Did you know that legendary British Rock and Roll guitar hero Hank B. Marvin's real name is Brian Rankin? Regular readers of this blog will know that his son, Paul, was the drummer in the False Dots for six months in 1980. Hank was kind enough to let us use his private studio at his home in Radlett and joined us for a jam. He gave me some excellent life and career advice, all of which I took on board. I asked him if Hank Marvin was his real name. He laughed and said "No, I'm actually Brian Rankin, but I was advised that if I was going to succeed in Rock and Roll I'd need a more rock and roll name. I was told I needed to re-invent myself, but as Buddy Holly had glasses, I stuck with that look. I decided to adopt a cool, calm, enigmatic persona, as part of Cliff Richards backing band". He then said "The best guitarists all have an air of enigmatic mystery about them". I decided that I quite fancied a bit of enigmatic mystery. I told Pete Conway that I was going to adopt a new name, when I shared it he pissed himself laughing. That put me off that idea. I decided to simply be Rog T. I realised that Hank was onto something though.
1. Rock and Roll Guitarist. When you have a role to play you have to reinvent yourself for it. I was actually painfully shy around people as a teenager. I preferred to hide and dodge parties and family events. But you can't be shy and dodge attention as a member of a rock and roll band. So I reinvented myself as a rock and roll guitarist, a mouthy show off, who always has a pithy response to any heckle and who is quite happy to wallop unruly audience members around the head with a guitar. Hank had advised that it is good to have a private and a public persona. Keep them seperate or you will end up in trouble. So my new persona, Rog T of the False Dots was born. It never really occurred to me that this would be the first of many re-inventions.
2. IT Professional. In 1983, I was skint and needed a job. I had no qualifications, so I decided to do a TOPS course in computer operations, so I could get a job. I soon learned that the key to success was to be be confident and if there was a problem, say "just leave it with me". Usually I hadn't got a clue what to do, but I am a quick learner and I'd get the manuals out. At work, walloping people with guitars and having pithy put downs is unprofessional. I learned to keep calm and try and keep other people calm around me. I also learned to be generous with my colleagues and the people who work for me. Always give people credit, don't steal it for yourself.
3. Band Manager. Between 1992 and 1996, I managed an Indie band called The Sway. They had a lot of artistic success, played some great gigs, issued two wonderful singles, but never had any real commercial success. It was a huge learning curve and I learned that to be a successful manager, you have to be a bit of devious bastard and have less morals than a tom cat in a barn full of moggies on heat. It is a highly competetive field and everyone is trying to shaft everyone else. Just as I was starting to get my head around the business, the band split up. I realised that this was one re-invention I could do without and although I've helped a few bands out since, I would not become a band manager again.
4. Dad. In 1995, my eldest daughter was born. I had always said that I didn't want kids. The reason, I think I am uniquely badly suited to the responsibilities of being a parent. As a kid, I was always thick and naughty. As a teenager, I was a rebel. As an adult, I am selfish and lazy. I took the view that such a person simply should not have children. When Clare suggested that we have kids, I said "The only condition is that you do all the work". She thought I was joking, but I wasn't. When Maddie was born, I realised it was no longer a game or a joke. I had a beautiful baby who meant the world to me. But in truth, the only way I could even start to cope was by trying to reinvent myself as a responsible adult. Given that all my kids are brilliant, I suppose I must have got something right, but that was probably just marrying Clare and letting her do the work. When Maddie was 14, some girls in the class above her were bullying her friend. She beat them up. I had taught her how to box and punch, and she was a swimming champion. I was called to the school and informed she was being suspended. Mr Ward, the head said "Physical violence is totally unacceptable. My response. "I've always taught my daughter to stand up to bullies and it seems no one was doing anything about a gang of older girls bullying her friend, so I can't criticise her actions". Mr Ward was shocked, but I stood firm and said "Are the girls getting suspended for bullying". There was an embarrassed silence. I stated that I would support a suspension of my daughter if the other girls were also suspended. After a quick discussion, Mr Ward agreed. There was clear evidence of this. Part of the deal was that I would explain to Maddie that beating people up at school was unacceptable and she would be expelled if it happened again. I told her that violence is always unacceptable, and is the last resort of fools. However I said that if authorities are acting unfairly, sometimes you just have to suck it up. I cannot claim to be a good Dad, but the kids seem to like this re-invention and accept me as I am.
5. Studio Owner. Running a studio is a very different thing to being in a band. We see many young people come through the doors. Many are vulnerable. Many have challenges. Some are very badly behaved. Sometimes events happen, where emotions run high. I've had to adopt an elder statesman. Like my IT reinvention, calmness is a key factor, but another thing that is even more important is to be able to support people who need a bit of encouragement. When people have failed auditions or been thrown out of bands and are distraught, telling them that they must believe in themselves, learn the lessons of the setback and be better next time is key. I've had many setbacks in my career, but I am still having a blast at the age of 63. That is a key part of the message. I always give examples of artists who had many knock backs, but got there through sheer persistence. Being a kindly elder with experience is a blessing at times.
6. Blogger. Now there are two elements to this. The first is that what I write is as near to the real me, as you will get. But I have a different blogger persona, for when I am interviewed on Radio/TV as a result of my blogging, as occasionally happens. Usually I am called when there is a massive screw up on a subject I've blogged about. TV and Radio want pithy, short soundbites, not monologues. I am not by nature, a pithy soundbite guy, but I have learned. I always have a few prepared. Usually they get the ten minute monologue and don't use it! They do however generally use the pithy one liner. When you do media, you need to think exactly what you want to get over and make sure that you stick to it. Occasionally you get an aggresive host, who ambushes you. This happened to me on BBC Radio London, when I was asked to contribute on the ULEZ subject. I stated all of the damage the change was doing. The host said "So you think protecting your income is more important than protecting childrens lungs?". I hadn't anticipated such an aggressive question. I realised that if I was to do such interviews, I needed to do my homework and have something reaady for such a curveball. The answer I should have given is that given was that the policy was just moving polluting vehicles to other areas of the country, so someone elses kids suffer. We need a national clean air strategy, that addresses the worst pollution times and hotspots. If you re-invent yourself, you have to do it properly.
7. Politician. In 2009, I was asked to stand as the Lib Dems candidate in Mill Hill. This was a really big reinvention. The first thing to learn is that you can't tell people what you think of them. When you knock on someones door, you are invading their privacy, so if they tell you something you don't like, you have to be polite, smile and move on. There are several people I really remember. One bloke opened the door and said "I'm BNP and I hate the Lib Dems, why should I vote for you". I should have moved on, but I couldn't resist an argument. "Well are you happy with the job the Tory Council are doing with potholes, looking after parks..." He said "No". I then said "neither am I and the only way I can sort it out is if you vote for me". We had a long conversation, he was quite reasonable. I realised that most people who support people like the BNP do so because they feel totally abandoned and let down. I realised that parties like the BNP and Reform feed on this feeling of injustice and failure. Their answers are simple, but devisive. Blame some group that is a vulnerable minority and claim that without them, everything would be just fine. They neglect to say that the problems with the UK are far more complex and deep seated. We need a new industrial strategy to build growth and generate money to fix schools, roads, the NHS, etc. Until the BNP or Reform properly address this, they have nothing to contribute. A country with no plan is a country with no future, and my greatest criticism of Reform is that distract political debate away from fixing the country and making it work. I have never really wanted to be a politician. I do however think people who don't want the job do it better.
8. Band Singer. Now I guess that you probably think "What are you on about, you've been in a band for donkeys years, and you have sung at various times throughout". The answer is quite simple. Being a singer and being a guitarist are two totally different skills. I hadn't appreciated this myself until I took over the front man role when Allen Ashley departed in 2020. Stepping up and doing a few numbers, then stepping back is different. You have to read an audience, engage with them, be dynamic and adaptive. Playing guitar is mostly about just playing notes in the right order and moving around a bit. You realise that everyone is looking at you. My style is very much in the Ian Duryesque storyteller school. No one would pay money to listen to my vocal gyrations. They come because I am a rabble rouser who tries to make sure everyone has a good time. I also have realised just how important it is to ensure that people hear you. As a guitarist, I wasn't too bothered about what the singer was up to. I've learned to turn my guitar down. That is a real change!
Have you had to re-invent yourself?
You can see the latest reinvention on Sunday 15th March from 2pm at The Dublin Castle in Camden Town.
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