ROCKPILE RECORDS ADS - 1980'S

A couple of adverts for Rockpile Records in West Port, published in local fanzines in 1982.
A neat wee shop, selling a mixture of new and second-hand records.
Very aromatic too I remember.
I never actually bought any records there mind you, my visits were only when I was off-loading parts of my collection from time to time.
And, it was also the only shop in town who dared to sell bootlegs!

RONETTES RIOT - DUNDEE - 1964

In 1960, there was a riot in the Caird Hall during a Gene Vincent / Eddie Cochran gig that lead to rock 'n' roll concerts being banned for a couple of years.
That gig has now become quite well documented as a consequence.
This gig here, however, seems to have been completely forgotten about.
It took place on 24th January 1964, again at the Caird Hall, this time the headline act was an all female group, The Ronettes, from USA.
With the Vincent / Cochran gig, you could understand that there would be rockers & teds in the crowd, which may explain the aggro.
A crowd fighting on stage when a girl group is performing?
That is a bit embarrassing!
The Ronettes still managed to sparkle through the riot, so well done them for ignoring the numbskulls.

LONG FELT WANT - 1966

These guys here messing about with a steamroller, were a beat group who got together at Dundee University in 1966.
Long Felt Want was the band name and the line-up consisted of -
George Robertson (lead guitar)
Nick Cronin (vocals)
Mick Gate-Eastley (rhythm guitar)
Drew Jones (bass)
Rob Syers (drums)
It didn't take long for them to get gigs as they supported The Kinks at The Palais in April 1966, then a couple of days later they were on home turf playing at a University charity ball.

Thanks to Martin Dudley

DUNDEE'S DODGY PISTOLS POSTER - 1976

It has been in circulation as a fact that, the Sex Pistols cancelled this 1st December Dundee gig "at the last minute" to appear on the infamous Bill Grundy TV show.
Well here below is a factual timeline sequence published in the music press that suggests otherwise...

On 13 November the music press published the Sex Pistols tour dates, with support acts confirmed as being The Ramones, Talking Heads, Chris Spedding & The Vibrators.
The Dundee date being 1st December.

On 20 November, the music press published an announcement that the original support acts had pulled out of the tour and had been replaced by Johnny Thunder's Heart Breakers, The Damned and The Clash.
As a result, the tour schedule was revamped -  with 16th December now the date for Dundee.

So then, the 1st December Dundee date on the poster has the second set of support acts on it (Heartbreakers etc), but these acts weren't chosen until the revamped tour dates were confirmed which had the Dundee date being 16th December. 
If the poster gig WAS the 1st December, it would have had the first set of support acts on it (Ramones etc).
The Sex Pistols couldn't have cancelled the 1st December Dundee gig "at the last minute" to appear live on the Bill Grundy TV show because the 16th December date was confirmed 2 weeks before the TV show aired.
It also means they didn't exclusively reschedule Dundee's date from 1st to 16th, because the entire tour was revamped 2 weeks prior to the Bill Grundy TV show.
Finally, and rather obviously, it was the 16th December gig Dundee Council banned - not the 1st December gig.

The poster's date and support acts don't go together at all - the information is meaningless.
Therefore the poster's false data has no connection to the Sex Pistols history or Dundee's gig history.

Click items to enlarge.

GROUCHO'S FAKE RECORD - 1979

In 1979, Groucho record shop created a parody of an album by the Specials.
They called themselves the Mundanes - but they were not a real band, so no Mundanes record inside.
The fake sleeve was actually a party invite to celebrate the 3rd year of Groucho being in biz.
They also tweaked the 2 Tone logo to resemble Groucho Marx and changed the song titles - one being "I Don't Like Mundanes".
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forward-wind 4 decades, and Groucho's are involved in more piss-takes, this time fake gig posters for the film, Schemers - complete with venues & bands that don't match the fake dates.
They're all as fake as Groucho Marx's moustache!

A SHOT IN THE DARK - 1980

Here's a rare wee Dundee band relic, with an amusing twist.
This is an original ticket to a Scrotum Poles gig at Dundee College of Education in Gardyne Road, dated 9 Oct 1980.
However, the college wouldn’t let them perform under their own name so for one night only they became - A SHOT IN THE DARK..!!
Some other entertainment on the night thrown in - disco, raffle...boat races...that kinda thing!!

Big thanks to Graeme

ROD STEWART - CAIRD HALL - 1977

Rod Stewart was back in town for a 2 night performance on 7 & 8 January 1977.
The Caird Hall looked as if it had been freshly whitewashed for the concerts, with the large white backdrop drapery, white stage, white piano and PA system to match!
It made the colourful chiffon and satin of the band's outfits stand out even more so.
As you can see in the photos, which were taken on the 8th, Rod certainly seems to be enjoying himself.
Incidentally, the impressive drum-kit belongs to well known rock musician, Carmine Appice.
And don't worry, the guitarist in the last shot hasn't been airbrushed out, he is in fact hiding behind the drapes!

Photos by Derek High.

BRAIN DAMAGE CASSETTE - 1983

Dundee band, Brain Damage, recorded this cassette called "Death To Timmy Pop" in 1983.
Drummer, Cody, has the actual original master recording on reel but it hasn't been digitised yet.
So from the 7 tracks on the audio tape, I've plucked out a tune called "Believe In Me".
A brash breakneck speed hardcore punk sizzler!

DESPERATE DAN x STEELY DAN - 1974

The sight of 2 well known Dans teaming up together for an advert, cropped up in the national music press in March 1974.
Yes it's Dundee's Desperate Dan carrying an album by U.S.A.'s Steely Dan.
It could be interpreted as Dan stealing the LP, giving it a visual pun (stealy Dan), especially as it may also be a rogue Dan (bolts in the neck?!).
Anyway, it's quite amusing, and I remember buying Pretzel Logic too.
If I incorporate a 3rd Dan onto the scene, Dundee's Danny Wilson, some of you will know that they were somewhat inspired by Steely Dan's music.
In fact, they even released an EP in the late 80's which gave a bit of a nod to Pretzel Logic - cheekily calling it Strepzil Logic!

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.

STREET LEVEL ON STAGE - 1980

Dundee band, Street Level, played plenty of gigs on their home turf of course, but here's a snapshot that captured the band in action when they were playing in Crieff High School.
This was their second performance in Crieff in a month.
They were so popular first time out, they were asked backed, and when they did, it was reported as being a "triumphant return"!
Not an exaggeration - at the end of the performances, the locals mobbed the band, wanting autographs & photos, and the gigs made headline news too!
These 2 gigs took place in October & November 1980.

PENTANGLE - CAIRD HALL - 1970

If you ignore the old fogies in the foreground, you'll be able to spot something more worthwhile taking place at the Caird Hall in the background.
A billboard poster advertising a concert by Pentangle on 5 April 1970
The band were at full strength for this visit - Bert Jansch, Danny Thompson & co - and a few months later, Pentangle were sharing the stage with Jimi Hendrix at the Isle of Wight festival.

DEAD AUGUST - 1970'S

Dundee band, Dead August, were on the go during the mid/late 70's period.
The only name I have at the moment is the band's main man, Colin Ryan.
If anyone can supply the full line-up, feel free to drop the details into the comments.
A bit of background info meantime...
Dead August had a pretty torturous time at the start of their career.
Their debut gig was in 1975 at a city centre hotel - however, the Bay City Rollers were in town at the time, and their fans were so unruly running amok, it forced Dead August into ending their set midway through the performance.
Next up was an open air concert in Carnoustie - but it flooded and was cancelled.
At an another gig, a big fight broke out in the crowd, which resulted in the band having to pay the hall owner for the damage caused.
Later at another gig, an amplifier blew during the show!
All that maybe would have put a few musicians off continuing, but Dead August kept on going, and by the time they had this Aberdeen gig (ad dated June 1979) they were presented as being "an exciting band from Dundee".
So sometimes you need lots of determination, and not just talent, to help get an act on the road.

HAMPDEN'S SILENCE - 1970

Largs, in Whitehall Street, were Dundee's sole ticket outlet for a rock & pop music festival at Hampden Park in June 1970.
The event called "Scene '70" was organised by bandleader, Harry Margolis, and announced in February that year, but unfortunately, the festival was cancelled just a couple of days before the big day.

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.

PINK FLOYD - DUNDEE - 1968

Here's an interesting gig that took place in Dundee back in the psychedelic 60's.
The venue was Dundee College Of Art.
The date was 12 December 1968.
The occasion was the students Christmas Revels Ball.
Each year, students decked the hall during the festive period, and in '68 the "theme" was the medieval surreal art of Hieronymus Bosch.
The entire hall was covered with replications of his artwork, topped off with a stage set that featured one of his creatures with a giant mouth.
The bands played in its mouth!
Not only were the students in fancy dress, they also supplied the projector light show - these well known multi-coloured displays of moving liquid patterns.
Top of the bill was none other than Pink Floyd, who were starting to become a major draw by this time, even although main man, Syd Barrett, had left the group by then.
Other bands playing on the night were, Spontaneous Combustion, Gethsemane, Rock Tonsils & The Sleaz Band and Sleepy People.
The above image is my own wee arty recreation of what the stage set may have looked like!

HEADBOYS PROMO ADVERT - 1979

This full page advert in an NME dated November 1979, sees The Headboys album getting an epic promotional push by Our Price record shops in London.
The album went straight in at number 42 in the Our Price chart that week.
Dundee didn't have an Our Price store back then, so any locals interested in the stores offer would have to travel to indulge!
Click it to enlarge.

ANGUS HOTEL ENTERTAINMENT

Top is a 1966 advert with a nice illustration of the Angus Hotel.
Along with its location, the ad emphasises their Banqueting Suite, which caters for 500 people.
The other item is for a different kind of entertainment at the Angus, and is dated December 1981.
Local DJ, Tony Cochrane, organised an alldayer which was spread over 3 halls in the Angus.
One for SOUL music, one for Funk and the other, FUTURIST.
Click items to enlarge.

BILLY PLATER RECORDING - 1985

This recording is a bit of a mystery to me.
It's by Billy Plater and called "Tay Bridge".
This review of it cropped up in a Deadbeat fanzine in August 1985.
For starters, I've no idea who Billy Plater is, never seen the name anywhere before.
Although the track title is "Tay Bridge", I don't know if the act is from Dundee or out of town.
The reviewer doesn't even know if it's a duo or a band!
A 10 minute electronic track means it's probably on cassette rather than vinyl.
Deadbeat didn't give it a thumbs up really, but I wouldn't mind hearing it.
Anyone know anything about it?

SLEAZ BAND DEMO #3

Sleaz Band demo number 3...