10 Questions for Wayne Fontana

Born Glyn Ellis in Manchester, Wayne Fontana formed a band called The Mindbenders. Their hits in the 60s included an American No 1 with The Game Of Love. He then went on to have solo hits like Pamela, Pamela. Wayne’s joining the Solid Silver ’60s tour, playing Glasgow’s Concert Hall on April 27 and Dundee’s Caird Hall the following night.

AT HOME ARE YOU WAYNE OR GLYN?

My passport says I’m Glyn Geoffrey Ellis and, at home, that’s who I am. He keeps me grounded. If you ask me who I prefer as a person, Glyn or Wayne, I’m not sure I know (laughs).

WERE YOU A GOOD SINGER IN THE ’60S?

I’ve no idea. I couldn’t hear myself over 2000 screaming fans who were always louder than we were. I sang for my mates at school, and I thought I was good then, but on a ’60s stage? Who knows?

WERE YOU A LADIES’ MAN?

I had more confidence on stage than I ever did with women. But then they started thrusting themselves at us and we took advantage, I guess. You wouldn’t get away with it now.

WAS THE MONEY GOOD?

I went from earning £2, 7 shillings and 6p as a telephone engineer to me and The Mindbenders getting around £80 a week. That was a lot back then.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF TODAY’S CHART MUSIC?

Not interested. In the ’60s every song was melodic and short. A Groovy Kind Of Love is a perfect pop song, still played and sung today, and that was under two minutes long.

YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT?

Going home to my mum and dad in our little semi and telling them we’d got our first top ten hit. I remember thinking I now had a job that would last a couple of years, then I’d go back to being a telephone engineer.

YOUR LEAST PROUD MOMENT?

My drinking days when I was so drunk I actually fell off the stage. I never knew where I was back then and I let things get out of hand. I’m very lucky now that things are good. I’ve just been offered a six-week tour of Australia. Who’d expect that after all this time?

CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE ’60S IN THREE ADJECTIVES?

Phenomenal. Exciting. Unique.

AND WAYNE FONTANA?

That’s more difficult. Let’s go for these. Involved. Confused. And, er, after that I’m struggling. I guess my life can be summed up by: “What on earth was that?”

YOU HAVE 24 HOURS LEFT TO LIVE. HOW DO YOU SPEND IT?

In my garden with my 32 budgies, 30 finches, five canaries, five cats, two donkeys, two parrots, and a hamster. They cost more to feed than I do, but ending things in their company would be just fine.