OLD SCHOOL PALS BACK ON STAGE AND READY TO ROCK!
THEY started out as 11-yearMoped, in 1975, and led to top TV old boys sitting next to each shows including Bafta Awardother in school who went winning Carrott’s Lib and BBC on to perform in sold-out series The Detectives with Robert arenas in front of thousands of fans. Powell. And now the pair – one of whom “I was getting £12 a gig and petrol. His 24 Carrott Gold live show in went on to become one of the UK’s The equivalent today would proba2004 broke box office records, with top comedians, while the other bly be £500 or £600. So it was very 72,000 people at the Birmingham became a rock star with huge-selllucrative to the point where I realNational Indoor Arena. ing bands – are on tour together, ised my future lay in entertaining “I have to keep pinching myself and heading to Wales. and not in promoting.” really. I haven’t done TV for about 10
Schoolboys Robert Davis and BevBev’s music career was already years and it’s great because I don’t erley Bevan, who occupied adjointaking off, having left Denny Laine get the hassle of being recognised. ing desks at Moseley Grammar for and the Diplomats to form The I’ve got the best of both worlds in the five years, went on to achieve enorMove in 1966 and then on to ELO fact I can still draw a crowd and yet I mous success as, respectively, Bafta with Jeff Lynne. can be fairly anonymous. One of my Award-winning comedian Jasper Despite the pals not seeing much greatest pleasures was when my Carrott and the acclaimed drummer of each other with ELO spending a lot grandchildren came to see me and of The Move, Electric Light Orchestra of the ’70s in the USA, they found time were really knocked out. For weeks and Black Sabbath. to be best man at each other’s wedthey were doing the routines.”
They are now touring the UK with ding – Bev in 1970 and Jasper in 1972. Bev also feels fortunate in his Stand Up & Rock which features the The pandemic prevented them career. “I was always going to be a timeless humour of Jasper and the working together after November drummer and I think I would have music of The Bev Bevan Band with 2019 and the comedian recalls a made a living as a drummer, but special guest Andy Bennett, former strange feeling from the same time. luckily I did get into The Move, ELO Ocean Colour Scene guitarist. “It’s funny, Bev and I were in the and Black Sabbath, and to be in the
Jasper says of Stand Up & Rock: pub and I had this overwhelming Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is pretty “It’s not a unique show but nobody feeling of foreboding for next year. It special.” else does it, nobody else mixes was a very disturbing feeling, and Alongside larger theatres, Stand comedy and rock and roll as a feawhen it (the pandemic) all kicked off I Up & Rock will also be performing tured evening.” started to think that must be it. That’s in smaller venues, so is that more
The origins of the show go back to the only explanation I’ve ever had.” enjoyable? the early 1990s and a previous band, Bev spent lockdown writing Bev says: “I generally love a small called Belch, that featured Jasper, songs: “For me it was quite good, to theatre where you can actually see Bev and Black Sabbath guitarist begin with anyway. I wrote so many the audience and they can see you.” Tony Iommi. But Jasper and Bev, songs during lockdown and manJasper adds: “For me personally who was inducted into the Rock and aged to record a whole album (Ridone of the joys is getting back to the Roll Hall of Fame in 2017, go back a ing Rainbows with separate band, basic roots of stand-up comedy, whole lot further. Quill), so I’ve been really busy.” eyeball to eyeball with the audi
The schoolmates went to work at After the long, enforced break, ence.” the same Birmingham department Jasper says: “It’s been exciting to be So, what does the future hold? store, The Beehive, as trainee buyback on tour with Bev and the band. “Staying alive is probably one of ers: “We swept the floor and made There was a bit of trepidation at first, our main ambitions,” jokes Jasper. the tea,” says Bev. “I ended up in not having worked for that long, but “We’ll just take it tour by tour. Ken carpets but only stayed one year. I the minute we were on stage it disDodd was 90 and still getting up on only got the job because it paid for appeared. We were playing to soldstage. I don’t know how long I can the HP payments on my drums.” out houses from the moment the continue, but I will do so until I
Jasper, who stayed at The Beehive tour began and it’s been fantastic to know I can’t do it as well as I should for three years, did not share Bev’s see audiences coming back to the be doing it. But hopefully it’s a way off.showbizambitionsatthattime.theatre,havingagreatlaugh,rock
“I was going to be an entrepreing the house, and just remember“And I can always become a neur. I started a folk club (The Boging what life’s all about.” drummer!”, he adds, sharing one gery) in 1969 and was always going Bev agrees: “Rehearsals are just a more joke with his old friend. to be a promoter and run clubs and means to an end but as soon as you Jasper Carrott’s Stand Up & manage people. get on a stage and get that crowd Rock tour with the Bev Bevan
“I was just compering at the club reaction it’s fantastic, it’s a real buzz. Band comes to Swansea Grand and singing silly funny songs and There’s nothing to replace it.” Theatre on Wednesday. To book one thing led to another and people Jasper’s success began with charttickets or to find out more visit started asking me to do their clubs. topping comedy record, Funky www.swanseagrand.co.uk