Wigan Album
Groups from way back
18 CommentsPhoto: Eric Johnson
Item #: 11621
A Wigan based group in the 60's played many venues,also played the paradise club in vauxhall road scholes every weekend for about 18 months.
Were you any good Eric - did you do any recording?
Hi John,we thought we were pretty good as we got plenty gigs but you would only know from others who had seen us perform, we never did any recordings.
Hi Eric, What make of guitar is that you're holding?
Hi John, the guitar was a Musima made in Germany,my dad bought it for me when I was 15 yrs.old.It was purchased from a music shop in Darlington st.in 1963 but can't recall the shop name,if anybody can please let me know.
After having a good think the music shop in darlington st. may have been Dawsons before they took over Grimes in king st.
Hi Eric. I used to gaze longingly at guitars in Dawsons (King St)in the late 60s. I've never heard of Musima though. I ended up (eventually) with a good old Strat.
I am sure you could go downstairs in dawsons music shop and ask them to play a record for you and you had to go into a little booth to listen to it,
The Stratocaster on the left would have been quite a catch back in 1964! it'd be worth a fortune now - even though it's a black and white photo I can tell its a fiesta red one; where did John Tinsley (?) get it from?
Hi BB I think he got it from hawker& howarths in Bolton,He later had it sprayed white and sold it to Ross for £10.That's what you'd call the real deal.
Pre 1965 Fender Stratocasters are now fetching £10k (and more) in original condition!
Dawsons used to be down Hallgate before moving to King St.
The shop in Darlington st.would be the small shop near Harrogate st. It had a great selection of guitars.In 1963/64 Fender strat-£168 Guild-£230 Gretch-£280
I rember the Blue Diamonds at the Paradise club I also remember going to watch them at Room at the top.and the Emp, and also at Bel vue Manchester good group!
Is the drummer Roy the same person who played drums in Pokie
in the late 70,s.
Yes the drummer in the Blue Diamonds and Pokie was me
My kit has been well updated ,than the one in the picture
Sadly Ross is no longer with us.
The shop your thinking of I think it belonged to Bill Layland
The shop owned BY Bill Layland is that the same person that booked groups in to the Emp etc?.
The shop in Darlington St (East ) was Bill Layland and IIRC was called LE Sound. The Srat was from Harker and Howarth and cost 105 Guineas (you have to be old to remember those!LOL)