Never say never!

How could I have forgotten this? In May 2018 Nicki was in the UK playing her Carol King show in theatres up and down the country. Her manager Tracy had two requests to play her country show, one at High Wycombe and the other at Dumbleton in deepest Gloucester.

We'd played that club on every tour and I'm not exaggerating when I say that they love her there. 

Tracy rang me and asked if I fancied playing bass? Chris was the drummer and Lee was on guitar and I'd played with them many times- indeed- my last gig with Nicki in 2011 had that line-up.

I was really flattered to be asked. However, there were a couple of issues to be faced.

One- I hadn't played in Nicki's band for seven years;

Two- I hadn't played bass on stage since then either;

Three- I hadn't played at that volume since then;

Four- Could I remember the songs and learn the new ones without a rehearsal?

Five- was I physically fit enough?

The first night was in a social club on the outskirts of High Wycombe. I found it really hard to stand back and let everyone else carry the kit. My ears popped a bit during the sound check and I sat on my stool as much as possible. It's strange to say- but the venues in the south of the country insist on three sets while those further north tend to ask for two. The first set ended and Tracy came backstage to give his verdict which was full of praise, saying that as far as he was concerned this line-up was the best ever.

The next show was a return to Dumbleton. We travelled together in the van and stopped for a break at a services outside Alcester on the A46. We could hear the unmistakable sound of a Merlin engine but our view was obstructed by a stand of poplar trees. We decided to extend our break and were treated to the sight and sounds of a Spitfire and a Bristol Blenheim as they entertained the crowds at the Midlands Air Festival in nearby Ragley Hall.

We arrived at the venue and loaded in (the bar staff kindly made me a cup of tea). Every seat in the club was taken before we started our show and the crowd clapped and cheered every song.

That was the last time I played on stage with Nicki. It's shame that my health issues in 2011 meant I had to call time on it.  

Last night of the 2011 tour

I was looking through some old posts from way back and found this clip of Nicki and the band on the last date of her 2011 tour. The weeks of solid touring had played havoc with my health. You can read all about it on this blog.

I should write a book!

Over the years I've played almost every kind of music- pop, rock, folk, country- you name it and I've probably had a go at playing it (but not Mongolian throat rock)

After yet another health issue that brought about my retirement in 2015 I thought I'd write it all down while I could still remember it. I'd been keeping blogs (like this one) and have a fairly good memory for dates and events so it was just a case of dusting off old notebooks and word documents tucked away on old hard drives, using the internet to clarify dates etc, make contact with old friends and pick their brains and set to work.
It soon became obvious that I'd need more than one book, so I split my story into a number of volumes. My music story is split over three volumes, there's a book about all the jobs I did to fund my music and another one about my spiritual journey.

The events in this blog are contained in the third volume. Between 2008 and 2011 I took part in three national tours with Nicki Gillis, another as part of a Patsy Cline theatre show and a tour with Nashville based singer/songwriter Jerry Arhelger. Oh- and I had a year of chemotherapy when I was diagnosed with leukaemia.

The title of this book is 'Forever Changing' and you can get the print version from my publisher's on line shop or you can order a copy from any major bookshop in the UK. There's also a Kindle version.

https://bookshop.3ppublishing.co.uk/non-fiction/forever-changing-by-dave-clemo

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07SBPKJBM/

New bass player announced.

Nicki's manager Tracy posted this on Facebook this week "Nicki is sad to announce that her original bass player (Dave Clemo) has had to withdraw from the band as a result of health concerns. While Dave's many fans will be sad to not see him again this year, Nicki is pleased to announce that Lee Jackson (ex The Nice) will be joining her UK band this year on bass and backing vocals. " Dave writes: I saw the Nice a few times back in the 60s. I shall look forward to meeting Nicki and Tracy (and Frank Ifield!) when they get here in a few weeks. And I'll try and get along to at least one of the shows

Nicki Gillis 2012 UK tour dates

Just a quick post. I'm not touring with Nicki this year because of my ongoing health problems, but her itinerary has just been published. Here it is:
Nicki Gillis UK TOUR 2012

May 31st Rehearsal, Northampton
June 1st RBL Club, Edlington, Nr Doncaster, Yorkshire
June 2nd Off
June 3rd The Railway Inn, Culham, Nr Abingdon, Oxon
June 4th
June 5th
June 6th Wingfield Miners Club, North Wingfield, Derbyshire
June 7th The Post Office Club,Stevenage, Hertfordshire
June 8th Village Hall,West Buckland, Nr Wellington, Somerset
June 9th Village Hall,Notgrove, Nr Bourton on the Water,
June 10th Driftaway CMC,RBL Club, Littlemore, Oxford, Oxon
June 11th United Services Club, Widnes, Cheshire
June 12th Solway Club, Immingham, Grimsby, Lincolnshire
June 13th Whitby S & S Club,Ellesmere Port, Cheshire
June14th
June 15th Lyons Robin Hood Holiday Park, Nr Prestatyn, N Wales
June 16th The Old Anchor Inn, Abingdon, Oxon
June 17th Athletic Club, Mexborough, South Yorkshire
June 18th
June 19th Silver Dollar CMC,Bluebird SC, Longham, Nr Bournemouth,
June 20th The Plough Inn,Aberdare, South Wales
June 21st Village Hall, Notgrove, Nr Bourton on the Water,
June 22nd Lordswood Leisure Centre, Walderslade, Nr Chatham, Kent
June 23rd The Village Club, Dumbleton, Gloucestershire
June 24th Whiston Labour Club, Whiston, Nr Prescot, Merseyside
June 26th Stanway Rovers FC, Stanway, Nr Colchester, Essex
June 27th
June 28th Hardwick Social Club, Stockton on Tees, Cleveland
June 29th Westcott S & S Club, Westcott, Buckinghamshire
June 30th The White Horse Inn, Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire
July 1st Heavy Transport S & S Club, St Austell, Cornwall
July 2nd Chertsey Social Club, Pycroft Road, Chertsey, Surrey

And finally- yes finally

I'd really struggled with my health during Nicki's tour. Eight shows in seven days was tough, although I wouldn't have changed it for the world.

Having said that, I could have done without the following two months.

Within a few days of the end of the tour I was ill. I had severe diarrhea and a throat infection. I couldn't eat and what food I could get down went straight through. I had to do something so I gatecrashed my Leukaemia specialist's clinic when I was at the hospital for another appointment. Within a few hours I had been admitted, had an X-ray and then a scan. I then had my appendix removed. I still had the other symptoms but had just avoided peritonitis as my appendix was about to burst.
I was in and out of hospital for the next week or so, and six weeks later had a sigmoidoscopy (a camera up the bum) to try and find out what was wrong. They still don't know, but I knew one thing-

This would have to be my final tour. My health had suffered too much. I'd had a month off work without pay and two months off sick. I think my body was saying- no more.

So that's it. I loved touring with Nicki. She's a lovely talented person and I'm proud to have known her. Maybe we will meet again when she next tours the UK. She and Tracy are welcome at our home anytime.

I'd like to leave you with this video. Nicki was staying at our house in between shows. It was a nice sunny day and she was in the garden playing guitar and trying a few songs out. One song she tried is now her new single "Always on my mind"



Nicki Gillis. The best I have worked with.

Final Saturday

I slept in until late morning, when Nicki and Tracy arrived from Milton Keynes. We had an appearance booked on Andy Coupland's radio show on Corby FM so we drove over and arrived in good time. Their photographer Joy was on hand to take some pictures and Tracy shot a few as well. The show was broadcast over the internet and it was a joy to know that Nicki's husband Lee was on-line, chatting with Andy and listening in. Bob Howe messaged Tracy to say he was listening, and Chris recorded the broadcast as well.
All I had to do was remember how to play the songs on guitar....

No problem. The show went really well and we returned to our house to prepare for the final night of the tour. Chris and I set off first because we had to collect Lee from Northampton. Jason was to come along to help us set up but he texted me to say that he'd arrive later as he wanted to watch the bands playing in the Market Place in Kettering.

My throat and glands were still very sore but Chris Lee and I unloaded the van and set everything up. It took longer than normal as we were one man down. Niki arrived and we ran through a few snippets of the set. We would have liked longer but that was all the time we had. Like Lee on the first night of the tour a lifetime ago, he would have to wing it.

Sue showed up with her friend Anita. Chris' girlfriend Heather came along with their friend Annette. Vince and Rachel brought Yana and Anne-Marie. My old bass player Andy and his wife brought a friend as well. Jason turned up with a friend but was a little the worse for wear to contribute to the proceedings.

Chris played really well and overall the show was a little rockier but still hugely enjoyable.

Nicki surprised at least one member of the audience with her performance of AC/DC's "You shook me all night long". This girl can really rock!

After twenty three shows Lee asked for a mike and joined in on some of the songs!

Finally it was over for another year. Nicki had taken on every kind of venue and won them over with her presence, her musicianship and her fabulous voice. She made countless appearances on radio stations up and down the country and even appeared on the Philmack Country Show on satellite TV
http://www.philmackcountry.com/

I had to drive the van after we'd loaded out. We dropped Lee back in Northampton and I just made it back home. I staggered into bed and didn't get up until lunchtime.