After his initial hesitance ("it wasn't like this in my day" he growled, as keen students laughed and jostled in the atrium of the building ) Mr Mawdsley settled down for a morning of hardcore rock 'n' roll and he wasn't to be disappointed. After a complex classical introduction delivered on the piano, another young man provided the children with a bit of light entertainment, a "cheesy" rendition of a little known tune masterfully played on the trombone; the kids loved it, mainly for its comic turn. This was followed by some serious metal guitar, taking the atmosphere to another sonic level. As fingers burned up the fretboard, the audience could hardly contain their enthusiasm for this glowering hormonal teenager "my name's Ed, and I'm gonna play ya somefin called..." He mumbled unintelligibly before launching into everybody's idea of a great Guns & Roses style guitar solo! Then followed more metal style guitar (accompanied by regulation long greasy hair and permanent scowl ) before we were treated to the enthusiatic ramblings of a singer songwriter with freshly coiffured emo-style hair and a song about lost love, stars and butterflies. The falsetto coda was somewhat lost on the ears of the Year 6 girls in the front row who obviously expected something a little bit less feminine from this impressive six foot frame.
Then came the drums; if there is ever a moment when you become aware of the energy levels in a room rising it is almost certainly most obvious when a young man bangs the stretched skin of a drum with two wooden sticks. However, the atmosphere in the theatre was to reach dangerously high levels electrically speaking, when ex-Bowhill pupil Gemma took her seat behind the drums and treated the audience to an outstanding version of Wipeout. Previously winner of the John Stocker Talent contest 5 years ago with an unforgettable delivery of Cozy Powell's Dance With The Devil, Gemma did not disappoint. Everyone in the audience was blown away including the guitarist attempting to match her indefatigable percussive skills, and she has no doubt inspired many of the young audience to think about taking up the sticks for a future in rock 'n' roll.
So, what could we be looking forward to as the morning of entertainment reached its climax? Well, it would be an ensemble piece, played by a group comprising of two guitars, bass and drums - the classic rock line up. The irony of the singer's introduction "I think you'll all recognise this one" was perhaps lost on the children as they launched themselves into that Old Grey Whistle Test Classic - Lynard Skynard's Freebird. Looking at his watch Mr Wardknott was heard to comment that he hoped they wouldn't do the whole guitar solo as there was only forty five minutes left to get back to school! To his relief the young rockers delivered a nicely trimmed almost indie version of the rock classic leaving plenty of time for congratulations and pats on the back for the attending musicians.
The children had witnessed the potential passing of rock history as we were reminded that one day we may well see some of these musicians on the TV or in a theatre or stadium near you. "Just remember" we were told "you saw them here first".
Fun fun rock'n'roll high school
Fun fun rock'n'roll high school
Fun fun rock'n'roll high school
Fun fun, oh baby
