Sometimes when I'm alone - and you're not often alone in show-business, believe me - I like to sit at home, in front of a roaring fire, turn the lights down low and let my thoughts wander wherever they want to go.
It's a pity, but people don't get much time to think these days. But then, that's half the trouble. And maybe the world wouldn't be in the terrible fix it is if more people had thought more in the past. But thinking's good, I reckon. It's one of the best ways I know to relax.
And when I'm sitting alone there in front of the fire, with the lights turned down, I like to go over again in my mind all the things that have happened to me: think again about what I've done, the people I've met, what they've said and done and the way i felt about it. Know what I mean? You've probably done the same yourself many times...
Pictures of people and events come crowding into your mind and, in a way, you live all over again things that have happened in the past.
The human mind is a fabulous thing. It stores up thoughts and pictures that you can recall whenever you want to. In a way it's rather like a photograph album that you bring out from time to time, and as you turn the pages and your eyes run over the pictures on them, you can re-live those moments of your life that have been captured on film. It's like living parts of your life a second time.
I get a big kick going through my albums. Thrills and fears, happiness and sadness... all sorts of things come flooding back as I look at them.
Maybe the events happened only a month or two before. Maybe a year or two, but no matter how long ago, those memories come back as soon as you start turning the pages of that album. Clear as ever vivid as if they happened only yesterday.
I've been going though my albums again to select pictures for this page. And i hope you'll like the ones I've chosen for you, and sorting them out hasn't been an easy job because, I suppose thousands of pictures have been taken of me since I first came into show-business.
Not that I have copies of all of them. Do you mind? But there were a great number to choose from. And there was a great number that recalled fabulous moments in my life since I took the plunge and decided show-business was for me.
I don't think I'll ever regret taking that decision. And believe me, it wasn't easy. But if it all ended tomorrow I'd still be able to say I had a ball. And man it's been a ball and a half sometimes.
I'll never forget my first professional engagement, if you can call it that. I was living with my Mum and Dad in a council flat in Acton in London. I was plain Terry Nelhams - a messanger boy for a film company in Wardour Street, the heart of film land.
With a bunch of my pals I'd formed a skiffle group. Skiffle was all the rage then. It was sweeping the country like a bush fire. And, like other kids all over the place, my pals and I were getting a big kick out of listening to and playing it.
Well one night we were asked to play in Wandsworth Boy's Club. I think my share of the profits were ten bob. But, man, what a shambles that performance was. But we were proud as peacocks afterwards. We'd actually been paid money, real, green, lovely money for a performance. Just like the real professionals. And I think we all felt ten feet tall when we walked out of that club afterwards.
But what a lot we had to learn! As the vocalist of the group I was lucky. I got the breaks. Mainly, I think, because I stood out in front. But I was the one chosen by producer Jack Good for a solo tv spot after we'd played on his BBC tv show, 6-5 special. And I thought this was it!
But I didn't set the world on fire. By this time I'd chosen the names Adam and Faith from a list of boys' and girls' names. I just liked the sound of them together. I was all ready for the big time, but the big time wasn't ready for me.
Take my word for it, when you want successes badly, there's nothing like failure for breaking your heart. And show business almost broke mine at the start. I reckon it's the toughest buisiness there is. So if you're thinking of breaking into it, be ready for heartbreak.
Well one day a singer in a group called Johnny Worth who I had worked with on a tv, came up to me and showed me a song he'd written. It was called "What Do You Want?"
"What Do You Want?" was just what I wanted. I recorded it and nobody was more surprised than me by the result and the public's reaction.
In one day alone that record sold 49,500 copies. Total eventual sales were three quarters of a million. And Adam Faith was suddenly on the show-business map. I'd made it and collected a silver disc by way of recognition.
And, while I'm on the subject of recognition, I would like to say a few words about my family who have had to put up with me this past few years, and who have given me encouragement and love. I'd especially like to say thanks to my mum.
Sometimes when I look back, I find it hard to belive I've only been in the business of entertainment a few years. But what years they've been. And of all the thrills I've had in those years none has ever come up to the thrill I get when hearing an audience applaud. And I've had some great thrills I'll never forget. I've met and talked to the Queen. I've met some of the world's greatest stars. I've been scared, anxious and, at times, unsure. I've been grilled on television by, I think the worlds finest interviewer John Freeman, in front of and audience of millions. I've talked religion on tv with an Archbishop.
But none of these things - thrilling as they were - comes up to the feeling you get when you've sung a song and hear that great wave of applause fill a theatre. You realise then that you've made people happy. A lot of people. You, Terry Nelhams, the boy from the Acton council flat, have done this. And it makes you feel pretty good.
Making films gives me a great deal of satisfaction, too. I used to work in a film cutting room at one time and, in a way, I've graduated from cutting films to starring in them. It's a medium I love. And one day I hope to direct films of my own. But there are a lot more songs to be sung before that.
Film making brings me back to photographs. And I hope, by the way, that I haven't given the impression that all I do is sit down and look at my picture albums.
I like listening to music, all kinds of music. I like to read and drive fast cars, I like horse riding, playing snooker and just sitting around with my friends, gagging around like we used to in the old days.
Life's made up of many things and of millions of moments. On this profile are some of the moments I've enjoyed since I came into show-business. I'd like to thank all of those who took the pictures, designed the posters and record sleeves and everyone, the writers, musicians, producers I have had the pleasure to work with.
see you around, Adam Faith.
Adam Faith-Made You
Add to My Profile | More Videos
