Messages from h
4th June 2010
Thanks to all who came to my recent "birthday suit" gigs. Picture shows the joint effort of "Once In A Lifetime" by the Talking Heads in London. "There is water at the bottom of the ocean.."
See you soon when, once again, I will be some kind of rockstar in England, Spain, Italy, Poland and Germany! "Where does that highway go to?.."
Go digging.
h
xx
23rd March 2010
Hello young lovers.
I will be escaping the Marillion bubble again for 3 nights only to celebrate my birthday with you on May 14th (birthday) at London's Garage, Islington, May 15th (err.. the day after my birthday) at the legendary Cavern Club, Liverpool AND May 16th at the Hallam Students Union, Sheffield. These will be the ONLY solo shows I have planned this year.
I intend to live until I'm 102. Come and celebrate as I step into middle-age.
Leave a note on the guestbook, say hello, and tell me what you'd like to see (behave!) and hear. Can't promise, but I'll think seriously about it..
Yeah.
xx
ps You don't have to bring a present.
pps No cakes - I'm fat enough!
Tickets for London at http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=372616.
Tickets for Liverpool now sold out. Cheers, Liverpool x
Tickets for Sheffield at http://hallamunion.myshopify.com/search?q=steve-hogarth-in-his-birthday-suit
14th February 2010
Hello young lovers.
I will be escaping the Marillion bubble again for 2 nights only to celebrate my birthday with you on May 14th (birthday) and May 15th (err.. the day after my birthday) at London's Garage, Islington, and the legendary Cavern Club, Liverpool.
I intend to live until I'm 102. Come and celebrate as I step into middle-age.
Leave a note on the guestbook, say hello, and tell me what you'd like to see (behave!) and hear. Can't promise, but I'll think seriously about it..
Yeah.
xx
ps You don't have to bring a present.
pps No cakes - I'm fat enough!
Tickets for London at http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=372616.
Tickets for Liverpool available soon
26th December 2009
A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS to you all from Mr h.
Peace on earth and goodwill to all women and men.
xx
7th October 2009
Hello Cats and Dogs!
Hope you're all well! Maybe I'll see you soon on the road with the Marillos. Keep leaving the messages - I always read em!
One love
Mr h
23rd June 2009
Thanks to those who attended my intimate shows in Warsaw and Krakow last weekend. Apologies for the exploding PA in Krakow. In a funny way, I'm glad it happened! An evening to remember, eh?
Viva Poland and the Poles!
One love
h
21st May 2009
Many thanks to all who took the time to wish me a happy birthday. It was indeed happy in a quiet, natural sort of way (..and at MY age, that's absolutely perfect).
See you soon, and thanks again. You're a lovely bunch.
Mr h
x
3rd May 2009
Well, Montreal was also fabulous. Thanks to all who made the trip. It has caused us to seriously consider the possibility of a return across the Atlantic before too long.
NEWS!
I have confirmed 3 h Natural shows in Poland in June
June
Thursday 18th Poznan Klub Eskulap
Friday 19th Warsaw Palladium
Saturday 20th Krakow Rotunda
'hope to see you there and, together, we'll do what comes naturally.
One love
Mr h
March 25th, 2009
Holy cow. What a vibe!
It's not very often I'm speechless, but today I'm close..
HUGE thanks to all who attended this year's Marillion convention over last weekend in Port Zeeland.
The band have never known anything quite like the atmosphere of affection, good humour, and raw energy you people seemed so happy to put together. We each did our level best to reflect it back to you and I hope each one of you could feel it.
"Awesome" is, I feel, an overused expression. But not on this occasion.
Thank you all so much. It was a truly beautiful 3 days and nights.
You get what you deserve.
Bring on Montreal!
One love
h
February 22nd, 2009
A post-tour note from h
Just got out of bed after the second leg of the "Happiness" tour and I'd like to thank all those who came and made it such an outstanding memory. We left you singing every night and it was wonderful to see and hear. I have my own favourite moments but it would be misleading to name them here as I wouldn't want to offend those who weren't mentioned. Every show was really outstanding in it's own way, and the five of us have returned to England with our faith in "this thing we do" reaffirmed. We're looking to the European and Canadian Conventions with our tails up!
Over at h-tunes.com you can have a listen and download the incredible night I had in Montreal when I popped over the water in July 07 for a solo set. Coming v soon will be the gig in the cave in Gibraltar on 9.09.2006. Wey hey..
Soon, amigos, amigas.
h
January 11th, 2009
A very happy 2009 to all! I sincerely hope the credit crunch and the arctic freeze haven't messed too much with your post-Christmas vibe.
As a much-needed pick-me-up, we have extended the DVD offer of BOTH my solo fillums for £19.99 til the weather warms up. Click on the link below if you're interested and have a warm evening in by the telly with Mr h.
If it's audio you're after rather than video, the Montreal show is now available at h-tunes.com and Gibraltar is coming soon..
Anyway, no more solo shows for a while as I will soon be back out on tour with Marillion. Hmm.. Eastern Europe.. 'better get the winter underwear on. Perhaps I'll see you soon..
One love,
h
x
June 27th, 2008
A few promises are being allowed to slip, cats!
I just signed a petition asking the G8 take urgent action against
extreme poverty, and I'm hoping that you'll join me.
One love
h
Sign the petition now at: http://www.one.org/international/g8
June 18th, 2008
A million thanks to everyone who welcomed our little boy to the world. He's very blessed to be part of our global family.
Here he is back home and looking a little less beaten up!
Love and Mosesbaskets
h
x
June 12th, 2008
Born at 5.05am on Wednesday 11th June - Emil Handryziak Hogarth. Mum, baby, and Dad are doing very well!
One love just got a bit bigger
See you soon!
h
May 18th, 2008
Wey hey, young lovers!
Many thanks to all those who sent me a birthday message. I DO read everything that's posted here and I'm always very grateful for your faith and support. You can't imagine how much energy I feel coming in from the world! It's truly massive, and I'm truly grateful.
Have a beautiful and happy summer, and I'll see you very soon.
Toodleoo
h
March 28th, 2008
Good news!!
Mr h is pregnant! Well - to be more precise - his adorable and very lovely other-half Linette Handryziak-Petersen is pregnant. We've been keeping it under wraps, but it's high time we went public..
It's a BOY! We'll call him Emil. So far he's been known only as "Vibes". We're both deleriously delighted and mother and vibes are doing well. Due date June 6!
Whoopee etc..
One love,
h
February 13th, 2008
Many, many thanks to all who left condolences on the guest book. It's beautiful and peculiar to see such compassion from the 4 corners of the world. Don't worry. I'm fine, really. I remember her laughing and full of life. It's been very moving to see your reaction and to marvel at how much love comes my way. I'm lucky, and very grateful to you. One love, indeed.
x
January 16th, 2008
Ah! Back to "normal"! Thanks for the Tsunami of flu remedies - I took them all! ...and now feeling much better. Back in the studio with Los Marillos. Working on a song called "Essence" today. Sounding very good..
x
January 11th, 2008
Hello and Happy New Year
I'm at home with the flu! What a bastard. I wish you a flu-free winter, also free of life's other diseases and set-backs. If you succumb, then I hope you get well soon and go on to have the best year of your life! I'll be spending the Spring writing/recording the next Marillion album with the band (although it's not entirely inconceivable that I might be tempted out for an h natural show) if I can just get both legs out of bed..
One love
xx
December 20th, 2007
Hello loves,
Do you ever get the feeling all the Christmases are joining together? 'Must be my age.. Anyway, I wish you all the very best this festive season no matter which version of God you have. (Personally, I prefer the "God is Love" definition).
SO, LOVE and RESPECT to all and peace, and peace-of-mind, to all on earth. Live for today and stay in the NOW. Have a good time and donate something to the poor!
A thousand thanks for the faith. I hope we'll be together again soon.. Health, Happiness and One Love in 2008.
h
xx
November 13th, 2007
Thanks to those who popped into the Palau St Jordi in Barcelona for my short show. I think I met just about all of you before I went on stage and it was most heart warming to feel the spirit of you. Despite the cold, white arc-lights, I felt very relaxed and "in the zone". Sorry there was no encore - they had to close the building! Well, that's probably the last one for some time as I concentrate my efforts wholly on Marillion's album 15 and the Xmas tour. Hopefully I'll see you soon. Thanks for a great little tour. It was beautiful.
One love
h
ps If you're an h Natural junkie, go to h-tunes where you can download a whole show. I'm currently mixing the soundtrack for the forthcoming "Naked In The Chapel" DVD (filmed at the London show recently). It's looking and sounding lovely. Thanks to all who attended and created such a fantastic atmosphere. Should be available Spring 2008.
October 16th, 2007
Hello again. Many, many thanks to all who showed up in Holland and Italy for my recent solo gigs. I hope you enjoyed them as much as I. Huge thanks to all those involved in making my solo shows happen, those who gave me rides from, and to, the airports - and those (I'm thinking of Italy) who showed me incredible generosity and hospitality. I'm a lucky man.
One love
h
ps I still read the guestbook so feel free to say hi..
August 29th, 2007
Thankyou Köln. That was as scary is it was uplifting, and as exciting as it was emotional. I'm still coming down.. h x
July 31st, 2007
Hello young lovers,
It's stopped raining!! I'm taking a short break between Porto and Cologne. All's well. Thanks to all who came to La Tulipe and made it another Montreal night to remember. Thanks too to all who came to the little gig in Porto. 'Was much quieter, but intense.. See you in the chocolate factory in Cologne. Maybe I'll do "Savoy Truffle"..
One love.
h
July 1st, 2007
Good God! Just saw that my last message was for Christmas 06! Very shoddy, so I'm pledging to make more effort in future. Ta to all who kept the faith during the "Somewhere Else" tour. It nearly killed me! All wounds and bruises are now healed (well, nearly) and I'm left with nothing but good memories. During the summer I'll be treading the boards alone once more and I'm really looking forward once again to the intimacy, the spontaneity and the uncompromising selfishness/ selflessness of h natural gigs. I won't ask you to care, but say you'll be there..
One love. One life.
h
December 13th, 2006
Loves.
I have had the most amazing year! My life has changed totally. Marillion have made another great album (just wait). I have discovered that it's possible to create an incredible vibe without the use of flashing lights and articulated lorries full of equipment. I have discovered that there are people out there who will support me and travel to see me, expecting nothing in the hope that I will give everything. I did my best..
So HUGE thanks to all who gave a damn. You HAVE to care.
If you haven't had a go at h-tunes.com yet, it's thoroughly recommended. You can re-live the h natural gigs one at a time, although you may have already missed a few.. Barcelona is up at the moment and London is coming soon.
I'll be releasing a DVD of the Sheffield show early next year. Shot by the infamous Boom Boom Boys, the movie will be available at Racket Records.com and at the Marillion convention at the beginning of February.
SO Have a great Christmas, tell your friends that you're glad they're your friends, and make a commitment to give 10% of what you spend on Christmas presents to the poor. After all, that's what Christmas is really about.
I'll see you VERY soon
One Love
h
x
24th September 2005
Hello Campers
Big love and respect to all who showed up on the W Coast of USA for the Los Trios shows. America was generous and uplifting. Thank you.
I've been a bit busy lately so I'm late in expressing my sincere condolences and best wishes to anyone out there who found themselves victim of the hurricanes in Louisiana and now, Texas. Marillion have family in New Orleans so it's all much nearer to us than you might imagine. Please know that the people of the UK are thinking of you and feeling for you.
With the death-toll rising now to over 1000, this is yet another body- blow to our friends in the USA. To put this tragedy in context, however, please check out makepovertyhistory.org and one.org.
We are all in this together. We are all sisters and brothers on this unimaginably small, fragile and sometimes cruel oasis WE have called "Earth". It takes a tragedy to remind us how silly we are when we become pompously proud of what we "own". Our generation could use it's wealth to save millions of our brothers and sisters from misery and humiliation. Aid is only a small and temporary part of the solution. The REAL solution is a change of heart as individuals, communities, RELIGIONS, and national governments realize that we HAVE to think of the people of this planet as one big family. Not to do so, has so far been the unforgivable and silly mistake of history. Divided, we fall. Please lobby your friends, priests and leaders to wake up and become aware of what the world is. And what it could be! Isn't it time we did something useful? Isn't it time we asked some questions of OURSELVES? Isn't it time we did something amazing? Together, it's easy.
PS This isn't politics. It's not a dream either. It's an alarm. You HAVE to care.
PPS I'm working on a new h album.. sounding very deep.. Keep faith amigos. x
28th May 2005
Once again, thanks to all who took the trouble to send me a birthday greeting. Lucky me. Much appreciated. Happy Birthday to you too, whenever it strikes! Please nudge your political leaders about the G8 summit in July. Time's running out..
One love.
Mr h
Go to makepovertyhistory.org, sign an email to Tony Blair. Stop 30,000 people dying every single day. These deaths are entirely preventable. Together our generation CAN stop this. Do it now - it won't take a minute. There's a love
18st April 2005
Every THREE seconds a child dies of poverty on this planet. That's every 3 seconds of every minute of every hour DAY and NIGHT. Think about that..
Now think about it a bit more. That's right, it's about thirty-thousand people each day. Ordinary, nice, innocent, unlucky people. Dead.
Preventable deaths.
How do you feel about that?
I feel angry. And I feel ashamed.
So what am I going to do about it?
I'm going to make a noise. Everywhere. And (like my other noises) it won't be much of a noise without you.
The REALLY good news is that we're probably the first generation EVER who can address and STOP the downward spiral of world poverty, once and for all. We can only do this if we stand up as ONE and ask our leaders - TELL our leaders - INSIST that this obscenity is tackled NOW.
We CAN stand up as ONE and make a noise about it.
We don't even have to put our hands in our pockets..
This year, on July 6th and 7th, the leaders of the G8 (the 8 wealthiest countries on earth) will sit round a table in Gleneagles, Scotland, to discuss this issue and to take steps to try to resolve it.
Whether these steps are half-hearted politics, or impassioned commitments, depends entirely on the weight of public pressure these 8 men feel. It's our job to leave them in no doubt.
This meeting will be hosted by Britain and chaired by the British Prime-Minister.
A new "Charity" (more of a "movement" than a charity) has been formed called "MAKE POVERTY HISTORY". You can become part of this movement at no cost to yourself by going to www.makepovertyhistory.org and adding your voice to the cause. You can save someone's life by doing this. You can do the single most important and proud thing you've ever done. The G8 have the very real power to prevent the fundamental underlying causes of poverty in the world. And we can afford it. WE won't even feel it.
Imagine how you'd feel if you did nothing.
Please help me to make a bigger noise about this. People are dying in the world right now at a greater rate than at any time during the holocaust. (It's not, of course, a deliberate extermination but it's preventable and our leaders know all about it.)
And now, so do we.
How could we stand-by and do nothing?
I won't stand for this. And I can't believe you will either. I'd be insulting you if I thought you'd ignore this.
Please go and make a noise at www.makepovertyhistory.org or click on the link. It's really easy. Send an email to your Prime Minister, President, (or whatever the hell title they're calling themselves) and CHANGE THE WORLD IMMEASURABLY FOR THE BETTER.
One world. Just people. One love.
h
Go to makepovertyhistory.org, sign an email to Tony Blair. Stop 30,000 people dying every single day. These deaths are entirely preventable. Together we really CAN stop this.
21st March 2005
Hello loves,
BIG thanks for the flood of good vibes after the convention at Minehead. 9 hours of autographs and 7 hours of music has left me uplifted and yet exhausted. Going to bed til Christmas. See you when I get up.
PS Check out makepovertyhistory.com and make a noise about it with me and Saint Bob.
3rd January 2005
Big and best wishes to all our readers. I hope 2005 brings you rude health, happiness, success and peace of mind. (If it does, then you're a VERY lucky bastard..)
Mr h
PS Please send a donation (no matter how small) to the tsunami relief fund
http://www.google.com/tsunami_relief.html
18th December 2004
Well blimey here it is again!
No matter where you are in the world - whether you're traveling, visiting or staying home, I'd like to wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas in your MIND (which is where it matters most). Try to be NICE to someone who doesn't entirely deserve it (we can give more than presents) and, if you're not totally broke, choose a charity and send something to those less fortunate. Don't be afraid to sing a carol. Don't be afraid of anything. Drink LOADS, try not to get sick and be patient with those who do. Don't eat too much, and I'll try not to also. If you're not a Christian, have Christmas anyway just for fun. If you're a pagan (like me) dance naked and I hope you don't get arrested. Here comes summer...
It's a circular ride.
LOVE, PEACE, UNDERSTANDING
h
14th November 2004
Hello cats and kittens,
I'm taking a little flack from one or two people across the pond who've got the impression that I have anti-American predjudices. Just want to go on record here to say that the tour of the US was, for me, a pleasure throughout. I met a lot of Americans - some of whom had travelled many many hours to catch our shows - and the vibration and atmosphere was amazing. Please bear in mind that my diary entry was just that - a diary entry - which reflects my thoughts in the moment as events unfolded during our LONG and unpleasant flight to Mexico City. I wasn't exactly made to feel welcome in the USA during those 30+ hours and that's a fact. If to state such a fact seems anti-american, well what can I say?
I haven't been to America since 9/11 and this journey was my first impression of the new way of dealing with foreigners. It wasn't a very favourable impression at the time. You'd have had to be there really to witness the disdain of UA's crew before you'd have any right to say that my journal has an anti-american stance. Reading it back, I guess I was a little heavy handed with the John Lennon quip, but he too was British, had a bit of a problem with up-tight and needless rules, and he WAS shot by an American who WAS nuts. And the FBI HAD just diverted our flight hundreds of miles to arrest a singer who was Ghandi and Jesus rolled into one, compared to Lennon.
Having said that, when we returned to the US to tour (starting in LA) the ENTIRE experience was positive, friendly and proof that some of my feelings about "America" during the flight-out were wrong, and I ought to have known better.
Getting upset because I couldn't have two beers might appear a little prima donna-ish, but then we HAD paid well over a thousand dollars for each ticket, so it didn't seem like a lot to ask under any circumstances (let alone after what we'd already endured). I wasn't trying to have a party - I was simply trying to induce sleep so as to be in with a chance of having a voice when I got to Mexico where I was singing live to an audience of 5000+ AND live TV. (It's the best laxative known to man..) Singers are always very concerned for their own health as the voice is always the first thing to go when you're deprived of sleep (or when you have a cold - like after standing wet-through under a freezing AC outlet for 2 hours as I have done in the past - hence the nervousness in Boston) If I lose my voice, we don't really have a show. If you were a formula 1 racing driver, you'd be quite reasonably concerned about the shape of the car and if someone came along and screwed with it, you'd be baying for their blood irrespective of their nationality or their agenda.
(Allright, you've made your point, shut-up Mr h.)
But anyway!.. could I just say that I have many American friends. I thought the shows were terrific and the audiences generous of spirit, and nearly everyone I met said they were worried, pretty angry, and ashamed of the American government's ongoing foreign policy, just as I am about the UK's.
Thank you to the American fans.
Love to all
h
The journey to Mexico
A few people have commented on our journey to Mexico and the arrest of Cat Stevens (or Joussef Islam, as he has been known for the last 20 years) so I'll share the experience with you..
"Oh Baby Baby It's a Wild World" Air-rage here I come..
Tuesday 21st September 2004
Woke up at 7.30 after one of those bad nights of waking up repeatedly and wondering what time it was. Rolled out of bed and downstairs where I showered before making my first crucial coffee of the day. The house was slowly coming to life as Nial first and then Dizzy appeared in the kitchen. Nial went to shower and I drank coffee, kissed good morning to Sofie and tried to gather my thoughts and possessions together. I leave for Mexico City this morning. There's a car collecting me at 8.30. It arrived early at 8.10 so I maintained my old tradition of not actually packing until the car arrived. Threw all my things together and said bye bye to Nial and Sofie who went off to school happily. Dizzy shed a few tears – she's not looking forward to me going away. I'm sure I'd feel the same if the boot were on the other foot – I'll be away for about three weeks, and I guess I'll be the centre of attention more or less throughout. There's much can happen to place a wedge between us, but we've come this far and we've both fought to keep our marriage together despite some colossal pressures. If anything was going to split us up, I think it already would have. As with everything else in life, we've both learned from years of previous experience and, believe me, there's much to learn from living this way.
I left at 8.30 on a bright sunny morning and the taxi made fairly good time, depositing me in Heathrow Terminal 3 around 9.45. I met up with Steve, Pete, Ian and tour manager Quinner (Mark's flying in tomorrow) and we checked into flight UA 919 to Washington DC for the first leg of the journey. Check-in was pretty straightforward, much to my surprise as I was expecting security procedures to be pretty heavy. Security at International Departures was thorough however and a pair of scissors and Swiss Army Knife (which has been in the bottom of my toilet bag for years) were confiscated and checked into lost property so that at least I can claim them back upon my return. I made my way to the gate and we boarded the 747 which took off on time without a hitch. Amazing. The flight was fairly uneventful. I spent most of it chatting to Roderick, our sound engineer and trying to read his Sound-on-Sound magazine over his shoulder. The stewardesses must have been around since the 60's, and are now, well, in their sixties by the look of them. Personally I think the shine had long since faded in terms of their enthusiasm for the job, and it's a shame they didn't retire when they ceased to enjoy it. I'm sure I remember a time when cabin crew were young, glamorous, enthusiastic and had at least the pretence of a sense-of-humour, but those days are gone now as far as many global carriers are concerned, and I think UA must actually have put this lot through some kind of passenger aversion therapy. I felt like I was back at school under the gaze of disapproving teachers. We were due into Washington around 14.45 and thankfully around 14.45 we were told to fasten our seatbelts for landing.. I was looking forward to getting away from the surly uptight stewardesses and stretching my legs. As we landed a voice came over the PA "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the purser. I have to inform you that we are not landing at Washington Dulles airport as we have been redirected to Bangor International Airport in Maine."
As I listened to this, I looked out of the side window to see a line of four or five large military aircraft – this place looks like a USAF airbase.. The purser continued:
"The flight crew are too busy to speak to you right now but I can tell you that this diversion is due to bad weather over Washington and the need to refuel the aircraft."
Hmm.. well that sounded plainly untrue to me and I began to fear the worst. Jesus.. a hijack?.. a suspected bomb?.. I asked the nearest stewardess what was going on. Why do we need to refuel when our time in the air has been as scheduled? She seemed neither concerned nor interested and told me that she had only been in the job for two years and didn't understand the intricacies of refuelling. I asked her to bring me a stewardess who DID understand the intricacies of refuelling then. The tension I already felt was heightened when the purser came back on to the PA to tell us we were not allowed to use our cellphones at this time. 15 minutes passed before the captain finally deigned to speak to us.
He told us that "a few people at the back of the aircraft have been asking questions" and he could now tell us that the diversion had been requested by the FBI and security forces and at the moment he was advised that he was forbidden to fly to Washington "in this aircraft with these passengers and this crew at this time." A strange choice of words..
We were told we could now use our cellphones to call home if we should require and that we should remain in our seats with seatbelts fastened until further notice. An hour passed until the captain came back on the PA to tell us that we must now "de-plane" and take our hand baggage with us.
On the way through the door of the 747 I was told by a stewardess that two "suits" from the FBI had boarded the plane and already escorted two people from the aircraft. Wow. Let's hope nothing's about to go bang, then..
We were led into a bleak hall where several lines had formed to pass through immigration and into the good ol' USA.. The unfortunate chap in front of me was questioned at length, delaying the queue I was in as all the others seemed to move along smoothly (you know the feeling). Turns out his only crime was to be holding a Pakistani passport, but that was enough to warrant him being taken into a side room from which I never saw him emerge. I had bought a little digital camera on the flight over, so I was trying to snap some kind of visual record of what was going on. I was tapped on the shoulder by the guy behind me who said I risked arrest if I was caught taking photographs in the immigration hall. I told him I thought this was the land of the free. "Not anymore" he said, ruefully.
I was fingerprinted and asked a few routine questions by a female immigration officer who was actually very pleasant, especially so when compared to UA's bitter old air stewardesses. After immigration I went through to a baggage hall where I picked up my hideous and beautiful pink suitcase before crossing the hall to Customs where an old female Customs officer had a good rummage through my cases. Having done this I was asked to put my pink suitcase on another conveyor where it disappeared into a hole in the wall. Now we were free to wander down into the main lobby of the airport via a down escalator. At the bottom of this stood an attendant who asked me if I had any questions.
"Yes." I said, "Do you know what's EXACTLY going on here?"
"Yes." He said, in a hushed tone "The FBI just took Cat Stevens and his daughter off your flight.. but I haven't told you!"
Bloody Hell! All this for a singer/songwriter who has claimed to be a pacifist for his entire life. A good job Lennon wasn't on the plane – they'd have taken him out and shot him! (if some other American nutter hadn't already done it.)
This was quite a story and would be particularly so back in England where Cat was a big star in the 60's and 70's so I called Lucy and Lord B (our publicist) to let them know what had happened. Leave it to us, they said.. I hung up the phone, conscious of the fact that I'd just broken a pretty big news story. Strangely we now had to retrieve our checked-in baggage AGAIN from a conveyor on this level so there was more hanging around until the hideous pink bag showed up. This enabled us all to go and form ANOTHER queue across the hall and begin checking in all over again. The pink bag was checked in afresh but not before being examined by yet another security guy who swabbed the handle before placing the swab in a machine – checking for trace elements of explosives, no doubt. Aah, them singer/songwriters can go off bang at any moment.. (I was beginning to feel like I might explode myself, however, this was only just the beginning..). Having checked my pink bag back in, we were pointed back up the stairs to a gate where (see if you can guess?..) our hand baggage was put through a scanner along with the contents of our pockets etc.. etc...
So now we were all back at a departure gate where we waited yet another hour before being allowed back on the plane. If this makes tedious reading, it made bloody tedious doing! Back on the plane we waited a further hour while the captain explained that the staff at Bangor Maine were not equipped to load 747's so it would take a long time to load the bags into the hold but that they were "doing a great jarb". He then informed us that, for similar reasons, the plane was unable to re stock food or drinks and that the staff would only be able to give us limited supplies of water during our onward flight to Washington and nothing else. He thanked us all on behalf of America, himself, his crew, his children and his grand-children for our patience and understanding. This was a bizarre statement, but ‘bizarre" was beginning to be lost on me as a concept. I think he was trying to imply that by being patient (we had a choice?) and subjecting ourselves to a 7 hour diversion (and much arsing about while our bags were repeatedly examined by various different people and machines) we had somehow saved him and his entire family tree from annihilation at the hands of a mad Moslem intent on bloody mass murder. It was good to know that the man entrusted to fly our 747 was such an easy going rational guy.. So now we were all super-heroes too.. Well that's nice.
After a private pause to contemplate whether the runway was long enough to take off, I crossed my fingers and, at last, we thundered down the runway clearing the perimeter fence by what looked like a few feet. The journey to Washington was refreshingly straightforward although a little spartan. After an hour or so, water was passed round sparingly. I tried to look grateful so as to avoid the evil eye of the headmistress.
When we arrived it was 10pm local time. We had missed the last flight of the day to Mexico City and we had been booked on the 8.40am flight in the morning which was not direct, but via Chicago – once again, hundreds of miles in the wrong direction. The crowning news of the day, however, was that there was not one single hotel room available anywhere in Washington DC. Apparently there's some hot new exhibition of native American Indians at the Smithsonian Institute (Museum) and the city is packed solid with visitors. This means that our only choice was to sleep in the airport and, after frantic phone calls which failed to secure any hotel rooms at any price, we settled down beneath the white fluorescent lights which (UA staff said) could not be switched off "for security reasons" (ah, Americas new answer to every rational query.). Small aeroplane-pillows and thin blankets were found in an attempt to fall just short of treating us like farmyard animals, and we lay down one by one on the seats of the airport terminal. I think I managed an hour of fitful sleep before my phone started ringing and the UK's radio and TV news started asking me what was happening. First came BBC Radio 5 live, then after a brief show of interest from "Good Morning America" which waned, Channel 4 news. I was still talking to Channel 4 news when our 8.40 flight to Chicago began boarding. Quinner our tour manager, attempted to negotiate us an upgrade to business class as a compensation for the delay and the sleepless night, but UA would have none of it. They said that any liability was not theirs, as the diversion had been a security issue. When I got on the plane I saw that I had been given a seat in the middle of a row of three occupied seats. I got back off the plane and threw a minor fit into the face of a Customer Relations supervisor, eventually being offered a row of 3 empty seats at the rear of the plane so that I could sleep. I spent a valuable hour horizontal before disembarking for the connecting flight to Mexico City which was leaving almost immediately. I have to sing live at The National Auditorium (capacity 9000) tonight (Wednesday), it's being broadcast live on Mexican television and I haven't slept since Monday. No pressure then. We rushed to the gate and made it in time to check in and make our way onto the plane. The checked in baggage had been checked right through this time, so we were kind of resigned to maybe not getting our luggage for a day or two. Made our way onto the plane and settled down to be told that the pilot's seat was faulty and that another one must be found and assembled in it's place. Well, we had to laugh! That was about an hour ago, and there's still no sign of it. As I write, I'm further from Mexico than I was this morning and going nowhere fast. The longest journey of my life was the ludicrous one from Rio to Boston via Heathrow, back in 1996 and at 37 hours, I thought it couldn't be beaten. At the moment I've been travelling for exactly 33 hours and we still have to get down to Mexico City. I get the feeling we're going to break our own record.
The new pilot's seat finally arrived and was installed in around 2 hours. We set off to Mexico, exhausted and resigned to whatever happens next, at 11.45. Soundcheck at The National Auditorium is noon. I think we'll probably miss it.. After we were airborne food was served. I wasn't really hungry but my game plan was to have a couple of beers and lapse into coma so that at least I could chip away at some of the 6 hours jet lag and general exhaustion and perhaps be in with a chance of being in a fit state to sing tonight in Mexico City. When the steward came round with the drinks I asked for two beers. I figured this would save him the hassle of having to serve me twice. This proved a problem. "I'm sorry sir I can't legally provide you with more than one beer but if you let me know when you have finished this one I will provide you with another." He said in the slightly terse manner I've come to expect from UA's cabin crew. I'm talking about little half-pint cans of Heineken. I sighed and saw little point in debating the issue - it's no-doubt a "security" thing. I sipped at the little can as slowly as possible whilst casting an eye over the in-flight movie "The Alamo" – the usual Hollywood American legend dressed up as heroic fact, with just enough modesty written into it to make it less than utterly cloying. When I had finished the beer I pressed the button to ask the steward for another. He arrived and told me tersely that he was still serving passengers further down the plane and that he would get back to me when he was finished. Jesus, what a country this is! I've been travelling for 37 hours and I'm being ticked off for doing as I was told in the first place. I hung on another ten minutes or so, and then I thought I'd just walk down the plane and ask him for a beer, then he could simply reach into the trolley and give me one. This I did but he refused, became shirty and told me that he didn't like my attitude. I told him I wasn't crazy about his attitude either and asked to speak to his superior. He directed me to the front of the plane where I tried and failed to complain about the situation to another member of the cabin staff. He listened whilst visibly bristling and then said "You've had your say, now let me have mine.." I was accused of harassment and the so-called superior told me that if I persisted in causing trouble he would have the plane landed at the nearest airport and have me escorted from the aircraft. Now in an extreme state of derision, I resisted the urge to reach out and strangle him, remained calm and asked him how difficult it would have been for his colleague to simply reach down into a trolley and pass me a beer, and how this question constituted harassment of the cabin crew? ..but it was a waste of breath. I was tempted to call his bluff and tell him to go ahead and ground the plane, but that would have put an end to tonight's acoustic show in Mexico and would have also further buggered up the lives of all the passengers on this flight (not to mention getting me banned from ever entering the U.S. again). In the end he said he would bring me a beer when he had finished serving the first class passengers if I could assure him that there would be no "problem". I resented the implication that I was some kind of troublemaker and I told him I failed to understand the question but that, no, there would be "no problem". I was given a second beer some 15 minutes later. Gosh! I'd consumed an entire PINT of lager in an hour! Call in the marines - madman on board! For the rest of the flight I kept my head down and - too stressed to sleep - tried to faithfully reproduce the events of the day here in this diary. The steward in "economy" ($1400 return from Heathrow) never did bring me a beer.
We FINALLY arrived in Mexico City around 4.00 pm and were met in the arrivals lounge by two friendly and helpful Mexican girls – working for the promoter – who hastened our journey through immigration and customs and we were soon in a minibus with our good friend Andrea Escobar, heading towards the centre of town and the Sheraton hotel where you can order more than one half-pint of beer at a time. It felt good to be back in a civilized country..
Don't think I'll be flying United Airlines again..
God bless America.. and God help us all.
27th October 2004
Well! The USA and Canada exceeded my wild expectations. Mexico, too, was amazing. Big thanks to all who came along and big love to all who left messages on the guestbook. What a vibe!
Love and handstands.
h
7th September 2004
Well, here we go again. I'm well rested after a few weeks off at home and more than ready for the forthcoming European, Mexican, American and Canadian shows. (All dates can be found here). Thanks to all who left messages of support and feedback after the last leg of the tour. Much appreciated. You're too kind. See you very soon hopefully.
Love to all
Mr h
24th July 2004
Hello summer hols and summer groovers.
Taking a break from the Marbles to recharge and rehabilitate. The first leg was ace throughout. BIG thanks to anyone who bought a ticket and came along. It felt like one of the best tours ever. I didn't have one bad show throughout. So much so that it's hard to choose a favourite, although that amazing night in Montpelier seems still to resonate around the inside of my hollow head. The really good news is that we'll be back soon with another chance for me to enjoy your big-love-thing in London, Paris, Utrecht, Köln, Belgium, MEXICO CITY, USA, Montreal (the only city I ever crowd surfed!) and Quebec. Lucky me.. All dates can be found at marillion.com.
Have a great summer and I'll see you at my favourite time of year - September/October.
By then, my finger should have healed up..
:o]
16th May 2004
Thankyou so much to all who left me a birthday message. It's the best present a chap could receive, to have so much love and affection coming in from the corners of the world. I'm a very lucky man and very grateful to you all for thinking of me and for supporting me, Marillion and the h band.
Hope to see you soon on the road in Europe, and in the US.
And, although I've probably got the date wrong, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU TOO.
Yeah.
Mr h
26th April 2004
Big thanks to everyone out there who bought Marillion's single "You're Gone" and gave me my first ever Top 10 single. What a shocker! We haven't had time to celebrate, as we're too busy rehearsing for the "Marbles" tour. Playing marbles isn't as easy as it used to be.. Big love to all, see you on the road, and I'll be jamming some new ideas in the studio with the h band in December...
h
14th March 2004
Hello young lovers. Welcome to my official cyber home. It's going to be a little quiet on the h solo front for a while as I'm about to dive into the Marillion release of our new album "Marbles" (thoroughly recommended btw.) I hope to see you somewhere soon while I'm on the road. They tell me I have November and December free so I'll finally get to dive into the studio and jam some new ideas with the geniuses. Hmm..
Please sign the guestbook. I read all the messages and I like to have my finger on your pulse..
Big love to all. And let's hope the world returns to it's senses.
h
25th December 2003
Wey hey, young things! I wish you a truly happy, healthy Christmas full of simple pleasures and laughs, and I hope 2004 brings you ALL you can handle..
Ahaaaaarghghghgh!
See you soon..
Big love
Mr h
21st October 2003
Well. That was a blast, wasn't it? Thanks to all - band, crew and audience - who made the magic possible. Thanks to the audience in Zaandam for enduring our first-night iffyness. Thanks to Hellendoorn for being great hosts and putting up with the Saturday night drunks at the bar (I don't mean me!). Thanks to Köln for treating us like princes, and being in such great voice. Thanks to Milan for singing Estonia for me when my voice was broken. And last but not at all least thankyou London for a magical last night. Sorry I never came out afterwards - I had to rush off home. Happiness. h
Oh bugger! Forgot to mention Barcelona! What a fantastic gig. Definitely the most relaxed I can remember the h band ever being on a stage. Big thanks to our Spanish family for putting us at such ease. Thanks also to everyone who left messages on the guestbook. It's good to know you enjoyed the gigs as much as the band.
Soon, amics!..
11th May 2003
Hello you lovelies,
I've had a few people pointing out inaccuracies in my previous message. Should have been more careful with the times and dates. Anyway, the point I was making should have been obvious enough. That's enough politics and history from me for now anyway. I wasn't trying to be "political" out of any kind of vanity - I was just trying to stand up for the innocents, as I hope we all would. I got a bit of a bashing for it in certain quarters, too. Funny old world. . One day we'll all die laughing!
Oh, and if you haven't heard it, have a listen to "Poses" by Rufus Wainright - it's a fine album.
Love to all
Steve Naive
1st April 2003
Hello Campers,
Big thanks to all who came over to the marillofest at Minehead. My head DID explode during the third autograph session on Sunday. Amazingly for March, the weather was sunny. The people even sunnier, and infinitely warmer. The whole thing was a blast - (even my ill-conceived artist jam.. which never really came together. Oh well - can't have everything!) I've never sung at full-stretch for 8 hours in three days before.
Typically, I got sick the following week and have been to bed for approximately a fortnight. Thought it was the Hong Kong flu for a sec, but I'm still alive so it can't have been.
I'm trying to put together an h show (or two) in the Autumn, and still planning a bit of writing later in the year.
Make sure you sign the guestbook!
Love
Mr h
12th January 2003
Happy January 2003 to the mad world! I hope you a good festive season and that the thought of returning to work hasn't depressed you too much. This year, I've promised myself a bit of h writing time and I'm planning to get into a studio with the h band for a bit of jamming and a general vibe-out so I can start to get a feeling of where the music should go next. The practical aspect of getting such a busy bunch of vampires into one place at one time doesn't get any simpler. Richard's band, the Porcupine Tree, are committed to an increasingly heavy touring schedule (best of luck, chaps!), Aziz occasionally calls me from "a limo with mirrors on the ceiling" whilst touring with Ian Brown, and Andy Gangadeen is somewhere far-flung and exotic whenever I hear from him. Needless to say, some things are worth waiting for, and God knows I'm the King of Waiting. I'm currently up to my neck writing the next Marillion album. Coming together nicely, at last.. Don't forget to sign the guestbook - I want to know who you are and where you're coming from.
Love, peace, and Yorkshire pudding
H
X
PS I don't want to be a "political artist" but, at times like these, one has no choice. So I'm asking a favour:
Please write to whichever politician claims to represent you and ask why we're invading Iraq. Why we're REALLY invading Iraq, and why we're so damn sure they have all these weapons programmes that don't seem to exist in real life. Isn't it time the people were AT LEAST allowed to see some hard evidence?
A couple of quotes:
There's no such thing as a winnable war. It's a lie we don't believe any more.
War. What is it good for. Absolutely nothing.
This isn't only wisdom. It's proven fact. What the hell's going on?..
Remember that those who watch and say nothing, and do nothing, might aswell be pulling the trigger.
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