Random Convention Flyer (UKCAK, 1992)

I attended four UKCAC shows, two in London and two in Glasgow. Probably the best times I ever had on the convention trail, especially the one where there was an extended stayover for a Deadline signing tour. Got to see My Bloody Valentine for the second time, drunk off my ass and every other body part. I was too intimated to meet the band members at the after-party, I just sat in a big comfy chair and someone took me back to wherever I was staying. 

I did some dumb stuff on the Deadline tour like hanging out of the open side van door on the highway. I was happy and excited and expressed myself in interesting ways. I'm not saying intelligent ways, just interesting ways. I don't remember a lot of that time, to be honest. Between memory and a lot of drinking. UCKAC wasn't like the shows I was used to. The UK artists barely set up, most of the time -- at least at that first show I attended -- they were in the hotel pub or hanging out somewhere. The American guests (Inc Pete Bagge and Adam Hughes) were all sitting at tables together, sketching and selling stuff like we did back home in hotels, con centers and church basements (later on the UK folks started sitting down to make money, pushing the comics and art). 

I do remember the one and only time I inhaled amyl nitrate, courtesy of the late, and much missed Si Spencer. Did not enjoy that experience. Nope. I was in an elevator and things went up and down too much and I thought about that scene in the Batman show when Batman has rockets going off (I really did!) and my heart went ba-conk ba-conk ba-conkers really fast. Didn't love that. I stuck to beer the rest of that night. And the rest of the tour. Beer is easy to understand, take in and get rid of. 

Anyway, those were fun times. I miss those shows a lot.