Save Newcastle City Hall - an update

By North East Music History

The Newcastle City Hall Facebook page has added a new post about its future which you can find here: https://www.facebook.com/Newcastlecityhall/posts/10151306398704204

North East Music History (NEMH) has the following comments to make about this: Firstly, as we’ve made clear previously, the focus of our campaign is certainly not the management and staff of the venue itself. Our campaign is targeted at the people in Newcastle Council who will determine the future of the City Hall. The key decisions on this will not, alas, be left to the people who work at the venue. The statement indicates there is now considerable speculation that the City Hall is under threat of closure. That’s true and is hardly surprising when Cllr Nick Forbes, Leader of the City Council and the man ultimately responsible for decisions on this issue, told the BBC on 27th November, “the whole site - the City Hall and Pool - doesn't have a long-term future given the current funding climate.” Whilst NEMH welcomes the statement that the venue management has “put forward a series of proposals to enhance the financial viability of the City Hall”, we do not consider that, in itself, changes anything regarding our campaign. We don’t know the details of these proposals, we don’t yet know whether the Council is prepared to accept and implement them – and we still don’t know what the Council’s own plan is for the long term use of the site. In short, we believe our campaign to save the City Hall as a vibrant performance venue is still very much needed. The campaign will continue and indeed will be intensified early in the New Year. Finally, as the Newcastle City Hall post says, the venue is continuing to operate and tickets are on sale for a range of gigs in 2013. NEMH hopes you will support the venue by going to City Hall gigs and continue to support the campaign by signing the petition at www.change.org/savenewcastlecityhall , which has so far collected over 8,000 signatures online and in the street. The two things are hardly mutually exclusive!

Save Newcastle City Hall

by North East Music History



PRESS RELEASE – NORTH EAST MUSIC HISTORY – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


NORTH EAST MUSIC LOVERS CALL ON COUNCIL TO SAVE NEWCASTLE CITY HALL 





The North East's music-loving public are rushing to defend Newcastle City Hall, demanding that it should continue as a performance venue. Newcastle City Council has asked for people’s views on the future of the City Hall, within the recently published Budget proposals.


The North East Music History group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/northeastmusichistory  has once again demonstrated the power of social media, by launching an e-petition calling for the City Hall to be saved as a music venue. In less than 24 hours, it has already gathered more than 1,000 signatures and expects to attract at least 10,000 signatures by the end of the consultation period.


North East Music History group and blog admin, Hazel Plater, author and ex-employee of Newcastle's legendary Riverside music venue, which closed in 1999, said,“We have lost Newcastle's iconic venues The Mayfair and Riverside in recent history, and the Club A-Go-Go before them. Newcastle City Hall has so much history; from orchestras and opera, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Dylan, Beatles, Hendrix, Zeppelin, Bowie, Blondie, Lindisfarne Christmas Concerts, Stand-up Comedy and much more. It’s not at all clear what Newcastle City Council’s intentions are towards the City Hall site. Our group believes that the Council should do whatever is necessary to save the City Hall as a performance venue. This would not only recognise its iconic status and its rich musical history but also acknowledge that it still has massive potential as a performance venue in the future, as part of the cultural industry activity that we hope will form an important part of our future local economy.”


Tony Stephenson, North East Music History group contributor said, "We need first to secure the council's commitment to retaining the City Hall as a performance venue in a way that will enable to offer a great experience to the ticket buying public. Whether that is as a wholly run public enterprise or as a partnership or a privately run deal (with absolutely binding terms and conditions from the Council) I, personally, am prepared to be pragmatic about. The important thing is to secure its future and commitment to its continuation as a viable venue, not to sell it off now or allow it to pass into the hands of people who will run it down in order to pitch for change of use of the site and then it's lost anyway."


Martin Craig, a musician and also part of the NEMH group said, “We want more members of the public plus performers linked to Newcastle City Hall to sign the petition before the end of the consultation period on 1st February 2013. We are conducting a high profile campaign to save the City Hall for future generations.”


If you want to add your voice to the e-petition to save Newcastle City Hall you can go online at:

https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/newcastle-city-council-save-newcastle-city-hall




WEB LINKS:

Relevant Newcastle City Council document: http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/sites/drupalncc.newcastle.gov.uk/files/wwwfileroot/your-council/budget_and_annual_report/budget_2016_-_13_-_city_hall_and_city_pool.pdf

North East Music History Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/northeastmusichistory/

North East Music History blog: http://www.northeastmusichistory.org.uk




ENDS. XXXXXXXX

Newcastle City Hall - under threat.

The Tube

by Hazel Plater

This month marks 30 years since The Tube television programme was first broadcast live from Tyne Tees Television on City Road, Newcastle upon Tyne to the music lovers of the nation.

Channel 4 had just begun, and this show, presented by Jools Holland and Paula Yates was its flagship music show, featuring, over its 5 seasons, performances from a huge number of artists, including The Jam, The Smiths, REM, U2, The Cure, Pet Shop Boys, Tuna Turner, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Duran Duran and even Madonna.

The Tube was named after the distinctive entrance to Tyne Tees Televison

The majority of music appearances on the magazine-style show were performed live at Tyne Tees' Studio 5.  The video clip below, however, shows Billy Bragg, busking to the queue of people waiting to come into the studios to be part of the live television audience.





A large number of hip young people around the North East at the time, remember taking part in the show, a night which would often begin in the adjacent Egypt Cottage public house, where celebrities could often be seen propping up the bar.  The pub was such a part of the show that it was dubbed 'Studio 6' and was famously where presenter Paula Yates first met INXS frontman Michael Hutchense as part of a 1986 episode.

The Tube was last broadcast in 1987.  The Egypt Cottage and Tyne Tees are now both no more, having been demolished in recent years.

Post your recollections of The Tube below, or at the North East Music History Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/northeastmusichistory/

Led Zeppelin's first gig - Newcastle Mayfair - 4th October 1968

by Hazel Plater and Ian Ravendale

I'm very proud that this story, written by Ian Ravendale (real name Ian Penman, but he writes articles under this name to avoid confusion with former NME writer Ian Penman), has appeared in Classic Rock magazine this month thanks to input from the North East Music History Facebook group.  Turns out Led Zeppelin's first gig was at Newcastle's Mayfair - 4th October 1968 - a fact hitherto unreported.  The article tells the full story and includes first hand accounts from NEMH group members Ray Laidlaw and Charlie Foskett, a late-friend's tale told by John Porteous and additional research by Marshall Hall.  Well done everyone concerned - Led Zeppelin history, North East Music History and a fine story unveiled!  The magazine is available from all good newsagents or by subscription from http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/

Led Zeppelin's first gig featured in Classic Rock magazine October 2012

After I posted the above article, Ian himself got in touch with me, to elaborate on how the Classic Rock story happened:


"The legendary Led Zeppelin played their first handful of UK gigs under the name The New Yardbirds, a roll-over from leader Jimmy Page's former band whose final gig obligations they were honouring.  The first of these shows was at Newcastle Mayfair ballroom on 4 October 1968 with support slots from local bands Downtown Faction and The Junco Partners plus New York Public Library, originally from Leeds but based in London by this time. I'd found out about the show while researching another possible locally based Led Zeppelin story.  The fact that Zep made their UK debut on Tyneside and under a different name jumped out to me as a potentially fascinating subject for an article and Classic Rock agreed.

Still being billed as The Yardbirds, on the night they were billed as The New Yardbirds

If anything was going to stretch my super-researcher powers it was locating the support bands, audience members, promoter and Mayfair staff and then getting some good stories and anecdotes out of them.  The gig was, after all, 44 years ago!  But, pulling in favours and with the invaluable help of a notice on the main NEMH site, I got the response I needed from people who were at a gig that was, by most accounts, not very well attended.

In addition to interviewing Ray Laidlaw (Downtown Faction) and Junco Partners Bob Sargeant and Charlie Harcourt I also spoke to promoter Fraser Suffield and Brian Greenaway who was the manager of the Mayfair in 1968 that I located via a lead from Marshall Hall.  Brian was seriously ill when I went up to chat with him in hospital in Berwick.  He was courteous and responsive and I appreciated him seeing me under very adverse circumstances. Sadly Brian died a couple of days ago.

Some people, like NEMH member Charlie Foskett, had great recall of the event-remarkable because no-one knew, of course, that they were witnessing the first UK gig of the outfit who would become the world's biggest rock band in the 1970’s.  Others remembered less but I still unearthed lots of great information that has never seen print before.

I got off to a bit of a false start by spending a fair amount of time trying to track down Terry Reid, who was credited on the advance tickets as the main support act.

Terry rang me and told me that, no, his band Fanasia didn’t play the gig because they were off supporting Cream on their Farewell US tour!

This was why, I surmised, New York Public Library were credited on the Evening Chronicle adverts, which would, of course, have gone to press a lot later than the advance tickets.  They’d have been the replacement for Reid.  It took a bit of scurrying around (with the deadline looming!) but I managed to get hold of a couple of guys from the band.  One was convinced that the gig took place in Glasgow, but I quickly managed to disprove that to him.  The other, Tez Stokes, NYPL’s guitarist, was a very good interviewee with a good memory of the event, enhanced by him already slightly knowing John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page.

I was pretty happy with the finished article and the reaction to it.

This is exactly the sort of article I like doing where I can locate people and untold information to tell a story that has previously gone unrelated.  Zeppelin have been discussed, debated and written about non-stop since their split in 1980 following the death of John Bonham but very little exists about their first UK gig.  Until my article.  Thanks to Hazel and everybody else from NEMH who helped me do it."


.

 

Filming Fugazi

By Michael Sanderson


Fugazi playing at the Riverside in Newcastle upon Tyne on Sunday 26th November 1989, without a doubt changed my life! It seems a grand and ridiculous statement but it really is true.


Fugazi's whole outlook on playing live and their approach to the music industry was and remains to this day quite simple but radical and I admire them more than words can describe.


Riverside, as a venue, felt similar with friendly door staff and an atmosphere unlike any other club I had been to or have been to since.

Fugazi ticket from Riverside Newcastle

Before the gig I approached the band as they walked around the venue and they were only too happy to have the show filmed and then be interviewed afterwards. At which my position for the night was taken on - a hastily moved table in front of one of the mighty brick pillars, which I must say that I always liked!


God's Ultimate Noise and Crane warmed the crowd up and by the time Fugazi walked on stage the room was heaving and already dripping with condensation! They played a mixture of songs from their first two EPs plus some newer songs from their forthcoming album Repeater. 'Waiting Room', 'Glue Man' and 'Margin Walker' never sounded better. It was a combination of the band being on top form and playing in what was to become one of their favourite venues. This remains one of my most memorable gigs ever.


When I heard that there was to be a documentary made about Riverside, I got in touch with one of the producers and offered them my footage of this and other Riverside gigs I filmed around the time. I am really pleased to have my work included in the trailer, which can be found on their indiegogo crowd funding page this month. The campaign runs for 30 days. If enough funds are raised, the team will go out to interview Ian Mackaye in Washington DC, to add his recollections of Riverside to the live footage in the completed documentary.

The campaign is at www.indiegogo.com/rivfilm and embedded below.

Teesside Blues

By Martin Craig


Tyneside bands who went out through agents like Beverley Artistes, Birchall's, West End or JKR Theatrical (the legendary Jimmy King) will remember how we were often sent down the motorway to gigs in Teesside & North Yorkshire on Friday & Saturday nights during the Seventies.  Meanwhile, Teesside & Yorkshire bands would slog up the opposite  Northbound carriageway on their way to dates in Tyneside & Northumberland.  We used to flash our headlights to each other as we passed.


This exchange arrangement was done so that the Concert Chairman could announce, "Ladies & Gentlemen, put your hands together for a great group who've come all the way from...."  The theory was: the further we'd come, the more exotic it made us seem to the punters.


View Larger Map

During the decade-plus we spent doing this north-south journey it found its way into my songwriting, probably as a form of self-therapy, in songs like 'Living on the A19', 'M62' and 'Teesside Blues'.


After our first vinyl EP came out, I got a publishing interview with Chappell Music in London's Bond Street.   It was late summer in 1979.  The bloke I met wore a curved moustache and a frilly shirt with long pointed collars and billowing sleeves, looking very like Peter Wyngarde as Jason King in the cult tv series 'Department-S'.  I wore my usual black leather bike jacket.


I told Jason King that my new songs were about actual places I knew and real experiences I'd had, rather than made-up stories.  I also said my songs were often about movement, with lots of car and bike images.


Jason King took our precious quarter-inch stereo demo tape, played a few bars of each song and fast-forwarded through the rest, making us sound like the Chipmunks.  I started to bristle.


'Rockin' at the Ace Café' came on.  "I wanted this one to have a Chuck Berry sound," I pointed out helpfully, in case he'd missed it.  "Ye-e-s-s, well, we already have Chuck Berry himself on our books... you know, Jewel Music? I shut up.  He pointed to a grand piano.  "Roy Orbison was writing songs on that piano yesterday. He's with us too."  I shut up some more.


'Teesside Blues' got underway.  "I like this one," said Jason King, "but you need to change the lyrics to 'L.A. Blues.'  No-one cares about, what is it called, Teesside?  Where's that, for God's sake?  Somewhere up North?  No WAY!!"


Lynn was with me and she said afterwards that I looked as if I was going to chin Jason King. I can remember arguing that it HAD to be Teesside, because that was the WHOLE BLEEDING POINT!


Jason King was quite nice about it really.  He took us downstairs from Department S to the Chappell record shop, pulled out some albums and gave them to me, saying, "Have a listen to these, let them soak in for a while, then write me six new songs."


The albums included Ricky Lee Jones, Tom Waits, Springsteen's first album and a fantastic reggae compilation.  I think Jason King must have been good at his job (despite that shirt) because, after I'd soaked up those great LPs, the next song I wrote had no trace of a car or a motorbike in it.


It did feature a bus, though.  A bus in a Northern town, quite possibly in Teesside.  The North's gonna rise!!

L’Anarchie and the Bunnymen

By Neil Stonehouse

A diary entry from 1st May 1981 as a raw 16 year old.

The day after Echo and the Bunnymen at the City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne.

“Thursday is finally here - The Undertones were brilliant on Monday but tonight's was the one that I'd been waiting months for.  Work was a blur - don't think I actually did anything all day - mind was elsewhere.  Straight home - wolfed the tea down quick wash then washed the hair - almost looks like Mac's, on with the Camo gear and away we go.

Rob was on the bus upstairs waiting - doesn't look like anyone else on the bus is going to the Bunnymen.  Get into Worswick Street for 7.10 - going to go to the Jubilee for a pint if I can get Fatty in with me - success I get served.

Get into the City Hall and down to the bar just as the support band (the Blue Orchids) start their set - heard them on Peel a few times but they're not really my scene.  2 more pints of Exhibition and I'm starting to feel a bit pissed - I go into the queue for the t-shirts.  I get both colours one is mauve the other is pale blue.  The kid who looks like Julian Cope that was at The Undertones is here again and he's got the Vive L'Anarchie t-shirt on again.  B*stard won't tell anyone where he got it from.  Get into my seat 3 or 4 minutes before the bell goes.  Here we go - just as the band are coming on I make my break for the front row - Get in - the bouncer let me past - Fatty didn't get past though.

Set was:

With a Hip - off the new album
All That Jazz
A Promise - new album
That Golden Smile (Show of Strength) - know this from the Peel session
Pride
It Was a Pleasure - off new album - brilliant
Over the Wall
Zimbo
Heaven up Here - know this one from the Peel session
Pictures on My Wall
No Dark Things - off new album
Villiers Terrace
Crocodiles
Rescue

Best gig of my life – ever.

Can't wait for the album now - from what I've heard tonight it's going to be far better than Crocodiles.”

Phaze, 44-46 High Bridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne
Discussion on the NEMH Facebook group revealed this shop to have been the vendor of that coveted Vive L'Anarchie t-shirt. Photo by Neil Newton

Electric Ladyland – Jimi Hendrix in Jesmond

By Ian Currie

I was a 12 year old at the time, as I was born in December 1954. My family had experienced hardship as my father, suddenly and unexpectedly, had left the family home to start a new life in London. I lived with my mother Margaret Currie, my sister Sonia Currie and her young son, Mark, then aged about 2, in the upper flat at 72, Fern Avenue in Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne. 

The black door is 72 Fern Avenue, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, photographed by Hazel Plater, April 2012

Determined to survive the shock blow of my father’s departure, my sister was employed at the ‘La Dolce Vita’ as a croupier, and managed to get my mother a job working in the chip exchange there. To assist with childcare, my mother sub-let a room in the flat to my sister’s friend Linda who looked after Mark and I when my mother and sister worked in the evenings. There were many evenings when Sonia and my mum brought back friends to party. These gatherings became well-known locally. Our living room, I remember, was decorated in typical 60s style, but with an amazing wall that had been papered entirely with cooking foil! The 'paper' was not pasted on and I remember when you opened the living room door, the draught would make the entire wall move and rustle – amazing how some things remain in your memory.

Regularly, there would be David Findlay (a doorman at La Dolce Vita); Keith Crombie (doorman at the Club A Go Go) and many other friends of theirs including other croupiers, acquaintances and a sprinkling of celebrities. Often the celebrity would be the current act that was booked at ‘La Dolce Vita’. I would often use the excuse of not being able to sleep to get up and see what was happening.

One such occasion, in February 1967 I believe, I was woken up to hear loud partying going on. I was very interested in music myself, and had been bought my first electric guitar, a Futurama 3 and a Vox Domino amplifier the previous year. Although I hadn’t realised it at the time, this guitar was not particularly easy to play. I investigated the commotion in the living room, full of people laughing and drinking. Sitting in an armchair was Jimi Hendrix who I immediately recognised from the TV! I was very impressed, but a bit overwhelmed, as was he, with the party-goers ‘thrusting’ my Futurama guitar at him requesting, “Play something Jimi, play something.” He was attempting to oblige but although the instrument may have somewhat resembled a Fender Strat, this guitar certainly was NOT that! I have to admit that I was slightly disgruntled to see my prize possession being used without my permission. Bloody cheek! 

Jimi Hendrix was photographed just before going on stage at The Imperial Hotel in Darlington on 2nd February 1967. 


Jimi Hendrix, Darlington, England 1967 | Ian Wright

Jimi seemed very quiet, with a calm aura about him. He was dressed in military attire, but I’m not sure if it was just the jacket or military trousers as well. I went to the bedroom to dig out the latest gadget I’d bought that weekend at the joke shop. It was a particularly nasty joke that consisted of a grey plastic playing card box, with a card glued on the cover with a raunchy looking lady on it, but inside was a coil and battery, which when the trick pack was opened, delivered a nasty shock. I hated it! I returned to the living room to give Jimi a look at it. And duly electrocuted him! He seemed to take the joke quite well, but I can’t believe now that I actually did it! I think the trick then went on to do the rounds at the party. On reflection, did this occurrence influence the title of his 1968 album, ‘Electric Ladyland’?

I heard an additional tale about this night, which is that in my sister’s room upstairs - the front attic, The Moody Blues and a few others had locked themselves in, and were smoking a particular substance. Apparently, and I believe this to be true, Jimi was knocking to be let in and The Moody Blues and several other people were laughing away at the fact they weren’t letting him in!

The Moody Blues had played at La Dolce Vita on 2nd February 1967.  That same night, Jimi Hendrix had played the Imperial Hotel in Darlington

I also heard that a few weeks later, Jimi had returned to Newcastle, and requested another party at our house, however, my sister’s son Mark was very poorly with tonsillitis, so an alternative venue in Jesmond was sorted for the party. 

Even though these parties would often go on until very early in the morning, there was always a pleasant atmosphere, probably because there were a lot of regulars who knew my family quite well. As I was a schoolboy at the time, I frequently managed to ‘duck’ school after getting up to a living room with guests still sitting around, or asleep with all the lights left on!


NEMH notes:


With thanks to Marshall Hall for his post on the North East Music History Facebook group which led to Ian Currie's blog post here.


Prints of Ian Wright's fantastic Jimi Hendrix image above can be ordered at https://www.morrisonhotelgallery.com/photo/default.aspx?photographID=2414

Rocking the Joint

By Hazel Plater and contributors.


The Cooperage, on the Quayside in Newcastle upon Tyne has a long history.  Built in the 14th Century, it was used as a cooper’s workshop (hence the name) in the 18th Century, and only became a public house in the 1970s.  Although reputed to be haunted, this did not put people off and a large number of our North East Music History Facebook group members recall attending, or playing gigs in the upstairs venue.


Robert John Waters: “That's where I played my first gig in Newcastle.  One of my favourite looking buildings anywhere in the world, especially from outside.”


Martin Craig: “The Sabrejets had a 15-month residency there in the late 70s.  We took over the Monday slot from our Blueport label mates the Young Bucks when they left for London.  The longest running line up was us on Mondays, the Famous Five (AKA The 45s) Tuesdays and The Junco Partners on Wednesdays.  There was a volume point at which the building's timber frame vibrated in sympathy with the music and dancing; literally 'rocking the joint.'  Fabulous venue, should never have closed.” 

The Sabrejets at The Cooperage, Newcastle upon Tyne in 1978.  
L-R: Carlos Magee, Sandie LaRocque, Diesel , Mad Dog Lupé & Antoine Legris. 
Photographed by Rik Walton for Blueport Music

Jude Murphy: “I played in a post-punk band, a jazz-funk band, and a folk duo (not all at once) in there.”


David Mooney: "I saw Otway & Barrett play there in 1980 on their DK50/80 tour; the gig was free but you had to bring along a copy of that single (another Otway idea to get them into the charts). They underestimated the turnout, and there were loads who couldn`t get in, so they put on two performances."

Tim Readman: “Arthur 2 Stroke and the Chart Commandos did Thursday nights there in the early 80s for a couple of years. Packed to the gills every week. the audience were literally in our faces but what a great atmosphere!”

Lucy Falkenau: “I used to dread setting up the gear at the Cooperage - we had a residency with the band Fat Chance in the late 70s.  The stairs were a nightmare to take cabinets and instruments up, and worse to bring back down.   Inside was usually heaving.  It was a great venue with a fantastic atmosphere.   It was possible to generate a lot of feel good music there as the crowd was always very supportive.   Superb nights.  A lot of people met their life partners there.  Happy times.”

The Cooperage, Newcastle upon Tyne, March 2012

The Cooperage did close, but recently reopened.  The picture here was taken in March 2012 and while the bar was closed by day, a poster was in the window for a forthcoming dubstep/drum 'n' bass night.  For many more recollections of The Cooperage and other North East venues, please see the North East Music History Facebook group.

References:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/northeastmusichistory/
http://www.pubsnewcastle.co.uk/TheCooperage.html

Red Wedge at Newcastle City Hall, January 1986

By John Hardy 


"The Red Wedge gig at Newcastle City Hall was one of the best things we ever did.” - Johnny Marr


On a cold Friday night in January 1986, the Red Wedge bandwagon rolled into Newcastle upon Tyne for what was to be the final night of a week long series of concerts aimed at raising political awareness amongst the UK’s young voters.  Also on the agenda was the drumming up of support for Mr Kinnock’s ailing Labour Party: a sort of Band Aid for the proletariat.

Red Wedge ticket - Newcastle City Hall, January 1986 - photo  by John Hardy

Refreshed by The Farmer Rest’s finest and resplendent in our GPO issue overcoats recently purchased from the Army & Navy Store in the Handyside Arcade, my mate and I thought we were the embodiment of disenfranchised working class youth when in fact what we really were was a couple of immature, nerdy sixth formers with big hair, fresh out of the country, little fish in a big pond.  I do believe that we were aware though, that this was to be no ordinary evening at the City Hall.


The 7.30 start caught many of the gig-goers on the hop and Billy Bragg was already partway through his set of firebrand rhetoric as we took our seats in the stalls.  The evening passed by in a bit of a haze, as act after act were wheeled out to do a short two or three song set, such were the time constraints in place.  Chart acts such as Junior, Dee C Lee and The Communards went shoulder to shoulder with up and coming groovers like Lorna Gee, who delivered her memorable tune ‘Three Weeks Gone Mi Giro’ with great aplomb.


The North East was well represented too, particularly by the Kitchenware acts The Kane Gang and Prefab Sprout, whose two song set consisted of ‘Dublin’ and ‘Cruel’.  Paddy gave a little tease of what was to come when he introduced ‘one of the Smiths… Wendy Smith!’


Local hero Alan Hull was introduced as ‘probably one of the most political acts on the bill tonight’, since he was at that time standing as a Labour party candidate for Gateshead Council.  The late Lindisfarne leader took us through an acoustic set which featured the topical ‘Cruisin’ to Disaster’.  Another highlight was Tom Robinson performing a couple of his own excellent acoustic numbers.  Red Wedge was the brainchild of Bragg, Jerry Dammers and Paul Weller; another memory that remains was the latter two jamming on a great version of The Style Council’s ‘Walls Come Tumbling Down’.


Johnny Marr and Andy Rourke had played on several of the previous Red Wedge dates and, after encountering what they felt was indifference and hostility from several of the other acts, had returned to Manchester to rally the troops and, with Morrissey and Mike Joyce in tow, headed forth to Newcastle for an unannounced surprise appearance.


“The other bands were a little bit perplexed as to what we were doing there.  We had no instruments, so we borrowed The Style Council's equipment and just tore the roof off the place.  In the middle of the set we just walked on to this announcement and the place went bananas.” - Johnny Marr.


Morrissey and co. delivered a rocking four song set featuring ‘Shakespeare’s Sister’, ‘I Want The One I Can’t Have’, ‘The Boy With The Thorn In His Side’ and ‘Bigmouth Strikes Again’.  For once, the ever quotable Morrissey was not exaggerating when, in a 1986 interview with NME, he remembered;


“We made a very brief, but stormy appearance.  When we took to the stage the audience reeled back in horror.  They took their Walkmans off and threw down their cardigans.  Suddenly the place was alight, aflame with passion!"


With the chimes of ‘Bigmouth’ still ringing through the auditorium, the band exited stage left, Morrissey’s shirt, or rather blouse tossed to the baying hordes, leaving my mate and I, the pretend postmen, astonished and open mouthed: did that really just happen?  January 31st 1986 was one of the final Smiths appearances as a classic four piece line-up.  Things were never to be this pure or spontaneous again.


 Anything that was to follow was to be an anti-climax, for myself at any rate, although I do remember a Band Aid style finale of ‘Many Rivers to Cross’ as a fitting end to a wonderful evening.    My mate and I, along with 2,000 fellow Thatcher’s Children, left the City Hall that night uplifted by the thought that we could make a difference, all through the power of rock music… the heady wine of youth.  I wish I knew where I put that postie’s coat… 

Red Wedge Tour Programme, January 1986 - photo by John Hardy

Reference: http://www.passionsjustlikemine.com/live/smiths-g860131.htm 

Beach Blonde - Deborah Harry live in South Shields

By David Mooney

I took this photo of Deborah Harry onstage at Temple Park Leisure Centre, South Shields on 1st June 1990.

Deborah Harry at Temple Park Leisure Centre, South Shields 1st June 1990 copyright David Mooney.

The support act were Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie, featuring singer Shirley Manson, who would go on to have further success with the band Garbage.  I didn't see them though, as I was in the bar!

I don't remember too much detail about Deborah Harry's set but I do recall her doing a lot of Blondie numbers.  I remember that there was a lot of interplay between Debbie Harry and Chris Stein on the night, and you could tell that they were still pretty close.  He had played a big part in her last album, Def, Dumb & Blonde, which had been released about 8 months previously.



Set list (from http://www.deborah-harry.com/dh/setlists/060190.html)

01. The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game
02. Dreaming
03. Rapture
04. I Want That Man
05. The Tide Is High
06. Bugeye
07. Heart Of Glass
08. End Of The Run
09. Maybe For Sure
10. Kiss It Better
11. Danger
12. Comic Books
13. Detroit 442
14. Bike Boy
15. Cautious Lip
16. Brite Side
17. Hanging On The Telephone
18. Call Me
19. Stroll On
20. In The Flesh
21. One Way Or Another

Consett in Concert

By Hazel Plater


It’s not just red dust from the steelworks that has blown out of Consett, County Durham.



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A discussion on our ‘North East Music History’ Facebook group recently, highlighted THREE fascinating stories of talented performers from the town.

• Freddie ‘Fingers’ Lee

Born around 1940, Blackhill, Consett’s Frederick Cheeseman became a professional musician at the age of 15, starting with skiffle, then becoming successful as rockabilly recording artist Freddie ‘Fingers’ Lee. He played piano, inspired by the legendary Jerry ‘Lee’ Lewis. He also sang but, as is commonplace in the genre, you wouldn’t recognise a North East accent in his faux-American drawl. Firstly performing around the cinema circuit, he did a stint as the keyboardist in Screaming Lord Such and the Savages around 1962/3. Following this, he became part of the house band at Hamburg’s The Star Club, where The Beatles had earlier cut their teeth. From there, he went on to play in the bands of such luminaries as Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Gene Vincent.
No stranger to stage or television in the 70s, he starred, alongside Bill Haley, and Ray Campi, in the 1980 rockabilly documentary Blue Suede Shoes, where he is featured taking an axe to his piano towards the end of a live set.



In 2003, an article on Teddy Boys, The Guardian found Freddie ‘Fingers’ Lee in Consett, still recording and gigging in Europe, but planning to retire.

• Ruth Copeland

Back in the late 60s/early 70s, word has it that it caused quite a stir locally when, blues/folk singer/songwriter Ruth Copeland from Consett, hooked up with the now legendary Parliament-Funkadelic ‘P-Funk’ collective. At around just 20 years of age she co-wrote and recorded songs with Parliament, including tracks from their 1970 debut album, ‘Osmium’ and subsequent singles ‘Come in Out of the Rain’ and ‘Breakdown’.
She was also a performer under her own name, releasing three albums. Her debut ‘Self Portrait’ was produced in collaboration with George Clinton of Parliament and was released around the same time as Osmium. Many have said that the two records are similar in style and feel. She married Motown music producer Jeffrey Bowen, who had brought her to the Invictus label, initially recording as part of the unsuccessful vocal group, New Play.




Interestingly, she recorded with then toured with the line up of Funkadelic for her second album, ‘I Am What I Am’, after the group had officially disbanded. On this tour she was the opening act for Sly Stone, who, after some difficulties, told her to leave the tour or lose the band. She lost the band. She later signed to RCA and released a third, lighter sounding album, ‘Take me to Baltimore’, which was not the hit that RCA had hoped it would be.

• Susan Maughan 

Although she moved to Birmingham as a teenager, 60’s pop singer Susan Maughan was born and brought up in Consett. She reached #3 in the UK singles chart with her version of the Marcie Blane song ‘Bobby’s Girl’ in 1962. Although this song was a cover, she, unusually for a female singer at the time, also released a number of songs which she had written herself, having learned to do so while with the Ronnie Hancox Dance band, prior to meeting her agent. She released a great number of singles and albums in the 60s and 70s and was a popular guest on television shows such as Ready Steady Go! and The Morecambe and Wise Show. She continues to tour the 60s nostalgia circuit.

References:

Lee:

http://www.rockabilly.nl/references/messages/freddie_fingers_lee.htm

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive/2001/09/12/The+North+East+Archive/7098962.Veteran_star_will_return_to_his_roots/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2003/jan/26/features.magazine47

Copeland:

http://www.answers.com/topic/ruth-copeland-1

http://pc-pdx.com/bands/ruth-copeland

Maughan:

http://www.readysteadygirls.eu/#/susan-maughan/4530652976

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Maughan

With thanks to: Gary Chaplin, Tony Stephenson and Steve Wallace from the NEMH Facebook group

The Anson = Love Shack

By Hazel Plater




You couldn’t make it up.  In the early 1970s, New Jersey born Kate Pierson, the glamorous, bouffant redhead front woman of band The B-52’s, was a barmaid in working class boozer, The Anson pub and hotel, in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, UK.

The Anson, Wallsend, as it looks today. Image by A McCarron via geograph.com 

Wallsend?  The former shipbuilding town at the end of Roman Emperor Hadrian’s Wall?  Yes, that Wallsend.


She had mentioned this little gem of pop trivia to the music press in the late 70s and early 80s.  Smash Hits magazine, on 6th September 1979 revealed: “Kate Pierson, petite keyboard player and vocalist, had also travelled in Europe.  She once worked as a barmaid in Wallsend in North East England.  "I just wound up there with no money and that was the only job I could get," she recalls.  After six months pulling pints in a foreign land, she returned to America and ended up in Athens”.


In a Rolling Stone interview in 1980 the tale appears again.  Kate is quoted as saying, "I was a barmaid in Newcastle."  Newcastle upon Tyne is the nearest city to lowly Wallsend town.


I knew nothing of these articles however.  I was told this story by my co-author, Carl Taylor, as we drove to an event, promoting our book about Newcastle’s historic Riverside music venue, which was being held in Wallsend library.  I grew up in Wallsend and my grandfather was a regular in The Anson so I was intrigued.  Carl, my senior by several years, used to work in Wallsend in the 1980s.  He remembers that a friend, who he is sadly no longer in touch with, told him Kate Pierson, of The B-52’s had worked as a barmaid in The Anson.  Even then it sounded far-fetched but he remembers going into the pub back then and discovering that the management kept a photo of Kate behind the bar.  They were aware that their former barmaid had gone on to bigger things!


January 2012 and I can’t get this story out of my head.  I urge Carl to try to get back in touch with his friend for more info.  I go for lunch at The Anson and find that the current management have no idea about any now-famous former staff member.  In fact, I get some very strange looks.  I tell Carl this and he looks to investigate further, having not managed to hook up with the friend.  He finds the Rolling Stone article online and then Kate Pierson’s Facebook.  He posts on her wall:


“Hi Kate Did you work in a bar here in Newcastle before the B52's formed? Can you remember which one?”


And just over a week later, we’re into February now, she replies (it appears her ‘n’ key isn’t working):


“The a son hotel a d pub in wallsend on Tyne”.


So, from the horse’s mouth, so to speak!  I ring the The Anson pub and tell them.  They are amazed.  I post this lovely little tale on in the ‘North East Music History’ Facebook group, on my own Facebook timeline and on Twitter.  The crowd goes wild.  This then leads to me tweeting Kate, @THEKATEPIERSON.  Her ‘n’ key is working again, or she’s on a different device:


Me:  "What do you remember about The Anson pub in Wallsend? Did you actually live there? Thanks x"

A: "yes! First I lived with “ old Mary” -she was a real character -then had “bedsitter” apt"

Me: "What year was this? I'm from Wallsend and my grandfather drank in The Anson in the 70s!"

A: "it was 1971 or 1972? Was his name Gus? There was a Gus -t"

Me: "No, he was Dick Bowden. I was born in 73 so I just missed you! Thanks for the info - North East Music History!"

Kate Pierson, of the B52’s. Image by aresauburn via Flickr

I didn’t hear back if she remembered my grandfather, so I guess not. 

So there you go Wallsend. Some much needed glamour for you.  And a lost snippet of pop trivia rediscovered.

The North East Music History Facebook group is at: http://www.facebook.com/groups/northeastmusichistory/

References:

Smash Hits : http://www.archive.org/stream/smash-hits-1979-09-06/smash-hits-1979-09-06_djvu.txt
Rolling Stone:  http://www.btinternet.com/~roc.lobsta/rstone2.html
Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/katepiersonfanface/posts/300513613329703

What We're About

Welcome to this brand new blog!  We are North East Music History - a group of people who are interested in preserving the history of music in the North East of England, UK.  We share our knowledge and information informally via our North East Music History Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/northeastmusichistory/  .


We seek to improve knowledge and understanding of North East music history, educating local residents and other interested parties about North East music venues, the bands that played, the record stores and other hangouts and the culture associated with them, across all musical genres and eras.  


Blog posts covering some of the fascinating stories brought to light in our Facebook group will follow here soon. 


I, Hazel Plater, admin of this blog, don't intend to write all the posts myself.  See, it says 'we' up above!  Please send your well written and fully researched blog posts (please see my first posting for a style guide) via Facebook:   http://www.facebook.com/hazel.plater   and you will be given full credit for your contribution. Look forward to reading your submissions!