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ANGELS IN LIMBO: SUNDERLAND LOCARNO BALLROOM, 1974. 

Wake up. It's 1974. The Hot Rod Gang motorvate along the Felling Bypass, heading for the Locarno Ballroom in Sunderland. Dance hall gig: big sound, polished sprung dancefloor, wide stage, spotlights, swirling mirror ball.  Let's go! Because EVERYTHING happens on the Felling Bypass. Housing estates and industry, open country and farms; all on the road to Sunderland. At the Conservative Club, we're told to play the National Anthem after our false tab. 'False tab' is clubspeak for encore. We ask if they have a…

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SHARP SHOES: PRE-GIG, WINTER 1976 

SHARP SHOES: PRE-GIG, WINTER 1976

Wake up. It's Saturday. Cold snap. I'm under attack in bed. One deadly assailant is Superman, the other El Zorro. Drawn-out battle. I become Blofeld. "Zo, Meesterr Bornd..." I begin. THUD! A four year-old fist lands on my stomach, while a seven year-old arm gets me in a headlock. Blofeld always comes in for extra punishment. At this rate I won't make it to my escape pod.  

Into chilly town. Rock City music shop. Ask about the keyboard I'm getting repaired. "It'll be ready…

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THE SKIFFLE GROUP, 1957. 

THE SKIFFLE GROUP, 1957
Wake up. It's 1957. I'm ten. My pal Robert has a proper guitar, with six strings and 'F' shaped holes for the sound to get out. It belonged to his uncle. My Elvis Presley guitar is plastic and it has four strings, but it also has a box which fits over the strings with elastic bands. It has buttons to press for chords. After you've learned how to play the chords with your fingers, you can take the box off. We decide to start a Skiffle Group.  

I get a tea chest out of the cellar and…

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