Hello friends,
Well, it’s nearly 3 am here on the coast in Northern Ireland and I’m just home from my studio… and yep, I’m writing to you :)
I’ve been meaning to do this for several months, but to be honest, it’s been hard to find the words to capture all of the emotion I feel during this part of my journey, and well, our journey together really.
As many of you know, after 12 amazing years, Onehundredhours is calling it a day.
We played our first gig as ‘Chump’ in October of 1997 and we’ll play our last gig as the Hours on August 18, 2009… Between those dates, we’ve travelled many, many miles, slept in many, many dodgy locations and even a few swanky hotels. We’ve been hosted by loads of gracious families and we’ve been blessed time and again by the hospitality of people who love rock n roll, and even people who didn’t ;)
We flew in jets, cruised in buses, rode on trains, and even had a limo once I think. My personal favourite was the helicopter after the stadium gig in India, but that’s another story altogether. Mostly, though, we did a billion miles in a Transit van. Okay, so maybe not a billion, but it certainly felt that way coming home on the M6 with the sun rising… in traffic, always!
We played stadiums, arenas, clubs, churches and even back yards. Some of the most amazing venues in the UK got the full Hours treatment, and we’ll always be humbled by those moments.
I tried to figure out how many gigs we’ve played in that time, but I gave up… I do know that in one year we played 150. That was the year I got insomnia I reckon ;)
I also tried to figure out how many people we’ve had the honour of playing for, and again, I give up. I do know that it’s more than 100 and less than 1 billion ;)
We’ve shared the stage with so many amazing artists that we admire… Some big names yes, but plenty of amazing bands that you’ve probably never heard of too.
We’ve worked with loads of tireless, hard working sound and lighting crews and we’ve made lifelong friends with people who will always be backstage making a show incredible, but usually never get the credit. Funny that, huh? Thank the sound and lighting guys at the next show you go to… they worked way harder than we did always… and we worked pretty hard.
We worshipped with loads of you around the world... in some pretty strange places. I'll never forget the show in Bourke Australia... and if you know what the 'back of Bourke' means you'll understand. Me and Jono West, two guitars with only 8 strings between the both of them, in a school gym with no mics, no PA, no stage. Amazing. I guess worshipping God has never really needed anything but a heart that was willing, you know?
We made albums that people seem to like… You know, I still find it amazing that people buy records with songs that I wrote in my front room on an acoustic or with Tori and the lads in a ringy rehearsal room.
Thanks for that, by the way.
We dreamed of changing the world. We still do. It’s just time to do it in different ways.
The Hours are all still the best of friends. Actually, that goes for current and past Hours as well!
This ending isn’t because of ‘musical differences’ or any of that nonsense… it’s just time to do new things.
You really have to keep doing new things. Making space for new things, new songs, new bands, new dreams, new journeys, you know?
In fact, you may see some or all of us together again on a stage doing something different. We’re all staying in the rock n roll business in one way or another.
As for me, I’m going to be focussing more on being home, serving those suffering from the impacts of HIV/AIDS and producing other artists. Tori and I are still songwriting… in fact, more than ever and with more people. And she gets better all the time…
Oh and yes, Tori and I will eventually get around to recording that alt/country record sometime in the near future… we’re doing shows here and there when we can too, so do come and join us if you like Americana music being mugged by rock n roll with a Motown heart. Does that make sense or I am just too tired?
I fear it’s the latter...
I’d love to thank everyone, but that would make for very boring reading unless you’re in the list and I’m destined to forget someone important, so I’ll just thank God for a great ride so far and for being so very kind to us. We would have served Him for much less, you know?
He’s been so very good to all of us, eh? Stronger than my heart and as sure as the stars, He really deserves our cardiphonia.
And of course, I want to thank all of you… for singing along, coming to shows, buying records, joining the fight against HIV/AIDS through EngageHIV (which, incidentally, is carrying on and picking up steam, check out engagehiv.org), laughing at my terrible jokes and most of all for daring to dream with us of a different world of faith, hope, and yes, rock n roll.
And there’s still time to change the world, you know?
We may be wrapping up this part of the journey, but we’re just getting started really.
I hope we’ll all keep travelling together.
If you can make it out to our final shows, please do… We’ll try to make them special. We'll be at Soul Survivor weeks B and C, on August 12 and August 18th. Soul Survivor has been like a family for us, so we thought it was fitting to end things up and start new things there.
Thanks for the life you’ve given to us. Thanks for believing and for coming with us.
And thanks for letting a farm boy from Georgia sing about his hopes and fears while you listened.
I’ll always be grateful.
Be well, safe home,
Tre
For the Hours