"BIG STIK" - 9 PIECE, SOUL/R+B/FUNK REVIEW, CIRCA 1993 . . . . MY FIRST EVER EXPERIENCE IN A 'COVERS' BAND, LASTED NEARLY 6 GREAT YEARS . . . . ME ON VOX, FIONA SCOTT VOX, ANDREW DAY PIANO/KEYS, CLIVE LLOYD GUITAR/VOX, ILIANO IQUINTO BASS/VOX, PETE McFARLANE DRUMS/VOX, ROB DAY TRUMPET, AL PRINGLE TENOR SAX, MAX WILLIAMS ALTO SAX . . . . RIP MAX AND AL, LOVE AND RESPECT.

Having spent almost a decade writing and playing mostly original, post punk, rockabilly/psychobilly inspired songs to reasonable critical and huge popular acclaim but never actually making any money, it was excellent to be a] clean of some nasty personal demons b] unexpectedly playing with 'real' musos doing tunes I never thought I'd be singing and c] actually getting paid good money to do it . . . . it's all very well proclaiming the integrity, the nobility and moral highground of doggedly pursuing your own path in the alternative/underground shitfight but ultimately even the fun goes out of that when you're constantly broke, living like paupers and watching every other fucker get fat off your back, PA hire, truck hire, sound guys, lighting guys, stage guys, agents and a myriad of other leeches, creatures and B-grade features.

Then you suddenly discover you've got the nuts and the talent to be singing songs you always loved but had thought were out of your league, James Brown, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Marvin Gaye, Joe Cocker, Chicago, Earth, Wind and Fire, whatever, it was total quality through and through . . . . and all of a sudden it doesn't feel 'dirty' or like you're 'selling out', it feels fucking wonderful to be working five nights a week, playing to happy, pissed, enthusiastic audiences with great players . . . . and it feels even better when you get your slice of the pie every time you do it, from a nine piece band for fuck's sake . . . . fuck art, lets have fun and make some money !!!!