Sir Cliff Richard
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Our most successful year as a vocal trio was
probably, 1985. We'd been asked by Elton John to do 'Live Aid'
with him and George Michael in July. John and Stu decided not to
do it, as we were on a 'gospel' tour at the time, (probably
thought they'd get a black mark in Gods little book). I knew
that this was going to be the biggest gig ever and that Cliff
wouldn't be touring at all in 1986, while he worked on a West
End musical 'Time'. I asked Cliff if I could do it and he said
yes! Singing with Elton and George Michael at Live Aid was
memorable, particularly as it was seen by one and a half billion
people around the world. Funny enough Cliff did appear on a late
night TV interview for 'Live Aid'. Also that year we had a
couple of tours with Cliff, maybe even three, we'd done a tour
with Shakin' Stevens and in December reached number one with
'Merry Xmas Everyone' with Shaky! Not a bad year, then we got
the 'DCM'!! (Don't Come Monday). Not that it was that much of a
shock, knowing that Cliff was in the musical for the next year,
it was pretty obvious that things were coming to an end. What a
band Cliff had at that time! I don't think the powers that be
ever truly appreciated what they had.
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Live Aid Programme
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Our last gig with Cliff was December 16th 1985, at the N.E.C. in
Birmingham. This picture's taken in the dressing room after the
show, all the band were either in tears or at least misty eyed.
The problem I had with it was, I'd been asked by Elton John's
manager John Reid, during the rehearsals for the gig with Elton,
if we were available for a World tour with him starting in the
Autumn. I stayed loyal to Cliff, because we had a UK tour
scheduled for that time, ended up missing out on a World Tour
with Elton and never got the chance again, then the 'DCM'! It's
a cruel world! Still, it was nice to know an 'icon' like Elton
recognised our ability. Life is full of decisions, some you get
right, and some....!!!!
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Three other members of Cliffs' band,
the late great Graham Jarvis, Martin Jenner and Mark Griffiths,
had lost out too. They had backed the Everly Brothers at The
Royal Albert Hall on the legendary 'reunion concert'. They were
also offered a tour of the world with the 'Ev's' and turned it
down out of loyalty to Cliff. Not that Graham Jarvis could have
made the Everly Bros tour. He died a few days after the Cliff UK
tour 1985, in Kings College Hospital, London. A great drummer,
and what a sense of humour! Sadly missed. Some of the band (or
maybe just the singers, I can't remember) were involved in a
'live' TV show in 1986 (Aspel and Friends), but then came the
call the band had dreaded. Stu Calver's health had never been
very good, so he decided to take early retirement down to the
peace and quiet of Devon in 1986, (he was already living there),
where he was involved in the local church (Cliff's influence?).
John Perry also found God whilst we were on a visit to South
Africa (what a pass that was!!) and went on touring the world,
'saving souls'. Funny they never got me! John and I didn't work
together again 'til I was working on a version of 'Good
Vibrations' (EM Records/Japan, Tony Rivers 'Harmony Works'
Vol.1) for a show I was involved with in Frankfurt in 1992. I
was doing the vocals with Anthony (my son), singing the Carl
Wilson parts in the verse. I sang the Mike Love chorus part, and
I thought, it would be nice to have John Perry singing on it.
Then I got Graham Dene (the radio D.J.) to sing a few bits, as
he'd always wanted to sing on a session with me, so he got his
chance, and did very well! In 1989 I went to see Cliff at
Ceasars Palace in Luton (God knows why he was playing there).
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I only intended to go backstage to see
the band, but David Bryce saw me and hi-jacked me into Cliff's
dressing room. Well I was soon being told about the gig they
were planning at Wembley Stadium for July of that year 'The
Event'. Somehow, I was asked if I'd like to be involved, I said
yes, and ended up putting together a 17 piece 'rocking' band ,
which included one ex Castaway, Tom Marshall, on 2nd keyboard,
with Anthony, Mick and me on backing vocals, Terry Williams from
Dire Straits on drums, and several members of Shakin' Stevens
band. We were to be the 'Oh Boy Band', based on the old TV show,
and included appearances by the Dallas Boys, the Vernons Girls,
the Kalin Twins, and of course Cliff! I was on tour at the time
with Shaky, and Cliff asked me to ask Shaky if he'd like to do a
duet with him on the Wembley show,something like, 'Tutti Frutti'.
I passed on the message to Shaky and his then manager, she told
me to "Tell them to '**** ***'!!!! They only want Shaky on the
show 'cos they can't sell the tickets"!!! I wasn't given the
chance to explain that the Friday show was already sold out, and
the second night, the Saturday, was selling well, and of course
sold out too! We had 5 or 6 weeks rehearsal and two great sunny
days at Wembley Stadium. I think I enjoyed it more than 'Live
Aid'. Cliff said after the shows, the police had told him that
the only 'crowd trouble', was people overfeeding the police
horses!! Before the covers were laid over the pitch, Anthony and
I went onto the turf and re-enacted Trevor Brooking's winning
goal (the header) against Arsenal in the 1980 Cup Final. I'd
always wanted to play at Wembley, pity we didn't have a ball!
C'mon you Irons!
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Photographs
© copyright Tony Rivers
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Backstage pass 'The Event' 1989
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