Busking at the Victoria and Albert Museum

Years ago after I was asked to leave the Order of ST. Francis of Assisi ( Church of England). I went down to London to see the Queen, just like Dick Whittington. But Instead of being Lord Mayor, I lived in a cardboard box in and around Covent Gardens. I guess my down fall as a religious came from being asked to work with an all Girls Teachers College in Alnwick. I was as keen to get out of the "Habit" as they were to get into my "Habit". The only vow I could keep was "poverty" as "chasity and obiedence" went out the door. Hey I kept one!!!!

I then met up with some Aussies and Kiwis and went to stay behind the Kensington Olympia. We all were working for a Temp. Agency who hired us to deliver mail for GKN Sanky during the Postal Strike in 70. We used to have a pipe full in the morning afternoon and several times in the evening. It was very surprising that we delivered any mail at all. Got to see a lot of London from one side to the other.

On weekends I used to go Busking in the Underground or in the West End. One Saturday, I ended up in South London outside of the Victorian and Albert Museum. So as I had no idea where I was or why I was here I opened my guitar case and started to play on the street corner. I must of looked rather weird to most people. Standing out in the cold in sandals and my monks robes of brown and my Friars cape with its little hood. Long Hair in Braids and I was told peacock feathers in my hair. I must of stole them from a local Hari Krishna Shrine. I was making a lot of money, a couple of pounds then which would set me up for a day or two in beer and food.

I remember being forced to move by the local security or Bobbies , so I moved up around the corner. And started to play once again to my delight anyways. It was around then that this rather large Class A bus stopped about 20 feet from where I stood. The engine didn't want to start and the noise coming from the motor was awful. Not nearly as bad as the fowl language coming from inside the bus. Eventual some long hair chaps got out of the bus, with several joints in their mouths. I asked if I could have a toke or 6. As we were enjoying the last of the smoke one of the guys asked me if I knew anything about fixing starter motors. I said no. But I can say a prayer in Latin. So They let me pray over the bus. I leaned my hands on the bus , more for support at that moment than for religious reasons. I mumbled some prayer and sang some Gregoiran Chant I knew from the Friary.

Lo and behold the damn bus started. The guys turned around to me and asked me if I knew how to play rythmn and blues. I answered I have only being playing for a few months. If it was "A" "B" D7" "G" and "E". I could do that. So I was ushured onto the bus full of other musicians. I was now part of a Rock Band without even playing a note. I found out later that day that the guys were Deleany of Deleany and Bonnie and his band members. John Mayall, Steve Katz from Blood Sweat and Tears and a young Mick Taylor and later on I got to play with Eric Clapton as well( several weeks later). I never was very good but looked cool and sang very well so they put up with me. We were off to Maidenhead ( someplace that direction anyways) to do an outdoor concert. Where I got to play my beat up old Martin and sang melody on the stage with the rest of the band. The band members later became part of the Dominos for Derick and the Dominos.