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)
.... walk this way (If I could walk that way I wouldn't need the talcum powder - Boom Boom !!)
This is an email I have received from Trevor Davis, ex Bluecaps. Johnny Taylor 5, Selection Soul Band and the Victors.
I have been giving this book idea some thought!!
I would be interested in having a go at pulling something together if I could get enough interested parties to supply details. I don’t have any experience in the book world but how difficult could it be!!
First off before I start, I would like to hear from anyone interested in helping i.e.: collating info, proof reading and assistance with vanity publishing and marketing. I don’t expect this to be a Booker prize winner and don’t expect sales in areas other than localised interest. This would also be sold via the Internet. A web site would be a good idea and help with this would be needed. I don’t expect this to be a great money producer, anything made would go into running the web site and book production so at the out set - no wages either!!!! Just the pure need to produce something that we could all leave to show that we were there when it all started!!!
So what I had in mind was ……
I would like first, anyone who has a story to tell and would like to be included in this, to e mail me at trevor.davis@wanadoo.fr <mailto:trevor.davis@wanadoo.fr> declaring an interest. Please mark the e mail subject as “book” it will help when sorting e mails. Depending on the amount of replies, I would then e mail you back within a month or so to confirm we had enough information to put something together. Any suggestions for a book title would also be appreciated.
In the meantime….
Sit down at the computer and in the Word program write your account of what you did, where you played and your memories. Photos of the band may be included, but just for now one single photo of each band you played with would be sufficient . Please make sure we are not infringing any copyright laws with photos and newspaper editorial. If I need more photo info I will let you know. At the end of your letter, list all the bands you have played with to the current day plus band members you would like to contact. Maybe an obituary for those who are no longer with us. Even if this book fails to get off the ground, you will have your own full account of this unique time of our lives. It would still be a legacy for your children to read when you are no longer here, so the whole project is not a waste of time and let’s be honest you always meant to do it one day didn’t you!!!
Stan Launden’s site and others such as ‘Vintage Sixties’ have a wealth of knowledge and there must be others too. I also know a number of people from a lot of local bands, who went on to be famous, encouragement from them would also be welcome if they don’t have any issues about being included in the book .
This could take some time to pull together, so put the guitar down and get writing; the sooner we make a start the sooner it will be in print.
So get to it you guys, This is your big chance to go down in the annals of history. How about it? Just jot down your experiences, stories, memories, anecdotes. You don't even have to do joined up writing - Trevor will knock it into shape.
