Thurso Music Scene: 1986-1996

[Saveman]

Anyone remember Weep/Deep/Shianti ( and several other names....)??

Yes; would be fantastic to hear from Paul and Ed again. Do you have contact for them?

well your speaking to one of them!
and...er...i've got Pauls email addy somewhere......

[The Pepsi Challenge]

Anyone remember Weep/Deep/Shianti ( and several other names....)??

Yes; would be fantastic to hear from Paul and Ed again. Do you have contact for them?

well your speaking to one of them!
and...er...i've got Pauls email addy somewhere......

PM on its way to you now, SAVEY.

[The Pepsi Challenge]

Seeing as Steven Cashmore (bless 'im) has missed out the music scene (from the late 80s to present day) from his John O' Groat Journal serials, I'm going to take it upon myself to fill in the gaps. If it does turn into a book, say 75000 words, then I might do it, I don’t know yet. It would be for my own amusement if anything. There’s many ways to approach if, but I’m going to mull it over for a while. I’m busy writing books I get paid for already, but I really want to do this. Therefore, I’d like to set the ball rolling, by asking people to list bands they saw/knew of/heard/followed etc., from the years 1986 to present.

I'll start us off with bands I know of off the top of my head (in alphabetical order):

APPENDIX 83
BARRACUDA
BISCUITS ARE LOVELY
BLOND BROTHERS
CONCRETE
DISCREPANCY
FRAME
GAMMA VS DELTA
HI-STAKES
HOLLIGAN SOUP
HOME & BEYOND
HOWLIN’ GAELS
INNUENDO
THE JOHNNY FATTS BAND (a book in itself no doubt)
THE JU JU HOUNDS
JUNGLE LOGIC
LOVELESS
METAL ATTAKK
PRIVATE PROPERTY
STENCHING MR. STANLEY
RADIO CITY
ROADWORKS
RUBBER RING
SCHIZOPHRENIA (THE CAUSE)
STRATUS
USUAL SUSPECTS
VITRIOLA
YOU, ME, AND A DRUM MACHINE
Z-ROX

[morayfirthaudio]

look what you all started!!!

Im so glad the memories are flooding back, I've had a good laugh remembering all these bands that played in the Weigh Inn, Orange room etc

But is there anyone who can shed more light on the Wick Music scene?

My Brov was a DJ at the Roasebank for quite a few years so I saw many bands through the door. How about the Asembley rooms, Laterly Dominoes/Zigzags

Radio City - (The Murrays, Calum Reid? I spoke to Kaca a couple of weeks ago in Inverness)

Koda - Stu Shearer Vocals, Trusty on guitar Spoke to him a few years ago and still recording music, Marriot Weir, Johnny Gunn havent spoken to him since he moved Nice guy! and Andy Webster on Drums, The only time we ever got a police escort out of Brora, thats a long story!

Communicae - Cala on keyboards, Calum Reid on Drums, bit vague now

Fast Forward - Fiona Sutherland on vocals, lee Nighting Gale on Guitar, Gordon Mitchel on Guitar (Wullie Mitchels wee bro), Kevin Henderson (chicken) on Bass, Glen Campbell on Drums.

Fast Forward - Same lineup except Billy Munro on Vocals

Who was the band that had Spike Tait on Bass, the drummer used to go out with Alana Harper??? possibley Jimmy something? Had a slightly inhanced jaw line!!

Who was the band that had Jimmy (Muppet) on Drums and his brother Terry on guitar

Lastly does any one remember a Glasgow band called 'So What' they played loads of Thin Lizzy & Foreigner AND a band called 'Red Ellis' They backed Thin Lizzy but on there own they did loads of Lizzy Tunes

[Jeemag_USA]

The band from the american base I think may have been Stacatto, which was Marty Sutherland on drums, Steve Lewis on guitar and another black guy on Bass, it was a three piece when I saw them play at the base? Does that ring a bell to you morayfirth?

Gaels were the best band through this period, but I would say that wouldn't I, funny how they seldom make peoples lists

PS Add Mr Rigsby to the list.

[The Pepsi Challenge]

The band from the american base I think may have been Stacatto, which was Marty Sutherland on drums, Steve Lewis on guitar and another black guy on Bass, it was a three piece when I saw them play at the base? Does that ring a bell to you morayfirth?

Gaels were the best band through this period, but I would say that wouldn't I, funny how they seldom make peoples lists

PS Add Mr Rigsby to the list.

You sure it was Stacatto? Marty perennially says it was Stratus, which would make sense given how much they were into Billy Cobham at the time. But hey, who really cares, eh? The first left-handed guitar I ever got to play was Steve's. I wonder where he is now?

I mind Rigsby, too - Mr. Magee's band perchance?

[Jeemag_USA]

You sure it was Stacatto? Marty perennially says it was Stratus, which would make sense given how much they were into Billy Cobham at the time. But hey, who really cares, eh? The first left-handed guitar I ever got to play was Steve's. I wonder where he is now?

I mind Rigsby, too - Mr. Magee's band perchance?

Yes, unfortunately I never ever saw Rigsby but became friends with Michael and Sean Moffat after they plit up, but I heard they were really good, knowing what I know of Sean and his drumming and vocals I can bet they were.

I'll need to speak to Marty when I get home, he probably can't remember much. Maybe they changed their name at some point, but I know for sure when I saw them at the American Base they were called Staccatto. And they were really really good too, shame it didn't last too long, if I remember right both the americans were from the Chicago Area.

[clash67]

Yes folks I (Donnie) was the original drummer for Home and Beyond before I took of to live in London, looking back I should have stuck with the band rather than go to that horrible city but on my return to Thurso I put the Gaels together and became a front man and never looked back ( I was a rubbish drummer anyway)lol.

[clash67]

The band Stacatto was Stevie louis on guitar ,Marvin on Bass, Mart Sutherland on drums and myself on vocals, the band was named after a programme that was aired on American TV in the 60s & 70s called Johnny Stacatto.

[rob murray]

Mid 80’s ( 1984 – 1987 ) music scene in Caithness was indeed very active, although bands in this period had to mostly travel out with the county for gigs, due to the ongoing demise of regular venues such as the Viewfirth Thurso and the Rosebank in Wick, particularly hit by the opening of Dominoes, basically a disco club. Again the demise of many country halls as regular venues hit gigging potential.

In the late 70’s for example there was a Caithness gig circuit primarily based around the Rosebank Wick ( regularly visited by south based bands ) the Viewfirth Thurso, Wick Assembly Rooms, Thurso Town Hall, Castletown Drill / Halkirk Hall ( they used to alternate every second week ) Reay, Canisbey, John O Groats, Mey, Watten, Lybster, Latheron and Dunbeath. The mid 80’s saw the demise of many of these , due to a reluctance to put bands on and shifts to disco only , which led to a shortage of available local gigs.

With home territory gigs drying up, Caithness bands such as Close Action / Z Rox ( Thurso ) One Card Trick ( Wick ) Candy ( Wick ) created another circuit based around The Grange Bar Lairg, Dornoch Social Club, The Caley, Bonar Bridge, Grannies Heilan Hame Embo, Sutherland Arns and Stags Head Golspie, Lady Ross Ardgay, Tain Balnagown and Invershin Lodge. All three bands would play these gigs sometimes in direct competition with each other.

In point of fact, Caithness bands were very well received south of the Ord, with Candy, Close Action / Z Rox and One Card Trick all having good followings. It was actually an eye opener to play these venues, as the crowds were always very good and receptive.

One Card Trick (1984 – 1987) Willie Mitchell Lead Guitar, Robin Murray Guitar / Vocals, the late Gordon Simpson, Bass Guitar and Vocals and David Murray drums. Spike Tait who previously played with Willie, Robin and David between 1981- 1983 in The Interest and Zero Option, replaced Gordon Simpson ( who left due to work commitments ) in 1986 until the band folded in 87, due to personal circumstances ( Drummer joining the army where he still is, Singer Guitarist going on to university )

[rob murray]

Glen,

Who was the band that had Spike Tait on Bass etc : They were called British Standard : Ray Trusty Guitar / Vox, Billy Munro Vocals, Jimmy Mcnabb drums and Spike bass / vox . Active around 1980 / 1981 when they packed up and reformed for a few gigs leadining up to Caithness live Aid 1985. Ray Trusty is still musically active, working with young bands in Dundee where he is now based as a community education development worker. I have a copy of a CD he recorded whilst being based in England studying.

'Red Ellis' Best south based band who played Caithness in earky 1980's, First came to Wick in 1981 and played regulary until early 1982, mixed original songs with Lizzy covers etc. Released a promotional single " Pretty Polly "
Lead guitarist and main man Chick Mcsherry now heads up an IT company in Glasgow.

Who was the band that had Jimmy (Muppet) on Drums and his brother Terry on guitar : There were two bands, the legendary "Alloy" ( 1979 / 1980 ) Terry and brother James, and the two Leith brothers. ( These guys did awesome earth shaking verions of Ace of Spades ( Motorhead ) and Doctor Doctor ( UFO ) average age of the band woulkd be about c 18. Terry and JIm were joined by Shorty Russel on bass / vocals to form Tyrant c 1982 / 1983.

Radio City
Radio City 1978 – 1980 Mark 1

Colin Matheson Lead Guitar, Raymond Henderson Bass Vocals, James Sutherland Lead Vocals, Tich Bremner Drums, Robin Murray Guitar Vocal. Line up recorded double A side single, Love and a Picture / She’s a Radio written Sutherland Henderson, 1,000 copies released and sold.

Radio City1980 – 1981 Mark 2

Raymond Henderson Bass Vocals, James Sutherland Lead Vocals, David Murray Drums, Robin Murray Guitar Vocal. This version recorded two demos, one at Highland Recording Studios Gollanfield Inverness ( 8 songs : 6 originals recorded ) and one session with John Sutherland at Thurso East ( recorded 4 original songs ) all songs Henderson / Sutherland. Band broke up late 1981, with two demo songs re recorded and released as a cassette single, under the Blonde Brothers ( actually made single of the week in Sounds Magazine, beating ABC and The Look of Love !!!! )

The love and a picture single has been bootlegged several times and appears on a series of CD’s ie Lost New Wave Classics and Everyone a Classic to name but two. The single was also re released on vinyl in Holland in 1995 again as a bootleg. As the single was released in a key era ( New Wave 1978 – 1981 ) and on an independent label, original copies of the single have been sought by “completists / collectors” with buying requests on E Bay and collectors web sites.

In 2003 one of the band met Dave Balfe who owned the Gollanfield Studio, he had been contacted on numerous occasions by buyers who wished to secure the Radio City master tapes for both the single and demo recordings. Again in 2003 a band member was directly contacted by a “music consultant” ( found through friends re united site ) who wished to do a deal to release the single and demo songs on a mini CD / EP marketed under the umbrella of “New Wave Nuggets”. This wasn’t progressed.

[rob murray]

For those of you are interested, Dodo Steven from Wick, ex bass player, Motorpool Platoon, established a site in 2003 called Wick Bands. The site was supposed to build up information on bands going back to the 1950's and was progressining nicley. However, due to "elderly muscians and hangers on" abusing the site forum / chat room ( and themselves I might add ) Dodo quite rightly pulled the site.

However, I have long thought that a book on the Caithness Music scene from the 50's upto date as accompanied by a CD of music recorded through the ages ( all donations going to charity ) could be a winner ( the nostalgia market ). ie 1,000 copies at £15.00 less costs !!! Any body interested ??

[The Pepsi Challenge]

Rob - many thanks for the information, I enjoyed reading it! A welcome surprise. Any anecdotes/ stories etc., would be great to read, too.

A book? Would be nice, yes, but it would have to be someone's labour of love, I reckon, in order to turn it into a reality. Getting anything 100% accurate would be the biggest problem, but then again myth and fantasy always provoke the imagination.

I think if there were to be a book, it would need to be broken down into sections (i.e. the 50s, 60s, 70s etc., etc.). And from there, perhaps, just into seperate wee chapters on the individual bands themselves: focusing on the more well-known acts, and a wee section on those who were not to prominent but involved and 'kent weel' all the same.

The John O' Groat Journal always put out a local book or two every year. No doubt something like this would capture the imagination (be great just to see the photographs); however unless one of those egotistical snipes at the Groat were doing it themselves (i.e. Hendry) the chances of someone else being commissioned to pen something is, well, nil. Then again, there's always self-publishing, but I don't have a spare £5K available. Nor, probably, does anyone else. Nice idea, though.

Keep the stories coming, Rob. Thanks again.


p.s. Radio City - one of the genuinely great bands Caithness produced. I've heard a fair bit of their stuff and they would comepte with the best in today's music. In fact, one of their songs often reminded me of New Musik - you may remember their hit single, Sanctuary. Anyway, go to this link (www.myspace.com/newmusik79) and listen to "Straight Lines" - definitely reminds me of Radio City.

pps James's singing for Radio City often reminded me (and don't laugh, please) of Cliff Richard's new wave stuff, which I do love. Check out the song "Take Another Look" here www.myspace.com/cliffhero and judge for yourself.

[rob murray]

Thanks Pepsi, during the period 1980 / 1981, which was an intensive period of music on a national basis, several Highlands bands also released singles and progressed further recordings ie

The Kut ( Inverness )
Those Intrinsic Intellectuals ( Inverness )
The Tools ( Alness )
We Changelings ( Tain )
Radio City ( Wick / Thurso )
The Naturals ( Wick )
( all 5 bands, I believe, recorded at Gollanfield Studios, By Inverness. This studio was national class being 24 track, and had been used by bands such as Nazereth and Sabbath to name but two. When we recorded our demo there Nazerth had been in the previous two months overdubbing guitars on a live album...they had totally wrecked the place ! )

All the above drew, attention either from nationals or large independants.

In those days there was a very healthy music scene from Inverness north, with some venues featuring on national touring circuits ( Inverness Ice Rink, Forres Mundole Court, Grannies Heilan Hame Embo and The Rosebank in Wick. Many south based bands used to play Inverness ( thursday ) Forres Friday Saturday and Sunday Rosebank or Grannies.

During 1980 - 1982, a Highland independant showcase concert was ran, promoted as The Boleskene Beat ( named after Alastiar Crowleys Inverness home, then owned by Jimmy Page ) The "beat" was held in the main theatre at Eden Court, Radio City played as part of the bill in early 1981 along with Those Intrinisc Intellectuals, We Changelings and the Fraser Brothers. The concert was taped for a live album which never got released at the time( and nobody got paid on the night !! )

A starter list for a documentary CD would include

60's

Bands featured on a State of Flux ( 1967 / 68 (4 track Ep featuring Caithness bands, one of the bands features, I believe, John Sutherland, The Blend )

Spiggy Topes 69 / 70 ( originally from Caithness )

Late 70's / 80's

Radio City single and some demo material, The Naturals single

Early 80's Jackie Macmaster and Corky (both Wick ) released a single, one of the tracks from memory being Boys cry to ( Jackie ) Corkys song was Lucinda Dream ( both excellent ) Also I believe Close Action released an excellent cassette single in around 1983 ( with Henry Meiklejohn? )

ALso from 1982 The Blonde Brothers single ( Talked to you ) plus other BB material.

If you think about it a really good documentary CD could be easily assembled ( apologies if I have missed any band out there, as Im going back a long way here )

You mentioned that James passed his recordings over to you, do you have any Radio City stuff ( I have one copy of the single and a digital down load of it ) ie Gollanfield Demo, as I lost mine 25 years ago. We also recorded a cracking live set in the Rosebank ( one of the DJ's, Forby did it ) WOuld really appreciate it if you can contact me to discuss. rob.murray@itpsolutions.co.uk

[rob murray]

Sorry Pepsi, in my enthusiasm I mis read a posting. Green on Greed, as per your posting, is there any chance that you could send me Radio City material mp3's e mail address is rob.murray@itpsolutions.co.uk

Would greatly appreciate it.

[The Pepsi Challenge]

Rob; Unfortunately, I never received any Radio City material from James, though I did pick up a (blank) cassette copy of some of their songs a few years back. Sadly, the tape has long since deteriorated. Deemac, however, has Radio City stuff in his collection - is that right, Deemac???

Slightly off-topic here, but I laughed when you mentioned Inverness Ice-rink as a music venue. I'm not sure if you're familiar with The Police song Synchronicity II, but apparently the "Scottish loch" line in the song is a reference to The Police's worst-ever gig at, yep, you guessed it, the Ice-rink in Inverness.

[rob murray]

The Ice Rink itself, ( the rink area itself ) was used from 1981 - 1986 for large concerts and as you say The Police and The Clash, The Pretenders and Thin Lizzy amongst many played there. Red Ellis ( a big draw at the Rosebank ) supported Thin Lizzy.

Acoustics were as you would expect shocking !! Radio City played there in the main conference room, not the rink itself, which was for big bands. The Interest also played there in 1982 as part of a series of south dates played involving Elgin ( eight acres ) Forres Mundole court ( great venue ), The Ice Rink, and Grannies Heilan Hame where we were banned for life due to excessive volume !!

[rob murray]

Im correcting myself here, State of Flux 1968 : Was this the first ever rock release in Caithness, does anyone know ? Recorded in Grampian Records studios Wick, are there other recordings from this era that anyone knows of ?

The following on State of Flux is from @steven cashmore : Northlands Rock: Part Five - Fab Gear at The Rave-Up

"Packaged in a sleeve designed by Angela Campbell, State of Flux contained six songs, four of which sprang from the musical imaginations of the local groups who played them. David Henderson wrote Fingal McCool's You Just Gotta Try, while fellow McCoolman Rocky Marshall took the credit for the group's Looking Through Hell's Windows. As well as playing rhythm guitar with Zebidie's Morgue on their version of Dust My Blues, Johnny Sutherland also wrote Nothing, the Morgue's other State of Flux track. Reformed especially for the session, Uncle Fester's Nighthouse recorded Andy Munro's song Ice Cold Woman Blues, while The Blend's parting shot to Caithness was a version of a number they'd previously laid down at Grampian, The Miracles Shop Around"

Brilliant band names by the way !! Steven Cashmores full text, where this comes from is brilliant, ie freak outs, freak beat, ravers, acid rock, mothers of invention and west coast hippy vibes....all supplied by, in most cases, very young local musicians.

Check out a site on The Opium Traill, a legendary Thurso band from the same period( what a name eh...!! Peter Doherty...eat your heart out ) mywebpages.comcast.net/rgc

And for the full version of Fab Gear at The Rave check out http://www.internet-promotions.co.uk/archives/

See, there is a cracker of a book here even in documenting this period alone !!!

[Deemac]

Rob,
Good to hear all the old stories. I'm a relatively young pup!! (came up to work in Caithness from 1985 onwards). I do have a couple of Radiocity recordings as Pepsi mentions.

'She's a Radio' and 'Love and a Picture'. Both were featured on the Raymond Henderson tribute album 'Dance Hall Daze' which I produced in 1993.

I also have a digitised version of the 'State of Flux' recording you speak of. The vinyl was of very poor quaility so it is fairly dire in nature. No amount of Click, noise & rumble removal could cure this one!! But considering it was made in 1968 . . . .

Deemac

[cullbucket]

Memories.....

Well my favourite memory was during a viewfirth outdoors gig in the late 80s or early 90s when Stenching Mr Stanley were playing.... Pie had recently been barred from the central for plugging brian after a drinking competition with sinky and was still wild about the whole affair.
They were playing Hang the DJ and Pie changed the words to "Burn down the Central" .... we were rolling with laughter... suppose the drink may have had omething to do with it....
Any band with Mad Dave.com had to be up there in them days......