..Dear Uniteer,
We heard some sad news this week.
Those of you who've been around since the start will know that our first few live performances all took place at the East London Dancing Club hidden away in the backstreets of Forest Gate. The club was run by BB, whose enthusiasm for the band and its followers was matched only be the quality of his jerk chicken and the quantities of Red Stripe poured whilst the Unit took its first rhythmic blues steps.
When the live set was over and the records went on, the assembled mods, jazz and blues fans along with our more intrepid friends would rub shoulders with BB's domino chums who usually arrived around 1am. We haven't played BBs for years now, but it played a crucial part in GDU history. "BB's Gonna Be Be", an early Drayton B-side, was written honour of the club and proprietor, and was re-recorded for "Done 'n' Dusted" - recently played by Robert Elms on Radio London.
By now, you guessed the next bit. BB died this week, and we all realised how long it had been since we'd seen him, how long we'd been together, and all the other stuff that goes through your head at these times. As you know, our next gig at 100 Club on July 19th is our 25th, which is far more than we ever did at the ELDC, but we'll remember those just as fondly.
RIP BB - we'll be doing something special for you Saturday fortnight.
Remember - doors open 19.30, tickets £10 on the door, £7 in advance www.wegottickets.com/event/31603
Take a look at the myspace homepage to help choose which archive Drayton tunes should be in the set. At the last count, "Pink, Cream and Brown" was streaking into the lead - a tune that would sound pretty good with a Red Stripe in one hand and a patty in the other. Get your votes in now so that we've got time to put those Gene-iuses too young to remember the BB era through their paces.
See you in a couple of weeks,
Louie Bottoni
Tailor-in-chief to Mr Drayton