As a boy of 12 years I took up what has turned out to be a lifelong pastime. That is playing the guitar in a fairly rudimentary fashion and setting words to the pleasing chord progressions I can muster.
It is a truism that I often say to young people... “if you have a musical instrument then you will always have a friend.” What I mean by this is, unlike say my pipe, which is a valued companion whenever I hit the road or anywhere else for that matter, the musician will always find other kindred spirits and concomitantly other musicians will seek to check one out. Bert Weedon’s ‘Play in a Day’ has stood me in better stead than any of the idiotic teachers I had talk down to me at school.
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| Bert Weedon - Play in a Day |
Whilst thinking of friends made through music there are many and varied characters. One of the most interesting I have ever sauntered across is the almost legendary ‘Mike from They Go Boom!!’. To hear 'Someday Soon' by They Go Boom!! see here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFL7yNYCzms
They Go Boom!! was formed in Margate by Mike Innes and his friend Daryl Smith sometime in the late 1980’s. They specialised in making fantastic pop music in Daryl’s spare room using electronic instruments bought from Woolworths. Mike also had a legendary fanzine which was produced on a semi-regular basis – it went by the name of ‘PHEW! WOW!’ – named after an old song by the Farmers Boys.
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| Mike and Daryl - They Go Boom!! |
There are many tales of jolly japes I could regale my loyal readership with, but many of the stories are fart ‘oo embarrassing. We didn't always see eye to eye, which is one of my reasons for enjoying Mike's company. Once he refused to speak to me for nearly six months because I disliked a song by the awful twee band BRIGHTER which he adored. Then there was a major row over whether Ann-Mari from the Field Mice had a big bum (or not). Another time he fell off a coach with me and my brother after a serious discussion about the merits of Belgium, which we had just visited. Thus, the Davies brothers were required, sans Parka and penniless, to spend the night huddled in Margate shop doorways and on the beach. I will, however, elaborate further on the world of They Go Boom!! and all their pals in due course.
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