Comments on: About This Blog http://ballerinaballroom.wordpress.com Re-live the gigs, remind yourself of the bands, share your memories Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:40:08 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Mrs Berrie http://ballerinaballroom.wordpress.com/about-the-blog/#comment-315 Mrs Berrie Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:14:45 +0000 http://ballerinaballroom.wordpress.com/?page_id=41#comment-315 Any memories of Johnny himself? Any memories of Johnny himself?

]]> By: George Burns http://ballerinaballroom.wordpress.com/about-the-blog/#comment-111 George Burns Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:56:31 +0000 http://ballerinaballroom.wordpress.com/?page_id=41#comment-111 I was with Johnny Douglas Combo for 2 years as bass player. I have lots of photos of my time with them and one of these days when I get time I'll get them scanned and put on my website ( which is empty at the moment ). Great memories of playing most of the venues in the Northeast and one 5 month tour of Germany. George I was with Johnny Douglas Combo for 2 years as bass player. I have lots of photos of my time with them and one of these days when I get time I’ll get them scanned and put on my website ( which is empty at the moment ). Great memories of playing most of the venues in the Northeast and one 5 month tour of Germany.

George

]]> By: Allen http://ballerinaballroom.wordpress.com/about-the-blog/#comment-71 Allen Mon, 09 Mar 2009 05:48:31 +0000 http://ballerinaballroom.wordpress.com/?page_id=41#comment-71 Just a Question. Who owns the Ballerina now and why do they not use it as a venu Bar as the town really needs something like that. Just a Question.
Who owns the Ballerina now and why do they not use it as a venu Bar as the town really needs something like that.

]]> By: GORDON BRAY http://ballerinaballroom.wordpress.com/about-the-blog/#comment-69 GORDON BRAY Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:16:39 +0000 http://ballerinaballroom.wordpress.com/?page_id=41#comment-69 I worked for Mr Bonnici in the late 70,s I was a mobile dj you no the thing gear in a van and hit the road, I left the RAF in 75 and went on the road Played both Ballrooms The Two Red Shoes and the Ballerina usually backing some band played most of the dance halls in that area and ofcourse the marquess dances !!!! Mr Bonnici was my agent, most of the time i dealt with John his nephew I am very grateful for those times and the storys they would tell about the Bands they had in the 60,s being a big Beatles fan then and still am little did i know then that some 30 years on i would still be a huge fan and be given a part in a Movie about John Lennon A dream come true for a Beatles fan. I still remember Alberts office upstaires the office was huge and Albert had a big desk at the window so he could see up Elgin high street a happy days keep up the good work I worked for Mr Bonnici in the late 70,s I was a mobile dj you no the thing gear in a van and hit the road, I left the RAF in 75 and went on the road Played both Ballrooms The Two Red Shoes and the Ballerina usually backing some band played most of the dance halls in that area and ofcourse the marquess dances !!!! Mr Bonnici was my agent, most of the time i dealt with John his nephew I am very grateful for those times and the storys they would tell about the Bands they had in the 60,s being a big Beatles fan then and still am little did i know then that some 30 years on i would still be a huge fan and be given a part in a Movie about John Lennon A dream come true for a Beatles fan.
I still remember Alberts office upstaires the office was huge and Albert had a big desk at the window so he could see up Elgin high street a happy days keep up the good work

]]> By: Brian Lawrence http://ballerinaballroom.wordpress.com/about-the-blog/#comment-65 Brian Lawrence Tue, 03 Mar 2009 10:54:38 +0000 http://ballerinaballroom.wordpress.com/?page_id=41#comment-65 Hi - any info which band members wish to add to this site (band names, members, what they played & when they came & went & who they went to) would be appreciated... All the best, Brian Lawrence (Agatha's Moment '68) Hi – any info which band members wish to add to this site (band names, members, what they played & when they came & went & who they went to) would be appreciated…
All the best,
Brian Lawrence
(Agatha’s Moment ‘68)

]]> By: Michael Tim http://ballerinaballroom.wordpress.com/about-the-blog/#comment-61 Michael Tim Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:48:39 +0000 http://ballerinaballroom.wordpress.com/?page_id=41#comment-61 I love your site! _____________________ Experiencing a slow PC recently? <a href="http://tinyurl.com/makemypcfaster" rel="nofollow">Fix it now!</a> I love your site!

_____________________
Experiencing a slow PC recently? Fix it now!

]]> By: mrs berrie http://ballerinaballroom.wordpress.com/about-the-blog/#comment-46 mrs berrie Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:30:36 +0000 http://ballerinaballroom.wordpress.com/?page_id=41#comment-46 Any one have any info or pictures of The Johnny Douglas Combo Any one have any info or pictures of The Johnny Douglas Combo

]]> By: Doug Eames http://ballerinaballroom.wordpress.com/about-the-blog/#comment-28 Doug Eames Mon, 08 Dec 2008 07:27:19 +0000 http://ballerinaballroom.wordpress.com/?page_id=41#comment-28 I was in a band which worked for Mr Bonnici called the accents I too remember the two gig nights also Wick Thurso gigs with the Searchers. Zoot Money in Tain I think. We also played the Ballerina often . I wonder does anyone remember us? I was in a band which worked for Mr Bonnici called the accents I too remember the two gig nights also Wick Thurso gigs with the Searchers. Zoot Money in Tain I think. We also played the Ballerina often . I wonder does anyone remember us?

]]> By: Peter Carson http://ballerinaballroom.wordpress.com/about-the-blog/#comment-25 Peter Carson Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:48:41 +0000 http://ballerinaballroom.wordpress.com/?page_id=41#comment-25 Just for your information. I am from Nairn and sitting not 5 yards away from me as I write is Bob the drummer from My Dear Watson and or the Copycats. If you need any updated geniune info drop me an email. The Ballerina Ballroom brings back fond memories! Just for your information. I am from Nairn and sitting not 5 yards away from me as I write is Bob the drummer from My Dear Watson and or the Copycats. If you need any updated geniune info drop me an email. The Ballerina Ballroom brings back fond memories!

]]> By: James Shand [Hamish] http://ballerinaballroom.wordpress.com/about-the-blog/#comment-4 James Shand [Hamish] Sat, 23 Aug 2008 07:54:22 +0000 http://ballerinaballroom.wordpress.com/?page_id=41#comment-4 Shannies again, you have got me thinking now, the David and Jonathon fiasco, their road manager was trying to boss us around and treating us like servants, I remember our bass player Sandy Petrie giving the duo's manager a mouthfull in broad dorrick accent with a few F words telling him to shut up or else he would get a good slap in front of the two public school boys who were very ya ya, their faces went white with shock and disbelief, you could see them trembling, Benny and myself were killing ourselves laughing while the Petrie was in full flight. Nearly all of the touring bands were very friendly and supportive to us local bands, mostly down to earth and helpful, letting us use their PA etc., which saved time in the change overs, and giving advice without lecturing and sharing stories, as they had all come up in the same way A few times we played at the Ballerina, Albert Bonici had us doing 2 gigs in 1 night, we used to start at Cullen and then drive to Nairn and finish the night there, what a killer that was, moving the gear and setting up twice in 1 night. this was so that he could feature 2 or 3 bands, i.e, a band starting the gig, the touring band in the middle and then we would finsih the night. We also played support band to Sounds Incorporated at a marquee in Craigellachie they had just come back from supporting the Beatles in their first American tour, what a contrast New York to Craigellachie, but alas their style of music was already dead when the Beatles revolutionised music in the 60's. The Rebel Sounds came from Keith all born and bred there, but we did have a keyboard player for a time who came from Forres, Stuart Watson who was studying music at Aberdeen University and could play Bach brilliantly on the Vox Continental organ he used, before the days of the electronic digital keyboards synthisisers etc. Right thats enough babbling on for the moment. Shannies Shannies again, you have got me thinking now, the David and Jonathon fiasco, their road manager was trying to boss us around and treating us like servants, I remember our bass player Sandy Petrie giving the duo’s manager a mouthfull in broad dorrick accent with a few F words telling him to shut up or else he would get a good slap in front of the two public school boys who were very ya ya, their faces went white with shock and disbelief, you could see them trembling, Benny and myself were killing ourselves laughing while the Petrie was in full flight.

Nearly all of the touring bands were very friendly and supportive to us local bands, mostly down to earth and helpful, letting us use their PA etc., which saved time in the change overs, and giving advice without lecturing and sharing stories, as they had all come up in the same way

A few times we played at the Ballerina, Albert Bonici had us doing 2 gigs in 1 night, we used to start at Cullen and then drive to Nairn and finish the night there, what a killer that was, moving the gear and setting up twice in 1 night. this was so that he could feature 2 or 3 bands, i.e, a band starting the gig, the touring band in the middle and then we would finsih the night.

We also played support band to Sounds Incorporated at a marquee in Craigellachie they had just come back from supporting the Beatles in their first American tour, what a contrast New York to Craigellachie, but alas their style of music was already dead when the Beatles revolutionised music in the 60’s.

The Rebel Sounds came from Keith all born and bred there, but we did have a keyboard player for a time who came from Forres, Stuart Watson who was studying music at Aberdeen University and could play Bach brilliantly on the Vox Continental organ he used, before the days of the electronic digital keyboards synthisisers etc.

Right thats enough babbling on for the moment.

Shannies

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