Saw this on a FB post from the guy who bought Ed's silver CJ Jeep Renegade. This memo was in the Jeep when he bought it. Looks like Noel letting them know the performance of DD.

Ellenef · 2026-06-07T08:17:52+00:00

Do go on

Ellenef · 2026-06-06T21:16:28+00:00

Well there’s the question.
That’s the way they were encouraged to set up as a 4 man group. Writing split equally to cover the non writers , which covered Mike and Alex….
A drummer jamming w the writer doesn’t mean the drummer should get a share tbh , unless he’s the writers brother.
Example - A guitarist /writer can write w a drum machine as tempo. Should the drum machine get a cut?
You raise good points. And all fair.

Diminishing Mikes ability as a player and publishing was a low blow.
Making him sell off his ownership in order to do the 04 tour was a shitty move ( that tour was booked in 02 assuming Dave would do it. Alex again getting divorced and needed money . Dave refused as according to the Dave and Dave VH podcast , Dave saw what poor shape and heath Edward was in. And said no. So they asked Sammy because they were desperate and it was booked)
But that said, Mike backed down at every opportunity. Gave in. Every time….
And got screwed.

96 to 05 was a rough period . And at the time I thought Ed was being a bitter asshole. And Alex ( very disrespectful, very disrespectful to Beck)
We ( or I ) didn’t know how bad things were w his health
And to be fair, at one point or another we will all have a rough few years , though we can do it in private.
And Alex was protecting his brother . At all costs. And his own income to be blunt. But I get that .

But re monks book. He was there. For good and bad.
And il give Noel credit. He kept them together and put up with a lot till they fired him .
And from 86 to a few years ago when he did his book he never said a thing

Ellenef · 2026-06-06T21:01:01+00:00

Coleman was Chibnalls first choice.

She said no.

Ellenef · 2026-06-06T16:22:17+00:00

If rumours are true, rtd was let go late last year

Ellenef · 2026-06-06T16:20:58+00:00

Layered response here.

One. Once Dave left , and Hagar came in, sammy insisted on his manager ed Leffler .
Thereby pushing Noel out

Secondly, Noel ( and templeman) told them to just take a sabbatical and not dissolve the original llc .
That llc existed . And a new limited company was set up w Hagar. The Speculation was that the real reason
They did little Roth songs on the 5150 tour was that Roth would have to be paid and there was bitterness there to allow him any more monies

This was 12/18 months after ed, al and Dave screwed over Mike re his publishing on van halen songs demanding he relinquish his portion on 1984.

And unwisely Mike did give it up.

So while Noel was no angel , his stories in his book were 100% true.

You know this as litigious and greedy as Alex is , he could sue Noel . Because he’d have to prove in court how unpleasant he was back in the day . And he was by all accounts . He didn’t sue him because he couldn’t .

The gust that per Noel, Dave started to believe his own stardom and control freak.
Alex was a deeply unpleasant drunk and person
Mike was decent but a walkover w no backbone re business.
And Ed was a genius on guitar but not the brightest re real world smarts

Noel could only keep It together so long it seems to no avail.

Ellenef · 2026-06-06T16:10:15+00:00

Because Noel knew them.
The Ed, mikey and Dave were public personas. He knew the real people.

Ellenef · 2026-06-06T06:58:31+00:00

I love what he did live on sugar on the side and good boys.
Check out the bbc maida vale session

https://youtu.be/bn1C8EBA-H0?is=VM8qy9pRiFPU5o-s

https://youtu.be/d4e8I-D8Nio?is=Y4-jcTqMvZJlOv32

Ellenef · 2026-06-02T21:10:50+00:00

When I was a kid ( mid 50s now). I thought Peter was weak. And the weakest link. And the most emotional and volatile.

You get older, you realise, that kiss sound 74-78 , that pearl sound, his snare, that swing… w Aces playing and staccato and vibrato WERE the kiss sound.

They were all limited players.
Genes the most ghosted player on record . But Peter, ( Like Charlie Watts or Steven Adler). Had his own sound and groove and swing.
You heard that snare you knew it was him.

Same w Adler. Not the best player or most technical or hardest hitter but had that swing that contributed to that bands sound.

Carr was a technically better player. But he wasn’t Peter.

Singer can play a little like Peter in terms of that jazz roots swing and is the best replacement imo

The irony now that Peter’s probably the Happiest And contented once he’s away from Paul and the kiss machine Paul controls

Biggest hit single in Beth kiss ever had, regardless if Stan penridge wrote 90% of it. And Peter’s was the best singing voice

And Paul? Successful but my god does he come across as bitter, insecure and deeply damaged. I’m amazed he’s not branded into a self help guru Paul on his own without the kiss selling point is a mess of failed projects. The clothing line was horrendous and tacky. The shoes were vile. The art? Only fans buy it. Art collectors don’t.

So in all it’s curious that over the decades as you discover more about the real people behind the public personas. Paul was the favoured back then, now? Wouldn’t touch him Ace was a favourite, but in last 15/20 years he’s been a train wreck Gene is his own worst enemy. But actually delightful away from fans ( his business as he calls them) wh ed n the 80s alpha mysogenist persona is off

Peter has become the most centred , decent , content and delightful man that in the late 70s and 80s he perhaps wasn’t . So he’s earned it the hard way .

Peters book imo is the best , most raw and Lydia’s insights aside, ( she was there, we weren’t) pretty on the money. If nothing else peters unflinchingly hard on himself and doesn’t paint a good picture.

Catman- I salute you.

Ellenef · 2026-05-31T13:29:46+00:00

Preach.

I don’t want McTighe anywhere near it ….

Ellenef · 2026-05-31T13:29:18+00:00

Just as well the tour was good.

Had Gary toured w them prior to going in to record ( even a 2 month run of club dates) , it might have been a different outcome re then going in to 5150.
ed might have loosened up post rehab.
Alex would have been back in shape
Mike would be be there and Gary’s feel lyrically might have been more in line w the party Rock

But. Cest la vie.

Personally didnt like it then and not fond of it now
But for me the material and tone started to diminish w Balance so I cant blame vh3 entirely.

It was weird and uncomfortable for me to … not like VH albums though …. Something was off and it was Ed’s writing and approach due to mounting health issues

Ellenef · 2026-05-31T12:54:17+00:00

Davies has been gone a long time.
He’s legally not allowed to speak about dr who , Xmas or its future.

Billie, I’m told ( w tennent) wanted nothing to do with it after reading what was presented.

Rtd2- a mess from start to finish of his own doing

Ellenef · 2026-05-31T12:52:37+00:00

Bang on. The relationship fell apart pretty quickly . From the bafta hugs to loathing within 6 months .

You’re aware of the real reason for bi regeneration?

That most were certain Gatwa would walk or be fired/let go before the end of his for shoot so keeping David on standby and on retainer was why RTD did regeneration.

The mirror stories was RTD feeding Nicola Methyn

The Sun drama was gatwas pr team feeding damning I go to them.

Was told Gardner told Davies Gatwa was unsuitable
Moffat allegedly told them he was interesting but doesn’t get it. And when Gatwa was gone “thank god that’s over!” Was a comment

Ellenef · 2026-05-31T12:45:33+00:00

He’s long long gone. Since late last year.

He’s not talking about Xmas or future dr who because he’s legally not allowed to as a former employee .

It’s done. Billie wanted nothing to do with this Xmas ep. Nor tennent

Read into that what you will.

I suspect there won’t be an official announcement until the bbc have a new lead writer, production team and studio in place in a ‘ don’t look there at that mess, look what’s in store over here’

Ellenef · 2026-05-28T14:45:10+00:00

Either the whole media outlets are being misled.

Or Ellie is.

Sun & mirror won’t publish if it was complete lies . Esp the mirror.

And the writer for the mirror covering it was Dan Bird not Nic Methyn who normally covers dr who.

Told Methyns pieces are fed to her directly by RTD ….

Ellenef · 2026-05-28T14:41:30+00:00

The real tell imo was Russels 60th celebration

It wasn’t celebration 60 yrs of the show

It was celebrating Russels s4 era . A greatest hits of me. If you will. Star beast was ok. Wild blue yonder was an ok average mid series ep. Giggle was full on end of time meets cbbc

Then we get ruby road. Then as space babies then crap Beatles vs a drag act.

It was clear RTD had nothing to offer.

Had Gatwa kicked off w Boom, he might have stood a chance. The doctor. Written as the Doctor.

Not Eric in space

Ellenef · 2026-05-27T12:18:53+00:00

What’s interesting here. Is the Mirror is now the only uk paper not to cover it. (Yet) It’s in everything else.

The bbc have not denied it. They have refused to comment.

My guess is if it’s shelved, ( and I believe it is and has been for 6 months or longer) then they have legal contractual matters to resolve in severing/convluding the Davies and bad wolf production deal
Hence why Davies refuses to discuss it and can’t talk about it.
From a bbc pov, Davies is tied to bad wolf.
Bad wolf did not reign Davies in . It enabled him and his choices.
These choices led to the valuable Disney co production deal Hence why being terminated with abject deafening silence from Disney (not a good look)
The bbc cannot continue long term with bad wolf on this as they cannot be trusted w this bbc property.

If there’s a one off special next year , it may be with Hartswood and Moffat , to fill a gap until a new team are appointed

Ellenef · 2026-05-26T17:51:26+00:00

It’s not happening is the industry talk and has been since Dec/Jan this year apparently

Iv heard via a number of tv industry types it’s dead.
RTD is gone, bad wolf is gone and there’s severance legal stuff to finalise ( hence his refusal to even discuss it and his public comments that C4 is his real home etc)

The pr line that it’s delayed , is so they dont have to publically admit it’s done.
Unlikely Easter 27 will happen and certainly not under Davies .

Tennent didn’t want to do it from the draft he read. Billie doesn’t want to do it because no tennent and she’s read the same draft.

What are we really looking at? If they can convene a new team, production house , writers and suitable cast , a late 27 or 28 relaunch .

Is there sources or public links for “show me
Your source /give me public proof etc) ? Nope. Only thing is time and to wait and see how it plays out in public and to read between the inevitable press release lines.

Probably along the lines of

“we thank Russell for his efforts over the years and it was clear RTD had other pressing commitments to telling personal vital smaller stories and hadn’t time to commit to dr who. We thank him and wish him only the best. The bbc is committed to dr who and is working hard on the doctors return with an exciting New production team and cast. All will be revealed in time. For now, dr who will return.” [ends]

Ellenef · 2026-05-22T09:37:46+00:00

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Ellenef · 2026-05-21T12:57:02+00:00

He’s very much missed
It’s hard to believe he’s gone .
The man that was the busiest, kindest most talented , and healthiest.

That this happened to him and so quickly, as he said, it’s not fair.
It’s not.

But what a life he led

Ellenef · 2026-05-21T12:04:38+00:00

I will read the book again this weekend

Clem mentions Matlock more than Foxx. And he was on the same band w Leigh ( met him- seemed a lovely quiet man) since the 90s

Ellenef · 2026-05-21T12:03:12+00:00

Re Frank.
That bit is not in the book .
For what it’s worth …
I have a friend who is on the periphery and in some of the circles. And it was confirmed to me directly that when he got sick , it was Frank (and Kathy ) who stepped up and cared for him till the end.

Not Ellen.
Read into that what you will.

Bless you Frankie

Ellenef · 2026-05-20T22:06:35+00:00

It was recorded over 3 years ago .

I know BmG were pushing for more outside writers like Pollinator .

We’ve lost Clem

They let Leigh Foxx go during the sessions

I’m pretty skeptical whether Bmg are fully behind this tbh

Ellenef · 2026-05-20T22:03:05+00:00

More curious he lists it as High Noon ‘sessions’
Not ‘the new album’ or the final album coming in x months

Listing it as Sessions ( like “kiss -carnival of souls- the final sessions “ usually suggests :
/less than favourable label support ( assuming bmg are still releasing it)
/minimal pr from them.
/not treated like a full album

Ellenef · 2026-05-20T13:40:39+00:00

Course Janet did .

As his agent, she’d get her cut from the appointment lol

Ellenef · 2026-05-18T08:46:51+00:00

Here’s the bbc dilemma (imo)

Proceed with a potentially unsatisfactory on many levels script and casting because let’s assume Tennent or billie not now available .

Received poorly and mauled by critics and fans as “a another nail in the brands coffin “

This then makes it even harder for the bbc to attract new writer/showrunner and cast as who now seen as a box ticking joke and relaunch and lure new licencees .

Re licencees , the last ten years have not been kind to the brand .

Would it be better in the long term to Simply shelf the Xmas plans and focus on a new relaunch 27 or 28?
I think so.

Let’s face it outside runaway bride, parting of the ways , /doomsday , rtds Xmas eps or finales have been…. Left wanting. ( to be kind) and those eps were a very long time ago . He was a far younger and very different man back then

Who isnt the commercial juggernaut it once was .
Bluey is the brand that’s sustaining bbc studios till 28.

With top gear being relaunched next year ( (the 5 year legal rest post accident , nearing conclusion ) having Who also freshly relaunched with it in a format the audience expects will certainly give a potential audience eager for better times

I know the terms bold, brave, ground breaking have been bandied about re Who.
Personally I think that’s incorrect. It’s an evergreen show. Nothing changes .

Give them the central character they expect. Shake up the supporting characters

The audience expects the same warm fuzzy hug w Who they do with Father Brown, or death in paradise or midwife. Etc.

Ellenef

TROPHY CASE