Thanks to everyone who came to an amazing gig last night in Madrid - the biggest and best crowd we have had, in fine voice, and thanks to the co-promotion with Spanish radio able to spend all of their hard earned cash on cervezas and inded "Cut Out & Keep"...as we left the gig at 1 am it was snowing. It's no fun trying to hail a cab in Madrid at 5am when it's -1, let me tell you. Luckily I somehow found the time to purchase my own pieces of vital equipment for the Japanese tour - a small selection of Montecristo "Edmundos" cigars, noted for an aroma that promoters can smell at 50 paces to alert them that "The Management" has arrived. I will also be bringing my large "manager's coat" out of mothballs, which lends me the air of a slightly younger but much fatter Arthur Daley. It also seems to have the effect of making promoters slightly nervous, sort of like the cashmere equivalent of Uncle Buck's car - something that may explode at any moment. Having just stepped off the 7am flight, with the band close behind on a slightly more civilised time slot, we are raring to go for the Barfly tonight after a somewhat stressed out week caused entirely by British Airways. The band were due to fly to Japan on Tuesday but due to the strike we have had to move this forward to Sunday, thus removing two much-needed "spare" days from our schedule. Still, that's rock and roll and we get to spend 2 extra days in Tokyo to acclimatise before heading off on the Shinkansen bullet train to the first show in Okayama. As well as 5 shows ( 2 of which in Nagoya and Okayama are in cities we have never played before ), we are doing an instore performance in HMV Shibuya ( Tokyo ) on the 5th, and also appearing on our pop star friend Kaela Kimura's radio show at some point, as well as on Love FM in Fukouka ( home of the best noodles in Japan, and also the best hat shop ). The band then head off to Sydney for 1 show ( this has moved to the 10th from the 9th for reasons best known to the promoters ). The new songs are sounding great and we are all looking forward to saying konnichi-wa to our friends old and new in Japan - so if you're reading this in the UK come along tonight to give the band a great send off, they are on at 8.15... More reports from the road shortly... The Management

The date of the Sydney show has actually moved to the 16th, my bleary eyes have just noticed...

Hello! Nice to give us some news and pics from your japanese tour ;) I still impressed by the success you have there, it makes me so proud of you! I wish I was rich sometimes, to go to Japan and see it with my own eyes... Enjoy the rest of your tour! xx

Yeaaaah, thanks :D