Another little story and excerpt from the book this month. Have been in lockdown hiatus for a while but just beginning to move into the search for a publisher phase as the book nears completion. Keep your fingers crossed for me and I hope everyone is staying safe and well during the Covid 19 crisis. Take care of each other people.

A couple of years ago Luke related this story to me in one of our transatlantic catch-up conversations.

The Boys in town.

Ed Sheeran is on the USA leg of a world tour. He is playing Boston so Luke suggests they get together for a catch-up and a writing day whilst he’s in town. Ed arrives at Luke’s place in Arlington. They do the usual greeting stuff and Luke sets about making the tea (the creative elixir of all great songwriters). Ed is making himself at home when he spies Luke’s guitar case on the floor in the corner. In a fit of enthusiasm, Ed grabs the case, spins around to put it on the sofa, and, midway to its destination, it becomes apparent the guitar case is not closed properly and…the contents of the case scutters across the wooden floor to come to rest with a bang against a wall on the other side of the room…in two pieces!

Sweet Baby James.

It’s one of Luke’s beloved travel guitars, a Baby Taylor that has travelled a number of continents and epic adventures with him. A previous model went to the great gig in the sky after his Tipi (yes, Luke has lived in a Tipi at times, let’s get that out of the way) burnt down. Imagine the scene, Luke and Ed have not seen each other for a couple of years (I guess Ed’s been busy?) and the first thing he does is smash Luke’s guitar. A small-bodied guitar that Ed has now made something of a trademark for himself (great minds and all that).

Ed is mortified. In something of a panic he keeps uttering these words, “I’ll fix it, Luke, don’t worry I’ll fix this”. As Luke completes his tea ceremony  Ed disappears with phone in hand. Then, they get down to the business of songwriting.

The Axeman Cometh.

About an hour later, there is a knock at the door. Luke opens the door to find a burly security guard there, looking a bit formal and enquiring if Ed is here? He is carrying a guitar case. Ed takes the case (I wonder if he checked if it was closed properly?) and the security guy exits stage left…pursued by a bear (Shakespeare eat your heart out). With great ceremony, Ed presents the case to Luke with profuse apologies for smashing his guitar previously. Luke is humbled. He opens the case to discover a hand made, small-bodied acoustic guitar from George Lowden of  Bangor in Northern Ireland. George is a master of his trade and legendary amongst guitar players. This is a truly beautiful guitar and eventually, this model would become the ‘Sheeran Range’ signature model. This is truly a very special gift. Luke is a little overcome by such generosity. More songwriting ensues.

The Axeman Cometh…again?

About an hour later….there is yet another knock at the door. Luke opens the door to find a burly security guard standing there (it’s not clear if its the same burly guard as before…anyway, that one was chased by a bear so it probably wasn’t). He is standing there asking for Ed, with another guitar case in his hand.

A Swift Recovery.

Once again, with great ceremony, Ed presents this case to Luke (obviously it was closed properly – as if you had to ask?). Inside this one is a baby Taylor guitar that is “almost” identical to the one Ed smashed (sorry to keep bringing that up Ed, don’t mention the war and all that). I say “almost” identical, but for the fact that this is the Taylor Swift signature model. Its a great little guitar but…this particular model carries Taylor’s signature and some lovely (no, I’m not going to say “girly”) swirly motifs on the body. But hey, what do you expect in two hours?

See you next month people. Stay safe, stay sane.