‘Blue Soul’ school band featuring Ian Buxton on lead vocals and Racster Dingwall (now a bagpiper!) on drums, Alan Stirling on bass and Phil Castleton on 2nd. guitar. This was my first taste of gigs in the local church hall. Ian (a very good-looking, nice and charismatic guy) died in a car-crash aged 25.

'Sour Milk Sea' continue. Boris goes to India to do the Hippie trail thing (much to my disappointment at the time). The band decide to continue and draft in Rob Tyrrell (formerly of the Anon and some pre-Genesis bands) as replacement drummer. We supported (among others) 'Deep Purple', 'Blodwyn Pig', 'Junior's Eyes', 'Van der Graaf Generator', 'Black Sabbath', 'Jody Grind' and even shared the bill with 'Smile' on one occasion. In the autumn auditioned Freddie as documented in "Queen, The Early Years". Through this association I became far more aware of the wider world and new angles on music, greatly benefitting from getting close to Brian's virtuosity and unique sound and approach. I particularly remember a jam we had when he introduced me to the delights of the AC30, a great combination with the cherry-red SG Standard I was playing at the time (what a tone! - still miss that guitar - and the Marshall JMP 50!). Also met John 'Tupp' Taylor (later Jim Capaldi's manager), Josephine Ranken (classic Bohemian Art uber-chick of the late 60's) , and many other interesting people ..... Many gigs as listed in Melody Maker and Time Out of the day. See ‘Links’ page for biographical material involving Freddie and me. The picture on the title page shows L to R Freddie Mercury(vocals), Chris (sitting on the wall - guitar and vocals), Jeremy 'Rubber' Gallop (sitting on ground - guitar), Paul Milne(bass) and standing - Rob Tyrrell(drums).

‘Richie Greenwood’ solo artist – backed up talented folk influenced black singer-songwriter from Minnesota. Also later featured Boris on drums… Paul Gambaccini (radio 1 DJ) was a frequent visitor to Richie’s flat where we rehearsed.

Traveled to America. Bought my black Les Paul Custom guitar on Jan 2nd ‘74 . Joined ‘Mandrake Memorial' on Jan 3rd in Philadelphia featuring Randy Monaco (boy, was he a great singer) - bass and lead vocals, CC- lead guitar, Bruce ? - Harpsichord, Richie Smth on drums (from Philly hard Rock band Medusa). I replaced Craig Anderton, notable electronics genius, effects designer and regular writer for magazines such as ‘Guitar Player'. Still got my Les Paul to this day, tho'.

Tried to get it together. Regularly jammed onstage at the legendary Jimi Hendrix haunt ‘Speakeasy' club with Phil Lynott and many others. I think it was now I was referred (via a friend of Lindsay Kemp) to Zaine Griff. (http://freespace.virgin.net/sam.vox/fahrenheit_451.html) - an extremely promising talent who was at the time playing out on bass with a band called 'Screamer' . Zaine was the obvious talent in the band. I made overtures to be his next guitar player but our opportunities never synchronized. He disappeared from view in the mid 80's and thanks to the internet I realise he now lives in New Zealand. His video record on youtube remains an impressive testament to a star that never surfaced. Failures are so much more interesting than successes, don't you agree, Paul mccartney?

Played at the legendary “Bad Speed” Mont de Masson punk festival with ‘Twink’ (ex-drummer and vocalist for ‘Tomorrow’, ‘Pretty Things’ and ‘Pink Fairies’) as the ‘Rings’ also featuring Sandy Duncan of the Fairies. A great privelige since I had often gone to gigs to watch the 'Pretty Things' featuring Twink (and of course Phil May) in heady days of 1969.This was a last minute measure by Twink who'd had a row with his group and recruited me and Sandy with 24 hours before departure. Now, all genres of music are fuelled by some drug or other and punk was no exception (for instance: smack is for bee-bop jazz, ganja for reggae, coke is for hair-band metal, - and punk runs on cheap speed). Twink, Sandy (Duncan) and Bob Heath, our tour manager were like kids in a candy store. Their intake was prodigious. Epic. Heroic. My drug of choice at the time was cannabis – mainly hash – which was in short supply, belonging as it did to hippie culture. We played our set right after the Clash. Now that’s a tough spot. Life holds very few fears after a baptism of that nature. Thankfully, the crowd were so battle fatigued by drugs, booze and hours of incessant thrash, that they didn’t have the energy to object to our bizarre set of free-form jamming - which lack of rehearsal had forced us to do - once we had discharged the one song we had actually rehearsed.

I remember Joe Strummer’s Fender Twin blowing up on me after one song. So I switched to a Hi-watt supplied by the festival organizers. The stage stank of stink bombs which the Damned had exploded onstage in revenge following a row between them and the Clash about who should ‘headline’ – an argument the Clash ‘won’. After the final day, all the bands, liggers, groupies and hangers-on congregated in the only bar in town. Twink, Sandy and Bob who had been partying hard and non-stop finally crashed and, for once, I was the last man standing. I was able to have a great night hanging out and talking about Chicago blues with Lee Brilleau from Dr. Feelgood (who had, as usual, played a blinding set of hard rockin’ grooves). Later on, Twink was kind enough to invite me to play lead guitar on ‘Psychedelic Punkaroo’ released on Chiswick Records (mentioned in Twink biogs on the web). Bob Carroll of Chiswick records didn’t like the track (an homage to Twink’s mate Syd Barrett from the original line-up Pink Floyd) and released another track as the a-side. A shame I think. Subsequently I did bass on ‘Space Lover’- by Twink released on his own label,.

Toured continental Europe (Berlin, Hamburg, etc.) with ‘Sadita Sisters' featuring CC –lead, Geoff Gurd, guitar, Boris drums, John Knox – bass and Jackie Taylor - keyboards. Band also featured Teresa d'Abreu (aristo) and actress Linda Marlowe and Jude ?, sometime girlfriend of regular guitar-player Dave Stewart (later of ‘Eurhythmics') who had injured himself too badly to tour. I was his replacement.

Toured the clubs of the UK with ‘The Flirtations' - a poor man's Supremes (3 black girls, sisters Shirley, Eveline and one other) from Detroit. Band included: CC –lead guitar, Geoff Gurd, piano, Boris drums and Klyde McMullin on bass. In the future, Klyde was to reinvent himself with the new name of ‘Chelsea' in LA in the 80’s. Any similarity between his new moniker and the name ‘Chesney’ is purely coincidental.

The band relocated to LA. Coincidentally Kelvin had been planning just such a move anyway. The band changed its name to ‘The Spiders from London’ (in homage to ‘David Bowie’). On being threatened with legal action by a Capitol records-signed outfit called ‘Spyder’ (who nobody had ever heard of at the time and who never actually surfaced), the name was changed to ‘Art Thieves’. This band worked the Hollywood club scene hard, and became regular favourites at clubs such as the Troubadour, the Starwood, Madame Wong’s and The Whisky A-go-go. During this time did sessions with legendary ‘Rolling Stones’ pianist Nicky Hopkins. Nice guy.

Bob Woodward's John Belushi biog ‘Wired’ mentions many of the people (Cathy Smith, Sandra ‘Sam’ Turkis) on the scene at the time. People seemed to coalesce around Leslie St.Nicholas' house (ex-wife of Nick St. Nicholas - see entries for 79 and 80). A fragile drug-fuelled scene it was, too. The nexus was West Hollywood -Dan Tana's restaurant on Santa Monica and places like the Troubador next door. Another figure around was Richard Manuel pianist from the ‘Band'. Tragically Richard didn't weather the 'new wave' storm that briefly infected the West coast music scene around this time, fundamentally undermining traditional acts like his and celebrating stuff like Devo and the Plasmatics. Great as these new acts were, this climate fostered Richard's temporary lack of recognition and must have contributed to his waning self-confidence. He committed suicide shortly after this. Anyhow, we were hanging out around this bunch of ex-patriot Canadians (part of the Nick St. Nicholas legacy)and had a very well-meaning financier who bankrolled the band. Unfortunately his appointee manager was a complete asshole and egotist who summarily tried sacking just about everyone in the group. This tactic led to huge tensions as he was holding the checkbook and basically controlled the flow of cash - our meagre allowances. I returned to London. The band staggered on without me then split in the spring. The two American guys kept it together and reemerged with another outfit later on ……

tried to get it together – did ‘Space Lover’ session for Twink on bass guitar. Acquired my Strat and my Martin in this period.

Toured UK with Ben E King, Eddie Floyd and Dorothy Moore. My brother Andy on tenor sax and Colin Salmon (movie and TV actor- Bond movies, Resident Evil etc.) on trumpet. Later did further gigs with Eddie in Paris. Philip Stancil was the band leader and Gwynn Hood played bass, Sam on drums.

Set up a studio under the railway arches in Battersea. Tried to master the black arts of the Atari and Notator. Did well and developed a new facility on keyboards and a sense of orchestration hitherto impossible to achieve. Took up with band 'The Batniks ', featuring among others, Will Wildcat on drums (later with the Sandals) and Gerry Hyde on guitar - also Gerry's wife Janan Kubba on backing vocals. I shot for the role of producer. However the technnology of the computer was not compatible with the low-tech ethos of the band (they'd have been better off recording fully live) and the project foundered on the rocks of my overreaching ambition (hey-ho!).....

Later on Gerry and I did a gig as proto-version of 'Planet Handbag' with MTV presenter Shelley on L. vox and Janan sharing the Lead vocals with her. We did a show at the 'New Brunswick Hotel' for some mad party. Although the vibe was really good, the principals were not interestied in any future for the project and I was left to pull the 'Handbag' together with new personnel, continuing with Mike Paris on bass and Curtis (he never did tell me his surname) on drums ..... sad! cos the two chicks upfront was a dynamite concept!!

Appeared on James Whale Show (UKTV –channel 3 – LWT) with Chelsea as an acoustic duo, due to a kind invitation from Mike Mansfield and Hilary McClaren at MMTV, both of whom have been very influential and helpful supporters of my music.

Later on, out of the ashes of the former Hotel band, I formed cheese covers band called ‘Planet Handbag’ with singer Chantelle Duncan on lead vocals. A tight little outfit it was too. The band also featured Ali Kane - sometime keyboards and vocals with "Lightning Seeds". Talent in abundance and four vocalsits in one band!!! (See Gallery - Archive for picture). We experienced a rapid rise and numerous gigs. But pushing shit uphill with no help ain't that much fun. Eventually, the downright meanness of one of the band members got me down, and I jumped ship onto the more emtionally and financially rewarding originals project with Pete Wood.

4 songs on TV show ‘Funky Bunker’ as the ‘Desirables’, later the ‘Exiles’ with Pete Wood –vocals, guitar, CC – lead guitar, Mark Heaney (later of the ‘Seahorses’) and some dude on bass. Immediately got a call from Virgin records saying ‘they loved us’. As a result we started gigging the showcase spots. A cracking band with Wayne Nunes from ‘Tricky’s band and Dave Ruffy ex-‘Ruts’, ex-Kirsty McColl. But, true to form, the a-and-r men couldn’t be bothered to show up and check us out. Later on I did Sporadic gigs with covers bands like ‘Willie and the Shakers’, depping for their regular guitarist Jamie West-Oram.

Did some guitar sessions for The 'Java Sea' at that time a collaboration between Jamie Blake and Sky Wood at Hi Street Studios, Harlesden. This was a good intro to the studio engineer Gareth Redfarn. A friend suggested that I should write a tune for Jeff Beck to cover, since one of our mates was 'going out' with Randy Hope-Taylor, Jeff's bass-player at the time and so I used the studio to record 'The Bowman', a piece I had in 13/8 time which I simplified for more groove to 9/8. Randy saw fit not to submit the cd to Jeff so no dice! Thanks, mate. However, I went on to produce my next 2 albums thru the studio. Unfortunately some local gangsters frightened Hi Street out of its premises and the studio was relocated to Acton. The Javas had managed to expand to a full band and their current drummer, Nick Downing did a great job on tracks on 'Diabolical Liberties'.

Recording new album…….. gigs with ‘Roadrunners’ at Dover St. Wine bar, playing to a ‘second time around’ audience of lonely hearts and also doing occasional gigs as an acoustic duo with Pete Wood.

Releasing 'Diabolical Liberties' in April with much help from Gerry Laffy on vocals. I'm continuing to gig once in a while with soul/disco covers band 'Roadrunners' and Gerry and I have plans to take the album out on the road, if the promoters(who we're talking to right now) can manage to do their sums and get us out there. Business has always been the tough aspect, but fingers crossed ... I'd just love to play the festival scene next year (Glastonbury etc.) The record was recorded at the same 'Hi-Street Studios' as "Beat Hotel" but the emphasis has shifted slightly. I'm still writing (a strange addiction) but the major breakthrough is to have my old pal Gerry Laffy on most of the lead vocals. He's doing a fantastic job and really lifts the material. He's got the pipes to interpret my songs far better than I ever could myself. He's also a fine guitar player, but (wouldn't you know it?), I'm grabbing all the playing opportunities - (well, I've got to do something!). Nick Downing's doing most of the live drums - really excellent! (The gallery will soon contain shots of these guys and other contributors). Please check the album out and buy a copy for yourself and one for your Ma if you like it that much ....