July 16th
The band had to get up crazy early the next day to tape ESPN’s Cold Pizza breakfast show. The production crew was kind enough to supply intravenous coffee to help wake everyone up. The band recorded three songs for the show (Candy, Do You Wanna and 1000 Tears) and did an interview with the show’s presenter, ex KROQ DJ and VH1 VJ Cane.
As the band piled in the limo to drive back to the hotel Martha Stewart’s sentence was announced on the radio. Phil was particularly gutted by the harshness of her sentence. “She makes the world a better place – one neatly folded fitted sheet at a time,” he says.
Annabella in front of BB Kings on 42nd Street
Back at the hotel, the band grabbed a couple of hours of Zzz’s before the sound check at 4 p.m. At 5 p.m., since the traffic was gridlocked, the band jogged down Park Avenue to make it in time for their appearance on FUSE TV’s live Daily Download show.
Before the show, David Weir, the music booker of the show asked the band to sign the guest book. Leigh got all artistic and drew the band’s logo. Adrian then drew a two-inch penis as his contribution to the band’s artistic endeavor. Phil helpfully pointed out that “perhaps he shouldn’t have drawn it at actual size,” before drawing his signature guitar man. Annabella then got to work embellishing it with BWW’s office silver sparkly marked pen, drawing a picture of herself flying high on the cord of a heart-shaped balloon.
The band were pleased to get such an enthusiastic welcome from the young FUSE studio audience. They then rushed back to BB Kings to chill in their dressing room before the show. Annabella loved her well-appointed dressing room, which was just off the side of the stage. One of the BB Kings staff said it was located like that “because that’s the way BB King likes it.”
Adrian, Leigh, Steve Leeds, Joan Jett, Annabella, Phil, Kenny Laguna
“I Want Candy” producer Kenny Laguna came down with Steve Leeds (who originally selected the song for BWW) and Joan Jett to say hi before the band went on stage.
Annabella, Phil and Leigh
BWW were supposed to go on at 9.15 p.m., but Adrian just had a feeling that 9.21 p.m. would be better. So at precisely 21 minutes past nine the band walked on stage and stuck up the first chords of “W.O.R.K.” They were happy to see that their audience had remained loyal after a break of 6 years.
The Crowd, Annabella and Leigh
Annabella Lwin
Phil and Annabella
Phil and Adrian
New song “1000 Tears” again went down well with the crowd. “Sexy Eiffel Tower” was another firm favorite that night. By the end of the set the people in the back were dancing on their tables and chairs to the tirade of tribal beats.
The Crowd at BB Kings!
After the first encore, crowd wouldn’t let the band go. They’d run through all the songs they’d rehearsed and didn’t know what to do, so asked the crowd what they’d like to hear. Those that wanted “Baby On Mars” shouted the loudest, so the band gave them what they wanted before finally leaving the stage.
But the crowd still wanted more, so the BB King’s staff organized an impromptu meet and greet for the hardcore fans. As the band walked back out front they were surprised to find a line patiently waiting along the sidewall all the way to the rear of the room. They then spent the next hour and a half chatting to fans, and singing autographs. Leigh was happy because he got to sign a few body parts (at Annabella’s instigation), and Annabella was happy to meet Amie Margoles, who was wearing a very cool “Bad Kitty” T-Shirt.
After the show the band hit the Black & White bar. The owner recognized Adrian and the Bow Wow Wow posse, and asked what everyone would like to drink. Annabella was in the mood for some fizziness, so asked for a bottle of Champagne, which the manager ran off to get. A few minutes later he came back looking very apologetic. Ironically the band’s ex-manager Malcolm McLaren had been in the night before and had drank them dry, so vodka had to suffice.
Afterwards, Adrian, Leigh and Annabella hit Big Nicks again, for a late night/ early morning snack. This time Big Nick was actually in da house, and came out to say hi to Adrian. The band finally hit the sack at 5am.
BWW’s Tip of the day: “Have Owen Fegan in your crew. He’s the best tech a band could get.”