April 28 1963.


At tonights Richmond gig in the Station hotel - Andrew Oldham turned up with Eric Easton to see the Rolling Stones. Eric Easton was conspicuous among the crowd of student mods - in his disguise as a school headmaster wearing a grey charcoal suit. Only thing he didn't have was cane under his arm. I doubted at the time he even new what R & B was etc, but he could recognize a ticket buying crowd. Eric and Andrew also didn't dance which also made them look suspicious.

Andrew joined us after the gig at the restaurant on the corner of Richmond bridge - the now regular end to Sunday nights. Was also easy for Stu to park the van there - at the bottom of the very road where Mick Jagger now has Richmond house. Eric disappeared immediately after the gig and I presume back to his home in Acton.

The meal was mostly accompanied by frivolous conversation and Andrew trying to remember who was in the band and what there names were. I guess it must have kinda of looked like everyone in the restaurant was in the band. -)

Somewhere during that meal a proposal must have taken place between Andrew , Mick and Brian about a management deal. All I can say it was not a prolonged issue. After Andrew left we stood by the van - the conversation was "what do you think of the is guy etc?" - "Should we meet up him etc?". There enthusiasm for Andrew gradually grew - I think mainly because he identified age and fashion-wise with band.

A meeting was arranged for the next day. The speed of what took place was all a bit impetuous really and the event not thought out that well. Considering the amount of time spent over the previous few weeks in protracted manager discussions with Giorgio Gomelsky - this was like getting on the first bus that came along and not knowing where it was going.

The ride starts here....

This is the sort of history they should teach to kids in school!