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History of Thrush

Hi my name is Dickie Dow a founder member of the band I have lived in Australia for the past 17 years and wanted to share these memories with you all.

Here is a brief run down of how the band was formed and the people who have played in it hope you enjoy the journey as much as I did putting it all together.

I met Davy Waugh when I was 15 at the old La Bamba in my home town Falkirk when I was playing with the "Cross Cut Section" he approached me to play drums with the "Heanan Froude Set" The line up was Davy Waugh (vocals), Dickie Dow (Drums), Charlie Dyer (Bass), Derek Anderson (Lead Guitar), Willy Fotheringham (Rhythm Guitar), Graham Booth (Keyboards).

We played regularly all over Scotland The Place, Hawaiian Eye,The Tufty Club, The Log Cabin and The Maryland to name a few. I left the band after a year to pursue an apprenticeship and the band changed their name to "Friendship" and went to tour Europe. When they came back it wasn't long before the band split and Davy moved to a flat in Callender View where we started jamming. I was now playing guitar and people kept telling us that our voices were really good together. We formed Aardvark with Cameron Ferguson and started playing pubs around the district.

Cameron left to go to Canada and was replaced by Cammy Watt this was short lived however as he was relocated to the North of Scotland with his job. It was luck we met up with Roy Whittet whose 3rd harmony was perfect for the band. We changed our name to "Thrush" and after a while added Charlie Dyer on Bass then Ross Crichton on drums. This line up was the most successful of the Thrush line ups where we played regularly in Glasgow at "The Maggie" and in Oban at the "Bistro" where people were known to queue for hours to see us. Sadly this line up came to an end when Charlie left. He was replaced by Norrie Stirrat. This line up stayed for a number of years till I left and was replaced by Eddie Reader.

The band had many changes in the years ahead but will be remembered as the last band to play the Glasgow Apollo theatre which sadly closed it's doors soon after.

Another bio view

Scottish band from Falkirk formed in the 70's from the remnants of the Heanan Froude set/Friendship. Heanan Froude supported Jimmy James and the Vagabonds, Geno Wasington and the Ram Jam Band,Sockem JB with Frankie Miller at the Maryland in Glasgow and supported many great Scottish acts including The Poets, The Senate, Hipple People and The Pathfinders to mention but a few. Davy sang with The Heanan Froude set and Dickie played drums. They were a Tamla Mowtown band doing covers.

Davy and Dickie started jamming together in a flat in Callendar View Falkirk after the demise of Friendship Dickie now playing guitar added Roy to the line up on lead guitar then Charlie on Bass and Ross on Drums.This was the most successful Thrush line up. They played all over Scotland doing regular BBC radio and STV Thingumyjig and a week at the Kings Theatre Glasgow supporting Christian whom they also supported at the final show ever at the Glasgow Apollo which sadly closed it's doors that night.

Also played The Playhouse and Odeon Edinburgh as well as the Maggie Glasgow and The Place Edinburgh in the early days releasing a "Live at the Maggie" cassette.

Thrush also recorded several demos at Castle sound studios in Edinburgh engineered by Calumn Malcolm. There were many gigs and places they played all over Scotland but seemed to be much more popular the west especially Glasgow (The Maggie) and Oban (The Bistro).

Heavily influenced by the Byrds, Eagles, New Riders,The Dyllards and early Dr Hook they had fantastic harmonies as a live band.

Glasgow Apollo

This is a funny story of that night.

We had invited Haldane Duncan who was a producer at STV and had become good friends with the band after doing several "Thingummyjig" shows which he produced.

He turned up pretty pissed and we were having a laugh when the stewards threw him out.

An hour or so later he appeared and said to us "You bastards think you're great the last band to play the Apollo but I'm the last punter to get chucked out" Needless to say he brought us to our knees laughing and I have remembered it so well to this day.

THE LOCH LONG HOTEL

Another funny was the night we played the Loch Long Hotel where only 2 people turned up to see us!!

We were a bit funny about receiving a cheque from the hotel so when we got home I took the cheque to the "Scotia" agency who had booked us for the gig which was run by Bill Barclay the comedian/singer/actor who exchanged it one of their cheques which was made out to cash.

Needless to say the hotel cheque bounced and every time I met Bill he would say "ya little bastard that cheque bounced" to which I just shrugged my shoulders!!!

It will also be remembered for our roadie Alan Scott fainting 3 times in the lift after smoking too much weed!!!

Previous Band Members & Roadies

Here is a list of people who have played with the band in no particular order

Davy Waugh, Dickie Dow, Roy Whittet, Charlie Dyer, Ross Crichton, Norrie Stirrat, Jim Gallagher, Mick Macinally, Robert Macmillan, Colin Silcock, George Falconer, Eddie Reader, Tam? Derek Lenathan, Harry Sullivan (guest lead guitar Roll on down the highway)

Roadies

There were a few people who roadied with the band Raymond Strachan big Stewart Barr who has sadly passed away, Alan Scott who was a young enthusiastic guy led astray by the boys!! Big Malcolm Mackay helped out on many occasions too but he won't mind me saying it wasn't anything to do with the music he just wanted to get anyone into "Harmony" the name of his bed!! which has hosted some very well known female celebrities / singer song writers!!!

Funny Stories

Would love to hear from anyone who has a story to tell about the band. We were a pretty wild bunch so I expect there will be many!!

I will put them on the web site as long as they don't offend ha ha

A few words from Derek Lenathan our lead guitarist!!

Can think of lots of situations we got into especially after you rejoined the band.
Remember Jobi (our manager/roadie), we tried to set fire to his clothes on a journey in the van back from Oban.
I think his socks and tie got burned completely and shoes were ejected on the Oban road, that's the last time I touched whisky !
You getting stretchered into the American Base club in Dunoon, we played a bit of Sweet Home Alabama that the black guys objected to and Davy got headbutted by a black boy, riot ensued, gig ended prematurely.

Other roadies I remember were Phil the Pill from Larbert and Dogbreath from Hallglen

A word from weeeeeeee geordie

I have neither photos nor a decent recollection of the events of that time. All that speed and lager in the Maddox, I expect. All except that guy that raced someone, crashed your car right outside a police station in Edinburgh whilst having just picked up charlie. Hugely intelligent. Ran away with yer missus? Or Jobie, somehow was driving a bus for Alexenders, asked me where I was going and diverted the bus (much to the annoyance of the other passengers) to where I wanted to go. (opposite direction, I recall) You and Dekers made his life miserable. (Cutting off his ties, for example) Pat the Rat losing it completely, running about half naked. (Think she pished herself whilst sleeping in the van) Playing on the back of a lorry at the Mariners Day. Me, pished, fell backwards off the lorry during a song. (Might have been after you left)