Many years ago I played in a band that was paying its dues by performing in the working mens clubs around the UK.

One Saturday night we were playing at a Labour club and on the bill with us was an Al Jolson impersonator. He’d had a bad reaction to stage make up and so had took to wearing a woolen mask with the eyes and mouthpiece painted in white. The crowd were not impressed by his performance and booed and heckled until he ripped the mask off, threw it in the corner and stormed off! Our drummer then thought it would be a great wheeze to wear this in our shows which he did for several months until the novelty and the lack of female attention got to him.

Tony this is for you wherever you are!