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Today, 17th June, is my umpteenth birthday. So it’s important to me to do something that gives back to someone who’s been a lifelong inspiration.
The Eyes of Rutherglen and Leith was written and recorded in 90 minutes on 16th June inspired by a recent update on the legal battle to restore Dick Gaughan’s music to its rightful owner. So first and foremost, it’s a tribute to one of the finest folk singers who ever lived, and secondly to a true inspiration both to my music and to values of justice and humanity. If you want to contribute, here’s the GoFundMe link, set up by Colin Harper:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/aatux2
That someone with a 60 year career in music can have the rights to their own creations ripped away from them by others whose only interest is mercenary financial gain, is something that should astonish us all. It should also encourage us to secure and/or battle for our own intellectual property rights in a world where techno-juggernauts are tearing them to shreds: fight for what is ours, and help those who are not in a position to. It really feels that the fight has gone out of humanity in this 21st century world.
As a student back in the 1970s, I had the absolute joy of hosting Five Hand Reel at venues at both the University of East Anglia in Norwich and in a couple of pubs in my hometown of Blackpool. So I met Dick Gaughan on a number of occasions that he’s highly unlikely to remember. However, I would add that you know when you’re in the presence of a really special human being.
I should probably add that I barely remember these encounters myself: the Norwich ones were generally preceded by a few of us (including their road crew) drinking an entire barrel of beer. I think we’d already preloaded for the Blackpool ones. All were joyous, fun occasions, but the music always took centre stage and it’s stayed with me for half a century. Those evenings remain some of the finest I’ve ever experienced in music.
Please consider buying The Eyes of Rutherglen and Leith. All proceeds go to the cause.
Peace.
John