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Brian gave an interview to a New Zealand newspaper, the Taranaki Sports which appeared in their Saturday September 4th 1965 edition. The music page it appears on was complied by John McBeth and I assume it was he who interviewed Brian. I am indebted to Mike Stax for giving me permission to copy the interview from his book Don't Bring Me Down...Under.

It is the now only other interview Brian is known to have given apart from that in 1994 with Terry Coates. As with that interview, while detailed and fascinating, the ever-enigmatic Brian gives very little away about himself as a person, although he refers to his love of shooting and once again confirms that he began playing guitar at 17 and how he started out playing with jazz bands (although recent information indicates that he began learning guitar a few years before). The veil of secrecy over his private life remains however; his comment about girlfriends "You might say I've got a steady," was something of an understatement; he was married and had become a father whilst in New Zealand.

Here is the exact interview reproduced from the newspaper.

BACKSTAGE WITH A PRETTY THING

Pretty Thing Brian Pendleton took a quick draw on his cigarette, leaned back against a dressing room bench, and said in a voice as lazy as the hazy smoke hovering around his head: "New Zealand is 25 years behind the times."

On stage above us in the New Plymouth Opera House there was a resounding crash as artists arranged their equipment for the late show.

The tall guitarist of Britain's way-out rhythm 'n' blues group jerked forward and gazed at the cold concrete wall in front on him. "All the places here look like Western towns" he drawled. "One thing that amazes me is that all the houses are single-storey. I haven't seen a block of flats yet."

However he did confess that he would like to see much more of the country and do a spot of shooting - deer preferably.

"It's too far to come for a holiday" he said. "It costs too much in fares."

What did he think of New Zealand audiences? "Fairly quiet on the whole - but we had some pretty raving nights," he said, giving a knowing look to bassist Johnny Harrison (a member of the Mike Perjanik Showband) who was propped up against the wall.

How would they compare with those in England. "Well, London is pretty conservative, but in the North they really kick up a storm"

I asked Brian about the birth of the wild, non-conformist group. He told me that it really began when bearded lead guitarist Dick Taylor left the Rolling Stones to concentrate on his studies at art school.

"He found playing interered with his studies. And anyway he was fed up with playing bass," Brian remarked.

When Dick met vocalist Phil May - the member with the longest hair - at the school and later bass guitarist John Stax, the three decided to form an outfit.

"They advertised for a rhythm guitarist," Brian said, "and as I knew Dick I decided to apply.

"I started playing very late in life - at 17 - with main stream jazz groups, and also sitting in with groups at local clubs. I had never played rhythm 'n' blues before but I think the jazz experience I had must have helped me.

"We did our first job with a different drummer - but he wasn't any good. Then we met Viv (Prince) in Denmark St - a Tin Pan Alley sort of place - and asked him to join us."

Brian said the group had visited Germany and Holland, but this was their first tour outside Europe.

Then we moved on to that controversial subject - HAIR. Brian quenched his thirst with a soft drink. "It is our image really," he said. "I used to have very short hair, but then I grew it long - and now I like it this way. It's not a gimmick as far as I am concerned, it's just personal taste."

He looked out from under his neatly trimmed fringe."Some people object to it. We get the odd offer for a punch-up, but we just ignore them. Some restaurants and pubs won't serve us."

He was waiting for my next question. "Just because we sound something like the Stones, everyone says we are copying. Actually our music is very different."

After seeing both groups in action, I would agree with him. They are both as far apart on stage as they are on record.

Brian is an advocate of the belief that guitars in groups will go on "for ever." But he agrees that bigger bands could come into much greater prominence.

"I like the sax sound," he volunteered. "It has always been there but the people in England just don't realise it."

The gangling guitarist realises the Pretty Things will not last for many years now. And already he has serious thoughts for the future.

"Playing jazz is my main ambition," he told me "I still want to keep on playing guitar, but I'd hate to do a Victor Sylvester sort of thing."

Brian is also keen to try other fields. "I would like to do session work - but I'm not good enough yet. It will require a lot of practice.

"Whatever happens," he said "I want to play with bands that will last."

The immediate future holds one big promise for the Pretties.

In November, Brian revealed, it is hoped that the group will make a tour of the United States. Negotiations are at present being finalised.

"We have had offers in the past, but they were for not enough money," he said bluntly.

Several new tracks are also in the can, but it has not yet been decided which number will be released to follow their current hit, "Cry To Me."

Finally, what about girl friends? He grinned: "You might say I've got a steady - I suppose we all have really. John and Viv are engaged."

Of course the much hoped-for US tour never happened.

Ironically the Pretty Things would last for many years - but not in the way Brian perhaps envisaged.

It is clear that Brian was considering his future, not necessarily with the Pretty Things but certainly to continue in the music business full time. As time would tell, sadly this would not be how things turned out.

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