The Whole Story of The Kinema Ballroom Dunfermline
(and Cinemas of Dunfermline & Rosyth)
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| Biogz 'S' Here you will find some short biographies (biogz) of solo artists whose surname commences with this letter or bands with names commencing with this letter (omitting any commonly used prefix such as 'The'). Click on the name below or scroll down the page at your leisure. The Saltmine Band
Known members: The Saltmine Band (aka ‘Dave Pope & The Saltmine Band’) were a Christian music group active mid eighties to mid nineties which later became ‘Funky Beehive’ then simply ‘Beehive’. ‘Beehive’ was a white five-piece that were together for about 10 years, reputed to be one of the UK’s hardest gigging gospel acts with 200+ gigs a year. They won the MOBO Award for Best Gospel Artist in 1997 but split a couple of years later. ‘Dave Pope & The Saltmine Band’ released albums: ‘Royal Praise’ (on ‘Day Spring’ label) & ‘Living sacrifice’.
Later: Kevin McGinlay formed a band called 'The Strollers' with his brothers Jim (bass), Hugh (rhythm guitar) and cousin Ernie Slater on drums around 1964, playing local gigs in Glasgow and engendering sufficient support to form a fan club. Hugh left a year later and despite his replacement they split around 1965/6. Around 1968/9 Kevin rejoined Jim with drummer George Wade and guitarist Brian Denniston to form 'Friendly Persuasion' before a local agency took notice and shortly after the line-up was changed as was the name, to Salvation' in June 1970. By the end of the year Brian Dennison returned to replace Ian Kenny. They played mostly heavy metal covers & often played in 'Clouds' a disco/club situated above 'Green's Playhouse' in Glasgow (later 'The Apollo'). Around May 1971, Nod left to join 'The Poets' and was replaced by Matt Cairns while Mario was also replaced by Robin Birrel. Soon Brian left again and Kevin adopted the guitar work for about six months until Robin & Matt were replaced by Billy MacIssac from 'The Bubbles' & Kenny Hyslop from 'The Beings'. Guitar duties then fell to another new recruit, Jim (Midge) Ure from local band 'Stumble'. It was Kevin who re-christened Jim as 'Midge' (phonetically 'Jim' backwards) to avoid having two Jims in the line-up. Their first gig with this line-up was at Glasgow Technical College on 17th March 1972 with a set of covers & originals. In November 1973 they supported 'The Sweet' at The Apollo, then later on 27th April 1974 Kevin left to pursue a solo career. The remaining four-piece changed their name to 'Slik' in November 1974 and adopted American Baseball outfits to give them a recognisable image and had a #1 UK chart hit with 'Forever & Ever'. Bass duties later fell to Russell Webb (later of The Skids). Kenny Hyslop (would later turn up in The Skids & 'Simple Minds'). 'Slik' later morphed into 'PVC2' then replaced Midge Ure with Willie Gardner to become 'The Zones'. My thanks to Kevin McGinlay for much of the above.
Keith Gemmell - saxophone Rock band 'Sammy' released an eponymous album in 1972 along with two singles. They were formed by Mick Underwood previously of The Herd. Info from: The Tapestry of Delights - The Comprehensive Guide to British Music of the Beat, R&B, Psychedelic and Progressive Eras 1963-1976, Vernon Joynson ISBN 1 899855 04 1
The Tommy Sampson Orchestra/Band Some of those who played with Tommy between 1947 and 1948 are listed below: Stan Reynolds - trumpet Scottish veteran Big Band leader, Trumpeter, Cornet player, Bugler, vocalist & choral arranger, Tommy Sampson was born in Newhaven, Edinburgh in 1918 and began to play cornet with The Leith Salvation Army band at the tender age of five. By the age of fourteen he was a competent soloist and made his first broadcast in 1933 with George Watson's College Dance Band on Children's Hour. He was depute bandmaster by eighteen though he left one year later. In 1939, he joined the Ordnance Corps, was commissioned into The Royal Artillery in 1940 and saw action in North Africa, before being captured by Italian forces at the fall of Tobruk in June 1942. He led POW camp orchestras both in Italy and Germany before being re-patriated to Scotland in 1945 where he led the Scottish Command Dance Orchestra until his demobilisation June 1946. Sampson formed a seventeen-piece band in January 1947 to play at Leith's Eldorado Ballroom. This band which was reputed to have been the best in Britain at the time, toured Germany, Italy and Britain extensively and made three BBC broadcasts before it was disbanded around Christmas 1949. Shortly thereafter thirteen of his band were to be found in Ted Heath's Band. In the fifties Tommy worked as a 'song plugger' for Chapell's Music Publishers and in 1951 'stood-in' for a live BBC TV broadcast with 'The Song Peddlers', a performance which included a young dancer by the name of Audrey Hepburn. He was then asked by George Mitchell to arrange a choir for a new musical BBC TV show series. It turns out that having Tommy on-board was a prerequisite for the BBC to go ahead with the hugely popular 'Black & White Minstrel Show'. Tommy sang, arranged and conducted The George Mitchell Singers for around ten years. One of the choir asked Tommy to teach him choral arranging and Mike Sams later became one of the best vocal arrangers in the business. Tommy sang with 'The Sapphires' until 1954 and on Frankie Vaughan's early recordings including 'Green Door' and later took over the BBC Welsh Dance Orchestra & Choir. Upon his return to Scotland, he reformed a band that was busy in the Glasgow area until the early 1990s and he often appears at the Edinburgh Jazz Festival and gives much of his time to charity fund raising activities and The Salvation Army. Tommy has met and worked with many of the greats of entertainment including great personal friend Joe Loss. Tony Middleton wrote & published a bio-discography of Tommy in 1992. Tommy's bands numbered up to twenty musicians and were sometimes billed as: 'Twenty Mighty Men'. Tommy lives in the Touch area of Dunfermline and celebrated his eighty sixth birthday in 2004. Billy Hunter of 'The Topnotchers', 'Billy Hunter & His All Star Band' and 'The Red Hawks' was once his Lead Trumpeter. Info from: 'Bygone Dunfermline' (Winter 2004) & Ron Simmonds (who sadly died on 24th October 2005) www.jazzprofessional.com
Jim Brennan - vocals Terry Wallace 'The Sapolas' had been 'The Rolling Sapolas' and prior to that, brothers Jim & Mike had been founder members of Monolug. The Sapolas played the ballroom on Sunday 5th October 1986. Tony Duffy had previously been in Biocar. Hopefully more info to come! Thanks Tony!
Along with brothers Richard (a.k.a Eden Kane) and Robin, Peter Sarstedt returned from India with his parents in 1954. Following a musical career closer to folk than most traditional 'pop', Peter didn't consider it necessary to undergo a name change like his older brother. Although lacking Richard's good looks, Peter was blessed with superb songwriting skills. He'd already had some recognition- though not chart success- with 'I Am A Cathedral'- before writing his great 1960s classic 'Where Do You Go To My Lovely'. He followed this with 'Frozen Orange Juice' which reached a creditable #10 and had some success with an album before the decade was out. He was never able to repeat these chart successes and for a time in the 1970s he worked with his siblings as one third of 'The Sarstedt Brothers'. Although he lived quietly in Denmark for many years he returned to England during the 1990s and regularly performs on the 1960s nostalgia circuit. Info courtesy of: www.45-rpm.org.uk
Sascha Lappessen Sash! is a German pop/dance act. Sascha is the face of Sash! in the videos and live performance. Their first single was 'It's My Life', but success began with the 2nd record 'Encore Une Fois' in the club charts in Italy, Germany, Holland and the Scandinavian countries, reaching #2 here in the UK. The third release was 'Ecuador' which proved to be just as successful as its predecessor with a No.1 hit in the Scandinavian Dance Chart, top 5 in the sales charts in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden and another #2 in the UK. In the summer of 1997 the debut album 'It's My Life' was released, while the fourth single release was ‘Stay!’, which peaked at,... (yeah you guessed it) #2 in the UK. They would have another seven top ten UK chart hits as below including another two more #2 positions, a #3, two #8s a #10 and a #15. Always the bridesmaid! Other UK hit singles include: UK hit albums include:
I'm very much indebted to Dave Smith for these images. Click on them for a larger size. Mike Satan (Michael Anderson) - vocals Later: The Hellcats Showband Dave Smith - lead guitar David (Fritz) Freeburn - tenor saxophone Arthur Owen - bass Bobby Sullence - rhythm guitar Ricky Wilson - organ Mike Fernon - drums Later - Allan Fraser - drums The multi-instrumentational Mike Satan & The Hellcats were formed as The Zephyr Guitar Four in 1958 in Fife & supported many big-name acts such as: Joe Brown, The Allisons, Vince Eager, Duffy Power & Vince Taylor. Commitments to apprenticeships and the like caused the some early personnel changes such as Sem Simpson's replacement by Dave Smith on lead guitar leaving an opening for Manny Charlton to play rhythm guitar. Sem later played lead guitar with Bobby Dene and the Dynamos. Then Ian Smart (who was one of the first in Fife to have a real bass, a Framus) was replaced by Arthur Owen on bass. At this time they were managed by Derek Nicol who bought their first van which extended their areas of entertainment from Inverness to the Borders. On Saturdays they often played at the St Margaret's Lesser Hall appearing with The Vandals, The Saints and Alex Harvey whom they supported at various venues throughout Scotland. Alex Callan left for the Marines leaving an opening for Harry Carmichael to join the band on drums. Manny & Harry left in 1963 to form The Mark V and soon after, Mike (an electrical fitter at the Royal Naval Dockyard in Rosyth) moved his job to Alexandria in Dumbarton and had to leave the band who became simply 'The Hellcats Showband'. Manny Charlton also played with The Red Hawks, The Marshmallow 400, The Shadettes & Nazareth. Dave Smith was noted for his remarkable resemblance to Hank Marvin of The Shadows - which caused considerable grief at times! I'm indebted to Dave Smith & Watty Robertson for much of the detail above.
Born Gerard Hugh Sayer at Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, England, singer and songwriter Leo Sayer is celebrating 31 years at the top of his profession. After a brief career as a graphic designer, his first chart success came in 1973 with the song writing of Roger Daltrey (of The Who) ’s first solo album, “Daltrey”, featuring the U.S. and U.K. hit song “Giving It all Away”. With the guidance of writing partner David Courtney and manager Adam Faith, Leo followed this up with his first solo album on Warner Brothers in the U.S.A. and Chrysalis Records for the rest of the world. Produced by Faith and Courtney, “Silverbird” featured the hit song “The Show Must Go On” with Leo famously appearing on stage dressed as a white faced and white costumed Pierrot. ”The Show Must Go On” was also a chart topper for Three Dog Night in the U.S.A. and his second album “Just A Boy” was released a year later, featuring international hits: “One Man Band” and “Long Tall Glasses” and “Train”. By this time, Leo’s success had reached around the globe and he toured extensively to sell out crowds in the U.S.A. as well as in Europe, the Far East and Australia. In 1975 “Moonlighting” continued the trend, and then Leo hit the really big time with 1976’s platinum selling “Endless Flight”, the album boasting two international number 1 hits, the U.S. Grammy winning “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” and his classic “When I Need You”. Further chart success came from ten more chart albums, featuring hits as diverse and unique as “More Than I Can Say’, “Thunder In My Heart”, “I Can’t Stop Loving You”, “Easy To Love”, “Have You Ever Been In Love” and “Orchard Road”. In fact, Leo has had 20 worldwide top ten hits during his career, many of these self penned, and is still entertaining audiences around the world with an amazing live show featuring his truly original songs and that uniquely powerful and recognisable voice. In 2004 he played live concerts in the USA, Britain, Europe and the Baltic States and he finished a new studio album: “Voice In My Head”. In 2005 Leo released Voice In My Head throughout Europe. In June he received permanent resident status in Australia and moved from London to Sydney. He is currently awaiting Citizenship status in Australia. He also released the Voice In My Head album in Australia on the First Edition label on ABC Music distributed by Warner Music. At the release of the album in July Leo toured Australia playing large theatres in the capital cities. He has also been in great demand on the corporate circuit in Australia with some clients saying he created the best event they have ever had. Leo’s new stage show has been receiving standing ovations every night. He still delivers one of the most energised performances in the world with a show that documents his history and includes all of his smash hit songs plus a sample from his new album Voice In My Head. In 2006 Leo has toured Australia, England, Asia, Belgium, Germany. The year started with the re-mix of “Thunder In My Heart” going number one in England and top ten around Europe and Australia. ABC Music has released a Special Limited Edition of the ‘Voice In My Head’ album that will include a bonus disc of 12 live tracks which are all of Leo’s biggest hits from the 70’s and 80’s recorded live in Melbourne during his 2005 tour. Leo Sayer is a pop music legend who continues to deliver a world class show night after night.Info From: www.theharbouragency.com
Robert 'Bobby' (Charm) King - vocals Steve McLaughlin - Drums (1980-1982) Edinburgh based punk/new wave band 'The Scars' live debut followed The Skids first outing two months later on Friday 7th October 1977 in Balerno Village Hall and like our local boys, were soon to be labelled art-punks because that's all the press could think of. They played the ballroom only once, on Tuesday 22nd August 1978, supporting The Rezillos, (Ticket price was £1.50). Their first single 'Adultery' / 'Horrorshow' (Fast - 1979) was recorded at 'Cargo Studios' in Rochdale, the same studio as the Trax 'Home EP' and in the same year. Other Scottish contemporaries included The Rezillos, Matt Vinyl & The Decorators/Insect Bites, The Valves, TV Art/Josef K and of course The Freeze. As was often the case with those who dared to be different within the rebel punk clan, some punters felt threatened by their artiness & would make their confusion known physically and verbally. It's never easy being on the fringe of a popular movement. In 1979 the editorial staff of i-D magazine released their latest copy complete with a flexi copy of a live performance of the Peter Porter poem 'Your Attention Please' coupled with an increasingly frantic soundscape and vocal which climbs to a terrifying crescendo. It was also in 1979 that they officially dropped their punk pseudonyms and the band's 'The' prefix. The first of two John Peel sessions took place on February 2nd 1980 followed by another on May 20th 1981, meanwhile they produced three more singles: 'They Came & Took Her' / 'Romance By Mail' (1980), 'Love Song' / 'Psychomodo' (1980) & 'All About You' / 'Author! Author!' (1981) before embarking on an album 'Author! Author!' in 1981. ('Psychomodo' is a cover of a Steve Harley tune and yes it is David Essex's 'Silver Dream Machine' on the album). In 1982, Robert King left and despite the best efforts of guitarist Paul Research to fill-in on vocal duties, they split the same year. A resurgence of interest in the band resulted from the recording of 'Lemon Jelly's' - "79 - The Shouty Track" (which samples 'Horrorshow' on their album '64 - '95'. The Scars album 'Author Author' has been recently re-released on CD, and I personally recommend it. Click here. Steve McLaughlin is now a highly successful producer while John Mackie runs a design company. Robert King (PhD) is now a scholar of ancient biblical languages, while Callum Mackay still plays drums in French bands. Paul Research still writes & records and runs marathons! Singles: Also, click here for the story of how The Scars nearly appeared with Siouxsie & The Banshees at the ballroom on Sunday 9th September 1979.
Brinsley Schwartz - guitar, percussion & vocals Brinsley Schwarz are perhaps best known in the annals of rock history as the band that was flown to New York's Fillmore East in 1970 in a welter of hype to promote their second album. Although many a music journalist enjoyed the largesse, the band actually got negative publicity for this escapade and it was to plague them for the rest of their career. Formed in 1969 out of the remnants of the UK pop group Kippington Lodge, the band's reaction to that Transatlantic debacle was their second album, ironically-titled 'Despite It All' and a low-key profile on the UK club, college and pub circuit. They grew a dedicated fanbase and blazed a trail for many of the so-called pub-rock bands in the seventies such as Dr.Feelgood and Kilburn & The High Roads (with Ian Dury). The band - with Ian Gomm on guitar who joined after the second album - split up in February 1975. Nick Lowe (bass, vocals) went on to achieve success as a performer, producer and songwriter, working with the Stiff label, whilst keyboard player Bob Andrews and founder Brinsley Schwarz (guitar, vocals) appeared in The Rumour with Graham Parker.
John McNally - rhythm guitar, vocals The Searchers were arguably the greatest of the 'other' Liverpool groups. They produced a string of singles which compared in quality to the Beatles but possibly lacked the scale of originality and inventiveness peculiar to their famous rivals. They too had been a popular act in Hamburg and the Cavern and became famous on both sides of the Atlantic. Like many of the groups that were part of the 1960s 'beat boom', the group began by playing skiffle and are alleged to have taken their name from the same John Ford movie that had inspired Buddy Holly to write 'That'll Be The Day'. They spent much of their early life as a fivepiece and had Johnny Sandon as their vocalist. The original Searchers quartet was formed when Sandon left to join the Remo Four- another of Liverpool's burgeoning collection of groups. It was this line up, under the guidance of Tony Hatch, that produced the first hits. Most of their material came by reworking American songs, but 'Sugar and Spice' was an original written by Tony Hatch. Vocalist Tony Jackson left the group in 1964 and was replaced by Frank Allan, previously with Cliff Bennett's Rebel Rousers. Jackson went on to form a new group- the Vibrations, which managed just one minor hit; "Bye Bye Baby". The Searcher's chart fortunes also began to wane during the late 1960s and the rate of personnel changes increased. By the end of the decade their star had faded and they found themselves among the founder members of the 'oldies' cabaret circuit. Sadly, Tony Jackson died on 18th August 2003. Info courtesy of: www.45-rpm.org.uk
Peggy Seeger (born Margaret Seeger, 17 June 1935, New York City, New York, USA) is accomplished on guitar, banjo, Appalachian dulcimer, autoharp and concertina. 45 years of concerts, more than 20 solo and over 100 joint recordings and numerous original songs (among which are the classic ‘Ballad of Springhill’ and ‘Gonna Be an Engineer’) have made her a legend in her time. In 1955, Seeger left the USA & relocated to Holland and studied Russian at university. She first came to the UK in 1956 as an actress, to take part in a television film, Dark Side Of The Moon, and also joined the Ramblers, a group that included Ewan MacColl, Alan Lomax and Shirley Collins. In 1957, together with Ewan MacColl and Charles Parker, she worked on a series of documentaries for the BBC which are now commonly known as The Radio Ballads. These programmes were highly innovative and, together with music, brought the thoughts and views of a whole range of workers to a large listening public. In 1959, Seeger became a British subject, since she has been in much demand at folk clubs and festivals. Her 35-year residency in England gave her a unique European perspective. Her concerts, in which she makes full use of voice, 5-string banjo, guitar, English concertina, autoharp, piano and a wicked sense of humour, include an astounding range of traditional Anglo-American songs and finely crafted contemporary pieces. Her lectures and workshops on songwriting, ballad singing and the feminist content of her repertoire are entertaining, informative and forward-looking. The Peggy Seeger Songbook, Warts and All, is a tour de force in which she places 150 of her songs in a setting of drawings, photographs and informative and autobiographical notes to create a picture of her life and her time. Her family background, her residency in England and her strong and compassionate eco-feminist politics combine to produce an extraordinary performer. She now lives in North Carolina, tours regularly worldwide and puts out a new CD every 18 months.
Sol Byron (aka Billy Lochart) - vocals This Glasgow R&B group originally formed as Sol Byron's backing group and some members used pseudonyms shown in brackets above. Brian Johnston had previously been a member of 'The Golden Crusaders' and was later replaced by Mike Fraser. The band split from Byron in 1966 and supported many soul bands of the time including Ben E. King who also wrote for & produced their single 'I Can't Stop' / Ain't As Sweet As You' (1967). They released an album: 'The Senate Sock It To You One More Time' (1968). They toured Germany then split in 1968. Info from: The Tapestry of Delights - The Comprehensive Guide to British Music of the Beat, R&B, Psychedelic and Progressive Eras 1963-1976, Vernon Joynson ISBN 1 899855 04 1
Personnel included: A five-piece Birmingham beat group known originally as 'The Rivals'. Chris Manders was previously with 'Tony Rivers & The Castaways'. They released three 45's between 1964 & 1965. Info from: The Tapestry of Delights - The Comprehensive Guide to British Music of the Beat, R&B, Psychedelic and Progressive Eras 1963-1976, Vernon Joynson ISBN 1 899855 04 1
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band (aka SAHB) Born on 5th February 1935 in the Gorbals region of Glasgow, Scotland, Alex Harvey had a restless employment record including trying his hand at lion taming, eventually drifting into an interest in the growing skiffle movement and was crowned 'The Tommy Steele Of Scotland' in April 1957 following a 'Sunday Mail' newspaper talent contest, beating 600 other hopefuls, including a young Sydney Devine who came second! He formed 'The Alex Harvey Big Soul Band' in 1959 having claimed to have had 36 jobs. They would at one time tour the highlands of Scotland impersonating 'Johnny & The Hurricanes'! He played in several fledgling bands including The Kinning Park Ramblers. They secured several supports including The Beatles, Eddie Cochrane and Gene Vincent before taking the Germany pilgrimage in 1962. Before releasing their their first album in 1964, the name had been truncated to 'Alex Harvey And His Soul Band' or 'Alex Harvey's Soul Band', only this first eponymous "live" album wasn't live and the band were Kingsize Taylor's backing band, ('The Dominoes') not Alex's! The album wasn't successful and the band spilt in 1965 though not before they played at the ballroom on Wednesday 23rd September 1964. He then recorded another album 'The Blues' (1965) with his brother Les (guitar), Bobby Thomson (bass) and Gilson Kemp (drums) before going solo, recording some singles and a couple of albums with a variety of musicians in London including 'Roman Wall Blues' (1969). Returning home to Scotland in 1972, he recruited a Glasgow outfit called 'Tear Gas' (who were about to split following two disappointing albums) as his backing band and later renamed the ensemble 'The Sensational Alex Harvey Band'. Vertigo released 'Framed' in December 1972 with Zal Cleminson (guitar), Chris Glen (bass), Hugh McKenna (keyboards) and Ted McKenna (drums). Almost a year later 'Next' appeared including the classic 'Faith Healer' (though it wouldn't chart until 1975), followed by their first top 20 album, 'The Impossible Dream' in 1974 and in 1975 their only top ten album, 'Tomorrow Belongs to me'. 1975 really was their most successful year, sealed with the release of their only top ten single, a cover of 'Delilah' which reached #2 in 1968 with Tom Jones. They also charted with 'Gamblin' Bar Room Blues' and a live album entitled 'Live'. Another chart single and two albums followed in 1976 though large numbers of the record-buying public's attention was being increasingly drawn towards the punk revolution. Alex died of a heart attack on a Belgian ferry on 4th February 1982
Will Adamson - vocals 'Blue Jazz' became '7 West' & released a 7" single on Rebel Records - 'When The Colour Starts To Fade' / 'Nothin' Changes' (Bel 1) recorded at Castlesound Studios Edinburgh. They later became 'Shine' and released one album, 'A Far and Distant Shore', on RCA Victor, scoring some MTV exposure with a couple of singles: 'Walking On The Town' & 'Wall of Hate' George Wheelwright went on to Studio 54. Will Adamson had been vocalist with 'Straits' and 'Trax' previously.
Dan McCafferty - vocals Other previous members included: Alfred 'Alf' Murray - bass A hard working covers band formed in 1962 by Pete Agnew and Alfred Murray, based in Dunfermline Scotland with a long illustrious history of support duties at the ballroom. The Shadettes had a residency at the Burntisland Palais on Saturdays before landing support duties at the ballroom where they played 281 times between Wednesday 24th April 1963 and 1970, though they only played once in each of 1963, 1964 and 1965 before landing a residency in November of 1966. One amusing episode occurred very early one Monday morning when driving home from a Sunday night gig in Burntisland. The date was the 9th of August 1963 and having reached the top of a hill, the Police pulled their bright yellow ex-gas board van over and searched it. They were later told that a massive sum had been stolen from a train a couple of hours earlier! Yup, you guessed it - The Great Train Robbery! You have to admire how thorough the Police were, considering the robbery took place 400 miles South in Buckinghamshire! ('Big Noise' by Martin Kielty ISBN: 9781845021078) Scottish promoters and ballroom managers forced The Shadettes and their peers to play daft chart covers such as 'Simple Simon Says' and conform to a dress code that saw them perform in bright yellow suits with a black 'S' on the pocket! Every week they had to learn three new chart hits until new addition Manny Charlton suggested they write their own material. Sunday 1st February 1970 was their last gig at the ballroom before they became Nazareth with a residency at The Belleville Hotel just across Pilmuir Street, where, in the foyer, they heard the opening lyrics of 'The Weight' (1968) by 'The Band' as played on the soundtrack of the legendary film 'Easy Rider' ("I pulled in to Nazareth, was feeling 'bout half past dead"). Manuel 'Manny' Charlton also played with Mike Satan & The Hellcats, The Red Hawks and The Marshmallow 400. While still at school, Pete Agnew formed a skiffle group called 'The Spitfires' with some mates and for their first ever gig they entered the 'Fife Under-fifteen Skiffle Competition at the ABC cinema in Kirkcaldy. Pete sang while the others played their brother's guitars without the ability to form a single chord between them, ... and they won! ('Big Noise' by Martin Kielty ISBN: 9781845021078)
Jimmy Shand Junior (born Erskine) is the son of the hugely internationally popular button accordion player and country dance music legend, Sir Jimmy Shand M.B.E. M.A. He is also an accomplished accordionist and regularly plays traditional Scottish Country Dances with The Jimmy Shand Junior Trio at Letham Village Hall near to his home in Auchtermuchty in Fife where he also services & repairs accordions.
Shane & The Shane Gang released two singles: 'Who Wrote That Song' & 'Whistle Stop'.
Del was born Charles Weedon Wendover in 1934, the place of birth is listed as Coopersville or Grand Rapids, but they all agree it was Michigan. Arguments with management led to him setting up his own company in the USA and then later signing with a new label, Amy and then to Liberty, but by the mid 60s the hits had stopped although he was able to get Peter And Gordon to record one of his songs, “I Go To Pieces” and have a hit with it. He then worked as a producer (producing Brian Hyland) and continued to write and by the late 80s he was back with an album produced by Jeff Lynne, and in late 1989 he toured the UK where his popularity was still high, so much so that the tour had additional shows added (I saw him at a midnight matinee) but just when it seemed that life was working out, he took his own life on February 8, 1990. Info courtesy of: iwasateenagechartfreak.com
Sandie's singing career began when she was introduced to Adam Faith who then invited her to audition by singing for him in his dressing room. Adam then introduced her to his formidable manager, Eve Taylor, a person with whom Sandie appears to have got on with better than Adam did. Although her first single was ignored, and is now a collector's item, her second went all the way to the top. A long string of chart successes followed fuelled by her association with songwriter Chris Andrews. Despite the fact that all Andrews' songs seemed to need the accompaniment of a German marching band, they fitted Shaw's singing style well. So it was with 'Puppet On A String', a song she hated, which became her third UK #1. She had been pressed by Taylor to do the Eurovision Song Contest and although she won, she blamed the event for destroying her credibility. Admittedly, the rate of chart successes were beginning to come more slowly at this time, but it's more likely that the Eurovision song gave a fillip to her otherwise flagging fortunes. Despite her statuesque appearance and bare feet the chart hits finally ceased in 1969 and she slowly sank into near obscurity. It was not until the 1980s that she would reappear as a significant performer again. She was fortunate to be something of a fantasy figure for the Smith's singing songwriter Morrissey and while at the peak of his own career he persuaded Sandie to return to the recording studio. This resulted in a further two chart entries and a series of well attended concert appearances. Info courtesy of: www.45-rpm.org.uk She was born 'Sandra Goodrich'.
Pete Sheppard was a member of the "almost vaudevillian" 'Great Fife Roadshow' with artistes such as: Barbara Dickson, Jimmy Hutchison, Rab Noakes, Artie Trezise, Cilla Fisher, John Watt, Davey Stewart, Davie Craig, Noel Farrow and Jim Herd playing folk clubs & village halls.
Bert Shorthouse was a well-known popular accordionist & bandleader. Dunfermline-born fiddler Pete Clark’s first professional engagements were with Bert Shorthouse. Bert appears on several compilation albums of traditional Scottish dance music with the various incarnations of his bands including 'Bert Shorthouse & His Glenlomond Scottish Band' and 'Bert Shorthouse & His Broadcast Band'.
Greg Lake (of ELP fame) - guitar / vocals Released at least two singles: 'Lady In Black' / 'Trick Or Two' & 'Reputation' / 'Love', both in 1969.
The Silly Wizard story started with Bob and Gordon Jones in 1969. After a few early line-ups they become Silly Wizard in 1972, and shortly afterwards John Cunningham joins. Another member during the early to mid seventies was Maddie Taylor, later of Mirk. At the end of 1974 Andy M Stewart joins on vocals and tenor banjo, with Freeland Barbour (later of The Wallochmor Ceilidh Band) on accordion. In '76 Johnny's younger brother Phil takes over on accordion, and with Martin Hadden the band enjoys a steady line-up and great success although Bob Thomas dropped out later. Info courtesy of: www.nigelgatherer.com
Johnny's main aim as an entertainer has always been to make people happy. He has continuously succeeded in this over the years by mixing excellent music, brilliantly performed, with a large measure of humour. He has a wonderful voice, which is superb in volume, clarity, tone and versatility and once heard it is never forgotten. For good measure he is also a top-notch guitarist. Long ago, in his school days, he used to listen to New Orleans Jazz. His interest really took off while he was in the Army and sang Jazz standards – Armstrong etc.- with Army bands. He bought a guitar and formed his own skiffle group. After leaving the Army he started visiting Jazz clubs and joined the Mike Peters Florida Jazz Band. He also guested with other bands such as Monty Sunshine, Dick Charlesworth, Bruce Turner. While playing with the Jazz bands he was often given a short solo spot. This led him to switching to solo singing as the Trad. boom ran out of steam. He then turned to singing in nightclubs and restaurants in the Channel Islands. In 1965, when the Folk movement blossomed, he started singing in Folk Clubs, which were springing up all over the country. Since then, as a solo artiste, and for nine years as part of a duo with Dave Moses, he has remained almost certainly the leading all round entertainer on the Folk scene, singing a wide variety of songs ranging from jazz, folk, blues to country and soul, selected to suit each and every audience. The songs are presented in an extremely professional manner, but with great humour. In addition to playing the Folk Clubs he has performed in Village Halls, Arts Centres, Concerts and Festivals all over the land and in many parts of the world. He has been rewarded with appearances in hundreds of TV and radio programmes over the years, an early one of which was as a frequent presenter of 'Playschool'. These days, on his annual visit from Norway, his performances just get better and better, so much so that he is fast becoming a living legend. Info from: www.perrottsfolly.com
Simone is an American female singer who released a minor hit single called 'My Family Depends On Me' which peaked at #75 in the UK chart in November 1991 on 'Strictly Rhythm'.
Formed in the mid sixties, ‘Sir Percy and the Riot Squad’ were fronted by versatile entertainer Tom Ferrie. The band toured extensively in clubs and clubs all over Scotland with ‘Dean Ford & The Gaylords’ (later Marmalade), Frankie Miller, The Pathfinders and many others. In 1966 Tom began work as a part-time DJ and in 1970 he left the band. He currently broadcasts on Scottish radio station ‘Clyde 2’.
Skeets Boliver have been described variously as “semi-legendary” and "The best band ever to play the Four Seasons in Montrose!” Do accolades come any heavier than that? Members included Stewart Ivins, Christopher Marra and his brother Michael Marra who is often acclaimed as “one of Scotland's most talented and original songwriters and performers”. He was born in Lochee, Dundee in 1952. A Rolling Stones-type school band called ‘The Saints’ was his first band before he was famously expelled from school at the age of 14. He then had a variety of jobs before he formed his next band, ‘Hen's Teeth’, in 1971 (whose line up included Scots fiddler Dougie McLean). By the mid seventies he was a professional musician with Dundee-based ‘Skeets Boliver’ who lasted for approximately four years during which time they toured extensively, moved to London and recorded three singles without commercial success. They split with Michael pursuing a solo career. Singles: Streethouse Door/I Can't See The Light (1976)
Iain Mackintosh, Jackie Jeanette and Gavin Livingstone - Active in the 1960's. Info courtesy of: www.nigelgatherer.com
Brendan 'Brush' Sheils - bass Gary Moore - guitar Skid Row have been called Ireland's answer to King Crimson and were formed in 1967. Cheevers was replaced by Gary Moore in 1969 after Moore had demoed by playing tracks off a Bluesbreakers album. The band's first single was released that year on the independent Dublin Song label. The early singles were subsequently re-recorded for their first album 'Skid' in 1970. Lynott had left the group before the first album but appears on the early single 'New Places, Old Faces' and soon after formed Thin Lizzy (Moore would join that band in 1977-8). The band's second single 'Saturday Morning Man' was produced by Irish legend Donal Lunny (later to feature in the Irish traditional revival with Planxty and the Bothy Band). Skid Row's sound developed as a blend of country ballads, heavy rock, and fusion influenced by jazz music, notably Oscar Peterson and John Coltrane. By late 1969 they had signed to CBS. In 1970-1 they recorded four studio sessions and two concerts for BBC Radio, only the second of the two concerts recorded in January 1971 survives. The second album, '34 Hours' was released in 1971 but their last recording with Moore on guitar was never released until 1990. The band split in 1972.
See The trailer for the forthcoming Skids Documentary below.
Conversation heard between two fans leaving the last Dunfermline 30th anniversary gig on Thursday 5th July 2007: Fan 1 "What time is it?" So much for the Physicists who tell us that energy can be neither destroyed nor created. After the two Glen Pavilion gigs in Dunfermline in 2007, I reckon Richard, Bill, Mike, Bruce, Jane & Brian have a cheque coming for supplying the National Grid! We all owe a sincere "Thank You!" to every individual who contributed to these special events, especially the local guys who raised so much awareness via the web sites, the tech crew, the fiercely loyal fan base and of course the band members old & new who cared enough to go through with it. (See below for my Glen gigs review) I've never been more proud to be a Skids fan from Dunfermline. Click on any image for a larger view
The Skids appeared at the Ballroom twelve times between 1977 & 1979. Thursday 15/09/77 (solo) "Ghoulz, my memories of the Kinema are of great importance to me". "It's where we supported the Clash". "It was also the place we most looked forward to playing in the early days and dreamed of headlining, which we did on many occasions". "The first time we played was an amazing experience, sold out, buses coming from all over Fife - a truly incredible night for me, a 17 year old local boy and I'm sure for the rest of the band". "These were the happiest times for us, before we changed and slowly pulled apart". Original Line-up: Other early name variations included: 'Richard Jolson', 'Alexander Plode' & 'Thomas Bomb'. These stage pseudonyms were dropped by early 1978. Later: Other contributors on album or live: Crew: Biography: Beath High School pupils, Bill Simpson & Stuart Adamson, formed a covers band in 1973 called 'Tattoo' with Jock McMonagle and Lewis Law performing songs by artists such as 'David Bowie', 'Roxy Music', The Rolling Stones' & 'Status Quo' in venues all over Scotland including the Institutes in Crossgates and Lochgelly. After Jock's departure, Tattoo split, then Stuart saw 'The Damned' at 'Tiffany's' in Edinburgh on Monday 21st March 1977 and the course of his career in music veered off into New Wave. 'The Skids' were formed that same month following a fortuitous meeting with Richard Jobson on an Edinburgh street corner and an audition in a Cowdenbeath Working Men's Club called 'The Gun'. Later again Tom Kellichan responded to the advert in the Dunfermline Press dated Friday June 24th below, stating "DRUMMER wanted for new Wave Band young and energetic. no hairies please".
Read it carefully again and you'll notice the use of capitals suggests the job's with a young and energetic Lochgelly radio station! (PS I've removed the phone number because it's currently still in use!) Tam's Uncle Eck drove him and the kit to the audition in the all important 'van' and The Skids had all but arrived. Early suggestions for a new name for the outfit included 'Marcus Zen Stars with Tom Bomb and the Martyrs of Deal'. Thankfully it didn't stick and the name they settled for is rumoured to have come about as a modification of another early idea to call themselves 'The SS Kids'. They quickly found management with Mike Douglas (aka Pano) who ran the 'Friday Night Rock Club' in the Bellville Hotel in Dunfermline (a haunt of the local biker fraternity, though he was never gang member despite reports to the contrary). Pano pretty much 'discovered' the Skids and gave them their first break by arranging rehearsal space and a date for their first gig on Friday 19th August 1977 at The Bellville Hotel Dunfermline in support of Matt Vinyl & The Decorators (advert below). Pano would later manage Trax & form Slurpy Gloop.
Their second outing was an open-air Chillean benefit gig on the bandstand of the Glen Pavilion in Pittencrieff Park Dunfermline the next day on Saturday 20th August 1977 but were stopped by the police after only two songs, allegedly over the organisers' objection to the lyrics of the song 'Contusion' and comments made by Stuart along the lines that the event wouldn't have been permitted in a Communist country. Some disorder and useful publicity resulted. Within a month they were playing the ballroom & inside six months they would land support slots for The Buzzcocks & The Stranglers. Pano championed their first gigs and founded the independent label 'No Bad' Records for their first excursion on to vinyl, which they self-financed. "It cost about a hundred quid to make it, we booked a studio in Edinburgh, we had a one hour booking, we ran in there and set up our gear and recorded this song and it was a wonderful little song, a wonderful little record" (Jobson). The 'Charles' / 'Reasons' / 'Test Tube Babies' E.P. (music & lyrics by Stuart) was and is that wonderful little record (March 1978) which was swiftly followed in May by the first of their five John Peel sessions. Other No Bad products include: 'Hero' / 'Walking On The Water' [NBS2, 1980 by local band Biocar] and two albums by Dunfermline folkies 'Heritage' - 'Some Rantin Rovin Fun' [NBLP1, 1980] and ‘When the Dancin’ it’s a’ Done’ (NBLP2, 1981). The Skids' management soon passed to local entrepreneur Sandy Muir who owned the local record shop (A. Muir & Son) in Queen Anne Street Dunfermline. Virgin picked them up on May 6th 1978 for an eight-album deal and released a white 7" single ‘Sweet Suburbia’ in September 1978. A red vinyl EP ‘Wide Open’ followed in October which included 'The Saints are Coming' and a consequent debut appearance on Top of the Pops, but real chart success would not come until the passionate anthem ‘Into The Valley’ hit No 10 in February 1979. This was to be the band's most successful year when they spent thirty one weeks in the UK chart and between 1978 and 1980, they scored ten British hits, half of them reaching the top 40. Overall they spent sixty weeks in the UK singles chart. The Skids were part of the pretentious, arty second wave of punk that didn’t buy into the torn clothes or spitting though they were none the less energetic. The Skids' music was characterised by huge hypnotic chant-laden anthems that demanded that every soul in earshot must leap around in a barely controlled manic fashion that suggested the floor had suddenly been connected to the national grid. It was impossible to ignore Jobson’s strange affected vocal tone, intensely dramatic presentation, impenetrable military flavoured lyrics and bizarre violent kicking stage ‘dancing’ so many of us copied (much to the distress of onlookers who stood too close). This vision was coupled with Adamson’s highly charged, choppy 'bagpipe' guitar styling and distinctive strangely ‘Scottish’ song construction. (I think it best if I avoid comment on their choice of stage clothing). A solid, passionate local following (which is still so much in evidence today) grew with each release and healthy sales of their early singles and debut album ‘Scared To Dance’ (a #19 hit) were assisted in no small part by their being championed by John Peel on BBC Radio One. Their singles were often good value for money as they frequently included free extra tracks/discs and picture sleeves, though the ubiquitous coloured vinyl was not to everyone's liking. They could certainly never described as ordinary or predictable. They were well liked amongst other local bands of which they were very supportive. Click the flashing red LED for a personal memory by the author. In mid 1979 Kellichan was replaced for drumming duties with Rusty Egan from 'The Rich Kids'. Their sound was hugely matured and evolved by one of Stuart's heroes, Bill Nelson though as expected, not everyone was happy with the electronic additions so apparent on their second album 'Days In Europa' (1979). The cover of the album too drew criticism from the press with it's Aryan imagery, reminiscent of the Berlin 1936 olympics and gothic font. Virgin later replaced the cover with a much less memorable black sleeve for the later re-issue (re-mixed by Bruce Fairbairn to make it more palatable for the Yanks) and with a different track-listing which replaced 'Pros And Cons' with 'Masquerade'. Bizarrely though, the first album cover makes an appearance on the second one as a picture on the wall of the scene and the same scene appears on the rear cover though the picture on the wall is of the their first album 'Scared to Dance'! In early 1980 the whole rhythm section was replaced when Bill left and was replaced by bassist Russell Webb from ‘Slik’ & ‘The Zones’ and Mike Baillie from ‘Insect Bites’ took over from Rusty on drums. (Rusty went on to join ‘Visage’ with Steve Strange). 'Days in Europa' was followed by a third album 'The Absolute Game' (1980) whose early orders were rewarded by the gift of a free mini-album of experimental tunes called 'Strength Through Joy'. Some of these tunes were later played live. Mike left after a particularly unhappy period in early 1981. He was replaced by Kenny Hislop (also from ‘Slik’ & ‘The Zones’) and by June 1981 Adamson had become disillusioned with the band’s direction and tensions forced his departure. He would later form the massively successful Big Country with Bruce Watson, previously of local band Delinx. They would go on to sell more than 20 million albums. Jobson & Webb soldiered on though with Paul Wishart (sax/flute) but without Hislop who also left to join Simple Minds. They produced a final, almost ‘folky’ album called ‘Joy’ in 1981 with substantial support from several session musicians but it was widely lambasted by critics (and the most dedicated of fans) and sank without trace. By January 1982 The Skids were no-more, with Jobson already pursuing a career in modelling and poetry. He once claimed to be the highest paid male model in the country! He then formed The Armoury Show with John McGeogh & John Doyle to limited critical acclaim and produced an excellent album ‘Waiting For The Floods’ in 1985. He has since been married (for 3 years) to, and divorced from, Mariella Frostrup and had a highly successful career in TV Journalism and film direction. Bill Simpson emigrated to Australia then returned home to Scotland where he still lives, marketing property with an Edinburgh estate agent. Tom Kellichan recorded a couple of tracks for Bill Nelson including 'Decline & Fall' from the album 'Quit Dreaming & Get on the Beam' (in early 1979) and on the album 'Sounding the Ritual Echo'. he later played drums with a band called 'Secrets' and he now runs a music bar called 'The Sax Bar' in an area of Tenerife, Spain called The Patch. He plays drums in the house band called 'Real Deal' who play rock covers and it is alleged that he can also turn his hand to singing some Sinatra too! Tragically (after a hugely successful twenty-year worldwide career with Big Country) on December 16, 2001 Stuart Adamson was found dead in a hotel room in Hawaii. He had been missing for several weeks from his Nashville, Tennessee home. The official verdict was suicide. Many fans, friends and family members attended a moving memorial service on January 27th 2002 in The Carnegie Hall in his adopted hometown of Dunfermline. A clearly distraught Jim Leishman (manager of Dunfermline Athletic Football Team) paid tribute to his close friend by sharing some treasured memories and Richard Jobson / Bruce Watson performed a uniquely moving acoustic version of The Skids’ hit ‘Into The Valley’. I feel the whole affair was most apt. A tribute concert was held later on 31st May 2002 in The Barrowland Ballroom Glasgow including performances by Bill Nelson, Runrig, Midge Ure, Steve Harley, Dead Men Walking, The Vibrators, Damon Hill, Hugh Cornwall and both Stuart's children, Kirsten & Callum. 'The Skids' were reformed for the occasion with members Richard Jobson, Bill Simpson & Mike Baillie accompanied by Bruce Watson, Kirsten Adamson and Carol Laula. They performed a lengthy set & I will never forget how it felt to feel 18 again! Thank you one & all. Later, towards the end of the gig, it was impossible not to cry as I lost count of the number of choruses of 'Chance' we all sang. "Oh Lord, where did the feeling go,... Oh Lord, I never felt so low". Stuart is much missed by all who were privileged to have met him and The Skids are fondly remembered, especially locally by those of us who personally experienced their raw energy and determination to entertain. Members of The Skids reformed again with friends for a party following the Edinburgh International Film Festival's Premiere of Richard's film '16 Years Of Alcohol' on Thursday 14th August 2003 where the line-up was Ricky, Bruce, Bill, Mike and Stuart's son Callum Adamson. A superb fan's web site was set up by fans & friends CaL & Cob in February 2006 in support of a friends & fans meeting in Dunfermline on 3rd June 2006 where Bill Simpson, Mike Baillie & Bruce Watson (Delinx & Big Country) jammed to the delight of all. U2's guitarist 'The Edge' has always been a huge Skids fan and in late 2006 'U2' & 'Green Day' released a cover of 'The Saints are Coming' (in aid of the victims of Hurricane Katrina) which reached #2 in the UK chart on the week commencing 12th November 2006. The web site began to draw massive support from their still fanatical following for a more formal gathering open to the public and pressure began to mount for a more complete reformation. The first new Skids album in 26 years, 'Masquerade Masquerade' (live at the Hammersmith Odeon 1980 & Glasgow Apollo 1979) and 'The Saints Are Coming - The Best Of The Skids' were released on February 26th 2007. Richard writes in the sleeve notes: “For me it was what we were all about, the rush, the energy, the audience, the sound of Stuart Adamson’s guitar and the two of us flying through the air on stage passing each other mid-flight, smiling with joy.” Then in April 2007 the news we'd all been waiting for, ... they were to reform to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their first ever gig, way back in August 1977, by playing at Scotland's biggest open-air music festival, 'T In The Park' on Saturday 7th July! In the may they announced a live 9-track session would be broadcast on DJ Billy Sloan's show on local radio station 'Clyde One' on July 1st. Along with a two-part extensive interview with Ricky, they played Melancholy Soldiers, Then even better news! They were to perform two warm-up gigs in Dunfermline's Glen Pavilion on Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th July 2007. The original date (5th July) sold-out in two hours and caused the Carnegie Hall box-office to crash for several days! The 4th July was immediately added and sold-out a few days later. 1600 ticket sales in a week - not bad for a band who split 25 years ago! With a substantial guest list and additional late ticket sales, each gig was witnessed by approx 1000 ecstatic fans. Below is my review of the 4th, 5th & 6th of July 2007: "I've always kinda thought that it's a terrible cliché, how folks talk about feeling like a teenager again, but now I know it's achievable as it’s a pretty fair description of what I've just been through, though I wasn’t 11 stone again unfortunately".
"I came soooooo close to getting into one of the rehearsals, as having spoken to Bill Simpson & Bruce Watson, I was invited to one of the later dates, however there had been a number of others there too over the preceding weeks and a decision was made to banish all further unnecessary visitors in the last few rehearsals! Damn!"
Wednesday 4th July 2007: "The support were local boys from Rosyth 'The Draymin' whom I'd heard were good but I had no first-hand experience of them. They were OK but I don't feel it would be fair to judge them under these circumstances as my mind was too full of Skids expectation. They certainly need to learn some stagecraft though".
"The raised stage was unremarkable except for a video screen at the rear (which refused to work on the Wednesday) and a substantial array of what looked to me like pretty impressive amplification and PA set-up though I confess to knowing next to nothing of these matters any more".
"The crowd grew into a formidable collection of the curious & faithful and having noticed that the 1000-strong sell-out crowd were largely around my age (40s) I expected them to stand around tutting and nodding maybe even tapping a foot. I have seldom been more wrong".
"As the lights dimmed they were transformed from a collection of disparate individuals into a homogenous pack of hungry carnivores demanding to be satiated, not unlike Johnny Depp’s un-dead Pirates".
"The band came on to the intro from 'Peaceful Times' which eventually morphed into 'Animation'. It was at this precise point that I wondered if the floor had been connected to the National Grid! Grown men who should and probably do know better were sucked back thirty years to experience massive involuntary muscular seizures and became young punks all over again. Many had no idea why they were behaving like this again, they only knew it felt very good, they had no choice and they would do it until either the music or their hearts stopped".
"I'm guessing the band, and Richard in particular, were probably pretty nervous as Dunfermline has a reputation for spectacular indifference, however these guys were more like a Glasgow audience - If they don't like you, you're gonna know it".
"However if they do........"
"Suffice it to say I had decided to observe the evening as a calm muso, carefully assimilating the show so I could make educated comment at a later stage. But before I knew what hit me I was throwing my old bones around on the periphery of the mania having collected just enough sense not to enter the maelstrom right down in front/centre".
"All at once The Glen Pavilion in 2007 became The Kinema Ballroom in 1978/9. It felt exactly the same. I've not felt it before or since and I don't expect to ever feel it again".
"The set was the better part of two hours though it seemed more like 20 minutes. Ricky (Richard nowadays) had some words of wisdom in between songs though as much as to get his breath back than to deliver his council. Much to his credit he performed as if no time had passed at all and we were all 17 again".
The band were: |
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