I have a photo from The Viewer (the forefunner of the TV Times) showing a line-up of pianists and singers, Dad is on there but the only other pianist I recognise is (the much-admired, not least by my Dad) Billy Hutchinson. Ray Grehan, who owned various night clubs including the Blue Note in Sunderland and the Crescendo Club at Whitley Bay, passed away about eight years ago. Then when I went to work at the Ministry in Longbenton the next day people were coming up to me saying they saw me onstage with Wilson Pickett. She was called Maggie Ross, quite a dancer as I recall. Sandra ditched me after a couple of years and went to London and then Italy where she sadly died aged about 21. #93 Roger. La Strada in South Shields opened around 1962 and ran throughout the 1960s. I worked at the Crescendo Club in Whitley Bay in 1968-9 and Ray Grehan owned it then . 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. Best years of my life. It was quite difficult to get a membership in the early days. Ho Hum happy days and strange memories. The group met up last October for a reunion in Gosforth. Had some great evenings there in the late 1950s as well as any evenings at the Oxford Gallerys and the Majestic. Kennedy's Bar South Shields 418 South Eldon Street, South Shields NE33 5SY England +44 191 456 4363 https://www.facebook.com/kennedyssouthshields/ Excellent 100% Good 0% Satisfactory 0% Poor 0% Terrible 0% Overall Ratings 5.0 based on 4 reviews 2. Pete Wallis. My first event that I went to was every Saturday at the Miners Welfare hall which I think was in Burnopfield where the reqular group were Trevor Chance and the Gamblers. Many people (including myself) have mentioned photographs, or rather a lack of them and I wondered if it would be at all possible to make a plea for any photos your readers may have relating to 60s clubland 1972, Please forgive me if this is something youve already covered but photos bring back so many memories it may be worth another go? Dave Coates. Stumbled over your great website while searching for music in Newcastle in the 60s. The Kon-Tors didnt play original music but were a great cover band. The building that housed the Marimba no longer exists. Also in Whitley Bay was an out of the way venue near the Ice Rink at Whitley Bay boys club on a Friday night. And dont even think about the Downbeat!! We step back for just a while to the South Shields, Jarrow, Hebburn and Boldon of four decades ago. Would be good to have a reunion.. sorry to hear of joe lisles death the 69 club owner. The club closed as Change Is and reopened as Bloomers. Cheers. We always met at the Pit for coffee where we decided what time to meet before going to the Club Ago Go. Naturally had my photo took with him as well. Brilliant site! Ill never forget it. away from him: Jeffrey managed the ANIMALS & JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE like small club bands. Good job with the website. I was with the MARTELLES, we played at Club Eleven every Thursday, it was a blues night gig, great from the basement blues music. 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. I talked to Ken Brady today and he remembers Pete with affection. I beleive he appeared at a number of clubs in Newcastle and the north east. I live in France now,so dont get many chances to visit the old stomping grounds. Newcastle was the place to be back then! I used to visit clubs like the Flamingo,La Discotheque, The Scene,Marquee,Whisky A Go Go,All Star, Tiles etc. Post author: Post published: June 23, 2022 Post category: assorted ornament by ashland assorted ornament by ashland On a different note, is Keith Crombie the same guy who I bought a truck from when he was a truck salesman at Minories in the sixties. As well as the Crescendo he ran the Club Tempo in London and the Pentland Club in Edinburgh. I then returned to a normal life !!!! Do you remember the DJ Big Phil not sure if he ever worked in Change Is but he certainly worked in Scamps, which was the place I went to the most from 1974- onwards probably til I got to the stage where I couldnt go clubbing and get up for work in a Bank anymore-old age I think its called! Trevor Chance. He still talks about those days in the 1960s, happy days. Photo: Shields Gazette Photo Sales 2. I remember a band called the Wildcats with Hilton Valentine & Chas Chandler (playing bass I think) ,who played at the Hotspur hall in Whitley Bay on Saturday nights in the sixties.I also remember the Alan Price combo playing frequently at the Victoria pub next to Woolworths in Whitley Bay, haven,t seen any mention of these venues in your lists! It has been lovely reading through these posts , brought a smile to my face x. I,VE JUST REMEMBERED I WAS THE DJ on the opening night of Sloopys the disco above La Dolce Vita. Suzanne, Of course I remember your dad Jimmy, many great times working together. I went to Change Is probably from 1969 until Scamps opened at the end of 1973. View listing packages . He was with his daughter who is also a sInger. Ill gladly let you have copies of what I have a photo of Bloomers but boarded up and no sign and an internal shot of girls dancing and dry ice on the dancefloor from late 1960s also a flyer for the opening of Bloomers in July 1973. a great bunch of people used to drink the night there. Change Is opened with a flourish on 9th February 1969 with a promise of first class entertainment from the best acts around. Gigging in the North East 1965-1972. Life goes on. The Crays were huge guys ,looked the part and were decked out in very flash but obviously very expensive suits . My mother Barbara Berg who worked At the Gogo when she was younger is in the second picture, along with the blonde lady on the right who is my Aunty Joan Tenniswood (young) who also worked there! Hi Maggy Ross could be Maggy Heskith who died a few years ago. Where is she now I wonder. The top map is an old street plan of the city with the various venues marked with coloured dots. 15 years of age in 1962. my 1st beer was in the railwaiy, whist livin on hillheads road. (Sect, Juncos, Harlem Shuffle etc) Nowadays though I would just dance solo but back then I never did did. pm me at cmburney@outlook.com. During his time working for the organisation he became aquainted with both Vince and Michael Lavaglio and Denis Stafford.. he always found them to be perfect gentlemen in his dealings both on a business and social level. Bernie died a couple of years ago and I hear his collection of guitars were donated to The Sage. Heres a reminder of some of those Newcastle clubs and venues and where they were. however I cannot remember who it belonged to. Chris Dale, Alan(Cass) Carlyle, Bryn Pringle, Bill Ross, Billy Todd, Paul France, Ian Davies, Chris Branch, Jed Gardner, Peppi, Joe Lant, Hetherz, Micky Finn, Rob Wright and I know Ill have missed out a few and so my apologies, but it was a long time ago. He is 93 living in South Africa. He had a son with cerebal palsy who needed to attend Prudhoe hospital on a regular basis and he felt he needed some sort of base in the north east. Happy days. Does anyone remember anyone from there? If anyone has any good images or information, please post on here or contact me personally. Jean McGowan ( still dancing) xx, Hi David I also used to be a DJ at the New Cellar Jazz Club later the Chelsea Cat sent some pics etc for the site good to hear you are still with us great memories of a great time in our lives. 2 inch thick marine ply shells with heavy duty internal struts and mounting frames but man the sound was awesome, power, punch and clarity. Memories just keep flooding back of all those tremendous venues. Hey everyone i also fondly remember the great Ken Maddison we worked together often. Your email address will not be published. Hi Fred A TOUCH OF VELVET, A STING OF BRASS your intro tune? Hi does anyone know what happened to Tom Oxley the nightclub photographer? I will never forget you were working at the theatre royal and u let me see the stage set for Alice in wonderland and let me have a go on the big swing in the stage. . Such a shame it all came to an end way too soon. A friend in music (Colin Bradley who played in a Teesside band called The Road Runners with Paul Rodgers and Micky Moody in the 60s) was kind enough to send me a link. If anyone knows how to get info on the bands that played there I would be most grateful. My favourite place ever was Scamps. Ifeel so incredibly nostalgic about those very important days, which went over much too quickly. I lived there from when it opened in late1973 or early 1974. Happy Days. What a star she could have been. Thank you I would like to say a huge Thank You to Roger for first of all, building up this amazing website and secondly helping people, as you have with me, to share their memories of a very special time in their lives. The Crays quickly found the law too darned hot up here and returned south after a short and unproductive trip. ideal for struggling musicians. I was about 17 when Wilson Picket pulled me up onto the tiny stage at the Newcastle Club aGoGo Jazz Lounge. The Beacon The Beacon in Green's Place on the Lawe Top was one of the oldest pubs in South Shields, having served drinks since the late 1800s. My mum used to sing with Jimmy Bence at the Mayfair back in the day. But last week I did visit an old friend in Whitley Bay and realised that my Dad must have been working at The Pickwick shortly aftter it opened (which I guess was why we moved to Whitley in the first place). Lead singer John Little or possibly used the name Osbourne or Osmond. Just found a post from Jane Maddison whos dad Ken Maddison was my bandleader for many years after I left groups to settle down. Another of those in attendance was Marcus Levey, who with his twobrothers ran La Dolce Vita before selling the club to the Bailey Organisation in 1965. They also used to play to a younger audience at the Hop in Whitley Bay. 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. He even stood in for the pianist who hadnt turned up on my Mum and Dads wedding day!