Johnny Ball has said it would give him huge satisfaction to join the Rolling Stones ’ 60th-anniversary gigs as he opened for the rockers in the early days of their career.
Johnny, who found fame on kids' TV shows such as Play School and Think of a Number, was a comedian in the 1960s and 70s and often compered concerts.
And having toured with the Stones, he would love to do the same at their two Hyde Park gigs this summer.
The 84-year-old said: “I was a stand-up and my first job was to tour with the Rolling Stones in either 1964 or 1965.
“I don’t know how they do it running up and down those stages at their age but if they wanted me to compere I would do it.”
Johnny said the Stones’ crowds were a tough nut to crack as a comic because they spent the entire time screeching for their idols.
He said: “The tour was full of screaming 15-year-old kids.
“I went to compere one of their shows I couldn’t get into the theatre as it was surrounded by screaming girls.
“I did a three-week tour and never got a laugh as nobody stopped screaming. I did 28 minutes of comedy to screams and their manager gave me £10.”
Speaking at the Chelsea Flower Show, daughter and Radio 2 star Zoe said she was proud of her dad’s rock ’n’ roll roots.
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Zoe, 51, added: “Yes my dad always said he toured with the Stones. We never believed him until he showed us all the signed posters. It’s pretty cool.”
The Stones will play BST Hyde Park on June 26 and July 3, 60 years on from their first ever gig at the legendary Marquee Club in London’s West End.
BST bosses yesterday announced support acts The War On Drugs and Phoebe Bridgers will play on June 25, while Sam Fender and Courtney Barnett will join them on their second night.
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