Word In Your Ear Andy Bown remembers the Herd, Judas Jump and 47 years in Status Quo
Feb 10, 2026
Andy Bown, veteran English musician from The Herd, Judas Jump and 47 years in Status Quo. He recalls playing with Bowie, Hendrix and Jerry Lee Lewis, the wild rise and money realities of 60s bands, co-writing “Whatever You Want,” and rediscovering a sci-fi song cycle he wrote with Russell Hoban. Short, vivid stories about life on stage and studio oddities.
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Learning Bass Overnight
- Andy Bown learned bass in five days and played his first gig at 17 with The Preachers at Westrom Village Hall.
- A band crash ended that lineup when the guitarist went through a windscreen and suffered a brain laceration.
Big Pay, Small Wages
- The Herd had hits but played heavy schedules, earning £225 a night while members got tiny weekly wages.
- Andy reflects on managers taking most of the money and the band not recording what they actually played.
Up Close With Jimi
- Andy remembers supporting Jimi Hendrix at the Saville Theatre and standing eight feet from Hendrix as he lit his guitar.
- He recalls feeling the heat and describes Hendrix as a lovely, quiet man.
