Sick bed

Apologies to the few people who were expecting me in Nottingham on Thursday night for the Durutti show, truth is I lost my voice in a perpetual coughing fit that refused to stop, I really was in a bad way, took to my bed after what seemed like an everlasting drive back from London. I hope the Nottingham gig went alright and that CMP forgive my dropping out at such short notice though in truth I could do little else. Luckily for me the hospitality factor in Archway courtesy of Helene and Tim was wonderful; I only hope I’ve not infected them with the virus. Overall the Durutti supports have been going well, Birmingham was great though nothing like the comedy fest of my last visit when I got all wrapped up in the infrastructure, as in curtains, which was apparently recorded on a security camera and viewed as home made entertainment by the Glee Club staff, who were, as ever, most welcoming. The Glee is right up there on the one of the nicest places you could ever get to play list. The dressing rooms are cosy and somehow have a great de stressing effect upon incumbents…so much so that you can drift into the ether and forget what you’re there for as I nearly did, chatting merrily away to the Durutti team. The London show at Dingwalls was more reserved on the audience part, but then again so probably was I as I was struggling with the voice, the cough and the snot…you don’t want to know. I’m kind of back in one piece again but it’s taken the best part of the weekend to shake it off. VPx

Durutti

Meeting Vinne Reilly was a real treat: I am happy to report that as warm and decent human beings go he is very much the business. In fact, we were getting on so well, like a couple of school mates window shopping for guitars and effects; but then, just as I was starting to feel at home I went and stole his capo by mistake which very nearly delayed the start of the show! The entire dressing room was turned over in an attempt to find the thing. That’s right…it was in my pocket all along, doh! Naturally, retribution will follow…he has promised me thus! But seriously Vinnie and the band have made me most welcome and display none of the serial egotism that can affect those for whom the words legendary and genius have been applied on occasion. I’ve caught about half their sets so far but expect to see the whole show in London which I’m really looking forward to. I’m also looking forward to seeing Tim and Helene and their cat Charlie, it’s just the driving that is less than appealing as I invariably get lost in the capital and end up in the exclusion zone. Only two shows into this mini tour and I have ashtray throat, a little flu and am not all together well. I spent yesterday getting pampered by my parents which was nice, and on Monday night my daughter took me to see Billy Liar in a teeny tiny Malvern Theatre which was just perfect. I have the day off but tonight we are back in the studio finishing the brass. Both the Manchester and Birmingham shows seemed well received so if you were there thanks very much for that. Did anyone catch the 6Music feature I did with Rob Hughes on Saturday…but alas, I was recording, three words my parter will be glad to see the back of come the end of the month, a normality of sorts will return in the summer, VPx

Brassed On

Bob and Steve are the brass guys and it’s simply brilliant to have them on board. I kid you not. The parts all scored up and ready to go, notated and punctuated with pauses and tempo shifts and descending sharpened 7ths by our very own Craig Gannon who directs the session with ease. Craig has done all the arrangements for brass and strings on the new record and immediately establishes a rapport with Tony Christie’s right hand men. I sit back and enjoy, make the right noises, and the right noises get made. At the end of the night we have the brass parts for Greedy Scorpios, and yes it does sound a little Kinksy which we take as a huge complement. Mid evening Mike and I do an interview in the courtyard talking nonsense and eventually some kind of sense, I think, about the making of the record. The filming will be incorporated into a DVD which we are putting out with the record god willing…we still need to record the live session which will form the bulk of it. Mike does his drunken uncle routine which is priceless. We spent the early part of the day getting our pictures taken at a Blackburn studio a few minutes walk from the Sinister Place. Thanks Amy for the direction and the bleaching, we look forward to seeing the proofs. We now have a deadline to finish the record by the end of this month so I really must crack on with the vocals…still only half done. On Wednesday I recorded the BBC 6 Music chin wag with Rob Hughes which goes out on Saturday afternoon around 3pm I think…though no doubt you can listen again from the site if you’re glued to the cup final or fishing for carp.Meanwhile maybe see you at a Durutti Column gig, tour dates pages have the details, VPx