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Ray Laidlaw, Radiator
Bit
of a tall order this one. I can't remember much detail but I have very
fond memories of Friars, both venues, the first one being the most whacky.
I've got a feeling that the first time Lindisfarne played there we were a
last minute replacement for another band, it may have been David Bowie
(it was the Faces
in 1971 in fact - Ed.) I
remember a lot of disgruntled punters in the pub grumbling about having to
watch 'some bloody folk group'. As it happened a lot of them stayed and we
went down really well. I think David Stopps must have had close links with
Charisma records because all of the bands on the label, Genesis, Van Der
Graaf, Audience etc seemed to get booked at Friars on a regular basis. As
I said, I can't recall much detail, just lots of bonhomie, great
audience reaction, good crack in the pub before and after,
interesting herbal aromas and lots of bearded blokes and rustic
hippie chicks. Happy daze indeed.
Jim McCarty (Illusion)
Friars was a good "old fashioned" gig that hadn't changed much since the
60`s. If I remember by 1976 (Illusion gigs) there weren't many of those
venues left. There were either little clubs or huge venues. Friars
always had that sort of "hippie" vibe. Quite different to the punk thing
happening at the time. |
