We rarely ever hear anything about Jeff's private life, so I thought that the following would interest his fans.
Roger 'Ollie' Spencer was the drummer with The Idle Race. This Birmingham-based band was a key link in the formation of The E.L.O. Jeff Lynne was in their line-up for several years and their main songwriter. Ollie is still in touch with the other members of The Idle Race, and still very proud of his work with Jeff and the band, this is the interview Ollie gave to Digger at
www.retrosellers.com
Excerpt on Jeff:
Digger: I wonder what would have happened if The Idle Race has been as big as The Stones or The Beatles?
Ollie: I'd have probably been dead by now. I'm sure it was meant to be. There's a longevity about not being famous. I think Jeff's come through it very well - he's been to hell and back and I went to see him last year and his wonderful home he's got in Beverly Hills and I emphasise that word HOME. It's a lovely home and a wonderful lady Camilla, who is stunning. The amazing thing about Jeff is that he speaks exactly the same now as the day I met him. He came over a couple of years ago and he wanted a curry and we went down to Broad Street and went to a curry buffet cafe and he said "I don't like this, where's the flock wallpaper? " So we came out of this posh buffet cafe and went down the road and found this really old naff curry house with flock wallpaper. "Oohh, that's more like it!" he said.
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hmmmm now that sounds sooooo familiar - remember this?
Susan spent the weekend at her stately home
Crying at the lions on the garden wall
And then she'd sigh -- sneak away
Look at her style -- free the day
Oh no not me -- I wouldn't
Oh no not me -- I couldn't
That's all she says, her money and her place
They just don't mean a f*%king thing