Last night I went to see my mate Dave Taylor's last gig in London. He's off to a new life in New Zealand with his lovely lady friend and fair play to him. But I couldn't miss his last outing.


I've been a faithful follower of Dave's bands since I first met him in 1996(?). From the early days in Tea, to the long running and hard rocking Electric Shocks and a final incarnation in Animal Maths. Not to mention his alt-country phase with my mate Jamie in the Pickups and then the Cheap Dates. I've always wanted to be in a band and I thought my best bet was as a Bez like figure "keeping up the vibe" in one of Dave's combos. Alas it was never to be, but I'm not bitter.

Last night it was Animal Maths. It was the first time I'd seen the Maths and it was cracking: I'm happy to say as he's got older the music's got louder and the songs have got shorter which is absolutely the way it should be. It's a shame he's leaving, without Dave I wouldn't have spent nearly as much time in dodgy North London pubs surrounded by rococo hairdos and indie chic. Jamie - I need you start gigging again or I'll never do anything cool!

But while I can thank him for the music the thing I'll always remember is the hair! To me hair is a precious commodity, something to be used wisely. One thing you can certainly say about our Dave - he had a rock n' roll barnet. No wanky Hoxton hair statements, he always looked like a guitarist in a kick-ass rock band. Which he is!