CRS News - Martin Hudson to resign.

[johninblack]

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.

[Ash]

Thanks for posting JIB

[DannySoisSage]

Well I don't know anything about this guy or the CRS but anyone who gives 18 years to pushing new music is right by me. Good luck and thanks to him  

[Trapezium Artist]

Somewhat unfortunate juxtaposition of Martin's message and your sig there, John, although I realise of course that it's completely accidental.

Living in Devon, I can say that the CRS is somewhat too far away for me, but still, always sad when long-lived and long-loved endeavours like this come to an end. Personally, I haven't a clue what the difference between old prog and new prog really is (mellotrons aside, perhaps): good music can come from any quarter and labels are frequently simply divisive.

Anyway, thanks are due to Martin for persevering with this for so long.

[Pedro]

I'm sad to see this but I am seriously grateful for all that he has done.

I've been a member for 3 or 4 years now and, while I can sympathise with the financial plight that such organisations find themselves in I simply cannot agree with the suggestion that being a member means one is somehow obliged to go to every gig.
I reserve the right to choose not to get in the car and drive 1.5 hours to watch a band I don't want to see.

Sure, if it were closer, I might be tempted to try a few more new (to me) acts but I consider that paying my membership and only going to the gigs I want to go is already doing my bit.

I hope the CRS does carry on....hmm....The Peel(North)?

[sawtooth]

I'm sad to see this but I am seriously grateful for all that he has done.

I've been a member for 3 or 4 years now and, while I can sympathise with the financial plight that such organisations find themselves in I simply cannot agree with the suggestion that being a member means one is somehow obliged to go to every gig.
I reserve the right to choose not to get in the car and drive 1.5 hours to watch a band I don't want to see.

Sure, if it were closer, I might be tempted to try a few more new (to me) acts but I consider that paying my membership and only going to the gigs I want to go is already doing my bit.

I hope the CRS does carry on....hmm....The Peel(North)?

Well sed Ped.

I never really got to chat at length with Martin, but he always seemed a nice guy and passionate about the music we all love, and it's a shame his enthusiasm has been extinguished by the CRS not getting the audience support it needed.

I renewed my membership just before Christmas after a years' break to show my support for the CRS, but  there's no way many of us could afford to travel up to Rotherham and pay to see a gig or two every week  especially if the music on offer isn't always to our personal tastes.

Well before the Credit Crunch became a newspaper hacks' phrase of choice, I have had to cherry pick the gigs I wanted to attend (mostly Frost it has to be said!) but if I had either a bigger wallet, or a greater disregard for my family (who don't like prog) I would have made as many trips to CRS as I could.  But I think and hope i just about got the balance right for family Sawtooth in 2008.

Another thing which niggled me slightly was that during my year or so of lapsed membership, CRS continued to send me out not only MY CRS magazine, but also some other geezers copy in two separate mailings. While I was grateful to receive my free copy  I was mindful that it was a waste of the CRS' precious financial resources and phoned them up at least three times to advise them on the situation, but the mags still kept dropping though my mailbox.

That said, I really do appreciate the work that Martin and his team have done for the classic/prog rock genre, and wish him well for the future, and hope someone else picks up the reigns with as much love and dedication as he obviously has had. I'll continue to support the CRS as much as I can in 2009.

[johninblack]

Well said Pedders and Sawtooth, We've had a joint membership for a few years now and it has to be said that without the CRS the Prog scene of today would be vastly different, (and for the poorer) but for the work of Martin and his collegues. However I was always made to feel like a naughty little boy for being a member and not attending most of the gigs. The fact is i've spent far more on subscriptions than I've saved on member rate tickets. Seems to me though that this scene is undoubtably much better for the existance of the CRS and I hope the organization can continue on and bring us more new acts and quality shows in the future. That said I will still only come to the shows that I know I'm going to enjoy as I really can't justify £50 worth of petrol, 5-6 hours in the car and the bloody A17 just on chance.
Martin, enjoy your retirement and a big thank you from me for the countless hours you have put in keeping the CRS afloat.

[Cptncanary]

The Oakwood Centre was a great site for gigs, I don't think they have access to that anymore? I was hoping they would, as it's about the only venue I could bring my son too, so see bands like A.C.T, etc.
Mind you, the drive up from Hampshire took some doing!! :roll:

[Pedro]

No, they only use the Montgomery Hall at Wath-upon-Dearne (Rotherham) now.
Not sure on the age limit....

[Fogeyspasm]

My lads 10 and was allowed in to the Frost* gig aslong as he was kept away from the bar area.
I think i emailed them about it as there was no age limit on the tickets but then found somewhere on their website about it. Members kids get in free i think.
I was going to join this year just after the gig but i lost my job and now my partner is losing hers after 20 years of service so unfortunately things like this are first for the chop.

[Big Black Shed]

To repeat what has alredy been said: What Pedro, Sawtooth and JIB said.

400 mile round trip for me. Plus a hotel. £100 - £120 per gig. Including refreshments.  

The Finance Director frowns somewhat. And I don't blame her one bit.

[johninblack]

I was going to join this year just after the gig but i lost my job and now my partner is losing hers after 20 years of service so unfortunately things like this are first for the chop.

Bummer! I'm really sorry to hear that, I hope you can both find suitable employment very, very soon.

[Pedro]

Yikes, that's grim indeed. Allow me to add my crossed fingers for an up-turn in the not too distant....

There but for the grace of God, etc....

[rogerg]

I was going to join this year just after the gig but i lost my job and now my partner is losing hers after 20 years of service so unfortunately things like this are first for the chop.

sorry to hear this.  best of luck and skill to you.

[Geetar]

I'm sorry too. We share your pain. Literally.