Brummie rock legend Bev Bevan is drumming up support for the Jaguar Land Rover
campaign.
The Move, ELO and Black Sabbath drummer owns a fleet of Jaguars and says he
“beams like a schoolboy” when he gets behind the wheel of his XK8 soft-top.
But it was the E-Type which sparked a love affair with the Midland marque which
has lasted as long as his marriage.
“It was, and still is, a design classic and it’s completely timeless,” said the
64 year-old, originally from Birmingham’s Sparkhill but who now lives in
Warwickshire.
“The E-Type was the car to have if you were in a rock band and when I saw (Move
frontman) Carl Wayne driving one I was so jealous and knew I had to have one.
“The problem was he earned more than me and I had to settle for a Daimler
saloon!
“When I eventually got the E-Type I went for the V12 and it was chocolate brown
– very rock ‘n’ roll.
“I’ve owned Italian sports cars but they are so unreliable, whereas you know
you can trust your Jag.
“I’ve had a couple of Aston Martins as well but it’s got to be a Jag now.”
Bev has owned a string of Jags, including the classic XJS cabriolets as well as
the more modern XK8s.
All have been fitted with personalised number plates which he has owned for
more than 30 years and bear the initials ‘BB’.
He said: “I’ve always loved Jags.
“Part of that is a loyalty to Britain but it’s also a loyalty to Birmingham and
the skills of the people who have been turning out great cars for generations.
“It would be a tragedy if this brand was to be lost to Birmingham because it’s
such a big part of its identity and I’m backing the campaign.”
Despite enjoying one of its best years thanks to the launch of the XF model,
Jaguar Land Rover has had to slash its workforce by 600 permanent and 850
casual jobs.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown this week promised Sunday Mercury editor Steve
Dyson that he would work with the car firm to stave off future job losses.
Bevan (born Beverley Bevan on November 24, 1944 in Sparkhill, Birmingham,
England) was one of the original members of THE MOVE and the ELECTRIC LIGHT
ORCHESTRA. After the collapse of ELO in 1986, he founded ELECTRIC LIGHT
ORCHESTRA PART II without the original ELO singer/songwriter Jeff Lynne.
Bevan recently presented a radio show on Smooth Radio West Midlands called
"'70s Sunday". Bevan also reviews records for the Sunday Mercury.
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