Mick
performs on stage 24th June 2001
A
high speed dash to TheAnglers Retreat in east London was not wasted.
Arriving at 8.05 pm I sat and watched over a lager as a few faces arrived
in the car park. Members
of Elliot Tuffins band rolled out of cars and vans with their gear and
disappeared to set up for the evenings gig.
Lost Angel joined me for a drink and was rapidly joined (she has this
effect) by Steve Baily, VC10 and Stewart Roney – regulars on the HomeSweetHome
message board. Ian Moore – long
time associated with BCSWEET - strolled over for a chat and we were joined by
Elliot who had been to collect Mick Tucker.
Seeing
Mick arrive was an amazing moment. I’d
not seen him in person since 1978 and knew he’d been very ill.
He emerged from the car smiling and seemed in very good spirits.
He was very thin, but throughout the night was happy to chat with fans
and friends.
His
emergence from the crowd to join Elliot on stage was a wonderful moment.
Blockbuster, Blitz and Fox were performed to great acclaim and then the
appeals for Mick to go behind the kit began.
Time and time again he seemed to be making his way to the seat, but
hesitated each time. The crowd were
urging him on, but he finally declined the offer.
An appeal from the audience to “Give it a go” was responded to by
Mick: “I’m sorry, but I’m not
the kind of person who can just ‘give it a go’”.
I think we all understood what he meant…
perhaps next time.
It had been clear from Mick’s body language that he was torn between a desire to get behind the drums, but not wanting to disappoint with a lacklustre performance. Several times he looked to Elliot as the shouts from the crowd stirred the desire. Elliot had told me earlier that Mick has been playing drums in private and it looked possible he might. Elliot was probably the one putting least pressure on Mick and I heard him say quietly several times “Only if you want to Mick, only if you want to.”
Many thanks to VC10 for this last picture of Mick smiling. He had a great time and looks terrific!