PETER
(TUBBY) BROWN - PAST TO PRESENT
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In the late sixties and through the
seventies, North East clubland would strike fear into
most of the country’s up-and-coming comedians.
Even nowadays, comics who went on to be some of entertainments
biggest names will readily agree that if you could work
the North East clubs you could work anywhere and would
class it as a big learning curve in their careers.
Those
were the days – clubs packed every time there
was a ‘turn’ on, no matter who they were,
men only bars, cheap beer and if there was a 10p cover
charge you would get the old-timers saying “10p!!.....who
the hell’s on – Frank Sinatra?” Well,
I’m proud to say I’ve been there, done it,
and got that t-shirt. |
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It
all started for me in 1974 when a girlfriend at the time
took me along to Percy Main Club to see her brother-in-law
perform there. The band which was well established in the
North East of England was called the Don Juans. It
was the start of a great friendship and I found myself going
out with them most nights, helping with their gear and setting
up the comedy props.
Then
in 1975 out of the blue, the drummer left. As I was a bit
of a mimic, able to do various voices and take-offs, the
other lads asked if I could do one or two small parts which
would enable them more time to change between sketches.
After
a while I found I was doing more and more on stage, and
the show was going great with still no sign of a replacement.
Then in early 1976 we had a photo session where I was included
on the posters – I was now in the band.
From
being a shy lad in my teens I was now a professional entertainer
and touring throughout the UK and abroad. As well as being
well known in the North East the band was very popular in
Scotland, South Wales, Cumbria and parts of the Midlands.
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Throughout
my time with the band, we were lucky enough to work
with many big named acts from the sixties and seventies.
These were artists who I thought were a million miles
away when I used to watch them on various TV shows,
such as Top of the Pops.
Things
were going well as we were voted Best Comedy Show in
the North East three years running. We also made our
TV debut with Yorkshire TVs programme Rock with Laughter
which ran for six weeks featuring the likes of the Ivy
League and a then up and coming star Phil Cool. |
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Whilst being in the band for around twenty
five years I gathered a great deal of experience working in
all types of venues, such as military camps, both home and
abroad. Hotels, social clubs, theatres, cabaret clubs and
Christmas Shows. We also performed at many well known holiday
parks nationwide.
As
we all know, things move on but unfortunately in the nineties
many social and working men’s clubs did not. With the
decline of heavy industries and many young people choosing
fun pubs, hundreds of once popular clubs struggled and many
closed down altogether. Sadly, in the new millennium the combination
of this decline together with the untimely death of one of
the founder members of the band after a long battle with cancer,
I decided it was time for a change of direction. |
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Towards the end of my involvement with the band we
used to do a ten minute tribute sketch to the great
Royston Vasey (Roy Chubby Brown) who we actually worked
with in the mid seventies. This was a very popular
part the show and after a short break from entertainment
I bowed to pressure from friends and decided to take
the Chubby Brown tribute show further. At the time
I decided not to copy the great man’s show word
for word and as much as possible use my own ideas
and other adapted material as well as ideas relating
to whatever region I am working in at the time.
Now
well established as a Chubby Brown Tribute, Tubby
Brown (Tubby Broon in the North East) I am working
tribute shows nationwide, hotels, pubs, clubs, stag
shows, golf, cricket and rugby clubs, football presentations,
army and TA bases, Round Table and various charity
events, also private parties and even a Hells Angels
Chapter.
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| For
the past four years I have spent the summer season working
in the popular tourist resorts on the Greek island of
Kos as well as working various venues on the Costa del
Sol region of Spain during the winter months. |
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Apart
from the Chubby Brown tribute show I have also been
working as a stand-up comic under my own name Peter
Brown. This act has taken me to many of the types of
venues mentioned above and is especially suited to cabaret,
corporate, sports and after-dinner events.
There
we have it – from the past to the present and
still going strong after nearly thirty years. So a big
thanks to the fellow professionals who have helped and
guided me through the ups and downs in my career.
If
you are interested in either of these shows please don’t
hesitate to contact me for further information. Both
acts comprise mainly of one spot lasting anywhere between
1 – 1 ½ hours and can be fully self-contained
if required. |
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