Heartbreaker — Chapter Fifteen: 1973
Tom was building a joint, layering Rizlas on the Faces flexi-disc that had come free with the previous issue of the New Musical Express. ‘What about …’ he squinted at the track listing. ‘What about The Borstal Boys? Then we’ll have Rod Stewart singing about us every time the Faces play a gig.’ He took out a pouch of tobacco.
‘Don’t be fucking daft, man.’ Paul Scott was less than impressed. ‘If we’re going to use somebody else’s song titles, we should use something by Free.’
‘Like what? Go on, smart arse, give it your best shot.’ Tom tore a strip from the flap on the Rizla packet and rolled it up.
‘How about Hunter?’
‘Lame.’ Tom flicked his Zippo into life and lit the paper twist, then drew smoke into his lungs and held it there.
Paul took the joint from his fingers. ‘The Brother Jakes. Soldier Boys.’ He took a drag.
‘Why not Catfish?’ suggested Colin. ‘You know, Rory Gallagher, Taste.’
‘I know,’ said Tom, through a haze of smoke. ‘I’ve got the perfect name for us.’ The joint continued its rounds as everyone turned to look at him. ‘Rivendell,’ he said, with a theatrical flourish of his arm.
‘Fuck off,’ said Colin.
‘No way, I am not being in a band called that,’ said Paul.
‘You and your fucking elves,’ exclaimed Andy. ‘You’ll be on at us to change our names again next.’
‘You are Legolas,’ laughed Tom. ‘You can’t fight it, you are what you are.’
‘Yeah? Well that makes you the fucking Balrog.’ Andy took the joint from Colin.
Tom laughed again. ‘And Col’s Bilbo Baggins.’ He smirked at Colin, aware that he was sensitive about being the least tall member of the band. ‘The adventurous little hobbit.’
‘I’ll Bilbo fucking Baggins you, you cocky cunt.’ Colin launched himself at Tom and they rolled on the floor, Tom laughing and Colin punching.
Andy shifted to one side to make room for them. ‘How about The Brown Bombers?’ he suggested, referencing Led Zeppelin’s second album.
‘How about sticking with Free?’ said Paul. ‘We all like them, what’s the problem?’
‘We all like Zep,’ said Andy. ‘What’s the problem?’
‘No problem at all,’ said Johnny. ‘Heartbreaker. They’ve both got songs called Heartbreaker.’
‘Actually, that’s not a bad name for a band,’ said Andy.
Paul hauled Colin off Tom. ‘Listen up,’ he said. ‘We’re called Heartbreaker, alright? Now let’s go for a fucking pint.’
‘Don’t be fucking daft, man.’ Paul Scott was less than impressed. ‘If we’re going to use somebody else’s song titles, we should use something by Free.’
‘Like what? Go on, smart arse, give it your best shot.’ Tom tore a strip from the flap on the Rizla packet and rolled it up.
‘How about Hunter?’
‘Lame.’ Tom flicked his Zippo into life and lit the paper twist, then drew smoke into his lungs and held it there.
Paul took the joint from his fingers. ‘The Brother Jakes. Soldier Boys.’ He took a drag.
‘Why not Catfish?’ suggested Colin. ‘You know, Rory Gallagher, Taste.’
‘I know,’ said Tom, through a haze of smoke. ‘I’ve got the perfect name for us.’ The joint continued its rounds as everyone turned to look at him. ‘Rivendell,’ he said, with a theatrical flourish of his arm.
‘Fuck off,’ said Colin.
‘No way, I am not being in a band called that,’ said Paul.
‘You and your fucking elves,’ exclaimed Andy. ‘You’ll be on at us to change our names again next.’
‘You are Legolas,’ laughed Tom. ‘You can’t fight it, you are what you are.’
‘Yeah? Well that makes you the fucking Balrog.’ Andy took the joint from Colin.
Tom laughed again. ‘And Col’s Bilbo Baggins.’ He smirked at Colin, aware that he was sensitive about being the least tall member of the band. ‘The adventurous little hobbit.’
‘I’ll Bilbo fucking Baggins you, you cocky cunt.’ Colin launched himself at Tom and they rolled on the floor, Tom laughing and Colin punching.
Andy shifted to one side to make room for them. ‘How about The Brown Bombers?’ he suggested, referencing Led Zeppelin’s second album.
‘How about sticking with Free?’ said Paul. ‘We all like them, what’s the problem?’
‘We all like Zep,’ said Andy. ‘What’s the problem?’
‘No problem at all,’ said Johnny. ‘Heartbreaker. They’ve both got songs called Heartbreaker.’
‘Actually, that’s not a bad name for a band,’ said Andy.
Paul hauled Colin off Tom. ‘Listen up,’ he said. ‘We’re called Heartbreaker, alright? Now let’s go for a fucking pint.’
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Heartbreaker by Julie Morrigan is available for purchase now from Amazon UK, Amazon US and Smashwords.
