IplayedTomand that was it,Iwas off to
Arts Educational School.
“My final year show wasaChekhov play,
but Iwas apunk andIappeared with
green hair.After the play,awoman
introduced herself as an agent, inviting me
to her office.Iwent to this plush office.
There sat JohnLydon (Johnny Rotten).
He’d been fancied to play Jimmy.Itwas
1977, Punk was king. Next to Johnny was
Toyah with crimson hair! MarkWingett was
apunk, too. He hadachain and padlock
around his neck, he was right on it.
“I did the audition.Itook my girlfriend
Tammy with me.Imet the director,Franc.
He took one look and said, ‘I don’t think
so’. The casting people mentioned my
fighting skills. Franc said, ‘You don’t look
hard enough’.Iback-flipped, smacked
him one, and got the job. As we left he
told me to bringTammy along. She’sin
the film, too.
“Franc knew what he wanted... filming
started withascript, but things changed,
we’d just get notes aboutascene. It would
say something like:You’re talking about
going toaparty.You’ve just knocked on
Chalkie’sdoor and his mum has answered.
Then they’d shout ‘Action’ and we’d
improvise, it was difficult to stop us. I’d love
to see what got cut, butIthink it’sall lost.
“Wegot to know each other really well.
Franc would give us money,adriver and a
pub. Sting was one of us and we went to
see The Police at the Rock Garden.We
were the only people there.We also had
1960s dance classes with Jeff Dexter,he
told us what was mod. By now we’d
becomeagang. One day we were at the
office of Bill Curbishley (film producer and
band manager) to get the film’spromo
T-shirt. Wewere allowed one each. Phil
Davis noticed boxes of them inaback
room.Iwent in and chuckedapileout of
the window and Phil scurried about
picking them up outside. Then Trevor
went in and bunged another pile out. By
the finish we left empty boxes. Why didn’t
we keep one? Can you imagine what
they’d be worth now?
I’d love to have Sting’s
scooter
“The actual scooter training started on
250cc motorbikes (yes, 250s were ‘L’
plate legal). I’d been riding for ages, so I
was ona750. Insanely,they trained on
motorbikes and THEN handed out
scooters. Everyone stalled or fell off.With
all the mirrors, it was like steeringaship.
Trevor Laird (Ferdy) couldn’t ride
anything. In one scene, Chalkie scoots
aroundabend andaload of bikers fall in
behind him. Well, some idiot had parked
acar on the blind bend. Phil turns the
corner,pulls like mental avoiding the car,
but causingamass pile-up, bikes and
scooters everywhere. Wehad to call 999
and the staff panicked. None of us had
worn crash helmets; it’dinvalidate the
insurance, so out theback ofavan they
threwaload of helmets about before
anyone turned up. Madness. I’d still love
to own Sting’sVespa, but I’d replace the
seat withahugepieceofg lass and use it
as adining room table.”
Quadrophenia was just a
small British movie.
“People say Quadrophenia was the
spearhead of mod revival. At the time it
was asmall British movie. Back then, VHS
hadn’t even become mainstream. However,
one of the proudest moments of my life
was getting offatube train, the doors
opened and there was the film poster.I
thought, ‘Oh my God. That is fame’.”
Limited tickets for the full-day event
are still available from: http://www.quad40.
co.uk
Words: Rik
Pics: Rik and supplied by Gary Shail
86 |SCOOTERING|AUGUST2019
