The PA Happy Birthday Thread

Mickey is 62 today, joined us in January 2009, and in the almost three months he lurked, did not provide us with any insight into his world. When you look at the prog giants he has played with, you will, I am sure, agree with me that this was quite a loss to the site. Mickey is a record producer, but he is also a session keyboardist, and, indeed, a solo artist who should be a shoo-in for inclusion on Prog Archives. His website makes it clear why; Mickey Simmonds – Keyboards, composer, producer. He has just released his third solo album, with the extraordinarily Gabrielesque titled III. Having just checked, his second album, The Seven Colours of Emptiness, is available on iTunes, so I will check this out tomorrow before making a formal addition suggestion. The new album is a tribute to Keith Emerson, so should be interesting.

Indeed, Mickey has played with (wait for it)......Mike Oldfield, Renaissance, Camel, Mr Derek Dick, and many others, including two of my favourite non-prog artists Elkie Brooks and Julie Tsuke (Secret Agent is one of the best albums in my collection, and you should really check it out). In addition, he still tours with Bucks Fizz. Yep, the Eurovision bunch who had no difficulties in Making Their Minds Up and whipping their bottom kit off every chance they got. Like you, I now look forward to a performance of Toccata at the next Fizz gig.

Mickey also has a golf handicap of 8, which is some 20 lower than a certain Mr Laz, and just goes to show that if you are a really talented sod in one department, it tends to spill over into all sorts of fields. I’m only jealous.

So, happy birthday Prince Mickey! Very soon you will be immortalised as an artist on PA as well as a fleeting member. Come back, sir! We need you!

In collab news, we bid a very happy birthday to The Truth. Tanner is 25 today, and is an expert in the mathematical side of prog rock, although he hasn’t visited us in a little while. Happy birthday to you.

In addition, Scrivener is 52 today, and he has been an active member since 2005, but with only 25 posts, still a forum newbie. That’s some serious slacking, old chap! Get busy!

Firstly, the forum name. Mightly means able, strong, and competent. As for quiche, I am afraid it is not something Mr Laz eats, being a rather foul French pastry, custard and cheese concoction. Given that I don’t eat custard, am allergic to cheese, and it doesn’t contain meat, it is a bit of a no no in this hoose.

Helen Borrill Talbot is 31 today, and when I researched the 2 posts she made in the 4 days she graced our presence in 2005, she asked us for help in learning to play the guitar. She also mentioned her famous father. For Daddy is Steve Borrill, whose claim to fame is being the bassist and founder member of the prog folk band, Spirogyra. Yep, this altogether lovely hairy lot are on the site, added by Hugues, and no doubt very fondly remembered by the crusty old beardy folk types who lurk on our beloved site; SPIROGYRA discography and reviews Daddy appeared on the 3 albums they made in the 1970’s, but was absent for the reformed effort in the noughties. Founder Martin Cockerham died in 2018, but I can’t seem to find any musical activity for Steve outside the band, so since the 1970’s. 

Sadly, it doesn’t look as if Helen made it as a guitarist, either, as no trace of her was successful. This is a shame, because her signature was, well, truly poetic. It reads; “Take these plastic people, read their lips, now let it linger; is there anything that makes them sound sincere?” This is actually a snippet from a song called One Man Army by Our Lady Peace; https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=cufg5tZ6RLQ&feature=share Bloody awful racket to these ears, but it takes all sorts, I suppose.

So, notwithstanding the shocking food and music tastes, let us shout out Happy Birthday, Helen! Say hello to Daddy for us!

In collab news, we wish LearsFool a very happy 25th birthday. Kelvin is a Prog Reviewer in these parts, and hails from New York. His signature, though, has a serious disadvantage as it should only really be examined after taking copious amounts of psychedelic substances. Many happy returns, sir!

Dorsalia, or Santiago Killing as his parents named him (not literally, one hopes), is a current senior member and is 33 today. Santiago is based in Mallorca, so Feliz Cumpleaños to you, sir!

Trey Likes Bands, or Trey Cardi as the good folk of Phoenix no doubt call him when he graces them with a response, is 18 today. Yep, 18. What a milestone for our friend, who actually joined PA as a callow 14 year old, and informed all who could be bothered to listen that he has been creating YouTube videos, mainly of prog bands, and some of his favourites were Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Yes, King Crimson, Gentle Giant, and Genesis. Not a bad start, I am sure you will agree for a prog forum, and one really could have had high hopes that when young Trey branched out into the realms of recording music, we could eagerly anticipate the next DSOTM, or Going For The One, and etc.

Well, Trey and his equally young collaborator, Aidan Briggs, are the artists known to their fan base as Orchid Inc., and, yes, they have recorded some songs for our enjoyment. You can have a listen at Orchid Inc,'s Community | Orchid Inc, 

I have given a wee listen to Catatonia. It is fair to say that this particular track will not draw any immediate comparisons to Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, et al, but the lyrics are slightly reminiscent of a certain Mr Waters in their angst. Also that photo at the top. Pure yoof bottled up fury let go in glorious fashion, guys. Love it!

Our friends also post on Instant Adreneline Hit Gram for their legion of 241 followers, and I particular like the pure art form of sticking a false hand up one’s hooter. It might well catch on, and when our heroes are as famous as David Bailey, well you saw it here first, folks. ORCHID INC. (@inc_orchid) • Instagram photos and videos

So, let us shout it out loud and proud. Happy 18th Trey! Keep your Gunn holstered, partner! Oh, by the way. Here in dear old Blighty, you could now legally get very drunk at pubs if the bloody things were open. Over there, well, sorry, another three years of hiding the booze and sh*t under the mattress.

No collab birthdays to report today, I’m afraid.

Happy weekend to all my loyal readers. I love you! The dog loves you! The cat couldn’t give a toss about you! Keep drinking and smoking to keep that nasty virus at bay!

For in July 2005, Amniosdesign joined us for a total of 4 posts, all the way from sunny Chile.

Then, in September of that same mighty fine year, Irrgarten joined us from Moscow, stayed for 10 and a bit years, making a total of 35 contributions to our fellowship.

Both of them are 42 today, and, by a matter of no doubt happy coincidence, both these titans real names are Jose Francisco Garrido. Actually, it is not a complete coincidence, because Jose loved our site so much, he decided to join us twice.

Now, to kick off this discussion, one has to say that Jose is clearly a very brave man. The temperature in downtown Santiago, where from whence he came, is a balmy 19 degrees Celsius. In Moscow, however, it is a rip-roaring, trussock-wearing MINUS 16. Blimey! I know where I would rather be, Jose!

So, how on earth did our Jose come to make the transition from South America to Comrade Putin’s mafia infested paradise?

Well, Jose is big in the world of fonts, you see. Here is our hero’s site Juan Francisco Garrido Here, you will see that he is the Moscow-based designer of the squarish typeface Shket  Shket - FontM and the angular text typeface Graphirus Graphirus User Profile | DeviantArt Being a rather dull Times New Roman and Ariel type of chap myself, I must admit to never having heard of these particular fonts, although no doubt some of you funky digital types are all over it. I might also add that the inner sexist in me does somewhat appreciate the hot types featured on the deviant art site. This is an art form which appeals to old-fashioned fellows who like something rather pleasing on the eye.

In the world of prog, our good friend is still loving our music, as his Rate Your Music site proves Profile: Graphirus - Rate Your Music

So, let us shout out both Cumpleaños Feliz and zDNYOM razhDYEnya to our wonderful friend. Drinks loads of potato juice tonight sir, if only to keep warm!

Elsewhere, we have no present collab birthdays to report.