FANCY A PINT IN FOREIGNERS?

Foreigners in Meadowside, was one of those pubs where you'd pop in for a pint, then end up staying there for the rest of the night!
I put up a photo of the exterior of Foreigners in July 2008, but here is a wee glimpse of the pub from inside.
The picture has Jo Doll, Jo Jo, Steevo & Trotsky downing a pint (or ten) of Stella no doubt!
In the background you can catch sight of one of Roger Kettle's many cartoons they had covering the walls.
The photo is from around the 1983 period.
Foreigners is responsible for me knowing a large chunk of AC/DC tunes, a band I'm not too keen on and have no records of, but they blasted out AC/DC with such frequency that the rowdy rockers managed to drill their way into my head! AAAAAARRGH!! Actually, such was the good vibe in the pub their choice of records was accepted like part of the decor! 
However, around 1980/81, I decided to compile a homemade tape for Foreigners, to see if they were open to playing some alternative sounds.
I handed the C90 cassette over...the lassie serving had a glimpse at the playlist - Cabaret Voltaire, Josef K, Magazine, Mikey Dread, Scars, The Fall etc... she then put the tape on the shelf beside the sound system rather than return it, which I thought was a good sign.
Did they play it? Did they f*ck!!
Hats off to them for sticking to their guns (n' roses).
I can also remember them playing Jeff Wayne's "War Of The Worlds" album over the sound system one time, which was a bit weird because Richard Burton did narration on it in-between tracks, but it sounded as if he was behind the bar doing a pub quiz!

Thanks to Joe Ogilvie for the snap.

COWGATE TO MEADOWSIDE

This black & white photo of the Cowgate corner area was taken in early/mid 70's. The same junction crops up in colour in a piece of film from 1980, below. As well as the Cowgate, there are views along Panmure Street and Meadowside. Still in their place in 1980 were The Odeon, the original Wellgate Centre facade and the pub, Foreigners. The footage only lasts 25 seconds so you'll probably need to view it a couple of times if you want to go sightseeing!

THIN LIZZY - CAIRD HALL - 3RD MAY 1980

29 years ago today, Thin Lizzy were letting rip their famous riffs along at the Caird Hall. Thin Lizzy found the knack of keeping a faithful "rock" following as their fan base while at the same time, having commercial success in the "pop" charts. A pretty neat trick, as they had many hits throughout the 70's and early 80's.
There was a guy in Dundee (who's name escapes me now, but he used to drink in the Bread and Perth Road pubs), who was a roadie for well known bands, and Thin Lizzy was one of those who he roadied for. He became friends with the band's main man, Phil Lynott, and before this Caird Hall gig, he brought Phil into Foreigners (the rock pub in Meadowside) for a couple of swigs before the concert. I was a bit disappointed to observe that they didn't serve Phil's whiskey, in a jar!!

FOREIGNERS LEGION

One evening in Foreigners, the bar staff had a wee raffle and were giving away albums, t-shirts and other bits & pieces. Well, I ended up winning a signed original Roger Kettle cartoon. One of his Beau Peep strips. I've held onto it since and here it is above.

Click on the image to enlarge.

FOREIGNERS IN MEADOWSIDE

Foreigners in Meadowside cropped up on the scene around 1980ish and became a bit of a regular on my drinking circuit.
Usually choc-a-block Fridays/Saturdays, it had blaring music which was a big attraction to us youthful types, even if it was mostly rock music which of course meant it wasn't always the most up to date sounds being served up - but one thing it always had going for it was a good young vibe in the place.
Keeping the rock theme going, I remember once, Phil Lynott stopped off to have a drink there before the Thin Lizzy gig at the Caird Hall..!!
Adding to the fun was the pub decor, the walls being absolutely covered in cartoons - all framed originals, the work of Roger Kettle of Beau Peep fame.

Top photo by DC Thomson.
Interior shot from Brian Wilson.
Advertisement (March 1981) from Neale Elder.