Ian and Jon have reaffirmed their song writing partnership and created the album 'Back In The Game'.
But how does the inspiration become reality?
Welcome to this special area of DENIGH.com where they will share some of the stories behind their songs.
FOXY dates from the particularly cold and snowy winter of 1978 / 79.
DENIGH had been gigging since August and was still the original line up of Ian & Jon, Johnny on drums and Steve Maddock on lead guitar.
I remember the snow laying on the roads made driving difficult but we were managing to rehearse at West Hougham village hall, more or less as normal, and at one of those rehearsals Ian demonstrated a riff & chord sequence from which we might develop a new song. There were no lyrics and no arrangement, but there was an interesting feel to it. With the evening done and following a glass of 'soda water' at The Cricketers Pub, we each journeyed home.
I was driving DENIGH's first van – a Bedford Minibus – and on that journey home, a fox running at full tilt, crossed the road, several yards in front. Everywhere was white with snow so the fox was picked out in full contrast against it and I remember thinking how tough this creature's existence must be in the winter.
But then I also considered that at least 'Mother Nature' increases the night hours so he has more time to hunt. Then an idea formed and with only half a mile to go I wrote down my thoughts as soon as I got home. Directly from this 'encounter' came the inspiration for the FOXY theme:
Mother Nature knows the fox's brutal lifestyle so has cursed it to run
His hunger is greater in the winter because food is harder to find
So Nature takes pity on the fox making the nights longer, giving him more time to hunt
When I met with Ian next, FOXY was born, soon becoming a firm favourite with us and our fans. Jon
In January 2021, via video call, Ian said he had an idea for a new song about the Bevin Boys - who are they?
Well, some of the young men called to service during WW2 were randomly selected to work in the coal mines to boost production. This was an initiative of Labour Minister Ernest Bevin and these 18 year olds became known as Bevin Boy's.
What Ian didn't know was that my dad was a Bevin Boy at Easington Pit, County Durham and, to a teenager from SE London, this posting wasn't what he expected.
In writing this we have imagined what it must have been like for these guys. The frustration and the fears, the hopes and the reality.
The history of the Bevin Boys is close to our hearts, not least because Jon’s dad was one of those conscripted.
So, we were honoured to have our song and video linked on a website dedicated to the Bevin Boys http://www.theforgottenconscript.co.uk/
The site contains a wealth of historical information, photos, and memorials. We highly recommend it. Thank you to writer and producer, Jaye Swift for linking us on her website.
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