Story:
| Some times the planets align... God smiles down ...and
amazing things happen.
Well, just 3.5 weeks before mr christopher was to relocate
The OBViOUS headquarters (The Digital Banana Recording Studio) to Tokyo
an unimaginable opportunity produced it's self to the boys just days after
Christmas 2000.
An acquaintance of mr christopher who had booked too much
studio time in another studio and asked if The OBViOUS would be interested
in using the extra time. Now studio time ain't cheap, so this would have
been a good opportunity for anyone. But this time it wasn't just any ol'
studio... the studio booked was none other than that little London England
recording studio: Abbey Road Studios.
Christopher was shocked and stunned. With the studio date
being a week and a half away he was not sure if the guys would be able
to get away on such short notice. Not knowing how they would respond, he
presented the idea almost as an aside to Brad and Tim separately. First
Tim, always a bit passive, said to ask Brad. Upon telling Brad (who erupted
"hell yeah lets go!") things started moving rather quickly. First obstacle
was that Brad and Tim didn't have passports!! However once money and passports
got sorted out the band found just enough time for one rehearsal before
jumping on an airplane.
Always one to make the most of things, mr christopher
tapped internet buddy Kevin White as videographer and photographer to capture
this strange twist in the OBViOUS story. |
 |
The boys arrived at Heathrow on Sunday January 7, 2001. They
piled their gear into Kevin's small car and took them to Kent where the
boys crashed for the night. The next day was photo OP day with time for
a bit of sight seeing and photo sessions around Buckingham Palace. That
night was dinner with Christopher's sister (and "Londoner") Elissa, before
moving to a Bed & Breakfast just a short taxi ride from Abbey Road
Studios.
Arriving for the session was very surreal it's self. Pulling
into the Studio car park instantly recalled old news reel footage of the
Beatles. Walking into the studio lined with album covers they had grown
up with gave the guys goose bumps.
 |
Unfortunately the morning of the session Tim was quite
ill with a brachial infection but he and the guys pulled through resting
and sitting through the first act's session, sometimes sneaking through
the historic halls of Abbey Road where the Beatles, Pink Floyd and a slew
of other legends had made their landmark albums.
When their time was up, the OBViOUS confidently plowed
through four songs ....twice. First rehearsing for levels and then recording.
The recordings on that day yielded: Life Goes On (a remake), Some Other
Guy, hEY yOU!, and I Want To Hold Your Hand. All songs were chosen for
their direct or indirect connection with to Beatles as well as for finishing
touches for B-sides for the hEY yOU! single planned for summer.
The OBViOUS flew back to the "States" the next morning
(January 10), spending a whirlwind 4 days total in London. |
Back in the Florida, mr christopher mixed the four songs,
then packed up the Digital Banana Recording Studio ending a era in The
OBViOUS' history... but one that would continue ...in Japan.
Christopher flew to Tokyo on January 18, 2001. |
