DIRECT HITS MONTAGE

At the time, people were interested enough to ask us what our influences were, how did we get to writing these kinds of songs. In Germany, it was a regular question, almost obsessional, and of course, fanzines did regular interviews wanting to know the same sort of thing. So, our original idea was to put it all into a picture, so we could just say, "There. you go ..it's all here!" this is the stuff we like, whether it was reading, writing or listening to music for ideas.

This Photograph was taken by Colin Robinsion in Geno's front room in Battersea, some time in late 1985..that's all I can tell you. The session was originally intended for The Direct Hits third album, set for release in late October 1986. Some songs were already 'in the can', and much of the material written. The album had a working title of 'Up in The Magic Attic' (Later shortened to "The Magic Attic" for the 1994 Tangerine Records compilation). On this evening, we'd been trying different ideas for the cover photograph.

One of these pictures from this session was recently used on the front cover of 'Here, There or Anywhere'.

Anyway, one of the ideas thrown in the mix was to spread as many of our influences anything from poetry, novels, writers, painters, and books...and any other miscellaneous items that had some sentimental value, on the floor around us, so the picture would show where we were at this particular moment in time.

We were at Geno's house and as the idea was made up on the spot, Brian had nothing with him, consequently there is nothing of his choice in the picture. To be honest, at this stage in the Band's career, we had very little in common with Brian. He'd already talked about leaving several times, and we'd already decided he wouldnt be playing drums on the next record. Geno had lots of the things in his spare room we could use. At that point in time obviously we had very similar tastes, and we would pass on stuff we thought was cool between us. Geno loved chess, still does, I could never get my head round it. He'd learnt to play while in Hospital for a while. There were a few items I kept at Geno's, as I was moving to a flat at the time, and my stuff was all over the place. Things like my first Bass Guitar, and the Acoustic I wrote Modesty Blaise and many of my early songs on.

For anyone who's interested below is a list of what these items are:

1. MY FIRST BASS GUITAR - ONE STRING LEFT ON

2. GENO'S FIRST CHESS BOARD

3. FRANK SINATRAS 20 GOLDEN GREATS LP- WE BOTH LOVED SINATRA

4. REVOLVER - THE BEATLES - I GAVE THIS TO GENO

5. THE WHO SELL OUT - GENO GAVE THIS TO ME...

6. OUR LATEST SINGLE - SHE REALLY DIDN'T CARE