My Involvement

I first came across them when they were after someone to put up posters in Liverpool to advertise their forthcoming national tour. Having nothing else to do at the time I signed up as roadie and general dogsbody for the whole tour. Compensation was to be paid meals but I don't think I got a single one! That might be a slightly untrue - Wez might have stood me some chips once when I literally had no money for food.

Apart from humping the equipment and driving the van, I had the job of producing as much fog as possible from the smoke machine (too much in Scarborough) and reloading the drum machine mid-set (disaster in the Barrel Organ). Accommodation was usually the floor of some poor fan's house who was starstruck enough to let a bunch of strangers kip at their place. Freezing overnight in the van to protect the gear was also a requirement when it was your turn.

When I had nothing better to do I also spent many a happy hour fruitlessly phoning venues to blag a support slot and a few quid for turning up. Mostly this involved been told to bugger off, but there were a few venues out there that clearly felt sorry for some poor sod stood in a cold phone box.