The Animals

This morning I had an interesting experience. I was due to speak on a panel for the BBC World Service about animal experimentation, especially on primates, along with four other people. The other panelists were from other parts of the world, including the UK, and so I needed to be at the studio by 8 am, which meant getting up before 6 am. At 7.15 the taxi came for me and drove me through thick traffic into Little Havana. I wasn’t much in the mood for it (though I’ve spoken on animal issues many times in the past). When I arrived at the studio I was greeted by Carlos and it quickly became apparent that this was set up as a music recording studio. I was confronted by a full set of drums, and Carlos was their owner. So we started talking about drumming, me being a drummer too, and before long we were having an animated discussion about music in the Sixties. I mentioned The Beatles’ This Boy as a memorable song, though not well known, and he didn’t know it (despite his extensive knowledge).  We agreed to listen to it when the interview was over. So I had that to look forward to. The discussion went on for an hour and a half, with the usual things said and disputed–blah-blah-blah. Then, when it was over, Carlos played This Boy through the studio speakers, paying particular attention to the middle eight, where John Lennon lets rip, ending with that piercing “cry-eye-eye”. We chatted a bit more, agreed to jam together, and then the taxi picked me up for the return home. I thought: Now that was a morning well spent. And maybe the animals will get something out of it too.