I’ve played with or played on the same bill as Bryn Haworth (Joan Armatrading, Gerry Rafferty), Chris Eaton (Cliff Richard),
Norman Barratt (Gravy Train, Larry Norman), Mark Hunter (James), Ian Kirkham (Spiral Axis, Simply Red), John Renbourn,
Bert Jansch, Ken Nicol (The Albion Band, Steeleye Span), Oasis, The Spice Girls, Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings, Suzi Quatro,
Roy Wood’s Wizzard, The Animals, Sweet, John Coghlan’s Quo, Dr. Feelgood, John Otway, Michael Bruce (Alice Cooper),
Dave Sharpe (The Alarm), Gerry Donoghue (Fairport Convention), Buck Brown (Nils Lofgren, Bruce Springsteen),
Phil Kenzie (Beatles, Rod Stewart, Eagles), Keef Hartley (John Mayall & the Blues Breakers)…one surreal evening playing a late gig, The Troggs walked in after rehearsals, with a thumbs up and a quick chat, and they were gone!
We were blessed with an amazing 2 week tour in Mexico. A day’s drive from Mexico City to Oaxaca and worked with a children’s homeless centre, playing in community centres and churches, some of the experiences were hair raising!
The gig that got away
I’d been a fan of The Alarm since their first album, then years later, Rubian supported Dave Sharp, the Alarm’s guitarist. It was great chatting with him about their adventures.
The week after, Dave phoned round the music shops in town looking for me and got my number. He was putting a band together and asked me to play guitar!
It took a heart-beat to say you bet and he sent me the songs to learn.
As often happens in this business, the long and winding yellow brick road faded away, but for a moment there I heard alarm bells ringing!
the time when it felt like…I’m in a movie…
…beneath a million southern stars on the Baja Peninsula, Mexico, we played a gig on a midnight beach till a glorious sunrise came up over the horizon.