The definitive history of Passion Spent – by Patrick (the parrot)
PART 8: ‘Make making it your intention’
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With Gav’s departure to join local rivals China Garden in April 1985, Passion Spent placed a Classified Ad. in the Hull Daily Mail (which at that time was still a broadsheet: the format wasn’t changed to tabloid until 29 September the following year).
Based on the high standard of inexperienced musicians who had previously joined the band, there was consensus among the band’s members that although the advert for a new drummer should stipulate that a ‘competent’ drummer was required, it should also state: ‘experience not essential’.
This proved to be the perfect approach because another band virgin successfully applied for the position. The 16-year-old Mark Johnson had been following Passion Spent‘s progress for some time, including attending some of their gigs (“What?”, you incredulously ask, “In pubs, at sixteen?”), well, of course, I may be misremembering; but I just have to assume he was so absorbed by the band’s performances that he was never even tempted to approach the bar.
Mark was one of what must have been a whole generation of young drummers (including Gavin Carey) who had been heavily influenced by Duran Duran’s Roger Taylor. As such, he was familiar with many of the songs included in the band’s then current set list, so he was an almost instant perfect fit.
The band’s regular followers—although surprised and somewhat perplexed by Gav’s decision to abandon Passion Spent and pin his colours to the China Garden mast—immediately took to Mark.
At this point, I’d like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the unwavering support over many years of all band members’ families, and Mark’s dad, Maurice – God bless him – was no exception, providing the mandatory ‘young-musician’s-dad’ taxi service for as long as it was required.
As a fan of the band, Mark was extremely conscious of the shoes he had to fill with Gav’s departure, but he soon became an integral member of the band and eventually played 182 Passion Spent gigs—over twice as many as Gav, and more than anyone else apart from Dave, Ian, and Jim, the remaining original members of RIO.
I’m going to posit here that the journey of life can be seen as one of nature’s many magnificent fractals. The formative patterns that are evident at a micro level (in our everyday, recursive, often chaotic habits and actions) are inevitably refined, reflected and magnified at the macro level (in our meaningful beliefs, principles, goals, and ambitions) throughout our psychological and spiritual development.
As such, it is frequently possible to predict with some accuracy the potential group compatibility of any individual by observing and assessing their (fractal) emotional and psychological origins, particularly once the individual in question has become part of that group.
With this in mind, the acceptance of Mark into the core fabric of the band was augured (much like that of Steve Sanderson’s, some months later) by his transparent and authentic personality. In other words (though, who am I to speak for the band as a whole), Mark became an essential component in both Passion Spent‘s machinery and its mythology. Thanks for that must surely go at least in part to Mark’s dad, Maurice.
I’m somewhat reluctant to return to the superficial aspect of looks and physical appearance, but Mark was another strong Passion Spent candidate for the most Duran-looking member of a Duran Duran covers band, no question.
I will leave for another time Mark’s audacious revelation during the band’s legendary interview with Viking Radio’s Diana Luke on 5 March 1987; but in that interview, he demonstrated his openness, sense of humour, and the charm that endeared him to the other band members and all its passionate followers.
In Part 9, we will look at the steady, incremental increase in awareness and popularity of the band and what (if anything) this meant for the future of Passion Spent.
Go to Part 9 (…there’s more…)