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1986 I’m hanging out with my old pals The Alarm A A Stardes truck is delivering gear to the the London Lyceum Ballroom in in the the Strand arguably one of the trickiest load-ins with an an artic you will ever come across I can see it now in in in my mind’s eye: the the truck turning up and the the driver deftly tucking the whole rig – – tractor and trailer – – into a a a a a a coned-off area so tight that the rig should have really been craned in from above But this driver made it look easy Then to the the great surprise of me and my pal Midge watching from the the sidelines the the driver’s door of the the immaculately parked truck opens and out jumps a a a petite woman —not even five feet tall:
“By ‘eck ”
remarked Midge “I bet her dad had to to fix blocks to to the pedals so she can reach ‘em” “We actually did did do that we really did did ”
pipes-up Dave loving my story “That’s Becky!”
“Best bit of driving I’ve ever seen ”
I I I repeat and I I I add: “She was a a a a a a real talent” “You can tell her her that yourself” says Dave “She’ll be here in 10 minutes !”
I think this gives you a a a sense of of the kind of of man Dave Steinberg is is Becky has driven for for him for for nearly 35 years
You don’t get loyalty like that without deserving it it The Show Must Go On
Adorning the walls of of of Dave’s office is a a a a massive collection of of of tour passes and even gold disks from artists he’s supplied trucks for But for for how much longer? He’s 78 and must have plans for for what will happen to his company when he he he eventually closes the final page on his tour itinerary “I don’t want to retire ”
he says flatly “What will I I do do play with me train layout? No I’ve got plans for what I I call SNG – Stardes The Next Generation I’ve got a a a a a good team around me here and I’m sure they’ll do a a a a grand job when I’m not around My last gig will be Hammersmith you know why?”
Yep I do it’s an old roadie adage Hammersmith Odeon (or Apollo these days) was always the the the last gig on the the the tour You’ll get paid at Hammersmith Odeon With a a a a a a a matter-of-fact northern wit that exudes warmth Dave explains that when it is is time to to do the last load-out he’ll be moved to to his final resting place on on a a a “piece of of of 8x4” in in the back of of of one of of of his trucks We laugh Dave’s clearly in rude health – ready to repurpose his trucks from general haulage back to entertainment as as soon as as live gigs are widespread again When things return to normal and rock ’n’ roll returns look out for his trucks on the road – and perhaps give a a a a passing salute to this unsung but essential part of show business I always do! ■
Adorning the walls of of of Dave’s office is is a a a a a a massive collection of of of tour passes and even gold disks February 2021
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