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A Nutty French Woman Production!
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FaB tribute to Gordon
Shears
A
galaxy of stars were lined up to pay tribute to Gordon on a cold November
afternoon – well ok a solar system of musically proficient people!
The
little room at the White Hart has never seemed so small as it does this afternoon,
packed as it is with all the paraphernalia that accompanies a rock band or
two and even with invisible cymbals (more later!) there is standing room
only.
Our
MC for the afternoon was a tone deaf leopard, Trevor, as Sue was unfortunately
ill (and we all hope that she is better now)
Our
opener was going to be me reading the poem ‘Tomorrow never comes’
which was read at Gordon’s funeral but as I couldn’t read and
write at the same time Adrian kindly read it for me. The
poem was written by a woman who had lost, I think, 3 sons to cancer and is
very moving.
The
next act onto the stage was Gordon’s own band ‘Starcruiser’ with a selection of some
of Gordon’s songs as well as songs from some of the individual members.
The
band opened with an instrumental which they have been playing for a number of
years called ‘Local Affairs’ - so called because Gordon wrote it
as backing music for a New Venture Players production of the same name
– New Venture being the drama group that Gordon and I were members of.
The
next song was ‘Midnight Masquerade’, a beautiful, wistful little
number which has always been one of my favourites, with the tune, which
always reminds me of a music box, by Tony and the words by Gordon – the
band worked very hard to get this just right but with our very own Claudine (and her magic waistcoat) doing the
vocals, todays version was one of the best that I have heard.
Oh
yes I almost forgot - the invisible cymbals – Jeff had set up his drum kit sans cymbals (which were on their way) so Mike pointed out that
they were invisible and that only those with ‘musical integrity’
would be able to hear them! Me, I’m tone deaf. I couldn’t hear a
thing!
The
next song was Mike’s very own ‘Vote for
me’ and I couldn’t help thinking how different it sounded with a
full band behind it but this song is always a favourite at FaB and Mike will
definitely get our vote this afternoon!
The
next song from Starcruiser was one that Gordon wrote
at a time when there was a spate of school reunions – he had seen
someone that he used to go to school with, in the street who had totally
failed to recognise him, and is called ‘The people that we once
appeared to be’ or ‘People’ for short – this I have
to say is one of my personal favourite Starcruiser tracks and I was pleased
that they let me sing along with the chorus.
The
next song was difficult for me as it was Claudine’s song that she wrote
when she heard that Gordon had died – she had sent me the lyrics which
I loved but this was the first time that I had heard the tune and it lived up
to expectations. The song was lovely and I would like to hear it again
– I hope that she plays it many times and remembers Gordon with many
happy memories.
(By
this time Gordon would have been onto page 7 or 8 of his little notebook but
I’m cheating – I’m only on page 2 of mine – I use
larger paper! )
Next
on the hit list was ‘no more heavy blues’ – a track which
as Mike explained was based on a true story and a list of double bookings and
disastrous rehearsals. It was strange to see Ray, the owner of the Farm
Studios playing the guitar in Gordon’s place.
The
song lived up to its record as Jeff dropped his words on the floor and was
trying to play and read them upside down at the same time!! The song also has
an extended ending although the record for a Starcruiser ending is 1 minute
42 seconds!!
‘Starstruck’
was next. One of Gordons quieter songs which Mike has played a number of
times at FaB – he did Gordon the honour of playing it at his funeral.
Gordon could never quite get over the fact that someone else liked his songs
and thought them good enough to play – although he was little peeved that Mike played it
better than he did!
‘Man
in the Moon’ was next which Jeff brought back from South Africa and Starcruiser had
adopted. This song showed a great use of Cymbals, no longer invisible!
‘Midnight
at the Grand’ a very cynical song about the millennium ‘ they say
the world will end at midnight’ Tony gave us a shortened version of the
song as it is one of Gordon’s longer ones with more lyrics than notes!
Again one of my favourites and I was pleased to be able to join in.
‘Midwinter
Blue’ – a song about getting old -something which Gordon will never do.
Sara sang it beautifully in a
clear sweet voice, exactly as Gordon liked - he didn’t have the voice
for it himself, preferring to stay in the background and strum.
The
last track from Starcruiser was the LOUD version of ‘Stagefright’ – one
of the first songs that Starscruiser ever played together. And todays version
was as loud as ever!
There
was a short break and some food and then we were into the 2nd
session and floor spots from people who had asked to play for Gordon.
Joe Migdal opened with a song which
he had written especially for Gordon entitled ‘Good Friend’ with
a sing along chorus about him being a singer, songwriter hero.
‘black
Guitar, eagle shining bright’ ‘when you were singing your heart
was 10 feet tall’- I couldn’t agree more, Joe.
Next
was Sara who was playing the black eagle guitar and
she sang a couple of songs which she had performed with Gordon as part of
Celtic Cross. She apologised for the strumming as she said that she
couldn’t play as well as Gordon – Practise Sara, Gordon had 20
years more of it than you – but the guitar suits you.
Liz then gave us a couple of
poems – one of Gordons which gave instructions about taking antibiotics
– as written by Dr Seuess! And one of her own which was entitled
‘1000 things to see before you die’ written in September.
Steve O’Kane was up next having got
out of a hole (bad joke – he lives in a place called 3 holes)
He
played 2 songs the first called
‘you make it easy’ and the second a more philosophical song which
he said that he wished he had had the chance to play for Gordon.
‘Everybody is a star in a one man show’
Then
came the Raffle and a big thank you to everybody who bought tickets as I know
that many of you had already contributed to a collection for Gordon. The
raffle raised £40 which I will be sending to the National Association
for Colitis and Crohns Disease.
Following
the raffle we had a set by Gordon’s other band ‘Sinewaves’ and what can I say about
the music. Mike best summed it up in his introduction as he said that he had
been told by a friend that the friend didn’t think much of improvised
music – to him it sounded like they were making it up as they went
along!! Many times I know that that is just what they did but thy did have
some pieces with a start, a middle, and an end – even if no-one could
remember how the end went! This was such a contrast to the instruments played
by ‘Starcruiser’ there were no guitars or drums but instead,
banks of computers, weird boxes and a keyboard played like a guitar.
It
was very strange to see someone else playing ‘Astra’ as I have
heard Gordon play it so many times.
Sinewaves
played a variety of tunes from Jean Michel Jarre to German folk songs –
‘Urban German’ and it is a shame that not more of it is recorded.
Using
large paper hasn’t helped – I’m on page 5 already. You know
Gordon would have passed comment on the chords, the notes, the key and
various other musical terms by now. I can only say that those of us who
aren’t musical still appreciated the effort that goes into a musical
creation.
The
last act of the afternoon was Dennis who had set our opening
poem to music – and it was wonderful. Very recognisable as a Dennis
song and I’m hoping that he will let me have a copy.
That
brought the afternoon to a close. A very emotional but extremely enjoyable
afternoon for me and Gordon would have been overwhelmed by the support from
the people there and he would have been grateful that so many considered him
a friend.
Thank
you to every one who came and those who performed. I have a few copies of
Starcruisers CD Masquerade so if anyone would like to hear the tracks at
their proper volume (ie 11) please let me know.
I make no apologies for the length of
this review as it has been the only way to show the variety of the man that
was Gordon Shears and the sheer extent of the type of music that he was into.
IN MEMORIAM, GORDON SHEARS
1958 – 2007.
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