Probally a question asked before but does anyone know what happens to the guy in the middle who disappears half way through the song???

 

 

Edited February 15, 20169 yr by thfcliam

He'd been on the ale and was feeling sicker and sicker as the song progressed, leading to his disappearance to go and throw up.

He looked bored, he cocked up the fold your arms routine , felt a knob for wearing pink and purple clothes - and headed down the pub 

The one who went missing looked like he had a swollen eye , probably went off to get attention , no subs in those days  

Some bird in the front row was giving him the come on - but his mates had warned him off after she'd cheated on them and he didn't want to risk falling for her. Apparently she was just a little flirt.

Dx

As this was the 1971 Christmas edition of TOTP, I think he was definitely the worse for wear due to the BBC's Christmas drinks hospitality, and had to leave the stage either to throw up, or because he was making a twat of himself.  If you look at the clip of Ashton Gardner & Dyke performing "The Resurrection Shuffle" later on in the same edition, Ashton is so p*ssed that he fluffs most of the words (yes, a live singer on TOTP)!

Edited February 16, 20169 yr by Gene-R

FYI Lenny Curtis ( Real name Jimmy Mack Harrison) is married to Darlene. Her brother was/is in The Tams. She has seen this clip. Laughed her head off.

At 60 seconds he has forgotten all the moves and words a imposter  maybe's ??  

The guy looked a bit glassy eyed from the off. 

Over indulgence in the green room seems the most likely explanation for his departure.

Joe Pope had a great voice.

 

 

I've seen this clip on numerous occasions and never noticed the absent Tam.

But surely the most memorable part of the clip are the threads.

They couldn't have had mirrors in the dressing rooms could they?

8 hours ago, Gene-R said:

As this was the 1971 Christmas edition of TOTP, I think he was definitely the worse for wear due to the BBC's Christmas drinks hospitality, and had to leave the stage either to throw up, or because he was making a twat of himself.  If you look at the clip of Ashton Gardner & Dyke performing "The Resurrection Shuffle" later on in the same edition, Ashton is so p*ssed that he fluffs most of the words (yes, a live singer on TOTP)!

It was the Xmas show  but was a recording of their only TOTP appearance earlier in the year. Coincidentally HGDBM/the Tams appearance  has a unique distinction with regards to TOPT history (it is quite well known fact within totp trivia) in that its one of the very few (probably the only) time a group was featured when their single was going down the chart. It had been number one but had slipped to number two the week they appeared.

As for the singer , Horace Keys, the most common explanation put forward is that he fell off the stage, or maybe was leaving and stumbled. I've seen a couple of Tams performance from the late 60s where he looks out of synch. Like he's struggling. Maybe he suffered from stage fright. It's a real condition that can affect performance and lead to panic attacks. Just a thought. 

Jimmy Savile got him..........

I always thought it was a nervous condition, many moons had passed between 64-71 and it was just too much for him, maybe alcohol but still a shame that it happened. 

19 hours ago, Rob Wigley said:

Jimmy Savile got him..........

Thought it was more likely to have been Jonathan King? 

At the time the group were 'cold as ice' back in the US, after having been a big live draw 4 to 6 years earlier. So they couldn't get many decent US bookings (you needed a hot new release to get high paying live gigs back across the pond). So they saw their UK visit as a way of regenerating their careers. The TOTP appearance was the biggest gig of their time in the UK and as I understand it they learnt a full stage performance (choreography) but this particular guy couldn't remember the moves and was cocking up their wanted 'smooth professional display'. So he was pulled from the stage when the camera was off the group.   

I believe they finished their performing days down on the US beach music circuit where their old 60's cuts were always popular.

Better days (1964) for the group back in their homeland. Back then they were regular performers at the top chitlin circuit theatres such as the Howard Theatre in DC .......

 

Edited February 21, 20169 yr by Roburt

A better version of an ad for the same show @ the Howard .......

On 18 February 2016 at 12:48, Gene-R said:

Thought it was more likely to have been Jonathan King? 

 

On 17 February 2016 at 17:29, Rob Wigley said:

Jimmy Savile got him..........

They both got him double trouble! Send for the Soul Police.

ML

On 21/02/2016 at 12:46, Roburt said:

At the time the group were 'cold as ice' back in the US, after having been a big live draw 4 to 6 years earlier. So they couldn't get many decent US bookings (you needed a hot new release to get high paying live gigs back across the pond). So they saw their UK visit as a way of regenerating their careers. The TOTP appearance was the biggest gig of their time in the UK and as I understand it they learnt a full stage performance (choreography) but this particular guy couldn't remember the moves and was cocking up their wanted 'smooth professional display'. So he was pulled from the stage when the camera was off the group.   

I believe they finished their performing days down on the US beach music circuit where their old 60's cuts were always popular.

Better days (1964) for the group back in their homeland. Back then they were regular performers at the top chitlin circuit theatres such as the Howard Theatre in DC .......

 

 

 

Great, thanks for the Info.  I bet the guy felt awful 

Edited February 22, 20169 yr by thfcliam

Now watching it back you can see he dont really know what hes doing haha

Roburt is spot on . the day after at school , it was the main topic of us 14/15 year old`s about the guy cocking up his performance  on T O T P who had fook all rhythm , the main consensus was he left the stage through embarrassment , I seem to remember  some folks having trouble dancing to it at school Disco`s due to the  unusual off~beat . Funnily enough I was talking about this at the weekend and me and my mate said it was the "bald " one who left the stage !!!!!!!!!! memories ain`t what they used to be .

WiganBrian .

On ‎18‎/‎02‎/‎2016 at 12:48, Gene-R said:

Thought it was more likely to have been Jonathan King? 

Nope he'd already gone to the moon!

I remember the first time I saw them on totp's and thought he's deffo worse for wear. Leading on from this did anyone see the Tymes, again on totp's 1974 singing Ms grace where the front row four singers had microphones and the one at the back singing his heart out with no microphone!.

Edited February 29, 20169 yr by Mr Fred

Even though the Tams were struggling a bit by 1971, they (or at least a later version of the group) were still going strong in 2006 .......  ........ they formed in 1960, so I guess no original member was still in their line-up in 2006 ......

Edited March 4, 20169 yr by Roburt

The Tams are still performing, in fact they have a gig tomorrow ...........

Front Beach Festival

  Isle of Palms, SC

Saturday, March 5, 2016

  12:00pm - 4:00pm

 

Come enjoy a day of shagging 

and beach music with The Tams