Saturday 28 February 2009

THYNGLCHYME AND TIVVY ON TV

Here's a quirky item of Dundee music trivia from the 70's that may get a few locals scratching their head!
In 1971 Dundee band, Thynglchyme, appeared on TV talent show "Opportunity Knocks", hosted by Hughie Green.
At the time, my cousin was drummer in The Jacques who was one of the other bands who took part in the auditions for the local heat.
Thynglchyme won the Dundee contest though and made it onto the show. Not only that but they actually went on to win the TV show 2 weeks on the trot.
However, performing on national television in front of millions doesn't appear to have done their career much good because I put THYNGLCHYME into Google search and got absolutely nothing!
So if any of you knowledgeable Dundonians can fill in a few details on this mystery band with the groovy name, feel free to pass on the any info you have into the comments.
Then a few years later in 1978, it was the turn of local outfit Tivvy to make an appearance on the show.
The above cutting is dated Feb '78.
Tivvy once played at the Caird Hall supporting Slik - this was in 1976.
Apart from that, I have no details on this band or information as to how they did on the TV contest - so over to you to fill in the details in the comments.

14 comments:

  1. I think you'll find that is a Googlewhack!

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  2. Ref heid the ba:
    Lead-guitarist/vocalist wis Brian Reid,on keyboards wis Alan Mackay, drummer wis Mick Petrie(last-minute stand-in for Dek Broon,wha widna fork-oot £40 for a salmon-pink suit,for ane gig!),rhythmn-guitarist was Alan McGochie,and no, thae didna become"The Average White Band"-in fact shortly after their TV debut, thae split and went their separate ways!

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  3. Great to get the lowdown on the band at long last. Many thanks. GG

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  4. The Drummer in Thynglechyme was Mick Rafferty all the way from Stockton who later ran the Windmill bar on the Hilltown famous for late jam sessions with Brian Reid , Willie Hastie and many more. they also did BBC Radio Scotland a few times and played a lot in England

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    1. Mic Rafferty! Had a European career before coming to Dundee

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  5. Correct about the windmill.....carried brian home many a time...

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  6. I never paid £40 for a pink suit. Smarty gave me it :)I got to Dundee on the train and promptly drank Ready etc under the table in a local hotel. It was an innitiation competition....they lost LOL

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  7. Good to see more info on this one.
    Is Thynglechyme (with a Y) the correct spelling?
    Also, if anyone has any photos or audios of the band, you know where to send them! Cheers GG

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  8. Great to read about my old mate and business partner in mic joinery mic Rafferty.i have tried without success to get in touch with mic
    if any one reads this who knows mic could they please bring it to his notice
    Bruce Ogilvie.

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    Replies
    1. Get in touch catherineferguson63@yahoo.co.uk
      I am his daughter

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  9. Thynglchyme, I think that's how we spelled it, consisted of Brian Reed (guitar), Alan McGauchie, (now King), (guitar), Mick Rafferty, (drums), previously, Derek Brown, and Allan McKay, (keyboards). Unfortunately, bad management and personal issues within the band saw it's demise within a few months of the 3 shows in May-June 1971.

    Alan King, easier than McGauchie, made a very successful career with a shipping line, and now lives in Hawaii, while Brian, still plays guitar and has his own engineering business in Dundee. Unfortunately, we believe that Mick is no longer with us, and Allan, (me), made a playing career with "The bad pennies", and later "Ringer".

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  10. just read about tivvy I met bass player John O'Dea while he played in the band He left them before the went opportunity knocks They didnt win ! There was bob eck and jim ogg the drummer I have a poster of them lol I married john in 1977 and and we divorced 1994.I think the band played gigs for a few years but not sure hope that helps Think there are some songs of them on utube

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