Hi everyone… I’ve drafted and deleted the opening paragraph to this author newsletter four times now. I was going to launch it with a fun Q&A about life on the road with Senseless Things as they feature so heavily in my upcoming novel (sadly not my experiences, but those of their roadie, Gigsy). However, a friend of Mark Keds, the lead singer, informed me earlier today that he had sadly passed away in the early hours of this morning. It feels like a part of my youth has vanished - as it will do for many 40 or 50-somethings right now. But I know we won’t be feeling anything like what Mark’s friends and family will be feeling right now…
Really bloody horrible news. I first met them in a funny little place in Twickenham when they were 17. Cass and Morgan used to come round to play on the Atari and babysit for me, every making my daughter a pop kid sweatshirt of her own. Can't believe we are all 50 now. It only seemed like yesterday.
My first Senseless Things gig was 6th October 1991 at Reading University and arguably my first Indie gig having previously seen Meat Loaf, Bucks Fizz and Roxette. I was 15 and starting to find my own tastes in music and see the bands I really wanted to see. I enjoyed this gig so much that I went to see them at the Town & Country on 6th December 1991 where Frank & Walters supported, and if I am not mistaken Mega City Four were special guests. It was also at this gig that I got photographed with my best friend and featured in an article by Steve Lamacq in the NME about band t-shirts, subsequently we recreated the photo at the 2017 gig at Shepherds Bush. In the 90s I got to see Senseless Things around 15 times around venues such as Reading Uni, T&C, Old Trout and Kilburn National as well as seeing them at Slough Festiva, Phoenix and Reading Festival. One of the most memorable gigs was 13th March 1993 where Carter supported. This period of my life was great, I was seeing the bands I loved with my best friends.
Senseless Things then split, despite me staring at the stage at Phoenix Festival in 1995 willing them to turn up. Fast forward to 2015 and I am watching Mark's new band Deadcuts at Cargo in London. They were raw, needed some work but certainly had potential. I saw them again at Shiiine and they were well polished and delivered a great set. Like many I was lucky enough to see Senseless Things one last time in 2017 at the Shepherds Bush Empire, I night I'll remember and hold even more dearly now.
Mark and the rest of the band gave me so much in my teens, friendship, memories and personality. I still listen to their music frequently with the go to songs of Too Much Kissing, Everybody's Gone, It's Cool to Hang Out with your Ex and Is It Too Late, and of course Shoplifting. Reading the news last night I cried, this shocked me as I don't typically cry, don't get me wrong I have feelings but I just don't often cry, but this just shows the bond the band created with their fans and an emotion tie to that time of my life.
I was rocked by the news a lot more than I expected, maybe it has something to do with letting go of my youth or just because it’s a f***ing pity Mark’s gone as he was such a creative soul.
This piece was very relatable to my youth, looking forward to reading your book!
So many great memories of seeing this band & the chapter of my life they were part of. Me & a mate were two penniless kids who never fitted in from a village in County Durham who would beg, borrow & occasionally steal enough £ to get over to Newcastle every weekend to be part of the whole 90's alt scene. I was more of a hardcore kid (Youth of Today, Judge, Gorilla Biscuits etc) however Senseless Things were a fabulous overlap to the HC scene I was heavily into. ST's music still gives me goosebumps every time I listen (which is very regularly) & in a life now complicated by many middle aged dramas - relationship breakdowns, mortgage, 60 hour weeks, owning a business & the usual shitstorms that can surround this - ST's are one of those bands that when I listen to them I can take a deep & wonderful dive back into my youth when life was less complicated, fun was free, we were all so wild & carefree, we had great cheekbones & a sixpack to match.
RIP Mark - thanks for all the great music & memories. Saudades.
Really bloody horrible news. I first met them in a funny little place in Twickenham when they were 17. Cass and Morgan used to come round to play on the Atari and babysit for me, every making my daughter a pop kid sweatshirt of her own. Can't believe we are all 50 now. It only seemed like yesterday.
My first Senseless Things gig was 6th October 1991 at Reading University and arguably my first Indie gig having previously seen Meat Loaf, Bucks Fizz and Roxette. I was 15 and starting to find my own tastes in music and see the bands I really wanted to see. I enjoyed this gig so much that I went to see them at the Town & Country on 6th December 1991 where Frank & Walters supported, and if I am not mistaken Mega City Four were special guests. It was also at this gig that I got photographed with my best friend and featured in an article by Steve Lamacq in the NME about band t-shirts, subsequently we recreated the photo at the 2017 gig at Shepherds Bush. In the 90s I got to see Senseless Things around 15 times around venues such as Reading Uni, T&C, Old Trout and Kilburn National as well as seeing them at Slough Festiva, Phoenix and Reading Festival. One of the most memorable gigs was 13th March 1993 where Carter supported. This period of my life was great, I was seeing the bands I loved with my best friends.
Senseless Things then split, despite me staring at the stage at Phoenix Festival in 1995 willing them to turn up. Fast forward to 2015 and I am watching Mark's new band Deadcuts at Cargo in London. They were raw, needed some work but certainly had potential. I saw them again at Shiiine and they were well polished and delivered a great set. Like many I was lucky enough to see Senseless Things one last time in 2017 at the Shepherds Bush Empire, I night I'll remember and hold even more dearly now.
Mark and the rest of the band gave me so much in my teens, friendship, memories and personality. I still listen to their music frequently with the go to songs of Too Much Kissing, Everybody's Gone, It's Cool to Hang Out with your Ex and Is It Too Late, and of course Shoplifting. Reading the news last night I cried, this shocked me as I don't typically cry, don't get me wrong I have feelings but I just don't often cry, but this just shows the bond the band created with their fans and an emotion tie to that time of my life.
Rest in Peace Mark, you'll never be forgotten x
Thank you for writing this.
I was rocked by the news a lot more than I expected, maybe it has something to do with letting go of my youth or just because it’s a f***ing pity Mark’s gone as he was such a creative soul.
This piece was very relatable to my youth, looking forward to reading your book!
So many great memories of seeing this band & the chapter of my life they were part of. Me & a mate were two penniless kids who never fitted in from a village in County Durham who would beg, borrow & occasionally steal enough £ to get over to Newcastle every weekend to be part of the whole 90's alt scene. I was more of a hardcore kid (Youth of Today, Judge, Gorilla Biscuits etc) however Senseless Things were a fabulous overlap to the HC scene I was heavily into. ST's music still gives me goosebumps every time I listen (which is very regularly) & in a life now complicated by many middle aged dramas - relationship breakdowns, mortgage, 60 hour weeks, owning a business & the usual shitstorms that can surround this - ST's are one of those bands that when I listen to them I can take a deep & wonderful dive back into my youth when life was less complicated, fun was free, we were all so wild & carefree, we had great cheekbones & a sixpack to match.
RIP Mark - thanks for all the great music & memories. Saudades.
Steve