Tuesday 22 July 2008

BAY CITY ROLLERS - J.M. BALLROOM - 1970-74

 
The top cutting is from a "What's On" page in the Dundee Courier  - an ad for the Bay City Rollers playing at the J.M. Ballroom in the Marketgait on Sunday 12th April '70.
Interesting to see they were gigging in Dundee 4 years before they became famous. In fact The Rollers actually made a promo film in the J.M. in 1970, complete with hired screaming girls! I wonder what has happened to that footage?
The 2nd cutting is from an NME and they continue to be playing at the J.M. This one dated Monday 18th December 1972.
The 3rd cutting is from a Melody Maker music paper and in the gig guide section it has the Bay City Rollers playing at the JM on Monday 29th April '74.
So the band were still active in Dundee even in the year they hit the big time!
Other acts on in 1970 were, The Camera and Pat'r 4 + Three.

37 comments:

  1. The Patr'4 were a Perth Band who were really popular in the late 60's early 70's but don't know the personnel.(Just remebered, I think Dundee's Ronnie Neish played with them for a while). The Plus 3 suggests a Brass section. The Bay City Rollers played in the JM in 1969, and possibly before that as the lassie in front of me at school had a fold out handout of them then. I think the line up was the Longmuir Brothers, Derek & Alan, Nobby Clarke, who was later replaced after the Roller's hit "Keep on Dancing", Billy Lyall on keyboards, who became a record producer and subsequentally died of AIDs & Davie Paton on Guitar. Davie Paton and Billy Lyall went on to form Pilot who had huge success with "January", "It's Magic" and others.Pilot were the musicians who were the backing band for Kate Bush's first album "The Kick Inside". The last sight I had of Davie Paton was playing bass with Elton John. Oh yes, the original Rollers could play. I remember them playing The Move's "Wild Tiger Woman" somewhere in deepest Fife in 1969 with Davie Paton playing the diminshed run (Roy Wood's(The Move), which no-one else played at that time, in Popular music. I saw a guitarist playing it 7 times in 1solo a while back. Oh, how things have changed.

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  2. The old Bay City Rollers were very popular in Dundee. They used to get booked for the Morgan Academy dances that were held in the JM rather than the school hall like most schools of the day.

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  3. i played alongside the rollers in the jm one night when i played with five in a bush. i remember well the drummer had mislaid his sticks or had broken them all and his roadie frantically came across to our stage and asked if derek could borrow a pair, so i dipped into my stick bag and handed him a pair , i then watched him go across and hand them to the drummer, i gave the thumbs up sign to the drummer from my seating position on stage, he looked over but just looked away again. to this day i thought maybe he was being ignorant, but now im thinking maybe his eyesight wasnt too good and i should have given him credit for that. ronnie jack

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  4. Patr'4 were joined by 2 Go Go dancers Liz Fraczek and Wilma Carl and were known as Patr'4 plus 2. They first played on 24th December1969. They were later joined by Ronnie and became Patr'4 plus 3.

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  5. the black diamonds with bobby barty were the resident tuesday night band for the jm tufty club.when they left they were replaced by the boston dexters from edingburgh.they were only there a short time when i believe the were replaced by the rollers.

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  6. The rollers were never a resident band at the JM. They only appeared on a Friday or Saturday as a guest band. Anonymous

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  7. That Sunday was a one off. It was a holiday weekend. I should know I was one of the Pat'r 4 plus 3

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  8. And when I saw them at the JM in the year or so before "Keep On Dancin'", Archie was the organist.
    They did a mean version of "Born To Be Wild"...

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  9. Archie WHO??? never heard of him!! Ithink you are getting confused.

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    1. Archie Marr. The BCR who died in a House Fire.

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  10. Hi anonymous.
    Maybe you are too young to have seen them at the JM?
    According to the history at:-
    http://www.bcr1.de/history/history.htm
    Archie Marr was in the band from March 1971 until late Spring 1972 and played on their first two singles, "Keep on Dancing" and "We Can Make Music", before leaving the band.

    The web site,
    http://welovetherollers.com/members.htm
    also cites him as a member but has no other information.

    The comprehensive web site at,
    http://www.kinemagigz.com/%27b%27.htm#The%20Bay%20City%20Rollers
    also mentions him among other "Also" members, as "Archie Marr - organ & vocals". Incidentally, the BCR played the Kinema Dunfermline 12 times, their last gig being on Saturday, 25th May 1974.

    So, anonymous, I don't think I am "getting confused". Perhaps your knowledge of the band isn't as extensive as you thought it was? Or maybe you're getting confused with a different band that Archie didn't play with?

    PS: he had blonde hair with a feather cut.

    8=)

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  11. Hi Brian
    Thanks for the compliment (too young) I danced at the JM from 1969-June 1971. So he could have been there after my time.

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  12. Ach well, that's that sorted out then!

    8=)

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  13. seagatedweller23 June 2012 at 14:52

    Pat'r 4's most consistent personnel were Iain Ross on bass,his brother Stewart on drums and Jim Glen on lead they all doubled up on vocals too.They're all still going strong today in their 60s but only Jim still plays.

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  14. Did not know Jim was still playing. Where does he play? I last heard he was was a head teacher at a primary school. As you seem to be well infromed about the group do you know what Stewart and Ian are doing? and what about Joe the organist also the 2 G0 GO dancers Liz and Wilma who danced with thet boys in the JM ballroom?

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  15. seagatedweller24 June 2012 at 16:43

    You're right about Jim Glen,he was a headteacher at Errol Primary School but is now retired.He was doing a spot fairly regularly with Drew Larg and The Buzzards at the Bond on a Saturday night but I'm not sure if he still is.Stewart and Iain Ross are also both enjoying retirement although Stewart has kinda been through the mill due to ill health.Not sure about Joe Lozowy or the go go girls.I'll try to find out.

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  16. Hi Seagatedweller,
    I read with interest about Jim,Ian and Stewart. Sorry to read Stewart has not been well. I have news of Liz. She works full time for the DWP (pension service)at the back of Fintry Dundee. She started dancing with the Patr'4 on Christmas eve when she was 17 years old a week before her 18th birthday on new years day. She talked about it as being a brilliant time and how great the boys were both as musicians and friends.

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  17. Who is the "seagatedweller"? You seem to know a lot about the Ross brothers private lives as well as Joe Lozowy's surname, which was not well known. You also knew which primary school Jim Glen was head teacher. Are you conected to the Patr'4 plus 2.

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  18. used to go to the j.m.every week. loved going to see the rollers.billy lyle on keyboards .we used to stand and droll at him. does anyone remember the goldfish pond inside the entrance? my friends uncle jack flood used to be a doorman. there was an old woman used to be in the girls cloakroom, used to supply the girls with safety pins, needle and thread etc, for any wee "accident". I think she was a member of the wallace family?

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  19. Is the Patr'4 being mentioned here the same band Angus Rollo was in? I'm trying to get in touch with Ronnie Jack and Ron Neish on Angus' behalf.
    Kim

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  20. Hi Kim,
    Sorry Angus never played with the Patr'4 as stated in the other comments. There were only 4 members of patr'4 they were joined by the 2 go go dancers and were known as Patr'4 plus 2 and then Ronnie joined later and were then called plus 3.
    Liz

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  21. I've found Ronnie Jack, so getting somewhere now. He tells me the band he and Angus played in together was called New Flames. Thanks for taking time to reply Liz.
    Kim

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  22. Hi Kim,
    Glad you found Ronnie. When you next speak to him say Hi from me. I am Liz one of the dancers from Patr'4 plus 2.
    All the best Liz

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  23. Pat'r 4 used to be called Rocking Ravens before they changed their name they started in early 60s Iain breeds dogs long haired retrievers I think Joe was driving a chemist delivery van I'm not sure if he has given that up - they once appeared on TV in a talent show - doing a rolling stones hit - I think it was "Not fade away" -

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  24. Are all the boys well? Do they all still live in Perth?

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  25. Bands of the 60s have a come back what about Patr'4 having s one off come back????

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  26. I think Iain's health good Stewart has had a lot of health problems, Kidneys I think, Joe is looking old long hair not a good look at 70odd. I am not sure about Jimmy Glen

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  27. Any idea how to get in touch with Ian Stewart or Jim? It would be nice to say hello. Have not seen them for 42 years.

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  28. Hello folks,not been on here for ages that's why I've not answered some of the above comments.
    In answer to the query above wondering how I know so much about the Pat'r Four I am Iain Ross' son and just as handsome as his father was.
    Some might be interested to learn that a few months ago as a special surprise for his wifes birthday Jim Glen got the Pat'r Four back together again for one last gig with Jim,Iain,Stewart and Joe.Jim and Joe have been keeping their hand in music-wise over the years but for Iain and Stewart it was the first gig they'd done in 32 years.It was a great night Joe also did a solo spot, Jim did a duo with ex-Pat'r Four/Hot Toddy roadie Brian Lorimer and a few old band boys who were there joined in at various times.A fine time had by all and just like the good old,bad old days again.
    Anyone who wants more info or would like to get in touch with the boys for old times sake can contact me on cardeanross@uk2.net and I will pass your details on.

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  29. Sorry folks I should have expanded on the above and answered your questions properly.
    OK,Angus Rollo was at one time part of the band line up
    I think about the early 70s.
    The band did start off as the Rockin' Ravens c.1961 then morphed into the Pat'r Four later in the 60s when the beat boom went bust and ended up as Hot Toddy in the 70s before hangin' up their spurs about 1981.20 rockin' years on the road!
    Whoever mentioned "Not Fade Away" on the TV show has a bloody good memory! It was a short-lived show called "One Night Stand" fronted by Pete Murray and the band appeared on it about 1964.
    The boys don't actually live in Perth now but they're all in outlying areas as the town's too much for them at their age.
    As someone mentioned Stewart has unfortunately had health problems,Iain is now in rude health after having had a hip replacement and Joe has a gorgeous young wife who is keeping him bright-eyed and bushy tailed.I won't tell him about the comments above re.long hair and being 70 odd he might not see the funny side (if there was one)!
    The boys are all delighted that so many people remember them and are taking an interest.
    TTFN.

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  30. Hi seagatedweller. I have just come across Retro Dundee and the comments about the Pat'r 4. I was amused at some of the information about myself. Someone has been adding in comments using my name. They seem to know bits about my life. Oh sorry my name is Liz I was one of the go go dancers in in the Pat'r 4 Plus 2. The last time I saw Jim was when he played in the Scone inn that was in 1972. and Ian and Stewart was in the JM in 1970 when I stopped dancing with them. that was over 40 years ago. time flies. I am still working full time. say hello to Ian Stewart and Jim for me. Liz

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    1. Hi I am Stewart’s son. He was glad to find this online. he is looking to catch up with anyone for old time sake and for a project we are working on.

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  31. I'm curious about the name Pat'r 4 or Patr' 4. What is it's significance?

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    1. Hi, I had a short tenure with the Pat'r 4 in 73/74 on rhythm guitar i replaced Gus Rollo, who was on keyboard,Ronnie Neish was on Lead guitar,and when he left Pat Mason From Perth, came in on lead, Then Jimmy Glen came back just as I moved on, I have great memories of that time playing with Ian and his brother Stewart,sorry to read he's not keeping too well. Great guys and as was their mum Daisy,she was superb, all the best Mark B..from Perth.

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    2. Hi again, it was 72/3 rather than 73/4, when I was in the band, cheers. Mark B.

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  32. Hi I am the son of stewart Ross. He is looking to catch up with anyone for old time sake and for some project we are on. Thanks

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