Sunderland

7 posts

Nigel Olsson, the drummer with Elton John’s band, is unlikely to be looking for work in the near future but if he was, he would have a very impressive CV. Amongst others, Nigel has drummed with Spencer Davis, Uriah Heep…

People

Ray Grehan played a very important part in the development of the north east music scene in the sixties and early seventies. His roles as a club owner, manager and agent have to some extent been overshadowed by the exploits…

People

Newcastle in the mid to late sixties had a vibrant night life which, outside of London, was probably the best in the country for wining, dining, dancing, music and gambling. There were around a dozen night clubs with top acts…

Venues

The Blue Note Club at 174a Roker Avenue, Sunderland was a popular venue in the mid sixties but it was fairly short lived. Although some of the top touring bands of the era appeared there to packed audiences in the…

Venues

The first time I visited the el Cubana was in 1965 as a member of the Kylastrons. It was a well known venue in the North East and beyond. It was the dream of every local musician to play there….

Venues

In 1965 there were a lot of good bands around and if you didn’t want to do the working men’s club circuit, competition was stiff. Popular bands from the Sunderland and South Shields area playing in night clubs, ballrooms and…

Bands

I started playing saxophone at the age of fourteen while I was still at school. When I first took up the instrument it wasn’t because I wanted to play in groups – that came a bit later when I started…

Bands