PAGE 15.

Monday 16th May.

On Monday morning I packed for the last time and we drove home. Margaret had driven my car up to Birmingham and Jonathan had also bought his car, thank goodness. Even then, with all my extra bags, we only just managed to squeeze it all in.

The week would have been a real anti-climax had it not been for one more musical treat that had been slowly taking shape in the wings over the last few weeks of the tour.

Peter Frampton had invited Hank and I to co-write and perform a track on an album project he was doing called 'Frampton and Friends'. We met at Mark Knopflers Studio in west London and spent a happy and productive day recording. It was a good atmosphere and Peter immediately made us feel at ease. It’s always good to work with other people. They bring out new and different things in your playing. The first thing I noticed in the studio was a very familiar looking silver Premier drum kit in pristine condition. Many years ago Mark Knopfler had bid for one of my old kits that I had put up for a charity auction. The studio had polished it up as a surprise. I’m sure Phil Jarvis has probably got the original picture on his site and knows more about it than I do.

The second thing I noticed was the original desk from Abbey Road, Studio 2, with its oval faders and dials that we had recorded so many hits on. It transported me back to the 60s in a flash. Mark had acquired the desk from EMI and it too was in pristine condition.

Hugh Padgham was the producer of the track we were working on and he got me the best drum sound I can remember for years. He recorded on Ampex 2" tape and then transferred it to digital. That’s what I mean about working with new people, not only do they bring something new out of you but you learn something new from them, in fact you never ever stop learning if you want to stay in this business. So after a delightful day making music and making new friends it was time to finally pack up the drums and go home.

That was it. The final tour was done. Erik Thomsen had said he would like to do a 'One Foot In The Grave' tour next year. Apart from my misadventure in Paris, I loved every minute of it. If I’d have had my way, I would have done farewell tours in Austalia, New Zealand, Japan and the Far East but I really do think that’s it. I recently spoke to Hank in Perth about the possibility of doing some more dates but he was not up for it. He’s probably right. Might as well finish on a high. I just wanted to keep playing. And I will. There’s always 2008/9 if the pink jacket still fits. Who knows!

An old friend from the past - the desk from Studio 2, Abbey Road.	Hank, BB and Peter happy with the play-back.
With Peter Frampton.
Another old friend, my old silver Premier kit. (I should have kept the snare drum, it's a collector's item now! What do you think Phil?)	One of Frampton's friends putting the drums down.
Hank, BB and Peter working on the track.
Peter.	Hugh Padgham's microphone setup.