Punk memories

[Lee Drury]

Didnt make it to Joeys bash although I did buy an Electra Glide on ebay! You are only 50 once right!!
Went out in a heat wave with a big wad of cash in the lining of my coat and a crash hat, to pick up the bike that lost me a nights sleep in New York (Ebay). The guy was a porugeese millionaire and lived in a gaff on Belgrave square in Knightsbridge. It dont get no posher than that! The bike belonged to the owner of a shipping line and he bought it new for his son to ride when they were in Hong Kong. It was a full dresser and the son dropped it in the car park and broke his leg. Never used it again and it was stored in a warehouse.
20 years later in 92, it was dug out and offered to the bloke I got it from. He has another house in Portugal and trailered it there for his holidays and rode the bike to the local beachfront bar and back a couple of times a week. It has only done 1,580 miles since 1972.
We did the deal and I got on the beast. It has a disc front, drum rear brake set up. The front didnt work at all and as the bike hasnt been used for 6 months I figured that the juice had leaked from somewhere. The back brake was excellent so I thought that will do to get me home.
I had to navigate the most busy, touristy part of London on a monster with not much in the way of a braking dept. There was a diversion on the embankment before parliament square/Big Ben and the traffic was very bad. The front brake still didnt work and I had to use the back all the time. When I got to the tower of london the brakes did not work at all and I went through a set of lights very late, but also very slowly as the bike began to stop for no reason. It stopped on its own eventually so I pulled over and the back brake was smoking so badly I had to walk away and it looked like it was on fire. The rear brake had seized up! I had to leave the bike for over an hour until the brake drum and shoes had cooled down enough for me to continue.
I can only guess that the brake was adjusted a little too closely and what with the heat and extra use, friction took over and it all got too hot. I got it rolling again and rode it very defensively and only touched the rear brake once more, though this careful riding ruined the best part of the ride as I was looking forward to opening it up on the A13 but was too worried about cooking more than the brakes next time. When I got it back it was all ok so no more hi spots on my shoes! Its now safely tucked up with its little Ironhead bruvver.
Lee.

[TerryMurphy]

Lee when you 50 you got to make life easier,not driving bikes with  no brakes through the west end?
sounded  good in America,and wads of cash in you jacket.must have meant you were
successful in you business ventures good luck you deserve it.Terry M

[Lee Drury]

Hello Terry, its a funny old world. As I was trudging round Knightsbridge looking for the bike I was to buy owners house, I met an old man who was coming down the steps from a posh house. I said to him what a wonderful day, and he began to go on about how everything is better when the sun shines and that we are under a grey cloud for 90% of the time. I mentioned that it was similar weather in New York and he asked me what part of London I was from. I told him and he said I will be passing through your way tomorrow. I have a gig in Southend. I laughed and said what do you mean a gig? He said I am playing with Rick Wakeman! I said I normally listen to him every saturday morning and if I wasnt here would be doing so right now. I told him that Rick plays songs but mainly tells stories about his life on the road. I told the old boy that I did similar things when I was younger. He asked what I was and I said a singer, he was a singer too although he had been acting for quite a while and was just getting back into his singing. I wondered if he was going to be singing with Rick and he laughed and said no, I sing Noel Coward songs. Very clever lyrics you know. He then went on to mention other big gigs that he has done lately. I then reached my goal and we shook hands and went our separate ways. I had the radio on this morning and Mr Wakeman mentioned the gig in southend and also mentioned his good friend Sir John Standing, who is a famous actor and old friend of Noel Coward. He said that he was a brilliant old fella and that they will be doing something together on the TV later. I still dont know who he is/was but he did look familiar to me.
Lee

[Lee Drury]

Back in 1980 I had an impacted wisdom tooth that was pushing half of my bottom set of teeth gradually sideways.
Over here we think that teeth are for eating with and not to throw thousands of dollars at, so they are perfect and glow in the dark! It got so bad I went to have it out and the guy just gave me a jab and tried to pull it out. 30 mins and many more jabs later he was exhausted and still hadnt removed it. He got out a mini power hammer tool and set to work on my jaw bone. After much more sweating and hammering he placed a folded towel on my chest, asked if I minded if he knelt on me and gave it one more attempt. It came out eventually and I asked if I could keep the offending tooth.
That night Splodge and Peter and the Test Tube Babies were playing at the Bridgehouse and I didnt want to miss out so I turned up. I got there early and Splodge were onstage doing their stage check. I was standing with Andy Scott and we were behind the stage taking it easy when Peter pops up from behind the bar, in front of us and points at me, smiles  and says "Erazerhead!" I smiled at him and he said "load of rubbish" and ran away!. Andy said to me youre not gonna let him get away with that are you? and I said the way I feel right now I cant risk getting another smack in the mouth. Peter managed to avoid me from then on and I still think that I kinda owe him one. Heres to next time!
Lee.

[Lee Drury]

In the early days of 76/77 there was a London punk couple called Peter and Charlie. Peter would drag Charlie around on a dog lead and they were always pictured in any shock/rock punk tabloid stories at the time.
In early 79 around about my 19th birthday I met a big girl called Charlie when I was at the Marquee. She was after me but she had a male friend and I was a bit confused. The guy was called Peter and I mentioned that I used to know of a couple back in the day and suprise, suprise, they were one and the same. They were not together anymore but still friends so off we all went and it felt  a bit strange.
I remember us all singing 'Killing An Arab' by the Cure as we wandered off down Oxford St. I bought it with a picture cover the day after and I hear it is worth a small fortune now? When we got near to Charlies squat Peter said goodbye and we went in up to the top floor. I needed to piss and was told where to find the toilet. As I was pissing  I looked up and could see the moon and stars as there was no ceiling or roof on the place! It was the GLC's way of trying to make sure the building stayed empty, just rip the roof off!
I went back to Charlies room and she had another girl in there who looked really butch. They began eying me up and giving me possible marks out of 10! This was when I realised that girls are just like boys and I had been picked up, not vice versa. I managed to get rid of the intruder and wanted to put the electric fire on and get down to it but she said the fire was harsh on her vocal chords and as she was the singer in 'Bitch/Vermillion" and had a gig the next day we would have to make our own heat! She had long nails and ripped my back to bits, looked like I had been thrown to the lions!
I saw her a few more times but I guess we were both using each other for the same thing and that was that. She came down the Bridge one night to see me but I was with June so she turned her attention onto Mick (RIP) Atkins. Mick was young and very frail and I thought that she would have eaten him alive! I have never been one to talk in the toilets so to speak so dont know if she did eat him alive or not? I wonder what they are all up to know?
Lee.

[TerryMurphy]

Hi Lee i hope your wife do not read our  forum?all these stories of your youth,I know you was not together then.but what they do not know dont hurt them.and as things worked out lets hope Mick Atkins had some fun,cannot recall Peter and Charlie,did they play the bridge at all,thanks Lee keep the stories coming,i will save them for my next book, Plagarized stories,Terry M HOWS THE RECORDING COMING ALONG?

[Lee Drury]

Hello Terry, sorry for nearly giving you a heart attack when the sporty fired up the other day!
Dont worry about Yvonne as she is against social networking of any kind and wont go near it.
My recording is on a go slow at the moment as MissPrint has become an all consuming monster. I shouldnt complain but as I am an old gasman and not used to long hours its hard to get used to. Hope to see you soon,
Lee.

[Lee Drury]

Hello Terry, happy late birthday! You were born in the same year as my dad. We are back in Paris for another show. Do you know when the Rejects East End Sky special is going on air?
See ya soon,
Lee.

[TerryMurphy]

Thanks Lea,i have not heared from the guy from Sky via the Rejects DVD,i mailed him last week and asked him,
I also asked if he needed another job,perhaps that why he not come back to me, Rita and I annarversary last Saturday
56 years something aye  Regards Terry M