VSL performers please take a bow. Our video clips have now exceeded 150,000 hits on YouTube and the hit rate is increasing all the time.
Our website stats show that we have had almost 60000 visitors from all parts of the globe as can be seen from this map.
(Click to enlarge)
As we approach our second anniversary Alan Leightell and myself would like to give a massive thank you to all those who have taken part and made the venture such a great success.
The Straydogs Band - Dave, Kev, Mark and Angie - have always been known at Vintage Sixties Live as the "Bairns" because they are so much younger than the rest of us.
This month our Angie is taking a well deserved break on a tropical beach somewhere and we promised to keep an eye on the Bairns whilst she was away - as you would.
We thought it would be a good idea for some of the old codgers to team up with the rest of the band for a couple of numbers and Paula was one of those chosen.
What would our mature, unassuming, "grandmother several times over" decide to sing? Would she talk the lads into doing a Skeeter Davis number .... or Marianne Faithfull, Dionne Warwick .... any of those sweet songstresses of the Sixties?
Not bl**dy likely!! - Have a listen to this.
Vintage Sixties Live - you gotta be there to believe it. By the way, I also noticed that the fact that Angie was away also coincided with the fact that we have approx 100 less still photos than usual taken by our Malcolm . Could there be a connection I wonder?
Received an email from Dave Snowdon the other day.
Dave is trying to contact fellow Up North Combine members for a possible reunion.
He writes:
We were based in Thorney Close, Sunderland & played around the Sunderland - Durham - Newcastle area from approx 1965 to 1968. We were originally called The Klik, but changed our name as there were a few other bands with variations on the same name. We played a lot of the WMClubs, but later progressed to Student Union gigs & Night Clubs and added a keyboard player & main vocalist.Ive not managed to trace any of the band members & would be very grateful if you could mention the band in your news & blogs, so that I can hopefully trace some of the former members - and maybe even have a reunion!
From left to right - Dave Snowdon (me) on lead guitar/vocals, Bill Johnson on bass & lead vocals, Mick Harrison on drums & Jimmy Scott on rhythm guitar
I now live in Gloucestershire and have recently made contact with Roger Smith, who has the http://www.readysteadygone.co.uk/ site & played in The Jazzboard, who lives not too far away in Wiltshire. We were in our first 2 bands together - The Conrads & The 6 Leaves - and he came to my 60th birthday party recently. As a gift gave me back the Hofner Colorama II guitar that I had sold to him in 1965! It was originally owned by Bob Marshall of Chris Warren & the Strangers.
Any former members of the group can contact this site and I will supply them with Dave's contact info.
I would also be happy to receive free gifts of surplus Hofner Coloramas (preferably with the leatherette finish)
You will probably have noticed from our guestbook that we have received a message from Billy G who appears with Peter Neon and the Saints in some great Fifties/Sixties tribute shows in and around the Bedfordshire area.
One interesting fact is that the Saint's drummer - Rick Winter - was the original drummer with Heinz of Just Like Eddie fame.
Another recent guestbook signing was Georg from Karlsruhe who wasnt content with playing bass with Albert Lee (of VSL GOD fame) in the Sixties, he also played with Tony Sheridan and Chris Farlowe.
You will love Georg's website at http://www.lisa-und-georg.de/. It is packed with info and pics about all things Sixties - from the Star Club to the Beatles.
