My final song in the Five Day Music Challenge is one that means a lot to me for a variety of reasons. In the early 80s, I moved to Blackpool. I met a chap by the name of Mike Schofield who, in spite of passing away in 1995, has remained one of the biggest influences on so many aspects of my life. Mike was from Sheffield and had done the artwork for Saxon (Official)s first album cover. He introduced me to so much music that I hadnt come across, such as Piblokto, Savoy Brown, Colosseum, Little Feat, to name but a few. I didnt realise it then, but he would change my life. Mikes passion for music was infectious and he had a small record shop in Blackpool called Fillmore, where I worked, on and off, for a few years. My life, back then, was Nick Hornbys book Hi Fidelity. In the late 80s, Mike started a small blues club, The Kite Club, putting on blues [rock] bands. Through this, I got to see and meet some incredible performers. Amongst them, AlbertLeeand HogansHeroes, Bob Brozman, Man, Robert Lucas, Frank Diez and Colin Hodgkinson, Paul Lamb and the Kingsnakes, Norman Beaker, Jack Bruce, and many, many more. One day, Mike told me he had found this unbelievable blues guitarist and was bringing him and his band over for a gig, in Blackpool. At that point, I had never heard of Walter Trout. On that trip Walter appeared on Bob Harriss radio show and the rest is history. I was privileged to meet and hang out with Walter and the band on several occasions and this track, Life in The Jungle, is the song that I associate with those days. Mike left me a few items to remember him by, one of which is the signed photo of him with The Walter Trout Band on Blackpool prom. I still think of Mike almost every day and I cant help but think how much like him I have become. So, this one, featuring that original line up, is for Mike. The Kite flies on!
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 12:33:22 +0000
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