I joined in answer to an ad in the Man Evening News, "Guitar player required, must have good sense of humour".

They were originally formed as the "Yellow Bellow Room Boom" to front a record on CBS which was really Godley & Creme while they were still students, but managed by Kennedy Street. The original guitarist was John "Murph" Murphy, plus a sax player called Geoff Walters.

Anyway, the record flopped but they decided to stay together, doing a sort of Bonzo Doggish act.

I had just returned from Denmark where the Big Sound broke up. I went for the audition at Jim O'Farrell's office on Gore Street, where Kennedy St Ent's had relocated, and was offered the job.

The following day I thought better of it, and didn't go to rehearsal, but 'phoned in to say I'd changed my mind.

Thirty minutes later, two of the boys turned up to my Mum & Dad's house, frogged marched me into the car, and I ended up staying 10 years.

The first gig was at The Oasis which went too well.

The following day Sunday lunch we did at Warrington Towers social club, and they shut the curtains on us and chucked us out.

Well, we had set off a smoke bomb to open the show. That evening we turned up at Leigh Garrick, set up the gear and waited to find out what time we were on. Roy Jackson (owner) came into the dressing room, and politely said "Royal Variety Show?"

"Yes, that's us" "Well lads, get your f****** gear off my stage, I've had your report from this afternoon!!"

I then tried to quit the group again, but they wouldn't let me.

The Royal Variety Show recorded under the name of Oscar in the 1970s. We did the rock venues as Oscar, then went out and did the clubs as RVS. Have a look at this link on You Tube. It's me with the green Telecaster.