Unplugged at Rose and Crown

Bobby I Can Fly's So Much For Hollywood is the second track on our CD 'You said you loved me because my hair was like Cary Grant . . .' Cracking line that . . .
Vaguely Sunny - Isle of Wight Rock anthology CD, price £10 p&p

left to right: Duncan Jones, Mark Wonzencroft,
Dave Baker, Carl Grant,
Paul Armfield in boater, Jamie Shirlaw

Bobby I Can Fly

The late Robin Brittan who helped Craig Douglas rise to stardom in the late 1950s was involved with Bobby I Can Fly. The band was together between 1986 and 1998. Their impetus collapsed when Duncan Jones decided he would quit the band. He subsequently returned to the Island and began his long association with John Wroath in a variety of combos which eventually emerged as the Wayard Sons the band, and Sporting Life the duo.

Richard Baker, Dave Bakers brother was in the original band before Mark Wozencroft took over. The Baker Brothers had an excellent band doing covers of stuff like Breakfast at Tiffanys.

Mark Wozencroft has played in some of the great eighties and nineties Island bands including working with Chiz, Coochy and Frank in the gung ho Godsends. Now playing as BMW with Bobby Buchannon and Mick Cooch.

Carl Grant now lives in Woolston near Southampton, Jamie Shirlaw still lives on the Island. Paul Armfield performs in the Boogaloosers and Tzigane.

Robin Brittan said 'I'm interested' and they decided to send us off to London. We did a recording of Fall To Pieces and So Much For Hollywood. All this was all done on the idea that it would involve Guy Boorman.' - Paul Armfield

'The best, probably the Astoria with Bobby I Can Fly supporting a band called Fat and Franctic. There was a moment where I had 2,000 peple stood in front of me, my first time every on a stage that size that size, with a spotlight at my head level, shining through the crowd, and for some reason I just dropped my hands and started clapping, and I suddenly had 2,000 people clapping, with just the drummer going, which was just the most amazing thing of my whole life.' - Duncan Jones quoted from Absolute Zero fanzine.

Duncan Jones quits after the Astoria gig. 'At the end of the evening it was 'Bobee Bobee' from people who never seen us before. Absolute bombshell. We'd just done our biggest gig.' - Dave Baker.

Adam Kirk replaced Duncan Jones, he was still at school. Later Adam was in the Bronte Brothers (hence the line in Keith Gore's song Diamond Wight about the Bronte Brothers barbecuing their mandolins on Gurnard Beach).

Since his time at Leeds School of Music Adam has gained a growing reputation as a guitarist with Tanita Takarim, Sinead Lohan and now Joan Baez. He recently did a great support gig for us with Paul Armfield for our Kate Rusby concert at the Medina Theatre. Paul and Adam's set was videod by John Rhodes.