No headpine

ONE pop star who has No Regrets about nearly 40 years of British adulation is 60-year-old John Maus. Better known as John Walker of the Walker Brothers, he was part of a trio which once rivalled The Beatles and The Rolling Stones for record sales back in 1965.

Yet the threesome weren't brothers, none of them was called Walker and the band wasn't British - they originated in Los Angeles - but hardly had a hit or an appearance in the US.

Even today, John Walker confesses he shakes his head when a Walker Brothers song is played on US radio "because we're always introduced as 'and now a record from England by The Walker Brothers'. It's a feeling of ok, whatever makes you happy.

"Financially, I suppose America was the wonderful place to go, but it didn't seem important then and I don't really think about it that much now. We were in demand in Britain and there always seemed to be tours of Europe. It just never happened for us in America."

John returned to California when the band split up for the second time in the mid-1970s after No Regrets became a hit single and album in 1974. Now he's back touring again, after training as a sound engineer and launching a publishing company called Arena Artistes Association, and having produced a solo album called You and a CD based around the stage show.

John admits that he had some reservations about re-creating hit ballads like Make It Easy On Yourself, My Ship Is Coming In and The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore that were associated with John, Scott and Gary Walker (in real life his 'brothers' were Scott Engel and Gary Leeds).

"Originally, I was really uncomfortable about the problem of doing Walker Brothers singles when you don't have the Walker Brothers. But I think what I'm doing is a great representation of our work. It's the best that you can do in the circumstances."

The band's first split came in the late 1960s, mainly due to Scott's burgeoning solo career, although John agrees that the lead singer struggled to cope with that level of pressure. But he laughs about the much-reported story of the time that Scott needed to go into a monastery.

"I think that was more for publicity than anything else. Everybody did strange things to see if they could rattle the Press a little.

"We don't stay in touch that much, although I've just had a call from Gary because I'm touring in Britain. Scott pretty much keeps to himself. I'm not quite sure what he's doing these days.

"I've coped with our success in England by keeping really busy. I don't really think about it, I think about the next project. I'm on this tour now and after that I'll do another CD."

John talks enthusiastically about working with his classically-trained new wife Cynthia and The Walker Brothers original drummer - before Gary Leeds - Al Sneider.

Forty years on he confesses he's a little surprised at the high level of interest in 60s hit artists. "What's a good thing is that The Dakotas, Wayne Fontana, Brian Hyland and Peter Noone and myself are ensuring that there's a lot going on for the audience. I know that individual bands can be entertaining because some can play 17 hit records but, for the most part, it's like the old style of touring when you had lots of bands on the bill.

"Just about the time you might get bored they're gone," he jokes.

"I'm enjoying it and I like the people on it, which makes it interesting."

His best story from the 1960s comes from a Royal Variety Performance, when the Walkers Brothers were introduced to Prince Philip, who found it fascinating that a Californian band should have come to England to find success.

"I was absolutely in awe of this man, but Gary told him that we were here because we like the weather. I couldn't believe he said that," laughs John.

As for touring at 60 as a 60s star he adds: "Peter Noone, who says he's the youngest on the show at 55, says 'You know how they put these shows together don't you? The promoter calls everybody and sees who's still alive.' I'd never thought of it like that," he chuckles.

* The Solid Silver 60s Show 2004 can be seen at Darlington's Civic Theatre tomorrow, box office: (01325) 486 555, and Sunderland's Empire on April 10: 0870 602 1130