The definitive history of Passion Spent – by Patrick (the parrot)
PART 7: ‘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 previously-inexperienced musicians who had joined the band in the past, there was a consensus among the band’s members that the advert for a new drummer should also state: ‘experience not essential’.
That proved to be the perfect approach because another band virgin successfully applied for the position. The 15-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 fifteen?”), well, of course, I may be mis-remembering; 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 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 it’s all its passionate followers.