Boogie Knights -- The Legend (According to David Keefer, circa 1983)
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Theodoric of York:

Ancient, recently-discovered legends report that Theodoric materialized on the estate of an English warlord in the spring of 1173, and was promptly arrested on recorded charges of "Trespassing, poaching, and sorcery." During his audience with the lord of the manor, Theodoric claimed that his real name was "Theodore Bare," a "radio personality" from the 20th century, transported back into the 12th century by someone who must have been a very, very good magician at a "Renaissance Festival" sponsored by his "radio station" in a land called "New York."

The warlord didn't buy it and poor Theo was sentenced to die in the courtyard the following morning.

Syd de Vicious:

What the merciless warlord could not have foreseen was the siege launched upon his castle that dawn by a rival's army. In the ensuing confusion, a young lieutenant in the warlord's forces -- loyal to his king and country, but not to this particularly unpleasant lord -- ducked out of the battle, sneaked into the unguarded dungeon, and liberated Theo. The soldier, Syd de Vicious, was determined to prevent any more innocent folks from falling to his master's cruelty.

Syd elected to accompany Theo in his flight as a fugitive. Theo gladly accepted the adroit, impulsive fighter's company, as he would need protection in these raw times until a wizard could be found to figure out how he could survive financially, as no wizard would exercise his power without a helluva lot of compensation. To allay Theo's troubled mind, Syd would entertain him with tales passed down to him through generations of de Vicious fighters, stories of what REALLY happened during events that would become well-known history in Theo's time. The displaced DJ's cunning and the pacifistic fighter's daring nurtured a chemistry between them which would help them survive their future adventures.

Anne of Denver:

In the course of their travels, Theo and Syd found themselves staying overnight at an inn in the English county of Devon, somewhere in t he High Willhays Mountains. While Theo tried to sleep in a rented room, Syd was hurriedly approached in the tavern by a lovely, but terrified maiden named Anne, who was desperately seeking a champion to win her her freedom from a cruel, unjust marriage arranged by greedy parents for land, not love.

John of Denver:

Meanwhile, Theo fought for slumber against the melancholy strains of a mandolin from the room next door. Theo went over to complain, only to confront a sad minstrel named John, who was lamenting the absence of his wife's love with his sweet, sad voice. Theo, always the impresario, saw his ticket home in the marketing potential of this fellow's musical gifts. A medieval concert tour? Why not? With the youngster's talent and Theo's business savvy, he'd be spinning platters in 1982 again in no time!

Theo hurried downstairs to present his discovery (John) to Syd, and Syd presented his discovery (Anne) to Theo. Neither realized until it was too late that these were the star-crossed newlyweds, each blaming the other and their families for their predicament. Both were so bitter towards the elders responsible for the mismatch that neither partner wanted to try and get to know the other. Using the skills of mediation and persuasion he'd employed in talking John into starting a tour, Theo helped the un-lovers settle their differences long enough for John of Devon's one-man show to commence.

At first, the tour went badly, not because John wasn't talented, but because wandering minstrel shows were too common a form of entertainment. Theo sensed the need to showcase a new sound, something that would haul in the gold pieces, but the only music at John's disposal was the same old madrigal stuff, war cries and tragic ballads. Theo declared that they would go to IReland for a change of scenery and exposure to any new styles of music that might be incorporated into the act.

Thus did Theodoric and company journey to Eire.

The Baron Manilow:

The John of Devon Tour of 1173 went only slightly better upon landing on the Emerald Isle. When adding some Irish music to the program failed to attract sizeable crowds, Theo began to tutor his protégé in the styles of 10th century music, the implementation of which enlivened the old standards. It also got them invited into private manors, performing in exchange for a night's room and board.

One stop on the tour was the barony of Baltimore in County Cork, at the estate known as Manilow Grange. The gruff old baron needed cheering up and JOhn's little show offered momentary relief from the liege's worries. (It seems that the baron was distressed that his reclusive son and sole heir was disinterested in mastering the manly arts of combat necessary to defend the family honor.)

That night, during a post-performance walk around the grounds, Theo spotted a young man preparing to take his own life with a sword. This was the prospective Baron Manilow, and Theo took it upon himself to talk the lad out of this foolishness. After convincing the lonely lord to spare himself, Theo happened to read his new acquaintance's would-have-been suicide note. There was something strange about the parchment...

It rhymed. Every line rhymed. It even suggested a tempo.

Baron Manilow was certainly no fighter. Maybe he wasn't even a suitable land-baron-to-be, but he was, quite by accident, a fine poet... or a lyricist, given the right original music and encouragement.

Theo immediately invited Manilow to join the tour, but, despite the bitterness existing between him and his father, Manilow sought his elder's blessing before accepting the offer. At first, the older baron called his son a disgrace and threatened to deny him his inheritance and title. THe young Manilow stood his ground, angrily challenging his father to test him in any way that would prove him a suitable heir. The baron took advantage of this offer and issued a Herculean task: his son would have to remain celibate -- by no guarantee other than his word of honor -- until the day he came to his sense and/or returned to the Grange.

Realizing that this was the only way to gain his father's respect while pursuing his own destiny, Manilow accepted, thus becoming the fifth member of the touring company Theodoric of York dubbed his "Boogie Knights" for reasons the other four didn't quite understand.

Return to the Twentieth Century:

The friendships between the five misfits deepened as the success of their tour increased. Theo introduced 20th century hits into the act, to which Manilow would write lyrics inspired by Syd's behind-the-scenes accounts of warfare and chivalry. John, now assisted by his slightly-more-affectionate bride Anne, performed the pieces, backed up by his three comrades, who occasionally stepped forward to sing as well. The bookings came swiftly, the gold flowed, and Theo was finally able to save enough to afford the services of a reasonably-priced sorcerer.

Now that his home time lay within his grasp, Theo faced the painful duty of bidding his medieval friends farewell, wishing them continued luck with the show after his departure. He had no idea that the band had voted, unanimously, to accompany him back to the 10th century. Syd, who was probably being branded a coward by his military peers, had nowhere else to go, nobody to protect. John and Anne, curious about the "promiscuity" pervading romantic relationships of Theo's time, hoped that the new setting might fortify their marriage. Baron Manilow reasoned that, if he were placed 800 years in the future, he would retain his title (since his father would have died 800 years ago) and would no longer be bound to his oath of chastity.

Thus, with the casting of yet another spell, Theodoric of York's Boogie Knights -- Theo, the medieval disc jockey; Syd de Vicious, the security guard; Baron Manilow, the lyricist; the newly retitled John and Anne of Denver (Theo's idea to promote better audience identification) -- appeared in the 20th century, bringing their bizarre blend of the medieval and the modern to receptive crowds.

The rest, as they say, was history.