Places   (Help with places, streets and buildings in Wigan.)

Yes, Keith Christmas sang a kind of trad folk about Robin Hood. He had a few taunts directed at him and at one point he said something like “It isn’t easy up here on stage. If you think you can do better, please come up and try it!”
T-Rex became just general catchy pop aimed at kids, which is a shame because I think Marc could have formed a good prog rock band (he played Elemental Child at the ABC and you wouldn’t have thought it was T-Rex). My liking for Marc Bolan was when he formed Tyrannosaurus Rex with Steve Peregrine Took and later Mickey Finn. Some good and unusual takes on Folk and Blues – very ‘underground’.
The Curved Air gig was good in respect of the support artists – Gary Moore Band (incredible) and Nick Pickett. Nick was formerly with the John Drummer Blues Band. Peter Green (of Fleetwood Mac) was a fan and helped Nick to record an album. After the Curved Air gig, my mate Custer got talking to Nick and he stayed overnight at Custer’s house – sleeping on the couch.
I was into beat and underground music in the 60s when still at school; subsequently schoolmates thought I was weird. As a young kid I was listening to Pretty Things, Manfred Man, Kinks, Stones, Animals, Arthur Brown, etc. rather than cheesy pop. When I started work at 15 a workmate introduced me to Cream and Floyd; at last someone who was on my wavelength!!!
A highlight of my younger life (18) was the Bickershaw Festival – no curfew, no sleep for 3 days. Wet, filthy, hungry (no money to buy food)… incredible music and alternative theatre.
Wigan has had some great acts… but I must admit I watched most bands at the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, followed by Preston Guild Hall then Liverpool Empire (and Stadium)…
Wonderful days.