Anywhere and everywhere was
the motto of those early days. Pubs, Clubs, Hotels, Village Halls,
in fact just about anyone that would give us a gig. The fee was no
problem. In fact it wasn't even much of an issue. There was clearly
not going to be a major marketing strategy backed up by some high
flying financial consortium. |
No. If we were to be successful
then it was going to have to be the old word of mouth syndrome. A
slow burn.Keeping the quality high and the expenses low was our only
chance. And that's exactly how it was in that first year. Thousands
of miles, little or no sleep and even less money. On the rare occasion
that we actually made a profit, it immediately went back into the
pot in an attempt to keep the whole thing moving forward. One such
example was the first album. |
The very first
Talon photo.
Taken in December 1997 |
The Talon
logo designed by Mark
in February 1998. |
Throughout the summer of
1998 we were busy recording Talon / The Best
Of Eagles which was produced and engineered
by the then studio owner Dave Morris. What was not known at the time
of course was that Dave would later play a key role in the success
of the band. The year ended with confidence and morale high. What
1999 was to bring however, no-one could have possibly foreseen. |
The beginning of the new year saw Talon play their
first theatre date to critical acclaim. This was no real surprise,
after all, this was exactly the kind of enviroment that the show was
originally intended for. It seemed that barring disaster, we were
on the verge of a major breakthrough. But disaster did strike, and
ironically on April fools day. Following another sell-out concert
at the Civic Hall in Stratford Upon Avon, Con went home to Birmingham
in the truck with Mark. The following day they both made their way
to the van in preparation for the next conquest........ Empty! ..... It was true. Our worst possible
scenario short of death was staring them in the face. The entire contents.
Guitars, amps, keyboards, drums, percussion etc etc. Gone. All stolen,
and what's more, un-insured. Yes, the usual story of no money and
musicians being to much of a risk had precluded us of such a luxury.
One by one the rest of us arrived to the same horrifying reality....... Empty!...... April fools
day was without doubt the lowest point of the Talon story. What was
to happen over the ensuing months however, was nothing short of miraculous. |
