Whaddaya mean Mick Bolton? Who? What?

  Mondays eh?. Groan. Wait Im on holiday! Suns shining in Bonny Scotland at 8am.  A Cuppa tea, a ciggy and iPod on outside for an hour or two before the hordes surface.(9 of us. Extended family. Don't get me wrong l, I love em, but, y'now.Ha ha).
  So what to play. Misdemeanour? Been thinking about doing a "UFO black sheep" album type thing. But no. Scrolling through my pod a certain three albums are first in the list. And Im transported back to 79ish.
  1979 I hear you question me. Well yes. I didn't know about these albums back then. As covered in my last update, its round this time Im dealing with Schenker being labelled a nut job and Paul Chapman coming in. (Who for me is actually a damned hero,more on that later maybe.) So yeah, there I am a young rock fan with a few years under his belt, No Place To Run on the turntable and gig tickets safely stashed. Alls well. But what's this in Sounds music paper. Whad'ya mean Phenomenon wasn't the first album? But, but. No,  I have everything! LP's, clear and red coloured singles. Phil refers to Phenomenon as the first album in interviews for heavens sake. Further investigation required eh. But where? The village library? Oh aye I'll go there. Hang on though, bloody internet hasn't been invented so neither has Dave Wood or Tristan Greatrex websites! Grr. So what to do? Step forward Sounds. Remember those wierd and exotic little ads for record shops in far flung places? Lets have a look there. So squinting like Benny Hill looking at a bikini clad girl I look through that tiny print they used. Sure enough, UFO. Space Metal. Now I cant remember the price but at the time but I don't care. Im the worlds biggest UFO fan. Well, maybe the villages biggest. Well I have to have it. Where's my giro. Mum, no board this week Im afraid. And it arrives maybe a week and a half later.
Excitedly I place it on the turntable as though I discovered The Holy Grail. And, and....well I tried to love it. But, I just couldn't. Played it my more hippyish mate. He bloody loved it (maan).
   For me it wasn't UFO. That's just how it was. But there's more. Scanning tiny printed ads in Sounds again. UFO1, Flying and Live. In Japan! Nooo! Im the villages biggest UFO fan remember. What if my mates find out I don't have these albums? I'd be a laughing stock. Yay. National Coal Board to the rescue. (Never thought Id say that). My apprenticeship came through. Money. I have money. Spend it now. Oh and sell Space Metal to my mate for more or less what I paid. Offset the cost yeah.
So yeah, there I am. The biggest UFO fan in the world never mind the the village now surely? Exotic albums in the collection even though they hardly got played. But they were worth it.Spring forward to 1983.
   UFO are breaking up. Sad times you must agree. Three different venues booked. Bradford. We're in! Neil Carter chatting away like the lovely guy he is. Tonka almost threating to hit me! Ha ha. Then Andy Parker. Up I march. "Andy can you sign this please?" my voice squeeking like a church mouse even though I met em all before. Andy looks at the lp thrust towards him.UFO Live.

   "Where the f*#k did you get this?". And its like no one else is in the room. Hes caressing it. Reading every word printed on the sleeve. Taking the vinyl out, very carefully I might add.    "This is an original the same as mine. Ive never seen another." says our beloved drummer. Im telling you, time had slowed down. No one else could get his attention. "Please sign it Andy." Im almost pleading with him. He looks like he wants to keep it. He does however sign it and we have a good talk about things. A fantastic memory for me. Maybe for him too?
  Well Helen Raymond has mentioned on Facebook how good Andy and Paul Raymonds memories are. So the story isn't over. Sheffield, March 2014 on tour. Waiting at the tour bus to get 7D signed. Andys birthday actually. "Andy! Happy birthday!" we shout (hi Glen. Lol). He thanks us. Signs 7D. Me I wanna talk even though its peeing down. So what do I say? "Andy, you might not remember Bradford in 83 but you signed my old UFO Live album....." and Andy finishes off the sentance. "and it was a bloody original like mine!" My brother Glen has to almost stop me falling over. Gobsmacked isn't the word. There were no words. Except Happy Birthday again.

     So I hardly play those first three albums. But they are just as special to me as any others. Cheers Andy Parker. Memories. UFO have given me loads, then and now.