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Bloody Well Write
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MUSIC FUTURE MEETS THE PAST
Back in 1984, I saw my first gig at the age of 17. It was Barclay James Harvest and they were given a hard time by some of the older people in the crowd who only wanted to hear the early stuff. I enjoyed it, but was left a bit disappointed by the audience reaction. Move on 39 years and I feel like I have finally come full circle.
John Lees’BJH played at the RCNM [in Manchester] on May 21 and they were simply outstanding. It will probably be the last time I’ll see them perform, and Lees’playing has lost none of its magic to me. It was never fashionable to like BJH, but as I have got older I have found that I appreciate them even more and the legacy they will leave. Indeed, John referred to the venue and students who use it as“music future”and himself as “music past”. Not entirely right, but I got his point. To me he came across as a very humble, sometimes selfdeprecating man, and a man of few words. But it was so good to hear him talk about some of the songs and how they came into being. Child Of The Universe was a highlight, and poignant with the simple change in the lyrics. And Hymn was an emotional climax for all in the theatre. I had a tear in my eye. If this is the end for John Lees’BJH I’m okay with that, and I wish John Lees a long and healthy retirement. He deserves it and his contribution to the music industry will be fondly remembered!