Back In The Days

 Born on 25th August 1951 when Men were Men and Women were glad to have them, Baby Stephen lay in his pram, soaking up the sound of the radio while his diaper was soaking up something else! Even at this tender age, Stephen had noticed that amongst the crap that the Disc Jockeys played on BBC Light programme a new exciting sound was beginning to filter it's way through the airwaves. Rock'n'Roll had already taken America by storm and by the end of the 1950's this exciting new kind of music had made it's way over to the UK. The likes of Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry were queuing up for the top spot on our Hit Parade .It wasn't long before UK acts like Cliff Richard, Tommy Steele, Adam Faith and Billy Fury were jumping on the bandwagon to try and copy this explosive new sound. 
 

The Swinging Sixties?

By the early 1960's, England's fairly limp attempt at copying American Rock'n'Roll was on the wane. Popular music, at that time, was in the Main, bland meaningless two minute songs about sugar-coated love. Then in 1963 a band had come along to change the whole face of British popular music No, not The Beatles, It was, of course, The Rolling Stones. After watching them mime to their first single' Come On' on 'Thank your Lucky Stars' Stephen was blown away with the look, the sound and the attitude of these five 'dogtooth' clad long-haired cats from London. From now on listening to music wasn't enough, Stephen had to be a part of it. He got a guitar for Christmas and soon had formed his first group. After a few rehearsals the rest of the group realised Stephen wasn't going to make it as a guitarist. "Why don't you turn the bloody thing over and tap on the back or something" said one of the group. Stephen, although feeling slightly hurt by this comment, did just that and it wasn't long before he had his own real drum kit to play on. In those days drum tutors were practically unheard of, so Stephen taught himself by watching and listening to other drummers that he admired. Practice, practice, practice was the order of the day and it wasn't long before the group were out, playing at local clubs and dance halls. Still at school and undergoing various band names and personal changes, 'The Chain Reaction’ got a gig to play with Chart toppers 'The Swinging Blue Jeans'. Quite an achievement, for a group so young.

The Blues
 
  Stephen felt he had found his niche in life. He also found 'The Blues' thanks to The Rolling Stones. They, through their own brand of blues based music had helped bring attention to the great American Blues artists. They weren't exactly getting the credit or the exposure that they deserved in America and, were mostly unheard of in America and the UK. This was mainly due to racism. In America if a black act came up with a good song, it would be offered to a white act like Pat Boone who would then record a limp version of the song and get a hit record out of it.

Full Frontal

In and out of bands throughout late 1960's, Stephen had his first proper job and seemed to be destined for a career 'In the office' until one day in 1971, with 'Sticky Fingers' by The Rolling Stones at the top of the Charts, he received a call to join Dusky Ruth, a professional band from London. Without hesitation Stephen handed in his notice and before you could say 'Charlie Watts' he had joined up with Dusky Ruth. The band had plenty of work and a single released. After a short time Dusky Ruth moved up to Liverpool and took up a residency at The Conway Club in Birkenhead. Unbeknown to them it turned out to be a strip joint and when they found they had to play backing music for the strippers every night those poor innocent young men were given a 'full-frontal' lesson in 'The Facts of Life' .Well, it wasn't their idea of Rock stardom but they kind of enjoyed it .... The bills got paid and they got laid! This particular episode came to an end when The Police stormed in one night and closed the place down under the pretence that some obscenity law had been breached. In the end, struggling to pay the rent on their terraced house in Liverpool, Dusky Ruth moved back to London but struggled to find enough work and the band folded.

Pipelines and Pipe Dreams

It was back to work he had to go, this time up to Scotland to work on the Pipelines. With the event of North sea gas and oil, pipelines had to be laid the length and breadth of the British Isles. Although hard work, this episode in Stephen's life turned out to be a very enjoyable one indeed and it did make a man of him! Well sort of! We won't go into that though.

Spit and Saliva

Music seemed to have changed a lot in such a short time. Disco and Punk music were now becoming popular. Blues and Rock'n'Roll   were not fashionable any more. Rock had lost its Roll... and no Roll no soul! Along came Disco, a nail in the coffin for live music and it seemed the drummer especially, with the invention of those awful drum machines. The good thing about 'Punk' was that it revitalised the live music scene and although not Stephen's cup of tea it was after all a chance to play again. So after a 3 year break Stephen got the chance to join a 3 piece punk band called The Crack.  http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=HlAR5W4dS2I  Playing their own brand of fast, furious and mainly self penned, semi melodic Punk, The Crack played in and around London taking in the college and University circuits before burning themselves out in the late 1970's.At one College gig in Chelsea Stephen remembers standing in the wings of the stage watching The Damned, who were topping the Bill that night. All he could see was a heavy shower of spit and saliva heading its way from the audience onto the stage until The Damned were covered in the stuff. The worst thing about it was, they seemed to be enjoying getting covered in it! Time to get out...he thought!

The Bottom Brothers

 The 80's arrived and finding likeminded people to play with was no easy task .By 1987 a chance meeting was also the start of a long term partnership, with bass man Fergie Fulton. Known as the 'Bottom Brothers' they hit it off from the start, developing an almost   telepathic understanding together. Think 'Sly and Robbie' 'Bill and Charlie' and you will understand the importance of a good rhythm section for any successful band. Out of a jam in a local pub, Booze n Blooze went on to become voted the best unsigned Blues band in the UK 1989.. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=LfFEshnhq84  A competition, sponsored by Bank's Mild Ales involving hundreds of bands, was whittled down heat by heat to just four bands for the Televised Final which was hosted by Jools Holland. Judges included Mike Vernon and Tom McGuiness and the event was held at Wolverhampton Civic hall. The prize; a week in the studio, with top producer Mike Vernon; although it transpired that he was too busy to produce the project. So Les Moir stepped in at short notice to complete the project. Out of the sessions the album 'Running Late' was born and although never officially released went on to sell thousands of copies through mail order and sales at Gigs.

Booze n Blooze

Booze n Blooze went on to play with some of the most famous acts from the Blues world including, in 1992 a UK tour with Chuck Berry. Bookings at Blues festivals with the likes of Jimmy Rogers, Koko Taylor, Chicken Shack,Zoot Money, Honey Boy Edwards, Doctor Feelgood followed [to name drop but a few]. They even played a gig backing 'Screaming Lord Sutch' who had mislaid his Savages one evening!

Teaching is Learning

  In 2002 Stephen took up the role of Drum teacher and taught at The Colchester Academy of Modern Music. It was here that he had the pleasure to meet up and play with Jack Bruce whose son was enrolled at the school learning to play the drums. Jack later turned up at a couple of Berlin Ritz gigs with his son and jammed with them.

In November 2007 another chance meeting.... another jam. Joel Fisk, Jojo Burgess and Stephen got together at a rehearsal studio in Witham. The following week Stephen invited Fergie.....and then along came Giles...............