I don't like BMWs

But Ian's bike was cool, and it was his everyday transport in the early 90s.

Ian had been the bass player in my first band 'Born Bad' (which later became Morrissey's backing band). We hired him from an ad in 'Loot', and he was a South African exile who had escaped the regime and compulsory national service. He used a false surname as the SA authorities were keen to find, repatriate and jail draft-dodgers.

He was a cool guy, always trying something new to turn a buck, from running a magic stall in Covent Garden to making leather goods. Last thing I heard, he had returned to SA and his first love, music.