Welcome to my alter ego…..
I got a phone call out of the blue when I was 22 asking if I wanted to be in a tribute band. I think it was the most exciting phone call I’d ever had (apart from my now husband asking me if I wanted a June wedding after only have know each other 6 weeks).
I jumped at the chance of doing something so interesting. I turned up and met Pete, had a brief audition with him and got some studio time booked for a practice of some songs he’d sent me. I didn’t have quite the strength of Cher in my voice that he’d have liked, but apparently I had stage presence and good legs!
During the next six months we rehearsed with band members and got our first gig. I really don’t remember breathing throughout the whole show, but by jiminy I was hooked. That was the start to my time in Peat Loaf (yes you guessed it, a Meat Loaf tribute band) We performed a two hour show with all the favourites, to hear Pete sing you really would mistake him for the real thing.
I have many fond and embarrassing memories such as being sacked from the band after being with them a year because I ran off with the base player. A few years later and I was back with them, this time with an 18 month old in tow. Alex came every where with me (being a single Mum) even sleeping under stages in his pram with head phones on.
I remember a gig where during one of the songs my dress comes off in a mock fight and I’m left standing in a sexy under garment, only this time I hadn’t put it on correctly in my rush to get changed for another song, and when the outer dress was removed I was topless…it took me several seconds to figure out what the commotion was coming from the audience and 15 minutes for my band members to stop laughing and compose themselves in order to finish the show.
We went to some lovely places and played for some wonderful people. I was on and off with the band many times due to Alexander having to attend school and going to college myself, but I was very lucky to be with them when we played at Silverstone for David Coulthard during his F1 days, and then to be invited over to Spain by his family to do an anniversary gig.
Pete moved to Spain 6 years ago and I thought that would be the last of the band, but he comes back to the UK for special gigs every year. The last time I played with the band was 18 months ago but a few weeks ago Pete asked if I would do a gig with him in August at Tribfrst, So its time to open the wardrobe and pull out my confidence, tone up the legs and learn how to walk in heels again instead of wellies. Here’s a few pictures to give you the idea.
