Once labelled "Hank Marvin on acid", Wallis was vocalist/guitarist in seminal UK space-rockers the Pink Fairies, penning 1973's classic Kings of Oblivion. After the split he answered Lemmy's call to join the newly formed Motorhead, before bagging the in-house producer job at Stiff records. After helming albums by Wreckless Eric and embarking on the infamous "Live Stiffs" with Costello, Nick Lowe, Dave Edmonds and Ian Dury and the Blockheads, he toured with MC5's Wayne Kramer and old running buddy Mick Farren's Deviants. A Fairies reunion was short lived, and, by 1991, Wallis was fronting The Redbyrds. His first solo LP Death in the Guitarfternoon, is a welcome return to form

"After The Redbyrds I made a pretty crap career move. Itried to drink up the world's supply of Jack Daniels and Jim Beam faster than they could produce it - a plan doomed to failure of course, but I had 'em on the ropes there for a while. During this period I stopped socialising, but there came a time when the doc gave me the word: ugly death or new life. Five years ago I had my last drink. Three years ago my wife bought me a Bose Satellite speaker sytem and I discovered jazz and went to jazz lessons. Two years ago I bought the recording system, and now I'd say that music, above all else, is the most important thing in the world to me. I can't believe I lost for a while.

The Fairies kinda fizzled out for one reason or another, and Russ [Hunter] reckons we should do at least one big London gig, a huge 'This is what the Fairies are about' type gig. And I agree, as a certain unscrupulous ne-er do well has gone public with line-ups and and records under the Fairies banner which actually have nothing whatsoever to do with the Pinks, or the spirit in which they existed. Anyway Russ says we should blow all that shit away with a bloody good reiteration of where we came from. Pink Fairies fly they don't skulk.

"I never felt part of Musicbizland. This, along with my track record with the Motorhead and fairies' history meant that, to record companies I was a drug-taking, bar-jockey kinda guy. Which, of course, with a look over my shoulders was bang on the money. It was suggeted by a chum that I buy the hardware, get a website, make the thing, and sell it to 'em. I guess the next move is going out to show off in public with some musos - and this is important - are better than I am. If I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna do it right.

Interview: Rob Hughes