72 gigs in USA, Europe & UK......47,000 miles

1975 Cockney Rebel

1975 starts with a bang and just gets busier and busier. We are on a roll with the new band, and Steve has written this little song about the split up of the original band.

Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) starts off a roller coaster series of shows that take us around the world for the first time. One of the memorable characters at EMI at this point in time was Eric Hall, the record plugger and Eric was always at Top of the Pops with one after another act, getting "monster monster" plays over both TV and Radio. Here he is being interviewed by Rockhistory.co.uk

Original March Itinerary 75

A few weeks of rehearsals before flying off to the US, all just prior to the release of the new album, 'The Best Years Of Our Lives'.

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We were rehearsing right in the middle of London in Great Newport Street near Leicester Square. In the basement of what had previously been an old jazz club 'Studio 51' with some amazing history.

Check out the story here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kmlivemusic/5517144834/

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best years album sleeve

The pass below was to a show we did in St Louis after we left LA. We were to support KISS and they were fantastic. We went down pretty well too, considering no one knew the band. The fans were insanely dedicated, painted up to the nines !!

keele st louis pass feb 75

The film to the right was from a Kiss show in Detroit, a couple of weeks prior to us supporting them at Keele Auditorium in St. Louis.

diary entry feb 75

What a story this turned into. We had to cancel a show at the LA Whisy a Go Go because Steve's voice disappeared. I had to go out in front of a full house and tell them it wasn't going to happen. Keith Moon showed up to add some humour into the night...

This tour had us step up a division as we were playing the big theatres all across the country. With that went an increase in the rider requirements, and I recall champagne and brandy were the drinks of choice.

Bristol Holiday Inn on the sixth floor after the show, and we started throwing condoms full of water out of the window. They landed in the flower tubs in front of the hotel entrance. I got a call from the night management asking if any of our party was throwing mud at passers by.

Of course I knew nothing about it.

tour backstage pass 75

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Sailor album sleeve

Sailor was our support act for the massive UK tour that we started in March 1975. They were a great bunch of guys. I think it launched them into a bit of their own stardom, having two massive hits in the 70's with Glass of Champagne which was a number one and Girls Girls Girls. Later in 1978 the band asked me to tour manage them for a couple of tours.

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Road Stories

72 gigs in USA, Europe & UK......47,000 miles

1975 Cockney Rebel

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