Last week REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL rocked the South West of England with four performances at Hall for Cornwall. On the last night the team were treated to a visit from legendary Blockhead Davey Payne, the originator of the famous two sax solo in Hit me with your Rhythm Stick.
Davey Payne with the band
This was a momentous occasion for all the cast, band and crew but especially for Dan McGowan (who takes on the two sax solo in the show) who received one of Davey’s own ties, and John Kelly who was blown away to be given one of Ian Dury’s very own jackets.
Dan who plays Nick / Dave Haddock in the show said:
Meeting Davey Payne was a moment that will stay with me forever. He was the guy who basically convinced me to learn the sax, after I heard ‘Hit Me’ for the first time. So I was pretty nervous at the thought of playing his own songs back to him, and trying to imitate his legendary double-sax playing. When he arrived for the photo session before the show he could not have been more of a gent a real diamond geezer! Then, when he produced the presents for John and me – one of Ian’s famous jackets and one of Davey’s gig ties respectively – we were both utterly lost for words. We’d just been given some rock and roll history by a living legend!
Dan McGowan in the tie Davey gave him
Lead vocalist John Kelly said:
Knowing that Davey has been involved in Ian Dury’s career since the Kilburn & The High Roads gave singing ‘Crippled with Nerves’ an extra tingle of importance on the night. To meet Davey was a massive honour, he truly is a lovely man. I still can’t quite believe his generosity and trust in giving me one of Ian Dury’s jackets, yep, I blubbed a lot in the wings after, it means so much. I wore it with such pride in the second half that night and to see Davey enjoy the show was beyond a dream. To get his support (as with the support given by the rest of the Blockheads) means more than words can ever be said by this fan born to be a Blockhead, except perhaps for to say………. lets ‘ave it for the lovely Davey Payne!
John Kelly wearing Ian Dury's very own jacket
After watching the show with his family and rocking along with the best of them, Davey said:
Where can I begin, when there is so much. I could watch this show every day, like some beautiful groundhog day, and still want more. The finish, with the power of the full band, the cast adding to the excitement with their original backing vocals and the choreography ends the show with a cosmic cacophony of sound in the true spirit of the Blockheads, leaving the audience amazed, happy and thoughtful.
We can’t thank Davey and The Blockheads enough for the amazing support they have given the show and can’t wait to bring our too nutty to be naughty show to the rest of the UK with some serious Blockhead attitude.
Blockheads Oi! Oi!
REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL is touring Feb – April 2012. For more details visit www.reasonstobecheerfulthemusical.co.uk
Photos: Stephen Collins
