I'll be back on line with the blog in the new year - until then be safe , be happy and know we love YOU best of all ........

Seven days a go we were heading to Edinburgh for the first gig there for a very long time. The above picture was taken at the Scottish border. Thanks to every one for their very kind emails. I am glad you enjoyed the shows. Some of your comments were very kind and very encouraging. We experienced some real northern winter weather on the road and today it is bitterly cold here in the south, as it seems to be every where in the UK. As bad weather moves in bringing rain the journeys from show to show take on a very different colour. Fortunately Spadge, our very accomplished driver, never surprises us with stupid on the road moves. I never wake up from a doze to the sound of squealing brakes which for a seasoned travelling troubadour is an extremely unnerving and wearing experience. As the miles mount up over the years it seems the need to be able to not worry about the driving becomes mandatory. We have always had great drivers so we all very spoiled. Some times the back room guys don’t get the credit they deserve so plaudits galore to Spadge who is one of the most level, skilled and industrious companions we could wish for. He is very highly regarded by all of us. Thanks for every thing Spadge. Also big ups to Rick merchandise sales person with attitude and drum technician. Rick is fun and a great travelling companion. An outrageous character and when teamed up with Luke and in full cry, the fun starts in earnest. He does fall over a lot and bumps into things with regular frequency. The rest of the time he is always checking some thing and feeding back to us with all kinds of useful info as well as making friends with all and sundry. It is important our people make a good impression. Good manners are very important to us.
It was so nice to meet up with old friends and connect with new ones and folks who had waited a long time to see us. It was also very gratifying to see how well the new songs were received.
Soon we will start recording them. The first song on the schedule will be Six White Horses. Pre production is well under way on that and soon I expect three or four other new songs will be ready for recording. We plan to use a variety of methods to record the songs including some programming. Soon Steve will begin programming drum tracks in earnest and in a way we haven’t ever employed before. I think the right mix of technology and a methodology that will allow the power of the live EBB to come through in a final mix, will be the goal.
Speaking of goals the 3.0 drubbing by LFC of Newcastle was very satisfying earlier this afternoon.
New labours recent disasters have surely left no one very surprised. When targets become the sole goal there is a lack of clarity, duty of care and finally abject confusion. These are the early stages of steep decline in the value of our elected representatives. The loss of personal data of so many citizens is a disgrace and when the conditions and circumstances leading to the screw up are released no one is surprised that it happened and no one believes it won’t happen again. Targets prioritised over commonsense will lead to far worse. I am afraid the recent reporting of health care in Norfolk and the inability to admit and care for patients needing hospitalisation will inure people to sliding standards. We shrug and try to work round such events caused by poor government when we should be lining up in the newly liberated Parliament square ( thanks Gordon ) to give ‘em hell. We seem to accept the reality of people pulling their own teeth, decreased refuse collections, jammed prisons, piracy masquerading as free enterprise as in the case of the railways and the postal service, BT and British Airways to name but a few. Teachers are under the cosh, social workers are leaving the profession in droves because there are not enough resources to do their job effectively. What is on offer to needy, minority groups, especially people with disabilities, is decreasing as I write. It seems the so called rationalisation and reform of every public service results in a poorer service and less support for all who need it. A very disturbing out come of all of this is the growing alienation and disillusionment of undervalued professionals in the public sector as essential services are run down. Recently I have been depressed and generally having a tough time emotionally. Some of it is due to unreasonable demands made of me by people driven by concepts completely alien to me so last weekend was a real tonic. Probably not quite what the doctor ordered but definitely a boost for the spirit. It will be some time before we see most of you again. We have a record to make and it could be one of the most significant episodes of our existence so far. I have every reason to believe it will be and I am inspired and encouraged by all of your support and kindness to us over the past two years since we went back on the road. See you soon ?

Peace


copyright e d g a r b r o u g h t o n 2007

Dear Broughtons,

Hi. Just thought you might like to see the attached picture. Mydaughter's school has an annual competition for a display of decoratedeggs. These are always themed and corny - an egg halfway up a mountain(Sir Eggmund Hillary and his Everest Eggsploration) and so on. Mydaughter Ruby won this year with her display: the Eggdgar BroughtonBand. The picture shows you all on stage, but it also included an MP3player playing a loop of 'Hotel Room' and 'Evening Over Rooftops'. As afamily of Broughton-fanatics, we were ecstatic that she won. Hope youlike the pic.Me and my wife Rachael went to see you in Bristol earlier this year. Wewondered when you might be doing more gigs in the south-west, andwhether any of these would be venues that would admit kids. We have a15-year old, 14-year old, and Ruby (12) desparate to see you live.All the best, and keep up the wonderful work.

Best,

Mark Frost

How cool is the above ? It was very nice to get this e mail and we are all very touched by Ruby's lovely and SO COOL tribute.

Tom aged 12 got in touch recently. The autographs are on their way mate.

The new generation of First Supperists is here.

The Ebb rehearsed at the weekend on Saturday and Sunday. Dave produced a box full of effects pedals he has been collecting since the last gigs. What a collection! We spent a lot of time playing around with sounds and auditioning his new Line 6 guitars. The days of almost immediate sound gratification are here and now. The Line 6 guitars offer a variety of instruments types and sounds at the flick of a switch. Dave has an electric six string and acoustic model. They both reproduce a variety of instruments very efficiently and you can hear them in action at the upcoming gigs. So Line 6 if you would like to send me a free sample or two I will be more than happy to use 'em. Sunday was spent refining some new songs including searching for the definitive arrangement for Six White Horses and changing the set a little. All in all Sunday was a breeze. The EBB are on full power and looking forward to heading north.

We are very happy to welcome Chrissy Hamlin to the EBB team. Chrissy is handling our press and publicity. Some of you will have seen Chrissy's re vamped My space site. Any one who has asked to be an EBB My space "friend" should re apply. I can't promise all messages will be answered but we will do our best as and when we have time.

Peace



copyright e d g a r b r o u g h t o n 2007

First my thanks to all for birthday greetings and good wishes. So, sixty years on this planet and in this life. I remember when I was a young blood I told every one I didn’t want to be old. I related to the Who line – “Hope I die before I get old”. Looking around at the old boys in Warwick wasn’t very inspiring nor conducive to looking forward to the golden age of seniority. Most older guys seemed so drab and grey and narrow in their philosophies. The Luddite ethic of leave it as it is was prevalent every where and people, especially men, seemed to give in to a norm which they accepted in respect of getting older and letting them selves go while in some ways they expected their female partners to strive to remain youthful and vivacious. To be fair it is also true to say that a lot of men I knew were virtually broken every day in some dark satanic mill or car factory and of course, they had fought a war so it is understandable that many of them would be aching to be still and quiet. They had probably seen enough frenetic change to last a life time and probably wanted it all to stop. There were a few interesting characters who stood out from the crowd but most were extremists in so far as conformity was concerned.
I don’t suppose of all my traits any one might pick conformity as a biggie but of course I conform and do so just as grudgingly as ever in some instances. But I pay my taxes etc, etc. I’m doing o.k. I still have most of my faculties though I’ve had a serious case of the blues lately and work has been a trial for some time now. I cannot perform to my best ability in the Kafkaesque environment that is rampant in local government agencies. I for see many large rooms in the House of paper and still many more citizens will toil to prove wrong is right and all is well through compiling huge mountains of statistical evidence. It will not matter that essential services will dwindle as the paper mountain rises from the ashes of commonsense.
There is no doubt that the people of my parent’s generation and of their parents worked extremely hard for not much though I think life is more complicated today and the stresses are probably as mentally debilitating as was the physical work load of the average working man back then. Now we work hard for quite a lot but all too often the resulting mental anguish is too high a cost. In spite of all this I am personally relatively unscarred by life. I would still rather have the time than the money.
I have very much to be thankful for and indeed I am. It is good to be older and hopefully wiser. I feel right in my skin if you know what I mean. I am not daunted by looking in the mirror though my protesting muscles and joints cause dismay when I occasionally push a bit hard on the bicycle these days. I am sorry for people afraid of the passing years. My mother was in some ways a victim of worrying about the day when it would all be over. I have had some of the best times of my life in the past ten years and I expect that to continue for a long time to come. Bring it on.
I have just begun to change my life around and have taken the first steps. I suspect that by the time I have been en route for some time, people will be a little surprised at some of the decisions I will have taken. Nothing new there then. So I say embrace today. Now is all there is for certain. Enjoy the moment while not neglecting to plan a future. The things that always thrilled me still do so and the dreams are still intact. It is very easy to get dragged down by the negativity of this world but it should be resisted. Then we find others on the same path who can lend support and power towards a happy life. I know this. Be true to your self. I wish you all a happy birthday when ever it is and the same for every day of your life and the lives of your people.

Peace

copyright e d g a r b r o u g h t o n 2007

photo by Chrissy Hamlin

Over time the EBB has been associated with what used to be called Agitprop events and activities. The stories and the experiences of fellow participants have been attached to the so-called “legendary” status of the band. From the earliest times it always seemed to be necessary for the EBB to assert its aims and objectives in a strident manner. I had experienced conflict at home from an early age and in spite of what was in many ways an idyllic child hood the spectre of domestic conflict was never far away. I suffered deep anguish like all kids who witness. I learned to be loud but have learned to be quieter over time. Through out the days of the EBB there were confrontational times with agents, promoters and even road-crew members and very occasionally amongst the band. Our political / philosophical position and individuality some times created a “them and us” culture which some times produced conflict and confrontational behaviour. We always argued our corner quite well.
Very occasionally there are still situations when the ire of the band is evoked such as in the case of the recent debacle over the cancelled free concert with Mr Terry Rawlings, at Filthy’s in Twickenham, last September. At times like these there is no division between us and we act in concert. The combined power of the fully concentrated and pissed off EBB and friends ( we have friends in low places ) is a force to be reckoned with and collectively we have a long memory. Still, we are a peace loving crew though I admit some transgressors may carry the odd psychological scar. We have frightened some.
I can say with certainty that it is so much easier to turn some one off than on and that no amount of raising of voices and shaking of fists is a substitute for good, reasoned discussion. I earnestly implore any one who ever feels the need to physically lash out at a person to make your exit – Don’t be there! It is rarely necessary and there is rarely a defence for such acts.
It seems to me that I have learned some of my lessons quite well, overturning what might have other wise have been entrenched behaviour from an early age and a tendency towards aggression as a way of negotiating. We should all try to limit our actions that tend towards a violent style no matter how low level it might seem. I suggest if we are to be judged it might be reasoned that we might fall or stand by the harm we have done not the good. I hope this is the case for many political leaders.
I do believe there are historical precedents for justified political violence. I wish it were otherwise. It is probaly true that what ever your view on Fidel Castro et al, had they not liberated Cuba it would still be a US sponsored haven for gangsters and their political mates. If the ANC had renounced armed struggle there might still be apartheid.

If we love ourselves and are secure and act accordingly surely there is no need to threaten and break and it will be easier to acquiesce and make, encouraging others and imbuing them with confidence and strength. Having said all of this you might be forgiven for thinking the above photograph, taken last Saturday afternoon in London tells another story. (lol)

I like it for its clichéd, brooding feel and unity. Soldiers of the light? Mr Rawlings check it. Don’t mess.

Peace

copyright e d g a r b r o u g h t o n 2007