Sunnysoul Posted July 16, 2014 Posted July 16, 2014 (edited) As I understand it, the major venues of the first decade of the northern scene - Wheel , Mecca , Torch , Catacombs - never had more than two or three DJs handling the record duties for the whole night. Early days at Wigan it was Winstanley, Searling and Roberts . So at what point in its life did Wigan - and other allnighters for that matter - evolve into having seven or eight or more DJs playing an hour each over the course of the night ? Edited July 16, 2014 by sunnysoul 2
Scal Posted July 16, 2014 Posted July 16, 2014 I cannot answer you question definitively, but by the summer of 1974 the line up consisted of Russ, Kev, Richard, Keith Minshull, John Vincent and Martyn Ellis playing "oldies" in the main room. Mr. M's wasn't open then, just The Beachcomber downstairs in the building complex, before and after the main event....and the allnighter didn't start until 2 a.m. I hope this is helpful, sorry if it isn't.....all the best.
Sunnysoul Posted July 16, 2014 Author Posted July 16, 2014 Early on did Winstanley and Searling do alternate sets of one hour each or did they just play it by ear as the night went on ? And did Winstanley suddenly decide in mid '74 to put more DJs on ... or did he just add one here and there to the roster as the year progressed?
Rob Wigley Posted July 16, 2014 Posted July 16, 2014 There are very few DJs who could manage a 8 hour Night Shift these days ! 2
Wiganer1 Posted July 16, 2014 Posted July 16, 2014 Ian fish wick djed the early weeks..got him on a few tapes.. Sadly he has passed away now.. As a huge Wigan casino seeing those few more months grow and grow how exciting must it have been
Guest Dave Ward Posted July 16, 2014 Posted July 16, 2014 (edited) Early on did Winstanley and Searling do alternate sets of one hour each or did they just play it by ear as the night went on ? And did Winstanley suddenly decide in mid '74 to put more DJs on ... or did he just add one here and there to the roster as the year progressed? 1973 Russ and Ian Fishwick, then Kev Roberts, 1974 Martyn Ellis. then Searling joined and guest DJ's began to appear: Levine, Curtis, Ian Dewhirst. John Vincent. From about '75 Roberts left, and Levine and Curtis decided to stick with Blackpool HR. So it was Russ, Searling, Evison, then pick from Rhodes, Brady, Minshull, Rae, Barnfather, Vincent and Ellis, depending on who was available. From memory I'd guess for the most part, that Russ opened for 2 hours, then Searling did 2 hours and the rest did an hour each. I think Russ re-appeared for the last 3 records, or left it to Evison. Edited July 16, 2014 by Dave Ward
TOAD Posted July 16, 2014 Posted July 16, 2014 (edited) 1973 Russ and Ian Fishwick, then Kev Roberts, 1974 Martyn Ellis. then Searling joined and guest DJ's began to appear: Levine, Curtis, Ian Dewhirst. John Vincent. From about '75 Roberts left, and Levine and Curtis decided to stick with Blackpool HR. So it was Russ, Searling, Evison, then pick from Rhodes, Brady, Minshull, Rae, Barnfather, Vincent and Ellis, depending on who was available. From memory I'd guess for the most part, that Russ opened for 2 hours, then Searling did 2 hours and the rest did an hour each. I think Russ re-appeared for the last 3 records, or left it to Evison. plus Gary rushbrooke and ginger in the main room Edited July 16, 2014 by TOAD
Md Records Posted July 16, 2014 Posted July 16, 2014 Was I dreaming but didn't you do it Dave, I seem to remember you playing MM & Peanuts for some reason, or did I imagine it Des
macca Posted July 16, 2014 Posted July 16, 2014 Mike Rollo is name I remember from the posters... He's no longer with us either, I believe... 1
Paul Shirley Posted July 16, 2014 Posted July 16, 2014 (edited) the late kenny spence and ste whtittle in mm's also one or two other wigan lads did spots in the early days along with the late mike rollo as well but mike died of a brain hemorrhage around 75 i think may have been sooner cant remember Edited July 16, 2014 by steptoe
Dave Thorley Posted July 16, 2014 Posted July 16, 2014 Was I dreaming but didn't you do it Dave, I seem to remember you playing MM & Peanuts for some reason, or did I imagine it Des Yes that was in the last year on a few occasions when Richard couldn't do it, so he asked me. 1
Winsford Soul Posted July 16, 2014 Posted July 16, 2014 (edited) Think Dave Langley and possibly Rod Looker from Runcorn played Mr M,s a few times along with recently departed legend Keith Brady Steve Edited July 16, 2014 by Winsford Soul
Orotava Posted July 17, 2014 Posted July 17, 2014 I`m a little shocked at the number of DJs who are no longer with us, they can`t have made old bones
dedji1955 Posted July 17, 2014 Posted July 17, 2014 Alan Caine and Bri Rigby local Wigan lads started the Beachcomber off and did Ms There was also the Soul Twins from Horwich.. Neil and Stuart Brackenridge Ian Wills from Aspull was a Mr Ms DJ as well
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