The Unreal World of The Godfathers
by weathereye
I checked Facebook this morning and found a friend request. “Hmm,” I told myself, “who could this be?” See, Facebook friend requests, for me, fall into three distinct categories:
- Old friends and colleagues from years ago, from cities far away, and far-flung family members who’ve just figured Facebook out;
- People I encounter in one fashion or another through my work as a journalist and podcaster;
- Your girlfriend.
Today, however, I was friend-requested by someone I didn’t expect. “Hey, this guy has the same name as the singer from The Godfathers,” I said. “Whoah, wait — this profile picture looks like Peter Gabriel’s cooler kid brother … this might be the real Peter Coyne.”
And it was. For whatever reason, the lead singer of one of my favourite bands from the ’80s and ’90s wants to pal me up on the FB. Now, I have no illusions; I get social media marketing the way you get how I was kidding about your girlfriend, maybe. I know he’s reaching out to his audience. But it’s still a thrill.
Peter Coyne’s sneering, snarling voice got me through many a party night, many a long small-hours drive. The Godfathers were never huge in Canada (or the U.S.), but man, they should have been. Blending post-punk, three-chord riff rock and a little ’billy twang, all while wearing snazz suits, the five-piece U.K. operation put out several no-filler albums that remain pivotal elements of my collection.
So this is my chance to thank Peter Coyne for wanting to look at photos of how fat and grey I am now, while at the same time telling you fine people about a band you probably don’t know, but should. And the timing is right; The Godfathers have a new single, The Outsider, and a new album coming this year, and Coyne is rocking Facebook to promote it. Nicely done, sir.
Birth, School, Work …. Facebook.
