Sun, 07 Sep 2025 14:22:12 +0200 60 https://hearthis.at/wud-records-hm/set/now-inauguration/
Inauguration is the very first time that Now assembled to play some music. It was recorded in the (then) new music rooms at The King’s School, Ottery St Mary, in late September 1982. The band were planning to perform a few songs for a stage version of Orwell’s 1984. These songs would have been from that production, had it taken place. As it happened, it didn’t.

Music and lyrics by Mark Drower.

Musicians:

Mark Drower – vocals, acoustic guitar
Jon Kneebone – drums, percussion
George Davies – lead guitar

Also present but not plugged in:

Pok
Pete Rippin
Lucy Bradshaw-Smith
Sarah Hopgood

A stereo mic was used to record onto cassette. Mark sat very close to the mic to sing and play, Jon and George were set up further away. Mark could not hear himself very well due to the volume of the drums and electric guitar. Nevertheless, he did a fantastic job.

Jon had played these songs at least once before as he seemed to know their names. George had not heard them previously and these were his very first attempts at playing lead guitar, having previously only played rhythm in Achilles Heel and Fooog Dinboffin and the Release. As you can hear, the pentatonic scale was still a vague concept for him.

We arranged the songs in this particular order as we feel this was the order in which they would have been played during the production of the play.

On the cassette, Next to Me was first, and Mark’s gigglings and things were happening whilst Jon was fixing his drums and George was sorting out his guitar leads and so on. Pete was no doubt providing rollies for everyone. Pok had not arrived yet and the girls had both left (separately) by this time. Sarah only really stuck her head round the door, Lucy stayed for a while before the others arrived.

Next up was Room 101, a song in standard tuning, which was unusual for Mark. Before the song starts, Jon suggests playing Knock Knock Knocking, but Mark answers that the guitar isn’t in the right tuning for that one.

The third song on the cassette is Party Man, which is in drop-D tuning, still referred to as “Drower tuning” by some of the Wud personnel. After that comes Jackson, in standard tuning again.

The last song is Knock Knock Knocking, which is in an open E tuning. Towards the end of this song Mark breaks another string. He had already broken one earlier, before the tape began rolling, hence his comment “I’ve done it again!” at the end.

Apparently there was some sort of difficulty with amplifiers not working that Mark mentioned, probably a guitar amp and possibly a PA as well. There were probably also holes in shoes, making for wet socks and soggulated feet, as there always were in those days.

See also:
http://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/now
http://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/mark-drower-and-the-everyones
https://twitter.com/WudRecords]]> contact@hearthis.at en-EN https://hearthis.at/wud-records-hm/set/now-inauguration/ https://img.hearthis.at/2/5/3/_/uploads/8884966/image_set/74904/w1400_h1400_q70_ptrue_v2_m1759069213----cropped_1759069207352.jpg?m=1759069213 no 12697522 Sun, 03 Oct 1982 00:00:00 +0100 1982-10-03T00:00:00+01:00
Music and lyrics by Mark Drower.

Copyright © 1982 Wud Records.
Copyright ℗ 1982 MGD Music/Explicit Music.

Musicians:

Mark Drower – vocals, acoustic guitar
Jon Kneebone – drums, percussion
George Davies – lead guitar

Also present but not plugged in:

Pok
Pete Rippin

PARTY MAN

I’m a Party Man
I live in squares
I move by threes and fours
Well I can say and do almost anything
Big Brother’s word is law

Believe me I’m a Party Man
Through and through
They own me to the core
Well I can read your thoughts, believe you me
Big Brother’s word is law

Believe me I’m a Party Man
Or so you’ll find
Plus good and the best
Well we’ll kill you and all your kind
Remove you like the rest

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be
B.B. without end
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be
B. B. – Amen

I’m a Party Man
I live in squares
I move by threes and fours
Well I can say and do almost anything
Big Brother’s word is law

Believe me I’m a Party Man
Through and through
They own me to the core
Well I can read your thoughts, believe you me
Big Brother’s word is law

Believe me we’re all Party Men
Or so you’ll find
Plus good and the best
Well we’ll kill you and all your kind
Remove you like the rest

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be
B.B. without end
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be
B. B. – Amen
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be
B.B. without it
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be
B. B. – Amen

We’re all Party Men
We live in squares
We move by threes and fours
Well we can say and do almost anything
Big Brother’s word is law

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be
B.B. without end
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be
B. B. – Amen
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be
B.B. without end
Without end

See also:
https://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/now/inauguration
https://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/now/inauguration/party-man
https://linktr.ee/wudrecords]]> https://hearthis.at/wud-records-hm/now-party-man/ 0 82 5477918a567f59bc93b821b2fe18efd8.wav wav https://stream81.hearthis.at/5477918a567f59bc93b821b2fe18efd8.mp3 no contact@hearthis.at https://hearthis.at/wud-records-hm/now-party-man/ 294 12697520 Sun, 03 Oct 1982 00:00:00 +0100 1982-10-03T00:00:00+01:00
Music and lyrics by Mark Drower.

Copyright © 1982 Wud Records.
Copyright ℗ 1982 MGD Music/Explicit Music.

Musicians:

Mark Drower – vocals, acoustic guitar

Also present but not plugged in:

Pok
Jon
George
Pete Rippin

NEXT TO ME

I’ve seen words and pain and bullets fight for nothing
I’ve seen everyone shouting now for more
I’ve seen eyes that cry and I can’t deny that you know
That what you thought you felt has been felt before
Just like a shadow on the wall
Like a leaf nowhere to fall

How can you say that you’re lonely
How can you say that you’re free
How can you say that you’re lonely
When you’re lying next to me

See also:
https://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/now/inauguration
https://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/now/inauguration/next-to-me
https://linktr.ee/wudrecords]]> https://hearthis.at/wud-records-hm/now-next-to-me/ 0 82 d4e0e8117a72d2e8f456e06630468672.wav wav https://stream80.hearthis.at/d4e0e8117a72d2e8f456e06630468672.mp3 no contact@hearthis.at https://hearthis.at/wud-records-hm/now-next-to-me/ 166 12697518 Sun, 03 Oct 1982 00:00:00 +0100 1982-10-03T00:00:00+01:00
Music and lyrics by Mark Drower.

Copyright © 1982 Wud Records.
Copyright ℗ 1982 MGD Music/Explicit Music.

Musicians:

Mark Drower – vocals, acoustic guitar
Jon Kneebone – drums, percussion

Also present but not plugged in:

Pok
George
Pete Rippin

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCKING

Knock knock knocking upon my door
Knock knock knocking I don’t know what for no no
Could could could it
Could it be you
I don’t know cos I’m so confused oh yeah

Knock knock knocking upon my door
Knock knock knocking I don’t know what for no no
Could could could it
Could it be you
I don’t know cos I’m so confused oh yeah

Knock knock knocking upon my door
Knock knock knocking I don’t know what for no no
Could could could it
Could it be you
I don’t know cos I’m so confused oh yeah

Knock knock knocking upon my door
Knock knock knocking I don’t know what for no no
Could could could it
Could it be you
I don’t know cos I’m so confused oh yeah

Knock knock knocking upon my door
Knock knock knocking I don’t know what for no no
Could could could it
Could it be you
I don’t know cos I’m so confused oh yeah

See also:
https://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/now/inauguration
https://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/now/inauguration/knock-knock-knocking
https://linktr.ee/wudrecords]]> https://hearthis.at/wud-records-hm/now-knock-knock-knocking/ 0 81 6be058c10a836c6270b2eb871923fa29.wav wav https://stream80.hearthis.at/6be058c10a836c6270b2eb871923fa29.mp3 no contact@hearthis.at https://hearthis.at/wud-records-hm/now-knock-knock-knocking/ 362 12697523 Sun, 03 Oct 1982 00:00:00 +0100 1982-10-03T00:00:00+01:00
Music and lyrics by Mark Drower.

Copyright © 1982 Wud Records.
Copyright ℗ 1982 MGD Music/Explicit Music.

Musicians:

Mark Drower – vocals, acoustic guitar
Jon Kneebone – drums, percussion
George Davies – lead guitar

Also present but not plugged in:

Pok
Pete Rippin

ROOM 101

Well here’s the room my friend
You’ve been watched for quite a while
Well we’re gonna rearrange you now
We’re gonna wipe away that smile

Well…

Welcome my son are you so glad you could come
Welcome my son to Room 101
Welcome my son now are you so glad you could come
To Room 101
To Room 101
To Room 101

Yeah we hope we can persuade you
Before it gets too late
That the feelings that you’ve had round here
You really must obey

Well…

Welcome my son now are you so glad you could come
Welcome my son to Room 101
Welcome my son now are you so glad you could come
To Room 101
To Room 101
To Room 101

Now we’re gonna double plus ungood you
Gonna nail you to the wall
We’re gonna strip you of your feelings
Til there’s nothing left at all

Well…

Welcome my son are you so glad you could come
Welcome my son to Room 101
Welcome my son now are you so glad you could come
To Room 101
To Room 101
To Room 101

Now we hope we can persuade you
Before it gets too late
The feelings that you’ve had round here
You really must obey

Well…

Welcome my son now are you so glad you could come
Welcome my son to Room 101
Welcome my son now are you so glad you could come
To Room 101
To Room 101
To Room 101

See also:

https://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/now/inauguration
https://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/now/inauguration/room-101
https://linktr.ee/wudrecords]]> https://hearthis.at/wud-records-hm/now-room-101/ 0 82 641756c62057de067bec270980498cbe.wav wav https://stream80.hearthis.at/641756c62057de067bec270980498cbe.mp3 no contact@hearthis.at https://hearthis.at/wud-records-hm/now-room-101/ 341 12697517 Sun, 07 Sep 2025 14:21:24 +0200 2025-09-07T14:21:24+02:00
Music and lyrics by Mark Drower.

Copyright © 1982 Wud Records.
Copyright ℗ 1982 MGD Music/Explicit Music.

Musicians:

Mark Drower – vocals, acoustic guitar
Jon Kneebone – drums, percussion
George Davies – lead guitar

Also present but not plugged in:

Pok
Pete Rippin

(IT’S A LONG WAY TO) JACKSON

It’s a long long long long way to Jackson
It’s a long long long long way to climb
It’s a long long long long way to Jackson
But you can make it if you try

It’s a long long long long way to Jackson
It’s a long long long long way to climb
It’s a long long long long way to Jackson
It’s a long long long long way to climb

It’s a long long long long way…

See also:
https://www.wudrecords.co.uk/artists/now/inauguration
https://www.explicitmusic.co.uk/lyrics-information/now/inauguration/long-way-jackson
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