1989.

However you look at it, it was quite a year.

As a band, we got through quite a lot, even without the complication of a change in personnel. So strap in as we continue with my early impressions of Marillion, which this week means the recording of Seasons End at Hook End Manor and the joys of recording promo videos.

Whatever happens, by the time you get through the next 1:04:01 (hours/mins/secs) of Chapter 47 you are going to know;

1. how to deal with a barn fire
2. the most fun you can have with some birthday candles and a dry-cleaning bag
3. the first thing to do when the police turn up with a writ

Whoever said that TCD wasn't educational as well as entertaining.

Lord Bryon sends regards,

h

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For quite a lot of people, this part of the story has been a long time coming.

Those early months of 1989 have been the subject of many questions, as what would become the next thirty years of my life, began to be mapped out.

It's a tale that involves the son of a Shadow, a school friend of Pete's and my old drinking-buddy Darryl Way, along with a car that may (or may not) have been stolen and a first meeting that was never meant to be alfresco.

What I still can't fathom (as you will hear) is when I actually became the lead singer of Marillion.

Love'n'allergies

h

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Mmm, strange title, I hear you thinking.

Well I could have gone with 'Why ever would you call a child Muff?' or even 'Why does Pharrell never return my calls?' but in the end I decided a reminder to be decent & polite was most appropriate.

Of course you are now wondering what has any of this got to do with TCD Chapter 45? Well today we pick the How We Live story back up and follow it all the way through until the season finale.

Anyway, boy does it end on a bit of a cliffhanger. No spoilers though - you are just going to have to wait until next week to find out how it all plays out...

Love & suspense,

h

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Ant & I did a interview this week with the lovely Anne Bond of the Web Magazine to talk about TCD.

During the chat she asked about the amount of planning that went into each episode. Now clearly Anne was being a bit generous, but in the spirit of honesty we owned up to the fact that in many instances, really not a lot.

Take this week. Prior to recording on Monday both of us had read the diary and Ant had proclaimed that he had an idea for a title and possibly a couple of questions.

And TBH that is normally all we need. Cue the red light, adjust the pop shield and see where we end up after the caffeine runs dry.

Tom McGread probably called it right when he exclaimed on receiving TCD43 ‘what a way to start a weekend, 1 hr & 21 mins of Gold Drivel’.

A point well made Tom, and another contender for the tee shirt.

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Have you ever wandered into a Marillion gig and...

(a) glanced across and marvelled at the sheer size of Phil Brown's console, and speculated why he needed all those knobs. Or.

(b) wondered why some chap was dashing across the stage mid-song to pull gubbins out of the back of my shirt. Or even.

(c) speculated what it meant when I looked to the side of stage, pointed to Pete and then pointed down to the ground.

If so then this week's episode will be a treat as I talk you through what goes on behind the scenes on a work day, as we prepare for the evenings show.

Love & Line Checks.

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Following on from last weeks discussion on my approach to lyric writing and some of the methods I employ, I thought it might be interesting to talk through an example.

Gaza was a song that was somewhat unique in terms of the development of the lyrical content, and the sensitivity of the subject matter.

I was very conscious I didn't want to wade in and pass comment on the situation from a distance and so in this episode I explain to Ant how the lyric took shape through the people in Gaza, Israel, and the UN whose perspectives I learned from.

It also allows me to introduce you to my friend Oren Hertz.

Keep it purple,

h

P.S Listen through to the end of the CroonCast for some breaking news.

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Now Justin Beaney is a very fine chap,

He lives near Corsham, in a place called Chapel Knapp,

He sent me a message in his own time,

All about the reasoning behind my rhyme.

So Ant asked the question in chapter forty one,

And I tried to recall the things I had done.

So thanks Mr B for being one of the gang,

And sorry in advance for the rhyming slang.

h.

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What can I say, I wanted to make Chapter 40 a bit of an event.

So first off we decided to record in the evening, and imbibe a little of the good stuff whilst chatting. Then Ant discovered we could stream the festivities from Zoom to YouTube in a fairly lo-fi kind of way - so we thought we would give that a go.

Finally after a speculative WhatsApp conversation with the Guitar God himself, I managed to persuade Dave Gregs to drop in and mix it up a bit.

And (to be fair) that's just what he did, arriving armed with his journals and gently augmenting TCD with something completely new... hard facts. :o]

I hope you enjoy the '40th' and huge thanks to Dave for making it such a special evening.

Love & death-by-chutney,

h

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I was a little concerned that the last two episodes were a little bit darker & more serious in tone than the average TCD.

Now I am not saying that is a problem in of itself, after all you need a healthy mix of opposites, dark & light, sweet & bitter, ying & yang.

So as we get back to some kind of normal service this week (the podcast equivalent of light froth with a generous dusting of chocolate) I like to think that this will merge with the virtual espresso shot of the last couple of weeks to form the perfect cappuccino.

Anyway, metaphors to one side, this week is all about How We Live as we take a gentle stroll through the history, naming and personnel that made up that particular project.

Don't Jump The Gun.

h

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Welcome back for the second instalment of Hogstradamus's updated list of Heroes, Villains & Predictions.

You may recall that we finished last time poised to launch into my predictions for 2020 & beyond, and you will be pleased to learn we managed to "navigate" our way (me, spade in hand, digging again) through.

But before we were able to start, there was the small matter of some housekeeping to attend to from Chapter 37. Namely, expanding on that first night in Hamburg on the Brave tour, and the eagle-eared attentiveness of purple listeners Andy Meaney, Adam Burton & Ivor Ellis.

All together now 'Oh my TCD-TV, Oh-oh, TCD-TV..'

Love & insurrection,

h

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