'From Coalfield to Battlefield' is a collection of songs by Gary, together with a collection of illustrations by his partner Helen, based on true stories of The Durham Light Infantry.
The project arose from a commission by the DLI Research and Study Centre at Seven Hills, Spennymoor, County Durham, England.
'Field of Blood' by Helen Temperley © 2019
In October 2017, Gary was approached by the DLI Research and Study Centre for permission to use his song 'The Durham Light Infantry' in 'When the Bugle Calls', a travelling exhibition about the music of The Durham Light Infantry.
Gary outside the DLI Research and Study Centre
Helen outside the DLI Research and Study Centre
‘The Durham Light Infantry’ was the second song Gary wrote for his band The Whisky Priests, when he was 18 years old. It was first performed live at the band's debut concert, at Fowlers Yard in Durham City, on 4th October 1985. The original studio version of the song was eventually recorded and released four years later, as the final track on The Whisky Priests' debut album ‘Nee Gud Luck’ in November 1989.
Gary took the important decision to rework this old song for the project, updating it with revised lyrics and a new brass band arrangement by producer Iain Petrie, scored by Iain and composer/arranger Sam Lord.
'The Durham Light Infantry' Score for Brass (Iain Petrie & Sam Lord)
An instrumental backing track of this new version of 'The Durham Light Infantry' was then recorded by Ferryhill Town Band from the stage of Mainsforth and District Institute, just across the road from Gary and Helen's home in Ferryhill, County Durham, on 28th November 2017.
With Gary adding his vocals in Iain's studio a few days later, this new version of 'The Durham Light Infantry' was released by Whippet Records in December 2017 as a 2-track CD single featuring both the vocal and instrumental versions and with an illustration by Helen adorning the front cover.
Meanwhile, three further songs were added to the commission, whilst Helen was also commissioned to create new artwork for the exhibition. Recorded in November 2017, these three songs were subsequently released throughout 2018 as a series of download singles, each featuring Helen's commissioned artwork.
'Ballad of Lance-Sergeant William Stones' tells the true story of Joseph William Stones, a previously-decorated DLI soldier from Crook who was executed during the First World War for alleged cowardice under dubious circumstances...
'Euphonium and Cornet' is the true story of Gary’s great-uncles Joseph (Joe) and George Mains, Colliery Bandsmen as well as DLI Bandsman during the Second World War...
'The Final Letter of Jimmy Durham' was inspired by the true story of James Francis Durham, DLI Bandsman and the first regular black soldier in the British Army...
All four songs were collected together and re-released on CD in 2019 as the 'DLI EP'.
"An achingly real archive of lives rediscovered and restored"
Sean McGhee, RnR magazine, UK
Official Lyric Vidoes
When the Bugle Calls
'When the Bugle Calls' was a year-long touring exhibition, featuring sounds and objects from the DLI Collection, starting at Bishop Auckland Town Hall in December 2017. After four months there, the exhibition went on to visit several other venues throughout different parts of the County Durham region.
Telling the story of the Music of the Durham Light Infantry, a section of the exhibtion was devoted to Gary's old band The Whisky Priests alongside Gary and Helen's own contributions to the project. Furthermore, recordings of two of Gary's songs, 'The Durham Light Infantry' (featuring Ferryhill Town Band) and 'Euphonium and Cornet', were included on listening posts at the exhibition.
'When the Bugle Calls' was launched at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on 5th December 2017. Accompanied by Mick Tyas (R.I.P.) on bouzouki and backing vocals, Iain Petrie on bass and backing vocals, Jake Lucas on drums, and two members of Ferryhill Town Band, Steven King (euphonium) and Andrew Potts (cornet), Gary performed a selection of the project's songs to an invited audience of V.I.P. guests.
Gary Miller & Friends, live at the 'When the Bugle Calls' Launch event, Bishop Auckland Town Hall, 5th December 2017
"Thank you very much for your contribution and the work of Helen, Iain and the rest of the team. The performance was fantastic and we were very pleased to include your story in our exhibition and document your story as part of our DLI history."
(Gillian Kirkbride, Museums, Heritage and Collections Manager - Growing and Learning).
Live Videos from the 'When The Bugle Calls' opening event
Immediately following the exhibition's tour, the 'When the Bugle Calls' project was expanded by the DLI Research and Study Centre in partnership with Beamish Museum, with Gary & Helen being commissioned to deliver a series of songwriting and art workshops for schools throughout the County Durham region in late-2018/early-2019.
Meanwhile, Gary and Helen went on to create further songs and artwork about the Durham Light Infantry for their own 'From Coalfield to Battlefield' project. Their aim at the time was to produce a full-length album and accompanying illustrated book. Various other exciting projects and higher-priority commitments came along, however, along with the COVID lockdown, pushing the project into the background at that time. 'From Coalfield to Battlefield' therefore remains, for the time being, on the shelf, awaiting its time to be brought to fuller completion at some future date - watch this space!
