Saturday 17 January 2009

SLEAZ BAND - 60'S - 70'S

Dundee's Sleaz Band first started out by calling themselves "Rock Tonsils and the Sleaz Band" when they were on the same bill as Pink Floyd for a gig at Dundee Art College in 1968. Soon after that they opted for a simpler version - Sleaz Band - and a rather lively few years in rock music began.
As their reputation grew, they gigged extensively with top acts such as Deep Purple - Fleetwood Mac - T.Rex - David Bowie - Slade - Thin Lizzy, to name just a few of a very impressive gig list.
Along with their own ad above, I have included some adverts featuring the acts they have supported...
Fleetwood Mac - Glasgow 1969.
T.Rex - Motherwell 1970
Deep Purple - Aberdeen 1970.
Nazareth - Aberdeen 1972.
Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Liverpool 1973
Shakin' Stevens - Aberdeen 1974.

They have also recorded. 
An album was in the pipeline but unfortunately it never saw the light of day.
A single, however, was released in June 1974, with the band line-up at this stage consisting of Phil Robertson, Jim Kelly, Clark Robertson & Robbie Stewart, although the personnel did change from time to time.
The band eventually called it a day in the late 70's.
For a wee reminder of their sound, here below is the b-side of their '74 single, a track called "Midnight Man", a tidy little slice of rock, produced by Terry Noon for the Fontana label and clocking in at just 1min 50 secs, shorter than the average punk record!

15 comments:

  1. Frank Kosiba (drummer, and pre-glorious 'tache) was my economics teacher at Carnoustie High School fifteen years ago.

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    1. Frank Kosiba calling - hope you are well - yes I was the original drummer with the sleaz band for almost 2 years before full time teaching - played alongside bands like Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie, Status Quo, Nazareth, Sensational Alex Harvey Band (Tear Gas) John Dummer Blues Band and a number of UK/American soul bands to mention but a few ... looking back they were great times although Iatterly I was "pushed" having started my first teaching post at St Michael's secondary school in Dundee which incidentally produced Billy McKenzie, one half of The Associates, now sadly deceased. After 5 years at the 'Mikees' I moved to Carnoustie High teaching Economics .... I hope you passed!

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    2. Haha, Frankie Kosiba! Coolest teacher I ever had at Carnoustie High. Not thought about you for over 40 years, it was clear that you had been around the block that we knew nothing about, enigmatic, inspirational and enabling. Thank you. If I see you on the tee sheet when I visit Carnoustie I’ll see if I can make up a four ball,

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    3. You'd be more than welcome says Mr K☺

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    4. He was my secretarial studies teacher in 1981/2 - all the girls fancied him with his long dark, wavy hair, thick moustache and trendy (at the time) clothes….he was so cool

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  2. Midnight Man was played at a much slower and bluesy tempo by the original band.

    Maybe it would have lasted a bit longer on the single!

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  3. Now I seem to recall that Clark and Phil were in a band called the Renegades circa 1966

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  4. Jim Kelly was an almost permanent fixture at the Windmill Bar in the late 1970s.

    A great guitarist and sadly missed.

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  5. Im trying to get in touch with Clark & Phil Robertson. My name is John Austin from AArons Rod disco in Glasgow . I have some cassette recordings that i made at the Watermill Hotel in Paisley that i want to put onto CD and give to them.Can anyone give me a contact tel Number for either of them?

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    1. Hi, Jim Ross here (drummer with the sleaz) Have you still got the tapes? It has been a long time since your post. Heres hoping.....

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  6. John, I think Phil's email address used to be 'palex@btinternet.com' you could try that but I'm not sure he still uses it.

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  7. Hi

    I have a 20 track 69-74 demo anthology of the Sleaz band if anyone wants a copy to rock out to then email at carnegiefamily@yahoo.co.uk Aye Angus

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  8. He was my secretarial studies teacher at Carnoustie High in the early 80’s

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  9. My name is Sandy Page and I was at school with the Robertson Brothers. Clark was in my year. Anyway I was at teh Art School in Dundee in the mid to late sixties and was athe all the Revels during my 4 years there. I was clearing out old boxes full of memorabelia the other day and low and behold I found my ticket for '68 Revels featuring Pink Floyd supported by The Sleaz Band. If anyone knows Phil or Clark and is in contact with them, please let them know I'm still alive and thinking of them. Oh and another thing, I worked in the Globe in the late '60s just around from the Scout Bar which the boys kept telling me was the best pub in Dundee. In those days there were hundreds of best pubs in Dundee!

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