One of the things I regret is that when I had a chance to see him at Sidmouth in 2001 when I was visiting the UK, I didn't get to his concert.

When his big hits My Old Man's a Dustman and Does your Chewing Gum Lose its Flavour were all over the radio, I learnt them off by heart, and can still launch into them when asked. I seem to be blessed with a tape-recorder memory, and I can still hear them in my head - every note and every word.