SIXTIES rock and roll star Joe Brown is returning to Felixstowe's Spa Pavilion Theatre.As part of a 60 date UK tour the Cockney geezer, who has tried his hand at almost everything in the entertainment business including theatre, film, television and radio, is coming to Suffolk to wow the audience with his most famous talent – music.

By Jo Macdonald

SIXTIES rock and roll star Joe Brown is returning to Felixstowe's Spa Pavilion Theatre.

As part of a 60 date UK tour the Cockney geezer, who has tried his hand at almost everything in the entertainment business including theatre, film, television and radio, is coming to Suffolk to wow the audience with his most famous talent – music.

In the 1960s Joe formed his own group Joe Brown and the Bruvvers but before that he had played the guitar with the likes of Johnny Cash, Eddie Cochran, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard.

When asked why he continues to tour at the age of 61 the Henley-on-Thames-born singer and musician said: "It's my job this is what I do, I try to entertain people, it is a good job we do a couple of 60 date tours in the year."

In June he made his first appearance at the Glastonbury Festival and got rave reviews.

"It was great, I was a bit loathed to do it to see how they would receive an old geezer like me. I was surprised it went so well."

He added that more theatres are being built around the country which is giving him more of an opportunity to perform at smaller venues.

"Most town's have a good theatre and I think the lottery money has helped a lot. It is wonderful, for blokes like me, for a place to work.

"I have never been really ambitious, I was just lucky that rock and roll kept going as it did. What I really want to do is write a hit song for someone else, to have a good pension coming in."

But although Joe, who is getting tired of the travelling involved in touring, said he was not ambitious he still enjoys performing and has a diary packed full with tour dates and other showbiz commitments until 2004.

One of his bigger up-and-coming projects is a new musical called Don't Rock Me Daddio, which he is co-writing. It is based on life in 1957 and Skiffle music and should be in production in London's West End early in 2004.

Overall though Joe still prefers performing in front of a live audience and still gets a buzz from being under the spotlight.

The audience at the Spa on Tuesday night should expect a mixture of old and new rock and roll hits and gospel music as Joe Brown with his Bruvvers perform with their special guest from the USA Henry Gross.

WEBLINKS:

www.joebrown.co.uk

NAME: Joe Brown

INSTRUMENTS: Guitar, mandolin, fiddle, ukulele and melodian.

HIT SINGLES: A Picture of You (1962) and On A Day Like This (1999).

RECENT ALBUMS: Come On Joe (1993), 56 & Taller Than You Think (1997) On A Day Like This (1999), A Showbusiness Lifetime (2001).

FILMS: What A Crazy World, Three Hats For Lisa, Spike Milligan Meets Joe Brown and Mona Lisa.

THEATRE: Charlie Girl (1965), Pump Boys And Dinettes (1985) and Cyd Charisse, (1986).

Source:www.joebrown.co.uk