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Words: Paul Tippett
Pictures: © Doug Anderson
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Practice makes
perfect.
Friday 17th November turns out to be the wettest day of the
month so far. And though I'm certainly no Michael Fish, looking
at the threatening whale grey sky and the clouds utterly bulging
with rain as I cross the Berkshire border into Buckinghamshire,
I conclude it's actually got to be the wettest day of the year.
The rain is coming down in skip loads as we take the
single-track road deep in the Buckinghamshire countryside that
takes Doug (Meteorologist - though he didn't warn me of this!-
and photographer) and I to the studios where It Bites are
currently encamped busy rehearsing for the forthcoming Tour.
I park up, and wonder if we should wait a while for the storm to
clear before venturing out. It's warm and dry in here, we've got
some good sounds on the CD player and a bag of unopened Wurthers
Originals...how very Rock ‘N Roll! I survey the water-logged
ground surrounding the studio through the mud and rain spattered
window. Why oh why didn't I go for that dinghy upgrade on the
car? |
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After a couple of minutes, we decide this storm is
going nowhere, so we tentatively open the doors and dash out into
the cold and wet, leap gazelle-like over a couple of very large
puddles and into the comfort of the rehearsal studio where we're met
with warm smiles and big hugs from Dick and the two Johns.
They inform us Bob is busy taking delivery of a new drum kit...
We catch up with the gossip and get a quick progress report on the
first week of rehearsals. It’s obvious things are going very well.
They are all clearly very happy and excited but admit there's still
work to do here and there...
Rehearsals by their very nature are a necessary evil for any band.
It's hard work, sometimes laborious and certainly a very tiring
process but the three look fresh and eager to get stuck into the
day’s work. And then as if by magic, Bob appears through another
door rather like the the shopkeeper from Mr Benn and excitedly
beckons us all into the adjoining room to look at the new
delivery...
A beautiful drum kit in a stunning Gold Sparkle finish stands before
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Bob is still considering different colour options
and finishes but we all give it a big thumbs up and agree that it
looks very, very cool and very, very retro. And it will go down a
storm if and when It Bites play in Las Vegas!!
And so to business. We return next door. I find a comfy spot and
Doug bags a suitable vantage point from which to take pictures.
After the obligatory "two, two" to check on sound levels, It Bites
start proceedings with an absolute corker from Once Around the
World. And they absolutely nail it. From the opening chords to the
final crescendo, it really is hair on the back of the neck stuff.
Throughout the afternoon and into the evening, they run through
about 70% of the proposed live set, constantly honing arrangements
and tweaking sound patches.
I must say, it's fantastic to hear the old material again. And for
any doubters out there, I can assure you that John Mitchell is
utterly perfect in his new found role. Having been a massive It
Bites fan since he was teenager, he has clearly done his homework
and knows each song upside-down and inside-out. He doesn't put a
chord, a riff, a lyric or even a single note wrong. And his dynamic
vocal style and very impressive versatility as a guitar player
brings a really fresh, modern edge to some very familiar songs. |
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Over the past few months, I've heard demo
versions of about three and a half potential new tracks written
for the new album but this is the first time I've seen and heard
the “21st century version” of It Bites playing together as a
band. And you wouldn't believe they have been here for just a
few days.
There is a real chemistry between the 4 guys
and a natural synchronicity that usually takes much, much longer
than a few days to achieve.
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I guess the mark of a really good song is that it is timeless. It may evoke a certain era or in time in your
life but if it still sounds fresh and vibrant, you’re on to a
winner. And that’s exactly what I’m feeling at the moment.
Some of this stuff was released 20 years ago
in the year that
Britain and France announced plans to construct the Channel
Tunnel, the world's worst civil nuclear disaster happened at Chernobyl, the
Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated 73 seconds after launch, British journalist John
McCarthy was kidnapped in Beirut, Argentina defeated West
Germany 3-2 to win the 1986 FIFA World Cup, Prince Andrew married Fergie and four
fresh-faced guys from Cumbria unleashed one of the finest and
most inspiring albums of the year.
20 years on and it still sounds exciting,
fresh and is delivered with a re-invigorated energy.
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So what songs are they playing?
Well folks, I'm giving nothing away but I can tell you there's a
really good mix of tracks from the back catalogue along with a few
new tracks that really showcase the writing talents and true
potential of the It Bites of today.
It's been a long time coming but as the Guinness ad says, "good
things come to those who wait". And with the first gig just a few
days away now, you're not going to have to wait too long before
something very, very good comes to a venue near you.
In the meantime, it's business as usual in deepest, darkest,
rain-soaked Buckinghamshire...
Thanks to It Bites for their time.
Words: Paul Tippett
Pictures: © Doug Anderson
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