Page 188 of Edge of Eternity (The Century 3)

"We might change it," Dave had said, willing to do anything for a booking at the Jump Club.

"The latest vogue is a name from an old blues, like the Rolling Stones."

Dave recalled a track by Booker T. and the MGs that he had heard a few days earlier. He had been struck by its oddball name. "How about Plum Nellie?" he had said.

Hank had liked that, and told the club they should try out a new group called Plum Nellie. A suggestion from someone as famous as Hank was like a command, and the group got the gig.

But when Dave had proposed the name change, Lenny had turned it down flat. "The Guardsmen we are, and the Guardsmen we stay," he had said mulishly, and started talking about something else. Dave had not dared to tell him the Jump Club already thought they were called Plum Nellie.

Now the crisis was approaching.

At the sound check they played "Lucille." After the first verse, Dave stopped and turned to the lead guitarist, Geoffrey. "What the fuck was that?" Dave said.

"What?"

"You played something weird halfway through."

Geoffrey gave a knowing smile. "Nothing. It's just a passing chord."

"It's not on the record."

"What's the matter, can't you play C sharp diminished?"

Dave knew exactly what was going on. Geoffrey was trying to show him up as a beginner. But unfortunately Dave had never heard of a diminished chord.

Lenny said: "Known to pub pianists as a double minor, Dave."

Swallowing his pride, Dave said to Geoffrey: "Show me."

Geoffrey rolled up his eyes and sighed, but he demonstrated the chord shape. "Like that, all right?" he said wearily, as if tired of dealing with amateurs.

Dave copied the chord. It was not difficult. "Next time, tell me before we play the fucking song," he said.

After that it went well. Phil Burleigh, the owner of the club, entered in the middle and listened. Being prematurely bald, he was naturally known as Curly Burleigh. At the end he nodded approval. "Thank you, Plum Nellie," he said.

Lenny shot a filthy look at Dave. "The group is called the Guardsmen," he said firmly.

Dave said: "We discussed changing it."

"You discussed it. I said no."

Curly said: "The Guardsmen is a terrible name, mate."

"It's what we're called."

"Listen, Byron Chesterfield is coming in tonight," Curly said with a note of desperation. "He's the most important promoter in London--in Europe, probably. You might get work from him--but not with that name."

"Byron Chesterfield?" said Lenny, laughing. "I've known him all my life. His real name is Brian Chesnowitz. His brother's got a stall in Aldgate Market."

Curly said: "It's your name I'm worried about, not his."

"Our name is fine."

"I can't put on a group called the Guardsmen. I've got a reputation." Curly stood up. "I'm sorry, lads," he said. "Pack up your gear."

Dave said: "Come on, Curly, you don't want to piss off Hank Remington."

"Hank's an old mate," said Curly. "We played skiffle together at the 2i's Coffee Bar in the fifties. But he recommended me a group called Plum Nellie, not the Guardsmen."

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