The white lines on the Hume highway stretched out languidly behind me and in teasingly front, as I sped along towards Sydney. The country towns of Yea, Wangarratta and Gundagai were distant memories now as I slowed down to enter the city limits at Liverpool. This time around I had stopped at Gundagai for a break and to look at the famous statue of the Dog On the Tuckerbox. Been there done that.
I had my new demo on cassette tape in the glove box. I had finished it with the ‘wannabe producer’ only days ago and now I had appointments to see the A&R guys at all the major labels.
The thing I hated the most about these long trips was not the endless hours of driving but the truck stop food. How many ways can you abuse a potato? I was up to about 50 so far.
Once again I found myself in beige offices with record company dudes listening to my tape. My heart was palpitating faster than one of those new fangled Roland drum machines.
This time around their ears started to twitch a little. The EMI guy was cryptic but seemed interested. He thought I had quite a bit of attitude – was that in a good sense or in a bad?? There was a signed picture of Chrissie Hynde from ‘The Pretenders’ on his wall. He was the one who pushed the song ‘Don’t get me wrong’ to hit status in Australia. EMI were also looking at signing a new band called Geisha, he told me. All good.
I went away very unsure and it was only when I followed up that I get the lowdown on what was up. EMI was interested, they wanted to come and see a gig in Melbourne.
I had a bite, but no band!! AAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!
