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| Though
Brian often gave his teachers great cause for grief
he was, in general, very well liked by the other students. In the dichotomy that marked his life, he was both extremely shy and yet daring at the same time, the latter making him somewhat of a "hero" to the others, especially in regards to his various school escapades and his great popularity with the girls. That popularity lasted only until he impregnated his 14 year old girlfriend Valerie, in 1958. Suddenly, his popularity was gone and the matter reached the local newspaper. |
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He soon became looked upon as a pariah in his own town.. The entire affair and ensuing gossip caused Brian to leave school, and although he had earned 9 certificates as well as a chemistry and physics certificate (all with high marks), going on to University was out of the question. Because of the humiliation and shame his parents felt he had brought the family, their relationship became even more strained. |
| Soon after, Brian packed up his
guitar, a few clothes and what little money he had, and left home for the Continent. He stayed for 8 or 9 months in both Germany and Sweden, earning his way by sitting in with the occasional band or by busking (essentially playing on a streetcorner for spare change) He later claimed that those days were the happiest of his life but it was a much changed Brian who returned to England's shores. Lewis Brian, the boy from Cheltenham who loved the blues was replaced by a more worldy- wise and cynical young man, a pre-cursor to the "bad boy" image he would have as a Rolling Stone. |
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