TOWARDS THE END OF 1985 I bought a Burns semi-acoustic guitar and The La's began to practice much more regularly. Then, David Evans asked me if I'd like to contribute some music to a new compilation album he was putting together with the help of respected Radio Merseyside DJ Roger Hill. Everyone was given three minutes of time on the compilation but because The La's songs I was to submit were only one and a half minutes each we got to put two songs on: ‘My Girl Sits Like a Reindeer’ and ‘Sweet 35’, from the first Attic session.

The La's practised in Tony Clarke's cellar in Kensington early in 1986. Tony was occupying the La's drum stool and Bernie was on electric bass. I got a lift to rehearsals off Tony on the back of his BSA motorbike and he was a sound guy. He had decided to leave the army at his own request and was 100% committed to rock ‘n’ roll in the way he dressed, his love of the drums and his way of life.

Between us, Lee, Tony, Bernie Nolan and I worked up some of the first songs I'd written with the help of my trusty new accomplice: my red Burns Vibraslim semi-acoustic. I got busy writing when I acquired the guitar. My Cold War commentary ‘Down at the Space Rocketry’, ‘The Heart Knows’ and the ecologically friendly ‘Trees and Plants’ came tumbling out quickly, the latter inspired in tempo by a song called ‘The Back Door’ by D.L. Menard. We also played ‘My Girl Sits Like a Reindeer’, ‘Red Deer Stalk’ and ‘Sweet 35’. With all these we pretty much managed to pull a set together in time for our first show as The La's in early 1986 at the Lamb in St Helens, where David Evans had arranged for us to support local band Benny Profane.

Whenever I phoned Lee to arrange stuff his Mum Alysia would answer the phone and then shout upstairs to his room, ‘Lee! … It's Mike Jagger on the phone!’

There was a real sense of excitement about playing for the first time. We picked up the gear in Kensington, collected Lee from his home in Dinas Lane and loaded the van and the few instruments we owned at the time. Tony Clarke was driving; his girlfriend Paula came with her mate Natalie.