One of the dark secrets of the music business is that there are some very dodgy people on the fringes, who are not necessarily in the business for the love of art! I've come across one or two on my journey. For a short period of time, a band was rehearsing at my studios and being managed by Charlie Kray. One of my friends was the drummer. Charlie was well connected within the business. The lead singer of the band had allegedly 'done time' with him. The band dissolved when the singer robbed an off licence in Edgware, supposedly getting beers for the band. He made the mistake of taking off his mask as he left the off licence and looking directly at the CCTV camera. By all accounts, Charlie was none to pleased. Before the incident, he had reached out to me and offered to 'put some money into the studios'. He was keen into get back into the music business, and told me that with some 'investment' we could do 'great things'. For me, it was a dilemma. I was assured it was all honest and legal. On the face of it, it looked like a good move, as he did have great contacts, but I wasn't really sure I wanted the studio to go in that direction. When the band ended, the interest ended as well. I was actually rather relieved as I couldn't think of a polite way to refuse, without rubbing him up the wrong way. We had a beer at the Three Hammers to discuss it, and he seemed like a nice bloke, full of stories about shenanigans in the music industry. He'd actually managed Deep Purple in the 1970's and so knew a hell of a lot about the industry. It was quite funny, because there were a few local villains at the pub, who recognised him and became a tad uneasy. One came down to 'have a word" a couple of days later. I explained that we were just having a beer as a band he was managing were using the studio. He seemed quite relieved.
There was another figure, who we'll call "Dave" who came actually managed The False Dots for a short while. He was pretty well known locally. He had a reputation as a man not to mess with. He'd survived being both stabbed and shot, and allegedly taken a terrible revenge. He'd worked for my Dad for a while when he was in his 20's as a panel beater at MacMetals, but had moved on to greater things. He sort of appointed himself as the manager of the band at one stage. He promised gigs, fame and money. As I recall, he got us one gig at Edgware Services club, playing with a girl from Hills Angels (Benny Hills dancers). It wasn't really my thing and that iteration of the band was not one I have fond memories of. Fortunately, him and the singer had insisted on a new name, so it is expunged from the history of The False Dots. His cunning plan was for us to play covers and gig every night. I was having a beer with him after one gig and he pulled out a gun and put it on the table. He explained that this was his insurance policy. He added "Never point a gun at a man's head. That will just kill him and six months later everyone will have forgotten all about them. Shoot their balls off, they will spend the next twenty years telling everyone what happens when they cross you. And the police won't do you for murder, as you can say it went off by accident and you were pointing it down". One of my band mates suggested that it was a replica and it was all bravado. They didn't really know him, I didn't learn guitar and join a band to play with guns. Like many such characters, you see the everywhere, then they disappear. Dave passed away about 25 years ago. He would often appear at the studio with "his new band", they'd have a few rehearsals, do a few gigs then disappear forever.
Another character we came across was a small time cocaine dealer, who ran a music venue in South London. He rather liked our band. He'd pay us well over the top and the gigs were always busy. He offered to manage us back in 1982. We were quite young and naïve and were impressed by the fact that we got good money, free beers and food. He organised a proper photo shoot of the band and many promises were made. Then we heard nothing. I went down to the pub, where he had been putting the nights on, they said he'd been arrested for dealing. I realised that the club was a front for his business and he was laundering his proceeds through the business. We turned up and did what we were paid to do, and entertained a packed pub.
One other very iffy character I recall used to frequent our gigs. He'd insist on buying the band drinks and tell us he was "working on something and it was going to be really good". Then he disappeared. About six months later, I got a telephone call from the Police. Who was I and how did I know the said individual. I explained that he'd hang about at the gigs and was always promising great things that never materialised. The Copper said "You were lucky mate", he then gave me his number and said "If he turns up, give me a bell. If you know where he is and you don't tell me, you will be in serious trouble". I asked what he'd done and was told that I didn't need to know. I never found out.
All of these characters were hanging around in our bands first incarnation, between 1979 and 1990. We were young and oblivious. Such characters turn up at the studio now, often on the coat tails of young artists. They are not so interested in The False Dots and our geriatric mates. What I now realise is that few of them really understand how the music industry works. Perhaps the funniest thing is that of all of these characters I met, the only one who really had a clue was Charlie Kray. He knew people and had managed proper acts. He told me that when he managed Deep Purple, for once his name worked against him. People were terrified to book the band. I always feel a little bit sorry for bands that are young and put their faith in dodgy chancers, who waste their time. I always advise bands that someone who knows what they are doing, will make sure the band has great demos and good pictures as a first step. In truth, if you've not got a good musical product, then you won't get anywhere, and if you have, it will become pretty clear, pretty quickly whether someone really does 'have the right connections'.
I am quite pleased that we are at a stage in our career, where we can put our own music out and are not too worried about 'making it'. Doing fun gigs and recording music we like is as good as life gets in my opinion. The False Dots next gig is on Sunday at The Dublin Castle (Click here for full details) from 1.30pm, see you there. Here is our trailer!
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