Jones & Pearson & Francis & Watton

The first band I was ever in was called The Zane Gray Incident. The three chaps with me in this photo - taken remotely using the Canon M10 - are, from left to right, Ashley Jones (guitar), Ric Francis (bass), and John Watton (keyboards and synthesisers), who were, for want of a better term, the permanent members of the band. 

While John and Ash won't be 50 until next year, it was Ric's birthday a couple of weeks ago and this evening we all met up at the Eccleston Square Hotel to celebrate. John had hired a conference room with a huge TV and sound system on which we watched the DVD from the Human League's recent boxed set (see Monday's post).

Beers and snacks had also been laid on and we had a very splendid time, commenting on the videos, songs and performances, reminiscing about the bands we loved, particularly during that golden age from 1977 to 1983. As Ash pointed out, one of the odd side-effects of looking back on a period of time that is now so long ago is that the time is oddly compressed: events that were years apart as we lived them now tumble upon one another.

I have always admired these three men immensely, from when I first met Ash at university and then joined their band, right through to the current day, over thirty years later. And even though I have known them so well and for so long, I still felt properly chuffed to be in their company, this evening. And even though we have, of course, all aged, at heart they remain just the same and I love them for it.