3. Hats off to Larry

Reminiscing about Sinoia brings to mind a really outrageous con, scam,  ruse, whatever, which really puts the ‘The Fuse-Box Incident’ in the shade. By all accounts it took place in a small provincial town somewhere in Ireland in the early sixties. I didn't actually witness the event but simply repeating what I was told. 

The owner of a local beat club, who for argument sake I'll call Larry, was losing money hand over fist. Unless he turned things around and fast he would have to declare himself bankrupt. Desperate times require desperate measures and our Irish promoter came up with a real humdinger. 

                                                                   Eden Kane

Larry took out an advert in the local paper announcing the British pop star Eden Kane, purveyor of such hits as “Well I Ask You” and “Forget Me Not”, would be appearing at his club the following Saturday night. Tickets went on sale and within hours had sold out...many purchased by Larry himself and re-sold on the local black market at double the price. A scam still used by many promoters today – but that’s another story. 

Saturday night came round and by 8:00 p.m. the club was heaving, packed to the proverbial rafters. A local band was hired to warm up the crowd, playing hits of the day. When 9:00 p.m. came round and there was no sign of Eden Kane the youngsters started getting restless. This restlessness was alleviated somewhat when Larry announced the flight had been slightly delayed but it had landed at Dublin airport and “to be sure” Eden Kane would be arriving at the club shortly. When 9:30 passed and Eden Kane still hadn't made an appearance events turned nasty – the young punters packing the club started muttering the five dreaded words that sent a wave of alarm through even the most resilient promoter’s breast. “We want our money back!”

A flunky appeared on the scene and yelled to Larry that someone from the hospital was on the phone and needed to speak to him urgently. Extracting himself from angry protesting punters Larry disappeared into his office. Minutes later he came out and announced that on the way to the venue Eden and his entourage had been involved in a horrific car accident and wouldn't be able to perform that night...“but”, he shouted above the groans and cries of protest, that despite being severely injured, Eden didn't want to disappoint his loyal Irish fans and would put in an appearance at the club and sign autographs. 

No sooner had Larry finished the announcement than 'Eden', head and face concealed under swathes of bandages with just two tiny peep holes to see out of, similar to the ‘Invisible Man’ but without sun glasses, hobbled down the steps into the basement club and set about signing autographs. 

When pressed, 'bandaged' Eden joined the band on stage and manfully managed to gasp out a verse or two of his hit, but the effort was too much for him and he almost collapsed. Thankfully Larry was at hand to catch him and, accompanied by warm cheers of gratitude from his adoring fans Eden was helped out the club and into a waiting taxi. 

The taxi driver then drove Eden round the block and dropped him back at the club – minus the bandages – during the short drive Eden had morphed into Seamus the barman. Genius!  What a Scam Meister. In the words of the old Del Shannon song, “Hats Off To Larry”.

Anyway, the ' Fuse-Box incident' in Sinoia had taken place in 1964 but the band really got started five years earlier ...Christmas 1959.