When punk rock came to Paisley
Last week I covered the history of The Bungalow and its inception in the late 1970s when the bar was at the forefront of the Scottish live music scene.
Following its closure and relocation to Shuttle Street, it continues to be one of the most celebrated venues in the country with a history that many cannot match.
The Bungalow is an integral part of Paisley’s thriving music scene and is the place to showcase new and emerging bands.
The venue supported some of the music industry’s biggest names at the start of their careers such as Echo and the Bunnymen, The Rezillos,
The Fall, The Skids and many more, but what about the local bands that played there and attracted big numbers every week?
Here are a few: Big George and the Business, Cuban Heels, Defiant Pose, The Dead Skunk Band, End Games, Eric Cuthberson and the Hoochie Coochie Men, The Fegs, Henry Gorman Band, Non Compos Mentos, Modern Man, Saigon and the list goes on.
Alan McGee, from Creation Records, recounted his days there.
He said: “Remember the Bungalow Bar in Paisley? The bands who played there were amazing.
“It was incredible and arguably the most important punk venue in Scotland.”
Alan has gone on record citing his best ever top ten gigs and sitting at number four is Diamond Head at The Bungalow in 1980.
Sandy Johnston, who played there and did the sound, was in The Bungalow the day Diamond Head turned up with a lorry full to the roof with a PA system that would have filled the Apollo. Sandy had to explain to the engineer it was only a pub size venue. The band had gone on the reputation of the venue and understandably thought it was much bigger.
Sandy sorted a makeshift system that seemed to work, so much so, Alan McGee enjoyed it.
Another well known character from the music industry that went there was the man who ‘found’ Paolo Nutini, Brendan Moon.
He told me: “Watching bands at
The Bungalow as a boy inspired me to get into music” and not long after he started going there he played live on the stage with his band.
Today, The Bungalow Bar provides countless young aspiring bands the opportunity to perform in front of a very demanding audience.
Up-and -coming bands cut their teeth there and more established bands came to play and take in the exceptional atmosphere that this small venue creates.
I’m sure you are all missing live music and meeting your friends.
I know I am.
I am keeping pretty busy with some projects but, after a while of that, I feel a bit on my own.
That was until I stumbled on Crawford Carlyle putting on a gig from his living room via FaceTime.
You know it’s not the same, the sound quality is an issue and there is no wise cracks coming from number one fan Andy Boyle.
But none the less, it was human live interaction of a sort. And, by the way, Crawford is one of the finest singers around.
So thank you Crawford for a great night.