Cool Hand Looc - the Band, the Legend

As we put the finishing touches to Cool Hand Looc’s forthcoming 35th Anniversary Tour, it's a good time to reflect on the origins and history of this fabled country rock band.

Incredibly, bearing in mind the ravages which the rock and roll lifestyle can inflict - one thinks of Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, Freddie Mercury, Marc Bolan, Janis Joplin, Michael Hutchence, Otis Redding and Elton John to name but 3 - the original Cool Hand Looc line-up survives, with a few exceptions.

First John 'Jonno' Marsh, successor to lead guitarist Francis 'Mad Frankie' Pinkworth who went off to see a friend in Broadmoor and liked it there. Never heard of since, although rumoured to be alive and well and sometimes to be seen depping in "Splinter Group'. Difficult to say - could be any of them. Jonno plays eclectic guitar, although has been caught playing a Telecaster when he thought no-one was looking. Known for his contempt for the modem trend for pedals which do everything, he's had hand controls fitted on the Bentley. Surprisingly, while on the road to Damascus - some problem with his GPS - he discovered a shop selling pedal steel guitars and now has to be prised away from pedals with a crowbar. Jonno is the band's hi-tech specialist and can change the battery in a tuner in less than half an hour. Rarely seen without an Allen key in one hand and a plectrum in the other. Loves all the European touring, but then what he does outside the band is his own business.

Next up in the tour of the cages is Roger "Butterfingers' Pilgrim. Despite the ironic nickname Roger is famed for his determination always to play just the right note - unfortunately in the time taken to choose it ("there's just so many of them") the rest of the band have usually started the next number. His skills are equally distributed between keyboards, guitar, bass and vocals - around Grade 2 if the Royal College of Music is to be believed. "There's more to 'Bobby Shafto' than people realise', he explains. Roger has worked with all the top Artistes of the '60s, having bought his own taxi when a career as a musician was obviously never going to happen. He replaced Danny 'Dandruff' Ruff when he developed terminal alopecia.

Finally, we introduce main man Ian 'The Voice' Connor, on lead vocals, acoustic guitar, drums, and blues harp - or harmonica as it's described in the Hohner catalogue. Also known as a mouth organ to fans of Dixon of Dock Green. Ian was understudy to J.P (now Sir Paul) McScouser who joined forces with ex-Moody Blues singer Penny Lane to form the mega-successful band "Whinge'. Ian's unchallenged authority as leader results from his encyclopaedic knowledge of music in every genre. Plus he owns the rehearsal room and the P.A. and Madeleine makes the tea.

And so the band embarks on the 35th Anniversary Tour featuring the original line-up but for these 3 exceptions, and in its quest for total fidelity to the trademark 'sound' they still use the original equipment. Roger even has the same strings on his guitar!

And the origin of the name "Cool Hand Looc'? "Just shows what can happen when you leave the choice up to a dyslexic", said Jonno.

Stop Press... 35th Anniversary Tour update

Cool Hand Looc have reached the mid-point of the European leg of their World-Shaker Tour, and things have been going brilliantly, according to one independent observer. (Actually it was Ian).

“Although we did have a collective Senior Moment in the chorus of Zimmertime Blues at Wembley, I don’t think anyone noticed”, he said. “Roger certainly didn’t, anyway. Every time I shouted ‘F’ he shouted back ‘F yourself’, instead of going into the key change.

And it’s been difficult to respond to persistent comments that you never see Jonno and Mad Frankie on stage at the same time”, he continued, “although the quack said the schizophrenia was clearing up nicely. But it makes you wonder….”

Does the sex, drugs and Rock’n’Roll lifestyle come hard after all these years?

“The drugs and the Rock’n’Roll are OK”, said Roger, but the sex – well I don’t know if I can keep up the pace. It was twice last month. That was between the whole band of course, (and then only if you count Tracey), so my turn next. I’m doing some private practice in the hotel room, so as to be ready”.

“The other thing”, added Jonno “is that these days we have to help the roadies up into the van, and load the gear ourselves. Don’t really see why we keep them on, except that they know where the bodies are buried, so to speak. I’m not talking about Tony, everyone knows where he’s buried, I mean that bit of a kerfuffle we had when we was told that the Isle of Wight doesn’t count as a tax haven.

Glad I salted my share away safely after that bit of advice I got off Greg from The Lehman Brothers – great band although not brothers really - before HMG got on to us.”

So now the band moves on to Paris Bercy, Marseille, Confolens, Lyon and South Croydon (well, Purley really - remember the Orchid Ballroom?).

”I never used to enjoy huge venues like Confolens”, says Roger, “being so noisy and all. Could’t hear yourself think. It’s OK now that I’m stone deaf and I can concentrate on the music. My guitar tech has developed this fantastic system, like semaphore, really. Left arm out, and right arm straight up, means ‘3rd string, 2nd fret’ for example, so I never need go wrong as long as he’s fit enough. Terrible that time when he got Tennis Elbow, though. I was all over the ‘king place!”.

So, to be part of the legend that is Cool Hand Looc, find out where the boys are playing next and get along there. Just go to the Tour Schedule web page (perversely called upComing Gigs by our American webmaster) for details.

“We never fail to disappoint”, says Ian. A proud record indeed.