Bill Nelson's Diary, June 2004   

June 9

Wednesday, 9 June 2004 -- 9:30 AM  
A lengthy gap between the last diary entry and this one. Since recovering from my disastrous Italian trip and illness I've been brutally busy, working almost non-stop to get things in order before I can begin the tricky task of assembling  'The Lost Satellites' concert set list and organise band rehearsals for the rapidly approaching October tour. As always happens, the work-load seems to increase when I have one major job that I should be focusing on. I'd very much like to give my total attention to just the concert preparations but there are several 'fringe' projects that can't wait until later.

One of these has been the preparation of my web-diary for publication as a book. The diary is to be made available to coincide with the October tour so I worked my way  through all the entries (from early 1999 to the summer of 2003), to correct mistakes, restructure where needed and to change certain names that might be regarded as legally contentious. I had fun with the latter, as readers of the book will eventually see. Only a couple of name changes though. I'm sure the culprit's true identities will be spotted by those fans of mine 'in the know'.  The old diary files have been archived on the Permanent Flame site in the US and webmaster Chuck Bird kindly zapped them over to Pomona (the book's publishers), who then copied them to me for my revision work. Unfortunately, as a result of the various emailing processes and the fact that I'm on Mac and not PC  they arrived at my end in a strangely formatted state. Paragraphs were out of kilter and line lengths were all over the place, some lines containing only two words. My first task was to go through the files, line by line, restoring the text layout to its original form. During this process, I discovered various errors and omissions. The reason for this is that the earlier diary entries were written out by myself in longhand and then faxed to DGM records where they were transcribed by staff and put onto the web. At that time I didn't own a computer so couldn't check whether they were correct when placed on-line. When I did finally get myself a computer, I was far too busy with the current diaries and other work to go back and check the earlier entries. It's only now that I've realised how many mistakes the on-site diaries contained. Two silly examples, by way of illustration, are that 'Doncaster' came out as 'Dorchester' and 'past' came out as 'post'....but there were many  others, all quite minor in themselves but, taken as a whole, somewhat misleading or confusing.

I set about repairing these as I simultaneously corrected the paragraphing and line lengths. I then realised that there were missing sentences, missing sections and the occasional missing entry here and there so I searched through my personal files and archives to fill these in wherever possible. I also tightened up sloppy phrasing and clarified expression where the meaning wasn't as clear as I'd intended. I spent two solid weeks doing this and then handed the amended files over to Pomona for them to edit down to a more practical size for publishing as a book. I have no time or desire to edit the diaries myself so I'm glad that they're willing to take on this responsibility.   Originally, I'd intended the diary to be an impermanent thing, read entry by entry as each one was created, then forgotten. Putting the entries together in book form, I realised that there were repetitions and clumsy phrases that I should correct if the whole thing was to hang together as a complete entity. The revisions I've undertaken have gone some way towards achieving this goal and I hope that it will read in a far more cohesive and engaging fashion than before. Pomona's editing should also  tighten things up further.  Once the publishers had received the corrected diaries from me, they emailed to ask if I would write a preface for the book. That became my next task. I have now finished the preface and handed it over to Pomona who have approved it. The next step is to await their edited version of the diary which I will check through before finally giving the green light for printing. Its title will be 'DIARY OF A HYPERDREAMER.'

The book's cover design was almost completed some months ago but the final version has yet to be decided. Pomona will be getting back on to this soon, I would think. I'm nervously looking forward to signing copies of my first book. As I've said before in these pages, it will allow me to indulge my fantasies of being an author instead of a mere composer. ('Though even the latter epithet is debatable.)  The other book, the one being written about my career by Paul Sutton-Reeves, is also meant to be published in time for the tour. Paul has visited me on several occasions to look through my stored archives for research purposes and has asked me if he can make another visit to do more work of this nature. I've meant to get back to him to fix up a date for this but have been utterly distracted by other things. Must do this soon.

I have been answering lots of Paul's questions by email though, as well as conducting in-person interviews. As yet, I haven't seen any 'work in progress' so have no idea of the book's flavour. I'm, perhaps understandably, a little nervous about the outcome...but I suspect Paul is too. I also have to design or draw a cover for the book (which will be published by Helter Skelter). The book's title, at the moment, is 'MUSIC IN DREAMLAND.'  Maybe I should suggest changing it to 'MUSIC FROM DREAMLAND.'  That variation seems to suggest the bringing back of something from another world to this. Appropriate, bearing in mind that my composing technique involves more of the qualities of a  seance than a  science.  US graphic novelist Matt Howarth has sent me a few newly coloured panels from the Neon Cynic comic strip, for which I've created some music. Previously, I'd only seen black and white renditions of the strip. It's looking great. I promised Matt I'd send a CD-r over to him of the music I've recorded so far. I actually burned the CD-r a few weeks ago, then thought perhaps there wasn't quite enough material and decided I should try to make a few more pieces. Of course, the diary publishing deadline and tour plans took over my life and I forgot to do this. Consequently, Matt's CD-r sits here still, unposted. (I am a bad boy.)  Maybe I'll just send it to him as it is and try to make more music once the tour is over. At least he would be able to see that I've done something towards the project. Matt has been incredibly kind and patient with me in what has turned out to be an unusually intense year.

The October tour dates are now moving from 'penciled in' status to 'inked in' but apparently not quite ready to announce publicly yet. (But close!) There are still a couple of dates that are floating about, confirmation-wise. Seems like we will be playing in London, ,Manchester, Nottingham, Milton Keynes, Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh. There will also be a 'secret,' unpublicized, warm-up concert to ease the band and myself into the live performance situation. I may devise a false name for this latter event, to disguise our true identity. A bit of fun and a way to take some of the pressure off our initial performance.  As well as the hard graft of preparing the shows themselves, there are lots of peripheral things that require my attention. It was hoped that I'd be able to get the band into Fairview recording studio to make a band-based album for the tour but, bearing in mind that our concert rehearsals start in September (about 10 weeks away), and that I would have to write and demo enough new material for the band to record, then rehearse the new material with the band prior to recording, then conduct the actual recording session,  mix the album, come up with cover art, prepare same with Dave Graham's indispensable talent, then put the entire project into manufacture...And all this BEFORE even beginning live concert rehearsals...well, it's a physically impossible task. Far better to look at a band album for next year instead and give it the time and attention that it deserves.

However, despite the above obstacles, there will be a new vocal album ready for the tour, (all being well,) as I intend to use some of the demo's I've already prepared as finished tracks. They're very good demos and I'm currently recording some more new songs in my home studio to add to the potential list. In fact, an extremely fresh new song sits on my Mackie system right now, awaiting my  final mix. Its working title is 'Tricks Of Memory' although it may end up being titled: 'Infinity Meets The Moment.'  Whilst time dictates that the band won't be on this album, the album will still be 'band orientated' in that it should feature guitar based songs with reasonably straightforward vocals. Almost a 'rock' album (by my recent standards, at least), but quirky enough around the edges. It promises to sound both retro and 'futuristic' at the same time. ( A cliched description, especially when dealing with my work, I know, but apt enough in this instance.) There are several links with Be Bop Deluxe and Red Noise without consciously trying to emulate those two bands. It's a natural evolvement, not a calculated retread. Anyway, all this is still ongoing and I'm some way from assembling a final running order yet, or even deciding upon the album's title. One possibility is 'Music For Lost Satellites'...another is simply 'Quilt' as it will be an album assembled from odds and ends. That's not to say that these pieces are cast offs or throwaways, far from it. There are some interesting songs here and a couple of them may find their way onto the tour set list.

I've settled on a concept and title for the concerts. The advertising will say

BILL NELSON AND THE LOST SATELLITES...THE BE BOP DELUXE AND BEYOND TOUR...
A series of concerts to celebrate 30 years of ever evolving music.  

Of course, it's much more than 30 years as my recording history goes back to the late1960's but, for the purposes of this tour, we're taking the release of Be Bop's 'Axe Victim' album as the starting point. EMI Records are releasing a new Be Bop Deluxe compilation album to coincide with the tour and they are also re-issuing a couple of deleted albums. Hopefully, they will help us out with some tour advertising too. We really need to get the word out about this one. It is a very rare opportunity to take a band out on the road with me and may not happen again for some time, if ever. Without the generous help of our sponsors, it would not be a practical proposition at all. I want to make sure that we fill the venues to capacity and one of the ways to do that is to mount a proper publicity and advertising campaign. This needs to be given priority attention very soon.

I also have to master my 'Custom Deluxe' instrumental album so that it can be manufactured in time for the tour dates. Artwork is already completed on this project and is ready to go so only the sonic mastering process is needed before sending everything off to the factory. An instrumental album, guitar based but different from 'Dreamland To Starboard', more up-tempo, drum driven and 'rockier.' Nevertheless, I mustn't forget that the aforementioned new vocal album has yet to be completed, its running order decided, its artwork created and prepared, mastering finalised and manufacturing got under way if it is to made be available in time for the October concerts. A big job in itself, involving more writing and recording. Then, of course, there is the Nelsonica 04 convention album 'Wah-Wah Galaxy' to complete. I still haven't decided upon the final track-listing, come up with packaging artwork, or mastered the album. Once again, this needs to be done before I get too involved with tour preparations if it is to be manufactured in time for the convention.

More pre-tour work:

Create the content and design for the tour programme and get it printed.
Arrange and hold meetings to discuss technical requirements for each concert (PA systems, monitoring, back line, lighting, stage presentation, etc.).
Choose suitable material for the band to play, make CD-r copies of same for each band member to work with at their homes prior to band rehearsals...and also copy out lyrics and arrangements into a notebook for myself. I need to learn this material too. A lot of it has never been performed live for many years, some of it has never been performed live at all.  There are all sorts of practical considerations to consider with this. To some extent, my choices will be limited by the band's ability to reproduce recordings that were often never intended to be performed in a live situation, many songs being purely studio concepts. There may be ways around this problem, re-arranging parts and so on, but many of the studio based pieces may prove too difficult. Until we get to grips with the material in a rehearsal situation, I can only guess as to which songs may or may not work. There are bound to be compromises. Getting the balance of material right is tricky too, the rise and fall, cut and thrust of the complete show. My hope is to convey a sense of the sheer scope of the material over the years, although this will perhaps be impossible, particularly when it comes to the more synth/dance oriented tracks of the 1980's. We'll see...one step at a time.
Choose material for my opening 30 minute solo set. Prepare background video projection for same as well as master a set performance 'backing track' CD at Fairview.
If possible, create a couple of new pieces for the solo set.
Transfer to video my old super 8 home-cine footage of Be Bop Deluxe recording in the south of France in the late 'seventies. Then copy this to my computer's hard disc and spend a couple of weeks editing it into a visual 30 minute long documentary DVD to screen between my solo set and the band's two hour set. This is a difficult one, very time consuming for me. Two weeks is a naively optimistic estimation. And god knows how long it will take to get all the old celluloid footage transferred to video, prior to digitising it for my computer.
Try to think of some 'entertainments' to include in this year's Nelsonica. Because of the tour pressures, I may have to leave much of this to Alan Myers and his team this year. I'll do what I can, of course, but time is scarily tight, bearing in mind all that must be done. Alan too, will be involved in some aspects of the tour so even he may find the environment more pressurised and demanding than previously. He, of course, has youth on his side ;-)
Find crew/technical staff for the tour. We'll need guitar tech, other road crew, projectionist and so on. Luckily, I have a more than capable front of house sound engineer in the form of Ian Thorpe who did a tremendous job on my solo tour last year. Ian is a great asset and very professional. He certainly takes some of the worries off my shoulders in that department.
Work with Opium on coordinating hotels and travel.  
Meet with our sponsors to discuss various points of involvement.
Arrange and execute a photo session for the band and myself to provide tour publicity images.
Arrange a PR company to publicize the tour dates, fix up and conduct press and radio interviews and so on.
Find a good rehearsal space for the band where we can leave our equipment set up for a continuous three-week period whilst we work on the material to be performed at the shows. This needs to be conveniently located, well equipped and as comfortable as possible. It will be three weeks of intensely hard work.
Rehearse both my solo set and the two-hour band set, making sure that we're as confident as possible given the time limitations.
Prepare all my personal equipment, guitars, processors, amps, pedals etc. Get repairs done where required. Sort out spares, strings and so on for the tour itself.
Find some time to deal with domestic/family life.
Try not to get so stressed out by all this that I end up too ill or exhausted to perform properly. Not as easy as it sounds.

I am also supposed to be designing a custom-built Carlsbro amplifier for use on the tour. God knows if there's time for the Carlsboro technicians to complete it in time for October. I still need to send them a drawing of my idea. And I haven't even made one yet, although I do have an idea.  Well, plenty to occupy every waking hour for the next few months. Daunting, to say the least. Bloody insane, you might say.  Am I up to the challenge..?  I can't answer that. One step at a time, as I said before. I'll do my best. The rest is in the lap of the dogs... Sorry, gods.

On the domestic front, Emi has just endured a nasty dental operation to cut a cyst out of the interior of her gum. Sedation  and lots of stitches. Her face and lip have been swollen these last few days but this is now starting to subside. She's taking a form of penicillin and some very strong pain-killers. I've been trying to look after her, lots of sympathy and love. Have been attempting shopping and cooking duties more than usual too.  Corresponding with Harold quite a bit these last few weeks. He's out in the desert still and looking for a keyboard to prepare for a live concert. Some amusing and poignant exchanges between the two of us, as always. Harold continues to be one of life's treasures, regardless of circumstance or the physical distance between us. A true gem and a good friend.

Talking of treasured friends:  I received a gift from Frank Olinsky and his partner Anne, a wonderful video documentary about Coney Island. It has lots of archive film footage and an appropriately dreamy/strange soundtrack. A perfectly judged gift. Funfairs, Circuses, Fairgrounds, Amusement Parks, Illuminated Promonades, Tramcars, Canal Boats, Steam Trains, Vintage Spacecraft, etc, etc...these are all romantic interests of mine. Coney Island fits right in there beautifully.  A couple of weeks ago, I took a guilty Sunday break, away from my work pressures, to drive to Whitby with Emiko. Our usual route over the moors, via Goathland and then down the hills to Whitby itself. A warm and sunny day, lunch at the 'White Horse And Griffin' in the old town and then a leisurely drive back via the long coastal route, stopping off at Reighton Gap where I used to holiday with my parents as a young boy in the 1950's. I've probably mentioned this place in my diary before. (There is also a colourful description of it in my autobiography.) Although the wooden bungalow my parents and I stayed in back then has long been demolished the actual landscape/location is virtually the same now as then. Emi took my picture standing in the same spot that I had been photographed in with my father in the 'fifties. I've included both pictures ('1950's and 2004),  for readers of this diary to see. It was nostalgic to go back to Reighton Gap again. Large, static caravans occupy the space where the wooden 'steam powered' bungalow once stood but it's still a beautifully clean and well kept site. Even Emi and I thought it would be nice to own a humble holiday home here. The atmosphere is tranquil and healthy. I had some lovely times here in my early years.

Since that Sunday, I've had my head down with the aforementioned work duties. Meanwhile, the summer has really kicked in, hot and steamy (if somewhat early), but I'm stuck inside most of the time. Could do with a proper break, to be honest. Trying to stave off the usual frazzled nervousness. This diary is a constant record of stress. Not good.  Too much essential work coming up to sustain a regular flow of these diaries. Perhaps they should be a little infrequent from now on, at least until after the tour. I'll do my best to keep something posted but my energies are better directed elsewhere for a while. I'll get back to that long list of jobs  to be tackled, problems to be solved. Let's hope I get through them all and that the tour turns out to be the success I'm hoping for. Onward...
 

on to July 2004

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