by Phil Planet

Created on: March 09, 2007   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Weird Happenings in Tokyo

My then partner Michelle woke me up and shouting and waving a piece of paper around, "Wake up and clock this, we've won two tickets to Tokyo", yeh sure,I replied, when I finally came round from my hangover and had a look, what came in to focus was a letter, complete with two tickets made out in our names, I said that's amazing, and Michelle replied, " there's one problem, we can't afford to go", we can't afford not to go I replied.

At this time I was the owner of a music shop in Hazel Grove called Pyramid Audio, thanks to Thatcher and Co. business wasn't good at this time, we had figured out that to go for hotel and spends we would need min. 2.000, we had to fly on the specified date so this left 3 weeks to find it, a mission was required.

The only hope we had of raising any cash was Michelle's Dad Roy, we were not very hopeful as he was not very well off, but we arranged to meet him at the pub anyway, Shell's dad got the beer in sat down and said, "you'll never believe this I've just won 6,500 on the football pools, well I looked at her and she at me,........we left the pub three hours later in a cab, 1000 better off.

Monday morning I opened the shop wondering where we could raise another grand, the phone rang it was a good customer Bob from Scotland who owned a P.A. / management company, I told him about the free tickets to Tokyo he said, "How do you fancy mixing a little business with pleasure", he explained that one of the bands he was managing, a heavy metal outfit called "Wild" were doing well and he had fixed up a tour of China for them, he said if he sorted me out with contacts, albums, and video maybe I could fix up a Japanese leg of the tour after they had done China, nothing ventured nothing gained why not? I went over to see Bob over the next few days and picked up my brief and the bands portfolio.

The bank had already refused to loan the business anymore cash on a previous visit, however I decided to pay them another visit armed with my two tickets, (I forgot to tell them they were free) I also had a carefully crafted letter from Bob, giving me 15% of all ticket sales, merchandising record and video sales in Japan, they could not resist it, and I walked out of the bank with two grand in cash!, Oh the joys of Rock an Roll, what a glam story my bank manager would have to tell his wife over tea.......he he.

Tue. 23rd April 1991 - Up and Away.

When we arrived at Heathrow the place was buzzing, all the staff were dressed in traditional

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