I've just uploaded 'Give Me The Needle', which I recorded recently before going to stay at the home of the person the song is about. She wasn't there but her husband took a CD copy for her, for her birthday.

The lady in question is Anne (pronounced 'Anna') Tanner. She is an accupuncturist, whom I knew through the kindergarten parents network whilst living in Germany. She treated me when I was recovering from a broken elbow, sustained in a paragliding accident. Basically, I came in to land too fast, with a following wind, fell forwards onto my elbow and presumably hit a rock in the grass. Nothing too dramatic.

Unfortunately, the doctor who saw me at the hospital put on a 'temporay' splint, which was left there without examination for several weeks. Each time I went for my weekly appraisal, I asked if they would take it off but they just looked at the x-ray and said everything was healing nicely. When they finally removed the splint, I couldn't straighten my elbow at all, which is pretty inconvenient for a drummer/percussionist/guitarist/flautist/electro-composer.

As well as Anne, I received treatment from an excellent sports-physio, Hansi Haas, who was recommended to me by various people. My first words to him were 'I'm a professional musician and this needs to be fixed'. His reply was 'don't worry, I'm a musician too; I understand'. Whilst he didn't promise that the elbow would heal completely, he was fantastic at keeping my spirits up and took great delight in putting me through all kinds of agony in the course of teasing the elbow back into shape.

Hansi had previously been one of the two lead singers for the Bavarian Blues Bandits; a highly successful Blues Brothers tribute act and continues to perform with a smaller acoustic-based act on a semi-pro basis. He is well connected in the music scene around that part of Bavaria (just near to the Austrian border, by Salzburg) and helped me to make some very useful connections as well. It strikes me I should be writing something for Hansi as well.

Coming back to Anne; I'm not sure how much her accupuncture contributed to the healing process but since I made a full recover, it can't have done any harm. And, as the song says, she did treat my elbow by finding the most painful places to stick pins in my ear. So if you're ever in South-Eastern Germany and are in need of some pain-relief, I can recommend her to you.

One last thing to mention: I was prompted to put this song up partly in preparation for my participation in a Comedy Scratch night at the Arc Theatre in Trowbridge on October 31st. If you're in the area and have an open mind for such things, come along and have a laugh.

Meanwhile, enjoy the song and write me a comment.

Love,

Brian x

Another year, another Glastonbury and still I celebrate the fact that I chose to be born on the last weekend of June. What better way to celebrate your birthday than with friends old, new and not-yet-discovered? Playing music, drinking, dancing, occasionally eating and very occasionally sleeping. Lovely.

It's undeniably less edgy than previously but I'm undeniably less young than I was and can't find the energy or indeed will to take exception. And I'm not too upset at not having my tent raided or being hassled by persons of a certain NW English orientation. (You see; not so bloody liberal now, am I?). It's also not so very upsetting to be able to get from A to B without falling over people and to be able to get within shouting distance of some exceptional performances, even on the 'main' stages.

Highlights? Well, the flock of human sheep had me laughing out loud; the aerial silliness, suspended from a f*ck-off great crane, was quite jaw-dropping; there was an inspired tennis match between John McEnroe and Pat Cash (really!); Jeremy Hardy was on good form and there were some fantastic fireworks. 'Eddy Egal's flame-throwing spectacular was plane silly and also had me laughing a lot and that bloke who's always comparing on the outdoor circus stage was great value as ever.

Music? Oh yeah, there was some of that too. Let me think: there was a band playing in the new 'Fluffy Rock Cafe' that had a drummer who looked young enough to sew Nike trainers but was possibly the best at the whole festival; those Aussies in the cabarte field doing ambient stuff with loops, synths (balanced on a child buggy), didge and sax were also impressive and a very, very young girl duo (twins?) playing folk/acoustic songs on the outdoor circus stage were heart-warmingly self-assured and talented...

Main acts? Yes, I did catch a few (but then again, too few to mention). Sadly, I only seemed to see all the old has-beens but many turned out to be still-are's after all. The impromptu Levellers gig at Left Field was, in spite of a woefully inadequate sound system, a fantastic leap-around-in-the-mud (yes there was some for a short while) sing-along. Hazel O'Connor played the Avalon stage with a quite minimal folk-ish line-up but managed to imbue her performance with all the post-punk energy of her original incarnation.

Glen Hansard and that lovely girl whose name I shamefully can't remember from the film 'Once' played one of the sets of the festival to an alarmingly small crowd at the acoustic stage, all of whom will be able to say 'I was there at the start' when they become rightly enormous (er, the band and the crowd...). The line-up was very much folk but the sound went from a whisper to full-blown zepellin-esque rock and with a corresponding mix of tenderness and balls that was absolutely breath-taking.

Neil Diamond: went, saw, didn't feel the need to stay.

Joan Armatrading was great but in a very polished and, ultimately, if not exactly bland then not exactly hard-on inducing way.

But the surprise winner of this year's 'most-awe-inspiring-performance-since-Johnny-Cash' award is....

... Leonard Cohen! Wow! Think Leonard Cohen; think dark, miserable, cold, dreary... Wrong. All wrong. He was warm, charming, charismatic, funny, statesman-like, majestic, humble, sincere... pretty much a god really. One of the all time great performances. When he sang 'Marianne' I cried. When he sang 'Halelujah' (as did we all), with the sun setting and the flags waving, it really did feel like we had all been temporarily transported into a divine place, if Glastonbury isn't that already. The man was awesome. And clearly enjoying himself. And, much like Johnny before him, seemingly bemused by the warmth, love and respect afforded him by the Glastonbury crowd. Words really don't do him justice...

Were you there too? Was it just me or was that a life-enhancing experience? I'd love to hear from others similarly moved or otherwise...

Love,

Brian x

What's going on? I travelled down to Brighton last Thursday to play a support slot for the fantastic Phoenix Williams' album launch at the Sanctuary Cafe in Brighton/Hove. As it was only a half-hour slot and unpaid, I did this one solo: my reasoning being that it would be worth it for a bit of exposure/PR in a new territory.

However, this tiny venue remained virtually empty and the evening didn't even cover my train fare. I'm not so worried about the money: I've always balanced the well-paid with the speculative and I enjoyed the trip. However, what a waste of a great line-up, particularly Phoenix Williams who is seriously talented and did a great set.

I noticed that several pubs and bars in the area also had live music that evening and weren't charging an entrance fee. Whilst it's great that live music is apparently enjoying such a purple patch, I wonder how many musicians beyond the already established and bland cover-bands are actually getting properly remunerated. If we all stood firm and insisted on MU wages, then promoters would have to make sure they attract an audience and pubs and bars share the benefits of musicians' talents.

Meanwhile, I'm selling my music and my soul to the world of advertising: so how hypocritical am I? Answers on a postcard please.

I don't know about the rest of you but I thought Glastonbury was amazing this year. OK, it's always amazing, but this year I felt as though everyone was on the same frequency and basically out to enjoy the party. Last time I was there (2004), I had the feeling that a lot of people were just 'window shopping' and not actively participating, whereas this time the good vibes were palpable - and not only in the Green Fields.

The other thing that struck me was that there was virtually no litter anywhere. I couldn't believe it and hope that someone somewhere in the media has noticed and commented. The only time I saw anything like a mess was in front of the Pyramid stage after the last act on Sunday, which is fairly inevitable. Maybe elsewhere under the mud was a veritable sea of detritus but I don't think so, judging by the lack of any evidence on the surface.

So well done everyone for getting stuck in and sharing your love: for me, at least, a little faith has been restored in our ailing humanity.

Love and peace,

Brian

Fergus Read was one of the most extraordinary musicians and influential people I ever met. The song on this space 'Don't Be Fooled' is about and for him. I've posted it today to mark the anniversary of his death one year ago. It seems like the right thing to do and hope it will be appreciated by those who knew and loved this great man.

Some people mistook Fergus' loud boysterousness as being crass and egocentric but this was certainly not the case. He was a sensitive man, with a huge heart and a deep passion for music of all kinds. His enthusiasm for my work was instrumental in keeping me going in my career as a musician and composer and I will always be in his debt (not that Fergus would have thought in those terms).

Fergus was no saint, nor did he want to be but he was honest and giving. Most of all, though, he was someone who appreciated the good things in life: fine wines, good food, good company and, of course, good music. He'd probably have hated the song but would doubtless have recongised and appreciated its sincere intent. I'll be raising a glass to Fergus today, as I'm sure, will a good many others who come under his influence.

Cheers Fergus.

This one is still in its infancy but pretty much finished, I think. I was talking last night to my friend and fellow songwriter, the inspirational Crazy Jane (www.myspace.com/crazyjane666  ) about cynicism. Someone wrote in a review that my songs are cynical but I don't see them that way. It's more that I see the humour and absurdity in situations. That doens't stop me being passionate about my beliefs and trying to make a positive contribution. I think of cynicism as more negative and sincerely hope that I'm no cynic. With that in mind...

UNTITLED

I'm a hippy in plain clothing
The cap just doesn't fit
If my ideals and my wardrobe clash
It doesn't bother me one bit
I've explored my inner psyche
Had the whole New Age hit
And I have learnt that what you see
Is rarely what you get

I'm a pasifist in combats
A peace-worker in fatigues
Like a size-sixteen supermodel
With sartorial special needs
Like an activist in ermin
A hunt-sabbateur in tweeds
No matter how I dress it up
Cut my skin and it still bleeds

You can always tell an anarchist
Cos they all dress the same
The irony is lost on them
It really is a shame
Let's here it for autonomy
All together now
"We're all individuals"
I don't think so somehow

I'm a hippy in plain clothing
An undercover Green
I bang on about An Inconvenient Truth,
Which I've never seen
Take a flight because it's cheaper
Than it's ever been
But hey don't look at me that way
I know you know what I mean

You can tell an Individualist
Cos they all dress in black
Hanging round art centres
In a lean and hungry pack
They look down on the masses
From the bottom of the stack
And identify with no-one
But the designer on their back

I'm a day-time merchant banker
If you'll excuse the rhyming slang
At night time I rip off my suit
And do the clubbing thang
I invest in global arms trade
I get more bucks for each bang
Then at weekends I shout 'Stop The War!'
In a pro-peace angry gang

You can tell a non-conformist
By the colour in his hair
The counter-culture uniform of
Non-conformists everywhere
With a regulation mungrel
Tied with rope onto his chair
Trying just a bit to hard
To look like he don't care

I'm a hippy in plain clothing
The cap just doesn't fit... etc.

copyright Brian Madigan 2007

Please feel free to post comments. I hope to have this and other tracks recorded soon and am working towards a second album.

Love and sincerity,

Brian

That Suggs and his mates have just re-hashed some of their old hits: " My Girl's Mad At Me" has become "My Partner Is Understandably Agrieved and We Are Seeking a Mutually Agreeable Solution" and "I Like Driving in My Car" is now "I Used to Enjoy Travelling by Automobile but In The Light of Recent Findings I'm Seeking a More Sustainable Mode of Transportation"...

This is Madness gone politically correct isn't it?!