I think it was the leather waistcoat things they wore, which was strangely at variance with the nylon strung guitars sound.

A couple of chunky butch Scottish blokes, dressed in leather and with apparently the same target audience as The Spinners.

They had the misfortune to be around at a time when the generation war was at fever pitch, and they were a part of television schedules that your parents were locked into.

Much of the music is great. But we all have a historical context to live in. they made the deals they felt were of best advantage to their music - as we all do. it's tough getting it right.

I remember reading an interview a few years ago with the great Johnny MacEvoy. The interviewer was asking why his career hadn't gone as well and his back catalogue was in the two quid budget range, whilst people are knocking each other down to pay ten quid and over for Christy Moore stuff. I think Johnny put it down to bad decisions.

You could ask a similar question about The Corries and say Martin Carthy. Of course with The Corries illness and death intervened and played its part.

I think civilians would be surprised at how much work most artists have to put in to promote their work. Unless you're Elvis or The Beatles and there is a mini army of publicists keeping the legend industry going. One's death usually means the end of that effort, and a few folks will remember you, but I guess before the month's out the phone will stop ringing.

anyway that's my guess

Big al whittle