Wigan - Circa 1980 - Who Hung The Fookin Banner

[Soul Shrews]

I knew Pip...he often wore a smart suit to Wigan.

The Wolverhampton crowed had badges with 'Join the anti Criss King League' on them so I seem to recall He had something to do with the hate of all things seventies. I know The Stokies were anti modern at the time and I found it quite funny selling the likes of Geoff and Atlas copies of Charles Johnson,Phillip Mitchel etc. Strange world!!

Ah yes Pip was always well turned out, still is actually.

Cheers Paul

[Guest mickeyb]

Right - this thread was simply about trying to find out who actually hung the fookin banner - nothing else really. I did not suggest that the banner was responsible for Sam's sacking - I did say it may well have fanned the flames of animosity in some quarters.

So. I now have old addresses in the Manchester area. I know where the "banner" was made - I even know who made it. There was a group of four or five individuals involved. I have two names. One of them has admitted it - the other one is being contacted this morning. There are three others.

I will post up the two names this afternoon - I'm in meetings most of the day. At least two of em are members on here.

Ironside.

So, are you still in the meeting? Or are you going to put us out of our misery and reveal the identities of the dastardly duo?

[Guest SteveJohnston]

So, are you still in the meeting? Or are you going to put us out of our misery and reveal the identities of the dastardly duo?

Sam answers back to the Richard Sealing on the 60's v 70's thing

The scan of the next page went tit's up so will have to do it in the morning soz.

Steve J

[Steve G]

Sam answers back to the Richard Sealing on the 60's v 70's thing

The scan of the next page went tit's up so will have to do it in the morning soz.

Steve J

I remember that letter and thought it was very good at the time. Of course we'll also now need to see Richards orioginal letter to which sam was replying.

[Guest SteveJohnston]

I remember that letter and thought it was very good at the time. Of course we'll also now need to see Richards orioginal letter to which sam was replying.

Steve it took me a fookin long time to find Sam's letter in the garage that concrete floor is fookin cold

If you want to see Richards letter look for it your fookin self

(this reply is in the fookin style of Pete99)

Steve J

[Steve G]

Steve it took me a fookin long time to find Sam's letter in the garage that concrete floor is fookin cold

If you want to see Richards letter look for it your fookin self

(this reply is in the fookin style of Pete99)

Steve J

Yes I will do that as my B&S are still in the house so not cold. Its Echoes I have a problem with - think the remaining ones are in the loft, but ex wife threw a load of em out at one point. They ended up on a refuse site in Peterborough.

[Guest SteveJohnston]

Yes I will do that as my B&S are still in the house so not cold. Its Echoes I have a problem with - think the remaining ones are in the loft, but ex wife threw a load of em out at one point. They ended up on a refuse site in Peterborough.

Wife and her Mother looking for Black Echoes

[Peter99]

So, are you still in the meeting? Or are you going to put us out of our misery and reveal the identities of the dastardly duo?

Sorry for the delay - the names will be up by 2.00am.

Peter

[Peter99]

My investigations are almost complete - I have some very interesting facts, and I have names.

This happened nearly 30 years ago yet it is still an emotive subject with lots of people. I did receive some pm's advising me to drop it. Like my namesake Ironside I proceeded - fearless to the end!

So, who were the fookers that hung that banner? Because I was very much into Richard and Sam's modern tunes at the time this has felt a little like a personal crusade.

So, after receiving tip off's and bit's of info from all over I was able to clear the stoke lads and the scottish crew. My investigation took me to the North West - Greater Manchester to start with. Further information then led me to Aspull, Hindley and Leigh.

The so called banner was made in a bedroom. It was made from a tartan bed sheet and had white lettering. This was the only sheet the perpertrators mum would let him use - little fooker! The banner was made and the plot was discussed in the Cross Keys Pub in Hindley before the niter. There were five people involved. I even know that someone cracked a joke about blaming the Bay City Rollers id they got caught. I understand that up to Monday this week only the five people involved knew the whole story - other people had suspicions and odd bits of information.

So - who are the fookers? I can name two of em today.

The main man is Steve Johnston - he supplied the bed sheet. Next is fookin Bob Richards - known on here as ScallyBob - a right fookin scally too. The other three are not on here. One of em is a DJ.

So there you go. It's taken a while - took me ages to break Steve "The Banner" Johnston. Once I had certain information he could do nothing but hold his hands up.

You might have some questions for Stevie Baby?

Ironside always get's his man - or fooker!

[Peter99]

Oooops - almost forgot.

The bloody bastar*s!

[Steve G]

The main man is Steve Johnston - he supplied the bed sheet.

How ironic is this - last tune played by Steve High frequency "Summertime"

[Peter99]

How ironic is this - last tune played by Steve High frequency "Summertime"

Apparently Steve at the time the banner thing happened Steve and his crew were attending funk do's in Manchester every thursday night. However, they thought that Wigan should be "funky" free - which included a lot of what Richard was playing, and obviously a lot of Sam's stuff. The banner was not specifically aimed at Sam but it would have been easy to assume this because of Sam getting the boot. I, myself, was one of those that thought this to be the case. I think Sam bore the brunt of the anti modern brigade and was a much easier target than Richard.

Anyway - we've cleared it up! Nearly.......................

Peter

[Guest SteveJohnston]

Oooops - almost forgot.

The bloody bastar*s!

Befor anyone hang's me!

Pete you surprised me with the amount of information you found out about the fookin banner before you asked me! You old hound dog you .

Your right in saying that as a group we all thought that some of the more funky modern tunes that had started to get played at the Casino is what the banner was aimed at and not at any particular DJ and lets not forget we all were young and daft as brushes in them day's ............saying that I still have the odd day now and then .

Not only at the time where we attending the Nighters at the Casino, Bob was going to concerts all the time midweek from Steve Wonder to Bob Marley, He was also running the cellar room at the Cross Keys with Dean McDonald (some on S/S will know from once being the general manager at the Orwell on Wigan Pier), At the cellar they were playing bang up to date Jazz Funk buying from Spin-in record shop in Manchester most Saturdays all so running a mid week Jazz Funk night at the Turn-Key in Wigan on Wednesday nights if my memory is right .

I was a Member of what at the time I thought to be the best soul night anywhere in the north west the Sunday Club at Cassinelli's Motor Inn Standish also going to the Friday night there except on the Oldies night at Wigan. Along with the Ritz all dayers , and Jazz Funk all dayers at Burnley, Romeo & Juliet's on King Street in Oldham "it had that extra-added lunacy from the twosome from the wrong side of the pennines Ian Dewhirst& Paul Schofield" the promoters words not mine! But can't disagree with him (Ian this is one of the times I think you lost a year mate Sunday August bank holiday 1979 )

So nobody can say we where anti modern at the time of the banner, Ever since I was introduced to real soul music by my cousin in the early 70's I have embraced the lot and always will .

Steve J

Edited September 27, 2008 by SteveJohnston

[Barry]

An enjoyable thread and a moment in time well nailed.

[Peter99]

An enjoyable thread and a moment in time well nailed.

I enjoyed it too Barry.

Thanks to Steve for coming clean - when pushed!

It was certainly a moment in "my time".

Any other little mysteries, misdemeanours or plain bullshit you need investigating - remember Ironsides yer man.

[Diddy Morgan]

Befor anyone hang's me!

Pete you surprised me with the amount of information you found out about the fookin banner before you asked me! You old hound dog you .

Your right in saying that as a group we all thought that some of the more funky modern tunes that had started to get played at the Casino is what the banner was aimed at and not at any particular DJ and lets not forget we all were young and daft as brushes in them day's ............saying that I still have the odd day now and then .

Not only at the time where we attending the Nighters at the Casino, Bob was going to concerts all the time midweek from Steve Wonder to Bob Marley, He was also running the cellar room at the Cross Keys with Dean McDonald (some on S/S will know from once being the general manager at the Orwell on Wigan Pier), At the cellar they were playing bang up to date Jazz Funk buying from Spin-in record shop in Manchester most Saturdays all so running a mid week Jazz Funk night at the Turn-Key in Wigan on Wednesday nights if my memory is right .

I was a Member of what at the time I thought to be the best soul night anywhere in the north west the Sunday Club at Cassinelli's Motor Inn Standish also going to the Friday night there except on the Oldies night at Wigan. Along with the Ritz all dayers , and Jazz Funk all dayers at Burnley, Romeo & Juliet's on King Street in Oldham "it had that extra-added lunacy from the twosome from the wrong side of the pennines Ian Dewhirst& Paul Schofield" the promoters words not mine! But can't disagree with him (Ian this is one of the times I think you lost a year mate Sunday August bank holiday 1979 )

So nobody can say we where anti modern at the time of the banner, Ever since I was introduced to real soul music by my cousin in the early 70's I have embraced the lot and always will .

Steve J

romeo and juliets was like a palace after travellin straight from the casino,

[Scallybob]

I was DJ'ing around Wigan at the time playing new stuff. I loved it. If you like funk or modern it doesn't stop you being into Northern you know.

I went to the Casino to hear Northern Soul, my real musical love. I saw the banner in the Cross Keys before the nighter and although I knew all about it I wasn't directly involved. I didn't disagree with the sentiment though I would have raised the point in a different way. And I know for certain it wasn't a Saltaire.

I know who made it and who hung it up.

And Peter99-not sure what you mean about me being a right scally. Scouser who goes everywhere watching Liverpool, yes. Not sure what else you're implying.

[Soulman]

I remember the banner. the EASC were there but it was nothing to do with Mick Bradbury. He had gotten into modern then maybe with some influence from me! I don't think it was aimed at richard either as, although he featured modern, it was unheard, independent releases. i feel it was aimed at Sam as he was playing Coffee's "Casanova" and Mel Carters "No Work, No Play" which was so very new at the time, almost verging on electronic as far as the latter goes. It was just Sam being diverse, something he does so well hence the progression of the scene IMHO. Much of the music has fell by the wayside to become chart hits and disassociated from the scene, but then again have so many other tracks, some of which have earned a revival over the years. The fact that tunes were first played on a very bouyant northern scene and became chart doesn't make them any less soulful though, just more commercial. After all, there were far more tracks played that were already commercial hits that got played. It all boils down to politics and. as far as I am concerned, if a track has been played on the scene and accepted by the dance floor, it has every right to go under the banner of northern soul, such is the diversity of the scene. It's the die hards that have the difficulty with such a statement. Take for example "What". A UK chart hit courtesy of Grapevine. A record written by HB Barnum. A great dance record with very catchy lyrics and superb production. For the die hards, it was sung by a white gal. A no go from the start. But look again. The pedigree, the rarity on original vinyl. It has everything a northern soul record should have and, as far as I am concerned, deserves to go under the banner of northern soul just like all the tracks played at the Casino in the latter days. I may however draw the line at "Green Onions" and the mod invasion, but that was just Russ trying to keep attendance high and catering to the masses. It was a business and anybody just may have done the same thing at the time knowing that the end was nigh.

And that, my friends, is just one individual opinion whether it be right or wrong

[Peter99]

I remember the banner. the EASC were there but it was nothing to do with Mick Bradbury. He had gotten into modern then maybe with some influence from me! I don't think it was aimed at richard either as, although he featured modern, it was unheard, independent releases. i feel it was aimed at Sam as he was playing Coffee's "Casanova" and Mel Carters "No Work, No Play" which was so very new at the time, almost verging on electronic as far as the latter goes. It was just Sam being diverse, something he does so well hence the progression of the scene IMHO. Much of the music has fell by the wayside to become chart hits and disassociated from the scene, but then again have so many other tracks, some of which have earned a revival over the years. The fact that tunes were first played on a very bouyant northern scene and became chart doesn't make them any less soulful though, just more commercial. After all, there were far more tracks played that were already commercial hits that got played. It all boils down to politics and. as far as I am concerned, if a track has been played on the scene and accepted by the dance floor, it has every right to go under the banner of northern soul, such is the diversity of the scene. It's the die hards that have the difficulty with such a statement. Take for example "What". A UK chart hit courtesy of Grapevine. A record written by HB Barnum. A great dance record with very catchy lyrics and superb production. For the die hards, it was sung by a white ghal. A no go from the start. But look again. The pedigree, the rarity on original vinyl. It has everything a northern soul record should have and, as far as I am concerned, deserves to go under the banner of northern soul just like all the tracks played at the Casino in the latter days. I may however draw the line at "Green Onions" and the mod invasion, but that was just Russ trying to keep attendance high and catering to the masses. It was a business and anybody just may have done the same thing at the time knowing that the end was nigh.

And that, my friends, is just one individual opinion whether it be right or wrong

Have you read this thread? Who said it was anything to do with Mick Bradbury? Mick was my mate at the time and I was there with him on this particular night - we went with Dave Raistrick and Figgy from Boston. The only person to mention Mick on this thread was me - and that was to say that him and I did the petition in support of Sam.

The rest of your musings I agree with.

[Peter99]

I was DJ'ing around Wigan at the time playing new stuff. I loved it. If you like funk or modern it doesn't stop you being into Northern you know.

I went to the Casino to hear Northern Soul, my real musical love. I saw the banner in the Cross Keys before the nighter and although I knew all about it I wasn't directly involved. I didn't disagree with the sentiment though I would have raised the point in a different way. And I know for certain it wasn't a Saltaire.

I know who made it and who hung it up.

And Peter99-not sure what you mean about me being a right scally. Scouser who goes everywhere watching Liverpool, yes. Not sure what else you're implying.

I wasn't implying anything Bob - I was simply pulling yer leg - we do it quite a bit on here.

Peter

[Scallybob]

Fair enough Peter, no worries. Do we know each other?

[Peter99]

Fair enough Peter, no worries. Do we know each other?

I'm not sure Bob. Obviously we were knocking around at the same time. Met so many people over the years - spent much of the 80's on the dance floor and was one of the naughty boys . So sometimes I didn't speak so much cos I was the most paranoid fooker on the scene!

Please to have touched base on here though - you scally fooker!

[Guest]

I'm not sure Bob. Obviously we were knocking around at the same time. Met so many people over the years - spent much of the 80's on the dance floor and was one of the naughty boys . So sometimes I didn't speak so much cos I was the most paranoid fooker on the scene!

Please to have touched base on here though - you scally fooker!

I suppose knocking around with that lass from the Goldthorpe area did not help ........

Malc Burton

[Mak]

Well done Peter Poirot , pray tell us followers of this thread , will the culprits be marched off like ''The Pentrich Revolutionaries and slung into the dunegoens of Nottingham. Or doe's Pete Smith endow they with medals.

Now then Peter Poirot what is your next case because there are plenty to solve on here

[Peter99]

I suppose knocking around with that lass from the Goldthorpe area did not help ........

Malc Burton

You've got a good memory Malc!

Hope yer ok fella.

Peter

[Peter99]

Well done Peter Poirot , pray tell us followers of this thread , will the culprits be marched off like ''The Pentrich Revolutionaries and slung into the dunegoens of Nottingham. Or doe's Pete Smith endow they with medals.

Now then Peter Poirot what is your next case because there are plenty to solve on here

Thanks Mate.

There are a couple of "incidents" I've been asked to "look" into.

Can't say too much at the moment.

Peter Poirot.

[Guest]

I know this is an old thread, but I'm new and just have to comment: fantastic! Puts it all into perspective... with names and the plotters venue - what more could you foo kin ask for?!