Last March, you may recall I put up the B-side of The Grip's single, a dubby instrumental called "Musicland Pt 2". Well here is the A-side, a catchy vocal track called "Keeping The Peace". This was released in 1982 by the way.Band line-up reminder - RONNIE CHALMERS lead vocal/guitar - NEIL FORBES sax/percussion/vocals - DAN STEWART trumpet/percussion - JIM GRIEVE drums/percussion - ROSS RAMSAY bass - KENNY BLAIR keyboards.
There is some particularly fine trumpet work in this, in my opinion. Reminds me of Donald Byrd a wee bit.
Anyway, they were a great band live on stage. I remember on the odd occasion when the mood grabbed him, Jim Grieve (Sykes) would take over the mic and burst into some improvised old-school Jamaican "toasting", with a Dundee slant! The band would then really go to town backing him up with some mad dub effects and a percussion frenzy that would go on for ages!! A very entertaining way to end the set!!
Lots of band memorabilia from all over the UK to spot in the slideshow too.
Big thanks to DD.
"No bad" for back in the day, that Valhalas must have bee a buzzing wee venue up in Aberdeen too , their Tayside bar maybe, i noticed Waiter Waiter were playing up there too, i used to go out of town for gigs but can't remember that being on the list. (fight in Forfar any old punks???? )
ReplyDeleteawwwww Danny , he was only 16
ReplyDeleteGreat Trumpet and Sax in there maybe not Donald Byrd but good stuff from some local lads. Well done almost 3 decades later!
ReplyDeleteWord has it that The Grip track "Keeping The Peace" was played on Channel 4 in the early 80's. It was used in a TV programme about "urban unrest". You may recall there was a lot tension in cities around the UK back then. The Brixton riots for example.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the collective blurry memories about it can't recall whether it was used as the documentary opening theme tune or if it was played as background music to accompany footage of rioting!!
It was used as a background tune, petrol bombs, bottle throwing, and the likes, on a show called on the streets or 4 on the streets, or 4 from the streets, i don't know which one is correct , but i do remember it on tv , wasn't the title tune though ,
ReplyDeleteWhen based in London, The Grip got themselves arrested a couple of times.
ReplyDeleteOnce for busking IN the fountain outside Buckingham Palace!
They were also nabbed as suspects in a robbery at David Essex's flat. Their van was innocently parked outside his house with their gear in the back, and they somehow became embroiled in the aftermath of the break-in!!
They also managed to close down Park Lane! When the Gripmobile was parked outside the Hilton Hotel, the staff became suspicious thinking it may belong to the IRA, so the place was cordoned off and surrounded by armed police and the bomb squad!!!
that is so funny!!
DeleteThat's a great photo of The Grip brass section in action. I have a cassette tape somewhere when they went into the Mad Professors home studio in London and recorded a few tracks (before he was famous and before Ariwa record label was launched). Real dub style. The story goes The Grip recorded the tracks after an overnight session and as they were loading their gear out of the Mad Professors house/studio, another van load of lads were waiting outside in their transit to go in and also record some tunes, the band waiting to go in were an 8 piece Bristol reggae band called Restriction who then went on to evolve into The Wild Bunch and then into Massive Attack. Most the members of Restriction are now heralded with creating the Bristol sound as we know it today. They included Smith & Mighty, Flyn & Flora (Roni Size's big brother!) etc. The Grip meet The Mad Professor in Dub BEFORE Massive Attack!
ReplyDeletei also was sent a copy of that tape, i noticed on wikipedia that they brought out a single called Englishman, i didn't know that but i'm positive that was one of the songs from those sessions,
ReplyDeleteUrban unrest, streets aflame, lootin' ana shootin' spooky now in 2011
ReplyDeleteGrouchos had a copy of this single for sale for £6 (!!!) a few months back. Last time I was in it had gone so someone still remembers them. Anyone know what became of Ross Ramsay the bass player? Has he still got that fretless Ibanez bass I wonder? Last seen living and working in London in the mid-80s by Ian Hamilton. I shared a flat with Ross and Ian in the early 80s. Disgusting personal habits and dodgy fashion sense the both of them.
ReplyDeleteYou wouldn't be referring to Ross's tweed jekit' with he the fake leather elbow patches now would you ??? :D
DeleteI wasn't - but only because any mention of that jacket should really be confined to the Dark Web, along with his woolly tank tops (several) and jeans with creases down the front. And I think you'll find those patches were "faux leather". Now, if Pulp had needed a bass player back then ...
DeleteYou forgot to mention his Norman Helmet hair-do :D
DeleteTo be fair, he was still wearing desert boots well after they went out of fashion and before they came back again.... :/
Duncan McConchie (flat 3 81/82 hillside) is looking for Ross Ramsay. Where are you? :)
ReplyDeleteLondon
ReplyDeleteWhen’s he next back in Scotland? - Let’s meet up.
ReplyDelete