1984 ~ 1985
Dynacord Deal | The Tube TV +++
A licence deal! I met Jermaine Jackson & fucked up UK alt TV show ‘The Tube’!
A Big year!
Over the 3 years since 1981, I'd been working on The Jamma: building and testing various versions. With the unbelievable support from a dear friend Paul, (who financed the early development of The Jamma), I managed to create a really cool working version. I applied for a patent and it was granted.
In the summer of 1984 we performed at the live outdoor TV show ‘Formel Enis’ in Germany. I remember Jermaine Jackson coming up to me after our performance saying to me; “name your price Pete, my brother will love this”(The Jamma)... I still laugh about my reply to this day! Read the full meeting Jermaine Jackson story about that.
Of course I got to meet Michael Jackson many years later, and, he did love it! But, what if I'd followed up with Jermaine all those years before?
Formel Enis, was where Claus from Dynacord got to see the Rhythm Stick in action and basically ended up rocking up at the flat where me and the band were living in Greenwich. He said they were interested in licensing The Jamma. Just like that! Once again Paul really helped, and negotiated with Dynacord and a license deal was signed. I could not have done that without Paul.
Adding more fun and adrenaline to 1984, my band (renamed SHASS) had its first single ‘Money Talks’ released.
In November 1984, I was demoing The Jamma (*live*) on the seminal UK alt TV show The Tube. This is where Jools Holland the presenter got his first ‘strike’ for swearing. The second time he swore, basically closed the show!
Happy, heady days… Back then…