No Time to Cry: Tales of a Leicester Bouncer Jeff Shaw
Who Am I? • 15 years experience as a Doorman • I didn’t and don’t like to be called a Bouncer • Too many negative images • Look at the tales of Geoff Thompson, Stilks, Cas Pennant • None of whom I had any PS: We didn’t get knowledge of!! called Door Supervisors then
The Good Old Days • I’d been training at Sugars Gym for years • Steroid use was very open • Nubret’s Gym was a regular haunt • 40+ years Bodybuilding Not taken • Arnold – my hero any • Steroids steroids • Trophobolene, Dianabol, Durabolin, Deca Durabolin, Primoblan, since Anavar, Winstrol, Methyl Testosterone, Testosterone and more 1989
Why Write a Book? •Living in Australia and had been writing a Newsletter •Included ‘funny’ snippets of my old life • Publishing a book was never on my mind •Made redundant so used the time to write it all down • Poured out of me •Early versions were REALLY nasty • I’ve been attacked and criticised
Publish? Never! •Sent about 100 copies out to friends and family • Convinced me to turn it into a book •No publishing house would touch it • Self-published •Believed I would never sell ONE ISBN-13: 978-1468101591
What’s the Story Then? ‘1980's Leicester – a dull and grey city in the East Midlands’ ‘The emergence of the Alternative crowd’ ‘Steroids’ ‘A new type of bar – Helsinki’s’ ‘A respectable city centre hotel’ ‘Shy old me’ ‘the Goth Magnet’ ‘A bastard boss’ ‘I changed. Doorwork changed me ’ ‘Something had to give’ ‘ … and it DID!’
Shy Old Me • Didn’t drink or smoke • N ever went to the movies • Didn't go out for meals • Had few friends outside the gym • Didn’t even take an aspirin • Guess I was boring. V-E-R-Y • There really isn't much else to say
Bouncing • NEVER wanted to be a Doorman • Steroids and a rubbish car drained me of cash • Getting a door job was easy – no SIA • USELESS, scared, intimidated and uncomfortable • HATED it… thumpity-thump • Pretty soon back to no cash • Stumbled across Helsinki’s (January 1984) • GOB-SMACKED
A Timeline Year Event 1972 Started training 1983 Steroids 1983 Force 8 1984 Helsinki Bar 1984 Centre Bar 1985 The Meteors 1986 Last Contest 1988 Bastard Boss 1989 Drug Free 1990 Bar Closes 1991 Security 1992 Spencers 1993 Injured 1997 Emporium 1998 Retired
The Helsinki Bar
The Helsinki Bar • Located in the quieter part of town • Right off the street with warehouses and offices either side • Huge glass windows that would steam up • Piano towards the back • Chalk boards offering a bewildering array of exotic cocktails • Not Force 8! We didn’t stop a soul • Students, Punks, Goths, Rockabillys, Psychobillys, singers, druggies, gays, happy people • Women! • Me on the door. My door
Customers
The Centre Bar • Hidden beneath the variously named Centre, Penguin and International Hotel • Same crowd • Similar music • Bands • Parties • Weddings • My skills expanded rapidly • Loved it! • Closed at start of the 90’s • Went to Spencers
The Alternative World I didn’t have a CLUE!!! One of my first influences: Sisters of Mercy - No Time to Cry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCbTf0uLVG8 Thanks Sharon: Killing Joke - Love Like Blood http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znjRf1zh2fA Leicester’s own: Crazyhead - Time Has Taken its Toll on You http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fARsQd4Tp5w&feature=fvwrel The chicken dance: Meteors - Wreckin Crew http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey8E5UPP-4M
Bodybuilding and Doorwork • Started to take more and more and more steroids • Wanted to be Mr. Olympia • Drugs gave me confidence • Never won a thing • Stopped competing Loved being called ‘Big’ Jeff
The Effects of the Gear THE BAD THE GOOD • Bit spotty. A bit! • Size, size and more size • Marginally aggressive… um… • Da pump! • Stretch marks • Strong as an ox – • Nose bleeds 620lb squats for • All good things come reps to an END • Sexy – yeah!
A Different Man • Coupled with an difficult boss lost all rationale and care • Very cold • No more thumpity-thumps • Bombing? Who cares? • Glassing ? • It’s only a scratch • Another woman? Um… • Rude to everyone
Something Had to Give • Cried a lot • What was wrong with me? • Came off the gear - cold turkey • Got another job • Started to calm down • Spent a lot of time • reading, learning, rationalising • Finally got it in perspective
Retirement • Didn’t like to be hemmed in • Old and out of place on the doors • Over for me • Missed it for years • Getting dressed up • My door buddies • Meeting people • Having a good time • Didn’t miss the hassle
The Reunion • Came back from Australia in 2009 • Not happy - no job • Sought better memories • Seems a lot of people felt the same! Maybe the 80’s WERE great!
‘A story of the risk of achieving the ultimate physique at all costs’ Warks ‘It got to the point where I couldn’t put it down’ Rob D ‘You certainly do bare your soul’ PP ‘Not pretentious, just honest’ Dan ‘So many names, so many memories’ Kim B ‘Damn good read’ Jon ‘A very worthwhile read from a warm and frank author’ Dan B No Time to Cry: Tales of a Leicester Bouncer ISBN-13: 978-1468101591
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