Second Term by Madam President

Gordon Smith 1967 – 2024

The glass is not just half full….it’s overflowing and getting topped up regardless. A more positive upbeat, sociable and sunny human is hard to imagine. Gordon was a delight to be friends with and have musical adventures with. An endless chatterbox full of hilarious ideas and nonsense for projects. As a musician he was second to none. An extraordinary drummer...hard hitting...a total machine. He would take any idea you threw at him, no matter how complicated and turn it inside out and back to front and back round again until he was satisfied he had a part he liked. And the energy he projected and inspired when he knew it was working and he went for it….

We never heard Gordon complain once about his health. In between the previous album and this one, he had gone through hip replacements, a heart condition, a Parkinson’s diagnosis and then cancer. It was heartbreaking….he was inspiring, he just kept turning up and practising, “ We’ve got an album to finish!”... When the Parkinson’s affected his hand and speed he wouldn’t give in on a section, he would work out a different way to get the same effect. His performance on this album is a testament to his character and his talents. He was very proud of this album when it was finished and quite right too. We were privileged...and we miss him. Holy Haberdashery….

Any payments that come in for this recording will be donated to Beatson Cancer Charity, MacMillan Cancer Support and Parkinsons UK.