Barbarossa In Session

The BBC studios in residential
Maida Vale are the stuff of legend.
The Beatles. Jimi Hendrix. The Who. The Small Faces.
All the greats have plugged-in
and tuned-up here at one time or another.
Every cramped corridor echoes with the history of the place.
Every coiled microphone-lead has a tale to tell.
Once home to the pioneering Radiophonic Workshop,
it was here that composer Ron Grainer
painstakingly pieced together a collection of
electronic ripples and white noise wind-bubbles
to create the iconic theme tune for 'Doctor Who'.
It was here, in September 1967, that psychedelic rockers
Tomorrow, recorded the first-ever Peel Session.
Adam & The Ants, Joy Division, The Pixies,
Half Man Half Biscuit and The Fall (some 24 times of asking)
were among the many bands that followed in their wake.
This afternoon sees Barbarossa, with new band in tow,
step-up to the plate and record 5 tracks within the confines
of these hallowed and double-layered walls.
Behind the soundproofed glass, the mixing desk flickers.
Up on the balcony, there is a selection
of complimentary tea and coffee.
After the red light has been extinguished
and the guitars and the harmonium have been packed away,
I hand over my black Sharpie "Twin Tip"
so that Barbarossa can add his scrawl
to the wall-of-fame graffiti
that adorns the door-frame of Studio MV4
and the ceiling and skirting-board of the inner chamber beyond.
It's my small way of saying thankyou.