6 days. 55 hours.

Saturday was an equinox. A time when the sun crosses the plane of the equator, making night and day equal length all over the Earth.

 

Maureen made it even more special by giving me her vinyl copy of ‘Free’ which she’d purchased in 1969. I was deeply touched by the gesture and will treasure the record and the love it bestows until I shuffle off. Maureen was lucky to see Free perform live, and to say that I’m jealous is simply an understatement. If there was a time machine I’d be at the front tasting their sweat. I was simply too young as they broke up in 1973 when I was just 14.

When I left the office on Saturday I felt akin to a mobile losing its charge, on the brink of exhaustion, flickering on the brink. As I floated home I pondered on what I’d write here and the song ‘Dead Man Walking’ bobbed to the surface. It’s a later Bowie piece which I’ve grown to love and despite borrowing heavily from the musical fashions of its moment, it still sounds fresh. This is one of the great man’s chief talents; his ability to borrow, re fashion and reinvent to create something timeless and magical. I also love the chaotic rainbow sunburst of the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOZrGHmMl4o

I missed seeing Free by a year or so and my first gig was Hawkwind on the 30^th January 1975. They played the De Montfort Hall Leicester and I remember being persuaded to go by my school friend Kevin Shaul who was a massive fan. I can’t remember the music but I do recall a sea of denim and a gyrating topless dancer called Stacia who enlivened the droning cacophony. At the age of 15 I’d only imagined real breasts so seeing a set swinging around the stage was a revelation. No doubt I had an erection for the entire performance as sitting on a bus had that effect in those days.

 

 

There are times when I gasp in wonder at the power of the internet and its ability to reach back in time. To my amazement a bootleg recording of the show exists and I’m listening to it as I write. Here’s a taste for those who dare.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVk0ROgUPTU

Until the next time.