He’s in Britain to prepare for the Edinburgh opening of his Berliner Ensemble production of The Merchant of Venice, and it’s odd to think that this epitome of relaxed internationalism cut his teeth in darkest Wales. Imagine a young theatre director in mid-1950s Pontypridd looking out of his window, watching miners with their lamps on their way to work, then returning, their faces black with coal-dust. Why, he asks himself, aren’t they coming to my theatre to see plays by Cocteau?

In round-rimmed shades and a scruffy black T-shirt, Peter Zadek looks many years younger than his distinguished 69. There were probably health restrictions preventing them from showing what has become of Steve Priest..

Age cannot wither that, even if Connolly looked desperately infirm on Channel 4’s recent glam retrospective Andy Scott looked bloated. After that they went metalwards.More than any other group from that era, even more than Slade, who wore their platforms and sequins with less gusto, Sweet had a few hits that defined a fleeting moment in pop. It’s absurd to think that Sweet and the Clash (yes, the definite article was back) could ever have occupied the same chart. Apart from the presentable “Fox on the Run”, you could tell from their heavy B-sides and albums (Sweet Fanny Adams, Desolation Boulevard) that they’d never have another year like 1974.There was a comeback in 1978 with “Love Is Like Oxygen”, but it was pretty pallid stuff. They split with Chinn and Chapman, a hit-factory who grew fat writing for Suzi Quatro, Mud and even Smokie, and tried penning their own stuff.

It was a body blow when “Hell Raiser” was kept from the top by the Strawbs’s “Part of the Union”, definite article and all. “Teenage Rampage” opened with what sounded like a Nuremberg rally where everyone was chanting “We want Sweet.”Unfortunately, not everyone did want Sweet They only had the one number one. That Steve Priest, camply squawking in the chorus, always was a wrong ‘un). For “Ballroom Blitz” Mick did a locomotive drum intro, over which Brian asked the band if they were set (“Are you ready, Steve?” “Uh-huh”.