Chas Chandler went on to become an impresario on the north east scene and was heavily involved with the Animals. Saw a lot of these bands at the Rex Hotel in Whitley Bay.It was mobbed when Love Affair on.!!! June Viner. thank you. dancing from 1969. After leaving the Invaders I played there regularly with Blues Band Vermen, with the late Keith Waring on lead and harmonica,Malcolm,ex lead guitar from Kylastrones,forget bass players name and Les Proud singer. Ahhh the memories of such magical days I met my first girlfriend Yvonne there, started going to the Downbeat also Club Eleven in Sunderland with my close pal Rod. Also, does anyone remember the DJ John Harker who worked at Annabels in Sunderland and in Whitley Bay but died a few years ago. X, Jean ref Badfinger LP remember when the promoter give it to the JD Geoff Tate, got one myself, Hi George, Just noticed your comment which was addressed to me but (see comment 84) it should have been for Lorraine who i was sharing Bloomers memorabilia with A former South Shields nightclub is set to return to the town for one night only - and even has the support of Little Mix star Jade Thirwall. Dusk was known for its huge New Year's Eve events, staying open till 7am. Is Jim wright still alive? Some time later I joined the Gamblers. What a tremendous website with loads of nostalgic detail of the early music scene in North East. Dawn Ralston (nee. Brought back a loot of memories. The Quay Club, which opened in 1965, was a popular venue in the sixties. My social life started at the Cellar Club in South Shields, moved on to the GoGo whilst it was at its height, back to the Cellar (renamed the New Cellar and then the Chelsea Cat), with a few detours along the way via the Latino, Dolce Vita, Greys Club, Change Is and finally Julies. please HELP solve the mystery that was geoff manning. In October 1968 the Bailey Organisation opened Sloopys disco above La Dolce Vita. Men Hi Alfie Wright AKA Tony Sands Hypnotist opened the Cresendo Club Whitley bay I named it after The Cresendo Club in U.S.A Jean McGowan, Hi Trevor Chance. Ho Hum happy days and strange memories. Read more about the Mayfair Ballroom on this link. Eric Burdon of the Animals lived in the Walker area and I remember standing next to him in the bus queue shortly before he rocketed to international fame. We were also friends with Clive Lee who was a total fruitcake in the style of Freddie Starr! ___________________________________________________________________________. I lived in Whitley Bay in the apartment of a house owned by Jimmy Bence. At the Dogs Bowl in South Shield we played with Chris Barber and his band, What a great guy Pat Halcox was, Also on the bill was Soonny Boy Williamson, that late great Southern states blues man. Heres a few other pictures that should bring back the golden age of northeast clubbing: . Thank you We were also friends with music journalist Phil Penfold. The club closed as Change Is and reopened as Bloomers. Johny Sampson provided the music with Mirelle Grey and later Johny Heenan. I have tried unsuccessfully to find photos but no one took photos way back then and so all of those precious moments and memories were never captured. I am now almost 80 and still follow the era and the music. Hi George, Im not absolutely sure but think my husband John may have an outside shot. ANNE MILLAR (TAYLOR) I DONT REMEMBER THE VENUE ANNE, BUT WE WORKED ALL OF THE AREA IN THE SIXTIES. He had retired to the Seahouses area with his wife. 2. The Beatles played for 5 bob. Had a great time in the 60s. Great article. I was born in a Newcastle club (the Hillfield on Grainger Park Road, which my parents owned) and spent a lot of my late teens at the Pickwick in Whitley Bay (my home town), with frequent trips to Newcastle and the big-city night spots, mainly the Agogo, followed by the Cavendish and the Dolce Vita, or Greys if we were a bit flush. Some of the other people there were Wally Nash (now a business man living in the USA) who managed the Marimba for Mike Jeffery and later the Blue Note in Sunderland for Ray Grehan; Sandford Goudie who owned the La Strada clubs in Sunderland and South Shields; Trixie Sullivan who was Mike Jefferys secretary and personal assistant (at the time he managed Jimi Hendrix), vocalist David Macbeth, Teddy Berg owner of Greys Club, Barabara Berg and Joan Tenniswood who both worked at the Club aGogo in the sixties. Find what you're looking for about Nightclubs in South Shields with city-visitor. Best wishes, Trevor. Hi Its a good job my parents never heard about the murder that took place there in the mid 70s. I also spent many a Monday night at your home testing scotch with your folks and a feisty small terrier before you moved from Whitley Bay. We regularly played the Seaburn Hall on Cats Nite Out which was on a Wednesday. The lion was not part of the act, the guy just had it as a pet,it was amazing when he walked into the club with the lion on the lead. Maybe a good starting point might be the Chronicle as I am sure that they have a library full of old photos. My mum used to sing with Jimmy Bence at the Mayfair back in the day. Me mam and dad met there in 1970 and Id love to get them a photo made? He was with his daughter who is also a sInger. Im talking late 50s early 60salso played the Newcastle Empire on a show called Carrol Levis discovery.bit like opportunity knockscame 3rd out of 20 so no fame and fortune .I am 73 now and I have always said the best years were without doubt the 60s..When you said next to London came Newcastlecorrect. These included Tommy Hendersons Latin American Group and others such as the Bernie Thorpe Trio and Mike Carrs Emcee Four. Great venue. A long time ago! It was situated on the forth and fifth floor of a building at 1 Pink Lane, opposite Bowers restaurant. ideal for struggling musicians. Jane Maddison, How are you? I also went to the Majestic when I was about 14. In 2011, north east photographer and author, Ian Wright who now lives in Las Vegas, had the bright idea of organising a get together for the people involved in the sixties club scene. it was Alfie wright who owned the Crescendo Club at Whitley Bay, not Ray Grehan, trust me I opened it However good atmosphere,great friendly bar. The Tube being one of his projects. Change Is was financed by comedian, Bob Monkhouse who teamed up with Newcastle entrepreneur Ronnie Markham in an attempt to open a club that would offer something different to the many other clubs in the city at that time. Not in the same league as the other clubs in the area, but full of the essentials of life beer, women, music and food. I went back to work the club circuit in the 70s 80s and 90s but it was not the same, Hi, I wonder if anyone remembers a night club in Northumberland St I think it was above Callers it used to have a resident belly dancer and a casino. If I could do one thing before its too late it would be to help her reconnect with people from her past in what was the prime of her life. After he left the Gamblers he went to work for Ray Grehan. During the sixties, seventies and beyond the Mayfair hosted some unforgettable nights featuring many of the top chart and touring bands of the era; bands such as Led Zeppelin, The Who, Pink Floyd, Queen, Black Sabbath, The Clash, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Motorhead, Thin Lizzy and Nirvana, to name just a few. X. I also have a photograph of myself and Irish Comedian Dave Allan.It opened at a time when the casino had to be moved out of the nightclub and have a separate entrance.They housed the Casino upstairs next to sloopys. Ziggy's 19 Bars & Clubs By C9460ITmarkg Some of the guests hadnt seen each other for decades so there was a lot of catching up to do. Had some good nights at the Majestic. He later managed Hendrix and Slade. We also got introduced to Newcastle Brown too! A couple of years ago we were in Benidorm and we got talking to these three couples, one of them said You are obviously from the Newcastle area, where did you go on Friday nights in Toon ? I answered The Maj Ok he said, now who where the resident group ? Rue and the Rockets I answered, Well meet Rue and the Rockets, its us three and we are still going in fact we are on the Dynastic tonight. Julie Macsorley had been cooking a chicken at her home near South Shields when her carbon monoxide (CO) alarm alerted her to the danger. I briefly played guitar with the George Ricco Band, rotating between Wetherals, La Dolce Vita and the Cavendish, 1965/66, My friend joy married Tommy. Then he worked for Baileys moving between the likes of La Dolce Vita, Wetherals, the Latino. Uncle Bob n Uncle Alf. I was just a nipper at the time but I remember my folks going to all those clubs as well as Change Is. I have great memories of spending many nights, years later, listening to Nigel Stanger and Lindolph DOliviera playing with the East Side Torpedoes too. A weird coincidence is that the bearded chap in the middle is a friend of my wife, hes called Jason Robson, he used to work on the boxing show at the Hoppings, I wonder if he also worked at the Go Go? Some good people who were pioneers back then and desrve a lot of credit for making Newcastle (a millon miles from London)a firm favourite with some great artists in the 60s from all over the UK and abroad wanting to play this region. Wright). Greys; Dolce Vita; Cavendish. Ian Galbraith was one and I understand he subsequently became the Mayor of Sunderland. Real name "Northumberland Arms". Im mainly interested in the lead singer of the time called John Little (or possibly also used the name Osbourne). He told me he had a photo of Ronnie Kray with a bloke sitting on his knee! Hi David, great to hear from someone who worked in so many places, back in the disco days, doing such an important job by providing the fab music. Great article, as with Michael(the previous poster)I have a family connection to these times. Re the Dolce Vita. When they came to the Change Is there was always a heightend tension but they minded me, I guess since they were barred from most other clubs they didnt want to screw themselves up with this one. One of them snapped my new tie in half trying to garrot me. Other acts that appeared at the Majestic Ballroom in the sixties include; The Moody Blues, The Kinks, The Spencer Davis Group, The Hollies, Van Morrison and the Small Faces. Apparently thats where John first spotted me when I was dancing and that was all I was interested in at the time! Would anyone know where I may get hold of a photo of the Gay Trouper pub. One night there was a huge fight which involved about 30 people and resulted in the wall between the casino and the disco being knocked down. If you contact me, I think that I have a couple of pictures of your Dad at La Strada that you might not have seen. Things started to go wrong the following year when Bob Monkhouse found out that Ronnie Markham (who later rebranded himself as the hypnotist Romark) had been helping himself to the club takings and cooking the books. me and me mates were rockers, wed move down to the rockliffe arms and the station hotel then the club a go go. A personal perspective by Roger Smith. HAPPY DAYS>, Anyone still keep in contact with David or Tommy Findlay? Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Ill get back to you on that. At the opening night the DJs were myself and Simon Dee. Used to go to the GoGo Young Set,we were only 14/15 , sit and watch the older ones dance then go home and practice, following week we were there on the dance floor, giving it large.. 10. The North East in the 60s as a wonderful time for musicians and performers and I am so pleased to have been there. Is it true? I talked to Ken Brady today and he remembers Pete with affection. I gave my mate his and told him see that guy look at the back of his jacket just as he turned round and it was `Chris Farlow. Amongst those talked about were two men who were heavily involved in the north east club scene in the sixties Mike Jeffery and Ray Grehan. The resident band at the Crescendo was the Del 5, the singer was Billy Wilson from Gateshead, there was 2 sax players one was Peter Parkinson from South Shields but Im sorry the other name eludes me. The second picture down, which has David Macbeth on, also has two of my aunts who both worked at Go Go. My old mans band (Alan NIcholson snr). Then went soth and played with Entire Sioux Nation. Lol. Tatler Club in the Haymarket. 1. We also went to the Cellar Jazz Club in South Shields and to the jazz club at the Grange Hotel in Fulwell, Sunderland where lots of art students from Sunderland Art College went. As I am on a roll heres another one, local group from the Felling, started off as a skiffle group and went on the play many venues Ritson Hunters Silver Six, they had a female vocalist Ann Castlehow I think she was called which was unusual at the time, think they played the Oxford a few times, not sure of that tho, they eventually spawned the Decca Rhythm Group with Jimmy Laine. Ill never forget it. The Whitley Bay boys club venue was called Zone 22. Both great clubs and bring back so many brilliant memories, we chose Change Is upstairs for our engagement party in November 1974 and once again not a single photo!I Ill post a comment as soon as I have anything to report. The reunion took place at the Jazz Caf, Pink Lane, Newcastle hosted by Keith Crombie who was involved in the day to day running of several Newcastle clubsback in the sixties. The builders had only erected the wall a few days earlier HAPPY DAYS !!! I remember seeing Sandford Goudie and his glamorous wife there regularly.We watched a young comedian called Jimmy Tarbuck performing, just before he came to fame at the London Palladium. June 9, 2022 . Happy days! I would like to think so. My Dad used to make roulett tables for Ray Grehan in the 60s, Hi my name is Helen Findlay the daughter of Dave Findlay. Yes I was a big fan of The Kon-Tors, the forerunners of The Animals. Thanks for the memories though, and keep up the good work. A long shot here but wondering if you ever heard of a band called the Lyle Brown showband or similarplayed in whitley bay in the mid 60s. Solicitar ms informacin: 310-2409701 | administracion@consultoresayc.co. Nice to see the Dolce vita, too. The Majestic closed as a music venue in 1967 and became the Gala Bingo Hall. The club was managed by Ken Brady who used to be in the resident band at the Majestic in Newcastle. Anyone wanting to get in touch holland.A1@sky.com, Great to see all this stuff ,Ive been searching for a record I heard at the GoGo in about 67/68.Ive no idea what it was caled or who it was by ,the only bit I can remember was it was either called or had a line in it ..youve got roses in your soul TO MIKE GRAHAM, hey !! Hi Cassie My Grandad, Billy Findlay was Davey and Tommys uncle, they used to both work and own some clubs in Newcastle, they also ran the downbeat (all of this is what my granddad tells me) there does seem to be some confusion with people saying they were related etc the second name is FINDLAY not finlay haha! Yes my mate the late Geordie Short was the drummer, they were regulars at the Bombers club and Central club and were resident band at the now demolished Mount Pleasant club until Geordie passed away. Newcastle was the place to be back then! It was originally the Clergy Jubilee School, which opened in the early part of the 19th Century, Read more about the Downbeat Club on this link. Just stumbled across it whilst looking at pics. Our nightclub, Industry, will be launching at the end of March, we are next door to Arbeia Bar South Shields. It was fun to meet and party with many stars of the times, Marty Wylde, Kathy Kirby etc. I was born in Teesside in 1971 my Dad and Godfather had been doing the club circuit until we moved to Brighton about 73. Chunky on drums used to work at Cut-Outs at the top of Byker Road before they were taken over by Field Cartons and moved to Killingworth. I have fond if hazy memories of that weekend! away from him: Jeffrey managed the ANIMALS & JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE like small club bands. Tommy Oxley worked as a part-time Court Usher then. If I had three wishes . 17:50, 2 MAR 2023. I have never heard of Tom Oxley, but would love to know more. old nightclubs in south shields. Other people I remember from that period were Greg Burman (sound equipment), Dave Woods ( Impulse Records) and Dave Dixon and Geoff Wonfor from Tyne Tees Television. Also seem to remember a free concert at Leazes Park with a lot of local bandsmay have been 1967-68? 2 inch thick marine ply shells with heavy duty internal struts and mounting frames but man the sound was awesome, power, punch and clarity. In 1967 I spent a short time singing with the Don Smith orchestra of the Oxford Galleries after we finished we always used the Cavendish club or Billy Bottos in Byker. 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