TONY'S STORY - (1974)
For one Gig the band was stuck for transport so, as Tony (the singer) worked for a small second hand car company in the city centre, his Boss agreed to let him have the use of an Austin Cambridge that had been brought in as a 'Part-Ex' deal.
The offer was welcomed by the Band and although the car had no key
they were able to'cross the wires' to get it started.
It was when the Band was loading their gear it was seen that the previous owner had left a bag of grass cuttings in the boot, but as time was getting on they weren't able to arrange disposal of the rubbish.
The regular Saturday evening Gig at the Incognito, Hurst St, Birmingham went well and a party at Earlswood was next on the agenda for the Band members and their Groupies.
When the party was over, five of the lads (with Tony driving) were making their way home along the Stratford Rd, Shirley when the Police pulled them up.
Tony was already finding it difficult to explain ownership of the car to the police as he didn't know the registration so when he was asked to switch off the engine … Oh Dear … would he be believed now!
When the police asked what this 'Long Haired' group of youngsters had been up to that evening then Tony was only too happy to go through the Set-List that he had in his pocket and VERY proud also
to show this 'Officer of the Law' the Lyrics of a song he had written in proof of their story.
Then as always, the question made by the Police, "Could you tell me what you have in the boot Sir?"
After a few seconds of panicky thoughts .......... Tony had no choice but to tell the Officer the truth!
"A BAG OF GRASS!"
Photo taken at Bogarts, New Street, Birmingham.
The 'Bag of Grass' continued ............ Tony takes up the story!
Well the look on his face was a picture, I think he was imagining an extra stripe on his arm.
He ordered everybody out of the car stood them at the back by the boot and ordered me to open it.
Now the boot of the Austin Cambridge can be a bit dodgy if you're not careful because it has an over hang on the end and you can catch your head when retrieving articles from the forward part of the boot.
Well I opened the boot and because there was no light inside the officer shone a torch
and caught the reflection of a plastic bag almost behind the back seat.
For a few seconds everything seemed to go in slow motion he looked at me then the others
and went in head first ...... 'FOR THE GRASS'.
Well he got it! A nose full of cuttings that was at least 2 weeks old, which had turned into a rotting stench that shot his head back and you guessed it, smacked his head on the overhang.
The lads standing on the side of the road burst out laughing, I thought ...... I'm going to get 15 years here.
The 'Bag of Grass'.............. conclusion.
I stood there waiting for the handcuffs while the officer did his little 'War Dance'
at the same time he was rubbing the back of his head.
But then his mate turned up, he had been at the front of the car checking the
number plate and engine numbers with HQ.
"Nothing known" he said "No reports".
The one with the lump looked at me and said,
"I don't like it, but I'm going to have to let you go ... but watch it in future".
I reached into the driver's side window, turned the ignition on and lifted the bonnet.
As I crossed the wires the engine burst into life.
The five of us jumped in and we drove away.
I could see him in my rear view mirror standing in the middle of the road shaking his head.
We laughed all the way home .........
THE END.
Click here to see what Matty looks like in 2003
©Yvonne & Tony O'Brien
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