Roadrunner

I first saw Billy playing at Banff Academy one lunchtime with Rat Salad. That's probably when I realised that, as well as listening to all the great music that was around in those days, it was actually possible to play it.

I had a brilliant time over the next few years mainly jamming with Doug Bruce, Euan Stevenson and, on occasion, Gerry Jablonski. Being a bit too young we really only caught the tail end of bands like Rat Salad, Benny's Dream and Pyramid (although Gordon Wilson still put on some really good bands at the Fife Lodge on Sunday nights over the time when I was old enough to get in. Horizon (Private ID), The Bashers, Rokoto and Jolson to name but a few).

My brother Phil was mates with Ally Wilson and told me he was playing with a new band in the Crown Hotel in Banff one Friday night. It was an odd venue and I didn't even know that Ally was a guitar player but the promise of some classic rock was too great to resist. I seem to recall I was about the only one there. There might have been a couple in having a nice romantic meal! The line up at that time was Ian Lumsden, Sandy Thain, Sye Murray, Mike Bruce and Ally Wilson. It sounds a bit corny but I couldn't believe how brilliant it sounded. It was so good that I can still remember 30 odd years later that they opened with Do it Again by Steely Dan. They had a great mix of songs and one that stood out for me was a fantastic version of No Matter What by Badfinger. I'd never heard the song before but it was a belter. Not sure if they played Highway Star at that stage but that certainly turned into a great crowd favourite. They were, to my mind, just a fantastic band. The band played in the Crown a few more times after that and word of mouth meant the crowds got bigger each time. I don't think they ever played at the Fife Lodge other than one night when the booked band didn't turn up and they happened to be there with all their gear in the van. They went down a storm.

My memories of the Joe Public line up after Ally left are a bit vague even though I would go and see them in Buckie, Portsoy and, at least once, in the Windmill in Peterhead -- I think it may be because I was usually rather drunk. I have a memory in the Crown of some sort of levitation trick involving 2 chairs and a prone body? Was I that drunk?
I became, and still am, very good friends with Sye and Sandy and ended up playing with Sandy in various bands over the years.

Strangely enough I also played in a "clubby" band with Eric Paterson (Rat Salad singer) and George Sandison (Benny's Dream drummer) and Sye in the very early 80's.

Don't know if Billy will remember but he played a couple of gigs with me and a mutual friend (John Swinton) in the Malt Mill in the mid 80's. It was a bit of a thrill for me having regarded Billy as something of a legend over the years. The next time I saw Billy play was 2 or 3 years ago when he very graciously came up and played some blistering guitar with a band I was playing with in Johnshaven. (In the afternoon, outside, in the caravan park -- very odd).

I was really pleased to be able to get up to the Ship to see two old masters performing and it was great not to be disappointed. It could have just been a nostalgia trip for a couple of old rockers but it was actually a really tight performance by a quality band. The two young lads are superb players and it was fantastic to see them really getting in to the music. Here's hoping there are more gigs to follow.

Dave (McIntosh)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Roadrunner
• Banff
• Ship Inn
• Billy Brown
• Joe Public
• Billy Brown's Blues 79'ers

[davysparkle]

Cheers Billy. If you fancy a gig down Bervie or Johnshaven way let me know. We've a nice little Mackie PA and any backline you'd need. Bit of a trek I know.

All the best

Dave

[490guitars]

You say all the right things Dave! But seriously, you have some memory. When I let Ian read all this today he exclaimed "He's spot on!"

Thanks for taking the time and trouble to make and post these videos - they were a wonderful surprise. We posted them on the Facebook Blues 79'ers page as well.

I really enjoyed that Johnshaven jam!

God bless,

Billy