Here's some leftovers from the old Black Rose scrap book!

This was the last time there were more than two of us together in the same room! I'd gone up to play a gig with Alike Cooper and the guys came out for a beer. left - right Malla Smith and Mrs, Bardz and Denise, my missus Annie, me at front and John Griff and Sue...drinking buddies up North!

Early days...this would be about 1983-84 in The Swan pub in Billingham where Black Rose used to rehearse. Top pic, Malla, bottom Mick Thompson, Bardz and moi.

This is the legendary 'Pit' in the old Talbot Bar in Stockton-on-Tees. A real biker's pub back in the day....just take a look at magic mushrooms on the wall! Me in the foreground playing Pete Skerrit's bass and Andi McGurry in the backrground about to take to the kit!

Me and Malla in the 'luxury' compartment of the van! This is in the top bit of a Bedford! One night after playing in Hull, the fog was so thick in the back, I couldn't see Malla in front of me!!!

Craig Ellis (drummer with the Tygers Of Pan Tang last I heard) and me getting 'friendly' with a swan! This was the Swan Hotel's mascot and we abducted it in the kitchen! If it wasn't stuffed before, it was now!!!

295 residents...and Butty! We used to live in a house on Norton Road simply known to all as 295. This was the house mascot 'Sid (El Presidento)' a budgie with balls bigger than an eagle. Regularly used to peck the house dog's nose! left to right 'Spud'. Owen Mulpetre (local drummer) and Butty (Ian Butterwick...Black Rose road crew and drinking and curry buddy )

Of interest only because of the poster behind me! Advertising a Black Rose gig at the Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt in 1981 with local bands Skitzofrenik and Lazy Dog supporting. More pics of that gig later.

Top pic is from Donington Village the night before the 1988 Monsters Of Rock with Iron Maiden headlining. We went as Dave Lee Roth was making an appearance and 'Eat 'Em And Smile' had floored us all a couple of years earlier. Butty getting his collar felt and me starting a fashion for military hats that Nikki Sixx and Postman Pat would both copy in years to come!

Bottom pic rehearsing in Dimmer Blackwell's 'Teesbeat' Rehearsal Studios in about 1983. Think this was taken by a Canadian guy called Cus Dennis who ran a fan club for us in Canada! He came to salubrious Stockton for a coupla weeks and hung around.

Owen Mulpetre and Mick Thompson Black Rose bass player...front) in the back of our first van. The cab with the red covers were Marshall 8 x 10" speakers that used to belong to Janick Gers from Iron Maiden back when he was in White Spirit. They made up part of Mick's monster backline!

Top pic...me and Garry Todd (keyboards and second guitar) outside the BBC's Broadcasting Hose when we went down to do a session for the Friday Rock Show with Tommy Vance. I always remember it was aired the same night that the 'Discovery' Shuttle came down on take off. Round about Jan/Feb 1986?

Bottom pic backstage at a gig in Whitley Bay I recall. left - right Bardz, Martin Clerkin (vocalist with Warrior and Fast Kutz to name a few) me, Garry Todd, Mick Thompson,,,Malla at the front.

Malla in front of the huge SSL desk at BBC Maida Vale where we did the Friday Rock Show session.

Arty shot taken for the back of 'We're Gonna Rock You' EP in 1983. Looks like I've got a scar running right down my cheek!

Me, Spud and Purvis outside the infamous '295'! We'd had run-ins with the next door neighbour...(poor sod living next door to this bunch of drunken retrobates!) That's why I'm holding my nose. Pete doing what he usually does!!! Great memories of this place!

Inside the 'Bendy Bus'! This was a small motor home we bought from Janick Gers old band White Spirit. Again, we had a great time away from home (note home brew bottles sitting waiting to be opened...and petrol tank if we ran out of home brew!!)

Backstage at The Crypt, Boro Town Hall in 1982. Me and Malla with lots of local mates! left - right Purvis (bass player and flatmate, Mal Glover (Rose photographer and did lights also), Andi McGurry (drummer), Malla Smith, me, Lippy (guitarist) and John Carter (guitarist) with my explorer.