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Authors: Guy Mankowski
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out, and you crash.
And then, at the very moment that thought fired through me, mybody gave out.
I felt my brain shut down, my eyes force themselves to close. I had just swerved off the back wall of the car park and begun roaring back to the figures in the doorway.
I was going to crash. And if I couldn’t make it to Cunningham I was going to take all of their cars with me. Those neatly arranged, gleaming objects. I eased the bumper of my car into Cunningham’s Jaguar. Felt the whole chassis shake as I knifed into his solicitor’s BMW, then felt the back of my car kick out.
The force surprised me. I threw the wheel around, into the rest of them.
Span out of control.
Towards the mezzanine. They spread like doves.
Seconds before hitting it, I blacked out.
4
I’ll find their manager, Sam thought.
But the ‘Bonny Crawford’ that showed up online was not identified as a manager, but an ‘artist’. She was mentioned in an article for an upcoming exhibition in London, the title of which instantly ensnared him. Leaning in, Sam began to read.
The Lost Robert Wardner
A timely new exhibition of paintings about mysterious National Grid frontman Robert Wardner opens this month in London .
By Cassie Baker
4 th April
The story of Robert Wardner, who almost completed a masterpiece album before vanishing under a dark cloud, is one of the most intriguing in popular music.
Owen Hopkins, in his documentary
Dark Ages Manchester,
portrayed him as an influential figure on the eighties scene, who personified the punk ethos of ‘not selling out.’ Wardner’s voracious consumption of literature never dampened his onstage persona, which was sometimes violent. Wardner vanished 25 years ago for reasons that have still not been explained. Although the length of his absence rendered him dead in the eyes of the law, his family always maintained that he would not kill himself. The fans have more elaborate theories, including that a botched suicide attempt left the singer permanently disfigured, and therefore reluctant to return. Rumours have persisted that Wardner murdered a young fan, before fleeing to escape justice, even though no solid evidence has been found toback up the claim. Wardner was recently confirmed as alive by his former band mates. There are even whispers he is preparing to record again.
Bonny Crawford seems to manage the band’s ‘estate’, and given what she might know about the fate of that young fan she’s remained tight-lipped. She steered the band out of the Manchester wilderness and onto a major label, where they gained the devotion of a recession-hit generation. In the process Crawford almost became a celebrity herself. Her ever-present fake fur coat and glossy heavy fringe was a look much imitated by female fans of the pop group.
Next month Crawford is unveiling an exhibition of paintings about Wardner. According to the press release, the pictures offer a loose chronology. Later pictures offer cryptic clues as to how he vanished, and promise to answer the unsolved mystery of why he did. At the time of going to press only a couple of previews of her pictures have been released. They suggest Crawford may have been hiding the light of her true talent under a bushel. Crawford has been evasive about how much she knows regarding Wardner’s years ‘off-grid’ and what these pictures might reveal. She’s clearly lost none of her ability to court publicity ahead of the exhibition. But whether or not there is a whiff of immorality about this remains to be seen.
Regardless, for too long Wardner has been remembered for his more bizarre behaviour and his disappearing act. This exhibition should put the focus back on his life and the brilliance of his music.
Sam phoned the gallery where her pictures were being exhibited. To his surprise, they passed on Bonny’s telephone number. He rang it instantly, and after seven or eight rings a distant voice answered the phone. ‘Bonny Crawford,’ she said.
‘Hello
And then, at the very moment that thought fired through me, mybody gave out.
I felt my brain shut down, my eyes force themselves to close. I had just swerved off the back wall of the car park and begun roaring back to the figures in the doorway.
I was going to crash. And if I couldn’t make it to Cunningham I was going to take all of their cars with me. Those neatly arranged, gleaming objects. I eased the bumper of my car into Cunningham’s Jaguar. Felt the whole chassis shake as I knifed into his solicitor’s BMW, then felt the back of my car kick out.
The force surprised me. I threw the wheel around, into the rest of them.
Span out of control.
Towards the mezzanine. They spread like doves.
Seconds before hitting it, I blacked out.
4
I’ll find their manager, Sam thought.
But the ‘Bonny Crawford’ that showed up online was not identified as a manager, but an ‘artist’. She was mentioned in an article for an upcoming exhibition in London, the title of which instantly ensnared him. Leaning in, Sam began to read.
The Lost Robert Wardner
A timely new exhibition of paintings about mysterious National Grid frontman Robert Wardner opens this month in London .
By Cassie Baker
4 th April
The story of Robert Wardner, who almost completed a masterpiece album before vanishing under a dark cloud, is one of the most intriguing in popular music.
Owen Hopkins, in his documentary
Dark Ages Manchester,
portrayed him as an influential figure on the eighties scene, who personified the punk ethos of ‘not selling out.’ Wardner’s voracious consumption of literature never dampened his onstage persona, which was sometimes violent. Wardner vanished 25 years ago for reasons that have still not been explained. Although the length of his absence rendered him dead in the eyes of the law, his family always maintained that he would not kill himself. The fans have more elaborate theories, including that a botched suicide attempt left the singer permanently disfigured, and therefore reluctant to return. Rumours have persisted that Wardner murdered a young fan, before fleeing to escape justice, even though no solid evidence has been found toback up the claim. Wardner was recently confirmed as alive by his former band mates. There are even whispers he is preparing to record again.
Bonny Crawford seems to manage the band’s ‘estate’, and given what she might know about the fate of that young fan she’s remained tight-lipped. She steered the band out of the Manchester wilderness and onto a major label, where they gained the devotion of a recession-hit generation. In the process Crawford almost became a celebrity herself. Her ever-present fake fur coat and glossy heavy fringe was a look much imitated by female fans of the pop group.
Next month Crawford is unveiling an exhibition of paintings about Wardner. According to the press release, the pictures offer a loose chronology. Later pictures offer cryptic clues as to how he vanished, and promise to answer the unsolved mystery of why he did. At the time of going to press only a couple of previews of her pictures have been released. They suggest Crawford may have been hiding the light of her true talent under a bushel. Crawford has been evasive about how much she knows regarding Wardner’s years ‘off-grid’ and what these pictures might reveal. She’s clearly lost none of her ability to court publicity ahead of the exhibition. But whether or not there is a whiff of immorality about this remains to be seen.
Regardless, for too long Wardner has been remembered for his more bizarre behaviour and his disappearing act. This exhibition should put the focus back on his life and the brilliance of his music.
Sam phoned the gallery where her pictures were being exhibited. To his surprise, they passed on Bonny’s telephone number. He rang it instantly, and after seven or eight rings a distant voice answered the phone. ‘Bonny Crawford,’ she said.
‘Hello
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