So, I’ve been replaced in Claytown Troupe, and the first I knew about it was by looking at the MySpace page today.
True, it’s been on the back burner for a year and a half now, but I still counted myself as a member of the band until today. The band went on hiatus around Christmas 2004 for the singer to go off and have a baby (his wife, not him… duh) and then he had some nasty heart operation complications which thankfully he seems to be over now.
True, also, that I had been busy with my other band, but I’d always quite looked forward to CT getting back on the road. The gigs we did were great fun and I got on well with all the members.
So last September I received an email from the singer to all members of the band. This is an excerpt:
All said and done, the band we rebuilt in 2004 is as close to my heart as is the LDL cholesterol, I’d love to have a rehearsal to see how it feels on the ticker, who wants to have a night, either at my work as we did last time or perhaps Bush studios as we treated ourselves to before Whitby.
Let me know if you’re in or out, if you feel the moment is gone I’ll understand, but if you’d like to get together I’d be extremely pleased.
- Christian Riou, 11/9/2006.
Here is the crux of my reply, dated 2 days later, again to the whole band:
Yep, I’m still in if everyone else is! My time’s a bit more busy at the moment what with having just changed jobs and stuff, so I can’t do this weekend - or the two weekends after that!!
But I’m in for it once we arrange something.
- Clive Murray, 13/9/2006.
Then today one of the best tracks we played came up on random and I thought to check out the site and see if anything has changed or moved on.
It seems I have moved on.
And this year (2007) there have been stirrings of more new material and possible shows with Christian teaming up with Ben Christo (current Sisters Of Mercy guitarist) for rehersals. Check the bands myspace site for further info.
Oh well. It was good while it lasted and it would have been nice to resume it. Even an email to say “Sorry man, we’ve got someone else in, hope you understand” would have been alright.
Still, I wish them luck.
–c.
4 Comments
Ooh!
That sort of sucks a bit.Sort of like being divorced by email like I was a few years back…at least she had the decency to tell me, I suppose
Sorry dude, real sorry. Burning my copy of ‘Through The Veil’ as soon as I get home.
Hi Mate, somehow your posts dont seam to by syndicated through lj anymore.
Just spotted this FWIW as far as I’m concerned as a CTT fan of long standing, you were the best Guitar player that CTT have ever had, and that Chrisitan not telling you anything was out of order and I will tell him that when I see him next.
Hope to catch you soon, Best
Matt
@Matthew: Mate, as you were the guy who put me in touch with them in the first place, it’s you I have to thank for the opportunity to play with them in the first place! And a great opportunity it was too. I’m just a bit saddened that when it came down to it Christian obviously decided to go with the guy who had “Sisters of Mercy” hanging off his name rather than, y’know, the guy who was actually in the band, i.e. me.
Still, it’s water under the bridge now. The only gripe I have is that I wasn’t even told. That makes me very sad. I thought better than that of Christian and Rick. Heigh-ho, you live and learn.
As for LJ, no I don’t use the bloody thing at all, and I think the crossposting plugin for Wordpress broke a few versions ago and I never bothered replacing it. I have RSS feeds a-go-go here through Wordpress, so it seemed redundant anyway.
Cheers again, Matt, and thanks for everything.
–c.
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