CU: Hi Roger thank you for joining us at Cheer Up Chats, how are you and how has life been in recent times?

RF: I'm well thanks, keeping fit. After my happy time at PWL, I worked for Richard Branson at Virgin before moving on after the sad demise of the Megastores, to working the corporate life in global recruitment.  No more singing for me, just listening to loads still. 

CU: We create events celebrating the music of Stock Aitken Waterman & PWL, can you tell us about your time in Shooting party with Gary, how did the duo come about? 

RF: Gary & I were in a rock band called No Dice in the late 70’s/80’s, we made 3 albums, toured the world and had quite a good degree of success too. Around this time we were really interested in the new stuff that was coming out of SAW studios. You Spin Me Round was an incredible record and we wanted some of that. It was really exciting and new and fresh and the tunes just kept on coming, we just loved it.

CU: You worked with Phil Harding, Ian Curnow, Pete Hammond, what was it like being part of the PWL Hit factory, and being around Stock Aitken Waterman? did you record any tracks with Stock Aitken Waterman?

RF: Gary and I would be outside the studio’s every morning and would hand a demo to Pete (Waterman) when he arrived for work. After about three weeks of doing this we were eventually invited in and just became part of the family. We were put to work with Ian & Phil (later with Pete Hammond for "Let’s Hang On") and "Safe in the Arms of Love" was conceived.

SAW were busy with Kylie, Rick, Bananrama etc and we were quite content working with Ian & Phil who were not only top musicians but lovely, lovely people. Everyone from the staff on reception (Shazza) to Pete, Mike and Matt, we felt accepted into the family. Have to say Mel & Kim were tops too.  

CU: You was part of the Hit factory roadshows in 1989/1990 as well as interviewing Sonia for her Everybody knows video collection, can you tell us about those? 

RF: Yes, those roadshows were magic, I used to present some of them too later on when Pete couldn’t be there.  We were very used to touring but the other acts were new to it so we looked after them. I met Sonia on the first tour and became friends immediately, I only vaguely remember the Everybody Knows videos, so thanks for reminding me, a lot, lot of fun was had. 

CU: So we can imagine you got to know quite a lot of the artists on the roadshows, TV shows etc, can you tell us about that?

RF: I did get to know everyone on the tour very well. London Boys, Johnny O, Kakko, Sinitta, Reynolds girls, Big Fun lads, Pause 4 Thought and of course Jason, Kylie & Sonia.  Wonderful, happy, funny times but there’s an old saying ‘What goes on the tour, stays on the tour’ haha! 

CU: Tank you Roger so much for chatting with us. 

RF: It’s been an absolute pleasure Mario and Julian. Those days at PWL, the people who worked there, the artists I met and Mike, Matt & Pete were the happiest of times for me