Peep show's Jeremy
I've just turned 24. I've been involved in a number of bands as well as doing a few projects on my own - have put out a few records, have played lots of shows and have had a really good time playing music. I'm not that talented, but I'm pretty sure I'm not a misguided dickhead. The fact remains though, that I'm not signed, I'm not making any money, and at this precise moment in time I'm not playing with anyone else, I'm not performing anywhere, I'm not making anything happen. Which would imply, assuming that things are as black and white as Jeremy thinks, that I'm perhaps a bit closer to the 99% than I am to the 1. Maybe clinging on to a bit of hope is in fact the most tragic thing of all - anyone could learn a few covers, play shows in pubs, earn a bit of cash, accept the fact that they're not reinventing the wheel and get along just fine. But I still think that sometime or another, I'm gonna do something a bit special. The purpose of this blog is to document my potential rise and fall. It's to share the trials and tribulations that every amateur musician endures along their way. It's to help keep me focussed on writing stuff, putting out records, playing shows and pushing for bigger things. The kettle's on, the bourbon creams are out, and I'm ready to begin.
Joe Lean
OK, so a couple of nights ago I was in a club with a couple of my friends, and I saw Joe Lean - who fronts his own band with backing from his group, The Jing Jang Jong (coincidentally, Joe also played the character of Jamie in 2 episodes of Peep show). I went over and nervously said hello, and he actually turned out to be quite warm - we ended up hanging out for a little while - we had a few drinks and a chat - his friend bought us all some shots. He mentioned he's looking to recruit new members for The Jing Jang Jong and I instantly told him I was his man. He stressed quite a bit that I'd have to be really good, which I assured him I was, and I then insisted that we swap numbers and I said I'd be in touch about playing some guitar with him. He typed his number into my phone then disappeared into the night and I found my friends again.
I woke up the next day and didn't really feel the same way. I do really like Joe, but I don't really want to play that style of music - plus (I assume) he'd want/ need me to drop out of uni in order to commit to the band (which I wouldn't be prepared to do) and also, I completely lied about how good I am at guitar (I'm pretty mediocre at best). A couple more days went by then I text him just saying that I shouldn't play for his band but that it was nice to have met him. He never text me back. In all fairness, there's a decent chance he gave me a fake number - I was essentially just a drunken fanboy in a club who kissed his arse for a little while and lied about his musical credentials. If he did give me a fake number, you couldn't really knock him.
Alex James
In the same week as this I read Alex James' autobiography. I really, really, really like it - he's from one of the most influential bands to me, and his writing style is precisely how I would imagine that he speaks. I imagine we're probably quite similar blokes to be honest - although I'm considerably less rock n roll. Anyway, reading his rags to riches tales was positively uplifting - inspirational - maybe everything isn't fucked after all, eh? I certainly believe that when I do do whatever the amazing thing that I'm going to do is, it's going to be more like this than anything else - riding the crest of a wave, working hard, accumulating stories to tell - smashing up stages - getting drunk. I know my strengths are performance, and putting every bit of passion that I can into every show.
I'm not very musically gifted, and I'm not very good at all at keeping time. I could never make it in The Jing Jang Jong, but I might have done alright in Blur.
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