Meet A Scientologist: The Lads From London

In a video featured on the new Scientology Video Channel at www.scientology.org, the Jive Aces talk about how Scientology has enhanced their lives and music.

Britain’s Number One swing band, the Jive Aces, are one of the hardest-working bands in show business today, performing more than 300 times a year in 25 countries. They have appeared on hundreds of TV and radio programs worldwide. With their trademark high-energy floorshow they enjoy a wild popularity with fans of all ages.

The six lads from London were drawn together by their love for a style and music that outclassed anything in the 1980s. Hot jive has the beat, energy and enthusiasm of rock ‘n’ roll and the fun and rhythm of big band swing all rolled into one.

Their musical journey took them from Elvis Presley to Bill Haley and from Louis Prima to Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darren. This is the sound that has the audience spontaneously jumping to their feet and tearing up the floor with foot tapping, swinging, spirit-raising fun. The Jives are a favourite with top swing dancers and dance troupes in the US, UK and Europe. To see the London Lads in action go to scientology.org for the video.

They recently headlined at the Royal Albert Hall and received a five star review for their show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this August.

In their 12 years together, the Jives have maintained a high level of camaraderie rarely seen among bands who have been together for years. There is no in-fighting, drugs or excessive booze, all of which they, individually, attribute to their shared religion of Scientology.

Band leader and trumpet player Ian Clarkson says, “Scientology is a very practical religion, and whilst one grows spiritually one also becomes more able, confident and happier in life. For example, I often used to drink before going on stage, but then through a Scientology course on communication I become more comfortable and able to confront problems...I very seldom drink now. In fact, I don’t need to drink and I feel more happy and confident without it.”

Saxophonist John Fordham says, “You can be just as silly without alcohol. I’ve never had stage fright since applying the things I’ve learned about communication. You can just totally and naturally be yourself.”

Ken Smith, double bass player, says, "Scientology gives you a calmness inside but with a load of confidence. You can be confident and be yourself.”

Clarkson, the first of the band to be introduced to Scientology, picked up the book Dianetics from his girl friend, now his wife. “I read that and thought ‘Wow, if this works, this is it!’” He promptly introduced his band mates to the subject. Bassist Smith noticed that every time Clarkson came back from the Church he was happier, so Smith thought there must be something in this.

Pianist Vince Hurley, who later joined the group, says, “I’d always had this question of why does a person go from being very confident and feeling very much like himself, doing really well and happy and full of energy, to suddenly feeling a bit down and depressed, and that can go on for a period of time and then you can come back up again.

"That was very much the story of my life years ago, and that’s where I bumped into these guys, and they said ‘Well check this [Scientology] out,’ and it actually had the answer to that and showed me exactly why someone is very confident, is very much themselves, is doing very well and why he goes down.

"And the funny thing is, since I read that and started using that, I’ve never really gone down again and I’m doing really well.”

A glance at his on-stage, keyboard-tickling antics—with a huge grin emblazoned across his face—is ample proof of what Scientology now means to him.

Trombonist Alex Douglas, the youngest member of the band, says his dad introduced him to Scientology. “I started using it and found that it worked. It was as simple as that,” he says. “So you start using it more and you gain more confidence, you gain more ability in life and you start doing better, you’re able to control different areas and wider areas of your life, and you start to help other people do the same. It just builds and builds until you affect more and more people around you in a positive way."

Band leader Clarkson sums it up: “Scientology has a lot to do with communication and understanding, so we very much understand each other. We’ve been together, the same band, for at least 12 years, and there are not a lot of bands that work as much as we do and spend as much time together, travelling and performing for that long who get on with each other and work well together.

“One of the things people notice is when we are on stage we are in communication with each other and with the audience, and we’re really enjoying ourselves. People notice that we’re happy and that we have a lot of energy.”

View the Jive Aces video on www.scientology.org!

The popular “Meet a Scientologist” profiles on the Church of Scientology International video channel at Scientology.org now total 150 broadcast-quality documentary videos featuring Scientologists from diverse locations and walks of life. The personal stories are told by Scientologists who are educators, teenagers, skydivers, a golf instructor, a hip-hop dancer, IT manager, stunt pilot, mothers, fathers, dentists, photographers, actors, musicians, fashion designers, engineers, students, business owners and more.

A digital pioneer and leader in the online religious community, in April 2008 the Church of Scientology became the first major religion to launch its own YouTube Video Channel. The Official Scientology YouTube Channel has now been viewed by millions of visitors.