I started playing drums when I was 16.  In fact, John Smith and I started about the same time.  We started to play along to Thin Lizzy’s ‘Whiskey In The Jar,’ being big Lizzy fan’s at the time, well, we are getting on a bit… bless!             

I’ve known John most of my life, in fact we went to the same nursery and John’s mum Daisy was our nursery teacher!

I was a fan of Chariot from the start.  I was always at their gigs and even ended up a roadie some of their early gigs such as the Saxon Club in Walthamstow were a nightmare, lugging amps and speakers up endless flights of stairs I remember thinking; “They don’t pay me enough for this shit!”             

The drummer at the time, Olivier Le Franc, (yes, you guessed it he was French) was due to arrive back from Paris to play a gig at the Royal Standard in Walthamstow and the lads received a call to say he wouldn't be coming back.  The boys in the band were in a panic.  I tried to entice him back by offering him the use of my drum kit but he wasn’t interested this left the band in a predicament as the gig was already booked.

This was not good news as you can imagine so that’s when I was inducted to Chariot in fact, never mind inducted, thrown in at the deep end more like!

Pete and John asked if I would like to have a crack at it.  I thought it would be hard going but I love a challenge.  I was given four days to listen to some tapes the boys had recorded in the studio.  John and I went to work going through the songs in his bedroom with his dear muv providing the liquid refreshments.

I said to John at the time I had most of the tunes in my head but I just have to go through the chops.  I came through the gig unscathed and one magazine reviewer even commented on what a good drummer Olivier was!  I took that as a compliment.  After the gig Pete came up to me all smiles and said “That was great, we’ve   landed the Marquee supporting Vardis next week.  D’ya fancy it?” After that things went from strength to strength and the rest is history.

After Chariot

I left Chariot late 89-90.  Eighteen months later I still hadn’t played and I wasn’t really bothered either.   Finally I decided to answer an ad in the Melody Maker the ad read: ‘Guitarist and Bass player seeks Drummer’ so I arranged a rehearsal come audition at my local studio, The Vatican (hello Oscar and Laurence!) and that’s where I met up with Paul Lane.  We jammed with an instrumental tape he’d sent me and was floored by his guitar playing what a great player but with a real dodgy haircut!  

Things went so well that we went to a party that night got drunk and discussed what to do about that fuckin’ hair!        

We eventually formed a Joe Satriani tribute band called Ice 19 with my brother Mick on vocals we played a few gigs in the local pubs and clubs.  It was at one of these gigs that I invited John and Pete down to see us play. That’s how they met Paul Lane making him the obvious choice for Chariot. 

Jeff