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1963
Jan 1 (Tues) Caberfeidh Shinty Club New Year Dance in the Pavilion Ballroom, Strathpeffer Music by the Northern Lights Dance Band
Jan 4 The Chessmen 5/- The Melotones
Jan 4
This was the evening, famous in local circles, on which the Beatles appeared at the Town Hall Dingwall, supported by the Drumbeats. Much reference has been made to the fact that the dance was poorly attended with an estimate of anywhere between 8 and about 30 people attending. Lore has it that the Beatles packed up early and went off to the Pavilion. Margaret Paterson who attended the dance says that there was a total of 19 people altogether and that the dance finished at about 11 o'clock. The Melotones were indeed playing that night at the Pavilion. However The Chessmen were top of the bill with the Melotones playing support. The Chessmen were probably the Irish Showband from Dublin, popular at the time, though this is yet to be confirmed. The Melotones enjoyed a loyal following in the local area and were known as a skiffle-type band in those days. They were a very vocal band with up to five vocalists singing and harmonising. After the death of Jimmy in a car crash Eck left the band and the line up that night was Jimmy Stewart (Fiddle and alto sax), Johnny Fisher (Tenor sax), Bert Mackay (Guitar), Willie Wilson (Bass) and Dodo Ross (Drums). The Dingwall dance did not advertise a finish time but traditionally ran till around 1 a.m. On that evening Bob Hunter, who had played for the Melotones but now, along with Jackie Cameron, was resident with the orchestra in the Caledonian Hotel, Inverness, called into the Town Hall on his way home. He had left Inverness around midnight and by the time he got to the Town Hall at around 12.30 the hall was all but deserted. He spoke to Dot Macdonald, the caretaker, who said that the Beetles were a good band. Incidentally, Dot used to sell small bottles of lemonade to dancers at the Town Hall. When the place got too hot the bands would ask Dot to open the windows. "Not till all the lemonade is gone!" would be his reply.
These are the names of some of those who attended the Town Hall, Dingwall on the 4th January 1963. Robert A Beeton ( Formerly Fort William, now of Kingston, Ontario). "I lived in Fort William in the 50’s until summer of 1963 when I moved to Grantham Lincolnshire. I have lived in various parts of Canada and the US since 1974 and currently live in Kingston, Ontario. I was just completing my O-Levels in ’63 and hitched a ride with an older friend who was in a band and had also played in Dingwall. Embarrassingly I have racked my brain and cannot yet recall the name of either the band or the individual. Old age can be a little frustrating but I am sure it will come to me sooner or later and you’ll be the second to know. I had a typical teenage band “career” of sorts my self in and around Grantham and the Midlands and play guitar to this day, albeit more personal therapy than music. I will let you know if I come up with the names". Ian Gilbert Cairine Macdonald (née Fraser) was at the dance as a young girl. She was with a few friends but does not remember any names. Pat Macleod "When I went into the dance at about ten o'clock there were only about eight people in what is a big hall. I asked and there hadn't been many more in all night, so after a short time I went on the bus to another dance in Strathpeffer. I didn't like them on stage, but funnily enough the next day I went out and bought one of their records after I heard it being played on the radio". Dan Mackenzie (Drumbeats) "Only twenty two people out of the whole population of Ross Shire turned up to see and hear The Beatles. While we were having a break at the back of the hall the man that booked them turned round and said "What do you think of that shower there?". "I said they're very loud and they're very young - they're keen". "Keen, he says. They're a shower of rubbish! I'll never book them again as long as I live!" Ian MacKenzie (Now living in New Zealand) "Many a good night was spent at the dances in the Pavilion in the early 60s. I was at the Beatles dance in Dingwall which closed down early because very few people turned up. I was at the Beatles in Dingwall along with my sister Sheena and like most other people ended up at the Strath. We had somebody else with us but can not remember who. Can't remember what the weather was like, but it could not have been to bad as I had the family car that night. Did not get the car very often as there was always the free buses running from Resolis where I lived at the time. Spent many a grand night at the Strath. I was very pleased to see the way the Pavilion has been restored to it's former self. My wife Linda was not there as I did not meet her till 1966 after I came to New Zealand in 1964". Fraser Murray Margaret Paterson remembers "The Beatles asked me if I'd like them to sign a poster for me. I said yes but I don't know what happened to it. I'm not sure if I even took it home. The dance packed up early and they thought that Dingwall was just a wee town with no life about it. So I said to go up to the Strath. Two of them, I don't remember which ones, came up on the bus with me and the other 2 drove in their van". Peter Simonelli was one of the youngest and remembers "There were about thirty people there and I was just a kid at the back, but I thought they were good". Unnamed Lady (originally from near Bonar Bridge) This audio excerpt is taken from the 2002 BBC series "Fifty Years Fifty Lives". Click here to visit the site where you will hear an account given by the lady who tells her story of the night she was at the Beatles concert in Dingwall. I am sure her account is sincere but I leave it to you to judge from the title; "The unlikely story of going to see The Beatles in Dingwall".
Ann Gunn worked at the National Hotel, where the Beatles stayed, and served them their breakfast the next day.
The Commercial Bar is reputed to have been visited by the Beatles before the dance to have a few beers. The same source told me that they signed their autographs on a wall in the bar. Nowadays the walls are covered with wooden panelling. What may lie beneath would be a significant contribution to early Beatles history and a rare chance to acquire a valuable piece of pop memorabilia.
Rocky Marshall,
formerly of the Fingal McCool band, wrote the following about the Beatles at
the Pavilion. were not playing at the Strath - the FMC band was not formed until later - however we were in the habit of forming new bands every other week. (I can't remember our band's name at the time). When we met the Beatles band (I think they were called the Silver Beatles), we were en route to the Strath because all the dances in the area including Dingwall had failed. On arrival at the Strath we (and some of the musicians from the other bands) headed back stage to look and talk to the band that was playing (the Melotones)...late on the band from the Dingwall gig arrived ...very scruffy and all of them speaking a foreign language.....turns out that
it was a strong Liverpool
accent...We however spoke in God's tongue of the North which these people did
not understand (the English education system I suspect). Town Hall, either to get paid or get gear out of the hall.......someone pointed out "Joe" and the Beatles shuffled away to their destiny and great fortune and we are
still here. Beatles releases, as I recall said that I preferred the John Lee Hooker releases that came out at the same time and I am still of the same opinion today."
Jan 11 Sundowners Showband 5/- First appearance in the North Roadsters Rock Unit plus popular recording star Roli Daniels.
Glasgow Dance Promotions Limited Town Hall Dingwall on January 11th Mike Saggar and His Crestas TV and Recording Stars of Easy Beat and Saturday Club fame Before 10 p.m. 5/- After 10 p.m. 6/-
Jan 12 Commencement of Saturday night dances next week 8.30 – 11.30 4/-
Jan 18 The Dynamic Falcons The Melotones Jan 19 The Dynamic Falcons
Jan 25 The Fabulous Falcons (Glasgow’s top rock group) The Melotones Miss Pavilion contest. The winner’s prize will be a free admission ticket till the end of the year. Jan 26 The Fabulous Falcons
Feb 1 The Tradlads Jazzmen (First appearance in the North) The Melotones Feb 2 The Tradlads Jazzmen
Feb 8 The Fabulous Falcons featuring Cal Phillips The Willie Wilson Quartet Feb 9 The Fabulous Falcons
Feb 15 The Fabulous Falcons with Cal Phillips and Susie prior to their German tour. 500 requests for their return. Feb 16 The Fabulous Falcons with Cal Phillips and Susie
Feb 22 The Tradlads Jazzmen The Willie Wilson Quartet Feb 23 The Tradlads Jazzmen The Willie Wilson Quartet
Billed here as Jimmy Wilson and the Melotones, featuring Alec "Rock" Wilson but advertised as The Willie Wilson Quartet! Saturday night dances were announced as beginning on the 19th January and this is the first instance of the Wilsons being billed to appear on a Saturday.
Mar 1 Roadster Rock Unit Scotland’s own Shadows Plus Johnny Campbell Champion professional band Mar 2 Roadster Rock Unit Plus Johnny Campbell
Mar 8 The Cyclones with Rikki and Evie especially returned from Germany Mar 9 The Cyclones with Rikki and Evie
The Cyclones was the first Rock and Roll Band I ever saw. They performed in the village hall in Kyle of Lochalsh in 1962 and went down a storm. I remember meeting the band backstage before the dance when they were getting ready to perform and they were very courteous and accommodating to a young lad. The Cyclones were put together by Stuart Dow from Perth and managed by him as a limited company.
Pictured left to right in Perth Town Hall are Fred Murray (rhythm guitar), Dougie Smart (keyboard), Alan Dalton (bass), Ricky Garton (vocals), Eric Murray (drums) and Lindsay Thomson (lead guitar).
They played in the Perth area, in Fife and all over the North of Scotland. Founder member and lead guitarist Lindsay Thomson, who had played with the Erle Blue Stars in 1959 before joining the Cyclones, left in 1962 to do his school exams. Between their Dingwall Town hall appearance on the 1st January and this their first time at Strathpeffer they had changed their lineup and done a tour to Germany.
This official fan club photo shows from left to right: Chic Taylor (lead), Barry Pyewell (keyboard), Evie Beatson (vocals), Eric Murray (drums), Ricky Garton (vocals), Alan Dalton (bass) and Fred Murray (rhythm). They went on to play further dates at the Pavilion but broke up later in the year. Indeed the November 22nd dance with Johnny Law and the MI5 featured Evie and billed her as "formerly of the Cyclones". By a quirk of fate Lindsay Thomson formerly of the Cyclones had by now left school and joined Johnny Little and the Giants, who were on the bill at the Pavilion two weeks after Evie.
Mar 15 The Fabulous Falcons Mar 16 The Fabulous Falcons
Mar 22 The Cherokees First appearance in the North Mar 23 The Cherokees
Drummer with the Cherokees was Jimmy Younger who by early 1965 was playing with the Melotones Trio. He was reputed to be Ross Shire's Top drummer. During his spare time he was a keen angler and was often to be found fishing for pike in Lochussie.
Mar 29 The Fabulous Falcons Mar 30 The Fabulous Falcons
Apr 5 The Cyclones Apr 6 The Cyclones
Apr 12 The Fabulous Falcons Apr 13 The Fabulous Falcons
Apr 19 Pye recording star Simone Jackson With top London rhythm group Dave Devon and the New York Twisters Apr 20 Simone Jackson Dave Devon and the New York Twisters
Apr 26 The Fabulous Falcons Apr 27 The Fabulous Falcons
May 3 The Fabulous Falcons May 4 The Fabulous Falcons
May 10 Alex Harvey’s Big Soul Rhythm Group with singing personality Wally Stewart First time in the North May 11 Alex Harvey’s Big Soul Rhythm Group with singing personality Wally Stewart
May 17 Evie and the Cyclones May 18 Evie and the Cyclones
May 24 Dance of the year Dave Macintosh (Star of Grampian TV) With Jack Sinclair and his broadcasting band plus the Fabulous Falcons May 25 The Fabulous Falcons
May 31 The Gaylords June 1 The Gaylords
June 7 The Fabulous Falcons plus the International Monarchs Showband (Belfast’s top band)
This was an appearance by Van Morrison on saxophone. The band, including Van Morrison, played another date at Tain on June 28th the as part of their 'Scottish Tour'.
THE MONARCHS
were George Jones (guitar), Billy McAllen (guitar), Van Morrison (sax), were "starting a tour of Scotland on Thursday". They spent some of the time in Scotland "starving in a council estate in the middle of Glasgow", eventually securing a number of gigs and "playing at a local hop at Strathpeffer" and in Tain, among others, on their own and as partial tour support for Don Charles.
After
touring Scotland they moved to England and sometime in August they hoped to tour Germany.
June 8 The Fabulous Falcons plus the International Monarchs Showband.
June 14 Johnny Law and the MI5 TV and recording stars 9.30 – 2.00 Cal Phillips and the Fabulous Falcons June 15 Johnny Law and the MI5 Cal Phillips and the Fabulous Falcons
This is a picture of Johnny Law and the MI5. It is cut down from a promo poster produced around 1963-1964. The band came from Motherwell and they were voted the best band in Scotland in 1964. I had always thought they were a six piece band but the advert above promotes them as the MI5s.
Thanks to Axel Korinth for the following information. For a long time Johnny Law and the MI5 played at the Top Ten Club in Hamburg. Later they appeared at the Star-Club in Karlsruhe and in various Starpalästen. The Starpalast founded by Manfred Woitalla was meant to be a competitor to the Star-Club. Johnny Law later joined the Tremors which I think was a group made of British and German musicians. Recordings by The Tremors can be found on numerous German
various artists LPs issued by Polydor and Ariola. In 1969 The Tremors
performed at the Star-Club, Hamburg just before it closed.
June 21 The Beat Unlimited The Fabulous Falcons and Cal Phillips Super draw First prize a holiday abroad for two or £100 cash June 22 The Beat Unlimited The Fabulous Falcons and Cal Phillips
June 28 The Fabulous Falcons with Cal Phillips Joey and the Wildcats June 29 Alex Harvey plus Wally Stewart The Fabulous Falcons
Tain Town Hall The International Monarchs June 28th
June 28 Highland Cabaret Monday – Thursday 8.30 – 11.15 3/- The only show of its kind in the North Buses from Inverness and Tain
July 5 The Muskrats with the sensational Mackinley Sisters The Fabulous Falcons July 6 The Muskrats with the sensational Mackinley Sisters The Fabulous Falcons
The Mackinley Sisters consisted of Sheila (19) and Jeanette (17). Over the next eighteen months they made the transition from working girls living in the family home in Craigour Drive in Edinburgh to £200 a week artistes. On this occasion they worked with the Muskrats but soon they were to be teamed up with the Falcons from Glasgow at the suggestion of Pavilion manager Steve Shepherd. The then leader of the Falcons, John Macgowan, also saw their potential and when he left the Falcons and became an agent with an office in Glasgow he took them on his books and pushed them himself. Both girls had fond memories of Strathpeffer and said "We will always be grateful to Mr Shepherd and the Pavilion. This is where we really got our start on the road to the big time and we'll never forget it. The Pavilion is one of the best, if not THE best, ballrooms in Scotland. Too many people in the south just don't know such a place exists and they would really have their eyes opened by the delightful surroundings and top class acoustics here". By the end of 1963 they had made a total of sixteen Friday and Saturday appearances. During 1964 their usual backing group was the Aberdeen-based band led by Tommy Dene and in the course of the year Sheila and Tommy became engaged. The Sisters made frequent appearances on television and released three records: "Someone cares for me", "When he comes along" and "Sweet and tender romance". Their final appearances at the Pavilion were on the 24th and 25th December 1964 when they were backed by the Senate Showband. A total of almost 2000 dancers attended these two dances, with 1201 on Christmas Eve alone. They were invited along to meet the newly born Christmas Day baby at the Ross Memorial Hospital in Dingwall where they gave an impromptu performance by singing "Silent night" and an upbeat pop number. After their last dates here they made an appearance on STV on the 30th December before spending a few days at New Year at home with their family in Edinburgh. Then it was on to London again for a January 6th appearance on "Discs A'Gogo". (There may be some inaccuracy here because they were reported to have made an appearance with Vince Newman and the Veltones on the BBC programme "Come Thursday" on the 6th January 1965). It was reported that The Beatles and Gerry and the Pacemakers were only two of the many groups who were members of the Mackinley Sisters Fan Club.
July 12 The Fabulous Falcons plus Cal Phillips Susie the girl with the golden voice July 13 The Fabulous Falcons plus Cal Phillips Susie the girl with the golden voice
July 19 The sensational Mackinley Sisters The Fabulous Falcons July 20 The sensational Mackinley Sisters The Fabulous Falcons
July 26 The sensational Mackinley Sisters The Fabulous Falcons July 27 The sensational Mackinley Sisters The Fabulous Falcons
Aug 2 The sensational Mackinley Sisters The Fabulous Falcons Aug 3 The sensational Mackinley Sisters The Fabulous Falcons
Aug 9 Butch and the Bandits Anna (Scotland’s Brenda Lee) Aug 10 Butch and the Bandits Anna (Scotland’s Brenda Lee)
Aug 16 The Fabulous Falcons with Cal Phillips The Mackinley Sisters Aug 17 The Fabulous Falcons with Cal Phillips The Mackinley Sisters
Aug 23 The Hornets and TV and recording star Tommy Heaney Aug 24 The Hornets and TV and recording star Tommy Heaney
Aug 29 Thursday 29 August 1963 Charity Ball
Aug 30 The Fabulous Falcons with Cal Phillips The Mackinley Sisters Aug 31 The Fabulous Falcons with Cal Phillips The Mackinley Sisters
August 31st was the start of the Teenage Dances in the Lower Town Hall for under 17s. They ran from 7.00 - 9.00 and cost 1/-. Dancing upstairs, presumably for over 17s, started at 9.30.
Sept 4 BBC Broadcast of “On Tour” with Jim Macleod and his Band Jean Urquhart Effie Morrison Norman Cairns Eleanor Leith Alan Cameron
Sept 6 The Invaders The Johnny Douglas Combo Sept 7 The Invaders
One of the members of the Johnny Douglas Combo was Tain-born Alex Ross who was playing with them in Germany when, in 1965, he decided to give up the unpredictable world of full time professional music to settle in Invergordon and take up a job at the Distillery. When the Melotones' regular drummer Jimmy Younger went on holiday during their busy summer period the group thought they might have to cancel some bookings. However Alex dusted off his drum kit, stepped into the breach and earned the admiration of all who heard him at the Dingwall Gala Week Cabaret in the Town Hall with his terrific drumming, both beat and strict tempo. Alex said he really enjoyed getting back into harness and the short stint helped him keep his hand in. He also hinted he expected to be back full time with a new group in the near future. He also sat in for a couple of nights with the Quartet at the Dornoch Hotel where the Melotones had a summer season residence.
Sept 13 The Cherokee Showband Sept 14 The Cherokee Showband
Sept 14 Tain Town Hall on September 14th The Nashville Teens (Coming soon The Barron Knights / Sons of the Piltdown Men / Ben Richmond / The Overlanders / Craig Douglas / Fourmost / Shane Fenton and the Fentones / Tommy Quickly / Big 3 / Ian Crawford and the Boomerangs
Sept 19 Last show of Cabaret season (Thursday)
Sept 20 The Fabulous Falcons with Cal Phillips Sept 21 The Fabulous Falcons with Cal Phillips
Sept 27 Johnny Law and the MI Five Sept 28 Johnny Law and the MI Five
Oct 4 The Invaders Oct 5 The Invaders
Oct 11 The Hornets with Anna Oct 12 The Hornets with Anna
Oct 18 Grand Dance with the Apaches 9.30 – 1.30 Oct 19 The Apaches
Oct 25 The Fabulous Falcons with Cal Phillips and the Mackinley Sisters Oct 26 The Fabulous Falcons with Cal Phillips and the Mackinley Sisters
Nov 1 Johnny Law and the MI Five Nov 2 Johnny Law and the MI Five
Nov 8 Tommy Spence and the Pyretones (Ayrshire’s top band) Nov 9 Tommy Spence and the Pyretones
Nov 15 The Hornets with Tommy Heaney Nov 16 The Hornets with Tommy Heaney
Nov 22 Johnny Law and the MI Five plus Evie (formerly of the Cyclones) Nov 23 Johnny Law and the MI Five plus Evie
Nov 29 The Fabulous Falcons with Cal Phillips and the Mackinley Sisters Nov 30 The Fabulous Falcons with Cal Phillips and the Mackinley Sisters
Dec 6 Johnny Little and the Giants Dec 7 Johnny Little and the Giants
Founder member, drummer Nick Lauder, had formed the band Johnny Little and the Giants in 1963. Johnny Little was Jock Taylor from Perth and the band included Lindsay Thomson, formerly of the Cyclones. Their second date was January 24th and due to the A9 being blocked by snow the band had to make a detour. They left Perth at 5, aiming to be at the Pavilion in good time, but had to go by way of Crieff and Glencoe. The ferry at Kinlochleven was not running, and at that time there was no bridge, so they went the long way round. When they arrived around 10 they had to carry their equipment through the audience. They were glad to see that the Strathpeffer Dance Band, who were also on the bill, had filled in for them till their arrival. That night the dance was extended. The Pavilion was their favourite venue and this was the opinion of other groups I have spoken to. This was a 2 night engagement, away from home, where they did not have to pack up at the end of the night, they were given lodgings and food, they had the next day for some shopping in Dingwall (Woolies was a favourite place to visit) or a rehearsal but best of all was the fantastic welcome they got from the appreciative audience. The band played from 9 till 1 with a short break and their set consisted of cover versions of standards and hits of the day by the likes of Marty Wilde, Cliff Richard and Elvis. They remember sleeping in the bedroom with the sloping roof above the restaurant.
Personnel (from left to right) Lindsay Thomson (lead), Alan Dalton (bass), Jock Taylor (aka Johnny Little – vocals), Nick Lauder (drums), Archie McConnell (rhythm).
The band also had a series of promotional shots taken on the Pavilion stage.
Dec 13 Kay, Terry and the Invaders Dec 14 The Invaders with Kay and Terry
Dec 20 Phil and the Flintstones (Liverpool sound) First time in the North Dec 21 Phil and the Flintstones
Dec 24 Grand Carnival Dance Cal Phillips and the Fabulous Falcons Johnny Law and the MI Five Evie
Dec 27 Promoted by the North of Scotland Vigilantes Association Beat Unlimited winners of many competitions Dec 28 Beat Unlimited
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