Gary Numan
It's been ages since my last post, and I have just woken up after having a mostly non-sexual dream about a certain Mr Gary Numan. So it reminded me of this:

A few years ago there was this pub in the sprawling metropolis of Reading called Pavlovs Dog. (It still exists it's just degraded more than the surrounding establishments so my friends and I have since moved on). Now this establishment was (and still is as far as I know) frequented by a rather studenty clientele, which I have no problem with having been one up to a few years back.

But this was different.

You see, students are meant to (in most cases) be relied upon for a decent taste in music, but this was not the case here, and as this pub had one of those touchscreen jukeboxes with all the "latest (s)hits" it meant Black Eyed Peas and Rihanna & all that modern toss was played continuously. We didn't like this, but it was the only place to go at the time for us, so we had no choice. Occasionally we'd put a few quid in and choose some Bowie or Led Zeppelin but it would usually take 3 hours or so until they played, by which time we'd be too busy trying to successfully remain standing.

But one day we'd had enough. We arrived at our usual time around 9 and banded together a whole pound sterling for an almighty 7 plays in the jukebox (pre-recession times people). We locked and loaded and then sat in to wait until our choices were made. Now usually we'd be looking around in despair everytime another generic top 40 song fell out of the speakers like a loose shit. But this time we enjoyed our anticipation as we knew what was coming.

Sure enough about an hour and a half in we heard the opening drum roll to "Cars" by the man himself, Gary Numan. Most of the patrons were genuinely bemused but we spotted a couple of veterans with approving grins to themselves nodding away slowly. Then it played again. And again. 7 times to be precise, and each time people got more and more desperate looking up at the TV where the music video was going "Why Gary, why?" (probably) which is how our group felt every other song, so it was a nice little comeuppance.

We never did get found out.

Apologies for length but I make no such apologies for the song choice, Gary Numan is a gent.
(Captain Sensible "I'll be your animal in a yellow plastic bin", Thu 23 Feb 2012, 11:46, 5 replies)

I once did this with . . . .
China in your hand by T'pau. However after about the 3rd play the bar staff pressed a button to skip it on to the next choices.

Gutted.
(jonnyninetails, Thu 23 Feb 2012, 11:50, closed)

Haha!...

I once did that in a pub I used to frequent in Marton, when I was somewhat annoyed with the locals' choice of poptastic uberwank.

My song of choice was 'The Intense Humming Of Evil' by the Manic Street Preachers.

I put it on to play about 10 times, and then left to join my friends at the pub down the road.

(Well written story, by the way. I know it's late, but have a click)
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Thu 23 Feb 2012, 11:53, closed)

Nah Bee Gees are way better for this...
A pub in Norwich in the 90's (The Lawyer I think it was). A group of five of us had a marathon 13 hour drinking session and put The Bee Gees "Staying Alive" on the video jukebox every hour we were there. By the end of it the regulars were booing us and threatining violence everytime we approached the jukebox. Looking back I don't blame them at all and can only applaud their patience and thank them for not beating the crap out of us as we so richly deserved.
(Booce, Thu 23 Feb 2012, 11:58, closed)

and THIS is what the 'skip' button behind the bar is for.
i had a policy of 'no bohemian rhapsody'. not on my fucking watch.
( janet aylia y'all motherfuckers need jesus, Thu 23 Feb 2012, 12:00, closed)

Juke Bombing
I used to hang out in a particular university bar. There was always the same divide between the "classics" and the "modern" music factions. But one day we discovered that the jukebox was broken, in such a way that it would play without needing money!

Needless to say, every evening it was a rush to get there first to fill up with your own choices. I do remember one night when "Layla" played about 20 times, the choice of an evil-minded rock fan.

Still, it was better than the other bar we went to, where the jukebox was badly adjusted and played at about 40 rpm... I think if you'd have put Radiohead on, there would have been a mass suicide event.
(moon monkey is busy making memories worth repressing, Thu 23 Feb 2012, 12:00, closed)