We survived on drink and fags . . . and we loved it

Thirty years have whistled past. Glam rocker Tyla J Pallas started his career back in 1983. His intentions were clear: he wanted to get out of Kingswinford and reach LA, New York or Sydney.

And, remarkably, he did.

The lead singer with The Dogs D'Amour, who has also worked with members of The Quireboys , has been a regular feature of the glam scene.

He's back in time for an autumn tour, when he'll bring his Devils Supper show to his former stomping ground, Wolverhampton's Slade Rooms, on September 14.

"I'm really looking forward to the gig," he says. "I'll be playing a set with Spike, from Quireboys, with tunes from Flagrantly Yours, as well as a few Dogs classics."

Tyla has amassed a remarkable back catalogue of some 300 or more songs.

"Some things need a little working at but others come out in seconds," he adds.

"I've tried all of the 'let's-all-get-together-at-10am-and-jam-until-we've-got-a song stuff' but it just doesn't work. It just has to come, it can't be forced."

Though Tyla now lives in London, he enjoys returning to the Black Country to play at his former haunts. Wolverhampton was important to his career and he retains a strong affection for the city's rock fans.

"The Dogs started after I'd been kicked out of my own band, which started in Kingswinford.

"Back in those days, the only objective was to get the band together and learn the songs.

"We didn't get paid, ever. We'd just turn up and work really hard on the gigs. People would put us on at 7pm on a Monday night, when there was nobody there. But we didn't care. We just wanted to play.

"We kept working and working until we moved on to play for bigger audiences. We always used to play at Edwards Number 8, in Birmingham, and then we'd move up to the Hummingbird.

"Then we'd be off to Manchester or London and suddenly we'd find ourselves playing in front of 3,000 fans in London.

"Then we'd be off to America – we'd come down to earth with a bump and play to 30 people in a room."

Tyla doesn't look back at that era through rose-tinted shades.

"It was very stressful. I look back and it was one of those situations where it was nightmare at the time. The van would break down in Holland, we never had any money or any food.

"We'd survive on drink and fags. But we'd never done it before so we loved it."

It's been 20 years since Tyla had a record deal, but he enjoys his independent existence.

"I've got my own label and I just go out there and do what I do. The big 'stardom thing' doesn't come and scoop you up. You have to work at it.

"Sometimes I look back and wonder where all the years went, but I'm just glad that I make my living being on the road."