91Èȱ¬

Chris: Monica, Waddo, Daggers, Maskell, Wilco and me -the idea was Waddo's and Monica's 'cos they were in a Radio Leicester band in the last century!ÌýÌý

Charles:Ìý A mixture of youth and experience, with questionable musical talent butÌý we make up for this with enthusiasm. We haven't smashed any instruments up yet.

Monica: Founder members are me and Tony - and it was Tony who suggested restarting the band for the Ruby Rainbow gig.

Tim: An odd collection of middle-aged folk who think they might have a little musical talent.

Tony: Me and them.

Chris: Southall Grammar School in the summer of love 1967 - we were so loud doing Who numbers in the school hall the teachers had to rushed in to try an turn it down!

Charles: If I say yesterday, then no-one will have any expectations.

Monica:Ìý We started life as the entertainment at our staff Christmas parties - about 100 years ago!

Tim: Err, we haven't yet!

Tony: I joined my first band (Unit 6) in 1964. I was the drummer.Ìý

Who or what are your greatest influences?Ìý

Chris: The drumming of Buddy Rich and the fantastic sound of Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention.

Charles:ÌýÌý Monica Winfield. We all do as she says. And my brother.

Monica: Depends who you ask - I think Tony would say The Beatles - but there are rumblings of dissent - especially from the cricketing fraternity!ÌýHowever, we generally stick to the "something old, something new" motto.

Tim: Margaret Thatcher, Peter Green, Dave Edmunds, Dave Gilmour

Tony: The Fab Four - definitely. Unprecedented in every way.

Describe your sound?

Chris: Wild but tamed.
Charles: La la la la la la la la la la la la!
Monica: Confused!
Tim: It's a fusion of dreadful and really awful.
Tony:Ìý Tuneful, melodic and familiar. Well, one out of three shall we say?

Chris: There is loads of talent out there that we play on Maynard's Bill of Fare.

Charles: Excellent, although we drag it down a bit.

Monica: I think we've got some great venues for new and live music - and musical talent and creativity has always been strong.

Tim: I actually think we are very lucky to have venues like The Shed, The Musician and of course The Charlotte, and lots of talented bands to fill those places.

Tony: The George Formby Society meet every second Wednesday in the month at the Priory, Nanpantan. Need I say more?

Who are your favourite local artists at the moment and why?Ìý

Chris: Tempting Fate - Lovely open sound.

Charles:ÌýÌý Kasabian obviously, and Banjo Dez.

Monica: I still mourn the passing of 'Rocking Ronnie & the Bendy Ruperts' - a sad loss to the live scene in Leicester - and my social life took a dive when they stopped playing too!Ìý Currently I'm a big fan of Stevie Jones - who plays all over our area and will be at the Big Session Festival again this year.

Tim: I quite like Banjo Dez...

Tony:Ìý I second Banjo Dez!

Do you have day jobs?Ìý

Chris: Yes at Radio Leicester.
Charles: Yes.
Monica: Yes, but I wish I didn't - I'm made for the rock star lifestyle!
Tim: Yes - I'm a 91Èȱ¬ Engineer...and love it!
Tony: Yes, presenting radio shows at Radio Leicester; but it's not a proper job.

Chris: Trying to keep a straight face during 'My Ding a Ling' with Waddo!

Charles: For me personally, singing at the royal Albert Hall.

Monica: I'm sure Birstall will be hard to match - the next one is always the best one!

Tim: Any and every music festival I have ever been to...

Tony: Playing De Montfort Hall before the Beatles!

Worst gig?

Chris: Had beer glasses thrown over our heads by drunkards at the White Hart as teenagers -they warned us about that pub!

Charles: Tomorrow will be the best and worst because it's our first one.

Monica: As if I would tell you!

Tim: Yet to happen - I'll let you know...

Tony:Ìý Playing Lancaster Fire Station in the 60's having written-off my dad's van earlier that day.

Best live venue that you've played or been to?

Chris: De Montfort Hall to see Dave Brubeck Quartet.

Charles: Played - Royal Albert Hall. Been to - The old Wembley stadium to watch Queen.

Monica: As a Leicester girl, I'm afraid De Montfort Hall has really special music memories for me.ÌýI saw my first ever concert there and it's such a versatile venue.Ìý I've since been to concerts in arenas and stadiums - but De Mont beats them all hands down.

Tim: Wembley Stadium...been to, not played ther...yet

Tony: See the Beatles at de Montfort Hall…but a close second was Elton John at Coventry.

Chris: Splitting my tom tom skin playing the Small Faces 'All or Nothing' at an audition- I didn't get the job.

Charles:Ìý Every time I play the wrong note. As I play many I have many embarrassing moments.

Monica: Truly deeply embarrassing - during a singing lesson many years ago, I took a big breath ready to start - and some air escaped.Ìý Noisily.Ìý Let's leave it at that.

Tim: Realising that I am actually quite a bad guitar player...

Tony: Allowing a drumstick to fly out of my hand as I began a drum solo.

What’s your favourite track to perform?

Chris: Wipe Out by the Safaris - I get a long solo!
Monica: It's way too cheesy, but our McFly song is lovely.
Tim: Fleetwood Mac - Allows lots of expressive guitar dynamics......
Tony: Twist and Shout.

What is your karaoke song of choice?

Chris: Oh oh it must be 'Agado'o!!!
Charles: 'Hard to handle' by the Black Crows.
Monica: Too many to choose from - once I start, you can't get me off!!
Tim: 'Angels' by Robbie... Class!
Tony:' Imagine'.

Which person from Leicester do you most admire?

Chris: Bill Maynard.
Charles:Ìý My wife. She has to put up with me.
Monica: It's still the late, great Morgan Cross.
Tim: The person who designed the one way system - he has one kind of unique mind.
Tony: Thomas Cook. What a visionary!

Red Leicester Cheese or Pork Pie?Ìý

Chris: Red Leicester please, with lovely rustic bread.
Charles:ÌýPork pie smothered in melted Red Leicester cheese.
Monica: Red Leicester every time.
Tim: Pork Pie… Yum.
Tony: Red Leicester.

Chris: After my first son Marc was born I went back to work the next day and on myÌý radio show played three songs for my wife and the new babyÌý - one was by Andy Williams - it was so slushy and luvvy duvy!

Charles: I'm sure I have done some thing romantic but I can't remember!!!

Monica: Before we married, my Chris once borrowed my car and I left a CD in it, ready to play.Ìý I put a post it note over the slot, saying "play me" - and it was Anita Baker's "Sweet Love".Ìý I think he was impressed.

Tim: Too many to pick out a single one - just ask my wife.

Tony: I surprised my wife Julie by whisking her off to Paris for Valentine's Day and arranged for a limo to collect us from the airport. We spent part of Valentine's Day up the Eiffel Tower.

Which three albums in your record collection could you never throw away and why?

Chris: Beatles - 'Sgt Pepper' just wonderful.Ìý Beach Boys 'Good Vibrations' and greatest hits - such wonderful arrangements. Walker Brothers greatest hits with the wonderful drumming of Leicester's Dougie Wright.

Charles:Ìý'Songs in the key of life' by Stevie wonder, 'Back on the streets' by Tower of Power and 'Head-hunters' by Herbie Hancock. The albums by Stevie and Herbie were amazing and pivotal in shaping what we listen to today, and 'Tower of Power' are my favourite band.

Monica: Not just "never throw away" - I love these three so much, I'd rescue them if the house was on fire - 'Quadrophenia' by The Who, 'The Hired Man' soundtrack and my best of Oysterband collection.
Tim: David Bowie - 'Aladin Sane'. Just classic teenage memories for me
Tony: 'Sgt. Pepper', 'Revolver' and 'Pet Sounds'.

Is being based in Leicestershire a help or a hindrance?

Chris: A great help – I can get to the folks in London in two hours - Carlisle is three and Swindon is two and a half hours away- easy peezy.
Charles: A help. I live here.
Monica: Definitely a help - you can get to anywhere easily from Leicester!
Tim: Definite help - it's easy to just disappear after a bad gig...
Tony: Convenient for work – and pretty well everywhere else!