He developed an interest in the teachings of George Gurdjieff but in 1974 turned down an invitation to attend the movement's training school, deciding instead to travel in Europe, armed only with a fool's hat and a melodica.
There he stayed for some years, taking over a leatherworking business from another departing American and running a leather goods stall in the newly opened Camden Lock Market.
There he hit upon a novel idea for busking, the "Human Jukebox", in which he waited in a large silver box until, when prompted by the insertion of a coin and the selection of a song, he opened a window and delivered his (unaccompanied) rendering.
As the "Human Jukebox", he made his first UK TV appearance, standing in for Elton John's part with Kiki Dee in the hit duet "Don't Go Breaking My Heart".
The threesome developed "The Chip Shop Show", a series of spoof musicals popular on the newly burgeoning London alternative comedy circuit, making many appearances at London's The Comedy Store alongside Ronnie Golden, John Hegley and others, including several future Red Dwarf players.