| The band -
Nobodaddy
- was formed initially by Graham Halley
and Alan Turner in Cupar, Fife in 1972. After an abortive
start the band was reborn in 1973 in St Andrews with a new
lineup, consisting of Neil Grant (keyboards), Roddy MacDonald
(guitar), Graham Halley (guitar), Ian Watt (bass guitar) and
Alan Turner (drums).
At all times we were assisted in our adventures by our loyal
band of technicians and 'roadies' - Allan (AB) Brereton, Keith
(The Boy) Morris, Gordon (Gungi) Paterson, Alistair (Tiv)
Tivendale, Cameron Crosby and Jim Leighton. Much praise should
be heaped on their shoulders that they were able to steer
us around even though they were inevitably in the same state
of disrepair as the rest of us!
Early in the band's evolution Ian Watt was the first to leave,
and Neil Paterson joined playing bass guitar. About the same
time Keith Nicol arrived as the band's vocalist and lyrics
writer.
Not long after Keith and Neil P's arrival Nobodaddy went into
Maritime Studios, in Edinburgh, to record the first of two
demo tapes. As with all good rock and roll stories, these
tapes disappeared mysteriously (nobody could remember where
they put them) only to resurface many years later in far away
places.
A short time after this recording session Roddy left the band,
which left Graham as the only guitar player. This incarnation
of the band - Neil Grant, Graham Halley, Alan Turner, Neil
Paterson and Keith Nicol - was to be the most enduring, lasting
almost to the band's inevitable demise in 1978.
Nobodaddy mainly played the Scottish college circuit, with
varying degrees of success. Some of our more high profile
gigs saw us supporting acts such as Coliseum II and Caravan
(we were such shameless plagiarists that some people at this
gig thought we WERE Caravan!).
In 1974 we returned to Maritime Studios for a second demo
session. With better material, and much more experience, we
still managed to make ourselves sound mediocre. Ah well, that's
the way we were in those days ... chemicals can do wonders
for your hearing - NOT!
Armed with our new recordings we made an assault on the record
companies, but they repelled our attacks. They told us we
were good but the sound was not what they were looking for.
How many times have they said that to aspiring rock stars,
do you think?
In 1976 Neil Paterson decided that he had had enough and left
the band. Richard Brown, a local recording studio
owner and sometime member of Procul Harum, filled the breach.
Richard brought vast experience, musicianship and a different
sound with him, but ultimately this version of the band didn't
last long. Richard left some months later and Neil Paterson,
having had a change of heart, rejoined.
If I can be allowed to say it myself, we were good! ... but
we all had the inevitable commitments which forced choices
upon us. Some of the band members and roadies had drifted
into working in the music industry, while others got real
jobs. Nobodaddy finally laid on its back and died in 1978,
unloved and forgotten by all but a few.
A recent search on the WWW found that a number of bands have
subsequently named themselves after good old Urizen, Father
Jealousy. To all these people we wish you every success, but
never forget - after William Blake, we were the first!
The End?
This brief history will be expanded and revised as and when
someone who was around in these times can be bothered to remember
what actually happened!
Update on 09 July 2018
After many years without access to the site I have finally managed to update what we do now.
I'm afraid to say this mainly consists of notifications of band members' deaths. However,
at least it brings things up to date.
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