Scotbands

Hi Brian, a pleasant surprise to find myself mentioned along with Rollin' Joe and The Rev Doc from the early 90's. So much has happened since then but I am still playing regularly and will update you with more information in the near future. Kenny

Hi just noticed my old band NESSIE on your fab list with no back up information. We all came from Kilmarnock and turned proffessional in 74, We were based a lot in Carlisle and played support act to Marmalade Southerland Bros, Chickery Tip Quo a cpouple of times and G.Glitter, the band went on european tours and disbanded around 80-81. Members, Gordon Renniw Drums, Colin Matheson Organ, Jim Murray Bas and vocals, Willie Scott lead and vocals. Met up with Jim 5 years ago and we now have a successful acoustic duo playing around the Ayrshire pubs and restaurants., Thanks for including us on your list.

Derek Burns passed away, April 2013,

Hey guys, just to let you know that THE DOLPHINS are back together and will play their ist proper gig in 30 years at The O2 Glasgow supporting Then Jerico, other gigs will be announced.
Tickets for the O2 are £6 plus postage. check out Glasband 80 for details.

Hi Margaret -
I'm afraid not ( I know very little about jazz I'm afraid ! ), but I've now included the name and the band. Having said that I remember our wee naive 3 piece outfit once supported both Acker Bilk and John McGowan at the Fruit Market, Glasgow in the early '70s. Talk about being out of our league....
All the best, brian.

Hello again Brian - I meant to say when I asked about Albert Rossi - Not sure whether I have got this right but I have fond memories of a band in Aberdeen - Sandy West and his Jazz Band. They used to play regularly in Aberdeen and we always enjoyed jiving to his music. Do you know of them ?

Hi Margaret
What a pleasant surprise to read Brian's email and discover that you had commented on his super website. Yes, those good old days were wonderful and I often look back and enjoy those moments over again. Thanks to Brain's dedication and his great website. I would love to hear more from you and all about the family so, hoping it's allowed, here are my contact details. email: albertrossi@telkomsa.net Skype name: alberttrossi and you can find me on Facebook. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Warm regards
Albert

Thank you so much Brian. I hope Albert does respond. I told the kids (now 41 and 42 !!!!) that I had the contact with your site. It's great by the way.

Hi Margaret -
I've forwarded that message to Albert's email address in S.A. - he may reply here....
Best wishes,
Brian.

I hope this is the Albert Rossi I know. I think it must be - I lived next door to Ronnie and Jean Rossi in Linwood Road Paisley for a few years. I have many happy memories of the family - Albert used to pop in to our place for a few drams and to chat for hours. He and I had happy memories of Nairn - I was born there and remember the days of Vince Eager and the rest. I do hope it is Albert. If so - I send my best wishes to him. Paisley has never been the same without Ronnie and Jean - they were so good to us - Margaret

Hi Brian, I have just come across your website , Absolutely Brilliant! A lot of work has obviously gone into it, I intend to be looking at this for weeks/months to come with all the info you have on there

Keep up the great work my friend.

Tommy Devlin.
Glasband 80

Many thanks to Steve Huelan and Merv Watkins who have confirmed that Brian Hardie from Glasgow was their lead guitarist and 'falsetto vocal specialist' in 'Clockwork Strawberry', a band with Jersey roots who went on to record and tour extensively in Australia during the first half of the '70s. Check out Clockwork Strawberry's live recordings on 'Soundcloud' - tasty stuff !

Sorry - that's 'J. Brian Hardie' (not Hardy).....

I'd be really interested in finding out how a 'J. Brian Hardy' has fared over the years since he played lead guitar in the mid '60s with the Glasgow band 'The Viscounts'. A year or two later he was with the band 'Price'. I know he did a stint in Germany end '65 / early '66. Any info would be appreciated...thanks, Brian Lawrence ( 'Fidycat' ).

I've no direct contact with Graham or the band I'm afraid, but I see references to them on Google - perhaps you can get contact info that way,
All the best,
Brian.

Hi, trying to contact Graham Thompson from Dr Cook and the Boners... Listened to the music and really enjoy it. We met Graham on a recent holiday. Could you forward on my email joanne_watts@hotmail.com please, he asked us to look him up but struggling to find him. Thanks. Also, great website.

Thanks for that Martin - your info is now included. Apart from playing with 'Pure Greed' and 'Uniform' after 'Lemon Cloud', I'm afraid I've no further information to offer on John McNeilage. Should any pic and / or audio clip be available, I'd be happy to include them on the site.
I appreciate your input and wish you all the best,
Brian ( 'Fidycat' )

Hi. The line up for The Lemon Cloud at the start when I was in it was::
John "Toad" McNeilage - lead guitar
Martin Skipper - Bass
Stuart Carlisle - Drums
Philip Smith was on bass later on and may have played rhythm guitar as well
I am afraid I can't remember the name of the vocalist, he was the only one not at Marr College at the time. It was about 45 years ago!
What a shame John is no longer with us. Do you know how he died?
I met him much later quite by chance at a party in London. I thought I recognised him but he didn't recognise me at first. I noticed he had a Scottish accent and he said guess where I am from. I said Troon and he nearly fell on the floor. We arranged to call each other but nothing ever happened after that, perhaps he had died then?
Good Luck
Martin

Cumbernauld's Nicole Simpson ( contestant in 2011's X Factor ) performed at the town's Gala Day yesterday. Wow ! Close to flawless - the girl can sing & the girl's ambitious. Petite in stature, but I can't see her being anything but musically way up there within a year or so...

Bumped into Matt Morrow yesterday - Matt solo & also with 'Cousti' playing up Inverness way - don't miss it !

Marvellous lyrics on this song. Written ( in 1993 I think ) by the irreplaceable Lionel McClelland , the words are specially relevant right now .

Just type: Right To Be Free - Black Eyed Biddy in your browser and you'll find some options to hear it. Some songs just hit the spot .....

Jings ! My grandchildren are tumbling into music like Pooh Bear into a honeypot. First Erin (9 years old) with 'Monday' & now Ashleigh Ettleman (just 15 years of age) with some very respectable covers of current hits. I make no apology for giving her front page status on this website - the girl can certainly sing, and although she's a Manchester lass now, she was born in Glasgow.. So make way for the weans - they're blowing us away !

Jings - young Lewis Hamilton from Auchterarder way can certainly play blues guitar - have a look at:
www.lewishamiltonmusic.com/

Yes, ok - copy & paste, aye it's seemple....

Live links are a small nightmare on this. Anyway COUSTI are at: http:www.cousti.com/
Enjoy, if you can find it !

Losing patience with this - for Cousti's website:

If at first you don't succeed.....

I was fair impressed with 'Cousti' earlier this month at the O2 ABC - great players and they do a nice tribute to Bob Harris (Old Grey Whistle Test) in one of their current songs. Many a band have great respect for 'Whispering Bob'. Cousti's website address should appear....(praying....)

None too clear that last link instruction - just click 'Brian ('Fidycat') - Editor' below. Seems to work....

My other hat's on for this one, i.e. the songwriting one. My grandaughter Erin (aged 9) brought me a line and a half (melody & lyrics) of a song idea and asked me to help her complete it. At nearly 65 I'm not exactly up to speed on writing a modern pop/rock classic, but I said "let's give it our best shot !". So I hammered together the rest of the lyrics, a chord progression & tune, laid down backing tracks, gave her a week or two to learn the song, plonked a mike in front of her and the result is ' Monday ', a pre-teen tuney thing (to give it it's correct genre). Up to Arbroath to mime over the track for a video and suddenly it's done - see the above link. They say don't work with children or animals - Nonsense ! It's been fun, and it wouldn't have got off the ground without her idea & enthusiasm......Erin, you're on !

Re: 'Thrush'
Thanks Richard - I'll follow that up.
I had already placed a link to that excellent Falkirk site and jings, I realise I've oodles of bands still to include - I'm now beginning to think Scotland's 5 million or so folk ALL sing and/or play something ! I'll keep at it !

think I forgot the link he he http://www.myspace.com/thrushcountryrock

how about adding this band who played all over Scotland in the 70's and had Eddie Reader play with them for a while have a look at this link as lots of info on this and many more Falkirk bands http://www.falkirkmusicscene.co.uk/
Richard Dow

Thanks for that Gregor - can you add which instrument you played ? Does a 'Radars' track or taped song exist for a wee audio clip ?
All the best, B.

The Radars were a late 70s early 80s punky reggae band who were signed to slades pblishing company cheapskate and wer offered record deals from A&M records but held out for an independant label.After intense negotiations with Avatar records and screenworks was rejected by the band money pressures made them decided to go there own seperate ways the line up included gregor gilmour ex flying sqaud guitarist Alex Calder ex Sneaky Pete drummer Rab Mcquillan Nod McDonaugh on bass and stuart mckay on vocals.Thought them worth a mention .They played regularly at the Dial inn and the Burns Howf and the Victorian Carraige in greenock

Hi Mick,
Thanks for that - 'Trilogy' info is now included. I'm confused about the years 'Downtown Flyers' were active tho', having listed various players being with the band '77 - '79. I now see the 'Kinema' website's reference to '76 and if the band split that year something's wrong with the timeline....can you help on that ?
B.

I was the guitarist in Downtown Flyers in 1976. We played the American Bi-centennial celebration in Tiffanies on Sauchiehall Street as a final gig. After that the Flyers were no more.
I was also guitarist in Trilogy with Bob Buchan Vocals, Dougie Hill Guitar, Billy on bass and Jim Bernie on drums.

'La Bamba' ! That's the club name - I'd quite forgotten - thanks Alan. And yes, just checked and 'The Idle Race' was Jeff Lynn's late '60s band....

I also remember the gig in Falkirk - Jethro Tull - The club was "La Bamba" a hall next to the Falfirk Grahamston Train Station. I also heard a band called "Idle Race" at this club and I think they changed their name and became very big like Jethro Tull. I think the lead player in Idle Race was Jeff Lynn - not quite sure on that though??.

I WAS THE BASS PLAYER WITH ...HICH HIKERS.....MOTION.....WEST FARM COTTAGE.....TELEPHONE.......THE BARDS.........I HAVE FOTO,S AND LOTS OF INFO..........CONTACT ME ........................JOHN MUIR....

Isn't it encouraging to hear so many Scottish bands singing in their own accent ? The others will catch on - it's just a matter of time. I'm as guilty as anyone & have evolved pretty slowly myself, being raised on The Everlys, Del Shannon, Bobby Vee & other American early 60s icons. I suppose that's where Scotland got the idea that it was pretty uncool to sing in a Scottish accent, but how blinkered is that ? How many American singers adopt a Scottish accent ? Don't start counting - you won't find too many. That's because they sing their own voice - as the Meerkat says - "Seemple ! Why use anyone else's ?" Thank goodness the ' local dialect belongs to comedy songs ' culture is dead & gone - maybe thanks to multi channel TV & the acceptance of local accents as being a plus rather than a minus. So if you haven't found your own voice yet - away into your bedroom, practise in front of the mirror & don't come out until you're you.
It's like being reborn, and at my age that's very useful.....B.

The editor would like to wish all 'Scotbands' visitors a very Happy Christmas & offer best wishes for the new year. Not too many of us will be sad to see the back of 2009 - may 2010 be better for us all.
Whatever instrument you play, or whatever your musical taste may be, have a great festive season !

Brian.

Yes, all OK in the camp!
Credit DOES go to LMcQueen for the percussion. There are a few overdubs on BMR added (in real-time) essentially to balance the EQ - the drums are real! - hats off to LMcQ!!

AGE = 0
Quite recently AWB played Dundee and chose as their support a composite band comprising members of local '60s icons 'Vikings', 'Poor souls', etc. Their performances underline the reality that age is no barrier when individuals are up to their northernmost follicles in the music they play. Moral of the story is that music, whichever genre, keeps us all younger, longer.
So next time you're tempted to reach for some wonder product which promises to hand you back your youth - forget it. The real wonder drug is the strange chord you might stumble across the next time you pick up your guitar, or success with that riff you've fought with for days on end. Or that melody which somehow, despite the restricted mathematics of it all, no one but you has stumbled across. And that......is timeless......
Go for it, B.

Hi JJ - all well in your camp I trust !
Might be wrong, but were these percussive kb sequences not added later ? In that case L McQ wouldn't have been 'swimming against the tide' so to speak. Yes, the timing is.....interesting !
Took in 'Quiver & The Ladysnatchers' etc at an unplugged gig in Arbroath over the w/e - no shortage of talented youngsters on the scene nowadays....
All the best,
B.
All the best, B.

....and, credit due to Lindsey McQueen for keeping it all in time on BMR!

Hey B!
Flattered to be remembered and featured on here - wow, forgot what a total RACKET we made!...where's that hearin' aid?

Thanks folks for info through recent posts - Scottish bands deserve that kind of input. I remember gigging in Falkirk (1968) somewhere, playing support to the emerging Jethro Tull. Ian Anderson, Clive Bunkell, Glenn Cormack etc. When I enthused how good they were one said "Ah, it's just blues, ain't it ?". Before you could say 'Beggar's Farm' they were superstars. Same venue, same year we supported 'Dream Police' - now there was Rock eliite. Don't think I'd heard 'Hey Jude' until Hamish Stuart's rendition rolled over us. Wonderful days.
Rock on & all the best meanwhile,
Brian

wee correction reguarding itai itai..mrk2..there was no jimmy jazz,,in mrk2 or mrk3. an mrk1..i doubt !

.mrk2 was .stu henderson(stu who ) voc-guit.. frank anson-bass..robert moffat -guit..robert buchanan.(sinkin feelin & andy :in gregory's girl.) -piano..kowboy-drumz,perc..(another bloody war..only)
mrk-3.was stu henderson(stu who)voc&guit ,alan mcniven voc& guit.rab morrison-guit. chris hendry -bass&voc.. graig stronach drums & perc, .kowboy drums&perc......(mrk 3 appears on trackz posted)..hope this helpz ah little...KOWBOY.

Nice site Brian. From what I can remember ITAI ITAI MKII which is the one you've got listed was active 82 to 85. There was a MKI version - which included Robert Moffat on guitar, Jim (Jimmy Jazz) Alexander on sax etc.

Anyhoo if I can think of another details that might be useful to you I'll come back -cheers Alan

Re 'The Beings' -
perhaps Frank O'Hagen, their keyboard player, recently involved in 'Scotia Bar' sessions can be of assistance.....
B.L.

I really enjoyed the Glasgow music scene in the late 60s and very beginning of 70s but was a big fan and friend of The Beings particularly David Kirkwood, singer but lost touch when everyone left Glasgow . Does anyone know his whereabouts ? Would love to catch up or hear news. Sue

I've been asked to help trace a Danny McLaughlin whose stage name was 'Danny Lynn' or 'Danny Linn'. He worked the Glasgow club & pub scene during the '60s.
If you have information, please don't reply on this page - instead please contact the editor at
the above email address,
Many thanks,
B.l.