Martin Hudson to Resign
Sadly after 18 years, Martin Hudson - long time Managing Director of the CRS has decided it's time to step down from the position.
In a statement this is what Martin had to say;
It's been 18 years hard work bringing the CRS to where it is today and I'd like to thank all the helpers that have helped along the way especially Chairman Toby Horton and Strawbs front man David Cousins who injected cash a few years ago. I could not have done it all on my own but there were years when I ran the mag, the membership, the merchandise and all associated with it on my own with my wife Sharon along side working for a living.
However, over the years a collective of special people lifted the weights off my shoulder but a lately those weights have returned. Times have changed and I am now older, have two great grand children and generally feel as if I have taken the CRS as far as I can.
I am disappointed to have to make such a decision but I have always felt that there are many a classic rock / prog fan that just take the CRS for granted, thinking that we'd always be there and the gigs would always be there just for them. We are talking to someone but at this time I am not sure where the CRS goes from here. It takes a lot of time, energy and devotion to make it all work and that has been lacking a lately.
I spoke to someone this morning - a non-member - that was booking Magenta tickets who said, 'You cannot pack it in' and that he'd have subscribed to the mag etc. if he'd lived closer - he lives in West Yorkshire! I rest my case. Apparently to be a CRS member you have to live in Rotherham except when Magenta are playing?
I am proud of having Rick Wakeman on board as President, am proud of introducing so many new bands including Spock's Beard, The Flower Kings, Ritual, Rocket Scientists, the list is endless. I am told that I was the first UK person to review a Spock's Beard album.
Then there's those UK bands' that many had never heard of. Mostly Autumn's first ever CRS show back in the mid-90s was before 10 people and a whippet. Look at 'em now. Then there's Karnataka, The Reasoning, Magenta, Strangefish etc. Bands' like Jump deserve oh so much better support, but .... ?
One good example of disappointment recently was the Shadowland reunion gig. I have been big mates with Clive Nolan for years and THE first northern show by them was at the CRS along with Jadis back in the early 90's. Sadly we never got offered a gig this time around, something I was looking forward to.
The magazine has risen from a sad little A5 photocopied thing to what it is today and we could have taken it further with more support. Ironic that the new Classic Rock of Prog mag has a strap at the top of the front page that says, 'The Worlds Best New Prog Bands First', where have they been for the past 18 years? Although that could well be true from this month on.
One stalwart musician of the CRS is John Jowitt and I can remember him saying that one and all that love old and new prog should all be pulling together. Here, here John but it is not happening, the prog scene is as fragmented as the music genres themselves.
The one big positive for me is that I am getting out of a scene that is generally 100% healthier than when we started out. Prog bands' do have a chance of playing a handful of venues now, more than they did in 91' when Pendragon were glad of a gig in Yorkshire. Sadly too, CD sales have dropped through the floor and so the CRS Merchandise page in the mag will be closing in the next issue.
Our last new stock has just arrived, The 2 CD Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - The Second Death of Pain of Salvation (£11) and the Saga Box Set, Live in Munich (£25). Make us an offer for all else on the page! 01709 702575.
I will hang around to make a hand over smooth and will be at my very last CRS gig this Saturday for Magenta.
I'll bloody well miss the CRS - after all it is my baby - and all those special people I've met over the last 18 years and there are many of you.
I am sure some sort of announcement will be made soon regarding the future
of the CRS and in the meantime I urge one and all to support it 110% especially through these difficult times.
Sadly after 18 years, Martin Hudson - long time Managing Director of the CRS has decided it's time to step down from the position.
In a statement this is what Martin had to say;
It's been 18 years hard work bringing the CRS to where it is today and I'd like to thank all the helpers that have helped along the way especially Chairman Toby Horton and Strawbs front man David Cousins who injected cash a few years ago. I could not have done it all on my own but there were years when I ran the mag, the membership, the merchandise and all associated with it on my own with my wife Sharon along side working for a living.
However, over the years a collective of special people lifted the weights off my shoulder but a lately those weights have returned. Times have changed and I am now older, have two great grand children and generally feel as if I have taken the CRS as far as I can.
I am disappointed to have to make such a decision but I have always felt that there are many a classic rock / prog fan that just take the CRS for granted, thinking that we'd always be there and the gigs would always be there just for them. We are talking to someone but at this time I am not sure where the CRS goes from here. It takes a lot of time, energy and devotion to make it all work and that has been lacking a lately.
I spoke to someone this morning - a non-member - that was booking Magenta tickets who said, 'You cannot pack it in' and that he'd have subscribed to the mag etc. if he'd lived closer - he lives in West Yorkshire! I rest my case. Apparently to be a CRS member you have to live in Rotherham except when Magenta are playing?
I am proud of having Rick Wakeman on board as President, am proud of introducing so many new bands including Spock's Beard, The Flower Kings, Ritual, Rocket Scientists, the list is endless. I am told that I was the first UK person to review a Spock's Beard album.
Then there's those UK bands' that many had never heard of. Mostly Autumn's first ever CRS show back in the mid-90s was before 10 people and a whippet. Look at 'em now. Then there's Karnataka, The Reasoning, Magenta, Strangefish etc. Bands' like Jump deserve oh so much better support, but .... ?
One good example of disappointment recently was the Shadowland reunion gig. I have been big mates with Clive Nolan for years and THE first northern show by them was at the CRS along with Jadis back in the early 90's. Sadly we never got offered a gig this time around, something I was looking forward to.
The magazine has risen from a sad little A5 photocopied thing to what it is today and we could have taken it further with more support. Ironic that the new Classic Rock of Prog mag has a strap at the top of the front page that says, 'The Worlds Best New Prog Bands First', where have they been for the past 18 years? Although that could well be true from this month on.
One stalwart musician of the CRS is John Jowitt and I can remember him saying that one and all that love old and new prog should all be pulling together. Here, here John but it is not happening, the prog scene is as fragmented as the music genres themselves.
The one big positive for me is that I am getting out of a scene that is generally 100% healthier than when we started out. Prog bands' do have a chance of playing a handful of venues now, more than they did in 91' when Pendragon were glad of a gig in Yorkshire. Sadly too, CD sales have dropped through the floor and so the CRS Merchandise page in the mag will be closing in the next issue.
Our last new stock has just arrived, The 2 CD Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - The Second Death of Pain of Salvation (£11) and the Saga Box Set, Live in Munich (£25). Make us an offer for all else on the page! 01709 702575.
I will hang around to make a hand over smooth and will be at my very last CRS gig this Saturday for Magenta.
I'll bloody well miss the CRS - after all it is my baby - and all those special people I've met over the last 18 years and there are many of you.
I am sure some sort of announcement will be made soon regarding the future
of the CRS and in the meantime I urge one and all to support it 110% especially through these difficult times.
