Who were the first live band you went to see

[Bazeye]

Was that before they released "Play Gaelic"? Think Ive still got that somewhere on cassette.

[airdlass]

Was that before they released "Play Gaelic"? Think Ive still got that somewhere on cassette.

it must have been around that time. Still have the LP of Play Gaelic along with all the other earlier ones.

[futurelegends]

First Band was Black Sabbath @ November 1970 in Green's Playhouse Glasgow (later to become the Apollo Theatre), just after 'Paranoid' hit the charts.

I was 13 at the time my big brother had a spare ticket 'coz his mate cried off at the last minute (poor soul).

Brilliant introduction to live music, soon to be followed by Family, Mott the Hoople, Bowie, Queen, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Linda Ronstadt, David Gilmour, etc, etc and of course Fats & Isaac.

[Deemac]

Now the first band I ever saw (in Caithness) was Z-Rox. Sometime late 1985 in the Sheilling Bar, Thurso (upstairs). Was quite impressed with their overall production (lights, smoke machine, FOH desk, backdrop etc.). The high stacked PA would wobble to and fro and the floor bent with all the punters jumping about!! (I believe eventually someone almost went through that floor - only to be saved by the carpet!!) It was loud and heavy, just the way I liked it when I was much, MUCH younger.

[Mystical Potato Head]

Now the first band I ever saw (in Caithness) was Z-Rox. Sometime late 1985 in the Sheilling Bar, Thurso (upstairs). Was quite impressed with their overall production (lights, smoke machine, FOH desk, backdrop etc.). The high stacked PA would wobble to and fro and the floor bent with all the punters jumping about!! (I believe eventually someone almost went through that floor - only to be saved by the carpet!!) It was loud and heavy, just the way I liked it when I was much, MUCH younger.

Now i remember that.They did a Hallowen gig there and i think it was Dave Craig the guitarist
had face make up like KISS.

[Glamrocker]

The first band I went to see was Showaddywaddy in Eden Court, boy those were the days.

[Green_not_greed]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Deemac
Now the first band I ever saw (in Caithness) was Z-Rox. Sometime late 1985 in the Sheilling Bar, Thurso (upstairs). Was quite impressed with their overall production (lights, smoke machine, FOH desk, backdrop etc.). The high stacked PA would wobble to and fro and the floor bent with all the punters jumping about!! (I believe eventually someone almost went through that floor - only to be saved by the carpet!!) It was loud and heavy, just the way I liked it when I was much, MUCH younger.

Now i remember that.They did a Hallowen gig there and i think it was Dave Craig the guitarist
had face make up like KISS.

Well both stories are correct but I can't remember if it was the same night. I suspect that the floor incident was a few years later.

Certainly one Halloween (circa 1985/86) the entire band were made up as Kiss for the Halloween gig in the Sheiling. As usual the place was absolutely heaving and probably 100+ people over their fire limit! And as usual the floor bounced from all the folk in there dancing and bouncing up and down and so the PA stacks were moving to and fro. That happened every time Z-ROX played the Sheiling (and had the usual crowd).

At some point during a Z-ROX gig the Sheiling floor started to have some problems, and as the night went on, part of the floor appeared to open up. Now you have to remember this was above where the Comm "stage" is now, so it was a big potential drop. And yes, later in the night the floor gave way (as did the ceiling underneath) and someone was only saved from falling through completely by the carpet, which held that person in place. I also recall that wasn't the end of the night and a barrier was put up around the area for the rest of the night - during which the band completed their set - and over a few weeks until it was repaired. I also thing the band played again while the floor was still "in part" barriered off.

GNG

[Boozeburglar]

Now the first band I ever saw (in Caithness) was Z-Rox. Sometime late 1985 in the Sheilling Bar, Thurso (upstairs). Was quite impressed with their overall production (lights, smoke machine, FOH desk, backdrop etc.). The high stacked PA would wobble to and fro and the floor bent with all the punters jumping about!! (I believe eventually someone almost went through that floor - only to be saved by the carpet!!) It was loud and heavy, just the way I liked it when I was much, MUCH younger.

Didn't you support them at Scapa House? I remember knocking over their P.A.!

[Bazeye]

What band was the bloke who had the music shop in? Im sure I seen them in the Shieling in 85.

[Green_not_greed]

What band was the bloke who had the music shop in? Im sure I seen them in the Shieling in 85.

"The bloke who had the music shop" was most probably James Sutherland who worked in Shearers Music Shop, not to be confused with a different James Sutherland who bought the Thurso Music Shop from Shearers after Shearers gave it up about 10 years ago.

James was the singer with Radio City, The Blonde Brothers and (eventually) Z-ROX, and he is the best front man I have ever known. He also sang with "Roadworks" in the 1990s. It did take him some persuasion to join Z-ROX in 1985. In my opinion the remaining members of "Close Action" which formed the Z-ROX backbone were the best and most dedicated amateur working musicians - as a rock band - in the north of Scotland. I believe that the "carrot" was the fact that Close Action had secured a contract to support the 1985 Golspie festival supporting RunRig, who were really big at the time. The rest, as they say, is history. Whether it was good or bad history is your own opinion!

GNG

[Green_not_greed]

Didn't you support them at Scapa House? I remember knocking over their P.A.!

As you know Caithness has long memories and so the invoice for repair is on its way to you right now....... I promised the guy who fitted the replacement speakers that he'd get paid at some point!