A WEE LOOK BACK AT DUNDEE - 1960's, 1970's & 1980's.
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Monday, 15 March 2010
RAINBOW MUSIC SHOP - HAWKHILL
I don't have the exact date of this ad for Rainbow Music, but I guess it's probably the late 70's, or possibly early 80's. Hawkhill was the shop's original location. They are now in the Cowgate. Thanks to DD
Yup, I remember the Bell Street shop really well - they ran keyboard lessons upstairs (at the back of the shop, near the synths) on a Wednesday evening. As a kid, I remember being taught by a bloke called Steve - nice bloke. They (including Steve) stopped running lessons in about 1991, at which point a couple of the guys started giving lessons from one of the offices in Panmure Street next to the old bank on the corner. Not sure how long that lasted (or if it's still going) as, by this time, I was in my mid-teens and other interests had taken over...
I remember that, about 15 years ago a car, tearing its way down the road between Victoria Road and Bell Street, skidded when trying to make a right turn and crashed into the front of the shop.
The hairdressers next door was a place called something like "Graeme's Cuts", which always used to humour me (given my name :-)). Nobody ever seemed to go in there though - as a student, I remember passing the shop on the way to Abertay and the place would be empty. The bloke (Graeme, I guess) would be sitting at the counter staring into space.
Well thanks for your life story Graeme..Steve Cooney was the bloke who gave the piano lessons,Alan and Keith run Rainbow music, took plenty money off me over the years..expensive but fair.
I too have spent loads of cash in Rainbow, as well as in Sound Control (RIP). Always felt that the guys at Rainbow were really knowledgeable and, dare I say it, a wee bit less intimidating/patronising than some of the guys in SC (if anyone can remember the old Not The Nine O'Clock News sketch where Mel Smith tries to buy a "gramophone", you're not far off the mark). Got good service from both, mind.
Rainbow has stood the test of time without the Clique. Well done, good to see a DUNDEE business doing/done well. Anyone remember the bloke Les from Sound Control? Found him a good bloke. Whatever happened to him?
Used to like having a toddle round Rainbow when it was in Bell Street. Bought a guitar amp from there (still going strong), but always regret not buying one of their guitars. It was a black, Thunderbird style body, and branded "Rainbow" on the headstock, probably made by someone who traded it in. It remains probably the best guitar I've ever played.
Yeah, agree with the last two. Les was, and probably still is, a standoffish music snob. Goodness knows how he managed to hold down a job dealing with the public!
Les from Sound Control? Is this the same Les Paterson who used to hire out PAs to the local pubs? He was a bit of a cliche... used to come kitted out in cycling shorts, vest, bum bag, bat utility belt, fingerless gloves, mullet, shades, torch, high top trainers... etc! He was Heavy Rock personified, and a total twat!
I used to have loads of dealings with him in the early 90s... never a good experience.
The great thing about Rainbow was their lack of music shop arsehole-ishness. In Rainbow, no matter how good or bad a player you are they simply serve you and give the best advice. Sound Control always had the wank-boys.
I remember going into Sound Control with an obviously disabled friend (cerebral palsy) wanting to look at a cheap guitar so he could learn a couple of open bar chords to sing along to. The guy said he'd tune it up and then proceeded to play about 2 minutes of plank-spanking wankery before handing it over to my mate saying "OK, what can you do?".
We left. Rainbow simnply gave us the best advice and we bought a guitar. Here's to the lads in Rainbow.
got to agree, i am a competent guitar player and i always felt awkward in sound control, being served by a giggling beavis & butthead did nothing for your confidence,
define "playing properly" !!!! learn all your chords and scales like a million fuckers before you , always hated "musicians" ! luckily I can never be accused of being one!! but , do agree , if you are going to use a guitar get a good one, it annoys the musicians more
Just remember, these to**ers who work in Sound Control and the like, are basically failed musicians, earning perhaps slightly more than minimum wage as shop assistants. Nothing to be that smug about, is it?
Vex - I remember you and your sorry mates coming into the shop and attempting to play Deep Purples 'Smoke On The Water' over and over. Now this is usually one of the first riffs attempted by beginners but by fuck you couldn't even get that right.
nice try Les , but we both know thats bollocks!! I could play that when I was 12 and forgot it by 12 and a half p.s I'm probably the only one that did not dis you as well - thanks for that
Mike, Mike, Mike, (shakes head in disbelief) you know I'm right but let's not argue about that. You and Mike Kane used to be in all the time with your crazy messed up hair and ripped clothes.
Another favourite little number of yours was the intro to 'Pretty Vacant' .. God I used to hate it when your lot used to come in but it did entertain us staff.
Les , I am Mike Kane ! not sure who your thinking off as other mike ! I honestly dont remember this ,but , it may have happened - pretty vacant? sure it was not "jesus" by the velvets (similar riff), that sounds more like me ! , anyway glad we (if it was me!) entertained the staff we certainly never entertained anyone at gigs ! no hard feelings ! it was a long time ago and each to there own mike
Mike - don't get hooked in by this imposter - I don't think it's the real Les from Sound Control... if it was he'd be using terms such as "to the max" and "rock on"... we'd also be hearing the squeak of his cycling shorts against the twin necked guitar he stimulates himself with!
I never regarded the sound control shop boys and their little trained monkey style geetar licks as intimidating, just a bit, saad. isnt it? but I did like Rod from the cellar who fixed stuff and resprayed and got me spares (like Dave the drunk from forbes) also Jim who abided in the cellar on the other side from Rod and he was the electrics boffin/buffoon but I think he might be dead now. Also Mike did you go out to Montreaux? with Duffy and or Strachan :))
Whatever happened to Mike Duffy and Mike Strachan, I knew that Duffy was in the big hoose up in Perth a while back. Lost touch with him and others when I moved to London
Hi Joe I have no idea what you are on about, seriuosly , not a clue !
and as for Duffy and Strachan , after duffy got out the the big house in Perth he moved to london for about 10 years (visited another big house down there called pentoville) than came back to dundee where has been working for Pickfords for around 10 years , saw him today actually and will see him probably in the next couple of days, Strachan has 2 restuarants in Dundee ,dont see him very often , just in the passing.
hi mike, (I almost wet myself laughing) it was just a deep purple/mike mix up joke :) Rab Hunter ex Junkies drummer and commet spotter used to work at the Hawkie Rainbow part time if I remember correctly, and they used to have an Echo acoustic bass which I would have liked to have the money for, maybe I'll make a copy of it yet? the bear
i bought a roland boss dr rythmn drum machine fae there, it stank compared to the older preset beast--bossa-nova/chachacha/foxtrot wi rotary tempo, which the bear controlled, fanta.
aye ye canna beat a bossa nova, I bet it still work as well(the drum machine)kevin guthrie also had one of these :) which I nearly controlled, it gets more difficult with age ;))) the bear
Someone posted on 15th March that they played a guitar that had the work "rainbow" on the headstock. I have a vintage guitar that says maple on the headstock and NO-ONE seems to know anything about it, I've tried all my local music shops, the internet, a friend of mine who builds guitars and haven't managed to find anything out! She's a beautiful guitar, and is awesome to play, would just be interested if anyone knows anything about it, and where it was made etc.etc? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Please email me if you know anything - mrsfrench2009@yahoo.co.uk thank you!
mrsfrench2009 stick a photo of it on so we could all have a look, have you asked Rod Vaughan who used to repair and respray basses and guitars there, maybe they rebranded stuff the people never paid /came back for?
I think I have a photo of you Les at the bonar hall doin' the sound for a kevin murray trio. I'll get my missus to show me how to email the picture to GG
Yeah, the Rainbow boys were always a friendly and approachable bunch, Sound Control were cheaper but fucked up by employing the wrong guys from the word go. Most who worked there developed 'The Sound Control Sneer' which never really did them any favours. Les Paterson came across as a rather aloof character but he was actually a nice guy beneath the high-and-mighty rock god veneer. He took off to Oxfordshire in 1998 and to my knowledge he's still there. Sound Control's called Kenny's Music now and Rod Vaughan and Jim Laird the repair guys still work in the basement there.
I don't have the exact date of this ad for Rainbow Music, but I guess it's probably the late 70's, or possibly early 80's.
They were also based in Bell Street for a bit too before going into their current shop. Think their shop in Bell Street is now a hairdressers.
ReplyDeleteYup, I remember the Bell Street shop really well - they ran keyboard lessons upstairs (at the back of the shop, near the synths) on a Wednesday evening. As a kid, I remember being taught by a bloke called Steve - nice bloke. They (including Steve) stopped running lessons in about 1991, at which point a couple of the guys started giving lessons from one of the offices in Panmure Street next to the old bank on the corner. Not sure how long that lasted (or if it's still going) as, by this time, I was in my mid-teens and other interests had taken over...
ReplyDeleteI remember that, about 15 years ago a car, tearing its way down the road between Victoria Road and Bell Street, skidded when trying to make a right turn and crashed into the front of the shop.
The hairdressers next door was a place called something like "Graeme's Cuts", which always used to humour me (given my name :-)). Nobody ever seemed to go in there though - as a student, I remember passing the shop on the way to Abertay and the place would be empty. The bloke (Graeme, I guess) would be sitting at the counter staring into space.
Well thanks for your life story Graeme..Steve Cooney was the bloke who gave the piano lessons,Alan and Keith run Rainbow music, took plenty money off me over the years..expensive but fair.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it, Anon :-)
ReplyDeleteI too have spent loads of cash in Rainbow, as well as in Sound Control (RIP). Always felt that the guys at Rainbow were really knowledgeable and, dare I say it, a wee bit less intimidating/patronising than some of the guys in SC (if anyone can remember the old Not The Nine O'Clock News sketch where Mel Smith tries to buy a "gramophone", you're not far off the mark). Got good service from both, mind.
The original shop in Hawkhill became a second hand shop in 1987 and since 1994 has been a flat.
ReplyDeleteRainbow has stood the test of time without the Clique. Well done, good to see a DUNDEE business doing/done well. Anyone remember the bloke Les from Sound Control? Found him a good bloke. Whatever happened to him?
ReplyDeleteUsed to like having a toddle round Rainbow when it was in Bell Street. Bought a guitar amp from there (still going strong), but always regret not buying one of their guitars. It was a black, Thunderbird style body, and branded "Rainbow" on the headstock, probably made by someone who traded it in. It remains probably the best guitar I've ever played.
ReplyDeleteI CAN PLAY THE PICCOLO,Les was the boy from the not the 9 o'clock sketch..not very approachable and a horredous musical snob.
ReplyDeletei would have to agree with the last poster , ask any young /old Dundonian musician about Les!
ReplyDeleteYeah, agree with the last two. Les was, and probably still is, a standoffish music snob. Goodness knows how he managed to hold down a job dealing with the public!
ReplyDeleteLes from Sound Control? Is this the same Les Paterson who used to hire out PAs to the local pubs? He was a bit of a cliche... used to come kitted out in cycling shorts, vest, bum bag, bat utility belt, fingerless gloves, mullet, shades, torch, high top trainers... etc! He was Heavy Rock personified, and a total twat!
ReplyDeleteI used to have loads of dealings with him in the early 90s... never a good experience.
Is he still based in Dundee? Does he still rent PA's? I need one for a wedding in 2 months. Help!
ReplyDeleteThe great thing about Rainbow was their lack of music shop arsehole-ishness. In Rainbow, no matter how good or bad a player you are they simply serve you and give the best advice. Sound Control always had the wank-boys.
ReplyDeleteI remember going into Sound Control with an obviously disabled friend (cerebral palsy) wanting to look at a cheap guitar so he could learn a couple of open bar chords to sing along to. The guy said he'd tune it up and then proceeded to play about 2 minutes of plank-spanking wankery before handing it over to my mate saying "OK, what can you do?".
We left. Rainbow simnply gave us the best advice and we bought a guitar. Here's to the lads in Rainbow.
got to agree, i am a competent guitar player and i always felt awkward in sound control, being served by a giggling beavis & butthead did nothing for your confidence,
ReplyDeleteYou should have learnt to play properly before purchasing a decent guitar, phucking losers !
ReplyDeleteLes
but everyone knows you can't learn "properly" on a heap of shiiiiiiiiiite!!!!!
ReplyDeletedefine "playing properly" !!!!
ReplyDeletelearn all your chords and scales like a million fuckers before you ,
always hated "musicians" !
luckily I can never be accused of being one!!
but , do agree , if you are going to use a guitar get a good one, it annoys the musicians more
mike
Just remember, these to**ers who work in Sound Control and the like, are basically failed musicians, earning perhaps slightly more than minimum wage as shop assistants. Nothing to be that smug about, is it?
ReplyDeletenever thought of it that way , but your correct! try telling THEM that though , ha huh huh huah he hah hu ho ho
ReplyDeleteVex - I remember you and your sorry mates coming into the shop and attempting to play Deep Purples 'Smoke On The Water' over and over. Now this is usually one of the first riffs attempted by beginners but by fuck you couldn't even get that right.
ReplyDeleteLes
nice try Les , but we both know thats bollocks!! I could play that when I was 12 and forgot it by 12 and a half
ReplyDeletep.s I'm probably the only one that did not dis you as well - thanks for that
mike
Mike, Mike, Mike, (shakes head in disbelief) you know I'm right but let's not argue about that. You and Mike Kane used to be in all the time with your crazy messed up hair and ripped clothes.
ReplyDeleteAnother favourite little number of yours was the intro to 'Pretty Vacant' .. God I used to hate it when your lot used to come in but it did entertain us staff.
Les
Les , I am Mike Kane !
ReplyDeletenot sure who your thinking off as other mike !
I honestly dont remember this ,but , it may have happened - pretty vacant? sure it was not "jesus" by the velvets (similar riff), that sounds more like me ! , anyway glad we (if it was me!) entertained the staff we certainly never entertained anyone at gigs !
no hard feelings ! it was a long time ago and each to there own
mike
Mike - don't get hooked in by this imposter - I don't think it's the real Les from Sound Control... if it was he'd be using terms such as "to the max" and "rock on"... we'd also be hearing the squeak of his cycling shorts against the twin necked guitar he stimulates himself with!
ReplyDeleteI agree, the 'real' Les would be too scared to show his name around these parts. He 'left' town rather quickly...
ReplyDeleteDon't know what you're referring too SupplyAndDemand as I never left quickly to go anywhere.
ReplyDeleteDamn you pesky kids and your desire to play a chord
Les
Obviously NOT the true LES from Sound Control.
ReplyDeleteI never regarded the sound control
ReplyDeleteshop boys and their little trained monkey style geetar licks as intimidating, just a bit, saad. isnt it? but I did like Rod from the cellar who fixed stuff and resprayed and got me spares (like Dave the drunk from forbes) also Jim who abided in the cellar on the other side from Rod and he was the electrics boffin/buffoon but I think he might be dead now.
Also Mike did you go out to Montreaux? with Duffy and or Strachan :))
The Bear
Whatever happened to Mike Duffy and Mike Strachan, I knew that Duffy was in the big hoose up in Perth a while back. Lost touch with him and others when I moved to London
ReplyDeleteHi Joe
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what you are on about, seriuosly , not a clue !
and as for Duffy and Strachan , after duffy got out the the big house in Perth he moved to london for about 10 years (visited another big house down there called pentoville) than came back to dundee where has been working for Pickfords for around 10 years , saw him today actually and will see him probably in the next couple of days, Strachan has 2 restuarants in Dundee ,dont see him very often , just in the passing.
mike kane
hi mike, (I almost wet myself laughing) it was just a deep purple/mike mix up joke :)
ReplyDeleteRab Hunter ex Junkies drummer and commet spotter used to work at the Hawkie Rainbow part time if I remember correctly, and they used to have an Echo acoustic bass which I would have liked to have the money for, maybe I'll make a copy of it yet?
the bear
Is that the Rab Hunter who played drums in Dirtbox?
ReplyDeleteit was the rab hunter/moose who lived in reres house stables in the ferry where the junkies used to practice, but no idea about dirtbox
ReplyDeletethe bear
yep, rab moose hunter played drums for dirtbox, wi jeng low, dave mcd and fanta
ReplyDeleteDiscipline was easy then !
ReplyDeletei bought a roland boss dr rythmn drum machine fae there, it stank compared to the older preset beast--bossa-nova/chachacha/foxtrot wi rotary tempo, which the bear controlled, fanta.
ReplyDeleteaye ye canna beat a bossa nova, I bet it still work as well(the drum machine)kevin guthrie also had one of these :) which I nearly controlled, it gets more difficult with age ;)))
ReplyDeletethe bear
Who played drums during the gigs?
ReplyDeleterab moose hunter or euan parrie
ReplyDeleteEwan Parry drummed for Dirtbox at the Tayside Bar when Rab had a verruca or something.
ReplyDeleteWhere's Ewen these days?
ReplyDeleteEuan moved to Peru I think and still lives there as far as I know.
ReplyDeleteSomeone posted on 15th March that they played a guitar that had the work "rainbow" on the headstock. I have a vintage guitar that says maple on the headstock and NO-ONE seems to know anything about it, I've tried all my local music shops, the internet, a friend of mine who builds guitars and haven't managed to find anything out! She's a beautiful guitar, and is awesome to play, would just be interested if anyone knows anything about it, and where it was made etc.etc? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Please email me if you know anything - mrsfrench2009@yahoo.co.uk thank you!
ReplyDeletemrsfrench2009
ReplyDeletestick a photo of it on so we could all have a look, have you asked Rod Vaughan who used to repair and respray basses and guitars there, maybe they rebranded stuff the people never paid /came back for?
I think I have a photo of you Les at the bonar hall doin' the sound for a kevin murray trio. I'll get my missus to show me how to email the picture to GG
Ah the SC shop boys! Remember 'Jack' the strawberry blonde chap - no wait a mo - ginger pure ginger - yeah he was a twat and as for Les P...mmmhhh
ReplyDeleteYeah, the Rainbow boys were always a friendly and approachable bunch, Sound Control were cheaper but fucked up by employing the wrong guys from the word go. Most who worked there developed 'The Sound Control Sneer' which never really did them any favours. Les Paterson came across as a rather aloof character but he was actually a nice guy beneath the high-and-mighty rock god veneer. He took off to Oxfordshire in 1998 and to my knowledge he's still there. Sound Control's called Kenny's Music now and Rod Vaughan and Jim Laird the repair guys still work in the basement there.
ReplyDelete