Rock On

Chapter 1

'So where did you hear about this place?' Gloria asked Derrick as the three of them trudged down the dark narrow street in the biting cold. 'I didn't hear about it. I told you. The other night when you were are Kylie's I had been to Tony's to look at that article he is writing on the death of the disco scene and it started bucketing down. I cut through here thinking it would be quicker and happened to be passing the place and heard the music. I thought that I would duck in and grab a quick drink and wait for the rain to stop and that's when I saw him.' Cherie's only comment to Derrick was that it had better be worth being dragged out on a night like this when she could have been at home watching Kenny Everett. 'Oh trust me, you are not going to regret the effort.'

She looked at him doubtfully having been subjected to his enthusiastic discoveries on previous occasions, none of which had been what she considered anything to write home about or to put into the magazine that they all worked for. It was one of those fledgling pop magazines with photography, fashion and all the happening scene events and gossip that had sprung up in the seventies after the end of the swinging London scene of the sixties that had died at Altamont. Flower power had given way to a different genre, glam rock had come and gone and now disco was hovering on its death bed on life support, barely clinging to life by the skin of its teeth. There was a new age born at the turn of the decade and if the discos of the seventies were to survive then they had best start adapting or face the darkness.

Punk, new wave, new romantic and everything in between had been embraced and there was no going back.

'So what's this guy like then, what's his thing?' Cherie was determined to at least have pre warning of how boring her night was going to be. 'He's great, he is amazing. There is something about him that I can't put my finger on but once you have seen him and heard him I promise you, you won't forget him.' Gloria broke in at that point snorting, 'Well you must have been impressed judging by the time that you dragged in, and on a week night.' Derrick looked embarrassed. 'I know, I am still buggered two days later. It's funny but time just seemed to get away from me, one minute I was sitting watching the band then,' he shook his head as he went on, 'the next I was nearly home and it was really late. You know I think I need some vitamins or something.'

The two girls looked at him astonished. 'Vitamins?' Gloria questioned, 'since when did you get all health conscious?' she asked. 'I don't know' Derrick replied puzzled, 'I've lately been thinking that I should start taking a bit more care of myself.' She was really studying his face now as he was lost in thought. 'And besides' he turned and grinned, 'you don't want me running out of energy do you?' He grabbed her around the waist and planted a wet tongue kiss half way down her throat. 'Well in that case' she laughed, 'I will be going to Boots first thing in the morning and stocking up.'

Walking a little further on, Derrick turned to the right and headed down a dimly lit graffiti covered laneway. 'Come on, it's down here.' He stood and waited for the two girls reach him. Cherie was dragging her feet and turning up her nose as it was assaulted by the distinct smells of urine, vomit and rotting garbage. 'This had so better be worth it,' she was muttering under her breath, trying to breathe through her mouth instead of her nose so she wouldn't have to put up with the stink.

A thin red light barely shining enough to illuminate the cryptic miniscule sign simply stating Club 666 was the only ounce of colour amongst the drab backdrop of dark shadows. The only other light was at the far distant end of the laneway some blocks away. From where they were it seemed to be a long way away and there was something a little eerie about the little patch of light so far off. A shiver ran through Cherie. 'Come on then, let's get this over with, it is perishing out here.'

They plunged into a tiny doorway and down the steep flight of steps into the underground basement of what must have been a busy warehouse in its day. Now it was a sad derelict, standing forlornly abandoned apart from the cellar with its club venue. To an onlooker it would be considered prime real estate, a hulking wreck to be demolished and perhaps a new architecturally designed office tower to replace it, yes a gold mine and to its owner, that is exactly how it was too. It had been an astute buy, one requiring vision and acumen but then that was typical of the owner and only one of many properties that had been purchased in another time, for after all, he had plenty of it….time that is.

At the bottom of the narrow stairs another small doorway led into a cavernous space. Stepping in the girls were surprised when they saw the décor. Given the surrounds of the place they had been expecting dingy grunge at best but it was far from it. The ceiling was painted a deep charcoal but the walls were all painted a vivid red with various prints of abstract pieces spotlighted. The stage stood dead in front of them but instead of the customary banquets around the walls with the centre of the room left bare for the crowd to pack into, there were tables and chairs and the whole place seemed much classier than they had expected. They turned and looked at Derrick with raised eyebrows. This was definitely out there and nothing like the normal clubs that they frequented.

Derrick laughed at their faces. 'Told you. He is different and this place is different. You have to admit there is something really …I don't know, it's just got a different atmosphere hasn't it. Come on, let's grab a table, I want to be up the front.' He was saying this as he led them around the clusters of tables and chairs to where there was one free right at the middle of the front with only the small roped off dance floor separating them from the stage. Once they had sat down Cherie looked around. 'So where is your fantastic act then?' She was determined not to enjoy herself. She hadn't wanted to come and she was regretting that she had. Why she had agreed she didn't know but seeing they were here she wanted to get it over and done with and get out of there and home to bed.

Derrick looked at his watch. 'We're early. They won't be long, and besides I want to get a drink and settle in a bit. What do you two want, drinks are on me?' While he was gone Gloria and unable to stop herself and she had a go at her housemate. She was getting annoyed with her negativity and really wanted her to ease up.

'Ok, so what's up then? I know that it's more than just coming out tonight so you might as well tell me.' Cherie sighed. 'I'm sorry, does it show that much?' Gloria nodded and waited. 'I saw him again, and he was with that cow.' Gloria reached out and patted Cherie's hand. 'I'm sorry. I know that it must kill you. Did they have the baby with them?' Cherie shook her head, 'No thank god that would be the end of me if they had. I still can't believe it, that he fell for it, for her ….it's not even his kid and to make it worse, he looks so sodding miserable.' She looked away as her eyes blurred. 'He was a fuckwit honey, it's his loss you know that don't you. Sweetie he cheated on you, just remember that and remember that you can do so much better. There is someone out there and one of these days you are going to find him, trust me. And he won't be an ass either.'

Derrick came back at that moment and bought them their drinks. 'Cheers' he said. 'Derrick, I am sorry I have been such a bitch. Just ignore me alright. I … I've just had a really bad day.' Cherie was looking regretfully at Derrick. 'Ok kid no worries.' As he was saying this the lights were dimmed and the stage darkened. As if by some conjurers trick a single cord struck and a spotlight hit the most amazing man the girls had ever seen.