You did not mention people like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie and that area of musicians. You talked about Johnny Dodds and Louis Armstrong.

Years ago I wanted to play Chuck Berry songs with jazz musicians but they thought it was inferior.

When I reflect on how things have changed, I can't help but laugh.

We weren't a skiffle band, we were a blues band, and we had many rows with Decca. They still insisted on calling it skiffle.

We were completely without any sort of worry; we weren't giving up anything. It was like you were serving God and man at the same time and enjoying both.

We played very small grotty clubs, because that was the only place you could get jazz bands into.

We didn't play the pop ballrooms, so I don't think the development of pop music had much to do with us.

We all felt that jazz could be popular if it were properly presented. That hasn't really ever happened.

War at that age was pretty romantic for an 11-year-old boy. Just super fireworks.