From Bumbles To Shames Part 2
Dave’s Story
© The Cryin Shames 2011
the band on the skin The 44th BB.
John didn't have a pedal so he just booted the bass drum, unfortunately fashion at the time dictated that we all wore
"Winklepickers" so after about 3 bars the toecap of his winkle appeared through the skin in between the words Property of and
44th BB!!. And that was the end of the practice, as we all legged it before the Vicar found out.
And that was pretty well the end of the Soundtracks, as John wouldn't commit to getting a drum set. Depressed, we thought
that was it, but somehow, we bumped into a very cool looking dude called George Robinson. You'll remember that great line in
Sultans of Swing "You check out guitar George he knows all the chords". Well check out this Guitar George he had all the gear;
the collar less jacket, hair down to his knees and most importantly a brand new Fender Precision bass. Could he play? Who
cared, he was in. Our first practice was at the Clubmoor Conservative Hall which was at the back of Broadway where Mike and
I lived.
The first few gigs were not that great and my greatest memory of those dim distant days was being covered in blood at the end
of the night. George was a glazier and his fingers were normally cut to ribbons... so playing next to George was a very
hazardous business.
George was very much into the Rolling Stones and I was a Beatlehead, and I think that was the main reason for me moving on.
Mike continued on with the band and we remained close friends until his untimely death in 2002. I bought Mike's Gibson and
his Stratocaster off the estate and they have pride of place on my Guitar wall at home.
I went on to play with The Fontanas, The Six Foot Four (That was a bit of a problem as I'm 5ft 3in ), The Politicians
and The Countdowns, but if I'm really honest, none of those bands ever recaptured the excitement of three wild
© The Cryin Shames 2011
the band on the skin The 44th BB.
John didn't have a pedal so he just booted the bass drum, unfortunately fashion at the time dictated that we all wore
"Winklepickers" so after about 3 bars the toecap of his winkle appeared through the skin in between the words Property of and
44th BB!!. And that was the end of the practice, as we all legged it before the Vicar found out.
And that was pretty well the end of the Soundtracks, as John wouldn't commit to getting a drum set. Depressed, we thought
that was it, but somehow, we bumped into a very cool looking dude called George Robinson. You'll remember that great line in
Sultans of Swing "You check out guitar George he knows all the chords". Well check out this Guitar George he had all the gear;
the collar less jacket, hair down to his knees and most importantly a brand new Fender Precision bass. Could he play? Who
cared, he was in. Our first practice was at the Clubmoor Conservative Hall which was at the back of Broadway where Mike and
I lived.
The first few gigs were not that great and my greatest memory of those dim distant days was being covered in blood at the end
of the night. George was a glazier and his fingers were normally cut to ribbons... so playing next to George was a very
hazardous business.
George was very much into the Rolling Stones and I was a Beatlehead, and I think that was the main reason for me moving on.
Mike continued on with the band and we remained close friends until his untimely death in 2002. I bought Mike's Gibson and
his Stratocaster off the estate and they have pride of place on my Guitar wall at home.
I went on to play with The Fontanas, The Six Foot Four (That was a bit of a problem as I'm 5ft 3in ), The Politicians
and The Countdowns, but if I'm really honest, none of those bands ever recaptured the excitement of three wild
