a Typical gig night in 1966

vic · 2009-07-20T19:17:17+00:00

It's a Friday eve around 6pm in June '66. The Day Trippers are playing tonight at the Moth Hall Uitenhage (twist session). We are preparing our equipment to be transported to the hall. A few strings are changed on our Hofner semis and 2 Vox AC30's ,a Vox Foundation Bass,and a set of Pearl drums are loaded into a '63 VW camper. We do not have a PA of our own,(yet) instead we borrow a Selmer 60 watt valve system with two 5 feet tall columns fitted with 4 10inch speakers in each from a guy who is not in a group anymore. We use 3 Meazzi mics and an old Shure Elvis type mic that hangs over the drummer. Sound check-- just to make sure everyone is in tune and that the mics are working properly. No desk mixing...nothing of that sort. Seven thirty pm-- doors open and the war veterans (Moths) are selling tickets at the door , 20c a head. Soon there are about 300 teens --no alcohol, no ciggies-cooldrinks are sold by the paper cup. The lights are dimmed somewhat. Eight pm sharp--we started playing. "Sleep walk" quite soft at first. A mate at the back of the hall signals that the sound and balance are fine. Another 2 or 3 instrumentals follow (Shadows/Ventures); only 3 or 4 couples are on the floor and then it's time for the vocals. The top 20 hits follow: "Come back when you grow up, Hello Goodbye, Pied Piper, Pretty Flamingo, Under the Boardwalk, Satisfaction, etc etc." Vocals are deliberately nasal.....The Mersey sound is copied to the tee. Now the floor is full and some serious close-dancing is happening...a few girls smile at you when boyfriend isn't looking. 12 pm: Last number is announced--"Save the last dance for me."...time to pack up and go home. Collect the pay for the night. R20 in reddish paper notes. Those were the days...those bands or beat groups, as they were called back then, who could not play/cover the top 20 hits for 4 hours at a time, would never get a gig. My goodness how things have changed ! Would love to hear from you guys who were THERE in the 60's. Jaaa Boet......

inflames

Great post Vic! Loved it!

Usually started by someone paying too much attention to another guy's girlfriend

This still happens in 2009, and will continue until the end of time 8)

DonovanB

PeteM wrote Not a typical 60s gig but one to remember. While playing at the Barn, a venue on the Bluff, one hell of a fight broke out between a gang from JHB called the Bullets and our local Beach Boys.

The bluff is still the same. We payed at a place called Coasters (changed name since) and some guy brought his motorcycle in and did a donut in the bar.

We just thought it was a smoke machine... dodgy

chris77

Unlike Pink Floyd, I Wish I Was There... Great stories.

aubs1

Hey Vic, really awesome post..........I was in High school in Cape Town (Std Eight) in 1966, (I was 14!!!)... Played in my first band, 3 of the members were in the same class, and one from another school, not too far away...... our parents were "cool", got us our gear! Fenders and Vox! Yep, we also had a Meazzi PA. Later, we got a FENDER PA!! My one mate still has his ECHOLETTE which I used! More some other time........ ?

You say 4 guys had Strats in PE? One of my mates, who played with one of SAs top groups at the time "The Invaders" from Uitenhage had the same gear as we had! Fenders and Vox......AC100, Vox Foundation (I think it was 50W), and AC 30, no mixers, no monitors..... Can't remember what PA they used. I'm almost sure you would know of them! They had a number one hit in SA called "Shockwave" (first time in my life a heard a note sustained for about 30 seconds!!!!!!??.....the FUZZ Box came to town!)....they were awesome at the time! (So all you had was an Echolette, Fuzz and a Wah-Wah pedal)...We played clubs like "The Navigators Den", "The Stardust" and "The Colony" in CT.

Later (early 70s) played with a group from JHB, The Strangers..... By then we were using Marshalls, still no monitors etc. and opened for "The Flames" on their last tour (after leaving The Beach Boys) of SA before they broke up! We played PE, (I think 3 concerts) at the Feathermarket Hall, Durban, CT, JHB and then S.Rhodesia, (Zimbabwe), Bulawayo (City Hall) and Salisbury (Glamis Stadium).....later toured S.Rhodesia with Hawk, and Suck.....!!! Yes they were called Suck!!! We were all in the "Clive Calder" stable, except Hawk.... (sorry, getting a bit carried away with nostalgia ?......

We played stuff like Hey Joe, Stone Free, Paranoid, Joy to the World, Melting Pot, Celebrate (3 Dog Night)..etc..... the only instrumental we ever played was "Grazing in the Grass" as an opener at "sessions" ? ? ?

vic

aubs1 wrote Hey Vic, really awesome post..........I was in High school in Cape Town (Std 8) in 1966, !!! Played in my first band, 3 of the members were in the same class, and one from another school, not too far away...... our parents were "cool", got us our gear! Fenders and Vox! Yep, we also had a Meazzi PA. Later, we got a FENDER PA!! My one mate still has his ECHOLETTE which I used! More some other time........ ?

You say 4 guys guys had Strats in PE? One of my mates, who played with one of SAs top groups at the time "The Invaders" from Uitenhage had the same gear as we had! Fenders and Vox......AC100, Vox Foundation (I think it was 50W), and AC 30, no mixers, no monitors..... Can't remember what PA they used. I'm almost sure you would know of them! They had a number one hit in SA called "Shockwave" (first time in my life a heard a note sustained for about 30 seconds!!!!!!??.....the FUZZ Box came to town!)....they were awesome at the time!

Later (early 70s) played with a group from JHB, The Strangers..... By then we were using Marshalls, still no monitors etc. and opened for "The Flames" on their last tour (after leaving The Beach Boys) of SA before they broke up! We played PE, (I think 3 concerts) at the Feathermarket Hall, Durban, CT, JHB and then S.Rhodesia, (Zimbabwe), Bulawayo (City Hall) and Salisbury (Glamis Stadium).....later toured S.Rhodesia with Hawk, and Suck.....!!! Yes they were called Suck!!!

We played stuff like Hey Joe, Paranoid, Joy to the World, Melting Pot, Celebrate (3 Dog Night)..etc..... the only instrumental we ever played was "Grazing in the Grass" as an opener at "sessions" ? ? ?

Hi Aubs --good to hear from you. I was also in high school in '66. Average age of the Day Trippers was about 16. Yes, I know the Invaders (Johnny Burke, Errol Moses and Co) very well. We used their Marshall 100W PA when playing the Feathermarket Hall in January '68. I think John Burke passed away some time ago...but may be wrong about that. We had a recording session in PE at about that time with guys who played in Johnny Kongos and the G men - can't remember their names. Then there were Kenny Larkin and the Hazy Shades and the Delians with whom we often shared stage. Good ol' days.

aubs1

vic wrote Hi Aubs --good to hear from you. I was also in high school in '66. Average age of the Day Trippers was about 16. Yes, I know the Invaders (Johnny Burke, Errol Moses and Co) very well. We used their Marshall 100W PA when playing the Feathermarket Hall in January '68. I think John Burke passed away some time ago...but may be wrong about that. We had a recording session in PE at about that time with guys who played in Johnny Kongos and the G men - can't remember their names. Then there were Kenny Larkin and the Hazy Shades and the Delians with whom we often shared stage. Good ol' days.

vic

aubs1 wrote
vic wrote Hi Aubs --good to hear from you. I was also in high school in '66. Average age of the Day Trippers was about 16. Yes, I know the Invaders (Johnny Burke, Errol Moses and Co) very well. We used their Marshall 100W PA when playing the Feathermarket Hall in January '68. I think John Burke passed away some time ago...but may be wrong about that. We had a recording session in PE at about that time with guys who played in Johnny Kongos and the G men - can't remember their names. Then there were Kenny Larkin and the Hazy Shades and the Delians with whom we often shared stage. Good ol' days.
Hi Aubs --good to hear from you. I was also in high school in '66. Average age of the Day Trippers was about 16. Yes, I know the Invaders (Johnny Burke, Errol Moses and Co) very well. We used their Marshall 100W PA when playing the Feathermarket Hall in January '68. I think John Burke passed away some time ago...but may be wrong about that. We had a recording session in PE at about that time with guys who played in Johnny Kongos and the G men - can't remember their names. Then there were Kenny Larkin and the Hazy Shades and the Delians with whom we often shared stage. Good ol' days.

Yep, sadly both the Burke brothers have passed on......I met with Joey Moses (the Lead guitarist) a few years ago. He tried to start up a band again, did'nt work out. What an awesome guitarist, Joey!!!Yeah, they switched to Marshall after they came back from touring Europe, and changed their style completely. Influenced by Genesis!!!

I think I bumped into The Dealians at EMI studios in JHB once, not sure if they came up to record or what. They were from East London, if I remember correctly?? Also had a hit record, I think! Also vaguely remember Ken Larkin.

I worked in an Ad agency later, and bumped into Julian Laxton (Freedoms Children) and a few other guys quite often.....they went into doing jingles and the like! ?
Wow.....I don't feel so lonely any more!!! Just kidding!! Small world.......!!!

[/quote]

The Delians were from East London. Had a big hit with "Look out here comes tomorrow" -- a Niel Sedaka compo. Kenny Larkin had a massive hit with "Turn Around", again a compo from abroad.
Had a recording session at Teal records in Waal street Cape Town around '69 ish. Nothing came of it due to the sudden passing of our producer Gerry Bosman at the time.

Banditman

My folks used to talk about The Delians - they were house band at the Deals Hotel in East London originally before moving on to other things. They used to speak about listening to Radio LM to get decent music.

I remember my uncle and his friends loading their gear into their red Fleetline Kombi. He was bassist for Imagine, & I still chuckle at the pics in his bar of them all wearing matching white trousers and Hawaiian-ish/Elvis shirts (taken in the '70s sometime when they were sponsored by Yamaha for PA & keyboards I think.)

Wish I'd been more than two bricks & a tickie tall, to enjoy it. :?

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