In 1975, a local promoter returning from a stint in the USA chose me to be the front man of a new band he was putting together.

Two years later, the band released a single and an album. We soon developed a following, with -- among other things -- our fashion and hairstyles credited as a significant influence.

I’ve been married to a German publishing heiress since 1976. Because her punk rock musician daughter was a such a poor mother (her kids couldn’t read, write or form proper sentences), my wife and I became their legal guardians.

In January 1978, my band embarked on a US tour. Our tour manager purposely booked us to play in redneck bars, which provoked hostile situations.

Unfortunately, the group disbanded later that year. This was due to infighting, drug use, my confrontations with our manager, and one of our members’ chaotic relationship with his girlfriend.

Right after the break-up, the head of our record label tried to install me as the lead singer for the band Devo. (They declined the offer, which I also found unappealing).

This one is right up my alley!

It's gotta be John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten.

You’ve got it, Alan! John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) of the Sex Pistols and later, Public Image Limited. I (Arthur) did a European tour with PiL in 1983. It was pretty wild and outrageous! Johnny and I kept trying to “out-rotten” each other.

Here we are playing our hit single, “This Is Not A Love Song” live at a club in Bochum, Germany. (That’s me on keyboards). Check out how Johnny “thanks” the audience at the end.



These would have been my remaining clues:

Consequently, I formed a new band, which released several albums over the next few years. We had our biggest hit in 1983, reaching #3 in Europe and #5 in the UK Singles Chart.

I also dabbled in acting: I co-starred in a crime thriller; I had a small role in a comedy film; I had a recurring voice part in an animated TV series; and I appeared in a celebrity reality show.

I’ve also hosted television series in the UK, US, and Belgium; appeared in TV

In 2018, I revealed that my wife was in the mid-stages of Alzheimer's disease, and in 2020, I became her full-time care-giver.

Some pundits regard my 1970s-era band as one of the most groundbreaking acts in the history of popular music. We were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the UK, and we directly inspired the style and formation of many punk and post-punk bands during our two-and-a-half-year run.
Your turn, Alan!

1983, was this before or after you toured with Peter frampton, Arthur?

Hey Fedora, I first toured with Peter from 1980 – 1982, and then again from 2005 – 2007.

In-between, I also toured with the (new) Mamas & Papas, Public Image Limited, John Waite and Ace Frehley.

I saw PIL when they toured Happy in the late 80's. Saw the Pistols in '96. I was too young to see the Pistols in their heyday. However, memories of cranking Never Mind The ******** on vinyl in the 80's almost makes me feel I did.

Next challenge...

1) I was born in Chicago in 1942.

2) My dad was a Catholic of Irish and German descent and my mother was an Ashkenazi Jew. When asked what religion I was raised in, I responded: “Democrat."

3) Asked what influence my Jewish and Irish Catholic ancestry may have had on me, I responded: "As a man I've always felt Irish, as an actor I've always felt Jewish."

Some more clues...

4) In college, I majored in Philosophy.

5) I took a drama class in the final quarter of my senior year to get over my shyness.

6) In 1964 I traveled to Los Angeles to apply for a job in radio voice-overs, but I didn't get the gig.

Steve Martin?

Not Steve Martin. Here's another set of clues.

7) I stayed in California and eventually signed a $150-per-week contract with Columbia Pictures' new talent program, playing bit roles in films.

8) I wasn't happy with the roles being offered so I became a professional carpenter to support my wife and two young sons.

9) In the early 70's, after the film The Godfather was a success, Francis Ford Coppola hired me to expand his office and gave me small roles in two of his upcoming films.

Harrison Ford?

You nailed it Ed! Harrison Ford is indeed correct.

Further clues of course would have led to the two major franchise blockbusters he has starred in: Star Wars and Indiana Jones.

You're up, Ed.

OK.

1. I was born in England in 1913.
2. I first appeared on the stage in 1935.
3. After a small amount of success in American films, I returned to England at the onset of World War II

Got another clue, Ed?

4. While I received some small roles in films in England, I was still struggling with my career when my wife suggested I write producers of programs for the up and coming "television" medium.

5. This proved useful as I began to receive larger and larger roles in plays performed on television. My largest performance was that of Winston Smith in a production of "1984." It was a controversial production, which drew death threats for its director and saw me vilified for appearing in such "filth." But it also garnered me my first award; the Guild of Television Producers named me "best actor" in 1955.

6. While "television" actors were generally looked down upon by movie producers, I still managed to find some prominent film roles including; "The Black Knight" (1954) with Alan Ladd, and "The End of the Affair" (1955) with Deborah Kerr, but my real spring into the public eye was just around the corner.

Peter Cushing?

You called it. The next clues would have given it away with Hammer Studios, Sherlock Holmes and Star Wars.

Your turn.