It was the summer of 1973, I was fifteen and in LLUUURVE. Susan was the prettiest girl in the playground and I was going to spend the afternoon with her. She was small but perfectly formed with long luscious dark hair. She set my heart a flutter. I can’t quite remember how our rendezvous came about. I probably told my friend who told her friend who told her that I fancied her. That was the usual adolescent modus operandi. Anyway, I made that long arduous trek to Westerton with a spring in my step.

A lot of the finer details are a bit hazy but safe to say I found myself in the arms of my betrothed atop her bed, fully clothed I might add as Susan’s mother knocked at the bedroom door at regular intervals offering cups of tea and sandwiches. Wise woman.

These interruptions did not dampen my ardour but there was something in the room that did. Looming over our entwined, writhing bodies was a large glossy black and white poster of an elfin, effeminate figure clutching what looked like a glass violin staring back at us with disdain.

I of course being a progressive rock aficionado, knew this interloper to be none other than violinist/keyboard player Eddie Jobson, formerly of the band Curved Air and recent replacement of Eno in Roxy Music who was ruining my afternoon of passion.

Alas, the afternoon came to an end as did, within days, my relationship with Susan. She probably told her friend to tell my friend to tell me I was dumped. Teenage romance can be so cruel. It’s all too painful to recall.

How did it all go wrong ? Maybe I wasn’t elfin and feminine enough (these days I’m more Gandalf crossed with Orc !) Was it because I played the flute and not the violin ? Eddie Jobson stole the heart of my woman !!

Did you know EJ and I share the same birthday albeit two years apart? Maybe Susan had a thing for Taureans ? Bollocks ! I could never believe that astrology BS. My usual reply to ‘what sign are you?’ is ‘do not disturb !’

So Mr Smarty Pants virtuoso violinist and synthesizer wizard Edwin bloody Jobson, what have you ever done for yourself ?

Funny you should ask that.

After three albums and various tours with Roxy Music, Jobson joined Frank Zappa for a year. A highlight in his career as he recalls.

He then formed supergroup UK with John Wetton and Bill Bruford from King Crimson alongside guitarist extraordinaire Alan Holdsworth.

He was special guest on Jethro Tull‘s ‘A’ album and almost joined Yes but only managed an appearance on the ‘Owner Of A Lonely Heart‘ video.

Jobson then morphed from progressive rock to new age ambience with a couple of solo releases in the eighties. He also created music for film, television and advertising for which he received a Clio award in 1988.

In the new millennium he formed UKZ and still pops up on various recordings and concerts such as the Keith Emerson Benefit concert, one of his boyhood heroes.

I have scoured the internet and so far have not found any information that he is happily married to a girl called Susan from Westerton, Bearsden !

(Post by John Allan of Bridgetown, Western Australia – April 2025)