The Beat Goes On

Superb week of gigging perfectly counterpoined.
With the two [very successful] Leppard outings under his belt Dicky D has returned triumphant to the sad news of the death of a good friend.

After attending a civic reception with the [lovely] Mayoress, and unveiling of DEF LEPPARD'S 'Pavement Star' outside the boys' home Town Hall on the Friday before the Sheffield Arena gig, DD travelled back to Brum to play the infamous Roadhouse with The Fabulous E Numbers.
Sadly a life long friend of the band, and big part of the inner family had passed on to a better life that afternoon.

"The gigs in Sheffield and at The Hammersmith Apollo were fantastic things, as was the E Numbers thrashing.... I've just played a great set here with Jo, and I'm really looking forward to the Maniac gig in a couple of weeks time, but the world's always gonna be a different place without our Winnie"

Dick after Guisborough with JST

Margie Young and what she meant to us all couldn't be described on a short blog post... or even in a whole set of encyclopaedias, and even though she moves to a better place, and we weep for ourseleves and each other at these times, it is incredible how many will miss her so badly.

I am going to post more info soon, and a link to the song that Dick wrote for her before she lost her battle, and which will be played for her tomorrow at the ceremony. It will be so hard to say goodbye. Margie I love you.

The Roadhouse gig was unbelievably emotional, and when the band came back to the stage after two ferocious sets of rockin' R&B to play 'Willing' One last time for Winnie, there wasn't a dry eye to be found. The place fell pin drop silent as Dick played the introduction alone, and Bertie started to sing with that genuine cry in his usually so powerful voice. Soon the whole band joined in and a couple of slugs of 'Bulleit' later the whole room was singing it at the top of their lungs.

I couldn't help remembering Carlo, and wanted to scream vengeance at fate, and at nature's indifference. Then I remembered that that would be utterly pointless, and that the lyrics of 'I'm With You' were more than just pretty, they meant something.

© DD '05
Remember I'm With You [song for M]

(All Light Beings Please Now Harken)

Don't feel depressed
Don't feel depressed at all
Don't feel depressed, no-oh I'm happy
And I'm happy that a girl like you
Ever made it into the world

Ain't feelin' blue
Ain't feelin' blue at all
Ain't feelin' blue, no-oh I'm in the pink
And I'm happy that a girl like you
Ever laughed backstage with your friends
Oh and hoped the night would never end

Why's it have to be like this?
Close your eyes and I will kiss, kiss the pain away
I'll blow the rain away from the sky
There'll be no more wondering why
No more reason to cry, no reason to cry

Remember I'm with you

Ain't givin' in
Ain't givin' in at all
Ain't givin' in, hell no I'll fight the fight
'Cos I'm happy that a girl like you
Ever cried and gave me the news
Ever smiled and gave me the blues
Ever gave me something to lose, something to lose

And I'm crying
Close your eyes and I will kiss, kiss the pain away
I'll blow the rain away from the sky
There'll be no more wondering why
No more reason to cry, reason to cry

Remember I'm with you

(All Light Beings Please Now Harken)

Don't feel depressed
Don't feel depressed at all
Don't feel depressed, no-oh I'm happy
And I'm happy that a girl like you
Ever made it into the world