MICHAEL CORBY - The Babys -

About me:

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LIFT ANY PHOTOS THAT YOU MAY WISH TO USE OR TO KEEP.

'THE BABYS' billboard at TIMES SQUARE & BROADWAY

- New York 1977 -

A POINT OF NOTE REGARDING THE POSITION OF THE BAND:

It should perhaps be made public now that neither I nor any other member of this band, to the very best of my knowledge, have ever received so much as a single rupee in over 30 years for our performances on so much as one copy of any recorded Babys track ever sold, copied or downloaded anywhere in the entire World.

"YOUR MAMA DON'T MIND" (1978)

Written by - Brock, Corby, Stocker & Waite

This YouTube video collage which was very kindly put together by 'Laylablue' and is attached to a track which disappeared for about a quarter of a century.

The song was written by all four of us in the original band and was originally recorded for the band's third Chrysalis album, Head First.

Chrysalis Records insisted on the removal of this track from the album, along with our recording of 'Money', 'World In A Bottle' and a couple of other songs on the basis that they were useless tracks and although I didn't write 'Money' or 'World In A Bottle' I was apparently to be personally held to blame for how bad these tracks were. This was actually told to me by Elliot Roberts of Lookout Management on the afternoon of August the 28th 1978 in the presence of Tony Brock, Walt Stocker and John Waite as I was summarily dismissed from the band that I had once founded.

Judge it for yourselves. I make no apologies for my work in this band and as regards my performance, I plead guilty, as charged.

Habitually yours,

always

MC

AND NOW...A WORD, IF YOU PLEASE

Whilst I am always delighted to receive your heartfelt messages on this website it has been brought to my attention that there are some extremely thoughtless and frankly unnecessarily negative comments being thrown around the internet by one or two people who really ought to know better. Some of these postings have been made on YouTube in recent weeks and others on various ‘blogs’ such as fansites and so on.

I would ask those who have axes to grind with members of the band to think very carefully about how many people they may be causing unnecessary distress to before making such ill-judged postings. I would also once again point out that as far as I am concerned any past contentions between any former members of the band and me are now long over and done with. Peace has broken out. This I made very clear in my letter to John which was posted on this web page. Therefore, defending me in a war that I do not consider myself to be in is not only pointless but it is also only likely to open old wounds that we are trying to heal. It is misguided, not well thought out and it must be curtailed.

The ‘original’ Babys was a truly brilliant, unique and stunning band and as time rolls on we can look back and be amazed by the way in which the music of the band has travelled. Come to think of it, The ‘Mk II’ Babys wasn’t a bad effort either. It is no secret that unfortunate matters took place which ended the ‘original’ band and I would even go so far as to say that it was tragic. However, not the slightest good can come from people throwing mud around thirty years later. This will not bring us back together and nor does it endear us to those misguided warriors who are still battling away on our behalves when we really do not wish to be involved in any combat. It’s unproductive and way beyond my comprehension.

The reality is that having taken a really good look at the possibility of a reunion there were many unforeseen factors which came to light that made it clear to us that we could not reunite even if we all wanted to. Three of us wanted to consider it and John had clearly got other things on his mind. That’s not a crime. That’s just the way it was. Frankly, when I looked at the financial implications of it all even I had to admit that it wasn’t likely to happen. The exercise of looking at it did bring up some good points, though. For me at least, and probably for others too, it did get rid of a few old skeletons.

Sadly it did not bring John back into the club but that has to be respected. Our past had some very sensitive issues for both of us and to this day I sometimes marvel when I think how with our conflicting egos we ever managed to get along for long enough to hold the band together until it was established, but against the odds, we did. I’m also very glad that we did. It wasn’t easy for either of us but that was the price that simply had to be paid to create and deliver The Babys. We weren’t the first band that had to deal with that one.

Walt and Tony are now getting on with their lives in Los Angeles, John aims (as I understand it) to put what would appear to be a tremendously interesting band together in America and I am getting on with my businesses in Great Britain. The fact that we cannot see a clear path to reunion really is a tremendous shame but believe me we did examine it carefully and as you know every single effort was made to pull it together. It simply wasn’t to be. Such is life. Where do we go from here?

As far as the future goes I can only speak for myself and say that whilst it is extremely unlikely that we will ever reform I will always keep the door open and will always listen to what anyone from the band has to say on the subject. In other words, never say “Never,” but don’t hold your breath. It really is very remote, to say the least.

I still find it quite remarkable how much passion still exists around this band. Just the same, we are now all getting on and being a lot nearer the reaper than the stork we must think intelligently about where the legacy of the band is to be left. I am convinced that we can do far better than close the book with all this thoroughly unpleasant nonsense that I am reading as mentioned earlier. I feel sure that this sentiment is appreciated by you all and let it be known that negative comments about any member of the band do not go down well with me and are not appreciated. I therefore urge those who have been posting these unnecessarily unpleasant comments to cease doing so right away. If you have a dispute of some nature with someone in this band then take up that issue through the proper private channels and please do not to throw it about in public where completely innocent people are going to get caught up in the crossfire.

If you want to do something helpful, positive and useful, please get online and help to put an end to the hurting and a start to the healing. In as much, I’ll make a start for you right here by wishing John and Alison a wonderful future together, long may it last. I think that I can safely say that many of us are very much looking forward to hearing the music that is inspired by their union. I am also very much looking forward to hearing not only John’s new band but also any other musical developments that are long overdue from Messrs Brock and Stocker.

Finally, whilst asking you all to be very careful that you never leave any victims of your misdeeds, it only remains for me to ask you all to…

Keep misbehavin’

always,

Michael Corby

- REUNION CANCELLED -

You may find this letter of some interest as it is the one which was sent back to me in Scotland from John's address. It was intended sincerely but in all reality was not ever likely to get even the slightest chance of a response. I think it is only right that as John declined to read it that it should now be made available to the public:

This now lays the idea of a reunion to rest as there really is no point in taking it any further and I for one need to attend to my private business.

You will notice from this page that 'The Babys' was a name that I always owned. Previously, I did not interfere with a 2nd band 'borrowing' the name in the late 70s and early 80s as it seemed a better thing for me to have left an ongoing band although Babys MkII really had little character by comparison.

However, from this time forward there will be no more abuse of the name, 'The Babys' without the very strongest contention from me and it must simply be accepted that The Babys is a dead and gone act that will never reform as I have not the slightest intention of ever returning to public performance. That matter, is now officially closed.

Here is the failed, ignored and/or rejected, offer:

Dated: 11th November 2007, SCOTLAND.

Dear John,

It is quite probable that you are anticipating this letter and accordingly I think that the time has now been reached that we should properly consider the situation.

Tony, Walt and I are all agreed that the time is right to look at a reunion and it is the heartfelt opinion of us all that it is only right and proper that an approach is now made to you from me to join us. Whatever the outcome of your decision is we all very much respect that you could have any number of acceptable and very understandable reasons for choosing not to accept our invitation. Nevertheless, we would like you to know that we do most sincerely extend to you a genuine welcome back to the band should you feel inclined to pick up your bass and complete the original line-up with us. Furthermore, if you do indeed wish to give the matter your attention there are one or two things that I should like you to know.

Firstly, speaking for myself, the past is very much the past, time is at a premium and any contentious issues between you and I are, as far as I am concerned, very much over and done with. I have hung up my guns and I extend warm greetings to you as someone that I once shared the making of history with. There has undeniably been contention between us that has existed for far too long. I, for one, am done with it. I hope that you are of similar mind and suspect that indeed, you are. I am also convinced that much intelligent and positive outcome could come from a reunion with the original line-up, not least, money for us all, lots of it!

In this respect, I am constantly approached by the business community on this matter but as you will no doubt understand, I do have business commitments and responsibilities elsewhere. However, this could be moved to one side as the scale of business offers afforded to the band is becoming quite large.

In 2003, in Los Angeles, certain serious enquiries were put to me and there was more than one which would have left the band with a comfortable pension earned over a reasonably short period of time. Recently, I have become aware of more and more interest and as we approach the 30 year anniversary of the original band’s split, it seems timely to at least put our cards on the table.

The main obstacle in all of this appears to be whether you and I can reconcile and this has been made clear to me over and over again by many prospective promoters. It is you and I united in the environment of The ‘original’ Babys that the market appears to want and whilst you have attained a very respectable solo career which I personally greatly admire, the World awaits our decision. Let it be on the record…… I’m up for it. It would take considerable work and planning, but I am now prepared to move in a progressive direction towards our reconciliation and reunion. I fully understand that you may feel that the country music scene offers you a more interesting future than the rock audience that the remainder of us are attached to but in putting that to one side it would indeed be a shame if you were to walk away from a reunion with us on the mistaken belief that either I or any of The ‘original’ Babys were not ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you.

I do write to you with a mandate from The Babys to do so. Much thought has been given to this matter. I am therefore now, as the founding member, and on behalf of Messrs Brock and Stocker, formally asking you to rejoin The Babys as an equal and valued member of what was once, and should always remain, one of the greatest and most artistic rock bands that ever left the shores of Great Britain.

Yours, as ever,

Michael

MICHAEL CORBY pp: APB & WFS cc: APB, WFS & The Babys Archives (Sacramento)

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