Welcome!
January 29, 2010
To navigate through the site, please use the tabs above. I’ve changed the layout and the navigation, hopefully you’ll find it easier. The years which were previously blog postings are now fixed pages. Due to some misuse, I’ve disabled comments. Any images or information relating to the Ballroom, the bands that played there or Albert Bonici would be much appreciated. If you still want to add stories, info, photos or anecdotes, please mail them to info@rockmine.com. Anything relevant to the blog will get added.
Since this blog was created, it’s been viewed more than 40,000 times. I thought you’d like to see where people have been visiting from. Everything in pink on this map is a country that someone’s visited from. It makes the old British Empire globes that I grew up with pale into insignificance!
1970, Two Red Shoes, Memorabilia And More
October 18, 2008
I know you’ll probably think I’ve been neglecting this blog but it’s been a time issue. That and the ease with which I seem to have spent far too long trying to stage this memorabilia exhibition at the Ballerina’s sister venue in Elgin. The Two Red Shoes was Albert Bonici’s first venue and played host to The Beatles on the first night of their first tour in Scotland. I do wonder what would have happened if the weather had not caused the cancellation of the scheduled gig the night before at the Longmore Hall in Keith!
I imagine I would have put up a blog for the Longmore Hall but instead I chose to add the Two Red Shoes blog to this one. Maybe it’s a crazy idea but Albert’s Elgin venue seems so totally different from the Ballerina. After The Beatles played there, the Two Red Shoes had three years of attracting some of the best bands on the circuit and then it slumped. By late 1966, when the Ballerina was really starting to take off, the Elgin venue was failing. In 1967, only two big name bands played there. Okay, one was Pink Floyd but Nairn attracted 10 major acts that year. By 1968, things were even worse with Albert presenting “exotic dancers” instead of name acts. Exotic dancers, in case you wondered, were strippers. Albert, ever the svengali, failed to tell the dancers that they couldn’t strip until they actually got to the venue and, needless to say, never even considered telling the press who he was really having onstage.
Still, it’s a legendary venue. Whether it deserves that status is anyone’s guess. My many weeks trying to set up the memorabilia exhibition did at least mean I could research all the bands that played Elgin but it doesn’t really make up for the wasted time. I think I’ve consigned the exhibition to history and have started to list some of the stuff on my main site. As I get more stuff up, I’ll add it to a page here so anyone that’s interested can look without fear that I’m using the main part of the blog to sell stuff.
Talking of blogs, I’ve decided to add a few more. Having been a compulsive list maker for more years than I care to mention, I have dates for most of the appearances at London’s Marquee Club, The Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco, Fillmore East in New York and Glasgow Apollo. The only one with anything on it as yet, is marqueeclub.wordpress.com.
Back to this blog, just in case you haven’t noticed, I’ve added 1970 to the listings and have another three years that I just need to type in.
One last thing. Does anyone know where the bands that played the Ballerina stayed? Did Albert use an hotel or like Elgin, did he have a favourite boarding house? I was recently told that the Elgin landlady was shocked and totally disgusted at how dirty The Beatles were when they stayed with her but I didn’t manage to get her name, so couldn’t follow it up.
1969 – and more from Shannies
August 23, 2008
My apologies to anyone who looked in last night or earlier today expecting to see 1969 online. A long day and maybe a tad too much white wine took its toll. Anyway, it’s up now and can be seen by clicking on December 1969 in the Archives box to the right.
As before, I’ll be adding the video clips along with more photos either later today or early tomorrow.
Shannies has added a few more thoughts about his time with the Rebel Sounds. You’ll find it in the comments for About This Blog. I’m looking forward to hearing more from him. His comment about playing two gigs a night is something I think we forget. Everyone did it. The Beatles would sometimes play 3 different gigs a night and one at lunchtime in their days of playing The Cavern and even headlining bands would do it. I once had a poster for a Rolling Stones performance at the Flamingo Ballroom, Ballymena which they travelled to after playing the Ulster Hall in Belfast. Crazy days!
“Shannies” of The Rebel Sounds
August 22, 2008
Take a look at the “Regular Bands” page for a great posting from James Shand or “Shannies”. I love his story about supporting David and Jonathan. It’s always amazes me the things that support bands saw and had to put up with. Shannies’ posting just goes to illustrate this.
I’m heading for the library in Nairn again and I’ll get my listings extended up to 1972 at least. The listing for 1969 will be online some time tonight.
The Rebel Sounds
August 21, 2008
I got a rather touching comment this evening from Drew Green, son of the late Benton who was a member of The Rebel Sounds. He asked if I could email him any photos or cuttings I have on the band but unfortunately all I have is on this blog.
I’m sure that some of the readers of this blog must have more than I do and possibly more important, memories of the band they might share with us and Drew. The blog was intended as a forum for memories and from my point of view it would be great to hear what people thought of The Rebel Sounds as they were obviously crowd pleasers or they would never have played the Ballerina so often.
Needless to say, my comment applies to anyone who played there. If you remember a group and enjoyed them, please share it with us.
Memorabilia Exhibition – Update
August 21, 2008
I walked into the Red Shoes Theatre in Elgin today, fully expecting to discuss what press we’d get and was stunned. The cafe area where I was intending holding the exhibition was running with water. One of the walls was visibly wet and there were buckets EVERYWHERE!
The recent rain seems to have played havoc with the theatre’s roof, a situation that appears to have been going on for some time. Maybe that’s the reason we’ve been unable to get insurance. Who knows?
I’m not even going to think of mentioning a possible alternative in case a major flood overtakes that building!
The Copycats with Elton John?
August 19, 2008
I wonder if anyone can help with this. I’ve an article from The Sun dated October 23, 2000 in which it clearly states “Seven years later Johnny quit the band and they hired unknown musician Elton John.” Checking all the biographies I’ve got on Elton, I can’t find any mention of it.
In 1969/70, I think The Copycats would have been known as My Dear Watson and still playing the Ballerina. Does anyone remember this?
1970
December 31, 1970
January 01 – The Lucky Charms
January 02 – My Dear Watson plus The Grey Wooly Affair
January 09 – The Royal Teens
January 16 – The Happy Ever After
January 28 – It’s A Phantasmagoria
January 30 – The T-Set
February 06 – Archemedes Principle
February 13 – Whisky Martin’s Poker Orchestra
February 20 – Writing On The Wall plus The Stack
February 27 – Marjorine plus The T-Set
March 06 – The Variations plus Argus Butterfly
March 13 – Power Vane
March 20 – Spiggy Topes plus The T-Set
March 27 – My Dear Watson plus The Grey Wooly Affair
April 03 – Skipping Rope ‘n’ Bangles
April 10 – Wild Oats
April 17 – Picketty Witch plus The Grey Wooly Affair
April 24 – Spiggy Topes
May 01 – Gollum The Underdog plus The Grey Wooly Affair
May 08 – Sunshine plus Sockitombe Disco Light Show
May 15 – Magic Roundabout plus My Dear Watson
May 22 – Dance moves to Forres Victoria Hotel for one night only. Toe Fat plus Spiggy Topes
May 29 – Gollum The Underdog plus The T-Set
June 05 – No Dance
June 12 – Twilight Zone
June 16 – Juicy Lucy
June 19 – Hot Cottage plus The T-Set
June 26 – Mr. Blues Band
June 28 – Fanny’s Scene plus The T-Set
July 03 – The Toy Shop
July 05 – Fanny’s Sunday Scene with My Dear Watson
July 10 – Slade plus The T-Set
July 12 – The Foundations
July 17 – The Foundations plus Cody High
July 20 – My Dear Watson plus Grass
July 24 – My Dear Watson plus Grass
July 31 – Freedom Train
August 02 – Fanny’s Saturday Scene with Shallow Justice
August 07 – Status Quo plus Bones
August 09 – Fanny’s Saturday Scene with My Dear Watson
August 14 – Agatha’s Moment plus Hot Cottage
August 16 – Fanny’s Saturday Scene with Spiggy Topes
August 21 – Beggar’s Opera plus Mr. Fantasy
August 23 – Fanny’s Saturday Scene with Bones
August 28 – My Dear Watson plus Bones
September 04 – Ceremony plus Grass
September 11 – Gollum The Underdog plus Sunshine
September 18 – String Driven Thing plus Julian’s Garden
September 25 – Agatha’s Moment
October 02 – The Royal Teens plus Rock Machine
Ovtober 09 – Spiggy Topes plus Badge
October 16 – Hot Chocolate plus My Dear Watson
October 23 – Chuckles plus Wide Horse
October 30 – Beggar’s Opera
November 06 – Lucas And The Ragged Edge plus Cyril Plugg
November 13 – Geno Washington
November 20 – My Dear Watson plus Shallow Justice
November 27 – Agatha’s Moment plus Spiggy Topes
December 04 – Billy Steele Combo plus Woodstock
December 11 – Royal Teens plus Jynx
December 18 – Writing On The Wall plus My Dear Watson
December 25 – Gully Foyle
Ballerina Ballroom, Nairn 