TWENTY YEARS AGO, "BIG STIK", SOUL, R+B AND FUNK SHOW BAND . . . . SOME SERIOUSLY DECENT MULLET ACTION GOING ON HERE, ILLY AND CLIVE, GUYS, CUT THAT SHIT OFF . . . . PETE THE DRUMMER HAD SOME OLD HIPPY THING HAPPENING . . . . ANDREW WAS TRYING NOT TO LET HIS BLOW AWAY IN THE WIND . . . . THE BRASS SECTION WERE ALL ARCH CLASSICISTS AND I WAS . . . . WELL, THE SAME AS ALWAYS, LIBERALLY SMEARED WITH MURRAY'S POMADE.

Having spent the previous decade doing the post punk inspired original rock caper, it was a real treat to find myself in a fulltime, successful working big band, playing with conservatorium trained horn players, an incredibly gifted pianist, guitarist and bass player and a drummer from legend Aussie rock band of the '70s, Finch. We were doing classic covers by James Brown, Cocker, Pickett, Gaye and the other usual suspects and getting paid handsomely for it to boot, it wasn't quiet, prissy style stuff either, loudest fucking stage sound you could imagine and the whole thing growled like King Kong on battery acid . . . . the other super cool part was that Max on tenor sax, the Big Robster on Trumpet and Andrew on piano, were all nuts about cars and bikes and we had known each other for ten to twelve years, talk at gigs usually centered around things greasy and oily and who was doing what to what mosheen. It was a complete hoot from '92 through until '96, we employed the services of the fabulous Miss Fiona Scott to share vocal duties with me and she kicked arse as well, I'll try to locate the promo shot with Wee Fee in it as soon as I can . . . . walk softly, carry a Big Stik.