Brian Poole Returns As Tremeloes Frontman - Interview

Now celebrating its 29th year, The Solid Silver 60s Show comes to Cardiff later this month with some of the 1960s biggest acts. Topping the bill will be The Tremeloes, reunited with their original frontman Brian Poole, who recently took time out to chat with Andy Howells.

“We used to play Liverpool all the time, we were Liverpool’s second sons,” laughs Dagenham’s Brian Poole as he recalls the moment in 1963 his band The Tremeloes, toppled The Beatles She Loves You from Number One with their single Do You Love Me. “They didn't care we were from London, and we were walking in Lime Street station and went to a paper stall to buy a paper there. It was plastered all over the place, Beatles toppled by Brian Poole and The Tremeloes. If I could find that paper now I’d totally love it. Of course we knew the boys as well and lots of banter went on as you can believe!”

It sounds like the stuff of dreams but this was not the first time that Brian’s group The Tremeloes had toppled the Fab Four, 18 months previously in January 1962, the bands, both relatively unknown, had auditioned with Decca Records for a recording contract.

Brian and his band won out over The Beatles. “George Martin, who eventually signed The Beatles, later told me that everyone turned down The Beatles in those days,” says Brian who thinks hindsight is a great thing.

“The Beatles came and did songs that weren’t suitable for that time, we came and Decca knew our work because we’d already been backing people like Tommy Steele, Johnny Burnette and Gary US Bonds. Decca didn't know about the Beatles writing style. Lennon and McCartney are two of the greatest songwriters in the world bar none, although Decca were quite happy with us; we sold 15 million records for them. “

Brian and The Tremeloes in 1963

Brian along with Alan Blakely, Alan Howard and Dave Munden formed The Tremeloes in Dagenham in 1958. Although The Tremeloes were originally a five-piece group, Brian became the front man after he was elected so by the other band members on a bus journey home from a trip to see visiting US band Buddy Holly and The Crickets in East Ham.

“On the way back they went into a bit of a huddle and I said "What are you talking about? Is my shirt hanging out?” They said “No, we’ve just had a chat. We think there’s got to be a front man for the band and we’ve decided its going to be you.” I said “I don’t know I’ll give it a go” and sure enough, it took off that’s the way we did it. They made it easy for me.”

Prior to signing with Decca, Brian and The Tremeloes became a top draw in the dance hall circuit, “Those were the best days. We were playing in dance halls. Nobody sat down; they were all up dancing to us. We got to play all those songs like Do You Love Me and Twist and Shout and if you didn't play them the way they wanted them, they didn't dance to them.”

It was the bands upbeat sound which made them chart mainstays from 1963 until the end of the 60s, although following five world tours, Brian opted to leave the group in 1966. The group of course continued to have further success in their own right with hits such as Silence Is Golden and Here Comes My Baby.

Almost five decades on, Brian is back with The Tremeloes which still features original drummer Dave Munden for the 2014 Solid Silver Sixties Show . The show which visits Cardiff’s St David’s Hall on April 17, will also feature such artists as Chris Farlowe, Chris Montez and Vanity Fair.

“I love the fact that Dave Munden has kept The Tremeloes running to a high degree,” says Brian , “Alan Blakely and I invented that name The Tremeloes and Dave was the only person around at that time, thank God, he’s kept it going. It’s a total pleasure for me to be back with the band that’s a top attraction in their own right and putting me back with them – beautiful!

• A version of Andy Howells' interview with Brian Poole appeared in The South Wales Argus entertainment section The Guide during April 2014.
• Read Andy Howells interview with Tremeloes drummer Dave Munden
• Read Andy Howells interview with Tremeloes guitarist Chip Hawkes

On Stage: Dick Barton - Special Agent, Dolman Theatre, Newport

Cue the Devil’s Gallop! Dick Barton-Special Agent is back, this time courtesy of Newport Playgoers musical-comedy presentation at The Dolman Theatre.

Barton aficionados will notice quite a change in the Phil Wilmot scripted show, as the legendary post-war radio detective breaks his own personal code-of-conduct several times as he is subjected to double entendres, drugs and even acquiring a femme fatale girlfriend.

The production however is a lot of fun from start to finish and a farcical/musical hall salute to the Britishness of radio drama in the 1940s/50s with a touch of Carry On thrown in for good measure.

Newport Playgoers presentation
of Dick Barton - Special Agent
Photograph: Phil Mansell

The smoky brown set resembles a BBC Radio recording studio from the 1940s. Richard Dymond, in dinner jacket, oversees the announcements on BBC microphones while Bruce Campbell adds comic effect on cue (or not as the mood may take) as the sound effects man.

Kevin Myers displays versatility as the hero, the suave Dick Barton and the slightly dim-witted sidekick Snowy White. Myers convincingly portrays two characters who at times become one while still maintaining a heroic demeanour. His highlight is saving the day with a tap-dance routine which gained a huge applause from the audience.

John Sheen adds fun as the strong arm working class assistant with a Scottish accent Jock Anderson, a comical highlight been his musical pairing on A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square with the frightfully wonderful Nicola Carlyle as Daphne Fritters.

The real show stealers though are the villains of the piece. Stephen Saunders delivers a convincingly caricatured portrayal of Baron Scarheart a criminal hell-bent on world domination, while the psychotic, seductive and sultry Marta Heartburn is played to perfection by Rosamund Jones-Griffiths, a natural comedienne who can deliver a perfect double entendre with a mere glint in her eye.

Dick Barton-Special Agent continues at The Dolman Theatre until Saturday January 18.

• This review by Andy Howells was published in The South Wales Argus during January 2014.

Faye Tozer Steps Into Lina Lamont's Shoes For Singing In The Rain Musical

The critically acclaimed award-winning Chichester Festival Theatre production Singing in the Rain which stars Maxwell Caulfield as RF Simpson and Faye Tozer as Lina Lamont, comes to Wales Millennium Centre from 3 December 2013 to 5 January 2014, as part of a nationwide tour.

“I've been blown away by the audience reaction, while the audience have been blown away by the quality of the show.” Actress and Steps star Faye Tozer recently told Andy Howells , “They've really gone all out to make it a visual spectacular and I’m just very proud to be part of it “

A show that all the family can enjoy, Singing in the Rain tells the story of Don Lockwood, a silent movies star with everything he could want - fame, adulation and a well-publicised ‘romance’ with his co-star Lina Lamont. But Hollywood is about to change forever. There is rumour in the studio of a new kind of film, where the actors actually talk…and sing...and dance.

“That period the costumes are just a dream the fashion at the time,” says Faye, “the colours, the romance, the whole thing. Its a real delicious luxurious era when Hollywood had so much money and an exciting time for film as well.”

The show features songs by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed, including Make ‘em Laugh, Good Morning, Moses Supposes and Singing in the Rain.

• A version of this Interview by Andy Howells ran in The South Wales Argus Entertainment Supplement The Guide during November 2013.

In Concert: The Sensational 60s Experience (2013), St David's Hall, Cardiff

Returning to St David’s Hall last week, The Sensational Sixties Experience tour didn't disappoint. Alan Moscha of The Dreamers seamlessly introduced Steve Ellis’ Love Affair, Herman’s Hermits, Chris Farlowe and The Marmalade as they rock and rolled back the years to perform greatest hits and crowd pleasers that frequently had the audience on their feet.

The original mod Steve Ellis kicked off the evening with a fabulous set backed by five incredibly talented musicians who made up this tours version of The Love Affair. The sax sounds and smooth bass lines of classics such as A Day Without Love, Rainbow Valley, Bringing Back The Good Times and Everlasting Love proved that Steve is still top of his game.

“There’s no top billing.” Steve told the audience who were perhaps surprised they were getting quality performances from the offset, “We’re all mates together” he continued referring to the acts that were to follow.

Herman’s Hermits featuring original drummer Barry Whitwam were up next. Selling millions of records around the globe in the 60s always assures this band a great reception as they belt out classics such as No Milk Today and I’m Into Something Good.

The second half kicked off with pure R and B courtesy of Chris Farlowe, another crowd pleaser who remembered his friend Otis Redding by singing Mr Pitiful as well as his own Number One, Out Of Time.

Finally The Marmalade took to the stage to give a vibrant energetic performance of classic hits Falling Apart At The Seams and Rainbow as well as tracks from their new album Penultimate which features a beautiful Celtic rendition of the Beatles Norwegian Wood.

Next years show taking place on November 25, 2014 is already on sale – don’t miss it!

• A version of this review by Andy Howells was published in The South Wales Argus during November 2013.
• Read Andy Howells review of The Sensational 60s Experience 2012.
• Visit the official site for The Sensational 60s Experience

Getting Ready For The Ultimate Party - Jimmy Osmond Interview

The Osmond Brothers

For over five decades The Osmond Brothers have entertained sell out concerts throughout the world. They returned to the UK in 2014 as part of  Tony Denton’s Once In A Lifetime – The Final Tour along with other 1970s favourites David Essex, Showaddywaddy and Les McKeowen’s Legendary Bay City Rollers. Andy Howells spoke with Jimmy Osmond in October 2013 about the tour.

“ This years line up is great were all friends,” says Jimmy Osmond as he takes time out to chat to me on a day off in Basingstoke, “Les McKeown of the Bay City Rollers, David Essex, Showaddywaddy and The Osmonds it’s a good bill. Every person knows the music and that’s what makes it so much fun, we get along, I'm kind of sad it’s the last big one!”

Jimmy along with his brothers Merrill and Jay will perform many of their unforgettable hits from classics such as One Bad Apple, Down By The Lazy River, Let Me In, The Proud One, Goin' Home and Love Me For A Reason to Crazy Horses and Long Haired Lover From Liverpool – the 1972 UK number one from Jimmy, a song the writer particularly associates with custard and Christmas pudding while I watched Jimmy perform it on the Christmas edition of Top of the Pops over 40 years ago. “You're not the first guy that says that,” Jimmy laughs, “there used to be a time when I’d go “Oh no, not that again” but when you perform it in a big arena or wherever people still know it.”

I do point out that some music can recall good and positive memories and Jimmy agrees, “One thing me and my brothers have learned is we couldn’t have done it if we’d felt otherwise.  It’s not about us. Its helping people remember their lives and we were lucky enough to be on the radio. You have fun on stage and people feel more relaxed with you. When you’re up there they know your having fun as well.”

Jimmy and his brothers spend a lot of the time in the UK revisiting their English and Welsh roots. Despite performing for nearly 47 years Jimmy doesn’t take his fame for granted, “It’s really lucky. We had amazing people that were legends that were our mentors. The 70s were amazing years. Unless you actually lived through them people don’t get it, I think that’s why these shows we’re doing are going to be cool because it’s a celebration - the ultimate party.”

A version of this interview by Andy Howells was originally published in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide during October, 2013.

A Magical Pairing - Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee Interview

Legendary magician Paul Daniels and his assistant Debbie McGee are heading towards South Wales with their first farewell tour but as you may expect from the magical pair all is not as it seems!

Having seen the title of Paul Daniels brand new magic show The First Farewell Tour which comes to Monmouth’s Savoy theatre on October 28 I feel compelled to ask the question, “Are you retiring?”

“Shy and retiring,” Paul jokes before his irrepressible other half, Debbie McGee, offers up a more straightforward explanation. “The Rolling Stones and Status Quo are always doing the first of their farewell tours,” says Debbie, “Paul sees himself as a magician in that kind of vein - a rock magician! We were thinking of a title for this years tour as we’re doing a completely new show so that’s how it came about.”

Paul Daniels

Coming up with fresh ideas for a live magic show is not a new scenario for Paul Daniels who has constantly adapted his act over the years since learning the art of magic from library books as a schoolboy.

“I learned magic from all the books and therefore developed my own style of doing things so I never wanted to be David Nixon. Bruce Forsyth appealed to me much more at the time as a style of presentation so I just became me. That’s what I tell young magicians, “Don’t copy me or Dynamo or any of those guys - just be yourself!””

Paul of course came to major prominence through his successful light entertainment shows on British television between 1979 and 1994, although before then he had worked many years on the live circuit, “I started off in the workingmen’s clubs and did all that for many a year and gradually broke into television,” he says.

Paul took a very realistic stance when approaching the presentation of his TV shows. “Television is the theatre on the wall or on the stand in your living room,” he says, “if you’re doing workingmen’s clubs you have one set of performance rules, if you have cabaret clubs it’s different again. Come television time, I would get American guests for example and they’d go “We’ve got 16 million viewers!” and I’d say “Whoa! You’ve got four! They’re sitting 12 feet away from you on a settee” Once you perform to that technique you become a much better television presenter.”

Debbie McGee

Paul’s has remained on the live circuit since the 1990s and still at his side, like on television, is  Debbie. The pair have been together for 34 years, Debbie; a professional dancer, met Paul following a successful audition for The Delfont Organisation. When did they realise they were falling for each other I ask?. “We still haven't” jokes Paul. “I was attracted to Paul immediately,” laughs Debbie, “there was definitely chemistry. I don’t know when he fell for me. It took him a lot longer.” “No it didn't, it was instant!” interjects Paul. They both laugh.

The pair married in 1988 and Debbie says Laughter has been a driving force in their partnership, both off stage and on. Their forthcoming Monmouth show will feature many magic moments from mindreading to illusions and has already been well received by audiences. “We tested all of this show out in a big village festival a few weeks ago,” says Paul, “there was one child sitting in the front and he was screaming with laughter and he made the whole audience laugh even more.”

• Catch Paul Daniels First farewell Tour at Monmouth Savoy on October 28, 2013. 

In Concert: Sixties Gold 2013, St David's Hall, Cardiff

Without a doubt the 1960s was a great decade for music as the opening night of the Sixties Gold tour at St David’s Hall proved last week where no less than five acts performed to a packed house for over two and a half hours.

It might have been the first night of the tour, but the performances from The Fortunes, The Searchers, Brian Poole and Chip Hawkes, PJ Proby and Gerry and The Pacemakers were flawless.

As each act entered the stage the focus was purely on the music, with occasional histories of songs and bands thrown in with light humour for good measure.

The Fortunes pictured together in the interval

The Fortunes still retain the spirit and sound of great hits such as You’ve Got Your Troubles, Storm In a Teacup and Caroline.

The Searchers featuring chart era members John McNally and Frank Allen really picked the pace up and got fans dancing in the aisles to Sweets For My Sweet and Love Potion No.9.

There was a welcome return to two former Tremeloes Brian Poole and Chip Hawkes who performed 6 songs including Silence Is Golden and a hilarious rendition of Do You Love Me.

PJ Proby followed with a fabulous set showing he still has the voice and command to mesmerise the audience with renditions of Somewhere and Hold Me.

Finally Gerry Marsden sang his greatest hits with the current incarnation of The Pacemakers including Its Gonna Be Alright and You’ll Never Walk Alone.

The tour continues around the UK until the end of November, including a performance at Bristol’s Colston Hall on October 4, 2013.

• A version of this review by Andy Howells was published in The South Wales Argus during October, 2013.
• Read Andy Howells interview with Chip Hawkes of The Tremeloes