If you hear an odd ‘clanging’ sound coming from Ffwrness Theatre in Llanelli next Thursday evening please don’t be alarmed. It will just be me and Steve Balsamo dropping some huge names in our intimate show ‘The Stories Behind The Songs.’
Now before anyone says, there they go again, I have to say it wasn’t even our idea. It actually goes back to a student project that Steve and I supported back in January at the Elysium on Swansea High Street. Alex Owens was studying for a degree in Creative Music Technology at University of Wales Trinity St David. The course is both theoretical and practical. He had an idea for a live music event that he could record and film. Not exactly a concert, not an interview…somewhere in between.
Steve Balsamo, Mal Pope and Tim Hamill Jan 25
In his other life Alex helps out at Sonic One Studios in Llanelli. That’s where he met Steve Balsamo and me. Towards the end of last year he managed to corner us both separately during our sessions at the studio.
I expect he used the same tactics on Steve as he did on me. ‘Would you like a cup of tea Mal’, ‘How about a chocolate biscuit to go with that Mal’…’would you be a special guest for my end of year practical project at the Elysium on Friday 3rd January Mal?’ By that stage I felt so in his debt I had to say yes.
Steve, Mal, Ria Jones & Tim Sonic One Studios
The trouble was Steve and I had been really busy up to Christmas, and then came all of the family commitments that come over the festive period. Neither of us really had much of a chance to work out exactly what we were going to do. By this stage Tim Hamill from Sonic One Studio had also been ‘guilt tripped’ into joining the house band and Ian Parsons, the man who can turn his hand to anything, had been put in charge of the video and audio media on the computer.
In the end Steve and I sent Ian a whole load of videos and photographs, a list of songs to Tim Hamill and we rocked up to the Elysium with the Christmas lights still shining and a very sketchy plan in our heads.
I think I started with a song. Steve asked me how I had written it and what was the story behind the song. Then Steve did the same and we were off and running.
Some of the early questions we tackled were around our early beginnings and getting the breaks. For my 50th Anniversary concert at the Grand I had put together a montage of audio and video clips of people like John Peel and Eton John talking about me as a 13 year old. That opened the door for Steve to ask me questions which led to all sorts of songs and stories.
We had probably met at Tim’s studio when Steve was a long haired rocker in a band called ‘After Dark’ playing gigs in pubs like the Singleton. One thing was certain Steve had an incredible voice.
At that time in the early 90’s I was broadcasting daily for BBC Radio Wales from the now defunct studios in Alexandra Road. I distinctly remember bumping into him one day as he was making his way to High Street Station. I knew Steve as a rocker, but I remember my surprise when he told me he had started working in musical theatre with the likes of Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Steve starring the 90’s revival of Jesus Christ Superstar
That was the start of my journey interrogating Steve. Now I thought I knew Steve’s back story, but I have to say I was amazed by the people he has worked with and the stages he has performed on.
When I say next Thursday you will hear clanging of dropped names I mean the likes of Meatloaf, Cliff Richard, Deep Purple and Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin. Now it wasn’t a competition but as he mentioned an artist or a situation it would trigger a story or memory and so the stories would keep coming and so would the songs.
Andrew Lloyd Webber
The trouble is as these are stories that might have been lost in the mists of time that we suddenly remember we won’t have a chance to run them past our solicitors before we share them. I think we might have to frisk our audience for any recording equipment because these are candid stories which although I don’t think would lead to us being sued for defamation of character, but I wouldn’t want to risk it.
For example Steve talked about writing for Cliff which reminded me of a TV interview I had done with the legendary star a long time ago. I had also written a couple of songs for Cliff so he had an idea of who I was but neither Cliff nor his management were expecting me to get my guitar out for our chat…I will never forget that stare!!! Then I remembered when I had first met Cliff, backstage at the Greenbelt Festival…in the Portaloos…see what I mean!!
Other highlights from that January night included Steve talking about attending star parties in LA and supporting everyone from Celine Dion to Elton John. That prompted my memories of Elton introducing me to Eric Morecambe at Abbey Road studios and finding he had a Swansea connection. Clang, clang, clang!!!
As well as chatting we will also be singing some songs. Bob Dylan was once asked what a particular song was about, and he said 3 minutes. Of course songs can have a different meaning to the people listening to the songs than originally intended by the writers but next Friday I’m sure we will share the secrets behind the songs we sing.
Steve, Mal, Ria Jones in London
The only thing I have to warn you about is that there is a chance that they might have to turn the lights out to make us stop. Earlier this year Steve, Ian and I travelled back and fore to London for a concert to support Maggies Cancer Centres. For the full time of travel and also over lunch, tea and supper we didn’t stop telling our stories. I’ve got a feeling you might get quite an insight next Thursday evening at the Ffwrness Theatre in Llanelli.
