He sure plays a mean pinball

From the archive, first published Friday 11th Nov 2005.

PINBALL Wizard Malcolm Lashley will be hoping for a top score at the UK Pinball Show in Birmingham.

The 30-year-old software engineer from Old Town will be joining hundreds of enthusiasts at Aston Villa FC's football ground to play on one of the largest collections of pinball machines in the country.

He said: "I grew up in Norfolk, and used to play the machines on the coast at Yarmouth.

"Then, about four years ago, I decided to buy my own pinball arcade, and it went from there.

"I am an avid pinball machine fan­ from Swindon down to Brighton I must have played them all."

Mr Lashley now boasts a collection of five American-made machines, and is excited about the upcoming show.

"I'm really looking forward to playing on the other machines.

"It's quite rare to be able to play on such a large collection."

Event organiser Nick Bennett, who is one of the founders of Northamptonshire company Pinballers Anonymous, said: "There will be at least one hundred pinball machines for visitors to enjoy."

Plenty of fans are expected at the Nokia-sponsored event this weekend, which has been organised with Southport based company Pinball Heaven.

Mr Bennett said: "We are expecting hundreds of visitors from all around the UK and Europe.

"The machines are being supplied by Pinball Heaven, Pinballers Anonymous, other trade stands and by private pinball machine owners like Malcolm."

Mr Lashley hopes to play a mean pinball at the show, but thinks that meeting fellow enthusiasts will be the highlight.

He said: "There are many of us who speak on internet forums about our arcades, so this weekend will be a great chance to meet face to face to share our passion.

"It will be fun to try to get some high scores, but the social aspect of the weekend is the most important thing."

And the charity Mencap will benefit from the corporate generosity of amateur flippers from phone company Nokia.

Mr Bennett said: "One of the directors attended the event I staged last year, and they offered to help with the costs for this year. As a consequence, the entire £5 entry fee will be donated to Mencap."

The UK Pinball show will be open to visitors at the Holte Suite on Saturday November 12 from 11am to 6pm and November 13 from 10am to 4pm.

The entrance fee of £5 gives visitors free access to all of the pinball machines.

Tommy was the inspiration for show and film

THE hit song Pinball Wizard, recorded by the rock band The Who in London in February 1969, was part of the rock opera Tommy, which became a film and a stage show.

The song was released as a single ahead of the opera on March 7, 1969 in Britain and March 22, 1969 in America.

It reached number 4 in the U.K. charts and number 19 in the US billboard charts.

The original remains a concert favourite for Who fans because of its pop sound and familiarity.

The lyrics are written from the perspective of local pinball players astounded by the pinball skills of the title character, Tommy: "That deaf dumb and blind kid, sure plays a mean pinball."

The song was written to win a friendly review from music critic Nik Cohn.

The group desperately needed his support so Townshend, knowing that Cohn was a pinball fan, decided that Tommy might play pinball.

"It'll be a masterpiece," was Cohn's immediate response.

Matt Jackson

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