Dion Dublin and The Dube Taking time out from the brass hall Norwich City in 1988 and after making Philip Biggs when I visited the Frankfurt 156 appearances, where he scored 52 Musikmesse earlier this year, I was goals, the great Alex Ferguson, manager of out of action for over six months and was finding out about all things new in Manchester United showed a keen interest never able to establish himself again in the the world of percussion when I in Dion and he was sold to Manchester Manchester United first team and was sold came across an English to Coventry City in 1994. In football legend and his the meantime Sir Alex ingenious percussion Ferguson had signed Eric invention. I am talking Cantona from United’s about Dion Dublin and The deadly rivals Leeds United. Dube! I made my Dion jokes: “Philip, I take acquaintance with Dion, full credit for all the success who was expertly ‘running that Manchester United his booth’ at the have had since that fateful Musikmesse, took a good day at Crystal Palace. That look at The Dube and we meant that Sir Alex signed agreed that we would Eric and look at the success touch base following the which has followed!” Asking Frankfurt show. The Dube Dion about Manchester is a very classy play on United’s manager, Sir Alex words, a sort of cross Ferguson, Dion says quite between cube and Dublin. simply: “Sir Alex is the I remember Dion well from his finest club manager ever. days at Cambridge United as His record speaks for itself.” the goal scoring machine that Dion went onto enjoy a very fired the aforementioned club full and successful career at from the bottom tier of Coventry City, Aston Villa professional football in England and Leicester City - over to the brink of the highest 350 games and some 115 domestic league in the world - goals - a goal every three the Premier League. There games - that’s some record. were successive promotions in Before hanging up his boots, the 1989-1990 and 1990- Dion Dublin with The Dube. Dion returned to his first 1991 seasons and two professional club Norwich successive FA Cup Quarter United for £1 million in 1992. This is still City where he enjoyed two very successful Finals, where the fearless Cambridge side the record transfer fee any Cambridge seasons at Carrow Road. Add to that four succumbed to Crystal Palace in the 1990 player. Following his move to Old Trafford, full England caps and if one includes his and then the mighty Arsenal at the famous Dion scored his first goal for the Red Devils substitute appearances, Dion played for Highbury ground in 1991. A match which against Southampton in his fourth match, his country seven times. Dion Dublin has Cambridge United lost 2-1 - I think you but then disaster struck when Dion had an illustrious football and sporting can guess who scored the Cambridge goal! suffered a broken leg playing against career, he has been a wonderful Dion had arrived at Cambridge from Crystal Palace at Old Trafford. Dion was ambassador and is now television summariser and pundit working on BBC programmes such as Match of the Day, Football Focus and Final Score. Before this Dion worked for Sky Sports TV and as well as working for the BBC now he is also an expert for Premier League TV, an overseas football channel. Catching up with Dion following our chance rendezvous in Frankfurt, I was keen to find out how the Dube came into being. “Well, I had harboured the idea of a drum that could produce a multitude of sound colours so I started building prototypes a few years ago when I was enjoying my second spell at Norwich City to see if I could produce what was in my mind. I spent a lot of time in the local builders buying wood to make the fledgling Dubes and, little by little, I perfected my concept and then we started full production of the Dube. I worked to three golden rules during the design stage: Manchester United v Real Madrid. Dion Dublin and Zinedine Zidane. sound, vision and transportation. I feel 32 The Brass Herald December 2012 colours and numbers on each side that correspond with the differing tones and sounds produced. We’re delighted at The Dube that world renowned musicians such as Courtney Pine and Thomas Lang have used and recommend it,” Dion concludes. Dion’s work in the world of music isn’t just confined to his great invention, The Dube. He also manages bands and a gospel choir, so with his work in television and radio, Dion is a very busy sporting personality and in many towns and cities in the country he occupies hero status. None more so than two miles from where The Brass Herald is published, the Abbey Stadium - home of Cambridge United, the Stevie Wonder playing The Dube. club where Dion made his name and then very happy that I got these three went on to play for Manchester United and prerequisites right.” models,” Dion enthuses. Dion, being a team a host of glamour clubs in the United “The Dube can produce several distinct player himself, cites the different sizes Kingdom. available and most importantly the different sounds,” continues Dion. “We Dion deserves all the success that has different tone colours that can be produced, produce four different size models: 9”, come his way and is certain to come his lending the Dube to being a great team 12”, 15” and 18” and every Dube is fitted way in the future. He is and always has building tool when used in an ensemble with a microphone.” been the consummate professional and situation in the classroom. “A Dube is a very fine ambassador. We will follow The Dube So, how are sales going? “Sales are versatile instrument and teaching tool and Dion with great interest in the future. promising across all ranges and all which can be modified simply to include

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