In my student days I worked part time behind the bar at Stow Hill student union in 1973. I became acquainted with Jivin' Al Jones, Woody (Joe) and Rob Hamer who rehearsed and played a few gigs upstairs and in the back hall. The Stones' Street Fighting Man was a favourite at the time.
Rock'n'roll was favoured at Stow Hill to glam rock and Phil Sandilands installed a fifties juke box with original 45s.
Woody designed a poster showing cartoon Vultures meeting in the desert to advertise one gig. He worked in the graveyard and I believe their drummer worked for an undertaker.
The band got a gig at the Granary, Bristol, and I went along as a roadie and got in free. In the van on the way across Woody kept us entertained with his off the wall observations.
'A-Wop-bop-a-loo-lop a-lop-bam-boo - now they are real lyrics. It's what its all about'.
He talked about these lyrics for what seemed like ages. Nearer Bristol when perhaps the nerves kicked in, he moaned 'I feel like a dog turd on a cold winter pavement'.
There were two guys playing sax that night - one, Graham Passmore, was a lecturer from Newport College of Art. It was a high powered R&B rock act. Afterwards the band was concerned that they may not get paid, the Granary manager said that the singer, Woody, couldn't play the guitar but paid up anyway.
A girl called Gillian, girlfriend of Mick Foote, made a short arty film starring Woody and another guy around that time. I wonder if it still exists.
The Union's clientele argued about left-wing politics, rugby (Wales were tops at the time), and music. In your face acts like Crazy Cavan and Racing Cars played the college or the Kensington club. I remember Garry Thomas played the Union with a band called Cratzy before The Mirrors.
There were many characters; Footey (Mr Cool), Alan Duxbury, Nigel Talbot, Dave Hockenhall, Jean from Teesside and of course Richard Frame who I remember spent his first Fine Art term in the college fashion department.
Late one night, long after closing time, I was trying to clear the bar when an officer of the law walked in. I was apprehensive as Woody and others were still drinking. The copper sat down and took his helmet off and Woody said to give the officer a drink and then paraded around the bar wearing the helmet. Happy days. Woody's musical ability was raw but his creative originality and warm friendly nature won over everyone he met. The world is a poorer place without him.
Richard Frame on Joe Strummer's Newport daysRead Chrissie Wilson's memories of Joe and Jivin' AlanJoe Strummer Obituary - 22 December 2002The BBC is not responsible for external websites
