1970's A-G - FALKIRKMUSICSCENE2017

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BIOG'S to '89
AARDVARK:  Band formed in the early 1970's by Richard Dow (guitar, ex-Susan Ram), Cameron Fegurson & Davy Waugh (vocals, ex-Friendship). When Ferguson moved to Canada he was replaced by Cammie Watt, but he moved away from the area as well. The band then changed their name to Thrush.

AEGIS:  Act from 1970 featuring Wilson Sharp (guitar, ex-Cargo), Kenny Stewart (guitar, ex-Susan Ram), Johnny Binnie (vocals, ex-Susan Ram), Joke Barrington (guitar, ex-Susan Ram, also with Natural Gasp) & Hugh Dyer (drums, ex-Susan Ram). The continued to gig into 1971, including a date supporting Northwind. Stewart later formed Renia, before being re-united with Binnie in Dirty Tricks, whilst Sharp moved to London in 1972 and turned down a job with the Edgar Broughton Band, before forming his own act, Axess.


ALBATROSS:  Grangemouth duo from 1977.

ALL POINTS BROADCAST (APB):  Band formed in 1979 as DDT by Alan Ewing (guitar), Andrew McColl (bass) & Geoff McPherson (drums). Later that year they changed their name to All Points Broadcast (or APB).
ALL THIS & MORE:  Band formed in 1978 as The Heat by John Barrie (drums), Stuart Everest (vocals / guitar), Robin Guthrie (guitar) & Will Heggie (bass). They changed their name to All This & More in 1979, and took advantage of Guthrie's brother, Brian, booking bands at Grangemouth Town Hall, to build up a few support slots to larger names, like The Skids. At the end of 1979 they changed their name to The Liberators.

ARMADILLO:  Country rock outfit from the 1970's featuring Doug Strathie (bass) & John Divers (guitar). Strathie later joined 10% whilst Divers joined The Dalton Boys.
AXESS:  London based band formed by former Falkirk musician and ex-Aegis member, Wilson Sharp, who moved to the capital in 1972. Sharp later turned down a place in the Edgar Broughton Band to form his own act, Axess, with his wife Janis (vocals / guitar). The name came from "female axe player", and came in handy when phoning record companies (who assumed that someone was phoning from a credit card!). The duo gigged around London, playing venues such as Dingwalls, The Rock Garden, and Camden Palace, before forming Who's George?

BAND OF HOPE & GLORY:  1970's act with Stuart Cuthill (vocals), played at an open-air concert in Callander Park that summer. Cuthill also played in Natural Gasp and later formed The Enemies Of The White House.

BANG BANG McSHOOT:  1972 act who pitched themselves somewhere between The Beatles & Alice Cooper.

The BATTLEFIELD BAND:  Legendary Scottish folk act formed in 1969 by Falkirk-born multi-instrumentalist Brian McNeill (vocals/ fiddle/mandolin/bouzouki /cittern/concertina), along with John Gahagan (whistle/concertina), Jamie McMenemy (vocals/citern/ guitarra) & Alan Reid (vocals/organ/guitar). The  played around folk clubs in Scotland until 1977 when they released their debut eponymous album on Topic Records.

Gahagan left and was replaced by Pat Kilbride (vocals/bodhran/guitar/cittern) for the follow up, "At The Front" the following year. By the time 1979's "Stand Easy" was released Kilbride & McMenemy had been replaced by Jenny Clark (vocals) & Duncan McGillivray (pipes). Clark was replaced by husband and wife duo Jim Barnes (guitar) & Sylvia Barnes (dulcimer/bodhran) for 1980's "Home Is Where The Van Is", but their stay was brief and soon after the line-up expanded to include Martin Colledge (banjo/guitar), Ged Foley (guitar/mandolin) & Robin Morton (bodhran). These new members were replaced by Dougie Pincock (pipes/flute/saxophone/percussion) for 1982's "There Is A Buzz" album, after which McNeill left for a solo career.

The band continued with various line-ups until 2001 when they were joined by another local, Banknock born Karine Polwart (vocals). Polwart was a member of Edinburgh based folk acts Malinky and MacAlias, and she joined Mike Katz (bagpipes/bass guitar), John McCusker (fiddle/piano/whistle/accordian/cittern/ mandolin, ex-Parcel Of Rogues), Iain MacDonald (bagpipes/flute/whistle/vocals, ex-Ossian), Alan Reid (vocals/organ/guitar) & Alastair Russell (guitar/vocals) in The Battlefield Band. This line-up released "Happy Daze" in 2001, and then added Alasdair White (fiddle/whistle/bouzouki) the following year for "Time & Tide". After this Polwart left for a solo career.
RELEASES:
With McNeill:
"The Battlefield Band" (vinyl album, Topic Records, 1977)
"At The Front (Battlefield Band 2)" (vinyl album, Topic Records, 1978)
"Stand Easy" (vinyl album, Topic Records, 1979)
"Preview" (12 inch vinyl, Temple Records, 1980)
"Home Is Where The Van Is" (vinyl / cassette album, Temple Records, 1980)
"The Story So Far" (vinyl / cassette album, Temple Records, 1982)
"There's A Buzz" (vinyl / cassette album, Temple Records, 1982)
With Polwart:
"Happy Daze" (cd album, Temple Records, 2001)
"Time & Tide" (cd album, Temple Records, 2002).

BEATROUTE:  1970's band featuring Ian Horne (keyboards, ex-Side 2) & Ross Horne (guitar, ex-Side 2).

BIFFO:  Local act from the 1970's featuring Andy Harrison (vocals) & Harry Sullivan (guitar / vocals, ex-Bushrod Gentry), both of whom went on to join Jack Easy.
BLACK BULL:  Local act from the 1970's featuring Polmont guitarist Dave McNaughton. McNaughton later joined First Precinct.
BODKIN:  Five piece rock/prog act formed in 1970 by Bill Anderson (bass), Zeik Hume (vocals), Mick Riddel (guitar), Doug Rome (keyboards) & Dick Sneddon (drums). Bodkin came second in the NME National Rock Band Contest of Great Britain, and then released their own self-financed album in 1972. After this they split.
RELEASES:
"Bodkin" (vinyl album, West Records, 1972).

BONNET LAW:  1970's acoustic act from the north of Scotland, with local man Peter Duncan (guitar, ex-Roadrunners). Duncan returned to the live scene in 2010 with Young Once.


BRAZTAX:  Local act from 1978, who continued to play into 1979.

BULLDOG:  Mid-1970's band featuring future Taylor's Dummies member Clarence Collier (drums).
BUSHROD GENTRY:  Six piece act formed in April 1973 by Davie Waugh (vocals, ex-Thrush), Roy Whittet (guitar, ex-Thrush) & Richard Dow (guitar, ex-Thrush), along with Harry Sullivan (guitar), Norrie Stirrat (bass) & Stuart Silcock (drums). By October Waugh, Whittet, Dow & Stirrat had reverted to the name Thrush, whilst Sullivan went on to play with Biffo.

BUSTOP:  Bustop were formed in the mid-1970's by Robert Dow (bass), Jim Harley (guitar, ex-Hawkes), David Harrington (keyboards) & Eamon Tolan (drums). In 1977 the band won the "Star Flight" competition, and recorded a single, "Lady Of The Night" the following year, which they released on their own label, before changing the line-up. Harley & Harrington left to form Passport, whilst Dow & Tolan took on Eric Baker (guitar) & Graham Harrower (keyboards, ex-Siren). Baker & Tolan later formed an unamed act with Doug Stathie (bass, ex-10%) & Bobby Nixon (vocals, ex-Castle), before the duo formed Rhythm Method.
RELEASES:
"Lady Of The Night" (7 inch vinyl single, 1978).

CANDY:  Candy with local musicians Dougie Gillespie (bass) & Don Jack (vocals) were resident at Chequers in Hallglen in 1978. Released a self-financed single, "Please Stay" (A Bacharach cover) that year. They backe Lulu in Chequers and had photographs taken with her.  Douglas went on to becme a "Bookign Agent" and recently had a further photopgraph taken with Lulu!
RELEASES:
"Please Stay" (7 inch vinyl, 1978).

CANDYFLOSS:  Act from the early 1970's featuring Malcolm Howatt (keyboards) who later joined Merlin.

CASPIAN:  Actually a cabaret band, but worth mentioning because they were the roots of future top Scottish act, The Associates. Formed during the late 1970's the full line-up was Gus Boyd (bass), Alan Leckie (keyboards, ex- Mother Earth), Billy MacKenzie (vocals) & Alan Rankine (keyboards). Whilst McKenzie & Rankine formed The Associates, Boyd formed The Funky Bumpers, and Leckie joined Rhythm Method.
CASTLE:  Rock act formed by in 1974 by Peter Caban (guitar), Willie Clinton (guitar), Ross Crichton (drums), Bobby Nixon (vocals, ex-Critix) & Dave Storey (bass, ex-Tequila). In 1975 they supported The Sleaz band at Grangemouth Town Hall. One Christmas Day gig (or was it New Year) the singer & guitarist from Dirty Tricks were home for the holidays, and joined Castle on the stage at the Falkirk Arts Theatre. Crichton later joined Thrush. Nixon formed an unamed act with Doug Strathie (bass, ex-10%), Eamon Tolan (drums, ex-Bustop) & Eric Baker (guitar, ex-Bustop).

CAT VIOLET:  Formed in 1970 by Ronnie Glen (keyboards, ex-Alex Hamilton & The Blue Sabres), Roy Clark (guitar/vocals, ex-Alex Hamilton & The Blue Sabres), Hamish Miller (drums, ex-Friendship) & Charlie Dyer (bass, ex-Friendship). The band played a series of open air gigs in Callendr Park that summer, after which Jim Marshall (guitar/vocals, ex-Manuela & The Dops) joined. In 1971 they supported Ashton, Gardiner & Dyke in Glasgow, and attracted some interest from Decca Records, before splitting. Dyer later formed Thrush, whilst Glen & Marshall went into cabaret.


CHAPTER FOUR :  Folk act formed in the early 1970's by Tommy Quinn, Peter Davie, Robin Duncan & Ian Scott. They continued to play for the next 34 years until Quinn's death in 2009.

CISCO:  Larbert act from 1974.

CITIZANS BUREAUX:  Local act formed in 1979 by Robert Brown (vocals), Tam Graham (drums), David Horsburgh (guitar), John Haggerty (bass) & Ian Robertson (keyboards). After playing the local scene for most of that year, the band finished with a gig at the Maniqui. The following year Graham & Horsburgh quit (with the latter turning up years later in Talon) and were replaced by John Fitzpatrick (guitar, ex-Flyer), & Mike Fitzpatrick (drums). That line-up did not last long, with the new members being replaced by Pete Culbert (drums) & ex-Rejects guitarist, Graeme Scotland. Haggerty joined Prymal Urge. In 1981 the band added guitarist Eric Milligan, before splitting, fraustrated with the local music scene. Brown & Robertson went on to form Ninja, whilst Scotland turned up 25 years later in Dutch. A reformed version of the band appeared in the late 1990's, featuring Brown, Robertson, Pat "Paddy" Johnson (drums, ex-Aramanth) & Dougal Rae (guitar/vocals, ex-Aramanth). Johnson then went on to play with The Deed.
Eddie CONNORS:  Vocalist who was born Edward O'Connor in 1937, and grew up in the Howgate tenements. He started working in Mungal Foundry before spending three years in the army as a PT instructor, where he became an athlete and boxing champ. Upon returing to the local area he worked the lights at the Roxy Theatre, before forming his own trio. Connors played with local dance groups before joining the Johnny Kildare Orchestra (with whom he appeared in Radio Luxembourg).  Connors formed a beat group, The Eddie Connors Combo, at the start of 1964, recruiting Pete McFerner (piano), Andy Scott (saxophone) & Dick Burgoyne (drums), all of whom had played in Doak's band, along with Paul Serafini (bass, ex-Young Ones) & Ronnie Brooks (guitar, ex-Roadrunners), six hours before entering and winning a local beat group competition. Serafini joined The Roadrunners, whilst Burgoyne rejoined Connors in the Eddie Connors Trio.

In 1971 Connors entered, and won for five weeks in a row, Opportunity Knocks. By then Connors was playing with his own act, The Eddie Connors Trio, who played locally in the Late-1960's & 1970's, and featured Dick Burgoyne (drums), Eric Fowler (bass, ex-Sonics) & Melvin Fowler (guitar, ex-Sonics) in his band. In 1969 he had a piano player called Peter Eden. Further TV appearances followed, including "Thingummyjig", and Connors also travelled the world on cruise ships as an entertainer. After some time living in Stockton-Upon-Tees, Connors returned to the area in 2004, and died in July 2008.  One of his sons, Eddie O'Connor became a singer in his own right.

The DALTON BOYS:  Band formed in 1977 by John Divers (guitar, ex-Armadillo), Billy Labus (bass), Henry Labus (vocals), Willie Sinclair (guitar) & Derek Ure (drums). They built up a following in the north of England with a blend of country and rock. Divers later joined The Happy Trails.

DANDY:  4-piece act formed in 1971 by Gerry Eadie (guitar/vocals, ex-Pram), Tommy Barke (bass, ex-Pram), Malcolm Howatt (keyboards, ex-Merlin) & Jackie Ryden (drums, ex-Merlin). The band continued into 1972.

DDT:  Band formed in 1979 by Alan Ewing (guitar), Andrew McColl (bass) & Geoff McPherson (drums). Later that year they changed their name to All Points Broadcast.

DEATH:  Two piece act formed in May 1979 by Scott Simpson (guitar) & Eddie McKenzie (drums/vocals). They split the following year, with McKenzie later forming Lightning.


The DEFT JERKS:  The Deft Jerks were formed in 1977 by ex-Much Hoole members Zander Caven (guitar) & Andrew McKean (bass), along with Stuart Cuthill (vocals, ex-Enemies Of The White House) & Richard Davidson (drums, under the name Renal Dropsey). This line-up played a moving gig on the back of a lorry at an "Anti-Nazi League" march in Edinburgh, which culminated in Craigmillar Park. After building up a following as one of the premier (and only) new wave bands locally, they replaced Cavan with new guitarist Dougie Aitken at the end of 1978. In late 1979 Davidson was replaced by the unlikely named George Square on drums, who was actually called George Falconer, whilst Aitken was replaced by Jerry McGinley. By the end of the year MacKean had left to form The Neon Barbs, and was replaced by Harry Motto on bass. The band threatened to move to London, fed up with the local scene in 1980, but split instead. Falconer (who had also played with The Freeze & Thrush) later turned up in The Rocks. A short lived reformation took place in 1983, with Cuthill and Motto (who had meanwhile played in Ninja) being joined by Roy Jack (violin), Derek Lenatham (guitar, ex-Thrush), Brendan Scanian & Billy Taylor. Charlie Hay (guitar) was also a member at some point, and later turned up in Acoustic Soup.

DEJA VU:  Act from the 1970's formed by Alex Neilson who later worked in Lost In Heaven.
DIRTY TRICKS:  Dirty Tricks were a UK rock act formed in 1974, containing Denny vocalist Kenny Stewart (ex-Renia) & Stirling guitarist Johnny Binnie (ex-Aegis). The rest of the band was Terry Horbury (bass) & John Lee (drums).  The band debuted live at London's Marquee Club as openers to Ducks Deluxe in January 1975, signing to Polydor not long after. Their debut album was released that year, and they promoted it with support tours in the UK to both Argent and Budgie.  In June of 1975 Australian drummer John Lee (ex-Dingoes, Blackfeather & Ariel) joined the fold. The band's second album in 1976 was produced by Tony Visconti, and was promoted by support tours with The Streetwalkers in the UK, and Cheap Trick, Blue Oyster Cult, Patti Smith & Bob Segar in the US. They were the first British band ever to play CBGB's in New York.  Lee would quit following the third album 'Hit And Run' (again produced by Visconti) and was superseded by Andy Bierne, however the group split not long after. Interestingly, this final incarnation of the band rehearsed with Ozzy Osbourne as the first Blizzard of Ozz before the Osbourne had to leave the UK due to tax issues. He fled to America, met Randy Rhoads, and the rest, as they say, is history. But we're left to wonder, what might have been?

Upon splitting, Binnie joined Rogue Male, then was later reunited with Horbury in Paddy Goes To Holyhead. However, all four members were re-united in tribute act Stairway To Zeppelin.
In 2009 Stewart, Binnie, Horbury & Bierne re-united to record a new album, "Up At The Nine Count". Horbury & Bierne cound not then commit the time to the band, and were replaced by Richard Marcanjelo (drums, ex-Robert Plant/Manfred Mann's Earth Band) & Fingerthumbs (bass)
RELEASES:
"Nightmen" (vinyl album, Polydor Records, 1975)
"Dirty Tricks" (vinyl album Polydor Records, 1976)
"Hit & Run" (vinyl album, Polydor Records, 1977)
"Up At The Nine Count" (Internet album, 2009).

DUTCH:  Act formed in 1977 by Colin Jackson (guitar, ex-Last Heroes) & Robert Stuart (vocals, ex-Last Heroes), who recruited Chris Elder (drums, also ex-Last Heroes), Donald Logie (bass) & Alan Stewart (guitar). Stuart left in late 1977, and the band continued on for about year with Jackson on vocals. Stewart later formed The Ellingtons, whilst Jackson moved to London for 15 years doing "the West End thing". Elder joined Mother Earth, whilst Stuart turned up in Fruitarian's Lunch.

Jackson, Stuart, Logie & Stewart reformed for a one off charity gig in 2005 with Alex Aikman (drums).
The following year, Stuart, Logie & Stewart (ex-Roseland) once again got together, this time with Murray Starkey (drums, no relation) and Graeme Scotland (guitar/keyboards, ex-Citizans Bureaux), and began to play their brand of 1970's rock from 2007 into 2009. Stewart, meanwhile, continued to play with The Lucky Dogs, and then The Craws during this time.  Jackson meanwhile, went out solo as Jay Jackson.

Sandi EASTON:  Glasgow born but Larbert raised vocalist and songwriter from the late 1970's, Easton wrote music for various BBC programmes. She also penned a couple of tracks for local country artist Johnnny Grand. In 1978 Sandi appeared on Scottish TV programme "Thingummyjig".

The ENEMIES OF THE WHITE HOUSE:  Five piece act from 1973 featuring Stuart Cuthill (ex-Natural Gasp/Band Of Hope & Glory), Kevin K (drums), Kayik Walysiak (guitar), Alan Grieve (guitar) & Sandy Walysiak (bass). Cuthill later formed The Deft Jerks.

EXPOSURE:  Cumbernauld based new wave band formed in 1979 by Robert Wells (guitar), Stuart Lawrie (vocals), Paul McMahon (bass) & Craig Ferguson (drums, under the name Adam Eternal!). The band lost Wells and recruited two Falkirk musicians, Gordon Clark (keyboards) & Jim Laird (guitar) in 1980, just after releasing only single, "Style & Fashion". The band split not long after, with Laird going on to play with a late version of Two Helens, and Ferguson making it big as as the stand-up comedian, Bing Hitler, before embarking on a semi-successful Hollywood career (he wrote and starred in "The Big Tease"). Recently he has apparently been seen stepping out with Sharon Stone, and is a popular late-night chat show host in the USA.
RELEASES:
"Style & Fashion"/"Video Eyes" (7 inch single, Angular Music, 1980).
The Mark ETON SOUND:  Three piece from 1972 formed by John Harley (hammond), Jimmy Miller (drums) & Alan Dougall (bass, maybe ex- Hawkes). Dougall may have gone on to play with The Grim Biscuits.

F.B.I.:  1979 Kincardine act - Calum Leitch (vocals) & Chris Toole (bass) who changed their name to X's & Y's.

FIDDLER'S DRAM:  English folk act formed by Alan Prosser (guitars/mandolin/vocals) & Falkirk born Ian Telfer (fiddle/oncertina, ex-New Celeste). Fiddler's Dram attempted a serious career until they were ruined by novelty hit "Day Trip To Bangor". This was the kind of success a band does not easily recover from, and Fiddler's Dram did one more tour then gratefully took the money (and the gold discs) and ran. In Prosser & Telfer's case it was into what was then an aspiring folk dance outfit, The Oyster Band. 
RELEASES:
"To See Them Play" (vinyl album, 1978)
"Day Trip To Bangor" (7 inch vinyl single, Dingles Records, 1979, UK charts #3)
"Beer Cart Lane" (7 inch vinyl single, 1980)
"Fiddler's Dram" (vinyl album, 1980)
"Black Hole" (7 inch vinyl single, 1981)
"Little Ray Of Sunshine" (7 inch vinyl single, 1981).

FIRST PRECINCT:  1977 act featuring Polmont guitarist and ex-Black Bull member Dave McNaughton.

FLYER:  Jazz/Funk act formed in 1978 by local musicians John Fitzpatrick (guitar), Ronald MacDonald (guitar), Janice Miller (vocals) & Martin Shaw (drums), alongside Billy Dick (bass) from Alloa, and Billy Innes (saxophone) from Edinburgh. Fitzpatrick later formed Citizans Bureaux.

FREE 'N' EASY:  Falkirk band from 1976 comprising Angus Howland (vocals/bass/guitar/piano), John Deans (guitar), Malcolm Baird (drums) & Ann Howland (vocals).

The FREEZE:  A Linlithgow based band, who featured Keith Grant (bass), Gordon Sharp (vocals) & Dave Clancy (guitar), along with local Grangemouth drummer George Falconer for a while (the highlight of which was "supporting The Skids in Dunfermline and staying at their freezing cold flat in Cowdenbeath". Falconer was replaced by Graeme Radin and the band released a couple of singles: "In Colour" (A1 Records, August 1979) & "Celebration" (A1 Records, April 1980). Grant & Radin were then replaced by Mike Moran (bass) & Neil Braidwood (drums/keybaords), but the band split in late 1981. Vocalist Gordon Sharpe then guested with 4AD act This Mortal Coil on the track “Kangaroo” from the “It’ll End In Tears” album. Sharpe & Clancy then put together CINdyTALK, who released several albums between 1984 and 1996. More recently he has been recording under the name of Bambule. As a footnote, Sharpe was in London in 1980 when he was approached by some musicians to become the frontman in their band. He refused and the band were forced to take on a youth called Simon Le Bon! Yes, it’s true, the frontman of DURAN DURAN was almost from Linlithgow! Falconer was also with The Deft Jerks at this time.
FRIENDSHIP:  Local act from 1969 featuring Davy Waugh (vocals, ex-Heenan Froude Set), Hamish Miller (drums), Charlie Dyer (bass, ex-Heenan Froude Set), Bill Hastings (guitar, ex-Scotsmen) & Frank Ferrari (keyboards, ex-Prize Chunks). The band played all over Scotland, but fancied a shot abroad, so answered an advert in the Melody Maker. The received a call from one Albergio Crochetta, owner of the Piper Clubs and Piper records, who wanted an opening act for a 16 date tour of Italy. They were asked to secure rehearsal rooms in London, and let him know where and when and he would come and see them. After a local gig, the band packed their ex-Co-op van, bought by Dyer for £18, and set off to London. Setting up in the Pied Bull Pub in Islington, the band did a sound check, and then promptly fell asleep. A rather well dressed Italian gent with a blonde on each arm was there when they woke up. They played their set for him, and he must have liked what he saw, as a contract appeared, was inspected by the band, and duly signed.

Crochetta asked that the band get to Via Reggio in Italy to play two nights at his Piper Club, then drive to Rome to park their transit, and get on the luxury tour bus, their transport for the next 16 days. During this they played at theatres from the North to the South of Italy, and stayed in some nice hotels. One of the highlights was the Opera House in Bari. Afterwards they hung around in Rome for a while.

Upon finding themselves skint, they agreed to a gig at a local nudist camp. After arranging themselves naked onstage, the curtain was opened to reveal a fully clothed audience. They returned to Falkirk in 1970, supposedly to record an album, but split up soon after signing to local Nillson Management. Miller & Dyer then formed Cat Violet. whilst Waugh went on to Aardvark, and Hasting played with Likorice.

GALLOWS CROOK:  Band featuring Ian Johnston (drums), Gordon McKay (bass) and Dave Roberts (guitar/vocals). The young three piece band originated in Bo'ness and their musical influences swayed towards Cream, Hendrix, Mayall and various American blues artists.  The band were 'signed up' by the International Club in Edinburgh as their resident band on their second only live performance in 1970, and worked the Edinburgh club scene very succesfully for around a year. They were quoted by a number of prominent musicians at the time as a band that were destined for bigger things.

Sadly that was not to be. Their management was taken over by an influential Edinburgh agent/promoter who decided to re-mould the band completely. Dave Valentine (of the Hipple People) was drafted in as front man and Stuart Caplan recruited on keyboards. The bands musical direction changed to become more commercially viable and the uniqe magic that was 'Gallows Crook' had gone. The band were renamed Platform. The writing was on the wall and the band split after a year of gigging around Scotland.

GARRON:  Grangemouth folk act from 1975 featuring Gordon Mackay (guitar), Colin Anderson (whistle/flute), Graeme Henderson (guitar) & William Clason (harmonica/banjo).

GOLDRUSH:  Band formed circa 1972 by Stirling musician David Grant (vocals/guitar) along with local boys Johnny Bain (guitar), Bobby O’Donnell (bass) & David Hamilton (drums). O’Donnell played for a short time with Midas Touch and then left to join Sunshine Cottage (led by drummer Ted Christopher, currently owner of Roadshow Music, Stirling), and  was replaced by Greg McLean (bass) from Alloa. O’Donnell then returned to the band. Davy Loney (drums) replaced Hamilton when he left Goldrush to join East Kilbride band Bridge, who went on to become resident band in Glasgow’s famous Burns Howff. The band continued until at least 1978, but without Grant who emigrated to Australia in the mid-1970's.  Hamilton's daughter was later a solo singer.

Johnny GRAND:  Stirling born (1944) country singer & guitarist, real name John McGrandles, who grew up and lived in Denny. He bought his first guitar in 1960 and joined a group called The Prize Chunks, before playing with The Vendors. Grand went solo in the 1970's, touring America with the Alexander Brothers, and releasing two albums.   Some of the tracks were written by local artist Sandi Easton.  Later in life Grand moved to Balloch to run the Tullichewan Hotel, until he died in late 2007.
RELEASES:
"Country Contrast" (vinyl album, 1975)
"Parade Of Broken Hearts" (vinyl album, Lismore Records, 1977).

GRITT:  Local act formed in 1978 by George Aitken (guitar), John Anderson (drums), Jim Glen (bass), Ian McIntosh (guitar) & Richard Rooney (vocals). The band continued to play live into 1979, after which Anderson left to later form The Ellingtons. The rest of the band formed Once Bitten.

 
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