Rigsy Remembers
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In 1996, Mike Edgar played the opening track from 'HOME (Here's One Made Earlier)' - the debut album by Newcastle band Moss, on Across the Line. Given my then hero (now boss!) playing a track I'd co-written and played bass on was just about the single most exciting thing that had happened to anyone in the history of the world (at the time I did think that), I taped the show, playing it back to anyone daft enough to give me time the following day in school. I still have a recording of Mike reading out the long, groveling letter that accompanied the 'release' - it lives beside another tape of him playing a second track a few weeks later. Between plays he'd had at least three further letters from me.
'Darkman' and 'I Don't Like You At All', while reasonably well crafted rock songs, we're lyrically.... dubious. Like, really dubious. The former was an anti-racism song that ended up very racist indeed (albeit accidentally), while the latter contained what seem like subtle references to drug intake in the local park (utter naivety on our part - we didn't spot potential 'double meanings' and furthermore were unaware of certain slang terms for narcotics....trust me, at most it was a cheeky can of cider for the older members of the band).
But Mike, bless him, played them and made my year. Actually, he made all 17 years I'd had on the planet up to that point. It felt like my life had literally been building up to that moment he said the name of my band on the radio.
I found the Moss album when I was visiting me ma and da last weekend. And no, I'll not be uploading. I'm not embarrassed (really!), but those lyrics - honestly, it would be our 'Sachsgate'.
But listening back, I'm thinking two things. Firstly, I will never ignore correspondence from a band. With that in mind - any bands reading feel free to note down my facebook and twitter contacts - for what it's worth, you'll always get a reply and, if not airplay, a little feedback on behalf of the ATL office.
Secondly - I'll always be blown away by the tracks we play on the show from our younger bands. I'm expecting to buzz off The New Blood gig on Sunday, which will showcase a whole mess of teeange musicians.
While I treasure my own youthful attempts at stardom - gigs in The Mariner, Newcastle and that one time we played The Front Page - those memories only hammer home just how remarkable it is this country is full of genuinely awesome bands with singers who were barely toddling back in 1996.
Rigsy
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