Amethyst (Jenny)
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« Reply #8 on: June 23, 2007, 02:23:36 PM » |
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That's it Ollie...
The four-piece (me, Swarb, Simon and Bruce) were booked to play in Shrewsbury, the Music Hall. We set up the gear, did the soundcheck then buggered off down the pub about six o'clock. Ronnie Laine was a mate of Bruce's and he joined us.
Well, we were having a real laugh, we were all drinking, and I'd had a good few pints. Swarb had had lots, certainly as many as me. But he's never been a great drinker. Still, he was having a great time, we all were. Well, we left the pub, everyone was happy; I was happy; Swarb was incredibly happy. In fact, he was so happy he couldn't stand up.
Anyway, we got back to the venue, got Swarb on stage. The opening number we chose was Dirty Linen. It's quite hard on the bass and I wanted to get it out of the way first because after two hours I wouldn't have stood a chance.
As soon as we started Swarb kept leaning on me, he could barely stand up. He was having a great time but I couldn't play with him on my arm. Then he hit me in the eye with his bow. Twice. It bloody hurt, it really did. The third time he caught me in the eye I just saw red, and I smacked him over the head with the bass.
I must have hit the poor sod much harder than I thought because it broke the bass! Honestly, the neck came away. It floored him, he was unconscious. I thought 'Oh God, I've killed Swarb!'. It freaked me right out, I just ran out, got in a taxi and came home. A cab from Shrewsbury all the way back to Cropredy.
I felt dreadful, just terrible. I was thinking it would be on the news any minute: 'Rock star killed by mad bass player'. I tried to phone the gig: I was expecting a call any minute saying he was dead.But as soon as I'd legged it Swarb had come round. He was OK, though obviously it had been the end of the show. Later, Swarb and I apologised to one another, there was no bad blood.
Luckily, the promoter had a real sense of humour. He booked us for a return gig and he produced this great poster, a pastiche of a boxing or wrestling poster: 'Fairport Convention - Seconds Out: Round Two'. The audience came back – well you would, wouldn't you? They probably wanted to see who'd attack whom.
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