National Embarrassment
Tony Peers makes people laugh - he is an original and very funny guy. When the
chips are down he will say things (mostly unrepeatable) and do things (mostly
indescribable) that sends the band into uncontrollable laughter - a very useful
antidote to the lows of touring life.
One of his comic ploys is to speak to people (usually strangers) in a kind of
mumble where the words are recognisable but just on the wrong side of being intelligible.
The unlikely victim thinks that he or she has just not heard or understood what
Tony is saying and asks him to repeat himself. A further low volume mumble/jumble
of words ensues and moving his or her ear closer the victim again does not understand,
apologises, asking for further repetition. And so it goes on (& sometimes on and
on!) as the victim becomes more and more embarrassed and the Brasshoppers try
to conceal their mirth - it really is very funny indeed.
You might consider that we are having fun at the victim's expense and to be honest
you would be right! However in Tony's defence he does have a way of concluding
the situation whereby the victim is also also laughing and happy to be part of
the joke - it's a special skill.
On one occasion the Brasshoppers had just arrived tired and somewhat fractious
at the Ferryport in Calais after a couple of weeks touring in France. Driving
the van, Tony gave the ticket to the lady at the ticket booth and launched into
his mumble, jumble of words routine. The lady had obviously been very well trained
in customer relations and the situation became painfully funny as she valiantly
persisted in trying to understand this strange and unintelligible Englishman.
On this occasion Keith Tank Sharples (our ex long standing Tuba player) did not
see the funny side. He wanted to get on the ferry and felt sorry for the victim.
Finally as his discomfort got the better of him, his patience snapped. He bellowed
in a loud Lancashire accent "Oh shutup Tony, you're a national embarrassment!"
The lady got the joke and laughed as we drove on to the ferry slightly humbled
but also very amused at the thought of Tony being a national embarrassment.
Competition
Now you know which Brasshopper has been accused of being a national embarrassment
you can enter our first (and probably only) prize draw - send an email to toby@brasshoppers.com