In Transit

In Transit

The van that I spent the most time in was a Ford Transit. It was actually several different ones, but they were all Shifty’s Van.

My first experience was on the way to the Rockaway Day Festival in Dingwall. I didn’t know Shifty’s actual name was Tam until he joined the band, but he fitted in right away. As usual I was in the rear crew compartment, but the difference this time was that communication with First Class was possible. Large pieces of foam rubber made the travel experience more bearable.

In the ensuing years the Shifty Van become a more luxurious vehicle, with the installation of a proper “back seat” directly behind the passenger seat. I am sure there was a Glasgow bus missing a seat somewhere, but needs must.

There was even an upgrade to a slightly larger model, once belonging to piano man John Doole. Took a while to get used to the new colour, but the overall vibe was the same.

Lord only knows how many miles were covered. We went back and forth to Edinburgh, up north and down south and all points in between. The longest single journey was to Belgium and back with hardly a break . We even started the trek to Montreal in it, no limo to the airport for us lot!

Vans and trains

I’ve talked about the gigs and venues, the cast of characters and the accommodation along the way, but there’s one aspect that I haven’t mentioned.

The transport.

The first two vans were Ford Lutons, and I would mostly be in the crew accommodation (i.e the rear section). There was the odd upgrade to first class, space permitting. It was a health and safety nightmare, but we didn’t bother about legislation in those days.

Strangely, one of these vehicles was once “unavailable”.

We had played at the Preservation Hall in Edinburgh, with a show at the Venue the next night. We decided to leave the gear in the Pres and do the move the next day. As I waited for pick up, the phone rang.

It was fellow roadie Eddie Rarity, “We’ve just to go ahead and move the gear and they’ll come along later.” “OK. How are they going to get there?” I replied. “In the van” said Eddie. “ So how do we get to Edinburgh?” I enquired. “On the train” advised Eddie. “And the gear?” asked I. “No idea” was the response.

Having decided to cross one bridge at a time we got on a train to Edinburgh. This was full of U2 fans on their way to Murrayfield to pay homage, so it was standing room only.

The train broke down at Lenzie. The poor guard was being harassed something awful for information, of which he had none. Some bold souls exited the train and made for the nearby road, hoping to thumb a lift from some kindred spirits. The police were called and controlled the situation, also advising that whistling the Z Cars them at them was not a good move.

The train eventually moved, and all eyes were on the stadium as we passed by. It seemed that Runrig were still on so things relaxed a tad. On arrival at Haymarket the train pretty much emptied, and there must have been a mad dash for taxis.

Having walked up to the Pres, we considered the situation. Then the cavalry arrived. Rob Maxtone-Graham was the sound man at the venue, and a wonderful wee chap. He was even more wonderful that day as he had a van. We told him the sorry tale and he saved the day.

As we set up in the Venue, a phone call came in. It was George, “You’ll need to come and get me”. “Where are you?” I asked “The Borders” he replied. Memories of exactly where he was (Innerleithen springs to mind) and how he got to the show are dim, but it worked out OK as far as I can remember.

The back of those Lutons was pretty much a travelling pre and post gig party. The roller shutters would occasionally be opened and the road using public treated to various “performances” and the occasional cheery wave. The less said about that the better.

Watch out for the next exciting episode folks…

Mishaps, perhaps.

Sometimes things didn’t go according to plan. Not that there was ever much of a plan; turn up, set up gear, play gig, take down gear, leave, but there was the odd unplanned deviation.

Most of these would be equipment based. The earliest one I remember is a guy leaving his pint on top of George’s Marshall stack on his way to the toilet. “No problem” I thought “He’ll be back in a minute”. He was but he somehow managed to knock the entire amp head off. This happened in slow motion to my eyes, but George managed to finish the song.

Moving drumkits were a common problem, and they were often held in place with the spare tyre from the van or even a piece of concrete. I have no idea where that came from. We finally hit on the idea of using an off cut of carpet, much more convenient.

The Big George trick of using an empty pint glass as a slide usually went well, and I was always poised to catch it as it was cast aside at the end of a solo. The time he used a half full one caught me out a bit though.

Two more serious ones also spring to mind, one involving Shifty. He had constructed a homemade light show and had bent down to adjust something one night. He then received a belter of a shock somehow and decked it..he was OK but Big G called for a whisky from the bar. He then downed it himself for “the shock” Shome mishtake surely?

The final one was not really an accident or mishap. It was at a gig in Paisley, and George had the hump about something or other. I had been standing behind the amp at one point, but had moved out into the audience. Next thing I know he’s doing the full Townshend, guitar off and battering the amp with it. Not a pretty sight to my eyes, but the punters loved it.

Needless to say, a guitar had to be borrowed for a while after that.

More One Liners, and some Old Timers.

Lately, some of the people we used to encounter at gigs up down and around the country have sprung to mind. There now follows some brief descriptions, see if you remember anyone. Some names may be incomplete or missing, but I’m pretty sure most of them were real people.

You’ll also come up against a few choice phrases associated with them.

Jean-Luc…a French fella who used to be a regular at many shows. His favourite number was “Trouble In Mind”, and George would always oblige.

Wee Neily..a small man with a beard and a big voice. You would often hear him before you saw him…with a cry of “HHHHendrix” before descending the stairs into Platini’s. He didn’t like Disco.

A chap called Gillies, can’t remember his first name. He would show up occasionally, and almost always end up saying the wrong thing to the wrong person. Sometimes it was the same person as the last time.

“The Coatbridge Mob”. Again names escape me, but they were a travelling support of varying size. They seemed able to make it to the most remote and obscure of gigs. They turned up at Drumnadrochit…and some Blues Fest in Lancashire. Dedicated or what?

Peter McDougall, playwright and bon viveur. I remember George spotting him once and saying…”See him? He doesn’t know it, but he wants to work with me.” It did come to pass and George and Deke had a bit part as “band in pub” in Down Among The Big Boys. Peter once said of the secret of George’s success; “It’s not the way you sing or play guitar..it’s the way you walk down Byres Road”

Wee Craig was about fourteen and his dad used to smuggle him into gigs, where he would get up for a jam and cause jaws to drop. Wonder what he’s doing now?

Just a short one this time folks…I hope to dredge up some more soon

Off Road Moments…

Now these could get really hazy, and maybe inaccurate. However, it has oft been said that I was the best at remembering this stuff so my version goes.

Unless someone has proof otherwise…

Watching a movie with Big George was always an “experience”. I’m pretty sure that he invented the concept of the commentary track well before DVD’s were even thought of. This was augmented by the “one more time” feature..whereby a favourite moment would be replayed at least once.

I had seen The Last Waltz once before, but never saw it “properly” until an after gig gathering at a house I know not where. We were, shall we say, well oiled and fun was being had. George then spotted a copy of said movie and it was put on, duly complying with the “Play This Film LOUD” instruction. George was quite the musicologist throughout, and I even noticed how good Neil Diamond was when in the right place at the right time.

One fella wasn’t interested though and decided to sit in a corner, don a pair of headphones and listen to a Monty Python album. Cue lots of short bursts of laughter that didn’t quite go with the movie.

There is now a DVD of The Last Waltz that has three different commentaries, but none are quite as good.

By far the best nights were hosted by good friend of the band, Susan Coleman. If I ever got a phone call from George containing the words “Saturday Night Special”, a fantastic night would be guaranteed.

Susan seemed to have magic wine glasses which would never be less than full, no matter how small a sip you took. The entertainment was always top notch as well, with many a fine jam session with George and various other musos. The acoustic guitar and fiddle version of Purple Rain with Fraser Neill was a particular highlight. Have a look for him on Facebook, he’s in Denmark these days but still gigging.

Susan also had a cool trick involving a bull whip and a willing volunteer with cigarette in mouth. She would always say “It’s OK if I’m drunk. It works better when I’m drunk.”

There would always be a point in the evening when Susan would ask for a volunteer to take her dog Queenie for a walk. She was a lovely animal, but by God she took the piss out of me. I can’t remember how many times she ran off and didn’t come back until I was sure I would have to return without her. Her

timing was always excellent!

Susan lived nearby, so it was always easy to walk/stagger/crawl home.

One more to end with…although I only heard about this one.

BGB went back to Montreal for the World Scottish Festival. There was a fairly posh reception which George attended. After a while, a tall African American chap arrived clad in a kilt.

“You’ll be the Black Watch then?” says George, to the sound of dropping jaws around the table.

The kilted fella thought it was a hoot!

Roadies Tale..music from and inspired by.

Something a wee bit different this. Various songs by various artists that bring back various memories for various reasons.

You’ll find there’s a variety of categories, and thanks to Youtube you can join in.

Van Soundtracks

Dances with Wolves

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHvKviaeulg

Imagine…three musicians and a butler driving through the Highlands of Scotland and the scenery that unfolds around an old transit van. We had our mellow moments as well you know.

Lady Love- Robin Trower

One of many Trower moments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhFlYIrwcVk

Little Rock ‘n ‘Roller-Steve Earle

A Shifty favourite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3CdKS9Tbl0

Orangefield-Van Morrison

Another one of those mellow moments..Avalon Sunset was a firm fave album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpOwVWFOo3Y

The Cover Versions

You all know the blues type ones..but there was more to it than that.

The Cross-Prince

Very often a set opener..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwPwBfBmcmY

Biko-Peter Gabriel

Can never quite remember how this one came about…but I remember writing the words down for George one afternoon in Platini’s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlBAvLNUaP0

Devonside- Richard Thompson

Oft performed at parties and after gig relaxations, BG once did this when he was support to Wolfstone at Glasgow City Hall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AeIsU2686Y

Sail Away- Randy Newman

BG used to do this with a pre-recorded backing track. We’ll not mention the time John “JR” Robertson did a new backing vocal line of “bombs away”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwwhHI_IMog

Biloxi- Jesse Winchester tune.

Jimmy Dewar used to sing this one. Ted Hawkins is mighty fine too mind..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFdiYDzbodM

Helpless-Neil Young

Last but not least, Tam’s tour de force.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2z7LXpAX3Q

Moments

More RT..me and BG were in the audience. You may spot a well known hat, back right of picture.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xvZxI_NSHo&feature=related

Excitable Boy- Warren Zevon

Another party favourite..listen out for the “social worker chorus”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eUsSXXc8wU

Purple Rain- Prince

George on guitar, Fraser Neill on fiddle. It worked!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l75skRMlXk

More to come...I enjoyed this :-)

Odds, ends and one liners.

Odds, ends and one liners.

Odd gigs? There certainly were! The “Oor Wullie Song Contest” at the wee hall in the SECC. BGB performed someone else’s song about a’body’s Wullie. I never worked out how the hell this one came about.

The Special Unit at Barlinnie, on the back of a song George co-wrote for a documentary about the place.

Drumchapel Shopping Centre as part of Mayfest. The same festival gave us a show in a tent on Glasgow Green with some local angry poets.

The Rockaway Day festival at Dingwall fitba ground, sharing the bill with Runrig and Andy “Mr Boom” Munro. Slept outdoors afterwards, part of the train station was stolen for the bonfire. The next day was the Highland Seer’s Summer Solstice Party in Ardgay, complete with bonfire jumping.

These spring to mind as well…

George used to incorporate a toilet roll into the act on occasion, demonstrating how to sort out the age old problem of uneven lengths at the end of the roll.

Deke the Sax used to have a broom with an SM58 gaffa taped to it as a mike stand..held up right by the loyal road crew.

Walkie talkies were used to convey drink orders to me at the bar. Big G would quite often forget to step away from the mike while doing this though.

“That’s twice you’ve sworn…get out!!” shortest gig we ever did. Thank you barman, and goodnight.

Proposed content for Gig posters:

“Big George and The Business..you’ll believe a man can fly.”

“Be afraid, be very afraid,”

“Nurse! The Screens!!”

A controversial one to end with..”Ladies and Gentlemen, the band that brought AIDS to Edinburgh..BLUES ‘N’ TROUBLE!!”