Graham Wright – Five Miles Out

Something always fires a light that gets in your eyes

This is a big thank-you to Graham Wright. Living in the musical wasteland that was most of Brightlingsea he sent me a tape of two Rush albums. I had only heard of them just before I left Royston when our maths teacher, Mr Stevens, let us do an end of year quiz and one personContinue reading “Something always fires a light that gets in your eyes”

There’s a shadow on the door

The Police were perceived as a boy band (by the standards of the late 1970s – three blonde men, though Andy Summers was definitely not a boy). They were too good looking for their own good. (Andy Summers, Sting & Stuart Copeland) It is odd as their first single that was a hit was aboutContinue reading “There’s a shadow on the door”

You’ll sell the ground beneath your feet

The first of two appearance of Fish as a lead singer, this one as a solo artist. Fish had been the lead singer of Marillion and when he left the group in looked like a double your money situation. Marillion released Season’s End and Fish released Vigil In a Wilderness of Mirrors – both greatContinue reading “You’ll sell the ground beneath your feet”

Then the cowboy turned the gun on himself

One Saturday afternoon in the sixth form I was listening to the Richard Skinner show on Radio 1. They had a group called Theatre of Hate in playing tracks from their new album Westworld. “From the south on a wind in walked a cowboy The saloon was dry but his guns were well oiled SomehowContinue reading “Then the cowboy turned the gun on himself”

Rendez-Vous

Parties, I don’t really like parties anymore. Not being able to drink alcohol is part of that, but it is just such hard work to interact with people with the requisite loud music and in the semi darkness. My lack of dancing ability probably did not help either. Graham used to have good parties inContinue reading “Rendez-Vous”

You’re a Pageant

Changing schools is traumatic and under the three-tier system (primary, middle and upper) you have to do it once more than in the two tier system (or two times extra when you move like I did). Meridian Upper School, in Royston, is actually right next door to Greneway Middle School – the boundary between theContinue reading “You’re a Pageant”

Completely in Command

In September 1982 Tears for Fears released Mad World, it wasn’t the first single from their debut album but was the first successful one in the UK. Graham and I loved Tears for Fears. Mad World has been used in films and covered several times. Their first album, The Hurting, is an album around theContinue reading “Completely in Command”

He Goes, Like, Bag Your Face

Frank Zappa has had a lengthy and innovative career. I am not a fan but there is one track that I really love. When I was staying at Royston between 1981 and 1984 I usually stayed with Graham but a couple of times I stayed with John Bonney. In 1982 I moved from Graham’s toContinue reading “He Goes, Like, Bag Your Face”

Time to close my mind and drift off

I swear John Bonney did much more in life than give me books. Graham and John Bonney stayed in Brightlingsea in the summer of 1982 for a week. Everyone else in the family was away and I was allowed to look after the house for a fortnight. With two dogs, two cats and a tankContinue reading “Time to close my mind and drift off”

Find a place to go

The Fixx were one of those British groups that never quite fit. They were New Wave (like the Boomtown Rats) but were really only making it when the New Romantics were dominating music. In the end they never made it in the UK but were far more successful in the USA. One of the bestContinue reading “Find a place to go”