MIRRORS - SKINFLICKS

This is SKINFLICKS, our band from the early eighties. It was Broon, (Alan Brain), on keyboards, Nic Burrows on drums and Lynne Ward on vocals, with me on guitar and sometimes bass. It was a bit like The Doors in that respect inasmuch that while I was on guitar Broon would cover all the bass parts on keyboards. If bass guitar was integral we just wouldn't have guitar. It was very much a close-knit family, we would rather work with what we had than bring in an 'outsider'! Between us we were listening to The Sex Pistols, Gang of Four, The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Hendrix, Shostakovich, Rush, Joy Division, Britten, Soft Machine, Debussy, Yes, Genesis and many many others.

Now, the thing about Lynne was, I met her up the Saracen's Head in Dudley when I was about nineteen I think, and we got on really well. She was a feisty girl, from Pensnett of all places. She was a bit older than I was, and up to that point she had had absolutely nothing to do with music at all, but as she became our mate I encouraged her to have a go at singing. She was just right for us, and started writing really good lyrics. I think it was a big deal to go from nothing to fronting a band in the space of a few months, specially back then before everyone and their dog thought it was their right to be famous! Well done her, I say. I have no idea where she is now but I wish her all the best.

I'm not gonna go into detail here about how my relationships with Nic and Broon came about but the point is this; they were two of the best musicians you'll ever hear. It was like having two inspirational geniuses in the band, and Nic was basically just an egg when I met him, three years or so younger than me? He was like about fifteen or something and played like an animal but with a totally musical head. So much energy, it was awesome in the real sense, and he's still raging now. Broon, well I could write a book about his greatness. Same age as me. Stunning pianist and keyboard player amongst other things. We must have met when we were about fifteen or so. I couldn't believe my luck! I still can't. He is one of my favourite people on the planet, inspirational to me, then and now.

This track was recorded at MRS in Walsall, 21st April 1982! It was engineered by the owner, John 'The Mon' Taylor. I think it was eight track. We all recorded at the same time on this, no overdubs or drop-ins, mind you it was onto tape, long before digital recording, (back when it was dangerous). The 'live' thing was kind of our ethos anyway.

The stills are from our gig at the Old Rep in Birmingham, I don't know the date of that but I bet Broon does. I'd say it was also 1982, maybe '83. Happy times.