Dan Williams Allstars
'Silence Is The Best Scene' / 'I'll Dig My Own Grave'

These tracks were released on a 3" CDr sold at our last show at Club 85 in Hitchin on 22nd April 2011. We made 25 copies which we sold on the night.

Here is the info from the insert:

DAN WILLIAMS ALLSTARS

Silence Is The Best Scene
(Noir Desir ‘Prayer for a Wanker’)

Every day of my life it’s every man for himself. But I don’t need anyone and I don’t like anyone. Removing all one by one. All I needed was belief in a lie. Every week of my life I hear you say “it’s not right”. But I know everything, now I don’t know anything; I haven’t decided yet. Believe in silence. All I ever needed was belief in silence. Every year is the same. Step closer; circle the drain. And I don’t want anything, because I don’t need anything. The end can’t come fast enough.

I’ll Dig My Own Grave
(Hunter S. Thompson ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’)

You’re in my mind. You’re in my home. You’re in the tiny place I call my own. Now please be still my bursting heart. My nerves repeating stories in the dark. Always in the dark. You’re in my mind. You’re everywhere. When I dream I’m climbing in your hair. So please be still our twisting tongues so you can keep on looking for ‘the one’. He will never come. It happens every time and there is never reason like everywhere is kisses for me. What is it we need? Why burn this bridge to embers when all I need’s some time with you? Let’s start again. You have to know why I ignore my ringing telephone. I’d rather be forgotten now than remembered for putting on the smiles. That’s what it’s about. All my wasted time never need be wasted if I could stay right here next to you. Wanting to become a life of happy endings; at least that’s what we’re telling ourselves. Knowing all the while you never could be mine; that’s what you told me all the time. You think that I would learn and wouldn’t fall so easy; but part of me I missing something. Should I wait my turn; my fingers crossed forever? What’s the use? I found what I want. Knowing all the while you never could be mine because that’s what you told me all the time.

Sweat / Disrespection / 101 Teeth
recorded live at Rhythms of the World Festival on 24th July 2010.

Gareth was so excited he got our name wrong. We were two songs in when Tom realised he had snapped the neck of his guitar at our last gig. No one likes a front man who can’t keep his mouth shut. Ben Bray saved the day by being in tune. Thanks to all who saw us play...ever!

www.thedwa.co.uk
wild animals records
c. 2011 DAN WILLIAMS ALLSTARS

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After the first 'last show' in March 2008 some of us did a bit of music. I had joined Jimbot Fu for a few shows and some recording (which was never released...Ben, sort that out!). I loved that band but kind of ruined it for myself by being shit! After that, Tom, Cat (the other half) and I, along with Rupert and Andrew from Black Ramps started a band called Off With Their Fucking Heads. We didn't do any shows. I'm pretty sure Matt was playing in The Bullet Catch at this time too. Dave had sold his drum kit I believe.

In 2010 our old band manager Steve was organising Rhythms Of The World festival and offered us a decent slot. We agreed to play and I organised a couple of gigs prior to the festival to get us back into the swing of things.

I'll Dig My Own Grave first appeared as Putting On The Smiles, the last track on the extra CD with Bloody Teeth / Bloody Hands. Silence Is The Best Scene was put together pretty quickly. In practise, the long ending to the song was played at the end of both songs but we decided it was a better fit on this track.

These recordings found us back at Earthworks Studio with Andy Davies in late 2010. As it was only two tracks and he STILL liked us, he did us a decent deal. We ended up getting the final mixes in February 2011 after spending a good few weekends freezing our arses off in Andy's shed, adding vocals and messing about with the mix. I think my vocals on these recordings are a bit shit as I was suffering from the winter sniffles, but we just wanted to get the tracks finished. There are two things I remember about these recordings though; for Silence Is The Best Scene, Ben Bray told me he preferred not being able to hear the lyrics on the shouty tracks and for I'll Dig My Own Grave, Tom wanted to shorten the track but I didn't want to lose any of the lyrics. We both got what we wanted and I think the final result sounds quite good.

The live versions of Sweat and Disrespection were taken from the front-of-house desk at ROTW. I plugged my mini-disc player into the desk about 20mins prior to our set time. The stupid thing turned itself off after about 30mins but then came back on for the band after us. 101 Teeth was recorded by persons unknown for the BBC Introducing show. Repeated requests via various avenues for an actual copy of any recordings of us that they had taken were never replied to.

Looking at the time line, we did one gig in the 5 months between ROTW and these studio recordings. Not sure how or why we decided to record these. Steve was not booking any gigs for us at this stage and it was hard for me to get the band to agree to do any shows. Once I had the tracks I planned to put this CD together for a final show. We were booked to play a ROTW fundraiser at Club 85 on 22nd April 2011. I tried to get some shows booked in before that but it didn't happen. I don't remember anything about the last show except I got my Dad to paint the name 'Vanilla Nightmare' on the back of my shirt as they were on the bill with us and I liked them. Andy from David's Music filmed the gig but he is yet to find the recording.

After this final show Matt started doing shows with The Bullet Catch with Ben Bray. Tom, Cat and I wrote some music under the name Cheer From The Grave but we didn't do any shows. Dave got pestered by Matt The Punk to do a Flaccid reunion ....now THAT would have been superb!

Dan - May 2020