In May 1980, my song "Rat Race" was released - a track we had recorded on the BBC john peel show and had been in our live set for several months. A song which has been much misunderstood.
I wrote Rat Race after a night in the local college bar. While sittin, suppin, I chanced to hear several well-to-do student's in conversation. They were discussing the jobs their parents had lined up for them when they finished college.
It struck me that their places in college would be better used by students of a less wealthy back ground, but not everybody understood the sentiments, in fact i was told i was anti-education!
We did the video in the hall below the college bar where i had over heard the conversation. I've often wondered whether those rich kids were there? Anyway it got to number six, not bad for my first effort!
Little did i know it would be my only "proper" single release.. Chrysalis had wanted to release concrete jungle from the 1st album, but as I sang that version.. Terry vetoed it.. no wonder my favourite drink is bitter!

The Seaside tour..
Being from a land locked city, the seaside has always app ealed to me (little did i know what was in store!)
Like most of the guys my personal life was upside down, mostly due to my own failings. Anyway on the 1st day ,before the sound check, Jerry anounced to the band that he wanted to cancel the tour!
He was coming apart before our very eyes.. I didnt help by suggesting, Paul Heskatt the sax player could play keyboards. Anyway a doctor was called, and Jerry given "medicine" to help sort out his breakdown.
I had my own, "booze"!, which was making me more and more crazy too. Like a later member of the Specials m.k 2, once said "just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, it did!"