Lindsay/Ivor Cutler, 7. When Life was Fab

Ivor Cutler’s reputation grew and he found early favour with the emerging counter-culture thanks to International Times. He worked with the iconoclastic film director Ken Russell and made a series of appearances on BBC TV’s Late Night Line-Up, including one as part of a free-jazz trio called The Three Wise Men with drummer Trevor Tomkins and bassist Dave Green, both of whom talk about the experience in this chapter. Paul McCartney became a fan. One of the most famous and recognisable people in the world, McCartney openly declared his love of Ivor’s work and offered him a role in his band’s next movie. Ivor’s appearance as the gloomy tour guide Buster Bloodvessel, in Magical Mystery Tour, was his highest-profile appearance to date and possibly the best-known appearance of his entire career. The link to the Fab Four led to George Martin producing the Ivor Cutler Trio’s 1967 album, Ludo: a prestigious move, although the recording process was a frustrating one for the producer and the main artist.