You know when you feel that flash of inspiration and you know you just have to drop everything and follow it? You do? Well, explain that to my wife, who apparently “thought the band dream died way before our marriage did”.

Well, it hasn’t, and I know that if the kids don’t understand it this weekend they’ll understand it when their dad’s rocking out again. Sally especially – she’s at that age now where she appreciates a good rocker.

As soon as I finished my last blog post I went to my dad’s flat and ransacked it for old notebooks I left there after the split (I lived there for a while when we broke up, put on a lot of weight!). I found a couple of books full of ideas that are, even if I do say so myself, way ahead of their time. For example, you ever heard of a band where everyone is wearing blue sunglasses? Neither had 1988…

I got home and immediately threw all my notebooks on the floor and then literally rolled around in them to ‘immerse myself’ – a technique I learned from Peter Hook.
Then I logged onto the internet and posted a Gumtree ad looking for helpers – something I learned from Leslie Grantham.

I’ve already had a load of great replies, and I’m looking to put something together over the weekend. Well, I say that, but I’ve definitely got to take the kids this weekend, so I’ll swap demos/lyrics over my Polycom SoundStation 2. Would be amazing if I could get the kids involved!

Spending the rest of the day now writing replies to all my potential bandmates. Gonna make it absolutely clear that sex, drugs and rock and roll are almost absolutely a possible must!

I usually avoid weddings. There’s something about them that just doesn’t sit well with me. That something is, of course, my own failed marriage. Since I split from Theresa I’ve not really felt like going to any nuptials at all – I can’t even bunch my socks! Haha

This wedding was different though, and I felt oddly nostalgic there. So much has happened since I got married: the kids, the job, 9/11, it really puts things into perspective. It also made me think about something I haven’t thought about in a long while… the band.

In 1988 me and some guys from school got together and tried really hard to be in a band. We had a few gigs, a few tunes (“Love on an Aeroplane” being the crowd-pleaser!), and we were going somewhere when Charlie (Jegwgs) quit and my other friend got married. Should’ve know, I guess. Anyway, I was left playing acoustic around a few open mic nights – much like some of the bands I interview today – and from there I’ve ended up producing and sound-teching for local artists.

Let me see if I can remember some lyrics:

Chorus x5

Wow, that just poured out. Maybe I should look at getting the band back together… after one more game of online bingo.

Grand Central, Manchester, Thursday July 1st

Metal isn’t usually my thing. I’m more of a Deep Purple/Shredded Wheat kinda guy. However, I found myself conducting an impromptu review, Charlie Brooker-style (ledge!) and interview, Michael Parkinson-style, with two metal bands while having a drink with my mate Charlie Jegwegs.

First up was Affliction of Faith (don’t be put off by the promo pics covered in blood – they’re fine!), a Warrington-based band. I only caught the tail end of their set last night and was initially put off by the way lead singer Lee (nice guy) had discarded lyrics in favour of growling. Even more off-putting was the guy sat by stage left drumming along on laptop bag; is this a new thing that’s passed me by, like denim shirts and green shoelaces? Anyway, the more I listened to Affliction of Faith, the more I liked them. If you’d like to judge for yourself check them out at the Warrington Music Festival on the 19th July. Should be a biggy!

A quick ciggy later and a brief thought about the lovely Georgie Thompson from Sky Sports News and I was back for Gone Til Winter. The room was really buzzing now as lots of people had come to see them. They didn’t disappoint the faithful as they blasted out track after track, surprising me with how catchy they had made their hard sound.

The lead singer Talena was a glowing haystack of loveliness, and even joined me and Charlie for a chat after the gig. Charlie, the bloody idiot, had forgotten to take out insurance on his camera (which I have told him to do SEVEN TIMES) so he isn’t carrying it with him for the time being and no pictures wereth taketh. Oh well – you win some you lose some! Anyway, you can catch Gone Til Winter at the Witchwood in Ashton on Thursday, or wait until September where they will be on with Killing Machine at Moho Live.

I interviewed both bands after their gigs so will try and get some of that stuff up next week.

Overall, a fun and unexpected night, bookended by a few Builder’s Tears (pints) with Charlie and topped by a £2.80 slice of Abdul’s finest (a kebab) and a few spins of the roulette wheel.