Inspiring
STRIKING A CHORD
Dave Suich, who uses his long hair for a Kurt Cobain-thrashing-about-with-ukulele impression during the band’s version of Smells Like Teen Spirit, was first invited to a rehearsal not realising that their name wasn’t a clever art school joke. He’s been with them since their early days, having worked in children’s theatre, and despite the slog of life on the road, suggested there was a lot to be said for “not crawling around on the floor trying to be entertaining at 9.30 in the morning.”
Despite their number, the band travels light – their instruments don’t take up much space – but even given the flexibility of the Zafira, the laws of science – in fact, the law – won’t permit eight musicians in one seven-seater car, hence the need for a second Zafira.
As the band posed for pictures, there was some amused head scratching amongst the locals. Who were these people in evening dress carrying very small guitar cases and queuing up to climb into a Vauxhall Zafira? In fact, the stylish Zafiras got almost equal attention, as locals admired their unique Flex7® seating system with its clever folding seats. The steering-wheel-mounted audio controls and electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors also got the thumbs up.
Bassist Jonty Bankes turns out to be a big car fan. He drives a Zafira himself and was impressed by how well the 1.9 CDTi handled when he drove one back to Rye after the photoghraphs had been taken. And he should know. He was once the youngest person to take the Advanced Driving Test, and worked as a London bus driver, piloting Routemasters.
The Ukes had a receptive audience at Rye. People aged between 18 months and 90 cheerfully joined in the chorus of Anarchy in the UK, re-worked as a lilting folk tune, enjoyed The Who’s Pinball Wizard, which was delivered as a sort of demented sea shanty, and gave them a standing ovation after encoring with ‘70’s disco standard La Freak.
It was gone 11pm when the band finally climbed into the two Zafiras, but they weren’t complaining. They realise how lucky they are to be earning their living doing something they love. As Dave Suich puts it: “What started as a great hobby has turned into a pretty cool career.”
DAVE SUICH learned the guitar and bouzouki as a student. He found playing the ukulele ‘easy to translate to.’
PETER BROOKE-TURNER started as a trumpet and guitar player, and ‘ukulele obsessive.’
Lent Tiny Tim a ukulele for his last UK tour.
HESTER GOODMANH auditioned for an acting role which needed ukulele playing and taught herself overnight. Found playing more fun than acting.
GEORGE HINCHLIFFE’s dad was given a ukulele. George wondered what it would sound like if it was strung properly. With new strings and a tutor book, he found out.
KITTY LUX was a singer with various bands and wanted to brush up on music theory and chord skills. George suggested learning the uke as an easy way to do it.
RICHIE WILLIAMS has been a guitarist and keyboard player.
He started with a four-string baritone ukulele; ‘like a guitar but with two strings missing’.
Will Grove-White learned to play as a child, when he was given ‘an unfeasibly-valuable’ ukulele by a family friend who was a musicologist.
JONTY BANKES is a bass guitarist who turned his skills to the bass ukulele. He funded his musical ambitions by becoming a London bus driver.