Lickin' Stamps
On the art of the rock'n'roll lure - then & now
My first band had twelve members, my next one had six, and then there were eight. To organise a rehearsal or book a gig meant sitting down next to the phone and making actual phone calls with prospective dates, of which a large proportion would be met by answering machines or housemates, and would then entail numerous follow ups for the next few days until a time could be locked in, or until the whole process had to begin again with a fresh date. I’d hold my breath when I had agreed availability from ten band members and had to wait on a final OK to nail it down. It seems so outrageously difficult now when I can communicate with my fellow musicians via group messages to which everyone can reply at their own leisure.
