February 2013


Hello, didn’t February come round fast?

It’s been an action packed fortnight at A1 VOX, Chris has had a successful operation on his dodgy knee and Jamie wore the studio manager hat while he was recovering. I don’t mean that literally, there isn’t an actual studio manager hat, but there really should be. We’ve been recording ‘on hold’ messages for clients like mad this week, I’m a big fan of a good hold message because although we’d all love our phone call to be answered within 3 rings (like we do at A1 VOX!), it’s just not always possible, so I do like to be told what number in the queue I am, or how desperately someone is rushing to answer my call.

Last week, for the 3rd time in 2 months, Charles took the big silver suitcase that resides in our office and disappeared for a few hours. I’ll admit that the first time this happened I thought he was a spy, but I’ve since learned that he was doing an outside broadcast for one of our clients…… The mysteries of the silver case have now been revealed to me, as a collection of cables, microphones, stands and recording devices. Every crucial component is duplicated, as failure is not an option when we’re recording Very Important People saying Important Things. Although the majority of our work is studio based, we’re always ready to go out when that’s what’s called for. For a busy CEO and his/her Corporate Communications Team, that can make the difference between needing to allocate a 15 minute window and setting aside a whole hour or two in a packed diary. All part of the service here at A1 VOX!

Recently one of our clients paid us a surprise visit and called me to get directions. I realised I was no help after I told him we were ‘a door next to the Italian restaurant’; there must be 5 Italian restaurants in Old Compton Street (I know this because I’ve stopped and salivated over all of their menus). So, I took this photo to show where we are, we’re the blue door sandwiched snugly between ‘La Porchetta’ and ‘Maison Touareg’. Notice how the sun is shining on our windows!

Incidentally, if you go to see the comedy film “I Give It A Year”, you may just catch a very similar view to the one above in one of the movie’s later scenes, as some sequences were shot just across the road from us.


I’ve been Celeb Spotting during my lunch breaks in Soho and so far I’m very excited to report who I’ve seen –

1. Barry from Eastenders aka Sean Williamson was in Pret eating a toastie.
2. DJ Neil Fox (aka Dr Fox, Foxy etc) walking along Old Compton Street with his kids.

I suspect that there are heaps of celebs sauntering cleverly past me every day practically begging to be spotted, so I’ll make sure I keep my eyes peeled on my sandwich runs in the future.

Our Critch starred in the last episode of series 3 of Miranda. You may have seen him as the chuckling airport security man – he was fabulous of course!

Lastly, we were very sad to hear of the death of Richard Briers, he had been to A1 VOX many times – taking advantage of our handy location here in theatreland - and we all thought him a true gent. Charles has some very fond and funny memories of him which he’s been sharing with Tom and me this morning. He was always good-humoured, courteous and a thorough professional.

Well, the sun is coming out in Soho and all looks beautiful, we hope it’s shining on you too!

New Girl

Hello, and welcome to the first 2013 A1 VOX blog. If you’ve been keeping up with the blog (and why wouldn’t you have been?) then you’ll know that Sarah left in December with such a lovely final blog post which made it very hard for me to follow!

So, hello! I’m Cass, and I’m the new Operations Manager at A1 VOX. I’m the one who’ll be answering your calls, making your bookings, replying to emails, checking availability, updating the website, answering your questions, making your complications less complicated, printing out scripts and talking about the weather. I’ll also be making sure that we don’t run out of milk so that we can make you copious cups of tea when you come and see us.

Before writing this post, I did some research on writing blogs – most of the advice was to write about what you know, which is tricky as I’m quite new to the voice over / sound recording business but I can write about what I learn and I will try to do so in future blogs. However what I do know is good customer service and everyone here at A1 VOX has tripped over themselves to be helpful, lovely and kind to me in my first month – and they don’t even seem to try hard, they’re just naturally like that! It’s fab!

So what does A1 VOX do? Well, in a nutshell it’s a sound studio. We can link via ISDN or Source-Connect all over the world so that people can get together remotely and record in digital quality. Or we can record and edit for you and send you the files. It all sounds so simple and Chris makes it look so graceful, but that’s why he’s doing it and I’m not; Because I’m sure if I did it, I’d hit the button that was a well disguised ejector seat. With Chris at the helm, the voice artist can sit back and just concentrate on their script, safe in the knowledge that we’re looking after them and that no-one will ever eject them through the roof.

It’s been fascinating to listen to adverts being made, somehow getting my head around the fact that the recording and directing was being done in Scotland while the voice was sitting in our studio in London – and it all sounded crisp and clear. So clever!

One of the (many) lovely things about A1 VOX is the location; we’re set in fragrant, vibrant Soho, in the middle of theatreland, and there is always so much to see and do! It’s so nice to go for a quick wander at lunchtime and find or see something new; there are always people to watch and windows to shop in. It’s been a long time since I worked in Central London so I’ve been taking time to reacquaint myself with Soho and Covent Garden which is hardly a chore. Much has changed, but so much has remained beautiful and it’s quite exhilarating to be back here.

If you do happen to need a friendly and flexible sound studio in central London then do please give me a call, although maybe not right this minute as Chris is editing something that sounds eerily like a Dalek and we don’t want to scare you off.

Have a joyous weekend and I shall write more next week about life at A1 VOX.

Cass.

December Swan song

Ho Ho Ho and a ‘vocalicious’ welcome to the A1, festive blog.

I am sad to say that this will be my final insight to the happy goings on at Soho’s friendliest studio as I will be leaving A1 VOX next Friday.

I would like to take this opportunity to say a mahoosive thanks to you all for following the blog, and for being such great friends of A1 VOX.  This will be the last blog of 2012, and my last ever (sniff, sniff), but A1 VOX is going nowhere so watch this space.

We have the lovely Cass joining the team in the New Year, and boy wonders, Jamie and Tom, will be running the show until Christmas, so never fear people you are in good hands.  

So whilst temperatures drop and winter tightens its grip on Britain, A1 VOX’s Lucy Scott, (aka Petrie), has been at it again.  By ‘at it’ I mean bracing herself with fellow swimmers as they brake the ice over a frozen pond and take a morning dip – as you do!?

If you happened to be in the Farnham, Surrey area last week you may have stumbled across the mad members of Lucy’s self made group the Frensham Aquatic Recreational Team.   These crazy dudes brave sub-zero temperatures and wade out into the chilled waters of Frensham Great Pond in Surrey several times a week – whatever the weather.

So as they all submerged themselves into the icy depths of nature Lucy explained:

‘It makes you feel euphoric for the day, although it takes several hours for your core temperature to warm up’

Mulled wine after a brisk winter walk makes me euphoric, so I think I will be sticking with that if it’s all the same to you Lucy.  Brave, brave lady!

Lucy and her group even made it into the metro with their chill-tastic antics.  Check out their photo:

Chris has been busy in the studio as we have just acquired Source Connect. 

Source Connect enables audio professionals to work with clients and talent from all over the world in real time.  Studios can affordably record, collaborate, or monitor sessions anywhere in the globe using Windows and Mac.

We also have our Skype line in place for anyone who prefers to link into a session that way.  We recently had an Italian and an American client who both chose this method and were very happy with the end result. 

 It means that there is no additional cost for calling in on a phone patch, the artist and client can see, as well as hear one another, and this creates a splendid interactive environment in which to work.

A1 VOX - Technically Sound – we may be small but we are pride ourselves on keeping abreast of the latest ‘this and that’.

Part One of the refurb has now been completed and I for one cannot wait to drop in at A1 VOX and see the continued jazzing up at 20 Old Compton Street.   

Plans are afoot for the second studio in 2013, so plenty of positive changes to A1 VOX come the New Year.

It has been nice seeing some of my favourite guest voice artists in my final weeks at the studio.  Jayne Sharpe has been in.  She always brings a smile to my face…and often wet socks for us to dry (don’t ask)…..Redd Pepper always entertains with his deep voice, and diet advice, and I am glad that I got to hear him in action one more time before leaving.

Being in this job you get to meet such a range of people and celebrity, and the day to day variation is phenomenal.  I will never have a job like this again and will cherish all the memories of the last five years. 

Working with so many lovely people – many of them reading this blog right now – has been the best part of all.  It is a truly lovely industry to work in and I have this blog to look back on whenever I feel A1 homesick.

A big mention has to go to Charles for employing me in the first place and for being a great boss man and all round top bloke!  I will miss my daily musings with both him and Chris, and of course all the shenanigans of the wonderful A1 VOX Team.

So all I have left to say is cheerio to one and all – it has been an absolute BLAST........DIVE!!!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Sarah and all the team at A1 VOX.

November Musings

I am writing this sitting next to a roaring fire with a crisp apple juice on the go and thinking over last weeks happenings at A1 VOX.




As always, it has been a mixed, and joyful bag of delights.



Phase one of 'refurb-gate' is now complete – HUZZAH!



We can plunge forward into the cool part of deciding chairs, tables, and décor, to go with the funky, streamlined rooms. Exciting times at A1 VOX, and it sure is a wonderful  thing to be working in a fresh environment.



Plenty of people have trodden a path through the A1 door this week but perhaps the biggest challenge of all was welcoming English actor, writer, and director, Mr Steven Berkoff.



Steven has a reputation for being utterly careless about conventional, conversational decorum, so it was with some trepidation that Chris and I geared up for the early morning session.



Steven arrived and was a little gruff to begin with but Chris and I turned on the A1 charm....not under, or overdoing it you understand….and the three of us seemed to find a common ground.



In fact, once settled, he only really proffered (through the use of fairly strong vocabulary), his thoughts on our building, parts of Soho, and the fact that he thought there was some sort of mess in the hallway, (which actually turned out not to be a health and safety hazard as decreed, but a piece of harmless fluff!). That aside I think we got off lightly!



We were on tender hooks as we connected with the client in South Africa and had fingers, toes, and microphone wires crossed that all would go well. As is always the case, (but especially with foreign voice sessions), we had carried out a line test ahead of the booking.  This is to make sure that both studios have the correct settings marked down to alleviate any technical error on the day.



This booking was no different, and Chris and our friends in South Africa had everything sorted meaning we could breathe a collective sigh of relief once the session had commenced successfully.



Steven is best known for his performances in villainous roles, such as Lt.Col Podovsky in Rambo: Fist Blood Part II, General Orlov in Octopussy, Victor Maitland in Beverly Hills Cop, and Adolph Hitler in the epic mini-series War and Remembrance.



He studied Drama in London and Paris and among the many adaptations he has created for the stage, directed, and toured, are Kafka’s Metamorphosis, The Trial, Agamemnon and Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher.



Steven employs a style of heightened physical theatre known as “total theatre”. Drama critic Aerks Sierz describes Berkoff’s dramatic style as “in-yer-face theatre”:



“The language is usually filthy, characters talk about unmentionable subjects, take their clothes off, have sex, humiliate each other, experience unpleasant emotions, become suddenly violent. At best, this kind of theatre s so powerful, so visceral, that it forces audiences to react: either they feel like fleeing the building or they are suddenly convinced that it is the best thing they have ever seen, and want all their friends to see it too. It is the kind of theatre that inspires us to use superlatives, whether in praise or condemnation”.



However the man himself is perceived, there is no denying that he is immensely talented and has done a huge amount for theatre. In his own words:



“There is something about theatre that draws people together because it’s something connected with the human soul. All over the UK, the performing arts link people with a shared humanity as a way to open the doors to the mysteries of life. We should never underestimate the power of the theatre. It educates, informs, enlightens and humanises us all”.



In fact Steven has stated that he takes Hollywood roles only in order to subsidise his theatre work. He regards many of the films he has appeared in as lacking artistic merit. So put that in your artistic pipe and smoke it Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, and Daniel Craig, to name but a few of the big names that Steven has worked alongside in film. – EEK!



We also entertained the boyish good looks and cheesy smile of lovable Ben Shephard this week.



Ben famously fronted GMTV for a decade but left before its overhaul to become Daybreak.



It seems that Ben has no regrets about quitting the early morning show:



“Every now and again I did five days and it was brutal. Towards the end of the week I was so tired I felt jet-lagged and my skin looked transparent – it’s tough”.



I remember when Charles was doing his ‘earlies’ on Radio 2. He would come straight into A1 VOX from the beeb carrying his lunch and proceed to eat it at his desk by 10.30 in the morning. Of course he had been up since 3am so for him it was actually way past lunch time and he would be blooming ravenous – a very odd life to lead indeed!



Ben wasn’t short of work after his early rituals came to an end and even got to feel, ( aforementioned A1 visitor), Julie Walters boobs! 



He was doing a behind the scenes ITV special on the set of Harry Potter and she was dressed as Mrs Weasley, explaining about the padding she had to wear:



"As we were stood in the Great Hall of all places, she invited me to have a feel.. and I did.



She quipped ‘I think you’ve touched the real thing there Ben!’ It was hilarious!”.



Ben has now joined Sky Sports to co-present Goals on Sunday with Chris Kamara as well as selected UEFA Champions League matches. Being a West Ham fan (come on you irons!), and a self confessed sports enthusiast, he is more than a little excited about his new role:



“The chance to indulge my passion for football and to work on what is without doubt, the most technically cutting-edge channel on TV, is something I’ve aspired to for a long time”.



Ben was suited and booted on his arrival at A1 VOX and looking every inch the TV presenter. He had his trademark smile plastered on his face and a cheeky grin for everyone. He was a pleasure to work with and I bet his wife and boys are very happy to have him back.



That concludes our round up for this week – next week I will be celebrating one year of wedded bliss! Can you Adam and Eve it!? So please tune in, in two weeks time, to check out the comings and goings of your friendly, technically sound studio overlooking the Soho Savannah.

Chilly Warblings from A1

Last week was a busy old week at A1 VOX and I am happy to report that this week has also seen the studio jam packed, and full of vocal activity too!




Actor Hugo Speer joined us for his regular spot for tabloid TV ads. After his session he was off to the Groucho Club to meet a friend – oh so Soho! He said we would be welcome to join him – unfortunately there was the small obstacle of a studio to run so we couldn’t partake in Groucho afternoon delights…mores the pity!



We also had actress Kate Hardie in. She was never in doubt as to the life she wanted to lead. At the tender age of fourteen she secured her first film role in Runners, but only told her parents once she had actually got the part. Savvy young lady.



In fact one of the parents in question is none other than comedian turned naturalist Bill Oddie. Kate garnered her stage name from both parents (Jean Hart and Oddie = Hardie). Make sense?



The A1 team has also been hard at work. Charlie Norfolk, Felicity Duncan and Andrew Loudon all took part in a session for Vodaphone, whilst Mark Straker and Felicity dug deep to find their cartoon character voices for another booking.





Phil Tufnell and John Sergeant made appearances for their usual The One Show Comm Records, with Phil sporting a rather fetching tuxedo. Nice of you to dress up for us Phil.



Elsewhere our team have been gadding about the UK doing this and that.



One such, A1 Man-with –a –Voice-On-The-Move, Mr Charles Nove, has been continuing his regular weekend air slot on BBC Oxford but went back in radio time to join forces with Sir Terry Wogan and Alan Dedicoat, for the TOGs annual convention.

The event was held at the University of Leicester and sees the TOGs gather in support and celebration of their highly successful Children in Need charity fund raising activities.



The ‘Togmeister’ himself paid a visit to the University for a very different reason in 2010 when he received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree. Saying:



‘I would have liked to have been a student here – it looks like a really nice campus. I am deeply honoured to have been offered an Honorary Doctor of Laws. I will, of course, now demand a certain amount of respect’.



Well it sure looks like Charles and Sir Terry were enjoying themselves at this particular event, and why not – the event is supposed to be a celebration of all the marvellous work the TOGs achieve during the year and just goes to show that you can do good in this world whilst having a lot of fun in the process.



Nick Chambers has also been busy away from A1.



Last weekend saw him starring in the world premiere of The Incredible Dr Guttman.

Determined producer Karen Simpson risked everything to tell the true story of how Guttman created the Paralympics whilst working at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.



‘I knew it would be a fascinating story. A lot of people at the early stages didn’t know who I was talking about. But I felt it was worth talking about. I kept beavering away’.



Indeed she did as the project was shelved 3 years ago by the Oxfordshire Theatre Company because of arts cuts, however, Karen finally got the money in April thanks to the support of Aylesbury Vale District Council, Bucks County Council and Arts Council.



‘The play opens some of the echoes of the past and it give s a full picture of Guttman, what drove him, and why he was so driven’ Karen says.



The play charts Guttman’s life as a Jewish refugee, as a doctor who once operated on a senior member of the Nazi party, and his efforts to stop Jews being murdered during Kristallnacht.



‘These experiences explain why he was prepared to fight the establishment’ Karen continues.

So to our very own Nicholas Chambers– what does he make of this multi diemsional character he is playing?



‘Everybody has a different view of him. The people that worked with him say he was a tyrant, but the patients loved him and the most important thing to me is to get both sides across.



Not to play him as a good guy or a bad guy. Trying to capture his personality, he was a tour-de-force, an eccentric personality who spoke his mind’.



Well it sure seems Nick has done his homework and though he is one of ours I have to say, hand on heart, that he is a truly amazing talent and we wish him all the best for a successful tour.



If you would like to support Nick then please visit www.karensimpsonproductions.co.uk for more details.



And last but by no means we have A1 VOX’s birthday boy – Mr Trevor Nichols! 39 again – but who’s counting. As a special birthday tribute to our dear uncle Trev I have added the below link so you can all watch him in his new TV ad….which funnily enough is promoting….TV advertising!

http://www.guerillascope.co.uk/TVAdvertising/GuerillascopeTVAdvert.aspx




Doesn’t he look dapper.



Guerillascope is encouraging people to consider using TV advertising to promote businesses. So if you would like to find out about the cost of advertising on TV, or the targeted opportunities available to your business, give them a call.



Oh….



and remember where to come if you need voice talent or audio recordings for said advert! Shameless plug but hey…we are all in it to win it! TOP DRAWER performance Trevor and Happy belated Birthday.



So that concludes business for this week. Wish us luck as the Green Room enters Phase 1 of ‘revamp-gate’ and we will be back next week to bring vocal cheer to the masses.

Vocal Building

There are exciting times afoot at A1 VOX as the next stage of our refurb looms on the horizon.




The Green Room is getting a make over!!!!!!



Tommy Walsh was in today so we asked him for some building tips – unfortunately he is busy for the next few weeks otherwise he would gladly have come back in and lent a hand – nice fellow.



He recorded his session and afterwards Chris provided liquid refreshments to all in the Green Room.  Naturally he offered Tommy a brew, which he duly accepted. An hour later he was still chatting merrily away and when offered a second cuppa he said 'don't mind if I do' and settled in for another chat.



You see us folk at A1 aren’t just here for your session, but here for as long as you fancy hanging around. We enjoy the banter, and so it seems does Tommy Walsh. Shame he couldn’t make a start on the building work whilst chewing the vocal cud, but we will let him off.



So in a month’s time we will be welcoming all clients and guest vocalists into our newly decorated room. It will make the climb to the top of Vox Towers even sweeter.



Once we are moved, and grooved, I will post some photos so you can all have a quick squizz at the new pad.



Whilst I have been chatting to friendly builder types, Chris has been getting on with studio business.



This week we welcomed Fly on the Wall theatre group to A1 VOX. They needed vocals laid over pre-recorded tracks that would be featured in their staged version of Bram Stoker’s chilling classic, Dracula. Chris set about finding the right sound effects to go with the Halloween theme production.



So if anyone happened to pass 20 Old Compton Street last week and heard steam train noises, and ghoulish screams it wasn’t me having a mare over the accounts but Chris tinkering away in Studio A.



If you want to check out Chris’ handy work, and get in the Halloween spirit of things, then dig out your best black cloak, don your feistiest fangs, and get yourself to the famous St Giles In The Fields Church – Soho between 31st October - 3rd November. Tickets can be purchased from www.ticketweb.co.uk



On the celeb front we had the great pleasure of meeting Julie Walters!!!!!



I am a huge Walters fan and think she is a bona fide talent with an infectious spirit and self-deprecating sense of humour. I dig her, and have to say I was a little awe struck on meeting her.



She was extremely nice and when I presented her with her very own bottle of water for the session, she seemed bowled over. It’s the little things don’t you know.

She was also happy to pose for a photo.



Julie made her London stage debut in the comedy Funny Peculiar in 1975. She befriended aspiring writer/comedienne Victoria Wood and a couple of their works, Talent and Nearly a Happy Ending, transferred to TV accompanied by rave reviews. Eventually they were handed their own series Wood and Walters.



In 1980 Julie scored a huge solo success in Willy Russell’s Educating Rita. She conquered film too when Educating Rita moved to the movie screen and she starred opposite Michael Caine.



Following her success as Rita she rolled out sterling performances in Personal Service, Buster, Stepping Out and Prick Up Your Ears. However the role for which she has most recently become synonymous was playing the abrasively stern, yet encouraging dance teacher in Billy Elliot.



Since that role, and second Oscar nod, she went on to play quirky character parts on Calendar Girls and the Harry Potter series.



They say that behind every great man there is a great woman yet the reverse was true in Julie’s case.



A former boyfriend noticed her acting ability and encouraged her to pursue a thespian career. He later proposed marriage to her but she turned him down, having finally discovered her vocation in life and realising that marriage at that point would have held her back. Poor chap! Should have kept his mouth shut.



One of my favourite Julie Quotes is ‘I don’t like the future sewn up. I like an open book – the feeling that anything can happen’.



You get the feeling that with this particular lady anything still can... and will.



A1 VOX NEWS:



Two tit bits of news for you this week.



The light that is Eleanor Howell has been missing from A1 VOX of late as she has taken off to Wales with her husband. Before you all get indignant that Mr Meo, (the cheeky whelp), has kidnapped our Ellie and taken her back to his motherland, fear not - she has in fact gone of her own free will.



The newly weds are both treading the boards together at Clwyd Theatr, Wales in Terry Hands’ production of Boeing Boeing.



“Fiancees! You have all the advantages of married life with none of the drawbacks. Fiancees are much more friendly than wives. And you don’t need all that many. I do very well with three”



Bernard is a successful architect with three fiancées who know nothing of each other. All are air stewardesses flying different routes for different airlines on different schedules.



But when the schedules change – unexpectedly…..



If you fancy catching our El in this comedic tour de force it will be running from 11th October – 10th November. T. 0845 330 3565 E. box-office@clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk



Go on..... get yourselves to Mold – Tidy!



We recently brought you news of The 39 Steps West End Eurovision entry and their promotional video with an Olympic twist, all in aid of The Make a Difference Trust.



Well they are at again!



This time Stephen Cricthlow, along with two of his other sporting fellow thespians, have dared to bare!!!!!!



Yes folks if you want to see our Critch in all his erm..glory!…then you will need to purchase the A3 full-colour calendar featuring exclusive images of 12 Top West End Shows in the literal flesh.

But if you simply can't wait to get your dose of high end/west end, soft porn, then you are in for a treat as I have managed to get my hands (not in the literal sense I hasten to add) on Critch and his 39 steps pals.

Each month has been photographed by a specially selected photographer and include: Top Hat, 39 Steps, Chariots of Fire, Ghost, The Mousetrap, Les Miserables, Cabaret, Singin’ in the Rain, Mamma Mia, Wicked, We will Rock You and Rock of Ages.



See your favourite shows as you’ve never seen them before.



http://madtrust.myshopify.com/priducts/west-end-bares-calendar-2013



That’s all for now my candid followers. Till next week keep it tantalisingly tongue tastic. Ta-Ra.

Radio Delights

Hello to all you A1 pop pickers out there!

We have been taken over by radio presenters this week and seeing as A1 VOX originated from the one and only Mr Charles Nove, this seems immensely fitting.

 Chris was approached last week to create an ad from start to finish promoting a bespoke Van Morrison event.

 In a glorious come back, the Radio 2 dream team, Terry Wogan and Charles Nove, got to combine vocal efforts to promote said occasion.

 Chris was given 3 songs to mix and edit to, and created a very clever tie in with Terry’s words and a Van track at the end. Chris being a bit of a muso himself really loves sinking his teeth into projects such as this, and as always, he pulled it out of the bag.

 But don’t take my word for it - check out the Sacremento website and scroll down to listen to the radio ad for yourself.

 http://www.sacramentoevents.co.uk/

Van the Man has added two intimate black tie dinner shows at The Grosvenor House, on Park Lane, London, in October. This intimate gig includes a drinks reception, a three course dinner, and an exclusive live performance from Van Morrison and his band.

 So if you would like to sit on the bright side of the road and get a piece of this sweet thing, call Sacramento Events ticket hotline on 01371 876509 – Give me a G!

 Next up on the radio tip we have Mr Pete Drummond.

 In the late 1960’s Pete was the DJ regarded as closest in style and musical interests to John Peel. He joined Radio London in September 1966 and became an established member of the Big L DJ team (rejoicing in the nickname ‘Dum Dum’).

 Drummond and Peel co-presented the first Radio One Top Gear in October 1967. Peel was eventually chosen to be the sole presenter in 1968 but Pete continued his Radio One career deputising for Peel and hosting a weekend show. He then became one of the presenters for The Sounds of the Seventies programme.

 This was a highly influential series playing adventurous, contemporary sounds, from such artists as Yes, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Simon and Garfunkel, Nazareth, Thin Lizzy and Santana.

 From October 1971 it moved to a 10pm slot as a two-hour show with the added benefit of improved sound quality of the Radio 2 VHF frequency.

 Check out a blast from Pete’s past, as he was then: 

http://www.radiorewind.co.uk/sounds/track_76_drummond_sounds_trail.mp3

 Pete trained as an actor and has most recently been very active in commercial voice-over work, hence his visit to A1 VOX. It was an absolute pleasure to meet another chap from the radio archives.

Radio One History

 Have a squizz at the original line up!

 BACK ROW (L-R) Tony Blackburn, Jimmy Young, Kenny Everett, Duncan Johnson, Robin Scott, David Ryder, Dave Cash, Pete Brady, David Symonds

 MIDDLE ROW (L-R) Bob Holness, Terry Wogan, Barry Alldis, Mike Lennox, Keith Skues, Chris Denning, Johnny Moran, Pete Myers

 FRONT ROW (L-R) Pete Murray, Ed Stewart, Pete Drummond, Mike Raven, Mike Ahern, John Peel

So from DJ legends of yesteryear to the new wave generation.

 Vic Galloway joined us for a session and chatted animatedly to everyone in the Green Room. It turns out he has plenty of friends in common with A1’s Andy Stanson. Small world people.

 Vic broadcasts on BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Radio 1 checking out all the cutting edge music from Scotland and beyond!

 He has presented two series of Mouthing Off and Vic and Bryan’s Big Scottish Adventure, various documentary series including Indie-pendent Scotland and The Banned History of Rock’n’ Roll and outside broadcasts from T in the Park, SXSW, Indian Summer and Live 8.

 It all started for Vic having witnessed Adam and The Ants on Top of the Pops and his first live concert by The Damned. Cue music obsession, record collecting and riotous image based creations. Ah the 80’s punk era – I remember it well....sort of.

Vic is also often invited to host, and MC, events and also gets asked to lend his voice to various bits and pieces along the way.  This is where we come in and I can report that he is a very happy, friendly, chap.

He hung out in the Green Room after his session talking shop with the two Andy’s and opening my eyes to some very strange sounding bands!

In fact the buck doesn’t just stop there for Vic as he is currently writing, performing and producing music with progressive-pop experimentalists Deaf Mutes.

A1 VOX NEWS:

‘If you had breath for no more than 99 words, what would they be?'

An extraordinarily thought provoking question.

If, like me, you are intrigued by this concept then maybe you can join A1’s Joan Walker this coming Thursday as she contributes to this very special evening.

Renowned broadcaster Fergal Keane, Turkey’s most widely read novelist Elif Shafak, human rights activist Helen Bamber and performance poet Inua Ellams all gather on the eve of `Peace Day’ to reflect on this question.

Hear their answers and more - or bring along your own - to 99 Words For Peace held at The Mosaic Rooms, London.

Good luck Joan – we know you will smash it!

September 20^th, 7pm – 9pm. Doors open 6.30pm

Tickets £10 Concessions £8. Ticket price includes glass of wine. All proceeds go to Peace Direct.