20 February 2012
Dear all
Felt like going over the top of a trench under fire this morning since the klaxon alarm went off on the i phone!The news broke that David Darling, a friend of years gone by and excellent photographer who shot the “Internal Exile” cover portrait and the “Bro 52” single sleeve and who was a mentor to and great friend of Tara, being one of the first to recognise her talent and shooting her first modeling sessions, sadly died this morning after a long battle against cancer.My daughter is understandably very upset.Ironically Chris Kimsey and I had been listening to “Brother 52” over too much honey vodka in the wee small hours and I related the story behind it mentioning David in the passing.An e mail from another great friend telling me his now distraught son was on the second bus that followed the one that tragically overturned in France was another dramatic interlude in a morning racked with more mundane trials of domestic chaos.
An interview with “Prog Classic” for a new feature called “Brainstorm” was exactly what I didn’t need this morning. It’s a “test the prog knowledge” article that I didn’t walk away with any honours from.Name the 1st 3 Gentle Giant albums?What’s Peter Hammills middle names?The 5th track on “Supper’s Ready?That together with my own related grilling, “Grendel’s” first section? What was the lyric on the music Marillion named “The Bell and the Sea”?What singles had “Lucky” as a B side. My brain was fried.
Add to that the joiner delivering the quote on the replacement French windows, the plumber arriving to attempt to fix a dripping shower that escalated to requiring a new unit (no coffee while the remedy was attempted), tracking down the company and department that were responsible for dealing with the new electricity meter that has to be installed and changing the 3 phase supply, chasing the elusive Malta gig,making inquiries about a stand in keyboard player for Foss who can’t make a contracted show in Germany in June that our promoter only recently reminded Yatta about after over a year, following up on companies that could maybe save the day and open the hard drive with the “Fellini Days” only existing master.
And all before 2pm.
The afternoon shifted like an endless grey cloud with occasional blue bits
listening to stereo downloads of Fishheads gigs. Covered Fleetwood and St Helens shows and found a few possible versions of songs for starters.Downers were when an occasional “jazz” note, fluffed section or vocal let down an entire song just as I thought it was making the grade.This is going to be a testing experience sifting through the scores of gigs trying to find 100% performances with the correct balance of instruments and vocals with the right ambient hall sound.I managed 5 hours today in between phone calls and was fragged by 6 o clock.
No return call from the lab re the damaged hard drive.
No return call from the power company re the meter.
No return call re the Malta gig
The shower won’t be fixed until at least Thursday and the torturous dripping that is more suited to Guantanamo bay can be heard in the office with the bathroom door closed.
Self inflicted hangover added to the dark proceedings and have decided to knock alcohol on the head for another term.Was stopping cigars today but I needed a crutch to get me through this one.Tomorrow they go.I need to be clear for the March recordings and beyond.Time for a clean up.
This is a day that should have been laid down and avoided.
onkel Fish