The Entertainer
How I got into Dancing - by Liam Collins
The bottle green nylon flares were washed and pressed, the bright yellow polyester shirt was packed neatly along with accessories, 1 afro wig, 1 afro comb, 1 bottle joke shop tooth enamel, 1 chest wig, 3 gold plated chains, gold plated bracelet, white leather loafers size 9, 2 pairs of aviator shades one in camouflage one in gold plate, both fantastically kitsch. Why am I excitedly packing these items at 7.00 into a small grey old school suitcase? I will be introduced on stage in less than one hour as Rick Savage “The Porn Star from LA” For that was my alter ego which I once assumed every Monday night and some Wednesdays at Idols bar in the Big Market in Newcastle Upon-Tyne. The bar is still there today under the same name and same management. However nowadays, a Monday night is no more packed than any other weeknight. Back in the winter of 1997 only a Saturday night would rival it on the tills takings.
How and Why I became a Street Entertainer
I remember it distinctly, I was sitting at my desk in Forest Hall in Newcastle revising for my A-levels and I remember doodling. After about 10 minutes I had drawn a picture of a stickman with an Afro and flares dancing in the street with a crowd of stick people watching. I had even drawn a sound system. The drawing came from somewhere and to this day I have no idea where but it lit a flame inside me which burns bright to this day. I cannot even remember ever seeing a street entertainer before this point but something inside me compelled me to look into it.
I called my cousin Tina who lived in London and I asked her what the laws were regarding street theatre there. She replied with “It’s not legal but it’s not illegal. It is really a case of having a go and trying your luck.” In between revision I kept planning what I would do. I had planned to go down to London to try it in the summer after my exams and make some cash before University at Loughborough. I had also planned to go away on a European tour with my brother and two mates Sammy and Dave in a VW campervan so I needed some money to cover the trip.
The Summer of 1999 - The Start of the Faces of Disco Double Act
1999 was one of my favourite summers. I had returned from Reno where I had enjoyed some great adventures, my Dad and my brother had both been out to be part of them at different times. I was in incredible shape from the tough training from Enoch my American coach and I had just earned my first vest for England representing my country in a home nations match in a decathlon in Scotland. I was just about to start University at Loughborough but before that I had 2 months where my athletics season had finished and my academics were about to begin and I wanted to make the most out of it to raise enough money so that I could fund my way through University. My plan of dancing on the streets had worked the year previously to get me my ticket to America and to getting bronze medal at the World Championship trials and there was no reason why I couldn’t do it again.
In around July 2001 I had been asked by Tyne Tees Models, the agency I was with at the time to do a Fila Fashion Catwalk in Liverpool. I needed the cash and so agreed to do this. I called Davey Bone my younger cousin who was studying sports science and psychology at the time in Liverpool and asked if I could stay. Davey and I had up until now simply an older cousin younger cousin relationship and had not kept in touch other than when we had seen each other at family gatherings in the North East. After the fashion show I met up with Davey and we had a night out. I remember distinctly being frustrated watching in the bar we were in, fellow athletes performing at athletics events I had missed out on. The alcohol that night eased the pain but what happened next changed certainly my chain of events for the better but changed Davey’s in a massive way.
2004 Richard joins the team and takes the act to new levels!
I had just missed out on qualifying for the Olympic Games in Athens. I remember how low I felt. My left hamstring was injured and my 4 years of hard work had now been nullified by a freak injury only days before the trials. I remember sitting in my Renault Espace. It was July in Loughborough and hot. All the students had gone home for summer holidays and as ever Loughborough was a ghost town. I had the renovation of my 3rd house, 91 Shelthorpe Road to keep my mind active but nothing could take me from this pit of depression which seemed impossible to pull myself out of. To make matters worse I was penniless. I had put everything into making the games and I had ran out of cash and credit entirely. I had four tenants moving into this house in a week and had to get it in a reasonable state for them.
