John Charles Alder, known to the music world as Twink, was born on 29 November 1944, in Colchester, Essex, England. Fascinated by rhythm from a young age, Alder took up drumming in his teens and cut his teeth in local bands. His early professional break came in the mid 1960s as a member of The Fairies, a Mod/R&B group that toured extensively and released a handful of singles. His high-energy playing and flamboyant personality already set him apart from more conventional drummers. In 1966, Twink joined The In-Crowd, a London-based R&B group that soon transformed into the psychedelic band Tomorrow, alongside guitarist Steve Howe (later of Yes), singer Keith West and bassist John “Junior” Wood. Tomorrow became one of the key house bands of the UK’s vibrant psychedelic scene, playing the UFO Club and sharing bills with Pink Floyd and Soft Machine. Tomorrow was featured on the first John Peel session (“Peel Sessions”), on BBC Radio 1 on 21 September 1967. Their 1968 self-titled album, while not a commercial hit, became a cult favourite for its inventive guitar work and whimsical, surreal sound. Tomorrow broke up in 1968 and Twink and John “Junior” Wood formed the short-lived group The Aquarian Age in 1968 and released the psychedelic classic single “10,000 Words In A Cardboard Box”. Twink joined The Pretty Things that same year, replacing drummer Skip Alan, just as they were recording their ambitious rock opera “S.F. Sorrow”. His loose, inventive style fit perfectly with the album’s psychedelic storytelling. He also toured with the band, helping them transition from their gritty R&B roots to more experimental territory. Though “S.F. Sorrow” was initially a commercial disappointment, it later gained recognition as a groundbreaking concept album - and Twink’s drumming was a key part of its atmosphere. Twink left The Pretty Things in late 1969 to pursue a solo career. His debut album, “Think Pink” (1970), produced by Mick Farren of The Deviants, was a kaleidoscope of whimsical, strange, and heavy psychedelic sounds - a cult classic that would influence later generations of psychedelic and space rock musicians. That same year, he co-founded Pink Fairies, a freewheeling collective with ex-Deviants members. The Fairies embodied the anarchic, countercultural spirit of the early 1970s: playing free festivals, embracing a heavy-psych sound, and mixing idealism with chaos. Albums like “NeverNeverLand” (1971) cemented their reputation, though their lifestyle sometimes overshadowed their music. Twink’s career after the early 1970s was a patchwork of short-lived bands, reunions, and one-off projects. He briefly joined the Stars project with Syd Barrett (Pink Floyd) and Jack Monck in 1972 - a fleeting but much-mythologized moment in Barrett’s post-Pink Floyd life. In the following decades, Twink moved between England and overseas, playing with various psychedelic revivalists, punk-influenced acts, and reformed versions of Pink Fairies. His collaborations often blurred the line between past and present, keeping the spirit of the late 1960s alive. From the 2000s onward, Twink embraced his status as a psychedelic elder statesman. He reissued “Think Pink”, toured with younger musicians, and participated in The Pretty Things and Pink Fairies reunion events. His autobiography, “You Rocked, We Rolled”, offered fans a vivid, candid view of his adventures in music’s most flamboyant era. Now in his late seventies, Twink remains a beloved figure in psychedelic rock circles - celebrated not just for his drumming, but for his boundless enthusiasm, eccentric spirit, and refusal to conform. Twink’s influence is less about chart positions and more about attitude: the idea that rock music can be playful, surreal, unpredictable, and free from commercial expectations. From Tomorrow to “Think Pink”, his work captures a uniquely British form of psychedelia that inspired garage revivalists, punk musicians, and acid rockers alike. “It was never about money or fame - it was about the trip.” - Twink