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.


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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