The photo is the JM Ballroom, and a reminder of its location in North Tay Street, later renamed Marketgait.Hundreds of bands played there throughout the 60's and early 70's, so the 2 ads here are just a tiny example of who was on.
The first advert is dated May 1971 and the bands that were on over this particular period were - PENDULUM, HOROSCOPE and MAXIS TAXI.
Local act, PAT'R FOUR were also doing the biz.
The other ad is dated January 1972.
The 2 main bands in this one seemed to be doing battle with each other to see who could come up with the most macho band name - STALLION and STAG.
Wow, bet they made the lassies go weak at the knees!
The support act on both nights were Dundee based act, FIVE IN A BUSH.
You can also check out the Dundee Gig Time Machine website to view a larger list of JM bands.
Theres only 4 bands in Dundee Ronnie Jack, (the man in black) hasn't played in :) Fine drummer mind you, theres lots of stuff on Retro he was involved with.
ReplyDeleteThe female singer for Five In A Bush, Elaine Stewart, has been on television and radio many times, and also worked with the guys from Mafia.
ReplyDeleteThe vocalist for five in a bush was also my Grandmother Lorraine Roberts
DeleteHere's a quote from Midge Ure who used to play at the J.M. in a band called Salvation - "The JM Ballroom in Dundee was another good-looking crowd. The girls weren't quite as good-looking as in Glasgow, to my eye anyway, but they were certainly much more generous to members of whatever bands happened by".
ReplyDeletebay city rollers were regular performers pre world domination and a good wee dance band they were the jm had to put crush barriers in front of the stage to keep the lassies aff nobby clark
ReplyDeleteElaine Stewart wasn't the singer with the band. Ronnie was in the original Four in a Bush lineup then Hank Sheridan joined on Lead Gtr to be replaced by myself, Dougie Christie was the drummer by now, then Ronnie Tindley and back to Ronnie Jack, all with Francis Carlin on vocals. When Francis left we had a short lived replacement Debbie Richardson and then finally Lorraine Roberts (Grant Roberts big sister) giving a final line up of Lorraine Roberts vocals, Pete Mylles Ld Gtr, Norrie Monaghan Rthm Gtr, Clum McKean Bass and Ronnie on Drums. When Ronnie left he was replaced by Stevie Wilkie (ex Mafia) and latterly myself, Stevie and Clum were with the Elaine Stewart Band, which is where the confusion may come from as we (in various guises) played at last years Five in a Bush reunion gig. As for the Rollers barriers theres a an interesting story about that too....
ReplyDeletethanks pete. frances carlin is the mother of myself and it sometime astounds me, given the amount of work and the number of years she played in dundee, how often she's mentioned. she has some electric photos of the band in their high fashions of the time. mainly in brown. she's on facebook if you fancy catching up. lc x
DeleteThanks a lot Pete, for sorting out the general jumble of line-ups between Four/Five In A Bush & Elaine's part in it.
ReplyDeleteNo probs...mine of useless information through "been there, done that and even designed the T-shirts!" experiences
ReplyDeleteCan you recall if Stallion and Stag were Dundee bands or were they from further afield?
ReplyDeleteI cant remember them being on the Dundee scene, and i'm 51
ReplyDeletewho was the very first group to play in the jm?
ReplyDeleteI remember "PATR 4" playing on the JM,and when the "go-go "dancers were on stage with them it was "PATR 4 + 2".I think the band came from Perth.
ReplyDeletebefore the go go dancers the first group to play on the jm were theblack diamonds. the jm stage was built for them.the diamonds won the tayside sound compition.
ReplyDeletecoming second in the best scottish band thru in glasgow. the Diamonds were one of dundee,s best bands
what wer the names of the first dance bands to play at the jm Ballroom
ReplyDeleteThe first band to play in the J.M. were the Black Diamonds, The second band,came from Edinburgh,they were called The Boston Dexters.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the old JM...I went there for the first time in 69 or 70 to see the band there Dave Howard Band, then I used to see Souled n Healed ( sid Brand Drummer )he gave me a drumstick...I gave him a polo mint BB knows the story... then I remember Francis Carlin singing there, later Lorraine Roberts sang with them. Christian would sing there also. I dont remember the Black Diamonds there but heard them other places, Bob Barty! all of them I heard on a Tuesday at the Tufty Club. Today Im 55 and have been singing professionally for 38 years and know most of all the Dundee musicians and love and respect them all....Dundee has turned out some talent and Im proud to be a part of them or mentioned in the same breath.
ReplyDeleteI was lucky enough to join Ray King and the Flamingoes in 1972 with Ray, Cleve, Lloyd, Bongo, Calvert, Mike. I took Shirley Kings place. The band evolved a few times from then. The Flamingoes ended with Me, Lenny, Rusty, Jerry, Alan mckay, we had 3 different drummers: Sandy Robertson, Ronnie Jack, Mike xxxx YvonneJ ( dont want to be annon but it wont let me add my name)I remember working with a couple of subs one being John Fitzpatrick ( Bass )
In reply to Anonymous' comment about the Dave Howard band, they left Dundee in 1969. I know, because I'm still married to the guy who was the lead singer at the time. He went by the name of Keith James. Keith sang with several groups in Dundee, but his heart was always in jazz/swing and his favourite gigs were with the fabulous Cameron Kerr Trio.
ReplyDeleteThe band (all but Jimmy Doig the sax player) moved to Doncaster to play at Top Rank, but sadly too soon the disco scene took over and band work dried up. Keith sang with several big bands here in Yorkshire mainly for enjoyment, but made his living singing in clubs until his health forced him to quit.
We both have some great memories of different gigs in and around Dundee in the 60s.
Sorry to hear about Keith’s health I moved with The Dave Howard Band from Dundee to Doncaster and worked with Keith years later on a big band gig , are any of the band still around , tell Keith I was asking for him , great memories, is he on Facebook or anything , glad to hear you . Ron Cooper , Drummer,
DeleteI PLAYED THERE IN THE SIXTIES WITH DANNY & THE DEMONSTRATORS WE WERE THE RESIDENT BAND ON TUESDAYS AFTER THE BLACK DIAMONDS LEFT SOME GREAT MEMORIES WORKING FOR MURDY WALLACE & RONNIE COBURN THE LATER GAVE US A JOB AS SUPPORT BAND AT THE CITY HALL PERTH WITH SANDIE SHAW WHEN SHE HAD JUST WON EUROVISION HER BACKING BAND THAT NIGHT WERE THE PARAMOUNTS WHO LATER CHANGED THERE NAME TO PROCOL HARUM WE ALL KNOW THE REST WHITER SHADECV OF PALE ONE OF THE BIGGEST EVER HITS
ReplyDeleteStallion were from Hastings and went onto win the Melody Maker rock contest in 1976.
ReplyDeleteAnyone remember The Marmalade playing the JM in December 1970
ReplyDeletemy wife watched Bay City Rollers there in 1969. She attended Harris Academy but had no problem getting in.
ReplyDelete