Amongst other things, I write.
I primarily write about music, theatre and sport. I’ve been published in a lot of newspapers, journals and on the internet – everything from locals to nationals, both in the UK and in the USA. I’ve written sections of a couple of good books too. I’ve been writing professionally for 30 years.
I hope you enjoy the blog “Twilight Dawning” where most of my newer pieces will appear as soon as they are ready to go public. Many of them will have appeared somewhere else first but usually in shorter form so this is the place to have a look if you want to see the whole article before it was cut for space restrictions.
Amongst the bands I have written about (journalistically) or for (promotionally) are:
All About Eve
Walter Becker
Dave Brubeck
Ron Carter
Alice Cooper
Daughters of Davis
The Doobie Brothers
Bob Dylan
Eagles
Ever Call Ready
John Foxx
Richie Furay
Michael Georgiades
Al Green
Steve Hackett
Ian Hunter
Bob James
Hilary James
Jethro Tull
Ladytron
Bernie Leadon
Roger McGuinn
Mostly Autumn
Mud
Larry Norman
Gary Numan
Panic Room
Danilo Perez
Al Perkins
Madeleine Peyroux
Sad Cafe
John Shuttleworth
Son Volt
Sparks
Judson Spence
Spinal Tap
Bruce Springsteen
Alvin Stardust
Steely Dan
Serafina Steer
Jim Steinman (Bat out of Hell – the Musical)
Swarf
Sweet
Nad Sylvan
Judie Tzuke
Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons
Paul Young (of Sad Cafe and Mike & the Mechanics)
If you are looking for something I have written about one of these artists, it would probably be on this website, on the artist’s own website or available by searching the web by my name and the artist’s name. Otherwise, it rests in my archive and it may appear on this site one day when the goblins and elves have finished with their scanning, typing and editing.
My theatre writing concentrates on performances of the plays of William Shakespeare and within that particularly the work of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in Stratford-Upon-Avon in England. There are reviews here of most of their Shakespeare-related productions from the last 10 years.
My sports writing is usually about the New York Yankees about whom I write two columns a month during the baseball season and periodic updates during the other half of the year. I occasionally write about the British football team, Leeds United.
I am a professional Shakespearean actor and I run my own theatre company “The Shakespearience” out of the theatre in Hammersmith, London which is called Ravenscourt Arts. Take a look at www.ravenscourtarts.com for more information. The Shakespearience is a charitable, professional theatre company which amongst other things exists to promote the works of William Shakespeare amongst schools and young people. I alos make myself available to other theatre companies within the world of Shakespeare as a directorial consultant.
I also work in the charitable and faith sphere. I’m senior pastor of an unusual church in central London. It is the sort of church which seeks to be evangelical, compassionate and Christian. Orthodox (in the theological sense) without being mainstream.
I also present an occasional one man show “Darren Hirst – Monologues and Soliloquies”. I have a band “Outre Dan Steele” who are available for bookings for birthdays, bar mitzvahs and parties… Seriously, we would be much more at home in an arts centre, if you want to scare your friends with something a little Avant Garde.
I’m also a husband and a father.
There must be something I’ve forgotten.
I’m a busy man.
(If you’d like to quote from anything here, please get in touch).
“People are crazy, times are strange” (Bob Dylan)
The end of the world may be coming but with it comes the promise of a new day. Twilight Dawning.
Hi Darren, I would like to reach out to you regarding the Sad Café discography which you made for the Sad Café website. According to the RCA International discography, there were two re-releases in the early 1980’s on the green RCA Int. label:
Fanx Ta’Ra – INTS 5132 (NL 25101)
Misplaced Ideals – INTS 5133 (NL 25133)
Can you confirm that both were made? The number in brackets is my reconstructed international number. I assume that this is what’s printed on them, but I can’t actually ascertain this, as I have never seen these albums myself. I’m trying to find out more, but these albums must be very rare indeed. Any further info (images…?) you might have on them will be really appreciate.
Best regards from Holland
Hi Klaas,
The discography isn’t exhaustive but more a guide to the easiest way to track down each album today. However, I work for the band in various capacities and my collection covers most everything. There were re-releases of both of these albums after the success of Everyday Hurts in the UK (Misplaced Ideals had the different cover with the family on the beach, which btw the band hated). The catalogue numbers were 25132 and 25133 with a prefix which depended on the country of origin. The vinyl had an orange label like the pre-1980s RCA.
Hope this helps.
Darren
Darren, I reached out to you via your Ravenscourt ministry re Faith Underground and our coverage of Rock ‘n Rollers who’ve Met the Rock of Ages. Hope we can connect to learn more about your ministry to musicans. https://faithunderground.org/
Mr Hirst,
Would it be disrespectful to record an irreverent parody to the Sad Café hit “Every Day Hurts”?
It’s one of my all time favourite songs, but once I got the idea for a parody based on the chorus, I couldn’t help myself.
However I’m concerned, as it’s such a beautiful song, I risk offending people who love this track.
People need some joy in their lives though, particularly in such tough times. I just want to make people smile.
If you would be willing to peruse the parody lyrics, please could you provide me with your contact details, so maybe I could email the parody to you? I’d really appreciate your opinion.
Yours faithfully
Frank Hill
Hi,
The approval for something of this kind would require the approval of the songwriters. Mr Young and Mr Emerson are deceased. Mr Stimpson is withdrawn from the music business. Please enjoy your pardoy privately. I couldn’t suggest that you use it publicly.
Darren
Thank you Darren, I thought this would be the case.
Would you like to see the lyrics? It hopefully might bring a smile in these tough times