White Bicycles (17 page)

While lawyers haggled over the fine print we went into a Polydor studio to rehearse the first single. Everyone liked the choice of ‘Arnold Layne’, Syd’s catchy number about a back-yard knicker-sniffer (based on a true case from Cambridge). On our second night there, Jenner rang me to say they had signed with an agency and the bookers wanted to come down to the studio and meet the band. I retain a vivid memory of the moment Polydor’s night porter buzzed up to announce the visitors: Bryan Morrison, Steve O’Rourke and Tony Howard. Bryan now plays polo with Prince Charles, having made his fortune as a music publisher. Steve managed Pink Floyd from the 1968 coup that ousted Jenner and King until his death in 2003. In the 1970s, Tony Howard was a successful agent and managed Marc Bolan; he also became one of my dearest friends and died long before his time in 2001.

All I saw when we first met, however, was three thugs. Steve was tallest: with large horn-rimmed spectacles, he looked like the evil twin of Yves St Laurent. Tony was short, with the squashed features of a boxing trainer. Bryan had dark hair, narrow eyes and an arrogant expression. They were dressed in velvet jackets, scarves knotted around their throats, King’s Road black boots, tight trousers and possibly one ruffled shirt. The dandyism only made them more sinister: they looked like monkeys dressed up for a PG Tips commercial and talked like Tony Secunda minus the charm. I felt in over my head again, a preppy Yank in the wilds of the London music business dealing with barrow boys far cannier and tougher than I could ever be.

Tomorrow: Junior, Steve Howe, Twink, Keith West

Lonnie Johnson in the late 1940s

Maria d’Amato (later Muldaur), New York, 1963, with Bob Neuwirth and Tex Isley

Sister Rosetta Tharpe, England, 1964

Reverend Gary Davis, on tour, England, 1964

Dressing room harmony, England, 1964: Otis Spann, Muddy Waters, Brownie McGhee, Sonny Terry

Ransom Knowling, Willie Smith, Muddy Waters on stage, England, 1964

Berlin Jazz Festival, 1964: Roland Kirk, Tété Montoliu, Tommy Potter, Kenny Clarke

Coleman Hawkins and Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison, on tour in Europe, 1964

Ian Campbell Folk Group: Lorna Campbell, Ian Campbell, Brian Clark, John Dunkerly, Dave Swarbrick

John Lee Hooker playing a blues all-nighter at Alexandra Palace, London, 1964