There's an irony to these words in the year of the Arab Spring and the youtube revolutions.
I was really saddened to hear that Gil Scott-Heron had died at the unfeasibly young age of 62. He was only 20 when he wrote and recorded The Revolution will not be televised.
I have a good memory and can usually recall details of concerts I've been to - in fact it's the intensity of the memories and the recall of detail that inspired me to start this blog. With Gil Scott-Heron I'm not so sure. I believe I saw him at the International in Manchester in the early 80s. In a way it's his death that has made me doubt myself - I can't believe I saw such an amazing performer at that time and in such a venue.
There's a website that lists the acts booked there, but it starts in early 1985 and I know it must have been before then. I came back from working in Morocco in 1981, and was pregnant with my first child in 1984, so it was somewhere in those years between.
Around the same time I saw Curtis Mayfield and Bo Diddley at the same venue ( different nights! - that would be too much!)
For those concerts I can recall where I stood, who I was with, who I bumped into at the bar, but seeing Gil Scott-Heron has a vaguer, dreamier quality to it. I can't blame drink or drugs - maybe it was a more intense experience. I was drawn to his name as well as his music - like a little poem in itself..
If someone told me I'd imagined it all, and that he didn't play Manchester during those years, I'd accept that I'm under a delusion, but I'd also be really impressed by my ability to conjure up a Gil Scott-Heron performance in my dreams.
Monday, 30 May 2011
Sunday, 22 May 2011
This one's for Gerry
Back in 1967 I was sent to boarding school, with my sisters, because my parents went to live and work in the Far East. Overnight we lost friends, home and parents, and had to adapt to a very different way of life. I still haven't recovered from the shock. As a young teenager in Manchester I had started going to see groups, mostly on the package tours that were in their hey day then.I had seen the Kinks, The Beach Boys, the Walker Brothers and the Small Faces by the time I was 13, with Gene Pitney, Roy Orbison and Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick and Tich and others thrown in. Simon Dupree and the Big Sound ( remember 'Kites'?) and Terry Reid singing with Peter Jay and the Jay Walkers.
When I got to boarding school there was another new girl from Manchester, Gerry. We became friends and are still in touch. I know she reads this blog. She was more sophisticated, more aware than the rest of us. Not so much in appearance and behaviour, but in attitude. She was intelligent and articulate, with a hint of a drawl in her accent. She had lived in Canada and Ireland. She had plans, ideas and opinions and a great sense of humour. Ours was a hugely important friendship for me. I would have lost my Manchester links if it hadn't been for her, and her family's hospitality at half terms and school holidays.
Most people who are interested know that Top of the Pops was first recorded in a converted church on Dickenson Rd in Manchester. The BBC had another former church studio they used for radio shows, somewhere on the derelict borders between Hulme and Moss Side, before redevelopment. Dave Lee Travis was the compere. the BBC Radio Orchestra played the hits of the day and there would be performances from actual pop singers. It may even have pre dated Radio 1. One school hoilday we went to queue to become part of the audience. After the show we headed across the wasteground to the last pub standing where everyone gathered. Excited girls hung out in the car park area, waiting for autographs. Somehow we got into the pub ( aged 14 remember) and got into conversation with Kiki Dee and her manager Vic Billings, who had also been Dusty Springfield's manager. I know I was much more of a listener and observer than a participant in those days, but Gerry had ambitions to be a record producer and was very savvy about the music scene. We were invited to meet up with them at the Midland Hotel the next day to continue the conversation. All absolutely above board - they must have seen the spark in Gerry. This was before Kiki Dee had her big hit with Elton John.
It was one of those times when you realise adults are treating you with interest and respect - we didn't get a lot of that at school or from our parents in those days.
We tried to go to concerts in the holidays - I remember seeing Peter Frampton and the Herd at the Odeon with her. I wonder how we bought tickets - no access to a phone, no cheque books even.
Then she discovered Roger Eagle's Magic Village, took me there the next chance we got, and for me the rest is history.
We are making tentative plans to start to go to some concerts together again, and I can't wait!
When I got to boarding school there was another new girl from Manchester, Gerry. We became friends and are still in touch. I know she reads this blog. She was more sophisticated, more aware than the rest of us. Not so much in appearance and behaviour, but in attitude. She was intelligent and articulate, with a hint of a drawl in her accent. She had lived in Canada and Ireland. She had plans, ideas and opinions and a great sense of humour. Ours was a hugely important friendship for me. I would have lost my Manchester links if it hadn't been for her, and her family's hospitality at half terms and school holidays.
Most people who are interested know that Top of the Pops was first recorded in a converted church on Dickenson Rd in Manchester. The BBC had another former church studio they used for radio shows, somewhere on the derelict borders between Hulme and Moss Side, before redevelopment. Dave Lee Travis was the compere. the BBC Radio Orchestra played the hits of the day and there would be performances from actual pop singers. It may even have pre dated Radio 1. One school hoilday we went to queue to become part of the audience. After the show we headed across the wasteground to the last pub standing where everyone gathered. Excited girls hung out in the car park area, waiting for autographs. Somehow we got into the pub ( aged 14 remember) and got into conversation with Kiki Dee and her manager Vic Billings, who had also been Dusty Springfield's manager. I know I was much more of a listener and observer than a participant in those days, but Gerry had ambitions to be a record producer and was very savvy about the music scene. We were invited to meet up with them at the Midland Hotel the next day to continue the conversation. All absolutely above board - they must have seen the spark in Gerry. This was before Kiki Dee had her big hit with Elton John.
It was one of those times when you realise adults are treating you with interest and respect - we didn't get a lot of that at school or from our parents in those days.
We tried to go to concerts in the holidays - I remember seeing Peter Frampton and the Herd at the Odeon with her. I wonder how we bought tickets - no access to a phone, no cheque books even.
Then she discovered Roger Eagle's Magic Village, took me there the next chance we got, and for me the rest is history.
We are making tentative plans to start to go to some concerts together again, and I can't wait!
Saturday, 7 May 2011
Vini Reilly and Durutti Column
Many years ago, when I was working at On the 8th Day in Manchester, my friend Tony Wilson came in and told me about his new band. They were named after an anarchist movement, The Durutti Column aka the movement of the 24th January. I was thrilled, as that was my birthday!
A couple of years later my boyfriend at the time was their roadie, and a couple of other friends played in the band.I'm not sure if I ever actually saw them play, but I certainly went with them to where they should have played.
Life moved on - friends moved to other bands, including a Simply Red connection.
In the early 80s I moved to a house in West Didsbury.Bruce Mitchell lived in the next door adjoining house with his family and Vini. Vini's room was the other side of the shared party wall from my bedroom. My daughter was born at home, in that room, to the sound of Vini playing his guitar. He had no idea of what was happening on my side of the wall. The midwife was very impressed as her son was a big fan.
Years later, I shared this information with my children when they discovered Vini's music.
They have been to see him with me a couple of times.
Last Saturday I took my youngest son, now 17, to see Vini and Bruce at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.
It was a difficult concert for Vini, as he is going through a difficult relationship break up, made all the more poignant by the beautiful photos of Poppy that were part of the performance. She also played on stage with him. Photos of Tony Wilson, and Bruce and Jackie were also part of the display.
It was very raw and quite miserable, but we stuck in there with him.
After the interval he came back and did some old favourites, including Otis. Bruce Mitchell is still the best drummer in the world for me, and Charlie loved the performance.
A couple of years later my boyfriend at the time was their roadie, and a couple of other friends played in the band.I'm not sure if I ever actually saw them play, but I certainly went with them to where they should have played.
Life moved on - friends moved to other bands, including a Simply Red connection.
In the early 80s I moved to a house in West Didsbury.Bruce Mitchell lived in the next door adjoining house with his family and Vini. Vini's room was the other side of the shared party wall from my bedroom. My daughter was born at home, in that room, to the sound of Vini playing his guitar. He had no idea of what was happening on my side of the wall. The midwife was very impressed as her son was a big fan.
Years later, I shared this information with my children when they discovered Vini's music.
They have been to see him with me a couple of times.
Last Saturday I took my youngest son, now 17, to see Vini and Bruce at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.
It was a difficult concert for Vini, as he is going through a difficult relationship break up, made all the more poignant by the beautiful photos of Poppy that were part of the performance. She also played on stage with him. Photos of Tony Wilson, and Bruce and Jackie were also part of the display.
It was very raw and quite miserable, but we stuck in there with him.
After the interval he came back and did some old favourites, including Otis. Bruce Mitchell is still the best drummer in the world for me, and Charlie loved the performance.
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