John Barrow 
How Not to Make It in the Pop World (Diary of an Almost Has-Been) 

Leicester-born tenor sax man, John Barrow, is one of the journeymen of pop. In a career that spans more than thirty years he has worked, toured and recorded with world name artists that include:


BOY GEORGE / CULTURE CLUB / FUN BOY THREE / IGGY POP / MUSICAL YOUTH / SWINGING LAURELS / JERRY DAMMERS / LAUREL AITKEN / RHODA DAKAR / CRAZYHEAD / SINEAD O’ CONNOR / ALI CAMPBELL (UB40) / SUGGS (MADNESS) / UNCLE FRANK / RADIO RIDDLER / FUN LOVIN’ CRIMINALS

Always on the periphery, never quite hitting the pay dirt – this is the tale of one mans quest for unlimited world wide fame and fortune.

For more information, please go to
www.theswinginglaurels.co.uk

About the author

Tenor saxophonist John Barrow is one of the journeymen of pop music. His playing career began in 1975 with Soul / Funk outfit Sister Big Stuff playing the clubs and discos of the U.K. playing support to a number of chart acts. In 1977 he joined funk band Black Gorilla who scored a top 30 hit enabling him to make his debut Top of the Pops appearance. They toured extensively across Europe headlining top funk
venues.


After the demise of Black Gorilla in 1980, John played on releases by the Newmatics and the Sinatras and recorded a Sinatras live Radio One session for John Peel. Tracks on albums by the Godfather of ska Laurel Aitken followed.


In the same year he founded the Swinging Laurels with college friend Gaz Birtles. They signed to Albion Records and their debut release Peace of Mind reached No 1 slot in the embryonic independent charts. By 1982 the outfit was gaining national music press attention and building a solid reputation as session brass players. During a hectic 1982 they:


Recorded a Radio One session for John Peel
Released a 4 track. EP A Taste of … on Dining Out Records
Signed to major label giant WEA Records
Played session brass on the Fun Boy Three hit The Telephone Always
Rings making several TV appearances including: Top of the Pops –
Cheggars Plays Pop – Saturday Superstore – Something
Else – Riverside – Generation 80 (Belgium) with Bananarama.
A video to promote the track was produced by Ultravox vocalist Midge Ure and featured cameo appearances by: Bananarama – Madness – Ultravox – Alexei Sayle and David ‘Kid’ Jensen.


Other recorded brass sessions included:


A Jerry Dammers produced single for 2-Tone Records by the Apollinaires called The Feelings Gone
Tracks on an album by Worldbackwards for Illuminated Records
A session with teen chart toppers Musical Youth (produced by the Fun Boy Three)
A single by Coventry band Splashdown
Work on the Fun Boy Three follow up hit Summertime.
Recordings with French chart act 24hrs
Live work with Coventry band Team 23 who were managed by Specials drummer
Brad (they later transformed into chart toppers King)
upported chart acts, Shakatak Ð Mari Wilson Ð Classix Nouveau.


The first Swinging Laurels WEA release, Rodeo, hit the streets in September 1982 and featured the distinctive percussive influence of Scritti Politti drummer Tom, but despite saturation Radio One airplay, was restricted to lower reaches of the national chart. Culture Club producer Steve Levine lent his expertise to the second single Lonely Boy which originally featured a fine vocal contribution by Boy George but due to contractual objections by his record label Virgin Records was eventually released minus his efforts.


1983 saw John touring with the Swinging Laurels, in their own right and as a special guests of Culture Club, at the request of Boy George who was a self-proclaimed fan. They were special guests on both of their sell-out UK tours in March and December. A Janice Long Radio One session was followed by a highly-successful Dutch festival tour where they supported Nick Lowe and Osibisa as well as headlining dates.


After parting company with WEA Records the Swinging Laurels formed their own label identity, Happy Records based, at their Leicester Studio Happy House.


The first Happy Records offering Zoom (Take the Test) achieved critical acclaim in 1984 and in promoting the disc they appeared on Radio One road shows hosted by disc jockeys Peter Powell and Adrian John.


Through 1985/86 John worked with Happy House featuring ex-Specials vocalist Rhoda Dakar. 1987 ushered in another Swinging Laurels platter Push and Shove through Happy Records.


During 1988 John was playing session sax with Food / Parlophone Records act Crazyhead, most notably on an eleven-nation tour of Europe and Scandinavia as special guests of godfather of punk Iggy Pop.


This was followed by a live T.V.appearance for the Thames Television series The Concert in 1989 and a slot at the prestigious Reading Festival. A chance