Thinking Metal: Events

Forthcoming gigs

  • October 10th 2010, St. Michael's Church, Houghton-le-Spring
  • October 23rd 2010, Awakenings, Padget High School, Burton-on-Trent
  • November 20th 2010, Generations, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne


Past events aka Dave's Gig Guide

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly...

These are my musings on the gigs so far, both as a group enterprise and as a solo act. They're personal and don't reflect the views of the other band members, though I guess we're in fairly broad agreement. They're intended to give our side of the story, a view from the artist's perspective, though I have to admit that, in some cases, my recollection of the events maybe either biased or wrong because my memory isn't what it used to be.

To begin with, here's a rough history of the bands so far, to get the timeline established before we kick off. I won't bother with anything before 1993.

  • 1993-1994 : Kinetic Engineering
  • 1994-1997 : Tranquillity Bass
  • 1997-2004 : T-Bass
  • 2004-Present : T-Bass (currently in hibernation)
  • 1999-Present : SkinMechanix
  • 2007-Present : Ion

I'll also include a list of releases to put events in context:

  • 1993 : Kinetic Engineering (Cassette, Kinetic Engineering)
  • 1994 : Alien (Cassette, David J. Hughes)
  • 1995 : Sampler 1 (Tranquillity Bass)
  • 1995 : The Infection of Time (Tranquillity Bass)
  • 1997 : Scanners (EP, Tranquillity Bass)
  • 1999 : Connexion (EP, T-Bass UK)
  • 2001 : The Fabulous Neutrinos (CD, T-Bass UK)
  • 2002 : The Secret Life of Angels (CD, SkinMechanix)
  • 2003 : MediaEvil (CD, T-Bass/SkinMechanix sampler)
  • 2005 : Fallen Angel (CD, SkinMechanix)
  • 2007 : Future Forever (CD, Ion)
  • 2008 : Universal (down-load, Ion/SkinMechanix)

The Gigs

The good, the bad and the ugly...

Introduction 2008

EMMA IV 1997

Newcastle Arts 1999

AlfaCentauri 1999

Raid on the Road 2000

Neutrinos 2001

Jodrell Bank 2002

Classic Rock Soc 2003

The Final Frontier 2003

Sounds of Space 2004

SkinMechanix Feb 2005

SkinMechanix Dec 2005

SkinMechanix 2006

Universal 2007

In the end...

Like I said at the top, these are just my views, my recollections of events which are fast becoming distant memories and are therefore inclined to be biased and fogged as the years roll on. However, it's as accurate as I can recall. In compiling these thoughts, I'm attempting to set the record straight as I see it. I think it's important to document these events because they were a large part of our lives at that time and, as you may have guessed from the nature of the prose that my recollection of what actually happened is starting to fade as the years slide by. Another reason for compiling these memories is that I wanted to provide a roadmap for other performers just entering this world. It's my way of saying "Folks, this is what you don't do. Find another way. Not this way." At the same time, there are glimmers of hope. Radioplay for this style of music is slowly, steadily making a comeback, in part because this is the right time for a new voice to be heard, in part because the domination of the major record companies is on the wane.

What I hope is that I have avoided the rose-tinted glasses. Some folk may be upset and offended at what I've written and whilst I understand if this is the case, their actions at the time are a matter of record and they have to live with what they did. I don't believe in re-writing history just to mend fences. If someone, in my view, behaved like an arse, then that's a fact that they'll have to live with.

So, that's my view on all of the gigs thus far. Other gigs are in the pipeline although their form and structure has yet to be determined. I do feel that I need to get a new band together. Jules has agreed to stick with the programme on keys but Dave doesn't seem interested anymore. Times and people change but, as I'm fond of saying, never say never.

DJH April 2008