Jess Conrad The full interview

3:19 Stamp and Michael Kane and I shared a coffee with Michael Kane yeah we I shared a flat with him in Chelsea and you Shar a flat with Michael. Kane yeah we're young young actors then and uh and and um I I met a fellow in there cuz at the time I was a traine. Gangster I know it sounds funny but in those days they were the Glamorous people James Kagney on the screen gangster Edward G Robinson gangster so you were playing. What a career in in crime well well no no you didn't you didn't think it was crime it just they were so they were so uh I mean. In in England we had the cray brothers and the Richardson and I was on in the news papers with with blonde I've never seen a blonde. Girl in Brixton blond girls you know and their trousers were you could cut your hand like a razor blade they were so sharp.

4:10 You know the crease and they were So Glamorous gangsters and I thought I can't read all right yeah I'll be a gangster and I used to go to this place. Here where gangsters like spivs and all that so mix with Showbiz people and I saw a guy there who i' just seen in the cinema. Here um uh and he was playing the third Centurion from the left in in Cleopatra and there he was sitting there and I went I've just seen you in a movie he said oh yeah. I said that's how'd you get into the in in the show business he said well you're a good-look boy he said um have you got a dinner. Jacket because I was a bit of a poser you know uh I had a dinner jacket and uh and I said yes cuz that's very important. So I went to see he said you can charmer this lady can't you around the film artist Association so I went around there Charmed her and off I went and became a film.

5:04 Extra uh and I did that the fil first film was um was um the Doug uh Douglas B thing I'm all through that you know marching. Up and down anyway cut long story short a guy came on and had one word MH and I said I can do that to the director. I can do that and he had his name on a chair Bill blogs whatever his name was he came on hello whatever he said something. I said I can do oh no he said that's a different Union that's Equity your film artist Association to be an equity member you have to go into rep. Dear Boy and earn 5 a week and I was earning £750 then a day which was big money in those days I used to drive up from Brixton. In my hman minks I was so thrilled you know mixing with all these wonderful stars and things anyway so I'd stopped being a film.

5:54 Exer uh a lot of good looking boys never did that because the money was good they stayed by they were I was ambitious and I went off and and became a repy. Actor and um I got the sack because uh the leading man well the leading man said he wanted me sacked because uh I was the ASM. And I had the smallest part uh in a play I used to come on and take a couple of words and the the leading man had all the dialog. But he went to Charlie Denville the man who ran the show and he said I want that Jess Conrad sacked he said why he said well he said. Whenever he come comes on he said everybody looks at him and nobody looks at me you were taking all the attention away so I I Charles. Dem put me up to his office I'm a little boy from brickson 18 we're going to have to sack you son he said because the leading.

6:43 Man says every time you walk on people look at you and I said that's because Mr denvil I must be a good actor he said no you're a good-look. Bastard and everybody looks at you so I said well you know bit tearful I said well can I have my fair home he said I can't AFF. Called your fair home I said what am I going to do then Mr Dem said what you better stay then so anyway baah blah. Came back once and I got into um I did a commercial advertising the daily sketch which was a very famous newspaper then bit like the sun. And I stood on Marble Arch Corner going extra extra read all about it in the daily sketch go young boy 18 good-looking young boy and they were looking. For somebody to play a pop star in play of the week and this D shab with the producers said find me a new boy a new.

7:31 Boy we can make a star and she he said we can't find and all of a sudden she saw me on television who's that I don't know. That is the boy so I starred in a show called a play called Barney day play of the week in those days there was the film. Of the week play of the week and the London Plum there weren't all these channels so everybody watched play of the week and it was a big success. Cuz I played a pop star at the London Plum and the the idea of the story was that Barney day was the best looking guy in the world. So they said to a photographer I want you to take um Kurt daus's nose Rock Hudson's ears somebody you know make a composite of all the best looking men in the world. And make a face of it and we say that is Barney day the new rock and roll star he was too lazy to do that he went home and took a picture.

8:21 Of his young brother which was me so um this play opened uh all the kids went mad cuz they all saw all the newspapers wrote. About Barney day and Jack good rang up my agent Jack good with the S was the Simon C of that era and he was doing. He did shows oh boy wh Boy Meets Girl and he said to my agent um we I would like to make Jess Conrad. Into a pop star so she phoned up Mount street she was in used to look after all the big stars then Richard Todd all the big. English Stars Hello darling she said now you know darling she said last week you uh auditioned for the young Vic and they want you to play as cast. Now that means darling that your Carri a spear in one production and have a few words in the next but darling it'll be very very good for your acting.

9:15 Career or she said a man called Jack good has phoned and wants you to become a she didn't know the word pop because it was a new word. A a pippy and the young secretary did have know what year was this this was 59 uhhuh and she said pop oh yes want to become a pop star. Now darling what is it you want to do do you want to go to the young Vic or do you want to become a pop star. You know 18 what you I said I become a pop star I went up to dby Studios I won I won the equivalent of The X. Factor and uh and I was a kind of a Teen Idol they called them then and uh and I played the plaum or where I used to watch. The boy I played the Wembley I played went all over the world I tour with Jee Vincent.

10:06 Records and uh that was that was kind of it I mean and then and then after came Joseph and all those things I mean your success. Really kind of grew from there and I know that you were voted um England's most popular male singer in the 1961. Nme um annual poll I didn't even know enemy existed back then um but you must have had Nick en was a with the magazine to be it was like not like okay. Or but I mean it was everybody read the me me yeah yeah so that was that was great yeah to be voted. England's most popular singer you must have had knickers thrown at you left right and center after that happened well yes I mean absolutely I mean. Being a teenager was but you see it's funny because a a lot of lot of lot of those guys couldn't handle that and they went into drink.

10:56 And drugs because you know being a Teen Idol uh was was tough but I it it strangely enough it wasn't like that because I was the best looking boy. School uh and when I became a West End boy traine gangster if you like now I'm now I'm an OB I'm talking about trainee gangster. But you know what I mean um I was a good-looking West End face so when I became this teen it was just like all of a sudden it was like just a continuation. Of a young Jess you know and it s I know it sounds bigheaded but it was it was always easy for you to get ladies. Yeah but you know it was never hard I I had this this and then of course you know I I had the world's worst record. With this this pullover Kenny Everett was playing it on the radio and how did you feel after he fed that what the sixth worst record.

11:47 Everin were you oh yeah yeah because I'm a bit I'm not like Roger Mo but I you know uh I take my my work. Seriously but I have my tongue in my cheek and you know I do set myself up uh my ACT is all self what's the word. Self um deprecating good good boy there we go I'm glad you're. Attention um you know so um you know you know I I joined the Navy once so the world could see me and things like that you all those silly. Things you know and um so it's laced with all that um because I always wanted an act like I saw at the London play him like you know. Early guys that could sing and tell gags you know and those wonderful comedians that you learn from so I wanted my ACT not to be just a a singing.

12:37 Actor I wanted to be be funny as well in the music um now you worked with some big names some Legends in your career people like Eddie Cochran. Johnny kid who did you enjoy playing with the most and who was the worst as well I want to hear the worst well I suppose the most iconic. That I mean they were Eddie Cochran was a lovely boy first of all you see uh Jack good who was the Simon cow of that ear. As I said was like a method director and we all had images and I said to him what's cuz he said to Vincent you're the devil. He said I'm going to shoot you in a green light you are the devil you're you're going to wear black leather you you are evil. And I heard this and I said uh excuse me Mr good yes yes um could I have my image please he went of course he said.

13:30 You're the boy next door walking through a corn field drinking a glass of milk oh I said thank you very much Jack thank you so you were the you had a clean cut. So I mean where'd you go with that you know except the fact that I was the boy next boy I was the Clean Cut kid. Eddie cochan he was the country boy. So I'm uh I'm I'm I'm Tour on tour with Jan Vincent and uh used to do the Granada Cinemas and I went to his dress room one day. My dress room was all pink uhuh you know um makeup always a couple of girls in there you know looking after me and I thought I you know go go and see Jean. I'd never seen a belly before and he was sitting there little belly a belly little belly belly you never seen a belly before no I mean a puppy.

14:17 Belly big belly not a big belly but he had a little little roll there cuz I was super fit and and he had the black Leathers. Yeah and there was a bottle of scotch and there was a cult 45 a gun a lot of the American Stars brought guns over to this country. Loaded and uh well yeah I mean he in fact the is RO upset him and he said he was going to shoot him and he was he did have this Sinister. He always called me Mr J you know so I'm Jesse Mr J and um you just don't want annoy a guy with a gun do you no not really and and they they came into my dressroom. One day and they said jeans on fire and I'm getting ready you know and I said well what's it to do with me he said well you know.

15:02 I was top of the bill then he said you know what should we do so I went I went and in those days you used to have floats. MH and he was kneeling down and he had black. Absolutely drunk as a skunk because the scotch was now gone and and he had an iron leg you know so and the leather was burning. Into the skin and the iron and he was on will. Be BL she with those mad Eyes on Fire didn't realize he was on fire so they finally pulled the tabs and pulled him off he didn't realize. He was fire but they were iconic B people and and Cochran was a really nice boy and you know I worked with all the guys. And um and it's it's uh it's been great and I I'm not still doing it still rocking on and unfortunately there's not many of us left now my dear friend David.

15:59 Jones died just recently and uh he he came all the way from Hollywood to play golf in my uh in my Golf Classic in uh in Spain. Nice plug that's it the Jess Conrad swinging 60s Golf. Ding and he was uh he was such a lovely boy you know um he played I was the first I played Jesus first in God. Spell well David David ESS I took over from David Essex and then uh before the Revival of the um his band what were they the um I'm going to let you speak. Again though I don't know DAV Jones and the monkeys twink I was at twinkle with my daddy's eye when the when the monkeys before the monkeys. Reformed you know he was acting and and so he played Gods spell so he played a lot of the same sort of parts and I ran the showas.

16:51 Football team for yonks so and I played in goal mainly because I get to wear different color costume than anybody uhuh always dive towards the camera. And Frank Worthington the famous footballers said you and I he said what what was my famous thing he said well I was famous he said. Because when I was a professional footballer Frank Worthington he said I always had my socks rolled down and he said that's CU I had really good legs I said what. What was my gimmicky then when he said he said you always had a comb stuck in the top of socks I have a com up always. Dive towards the camera but um yeah I mean everybody played uh I think probably Rod Stewart is the best showz player of all time Stan. Bbn's not bad who's rubbish who who's rubbish who's rubbish who's rubbish oh no I can't say who's rubbish no because they they all play for charity.

17:45 When I was um sharing a flat with Mike and and stamp we used to uh watch the television and we used to watch the commercials. M and um we had a game that it'd say it's my turn and we used to see one of the girls on television and we'd ring up the the company. And date them and then afterwards like boys dud so how'd you get on blah so I saw this girl in the bath. She was Miss K Miss C all bubbled up and I went right that's mine and teren said no it's my turn I said no you had yesterday. You know we said you didn't get on very well he okay so I took her out and um and we got on very well together. And then uh I did a commercial for Kenneth Hume who was married to Shirley Bassie um and um he liked me he was on the pink bus.

18:39 And uh she was uh she was on the on my Pon you and she said to me she said oh Jess she said your backs. Your backs better than most men's France I thought you're do for me anyway we've been married 50 years oh wow congrats Kevin that's worth a round of applause. In Show Business 50 years married and the amazing thing is my wife still loves me oh and they say how can you be happily married. To Jess Conrad for 50 years she always says it's easy if you're both in love with the same man I read somewhere that you um are a king rat. Now before I looked into that I kind of thought oh hang on he's got a sideline here kidding rodents but it's not that is it no because you're you're on the periphery. Of Show Business Kevin yeah you see you don't.

19:24 Understand rats spelled backwards is star ah you should have known that you should have done your homework. Kevin and I follow people like Bob Hope Charlie Chaplain um I I'm past King right now the king rat this year is is Rick waitman. Who's my dear friend King Rat last year was Joe pasquali uh I had my ball it was a great success and a great top table. All the stars and uh we raised 25,000 large coins we must say pounds as a rat you say large coins I shouldn't really tell you that because unless. You're a brother rat you shouldn't know that but there you are I've let that out the bag so what you need to do in order to be a rat. You have to be a uh um it's the same thing as being a Mason which is what I am mhm let's face it um I don't know.

20:20 I I suppose a genuine good fellow um I've raised uh or millions millions of pounds uh and that's how I got my OB uh through. Chas football uh charity golf I've enjoyed every moment of it and uh I went to uh Buckingham Palace and uh I was so thrilled to be picking up my OB. But it wasn't the queen and I was slightly well you you must you mustn't say disappointed really but you know I'd be gutted if I didn't get to meet. And it was it was a Royal Highness princess and she I have to say she has a fantastic um sense of humor because she said. I hope you're not disappointed I'm not the queen and I said no mom as long as you're not disappointed I'm not George.

21:12 Clooney and thank God she laughed otherwise I would have been in the tower longer but that was a great thrill for me to obviously to get get an obbe. I mean the boy from Brixton who couldn't read or write now I've got an OB and I sometimes say to people um you know how is it that you know. OB um King Rat um I got so many awards for different things world's worst record um had a big hit record last year with three steps to Heaven a million. Seller uh I've had the Andrew Lloyd Weber song book I had more hits uh lately than I ever had when I was Teen Idol um and um and somebody. Said well Jess he said you know really basically said you're a likable fell. And I suppose if you're a likable fell and people like you it uh it kind of works yeah how do you look at back at your career.

22:07 I mean what what kind of things come to mind because you've done so much do you have any regrets do you kind of Reel with what you well you know. I I've done some iconic things obviously you know I was I was the very first Joseph uh and if you ask Bill kenr he will tell you that I made him a millionaire. He we went to his 60th birthday party and he stood me up and said this is the man that made me millionaire my first it show. Was Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat and that's Jess Conrad. And but it's all always been full of humor when I first took the Joseph to the West End I we went to the sadders Wells. And the Ville theater long before Jason Donovan and did you have a picture of you J oh oh yes I have yes have a look.

22:55 This is this is diors the iconic diors. Who I was um living with at the time and there she is backstage at the uh sadd of Wells saying hi Jess you can see. There that I'm a little bit pumped up I what year is this uh 70 70 I had uh one dressing room and I had two dressing. Rooms one was a gym and the other one was where where I changed I had a gym because I uh I I wanted. A body like a an American actors had in my day they English actors good-looking boys do Bogard U Stanley Baker and and all of those but they uh um but they couldn't take their shirts. Off they looked awful uh and I liked early Bert Lancaster early y Brin all all Tab Hunter everybody in America could could take their shirts.

23:50 Off but no they couldn't because there were no gyms in this country if you went near a weight anywhere they'd think you're limp wristed you know and I I used to I found. Some weights in a a skull hall in in Vox or somewhere and every time I went home I was followed home by a gentleman be you just it just was the the gyms. Were unknown so I used to pump up as much as I could with my hands and blah and then by the time I got to the 70s. You know you could go to the gym so I said to bill you know and my gym went on the Lorry because we were touring. With Joseph before the set did no you had a touring gym I had a touring gym so the first time I'm in the west I'm at the vaille.

24:36 Theater and my billing is fantastic it said Jess Conrad is Joseph not Jess Conrad as Joseph or Jess Conrad but just and I thought I'd get on a bus. And I'll just drive down the Strand and I'll just see my Name In Lights the boy from Brixton My Name In Lights it was such a thrill for me. So I'm driving along and there's two ladies is in front of me and as we're driving along one old girl says to the other one oh she said. Look it's Jess Conrad ass she said he's my favorite she said I wonder if Jess Conrad's his real name and her friend said is Jess. Conrad's whose real name you want this one I was doing a concert the other week and uh I'm signing autographs and the ladies of a certain Ager. Coming out one looked very pensive it's it's just like what the Ordy people say make me laugh sometimes and she looked a bit pensive.

25:33 And I said did you enjoy the show and she said I said well what's the matter darling she said well you didn't play the piano. I said you're getting me mixed up with Russ Conway no he's been dead 30 years oh she said who have I just seen. Then no um and and that I read on wikkipedia and yeah I take Wikipedia with a pinch of Sal at the best of the that you have a bit of a thing. For trying to eat body parts I think there was a guy called hindes and you ate he ate his nose or something is that true. Or is that rubbish no it is true but you know know being a sort of traine gangster um and it's an awful thing to say. Because now I'm I'm mature a mature man if you like but but in those days um in those days there was a lot of um um I've.

26:30 You know my last film was um um tellar and which I played Larry pants the man that used to manage all the rock. Stars uh and Nigel Harmon played me as a young they wanted somebody to play me you know we I couldn't find anybody to play me and my wife said I've seen somebody in East Enders. That looks like you I said darling nobody looks like Jess she said I know she he's not as tall she said but he's very much like you darling. So he was offered the part to play me and as a young actor obviously he didn't know who I was and he came to my house. To talk to me and as he walked in he did look like me I mean you know he's now playing um in um he's now playing Simon. Cal uh Simon Cal said we had to get a good-look guy to play me because I'm the best looking man in the world but he's already.

27:22 Played me who's uh you know I'm mid smigly older with out boto so and I don't suppose he's done his homework to realize that Nigel. Harman's already played me anyway Nigel Haron came in my wife's never said this before and she said to Nigel she said are you are you sure. Your mother didn't have an affair with my husband everybody else has but he did look like me so anyway and and the weird thing was me. Talking to him as Larry Pals and he's me and coming back in the studio car thought this is another iconic thing I've been played in a movie. By somebody else so and the whole thing was about tar was Joe Meek who was then he had the first hit record in America called. Tar and he was a man that used to to make records in his uh uh flat in holay Road and uh he was really off the wall.

28:16 Very interesting character what year was this uh he he made records from the middle 50s up to the 60s we were all in studios with 25. Piece orchestras you know uh and he did it in in the kitchen thing and he he recorded me a couple of times and Hines. Thought that I was going to be his next boy and Hines was his boyfriend so Hines was jealous basically was um his boyfriend. Joe Meek and um apparently they stepped together I mean I don't know we I we never thought about things like that in those days we were just the lads. You know um um and this all boils down to the fact that that he was jealous of me because Joi could recorded me and was going to make me. A star blah blah usual stuff you know so we're doing this tour and uh I jumped up on my amp on the second number and um we used to do little things like that jump.

29:20 Up on the amps you know we going to foot this way or do something and do all little things arms around handcuff ourselves to the microphones. Put put our leg out one side of the stage and then come on the other get somebody with my shoes on to look they think it's me. They all look and scream but you come on from there all these little gimmicks getting out getting out the theater was amazingly difficult my I used to have Mosin. Shoes white Mosin shoes and my roie um actually drove um I I had hman minks mave and white Wheels move Mo move H out in the beautiful. Big car he drove it up the steps of of the Edmonton uh Cinema uhhuh stopped out front all timed I would kick do you really rock and roll. Billy Boy Billy boy do you really rock and roll Charming Billy and that was my last number and halfway through I kicked the shoe and it went into the audience.

30:21 And all the kids grabed my shoe and as they grabb my shoe I ran up the aisle into the car and down the St I mean this was like getaway. And every night had to think of a different getaway to get out of the thing right so those were the kind of days mad days. So the funny bass player says to says to Hines he said Jess as nicking your act he jumped up on the amp in his second. Number because Hines did that as well apparently okay were you copying were you yeah yeah no well I know probably I don't know probably said. He can do it I can do it yeah thinks that's clever you wait to see Jess does it and in those days if if you weren't from the London. You're Nobody you know if you came from Liverpool Liverpool because there weren't chain stores then so if you are wearing a suit that's in fashion.

31:13 Mhm anywhere above um Watford Gap get it years later so Scotland was about eight years behind H and this hiny came from somewhere certainly not London. So in my my eyes he was like who who is he you know he doesn't how did you end up eating his NOS that's I'm. I'm telling you it takes a long time to get there because you have to get the whole thing the whole put in context so he comes. In and he said uh biffo I suppose us was the bass player we all had names he said biffo told me you're nicking my ACT. I said don't be a pratt I said we're all nicking Elvis's act and he and I could just see the face. And I'm only you know I'm only new a new star a newly star I'm only a kid and I can have a fight don't let this fo.

32:05 You I can have a fight I I box for South London and uh you know I can have a fight and so anyway I nuted. Him and he went up against the wall and then I bit his nose off and spits on Jesus and then and then as I'm doing this I I can heal. This going we want Jess we want Jess and and I did I kicked him in time with the we want. Just awful awful at least your kicking in awful but then Hines and I became great friends afterwards and I was I was very sorry about it but we were kids we were teenagers. And we were Teddy Boys you know had made good how much just a tip or was it a a nostril how much was it a tiny. Well I remember I had had bits of it in my teeth oh don't how much of it quite a bit of it really is he scarred.

32:57 What was no well yeah but he says the just gave me these he's quite proud of it yeah that's crazy and then um I heard another. Story about Frankie Howard's ears as well um again could be part of rubbish it's Wikipedia you never know well I got myself into trouble for this as well because when I was a film. Extra Frankie Howard saw me and uh got me into his dressing room and uh uh so I stood in for him that means when they do lineups. I stood in for him and he gave uh they you get extra money for that and and then I I picked him up in the morning and drove him to the studios. And we became really good mates you know what year was this this was 50 50 something 54 before before I became anything you know I was just a a good-looking.

33:49 Film extra or just a young boy just filmm and we were good mates you know and then one day one day he he was in the dressing. Room and I think he'd had a drink and uh and he was being a bit silly and he dropped his trousers you know bless him. I love him to death and and I thought I'll frighten him yeah and I said to him Frankie I said if you don't put your trousers. On I'm going to cut both your gineers off oo and that was it I mean that was it dropped his trousers again i' never dropped his trousers. Again and we we contined to be great friends I just thought I'd frighten him you know because it was because uh that wasn't a relationship. You know because um you can do the gangster thing quite well could you do that into our camera.

34:37 SP let's say yeah Frankie Howard there he is he's just stoed his trousers Frank if you don't put your trousers on I'm going to cut. Both your fuing ears off you away from it a little bit uh made it too soft but uh goodt and what you got coming up what could we expect. From Jess well you know making movies and doing my I'm I'm on tour with two things slice of nostalgia P I'm on tour with go. To my website I'm doing uh the legend reborn um and U you know I I'm still doing all my charity work I'm still doing lots of golf. Games and I'm really having a fantastic life oh hi this is Jess and the feret and we hope wish you a very very Merry. Christmas I bet I'm the best Christmas present you'll have this year is it going to be Christmas soon it's going to be Christmas.

35:38 And please God the feret will grow up into a really handsome man and I'll have another hit record keep buying the records you know I love you and before. I go I'd just like to sing you a medley of my hit all together now. Dreadful isn't it Dreadful that was great. Cheers what can you do.