Sahb Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band

286 Pages·2012·16.61 MB·English

by  Martin Kielty

SAHB STORY
THE TALE OF
MARTIN KIELTY
AUTHORISED BY
ZAL CLEMINSON CHRIS GLEN
TED M KENNA HUGH M KENNA
C C
NEIL WILSON PUBLISHING
WWW.NWP.CO.UK
WWW.MARTINKIELTY.COM
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
2004 Introduction
2013 Introduction
PART ONE: IN THE BEGINNING
1 Scotland’s Tommy Steele
2 Summer Sands and Summer Days
3 Supergroup
Z The Ends of the Perm: Zal on the Tear Gas albums
PART TWO: VAMBO ROOL
1 Framed
Z Murky Melange of Flawless Rapport: Zal on Framed
2 Next
Z Perversion is A Lamppost in Disguise: Zal on Next
3 The Impossible Dream
Z Proud without Bragging: Zal on The Impossible Dream
4 Tomorrow Belongs To Me
Z Consenting Tomatoes: Zal on Tomorrow Belongs To Me
5 SAHB Stories
Z A Female Bottom is a Thing of Joy:
Zal on The Penthouse Tapes and SAHB Stories
6 Rock Drill
Z A Future That Never Was: Zal on Rock Drill
PART THREE: AFTERMATH
1 Many Roads
2 Alex
3 Vambo Still Rool
B Billy on the Band: Billy Rankin reflects on SAHB
4 Scotland’s Alex Harvey
Discography
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
SAHB Story contains material which appears in Zal’s novel, Hail Vibrania.
The portrait of Alex on page 163 was painted by Catherine Heffernan, who
explains the work by saying: ‘What do you get if you cross a misspent youth
with a seven-foot canvas?’
Photography: Ronnie Anderson, Ian Dickson, Peter Ball, Daily Record, Ray
Conn, Martin Kielty, Lee Hagan, Mike Drew, Mandy Hathway, Stefan
Pawlata, Barry McCulloch. Where uncredited, pictures come from the band’s
collection. Every effort has been made to establish and respect copyright.
Thanks to the editorial and library staff of the Daily Record and Sunday Mail.
Thanks: Firstly, of course, to Ted, Zal, Chris, Hugh, Billy, Dave, Le Roi and
Eddie – I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Well, more, actually, because
you only had to talk while I had to listen. Then the fan club guys, who I rely on
for feedback, opinions and input: I’d love to namecheck you all but I’ll only
miss someone and get into trouble. Still – hi to Lori, Wade, Jeff, Ash, Lindsey,
Mandy, Jack and Gerry. Allan Jones and Charles Shaar Murray for covering and
caring. Jon Dore and Barry Brightmore for swelling the archives. John Neil
Munro and Joe Black for just doing their jobs, but still managing to show how
much they mean it. Barry and Keith for helping me deal with Billy and helping
him drink. Tom and Miffy at rockingscots.co.uk. All the contributors for
volunteering information and content. Frank Morgan for proof reading, and Joe
Owens and David Coyle for helping. (What exactly do you mean, pedantic?) The
crew at the Solid Rock, the Copy Cat and Fix for keeping the beer flowing. Alec
for kickstarting proceedings.
Special thanks to Nick Low for giving me access to his private archive. Anyone
who finds themselves quoted here, but doesn’t remember talking to me, actually
spoke to Nick; which was lucky for you.
Regards to Trudy, Alex and Tyro.
Double-special thanks to Gibby for actually shutting up while I was whining
about this project.
And to Damien Kielty, Ali Bear, Tim Collins, Steve Banaghan and Brian
Mackenna, because I said I would.
All the above people helped make this book worth reading. In a departure from
the norm, I’d like to make sure they get the blame for any errors or innaccuracies
too.
Dedicated to Claire.
2004 INTRODUCTION
It was a dreich afternoon in Edinburgh when I met John Neil Munro to interview
him about his Alex biography. We sat in an old-fashioned wee pub and talked
our talk, and as people nearby became aware of our subject matter, John Neil’s
standing in the pub rose and rose. He ended up with an impressive amount of
respect (and drinks) from perfect strangers. I wanted to be like that.
Well, no I didn’t, actually, and still don’t. You couldn’t describe me as an Alex
fan. I didn’t meet him, and I’m not convinced I would have liked him. Being
magnetically attracted to someone isn’t the same as loving them, and so I can’t
promise to have loved Mr Harvey.
I am, however, a SAHB fan. And I’d like to stress the massive difference. There
was a magical period of five years, 1972 until 77, when the best frontman in the
world performed with the best band in the world. That they – and significantly,
he – could not achieve the same successes alone serves to underline how magical
those five years were.
Those five years started the day I was born, 29 June 1972. For another
coincidence, it’s taken just about five years for this here book to make it into the
world. The tale has grown in the telling, and it’’s not the only thing around here.
My respect and understanding for the utterly singular thing that is SAHB has
grown. Time and tide just do not get in the way of how these four guys
communicate, even if they haven’t seen each other for years. Their bond, and
their bond with Alex, is the one and only instance in which the word “awesome”
is not hyperbole.
The position of Alex and SAHB in cultural history has grown - there’s been
something of a rennaisance. Some of that was me, of course (heh) but the re-
release of almost everything the guys ever did has been a major event in
everyone’s lives this side of the word processor. Pity about Fourplay, but we live
in hope.
The list of major acts they influence; the people willing to talk about the band
and its music; the number of younger folk, hearing their dads’ CD remasters,
who’ve become fans; all these statistics are on the up too.
who’ve become fans; all these statistics are on the up too.
So, to repeat what I’ve constantly been saying over the years on the website, this
book’s not about Alex. It’s about SAHB, and there’s maybe more of a
distinction than a lot of people understand. I hope they’ll find some of what
they’re looking for here; but I reckon some people’s Alex isn’t to be found
outside their own hearts.
Meanwhile, as a record of what happens when you offer five Glesga boys
unlimited power, and they trade it in to be rock’n’roll stars, I’ve tried to make
sure it’s a bit more fun than some of the band biogs you get.
Vambo, as I have observed for some time now, still rool.
Martin Kielty, July 2004
2013 INTRODUCTION
Maybe I couldn’t have professed to have loved Mr Harvey in 2004. I can now –
and that’s not the only thing to have changed since I wrote this book.
There were always plans to revise the title once the ‘farewell tour’ ended in
2005; but as SAHBsters everywhere will know, it didn’t work out like that. Max
Maxwell became the band’s final frontman; the tour continued for several more
years; and SAHB even saw the release of a new live album, a live DVD and the
release of the fabled ‘lost’ album.
I wound up managing them for a good whack of those significant times. It
changed my life, and as a result there was never time to write that revise. There
will be soon – very soon.
It doesn’t seem like a mere seven years. The journey has been incredible and I
still haven’t had the opportunity to take stock, and work out just how much it all
changed me.
When I started on the book I was determined not to let SAHB’s legacy be
forgotten. I think that’s been achieved – with the help of this publication and
others, and the passion, belief and support of fans who seemed to be just waiting
for an excuse to muck in, the ban’s position in cultural history seems assured.
It would be nice to do the same for Alex himself; and I know work is afoot on
that too.
I begin to hope Vambo will always rool.
Martin Kielty, 2013