Current page: Notice Board
Current page: Notice Board
Hi Folks and here comes a respite from obscurity!!!
In 2010 Nick Hall and I played the Eastern Cape, and Cape Town in South Africa. The last concert on that tour was at the Vulture Club in Bloemfontein. What made it so memorable was Cathy, now Mrs. Simpson, joining me on the end of the tour, and Lucas Marree, a superb South African guitarist/singer, who had recorded some of my songs and so very well, joining us on stage. He was such a wonderful man. It was MY privilege to dine with him and his family the night before. The cancer was burning him away, but he said to Hein, 'I would crawl all the way to be on stage with Magna Carta. That put me into a strange place, but...' Lucas, only knew a short while; only shared a stage with you but moments... but as a man, and as now. I love you.
Folks. These are the milestones,we mark across the highways of the troubadour across the world... as I said in 'For the Gypsy': 'friends you've never known, may never know again'. But, oh, Lucas, wish I'd had more time to know you better..and thank you for what you did to/and for my songs .So. There is a DVD, for the world, I guess, and for South Africa. It is simple; no frills or fancies, shot on a handycam in the Kalk Bay Theatre, by our beloved mentor and friend, Uckers. A true diamond... The theatre was haunted, and we got the blunt end of that, but, such is life. Or death. It is stark and a one shot but very honest. If you love MC. Buy it. If you don't... buy it anyway. The DVD is called - wait for it... FROM NOWHERE TO OBSCURITY... It is an unofficial bootleg on Harvey Records.
I have re-mastered 'No truth in the Rumour' and we are working on the sleeve now to have it ready for SA. It is very, very, good, not least for the sadly late Lee Abbott's bass playing, but for Doug Morter showing a clean pair of heels to Knopfler. It contains classic tracks.
NEXT. Old buddy, Roland Nilles got in touch. Could Magna Carta support Ian Anderson ( Jethro Tull ) in Luxembourg on July 19th. Sure. But we did hear a tad late in the day, and multi-instrumental wizard, Laurens is in Sweden at that time. So call up George, and true to form he is up for it but we need that extra genius.
Below: Chris Simpson and George Norris
So I am invited to some rehearsals with John Shephard's band near the bridge at Knaresborough town, and they're playing stunning lines, with Wendy on violin, but not like I'd ever heard it before. Simply brilliant. So, I asked, 'would you join us for that gig?' Yes. So in she comes to the long line of virtuoso players in MC. So we add Wendy to George and I. [Wendy's bio is below]
Then Roland comes in again. Can we support Richie Blackmore the day after? Sure. So, musically, there it is folks. July 19th/20th in Luxembourg. Meanwhile, I have been asked to finish my book 'Seasons in the Dale'. I am on with that and find I now have slot on John Foster's chat show on Tyne -Tees TV talking about it. It is at 2.15 on July 25th.
I AM SUPPOSED TO HAVE RETIRED!
Chris Simpson, June 25th, 2012
Notice Board for 2012
|