Boys In The Bands Book | Chris Scott Wilson Writer

IF YOU'RE IN A HURRY YOU CAN JUST PUSH THE BUTTON

Denmen Boys In the Bands Chris Scott Wilson Teesside's groups 1960-1970

OR READ ON...

The 1960s were arguably the most explosive and innovative years of the 20th century, musically and artistically. Popular music in the early 1950s had meant solo singers and big bands, playing intricate arrangements to sedate audiences in theatres. By the late 1950s seats in the same theatres were being torn up by teenagers before they jived up and down the aisles to rock ‘n’ roll, performed by hip-swivelling singers with small backing groups, designing and refining the template for future band line-ups.

But when the next decade dawned, the one which would come to be known as the swingin’ 60s, well it didn’t look like it was going to swing at all. Rock ‘n’ Roll's sharp edges imported from America had been chipped away and the more readily available British version just seemed a little too soft, and the charts had become dominated by instrumentals and sugary pop ballads. But away from Tin Pan Alley, a generation of musicians was preparing to wrest control - although it would take time - from the hands of the professionals, not only performing, but writing and producing their own material.

Rivers Invitation Boys In the Bands Chris Scott Wilson Teesside's groups 1960-1970

IMPORTANT : PLEASE NOTE

AVAILABLE HERE FOR U.K. ONLY

Softcover £29.99 + £5 p&p

FOR OVERSEAS ORDERS PLEASE VISIT BOOK CORNER OR HOLLY BLUE IN SALTBURN

A sample of what they said about Chris' last book,

Backstage Pass : Redcar Jazz Club...

"The authors and brilliant photographs have vividly captured a moment in time." Ed Bicknell.

Former manager of Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler, Scott Walker, Gerry Rafferty and Bryan Ferry

"Christopher Wilson has written & collated a genuinely touching & refreshing stroll down Memory Lane

with this fabulous book... A must have & a must read..." David Coverdale Whitesnake

“As you turn through the pages, you can feel the 1960s swinging… superbly illustrated with

vintage memorabilia as well as the photographs” Chris Lloyd. The Northern Echo

“…a really great piece of work…” John McCoy, singer & promoter.

“Beautifully produced and presented” Forrie Cairns, The Clyde Valley Stompers

"A good read, catalogue and history book. Great times by the sea.” Zoot Money, musician

"This amazing book... If you love music history you will absolutely love this book." Brian Kelly DJ

Coast Radio, New Zealand

“produced with love and a real passion for the history of this iconic venue” Waterstone’s Book Store.

There are more reviews on the (click here) Redcar Jazz Club book page

Reviews for the new book, Boys In The Bands

“looks fantastic... a great piece of work which will serve as a time in history for future

historians, excellent.” Dave Macnamara, bass guitarist & singer.

“devoured it almost in one sitting! Fabulous stuff! I thought the Pete Frame type family

trees with each band was an inspired move and the band members’ anecdotes and

vignettes were a joy to read.” Ken Robinson, bass player.

“my first thoughts were just how many hours did it take you to compile all that

information ? Wow - incredible but all your efforts are greatly appreciated and

the end result is far better than I anticipated.” Jeff Beall, bass guiraist & singer

“If you like music this is the book for you. The only book out there with the history

of the bands in our area between 1960 - 1970, don’t miss out, this book is full of information,

photos, family trees wonderfully presented by the author.” Dave Julian

“I've been eagerly awaiting this and I must say the book far exceeds all my

expectations. The format and content is superb, wonderful photos, memorabilia

and anecdotes from band members. The photos and stories are interspersed with great

images of guitar catalogues, musical equipment, adverts, flyers, tickets, promo cards etc. All

this is perfectly backed up by Chris's excellent narrative of how the music scene evolved

over those 10 years... This book is an absolute MUST for anybody who was there at the

time but I'm sure it would also appeal to anybody who is interested in local

live music from the best era ever." Terry Carter, guitarist & singer

“Boys in the Band is a stunning work of art. Thank you so much for the tremendous

work in compiling this masterpiece.” Phil Udall, bass player

“Fantastic book… Love it.” Phil Muriel, singer, guitarist & drummer.

“Great book lads, get digging into your savings and give yourself a treat.” Tom Ludley, singer & guitarist.

“Brilliant book... I can't put it down. I thought I knew everything about the Teeside group/band

era of the 1960's because I was there at the time. After reading just a few pages I now realise I

know very little... this book will live on long after we've all gone."Mark Aynsley Hay, singer

"Love the book... it’s certainly brought back memories of all the lads I knew.” Robin

Davison, keyboard player & singer

“spent last night engrossed... not only the exhaustive detail, but brilliant descriptions of

that atmospheric period.” Mike Gutteridge, singer & guitarist.

“A formidable piece of work. I hope the amount of research and detail that has gone into it is

appreciated by all. Another piece of work to be proud of,” Anth Clements, singer

“Like the Redcar Jazz Club book this new one is a great document of a

special musical time.” Paul Flush, keyboard player

“It will surely serve as an enduring document of record. Bravo to you Sir! I'm blown away with the photos, the memories and the sheer breadth and depth of what you've been able to capture.” Jackson Griffith.

“… fantastic amount of work there and bloody good value for money…” Graham Lowe, photographer

“A truly magnificent book – I have to keep putting it down because it’s

so heavy. Packed with facts and information.” Stan Laundon

“A joy.” Mike Walls, drummer

“… it is superb. Well done and thanks!” Paul Butler, guitarist & singer

“…spent the last three hours totally absorbed, it’s a great read.” Merv Jones, drummer

"I remember this time like it was yesterday - it's great to re-live the adventure in this well-laid out and fascinating book - full of great stories and band-family trees." Alan Sturt, guitarist & singer

BUY THE BOOK

The book is also available

from the following stockists:

Book Corner, Milton Street, Saltburn

Holmans Bookshop, Skinner St, Whitby

Guisborough Bookshop, Chaloner St Guisborough

Sound It Out Records, Stockton

Whitby Bookshop, Church St, Whitby

Holly Blue, Saltburn

The Record Lady, Flea Market Stockton

Roxy Posters & Music, Billingham

Northern Vinyl at West Hartlepool

other outlets will be listed when known

HOME

The 1960s would be the era of the beat groups, not only in London, Liverpool and Manchester, but also ‘up north’.

Be it rock ‘n’ roll, pop, soul, blues, heavy rock or progressive, budding musicians by the river Tees were determined to rock too. Quick studies, it hadn't taken them long to realise any youth who could learn a few chords or batter out a rhythm could escape the relentless toil of Teesside's steel works or chemical industries. Or they hoped they could.

By the 1960s a multitude of pubs, youth clubs, village and town halls, workingmen’s’ clubs and then The Outlook, Mister McCoys and the Bailey’s nightclub circuit provided the venues for local bands to strut their stuff, many working four or five nights a week. A day off was almost a luxury. Most of the musicians were content to have a laugh, earn a few pounds, and attract a few girls, but others, more ambitious, sought wider horizons to conquer.

But they all started here, on Teesside, learning their craft, honing their musical chops, learning how to work a crowd, and if they got to be good enough, they became The Boys In The Bands.

You asked me to do it, well here it is...

This book is :

Almost as big as a vinyl LP & 180 pages

30,000 word narrative tells what it was like to be in a local band in that explosive golden musical decade of the 60s.

It's crammed with over 200 photos

Contains 60 band family trees

Over 350 illustrations of memorabilia

300 quotes from musicians who recall yearning to own their first instruments and then persevering with endless hours of repetitive practice before braving what could be some of the toughest audiences in the country.

See bottom of page for how to buy this book

Boys in The Bands is a sister book to the well received Backstage Pass: Redcar Jazz Club. Chris Scott Wilson gathers stories of groups that flourished on Teesside, many of whom suppported those famous bands on stage at the Jazz Club, but also filled local dance floors through the 1960s. Endlessly recon-figuring, the close knit musical community on Teesside forever sought that elusive line-up that would yield a successful formula.