Autograph
Longfella aka Tony Walsh
The Apollo
1980

Autographed Jam album from a soundcheck at the Apollo 1980 (or was it 79?)

I can honestly say that Paul Weller gave me my first taste of lager. I often hung around the back door of the Apollo from the age of 14 in 79. I met the Ramones, Stranglers, Skids, etc that way. In keeping with their "band of the people" reputation when The Jam arrived in late afternoon they let the assembled couple of dozen kids in for the soundcheck. Can you imagine the thrill - the Jam were massive at this point!

I was leaning on the stage when Paul sauntered out and cracked open a can of McKewan's Export - the one with the cavalier on the tin. As he took a swig, I asked him for the can when he'd finished with it, but he knelt down and gave it straight to me, getting himself another one. Kids clamoured for a swig but I reclaimed it and he signed it afterwards. I got a couple of albums signed but, foolishly, gave one to a girlfriend for Xmas!

With a lager can in my hand the bus driver made me pay full fare on the way home but I didn't care.

This copy of All Mod Cons is also signed on the back by Rick Buckler. The lager can, sadly, went rusty in a damp cupboard in the late 80's and had to be chucked.

The Modfather. Respect!

The red price sticker is from the much-missed Yanks record shop (later Power Cuts) which was near the Peveril of the Peak, behind where Rotters was on Oxford Rd.