Radio Gonzo

I remember exactly where I was when I first heard of Judge Smith. I was sitting in the car park behind what is now Chope's department store in Bideford High Street. I had just bought a copy of the Not the Nine O'Clock News album. Being somewhat inclined toward anal compulsiveness I was happily perusing the liner notes on the back, and I noted that my favourite song on the album had been written by a guy named Judge Smith. What a strange name, I thought. Over the years, I heard quite a lot about this guy. It turned out that he was a founder member of cerebral proggers Van der Graaf Generator, and had also composed a number of witty and erudite stage musicals. Roll on about 20 years. My first wife was working for a very dodgy concert promoter. Said concert promoter had a friend called Charlie Salt, and one day, after a meeting with this bloke, Alison came back and asked me if I'd heard of a composer called Judge Smith? I told her that I had, and recounted roughly what I have already told you SO FAR in this ar