And so it ended with a kiss. After 35 Years of ups, downs, starts, stops, fights, good gigs, bad gigs, it all came down to this. The last chords of “Sick on You” had subsided, the outro tape of “We Gotta Go” had started and Casino Steel took the mike in front of an enthusiastic Osaka audience, very few of whom could understand a word he was saying.
“Tonight is the last time that Duncan is playing with us as he’s leaving The Boys. We all want to thank him for everything he has done and wish him all the best for the future”. A little part of me started to well up as John Plain came over and planted a big, wet, slobbery kiss on my cheek.
It was horrible!
It had been a great few days. Two gigs in Tokyo and one in Osaka. All of them wonderful and so appropriate for a finale as it was Japan which got us back together 13 years ago. After 18 years out, a new life and a new persona created, I had no intention of ever playing again. But who could resist the offer of a trip to Tokyo? It had strings attached in the form of a Boys reunion which I didn’t really want but, what the hell, that bit wouldn’t take too long.
And thank goodness I did it.
The last 13 years have been an unexpected blessing. How many other people of my age get to do what I have done? Look at the places we’ve been to: Tokyo, Osaka, Check Republic, Bratislava, Lucerne, Dusseldorf, Berlin, Leipzig, Rome, Milan, Bologna, Madrid, Barcelona, Bergara, Valencia, Austin Texas, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Sao Paolo, Quebec and..............Morecombe. I’ve missed many out for which apologies to the residents but in each place I’ve been filled with wonder and the question: how do all these people know who the f*ck we are?
And in each place they have been amazing. Overflowing with kindness and generosity, thinking that we are providing something special for them when, in fact, its the other way round. Take the other night in Tokyo when a young man, struggling to master every last word of English in his head told me: “For you this is a small thing. But it will live with me all my days”. What do you say to that? His words and emotion are something which will live with me all my days.
As will the feeling on stage. Its been quite spooky but, as my confidence has grown, so has an ability to feel an audience. It can be horrible at times when there’s something wrong with the gig and you live the disappointment coming over but, for the most part, its a magical feeling.
And then there was The Mattless Boys. Something also magical and significant in so many ways. The Boys have always been very unadventurous in the choice of songs for the set and The Mattless Boys were a joyous excuse to pick from a catalogue of great songs that it was almost always too much of a struggle to get The Boys to play.
But more significantly it was a project I was able to pour my heart and soul into, alongside John, shaping the arrangements and sound and, most importantly, writing.
During The Boys heyday writing was always very difficult for me but this time the songs just flowed out easily. After the album was finished they just kept coming. And what fun it was. Crafting 3 minute tunes together and putting short stories to go with them of little vignettes of my life: pure joy. As on many occasions a big thank you is due to Steve Metcalfe here. It was he who suggested to John I write a few songs for the album. What a significant thought that was.
It would have been great to record some of these songs with The Boys but that will not be now and I’m so excited to start the process of sharing them with the world. A new beginning coming after the end.
Thank you to all of you who have made the last `13 years so magical. Hopefully this short note lets you know how you have all given me so much which I will never let go.
Except for that damned kiss which I’m going to do everything in my power to forget as soon as possible!
Osaka 27 October 2011
