SCROTUM POLES IN MUSIC PRESS - 1980

A few bits and pieces featuring The Scrotum Poles in the national music press during 1980.
Well the top item is from the local press actually. This was The Scrotum Poles debut gig at Dundee College of Education on 1st May 1980. The Strutz were the main act and the other band on the night was called Just The Job who crop up in the 2nd item, the same gig but published in the national music press.
3rd item is another gig in town, this time it's for 3rd June 80 and at the Unemployed Club, which I think may have been the drop-in centre in Perth Road, not sure about that though.
4th item is their gig at Dundee University on 4th Oct 80.
5th item is a fun piece which sees The Scrotum Poles on a list of bands who have amusing names!
Lastly, the final item is an ad published in Dec 80, and is for the band's EP release "Revelation", which includes the address from where to purchase it.
Getting hold of an original copy nowadays will cost you much much more than £1.25..!!
Click on the items to enlarge.

UNIT 47 MAGAZINE - 1980'S

Unit 47 was a Scottish music magazine that sprung up in 1984.
It covered the alternative music scene mostly, but also made room for a touch of jazz and rock.
Although there were a few pages given to well known English acts, the magazine's main focus was Scottish bands, as indicated by Fiction Factory & The Cocteau Twins on the covers above.
Lots of space was used spreading the word about unknown bands, including making room for demo tape reviews.
It also had stuff like gig reviews, fashion, cinema and special features such as the lowdown on recording studios.
One of the contributors was Dundee music journalist, Bob Flynn, who managed to get a full page feature on the Tayside Bar, as well as an interview with boss, Brian Sinclair.
Unit 47 also gave away a flexi with one of their early issues.
The 2 above are dated April & June 1984.
I'm uncertain how long the mag lasted however.

MURIEL - TAY CENTRE - 1974

This is Muriel, photographed in the Tay Centre Hotel lounge in April 1974.
Reason for her visit was the Deep Purple gig at Caird Hall.
She was a London lass who ran a Deep Purple fan club called Purple Stars International Fan Club.
Prior to her Dundee visit she spent 8 days roughing it at Heathrow Airport waiting to greet Deep Purple who were flying in from L.A., only to discover that their plane was diverted to Gatwick!
Unperturbed, she then went to Kings Cross, jumped on a train to Dundee to catch the band's first gig of their UK tour at Caird Hall.
She booked into the Tay Centre Hotel, where the band were staying.
Muriel managed to get a pass for the show, joined them on stage during the sound-check and took a few photos.
When it was time for Deep Purple to appear, she was overcome with joy and started sobbing.
It wasn't so much the guys in the band, but the music she cared for.
After a short while, composed, she got back into concert mode and enjoyed the gig along with the rest of the Dundee crowd.
Enthusiasm, determination and result - mission complete.
Next day she departed Dundee for London.

DUNDEE RELATED FANZINES - 70'S & 80'S

Some of the above fanzine titles may be familiar to a few of you who indulged in keeping track of Dundee music action in the 70's and 80's.
Some of the above fanzine titles may not be so familiar due to the short lifespan they had when they were on the go.
I'll supply the lowdown on them anyway as I have a few in my collection.
Most are Dundee based, but a couple are Dundee / Edinburgh combos.
Going down from top...

THE VOICE - started up in 1982 as a kind of splinter 'zine when Cranked Up ceased. At least 3 issues.
CRIPES - started up in summer 1977 as a newsletter for Bruce's Record Shop with over 110 issues.
LE SINISTRE - started up in June 1981 and ended in July 1981 after only 2 issues.
FALLING AND LAUGHING - started up in 1983. Unsure how long it lasted but 5 issues at least.
SWEET TV TIMES - started early 80's to promote the activities of The Junkies. Unsure how long it lasted.
MEN FROM SOYA - started and ended in 1981 after only 1 issue (as far as I know).
PROCESS - started and ended in 1981 after only 1 issue.
VEX [VEKS] - started around early 80's mostly to promote Vex's own band(s) and opinions. Unsure how long it lasted.
CRANKED UP - started up in July 1981 and ended in July 1982 after 18 issues.
DEADBEAT - started up in August 1982 and ended in 1986 after 33 issues.
S'PUNK (It's Punk) - started up late 70's. Unsure how long it lasted but 13 issues at least.
HERE COMES EVERYBODY - started up around 81/82. Unsure how long it lasted but 4 issues at least.

Also - did Bob Flynn get his fanzine called "Hard Copy" up & running? This was in 1982.
Another local fanzine planned in 1982 was "The Buck Stops Here" (or There). Issues published?

If anyone knows of any other Dundee based fanzine (or fanzines where Dundee was mentioned regularly) feel free to pass the info on.
Should anyone like to share copies they have, again, feel free to get in touch.