The Sorrows Movie Period Italy 1967

 The Sorrows Movie Period Italy 1967

It has been well documented how Coventry band, The Sorrows, spent time touring Italy during the 1960s. But while there, one of the unexpected spin off's, was when they rubbed shoulders with the Italian movie world.

And so it was, that during 1967, The Sorrows took part in the music for director Mariano Laurenti's film 'I Ragazzi di Bandiera Gialla'. In the movie the band appear towards the end of the movie where they perform the song 'Verde, Rosso, Giallo & Blu' (Green, Red, Yellow & Blue).

The line up of The Sorrows at that time was Pip Whitcher, Bruce Finley, Wez Price and Roger Lomas. And I asked Roger what he remembers of that time.

The answer was 'not much really'. The film set was where the old Spaghetti Westerns were recorded. So the band got to look around familiar cowboy film sets. They also visited locations for the epic Jason and the Argonauts. Particularly where Jason’s quest for the legendary Golden Fleece. Parts were filmed south of the Amalfi Coast.

Roger admitted that some of the other artists involved with the films score had a slicker image. The Sorrows, by their own insistence, wanted to keep there rock and roll image. That said, and for their song, the band were dressed in suits whose colours matched the song titled. Roger seemed to remember that he was in the yellow suit.

The storyline for 'I Ragazzi di Bandiera Gialla' (the lads of the Yellow Flag) is set in Rome. Carlo and Stefano compete for the love of Marisa, a student, basketball player and budding singer. Unknown to each other, the two teenagers rent two adjacent basements with the intention of turning them into "beat" dance clubs.

Meanwhile, Marisa manages to record her first album titled 'You will be proud of me'. This attracts the attention of a record producer. And it is not all in a professional manner.

It turns out that Marisa prefers Carlo over Stefano. And this becomes more and more evident after Carlo was forced into military service. There then follows a series of misunderstandings, that highlight the rivalry with Stefano.

The first album recordings of Marisa arrive in the hands of DJ Gianni Boncompagni, who decides to include them in his radio show.

Stefano manages to replace Marisa's record with his own and gets the desired feedback. Stefano can thus open his restaurant and club. But Carlo wants revenge and sabotages the opening. This results in Stefano and his friends resorting to a brawl.

It is Marisa who settles the dispute. She convinces the both Stefano and Carlo to join forces and to manage one single club. It opens with the name "Bandiera Gialla" – Yellow Flag. The club becomes a huge success.

The film stars: Gianni Pettenati as Stefano Quaranta, Marisa Sannia as Marisa Gelli, Fabrizio Moroni as Carlo Rossi and Renata Pacini as friend of Stefano

In addition to The Sorrows the films soundtrack includes music by Ricky Shayne, Lucio Dalla, Gian Pieretti, Claudio Trionfi, The Primitives, Gli Idoli, Renato Zero and Equipe 84.

And this, it turns out, wasn't the only time The Sorrows mixed it with the good and the great of the Italian movie industry.

'Verde, Rosso, Giallo & Blu' (Green, Red, Yellow & Blue). By the Sorrows

Mariano Laurenti's film 'I Ragazzi di Bandiera Gialla'. In the movie the band appear towards the end of the movie where they perform the song 'Verde, Rosso, Giallo & Blu' (Green, Red, Yellow & Blue).

The Sorrows - Pink Purple Yellow and Red - English version

Porcupine Tree - Talking to Richard Allen

 Porcupine Tree - Talking to Richard Allen

by Pete Clemons

Rock band, Porcupine Tree appear to have attained legendary status. October 2010 saw the band give their last performance at the Royal Albert Hall. The hall holds almost 5300 people and I am not even sure it sold out. The band and their management were pushing the promotion for the gig right up till the last day.

Fast forward a dozen years and Porcupine Tree are due to play the SSE Arena at Wembley in November in front of 12500 people. And it is already close to selling out.

It has not been the easiest of rides for Porcupine Tree though. It has taken over 30 years of hard slog and a lot of heartache to get to this position and I'm not just talking about the band members themselves. Yes, of course they are crucial to the story of Porcupine Tree but all stories start with a beginning and more widely there were also sacrifices made.

None more so than Richard Allen, the band’s first manager who, alongside Ivor Truman also ran an obscure record label called Delirium and a mail order operation called The Freak Emporium. Glenn Povey was also the band’s first promoter and booking agent and all his good work seems to have been forgotten. Glenn did a huge amount for the band and his huge contribution seems to have been unfairly ignored in the band’s history. Glenn for many years organised tours and concerts when nobody really cared about the band other than their first loyal fans. “I think he was treated very badly in the way that he was just dropped without so much as a thanks for all your work” says Richard.

As the story goes, Richard had been sent cassette tapes by Steven Wilson, the talent behind Porcupine Tree. Initially Richard tossed the tapes to one side. Sometime later Richard heard the tape after a friend he had lent it to suggested it was very good and that he should listen to it! When he heard the music on the tape it blew him away and he knew that with enough effort the project could one day fill an arena “It was a pretty crazy thought really when you look back as the band had many lucky breaks that were out of their control, but I was right!” Richard invested the next 10 years of his life in managing and promoting the band from scratch.

A recent chat I had with Richard seemed to centre around the last year or so of his involvement with the band. Water under the bridge now as far as he is concerned but it is still part of the story.

The chat began with talk about the Rich Wilson book of Porcupine Tree’s history which is currently being revised and updated.

Richard Allen asked me if I had read the Porcupine Tree book and said that Rich Wilson had spoken to everyone from those early days. Apparently, the research took him years....

I replied that I kind of guessed Rich Wilson had done his homework. I did once mention the book to Steven Wilson to see if he had read it. He replied with a curt no....but he did ask if it was accurate to which I said that the early events were as accurate as I remember them to be, but of course the book went into a lot more detail that I would have known.

Richard Allen continued 'For me personally I don't think they ever topped Signify but Steven seems to be doing OK nowadays. Yes I think he realises how important those early years were and it is a shame Steven wouldn't get involved in Rich Wilson’s book...a mistake in my view. It’s definitely accurate unlike the band’s official history! The band liked to have their own polished version of their history like all bands including Pink Floyd...There is nothing controversial in Porcupine Tree history anyhow...It is pretty pedestrian as bands go'

I then mentioned how Steven Wilson’s own recent book touches on how things were just not enjoyable towards the end of that last tour in 2010.

Richard Allen went on to mention that 'Porcupine Tree didn't socialise outside of the band yet he always assumed they did... “The main reason I quit was it was not fun anymore'”

'I also did not get on with the bands US manager Andy Leff. It all went a bit Spinal Tap with “18 ft not 18 inches” type incidents costing the band large sums of money. Andy was a massive fan of the band and managed to convince Jason Flom to sign Porcupine Tree to Lava but the haphazard admin of the tours in America and the Tour with Yes cost the band huge sums of money blowing more than their total tour support in a very short time. I had agreed to split management with Andy if he got a deal, but that arrangement was doomed from the outset because no manager can survive on half commission (not least half of nothing) and I was continually having to sort out the logistics in the USA. That was the responsibility of the management in the USA as far as I was concerned. The main reason I quit was because I was being blamed for things that I had not organised, which I had no control over and which had seen a humongous loss overall. This was made worse by the fact that the In Absentia tour of Europe I organised with Glenn Povey had made a profit for the band! Steven didn’t really see what I was having to deal with, and I recall at the end of the In Absentia Tour there was what I can only describe as a ‘kangaroo court’ where I was accused of various admin issues all of which proved to be the responsibility of Andy not me. I batted off every accusation and the band just moped off making no apology. That was the final straw for me, and I quit. It was all fairly miserable by then, but I hated the music as well because it had become a kind of soundtrack to the moaning, so I was glad to go to be honest. When the accountants had to pick up the mess the band realised that I was telling the truth”

Since then, Richard Allen has had further adventures in the world of politics and tax campaigning and is still a successful guy. He looks back on that era with fondness “Its far enough away now to remember the good stuff and forget all the constant complaining!” he laughs. I’ll have to write a book of my own , but Porcupine Tree will almost certainly be just a few chapters.

Richard concludes "30 years ago on the way to work on my bike whilst listening to Radioactive Toy on my walkman I had a vision of Porcupine Tree playing to thousands of people in an arena. This year that vision comes true. I don't think even Steven saw that coming back then" I hope they do Radioactive Toy in their forthcoming set.

Ronnie Spector

 

Ronnie Spector

by Pete Clemons

Sadly, during January 2022, the extraordinary Ronnie Spector passed away. During December 2019 Ronnie gave what was to be one of her last shows in Coventry. It was at the Warwick Arts Centre and it was a Christmas concert. Due to the pandemic and lock-down restrictions she would perform very few times after.

But at her Arts Centre gig she gave us huge hits like 'Baby I Love You' and 'Be My Baby'. Additionally she performed seasonal songs like 'Frosty the Snow Man' and 'It's Christmas Once Again'. She also included a few of her own personal favourites such as Ray Charles' 'What'd I Say', 'How Can You Mend a Broken Heart' and a stunning version of Amy Winehouse's 'Back to Black'.

Legend has it that it was a flash of fate that was responsible for launching one of the most successful female singing groups of the 1960s. The then 19 year old Estelle Bennett picked up the phone to call a magazine editor. But, instead, she got the wrong number.

She had accidentally called record producer Phil Spector who said 'sorry you've got the wrong number. You say you're The Ronettes?. Great, it so happens I'm looking for a group to provide some backing sounds on a Bob B Soxx and the Blue Jeans disc. Why don't you three come over'. The rest, as they say, was history.

The other two thirds of the group were Ronnie Bennett, sister of Estelle and Nedra Talley, a cousin of the others. The two families living, at one time, in the same house where they would rehearse and sharpen up those incredible natural harmonies.

The Ronettes worked hard and developed a decent stage act. And then during January 1964 The Ronettes came to the UK for a tour. During one of her first interviews Estelle mentioned that 'America was getting all hotted up over the arrival of The Beatles. I think they'll do great there. They're exciting. Reckon you can fix for us to meet them?.And we dig Cliff Richard too'.
The tour itself took in around 20 dates up and down the country including The Coventry Theatre. Local newspaper, The Coventry Telegraph, announced it like this:

Freddie and the Dreamers are the main attraction in the Sunday concert at the Coventry Theatre this weekend and The Ronettes are featured as guest stars. Others on the bill are The Rolling Stones, The Barron Knights featuring Duke D'Mond, Patrick Dane and the Quiet Five and The Cheynes. The following week the attraction will be Chris Barber's Jazz Band with Ottilie Patterson.

The Shades, a British group, were due to back The Ronettes on this tour.

While over here The Ronettes would occasionally break away from the main tour to headline several of their own gigs. One of those was at the Co-op Hall in Nuneaton. A coup for promoter Reg Calvert. Again the Coventry Telegraph heralded the forthcoming concert:

Reg Calvert presents, this Friday, America's sensational recording stars The Ronettes with their smash hit 'Be My Baby', along with Carl and the Cheetahs and The Stormbirds. Tickets 7/6.

Incredible days I think you will agree.

Steven Wilson – Limited Edition of One

 

Steven Wilson – Limited Edition of One

by Pete Clemons

There are completely original musicians. Then there are those musicians, as good as they are, who could only ever perform with a covers band. And then you have Steven Wilson. A sound engineer. He is original but combines that originality with influences.

And Steven has just published his first book. It attempts to explain 'how he got there'. 'There' being a multi Grammy award nominated artist. 'There' being an artist who has appeared at The General Wolfe, The Tic Toc, Antics and the Royal Albert Hall. And yet he is still relatively unknown.

For the greatest part of his life Steven has absorbed thousands of albums. He listens to and knows about countless bands. And that knowledge has clearly influenced his output. I have often wondered just how much those influences have played a part. So much so that when he has a release due I take a look at his current play lists.

Over the years Steven's marketing technique has been exemplary and used as a way of pushing the cause. Limited editions, numbered sets came early on in his career. But it has taken over 30 years and a lot of struggle for him to make a living as a musician.

And Steven's book is no exception. He did promise something different and, in that respect, he has not disappointed. There are chapters within the book where Steven really opens up. It is a book of I.

As found during interviews Steven is very articulate. But this book, I think, finds him in a more sincere mood. I agree he does come across at times as clinical and self centred. But my view is that this is only in a professional way. I guess you need to be to get anywhere in the music industry. But what do I know?. It is a difficult profession to become established in yet alone make a career out of.

Within these pages Steven has opened up in areas of his life I didn't expect. Frustratingly though he didn't in others. If you are looking for in depth revelations regarding the trials and tribulations endured throughout his music career or more comprehensive insight into his more obscure releases then you may be disappointed. Other Porcupine Tree books are available which cover that kind of thing.

Parts of the book did get to me emotionally. Such as when Porcupine Tree, who began life as a humble pub band, appeared at the Royal Albert Hall. What should have been a pinnacle of his career was marred by internal hassles. And appeared to take the shine off it all for Steven. I found that quite sad.

Other areas of the book left me frustrated. Just when it gets to a really interesting chapter up pops a list that takes away the readers concentration. Following that short interlude you find you have jumped forward a decade.

Steven is at the stage of life where he appears to get bored with his own music. Over the years he does appear to have found the process of making quality music all too easy. I have often wondered if Steven's music would have been so good without all those influences inside him. Has it been a hindrance?. Musicians born to create tend to strive. In that respect, has he backed himself into a corner?.

Steven Wilson is ever evolving. He is just a guy who wants to make music, create sounds, develop it to the best of his abilities, but simply wants to do it his way. If possible I think he would prefer to do it without all the fuss that comes with it.

As much as I enjoyed this book, and it is a good well written read, it set's out to promote the forthcoming Porcupine Tree tour. It also spells out an outline story for the next Steven Wilson album. At the same time it attempts to dispel a few urban myths. Does it answer 'how he got there'?. That one, I think, is for the reader to decide.