Hot rumours began to spread that the central players in the saga appear on a Cherry Red compilation of Aberdeen FC inspired songs. The band itself continues to exist in a state of suspended animation, biding its time waiting for that big break.
Innes writes almost incontinently - books, magazines, songs, sleevenotes, radio shows, comparative religious tracts, shopping lists, his daughter's homework, obscene fan letters to the cast of Brookside. His many fans hope to prise his fingers away from the computer keys long enough to pick up his trusty bass again. A really entertaining Brookside fanzine appeared called Close To You which may just have been the twisted outpouring's of the Innes psyche, he's nae tellin'! And who was Morrice The Butcher's Brother?
As we entered the new millennium there have a few reported sightings of the fumble fingered Fender fret-tickler, giving it the old root & fifth along with the titanium tonsilled vocal power of Mr. Paul Henderson, you know.. Muriel's husband. Initially known, for no obvious reason, as Dr Lovepants the band were to be found committing random gigs in the North East, for little money, big beer and no small embarrassment. This band morphed into The Undercovers who continue to dazzle the public with their inability to act their age. Innes was eventually persuaded to explore the lower end of his musical heritage by buckling on his bass for J B and the Classics, resurrecting favourites from his long lost youth...Cream, Wishbone Ash, Clapton, Cream, Dave Edmunds and er...Cream.
When informed of their so-called mates musical infidelity, the other members of the Decorators refused to comment directly, choosing rather to spit, mumble and scuff their toecaps in the time honoured fashion of the adolescently arrested. "Aye, of course they were ayewis pish"
Stephen is fast running out of friends to write songs about. He was spotted in the company of notable ceilidh-friendly guitar wizard Ian Rae and bass player/sound recording man Bob Barrow. A few low-key gigs, some odd recordings appearing on an amazingly obscure Randy Newman tribute, sporadic support slots. Even more worrying was the rumour that he had finally succumbed and taken the "ceilidh shilling", happy to squandor his talent in endless choruses of "The Mucking Of Geordie's Byre" with local overpaid stars of the stovie circuit, Shindig. It is also rumoured that he was the man behind the 1-Update, a regular newsletter/fanzine type of thing which appeared weekly on the counter of our local friendly CD shop. Where did he find the time, and why? Then came the ambitious new Scottish musical A Land Fit For Heroes, the diminutive songmeister has apparently turned his one free hand to composing for the stage (dahling). And it goes on - Shindig, JingBang, Splash and the Dribbler, solo, Deesong - is there no end to his desperate attempts to become a tiny morsel in musical history. His Dickensian alter-ego the curmudgeonly Uncle Albert has now taken his quill to the world of web page creation with predictably dubious results.
So does this mean the Decorators are no more?
Paul Henderson, now recovered from midsummer throat trauma, as we have seen now shouts bluesily for the Undercovers, endangering lugs and missing cues in his own particular stylee.
Geoff "hates Congas" Jones was drummer in residence with Shindig,
where he and Stephen occasionally dust of a Decorator's favourite for confused
wedding guests.
Now he teaches and plays vibes for Stanley, who says he comes in handy.
George Boardman continues to develop his multinational publishing empire from a magnificent rural retreat in darkest Speyside, probably.
Mr Findlay Crossan who still hunts for that perfect single
And Stephen and Innes (with the occasional Henderson) meet up for strong coffee, talk about the old days, count their guitars and wonder if it's too late...