I'm an Anglophile. My ancestors were all from the British Isles: Scotland, England and Wales -- and all through my early years I was regaled with stories of the old country, watched English comedies, read English comics & authors, and ate food based mostly on overseas recipes.

Later I discovered blues & folk music via Lonnie Donegan skiffle records, learned guitar from Shadows records, and learned all the British Invasion hit songs to play on stage. When I met Sue-On in 1963 I became captivated by Chinese culture, but even these feelings were flavoured by things British since she had lived most of her life before coming to Canada in Hong Kong - a British possession, which had possibly retained more English customs those found in our neighbour to the south. 

In 1976, longtime English musician friend -- Alan Jones -- put us in touch with a Middlesbrough agent, who set up a 7-week tour of Northern England clubs, halls and military bases -- after which we set up a recording session in London. We returned for two more summer tours and recording sessions. Later still, back home in Canada, I even did a John Lennon stint in a Beatles tribute band. What follows here are photos, journal entries, anecdotes, lyrics, online song tracks, influences, and a few memories of musicians we have worked with. 

-- Bill Hillman

Wikipedia Bio on Joe Fagin
Joe Fagin (born January 1940) is a British singer. He was musical director for Jim Davidson, including his 1983 Falklands tour. In 1983 he recorded the theme songs to Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. The single, featuring "Breaking Away" and "That's Living Alright", reached number 3 in the UK singles chart in January 1984. The single was re-released when the programme was repeated on Channel 4 in 1996. He also sang the two songs for the show's second series, "Get it Right" and "Back With the Boys Again". They were also released as a single; but performed less successfully, reaching only number 53 in 1986. He also sang the title song "As Time Goes By" for the situation comedy As Time Goes By. In 1985 he was part of The Crowd, which reached number one with the charity single "You'll Never Walk Alone" for the Bradford City disaster. Fagin released a greatest hits album in 1996. A reworked version of "That's Living Alright" was released on 5 June 2006 for the World Cup as "That's England Alright" 
The Best of Joe Fagin  |  Joe Fagin on IMDB

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Joe Fagin Unofficial Website: Vocalist * Pianist * Guitarist * Bassist * Musical Director * Actor
Joe Fagin has one of the most recogniseable voices ever to be heard on record, television and film. Best known for performing the theme songs from the first and second series of the comedy drama Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, he has enjoyed success in the UK, Europe and the USA with hit singles such as "Why Don't We Spend the Night" and "Younger Days". He has recorded a wide range of music styles, from the light hearted pop/rock style of "That's Livin' Alright", the witty lyrics of "Savin' Face" (from the Bob Geldof film Number One), the gentle, sentimental "As Time Goes By" to the theatrical sounds of the contemporary opera "Paris". 

Fagin has also demonstrated acting talent, both on television and in the theatre, from performing in the Bob Hoskins movie The Long Good Friday, the cult comedy Blott on the Landscape with David Suchet, and the theatre with an adaptation of the childrens classic Wind in the Willows, and most recently the contemporary opera Paris. He also appeared as a country singer in The Barbara Taylor Bradford Mystery - "To Be the Best". 

Lloyd's career began in 1960, when he purchased an Olympic snare drum (made by Premier) and eventually saved up for a full kit! As well as being regularly on tour, Lloyd has his own private pupils, and he also teaches at Ernest Bevin College, an educational centre very well respected in teaching circles, as head of percussion. 

Currently, Lloyd is writing a series of articles for Drummer Magazine, called The Masters. The series is about the history of drumming and includes pieces about Joe Morello, Buddy Rich and other notable names from the world of drumming.

One of the highlights of Lloyd's career to date was in supporting the legendary Buddy Rich at the 1986 Lewisham Jazz Festival. Lloyd has to date performed well over 400 drum clinics and master classes, and has been a regular writer for a number of music magazines. Another high spot for Lloyd was performing the concerto for drum set and percussion by USA composer John Beck for the National Association of Percussion Teachers at Oxford with the Prince Consort Ensemble from London's Royal College of Music. He was invited to give a repeat performance at the international Percussive Arts Society inugural convention, which also featured artists such as Eric Delaney and Carl Palmer. 

JOURNAL NOTES OF THE HILLMAN SECOND TOUR OF ENGLAND: 1977 
Journal Excerpts: The Recording of Album 7 in Newcastle's Impulse Studios
http://www.hillmanweb.com/uk7701.html

From an Interview with Mickey Sweeney at the Lindisfarne site
I had a tape recorder as a child, sound fascinated me, I would wire the stylus on the front room hi-fi out of phase play Beatles songs and record the results, later when I was touring I'd try to record gigs and rehearsals, behind a mixer that’s my place... The first pro studio I saw was Abbey Rd when The Sect [ I was their roadie ] recorded a song by a group called The Left Banke, the sessions producer was Tim Rice. After the Sect off to London, thru a friend, the engineer for the Alan Price Set, I got a job as soundman for Geno Washington and managed to swing a bass playing role for Tommy Duffy of the Sect. Next Lee Jackson and Jackson Heights because of [ex Junco Partners] Charlie Harcourt, this introduced me to the people at Charisma Records. I toured with a lot of their acts Audience, Van der Graff , ending up as the soundman for more local lads Bell and Arc when I was asked to be Lindisfarne tour manager, big change for me. More>>>
Other Acts Produced: VENOM | Mike Harding | Lindisfarne | Alan Taylor | John Stevens | Raven | 

LYRICS BOOKLET OF HILLMAN ORIGINAL SONGS
http://www.hillmanweb.com/cdbook.html

Alan Clark Wikipedia Bio
Alan Clark (born March 5, 1952, in Great Lumley, Durham, England) was one of the keyboardists for the English rock band Dire Straits.

As a young child Clark received piano lessons. Then whilst still a pupil at Chester-le-Street Grammar School he played keyboards in working men's clubs before the headline acts came on. These included sixties stars such as the Merseybeats and Del Shannon. He continued his formal musical education at Durham Technical College and was offered a place at the Guildhall School of Music, but turned it down as he had by then secured regular work at the Carousel Casino Club in Chester-le-Street. He then worked on cruise ships and spent some time in Miami. Upon his return to the UK, he played with a group called Splinter, followed by Gallagher & Lyle and a tour of summer festivals with Lindisfarne.

He joined Dire Straits shortly after the release of Making Movies in 1980. His keyboard playing was an important part of the sound on the first album he recorded with the band, Love over Gold from 1982. He continued with Dire Straits until their eventual breakup in the 1990s. In 1983 he contributed on Bob Dylan's album Infidels, which Mark Knopfler co-produced. Clark also worked with Knopfler on some of his film soundtrack work, most notably on the film Local Hero, in which he also makes a brief appearance as the piano player for a small Scottish band, the Acetones. He has also worked with David Knopfler on his solo albums and toured in Eric Clapton's band, playing keyboards in 1988 and 1989, as well in the "Orchestra Nights" performances with the National Philharmonic Orchestra and Michael Kamen during the 24 Nights concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in 1990 and 1991.

In 2001 Clark composed the theme music and various other musical cues for the hit paranormal show Most Haunted. He has also revised the theme on several occasions and provided more music for the show. In November 2005, Clark was a member of the house band at "The Hull Story", a tribute to the music of Alan Hull of Lindisfarne. The concert, which took place at Newcastle City Hall in aid of the Young Musicians Fund, is available on DVD. His Hammond playing features extensively throughout.

Alan Clark at IMDB

In 1986, the band Desperado quit the music scene as they could no longer tolerate the grind of the workingmen’s club circuit. Colin Bradley emigrated to Canada where he still plays in a variety of successful country bands. John Whittingham opened a small recording studio. Alun Edwards found work as a session singer, in addition to playing briefly in the local band “Fat Chance”. Dennis Johnson (Paul Druckers' replacement) also gigged on a sporadic basis and Mick Sandbrook appeared to have settled down to a pipe and slipper retirement. And so it continued until the autumn of 1993 when Colin's visit prompted a band reunion.

Following the buzz created by performing again, the band Raised On Rusks was formed on the understanding that:- 
     * The only music to be performed would be that of which all the band members enjoyed. 
     * The band would play a limited number of gigs throughout the year in venues where live music was appreciated.
     * They would play an acoustic first set to vary the musical content of the show. 
Merrick Hamilton a hugely talented acoustic and electric guitarist was drafted into the band to complete the line up. Sixteen years later they're still at it and still enjoying the unique buzz  generated when playing to an audience.