Senor Nice (40 page)
Authors: Howard Marks
‘I’ve seen their name on line-ups, but I’ve never been to one of their gigs. Are they a Latin American outfit?’
‘Latin American! They’re from the valleys for fuck’s sake.’
Latin America and the valleys. Roots and seeds. My memories of growing up now come to me in flickering black and white images. In those days the excitement came from far away – from the radio or treasured Elvis LPs. What I can only call intellectual curiosity took me away from the valleys to Oxford. Then a simple desire for kicks led me to become the world’s leading marijuana smuggler.
My recent travels to Latin America in the footsteps of legendary Welsh outlaws and in search of obscure Welsh connections had opened up a world of colour. Now a real live Welsh Valley Commando was driving me back to the land of the Super Furry Animals and Goldie Lookin’ Chain and the Stereophonics. This was the place to be. The valleys, here and now.