Boys Of The Empire

Chapter Four

Boys Of The Empire

I quit rock`n`roll after killing off The Buzz Kids and re-invented myself as `Oi The Poet`, appearing at gigs with The Business and The 4-Skins.
And I wrote The Story Of Oi generally regarded as the only genuine account of the first street-punk scene.
I also published two volumes of peotry, the cult classic `Boys Of The Empire` and `Living In A Police State`.
Boys Of The Empire was praised by Sounds, New Musical Express, Time Out and The Guardian newspaper.
Punk magazine Noise called me "The voice of a generation",

But the truth is I was still a frustrated rock star. I re-wrote Suburban Rebels, a great song that still sounds fresh today but my demo was crap.
I convinced myself I sounded like Paul Weller, but most people disagreed.

Luckily for me Lol Prior, an old mate and former member of the ICF was manager of South London punk band The Business.
He loved the words and persuaded them to record it.

It was a brilliant decision on his part. Singer Micky Fitz did such a great job that in a recent Internet Poll `Suburban Rebels` was voted the third New Punk record of all-time.

But The Business recording my song wasnt enough for me as I still wanted to be a rock and roll star. I formed various second-rate bands and Garry Johnson and The Fab Four were the best of a bad bunch.
We recorded Boys Of The Empire, it sold 300 copies but we split after three gigs.

My next shot at stardom was a short-lived double act with my old mentor and living legend Frankie `Boy` Flame.
Together we recorded If Looks Could Kill. It flopped as a single but has appeared on a number of Punk compilations.
I loved that record and still do, but the problem was everyone else including Frankie hated it.
Boys Of The Empire and The Story Of Oi got all the praise, but for me If Looks Could Kill was my finest hour.

I was doing so much speed at the time I truly believed I was Ziggy Stardust. In my mind I had become a recording artiste and could die happy.
I had achieved my ambition.

It didnt get to Number One in the charts and I didnt appear on Top Of The Pops but I did perform live in front of 3000 people at a open air rock concert in Kent.

How many people have done that?

Maybe I set my sights too low - but for me, that was the greatest high of my life untill I met the women of my dreams and became a dad.

There was no follow-up single so once again I concentrated on writing and performing as a punk poet.
But showbiz was in my blood so when I was offered the starring role in `A Day In The Life Of A Beat Street Poet` I jumped at it.

It was a Canadian TV production and I convinced them I was a actor and myself it would lead to Hollywood stardom or at least a small part in Eastenders.
But of course neither happened.

So once again I returned to writing, finally convinced that maybe I wasnt born to perform in front of the camera - though many years later I would write, direct and produce a number of highly praised Independent porno films including `BASILDON BABE` - `DIRTY DANCER` - `THE SHOTGATE SLUT` and `Dressing Up And Stripping Off`.

For the next 15 years I freelanced as a journalist.

After my divorce Garry Bushell told me about the worldwide interest in my poems, street anthems and protest songs.