Article from 'Boyz' magazine from February 2004.
MY FIRST TIME : BARBARA DICKSON
My First Kiss
I remember that very well! That was with somebody called John Yardley. I was about 11 and we were at his house, and his parents were out! I can't remember if it was tongues, I just know that it felt really nice. I hope we're not going to talk about sex. We'll just keep it above the waist!
My First Celebrity Crush
An American film star called Troy Donahue. He was slightly obscure but very pretty. He was like the male equivalent of a starlet, and I had pictures of him. He was a surfing boy type, a big blond guy, but he died not that long ago.
My First Record
Travelling Light by Cliff Richard. I'm not a fan now, but I do like Cliff, he's a nice chap. It just so happens it was a 78 record and I came out of the shop, fell over the step and broke it!
My First Pet
We weren't allowed to have dogs and cats in our house so I had a little white mouse, and my brother had a black mouse and they were both girls until they had a litter! I can't remember the name, but knowing me it was probably something like Whitey.
My First Job
When I was still at school, I worked in a baker's shop on Saturdays. It was great, and quite well paid for that time and I'd be able to take home all the cakes that were left over when the shop closed. I met someone very recently who said that the lady whose family had the shop still talks about when Barbara
Dickson used to work there. Isn't that great!
My First Love
John Yardley, but that was very young. My first passion was lan McAlman, who was an architecture student who became a musician. I was 16 and he was 17, but he was just so gorgeous.
My First Heartbreak
Him, so it's very difficult to remember him as great. But I still know him, I still see him. I dumped him many years later. I got back together with him and there was the possibility that we would hook up again, but I kind of backed off. But I swear that it wasn't revenge.
My First Drunken Shame
When I was about 17, I got extremely drunk on dark rum and orange juice. It was like mud! The real shame was that I was awfully sick, and then hogged the bathroom, clutching the toilet bowl and being sick and unable to come out of the lavatory for the rest of the party. That was hideous!
My First Porn Movie
I don't think I've ever seen one. I can get my thrills on the hoof. I've got a good imagination, I don't really need that.
My First Contact with Celebrity
Jerry Marsden of Jerry and The Pacemakers. I met him in a local gig in my home-town. But I suppose the pinnacle of meeting someone famous from your youth was when I met Paul McCartney last year. He was my real passion when I was a teenager. I was giving a speech at a school in Liverpool that he's chancellor of, and I said 'I suppose I'd better rip up your picture now!' I think he was quite flattered.
My First Celebrity Tantrum
Oh, I've had loads of them! Usually it's because I'm tired. I remember getting kind of stroppy about a dressing room. Most of my complaints are grounded in fact - it's just the way that I deal with it that's not been very nice.
My First 'Time'
Well, I'm not clever enough to dodge the issue - let's just say I enjoyed the company of lan for two and a half years. I was 17 and I wouldn't like to have had that experience in the back of a van with somebody I didn't know.
Barbara Dickson - The Platinum Collection is released on Monday.
