Graham Knight

Today I attended the funeral of Gordon Hardie who was also a neighbour of mine. Gordon was a founder member of the Abergeldie Jazz club that flourished in the late fifties and early sixties. It played host to local bands like the Sandy West Jazz Band and even promoted Aberdeen appearances for big stars like Dizzy Gillespie. Gordon's Stag Entertainments in the sixties, often in association with Albert Bonici, Brian Epstein etc booked many shows in the North East including a Sunday Concert by the Beatles into the Beach Ballroom in December 1962. Later on he would promote shows at the Capitol Theatre Aberdeen featuring The Rolling Stones, Millie Jackson, Dusty Springfield, Kenny Ball's Jazzmen etc etc. Gordon was a very successful promoter and when I was about 14 he would come into my Dad's shop in Rosemount and he always parked his Porsche right at the door. Having a Porsche back in 1958 really was something else. Over the years Gordon must have had dozens of them. I remember him selling one once because the colour of the bonnet clashed with the colour of the upholstery! It was mentioned today that he was quite a ladies man and didn't get married till he was 46. Once he was driving Dusty Springfield between shows and took the opportunity to chat her up but to no avail. It was a little later that he learned that Dusty was gay. Gordon was very good at helping young musicians at the start of their careers and his work at Aberdeen Arts Centre was much also much appreciated. He came out of retirement to help book my piano playing friend Kyle Esplin get his first TV engagement that led him on to great success. http://kyleesplin.com Gordon lived just down the road from me and whenever I heard the roar of a high powered engine and a friendly toot on the horn - it was always Gordon passing by. There was never any point in waving back as he would be long gone. Sadly Gordon himself has now gone and another link with Aberdeen's musical history is no longer with us.

Hedgehog Pie have been going for a very long time. To illustrate this point my 99 year old grandmother lived in Sprinfgield Road, Aberdeen and whenever I drove her home we would pass the Treetops Hotel that usually had a poster outside saying something like "Hedgehog Pie - Friday and Saturday" -and I remeber my Gran saying they always seem to have that on the menu and I think it is ridiculous - imagine eating hedgehogs!

http://www.falconarts.co.uk/Bands.html

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My genuine ice bucket challenge to Paddy Buchanan of the Marionettes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv1upD8p-FE

No relation of mine but I can't help but think our mutual friend Nice Peter should record a new version of "50 Cents is a Pussy - he got shot nine times" and update the words to suit Suge's predicament. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DubmxXno8s

Got this news in an e-mail from BT today. BT extra. Day tripping made easy

I arrived about 10 minutes before the band were due to start and was surprised to see Jerry lee Lewis and other 50s rock'n'roll favourites playing on the video screen. Unknown to me this was a portent of what was to come later. The Marionettes have built quite a following in the Aberdeen and are a band who consistently do good shows and tonight was no exception. Usually they play their own material but tonight had a few surprises. However there were a few surprises, I did not expect to hear "O' Gin I Were Whaur the Gadie Rins." And I certainly did not expect to hear an amazingly rockin' version of Eddie Cochran's "Something' Else." As ever Paddy's vocals and his own guitar playing were backed by three further guitarists and a great solid drummer. On this showing the Marionettes deserve to be playing to much bigger audiences.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/10/magazine/the-brazilian-bus-magnate-whos-buying-up-all-the-worlds-vinyl-records.html?smid=fb-share&_r=1

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/e-spliff--dutch-company-develops-world-s-first-electronic-joint-113443816.html#ubKVRoT

There is a Leak TL12 valve amplifier - pair of KT88 in the output. Great amplifier that is 50 years old, I have two of them The enthusiasts pay a fortune for Leak amps on E-bay. Some great items in this BBC sale for which you can bid online. And to think a lot of this excellent gear has stood the test of time and it has all been replaced by digital rubbish. Bring back vales and bring back mono!

http://www.ppauctions.com/_assets/auctions/115/flysheet/Flysheet.pdf

This is OFF TOPIC and nothing to do with music but perhaps someone can help. Is there any archery enthusiast on this Forum? I am looking for someone who knows how to use a bow and arrow to get a very thin fishing line over the top of a 60ft tree at the foot of my garden. I want to then use the fishing line to pull up a ham radio wire aerial. Huge fee available! Loads of alcohol etc.

Ha ha. It wasn't Mon Moon - more someone your age Adam - no more clues I am sworn to secrecy

Got a surprise call from a member today. So this item has now gone to a good home. I am sworn to secrecy as to who is going to be enjoying the benefits of a waterbed!

You should consider visiting the community of Christiana - an interesting concept where even the government don't go.

Free Brand New Waterbed Mattress and Liner. Any joiner/carpenter on Aberdeen Music that fancies having a waterbed? The above King Size items are brand new and are available free of charge - you will need to make a suitable wooden frame and buy a heater pad to have your own waterbed. I recently decided to replace my existing waterbed mattress for one with a different motion time . I stupidly thought my bed was a King Size model and I ordered the above goods. However, it turns out my own bed frame is actually bigger than King and therefore I ordered the wrong gear . I now have the correct sizes but the above brand new items are free to any Aberdeen Music Member. You will need to construct two frames. Check what they look like in the first couple of minutes of this video. www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNHr3D8TfqY The actual products come from this firm - check the King Size details for traditional wooden framed beds for more information.at this link: www.aquaglowwaterbeds.co.uk PM me for more details.

Nefarious C this morning at 9.50am in Rose Street - complete with dog. Up a bit early for a rock'n'roller who has a gig tonight at The Tunnels.

Another jam packed Craig Scott promotion that was headlined by The Marionettes. Lead vocalist Paddy was in good form and when he temporarily stopped singing to have a frantic bash on the drums he provoked a bit of a stage invasion. Fortunately promoter Craig soon dealt with the overcrowded stage and the Marionettes didn't miss a beat and played on. "Bigsby" thought he was the oldest person there until I turned up.

http://dailycaller.com/2014/02/20/crowdpilot-app-lets-strangers-listen-to-your-phone-calls/#ixzz2ttek0E72

Yesterday's P&J said "The global market is opening up to the world."

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/02/16/3092068/jamie-coots-well-known-snake-handling.html

http://www.list.co.uk/article/58422-garage-rock-pioneers-tav-falco-and-panther-burns-set-for-uk-dates-in-2014/ When Tav was with Alex Chilton the band was called LX Chilton. Tav is a very unusual guy from Memphis who has had a very varied career. The dates in Glasgow and Edinburgh are detailed in the linked article.

Just ring me when you get up! You are always up early. I am using you as my alarm clock.