SKEETS BOLIVER IN REHEARSAL

This is another shot of Skeets Boliver.

Guessing from the relaxed looking scene, I reckon this may be them in rehearsal rather than in full flow at a gig. Not 100% sure on that.

There appears to be a recording device or mixer on the chair.

Anyway, although there are a few Skeets items already in the Retro Archives, here's a reminder of the line-up in the photo - from left to right - CHRIS MARRA guitar - GUS FOY acoustic guitar - PETE McGLONE sax - BRIAN McDERMOTT drums - MICHAEL MARR bass - STEWART IVINS guitar.

If anyone can spot where about it is, drop the info into the comments.

The picture would have been taken mid/late 70's.

Thanks to Mike Gallacher.

SKEETS BOLIVER IN THE 70'S

Here's a shot of Skeets Boliver in full swing, which was quite a familiar sight around Dundee in the mid/late 70's.
And below is the band's debut single, dated 1976.
For the younger ones among you who haven't heard it, let me just say that it was called "Streethouse Door" in print only - you'll find out what I mean when you tune into it! It was produced by Mick Green, guitarist in The Pirates.
I've seen them perform this a couple of times back in the day, one was a show upstairs at the Bothy (Breadalbane) in the Conshie. A regular hangout for 1 or 2 band members.
This song, of course, was the one that started Michael Marra off on his recording career - and MM will be the topic of tomorrows post.

SKEETS BOLIVER - 1970's

Skeets Boliver formed in Dundee around 1973 when 2 local acts, Hens Teeth and Mort Wriggle & The Panthers, fused together. This line-up consisted of Michael & Chris Marra - Brian McDermott - Stuart Ivins and Angus Foy.
The shot of the band above in 1977 has the addition of Peter McGlone (with the rollie-up).
This image of Skeets appears on the back cover of a single the band released in '77, a song called "Moonlight In Jeopardy". The front of the cover with them leaping up into the air is the one on the video screen below, where you can have a wee blast of the tune.
They did in fact release 2 singles in 1977, the first one was a song that was labelled as "Streethouse Door", but they actually sang "Shithouse Door!" - a track I've seen them play live a couple of times.

On the subject of word based fun - I spotted these 2 misprints above in an Edinburgh gig guide dated September 1977.

The first has the band as STREETS Boliver - their setlist made up of middle-of-the-road tracks I suppose!

The other has their name as SHEETS Boliver - probably an evening of cover versions then!

They've even got 2 different dates for Monday!

Anyway, after that brief interlude - the following year (Sunday 8th January 1978 to be exact) the band even made an appearance on national television. The programme was called " I Can't See The Light" and it had footage of Skeets performing live at Laings, as well as having a wee chat with the guys.

The clipping is from an original TV guide page.
Skeets Boliver eventually split around 79/80 with the musicians going their separate ways - Michael obviously doing his successful solo projects, Peter joining Mafia and Brian later going onto work with Del Amitri.
I'm sure there will be plenty of you ready to enter your own Skeets Boliver trivia into the comments....so enter away!