the andy cochran tapes
Music was a big thing in the late fifties, you think the boys didn’t know that?
So scroll down and play the hit of the day while you read.
Take Andy Cochran, the stout of the south, the carney kid. Not only did Andy have the moves, he had the babes. How they flocked.
You wanna be this bloke? Have that zest, that style, that pompadour ?
That babe?
Word had it she just walked up to him after he exited the pit showered and changed after a rambunctious session out the back, plonked on his lap, had her publicity stooge take the shot, invited him for lunch, gave him her hotel key and three weeks later she flew him to Hawaii.
Everyone knew a bloke like Cochran, if you wanted to know what party to go to on a Saturday night, uninvited, you’d ask him because he always rolled up there with about five babes on each arm. Today we follow the guy with the drugs, back in the day we followed the guy with the babes. That’s evolution for you going backwards.
Hawaii is where Wheels, Dooley and Bennet pretended to play tennis while all the while they were envying Rick D Router’s skill at collecting lobsters.
Mike Bennett confided in me some time back (he’s the stud on the left) – so long ago he’s probably forgot – but nevertheless Col Collyer can confirm the unsubstantiated rumour that the only song Andy kept bubbling was this one.
Do wop, deeoobie oobie do wop.
If they don’t mean what they say?
They make me glad, they make me sad
They make me wanna a lot of things that I never had
Well you lead me on and then you run away
Well that’s all right
I’ll get you alone tonight
And baby you’ll find your messing with dynamite
If they don’t mean what they say?What do you wanna make those eyes at me for
If they don’t mean what they say?
They make me glad, they make me sad
They make me wanna a lot of things that I never had
Well you lead me on and then you run away
Well that’s all right
I’ll get you alone tonight
And baby you’ll find your messing with dynamite
If they don’t mean what they say?
If they don’t mean what they say?Yeah
petebowes.com 
Andy was out here last weekend for a Da Fin promotion and has now gone back to Hawaii.
Hello Pete – well Andy was back in Bondi last weekend…prowling the promenade, not missing a trick, telling the receptive crew from a later era what took place back in the day. Sure we’d all heard the stories before , but nothing beats having Mr. Dynamite tell them again.
Andy will revisit Bondi again early next year and the audience in the Lush Coffee shop at the Pavilion will double as we are again told about what went on in Gelignite Jack’s car centre in Curlewis St. Andy finished his story telling by removing his Cap to show the Pompadour is still there .
He’s now the last of the South Bondi Boys left in Hawaii and admits he misses Bondi banter and humour,….and other things !!!
Keep well.👍
Hi guys. Andy called me from North Bondi the day he was leaving. Bennett he said, you should be here with me they’re everywhere. My God you should see this (meaning them) unbelievable, they’re beautiful! On, and on and on he went, Andy will never change….and I don’t want him too! Come to think of it I haven’t talked to him since. Wonder if he’s still there?
Mike, I hope to be passing through Scottsdale next year, say between May through August. Plans aren’t firmed yet but I’ll send you an email. Hope to catch Andy on way home via Hawaii.
Cheers Red Ted
Any time Red Ted. It would be great to see you and talk about the old days. Send me an email when you can and I’ll give you my address, mobil etc. Just remember May’s a beautiful time of year but June, July, August, are hot, hot, hot. I’m shooting to be in Hawaii, August & September so the three of us together would be a lot of fun. Stay in touch mate. Aloha for now.
Mike
HI,PETE,
FOR 5,OR 6 YEARS WISH I WAS THERE,A LONLY PLACE HAWAII,IF YOU DONT HAVE YOUR MATES,
WHEELS ,HAS GONE,MISS THE STORIES WE USE TO SHARE,AND MISS THE DAYS IN JACK MURRYS GARAGE ,I HAVE TO MANY STORIES ABOUT THAT TIME.
JACK WAS LIKE A DAD TO ME ,I DROVE HIS CABS,WHILE I WAS A FIRE MAN AT BONDI STATION,
ONE DAY I WAS WALKING UP THE STREET,AND MURRY WAS COMING OUT OF HIS GARAGE,HE ASKED ME WHERE ARE YOU GOING,I SAID HOME ,HE SAID GET IN I WILL DROP YOU OFF,MY MUM WAS OUT SIDE,HE SAID HERE IS THE BREAD YOU WANTED,THEN HE SAID I AM TAKING ANDY UP TO SACKVILLE AND TEACH HIM HOW TO SKI,A GREAT MAN ,I ALWAYS REMBER,HE SAID DONT DRINK ,DONT SMOKE,DONT GAMBLE,AND YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A BUCK IN YOUR POCKET.
SO STAY WITH THE WOMAN,THERE GOING TO KILL .YOU ANYWAY SO I DID.
HE HAD A 59 PLYMOUTH FURY,I LOVED THAT CAR,I ASKED HIM IF I COULD BUY IT ONE DAY,HE SAID SURE,TIME WENT BY ,I HAD TO GO TO HOSPITAL FOR A FEW DAYS ,HE CAME TO VISIT ME,HE SAID DONT WORRY ABOUT GETTING HOME ,THE FURY WAS OUT SIDE,IT WAS THE ONLY ONE IN AUST,I LOVED THAT CAR, I DROVE IT TO THE FIRE STATION,NEXT TO THE BOLLING CLUB,EVERY ONE THOUGHT I WAS THE PRESIDERTOF THE CLUB,
ANY WAY THAT WAS MY TIME WITH A GREAT MAN
PLENTY OF OUTHER STORIES ,BUT CANT PUT THEM ON PAPER,
THATS IT FROM HAWAII,I THINK I AM ON GILLIGANY ILD,
BUT THERE IS MANY OTHER PLACES WORSE THEN HERE,
SORRT ABOUTTHE STORIES,BUT NOTHING ELSE TO DO BUT REMBER THE FUN TIMES,
AFTER TERRY WAS SAYING ABOUT MURRY,IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO,BUT A GOOD TIME.
SAY HI TO ANY ONE LEFT FROM THE BONDI SCHOOL.
I WISH I COULD COME HOME,43,YEARS HERE,IN HAWAII,YOU DONT GET THAT FOR DOUBLE MURDER,
I HOPE I HAVENT BORED YOU WITH A LITTLE STORY.
TAKE CARE PETE,
I HOPE WE STILL HAVE SOME TIME,80.THIS YEAR,DIDNT THINK I WOULD MAKE IT TO 70.
SAY HI TO TERRY,RED,
LUCKY ,I STILL HAVE DOOLEY,AND BENNETT,RICK IS BACK ,DOING IT HARD LIVING ON 3 PENCIONS,
AGAIN SORRY FOR THE GRAMMER,I JUST WRITE WHAT I THINK,AND PRAY FOR THE ,BEST
BONDI FOREVER AND EVER
ANDY,C.
.,,
,.
Don’t ever be sorry about your stories, Andy, but you must keep them coming.
Hi Peter, you’ll get my email from this, my number is 0417 683 680 and I’m still at Bondi. I catch up with Andy when in Hawaii and he also joins us at the Table of Knowledge at Bondi on his visits. We did Wheels paddle out about 2 years ago. I understand you’ve moved to Ballina. Not sure when I’ll be up next again but I’ll let you know. Cheers Red Ted aka John Sullivan
Sent from my iPad
>
HI PETE,WE WOULD THANKS SO MUCH
FOR YOU TO SAY KEEP THEM COMING MEANS A LOT. I AM NOT AS SMART AS YOU WHEN IT COMES TO PUTTING PEN TO PAPER.YOU’RE THE MASTER,
I WOULD LOVETO TELL YOU MORE STORIES ABOUTJACK.
ONE DAY HE HAD AN D TYPE JAG, HE ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO GO FOR A LITTLE DRIVE, SO HE BRINGS THING OUT OF THE GARAGE,AND TELLS ME TO STRAP IN,I DID,THEN HE SAID HOLD ON MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE SAFETY BELT ON ,OK
SO I AM THINKING THAT WE WERE GOING FOR A LITTLE DRIVE,NO,
HE SAID, ARE YOU READY?,YES,THEN HE PUT HIS FOOT DOWN,THE CAR TOOK OFF,I THOUGHT I LOST MY HAIR WE WERE AT THE OTHER END OF CURLEWIS ST,IN 3 MINUTES,I WAS STILL WHITE. HE SAID NOW YOU CAN SAY YOU HAD A DRIVE IN A D,TYPE JAG,WHEN I GOTE BACK .I FELL OUT OF HIS CAR,HE NEVER STOPPED LAUGHING’
THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I DROVE WITH A BIG DIFERENCE TO A HONDA.
THEN 2 WEEKS LATER,I ASKED HIM IF I COULD GO ON A REDEX DRILE ,HE CALLED ME A GRAZE ASS HOLE,,HE SAID IF I WENT WITH HIM,WE WOULD GET LOST,AND I WOULD TALK HM TO DEATH.BUT I LOVED THAT GUY,OTHER STORIES BUT NOT NOW.
.JACK REST IN PEASE. IF YOU CAN,THANKS FOR THE GUIDENCE YOU GAVE ME,
That’s my dad..
N his still awesome..xo