About the band
Musicians Ken, Rob and I have been friends for some 50 years (we are ‘only’ 55!) and have been writing songs on and off for 40 of them – though it is only recently that we have felt that the time is right to move things forward – that this is our moment.
In our quest for a name and title for this album I was inspired by a talented artist, and treasured friend: Frank Bowling. Frank’s career started in the late 50’s, and although highly acclaimed and relevant now, it is only over the past 5 or so years that his work has been widely acknowledged and gained the accolades it so rightly deserves.
My lyric book, like Frank’s studio, is full. Quite frankly (if you’ll pardon the pun) both his studio and my book should be empty. Whilst the paintings sell and adorn walls creating a feast for the eyes, our words should dance off the page and ring through ears and minds, both paintings and sounds nourishing the soul. Words timeless in their relatability, Coronal Crap for example is just as relevant today as it was when it was written 20 years ago. Things have a way of coming full circle, same shit different day, month or year – the human condition at its worst.
Remembering a story Frank told me about the origin of one of his painting ‘BIRTHDAY’ I felt completely connected to it. The wonder that is our ability to nurture, that raw, primal instinct to nourish and cultivate – and the heavy heart of watching that instinct dwindle away like a dying flame.
Whilst a student at Art College and living in digs, Frank heard the cries of a woman upstairs – he ran up to find the woman alone and in labour. Frank called the emergency services and stayed with the woman as she birthed. Some time later in class, they were asked to create a painting and given the brief of ‘Birthday’. Whilst everyone else painted celebration in some form, Frank painted the birth itself – much to the furore of his elders. But why? How much Truer can you get to the title and brief?
‘What matters most’ is a pivotal line in one of our songs – drawing on love, friendship and birth (one of the most beautiful moments in life), all the aspects of nurture that as human beings we are so capable of but so frequently fall down on. Our willingness to grow and our failure to learn, eternally stuck in the cycle waiting for our time.