MOG

The Brinsleys keep popping up on Mog and every time dredges up some intense memories. They were the first band I saw upon moving to England (at the Roundhouse no less) and I was pretty much an instant fan. I don't know how many times I saw them, but the last ever show (at the Marquee no less) sticks. I was going to another gig a few months earlier and ran into Nick Lowe at the bar in a pub across the road from the show. I asked how he was and he said something about mixed feelings as he had just told the band he was going to finish the band. My immediate reaction was 'that makes me really sad to hear' and his reaction was, 'well that makes me feel really good', adding words that it meant the band really meant something to people and they would be missed. After the breakup the next time I saw him was in the newly rented Stiff offices and he and Jake Riviera were opening up a carton of newly delivered Stiff 001 singles - Nick's 'In The Heart Of The City'. Once I got home and heard t I don't think it came off the turntable for about 2 weeks. Then there was the Stiff Tour where he played with Dave Edmunds and then with lvis and so on and so forth. Plus the endless parties where we would hold up the kitchen countertop while sharing jazz cigarettes and discoursing long and deep on music. Thanks for bringing it all back up!