Keep Going On (keeping with the theme).

I am having a bit of a retro phase recently. I have been tracking down a lot of songs I used to like but haven’t heard for years. By and large, I am quite impressed by my tastes of old. I think I had to make a few mistakes along the way, but that’s the best way to learn, as I tell my students.

My wife bought tickets for us to go and see A-Ha. Not cool, you may think. Maybe not. But the evening was, and I was treated to a great nostalgia night. I don’t like the well known A-Ha songs really. I am more of a fan of their lesson known and infinitely better (albeit less poppy) music from their less successful days. I’d have to add that there were some quality tunes in the set from (presumably) more recent albums about which we know nothing.

I briefly found myself feeling sorry for them, thinking they had been a victim of being too attractive and that they maybe deserved to have been more successful and recognised as more credible artists. Then I took in my surroundings – a jam-packed Bournemouth International Centre singing the roof off to songs many of us had on cassette and vinyl 25 years ago. And then I remembered how “doing the Bond theme tune” used to be the pinnacle of “massive”.

My attitude to music and musicians has changed so much recently. As the band spoke between songs, I really did get a feel of sadness coming across, as if they knew this really was the last time they were going to do this. I could be wrong, of course. They might do another critically acclaimed album and tour in six years time.

I have mocked bands like The Rolling Stones for years. In fact, I once wrote a song called “Has-Been” about musos who still played the same circuits we did in their forties. I am thirty-nine now.

I guess the only difference between the kinds of people I was mocking in that song and myself is that I am absolutely under no delusion that I might become famous now. In fact, I can honestly say it isn’t even my intention anymore. But the thing that really hit me last night – and it’s really shaken me actually – is the notion of what it must feel like to know you are about to play your self-penned songs to an audience for the last ever time. The damned things only take three and a half minutes each as it is! I don’t think I’d ever want to stop.

We’ve just finished our 6th album and it’s “due for release” in early 2011 and, of course, I know my feelings will change, but right now I feel it is our most accomplished album ever. We have been going for 18 years. I was impressed with A-Ha’s 27 years, but it dawned on me that our 7th album (which, make no mistake, has now started formulating in my head – I am sooooo happy to be able to move on!) will punctuate our 20th, if not 21st year as [a] Naked Season.

Gigs, rehearsals or just jam sessions...I know we don’t do any of these thing that often these days. We don’t want to do it that often. We should do it more often that we do, but we all have other commitments. But, right now, I think I’d be pretty devastated if we ever had one of those “this will be our last gig” discussions. John and Ed are two of my best friends and...well...when we get together we can be pretty awesome – whether it’s behind our instruments or at a table with three plates of curry on it. I was asked the other day if there was any other band I wish I had been in and I realised there is only one band for me and I’m in it already.

Here’s to still playing and singing and writing some class tunes when I’m fifty. And then we’ll see about sixty.