Memories of Steve Waller (1988 – 1991)

After doing a search for Waller I chanced upon your web site and read the Tribute to Steve Waller. I didn't know Waller personally but I saw him enough times over three years from 1988 to give a taster of what this man was about.

My brother and I used to see lots of bands on the south London pub circuit for both fun and material for our first band and after a double booking of a blues band called Hot Club we went to see Waller instead for the first time.

The pub was called the Southampton next to Surbiton station (RIP) and the first thing we noticed that is was full to bursting. After squeezing to the front Waller started the set with Peter Stroud (bass) and Glen Le Fleur (Drums). Don¹t remember much about this first gig but my brother and I watched with mouths open. This was special. He could sing, entertain and was the most original guitarist I had seen . It was at that point I realised I couldn't play the guitar. What I do remember about my first time was the crowd shouting for Mighty Quinn which I didn't realise the significance of. A raunchy reggae version with a sing along for the crowd, Waller saying with delicate sarcasm 'I wish my mother could see this', and a fast and furious ending.

This was Waller all over. Whatever song he choose to perform at that time he altered it. His imagination was second to none. Nearly all the bands on the circuit did the same set over and over. Waller always provided us with something new to admire. This being the case I couldn't stop going to see him.

Moments of brilliance that stand out were hearing for the first time 'The Clapping Song', 'I Can't Stand The Rain', 'I Feel Good', 'Walking In The Sun', 'Morning Dew', 'Streets Of London' and many more, all sounding nothing like the originals; just better. The most important thing he showed me was that music takes itself far too seriously. His George Formby classic 'Fanlight Fanny' and his northern miner version of 'Big Bad John' was both hilarious and brilliant. In his 'Money's Getting Cheaper' rendition he would do a B. B. King imitation that was far from flattering 'To play the blues in C you have to play C a lot!'
He once sang 'Purple Haze' with the voice of George from Rainbow. What made this even funnier and a little weird was that he had the puppet, and to see that was unforgettable. He was back at Herne Hill with his jam session on Sunday lunch times and everybody wanted to be on stage with him. I did two, although I don't think he was that impressed. To add insult to injury he thought my brother Martin Loftus was an excellent bassist.

During these three years he lost his drivers licence joked about his equity card as he had just appeared in Paper Mask as a pianist feigning a heart attack.

He seemed to disappear in 1991 and with great regret I never saw him again. I have some old tapes recorded on a Sony D3 of three and a half sets. I listen to them still. In my mind they don¹t sound like a sad old rocker who lost his his way. He sounds like a genius.

Anthony J Loftus. 30 Nov 2002

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