So after another year passing without me having posted anything on this stupid little blog i feel like writing another entry. Let's be honest nobody is ever going to read this, but I feel a bit strange at the moment for various reasons and thought maybe writing this could help getting a bit of order in my thoughts.
So finally after ca. 3 years of waiting one my absolute favourite bands One Night Only announcedd that they've finished their 3rd studio album and announced back in late July/August that they'd play at a new festival which was going to take place in September. Massive excitement for me and my friends, who we have all been huge fans. Bought tickets, booked hotel, got flights everything set to be a perfect weekend. Two weeks later at (at my birthday-worst timing ever) the festival organisators had to cancel bespoke festival. That was quite a bit of disappointment but anyway, a new single had been announced, which kind of made up for it a bit as it meant there were probably proper shows due to be announced.
And we were right. With the release of their really catchy single "Get around to it " and the maybe even better B-Sinde "Erase" 4 weeks ago, a one off London show for december was announced. We could not believe it. Strangely we had chosen to spend this weekend in London before we even knew about the concert. Coincidence?! Anyway LUCKY us.
This was better than any festival and the date was just perfect as everybody of my friends could go and not only a fraction like it would have been with the festival.
I can honnestly say that i was well excited and could stop talking about it. I'm in my mid-twenties (or almot) and probably my inner fangirl has never come out so much as in the past 4 weeks. Listening to the fab new songs on repeat obviously included.
But yesterday (13th of October) it was announced that Mark, the guitar player from ONO would leave the band in order to pursue a career other than playing or making music. And I can't say anything else than that I was and still am shocked and sad. Frankly spoken Mark was always my favourite of the 5 (although they are all really nice chaps and so polite and lovely to fans) and maybe that adds a bit more weight to him leaving as if it were somebody else.
I mean I can somehow understand that he has reasons to leave the band, be it an unstable income, personal or health reasons- whatever. But what's really floating around my head is the strange timing. First of all he seemed always the one who was most excited about the new album (which they started recordingd back in 2013 ) giving us updated via twitter. Secondly he moved back to London with Daniel (bass player) in order to make things easier with their music- this was around April i think. They had a little private release party in which he took part and posted a picture on instagram(which George later just regramed) and 3 weeks later he tells his friends he is going to leave the band. I mean. they even started rehearsals. There are photo proofs! (Which is quite a thing for them. Touring back in 2011 they had 2 band practises before playing a sold out show in Cologne. And now they started 2 month before the concert! :-D) This timing is weird, isn't it?!
Another thing which occurs strange to me is the fact hat there was just a band message which was really lovely written but nothing from Mark personally, just on his behalf. I thought it's common that the band members leaving, are writing a comment themselves. Not necessarily giving a reason (Rob and Grant of the Rifles did though) -it's their private decision which the fans have to respect- but 'Mark would like to thank' or 'We'd like to thank you for all the farewells to Mark' just seems a bit odd to me.
Yeah maybe he was scared of the fans's reaction and that's why the others took it on themselves to tell the fans.... who knows ...(well they know obviously)
Don't get me wrong, I don't blame him for anything or mean that he HAS to do such things, just the combination of the timing and the band messages that makes me worry about him. That's all.
I am sorry if that seems a bit harsh, but it's probably just because I am still sad about these news ( I know a bit childish) and I think it makes the future of the band more uncertain which doesn't make me particularly happy either. No more guitar dancing ...I don't mean to offence anyone and especially that's not in any way an offence towards Mark!
I would love it if Mark played in December - like a proper farewell gig- but that is unlikely to happen. In contrast to my friends I don't even think he will be attending the gig. It would be lovely though - i still got some stuff for him to sign and maybe a last picture? Please?
Anyway sorry about my rant. And Good luck Mark for whatever it is that you are going to tackle next. Hope you still keep up your music, even if it's just for you, and hope you lot stay friends. Maybe see you at one of ONO's next gigs and maybe let us know from time to time that you're still alive ;-).
That's how ONO is going to be like just George,James, Pob/Daniel and Jack
