Frank 'n' Stan's bucket list - #2: TT Races - Poignant, uplifting and sublimely funny - one to put a huge smile on your face! by J C Williams

Author:J C Williams [Williams, J C]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-09-12T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

June 1979

T he tabloid press were the makers of men, and, sadly, also the breakers. Just like the seasons, fashions changed as did tastes in music. The Garden Tools rode the crest of their wave, with money coming into one pocket hand-over-fist, but going out the other just as quickly. Sold-out concerts and in-demand TV appearances, once common for TGT, were now a thing of the past.

The band had earned and spent more than most would see in a lifetime, but, for Frank and Stan, they could see the writing was on the wall and their business model was to make sure all of their eggs weren’t stored in the same basket. Sure, they’d done their best for the lads, but ultimately the band’s overindulgence in drugs, alcohol, and other excess – along with the capricious nature of public favour (or lack thereof) – had undone all Frank and Stan’s hard work in the case of the Tools.

Still, with Stan’s dramatic flair and Frank’s charismatic persona, their talent agency had grown to one of the largest in London. There were new premises, new staff, a new townhouse, and the latest cars. Their acts filled the dance halls and music venues and seeing first-hand how fickle the public could be, they ensured they had acts on their books that covered all genres and age groups. On any given day they’d be arranging country & western acts, punk bands, or even classical musicians, for instance.

What they were selling, people wanted, and on the uber-trendy London social scene, Frank and Stan were very much “A-list,” counting celebrities, sport stars, and politicians amongst their social circle. One tabloid that’d been so eager, early on, to stick the boot into their first signing, were now equally keen to laud them as two of the country’s most eligible bachelors under thirty.

Frank was happy, it should be said, to reap the benefits of that ‘eligible bachelor’ title – often, in fact, more than once in the same evening – but, for Stan, it was a different story. He was adept at concealing his true persuasion and whilst tolerance had increased over the course of the decade, there was still an undertone which made leaving the closet door carefully closed the preferred choice. There’d been romantic dalliances, but nothing of merit, certainly nothing constituting anything meaningful. This played heavily on Frank’s mind, but, his friend was content – at least on the surface.

Meanwhile, business in the seventies was very much about who you knew, and talent alone would not a career make. This was overwhelmingly the case in the music management business where competition was fierce with the financial stakes considerable. Palms were often greased with those expecting their cut for facilitating an introduction, or, perhaps, turning a blind eye when required. It was the acceptable way of doing things; those adept at playing the game prospered, and those that didn’t, well, didn’t.

Charged with bringing financial order to Frank and Stan’s empire was Craggy Sally – as she was affectionately known – a spirited lady of a certain age.

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