Don's 2019 Diary
In August 2019 Don went on a three week vacation with Hanne to the USA. He is presently writing up some stories from his trip.... Here we go with some entries.
Sunday 18th August 2019
We drove for a day of sightseeing to Corpus Christie a beautiful place.
A friend of Jay-Lyne's (Hanne’s American sister) asked what me I did for a living. Jay-Lyne said to her, do you know the song…”C’mon Feel The Noize”?
Her friend responded: “ Are you one of ‘Quiet Riot’???? … We all burst out laughing…
I thought it was hilarious…
Tuesday 20th August 2019
I was awake at 07:00am
Cleaned up and relaxed before the others got up.
We had breakfast before packing the car and driving to San Antonio to visit ‘The Alamo’
It’s a beautifully preserved chapel where in 1836 - 23rd February to 6th March a handful of Texan vigilantes (about a 100 ) tried to keep 1,500 Mexican troops lead by Santa Anna from invading the USA.
It’s like a shrine to Americans, It’s also where dear friend Ozzie Osbourne, during a photo shoot, decided he wanted a piss….. (not knowing) He pissed up one of the walls of the sacred Alamo). This lead to many years of him being banned from the State of Texas….
Sunday 18th August 2019
We drove for a day of sightseeing to Corpus Christie a beautiful place.
A friend of Jay-Lyne's (Hanne’s American sister) asked what me I did for a living. Jay-Lyne said to her, do you know the song…”C’mon Feel The Noize”?
Her friend responded: “ Are you one of ‘Quiet Riot’???? … We all burst out laughing…
I thought it was hilarious…
Tuesday 20th August 2019
I was awake at 07:00am
Cleaned up and relaxed before the others got up.
We had breakfast before packing the car and driving to San Antonio to visit ‘The Alamo’
It’s a beautifully preserved chapel where in 1836 - 23rd February to 6th March a handful of Texan vigilantes (about a 100 ) tried to keep 1,500 Mexican troops lead by Santa Anna from invading the USA.
It’s like a shrine to Americans, It’s also where dear friend Ozzie Osbourne, during a photo shoot, decided he wanted a piss….. (not knowing) He pissed up one of the walls of the sacred Alamo). This lead to many years of him being banned from the State of Texas….
Gig in Copenhagen 1st November 2019 -Photo: Lee Small - Sweet Drummer
Friday 1st November 2019
Gig in Docken. Denmark
I was up early to clean up…
I was driven to Horsens. Checked in the hotel and waited for everyone to arrive from England.
Stand in drummer Alex let me use all his kit.
We did a soundcheck - everything was OK.
We ran through ‘My Oh My’….’Noize’….’Xmas’
Came back to the hotel to relax and eat before the show.
There was a great reaction from the, crowd when I got on the, drums to play the, encores.
SWEET were also on the show.
I felt really good as well.
Gig in Docken. Denmark
I was up early to clean up…
I was driven to Horsens. Checked in the hotel and waited for everyone to arrive from England.
Stand in drummer Alex let me use all his kit.
We did a soundcheck - everything was OK.
We ran through ‘My Oh My’….’Noize’….’Xmas’
Came back to the hotel to relax and eat before the show.
There was a great reaction from the, crowd when I got on the, drums to play the, encores.
SWEET were also on the show.
I felt really good as well.
Video of Don with Slade in Docken, Denmark - 1 November 2019 - video by Lee Small
Saturday 2nd November 2019
Gig in Copenhagen, Denmark
Got up when the alarm went off at 07:00.
Cleaned up and packed before breakfast.
We all then drove to Copenhagen.
Alex and myself sorted the kit out.
Relaxed in the hotel before going to the gig with Tim and Robin.
Same situation as last night, I played the encores… Great crowd reaction when I walked on stage again.
Soren, a Danish guitarist who sometimes plays in Glenn Hugh’s band (Glenn is my friend from Wolverhampton, who’s played with Trapeze and Deep Purple) was there.
I was in bed by 12:30.
Sunday 3rd November 2019
Gig in Malmo, Sweden
I was up 09:00.
Cleaned up and went for breakfast before driving to Malmo in Sweden.
Did the usual soundcheck before our show.
Great crowd reaction again when I walked on to play the three encores.
After the three days my legs felt really good, making me very happy.
Gig in Copenhagen, Denmark
Got up when the alarm went off at 07:00.
Cleaned up and packed before breakfast.
We all then drove to Copenhagen.
Alex and myself sorted the kit out.
Relaxed in the hotel before going to the gig with Tim and Robin.
Same situation as last night, I played the encores… Great crowd reaction when I walked on stage again.
Soren, a Danish guitarist who sometimes plays in Glenn Hugh’s band (Glenn is my friend from Wolverhampton, who’s played with Trapeze and Deep Purple) was there.
I was in bed by 12:30.
Sunday 3rd November 2019
Gig in Malmo, Sweden
I was up 09:00.
Cleaned up and went for breakfast before driving to Malmo in Sweden.
Did the usual soundcheck before our show.
Great crowd reaction again when I walked on to play the three encores.
After the three days my legs felt really good, making me very happy.
Tuesday 3rd December 2019
Got up when my alarm went off 07:00.
Cleaned up and went for a walk round Hammersmith before breakfast.
Made my way to Barnes for the ‘Rock’n’Roll’ Masons' lunch ( my description.)
I sat by Quo's John Coghlan as usual had a great afternoon.
Neither Nod nor Andy Scott were there????
Made my way back to my hotel andwas in bed by 21:00.
Wednesday 4th December 2019
I caught my train to Liverpool.
Les Glover met me ( guitarist and singer from Don Powell’s occasional Flames).
We drove to his and Lisa's place for me to stay the night.
I was in bed by 12:00 midnight…
Thursday 5th December 2019
Les brought me up a cup of tea at 09:00.
We relaxed all day, had a ‘take -away’ for dinner….
I was in bed by, 23.15.
Friday 6th December 2019
Spent all day at the ‘Don Powell’s Occasional Flames’ question and answer get together.
Dear friend and drummer Terry McCusker (ex-Colonel Bagshot and Bunny drummer) and Alan Lynch (ex Slade roadie) were there.
Les, Paul and myself got up and played a few songs from our ‘Occasional Flames’ CD. ‘Taping The Hiss’
I got to bed around 01:30.
Saturday 7th December 2019
Les brought me a cup of tea around, 09:30.
Cleaned up before spending the afternoon at the ‘British Musical Experience.’ (what a fantastic place).
Doing a great question and answer session.
Got back to Les’s place. Lisa cooked us dinner,
I was in bed by 21:15.
Sunday 8th December 2019
I stayed in bed until 09.00
Relaxed all day, only going out to take Les and Lisa’s dog for a walk.
Watched a great Robert De Niro and Al Pacino film ??????
I was in bed by 22:00.
Monday 9th December 2019
I got up at 08:00.
Les and Lisa were already up.
I cleaned up, packed and Les took me to the station to get my train to London.
I met, David Stock from Omnibus, we went by cab to the hotel near the South Bank they had booked for me…..
Had a great few hours at a book (biography paperback) signing…. Also a question and answer session.
Came back to my hotel, 23:45 and went straight to bed.
Tuesday 10th December 2019
Got up when my alarm went off 08:00.
Cleaned up and packed to check out and make my way by train to Wolverhampton.
Checked in my hotel and was in bed by 22:30.
Wednesday 11th December 2019
I was up at 08:00.
I met sisters Carol, Marilyn and brother Derek’s wife Chris for a luncheon of tea and cake, before going to Waterstones in Wolverhampton for a signing session.
Had a great few hours there, selling many books……
Old school mate from Etheridge School, Charlie Harris (haven’t seen him since then) was there.
He gave me an old photograph of us in the Boy Scouts together when were 14…..
I had a drink with the people from Waterstones before making my way to my hotel I was in bed by 22.00.
Got up when my alarm went off 07:00.
Cleaned up and went for a walk round Hammersmith before breakfast.
Made my way to Barnes for the ‘Rock’n’Roll’ Masons' lunch ( my description.)
I sat by Quo's John Coghlan as usual had a great afternoon.
Neither Nod nor Andy Scott were there????
Made my way back to my hotel andwas in bed by 21:00.
Wednesday 4th December 2019
I caught my train to Liverpool.
Les Glover met me ( guitarist and singer from Don Powell’s occasional Flames).
We drove to his and Lisa's place for me to stay the night.
I was in bed by 12:00 midnight…
Thursday 5th December 2019
Les brought me up a cup of tea at 09:00.
We relaxed all day, had a ‘take -away’ for dinner….
I was in bed by, 23.15.
Friday 6th December 2019
Spent all day at the ‘Don Powell’s Occasional Flames’ question and answer get together.
Dear friend and drummer Terry McCusker (ex-Colonel Bagshot and Bunny drummer) and Alan Lynch (ex Slade roadie) were there.
Les, Paul and myself got up and played a few songs from our ‘Occasional Flames’ CD. ‘Taping The Hiss’
I got to bed around 01:30.
Saturday 7th December 2019
Les brought me a cup of tea around, 09:30.
Cleaned up before spending the afternoon at the ‘British Musical Experience.’ (what a fantastic place).
Doing a great question and answer session.
Got back to Les’s place. Lisa cooked us dinner,
I was in bed by 21:15.
Sunday 8th December 2019
I stayed in bed until 09.00
Relaxed all day, only going out to take Les and Lisa’s dog for a walk.
Watched a great Robert De Niro and Al Pacino film ??????
I was in bed by 22:00.
Monday 9th December 2019
I got up at 08:00.
Les and Lisa were already up.
I cleaned up, packed and Les took me to the station to get my train to London.
I met, David Stock from Omnibus, we went by cab to the hotel near the South Bank they had booked for me…..
Had a great few hours at a book (biography paperback) signing…. Also a question and answer session.
Came back to my hotel, 23:45 and went straight to bed.
Tuesday 10th December 2019
Got up when my alarm went off 08:00.
Cleaned up and packed to check out and make my way by train to Wolverhampton.
Checked in my hotel and was in bed by 22:30.
Wednesday 11th December 2019
I was up at 08:00.
I met sisters Carol, Marilyn and brother Derek’s wife Chris for a luncheon of tea and cake, before going to Waterstones in Wolverhampton for a signing session.
Had a great few hours there, selling many books……
Old school mate from Etheridge School, Charlie Harris (haven’t seen him since then) was there.
He gave me an old photograph of us in the Boy Scouts together when were 14…..
I had a drink with the people from Waterstones before making my way to my hotel I was in bed by 22.00.
