Needless to say there was a lot of banter backstage and no small time spent in the bar, by one and all. How is it that all Irish people know one another in some way? The stories were rich and varied particularly from drummer, John Wilson who had some great Van Morrison tales to tell from his time in that band. Pat himself was reminiscing about the UK tour he and Mamas' Boys played with Wishbone Ash back in 1981 when Trevor and Laurie were in the band. Pat said he was 21 at the time and his brother on drums, was only 14!! They were struggling so hard financially on the tour, they had to buy a TENT instead of using hotel rooms! Naturally I didn't know any of this and felt suitably gob smacked by that little snippet.
I really must thank everyone for making me so welcome as the English interloper. At the end of the night we all took to the stage for the obligatory jam session when Gloria by Them was the order of the day.
The next day, I was very kindly offered a ride to Normandy by Etienne and Catherine Keith. I spent time there with some friends and we scoped out a great location for some rehearsal and filming sessions for the upcoming new Ash CD in June. The french kids had an Easter egg hunt and in the evening, we watched some rock videos on the giant projection screen and also, a couple of good old movies like It’s a Beautiful Life and the Graduate.
Later again, I got in some serious bar time and we tasted a few good single malts and, over dinner, some excellent wines, courtesy of mein host, Michel. It certainly is something to drink a wine from 1962 and you think about what was going on then, in the year before President Kennedy was assassinated. Beatlemania was yet to get underway and I was 12. Wishbone Ash and Prog rock was not even thought of and I was getting to grips with music by the Shadows who were all the rage in the U.K. but quickly to be superseded by the Beatles with their first release, Love Me Do.
Happy days.
~ A.P.
