This unruly bunch of musical miscreants, first met on the cloudy shoreline of an island named desire. A mutual desire in fact, to create a livid, sensuous, soul expanding journey into the very innards of those rare, clarity infested, zen like meditative moments which have been known only by a handful of latter day Catholic saints, Tibetan Buddhist monks, Dalai Lamas, Prophetic artists, Himalayan explorers, and shrimp farmers.
Alas, few if any of the above have ever truly achieved the 'nirvana' like state of mind, body, soul and being which has been hinted at for millenia by worthy scribes, (far worthier than I) and chased for eternity by a plethora of absurd fools intent on focussing more on the finish line, rather than the true substance of the race being ran with such blind sided zeal.
Indeed, Professor Bang Bang was conducting one of his legendary time dilation experiments using a knackered old world war II era pocketwatch, when he accidentally crashed headlong into a lusty Colonel Wilkes; aka 'Grooves'. The retired former Naval veteran/part time pastry chef was fresh from a psychadelic pilgrimage across the southern Delta of the Mississippi in pursuit of Jazz legend Stanley Clarke, when he first experienced the odd mannerisms of the eccentric Professor. Apparently the conversation went something like this;
Bang Bang - "GRAAWWWWK - Huh! Watch where you're stomping you insipid excretion of hades - this is a very carefully orchestrated thought experiment, and I MUST have complete control over all of the relevant factors!"
Colonel Wilkes - "Uh, what??? Puhhhlleeeeeeeease!!!! - Sod off you grumpy bugger! Mind your own bloody feet, two lefties if you ask me, cheeky twit!"
It was only after a handful of further heated exchanges, that the Professor noticed that the Colonel had a bass guitar slung neatly across his left shoulder; at which point the cage rattling ceased, and the the Professor revealed a set of antique Georgian drumsticks from his inside pocket. Upon a re-evaluation of the present situation, the two men reached an accord in that their infantile squabbling, was perhaps not entirely productive or condusive to their respective futures. At that precise moment, a resounding screech heralded the sudden arrival of the onetime Dutch Erotic photography giant himself, Tom "Jangles" Mayle. His smoking, slightly dented, gunshot Porsche 911 convertible grounded to a halt right next to the dubious duo in question, and Jangles erupted forth from the shattered windscreen, partly on account of the fact that both doors were fused shut due to a hitherto unknown heat source.
"Blimey! Now that's what I call a pleasant afternoon drive through the countryside!" - He said with an air of aloof coolness regarding the fact that his overly expensive car was all but reduced to a smouldering pile of scrap.
"I say, good fellow - I noticed that you had a rare midwest funk 45 lp grinding out some serious groovelike loveliness as you so artfully pulled up there?" Ventured the Professor.
"Aye" Said Jangles, "What's it to you hairy?" He quipped.
"Easy there boy, we were just talking about forming a band, and for all of our life threatening differences of opinion, it appears we have a common ground...." Growled the Colonel.
"Oh yeah? How so Gramps?" Jangles seemed distinctly unimpressed.
"Well my dear boy, Funk would be the answer you are searching for..." Said the Professor.
"Hmmmm, so I can dig mo'fo, and sure I can cut a mean groove with my axe here" - Jangles said as he popped the boot of his road beast open, only to reveal a vintage 1970's Fender Stratocaster in mint condition. "What makes you think Funk's the answer? I see Funk as a means to and end, not an end in itself, Doctor Toupee..."
"And what end would that be then?" - Asked the strange, dark figure who had abruptly appeared in their midst in a cloud of what appeared to be ineffable vapour; the group took a step back, all except for Professor Bang Bang, who appeared to recognise the phantom like character who had all but materialised in an instant, right before their Very eyes.
"Ah.... Perfect timing, as always Mr Myers... I do believe we have found the missing pieces of the puzzle. Gentlemen, allow me to introduce one of the most remarkable men you are ever likely to meet, this side of eternity, at least..." Said the Professor.
"Afternoon lads, I'm a man of somewhat, questionable and rather mysteriously ethereal deameanour... most people never know me by name, but you can call me... Myers."
The new character in the show then proceeded to vanish before their very eyes, only to reappear behind them, clutching a bright blue Fender stratocaster, and a killer pair of funk glasses. Grooves and Jangles looked decidely confused, until a smile spread across Jangles' face, as he began to understand the meaning of these peculiar events.
"Talented old boy ain't chya Myers? Alriiiiight - let's get this show on the road boys..." He said assuredly.
"Right. Let's see just how far we can get using Funk as a mode of musical, physical, mental, spiritual, ecological, ecumenical and grammatical distortion of the very fabric of our earthly existence - let the music roll homes..." Myers said as he tuned up his shiny new toy.
"I'm game" Bang Bang said.
"Right on..." Grooves concurred...
And thus, the Get Up Forward was born, and so the journey begins... fasten your seatbelts ladies and gents....
You just don't know where this might lead.
hi guys! I saw u playing on the street in cambridge a couple of weeks ago. I really liked it! Do u have any gigs in London anytime soon? Would love 2 c u live!
