Clayton Troy Bolger. Let me set the scene. I was 14 years old, only just... and our band Murphy's Lore was getting a nice amount of work around the quaint town of Albany. Our band was comprised of the 3 Murphy boys (Chris Kieran and myself), our cousin Jae Rowbotham and a mate from Chris' year at NASHS (North Albany Senior High School) Brad Harding. For whatever reason, Things weren't exactly cooking along in the band with Brad there; a really lovely bloke with a heart of gold and skill for making guitars, but on stage... missed a certain spark. Chris had considered replacing Brad but being 14 and Chris being 18 and the leader of our outfit... that was his domain. I remember the first time I met Clayton; actually i can't remember which occasion came first but they both made an impression on me. Clayton went to ASHS (Albany Senior High School) our rival school for want of a better term... (though deep down I think it was only the NASHS kids being jealous that they did attend ASHS. Murphy's Lore were performing at the concert hall in 1993 under a school songwriting competition that we were in the state finals for, as was Clayton's band 'Roundabout Utopia'; very much a high school 'put together' band, whereas ML was OUR band but had to use the 'school' moniker to get into the comp. We won first prize that night, though the $1000 and the trophy went straight to the school, and they still bitched that we didn't perform in school uniform... can you imagine? A rock band in school uniform? You've gotta be Angus Young to pull something like that off... The thing I remember about that nigh and that 'rival' ASHS band was how back stage EVERYONE was gathered around this chap and his guitar who was entertaining everyone with song after song. WHAT CHARISMA! WHAT MAGNETISM! I was enthralled. possibly because of this gift he had... he seemed so much older than me. Skip ahead only a few months, and we were performing at a busking competition put on by the local music store. It was cool, all the acts were just playing on the sidewalk along the main street of Albany while onlookers stood in the generous island in the middle of the road. This time, Clayton sans band took home first prize... BEATING US! Well I think that's where the seed was sewn in Chris' mind. I was in Perth taking one of my practical classical piano exams when I spoke to Chris and he said he was auditioning this 'Clayton Bolger' fellow... I had absolutely no reason to be, but I remember being dirty that I wasn't going to be there for the audition therefore not able to have a vote yay or nay. As it turns out, it didn't matter anyway, Clayton's audition I think was more him auditioning us than the other way around and by the end of his 'inception' he was wondering where and when our first gig was going to be. HA HA HA... That's Clay, the instant loyalty of a puppy and the nervous awkward energy of same said beast. Clay joined our band 15 years ago this month. I hadn't known him that long and he'd already invited us Murphy boys to his 18th birthday. He must have known we'd be in his life for a while. 15 years later and Clay turns 33 today. He is my brother. He's a dad to two gorgeous kids now and a husband to a gorgeous Rhona... he he, but he'll always be that daggy awkward dude who would jump around like a fool on stage, inadvertently wrapping his guitar cable around his legs... binding them... and then tripping over like a great oaf into the drum kit behind him. Happy Birthday mate. Can't wait for the thirty three and a third party.
Posted: 2009-01-30 03:08:36Author:admin