When We Were Thin
by CP Lee

Madcap Mancs tell their story

Adjusting the name of a popular Latin-American band, Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias were a bunch of extrovert Mancunians with an outlandish act that took much from the Bonzos but, because it was the late 70s, added aggression and attitude. Guitarist CP Lee tells their story and reveals that the backstage life was even more chaotic than what the public saw. An act as specialist as the Albertos needed special treatment, but often wound up playing their unlikely material to bewildered audiences. Les Prior answered one heckler with the line, “I’m sorry if I’m boring you, but somebody’s got to be the new Roy Harper.” Even if you’ve not seen them, you will be entertained by the mayhem described here. Lee, now an academic noted for serious reflections on Dylan, writes with immense good humour, even when his idol walks away from their gig to see Link Wray instead. There is also an hilarious exchange with Captain Beefheart, who claims to have predicted the rise of Mrs Thatcher. Never less than entertaining, Lee must have savoured some of the best lines for years.

ISBN 9780955625701

Reviewed by Spencer Leigh
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