oh jack why so fucking bitter. the fact is I grew up in an era when there were three or four folk clubs in most decent sized towns.

I learned to play guitar - expecting there to be places to play. the big time never came into it. okay I've had a hit record. iam content having made some sort of a living.

but I wish the folk clubs employing entertainers had survived - they were nicer places to play than the places I did end up playing.

most entertainers of the period can confirm that the week after Carthy (heavily promoted by the melody maker folk page) played aclub that had been running for ten years , the place was empty =people bored shitless and completely failing to understand 'traddy' performance style. half a dozen more traddy artists getting the same big build up from melody maker and the folk revival was dead in the water.

okay I am sorry you can't take the truth but that's the way it was. it was shit to watch - I hadn't even started performing when all that happened. absolutely heartbreaking.

asfor making it big - my hero was always tony hancock's the punch and judy man. a bohemian pro performer - surrounded by posh twats.