Who's the man in this picture? Is it Gary Brooker?

Read, below, a curious sequence of letters-to-the-editor that appeared (or didn't!) in late June 2003 in The Guardian, the UK's chief broadsheet newspaper for readers of a left-wing persuasion.

To find out who Peter Hain is, have a look here

If Howard Jacobson and Duane 'Dog' Chapman are look-alikes (Letters, June 21), does anyone share my inability to tell apart the reborn Peter Hain and the ex-Procol Harum Gary Brooker, recently seen playing alongside Georgie Fame in Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings?

John Grundy
Ramsbottom, Lancs

Published 23 June 2003

The Boys in the Band

John Grundy (Letters, June 23) can't tell apart the re-born Peter Hain and the ex-Procol Harum Gary Brooker, recently seen playing in Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings. In terms of physical appearance I see his point, but the key difference is surely that Brooker is always in step with the rest of the band and (at least musically) has a good relationship with his leader.

Greg Callus
University of York

Published 24 June 2003

Track record

Interesting your correspondent can't tell Hain from Brooker (Letters, June 23) but how recently has he actually seen the 'ex-Procol Harum' musician? Gary Brooker is currently leading Procol Harum on a sell-out world tour promoting their album, The Well's on Fire. Its most moving track is based on John Vidal's Guardian reports on the world summit from September 2 2002.

Roland Clare
Bristol

Published 27 June 2003 ... probably the only mention of the new PH album in any mainstream newspaper.

Wot a shame they didn't publish the full text of the letter, as appears right, eh?

Sir,

Interesting that your correspondent can't tell Hain from Brooker (Letters, June 23); but how "recently" has he actually seen the 'ex-Procol Harum' musician?

Gary Brooker (MBE) hasn't played with the Rhythm Kings side-project for a couple of years, but is currently leading Procol Harum on a sell-out world tour promoting their 2003 album, 'The Well's on Fire' - its most moving track based on John Vidal's Guardian feature about the World Summit from 2 September 2002. (I notice that you have yet to review this CD!)

Peter Hain-fanciers should check the supposed resemblance for themselves! Procol tour dates are at www.procolharum.com

We also know of one other Paler's letter that, so far at least, The Grauniad has declined to publish at all, though its more pointed satire ought to have found more favour with the letters editor than the overt polemic of the pro-Procol letter they did use did.

How's that for a sentence?

Whiter Shades of Pale

Peter Hain and Gary Brooker MBE may share more than the whiter shading of their hair (letters, June 23, 24). Brooker has always sung another’s lyrics (mostly those of Keith Reid) and Hain is learning to. Although both are better known for past deeds, the record should be put straight that Brooker is still very much the leader of Procol Harum, who presently tour in the States, and nobody told him to change tracks on their latest CD The Well’s on Fire!

James McCarthy
Chessington, Surrey