history
By Chris Lloyd

Re-Launch 2011

It was the year of the Talon Re-Launch. The year we had decided to go all out and attempt to move Talon on to the next level with the major investment of fresh ideas, renewed enthusiasm and hard cash. It was January and I was in my office chasing gigs when I received a phone call from my partner in crime. "Hello mate" he said, "You'll never guess where I am". One of the many things that Peter and I had decided to do as part of the Re-Launch was to upgrade the PA system to meet the growing demands of bigger and more prestigious venues. Pete, as the nuts and bolts side of the business had done his research and had jumped on a plane to Ireland and was about to view what sounded like a great find, and at a bargain price. Sure enough, a deal was done and our new, very big and powerful PA system was delivered by ferry and truck to Peter's garage where he could tinker with our latest acquisition. For the first time, Anni's design of the new full colour newsletter was introduced plus she was updating the Talon logo and re-designing the website with the help of our beautiful new band photo's that had been shot on location the previous September by our brilliant photographer Jason Sheldon. Giving Talon a sharper look was all part of the master plan. Peter, Jonny, Keith and I played some acoustic gigs throughout February and the last gig of the run was at the Abbey Theatre in my hometown of Nuneaton. How Mum managed to be there in her wheelchair on the front row is a mystery I will never be able to comprehend. As it turned out, it would be the last time she would hear me sing. The 'Best of Eagles' show itself was also to receive major changes and now that Charlie was on board it meant we could go in a musical direction that we would have not otherwise considered. The show was to be based on the Eagles 'Farewell 1' tour and a few weeks later we went into rehearsals and with many new songs to learn, different arrangements to existing ones and the addition of a Horn Section to augment it was to be an intense few days. The tour opened in March and by Easter the initial teething problems had been sorted. Dave (our sound engineer) had quickly come to terms with the new PA, the whole band were now confident with the new arrangements, several horn players were tried before we finally found the best combination and as always, we had played around with the show format and we were now very happy with the direction the band had taken both on and off stage. Box office numbers were as healthy as ever and as we were repeatedly informed by theatre managers nationwide, Talon were bucking the trend in these financially testing times. In April we made a welcome and long overdue return to Scandinavia and the reception we received from the gig at Trollhattan in Sweden in particular was awesome.

Throughout this amazing and busy period, Anni and I spent as much time with Mum as possible and every time we phoned to ask if she would like to go out for a drive she was there, come rain or shine and always with a smile on her face. We were all, including Mum fully aware that the end was fast approaching but she never once complained or asked "why me?" It was May 21st and I had just returned to my dressing room after another great night when my mobile rang. It was Dad asking me to come home. Mum had finally fallen asleep. A few days later at her funeral after my brother had said a few words, I sang 'Too Young'. It was the toughest gig of my life.

The spring tour came to magnificent close on June 18th at Newport's Riverfront Theatre. It was our first visit to the South Wales venue so we were thrilled to learn that it was a complete sell-out. The following day Dave phoned Pete and told him that after twelve great years as the Talon sound engineer he was retiring with immediate effect. However, after some discussion we managed to convince him to delay his decision until the end of the summer. In July we made our debut at the beautiful Kilworth House Theatre in Leicestershire and in August played the now eagerly anticipated and annual event at the Conkers Amphitheatre in South Derbyshire. Dave spoke again to us before the Conkers gig and reiterated his desire to move on and so the search was on for his successor. There were several names in the pot but Charlie Thorley was already known to us and he had, ironically stepped in for Dave a few years previous. Mr. Thorley was the first of the chosen few to engineer a trial gig but so impressed us that he was offered the job full time there and then.

The autumn tour opened at the fantastic Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury before moving on to Glasgow Pavilion, where, to a near full house we experienced one of those indescribable nights that vindicate in no uncertain terms the reason why we all got into this crazy business in the first place. Even the fire alarm and the resulting power cut as we were about to launch into 'Hotel California' which then proceeded to evacuate the 1,200 strong audience into the city street could not take the edge off such a magical evening. It was one great gig after another with each one melding into the next, like the first time visit to Coventry Belgrade Theatre, (what a night that was and Dad was there to see it) and then in a flash it was December again and the last night of the tour and the best Robin gig I can ever remember.

Then there were four

It seemed like every gig on that tour had been an unprecedented success and whilst I had been in the midst of the action there had been no time to stop and think. Now the tour was over and as I reflected on what had happened it just confirmed yet again that these were indeed our golden years. I was mentally exhausted yes, but there was a contented air. It was time to relax, to eat far too much and spend time with family. This time though, there was someone missing. Mum wasn't here. It would be a very different Christmas.

Back To Top