In the annals of Rock n Roll there is a traditional pecking order. The lead singer vies with the lead guitarist for attention & groupies whilst the rhythm section feed off the scraps. The listening and watching public are transfixed by the front-men and ignore the contribution of the rest of the band, it was ever thus.
 

Who ever remembers the name of the drummer? As far as Choy Choi is concerned, much as we love Gary & Dave, our founding drummer Lee Rollings may not have garnered so much attention but his contribution to the band was immense. Without him there would never have been a Choy Choi at all, as it was Lee who put the band together and assembled the founding members. I saw the band perform several times during the 80’s and was always impressed by the general quality of musicianship and Lee’s skill on the kit, but it was not until I started playing with them that I truly appreciated what a superb all round musician Lee was. In rehearsal he exerted enormous influence over arrangements and musical direction and onstage everything flowed through him. Listening to the ‘Newtonstock’ recordings featuring one of Psychedelia Smith’s famous guitar ‘wig outs’, it struck me that every change of pace, direction and rhythm was instigated by Lee, inspiring those improvised passages to tangent off base in the inimitable CC jazz odyssey style that became our trademark.

Aside from his artistic gifts Lee was just great fun to hang around with, as pint followed pint and he & Dave tried to outdo each other in the sick joke department with Lee invariably winning. We all really miss him as a musician, friend and colleague.

Merrick, May 2005

When Choy Choi started back in 86, it was a mix of different styles and ideas. Perhaps that's what makes those badly recorded demo's sound so special now. Apart from our earliest attempt at recording (where the giant mistake was made of using an electronic kit), what really shines through is the sheer presence and power of Lee's drumming. Although lyrics, melodys and riffs are the things that those who enjoyed us remember most, nuance and accent were provided through Lee. I remember feeling peeved that our drummer did not provide the deft of touch or lightness of beat that some other drummers had but, listening with hindsight it's plain to hear that it is all there. Of course Lee could belt out a rhythm and he loved nothing more than to do so. However it was he who called the shots when it came to creating something more than simple verse, chorus structure.

Over the years we were presented with the greatest of joy and some  crushing of disappointments as a band just trying to have fun and create something memorable. I know Lee wanted something more but he was always magnanimous in his acceptance that it wasn't to be. I think and hope that Choy Choi was always his real love and that, somehow, just getting the fellahs together to play or, to just sit,drink and remember, gave him some occasional moments of light as his world started to crumble. It's a little sad that I got to  appreciate Lee best when the band was at it's most scrappy and that, as it got to be more solid again, he was struggling the most; but it was still great to get to hear about his dreams and exploits and hopes and fears. What's saddest though is that the hope is gone now that all, and I mean ALL, the major players, could get together just that one last time and do something to celebrate our own little attempt at taking on the world.

I can't really come up with a fitting way to say how much I miss having him around all I can say is that things will never again RAWK SO HARD!!

By the way, if anyone whose played with us over the years would like to be part of an event to celebrate Lee's contributions over the years and to raise a little money for charity, then please contact at the adress on the site. We'll welcome you with open arms and make a date to relive our dreams once more for the leopard-skin trousered one.

Thanks to all of you, past and present, who've helped along the way. But thanks  most to Lee for starting this up in the first place.

Dave May 2005