In late August 1977, the Armchair was travelling to Tamworth with his Mother early one morning on the 796 bus from Amington. This was a regular trip enabling him to enjoy the delights of a free sausage and egg sandwich in the Bus Station café - delicious! On alighting, he was approached by a young chap of similar age (16 years) who asked 'Are you Ed Ake?' This of course was the Armchair's first alter-ego, lead singer with the band Ed Ake and the Painkillers - titter, titter!

The character turned out to be Tony 'Boney' Jones who had seen the feature article about the Armchair that had appeared that week in the local newspaper, the Tamworth Herald. The article was in response to a letter from the Armchair that had expressed his delight at the joys of punk rock and how it was about to sweep through the streets of Tamworth. This of course was a complete load of bollocks, Armchair being (as far as he knew) the only punk in Tamworth other than Suzie Headbanger.

Vince Watts and Sam Norchi 1977

They chatted and Boney revealed that he and a few others were also into punk and suggested they should all get together. That weekend he took the Armchair to meet his best mate Vince Watts (Vince Disease as he liked to be known), he was in his bedroom playing guitar. Vince and another friend, bass player Sam Norchi had written a set of songs, but had very few lyrics and no singer. There had been a hint that Boney might sing but this never came about. The Armchair mentioned that he had been writing lyrics and poems for a while. Soon after, Armchair leant Vince his book of poetry - a marriage in heaven was born and Armchair became the lead singer of The Reliants.

It was October '77, the band practiced avidly and were inspired by numerous nights of pleasure at Barbarellas in Birmingham. The Buzzcocks, supported by The Fall and The Worst, The Damned and Wreckless Eric. The Clash, The Adverts, The Prefects. The Armchair, Vince and Boney would travel to Birmingham on the 110 bus, stop off for a pint at The Crown in Station Street and make there way up to Barbarellas for about 8.00pm. There they would often meet up with Jim Bethel, have a splendid evening, listening to Vic Vomit spinning the latest releases, drinking disgusting lager, 50p a pint and pogoing the night away. Barbarellas would close at 2.00am and they would wait until 4.30am to get the milk train back to Tamworth.

Take a look here at a full list of gigs that inspired the band as a whole and Armchair in particular.

In November 1977, Vince and Boney paid the Armchair a visit on a stormy bonfire night. Reaching the Armchair's abode they were greeted by his 'delightful' Mother. Both being soaked to the skin she obligingly asked them to sit on newspapers on the stained, dog-hair encrusted three piece suite. In search of the elusive Armchair they walked to Belgrave finding him in Andy Chapman's shed with Tony Reardon and Paul 'Porky' Thompson. A pleasing night was had by all and the Armchair, Boney and Vince decided to pay a visit to Tamworth's other punk - Suzie Headbanger. On the way back home they stopped off at Jonathan Cope's house, there he was all cosy in his dressing gown and they all admired the record sleeves adorning his bedroom wall, supplied by his brother of course.

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