from the program handed out at Golden Gate Park, 7/3/89:  
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1863 Jamblat Watashee Hitchcock marries Hanna Prewett.

1903 Sugarbeet Hitchcock marries Julia Cicely Trains.

1915 Marius Stretton Hitchcock drowned in a breathing accident.

1927 Giant Squid claims the life of Cynthia Mabel Prewett off Dawlish
Warren.

1944 Raymond Hitchcock wounded in Normandy.

1953 Robyn Hitchcock born safely in London.

1954 Morris Windsor born mainly in Croydon.

1956 Andy Metcalf born suddenly in Bristol.  I see a dead chicken for the
first time.

1963 "From Me To You" is the Beatles Second Number One.  Kennedy
Assassinated.  I fall disastrously in love with Sandra Kenrich.

1965 "Mr. Tambourine Man" Number One in July.  Still thinkin' 'bout Sandra
Kenrich

1967 Get my first guitar.

June 1967 "All You Need Is Love" goes Number One.

Sept. 1967 I learn how to tune my guitar.

Aug. 1968 Russia invades Czechoclovakia.  I fall in love with Eileen Dibney.

July 1970 Surprise return of Tory government in U.K.. Syd Barrett records
his last LP.  I write my first song "Baby" with schoolfriend Martin Mayer.

Sept. 1971 First solo song--"Chug A Lug" (Just singin' bout my petrol)

Feb. 1972 First public appearance in folk club with Richard K. West, now
living in L.A.

Aug. 1972 I form the Beatles with Martin and others.  We play seven gigs in
two years.

1973 Martin double barrels his name--he is now a lawyer--the Beatles split. 
Martin and I still lunch occasionally.

1974 Move to Cambridge and play folk clubs for two years.

1975 See Andy and Morris.

1976 Speak to Andy and Morris.  Form the Soft Boys (initially Dennis and the
Experts)

1977-1981 The Soft Boys land on the wrong planet. Record WADING THROUGH A
VENTILATOR.  In '78 record their first LP, A CAN OF BEES with a new member,
Kimberley Rew, who would later join Katrina and the Waves.  Refusal to cut
hair, fake working class accents or devise an image, insured zilch interest
outside Cambridge and New York.

1981-82 Two Solo LP's (BLACK SNAKE DIAMOND ROLE, GROOVY DECAY) gain no new
ground.  Rock world in the grip of synthetic, technological image conscious
music.  I can't get my quiff together.  Drop out, I write, including lyrics
for Captain Sensible, who keeps me going spiritually and financially.  Fab
new album out from the captain soon.  Peter Buck finds Soft Boys LP in
record shop in Athens.

1983 Meet Peter in cat protection agency in North London.

1984 Return to recording and release I OFTEN DREAM OF TRAINS in September. 
Form Egyptians with Andy and Morris and Otis Horns Fletcher (old school
friend) and Roger Jackson.  First gig in two and a half years.

1985 Release FEGMANIA! (first U.S. album).  Discover the sparkling joys of
America.  Collapse in San Francisco after operation.  Limp on to Texas and
give up.  Everybody wept.  Failed to support R.E.M. as a consequence.

1986-87 Continue to tour U.S. with increasing success and sign to A&M. 
ELEMENT OF LIGHT tops college charts etc....Fail to support R.E.M. due to
bad money from promoters.

1988 Release GLOBE OF FROGS.  See second dead chicken--sell quite a lot.
Work incognito in record shop in San Francisco for three weeks in the
summer.  Fired for incompetence.  Record QUEEN ELVIS in London.  Gear up for
U.S. tour with R.E.M.
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