Watford was still getting over World War II when I was born there. Moved to Derby at age 2 (conveniently my parents moved there too). Was given a ukulele at age 4, guitar 5 years later and a hard time from then on for wanting to play one or other ALL THE BLOODY TIME. (Not altogether true - actually my parents were quite supportive, school wasn’t.)
Little else happened to me until, in mid-teens, I discovered electricity - bought electric guitar and cute little amp (both crap). Early 60s, joined Shadows-clones The Vulcans (same Derby band that spawned cult rock legend Kevin Coyne). Biggest gig: support to Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Central Hall, Derby, 1963. Got kicked out of Vulcans for moonlighting in a jazzband, Derwent Jazz 7, at same time. Continued playing bad jazz.
Discovered Dylan, Paul Simon, Martin Carthy. Late 60s, played in Derby folkie duo The Few. Met Derek Pearce at Nottingham Art College, recognising a kindred spirit. Started jamming together. Did floor spots in Notts/Derbys folk clubs. Won college talent contest so often we got banned! Formed Roaring Jelly with Derek, 1971, briefly a duo but expanded to trio by abducting bass player Mick Hennessy from The Druids. Started writing silly songs. The next decade and a half are a bit of a blur. Estimate around 1500 gigs, some TV, radio, records. Derek and I also wrote music for TV and radio programmes. (More info on Roaring Jelly page.)
1985, played briefly with Ian Carter in The Beverley Bros., then late 85 joined R.Cajun & The Zydeco Bros., staying 12 years. Highlights: 2 private gigs for Paul McCartney. At the first, especially enjoyed meeting Linda (delightful woman, sadly missed). Spike Milligan, hero, was also there (also sadly missed). At the second, Macca joined us onstage and sang an inspired, impromptu 20-minute version of See You Later Alligator. During Cajun years Jelly did a final few gigs (in 87) and in 1991 I started offshoot rock’n’roll band The Back Seat Jivers (still doing the odd gig). Also in Good Rockin’ Dave’s Zydeco Hotrods, another branch of the R.Cajun conglomerate.
Finally left RCZB - and Derbyshire - in 97. Followed Derek south (he now lives in SW London), moving to Surrey with wonderfully supportive wife Gill and young son Jackson. Took a break from gigging. Started working with grown-up daughter Alice (superb voice, jazz / swing / standards) in background role, writing, recording, developing, helping her find musicians and gigs. Started writing with Derek again in 2006. Fresh new crop of silly songs emerged, soon followed by rekindled urge to inflict them on the public. Why did it take 20 years? Took that long to recover from 1500 Roaring Jelly gigs. C.
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