Memorabilia Exhibition Goes Ahead
August 20, 2008
After weeks of trying to get a rock memorabilia exhibition staged at the Ballerina Ballroom I will be holding one next week but it won’t be in Nairn. It will be at the Red Shoes Theatre in Elgin, previously known as the Two Red Shoes Ballroom and once also run by Albert Bonici.
The problem that dogged the exhibition from the outset has been insurance and while I could see no way of dealing with that, there was a simple solution. I’ll be on hand when the theatre is open to answer any questions and maybe even sell something!
One other things is I’m considering running a similar blog to this or even adding an Elgin section to this one. While there would be little difference from 1966 onwards, the Two Red Shoes was playing host to bands from 1962. The Beatles, of course, played there in January 1963. I’ll keep you posted on what I decide.
The actual dates for next week have still to be worked out but I’ll post them here when I do. It also means I can get along to the library in Nairn and get the listing I need from 1970 onwards.
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.
