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RECENT
TIMES
In the last year prior to leaving “Salvation”
I had been writing a few of my own compositions and wanted to
get success via this avenue, along with the song writing talents
of the rest of the band, but they chose to go for the quick
fix, of which I had pointed out, history, surely had already
foretold. I persevered with my own limited talents writing songs,
and early 1975, I went down to London, knocking on doors searching
for that elusive record deal. Physically sick, through nerves,
exhaustion and self pity I almost gave up, but said to myself,
I am here now, no-one ealse can do it for me, I then went to
the Bradley Record Co (ATV Music)
and was given a 5 year Record and Publishing contract, in which
I secured Merchandising rights, Inflation rises, various consents
in my favour, unthinkable at this time in the Music business,
but I had achieved it, along with a substantial, non returnable
cash advance.
On returning to Glasgow, I felt elated, and offered to share
my money advance with my brother Jim, but by this time the Martin
& Coulter syndrome had started to to take affect
within the band, and he opted to go with the quick stardom route
with Slik, but it was to be
short lived.
August 1975, I went back down to London and recorded my first
single record entitled “Heaven
Knows” and it was due to be released before Christmas,
but was held back a few weeks to January 1976 .
By coincidence, Slik had released
“Forever and Ever “ before my record was
released and as we know made the number one spot, but this didn`t
help my cause, as I received some bad press, saying, I was trying
to ride on their success, but the facts clearly state otherwise.
I promoted my record around the country but didn`t get the proper
backing from The Bradley Record Company,
as it was in the process of being sold, along with ATV
Music/Northern Songs etc., to the giant company CBS
Records/Michael Jackson.
I felt very let down at this time and somewhat deflated and
acquired a dislike to the music business, but still kept writing
and composing, eventually getting together once again with my
brother Jim to form a Cabaret duo called
“Dillinger”.This lasted I think about 10
months and we then went our separate ways only to get back together
to form a pretty decent band called
“The Snips”, with Eric
Lovat on keyboards, Colin Finn
on drums and a first class guitarist called John
Hird. We played mostly local clubs, weddings, functions
etc.,for around four or five years before disbanding.
Jim and I got together again with a trio called “Revival”
and later adding the talented Snips
keyboard player Eric Lovat.
I departed after a few years to pursue other interests and the
band continued, adding a couple of female vocalists, using various
drummers, doing Weddings/Functions etc., They are now called
“Atlantic Avenue”
and are still together and I might say one of the best around
in this field.
This brings me up to the present, teaming up once again with
old friend and great guitarist Brian
Deniston to do the odd gig or two, and now with two six
foot plus grown up sons, Ryan &
Lee to keep me company, the latter who is busy playing
drums with his own band "Sinking
Cities" around the Glasgow Club scene, I am
nearing the finish of the building of my own home recording/rehearsal
studio, which will serve the rest of my musical pursuits, that
being mainly in the recording and writing field and helping
other local talented musicians to further their ambitions.
I will be adding my music and other
musicians talents to the website on an ongoing basis as and
when I get the time to do so….Thanks for taking the time
to read this. |
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