The Mellotron Group

After a weekend-long death-watch Greg responded to the steroids given
to him to reduce the swelling in his brain. He had surgery yesterday
evening to install a shunt that will allow the spinal fluid to bypass
the bottleneck that was triggering the loss of below-waist motor
control. So he is not going to die abruptly, as we expected this past
weekend.

I am going to see him this morning and talk to him about a rush job to
get two CDs out to the public. The 3rd Systems Theory album
"overfulnosiecascade" and his long-delayed 3rd solo album "The Noble
Gases". In addition I'm going to talk to him about going to Calprog if
he's up to it physically on Oct 10th. I know he'd very much like to
go, and given what has happened, I'd like him to go. The prog world
isn't just about the music, and I think a lot of folks would be
pleased to see him roll up in his wheelchair, giant shaved stripe down
the middle of his head, ready to sign CDs and argue a bit with people
about their terrible taste in music! I'll be in touch with Papa Jim
about this today.

So, given the serious injuries recently to Paul Whitehead (motor-bike
accident) and his ongoing recuperation, preventing him working on the
art for "overfulnoisecascade", another artist has stepped up to do a
cover for us based on the "his master's voice" idea. My oldest son
Trevor has also stepped up to do the cover for "The Noble Gases". It's
unlikely that we will have the real thing for either album at Calprog,
but I will try very hard to have CD-Rs of both releases that Greg can
sign. All assuming right now that he is indeed up to putting in an
appearance.

If he can't do Calprog, which may be a big ask from a recovery
standpoint, I certainly plan on getting him over to the Djam
Karet/Steve Roach gig the following weekend.

Finally, it should be understood that nothing has changed about Greg's
long-term prognosis. But we're hoping now that he will have some
meaningful and productive time that we didn't think he'd get when I
made the public announcement. Weeks certainly, maybe months if all the
ducks line up (recovery, radiation, etc), in which he can wrap things
to his satisfaction. And maybe even get some new music written too,
including participating in getting the 4th Systems theory album
finished way ahead of schedule.

Thanks to all of you who have posted support, and to those that have
contacted me by email. I do pass all of the support on to Greg so
keep it coming, please. Ditto the positive vibes/energy/prayers.
-- 
Cheers, SDM -- a 21st Century Schizoid Man
Systems Theory music project: <www.systemstheory.net>
on MySpace: <www.myspace.com/systemstheory>
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get "Codetalkers" *free* at <www.mikedickson.org.uk/codetalkers>
NP: nowt