THE USUAL SUSPECTS AND
A MESSIANIC ASCENSION
A lot of my musical life has involved drunken pub discussion's and plans written on beer mats!
Towards the end of Twisteye, I'd bumped into a couple of the original "Bangkok's". They were noodling around with some other geezers but fancied a return to the roar of the greasepaint so to speak. I echoed there interest but didn't hear anything.
A while later, spurred by the memories of The Bangkok's former glory. I began floating the idea of rolling out a hobby cover's band with Rik (Gen 1 usual suspect). He seemed to leap on the idea and rounded up the troops. The core of the Tut band, and the original usual suspects rode again! Wilf took the throne on Drums, I spanked the guitar and added some backing Vocals. Mark and Rik did some weird cross pollinating lead Vocal alternating Bassist shenanigans! New blood in the form of H provided a fearsome guitar talent, we named ourselves Touch Of Evil and away we went.
Doubling up!
ToE were of the mark and playing show's. We played the rock and metal tunes that people forgot they loved. There were some issues but we had known each other so long it was like having a spat with a family member.
Out of nowhere, up popped Matt and Gizz (the original Bangkok's). They were in a position to move on up with a new project. Numbers were exchanged and within a few weeks a practice set was drawn up and a bass player sourced. We went into Mark Chantlers practice rooms and emerged a few hours later with a gig ready set! The fastest turnaround I'd had since Uni days. We all agreed on the concept, and that "The Bangkok Ladyboyz" was not a name to move forward with. And it may attract the wrong audience! We monkeyed around with a few variations then settled on a winner. We created our individual character's. Matt became Maverick "ACE" Dundee, Top gun Guitar Hero. Chris was "The Druid" the eerie bassist. "Dr Speck" the illogical vulcan formerly known as Gizz! beat the drums. And The Baron took the microphone. The Bangkok Messiahs Of Groove came screaming into the world.
It was always my aim to maintain my place in both bands. They were different entities, with different audiences. I focused on playing guitar in ToE and Singing in BMoG. In the early days both bands were equally successful, but some eyes were green when they gazed upon the Messiahs. I suspect a few subtle spanners were thrown before Rik went all school shooter with his love gun and vanished in a puff of incense. Effectively gutting ToE like a messy ripper victim. Wilf, Mark and H rapidly regrouped as Metalphetamine. I shrugged my shoulders and let The Baron do his thing!
Setlist, song choices and costumes evolved organically. We could play pretty much any mainstream venue with a song list that went into triple digits. We created medley's of fan favourites that had crowds up and dancing all night. Ace And Gizz (Dr Spec) created comedy intro's that set the scene and whipped up the audience. We became the go to band for Halloween and special events, being booked years in advance. we were also a lot of venues first choice if they had a band cancel on them.
We picked up a last minute show at a big Sheffield Live Music Venue. After we had set up and sound checked I usually hovered around as the first footers came in. Just before I disappeared to metamorph  into The Baron, I nipped to the bar to stock up on water. As I waited my turn, a group of Uni student girl came up to the bar. I overheard their plan for the evening-
"We will have a few here, then go up to [Yadda Yadda] then finish off at [Such and such club]"
"Cool, we'll see what the bands like first"
"Yeah, who's playing"
SCREAMS "It's THE MESSIAHS!"
"We're staying here! they are fucking amazing!"
They got their drinks and headed over to the stage area, one of them saying she was going to phone some of her other friend's to let them know. They didn't see me or even recognise me. It remains one of the biggest compliments I've ever heard. And they did stay for the entire 3 sets, at the front, singing and dancing like mad Badgers!
The Messiahs were synergetic. we manged to pull of arrangements that a 4 piece band shouldn't be able to do.
Underneath the costumes, banter and general silliness was a core of frankly Fucking amazing musicians. Ace could tackle any guitar line you threw at him. The Druid was subtle, understated and essential. Gizz, well he was just a musical wizard. I sang and played my guitar a bit. We were all multi-instrumentalists, so sometimes maybe The Baron's instrument would change as well as the face paint design.
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We had done well back in the days of The Bangkok Ladyboyz, but the Messiahs were simply a powerhouse. Corporate events, weddings, Birthday Parties we even snagged gigs at Bramall Lane and Tramlines.
A few pretenders crawled out of the woodwork. Thinking that the only thing that made us successful was our colourful appearance. They quickly disappeared. One evening while out on the town for a beverage or two, my then lady and I ventured into a drinking hole of rock and roll. One of these Glam-wannabes were on stage in outfits that wiffed of the fancy dress box and the charisma of a dead moose. A dear friend was in fits of laughter saying it was like watching a bad tribute band to the Messiahs. While the Bar Manager genuinely wanted me to round up the boys and take the stage by force because "....these clowns are fucking wank!"
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MEANWHILE........
Metalphetamine were carving a decent path on the local scene. I'd been to a few shows and been drawn up by Wilf to sing along on a few tunes, as I had done to him at some of ours. Then one of their guitarist's bailed and they needed another fast. They asked, I accepted.
Short But sweet.....
Newly minted into the metalic bretheren of Metalphetamine. We covered off the gig's that were outstanding and went out in a blaze of glory. 3 out of the 5 member of the band were part of the fledging Hellbent for ever - Judas Priest Tribute Band. This was to be their passion and focus. Deservedly, they went one to be voted the Best Priest Tribute Band in the world.
TROUBLE IN PARADISE....
Or, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory!
In the Messiahs, we had duties. Ace and Gizz played their main instruments, produced the legendary intro's and Ace usually ferried me and my kit around. The Druid played Bass, A voice of reason and a lot of other instruments when needed. I sang, played a bit of guitar. I managed our social media, created ads, posters. manufactured them and distributed them. Sourced promotional items like T Shirts and stuff. Managed bookings, sourced and approached new venue's. Booked rehearsal's and locations. And generally fielded any and all queries as the "Face" of the band. I did this for the entire life of the band, while being a Full time parent to 2 children born while I was in the band and to my step children. I worked full time on varying shift patterns. I did this because I loved what we did and knew we could go further. I have to admit, I can be a mardy sod at times and little needles can become big wounds. Sometimes we were in the same book but different pages. Sometimes people thought I didn't sacrifice enough or expected too much. Any way you look at it, something broke. After another last minute rehearsal cancelation and ensuing barbed comments, I left a Fb status saying I had left the building (I'd been at a local gig with some friends). The following morning I received a phone call from one of our regular venues asking why I had left the band. It was news to me, and a sorry end to a once great band. Possible that I could've handled it better, but what is done is done. The remaining messiahs became a Militia and eventually when the way of the DoDo. Looking back, I still feel the sting of betrayal, pangs of remorse and a great great sadness. We (they) had so much talent and potential. The Bangkok Messiahs Of Groove the greatest rock band that never were :(
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If you're wondering why there are only pictures of The Baron, It's because I was told not to use pics of the other when the split occurred.
STILL IN THE GAME...
I had always been writing and working on original material. Ever since I could string a set chords together. I'd tried to push my material to band I'd played with but it was only in Twisteye than it was welcomed. After BMoG died, I carried on and pushed stuff out on Reverbnation and Soundcloud. I dropped onto a few live gigs, Including opening for The Urban Voodoo Machine. Briefly fronted a Iron Maiden Tribute band.
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In our darkest hour.....
My tunes did okay on the little sites I posted them on. The Baron's reputation lived on. A local band named Shooter's Hill recruited me as a vocalist and I had the chance to revisit some of the stages The Baron had dominated just a few year before. Shooters dissolved and the name returned to the original vocalist. Three of us formed RoadTrain, with me pulling double duty as Bass and Vocals until we gained a real bassist. I returned to my natural habitat as Guitar and Vox. We were progressing until.....
My world fell apart. My heart and soul was torn to shreds and I battled.Â
Suddenly IÂ was a single dad and deep in the shit. Survival instinct kicked in and everything went out of the window apart from protecting my kids and staying sane and alive. I gave up music and had to sell almost all of my kit. Dark times, saved by two amazing little boys and a cat.
