January
North east gigs
1/1/71 Groundhogs, Quintessence and Medicine Head 9/10/70 White Trash, Windmill and Sect appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
3/1/71 Tyrannosaurus Rex appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
14/1/71 Yes and Dada appear at Newcastle City Hall
15/1/71 Chicken Shack, Third Ear Band and If 9/10/70 White Trash, Windmill and Sect appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
15/1/71 Pricipal Edwards Magic Theatre appear at Newcastle, Polytechnic
16/1/71 Audience appear at Durham University
18/1/71 Black Sabbath, Curved Air and Freedom appear at Newcastle City Hall
20/1/71 The Faces appear at Newcastle City Hall
28/1/71 Mott The Hoople and Wishbone Ash appear at Newcastle City Hall
31/1/71 Van Der Graaf Generator, Lindisfarne and Genesis appear at Newcastle City Hall
My gigs (with Sneeze)
Fri 8/1/1971 Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
Sat 9/1/1971 Rex, Whitley Bay
Tue 12/1/1971 St Johns, Whitley Bay
Fri 15/1/1971 Amble British Legion
Mon 18/1/1971 Blue Star Social Club
Sun 24/1/1971 Stanley Youth Club
Fri 29/1/1971 Alnmouth
Sat 30/1/1971 Felling Welfare
Happening Elsewhere
The case to dissolve The Beatles’ partnership begins at London’s High Court (19th), with Paul McCartney fighting his corner against the other three plus business manager Allen Klein.
Arthur Brown re-launches his career with a new backing band ‘Kingdom Come’.
It’s announced that Ginger Baker’s ‘Airforce’ outfit will disband after the final date of their current tour (Feb 20th)
Lee Jackson re-vamps Jackson Heights. Out go drummer Tommy Sloane and organist Dave Watts. In come John Woods (ex-Jody Grind) on drums and guitarist Roger McKew from Neil Innes’ The World. Guitarist/Pianist Charlie Harcourt remains with the band.
Despite having broken-up The Beatles are voted Top British Group in the 1971 NME Readers Poll, followed by The Hollies, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones & Moody Blues. McGuinness Flint are Best New Group.
Organist Wynder K Frog (Mick Weaver) and saxist Johnny Almond join the Keef Hartley Band.
It’s reported that Noel Redding has rejoined Fat Mattress, and that the group has reverted to its original four-piece line-up.
In the charts
1 Grandad – Clive Dunn
10 Home Lovin’ Man – Andy Williams
20 You’re ready Now – Frankie Valli
_________________________________________________________
February
North east gigs
5/2/71 Family and Dada appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
7/2/71 Yes appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
11/2/71 Uriah Heep appear at Middlesbough Town Hall
12/2/71 Clouds and Quiver appear at Sunderland Tech College
13/2/71 Barclay James Harvest appear at Darlington College
13/2/71 The Strawbs appear at Durham University
13/2/71 Quiver appear at Kirklevington Country Club
14/2/71 Free and Amazing Blondel appear at Sunderland Empire
18/2/71 Tyrannosaurus Rex and If appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
19/2/71 Stackridge appear at Newcastle Polytechnic
20/2/71 Kevin Ayres, Dr Strangely Strange and Gringo appear at Durham University
20/2/71 Deep Purple and Hardin-York appear at Newcastle City Hall
20/2/71 Barclay James Harvest and Mick Abrahams appear at Sunderland Tech College
23/2/71 Jackson Heights, Every Which Way and Audience appear at Newcastle City Hall
24/2/71 Johnny Winter, Climax Chicago Blues Band and Mogul Thrash appear at Newcastle City Hall
24/2/71 Nucleas appear at Newcastle University
26/271 Uriah Heep appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
27/2/71 Lindisfarne appear at Kirklevington Country Club
27/2/71 Free and Amazing Blondel appear at Newcastle City Hall
My gigs (with Sneeze)
Fri 5/2/1971 Consett Victory Club
Sat 6/2/1971 Ashington Hop
Fri 12/2/1971 Colwell Village Hall
Sat 13/2/1971 Students Union, Newcastle
Thu 18/2/1971 Birtley Buffs
Fri 19/2/1971 St Cuthberts
Sat 20/2/1971 Viking, Seahouses
Tue 23/2/1971 Change Is
Sun 28/2/1971 Portland, Ashington
Happening Elsewhere
George Harrison is sued over his hit “My Sweet Lord”. It’s alleged that the song infringes the copyright of The Chiffons’ 1963 hit “He’s So Fine”. Harrison is eventually found guilty of ‘unconscious plagiarism’, subsequently losing all of his royalties on the song.
Fleetwood Mac guitarist Jeremy Spencer goes missing in Los Angeles shortly before the group are due to perform at the Whiskey A Go-Go club. Subsequently it’s discovered that he has joined the Children Of God religious cult and has quit the music business.
Fairport Convention guitarist Richard Thompson quits the group, causing the cancellation of their prestige concert at Royal Festival Hall. Thompson is not replaced, instead Simon Nicol switches from rhythm to lead guitar.
More drama for Fairport when a lorry crashed into their communal home. Dave Swarbrick narrowly escapes death as his bedroom collapses. The Dutch driver is not so lucky.
Singer/dancer Malcolm Le Maistre joins the Incredible String Band while Rose Simpson leaves the band in order to study sound engineering!
Led Zeppelin announce a ‘Back to the Clubs’ tour of the small venues where they started out, but the ruse back-fires somewhat, with an avalanche of ticket enquires clogging systems and many complaints from disgruntled punters who miss out.
Lindisfarne perform on BBC’s ‘Sounds Of the 70s’ radio programme.
In the charts
1 My Sweet Lord – George Harrison
10 Ape Man – Kinks
20 Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond
_________________________________________________________
March
North east gigs
4/3/71 Rolling Stones appear at Newcastle City Hall
4/3/71 Emerson, Lake & Palmer appear at ABC, Stockton
5/3/71 Fairport Convention and Stud appear at Top rank, Sunderland
5/3/71 Mungo Jerry and Principal Edwards Magic Theatre appear at Durham University
7/3/71 Yes appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
12/3/71 Lindisfarne, Amazing Blondel and Storyteller appear at Sunderland Polytechnic
13/3/71 Dream Police appear at Kirklevington Country Club
13/3/71 Pentangle appear at Newcastle Univesity
14/3/71 Quintessence appear at Newcastle City Hall
14/3/71 Fairport Convention appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
18/3/71 Led Zeppelin appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
18/3/71 Stone The Crows, Beggars Opera and Arc appear at Newcastle City Hall
19/3/71 Amazing Blondel appear at Kirklevington Country Club
20/3/71 Jethro Tull and Steeleye Span appear at Sunderland Empire
26/3/71 Mott The Hoople and Medicine Head appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
26/3/71 Emerson Lake & Palmer appear at Newcastle City Hall
26/3/71 Bridget St John appear at Newcastle Polytechnic
27/3/71 Thin Lizzy appear at Kirklevington Country Club
My gigs (with Sneeze)
Thu 4/3/1971 Ponteland Youth Club
Sat 6/3/1971 Felling Welfare
Mon 8/3/1971 Rex, Whitley Bay
Happening Elsewhere
The judge in the Beatles’ court case decides in Paul McCartney’s favour. Meanwhile, the press run headlines that the Beatles will reform with Klaus Voorman replacing McCartney on bass. McCartney is also involved in yet another dispute, this time with publishers Northern Songs over his latest hit single “Another Day”. The song has been co-credited to both McCartney and his wife Linda, thereby reducing the amount of earnings due to Northern songs by 50%. Northern Songs Chairman Jack Gill insists that Linda is not capable of composing such music and threatens court action.
Peter Green stands in for the missing Jeremy Spencer on Fleetwood Mac’s US Tour.
Quintessence are banned from future appearances at Bristol’s Colston Hall following their concert this month. The venue’s management objected to the group handing out burning joss sticks to the audience, constituting a ‘fire risk’.
Ex-Jethro Tull bass player Glen Cornick announces the formation of his new group, Wild Turkey, which includes Gary Pickford-Hopkins and John Weathers from Swansea psych-group Eyes Of Blue.
Kinks leader Ray Davies is ordered to slow down and take a month off by his medical advisors. Davies apparently has “four writing projects on the go” plus recording and live concert commitments.
On 8th March, Lindisfarne appear on BBC’s ‘Sound Of The 70s’ programme.
In the charts
1 Baby Jump – Mungo Jerry
10 Resurrection Shuffle – Ashton, Gardner & Dyke
20 Jack In The Box – Clodagh Rodgers
_________________________________________________________
April
North east gigs
2/4/71 Quintessence and Stray appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
2/4/71 Head, Hand & Feat appear at Kirklevington Country Club
3/4/71 Terry Reid appear at Kirklevington Country Club
4/4/71 Pink Floyd appear at Locarno, Sunderland
8/4/71 Skid Row, Hardin & York and Stray appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
11/4/71 ELO appear at Newcastle City Hall
15/4/71 Groundhogs, Chicken Shack and Michael Chapman appear at Newcastle City Hall
17/4/71 Wishbone Ash appear at Kirklevington Country Club
17/4/71 Caravan and Bell & Arc appear at Newcastle City Hall
23/4/71 Stackridge appear at Durham University
25/4/71 Strawbs appear at Newcastle City Hall
30/4/71 Quintessence and Stone The Crows appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
My gigs (with Scallywag)
Fri 30/4/1971 Training College, Nevilles Cross
Happening Elsewhere
The sleeve of David Bowie’s latest album “The Man Who Sold The World” runs into controversy as it shows the artist wearing a dress. The sleeve is withdrawn, making original copies highly priced collector’s items.
Sessions for a planned second Derek & The Dominoes are scrapped amid considerable acrimony. Eric Clapton retreats to his home in Surrey, becoming a virtual recluse for the next two years.
The Rolling Stones launch their own ‘Rolling Stones’ label, to be distributed by Atlantic. Meanwhile, the group have moved to the French Riviera to escape UK Tax laws.
In the charts
1 Hot Love – T.Rex
10 (Where Do I Begin) Love Story – Andy Williams
20 Something Old, Something New – Fantastics
_________________________________________________________
May
North east gigs
7/5/71 Edgar Broughton Band appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
7/5/71 The Who appear at Top Rank, Sunderland
8/5/71 Caravan and Teargas appear at Durham University
11/5/71 Groundhogs appear at Newcastle City Hall
14/5/71 Buddy Miles Express and Kevin Ayres appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
14/5/71 Soft Machine appear at Newcastle City Hall
15/5/71 King Crimson appear at Newcastle City Hall
21/5/71 Stud, Hardin & York and Gin House appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
28/5/71 Rod Stewart and The Faces appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
29/5/71 Hart Rock at Hartlepool Football Ground: beggars Opera, Arrival, Yellow, Spyda and Brass Alley
My gigs (with Scallywag)
Tue 4/5/1971 Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
Sat 8/5/1971 Leam Lane Youth Club
Fri 14/5/1971 Langley Park Youth Club
Mon 17/5/1971 Rex, Whitley Bay
Fri 21/5/1971 Amble British Legion
Sat 22/5/1971 Bellingham Town Hall
Sun 23/5/1971 Portland, Ashington
Mon24/5/1971 Horden Labour Club
Fri 28/5/1971 Disco Club, Hartlepool
Sat 29/5/1971 Viking, Seahouses
Happening Elsewhere
Free split after a turbulent Australian tour. Paul Rodgers and Andy Fraser form their own groups, Peace and Toby respectively, while Paul Kossoff and Simon Kirke work together on an album alongside Tetsu Yamauchi and John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick.
American Bob Welch is installed as Jeremy Spencer’s permanent replacement in Fleetwood Mac.
Russ Ballard of Argent is electrocuted on stage at Frankfurt’s Zoom Club in Germany. Thankfully he recovers in hospital.
Mick Jagger marries Bianca in Paris (12th)
In the charts
1 Knock Three Times – Dawn
10 (Where Do I Begin) Love Story – Andy Williams
20 Something Old, Something New – Fantastics
________________________________________________________
June
North east gigs
1/6/71 Osibisa and Budgie appear at Newcastle City Hall
5/6/71 Stray appear at Durham University
6/6/71 Skid Row appear at Newcastle City Hall
6/6/71 Rory Gallaghers appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
11/6/71 Rory Gallagher appears at Newcastle City Hall
11/6/71 Groundhogs appear at Bay Hotel, Sunderland
12/6/71 Humble Pie appear at Durham University
13/6/71 Cliff Bennet’s Rebellion appear at Excel Bowl, Middlesbrough
13/6/71 Edgar Broughton Band and pink Fairies appear at Newcastle City Hall
18/6/71 Curved Air and Mick Abrahams appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
19/6/71 Wishbone Ash, Renaissance and Stackridge appear at Newcastle City Hall
20/6/71 Lindisfarne, Bell & Arc and Halfbreed appear at Newcastle City Hall
20/6/71 Thin Lizzy and Bronco appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
22/6/71 Sha Na Na, Juicy Lucy, Uriah Heep and Paladin appear at Sunderland Empire
25/6/71 Deep Purple and Quiver appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
25/6/71 Traffic appear at Durham University
My gigs (with Scallywag)
Fri 4/6/1971 Glororum Farm, Bamburgh
Sat 5/6/1971 Redheugh Park / Centre 64, Blyth
Sat 12/6/1971 Rex, Whitley Bay
Fri 18/6/1971 Locarno Ballroom, Sunderland
Sat 26/6/1971 Three Ones Club, Ashington
Happening Elsewhere
Barriemore Barlow replaces Clive Bunker on the drum stool in Jethro Tull. No reason is given for the switch.
1968 pop stars The Herd reform without Peter Frampton. One single later and they disband again.
Keyboardist Wynder K Frogg (Mick Weaver) replaces Chris Stainton in The Grease Band.
Dave Mason re-joins Traffic for a short British tour. Drummer Jim Gordon and percussionist Rebop also augment the core trio of Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood.
Noel Redding announces his new group, to be called “Road”.
In the charts
1 Knock Three Times – Dawn
10 Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep – Middle Of The Road
20 Mozart Symphony No.40 in G Minor – Waldo De Los Rios
________________________________________________________
July
North east gigs
3/7/71 Procol Harum, Stone The Crows and Chicken Shack appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
4/7/71 Van Der Graaf Generator appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
7/7/71 Uriah Heep and Palladin appear at Middlesbrough Town Hall
9/7/71 Ground Hogs and Head Hands & Feet appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
9/7/71 Hookfoot appear at Locarno, Sunderland
15/7/71 Mungo Jerry appear at Newcastle City Hall
15/7/71 Wishbone Ash and Brinsley Shwartz appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
16/7/71 Wishbone Ash and Atomic Rooster appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
23/7/71 Colosseum and Osibisa appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
25/1/71 Colloseum appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
26/7/71 Van Der Graaf Generator appear at La Ronde, Billingham
29/7/71 Audieance, Renaissance and Gordon Giltrap appear at Newcastle City Hall
30/7/71 Audieance, Renaissance and Gordon Giltrap appear at Middlesbrough Town Hall
30/7/71 Rory Gallagher and The James Gang appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
My gigs (with Scallywag)
Thu 1/7/1971 Haswell WMC
Sat 3/7/1971 Lanchester
Fri 23/7/1971 Locarno Ballroom, Sunderland
Sat 24/7/1971 Cellar Club, Ashington
Mon 26/7/1971 Rex, Whitley Bay
Sat 31/7/1971 Dolphin Club, Seahouses
Happening Elsewhere
Led Zeppelin are involved in a massive riot during their gig in Milan, Italy. The 15,000 crowd are enraged when police and soldiers lob tear gas and charge them with batons. The group are locked in their dressing room for several hours until the situation calms.
George Harrison announces that he will stage two All-Star benefit concerts in aid of Bangla Desh in New York during August
The Rolling Stones begin recording their next album while in tax exile in France
Bass player and fiddler John Weider quits Family because he wants to “Settle down, do some session work and generally move at his own pace”. He is eventually replaced by John Wetton (ex-Mogul Thrash)
Guitarist Robin Trower quits Procol Harum and is replaced by Dave Ball. Procol also add Alan Cartwright (from Every Which Way) on bass, allowing Chris Copping to concentrate on organ rather than doubling up.
Mott the Hoople are banned from further appearances at the Royal Albert Hall following disturbances at their concert at the venue on July 8th.
Also banned is Edgar Broughton. His attempts to play a series of free shows at Seaside resorts are frustrated by Morecambe, Blackpool and Blackpool Councils on the grounds of “possible inconvenience to local residents”. In Redcar Edgar is arrested in front of five thousand fans after going ahead with a show on a local playing field without permission.
In the charts
1 Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep – Middle Of The Road
10 Monkey Spanner – Dave Ansil Collins
20 Tonight – The Move
________________________________________________________
August
North east gigs
6/8/71 Curved Air and Medicine Head appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
13/8/71 Mott The Hoople and Gin House appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
15/8/71 If, Steamhammer and Million appear at Newcastle City Hall
20/8/71 Quintessence and East Of Eden appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
27/8/71 Rod Stewart & The Faces and Bell & Arc appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
My gigs (with Scallywag)
Sat 7/8/1971 Viking, Seahouses
Sat 14/8/1971 Irish Democratic Club, Consett
Fri 20/8/1971 Morpeth Police Dance
Fri 27/8/1971 Colwell Village Hall
Sat 28/8/1971 Viking, Seahouses
Happening Elsewhere
George Harrison organises the ‘Concert For Bangla Desh’, held at New York’s Madison Square Garden, in aid of the famine ridden country (1st). Harrison is joined by a star-studded bill including fellow Brits Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton (his final public appearance for a year and a half) and Badfinger.
Paul McCartney announces the formation of his new group, Wings, featuring ex-Moody Blue Denny Laine on guitar and Denny Sewell on drums. Mrs McCartney supplies keyboards!
Tony Kaye leaves Yes. He is replaced on keyboards by Rick Wakeman from The Strawbs, who replace Rick with Blue Weaver (ex-Amen Corner).
Drummer Alan Whitehead leaves Marmalade. He’s replaced by Dougie Henderson (ex-Poets).
Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle quit McGuinness Flint.
Within weeks of quitting Family, John Weider reverses his decision to settle in the USA because of homesickness. Instead he joins Stud, the group put together by the ex-Taste rhythm section, John Wilson and Richie McCracken, and former Blossom Toes guitarist Jim Cregan (ironically a future Family bass player!)
John Lennon writes and produces a single “God Save Us”, credited to the Elastic Oz Band, in aid of Oz magazine, the editors of which are facing obscenity charges.
In the charts
1 Never Ending Song Of Love – New Seekers
10 Me And You And A Dog Named Boo – Lobo
20 Hey Girl Don’t Bother Me – The Tams
________________________________________________________
September
North east gigs
10/9/71 Cat Stevens, Mimi Farina and Tom Jans appear at Newcastle City hall
16/9/71 Ten Years After, Supertramp and Keith Christmas appear at Newcastle City Hall
17/9/71 Curved Air appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
19/9/71 Uriah Heep appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
22/9/71 Magna Carter appear at Newcastle City Hall
29/9/71 Alan Hull, The Callies and Pete Scott appear at Newcastle City Hall
My gigs (with Scallywag)
Thu 2/9/1971 Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
Sat 4/9/1971 Dolphin Club, Seahouses
Fri 10/9/1971 Kelso Village School
Sat 11/9/1971 Three Ones Club, Ashington
Sun 12/9/1971 Jarrow Festival
Thu 16/9/1971 Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
Fri 17/9/1971 Wideopen Secondary School
Sat 18/9/1971 Viking, Seahouses
Sun19/9/1971 Stanley Youth Club
Mon 20/9/1971 Rex, Whitley Bay
Tue 21/9/1971 Mulitchord Studio (recording)
Sat 25/9/1971 Glenholm, Crook
Tue28/9/1971 St Josephs, North Shields
Happening Elsewhere
Peter Frampton quits Humble Pie to concentrate on a solo career. Frampton is replaced by Dave Clempson of the disbanding Colosseum.
Emerson Lake & Palmer are voted Top British band in the Melody Maker Poll. Rod Stewart is top male vocalist and Sandy Denny top lady.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono leave London to live in New York. Lennon never sets foot on British soil again.
Hawkwind bassist Dave Anderson leaves the group owing to a difference of musical opinion. His replacement is a certain Ian Kilmister (ex-Rocking Vicars, Sam Gopal, Opal Butterfly)–better known as “Lemmy”!
Head Hands & Feet, and Bridget St John appear on BBC 2’s new ‘live’ music programme – ‘Old Grey Whistle Test’. The show focuses on ‘serious’ rock music rather than chart hits. It is emphasised by a lack of showbiz glitter with bands often performing their songs in front of either the bare studio walls or plain wooden boards.
In the charts
1 Hey Girl Don’t Bother Me – The Tams
10 Let Your Yeah Be Yeah – Pioneers
20 For All We Know – Shirley Bassey
________________________________________________________
October
North east gigs
2/10/71 Paladin appear at Newcastle University
3/10/71 Paladin appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
6/10/72 Bell & Arc appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
8/10/71 Wishbone Ash and Quiver appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
9/10/71Van Der Graaf Generator appear at Durham University
10/10/71 Wishbone Ash appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
15/10/71 Yes and Jonathan Swift appear at ABC, Stockton
16/10/71 Yes and Jonathan Swift appear at Newcastle City Hall
16/10/71 Patto appear at Durham University
21/10/71 Steeleye Span and Andy Roberts appear at Newcastle City Hall
22/10/71 Quintessence and East Of Eden appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
23/10/71 Bell & Arc appear at Dunelm House, Durham
23/10/71 Caravan, Pink Fairies and Vinegar Joe appear at Newcastle City Hall
24/10/71 King Crimson appear at Newcastle City Hall
24/10/71 Sandy Denny appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
26/10/71 Argent and Climax Chicago Blues Band appear at Newcastle City Hall
28/10/71 Southern Comfort, Audience and Genesis appear at Newcastle City Hall
29/1071 Stone The Crows appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
30/10/71 The Who appear at the Odeon, Newcastle
30/10/71 Groundhogs appear at Durham University
31/10/71 T Rex appear at Newcastle City Hall
31/10/71 Head, Hand & Feet appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
My gigs (with Scallywag)
Fri 8/10/1971 La Ronde, Billingham
Sat 16/10/1971 Viking, Seahouses
Mon 25/10/1971 Rex, Whitley Bay
Fri 29/10/1971 Locarno Ballroom, Sunderland
Sat 30/10/1971 Barnard Castle YMCA
Fri 08/10/1971 La Ronde, Billingham
Sat 16/10/1971 Viking, Seahouses
Mon 25/10/1971 Rex, Whitley Bay
Happening Elsewhere
Vocalist Allan Clarke announces that he is to leave The Hollies.
It’s announced that Paul McCartney’s new group, comprising himself, wife Linda, Denny Laine and drummer Denny Seiwell, will be known as Wings.
Ex-Nice/ Attack guitarist Davy O’List joins up-and-coming band Roxy Music in time for their first public gig at the LSE.
Graham Gouldman joins Hotlegs for their British Tour in support of the Moody Blues. Initially a temporary member along with 2 other musicians,
Gouldman soon joins full-time and the group change their name to 10cc.
Cat Stevens and Jack Bruce appear on BBC2 TV’s ‘Old Grey Whistle Test’ on 5th October, Lindisfarne and Wishbone Ash appear on the12th and Stone The Crows on the 19th.
In the charts
1 Maggie May – Rod Stewart
10 Cousin Norman – Marmalade
20 Keep On Dancing – Bay City Rollers
________________________________________________________
November
North east gigs
3/11/71 Atomic Rooster and Cochise appear at Newcastle City Hall
4/11/71 T Rex appered at ABC, Stockton
5/11/71 Mott The Hoople and Peace appear at Newcastle City Hall
6/11/71 Bell & Arc appear at Newcastle University
11/11/71 Led Zeppelin appear at Newcastle City Hall
12/11/71 Mick Abrahams appear at Newcastle University
12/11/71 Led Zeppelin appear at Locarno, Sunderland
13/11/71 Mick Abrahams appear at Durham University
13/11/71 Family appear at Newcastle City Hall
18/11/71 Edgar Broughton and Stray appear at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
17/11/71 Slade appear at Locarno, Sunderland
19/11/71 Dando Shaft appear at Kirklevington Country Club
20/11/71 Uriah Heep appear at Dunelm House, Durham
21/11/71 Slade appear at Excel Bowl, Middlesbrough
21/11/71 Van Der Graaf Generator appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
21//1/71 Fairport Convention appear at Newcastle City Hall
25/11/71 Soft Machine appear at Newcastle City Hall
25/11/71 Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express and Warm Dust appear at Sunderland Polytechnic
27/11/71 Principal Edwards Magic Theatre appear at Sunderland Polytechnic
28/11/71 Groundhogs appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
My gigs (with Scallywag)
Fri 5/11/1971 Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle
Sat 6/11/1971 Dolphin Club, Seahouses
Happening Elsewhere
Colosseum break up. It’s a sudden decision taken when the members decided that “They were no longer working as a unit”. Vocalist Chris Farlowe claims that he knew nothing of this “collective decision” until he phoned drummer/leader Jon Hiseman to find out rehearsal times! Guitarist Dave Clempson is quickly invited to join Humble Pie as a belated replacement for Peter Frampton who had quit Pie a couple of months previously. Of the other members, Dick Heckstall-Smith forms his own band and bassist Mark Clarke joins Uriah Heep before eventually teaming up with Hiseman again in Tempest.
Uriah Heep bassist Paul Newton collapses on stage at Waltham Tech College. He is diagnosed as having a nervous breakdown. The group replace him with the newly available Mark Clarke. Drummer Ian Clarke also leaves because of those good old “musical differences” and is replaced by Lee Kerslake (ex-Gods/ National Head Band).
Slade turn down an offer to make an American TV series which would have launched them as “The Next Beatles!” because they don’t want to be identified as a “Hype”. Instead they intend to consolidate their new-found success in the UK & Europe.
Alan Bown’s band undergoes its first personnel changes in four years. Guitarist Tony Catchpole is replaced by Jim Laney, ex-Hate, while bassist Andy Brown is hospitalised with a “serious skin complaint” and is replaced by Dougie Thompson. (Thompson and Bown’s saxist John Helliwell are both future members of Supertramp)
Juicy Lucy split up, but vocalist Paul Williams and guitarist Mick Moody re-form the group straight away with ex-Blodwyn Pig rhythm section Ron Berg and Andy Pyle.
London’s biggest Rock music venue, The Rainbow Theatre, opens with a three night run of shows by The Who.
In the charts
1 Coz I Luv You – Slade
10 Banks Of The Ohio – Olivia Newton John
20 Surrender – Diana Ross
______________________________________________________________
December
North east gigs
1/12/71 Groundhogs, Egg and Quicksands appear at Newcastle City Hall
4/12/71 Lindisfarne appear at Newcastle City Hall
7/12/71 Amazing Blondel, Sutherland Brothers and Claire Hamill appear at Newcastle City Hall
9/12/71 Genesis appear at Middlesbrough Teeside Polytechnic
12/12/71 Patto appear at Peterlee Jazz Club (Argus Butterfly)
12/1/271 Uriah Heap and Bullet appear at Redcar Jazz Club (Coatham Hotel)
14/12/71 Stackridge appear at Change Is, Newcastle
17/12/71 Juicy Lucy and Fat Grapple appear at the Mayfair, Newcastle
17/12/71 Uriah Heap and Bullet appear at Newcastle City Hall
21/1/71 Hookfoot appear at Stockton Tech College
30/12/71 East Of Eden, Troggs and Gravy Train appear at Newcastle City Hall
Happening Elsewhere
The Faces “Nod’s As Good As a Wink” lp is banned in the USA because of an alleged ‘obscene’ poster included within the sleeve. The album is re-issued without the poster.
The rhythm section of Traffic, Ric Grech and Jim Gordon, leave the group which reverts back to a trio of Winwood, Capaldi and Wood.
The Montreaux Casino is burned down by “Some stupid **** with a flare gun” (as immortalized by Deep Purple’s “Smoke On The Water”) during a Frank Zappa concert. Purple were supposed to record their new album at the Casino, using the Rolling Stones Mobile studio, but are forced to improvise by using their hotel instead.
Zappa’s troubles weren’t over however. Playing a show at the new Rainbow Theatre, he is knocked into the orchestra pit by the jealous boyfriend of a female Zappa-fan, sustaining a compound fracture of his leg.
John Lennon is deep into his political-protest period. He and Yoko join the “Rock Liberation Front” and headline a rally against harsh jail sentences for possession of marijuana. Lennon also launches a vicious attack on his erstwhile bandmate Paul McCartney.
Martin Carthy quits Steeleye Span in the wake of Ashley Hutchings’ departure.
Keith Relf, who has been producing Medicine Head, becomes a member of the group.
In the charts
1 Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West) – Benny Hill
10 Till – Tom Jones
20 Fireball – Deep Purple