Rockmungus

Been there, done that, got the tee shirt! He invented the rock tee shirt. Yes Julian Temple- Meads, the Rockmungus manager is a living legend. For 5 decades he has been at the forefront of Rock, present at many historic rocking events. In a series of interviews find out how it really happened when Julian Temple- Meads remembers………………

"Oh yes the summer of 69, and nothing to do with Brian Adams. At the time I was dashing back and forth across the Atlantic promoting bands in the UK and New York. I must confess I didn’t know exactly where I was half the time. Well, when I heard that there was going to be this open air rock concert jolly going on literally up the road I thought, good lord the navy, I’ve got to be there.

So off I set and I spent three days and nights camped out in a muddy field. However after three days and nights I was feeling a little down hearted, firstly because I had run out of food and water and secondly because I hadn’t seen or heard another living sole in all that time.

I set off to find somebody who could tell me what was going on and I came across a farmhouse. You can imagine my surprise when the local farmer told me that I wasn’t in Woodstock up state New York, I was in fact in Stockwood downtown Bristol!!!

AnywIay I do recall he invited me down the local pub that evening where an Adge Cutler and the Wurzels tribute band were playing, and if I recall correctly they put on a jolly good show”.

Next week Julian Temple-Meads remembers ………………….where he left his car keys.

Ah yes, the summer of ’85. I remember stadium rock was going from strength to strength and despite punk rock having come and gone there was still a place for progressive rock warhorses to play four hour sets at venues like the old Wembley stadium. At the time I was managing Bristolian progressive rockers, Emersons Green and Palmer, I had them booked at Wembley stadium 5 nights back to back. I got chatting with that Geldof fella one day over a couple of pints, he was keen to put on a concert to raise awareness of the situation in Africa. EGPs tickets weren’t selling as well as I hoped so I suggested he use one of the dates I had booked at Wembley, after all we had 87 articulated lorries full of everything you needed, stage, lights, sound system, dry ice machines, catering, the bloody lot.

 Bob thought it was a capital idea, all the discussions were going brilliantly but Bob was worried about getting the right band to kick off the show. For such a massive show to be broadcast across the world, who could be relied on as an opening act? Get the wrong act and the whole thing could fall flat on its face. As their manager I was angling for EGP to be the first act, when I suggested this Bob thought it was a great idea, then Bob said,

“I see no problem with EGP having the first 20 minute slot”.

“20 minutes” I said, “Good Lord the Navy, EGP will be scarcely half way through the first verse and chorus of any of their songs after only 20 minutes. EGP are Prog, they aren’t Status Quo you know!”

At that point, for some reason I could never fathom, Bob called an abrupt end to the meeting but as he said goodbye he had a wry smile on his face.

 Call it sour grapes on my part, but I lost interest in the event after that and I never actually got to watch or hear Live Aid. On the day of the gig I was stuck on a container ship somewhere in the Indian Ocean transporting EGPs equipment to Bangkok as part of the Asian leg of the 1984 –1988 world tour. I hear Live Aid was a jolly good show but to this day I have no idea who were the lucky band who appeared as the opening act.   

Next week Julian Temple-Meads remembers……………………………To cancel the milk and newspapers before he goes on holiday.