'The stuff of dreams is rock'n'roll, to soothe my heart and soar my soul....' JV, 2007
I've been on the road for 20-odd years, playing the 'cuckoo' in other bands' nests since my own band The Nite Capz split in 1986. Our first single 'The Deadwood Stage' was a spoof of the Doris Day number, and Kerrang said it was 'a barn dance with a 12-barrel shotgun up your arse'!! Pretty apt I guess.
Since then I've released three albums and toured Europe and Scandinavia, playing with the great 'granddaddies' of rock'n'roll from Marvin Rainwater and Johnny Preston to my personal favourites, Bill Haley's Comets.
I think my biggest downfall is not really knowing what I do. Is it rockabilly? Is it swing? Is it Ted music? Is it beat? Is it blues? Is it country? Was it even psychobilly for a while or will it be soul?? Who knows. I don't.
But if Gene Vincent didn't have to define it, why should I?
Gene gave me a great name and I thank him. It wasn't always easy being a crippled kid, and less easy being a crippled wannabee singer, but when my buddy Harry Lang christened me Jean Vincent it all fell into place.
I realised I didn't have to pretend I could dance or do the splits. Like Gene, I just had to sing - and be me.
