One of my first jobs after convincing myself that music was going to be my life was roadying for the Bishops. I moved into a bedsit in Olympia and Zenon De Fleur was the son of owner of the building and we got to talking and one fine day, he asked me if I was interested in working for the Bishops. I decided that while my drumming career had a way to go, that I'd meet the band and see what happened. Can't really remember the date but must have been around 75 or 76. Punk had made it's deadly mark on the music scene and by all accounts, the Bishops were 'close enough' for Chiswick Records to take them on and organise gigs and short tours for them, which I gladly thanked them for. We used Zenon's brother's 5 ton truck to haul all the gear around. Zenon owned his own P.A. system, which made the gigs fairly lucrative for all of us during that time. Paul's drums were easy to work with, a very simple kit. AC30's were easy to set up (both Zenon's and Johnnie's). I think the bassist's name was Pat from Ireland, I remember them auditioning him. His was a nasty Orange stack...horribly big and heavy, and of course the P.A. system. I did it mostly on my own after Zenon had taught me how to set the levels. Dave the singer was really the one I got on best with, we used to hang out socially whereas the others (apart from Zenon of course) went there own way when the gig was over or the tour finished. I toured with them in Ireland supporting the Clash, Motorhead and then onwards to tour on our own in smaller places...that was a lot of fun...heavy work but fun.

As I mentioned, Punk really had kicked in and the amount of crap the boys had to go through whilst on stage really was quite degrading for them...they needed respect and never really got it. I remember Dave trying to convince the others that being spat on, beer thrown at you and constant cigarette ends and glasses hitting you WAS respect from the crowd...I don't think any of us agreed with his view of that...especially not me, I had to clean the crap up after every gig!!!!

The best gig I was ever involved with was after the Irish tour when we had one more gig to do at the Roundhouse supporting Motorhead....I learned a lot that day. Lemmy made it his priority to distribute a shit load of 'stuff' during the whole day, turning on just about anybody who would agree to 'join in' to a really weird setting up period. We arrived at something like 10:00 in the morning and by lunch there was absolute chaos on stage in terms or leads, cables, stands and people...nobody knew what they were supposed to do and consequently tempers got a little high with the Motorhead manager coming up to me and a hired hand (can't remember his name...weird guy) and asking us to take everything off stage. After still hours of chaos on stage and the doors opening imminently, we had not done a sound check or even had time to get our stuff on the stage, Motorhead didn't even do a decent sound check, couple of chords then off to the dressing room again. I was sure this was going to be a disaster! BUT...you guessed it...the Bishops came on and played the best set I'd ever experienced during the two years I was with them. My worst moment was on the way back to Olympia from Glasgow in the 5 ton truck at 04:30 in the morning (or thereabouts) and falling asleep at the wheel. I woke up with the bumpidy bump of the studs in a lay-by and just in time to swerve back onto the road, stop the truck and sleep for two or so hours. I still remember that feeling today when I'm driving and I always stop to take a rest before I continue that journey.

I can't remember when I stopped working with them but I do know that a Canadian artist called Pat Travers had gotten in touch with me somehow and I hooked up with them, touring around England while he was there and helping out at Air studios with the album and such.

I'm glad somebody else remembers them cause there really were a cool bunch of guys who really knew how to rock a house down. I heard about Zenon's death through Johnnie (Guitar!!! remembered his name!!!) who I met a couple of years later in Soho where he lived. Met up with Dave for dinner a couple of times, but I think he went back to Aussieland and the other I lost contact with almost immediately after my departure from the band. I hated Chiswick Records, there were a bunch of people there who really thought they knew everything there was to know about music and even I knew more and that bugged me too I remember.

Anyway, keep up the good work with the site and good luck.

HOME • BIOGRAPHY • ARCHIVE • PICTURES • DISCOGRAPHY • LINKS

© Copyright 2006 Next Big Thing
Email: chiswick@wanadoo.nl