The Song the Changed my Life

Imagine the scene. It is 1970 and I am a young soldier serving in Munster, West Germany. Fashion wise, I used to favour Ben Sherman shirts, Farah trousers and Corduroy jackets with leather patches on the sleeves — Eeeek! Then, one day, I met another young soldier known across the barracks as ‘Psychedelic Sid’.

Sid had gained his name because of his unusual [for a soldier] fashion sense — he wore ankle-length fur coats, flowery shirts and had brightly coloured scarves tied round his neck and wrists. He invited me to listen to a track on his record player which he played very loudly. It was I Ain’t Superstitious’ played by Jeff Beck. It was a remarkable performance and changed my life!

A week later, I was home on Leave in England and visited my usual Gentlemen’s outfitters for some new clothes. The shop assistant couldn’t believe it and . . . neither could my Mother! I returned wearing a bright yellow tie and dye grandad vest, flared jeans, purple suede boots and a bright yellow imitation leather jacket. Peace, Man! Later, I bought some knee length, fringed boots [like Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull wore].

Within a short time, I went from someone who would spend his quiet hours studying the lives of the Amerindian people in the Amazon rainforest to an attendee of rock concerts. What joy — Led Zeppelin, Ten Years After, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple and many more.

I met up with Sid at a base in England three years later. He treated me and some friends to tickets to see a live…