Bob: So Reg, you're basically going along with the clarinet-lessons-guitar-lessons-Vince Marshall-rhythm guitar-one gig/very few gigs-Alan Upton-lead guitar-a lot more gigs version of Alvin's musical history?

Reg: I suppose so, yes. But like I said earlier, there are plenty of inconsistencies to be found in the various versions that have been given over the decades, so it's impossible to know for sure. One thing I would say, is that I believe that Alvin may not have been as young as is quoted in some interviews when these events were taking place. For example, I don't believe he was as young as twelve when he started with Vince Marshall, and that he may have been as 'old' as fifteen when he left Alan Upton.

Sue: Do you know if he maintained contact with either Vince or Alan in the years that followed?

Reg: Good question, Sue. Not with Vince, I believe. However, I think he may have done with Alan.

Les is looking at his watch.

Les: Isn't it time we started heading back to 2012? I mean ... forty ruddy chapters!!

Reg: Sure. No problem. Driver - 1960 please. Summer. Chesterfield. That pub. I think you know where I mean.

The mysterious hooded driver nods at Reg, and the bus starts up. The passengers are about to leave the Beeston area of Nottingham in 1957, and travel only three years, and not too many miles, to 1960 Chesterfield, in the neighbouring county of Derbyshire. In next to no time at all - and relatively little trouble - they are there.

DLM: So what pub is this we're outside? It looks pretty big.

John: I can read the name from here ... it's called The Crooked Spire.

Toni: Reg - why are we outside this pub?

Laurie: In ... Chesterfield?

Lynn: In 1960?

Reg: I shall explain. As we know, after leaving Alan Upton and the Jailbreakers Alvin was musically inactive for a few months. Then, most probably in the summer of 1960, as he was about to leave school ...

Tony: Blah, blah, blah. We've heard all this before.

Reg: ... he answers an advert for a Mansfield-based band, called The Atomites, who are looking for a guitarist. Mansfield being about fifteen miles north of Nottingham.

Dave: Ah yes. Leo had joined just a week earlier.

Reg: In some versions of the story, yes. In others it's 'a few weeks'. But certainly, not very long.

DLM: Dude - I've read about this. He auditioned by playing the Duane Eddy tune ... Shazam.

Reg: Correct.

Stan: Bit of a coincidence, that.

Reg: What do you mean?

Stan: Because George Harrison also played a Duane Eddy tune to audition for The Beatles ... Raunchy.

Pieter: And Raunchy somewhat ... 'influenced' Alvin when he came up with the riff for 'Once There Was A Ti ....

Toni: Er, yes ... thanks Pieter. Anyway Reg - back to Alvin's audition for The Atomites ...

Reg: Which he passed. Obviously.

Robin: But Reg - why are we parked outside this pub? I still don't get it.

Reg: Ah - because I think this may have been where that audition took place.

Les: You ... 'think' ... where it 'may' have taken place. You mean, you don't know?

Reg: Er, not exactly. But even if I'm wrong, this pub is still of interest because it's where the lads played quite a few of their early gigs.

Victor: So, if we Google 'The Crooked Spire Chesterfield' when we get back to 2012, we'll be able to see a photo of it?

Reg: Yes, I expect so.

Jane: Tell us more about The Atomites.

Reg: Well, now Alvin is in, there's him on lead guitar, Leo on bass, Pete Evans on drums ... and Roy Cooper on rhythm guitar.

Lynn: Roy ... who?

Reg: Roy Cooper. The forgotten man - or boy - of these early days. He's never been mentioned in any interview that I've ever read.

Tony: Same for the rest of us, I expect. So how do you know about him?

Les: Making it up? Again? The gospel according to Reg. To be found on the 'fiction' shelves of a bookstore near you!

All: Ha ha, hee hee, giggle, guffaw ... etc.

Reg: No, it's true enough. Let me tell you more. Roy used to handle the occasional vocal duty.

Les: Oh yeah? What did he used to sing, then?

Reg: His speciality was Chuck Berry's Oh Carol.

Tony: You'll be telling us next that Pete the drummer used to sing a couple of numbers as well!!

All: Uncontrolled laughter, mirth and general merriment.

Reg: Well, er ... yes he did. Actually. He used to go for the ... sort of comedy pop songs of the day.

Les: Oh, don't tell me. Pete used to sing, er ... oh, let's hazard a guess ... Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport ... and ...

All: Ho ho ho ho ho ...

Les: ... no, let me finish ... and, er ... oh ... how about ... Speedy Gonzales!!

All: Ho ho ... Les, it's the way you tell them .... ha ha ha ... you are a card, Les ... chortle, giggle, etc.

Reg: Well ... yes, in fact. Spot on, Les.

All: Don't be ridiculous ... you're taking us for fools ... we don't mind a bit of imagination, but ... be serious for once ... etc.

Reg: I promise you - he really did.

Silence.

Reg: Anyway ... Alvin, for one, wasn't too keen on the name, The Atomites ... and Ivan Jay was floating around the scene ... and we've now got to move on ... and you won't believe what's coming!

Les: Probably not! We don't believe any of the rest of it!

All: Tee hee, giggle, ho ho ... etc.

But Reg didn't notice. He was too busy planning to have the last laugh ...

Are you giving us a bloke job?
These roads lead to nowhere.

Peace,
DLM

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Excellent Ro.. eh, Reg - the plot thickens..

"Ro", eh? Or should I pronounce it-- uh, never mind. Ro, Ro, Ro your bus gently down the street...merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a...treat? Eh. Kinda lame. Umm... er... Rock and RO, hoochie coo? Lawdy mama...uh...nah. How 'bout: Get your peppers when they're REG hot...tum te tum... ;-)

Quote: Borje

Excellent Ro.. eh, Reg - the plot thickens..

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