cookie’s Random Jottings
cookie’s Random Jottings
I’ve been lucky enough to find myself doing some gigs recently with Chas and Dave. They had a string of hits in the 1980s and have enjoyed something of a cult following ever since. They’ve got together after a bit of a break to celebrate their having known one-another for 50 years, and recorded a new album.
The first show I did with them was live tv – The One Show – on BBC1. It was a bit nerve-wracking in that we had to stand onstage in the studio for the whole half-hour duration of the programme before we played it out at the end. I was really pleasantly surprised by the quality of the baritone sound on the audio when it appeared on YouTube recently – we ‘iron lung’ players usually get lost in the mix, especially on stuff that’s compressed for broadcast. Anyway, here it is, see what you think.
Eight miles from home and a 7.30pm finish – that’s my sort of gig.
I suppose the next show could well be the pinnacle of my career in that we ‘topped’ the bill at the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium. Well, I say topped the bill; we were last on, probably for logistical reasons in that it was easy to bring the rest of the cast on halfway through our act. (But fear not, I shall go to my grave telling people I topped the bill at the Palladium!)
Photos: Tony Clout
The Royal Variety Performance is a triumph of organisation when you think about the sheer size of the cast and the amount of changes of scenery and equipment necessary. Needless to say, it requires a good deal of hanging about on the part of the participants.
Having been told to get there at 11am, I arrived early at 10.20am. We finally performed for about three minutes a mere 12 hours later at 10.20pm. We did have to rehearse the finale though, which was followed by lunch in a temporary mess they had set up in the theatre foyer, which was followed by some hanging about. There was just insufficient time to do anything meaningful in town before the dress rehearsal, after which there was more hanging about because there was just insufficient time to do anything meaningful before the 5pm security lockdown. After that we were effectively confined to our dressing room so there was more hanging about, albeit with plenty of yarning going on (arranger Tony Clout was especially good value) and the time flew by. I was a bit put out when the make-up lady came round and spent, it seemed, more time on powdering my bald dome than she did on the whole of the rest of the band put together.
There was a pleasant lad sharing our dressing room, who introduced himself as Gareth. I nearly put my foot in it during the small talk by asking him what he did. It turns out his name is Gareth Malone and he’s an OBE and really famous for forming workplace choirs on tv. In my defence, I haven’t owned a telly for 15 years.
Here then for your delectation is the result of our efforts. I must say, of the celebrities I rubbed shoulders with during the course of the day, one in particular struck me as being very pleased with himself. Having heard his act as I walked through the auditorium during the dress rehearsal, he didn’t seem to me to have much to be pleased about. But what do I know?
The last gig I did with Chas and Dave was their Christmas Show at the IndigO2. I’d never been to what I shall always think of as The Millennium Dome before, and if I ever go there again I certainly won’t be going by road – travelling South West to South East across London is a lot more difficult than it should be. The show was a great experience, even though we only played on five songs. The audience was really going for it, and I was rather glad I was on the stage rather than in the crowd – there was a fair bit of beer flying about.
And finally… it remains only for me to wish you all the very best seasonal good wishes. Be nice to one another and may your god be with you.
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‘Til the next time…
A Right Royal Hang-About
Monday, 23 December 2013