A regional daily business editor performed on stage with a punk rock tribute band as a reward for giving them a good review.

William Telford, of the Plymouth Herald, was invited on stage to sing (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais with London Calling, a tribute act to The Clash.

William, pictured above left, had previously written a “pretty favourable” review of the band’s November 2015 appearance at Tavistock venue The Wharf, and was contacted by lead singer Reg Shaw as a result to perform at their recent gig at the same place.

In a piece describing his experience for his newspaper, William said he was “dazzled by the spotlights and looking behind me for the hordes of punks following my lead”.

He added: “The next three minutes and 59 seconds are something of a blur. But, somehow, I got through it, a couple of missed cues, the odd hiccough, but I stayed on track and remembered all the words.

“But then, how could I forget some of [Clash lead singer Joe] Stummer’s greatest, most heartfelt and poetic lyrics?

“And after I’d clambered down from that stage, and the band had launched into I Fought the Law, the audience were really kind, I haven’t received that many backslaps and handshakes since I once mistakenly told an entire barroom it was my round, including from one guy, all muscles and inked skin, who, to my relief, said I’d failed to ruin his favourite ever song. Phew.

“So, thank you to The Clash, London Calling, Reg Shaw and dear old Joe Strummer. You made me feel like a king, or at least a white man in the Palais, only looking for fun.”

William told HTFP: “London Calling are a great band and I was delighted to be asked to sing with them on stage. I also gave Morrissey a good review last year, but so far he’s resisted the urge to invite me to join him in a duet.”