Chapter 20
ED
Now
The rehearsals for the forthcoming tour have gone very well on the whole today.
Mark’s drumming is perfection as per usual, Jez’s bass playing is as slick as ever and my vocals aren’t too shabby, but I’m not overly happy with the backing singers, Cindy and Chyna, who have just joined us.
They’ve apparently done loads of session work but I’m just not gelling with them musically.
Cindy is the better singer; she can really belt out a tune.
She’s all big hair and has a very impressive cleavage to match, the daughter of a Jamaican reggae star who’s worked with the likes of Sir Tom Jones and ABC whereas Chyna, who is originally from the Philippines, is apparently just there to look sexy, as she seems to spend most of her time pouting into her microphone, and I can hardly hear her vocals at all.
They’re great people, I just don’t think they’re a good fit with the band, but I fear we are stuck with them, as our manager, Toby Tucker, won’t have a bad word said about them.
There’s a rumour that he’s shagging one of them, or maybe even both, and that’s fine if everyone’s happy with that situation, but they’re simply not fitting into the sound of The Mountaineers.
Andy and Simon, the session musicians Toby has hired for the tour, however, are cracking, and they fit right in with us.
Toby walks back into the rehearsal room, clutching the smallest takeaway coffee cup I’ve ever seen, bought from one of those new hipster coffee shops that seem to have cropped up around the city. He sits down and turns to the backing singers.
‘So, Cindy, your voice needs to blend with Ed’s.
Remember, it’s not a competition to see who can sing the loudest. I want you two to work together.
When you get it right, your voice can really complement Ed’s.
And, Chyna, I want you to bring all your sassiness to your performance.
Don’t forget to join in with your tambourine and keep your backing vocals light.
Let’s take it from the top.’ says Toby. Maybe that’s why I can hardly hear Chyna - I was right, she’s purely here for sexiness and most likely can’t hold a tune.
I’ll certainly give it to the girls because after Toby’s such explicit instructions, their voices start to sound as if they’ve always been on the more recent tracks.
By the time we come to sing “Used to Be”, Toby instructs the girls to hang back and just dance.
“Used to Be” is always our last song, and I still get a buzz when the audience sing my words right back to me.
“With your blonde hair and ruby red lips, you were every schoolboy’s dream,
looking like a movie star staring out from a magazine.
Oh, my head’s in a state,
why, oh, why did you make me wait?
Let’s be together forever,
just you and me,
no one else matters.
They say we’re too young to know (too young to know),
but this boy’s dream eventually came true
because it was always you and only you.
The plan was to be together,
forever, forever.
My love for you will never fade,
our love was tailor-made.
Let’s get back to how we used to be (how we used to be, used to be).
Let’s be together forever,
just you and me.
No one else matters.
They say we’re too young to know (too young to know).
Our love was tailor-made,
why, oh, why did you have to leave?
We shoulda proved them wrong - it coulda just been you and me.
Please come back to me,
let’s get back to how we used to be... how we used to be... used to be.”
I wrote this song years ago, when Evie and I were together, but when she left, I revised the words slightly. Nothing like a broken heart to get the creative juices flowing.
‘Loved it, guys. Girls, that was exactly what I wanted from you. Just brilliant.’ Toby enthuses.
‘It all seems to be pulling together.’ I agree.
‘I think that’s enough for today. Get yourselves out of here.’ Toby instructs.
‘Anyone fancy a drink? My treat as a thank you for everyone working so hard today,’ I enquire.
Toby makes his excuses, as does Cindy, but Chyna says she’s up for a drink, as do Andy and Simon.
Mark and Jez are always up for a drink. There’s a pub just around the corner from the rehearsal room.
I get the drinks in, and we’re lucky enough to find some seats at the back of the pub.
Andy and Simon take no time at all chatting to Chyna while I discreetly fill Mark and Jez in on my recent meet up with Virginia and explain about how her ex-husband sold the pool party photos to the press.
‘I remember Ginny. She was a right laugh. Wasn’t she going out with Jamie back in the day?’ says Jez, leaning back in his chair.
‘Yes, that’s right.’ I reply, taking a sip from my pint, remembering how Virginia and I betrayed both Jamie and Evie one fateful night. I’ve tried to cast that particular night out of my mind, as neither Jamie nor Evie deserved that.
‘Her and Evie were as thick as thieves. Are they still in touch?’ asks Mark, interrupting my thoughts.
I shake my head. ‘Virginia never heard from Evie again. Same as me.’
‘Ooh, that’s a strange one. I thought you two were going to last the distance. It was odd the way she just kind of disappeared.’ Mark continues.
‘Yep. One day she was there, the next day she was gone. No note. Just lots of unanswered questions.’ I scratch out small splinters of wood from under the table with my thumbnail, trying to keep myself in the present, afraid to face the reality of the only woman I’ve ever loved walking out of my life all over again.
‘The only reason people have started talking about her again is because of “Used to Be”. I know we’ve capitalised on the meaning of the song, and she has, somewhat unjustly, gained a notorious reputation from all of that, but people keep asking about our relationship, and quite frankly, I’m grateful, as it’s kept us in the public eye, but I still want to find out what happened to her though. ’
‘Yeah, you’re right. If it wasn’t for the song, we’d still be playing small pubs and clubs. I’ve heard there are rumours that she was pregnant.’ Mark observed.
‘Yeah. Virginia thought that too. I don’t know what to think right now. Anyway, enough about Evie. How about some more drinks?’ I suggest, as I pat Mark on the back.
‘Yeah, that would be great.’ says Mark as Jez nods.
‘I’ll get another round in.’ Jez offers, getting up from his seat and making his way to the crowded bar.