.

In march 1976 we did,what I consider to be one of our best television shows. We had regularly appeared on "Pebble Mill at One" a lunchtime show from "Pebble Mill Studios" in Birmingham. It was a show we enjoyed as we always sung live with our own band and the sound was always good, unlike Top of The Pops. They asked us to appear on a new show called "Saturday Night at The Mill" with Julie's Dad, BRUCE FORSYTH. First Julie was interviewed with her Dad and then Bruce said he wanted to sing with "Guys n' Dolls" and Julie said "no he couldn't". While we were performing the song "LOVE TRAIN" Bruce came up behind me,tells me that I'm wanted on the phone and takes my place in the line up. For the rest of the song he makes fun of Dominic. It came over great and even today people remember it.

In 1976 tensions began to mount between AMMO and "Guys n' Dolls". We were signed to AMMO as recording artists, AMMO in turn, leased the recordings to Magnet records. Our royalty rate was 2% between the six of us out of which we had to pay all our recording costs. Ammo were still paying us £50 a week wages. We had two top ten singles an album that had charted and worked solidly for a year after which we were presented with a cheque for £300 between the six of us as the balance of monies that were due. This was the start of worsening relations with AMMO which finally resulted in us splitting with them completely and Brian Longley taking over as our manager and signing us directly to MAGNET RECORDS who appointed Tony Macauley as our record producer.

On 30th June we recorded our own one hour special for London Weekend Television "THE GUYS n' DOLLS SHOW", with guests TINA CHARLES and BIDDU. It was produced by Mike Mansfield and featured quite a few things that we learned specially for the show including a routine for the old 30s musical song "The Continental" which took Dominic and myself about a month to learn. The show turned out well and it's something that we are all proud of.

On monday 25th October we started a week of shows with Freddie Starr at The London Palladium, our second album "Good Times " had been released a month earlier, and our single "Stoney Ground" had just entered the charts. From The Palladium we went on to tour around the country with Freddie for another three weeks. We all got on great with him but he was always unpredictable so we had to prepare for the unexpected. We were playing two shows at The Liverpool Empire and I am a huge supporter of LIVERPOOL FC.which Freddie knew. Freddie's roadie came down between shows and said could I go to Freddie's Room as he wanted to see me. I was suspicious so I changed out of my white suit and into my jeans. I crept up the stairs expecting him to leap out at any moment with a fire extinguisher or something similar. I knocked on the door and Freddie said " come in" and there standing in front of me was the legendary BILL SHANKLY who said in that familiar scottish voice "Hello young man". It was great to meet him and we talked for around half an hour. Freddie,who is an EVERTON supporter said to Shanks, Bill now that you've finished with Liverpool why don't you manage Everton, they need you. Shanks turned to Freddie and said "Ah Freddie I Canna do that". I will always be grateful to Freddie for that meeting with one of my all time heroes.

(Click to enlarge plus more photos)

1975 - 1976. Continued