Tribute to alternative comedy's elder statesman

A star-studded line-up of comedy stars is to celebrate alternative stand-up legend's Arnold Brown's 80th birthday next month.

The Comedy Store – the club where he started his near 40-year career – is to host the celebration with a bill that includes Paul Merton, Stewart Lee and Sara Pascoe.

Born Abraham Arnold Lizerbraum in Glasgow, Brown was an accountant and already over 40 when he answered an open call for would-be comedians to appear on the opening night of the Comedy Store in 1979. But he was gonged off.

When asked by a TV crew attending the gig if that meant he wasn't cut out for comedy, he replied: 'Not at all, I'm a very funny person.'

'And what are you going to do to prove it?' the interviewer asked.

'Come back tomorrow.'

That he did, sparking a career that's spanned the decades, and has seen him support Frank Sinatra at Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow and US comic Steven Wright, who has a similar deadpan delivery, at London's Dominion Theatre. He was also the first straight stand-up to win the Perrier Award, as it then was, in 1987, after six years of sketch and cabaret performers.

Also appearing at Brown's birthday bash on November 21 is Clive Anderson, who was also on the bill at the Comedy Store's first night, and Norman Lovett, another regular at the club's original location at the Gargoyle strip club.

The line-up is completed by John Hegley, Bridget Christie, Adam Bloom and Nick Revell,but the gig has already sold out.

Here is Brown in action:

Published: 14 Oct 2016