky songs we may try on Friday this week at the Open Mic Night in the Royal Oak, Chinnor. Pretty Woman and Use Somebody (Kings Of Leon) could well be on the menu along with a couple of better rehearsed numbers including Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds and Honky Tonk Woman. Yes Finally we get to share our version of a Stones number after plenty of discussion.
This week we could even hear Geoff 'Hendrix' Cotton throw in some awesome backing vocals (maybe less of the awesome). Heres to Friday - Cheers.

Bass Man Mike Says

The additional numbers discussed for the future;
Kings of Leon - Use Somebody
Four Tops - I can't help myself
Snow Patrol - Light Up
Cat Stevens - Another Saturday Night (?)
Mamas & Papas - California Dreaming (?)

New Songs

As discussed for the future;

Kings of Leon - Use Somebody
Four Tops - I can't help myself
Snow Patrol - Light Up
Cat Stevens - Another Saturday Night (?)
Mamas & Papas - California Dreaaming (?)

Tough But Fun

The band got together again last night and on top of working on last weeks numbers they hammered out Honky Tonk Woman by the Stones. I get the feeling most of the band had been itching to get to grips with a bit of Rock history. Mick Jagger eat your heart out. Two weeks now until the Oak open mic night and the plan is to get there with 4 new songs in tow!!! Roll on May 4th.

Not Just another Practise

This weeks practise was thursday night (April 9th) and the band spent the night putting together a couple of new songs. A Bad Company number and a great Roy Orbison track called Pretty woman. Another great night - things are really beginning to motor. In fact we nearly had a gig but with the average age of the band over 50 and being a covers band we were probably wise to turn down working with teenage bands. Maybe next time!!!

Another Great Night At The Oak

Wishing Well rocked at the Oak in Chinnor again on Friday (April 4th). A tribute to the Everley Brothers went down a storm and Take Me To The River by Al Green absolutely Rocked. Next appearance at the Oak in Chinnor will be on Friday May 4th.