Rockingscots is a website dedicated to
Scottish beat groups of the '60s and early '70s.
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John Young's Photo Gallery
John
Thorburn Young who took the wonderful photos on this page and generously
allowed Rockingscots to reproduce them,
sadly passed away in October 2019.
John was born in Glasgow but lived in Paisley for many years. He worked for various publications including newspapers
as well as being a freelancer. He was also an excellent wedding photographer.
In
the '60s and '70s he photographed many of the top groups and
solo artists performing around the West of Scotland and beyond.
He had a real passion for photographing and mixing with
musicians and had some great anecdotes about those times.
His photos show his undoubted talent for capturing his
subjects in interesting poses and situations – every picture tells a story as they say.
The pic of the Beatles' audience at the Caird Hall, Dundee and the one of the dancers at Paisley Town Hall
are our personal faves among the many fabulous snapshots here.
His curious photo of the Sabres (see below) was used in the recent box
set of Scottish beat 'C’mon, C’mon.'
He will be missed by all who
knew him personally and professionally as well as by those who have enjoyed viewing his work here
and on the Facebook sites where it has subsequently featured. Thanks for the pics and the memories John!
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John informed Rockingscots that anyone wishing to make use of the pictures below is free to do so
- though a photo credit to the photographer would be nice.
The Beatles - Caird Hall, Dundee, October 20th 1964
Lots going on among the audience - sheer female exuberance & stunned male faces.
John Young's pic has also captured what looks like a bloke trying to restrain a fan - possibly his girlfriend.
Every picture tells or suggests a story.
Paul's attention is caught by something off stage.
Note what looks like full chording on the bass
While Ringo is giving it some stick -
John lays off playing the guitar to concentrate on his vocals.
The small objects on the stage are Jelly Babies thrown by the fans - George had said they were his favourite sweeties!
NEXT: SOME PICS of PAISLEY GIGS.
Dance at Paisley's Templar Halls on the early evening of Friday 22nd November 1963.
JFK had been shot in Dallas some 20 mins previously.
The news had not yet got through to those in attendance.
Everyone is supposed to remember where they were that evening so we
hope someone who was there can let us know their memory of the night
and perhaps the name of the band
Some
great styles on view - beehives were still popular with the girls.
But note the young, fair haired lass doing the twist out front with her
Mary Quant like cut and Mod style dress.
She was a trendsetter.
Italian styled suits for the boys with a winklepicker and cuban heel or two on show. Men's
hair was still short though Teddy Boy quiffs had gone.
The early
evening audience are concious of the photographer and no one is
looking at the band.
Mary Wells of 'My Guy' etc fame backed by Sounds Incorporated at Paisley Town Hall - 1964/5
Fabulous pic of Mick Green and Johnny Kidd from Johnny Kidd and the Pirates
backstage at Paisley Town Hall in 1964
Note Kidd's regular foorwear in the corner - ankle length, cuban heeled, elastic
sided, pointy toed boots.
Some of us still like 'em and wear 'em!
Kidd - real name Freddie Heath - wrote maybe the greatest British Rock and Roll song - 'Shakin' All Over'.
The bloke who played the classic riff and solo on the recording was the Glasgwegian guitar maestro Joe Moretti.
'We Are Not Worthy!' as they say.
Paisley band - The Sabres
Taken in '65/'66, here's a fantastic pic of those times and fashions - long hair, Cuban heels and moody looks.
The others seem to be wondering why the guy on the far right has
brought them out to see a ginger bottle with twigs sticking out of
it.
Taken at the back of a community hall somewhere in the Glasgow area is all the photographer John Young can recall.
Left to right - Ian Clews (vocals);
Billy Galloway (rhythm guitar); a young John Lennon look-alike (bass
guitar by process of elimination);
Stewart Mckenzie? (drums); Jim Thomas (lead guitar).
Thanks to Gordon
McFall for identifying Ian Clews prior to his move to the Pathfinders
and to Sandra Cochrane Kerr of the Paisley FB site for the rest.
Maverix
John took this terrific photo c.1963/64 outside the Dungeon Club in Barrhead where they were due to play.
l-r: Joe Urquhart (vocals on ballads), Davy Geilan (vocals on pop numbers ), Davie Storrie (Bass),
Charles 'Chic' McCall (Rhythm guitar); Dennis Bell (Drums) & Danny McInally (lead guitar).
Many thanks to Neil Dunn,
Elizabeth Anne, Betty Allen, John Forrest & Kizz Ferguson of
the excellent 'Paisley' FB site for filling in who's above.
Neil even used to dep for Chic on Tuesday night at the Templars while he was at night school.
Note the health and safety conscious Danny's non-slip soles and two handed
grip on his colleague.
Apparently, the band struggled to insist that they be billed as "Maverix" and not "The Maverix" or "The Mavericks"
Joe Egan and Gerry Rafferty became members later on.
The Hollies - Paisley Town Hall 1964
John assured us that that Alan Clarke's head is normal - his jacket has just been pushed up to hang from a peg.
Graham Nash, Alan Clarke, Bobby Ellliot,
Eric Haydock & Tony Hicks.
'Sometimes all they needed was the air that they breathed' - but this was not one of them.
Graham and Tony get stuck in.
The Merseybeats in very fancy shirts - backstage at Paisley Ice Rink - 18 June, 1964.
Aaron Williams (rhythm guitar); Johnny Gustafson (bass); John Banks (drums); Tony Crane (lead guitar and lead vocals).
Mr Gustafson - what a stare! - also played in The Big Three, Quatermass, Roxy Music, etc, etc, etc..
He was only with the band for a few months in 1964 so photos of this line-up are probably quite rare.
Tony & Aaron tune up
Tony's 335 style guitar seems to have had the Bigsby bridge and tremelo
added.
The retaining screws for an original tailpiece are visible
before the bridge.
Aaron's guitar looks like a Firebird - note the machine heads are
behind the middle of the headstock rather than above or below.
BALLOCH LIDO
Steve Winwood chats to a fan.
On the banks of Loch Lomond before the Spencer Davis Group took the stage at Balloch Lido (May 1966)
THE MINDBENDERS
Ric Rothwell (drums), Eric Stewart (guitars & vocals) and Bob Laing (bass).
Taken at a hotel near Glasgow's Cathkin Braes after a gig at the Olympia East Kilbride, June 1966.
Eric disputes a point in a card game..
SOME PICS FROM GLASGOW
Cliff Richard - 16 April 1964
Great photo from a morning photoshoot at a hotel in Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow.
The Poets' Hugh Nicholson above and Dougie Henderson below.
Taken at the Electric Garden, Sauchiehall St, Glasgow in
1969 at what John recalled was a Radio event - Probably 'Radio One Club'.
Below - Some pics of Tear Gas from the same event
Eddie Campbell & Wullie Munro getting dressed.
Wullie's shirt is definitely not just out of the packet. Zal Cleminson in the background
Davie Batchelor and Eddie Campbell check they're looking sharp.
Tear Gas - dressed up and ready to hit the stage
Davie Batchelor - vocals; Chris Glenn - Bass; Wullie Munro - drums;
Eddie Campbell - Keyboards; Alistair 'Zal' Cleminson - guitar.
Wullie Munro getting stuck in.
Eddie Campbell on the Keys - Wullie Munro in the background.
The Rockin' Berries - Darlington Hotel, Ayr - Nov. 1974.
Bass player Bobby Thomson backing up singer Terry Webster as he does his Rolf Harris routine.
A few shots on a favourite theme - bands bowling at Hampden Bowl - Mount Florida, Glasgow.
The Rockin' Berries - March 1965.
l-r:
Terry Bond (drums); Chuck Botfield (lead guitar); Clive Lea
(vocals/impressionist); Bobby Thomson (vocals/bass guitar); Geoff
Turton (vocals).
The Kinks Ray Davies
Brian Poole of the Tremeloes fame and Peter Noone from Herman's Hermits.
Kinks - Mick Avory & Dave Davies
Gypsy
Dave and Donovan
John offers Donovan some photographic advice for the back cover
of his next LP!
Donovan outside Esquire Mens' Fashions in Maryhill,
Glasgow. pic (c) John Young.
The Kimbos - a great fun pic of a smartly dressed early '60s group.
Taken by John at the Olympia in East Kilbride - to the best of his recollection.
Anymore info on
the Kimbos gratefully welcomed.