Ah the Stocks at Walkden. First club I ever played in back in 1973. I went there one night with two friends and one of the floor singers was truly awful. On the way home I stated "I could do better than that" ….oh can you was the response.

The next week they were both outside my door "come on then, lets see if you can do better" ………….. Oh Bugger I thought.

The MC at the time was called Harry and my "friends" said I would like to sing. So in the second half Harry called me up and said to the audience it was my first time and that I was probably going to be crap. As he walked off and I walked on I said "just cos you're got hairs round your mouth Harry, there's no need to talk like one.

I got a HUGE cheer and a massive round of applause. BANG that was like a drug, I felt 10 feet tall.

I probably was crap I remember singing "Mon Like thee" and another one but I was hooked on that applause.