Blog

Now Des is back with the second instalment of his Kuschty Rye Trilogy.

It’s called ‘The Bastard’s Tin’ and he’s brought along a couple more of Ronnie Lane’s compadres
for the ride.
Pete Townshend wrote the music, plays guitar and sings a joint vocal with Des on the album’s
leading track, ‘Chameleon’. Kate Lane (Ronnie’s second wife and also his muse) had given Des her
lyrics for the song after hearing ‘The Good Gentleman’s Tonic’, ‘Chameleon’ is a devotional love
letter from Kate to Ronnie. It was written following their separation, after he was diagnosed with
the early symptoms of MS. An intimate insight into the life they spent together can be found on
her commentary which introduces the songs in the second half of the album.
‘The Bastard’s Tin’ charts the course of a single day. It starts at dawn with an excerpt of Ronnie
and Kate singing ‘Single Saddle’ from the second Slim Chance LP. This leads into ‘Chameleon’ after
which Horsfall proceeds through the rest of the morning part of the record performing 6 of his
own compositions.
These songs reflect on life’s realities in a number of ways: From the value of friendships on ‘I Know
A Little Bit, to disappointment on ‘Richmond Green’ and ‘That’s Not On’. Then the heartbreak
of having to deal with a loved one’s addictions on the tracks; ‘Anyway’ and ‘Whisky On Your
Breath’. The album reaches its mid-day point with the realisation that time is marching on with
the touching and sensitive, ‘Further Down The Line’. Afternoon is heralded by the singing of a
skylark and the short instrumental, ‘Katie’s Jig’. Then Kate Lane takes up the story by introducing
the next sequence of songs. Her anecdotes relate to a period of time, often referred to as Ronnie
and Kate’s “Gypsy Years”. These events surrounded Ronnie’s decision to leave his band, The Faces
when their singer Rod Stewart, was starting his rise to fame and fortune.

The sequence commences with a Ronnified version of Townshend’s song, ‘Going Mobile’ (from the
classic Who album, ‘Who’s Next’) which is followed by Horsfall’s ‘Whistle To Blow’. A couple
of songs (‘Stone’ and ‘Debris’) follow from Ronnie Lane’s time with The Faces. Kate’s song, ‘Tin
& Tambourine’ is next and the album’s day ends with a rousing version of Ronnie’s swansong for
The Faces, ‘Ooh La La’. In the evening, everyone gathers around the kitchen table to sing Ronnie
and Kate’s favourite Leadbelly tune, ‘Goodnight Irene’.
Then up the Wooden Hill To Bedfordshire.

It’s the end of a perfect day.
All contained in ‘The Bastard’s Tin’.
For more information contact Graham Haigh, Creative Consortum
on 0161 877 2356 or email: graham@creativeconsortium.co.uk