It’s been a busy old week with invitations to sing at a variety of events but the question almost everyone has asked…will you wear the jacket? The second question is…where did you get it?
If you live in the Greater Swansea Area and have been travelling along any of the major routes in and out of the city then you probably know what I’m talking about. This past month or so we have been running a major advertising campaign for my Homecoming Show at the Swansea Building Society Arena and that jacket has been a regular feature at many a bus stop.
It all started just over a year ago as I was planning for last year’s Homecoming. In amongst all of the preparations like; booking venues and guests and hotels and equipment, not forgetting planning set lists and rehearsals, someone must have asked what are you going to wear?
That suit saw a lot of gigs!
In the past I’ve found it easier if I have a stage uniform, an outfit I always wear for a certain event. For years when we toured the clubs and corporate circuit as ‘Mal Pope & The Jacks’ I always wore the same baggy black suit. It was a hangover from my HTV TV show days. I always wore the same round sunglasses as well. It became a ritual getting dressed before a gig and it also meant I had one less thing to think about.
In recent years I have tried wearing a bright red suit. It was one of those impulse buys from TKMaxx. I couldn’t believe it was on the discount rail and rushed to buy it before anyone else snapped it up. When I showed the suit to my children they all laughed and were not at all surprised that it was so heavily reduced. Anyway, I’ve worn it enough times to get my money’s worth so who’s laughing now….
In recent years I’ve been doing a lot of solo concerts. The stage suit seemed a little out of place in some of the more intimate venues, so I’ve gone back to jeans, black T shirt and a leather jacket. Last year we moved the show to the Swansea Arena. Whilst feeling strangely intimate it’s a big room so I felt that I needed to spruce things up a little to hopefully stand out a little more on such a vast stage.
I had known the Artist Neale Howells for a long time. He specialises in large scale work that can be seen in galleries and buildings across the country. He was responsible for the painting used on the cover to the Manic Street Preachers Album ‘Know Your Enemy’. I had a feeling that in the past he had worked with some clothes designers. In fact I had seen one of Neale’s Jackets being worn by Alicia Keys on an American TV show…so I sent hm an email.
Now I was under the false impression that what we would do is choose an image, scan it and get it transferred to some material and made into a jacket. How wrong I was. Neale asked me did I have an old leather jacket I could bring with me to the meeting at his studio. Now I don’t want you to think I’m addicted to the TKMaxx discount rail but…well… I have picked up a few bargains over the years.
When I got to the studio I showed Neale the Jacket. I was expecting him to tell me whether he would be able to get a similar style jacket made using his designs but no…this was the jacket that Neale was going to use, and he was going to paint directly onto it. It was about a week later that I returned to the studio and I was blown away. It was bright, colourful, unique and brilliant.
Mal Pope with Ria Jones
The following week at the Arena I started the show in my usually black leather jacket and then in the second half, butterfly like, metamorphosised into a colourful new me.
After that show we started to plan this year’s event and the images we would use for record releases and posters and of course the jacket just became the image going forward.
We have used bus stop poster advertising for the past few years, and it’s been pretty effective in getting the message out. This year we decided to try the digital posters. Across the city many of the Bus Stops have had digital displays installed. Instead of getting printed posters that need to be delivered to the sites you choose, this way you send the company a digital image which they can then upload at the click of a computer mouse.
The reaction has been extraordinary. If I’m honest I’m not sure if everyone has taken notice of the concert but what I do know is that people have seen the jacket.
Peace Mala with Steve Balsamo and the High Sheriff
Last week I joined Steve Balsamo for a special service at Swansea Minster for World Peace Day supporting Peace Mala. I was worried if the jacket might somehow be inappropriate for such an event. Again how wrong was I. We had representatives from many world faiths all in traditional costumes. Even the High Sheriff was there in her regalia. In amongst all the colour I felt right at home.
Sunday with the Morriston ED Choir
Last Sunday I joined the Morriston ED (Emergency Department) choir in Gowerton Con Club. This was a special concert to honour Mrs Joan Lewis MBE and the work of the Cancer Challenge organisation who have raised around £1.5 million pounds over the last 25 years. Could I sing and could I wear the jacket…of course.
Singing with Elio Pace at the Swansea Grand Theatre
On Tuesday night my dear friend Elio Pace brought his ‘Billy Joel Songbook’ show to the Swansea Grand Theatre. A year ago Elio invited me to London to duet with him at The Bloomsbury theatre on the Billy Joel song ‘She’s Always a Woman to Me’. He returned the favour at last year’s Homecoming. A few weeks ago he sent a message asking if I would like to sing it again at the Grand. He had seen all of the posters on Facebook and he actually asked about the jacket. When I walked out onto the stage it wasn’t such a big surprise because everyone in the audience had already seen the jacket.
So thank you Neale Howells for creating such an amazing stage costume… now what am I going to wear next year???