Covid-19 & rock 'n' roll (originally from Black Velvet #104)

Rewind just a few weeks and Last Great Dreamers were gearing up for a 10 day run in Spain and following that with a 25th Anniversary UK tour to celebrate the release of Retrosexual. Those few short weeks already feel like a lifetime ago. Covid-19 was not part of our daily vocabulary, or even part of any vocabulary. Fast forward to today and of course those tours have been postponed, pending new dates when venues / promoters will be in a position to know when we can safely offer anything. Other standalone shows are getting pulled and we can’t even get together in a rehearsal studio right now. Walking around where I live, it now looks like a scene from the 1971 Charlton Heston film “The Omega Man”, only in the movie the supermarkets are better stocked! Younger readers may wish to substitute that film for “I, Legend” and older readers, the 1964 Vincent Price “Last Man on Earth”. Thankfully nobody is panic buying those vegan cheese slices that I like but sadly the same can’t be said for the tins of chopped tomatoes. Lots of uncertainty and a degree of panic. Self-isolation and social distancing are now a thing, and only the stupid would ignore. Sadly there do appear to be a few of those. Things are changing daily and I realise that a few thoughts written on 23rd March 2020 may look woefully naïve or out of date in even just a few short days. Many musicians (& other friends) are self-employed so they have their worries. Equally I have friends in both teaching and the Emergency Services who are very much going to be putting themselves at greater risk and working more than they would normally. I also appreciate that the phrase “Emergency Services” in today’s current climate can actually extend to the shelf stackers at Tescos.. And we really appreciate them too right now! For many rock fans the idea of self-isolation may initially have a certain appeal. I was at school in the 1980s, making my own attempt at social distancing from my peers by adorning eyeliner, growing my hair out and amassing so many bangles that I could have unintentionally added several pound when on the scales (albeit still weighing in at under average). Of course the reality is very different in 2020. Like many of you I suspect, I ignore trends and have become unintentionally back in fashion with my LP records (if I were “modern cool” I would say vinyls) and actual books. Yeah, self-isolate me with all my vinyl, a glass of wine and I’ll see you on the other side! If only it were that simple!?! I’m not alone, I too have elderly relatives that I am of course concerned about, from the frail mother to the belligerent father. Right now, I suspect the theme in many people’s minds is one of self-preservation and looking out for their own. There isn’t going to be a single person reading this who hasn’t got concerns or a tale to tell. Certainly right now, whinging about how I was looking forward to Spain seems furthest from my mind, and I doubt I’d find the audience for that now! What I would say is that when I look back at the lowest points of my life or indeed the best moments, for me, music was always there. I can recall the albums and songs I listened to when I was diagnosed and beat cancer back in 2009. I can tell you what was playing on the car stereo when I was hanging out with friends back in the day and pretty much map my life with what was my soundtrack. That’s not a major revelation, I’m sure we’re the same here. I like Elvis and I like The Stones. I also really like that latest albums by The Spangles and The Speedways. A lot of music is actually pretty underground. As a listener, before I even picked up an instrument, I didn’t really give it any thought. Dogs D’Amour were just as exciting and unreachable as Guns N Roses. I didn’t think it through but I assume I would think they earnt the same. Seems crazy now but I was just 14 when both those bands released debut albums. If you are at home, I would ask that you stream albums by those underdog bands that you like. It’s not much but it generates a tiny bit of revenue for that artist, at no cost to you. Hey crazy idea but check out Last Great Dreamers! In these darker times many bands simply have zero income and sizeable debts to pay. On a final note, if I could quote Spike from Quireboys – “Let’s keep rock n roll alive”! And ourselves. Stay safe everyone.