Originally, there was no licensed bar in the Marquee and during the intermission or before their set, all the bands would rush out and have a drink at the Ship, which was just down the road. So if you wanted an interview, you’d just go into the Ship and I’d find, say, Jeff Beck standing at the bar, or Keith Moon, Keith Relf or Eric Clapton.

You’d go up to them and have a chat and ask them how it was all going - and they might come out with something exciting like “We hate our manager!” or “We’re breaking up next week!” It was all unguarded remarks; there was no going through a P.R. or setting up an interview or having picture approval, none of that - we’d all end up sitting in the corner, having a jolly good laugh!

I think the first band I saw at the Marquee when it moved to Wardour Street was the Yardbirds and I went to interview them in the Ship. I also remember interviewing Boz Burrell in the bar of the Ship and him confessing to me about smoking dope. He was the first person I’d met who offered me a joint!

When Keith Moon came in, all hell would break loose. I wasn’t actually there, but he came in one night and let off a maroon rocket, so the whole pub filled with smoke and everybody had to leave. He was barred for years afterwards!

The other nice thing in the Ship was that the landlord always made friends with the groups and he would actually lend them money when they were broke!

Were you a regular at the Ship in the Sixties? Did you spot any stars at the bar? Share your memories here: