I honestly believe that this whole bit is the finest piece of stand up I’ve ever seen. The concept, the delivery, all of it is perfect. Stewart Lee truly is an artist.
Without a doubt my favourite comedian of all time, I just love the fact he always gives it to you straight like a pear cider made from 100 percent pears
@@serz1885This wasn’t those “only smart people get it jokes” you just kinda get it or not, and half of getting is knowing you can’t actually get it. Anyway Beaker from the Muppets has let himself go
@@serz1885 Bro I literally say it specifically isn’t that. Is your stepdad really so cruel you have to use this as an outlet? Your 16th birthday will here before you know it, champ.
@@serz1885 I do not believe I can explain it in a way that either accurately conveys my genuine understanding of and the entertainment gained from the joke nor relay that experience to you in a way that does justice to the extended, absurd, macabre dance of mixing the lowest horrors of war mankind has ever been capable of performing upon itself with the catchphrase of a beverage advert. But I’ll give it to you straight, like a pear cider that’s made from 100% pears; It’s just funny.
Love how it shows him running. The contrast between his angry shouting in a supposed spontaneous way and his running with a sense of desperation to get to the door on time is so funny
I wasn't much of a fan of Stewart when he was younger, found him a bit too over confident and smug. BUT, the stuff he has done over the last 8 years has just been fantastic...he has softened his stage persona and I now rate him as one of the best comedians around. I think when his full story is told he'll be considered as one of Britains finest.
I think it was because he was playing off Richard Herring's persona. Looking at them both now, Herring hasn't changed as much from his Fist of Fun days as Lee has. Still like them both though.
think its because he's grown older and it feels more natural to have a bitter character that is critical of everything.......the over confident and smug thing you mention I think is just because he was younger and it seemed like he was picking on people........whereas now it seems like life hast beaten him!
It takes balls and incredible skill to make comedy like this. Incredible stuff. "It's what I reach to.... and it defines me, so you can probably imagine my disappointment...". You're hanging on his every word. And you believe the horror and the shouting. Genius. It manages to be completely ridiculous AND be about class war.
How do the people that don't like him make him better ? Do they kick nim, do they lecture him, do they lecture him on how crap pear cider is - do they roast him like a chicken so he can see how it feels.
@Dashing Dave Wow. Someone with real knowledge. Exactly what I said on another video. He relies on his audience and their intelligence as opposed to impressions and talking nonsense. Often he pauses so the audience can reflect internally. He's a genius
@@allstartuition267 I love Hicks but I've found a lot of his material has definitely aged. I do see Lee as continuing and expanding on his style, though.
Can't believe you've not heard of Stewart Lee he's amazing. He's not like most comedians. Once you've heard him you won't watch other comedians. Its like art.
i ve been a fan for donkeys years but this one was a disguised rant at fellow stand up Mark Watson who got the great paying voice over gig for the Magners Pear advert.Stewart gets jealous of comedians who make more dosh than him
@@jeskaaable have a listen to a great podcast on BBC Sounds "How do You Cope with Elis and John ". Two great comedians Elis James and John Robins interviewing Mark Watson where the Stewert Lee /Mark Watson vid is discussed . You will get the inside knowledge of it all. Not Stewart Lees finest hour..nor Franky Boyle s neither who also waded in having a crack at Marks false Welsh advert.. John Robins has taken over for me as the best stand up comedian and he does nt resort to piss takes about anyone but himself .The Elis and John radio 5 live podcasts/show on Friday afternoons are absolutely great too
stewart lee only impresses me more.. the more slow, and repetitive, and satyrical.. and ardent..he gets. he commands the stage; like captain bligh. i had to search half-way across the world to find my favorite comedian. the search is over. p.s. richard herring (or anyone) poking fun at stewart lee's comedy: makes me howl with laughter, i love his art so much.
I've always insisted on honesty in romance. If ever I've sensed that my feelings for someone aren't reciprocated and they've asked me what I want them to tell me, a slight part of me wants them to lie and say they want to be with me, but the more honourable side of me says "just give it to me straight like a pear cider that's made from 100% pear".
I find him to be a very interesting person, the more I watch him, the more i like him, I think he builds a connection with the audience, sometimes I dont like what he says, however, I am still drawn to him, I guess that he rides that thin line between humour and irony, sometimes going too far, but his style and charisma drag it back from the dark place. He is very very good, its taken me some time to admit that fact.
The irony is this has become such a well known routine it's kept alive Watson's shitty Magner's commercial way beyond anything anyone on the marketing team would've dreamt possible.
Lee is just jealous of the big money Mark made from that Magners advert. He s same of multi millionaire Michael Macantyre.Anyone who earns more than him is a target...In any case ALL advertising is shitty
@@paulsmartialarts oh get stuffed pedant, "seriously " trying to be an American are we ? You ve no idea what you are on about. Stuart Lee is making more enemies every time he does a stand up and its ALWAYS against fellow stand ups who make more money than him with his pokey little audiences. Hes got this massive jealous streak . I find his wife Bridgit Christie much funnier nowadays than this overweight pillock, and his old oppo Richard Herring
the first ten minutes of him sincerely extolling the virtues of a nonsense phrase with a dead straight face are just. no one could pull that off except stewart lee
Aaaaaallllll that just to build up to calling out an ad agency for a clumsy phrase. No one else could even attempt this, let alone make it 12+ minutes and still funny.
He just gets funnier & funnier, has to be my favourite stand up! Though I’m certain he’d have something caustic to say about that!!! Best was his summing up of Little John! So spot on in one 4 letter word!🤣🤣🤣👍
I wonder if his grandad flew over Dresden in a zigzag route to avoid flak and Messerschmitts, or was their route straight like a pear cider that's made from 100% pears?
That one nice-looking health food shop you always mean to go into for a browse but never do because it is quite far from where you live and you hardly ever find yourself out where it's located has let itself go.
I somewhat disagree and somewhat agree. He uses family guy-esque shock humour a couple of times in this bit. But yes, this is one of the greatest crafted pieces of comedy ever written and Family Guy (post season 3) is more like fast food comedy, it's enjoyable but doesn't stay with you that much. The first 3 seasons however are incredibly well written and some of the jokes are genius.
@@Macbobob Hi. The protagonist in the advertisements is, comedian, Mark Watson. For some time during his early career, he pretended to be Welsh, duly speaking in a Welsh accent, despite having absolutely no connection to Wales whatsoever. I found Lee’s reference to this quite funny. Happy New Year!
I actually say this in my life now XD Just every so often when i'm talking to my mum, "i'll give it to you straight-" and then she pushes me off the sofa XD
What's funniest to me is that whilst he is on stage, delivering it to us straight, like a...., his dark clothing against the backdrop of darkness makes him appear as a floating head and a pair of hands.
I always laugh at this and I don't even know what a 'Pairsider' is? I think it's a real shame that Mr Lee is so Birmingham-Centric he assumes that we are all truck drivers and know all the lingo!! So so sad. 🤔🇬🇧
Cider is fermented alcoholic drink, usually made from apples, hence it is pointed out that this is made from pears. I am from UK and am familiar with this. It is interesting that the stand-up still works without knowing what a pear cider is. Hang on maybe I was not up to speed with your Lee-esque take on the world. Very good. I laughed late!
![Stewart Lee - [2/2] Give It To Me Straight, Like Pear Cider That's Made From 100% Pears](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/oPsfppxy0kg/mqdefault.jpg)
![Stewart Lee - [2/2] Give It To Me Straight, Like Pear Cider That's Made From 100% Pears](/img/tr.png)
Why is this routine split into two halves? I'd rather you give it to me straight, like a pear cider made from 100% pears.
never said by anyone. but him brilliant.
I'll give it to you straight, like a pear cider made from 100% pears. It's the RUclips algorithm.
hahaha like what you did there
But surely in one part it would just be one massive pear
It's like a pear cider made from 50% pears
This sort of feels like a TED talk that slowly reveals itself as deadpan absurdism... it's beautiful
Pretty much his style. He's fantastic.
…something that slowly reveals itself to be deadpan absurdism, or every TED talk
What inspires me is teaching African refugees JavaScript.
@@Ianmundo the idea of somebody earnestly watching any ted talk is really funny
@@billylapworth I was gonna elude to that one
Stewart Lee has been my greatest discovery of 2020. He does comedy at a completely different level.
I know he's phenomenal
Better late than never.
he stole most of his material from joe pasquale
Glad to hear it! There’s so much to watch, and he still somehow surprises me how funny he is
Yes, you're correct, welcome
“Well, he did talk about it once.”
Brilliant setup, perfect timing, so good.
… you know it’s coming….
That bit honestly had me crying 😅
I honestly believe that this whole bit is the finest piece of stand up I’ve ever seen. The concept, the delivery, all of it is perfect. Stewart Lee truly is an artist.
Clearly you’ve not seen his William Wallace Braveheart monologue he gave in a club in Glasgow.
Jungle canyon rope bridges
The bit before this when he goes on about how he wishes Richard Hammond was dead is my favourite piece of stand up
This man is pearless.
100% pearless made with a total absence of pear.
Lemmonless.
Impearious
LOL
Just seen him in Canterbury on the latest tour. Never seen him before. It was just as brilliant as this, and his interaction was top notch.
7:35 "You don't know what you're talking about, shut up" - I know it's coming, but that line has a way of surprising me every time I listen.
To get a laugh out of a punchline that you repeat that many times is pretty incredible
The absolute disdain when he says "It'll be longer tonight, though"
Like a threat. Punishment.
Without a doubt my favourite comedian of all time, I just love the fact he always gives it to you straight like a pear cider made from 100 percent pears
This is for me his best, most crafted monologue. Love it.
Aupa Donostiarra!
@@danishih 💪
The statement was more commonplace in the 80s, under Thatcher
Gold
👏👏👏👏👏
I wish I was in thatcher’s England in the 80s so I could understand that reference
Are you talking about the jungle canyon rope bridge snatcher?
and dogs... DOGS?
One of my very favourite stand ups. Blazingly intelligent and painfully funny.
It must be a struggle for him not to laugh during this routine. It cracks me up so much.
what exactly funny ?what's the joke, Running up the stair or shouting?
@@serz1885 Get a life.
@@serz1885This wasn’t those “only smart people get it jokes” you just kinda get it or not, and half of getting is knowing you can’t actually get it.
Anyway Beaker from the Muppets has let himself go
@@serz1885 Bro I literally say it specifically isn’t that.
Is your stepdad really so cruel you have to use this as an outlet? Your 16th birthday will here before you know it, champ.
@@serz1885 I do not believe I can explain it in a way that either accurately conveys my genuine understanding of and the entertainment gained from the joke nor relay that experience to you in a way that does justice to the extended, absurd, macabre dance of mixing the lowest horrors of war mankind has ever been capable of performing upon itself with the catchphrase of a beverage advert.
But I’ll give it to you straight, like a pear cider that’s made from 100% pears;
It’s just funny.
I don't know why "And my grandad said you don't know what you're talking about shut up" is so funny.
I love when he says..
He never talked about it.
Well he did once...
“There was nothing moving down there, just a dog” makes me laugh so hard and i still dont know why
Every time I watch this - and its been years - it just gets better.
This is the best stand-up out of Britain in a long, long time. I am now a fan.
His comedy really is on a different level from anyone else's. And I'm glad not everyone gets it.
A higher level?
He’s a genius and you’re a genius for liking him
Love how it shows him running. The contrast between his angry shouting in a supposed spontaneous way and his running with a sense of desperation to get to the door on time is so funny
The exposed heart of the Chernobyl reactor core has let itself go.
Excellent one
Why do I see this everywhere? Was it a bit at one point...? I've been afraid to ask at this point lol
@@KillaKermit yes it was part of his routine and those who know about it, have changed it to reflect him.
Bizarrely this comment actually came to me in a dream
I wasn't much of a fan of Stewart when he was younger, found him a bit too over confident and smug. BUT, the stuff he has done over the last 8 years has just been fantastic...he has softened his stage persona and I now rate him as one of the best comedians around. I think when his full story is told he'll be considered as one of Britains finest.
his delivery and.........................timing are up there with the greats
I think it was because he was playing off Richard Herring's persona. Looking at them both now, Herring hasn't changed as much from his Fist of Fun days as Lee has. Still like them both though.
Yes I'm the same too, but I think your taste in humour changes as you get older. His humour grows on you and he a can tell a yarn like no one else..
think its because he's grown older and it feels more natural to have a bitter character that is critical of everything.......the over confident and smug thing you mention I think is just because he was younger and it seemed like he was picking on people........whereas now it seems like life hast beaten him!
Karlheinz Stockhausen has let himself go
It takes balls and incredible skill to make comedy like this. Incredible stuff. "It's what I reach to.... and it defines me, so you can probably imagine my disappointment...". You're hanging on his every word. And you believe the horror and the shouting. Genius. It manages to be completely ridiculous AND be about class war.
I love how an explanation about a statement that cuts to the chase, is 20 minutes long. Genius :)
I watch this all the time. As it gets older it just becomes more brilliant
I just love the fact it keeps winding along and you are like 'where is he going with this?' ...... then Boom! He drops the errr, boom!!
he is good and the people that dont like him make him even better
How do the people that don't like him make him better ? Do they kick nim, do they lecture him, do they lecture him on how crap pear cider is - do they roast him like a chicken so he can see how it feels.
@@davidc3839 he uses the people that don't like him as fuel for a new routine. It's a cycle that won't end
@@faboolean7039 Yes, a pear that won't squish - :)
@@davidc3839 - Need a full-length mirror for that, mate.
I don’t like him so that should make him better still 🤔
Stewart Lee is one of the greatest, if not the greatest stand up comedian ever worldwide.
He's funny but Lee Evans is the best stand up comic that Canadian Woman Katherine Ryan is very funny too 👍👍
@Dashing Dave Wow. Someone with real knowledge. Exactly what I said on another video. He relies on his audience and their intelligence as opposed to impressions and talking nonsense. Often he pauses so the audience can reflect internally. He's a genius
Dave T Hicks is so relevant, even today
@@allstartuition267 I love Hicks but I've found a lot of his material has definitely aged. I do see Lee as continuing and expanding on his style, though.
He is the finest stand up ever.
This is such INCREDIBLY clever comedy.
I have diverticulitis AND Crohn's disease. Not bragging or anything. Just giving it to you straight. . . .
Like a pear cider...made from 100% pears. Sort of.
Your colostomy smells like pear.
@@andym28 I'm lucky that I don't need them.
Pears cider gives you Crohns.
@@lovelyhurlin6494 that'd be from all the soap
He could say "Like Pear Cider That's Made From 100% Pears" 1000 times and I'd laugh every time ;-)
A joyous piece of comedy genius....nobody else on planet earth thought of doing this. And hes only got better!
I've been crying all night, I'm v grateful for this rn
You're name mate ! Don't be so hard on yourself 🥺
it shows what a good actor he really is, and how celebrity pathos, tears and humbleness and can be so easily faked for the cameras.
Can't believe you've not heard of Stewart Lee he's amazing. He's not like most comedians. Once you've heard him you won't watch other comedians. Its like art.
Mate!
He's like jazz, he knows how it goes, he just chooses to make it a little longer on purpose
i ve been a fan for donkeys years but this one was a disguised rant at fellow stand up Mark Watson who got the great paying voice over gig for the Magners Pear advert.Stewart gets jealous of comedians who make more dosh than him
@@stuartchester6899 whatever the reason, his goal is to make us laugh, and he succeded in that endeavour.
@@jeskaaable have a listen to a great podcast on BBC Sounds "How do You Cope with Elis and John ". Two great comedians Elis James and John Robins interviewing Mark Watson where the Stewert Lee /Mark Watson vid is discussed . You will get the inside knowledge of it all. Not Stewart Lees finest hour..nor Franky Boyle s neither who also waded in having a crack at Marks false Welsh advert.. John Robins has taken over for me as the best stand up comedian and he does nt resort to piss takes about anyone but himself .The Elis and John radio 5 live podcasts/show on Friday afternoons are absolutely great too
stewart lee only impresses me more..
the more slow, and repetitive, and satyrical..
and ardent..he gets.
he commands the stage; like captain bligh.
i had to search half-way across the world to find my favorite comedian.
the search is over.
p.s. richard herring (or anyone) poking fun at stewart lee's comedy:
makes me howl with laughter, i love his art so much.
Before 2009 nobody would have even said 'pear cider'. The expression would have been, ' Give to me straight, like a perry made from 100% pears'.
I've always insisted on honesty in romance. If ever I've sensed that my feelings for someone aren't reciprocated and they've asked me what I want them to tell me, a slight part of me wants them to lie and say they want to be with me, but the more honourable side of me says "just give it to me straight like a pear cider that's made from 100% pear".
Pears! Its not one enormous pear. ;D
I always knew Terry Christian would be a great stand up comedian one day 👏👏👏👏
DPC James must have just discovered him I imagine
Word
This is the single greatest sketch in stand up history. If you don't agree you've let yourself go
No. Top Gear routine is better
@@theslugboiii5969 your mums routine is better
It's a bit not a sketch ackshully
@@Jordannadroj20Could you translate that to English please?
@@MrJ2theC
It is in english. A 'bit' in a stand up routine is a series of related jokes.
To think he came up with that from a tagline from a single advert he found annoying. genius.
Could you explain his joke to me in simpler terms?
More specifically, a tagline that was delivered by his fellow comedian Mark Watson, everytime he speaks the line it's a dig at Watson.
You gave it to us straight...
@@ihavethepowerquery4718 is this Data from star trek?
Rip sean what a fkin shame
this bit and delivery of this bit is epic. I feel like he would be so respected by other comedians.
I find him to be a very interesting person, the more I watch him, the more i like him, I think he builds a connection with the audience, sometimes I dont like what he says, however, I am still drawn to him, I guess that he rides that thin line between humour and irony, sometimes going too far, but his style and charisma drag it back from the dark place.
He is very very good, its taken me some time to admit that fact.
Thanks Gary, for giving it to us straight
The irony is this has become such a well known routine it's kept alive Watson's shitty Magner's commercial way beyond anything anyone on the marketing team would've dreamt possible.
Lee is just jealous of the big money Mark made from that Magners advert. He s same of multi millionaire Michael Macantyre.Anyone who earns more than him is a target...In any case ALL advertising is shitty
@@stuartchester6899 "he's the same of"? seriously?
@@paulsmartialarts oh get stuffed pedant, "seriously " trying to be an American are we ? You ve no idea what you are on about.
Stuart Lee is making more enemies every time he does a stand up and its ALWAYS against fellow stand ups who make more money than him with his pokey little audiences.
Hes got this massive jealous streak . I find his wife Bridgit Christie much funnier nowadays than this overweight pillock, and his old oppo Richard Herring
You can tell things are about to get real whenever he starts making breathy mouth noises into the microphone
He's mocking Mark Watson (a very funny and talented comic) who sold out to make TV ads to sell Magners Pear Cider
@@rhydianlewis2867 Nope, perry is made from a specific type of pear: the perry pear.
@@rhydianlewis2867 Are you accusing the good people at Magners of lying?
The best comedian in the UK.
the first ten minutes of him sincerely extolling the virtues of a nonsense phrase with a dead straight face are just. no one could pull that off except stewart lee
It’s not just great comedy, it’s great acting!
All great comedians are great actors
Probably the best pure stand up comedian in the world right now.
'He learnt to swim in the fields' 😂
Aaaaaallllll that just to build up to calling out an ad agency for a clumsy phrase. No one else could even attempt this, let alone make it 12+ minutes and still funny.
And Mark Watson his fellow comedian who delivered the tagline in the ad.
"And it's what I reach to, and it defines me."
...
"So...".
God, this one of the best comedic build-ups I have ever experienced.
This skit grows on me. Brilliant.
if you drink too much cider it gives you an eskimo face from the 90s
"People, like Richard Hammond.. or..." 😂
This is why he's the best of his generation. It's a work of art.
"You don't know what you are talking about. Shut up" just cracks me up every time.
Probably accurate though. Dresden was an appalling war crime
He's one of a kind. Discovered his humour from the Russel Brand song and the haunting image of David Baddiel. He's up there with Hicks.
Quite simply, the greatest comedian, ever.
He just gets funnier & funnier, has to be my favourite stand up!
Though I’m certain he’d have something caustic to say about that!!!
Best was his summing up of Little John! So spot on in one 4 letter word!🤣🤣🤣👍
I watched Carpet remnant World and IMO One of the best ever stand up routines. He is a comedic genius.
I prefer Russell Howard's observational comedy of a Victorian mental hospital.
@@WOOOPdoctorFROGhere That part of his last stand up was hilarious, I was really surprised by how good the whole two hours was.
Stuart Lee is a fantastic Comedian, he always gives it to you straight. Like...
like what?
_Gumdrop,_ the Command Module on the Apollo 9 space mission, has let itself go
I wonder if his grandad flew over Dresden in a zigzag route to avoid flak and Messerschmitts, or was their route straight like a pear cider that's made from 100% pears?
Zig and Zag were decades later
this man is on a different level. genius
do you remember the jungle canyon rope bridges?
It sure seems like no one remembers the jungle canyon rope bridges these days.
In the 80s, under Thatcher?
When he drops the mike, it's the comedy equivalent of the bass cutting in halfway through The Chain.
Persevere with it. He's literally the funniest stand-up i've ever seen
Pearsevere.
This is the funniest stand up sketch I have ever seen.
That one nice-looking health food shop you always mean to go into for a browse but never do because it is quite far from where you live and you hardly ever find yourself out where it's located has let itself go.
One of his most genius routines. I'd love to have been inside his brain when he saw this advert and started working backwards to come up with all this
The "like Richard Hammond" is hilarious without context
This guy is the polar opposite of most Family Guy-esque humour we see now, he's slow, eloquent, boring, and hilarious.
Family Guy did used to do a lot of laboured jokes-that-go-on-too-long-and-become-funny-again
I love family guy and Stewart Lee
@@guitarreillyI'm glad that someone on your level is managing to laugh along with the crowd, good for you.
I somewhat disagree and somewhat agree. He uses family guy-esque shock humour a couple of times in this bit. But yes, this is one of the greatest crafted pieces of comedy ever written and Family Guy (post season 3) is more like fast food comedy, it's enjoyable but doesn't stay with you that much.
The first 3 seasons however are incredibly well written and some of the jokes are genius.
"I've had him given a lethal injection" is a sentence by a master wordsmith at the apex of his craft.
I use to go to sleep with this on, I sometimes still do lol
This works in so many ways, It's genus.
I didn't know this guy before but this is pure genius.
_Calypso,_ the captain's yacht on the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D, has let itself go.
How the fuck does he come up with this stuff? I like lots of comedians but I really respect Stuart Lee’s comedy, the guys on another level.
this was a victory people.
rejoice! we are one more.
congratulations 'broodjeeend'.
Utter genius. Gripping entertainment and he does make a clever profound point behind it all.
Little did Steward Lee know that 1:33 will be quoted by everyone going forward. Haha
So cleverly designed!
Thanks to RUclips I’m discovering this funny guy
One does not suffer from open-mindedness. It is a key part of critical thinking.
7:07 "He talked about it once..."
That’s my favourite bit 😂
He bombed a German pear cider factory.
@@loungejay8555he gave it to them straight
Give It To Me Straight, Like Pear Cider That's Made From 100% Pears
Sparkling intelligence made from 100% sparkling intelligence
9:53 - "Little Welsh lad in it." What an inside joke!
explain please?
@@Macbobob Hi. The protagonist in the advertisements is, comedian, Mark Watson. For some time during his early career, he pretended to be Welsh, duly speaking in a Welsh accent, despite having absolutely no connection to Wales whatsoever. I found Lee’s reference to this quite funny. Happy New Year!
The annoying thing is that I can not use that in my conversations and make it that funny. 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂
I need tickets for this genius
I actually say this in my life now XD Just every so often when i'm talking to my mum, "i'll give it to you straight-" and then she pushes me off the sofa XD
Te
28 years old you were ...
What's funniest to me is that whilst he is on stage, delivering it to us straight, like a...., his dark clothing against the backdrop of darkness makes him appear as a floating head and a pair of hands.
smart and stupid at the same time perfect comedy
this is comedy art
The prog rock of comedy.
"I've had the vet give him a lethal injection" hahahahahha.
That really is giving it to him straight like a pear cider, made from 100% pears.
I always laugh at this and I don't even know what a 'Pairsider' is?
I think it's a real shame that Mr Lee is so Birmingham-Centric he assumes that we are all truck drivers and know all the lingo!!
So so sad. 🤔🇬🇧
Cider is fermented alcoholic drink, usually made from apples, hence it is pointed out that this is made from pears. I am from UK and am familiar with this. It is interesting that the stand-up still works without knowing what a pear cider is. Hang on maybe I was not up to speed with your Lee-esque take on the world. Very good. I laughed late!
It's from eleven years ago. There was a fifteen minute limit back then.
An absolute master of his craft.