1968
August 19, 2008
The complete listing for 1968 is now online. You’ll get to it from the box on the right. I’ll be adding the video clips tomorrow!
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?
Flyers Done!
August 16, 2008
I came up with over 1,400 flyers and all I’ve got left is a small bundle. Everyone that I asked has taken them. The Ballerina Ballroom needless to say, the library and the classroom wine bar. Add to that posters in nearly every shop and office that carries posters and I’ve done as much as I can. All I need to do now is get the missing 6 months online and I’ll be up to date again.
It seems there are more hacks here now than tourists. There was one in the library when I was on the microfiche. Three in the Classroom wine bar and at least one laden snapper, presumably told to go find some pics for the Sundays. I even borrowed one’s laptop to access my mail! I better not say who he worked for!
My great disappointment is that no-one came up to me in the street. I’m here for the last time I think. Tomorrow, I’d intended returning for John Byrne’s film in the evening but he sent me a text this afternoon to say there were none. C’est la vie! Seems he asked Tilda if she had any but there are none to be had. A second screening has been mentioned but I think that’s going to be unlikely.
Ballerina Flyer Day
August 16, 2008
Maybe it’s me being here but the rain has stayed away and is giving Nairn its first dry Highland Games in three years. It’s a quick visit to get flyers passed out in various places in town and what I’d like to call “posters” for the blog but they’re nothing more than A4 sheets that I’m hoping will get input from anyone that sees them.
It’s also a great opportunity for you to stop me in the street and tell me some of your stories or give me advice on how to get a better blog experience up. Okay, I know the answer to that one – TIME! I really will get round to adding some of the gig adverts, pop columns from The Northern Scot and pictures of the North East bands that played here.
Seriously, if you want to, just stop and say hello. You probably can’t miss me. One of the women in landbrokes (honest, I wasn’t betting but asking about their old shop) said she thought John Lennon had walked in. If that isn’t enough of a give away I’ll also be carrying a silver carrier bag full of flyers. Of course, I may not be carrying it if I get rid of them all but I digress.
Failing that, you’ll find me in the library for some time before they shut staring at the microfiche reader and getting the dates for 1967 that are missing from yesterday’s listing. Please don’t call me John, my name’s Roy!
Talking of the pop columns, there’s one fantastic piece around the time that Cream played the Ballerina. Eric Clapton had given an interview to one of the music papers in which he decried the fans in Scotland. On reading it, or more likely hearing of it, Albert Bonici, the promoter defiantly stated that he’d make sure Clapton never played here again! Little did he realize the status Eric would achieve.
Okay, that’s it for now. I’ll see you in town or you can catch up with the missing dates later.
1971
December 31, 1971
January 01 – Spiggy Topes
January 08 – Mr. Fantasy
January 15 – Agatha’s Moment plus Bones
January 22 – Bodkin plus My Dear Watson
January 29 – Gully Foyle
February 05 – Grit
February 12 – Pick Up
February 19 – Fractured Ham Sandwich
February 26 – Christie plus My Dear Watson
March 05 – Cottage
March 12 – Royal Teens
March 19 – Agatha’s Moment plus Kristoff And The Dancers
March 26 – Geno Washington And The Ram Jam Band plus Spiggy Topes
April 02 – My Dear Watson plus Bones
April 09 – Julian’s Garden
April 16 – Chicken Shack featuring one of Britain’s best guitarists Stan Webb supported by Jynx
April 23 – Billy Steele Combo
April 30 – Sudden Life
May 07 – Bay City Rollers, Edinburgh’s fabulous pop band
May 14 – Verge – One of the best from Glasgow
May 21 – Another great from Glasgow – Nickelson
May 28 – Toby Jug
June 04 – The new sound of “Writing On The Wall” – “Ears” featuring singer Linnie Paterson
June 11 – Our own great pop band – Windy Miller
June 18 – Beggar’s Opera plus Four In A Bush
June 25 – My Dear Watson
July 02 – A great pop band from Glasgow – Flight
July 04 – Grand opening of Fanny’s Sunday Scene plus Phoenix
July 09 – Humperdincks
July 11 – Fanny’s Sunday Scene plus My Dear Watson
July 16 – Manfred Mann
July 18 – Fanny’s Sunday Scene plus Humperdincks
July 23 – Bay City Rollers
July 26 – Beggar’s Opera
July 30 – Lordy
August 01 – Fanny’s Sunday Scene plus My Dear Watson
August 06 – Sunshine
August 08 – Fanny’s Sunday Scene plus Sunshine
August 11 – Slade
August 13 – Teargas
August 15 – Fanny’s Sunday Scene plus My Dear Watson
August 20 – Windy Miller
August 27 – From Aberdeen – Pick Up
September 03 – From Glasgow – Priory
September 04 – My Dear Watson
September 09 – Fleetwood Mac
September 10 – One of Edinburgh’s best – Index
September 17 – Beggar’s Opera plus Goliath
September 24 – Verge
October 01 – Phoenix
October 08 – Priory
October 15 – My Dear Watson
October 22 – Merlin (Magical sound from Glasgow)
October 26 – Beggar’s Opera
October 29 – Herman’s Hermits plus Goliath
November 05 – Mickey Finn
November 12 – My Dear Watson
November 19 – Boogie from Glasgow
November 26 – Billy Steele Combo
December 03 – Nickelson
December 10 – Levi
December 17 – Mr. Fantasy
December 24 – A Xmas Event with Beggar’s Opera plus Pick Up
December 26 – Windy Miller
