A MASSSSSSSIVE THANX

I just wanted to say a massive personal thanks to all of you who attended the Forward 4 Wiz gig at the westy on Saturday (28.4).  I hope you enjoyed the evening, the atmosphere seemed one of true celebration and community, so thank you.

Thanks also go to all of you who worked behind the scenes helping me out with the organisation and fiddley bits I couldn't get my head round (especially the DVD-thanks Will!).  And to whoever it was who bought me that first pint to stop me flapping like a beached jellyfish.

And a wholehearted, total, honest thanks goes to all the bands that played.  The Pluto - you boys rocked and made a massive impression on the crowd that had largely not experienced your sound before.  The set up was a stroke of genius.

This Town Needs Guns.  You guys were great, even my Dad was seen to tap his foot...

Guns or Knives...Stef man, you are the man.  Great set as ever and I can't wait to hear the new stuff with the new band mate.

Death Defying Life.  You're my northern boys, you're punk as hell and I love you.  Looking at those around me during your set, think alot of others did too.  Come down any time, door, sofas and bar is always open...

and my boys.  Loz, Roof, Dan and G.  The twin towers stayed up!  I told you everything would be spot on and it was.  A giant pair of converse to fill and you did it in style.  I'm proud and I know Wiz would be proud...and slightly amused.  thank you...I know it meant as much to you as it did to me.  Big, big hugs.

Now lets look forward without forgetting to have the occasional glance back and a smile.  You raised £771 to split between Phyllis Tuckwell and the International Fund for Animal Welfare, and stuffed the Farnborough Town FC bucket with over £60!  Many thanks and well done.

Massive, massive love to you all.

kxxxxx

FORWARD 4 WIZ

WEST END CENTRE, ALDERSHOT  SAT 28 APRIL 07

"And though we want you to move on, get up, get out, get over.  We have to hope that if you do, you don't just leave us all behind." – Wiz

Saturday 28 April marks a very special evening at Aldershot's West End Centre in dedication to the memory of the incredible talent of Darren 'Wiz' Brown, frontman of Ipanema, Mega City Four and friend of the Westy, who died suddenly on 6^th December at the age of 44.

 
This unique tribute brings together the bands that Wiz loved most recently, the music that inspired him to write and the spirit of constantly moving forwards that encompassed Wiz's whole attitude to life.

 
Death Defying Life, hailing from York, and tour mates of Ipanema, will awash the West End Centre with their intense but melodic flat-out punk rock.  Having just returned from a European tour promoting their new record, this will be the prime time to see these guys before they hit the 'big time'.

 
And we just had to book This Town Needs Guns after Wiz 'indefinitely borrowed' their demo from the Westy ranks.  Sounding something like one 3-armed guitarist, aided by four 2-armed people, these guys will delight in a similar way to local heroes Meet Me In St. Louis.

 
Guns or Knives will bring interludes of Stef's uniquely chaotic and melodramatic soundsmithing.  Industrial earplugs may be needed.

 
And local boys The Pluto will deliver whisper-to-scream musical vandalism in a treat of a set up style, which we will keep under our rock hats until the night.

 
Rounding off proceedings will be some very special guests.  Can you guess who?  Can you?  New and hardcore fans of Wiz's work alike will be in raptures of excitement, we promise!

 
This evening, about no image or ego, just belief, passion and flair for musical creativity is organised in benefit of Phyllis Tuckwell and the International Fund for Animal Welfare, with a bucket collection for Farnborough Town FC Supporters Trust, causes very close to Wiz's heart.

 
Tickets are just £5 from the West End Centre box office on 01252 330040, but as capacity is strictly limited, early booking is definitely recommended!  Tickets will be on sale from 10am on Monday April 2^nd.

 
"We lose friends along the way, though we scream for them to stay.  With fragile eyes and black ties, we march on." – Tom Lillywhite.

 
More information can be found via www.westendcentre.co.uk

also see www.megacityfour.co.uk and myspace.com/wiztribute

Further press info: Barney Jeavons: 01252 408040

I just personally wanted to say a massive thanks to all of you who came along to Four 4 Wiz at the Academy to celebrate such a great life and talent that touched us all.  We raised 11k for charity together and countless among us have signed up to the organ donation register through Wiz's influence.  Many, many thanks to all of you on such a bittersweet occasion.

Keep the faith.

Much love Kx (Wiz's partner in trouble making)

I've been trying to think what to say here for a while now.  Wiz was the man with the words.  And there are no words to fill the gap his loss has left.  Wiz had a way with the lyrics he wrote that communicated experiences and emotions we all identify with.  As much as he would seemingly dislike it, he had a true talent to speak for us all...:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

It was this talent that inspires so many of us, and with the amount of messages of condolence on these sites, in the press, written and spoken to me in recent weeks, it's incredible.  But all so believable.

I first met Wiz through his lyrics.  Ten years ago I wrote to him asking if it was ok to use his words in a painting.  He replied, gob-smacked that something he wrote could transcend art forms.  A decade later he was still nosing round my place, studying my paintings and his words I'd used, still gob-smacked and knowing better than to ask detailed questions.

Wiz's beauty didn't stop at his ability to communicate.  His thoughtfulness, humanity, compassion and self-education are things we should all aspire to.  He never judged, generalised, and continuously strived to never let those he loved down.  He never did.

I hate it when people sing another's praises just because they're gone.  Through guilt or grief, not knowing what they had till it went.  I'm thankful I told him all I thought and felt, albeit to his slightly pink, bowed face.  We said the hardest things.  And in recent months, since he discovered the advent of technology and Myspace, so did many others.  He was happy, truly happy and inspired.  Especially so because he was surrounded by a band of equally dedicated and aspirational individuals.  Thank you Lorenzo and Rauf.

But Wiz was much more to me than the baggy-arsed musician we all knew.  He was the guy who brought me a cuppa each morning, shared political rants with (him ranting, me listening, normally), played pool with, acted like kids with, created with, watched crap films with, went to footy with, drank with, played with, enjoyed life with.  The memories we share are happy, mostly comical, and they're what I hang onto.  He changed my life for the better, just by being the person he was and I feel so lucky to have shared in his life these past years.  So thank you Wiz, thank you for enabling me to live.  And love.

I like to think now he's just in the next room.  Goldtop plugged in.  Tape recorder on.  Lyric book open.  Fag and ginger biscuit in hand.  Still moving forward, still striving to change the world, kill the bad guy.  Still learning…..and teaching.  I'm just waiting for the phone call to tell me about the next killer tune.

So Wiz, this may well be the most arduous soundcheck, but I'll be there for the performance.  What a gig that'll be.  You rock.  And you rock my world.

Kxxx

"Don't sit on your arse while your world just falls to pieces."

MY TRIBUTE TO DARREN 'WIZ' BROWN.

 18^TH JANUARY 1962 – 6^TH DECEMBER 2006

BY GERRY N. BRYANT

I'd like to start by paying tribute to Pam & Graham for producing one of the most remarkable people I've ever met in my life.

I first met Wiz when I was twelve years old shortly after befriending Danny Brown at junior school in Farnborough. Danny invited me over to the Brown family house after school and we would hang out in Danny's room listening to Wiz playing his guitar in his room, then wait until he went out so we could sneak in there and have a go ourselves.

About 6 months later all three of us were creating what could only be described as a racket, in Pam & Graham's front room, trying to cover Status Quo and Iron Maiden songs.

A year or two on I'd formed a band at school with two other friends called Stallion and we asked Wiz to join us, which he duly did. It was obvious straightaway that he had a natural talent for song writing and performing.

As a band we had only performed two shows when Wiz decided he wanted to start another band, which included Danny in the line up, and invited me to join as well. We called ourselves Capricorn, named after the brothers shared star sign.

All three of us moved in to a shared house in Farnborough. Wiz wasn't at his best in the mornings and the sight of him in his dressing gown, rabbit slippers and a cigarette in his mouth giving the fridge a good kicking because there was no milk for his

all-important morning cup of tea was a sight to behold and one I'll certainly never forget.

In 1987 we formed our band Mega City Four and Wiz was instrumental in giving me what was to be the best ten years of my life. He had a vision from which he never wavered.

I sometimes found it difficult to understand his reasoning but now I fully understand the importance of following your true path.

Over those ten years the four of us and our road crew, made up of close friends, travelled the world we were a law unto ourselves. Wiz touched the hearts and minds of countless people everywhere we went and was always the perfect gentleman. We formed a bond around ourselves that no one could penetrate. We got up to allsorts of crazy things and an equal amount of sensible things but ultimately no one could come between us.

I'd like to read you the poignant lyrics to a song called 'Vague' which Wiz wrote and was released in 1992.

Seems to be pointless,

Hardly seems worth it.

The price that I'm paying,

Makes me feel worthless.

Makes me feel every cut and thrust,

Gild the blade with rust,

Fill my mouth with dust.

Now do you understand?

I'd take you there with me,

I'd paint you a picture,

If I thought I could make it any clearer.

Forgive me, be patient,

I'm given eyes to see.

The nerve to be before you,

Without the gift to tell you.

I'm clutching for the words,

Struggling to stand,

Stumbling and falling,

But still reaching for your hand.

Since the demise of Mega City Four he's never stopped doing what he does best.

I have nothing but admiration for him for that.

Up until recently I played with him again in Ipanema, which was always good fun.

Wiz has always been there for me through thick and thin and I loved him for that.

Wiz always said that he just wanted to make a difference. Not only did he achieve this but he did it with the utmost honesty, integrity, passion and love.

So Wiz, after all those years of making some of the best Rock 'n' Roll noise pollution ever known, I hope you can rest in peace, safe in the knowledge that not only did you make a difference, you made a massive difference and you'll never be forgotten.