Homeward Bound to a PRS

After two and a half weeks in Hospital, I’m finally back at Home in London.

When I met the Consultant before my discharge, I pointed out that Michelangelo wouldn’t want to pass the Sistine Chapel on to someone else to finish. He agreed and said he was happy to let me stay on as his outpatient. This does involve a trip to Salisbury every four weeks, but the flipside means I get continuity of care and a chance to catch up with il divino.

The bad news is I can’t put any weight on my broken leg for another four weeks. Still, physio starts tomorrow, and not a moment too soon. My backside seems to have gone west.  I’m in danger of falling down the toilet. A nasty business after a Rustic Rogan.

The family have converted the Studio into a downstairs bedroom. Guitars, Mandolins and Dobros look down from the walls and sympathetically vibrate when I moan at my fantasy football team. I’m currently bottom of the league. The only way is up, but like my recovery I guess it’s early days.

Sandwiched between the dreadnoughts is a picture of my dad playing the accordion. I suppose you become reflective after a life-threatening accident, but my father is never far from my thoughts. The best musical advice he gave me was to play for the room, not yourself, Oh, and get the best instrument you can afford. A mantra I live by, as the bank manager and Jude will testify to. The last gig I played with him, he was well into his eighties. Dressed in tartan trews, flat cap, red braces and leather jacket, he beguiled the audience with his humour and lack of dress sense. He was never one to take a solo, but half-way through ‘Country Honk’ my great friend and fellow guitarist Johnny B shouted at him: “Norman, your turn”. He calmly strode to the front of the stage and ripped a Zydeco 16 bars that blew us away. A wink, that’s how you do it, old lad. Let’s get the band back on  the road? Alas, Dads not here, John lives in Italy and my Gluteus Maximus lives in fear of Mr Crapper. As they say in Gladiator, one day, but not just yet. Reflection over.

Spending money on the best instrument you can afford can also be a curse. Over the years I’ve bought a few Paul Reed Smith (PRS) guitars. They are well made, beautiful to look at, and expensive. All the ones I’ve owned have also been a bit soulless. They never really inspire me. Eventually I feel like a banker, with all the gear and no idea, and move the guitar on.  You can imagine my surprise then, when just before the accident I took ownership of a PRS DGT.

The guitar is a vintage throwback designed in collaboration with America guitarist Dave Grissom. DG: the T stands for Tremolo. If I was designing a guitar from scratch, it’s pretty much what I would have come up with. Two volumes, coil tap, locking tuners, maple cap, 22 frets. Driving it through a AC30, you get lots of options. Add some boost, drive and a little delay and you’re ready to make a din. At some stage I’ll be gigging again, and you can make up your own mind.

What you won’t be seeing is my other recent purchase. A stand that holds 6 guitars. What was I thinking? I can’t even blame the drugs they were pumping into me on the ward. Just putting the damn thing up is akin to one of the Labours of Hercules. When erected, it takes up more space than the Augean Stables and looks as friendly as the Learaean Hydra. I’m afraid to go near it just in case I knock it and two more guitars appear. It’s currently looming over my bed, ready to strike. To appease it, I’ve hung my crutches in its lower limbs and rammed my Zimmer frame against its base. Ahh, my trusty Iolaus!

In hospital to get me through the wee hours I often called on another faithful companion, Paul Simon. The man is another maestro and seriously underrated as a guitar player. Any song will do, but one that always makes me smile is Me and Julio. Here it is, from the concert in Central Park:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_RKCP9XvzQ

And for afters, late in the Evening with a young John Mayer:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwVXAjQ4cdc

Looking forward to knocking them both out soon. If you don’t know Dave Grissom try..
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bKeT1gIlmeg

I’m off to climb Olympus.