I didn't get the chance before, but I've had a look at the poster Richard sent me and it is text, not images, so I can reproduce it below:
Local Band Sells CDs for Pancreatic Cancer Charities
Local band Blues Academy will be launching and playing their new album 'The Last Laugh' at the forthcoming Comedy Night at Dover Town Hall on 4th November.
The album will be sold at the event and will subsequently be available via the internet. Proceeds from all sales of the album will be donated to pancreatic cancer charities in honour of the band's former drummer, John Fisher, who died from the disease in September 2008 aged 47.
John, who lived in Canterbury, was a well-known drummer on the local circuit and Blues Academy were a regular fixture at Cullins Yard on Sunday afternoons. He played for Blackfish Academy's 'Rocky Panto' in 2006 and taught drums at Astor College for the Arts for a number of years until his illness struck in 2007. The Last Laugh was the last studio recording he made and his final performances were at the pantomime 'Aladdin' at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury over the Christmas period in 2007/08.
Spokesman for the band, keyboard player Richard Ansell (who also used to teach Music at Astor College for the Arts and continues to be piano teacher to members of Jools Holland's family) said, "This gig is the most important of my life. For the band, it is an opportunity to introduce this music to the public in an utterly fitting way. It is also a chance to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer and to help fund extra research into the disease. Forty years ago, survival rates beyond five years for pancreatic cancer were 3%. They remain at 3% and this is the only common type of cancer where life expectancy rates have remained stagnant."
"It has been a long journey to bring this album to fruition. Apart from John's illness, we have faced legal action from a local supremo through Carter Ruck (the renowned libel lawyers) who took exception to one of the songs when I placed it on my website. Although I didn't think anything was wrong, it was more expedient to re-record the song even though John had just died, rather than fight the battle.We then faced the problem that everybody involved with the album was busy teaching and performing. Finally, the production line ground to a halt just when our album was on it! However, it's a lovely album and we hope that people can pick up the sense of fun that we all had making it. Anybody can hear it right now by going to my website (www.richardansell.com)."
"The gig is supported by Evolution Productions (www.evolution-productions.co.uk) who, amongst many other things, are responsible for the Marlowe Theatre pantomime. I hope that the people of Dover will realise that they are in for an evening of top quality entertainment that includes three fine comedians (Chris Brooker, Del Strain and 80's Luke)plus the band and that they support this in large numbers. John was a musician of immense talent and bore his final illness with astonishing dignity. We owe it to him to raise awareness of this dreadful illness and improve on those stark life expectancy stats. If there are any local retailers out there who would like to help us out by selling the album, please ring me on 07801 507839."
Tickets for the evening cost £10.00 and can be purchased by phoning the ticket hotline on 07920 255493 or through Richard's website
www.richardansell.com. The album will be on sale on the night and thereafter through the Blues Academy website (www.bluesacademy.co.uk) and Itunes. Band members Richard Ansell and Andee Price will be in the band for Evolution's production of 'Aladdin' at the Marlowe Theatre Arena in Canterbury this Christmas.
www.newmarlowetheatre.org.uk.
So, there you have it - straight from the horses mouth, so to speak.
The thing that strikes me a lot in the above from Richard, is that the survival rate for pancreatic cancer, was and still is, 3% - that must be one of the worst survival rates on cancers I've ever heard of.
Please, do yourself a favour, book your seat at the Town Hall on November 4th. and have a great night's musical and comedy entertainment and raise money for an extremely good cause.
Roger
Oh Boy!, That'll be the day.........