Souvenir……souvenir ....... (Jacques Mercier)

 

Les Zgorl's at the Neuilly s/seine MJC photo x...

 

I was in 1963 in a band called Zgorl's, playing rythm guitar(the rythm guitar at the time was the one without an amplifier, there was always enough room for him on the bass amp). We used to play Shadows's music and we were booked for an School end of year feast at the Porte de Versailles. We had to clear all of our gear off stage around 11 30 p.m. because Vince Taylor &The Play-Boys were playing top of the bill just after, unfortunately in front of an audience a bit limited and 'tight-assed'. At 11 45 The Play-Boys showed up : Tony Harvey, Johnny Vance, Alain Le Claire and Bobbie Clarke smiling although without roadies, Bobbie set his own drums up, we lent our bass and guitar amps and gave a hand to Alain Le Claire to pull the upright piano from the back of the stage into the light. In 15 mn everything is set up.

The Play-Boys go into their lodge and we wait impatienly for Vince. We waited a good half an hour if not three quarters of an hour, and then, first shock, The Play-Boys come back on stage : black trousers and shirt, white tie and shoes. Straight away they start with '20 Flight Rock'. Second shock, Vince rushed on stage, he was fantastic, like on the photos, he had something else which you could only see whilst in the audience, a look so intense, thanks to a line of mascara under his eyes.

I had goose pimples. I was petrified. We were in front of the stage and every time our eyes met I felt like I just received an electric shock. The crowd were a bit quiet but we were shouting like mad, well, especially me ! (the other guys in the band were quite shy). After several attempts to try and more the audience and make them participate in the show, fed up the band left the stage after 45 mn of show and didn't come back. The Play-Boys left, followed by three or four super girls, surely models or dancers from Les Folies Pigalle. The only one to cuss was Bobbie, he had to take the drums apart himself.

My second souvenir of Vince on stage was at Le Golf Drouot where he was backed by The Dragons, he was dressed in white leather still as good as ever, but it was not The Play-Boys!

Vince and the Dragons at le Golf Drouot (Paris) Photo J L Rancurel

 

Summary	BIO N°8 Anecdote
English Disco	French Disco

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