Any UK Mudcatters remember this man?

Subject: Any UK Mudcatters remember this man?
From: Anne Lister
Date: 09 Oct 07 - 12:11 PM

I was reminiscing the other day on my early performing days and half-remembered a man who had said he would make me into the "British Joni Mitchell". You can see how successful he wasn't in that ... but this was a man who was around in the late 60s, early 70s. He was London or Essex based, travelled around the country, was an agent or manager of some kind (told me he had managed Mungo Jerry, but that might have been BS). He turned up at the Cardiff folk club where I was singing and made quite a play for my attention over the next year or so. He would turn up, staying at a smart hotel in town, and take me out for the evening - a business meeting, as I thought. He rather lost ground when he told me his wife didn't understand him (I'm sure she did!) and he felt I had a career in modelling as well as music, but I think he genuinely did have some music contacts. I can't remember his name or company for sure, but his surname might have been Myers and his company was something like Big Red Bus ... I think ...
Now of course if he's a Mudcatter (or if his wife is) then I've probably mortally offended him (or her), but does this ring any bells for anyone else, and was I right to prefer going to university to taking up his offers?

Anne

Subject: RE: Any UK Mudcatters remember this man?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 09 Oct 07 - 12:22 PM

Any help here?

http://www.mungomania.com/interviews.htm

Subject: RE: Any UK Mudcatters remember this man?
From: Jim Lad
Date: 09 Oct 07 - 12:42 PM

The number of times I've been wined and dined & told I have a career in modelling only to discover that the blighter was married and just looking for a wee bit of skirt on the side.... sigh!
Men!

Subject: RE: Any UK Mudcatters remember this man?
From: Anne Lister
Date: 09 Oct 07 - 03:35 PM

Thanks for the link to the Mungo Jerry site, FolkieDave - the old memory cells were obviously OK with Red Bus and Mungo Jerry, but the main man on the site (Barry Murray) doesn't fit with the one I remember. Maybe my well-wisher/early fan just worked with them rather than being the important character he wanted me to think he was? Or maybe it was Barry Murray after all, but the name doesn't ring a bell at all.
And I'm glad to know it's not just me, JimLad!

Looking at the Mungo Jerry site though I'm still wondering ...did my Big Break come and go and I missed it? *sigh*

Anne

Subject: RE: Any UK Mudcatters remember this man?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 09 Oct 07 - 03:41 PM

Barry Myers.
Lived in Ilford.
Spun me a similar yarn circa 1973.

Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger (and more gullible) than that now.

Subject: RE: Any UK Mudcatters remember this man?
From: GUEST,Judy Dyble
Date: 09 Oct 07 - 04:23 PM

Barry Murray was my record producer as in Trader Horne, as well as Mungo Jerry,Comus and quite a few other very good bands. He was and is a lovely person and I suspect that you were being taken for a ride, Tabster, by someone pretending to be him. What a shame though. If the real Barry had meant to make you a 'star' he probably would have done!!

Subject: RE: Any UK Mudcatters remember this man?
From: The Sandman
Date: 09 Oct 07 - 04:25 PM

Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger (and more gullible) than that now.
Me too .
I was wined and dined too and told I had a career in yodelling,only to discover that the cad ,and was lying through the proverbial Hampstead Heath.
Sigh, never trust Yodellers an inch above your epiglottis.

Subject: RE: Any UK Mudcatters remember this man?
From: My guru always said
Date: 09 Oct 07 - 05:14 PM

Judy, the way I read it was that Anne thought it was a guy called Myers, and this is also mentioned by Diane. It really looks like your friend Barry wasn't involved in this 'chat-up line', so it sounds like his good reputation is intact!

Subject: RE: Any UK Mudcatters remember this man?
From: GUEST,Judy Dyble
Date: 09 Oct 07 - 05:25 PM

Hooray! I think you're probably right and that Tabster was probably right to pick university over those unfulfilled promises! There were (and are) some odd people around the music biz......

Subject: RE: Any UK Mudcatters remember this man?
From: skipy
Date: 09 Oct 07 - 05:32 PM

I'm older & wiser now, so I wear longer dresses
Skipy

Subject: RE: Any UK Mudcatters remember this man?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 09 Oct 07 - 05:34 PM

And they suit you too. (I have seen him).

In fact Skipy, you would probably have given in to his blandishments. After all you have given in to all the others!!

Subject: RE: Any UK Mudcatters remember this man?
From: Anne Lister
Date: 09 Oct 07 - 06:03 PM

Yes, no reflection on Barry Murray whatsoever - Barry Myers sounds right, as does Ilford, now you come to mention it, Diane. My adventure with him must have been in 1969 - does this mean I'm older than you?!   I wonder whatever happened to him. And his wife!
And he didn't ever pretend to be Murray, but I'm fairly sure he had a business card from Red Bus so maybe he was involved in some way. Clearly, however, not the boss.

Anne

Subject: RE: Any UK Mudcatters remember this man?
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 09 Oct 07 - 06:22 PM

Hello Anne, I don't know if you're older than me (who cares?). Can't even remember exactly where I met 'Barry Myers', except that it resulted in an excursion out to Gants Hill for which I don't recall even getting the expenses back. Lots of stuff about a 'non-understanding wife, but no gigs.

Strangely enough, 'Red Bus' rings a bell with me too.

Subject: RE: Any UK Mudcatters remember this man?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Oct 07 - 06:54 PM

There used to be a Michael Myers of Miracle Films, and I think there used to be another Myers of some soft porn film outfit in the 70s, but I can't remember his first name.

Subject: RE: Any UK Mudcatters remember this man?
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Oct 07 - 07:19 PM

Steady on Richard,...Your imagination is running away with you :0)

Subject: RE: Any UK Mudcatters remember this man?
From: Anne Lister
Date: 09 Oct 07 - 07:27 PM

While Richard is fantasising away, let me add a little to my tale. There was one evening when he came to Cardiff (aside: why DID he come to Cardiff so often? Just for little me?) and was staying in a smart hotel. We had a meal and then he wanted me to come back to his hotel room to talk business (he said). I was young but not totally stupid and had all my wits about me, especially when he told me about his wife not understanding him, so I spent my time in his room dodging his advances (not easy in a small single room). At one point a waiter arrived with coffee as room service - I was by now about as far away from him as possible and somewhat irritated - and asked politely "Will it be tea for two in the morning, sir?" I was very clear that the answer was no and that the waiter could get me a taxi. Finally made it home, just as my Mum was on her way back across the landing from the bathroom. "Do you realise I've almost been seduced?" I said, wondering whether that was quite the right word for it all. She didn't bat an eyelash. "I suppose you didn't fancy him, dear" she said and went on to bed.   Makes her laugh to this day - and me, come to think of it.

Anne

Subject: RE: Any UK Mudcatters remember this man?
From: martin ellison
Date: 09 Oct 07 - 07:33 PM

And of course Mike Myers who played Austin Powers. You did say it was in the sixties didn't you?
And Michael Myers from the Halloween films. I think it's an amalgamation of the two. Or a wind up.

Subject: RE: Any UK Mudcatters remember this man?
From: Anne Lister
Date: 09 Oct 07 - 07:41 PM

BARRY Myers, not Michael or Mike!

Subject: RE: Any UK Mudcatters remember this man?
From: maeve
Date: 10 Oct 07 - 08:47 AM

Great story, Anne. I'd say there's no doubt you made the right choice!

Martin Ellison, Anne (Tabster) doesn't do wind-ups. And as you'll no doubt be able to discern from the previous posts in this thread, her memory has served her well.

maeve