There's a big difference between hearing about these rude incidents at second hand and actually being present on the occasion itself. The latter experience tends to stay with you for ever - and colours your opinion of the person(s) involved. I can recall one much worse than the much-related Bob Davenport story - and I was in the thick of it.

It occurred around 1969 or so at Clanfolk, the BBC Folk Club, which was held in those days at the Marquis of Clanricarde pub in Bayswater. I was running the club at the time and had booked Martin Carthy. Just as Martin had started his act, in walks a very drunken Dominic Behan, accompanied by what appeared to be two large Irish 'minders'. Behan walked to the front and began to sing rebel Irish songs, while the minders looked on, grinning. The audience was embarassed and appalled. Martin spoke in a friendly way to Behan, who pushed him so hard that Martin fell back against a chair and almost went right over.

At this point I went downstairs to the main bar and had a word with Danny, the very large Irish landlord, who came upstairs and cleared Behan and his pals out. Martin, who had behaved calmly and like a true gentleman, just murmured a word or two, shrugged the incident off and carried on like the pro he was and is. I met Martin many years later at one of his Christmas concerts at the Ropetackle in Shoreham-by-Sea and asked him if he recalled the incident at Clanfolk. "How could I forget it!" was his wry reply, and I could see it had stuck in both our minds for many, many years!

Behan's behaviour was totally out of order. I don't care what songs he'd written or what work he'd done - he behaved like a tosspot - and, yes, I know he was drunk. I was young and skinny and fairly naive in those days, and was unsure as to how to handle the situation. If it had happened now, I'd have scooted the little bugger out in double quick time, minders or no minders - age, bulk and 40 years in the ups and downs of the music world do give one a different perspective and attitude.

And I still have no time for anything by Dominic Behan.