Spoken Word Tour: Aye Aye! Ahoy Hoy!
with Danny Baker
Swan Theatre, Worcester 4th May 2025
Most of us knew what to expect from our night out with the garrulous Danny Baker, most, except Baker himself. For over two hours we were held ransom by the piratical raconteur as a seemingly ad-libbed show of memories, anecdotes and observations, from the previous 50 years ebbed and flowed and sallied forth! Glorious.
Baker glories in telling stories, especially after 5 decades in “show business” and his “bear-trap of a memory” allows for a comprehensive range of gossip and insight. We now know it was not a good idea to mention Frankie Howard’s wig. Danny La Rue was clearly deluded but at least our host Danny had the quiet grace to admit to the impressionist he was named after him – I’m not sure this is true.
In truth the evening was both fascinating and charming throughout. However, the darker side of show business was revealed when Hughie Green’s verdant language was mentioned and as for Freddie Star’s behaviour, well this anecdote would not shine in any galaxy. All told with the enthusiasm of a school boy regaling his mates about Mr. Crosley losing it in bottom-set French.
“Vive la difference!” It was not all about show business on the night. Baker can also rely on his colourful and picaresque childhood to mine a treasure trove of humorous stories – without a map. His father, Spud, was recognised on the screen by most in the packed Swan theatre. Although, I don’t think one of us could recognise the childhood. Of course, many of the tales bordered on the criminal but as Baker insisted…“you wouldn’t have said that to his Dad’s face.”
Many faces cracked into smiles or outright laughter as the legends about grenades detonating in the street, participates in “Reader’s Wives” not being given any privacy and the tortoise that wouldn’t do as it was told were offered up to our spy-glass for enjoyment. The Bakers were clearly a tight-knit family, not least, bound by the comedy of the every day.
The chap sat next to me who had come alone, judging by his enraptured engagement, certainly did not feel alone with the offering of two hours of family fun. His chuckles were a constant throughout.
It’s funny but Danny Baker’s launch in the business is perhaps forgotten by many? He began writing for his own Punk magazine “Sniffin’ Glue” and then for the esteemed music paper N.M.E. Baker knows how to engage an audience with language and his lexicon is impressive for a South-East London lad, evidently self-taught. This is a man that toured for reviewing purposes with The Jam, The Clash, The Sex Pistols, the Damned, the Rolling stones, Led Zeppelin and this is not an exhaustive list.
Danny Baker’s storying telling is inexhaustible. Taking pride in his loquacious attributes the story-teller appeared reluctant to leave the stage, as we knew he would. Apologising for not being able to answer all the questions submitted before explaining this was probably his last tour: “as he was starting to disintegrate at the age of 70”. Shame. Memorably, the applause cannoned off the Swan theatre’s walls. A night with Danny Baker is as unforgettable as the skull and cross-bones unfurling on the horizon.
By: Swilgate Scuttler