I was on the Triumph Scrambler, on my way to see my son Jeremy's band for the first time. He's the drummer and the band are called Console Wars. I turn left off Marylebone road up towards Swiss Cottage. Just as I turn another Triumph, this time a black Bonneville, turns also and we both stop at the next set of traffic lights. We both look at each others' bikes and the rider of the Bonnie who is not wearing a full face helmet, unlike myself, says "Nice bike mate". I reply something like "Yours too mate". The lights change and we move on. I think I know that face and by the next set of traffic lights think I know who it is. We stop and I turn to him and say "Is your name Paul?"
He says "Yes?" a bit enquiringly.
"Paul Simonon?"
"Yes"
"Jean-jacques Burnel"
" I know you!"
"Yes indeed. I'm glad to see you are riding a Triumph" I say.
He says "Yeah but I preferred it when they had kickstarts"
I say "Yes, but they are more reliable now".
We shake hands and then the traffic lights change and we're off, he toward Primrose Hill and me towards Finsbury park.
It's taken us 34 years to shake hands.
JJB 12th June 2010
Bottom photo Dom P
lol, the poor guy probably shat himself.
ReplyDeleteNo reason JJ then why we can't see you make a guest appearance at Glastonbury with Gorillaz courtesy of Monsieur Simonon
ReplyDeleteManc
The new Bonnie here in the US market is a nice bike. I think there are subtle differences from the UK bikes. I'm a big fan of British engineering including the Rolls Royce turbofans on the aircraft I operate. Nothing in the industry comes close! Nice to see a Triumph revival in the US. Best of British!
ReplyDeleteGood luck to Jeremy's band. Stranglers support slot maybe?
Great story ! two great bass players
ReplyDeleteat least go and treat yer sen to a classic black bonneville, that looks like a suzy , or carry on like i did with an ankle breaking 51 t bird lol ,
ReplyDeleteTriumph City Rockers !
ReplyDeleteJJ Good to see past differences can be put behind you. Would be nice to nice to see you and certain other individuals bury the hatchet.
ReplyDeleteAll the best.
I would hazard a guess and say the above is referring to Hugh.
ReplyDeleteI would also like to see JJ and Hugh resolve their differences. I get the impression that
Hugh is the most intransigent.
It only takes two to tango,
to start a war,
and to make peace...
We all get older and look back,never too late to realise that life's too short and wonder what all the fuss was about in the first place.
ReplyDeleteNice back JJ...I've just got exactly the same...
ReplyDeletenice to hear mr burnel. even though you and simon had a head on CLASH (No pun intended) back in the day...
ReplyDeletei onyl wish you could shake hands with Hugh at the next light. :)
long live the stranglers!
j.