Alan Mair: Difference between revisions

Alan Mair grew up in the Glasgow area. He began playing guitar at about age 13 and gained experience in various bands during the 1960s.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fie47qSuTsoC&pg=RA1-PA1844&lpg=RA1-PA1844&dq=how+old+is+bassist+alan+mair&source=bl&ots=c-P48WnA-e&sig=rsnXh7P-qIy4A2G6oNocSWOszgM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDIQ6AEwA2oVChMImdTeluzGxwIVCIoNCh0NLwSH#v=onepage&q=how%20old%20is%20bassist%20alan%20mair&f=false |title=The Rough Guide to Rock |page=184 |website=Books.google.com |date= |accessdate=17 September 2016}}</ref> In 1962, Mair and Eddie Campbell formed the Glasgow band [[The Beatstalkers]]. The line-up included Davie Lennox on vocals, Eddie Campbell on guitar, Mair on bass and 'Tudge' Williamson on drums (replaced by [[Jeff Allen]]). Later Ronnie Smith joined the group on rhythm guitar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tartanrocker.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-beatstalkers.html |title=Tartan Rocker: The Beatstalkers |website=Tartanrocker.blogspot.com |date=27 January 2014 |accessdate=17 September 2016}}</ref> Under the management of Joe Gaffney, the band went on to become Scotland's "top group" at the time. They were called the "Scottish [[The Beatles|Beatles]]" by the local press because of the screaming and riots that occurred anywhere they made an appearance; although the band toured England and Europe many times, had a 6-week sell-out residency at the famous [[Marquee Club]] and performed on the TV show "[[Ready Steady Go!]]", they never achieved the same dizzy heights of success as they did in Scotland. The band signed a recording contract with [[Decca Records]]. Their records sold thousands of copies in Scotland, but with only two chart shops in Scotland their sales made no impact on the UK charts. They split in 1969 after their van was stolen with all their equipment in it.<ref name=beat>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rockingscots.co.uk/bstalk.htm |title=The Beatstalkers |publisher=Rockingscots.co.uk |accessdate=18 September 2016}}</ref>

 

 

After a five-year spell in the fashion world Mair was drawn back to the music business. He joined the "Al Matthews Band" who had a couple of hit records. They were a bunch of formidable players, all great musicians,.!!!! Al Matthews on vocals, who went on to play "Sergeant Apone" in Aliens 2. Raphael Ravenscroft on sax [Baker Street]. Sean Byrne on guitar. Theodore Thunder on drums [Leo Sayer]. Ric Parnell [2nd drummer] Atomic Rooster and played Mick Shrimpton in the movie “This is Spinal Tap”. Dave Rose on keyboards [Leo Sayer and Allan Price] and Lindsay Scott on violin [JSD band]. They toured constantly. Their first tour was supporting Levi Stubbs’s “Four Tops”.