I'd have to ......

photo by D Randell

It has been a while since I wrote any thing here. I have a good excuse. I have been very busy in front of the screen working with Logic on my Mac. For months I have been writing material and didn't open the Mac for music making during that whole period. I think my need was to sing and write and labouring over digital detail seemed boring and a bit alien for a while. Things change so recently I decided to make some thing that needed all the digital armoury I could get my hands on and so Logic was rolled out and work on the piece was begun. With the imminent re release of Superchip I wanted to make something that would partly update the album but I also wanted to drop the last episode in the part of the world that typifies the religous/tribal conflict btween peoples that is causing so much suffering. At this point I should say that the re release of Superchip as a down load has been slightly delayed but it will contain a new track called The Desert Wind. I have re mastered the album, for down load, achieving a fresher more dynamic sound. 

Over the years I have spent a lot of time reading manuals and more recently I tired of it. I'd find myself flitting through stuff and not taking it in. I put it down to age. How ever, since I began working on the screen again, my ability to absorb new info from the manuals has returned. This has made me realise that incentive is the key. When I am fired up enough to get really stuck into some thing then I will work until I drop. On the other hand if I don't see a point to it I will slip into almost total disinterest. I have learned to manage this to some extent and today, I can say that I only do what I really want to and most importantly of all, they are mostly things I will enjoy. I am fortunate but, I have worked hard at prioritising time over money and this given me considerable skills around “cutting one's cloth” as the saying goes. It has also lead me into some very interesting experiences and fine company. I think I give the impression that at times, I am a bit lazy. Of course this is nonsense ha ha! I work hard and do a lot of thinking by way of preparation. That is my explanation and it will have to do.

A week or so ago I played the Sarah Thorne Theatre in Broadstairs in Kent and I just haven't got around to writing it up. On a cold and blustery evening I had a really special time in Broadstairs. The welcome was warm and every thing ran smoothly from the beginning. J , the sound guy was so on it and quickly. The sound check was a delight as he ran through very subtle and appropriate effects with out any prompting from me. It was like having some one who knew me mixing the sound when in fact we had never met. The people who run the place have made it a work of love and devotion for around 30 years and it shows. They put on a surprising variety of shows and drama as well as folk like me. The show went very well. The audience was very warm and some how very polite, as Ramblin' noted. Ramblin', who drove, was on his usual good form and the journey home flew by. This was the first public UK gig for a while so it was important that all went well. I was very pleased with every thing and I would love to go back.

For any one wondering what happened about the postponed gigs in Frome and Exeter, all I can say is that if I told you why I'd have to.......

Suffice to say I am sworn to secrecy. After a good laugh, I was very glad that the gigs, as they were originally planned, are not taking place. Nuff said!

So, it is back to the screen for me and more recording. February will provide the time for me to work on new recordings with out much interuption. I am really looking forward to it. It is high time.

peace

R.I.P. David Bowie

I was very surprised, shocked and sad to hear of the passing of David Bowie. He seemed like a man who might roll on longer than a lot of us. He was one of the great characters and great innovators of style and form in music.

Many years ago the EBB was booked to appear at Brighton Dome. The gig was booked by a local promoter who managed a very mediocre local band. David was on first. His Space Oddity was breath taking and I had to go out of the dressing room to check it was just David onstage. There he was resplendent as always with his acoustic guitar bashing out “Ground Control to Major Tom”. He was with Angie Bowie back then. They were an astonishingly beautiful couple. I don't remember much else of what he sang but there, in his show, were the elements of greatness.

The local band went on after his solo show. They were very dull and with out any real merit. They went onstage but would not come off. They over ran eating into our set. Eventually I instructed our road crew to pull the power on them. I only ever did this on that one occasion. We played for a while but because the local band over ran the council officers turned all the power off. We continued Out Demons Out acoustically. David joined us onstage and we all chanted together while Steve tapped out a rhythm. The audience went wild and eventually the police brought proceedings to a halt. A week later David and I received a very official letter from Brighton council informing us that we were banned for life from appearing at the Brighton Dome.

"1973, I ended up in DB's rented Chelsea pad after a heavily-alcoholic record company lunch. He played me some Diamond Dogs demos and said that he wanted Rob to play guitar on a session ... asked me if I had a phone number for him, which i didn't. We ended up calling EMI and trying to get said number, but no-one there had it either, and we were both too smashed to pursue matters further. Who know what might've happened if one of us had been slightly more sober that afternoon …" Charles Chaar Murray

As it turned out Ric Rogers, our manger at the time, told me David wanted me to play guitar on a track called The Candidate. My memory of what happened after that is not clear but I was told David had some kind of mental health episode, probably exhaustion. Any way he went to Switzerland and that was that.

Ric emailed me the other day to ask if I remembered getting dressed up and the carnations he bought for us both to wear at the final Ziggy gig. David admired his so Ric gave it to him. It's funny how some of the little things stay in the memory and others do not. I will always remember the final Ziggy gig in Hammersmith. I remember what appeared to be a look of surprise on the faces of The Spiders when Ziggy broke up the band on stage, announcing it would be their last gig. Any way it was a great gig. The after show party at the Cafe Royale was a lavish affair and we all had a great time. One of those nights when the champagne glass is refilled as soon as it is emptied.

I saw David's show at Wembley Arena in around 75, with Carlos Alomar, Adrian Belew, Sly and Robbie and co. What a band! I remember when David started his first song the PA sound was awful. He stopped every thing and did a mimed ballet dance with his fingers, in a needle spot light on his vocal monitor. If you were back in the hall you would have seen this on a large on stage screen. I was fortunate to be seated near the stage and it was a very clever and elegant thing to do and I could see he knew it. From then on the sound was superb. 

Many years later Angie, no longer with David, became a neighbour and we were friends for a while when Luke went to the same primary school as her daughter Stasha. Angie and I used to swop tales of the road and she still liked to party hard. We had some great times. Eventually Angie moved back to America and Lemmy moved into the same rented house for a time. Now he has gone too, bless him. 

I think the work David Bowie did in Berlin, on that iconic music, provided some of the most innovative material he made. His broad appeal to a huge audience is partly because he covered all the bases and partly because he never stood still. I especially liked the Tin Machine material. He some times disappointed hard core fans when he refused to play old material. He certainly didn't lack courage. He always brought a huge style and newness to things even when he drew on the material of other artistes that influenced him. Top man! R.I.P.

peace

bye bye 2015

Another year is almost over. This has not been a very joyous year for the people struggling to scrape by whether they are the homeless citizens of the UK or refugees whose countries have been devastated by war. There seems to be no end in sight to these huge issues. It is difficult to look back on 2015 as a good year when so many people are in such trouble. 

As I watch news footage of the floods in the north I am reminded that it has taken governments years to accept the reality of Global warming and still they drag their feet.  

On a positive note I saw a news clip of a young, newly married couple who were just about to sign contracts for a new home on the day their new house was flooded. A lucky escape and at least they did not have to start off in a home, in an area that might now flood on a regular basis. 

Still, in the midst of the chaos there has been some positive  achievement in some areas  of UK life. We have seen the advancement of political expression that must be of benefit to us all.  The digital referendum has had a good year and 38 Degrees and others, have demonstrated that with enough participation governments will listen and will make u turns. Looking back at some early victories such as stopping the sale of UK forests and looking at the current collection of battles won, it seems the electronic petition has come along way. 

I think it is still early days to assess the real impact of Jeremy Corbyn's election as Labour leader.  I really hope that the issues and perspective he will bring to the debate will enhance the possibility for a fairer society and a more ethical governance. 

It is tradition that at this time of year we wish each other peace and goodwill.  It is a good all year round policy and while the struggle to overcome Daesh continues, we must not let frustration and confusion lead to the victimisation of the UK Muslims who stand with us against the tyranny of Daesh.  We must try to embrace difference and not be afraid of change and we should all participate in the debates that will influence the future in any way we can. These are the days when if we look away for just a moment we will lose hard won, precious rights that will not be easily returned to us. If we take our eye off the ball, political and ethical values and standards will surely drop.

So to art and music. I have had a good year and played some happy gigs to some lovely audiences and on all my travels I have met many good people doing all they can to make a positive difference in the affairs of their communities. I want to thank all of the people who have supported me and who have been a constant source of strength and encouragement. The list is longer than I would have ever thought. Thank you. You know who you are.

There are UK public gigs booked for 2016 with more in the pipeline plus a few Fair Days Pay For A Fair Days Work gigs booked. One of these is in Sweden so I shall look forward to that and meeting new folk. 2016 is also a recording year when I will be going in the studio for the first time in many years. I have the material written and I have pre production material ready to be used in the studio. I am very excited about this as I am about bringing some electric guitar back in the show. I am currently experimenting with this to see what can work. It is early days and a lot of fun right now but I know it will get to be harder as the work begins to become about repetitive rehearsal.

I expect to do even more fishing in 2016 than previously and I hope some of that will be in Norway when I return in the summer with Luke. I expect Luke and I will be doing a few gigs together next year. Meanwhile he has added a new song titled BATTERSEA to his Soundcloud page at   https://soundcloud.com/lukebroughton5

A while ago now I went to Austria to meet Walter Kohl and to play for his brother at his birthday party. Walter is a writer and I first met him in Wigan at the home of my friends Val and John when he came over to speak with me about his ideas for a novel. We spent some time getting to know each and discussed what Walter described as faction about the EBB. We also discussed my involvement in a gallery installation based on an idea I had called The definitive interview which has become an ongoing project.  Some time later I met with Walter and his family in Austria where I played for his brother. Walter and I spent hours and hours recording  material for his book and some time later we had a couple of days in London doing the same while Walter's colleague, Oktavia shot some video as reference for her installation ideas. It was an exhausting and intense work period but very interesting for me.

Time passed and recently an email arrived from Walter with an attachment of his English translation of his novel Out Demons Out. I was stunned. His translation from German to English is flawed but mightily impressive enough to give a good idea of the story. I have begun to read it and early on I was torn between correcting a small historic detail and leaving the artist to do what he wants with the truth. I do it all the time in my songs and writing. There are corrections to be made, as in any first transcript, but I won't interfere with Walter's licence to tell his story the way he intends. He has no chronological pathway to his story and I found that exciting. This is not a biography but a novel. I quickly got used to reading this very intriguing take on the EBB, Walter and his friends and events and people of the time. Initially this will be a German language novel and Walter also wants to get it published in English. I am fascinated and quite excited as I am working my way through Walter's translation. More on this later.

So it is time to wish you all the very best 2016. I hope to meet some of you as the year rolls on.

Finally, The Edgar Broughton Band will re release Super Chip - The Final Silicon Solution. It will be available as a down load on all major download distribution site in January 2016. The album had the track The Virus added for the 2010 release and there will be a new track added for this 2016 release.

peace

impossible dream

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 exploded after being hit by a Russian-made Buk missile over eastern Ukraine. Russian president Putin denied all responsibility. It was said at the time that break away Ukraine militia did not have the expertise to use the Buk system. So who did?

Daesh ( formerly IS) recently claimed responsibility for the bombing of Metro Russian airliner downed in Egypt. Putin began bombing Daesh positions in Syria as well as rebels against Assad who had been bombed by Russian aircraft for some time. Putin offered 30 million for reward leading to apprehension of Metro bombers. As we all know Daesh claimed responsibility for the bombing in Paris. Allende declared war and here we are poised for another major conflict.

It is likely that current bombing by France in Syria, is killing more innocents than those killed in Paris. It is also likely that reprisal will come to all who join the growing alliance against Daesh. It is also clear that Daesh cannot be allowed to continue to expand it's operations. Meanwhile, any one not fighting under the bombs in Syria will probably be heading for a boat. I know I would be.

We are currently courting Turkey to get with the programme to prevent more refugees entering. They might tow the line more if they believe it might be the key to joining the European community. Again this is a country with an appalling human rights record but if it suits us we'll play along.

It is possible that if the numbers of refugees continues to escalate then borders will be closed and the 1985 Schengen treaty that opened the borders will be no more. In the near future the scale and the cost of accepting refugees into Europe could well bring about major sea change in attitudes to the problem. As we seem to move to a more dystopian future it might well be seen as expedient and profitable to form a new world order police force. The UN with teeth, that would include Russia and the NATO and non NATO nations. The objective would be regime change in all of the counties that refugees are leaving. The prize would be new free markets and a centralised control of major resources such as oil and water.

Cameron says he has the legal mandate to bomb Syria but many polls suggest the majority of the British don't support the proposed bombing. Corbyn is not alone in his belief that bombing is not the priority. Many military experts say the extra RAF missions will have little effect. The bombing of London during the second world war has been cited as an example where bombing did not break the people of the UK but actually hardened their resolve to overcome the enemy.

After the bombings what comes next and what happens after that? How will things be managed after Deash? 
Are we going to fly missions in Syria in a sort of loose alliance where if for example a UK aircraft is accidentally shot down by a Russian aircraft or ground fire, will we will call it friendly fire and accept the loss as more collateral damage. We are hardly friends are we? 
The US say there must be communication with the Russians to prevent this. They shoot up their own in less crowded battle scenes and with Russian, French, British and US aircraft on missions the possible random effects are terrifying. 

We should ask why Cameron did not want to bomb Syria to support the anti Assad rebels but now he says he must. It looks like he will do so with a haste that will omit vital chunks of strategy from the plan, according to some serving, senior military officers.

We must find a way to cut off income to Deash and to sanction those who buy Daesh oil. We must stop trading arms that have proven to have been used against the UK military when dodgy regimes turn against us. We know that countless times these regimes use the weapons we sold to to them to oppress their own people or to expand their own territory. There are many examples of this. Tensions between Iran and the US have eased a little recently but there have been times where relations were more than tense. If the US had ever decided to fly missions against Iran, to support Israel for example, they would have been up against Iranian F-14 fighter aircraft they had sold to Iran.

We must stop trading with Saudi no matter what the financial loss might be. How can we take the moral high ground against Deash when we are allied with a country whose justice system regularly carries out Deash style executions, stonings and beatings.

We must stand side by side with Muslims, here in the UK, who are equally opposed to Deash. There must be no mindless back lash or scapegoating.

These past days we have seen a large part of the Labour party and others struggling with a new way of prioritising the elements of major national policy. Change is uncomfortable and challenging. Change is needed and we all have to contribute and participate if we care. We know what is right and proper and we cannot continue to claim the higher moral ground on the world stage if we continue as we are. We need to clean up our act and make way for a fairer more just and reasoned way of governing ourselves and relating to the rest of the world. 

Like most people I would like to see Deash and all they stand for defeated and eliminated but a UK knee jerk reaction to the atrocities in France is not the answer.

I don't want to live in a country that bombs civilians and trades with dictators. I don't want to live in a country that has food banks and a growing number of homeless citizens while the average price of a home in London is £350,000. I want to see our priorities changed. I want to see a real move to fostering parity and opportunity for every one of us, with out prejudice or discrimination. I want to be proud of what this country stands for. It is time for change now and while Jeremy Corbyn might not be the solution, he at least wants to have the debate around fundamental issues that have been neglected for decades. I am hopeful for the first time in a long time. I don't believe the changes we need to make are an impossible dream.


peace

water, water every where

water , water every where .....next to our hotel in Haugesund

Luke and I set off for Haugesund, Norway on Thursday 29th in the morning and we arrived via Oslo at around 10.30 pm. The hotel was very nice but we were not prepared to pay £60 for a fish supper and so after a local Donner kebab, with a curious sauce we both liked, from a nearby cafe, we both retired. It had been a long day.

Next day we found the gig was only a two minute walk from the hotel so that was great. Luke and I were having a coffee in the hotel cafe when we saw Jarle arrive. It turned out he was staying in the same hotel as us so that was very cool. It is always good to see him. Nothing changes no matter how long has elapsed between meetings.

Jarle invited us for cognac in his room and it was a fine cognac. We sat and chatted and Luke caught up a bit. He hadn't seen Jarle since the church gig in Upholland when we all finished the evening at Val and John's home. The next day Jarle had gone off to see Liverpool play at home and we won.

Time passed and after collecting our guitars we all walked across to the gig to sound check.
The club Haugaland is a wonderful wooden building by the waterfront. I felt right at  home there and realised if I had brought a small travel rod I could have fished there earlier in the day. Still it was nearly show time as Luke and I wandered around the club taking it all in. One of the bands was sound checking as we arrived. The PA sounded superb and it was obvious from the start that the house engineer really had his stuff sorted.
The building is almost entirely made from wood and it has that wonderful aged, golden colour through out. Great space with great acoustics. It used to be a Salt House and then it was a Herring processing factory. This was way back in the days when Herring was the Norwegian's gold. Now it is oil, while it lasts.
The stage was quite large and the front of house was great with a balcony at the rear and a restaurant/bar on one side.

The band, scheduled to appear last, was an interesting set up. We watched the sound check with some interest. A guy on guitar and a young woman on drums and bass was very cool. White Stripes and Royal Blood came to mind and we wondered if they would be successful outside Norway.
So Luke took to the stage and sound checked a couple of songs. We were both very slightly nervous which is usually a good thing. Complacency is the enemy of all creative endeavour. Luke asked for a fairly extreme reverb setting which is a long halo around his sweet vocal. The sound guy was masterful. Beautiful. We were both well pleased. My turn and again my sound was easily and quickly achieved.

We headed back to the hotel with Jarle and it was not long before we returned and were ensconced on the third floor of the club. From there we watched the first band on and then Luke took to the stage. All nerves disappeared after his introduction and he soon had the audience's attention. I love to see their reaction as he slips from his low voice to the sparkle at his top end. I think they soon got him and considering they had never heard him before he soon got them onside. I noticed that there was a mix of older and very young folk who were most attentive through his half hour set. I could see Luke was very happy and for me that was relief. I didn't want to drag him all the way to Norway only tor him to be disappointed on his first solo outing there. 

While Luke was courting his new fans below I sat up in the gallery and I ached. My neck and shoulders were tight and I turned to some people connected with the club and jokingly said that the only thing missing from this great venue was a masseuse. A woman told me her partner, sat nearby, was a healer. He came over to me and worked his shamanic magic with out laying a finger on me. I am a little used to that part as my lovely friend Val Bradshaw has given me Reiki sessions when I have been a little stressed. 

After the healing I felt much better and I thanked him. By the time I was walking down the stairs to the stage area I felt really good. So thanks again my friend. I hope we see each other again.
As I walked out onto the stage I was warmly greeted and bless them they listened to my new songs and the old ones with equal interest. I loved playing the show for them. The on stage sound was perfection and I revelled in it. I finished with a couple of old songs and left the stage very satisfied with the nights work. Next up was the young duo. They rocked and all was good. It had been a great night. We said our farewell at around 1.30am and left to walk the few yards to the hotel in pouring rain. We had a pickup to the airport at 8.30am so it was no partying for us and we went straight to bed. 

Luke gave me a shout at 7.50 am and we soon piled out into the morning air to get in our transport to the airport. All was good and we were glad to be moving on. The journey back went with out hitch and we had a great time in Norway. I love the place and would even more if it were not so expensive. 

Thanks to Stig for picking us up when we first arrived, to Bjorn for all his good work and Knut for having us at his his top venue. We both hope we will be invited back to Haugaland.





peace

Psychedelic Britannia

Psychedelic Britannia gets it's first screening on BBC 4 at 10pm tomorrow, 23rd. 

All a bit last minute, I just received an email to tell me so. Yours truly will be making an appearance. 

Don't know if I'll be around for Reformed rocker turned minstrel Britannia but I was in Metal Britannia with the EBB ha!


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The competition is still running until the end of the month. See below.

The best caption for the above photo will win two places on the guest list for one of my 2016 public shows. Usual process. Write your entry caption in the comments section of this post. Leave your name. You can make as many entries as you like. Competition ends October 31st 2015.