From rock ‘n’ roll to shock and droll

I SPENT last week living the rock and roll dream. A pal of mine is in a band who were supporting Primal Scream in Belfast, Dublin and Cork. So I booked myself a £1 budget airline ticket, travelled Ireland in a luxury tour bus and hung about as official photographer.

It was so good that I ended up downing pints with Shane McGowan and meeting more Sunderland fans than you would on Wearside.

It was a mad few days and a great way to build up to last Sunday’s game against West Ham, which took place under gloomy skies and sub-zero temperatures. Pascal Chimbonda was omitted from the starting line up again.