Sebastian: It became a bit of a thing, having tea with AJ. It happened most days while he was there. I don’t think anyoneelse knew, because they were all out of the house. I think, looking back, that he liked the fact that I didn’t treat him any differently to anyone else. I didn’t care one iota about his fame. He was surrounded by people who treated him like he was some kind of God, and I think that wears thin after a while.
Danny: So that’s it for today. Thanks for listening, and be sure to keep sharing your thoughts on your socials at @WhatHappenedThatSummer. Next week we’ll be putting the spotlight on AJ’s messy and complicated love life. Believe me, you won’t want to miss it.
LeahLou
I was in that crush outside the gates! AJ Silver forever! #WhatHappenedThatSummer
MichelleOdin
Oh my god, me too. I was right at the front and saw the girls who went down. It was scary. But you don’t think about getting hurt when you’re a teenager, do you? #WhatHappenedThatSummer
Steve_O
I can’t believe what AJ said to Pea – what a dick! #WhatHappenedThatSummer
56349Baz
Is anyone else thinking what I’m thinking? Pea and John both have a reason to dislike AJ now, right? #WhatHappenedThatSummer
BecksWilson
I don’t care what anyone says, Ice Cream is a tune. #WhatHappenedThatSummer
FreyatheFox
Imagine what he might have gone on to do, in later years, if he’d had the opportunity. #WhatHappenedThatSummer
DantheMan
Yeah, imagine. We might have had another three albums of mediocre pop music before he sunk without trace. #WhatHappenedThatSummer
5
EPISODE 5 – TEENAGE KICKS
Danny: It’s time for episode five ofWhat Happened That Summer?with me, Danny Drake. Twenty-nine years after his death, AJ Silver is a streaming sensation. As of yesterday, ‘Ice Cream’ officially went triple platinum, and I don’t know about you but I can’t seem to go anywhere without hearing it.
As you surely know, AJ Silver took the world of pop music by storm in the early 1990s and his untimely death in 1996, when he was just seventeen, sent shockwaves all over the world. And despite being American as apple pie, AJ Silver died right here in the UK, at Wildworld theme park in West Wilding, near Birmingham.
At the end of the last episode, I promised you that we’d be looking into AJ Silver’s love life. As you’d imagine for a teenage boy who was a household name the world over, AJ Silver had some complicated romantic entanglements. Over the years, there’ve been all sorts of rumours and speculations, including the infamous ‘Was AJ Gay?’ headline that led to AJ Silver’s mother, Grace Campbell, suing tabloid newspaperThe Scoopand winning an unspecified amount of money.
So, let’s get right into it with not one but two people who claim to have had sexual relations with AJ Silver during that fateful UK trip.
Nicole: Yes, I had a thing with AJ.
Danny: So that’s potential romance number one, Nicole Waddington. Sworn enemy of Pea Hunter and Alex. Want to hear from number two?
Alex: Stuff happened between me and AJ. I’ll let you use your imagination.
Pea: I know nothing about that. Alex never said a word. I mean, I believe him, but I’m just surprised that he kept something like that quiet all these years.
Danny: I should point out here that all confirmed relationships AJ had in his short life were with girls. So perhaps he was bisexual, or perhaps someone is lying. Let’s hear how it all allegedly played out.
Pea: They’d been there for a week, rehearsals had started, and the first gig was a few days away. AJ had a day off on the Sunday. He had this wild air about him, like he wanted to cause some trouble. Two more members of his team had just turned up. A guy called Lou who looked after his money and a private doctor called Haskins. I had no idea, up to that point, that some people had a doctor who would follow them around the world.
Zak: AJ was like a caged animal. He’d be fine once the tour started, I knew that from experience, but in the days leading up to the first concert he was always a nightmare. That Sunday, he looked like he wanted to tear shit up.
Alex: I went over again and it felt like there was something in the air. Pea was already in the park and I found her with AJ and Zak in Water City. They were about to go on the Wild Water Rapids and Pea called for me to join them, so I went over. Pea and Zak were holding hands, all loved up.
