In 1988, my girlfriend Amanda (later wife, later ex-wife) was introduced to Alex by Helen, Amanda's best friend. Amanda took immediate exception to him, Alex and Helen are now completely married, and Amanda and Helen are completely split!

Alex was certainly unusual, unique and in my face. His face, however, framed by a thick ginger beard and wiry ginger hair, balanced on a skinny frame, made him resemble a Swan Vesta match, wholly appropriate for a man of such fiery demeanour.

A year or so passed until our second meeting and he really impressed me with his songs, and missing beard. I produced a series of demos for him.

In 1995 he turned up with a band, Jaksi, whose members included BIG TOM (bass and harmonica) and Garry. I recorded them live in my house, and it was getting good, but I didn't really see the two of them again until they appeared asking me to produce an album of Simon & Garfunkel songs they had been commissioned to record. We worked on that for 10 days only, due to the budget. A year later they returned to do a Beatle tribute album, and I got more involved on the playing and singing side. After a month the record was finished, I played it to the new love of my life, The Farmer's Wife, and she became our manager and we became Mice.