Hellhound on my Trail
Good grief. I've just received this month's pulsating copy of The Word and who's in it but the bloody PM. Everywhere I go at the moment the bugger's following me about with a 'vote for me' glint in his beady little eye.He's talking to Mark Ellen erstwhile member of Ugly Rumours and musical colleague of the aforementioned politician. And what's he talking about? The music he grew up with, the bands he used to go and see and his aspirations of being a rock star. He was lead singer in the group and - from what I've read - very much the product of the musical era he grew up in. Mark Ellen explains:-
"I think it only fair that WORD readers should get a precise mental image of their Prime Minister onstage in a rock band. And here it is - in possibly too much detail. The opening number was always 'Honky Tonk Women' - Jim on the cowbell, then the guitar, then the bassline, then we gave you the nod and in you came from the wings - dressed in and this may be stressful - a hoop-necked - T-shirt, massive flares and long hair with a fringe at the front. One hand on the hip, Jagger-style, and a wagging finger. I may be exaggerating - but only slightly - when I recall that your opening words on one occasion were "Well awright Corpus Christi Alternative College Ball, we are the Ugly Rumours!"
The first concert he ever saw was Ten Years After, he listened to King Crimson, The Doobie Brothers, The Incredible String Band, Tyrannosaurus Rex and went to see Atomic Rooster, The Who, Free and Wishbone Ash.
That's my Prime Minister proving to me just how OLD I am. My Prime Minister listening to all that stuff I - and many others of my ilk - listened to. Can't imagine the Harolds MacMillan or Wilson ever having their heads turned by anything but the prospect of high office. Although Wilson successfully pinned himself to the coat-tails of Beatlemania, I bet he hated everything they did - apart from, maybe, "When I'm Sixty Four".
And Tony still hankers. He sent Bono a photograph of him (Bono) addressing the Labour Party Conference with himself (Tony) in the background. And a note: "it should have been the other way round".
I bet Neil Kinnock's rigid with envy, Prime Minister AND able to use the phrase "Well Awlriiiiight" in its proper context.
Ahhhh. Jeeeez. Shucks. I might vote for him after all.
2 comments:
I'd be a bit sceptical about Blair's romantic memories... they are about as reliable as his WMD info. He once told a local radio reporter that he remembered watching Milburn (Jackie that is, not Alan) from a seat behind the goals at Newcastle. Well Milburn retired when Blair was four and they didn't put seats in behind the goals until the 1990's. As for his musical tastes, he told Heart FM his favourite piece of music was "Where the Streets Have No Name" by U2... but told Desert Island Disc's more highbrow Radio 4 audience it was Samuel Barber's 'Adagio for Strings' and Francisco Tarrega's 'Recuerdos de la Alhambra.'
So... Vote Labour... but not for him, Steve.
Come on Steve...I'm waiting for the Keegan/Pearce punditry.
Post a Comment