Interview with Bev Pegg
- Reference Number: DW-252/2/13
- Date: 17 Sep 2019
- Level: Item
- Extent: 1 file ( 828555 KB)
- Format: WAV Audio file
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Description: INTERVIEWEE: Bev Pegg
Born: 1941
Interviewer: Amy
Date of Interview: 17th September 2019
Bev was born and raised in the Black Country areas of Halesowen and Cradley. Initially pursuing a career solely as a musician, he was introduced to comedians through his father's work, and has since developed a combination of both music and comedy into his performances.
During his career, he has formed and worked with many well-known bands and comedians, including the Black Country's, Tommy Mundon. Bev has also written songs about the Black Country area and is known to include humorous anecdotes about his childhood years within his performances. He performs now with the band: ?Bev Pegg and his Good Time Jazz Gang?.
[0.00.00] Introduction
[0.00.20] Born during war. As a child he played in grandparents air raid shelter and Belvale fields- different world then-very happy life.
[0.01.47] Parents house had only fire for warmth. No TV. Had radio - enjoyed comedy shows and music. Had piano-musical family. Owned bull terrier dog-typical of Black Country
[0.02.42] Dad-carpenter, also worked at Longbridge. Grandad - started chain making company in 1921. Later changed to castings. Well liked- by the 50's business was good.
[0.04.19] Parents were popular local singers. Dad broadcast in 1930's for BBC. Mom won prestigious awards and toured before marriage-like winning x factor today. Always music at home.
[0.06.34] Started performing aged 8- also piano lessons- cheated as could play by ear. Taught himself popular music- didn't want to learn classical reading.
[0.09.42] Influenced by pop music and comedy. Remembers Tennessee Ernie Ford singing ?16 tones? and listening to 'The Goon Show' every week. On TV-Tommy cooper
[0.10.10] Saw shows at Dudley hippodrome- Ken Dodd, Ken Platt, Jimmy James. Describes sitting in stalls.
[0.10.40] Told parents he wanted to stop playing piano so he could study for exams-wasn't interested in studying-no proper motivation.
[0.11.34] Saw Elvis holding a guitar in film 'Loving you' at the cinema with girls swooning. Thought "I wouldn't mind getting a guitar". Got guitar for Christmas-couldn't resist playing-same now.
[0.12.47] Jan 57 -First gig with friend John Sparry in Wall Heath - real Black Country character, rehearsed at his house. Bev played piano-other members played double bass, drums and saxophone-"sounded more like a cow mooing in a field". 2 others had guitars but couldn't play-looked good for audience.
[0.15.00] Formed skiffle group in 1957. Entered national skiffle contest-played alongside famous artists -Jim Dale. Loved performing, not nervous. Started to get regular gigs.
[0.17.50] Exposed to Black Country comedy through his parents. Dad used to tell jokes-Black country man-could switch between accents. Used to go to these concerts-always singers and comedians from local areas.
[0.20.00] Drove comedians between shows.
[0.20.20] Accent is part of the comedy-same in other areas. Compares Black Country comedy to Irish comedy-politically incorrect today. Typically includes people who aren't very clever talking to each other, saying things that they think are sensible, but aren?t.
[0.21.04] Shares true story from work- one man was not very bright, the other was deaf and dumb. One day the first man was talking to the deaf man, who couldn't respond-foreman explained that he was deaf. First man responded- 'Well why day he speak?'
[0.22.10] Dad booked Tommy Mundon in early 1960's. Remembers him coming home and saying "he'd booked a young chap from Halesowen. He'd got a few rough edges, but he would be good one day"
[0.22.40] Performed with Tommy Mundon at Country and Western show-wasn't very good but Tommy made them laugh.
[0.23.25] Did mime routine with Skiffle group-expressions to records. Very popular.
[0.24.00] Left skiffle group-more involved with Jazz. Explains life during the 60's-marriage, family, moving, work. Converted garage to recording studio, would write songs and record with mates.
[0.27.30] Started playing again in 1978 -included comedy with music. Did ?High Society? shows at Brierly Hill Civic Hall. Tommy Mundon saw show in the 1980's-contacted afterwards. Met at the office and asked if he wanted to be involved in ?MWM? shows.
[0.29.40] Became more involved with Tommy?s own shows.
[0.30.25] Takes years to become good at comedy. Comedians who influenced him - Tommy Mundon. Reg Keirle ? funny accents and stories. Dandy-tell funny tales (observational comics). Developed style through them-uses stories about people he knows.
[0.32.45] Atmosphere of shows was enjoyable. Comedy shows-lots of waiting compared to music shows. Learned to listen to previous acts so didn't make the same joke. PTA's, Village and Town halls - lovely atmosphere, audience went to have a good laugh. Working men's clubs during 60's had entertainment every night, not so not always as good.
[0.34.20] 4 P's-Planning and Preparation avoids Poor Performance. Every gig is different-tailor to audience.
[0.36.34] First Skiffle band- 'The Nomads'. Changed to 'The Rhythmaires' later -rock and roll/pop. Met ragtime pianist-learnt jazz from him. Formed band- 'The Blue Blood Jazz' in 1961-name spread and played with lots of well-known people.
[0.42.30] Started studio at home. Did demo recordings with friends-wrote own songs. Made first LP called 'Middle of the Road' in 1970. Explains what happened to friends-Dave Cartwright, Cliff Ward, Ken Wright.
[0.45.35] Worked with John Peel and Clive Selwood- record label called 'Dandelion'. Recorded first album with Cliff (Clifford T.Ward). Too busy to help with second-Cliff made most popular album 'Home Thoughts'.
[0.48.55] Met old band leader Ken Rattenbury at ' The Trumpet' in Bilston. Influenced him to do Jazz album. Formed Jazz band-very successful all over country. Early 2000's became fixture at 'Upton Jazz Festival'. In between songs he would use gags.
[0.51.45] Skiffle group popular with comedy. Formed a Country and Western band.
[0.52.15] Always hires best musicians-"Band is only as good as the weakest person in it." Best musicians with comedy in between made them very popular. Comedy side evolved.
[0.53.05] Feels comedy factor makes his style successful. Tells stories but elaborates-builds up so people don't know where it's going-punchline is a surprise. Comedy built around music is popular. He fills rooms at Upton festival- other talented bands playing serious music- not as popular. People like to laugh.
[0.55.10] Performed with lots of people- Robert Plant, Jasper Carrot, Acker Bilk, Spike Milligan, Chris Barber, Kenny Ball, George Melly, Spencer Davis, Clifford T. Ward and more. Robert Plant biography has picture in the middle of him at Stourbridge tennis club, singing with Bev's band.
[0.56.40] Played support for Jake Thackray- lovely man.
[0.57.20] Wrote songs about Black Country-inspired by emotional events. Went to 'Black Country Night Out' at 'The Robin' in Merry Hill-Tommy Mundon, Harry Harrison, Dolly Allen and Jon Raven. Also, Brian Clift who sang, 'The Cradley Heath Song' - Loved it. Was written about and in a pub (Jolly Collier pub?) in Cradley-funny song with cheeky ending. Started to sing it at own gigs-wrote own songs in 70's about foundry industry and references to local area-made LP and sold worldwide.
[1.00.00] Talks about some of the songs he's written about the area-around 350 songs- revolve around his life. Shares on Youtube with pictures.
[1.03.50] Comedy has changed-jokes changed with societies view.
[1.05.30] Advice about entertainment industry. Watch and learn from others. Find your own niche. Remember the 4 P's. Prepare for each gig. Visualise success.
[1.09.50] Advice about contract agreements-important to protect yourself with cancellations.
[1.12.35] Closes with typical Black country joke-sums up the humour. - Access Status: Open
- Contact: Wolverhampton Archives, Wolverhampton Archives & Local Studies