So there we were; totally knackered after a fantastic gig on Friday at the ‘White Lion’ in North Kilworth, and
suddenly realised that tomorrow we were booked to play at the social club in Aylestone. This brought back
memories of the start of my very (some would say too) long love/hate affair with music.
I have spent many booze - sodden nights boring our twenty-three year old organ player, Danny (‘The Lord’) , with tales of playing in working men’s social clubs, up and down the country, as a young ‘innocent’ seventeen year old drummer in a cabaret band.
Peter ‘The Prof’ was unable to play this gig due to a special mission. (I’d tell you what, but I would have to kill you …) So a friend of the band, guitarist Al T., stepped in to play the gig.
We arrived at the club and I felt that I had stepped back thirty years in time. The man from the committee gave us our instructions,
” Three thirty minute sets so we can get the bingo, raffle and open the box over and done with, and the punters won’t buy beer while they’re watching you!”
Danny’s face was a picture of absolute horror. Not only were we NOT going to play our usual storming set of classic rock; we were restricted to short sets of mostly fifties ‘rock ‘n roll!’
In fairness the audience were very appreciative and we played really well. We finished as usual with the roof blowing ‘Gimmie Some Lovin’ and left the stage on a high. Only to be brought crashing down to earth with a bang when we went to collect our fee. The b*****ds had bounced us out of twenty-five quid. So as I said nothing changes in thirty years. “Rock ‘n f**king roll.”

THE DRUMMER - ASSISTED BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT - KATE D..