Edward Rogers released his brand new album "Porcelain" this week and to celebrate we asked him to tell us about the album's opening track "The Biba Crowd". Here is the story:What a perfect event, seeing Mott the Hopple reform at the Hammersmith Apollo for three special shows, and I was lucky enough to be there.
The song's melody flowed into my brain right after the show, and I demoed the song that same night. The crowd was almost as interesting to me as the wonderful sound that Mott was playing from the stage.
One of Ian Hunter's lines taken from "Saturday Gigs" was "Chelsea girls are the best in the world for company," which got me thinking about the way young ladies were dressing in the early seventies and of course in London every hipster shopped at BIBA.
It was a night for tears and memories - a night to relive your past and forget for a few hours the crazy world today. The lyrics were shooting out of my head as fast as I could write them down.
I wonder where the Biba Crowd went
Were you supporting Mott that night
Saw Silver John playing on and on
Gained a little weight, but he's still getting it on
So when I left England I had this little ditty ready to be recorded. What a fun night, and as extra bonus a song that hopefully (at least in my mind) captured the feeling of the crowd of the event.
Where did all the velvet go
Matching satin oh the silver dream, ya know
Thought I'd live it one more time
Then leave the legacy behind
It's funny when we went to record this song the producer (Don ) looked at me and said are we recording a song about Justin Bieber. I never let him live it down…..have a listen and see if you can join the party. "69 was cheaper wine."
Golden days of my youth
Relived for an evening to tell a few tales
Catch up on rumours, see the the old faces
And nod to those who passed us by
Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself right here!