大象传媒

Today鈥檚 Memory Taper is the Manchester-born, Oundle-based Gary O鈥機onnor . He got in touch to share musical memories of a friend called Stephen, who he lost touch with 鈥� and misses - and he also spoke bravely about beating drug addiction.

Gary says: 鈥淚 thought, after listening to so many other people鈥檚 tapes, it was time I submitted my own titled For The Good Times. I have compiled this mix tape for someone very special in my life that I am no longer in contact with and I regret this every day.

Growing up in Manchester I was fortunate to meet a kid called Stephen, a cool punk who didn't like me at first but, over time, that changed and we became very close. Some might say joined at the hip. We would go to gigs together 3-4 a week, we shared our love of Manchester United, we travelled the world together backpacking, he was my best man at my wedding we went clubbing together and we shared music always hoping to give each other something new to vibe off.

Things changed when I found drugs and my life spiralled out of control. I spent years battling with it until finally the proverbial hit the fan and my secret was exposed. I knew what I had to do and more importantly what I needed to do to save my marriage and my life I had to distance myself from the people around me and this included Stephen. I totally cut myself of from him and he resented me for this I have tried to contact him over the years to no avail but I still hope that one day we can have some sort of relationship and talk about the good times we shared together.

I sought help from a drugs anonymous group and turned my life around (I鈥檓 coming up to ten years drink and drug free). Life is beyond my wildest dreams I have a loving wife and a 5 year old Patrick and he rocks my world. The selection of music covers music we shared bands we saw together and stuff I know he would dig.

Eclectic to say the least but that was one off the things about mine and Stephen鈥檚 relationship: we were never afraid to share music with one another for fear of being ridiculed. You either liked it or you didn't.

I hope he hears this, or someone tells him about it. And I hope he understands that I never set out to hurt him in any way and that he knows that I'm only ever a phone call away.鈥�

For The Good Times Playlist:
Kris Kristofferson- For The Good Times
Janes Addiction - Been Caught Stealin
Galaxie 500 - Blue Thunder
Rain- A Taste Of Rain
Brooklyn Funk Essentials - The Creator Has A Master Plan
Stone Roses - So Young
Inspiral Carpets - Keep The Circle Round
Nick Cave- The Ship Song
Pixies - La La Love You
Joy Division - Atmosphere
The Smiths - Headmasters Ritual
Eric B And Rakim - Paid In Full
King Bee- Back By Dope Demand
Pink Floyd- Wish You Were Here
Guru/Mc Solaar -Le-Bien Le-Mal
Marcel King- Reach For Love
Doves- Caught By The River
Paris Angels 鈥� Perfume (All On You)
The Cure - A Forest
Seu Jorge - Life On Mars
John Grant- Pale Green Ghosts
The Fall -Bill Is Dead
Mantronix - Who Is It
Brian Eno - An Ending
Johnny Cash -Danny Boy
Clouds - Cloud Factory
A Guy Called Gerald - Voodoo Ray
Wu-Tang Clan - C.R.E.A.M.
Mr Scruff - Chicken In A Box.

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