In this episode, Danny Hurst is joined by Ronnie Golden, aka Tony De Meur, of the post-punk pub rock band The Fabulous Poodles. They had several hits and appeared regularly on TV and radio. The Fabulous Poodles supported many bands including The Ramones and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Later, Ronnie transitioned into stand-up, comedy, acting and song-writing. He worked with Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders and was in The Young Ones, The Fourth Protocol and more. Later, he collaborated with comedy legends such as Arthur Smith, Rich Hall and, until his death, Barry Cryer, with whom he performed regularly as a double-act.
Ronnie shares some fascinating stories about his career, the people he has worked with and his influences. He also explains how he learned maths through music and how the Comedy Store and The Comic Strip Presents… changed British comedy.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
Despite writing a lot of music Ronnie, like many other musicians, cannot read music.
Ronnie learned maths through music, he explains how during the episode.
Never turn down the chance to do something new. Repeatedly, Ronnie took on projects despite not having 100% of the skills required. He simply learned what he needed to know.
All performers have bad days, including Bob Dylan.
Ronnie shares what it was like to see Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, John Lee Hooker, Jimi Hendrix and more perform in small London venues.
A lot of the comedy of the 80s came out of people being sick of the Tories.
In the 60s, going up west and to Denmark Street was a buzz.
Today, London has become so corporate that it has lost much of its character.
BEST MOMENTS
“From doing comedy songs, I developed repartee, and it became a mix of stand-up and music.”
“I recognised the mathematics in music, and I connected with it. 12 bar blues and that kind of stuff.”
“I bought myself a harmonica, and I didn't take it out of my mouth for about a week until I learned it.”
“You´ve got to trust yourself.”
“That´s the way Dylan works – he likes to surprise himself.”
“In the 60s, it was a complete buzz.”
“I see less of places that I used to love going to and everything’s changed.”
EPISODE RESOURCES
https://x.com/ronniegolden1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_Golden
HOST BIO
Historian, performer, and mentor Danny Hurst has been engaging audiences for many years, whether as a lecturer, stand-up comic or intervention teacher with young offenders and excluded secondary students. Having worked with some of the most difficult people in the UK, he is a natural storyteller and entertainer, whilst purveying the most fascinating information that you didn't know you didn't know. A writer and host of pub quizzes across London, he has travelled extensively and speaks several languages. He has been a consultant for exhibitions at the Imperial War Museum and Natural History Museum in London as well as presenting accelerated learning seminars across the UK. With a wide range of knowledge ranging from motor mechanics to opera to breeding carnivorous plants, he believes learning is the most effective when it's fun. Uniquely delivered, this is history without the boring bits, told the way only Danny Hurst can.
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