Bev Bevan Diaries - Tony Iommi, the Troggs, the Wolves and Batley Variety Club

By Bev Bevan on Jun 4, 09 05:14 PM

Saturday May 9th 2009

Got a text message from my old mate and former Black Sabbath colleague Tony Iommi, who's touring with his band Heaven and Hell in South America.

Sunday May 10th

Drove to a near deserted BBC at the Mailbox in Birminghham for my live two-hour radio show on WM 95.6, along with my co-host Jimmy Franks. Went well.

Tuesday May 12th

Set off to Batley in Yorkshire for charity benefit night at the famous old Batley Variety Club (now called The Frontier Club), to commemorate the one year anniversary of the sudden death of agent and manager Derek Franks.

He was an old friend of mine and put together many tours for ELO Part 2 in the Nineties. Place packed out and a lot of money raised for a local children's hospice - enough to buy one of those wonderful Variety Club Sunshine coaches.

Great show it was, too - a real Sixties pop extravaganza. There was Dave Berry, Brian Poole, Journey South, Maggie Bell, Vanity Fare, Chris Farlowe, The Manfreds, The Searchers' Mike Pinder and PJ Proby.

Comedian Martin Gold did a good job as the compere. Former soap star Frazer Hines and myself did the 21-prize raffle draw - something else for my CV, I'm a raffle drawer! Few drinks afterwards with Derek's widow Debra, Brian Poole and Dave Berry.

Sunday May 17th

Along with the rest of the band, drove to Salisbury and no trouble finding the Civic Hall (with the invaluable help of our Sat Nav, Doris).

Quick soundcheck, then a stroll around the very pleasant, but closed, city of Salisbury before the show.

Good crowd of about 800. Love Affair opened, then Bev Bevan / Trevor Burton's Move, then The Troggs.

I always prefer that middle slot and our one-hour set went down a storm. Set off home before Reg Presley and his band had even set foot on stage, and back in Warwickshire by midnight.

Sunday May 24th

Drove into Birmingham for another of my afternoon radio shows.

Good programme and Jimmy and I interviewed over the phone Paul Jones from the Manfreds, who has a fine new solo album just released titled "Starting All Over Again".

Home to watch on TV the last day of the Premiership season. So, amazingly it's Newcastle and Middlesborough going down along with West Brom. More importantly, my team the Wolves are in the Prem next season along with Birmingham, who most of my mates support.

Thursday May 28th

Into the BBC to pick up my post (write to me at BBC WM, The Mailbox, Birmingham B11RF) and print off my emails (reach me at bev.bevan@bbc.co.uk).

Looked in on the TV news section, too, and said hello to my old friends Kay Alexander, Suzanne Virdee and Nick Owen.

Sunday May 31st

Another glorious sunny day and drove with the top down to the Mailbox, avoiding the motorways.

Keith Middleton acted as my anchorman because Jimmy was working up in Edinburgh at the Jamhouse club.

Good show - with me having freedom of choice what to play, the musical content is always fab.

Here's what I played:

DANCING IN THE DARK - BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
REFLECTIONS OF MY LIFE - MARMALADE
SUPERSTAR - CARPENTERS
MIDNIGHT BLUE - CARL WAYNE
YOU WON'T SEE ME - ANNE MURRAY
HIT AND MISS - JOHN BARRY SEVEN
MY GIRL - TEMPTATIONS
WICKED GAME - CHRIS ISAAK
JUMPING JACK FLASH - ROLLING STONES
NO REPLY - THE BEATLES
GET OVER IT - THE EAGLES
FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE - STEREOPHONICS
SOMETHING STUPID - CARSON AND GAILLE
RECONSIDER BABY and SUCH A NIGHT - ELVIS PRESLEY
THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT - LITTLE RICHARD
SORROW - THE MERSEYS
ONE WAY LOVE - CLIFF BENNETT AND THE REBEL ROUSERS.