Your Favorite Pete Lawson Story

[Guest claude rains]

Pete Lawson... without doubt... has to be one of the most amazing characters ever to grace the soul scene.

No one could ever love soul more than Pete Lawson did... he loved it... lived it... and died with it... and i miss him every day.

Now don't get me wrong... Pete Lawson was one hell of a pain in the arse... to everybody... but that was just Pete... and you had to love him for it... you had to... because he told you that you had to!

He was outspoken... honest... loyal... fair... absolutely and completely bananas... manic... so unbelievably funny... loud... yet shy if you can understand that... a lost soul... obsessive... so intelligent... annoying... loving... and the most soulful person i have ever met.

This is a great thread... even if you didn't know Pete... you will piss yourselves at the stories you'll hear about him.

Here's the man himself.... TIP TOP!

Totally Agree, got introduced to him by a friend at allanton allnighter in about 91'

A very intelligent and misunderstood by some man.

D. Taylor

[Guest Spinning Vinyl]

I remember there was a few of us around Val Palmers flat when Pete decided to hold us all up with a HOT steam iron you couldnt help but laugh as he chaced everyone around steam blasting out

Remember the Jack Montgomery a million times epic but seem to recall it was nearly every weekend he did an Hour of Big Maybelle's 'Lord what are you doin to me' and about 2 hours of 'Open the door to your heart' as well..... I'm sooooooo glad he had a good taste

[Guest frenchie]

Long time no see ,Stuart,you cuold make up the most outrageoustory you wanted aboutPete and anyone who knew him would beleive it, Still on my mind after allthis time

Salmon... how are you you f*****. still collecting the vinyl?? saw Shaun a few months back....that's another whole set of funny stories.

[Guest ZTSC]

YES HE IS INFACT HE TURNS UP AT SOUL OR NOTHING AND PIERCEBRIDGE WHEN I DJ,DEFINETLY ONE OF MY FAVOURITE PEOPLE ON THE SCENE,BUT WHEN HE TEAMS UP WITH KEV JOHNSON -WELL [LIKE THE OLD DAYS,CHAOS ALL AROUND],BIT LIKE THE BUSES BACK HOME AFTER WIGAN 1979,TRUELY CHAOTIC.

TAKE CARE

BAZ A.

Imagine it when me , Mickey and Pete got together - fucking chaos all right.

Pete was my type of bloke - we just had a bit of a personality clash sometimes. :angry:

[Gene-r]

Last I heard he was teaching golf in Austria!!

Mike Field from Worthing, West Sussex? Don't talk to me about him. He was a user, and quite unpleasant at times.

He phoned me at home one evening. After keeping me chatting for 10 minutes with small talk, he then asked if I would sell "Wherever You Were" by Bud Harper to him. Just after I said "No, sorry Mick", the rude bastard hung the phone up without even a Goodbye!

Friends I knew in the late 80s/early 90s avoided Mick like the plague. He was a conditional mate, ie; if he could use you to get what he wanted off you, without even a "Thank You".

Edited September 8, 2006 by Gene-R

[soulsalmon]

Imagine it when me , Mickey and Pete got together - fucking chaos all right.

Pete was my type of bloke - we just had a bit of a personality clash sometimes. :angry:

you could never have a personality clash with Pete ,you never knew which one he was using at the time

[Guest paulf]

you could never have a personality clash with Pete ,you never knew which one he was using at the time

As you say Pete did have a number of persoanilities not always great ones either. I remember when he accussed me after borrowing records of not returning one - it resulted in him taking a swing at me. He was not in a good mood that night and got himself thrown out of the 100 club He p***ed me off at the time but it was soon forgotten between us and I tried to mount a campaign with Ady to let him back in - not sure if he ever managed to get back thou. In truth Pete was very difficult to fathom and that's what made him such a character - the inteligence with the manic episodes. The Lord Byron of the Northern Scene.

[Guest paulf]

Mike Field from Worthing, West Sussex? Don't talk to me about him. He was a user, and quite unpleasant at times.

He phoned me at home one evening. After keeping me chatting for 10 minutes with small talk, he then asked if I would sell "Wherever You Were" by Bud Harper to him. Just after I said "No, sorry Mick", the rude bastard hung the phone up without even a Goodbye!

Friends I knew in the late 80s/early 90s avoided Mick like the plague. He was a conditional mate, ie; if he could use you to get what he wanted off you, without even a "Thank You".

Hi Gene - I know Mike was a tad shaddy at times but that could go for half the scene at some points. Knowing Mike, he probably used his last 10p to make the phone call, as he had used all the rest in petrol to drive to the shops is his 6 litre Bmer - either that or Pete was standing next to him and put the receiver down.

Your right thou I would never let him borrow any of my tapes!

Anyway how much do you want for your Bud Harper? Thank you Thank you

[Guest]

What about the time he chased Lenny RIP,round Stafford allnighter,so funny,so sereal(think that how its spelt?),Lenny traveled up from London on the train,inFLIPPERS!!,pete couldnt catch him either ,thinkin` bout you lenny .

Ken

[Gene-r]

Anyway how much do you want for your Bud Harper? Thank you Thank you

Hi Paul,

Hope you're well mate!

Sorry, but the Bud Harper did actually sell some time ago! (rushes to put the phone down)

All the best,

Gene

[Guest]

I remember doing Pete a cassette of all my top Detroit stuff(1978--when i had the biggies and the yet to be biggies,i was doing the tape in my parent,s living room at Catterick Village and spotted my dad,s L.P.,s so halfway through side 2 i put on the listing--- Track12--Strangers---Frankie SYNN--( this was in between-i think---Cynthia and The Imaginary Three--Big Hit,and Lillian Dupree on D Town) at Wigan the following Saturday ,on seeing me Pete chased me all round the Balcony(day after the oldies--empty) for about 20 mins---along with a car full of people he,d listened to my tape,getting more and more excited until -Strangers in the night -Ole Blue Eyes --came on.When i got married and stopped going places(i missed Stafford all together) my 1st Xmas card every year was always from Pete(no suprise there --but September every year!!! I was living in Calpe.Spain when Sue Holmes wrote and told me of his death--so sad--he could be a pain but what a character!!

[Guest Billy Anorak]

I had a quite a few nights out with Pete in the late eighties when I lived in London,when I remember one clearly I'll post it up!!

[Guest Spinning Vinyl]

What about the time he chased Lenny RIP,round Stafford allnighter,so funny,so sereal(think that how its spelt?),Lenny traveled up from London on the train,inFLIPPERS!!,pete couldnt catch him either ,thinkin` bout you lenny .

Ken

I was thinking about that night just the other day when Lenny turned up in flippers, was class when he danced to that awful instrumental of Keb's 'The Peanut Duck', yep Lenny was a class act and a good good friend.

[Guest melandthensome]

I knew pete from 1970 when he collected 45s with my brother.Both big Mecca/Torch etc goers and very dodgy as well like everyone then.

Anyway where can I begin........

I remember him robbing his brother Hedleys Torch 45s and selling them back to him 3 times.Yes 3 times thats how sharp ol HEDDERS is.This then became a long and torturous drawn out silence from them up until pete was to leave us.I recall sitting in his front room his ma/hedders and fred the cat.On wanting the tomato ketchup hedders would bark to his mama 'oy ma ask mel to ask that shite to pass the ketchup will ya'

This went on until all were duly full and I was pondering wether to take fred to the all-nighter.

At his ma's sweet shop we bought steladex from a relativeof his and also at the shop was when pete was dealing in acetates/emi-discs etc.....and Mike Rolo was shouting that he would give pete a good hiding where as pete opened the top window and threw boiling hot water over him.

The time he was 16 stone and forever wearing a tatty white covered in pea stains etc mac and at the casino he saw Mr Minshull whereby peter says 'he owes me a fiver from the torch' this was 1975 and pete walked to him and punched keith full in the jaw.......Keith thought a fly had swatted him.

I was with him when he was getting his top 10 fave 45s tattooed on his chest.By a local loon with a dodgy tattoing gun that kept stopping in the arm etc.Pete had a towel in his mouth by this time and as it hurt more and more the writing went downhill fast.Ending in only 5 45s done but man did he suffer.

The time he was thumbing to wigan early 70's was picked up by somedubious charachters and his 45s money and leather were duly handed over just before he was thrown out in the countryside.

Although the said party were duly found by our kid and friends and relieved of over 3grands worth of caps plus a good hiding.

Theres so much I can add

maybe later

his snake belt on his head/3 shaved partings/almost getting me to hit johnny blight on our first ever meeting because pete was owed around 3pound by him and wound me up.Blighty and I became big big buddies from there on.

His very effeminate 'mary quant' hair style at the torch.

I MISS THE GUY

AND THEN SOME...............

[soulsalmon]

I knew pete from 1970 when he collected 45s with my brother.Both big Mecca/Torch etc goers and very dodgy as well like everyone then.

Anyway where can I begin........

I remember him robbing his brother Hedleys Torch 45s and selling them back to him 3 times.Yes 3 times thats how sharp ol HEDDERS is.This then became a long and torturous drawn out silence from them up until pete was to leave us.I recall sitting in his front room his ma/hedders and fred the cat.On wanting the tomato ketchup hedders would bark to his mama 'oy ma ask mel to ask that shite to pass the ketchup will ya'

This went on until all were duly full and I was pondering wether to take fred to the all-nighter.

At his ma's sweet shop we bought steladex from a relativeof his and also at the shop was when pete was dealing in acetates/emi-discs etc.....and Mike Rolo was shouting that he would give pete a good hiding where as pete opened the top window and threw boiling hot water over him.

The time he was 16 stone and forever wearing a tatty white covered in pea stains etc mac and at the casino he saw Mr Minshull whereby peter says 'he owes me a fiver from the torch' this was 1975 and pete walked to him and punched keith full in the jaw.......Keith thought a fly had swatted him.

I was with him when he was getting his top 10 fave 45s tattooed on his chest.By a local loon with a dodgy tattoing gun that kept stopping in the arm etc.Pete had a towel in his mouth by this time and as it hurt more and more the writing went downhill fast.Ending in only 5 45s done but man did he suffer.

The time he was thumbing to wigan early 70's was picked up by somedubious charachters and his 45s money and leather were duly handed over just before he was thrown out in the countryside.

Although the said party were duly found by our kid and friends and relieved of over 3grands worth of caps plus a good hiding.

Theres so much I can add

maybe later

his snake belt on his head/3 shaved partings/almost getting me to hit johnny blight on our first ever meeting because pete was owed around 3pound by him and wound me up.Blighty and I became big big buddies from there on.

His very effeminate 'mary quant' hair style at the torch.

I MISS THE GUY

AND THEN SOME...............

How the hell are you ,Mel

[Guest uroffal]

I was thinking about that night just the other day when Lenny turned up in flippers, was class when he danced to that awful instrumental of Keb's 'The Peanut Duck', yep Lenny was a class act and a good good friend.

Have racked my brains to try to remember this incident, but can't - must have missed that one! God bless you Len, still missing you mate.

[Guest melandthensome]

I Was at Stafford that night was it Stafford when he wore the flippers.I remember walking with johnny blight and TOMMO who was trying to take the piss I threw a left hook around blightys shoulder which caught tommo just but the momentom took blighty with tommo over a wall.

I then recall hearing those flippers etc,

At Stafford blighty and I were err doing a bit of buisness etc when we were accounting for our gains blighty dissapeared and then 'peanut duck' was played.

Suddenly the curtains were pounding and blighty was shouting I rushed in to see blighty back-flipping to 'the peanut duck'

Pete and the pondie boys........

jeeze dropped more of a spoo-enn.

Later

'mild mannered man about town'as the Metros sang in the Replacer.......MEL.

[Guest carolyn]

How the hell are you ,Mel

Pete's brother Hedley has written a book recently about his past and i dare say his brother gets a few mentions in too.

[Guest melandthensome]

Val Palmer ........

I Remember myself and pete going to her gaff a few times.She was a great girl and then some.I remember after the 100 club when we were all sat talking when down the road about 10.00 am up comes a brigade of the Salvation Armys finest playing away.I thought I was on White Lightning or California Sunshine tabs or black Mic.

Carolyn

not the blonde Carolyn surely that was with Val and us etc.Surely not.Have some dodgy capers to tell but wont as the bizzies may be tuning in.

God all those years ago.......

yeah I believe old Hedders wrote half a book Carolyn god knows whats in it.I dont mean to be a downer but Hedders is a Tube.Just my opinion but there ya go.

Mel-F3A-RIKERS FINEST.

[Guest carolyn]

Val Palmer ........

I Remember myself and pete going to her gaff a few times.She was a great girl and then some.I remember after the 100 club when we were all sat talking when down the road about 10.00 am up comes a brigade of the Salvation Armys finest playing away.I thought I was on White Lightning or California Sunshine tabs or black Mic.

Carolyn

not the blonde Carolyn surely that was with Val and us etc.Surely not.Have some dodgy capers to tell but wont as the bizzies may be tuning in.

God all those years ago.......

yeah I believe old Hedders wrote half a book Carolyn god knows whats in it.I dont mean to be a downer but Hedders is a Tube.Just my opinion but there ya go.

Mel-F3A-RIKERS FINEST.

I am blonde (out of a bottle lol) but i don't think i know you. I did go to wigan casino for its last three years, shame i couldn't have gone earlier but was too young then! Never been to the 100 club but would love to go.

No, i think you may mean another Carolyn. Hello anyway.

[Guest melandthensome]

I am blonde (out of a bottle lol) but i don't think i know you. I did go to wigan casino for its last three years, shame i couldn't have gone earlier but was too young then! Never been to the 100 club but would love to go.

No, i think you may mean another Carolyn. Hello anyway.

No probs mate

HELLO TO YOU TOO MY FRIEND........

[Guest Caroline Gration]

Val Palmer ........

I Remember myself and pete going to her gaff a few times.She was a great girl and then some.I remember after the 100 club when we were all sat talking when down the road about 10.00 am up comes a brigade of the Salvation Armys finest playing away.I thought I was on White Lightning or California Sunshine tabs or black Mic.

Carolyn

not the blonde Carolyn surely that was with Val and us etc.Surely not.Have some dodgy capers to tell but wont as the bizzies may be tuning in.

God all those years ago.......

yeah I believe old Hedders wrote half a book Carolyn god knows whats in it.I dont mean to be a downer but Hedders is a Tube.Just my opinion but there ya go.

Mel-F3A-RIKERS FINEST.

Hi there Riker Liker!

Caroline here, Val's best mate and Tichfield St flat regular. Not seen you in years, but have some photos of you somewhere. A book, eh? See you soon.

[Guest melandthensome]

Not the Caroline............

Remember you well mate.Wow its so good to hear from you.I certainly remember those days when we would be doing crazy things after the 100 club etc.What are you up to these days?

Do you still see Val Palmer..............

Just great talking to you again after so long.

And what pics could you possibly have of me????????????

Take it easy Sister..............ya dig

[Guest Caroline Gration]

Not the Caroline............

Remember you well mate.Wow its so good to hear from you.I certainly remember those days when we would be doing crazy things after the 100 club etc.What are you up to these days?

Do you still see Val Palmer..............

Just great talking to you again after so long.

And what pics could you possibly have of me????????????

Take it easy Sister..............ya dig

Yes, still see Val all the time and was still doing crazy things after the 100 Club only yesterday. Somewhere.... I have photos of Dave Molloy, Pete and you on a Sunday morning in a motorway services restaurant draped round some green plastic trellis with plastic foliage. Also, New Year 1984 (?) with Pete, you and Trish in Skelmesdale and we're seeing the New Year in with mugs of Um Bongo wine round someone's house. (Another Pete story...) Just literally been speaking to Ion on the phone (also in Brighton now) and he says to tell you he was thinking of you the other week and hopes you're well.

[Tony Smith]

Have racked my brains to try to remember this incident, but can't - must have missed that one! God bless you Len, still missing you mate.

You'd begun your sabbatical by then mate!

[Guest melandthensome]

Yes, still see Val all the time and was still doing crazy things after the 100 Club only yesterday. Somewhere.... I have photos of Dave Molloy, Pete and you on a Sunday morning in a motorway services restaurant draped round some green plastic trellis with plastic foliage. Also, New Year 1984 (?) with Pete, you and Trish in Skelmesdale and we're seeing the New Year in with mugs of Um Bongo wine round someone's house. (Another Pete story...) Just literally been speaking to Ion on the phone (also in Brighton now) and he says to tell you he was thinking of you the other week and hopes you're well.

Caroline

any chance of you sending me those pics please.1984.........jeeze bet I looked as ugly as ever......Ion.......send my best to him please......and ask if he remembers when I locked him in my flat with pete and played him my JOHN WILLIAMS AND THE TICK TOCKS for about 4 hours solid.

Just great to talk with you again.

please send my best to VAL...........great chick as well

Later matey

[Tony Smith]

When I was 16 or 17 and still lived with my Mum, came home from work Tuesday night, to find Pete hoovering the front room, Mum asking "2 eggs with your chips, Pete?", she'd never met him before, and after being asked to leave where he was staying, landed on my door with a sales tape he'd meant to post.

My Mum thought he was a great lad, and if he was an example of the people I was knockng about with she could rest easy, Heh heh heh, cheers Pete

[Guest]

When I was 16 or 17 and still lived with my Mum, came home from work Tuesday night, to find Pete hoovering the front room, Mum asking "2 eggs with your chips, Pete?", she'd never met him before, and after being asked to leave where he was staying, landed on my door with a sales tape he'd meant to post.

My Mum thought he was a great lad, and if he was an example of the people I was knockng about with she could rest easy, Heh heh heh, cheers Pete

He finished up in the pub with my mother when living down the calidonian rd.

[Guest Stuart Raith]

It was 'Gospel', I got lumbered with the job of designing it and doing the artwork after him and Stan had a falling out do!

Miss him loads... still got a box full of his letters and reading them now some 19 years later makes me realise what a crazy, insane, larger than life ball of joy he was. Young and fast... very fast 8)

Stu Raith - Black burn

[soulsalmon]

It was 'Gospel', I got lumbered with the job of designing it and doing the artwork after him and Stan had a falling out do!

Miss him loads... still got a box full of his letters and reading them now some 19 years later makes me realise what a crazy, insane, larger than life ball of joy he was. Young and fast... very fast 8)

Stu Raith - Black burn

Stuart,have you got an e-mail add or tel no for sean,is he still in chorley?