Simon Bates: Big man, big sound. He’s played in front of the Queen! Met him in the mid 90s when I was depping for another player. He was in the band and walked up to me and said ” I hear you’re the MD for the Sickle Cell thing”. ( The Sickle Cell Anaemia Research Gala Show.) “Yeh.” I said. “Well, I’d like to play” he said. “The money’s shit” I said. ” I don’t care, sounds like fun” he said. His vibe was cool and he played like a badman so I booked him. Good decision as it turns out.