31st October 2025
Picture the scene. The smell of hairspray in the air, the squeak of tight spandex pants, the anticipation of the night ahead. It’s November 1986 and I am in The Salisbury, a well-known rock drinking establishment in Manchester and we are getting ready to head up to our club The Banshee. The whole night is ahead of us, in fact, our whole lives are ahead of us! I am 15 years old (and a half) and life could not be sweeter. The Strongbow is flowing I am with my Marquesa band mates, who I lied to and told them I was 18 when I got the gig. The music is loud from the video duke box which is the latest tech in the pub. These were the days when there weren’t so many subgenres. So in 1986 I saw Ozzy, Ratt, Iron Maiden, Slayer and Bon Jovi. Rock was rock. I liked Rainbow and Metallica, Black ‘n Blue and Anthrax, to me it was all the same. I am not wearing spandex, it is denim and leather all the way for me. I am trying to grow my hair and I look like Eddie Munson from Stranger Things. Basically, I am invincible. We finish our beers, last orders is done and we get set to head up Oxford Road for a night of ridiculous boozing, flirting and acting like complete metal gods! As I stand up I notice Bon Jovi playing on the video juke box. Jon is belting out the words to Living On A Prayer, he said he was half way there and today, sat in Luxembourg, so are we. Ascension Tour Part one is 50% done!
I am ill. It’s been coming for a few days, but I am just getting on with it. Bit better today, at the moment, but Yesterday was a tough one but the gig was good and that is all that matters.
This tour is going great. The shows are packed, the faces are happy, the sound is good and I feel like we are tighter than we have ever been as a band. Spirits are good. We are nervous but that is a good thing as it means we care.
I decided to get a tour shirt to wear onstage. I grabbed one from Kinnat, our merch person – who is working her backside off every night -and laid it out carefully on a table in the dressing room so I could cut the sleeves off. I needed some scissors so I nipped up to stage to grab a pair from my newly returned tool case. By the time I got back, my shirt has been signed by Greg, Nick, Aaron and Steve…large sigh…bit keen these lads!
So our crew, Gabe, Ronnie, Gaz, Will and Danny have taken it upon themselves every night to send me a picture of where my toolbox has been left this time! Very funny lads. The cellar in Cologne, the balcony in Paris, the street in Lyon…I get it…ha bloody ha! Where’s Wally? More like where’s Stanley!
After Lille we headed overnight to Paris. I hadn’t been to Paris for a long time so I was excited to go back. The venue, Elysee Montmartre, is a staple venue on the live music circuit. It is a beautiful building with so much history. I last played there in late 2007 on In Requiem but sadly there was a fire at the venue in March 2011 which caused significant damage. It reopened again in Autumn 2016 and they have done such an amazing job. It felt electric to be inside those four walls again and it was a real honour to be back.
The venue is situated in front of The Sacre Couer and is right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Paris. It is busy there all of the time. I got off the bus first thing and had a little walk up to look at the Sacre Couer. It made me think that I really need to get to Paris with Rachael as she has never been. She would love it. We did videocall a few times in the day with me opening each call with the words, “Look where I am!”
Catering was really good and I was able to catch up with some work. After soundcheck I decided to head out to see a couple of things. As soon as I left the venue the heavens opened. I got soaked. I was wearing shorts, the rain was going reet in me shoe but I ploughed on anyway. I got to the very top of the Sacre Couer hill to take in the beautiful view over Paris but the low cloud meant I couldn’t see anything. I then walked over to see the Moulin Rouge past all the shifty looking blokes aggressively smoking and hustling for the strip joints nestled in between all of the sex shops…I just walked quickly…gulp.
I did get to meet some fans and I stopped to sign some autographs and take some pictures. Always humbling to me. The show was, for me, the best yet. The sold out crowd were so enthusiastic and loud. It gave me confidence and I was happy with my playing. Paris was good to us and I certainly was looking forward to going back again.
Lyon was a laundry day. I didn’t leave the venue all day. Soundchecks are so quick and efficient that we are done before you know it and there is much time to kill before our show. And then we said Au revoir to France and headed to Cologne for a day off.
Gabe proudly let the groupchat know he had found somewhere called Veganland. I pointed out that that sounded like the worst theme park ever! Will and I headed in to town to have a look around the Cathedral and to get some dinner. Day off was chilled and uneventful. Will has had a haircut and trimmed his moustache and now resembles his great grandad who flew Hurricanes for the RAF in the second world war and was also in a film called First Of The Few with David Niven. What do you think?
In Autumn 1995 I played Koln Live Music Hall with China Beach supporting Jeff Waters’ band Annihilator. Thirty years on I got to play again. I had been back with Kill II This in 1997 and with PL, last time on Requiem – some 18 years ago, but again it was amazing to be back and the show was sold out. Catering was good, they really took care of us and I fought through my cold to get through the show, in fact it felt top notch. I got to see my friends Amir, his wife Sabine and their son Navid which was great although brief and then it was shower and bed, determined to try and shake this lurgy. I still have it but I am lying low and focusing on tonight’s show in Luxembourg, a country I have not been to before.
Still not worked out how to talk to Jax on video call, missing him loads and hoping he isn’t feeling sad. We head home two weeks today, like I said, so far it has been great and long may it continue. I am really enjoying the shows and I am hoping you all are too.