Restless
manager Ray with Jim after the Hootenanny 2003
Photo : Copyright Ray Thomas
I was lucky enough to have been in the South East of England during the later part of the seventies, when rock and roll music was enjoying a revival. I used to go out rockin' seven nights a week. It was great!!!!! I was also in the British Army at the time, and in late '78 I got posted overseas to Germany. It was great to see the Jets, Matchbox, and the Polecats getting into the charts too. There was no way the rockin' music fans could be ignored any more. It had all started from a protest march in London in 1976, which had resulted in rock and roll being given an airing on prime time radio one. Every saturday night at six, people around the country could tune in and listen to a great radio show, which included a gig guide. So there I was stuck in Germany, missing out on all the fun. Luckily I was still able to buy plenty of records, which kept me in touch with the scene in a way. I was such a fanatic of the music that in late '79, I had fitted a 100 watt amplifier and a big pair of speakers into my car....for better listening pleasure......LOL
I remember I was driving home from work one day, when a tune came on the radio that had my interest from the very start. It was 'Runaway Boys' by the Stray Cats. It was an awesome sound, and the amplifier was turned on (for added drama...as Brian once said) so I could hear it real loud. Wooooooo Hooooooo.......I got home far quicker than I would have under normal circumstances. I'd put my foot to the floor as a direct result of hearing this high powered rockabilly song. Luckily we still got Top of the Pops on forces TV, and I was lucky enough to get to see the Cats performing on the show within a couple of weeks. I wasn't disappointed either.....big quiffs, great clothes, and a stand up drummer that was new to most people, including me. In the early eighties, there were only two bands that used a stand up drummer (to my knowledge) and they both stood out a mile, because of the way they played their music...both bands choosing to play it in a totally innovative way. The Stray Cats was one, and Restless from the UK was the other. Whilst the majority of the UK was lucky enough to be able to go out and see the Stray Cats in action, every time I came back home on leave I had just missed them..Bummer!!! I have to say though, I did have a brief appearance on stage with the Polecats that year.
I didn't get to see the Stray Cats until 1989, when I was back in Germany again on another 'tour'. I found out that the Cats were playing at the Stadtpark, in Hamburg, in July of that year. I bought a ticket as soon as I could, without even knowing if I'd be able to go to the gig. As luck had it, I was in charge of a repair team that was not too far from Hamburg. I shut it down early, and headed for Hamburg. I could have been in deep trouble if anyone had checked why the facility had closed early, but I didn't care. I just HAD to see the Stray Cats. The gig itself was fantastic, and I managed to fight my way as close to the front as possible. It's worth mentioning that many of the fans invaded the stage area towards the end of the set. It was great to see the security staff lose the battle, but meant that I couldn't see the band anymore. I had a big smile at the time, and decided to try and get to speak to the guys backstage. I waited for almost two hours, and managed to get an invite to go backstage the following night, at the next gig, thanks to the guys' british roadie. Unfortunately I couldn't make it, because it was down in southern Germany. I still had a job to do. I'd still had a good time though, despite not being able to go backstage. It was a great memory, and one I never expected to be able to repeat.
We
move forward a few years now. I left the army in 1994, and decided I wanted
to become a promoter of rock and roll/rockabilly music. I also became
a dj of the music, which I still do now and again. I still enjoy hearing
a lot of the stuff from the bands around at the moment, which keeps it
fresh and exciting for me. I ended up managing a great rockabilly band,
which I had never expected to do. They quit for a while, which made me
wonder about why so many of our great talents get nowhere in the music
scene. I know a great deal more about that now, and a lot of it came as
a shock. I don't intend to say anything more about that right now. The
Stray Cats stuff I have has always been important enough not to be forgotten.
I carried on with my promotions, to keep the rockin' alive in my little
corner of the world. I ended up teaming up with the band again at the
end of 2002, and as we moved into 2003 I got the whisper that the Cats
were to reform for a one off gig. A couple of my friends talked me into
going, and I decided to combine business with pleasure and do some research
to try and get my guys over to the US again. (Last time they were there,
they played on the same bill as Jim's band). After a few letters back
and forth to the promoter of the Hootenanny, I managed to get a backstage
invite too. I was delighted, as I was finally going to get to meet a bunch
of musicians I had a great deal of respect for. Seeing the Stray Cats
perform was a dream come true, after so many years. They rocked!!! I'd
gone to the gig with my business partner, Joy. It took us a while to get
in backstage. The first person I saw was Jim, cooling off after coming
off stage. He was wearing sunglasses, not surprising because of the brilliant
sunshine (not to mention the 95 degree heat) on the day. He was wearing
a Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps t-shirt, which I was quietly pleased
about. I am a big fan of that band myself, so we had something in common.
Eventually we got through the gates, and managed a chat with first Lee
Rocker, and then Jim. (Brian was elusive). For those who haven't had the
chance to meet him (Jim), I can tell you he's a thoroughly nice guy. We
talked about rockabilly music, and the show they had just done, and also
our common interest in Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps. We had a photograph
taken together, and although it is a little blurry it is now a prized
possession. Jim, it was good to meet you Sir. .....and......thanks for
a great show. Ray