I'm well aware Liam Tyson played in with Robert Plant, but that just proves the point I was trying to make, I can't ever imagine Barry Sutton playing in the strange sensation.... but not because of lack of ability.
Who cares if some of the ex-members of the La's have 'day jobs' and work as plasterers, that has no bearing on their musical ability what so ever, I think that's a far nastier thing to suggest than anything I have posted.
OJT, you seem to be saying that it's sort of virtuous that the likes of Sutton haven't gone on to play with the likes of Robert Plant, as if to do so would be to 'sell out' (whatever that means) or to lower their standards. If that is what you mean (and I'm aware that I'm putting words in your mouth), I couldn't disagree more. The culture of underachievement that surrounds the La's from Lee down is beyond frustrating. Honestly, if it makes them feel better to say that they could've done this, that or the other if only they'd wanted to, then that's up to them and good luck to them, but I don't see it as artistically noble, more as a rather sad waste of potential and talent.
As for being plasterers, 3 of my closest mates are plasterers and the reason that ex-La's members are probably doing it is that it can earn you a really comfortable living. One of my mates earns twice what I earn as a teacher, so there's clearly nothing wrong with that, and it's certainly more that you'd get from playing half empty bars in liverpool every fortnight billed as 'Ex-La's guitarist/drummer and his new band'.