Neccessity is the mother of invention - PART
2.
Okay..I might as well admit it to past and present
members of the band that through the years I have used
the same trick re new songs,over and over again.The
process usually begins with a band agreement on new
material - all eyes on Patrick.Naturally I rise to the
occasion everytime proclaiming loads of stunning tunes
just ready and waiting.Rehearsal and/or studio time is
set by eager if gullible musicians...cue
reality!Patrick now has about two weeks to bring
together all sorts of vague and half baked ideas and
mould them into something akin to recognisable Cold
Flame material.Yet strangely enough this pressured
situation seems to work for me which is just as
well.On the other hand,I would be the first to admit
that some ideas don't make the grade - such is life.
Songwriting for me is an opportunity to put thoughts
into words..an expression that I can relive every time
we play live.My focus is always coming from both the
heart and the mind though not always,if I am really
subtle,autobiographical.Subconsciously at least,I have
always tended to favour particular themes which
include personel issues, travel,the ageing
process,employment,environment,relationships as
well as historical references betraying my grammer
school educational background.Yes,the same sort of
stuff that inspires every one else.
Like many people,songs very rarely appear in their
entirety at will.Rather lyrics,riffs and ideas drift
in and out and if there is a pen or tape handy I'll
record for later use.Some really good things have
disappeared almost as soon as they appeared due to
lack of recording implements but I guess that is part
of the fun.The first two thirds of a song usually
click easily into place but that third verse can often
be irritatingly elusive.Ideas are always tested first
on either the guitar or my trusted Yamaha keyboard
with its simple but effective drum machine [sorry
Dave]attachment.Then it's off to whoever happens to be
in the Cold Flame guitar hotseat to refine and record
demos for the rest of the band.At this point it really
is a case of fingers crossed as other band members do
have different tastes but generally things work out
much to my relief.Remember most musicians are super
confident only on the surface.
This neatly flows into what happened back in
Jan.1985
when Cold Flame treaded the boards for the first time.
Let's face it ,it was a long time ago so you will have
to forgive me if the memory box is a bit shaky.What I
do remember is that we had a support band called Clasp
who brought some of their mates with them and played
very loud fast punk style stuff.I also recall that the
place was packed ,largely with close friends and close
family members and that I was absolutely petrified
anchoring my right leg,shaking at approx.150 miles an
hour to the stage floor throughout the performances.By
the end of each gig I must have looked dark green
resembling a minature version of The Incredible
Hulk.Neither would I have recommended the loo after my
hasty exit. Funnily enough last week checking out old
tapes,I came across recordings of these very
performances.Surprise suprise,they actually sounded
ok...a bit raw and naive probably but nothing to be
ashamed of.Check out pics from the gigs on the Gallery
Archive page to view just how cute we were way back
then.
It is perhaps appropriate at this point to salute
Dave Conner.Without Dave's loyalty,support,enthusiasm
and musical prowess,the band would never have lasted
and it is a pleasure to welcome him back guesting with
the band from time to time both live and in the
studio..........
PR..October 2002.
Neccessity is the mother of invention - PART
1.
As Cold Flame make their trembling way towards the
autumn and an eighteenth anniversary,thoughts and
minds inevitably stray to those early beginnings back
in late 1984 when for some inexplicable
reason[probably to get over another failed
relationship] I had the bottle to form my own band.I
don't think anyone thought it would last,least of all
me.It was more of an experiment but somehow despite
everything, here we are....suprise suprise.
Neccessity is indeed the mother of all invention as
they say...at least when it comes to songwriting.The
guys in the band were all keen to steer clear of
covers
-perhaps we felt that we were not as good as all the
other pub bands around,some of whom like 'Slack Alice'
and 'Socrates'really could play tunes well.The'Victor
Brox Blues Train' on the other hand extended covers
with long sax,guitar or keyboard solos and jams.It
clearly worked for all these bands but,no, we would
have to be different.
"Okay guys who writes songs?"It was quickly
established at the band's first rehearsal together
that
Dave was a 'prolific' songwriter with about five or
six songs that would fit our intended musical path.
Neil had a couple of songs left over from his old
school band days which might work whilst drummer Giles
had his multi-coloured tank top knitted as always by
his mother.As the band was my idea in the first place
everyone looked to me to provide the rest of the
material and inspiration which was strange really
because I had never seen myself as even playing live
in a band and getting paid for it,let alone composing
songs.Still if Cold Flame was to survive and not just
be a pretend thing,where rehearsals are it,I would
have to start writing.There was a light at the end of
the tunnel however.During 1983,Dave and I had played a
few gigs together in a band called Satyr.It was really
just a bunch of mates playing occasional local pubs
but it was fun and probably gave me the confidence to
have a go at songwriting.Three tunes spilled out of my
head,perhaps there were more but anyway these three,
much to my surprise were given thumbs up approval and
played live.Whilst 'You and Me' was too folk
orientated
for Cold Flame,the other two tunes 'Inside out and
Roundabout' and 'Goodnight and God bless' were blues
in style and I also knew that Dave liked them..big
advantage.Anyway ,it was a start and did I need
it.Neil turned up at our third rehearsal in November
beaming from ear to ear.The source of his merriment
was quickly shared.He had got the band two gigs in
Glossop.We had approx. six weeks to sort out enough
material for two forty minute sets.Outwardly I'm sure
I was as chuffed as everyone else.Inwardly I groaned
knowing full well that the rest of the guys confidence
in my songwriting abilities was on serious dodgy
ground.Neccessity is the mother of invention and with
a deadline to meet I sat down to ponder how to go
about composing songs.
In Part 2 - my next diary entry ,I wll give you some
insights into how I have gone about writing songs over
the years and of course how Cold Flame fared at our
first two gigs all those years ago back in Jan 1985.
PR....Sept.2002
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