"You're wasting your life!"

This blog is about how a brief remark can change your life and why it is never too late to do something you always wanted to, however insane it may seem. It will tell the story of how I began a musical journey, starting out with no band, no material and no experience of singing to a live audience. More importantly, it will chart an emotional journey that has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life.

“You’re wasting your life!” This brief, blunt remark was the trigger that set me off on a road into the unknown at an age when I should probably have known better.

My friend, Mike, from whom such unvarnished observations are not at all unusual, had undeniable form as a rock musician having followed up a stellar business career with the release of four well-received prog rock albums. He definitely had the locus to pass judgement on my own mediocre musical exploits.

Gordon and The Gekkos play London’s Hard Rock Cafe in 1990

Interesting, though, that he should feel it right to do so…..and in such a disturbing way. A merchant banker for over thirty years, I had never spoken of, or even seriously thought about, my ambitions for writing and performing original music. So I was an odd target for such criticism. I had contented myself over the years with playing in various covers bands, admittedly with some success. Self-styled 90’s yuppy band, Gordon & The Gekkos, played in great venues such as The Hard Rock Cafe in Piccadilly and, shameless self-publicists, we blagged our way into an assortment of well paid charity balls and corporate events. We had our few minutes of fame, playing live on Jameson Tonight on Sky TV which generated national Press coverage. These dizzy heights were never repeated by my next band, The Swamp Donkeys, which played private parties in Hampshire. As time passed, I found myself increasingly bored by the logistics of organising a band to play other people’s songs at other people’s parties. Other than a few appearances with scratch bands, I had ground to a halt.

And that is why my friend was right that I was indeed wasting my life.

© 2020 The Madaxeman