Rock Star Weekend

IT was, they said, something like a scene from the seminal Brit comedy Only Fools and Horses.

In the famous episode Del and Rodney – played by David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst – leave a fancy dress party dressed as Batman and Robin. As they make their way home they end up foiling a mugging.

Rock Star Weekend – the karaoke covers band from Camden Town who have made a nationwide name for their spectacular singalong shows – were performing a residency in Edinburgh when they did a “Del and Rodders” and stopped a robbery.

The quartet – Mark Nilsson, Matt Morrisroe, Neil Winspear and Rye Eden – were performing the final Friday night gig in a month-long residency at The Speigel Tent in George Square Gardens.

After completing their set, they decided to walk home dressed in their stage regalia as they were heading to a party at their digs.

And it was while strolling back dressed as a 1970s glam rock ensemble they stumbled across a street thief.

Keyboard player and singer Mr Nilsson said: “We could see there was a guy on a bike and a woman walking along on her own.

He grabbed her bag and then pedalled right towards us. She ran after him shouting her head off. We all jumped into action – Neil grabbed the handle bars, Matt grabbed his arm and we all waded in.”
Their have-a-go-hero act was a success.

Mr Nilsson added: “He was absolutely terrified – he was just a kid. It must have been the sight of me in my Spandex Union Jack onesie that did it.”

The woman, Beth-Louise Priestley, is a performer in the show Shitfaced ­Shakes­peare – and, coincidentally, had been to watch the band that night.

She said: “I felt my bag being snatched from my shoulder and I turned to see a guy in a hoodie on a bike pedalling away. Suddenly these guys in Spandex appear and they are diving at him and trying to stop his bike.
“I could not believe my eyes. I’m so thankful they stood up for me.”

The band, who are now back in London and can be seen at the Electric Ballroom, escaped unscathed.

Mr Nilsson said: “The mugger took a long hard look at our make-up and must have decided anyone prancing around Edinburgh at that hour dressed like this just weren’t worth messing with.”