John HannonJohn suddenly died on 5th May 2021.
I love recording. Everything about it. But nothing was as good as recording at Johns 'No Recording Studio' in my hometown Rayleigh. I looked forward to going to see John as much as recording new tracks. He always had good ideas and passed on so much knowledge about recording/songwriting. And he loved to sit around and chat about whatever was going on. I first met John in the late 90's when 'Beatglider' (or an early version of) supported John's band 'Understand' at the Esplanade in Southend. At that point John was the only person I knew of who had experienced some degree of success in music. I instantly put him on a pedestal from where he never really came down. I couldn't have imagined then that I would get to know him as well as I did. John recorded, produced or mastered almost everything that I released and usually did the sound whenever I/we played at the Railway. He always made it so easy for us. Despite moving to Japan in 2012, I continued to contribute to 'Plantman' songs and send tracks back to John for him to master. On the occasions that I went back to the UK to see family and friends, we (Matt and I) always scheduled a few nights recording 'down at Johns'. He was one of the people I really looked forward to seeing and he'd just carry on as though I'd never been away. In August this year (2023) I'll travel back to the UK for the first time in four years. I've felt the impact of Johns passing from here in Japan via the chat group whose members include so many artists/friends who knew John and who shared their own stories and love for John. It was heartwarming to read those tributes but I know that I haven't really processed what has happened. It still isn't real to me. I know that is unlikely to change until I visit Mushroom Farm where John's studio was located. John and his studio were always a constant that I probably took for granted. I'll pay my respects where the studio that holds so many precious memories once was, I'll have a pint or two in the Railway - if it's still open, and I'll talk to those who love him and were as fortunate as me to have known him. |