Pop Shield

It’s another charming day at Boogie Bugle’s studio.  On arrival at Helium, the first thing that strikes me is the inexplicable arrival of a bistro table and chair in the bathroom.  It’s fair to say that it’s probably been a few years since anyone took a bath in there. But that doesn’t get in the way of me imagining the cosy scenes that might ensue following this acquisition.  Rosy Turnbull exercising her pipes in a bubble bath whilst Gilbert smokes his pipe and does the crossword, that sort of thing.

It’s the usual star-studded day which passes very pleasantly.  During the proceedings, shy cinematic chanteuse Annabelle Oldflap knocks over a pint glass of water.  I find myself in the unusual position of the two of us being on our hands and knees in the middle of the studio floor trying to mop it up with towels.

In comes 80’s sensation and lead singer of The Bracelets, the one and only Linda Argyle.  Linda is forever destined to turn up in my life on a regular basis in a variety of unusual situations.  The first time it happened I had arranged to meet up with American Susan who was over from San Francisco. “Come and see my friend Linda perform in West End Musical Hairstyle!” she said. “OK” I replied, assuming her friend was perhaps a member of the chorus. It was only when we were stood outside the theatre entrance that I saw something. In the corner of my eye was a hundred times scale billboard of Linda Argyle running up the side of the building.  Clang. Could it be? Knowing American Susan, yes. It was.

After the show, I followed Susan up the stairs that spiralled up through the backstage area of this Victorian theatre.  We arrived at a quaint dressing room with light bulbs all around the mirror. We knocked on the door and entered. Inside, Linda was sat at the dressing table taking off her wig. It didn’t feel like the best of times to be introduced, but Linda seemed unfazed. I guess when you’ve been in showbiz for a while you get used to this kind of thing. Linda was ready in a snap, and we left the building via the Stage Door. Outside, there were met by a host of fans waving programmes to be signed by Linda. Then we jumped in a taxi which took us fifty meters around the corner to Pizza Impress. There, Linda regaled us about her latest adventures in Buddhist chanting over some salad.

Some years later, I was working on Top Cat’s show where Linda was a guest. Linda was the subject of the Top Drops feature where listeners text or email in their claims to fame of the guest star.  The celebrity rings a bell if the story is true and sound a horn if it is baloney.  At the start of the show, I mentioned to the production team about my previous pizza-based meeting with Linda Argyle.  The next thing I knew, I was number one in the Top Drops charts.  I had to abandon my faders to go through to the studio and tell my story on mic. Linda appeared to recognise me. Well, she graciously smiled and rang her bell anyway.  In retrospect, it could have been a tad embarrassing if she’d gone for the klaxon.

Anyway. Back to Bugles. Ric Greaves appears.  He looks a bit aimless and shy. This is not what I expect at all. “Hi, I’m Pop Shield” I say, to break the ice. “Hi, I’m Roy”, he replies, using his non-stage name. As soon as he is in the studio with Bugle, Roy reverts back to his charismatic loud on-screen Ric-like self. The band rehearse a song Ric has written for children about the unlikely topic of… bogies.  In a boogie-woogie style reminiscent of jazz singer Roger Kelly. The call and response section of the song goes “Rolling!”…“Flicking!”.  We love it.

And with that, for the remainder of the afternoon, each time the machines go into record, someone shouts “Rolling!”, as we tend to, and somebody else calls back “Flicking!”.