Traveling Man

Early 78, and I had stopped playing to go into PA hire with Ian Middleton. We advertised in the Melody Maker, and Axis PA was born. The learning curve was tremendous,especially with the punk explosion happening in London. One thing it taught us in the first week..was to get a longer multi-core!! As soon as the band would start up it would be mayhem, with pogo leaping nutters trying to spill drink into the mixing desk. After a few rows, we decided it would be easier to get the desk away to the back of the venue.
It was to last a few years, but Ian & I decided we wanted to get back playing, although looking back it was a great time. It was also about that time I was taken to see Jimmy Greaves finish his playing career at Barnet Football Club, and I've been hooked on the club ever since.

We reformed most of the old band, but with Ian taking on Alan Whiteheads place & me on rhythm guitar & harmonica. It was a mixture of rock & blues, but some original material penned by Ian & myself. We then met Geraldo D'arbilly, the Brazilian percussionist, who helped out with the recordings at Pathway Studio's.
Another split saw Ian & myself forming Heads Under Stress, a totally blues orientated set-up with Les Mears (drums) & Tony Dangerfield (bass).
We were being asked to play at more biker gigs now, especially after Tony had been with the Flying Saucers & performed at the 21st anniversary of Windsor Hells Angels. I was asked up on stage that night & it was a blinding night!
The work was at last coming in, and Les had his own drum roady...but he always was a show-off! Things were going well, so I thought, till personal problems started coming into the band...and I left. A few more months went by, and I left London for good, destination....Cornwall!!

The Wild South-West!

My sister had moved to Cornwall years back, so it seemed like a good idea to go down for an extended holiday. I set off from London on an old Honda 550 Four, and it never stopped raining till I arrived! It took me a while to settle, but I knew some people down there, Scorpio Motorcycle Club, and decided to visit. Unfortunately, they were under surveillance& one of the largest operations concerning biker activity was mounted.(Operation Enmesh) It seemed my life was going in another direction than the one I really wanted.

I joined a small pub band from Truro, and it was good to get away from the hectic lifestyle, but it didn't last. Some old friends who used to be in Scorpio turned up..and I went back partying with the club. I still had the Honda, but I remember all those years back in Mill Hill when I went on the back of a Triumph T'bird, and I wanted to own a Triumph. So, I went to London & came back with a 750 Bonnie!

It was during this period, that I had met my present wife, Kas, whilst working in Truro. We've had our ups & downs like any couple, but glad to say we're still together after all those years & have two wonderful children, Jack & Erin. Work started to get a bit sketchy to say the least, and we argued about me going back to London, but Kas's parents were now living in Cheltenham, & if we were going anywhere, that's the destination.

Scorpio had over the years, a good relationship with several Midland clubs, but the tide was turning, in as much as they wanted unity as a whole club, but Scorpio declined as they felt they were too far out of the way to be of any benefit. The Midland Outlaws was born, unveiled at the Rock & Blues Show ground, Derby. One of the clubs amalgamated, was the Wolfs Outlaws, Cheltenham.

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