Diane, Gene, Philip, Mark, Katherine, Simon and Martin all have at least one guitar. The origin of Diane's is shrouded in mystery, that of each of Gene's isn't. One was a present from Diane.
Guitars presented by Diane and Gene to both Simon and Martin, along with self-bought Katherine's, led to mentions on websites. Why? .........Scroll on!
See down there...
...bottom of page
But once they were young, and that’s another story, for when they were a bit older than young they made themselves into the phenomenon called Nimbus Grit.
It all began millions of years after the beginning of everything, (when it really all began), in the winter of 1969-1970 when snow lay thickly on the kind of ground upon which legends are made. Gene Robinson, an aimless chemist, was wandering round Glaxo’s factory in Barnard Castle looking for an aim, when all at once he met an imported employee from the deep south who thought “putty” was pronounced “patty”. This was none other than Chris Siggers of rescue fame, which refers to earlier snows, and who subsequently had a plant named after him, Autocoleus Siginsii Rescuii, which requires explanation, but not here.
Siggers had a big piano and to go with it an ability to play and a share in a “band”. Like all true bands it was really a ban, i.e. it was incomplete due to absence of permanent drummer, so that a lot of the time there was no drumming, but this did not deter the drummerless, who numbered two more. There was Brian Sidaway, who had a clarionet and a soprano sax, both of which he could play, but not at the same time, and Steve Fairchild, who owned a mobile double bass and later terrorised the Pharmaceutical Industry by becoming an inspector. Fairchild’s skill was his ability to get said double bass in, or on, (mostly atop), any vehicle, which was just as well because in order to gather they had to visit the immobile piano.
Enter Robinson with an off-the-cuff, “Do you want a guitarist?” and Siggers shot off to factory parts unknown, returning with all knowing Sidaway and some questions. “Can you play C sharp diminished? Can you…..etc…..?” and the answers led to a dark, snowy journey over Folly Top, on the other side of which lived the piano in Eggleston. What followed is as mythic as it was music. They honed their pre-rock dance stuff and, some say, once inflicted it on an audience, while Robinson told of R&R, possibly hastening the disappearance of the double bass on the roof of an inspector’s car. The piano evaporated soon afterwards leaving Robinson and Sidaway on the threshold of redundancy, but the woodwind knew a village lad who lived in a village that was the very village of his clarionet’s dwelling place. And so came this lad who was big, (handy), strong, (handy), a carpenter, (handy) and had guitars that he could play like wringing a neck, which is one of the things guitars have, (very handy)! Besides that he knew not only Rock but Roll as well, because his name was Gordon Taylor, which was fine, for that’s what they tended to call him.
All they needed now was the inevitable drummer and one came in inevitable due course and his name was Bobby. Bobby’s surname was the kind of Kitchen they never learned how to spell because he offered it up as the group’s name, The Bobby K Four, and so they adopted this “blame the drummer” style and rode the road to fame and unfortunately, no fortune, getting their first meagrely paid work in April 1971. That was an embryonic year that saw amplifiers arrive and grow, along with vocalism, from Robinson and Taylor, and a tenor sax, from which it was intended should emerge green smoke in lieu of song. Sidaway doubled on bass of the electric kind, which he learned by not blowing his horns for a while, and in any case his clarionet had now become clarinet as the group approached up-to-date. Up-to-date was finally reached by means of a cowardly trick to vanish out-of-date K. The group was disbanded and then three quarters rebanded moments later in another part of the Universe.
This band could play anything from any to thing; old-time dance to new-time rock and that was a strength. A weakness was that they could play nothing because they were again deficient in the drumming department, to the extent of being totally devoid of drummer. Absence of drummer did not last long however, and neither did absence of absence, for Nelson Maddox quickly came, percussed once and then dematerialised into a hole for filling. The filling turned out to be none other than Paul Bloomfield, of whom they had never heard, but once they did hear Nimbus Grit was complete.
it tended to convey was that this intention had to be explained before it could be conveyed, because what it otherwise conveyed was the raw nerve of a poorly eye! They were supposed to be deafening, not blinding, but either way, or perhaps because of the need for explanation, the band’s name became known well enough for the band to become well known, although Nimbus Grit was never completely abandoned.
The term “Rock Legend” is a contradiction, for a legend is nebulous; a “truth” lost in the mists of myth, whilst rock is as hard as it gets; as solid as the here and now.
No wonder then that Nimbus Grit have become the ultimate Rock Legend. What foresight went into the fashioning of that name, half head in the clouds and so hazy, that four decades on no one has heard of them; half as gristly as old bones and grizzly as the beards on their chins?
Bloomfield could play drums and girls, (and at the same time), and on arrival insisted that the group be The Muff Divers, which it was, though in 1972 they mightn't get away with it, sexual preference notwithstanding. In any case Nimbus Grit had been chosen democratically, Robinson’s witty suggestion Electric Gas becoming the title on their first album cover. They never had an album, just an album cover!
Nimbus Grit now stormed all over the northeast of England, getting heavier and heavier, until at last they equalled their combined weight. They got louder and louder too and knew that they had arrived when they were able to break beer glasses with the volume of their sound. The quality of their sound filled beer glasses, which they eagerly drank, and pockets, which they eagerly sank into more and more sound, and so it went on; round and round and round.
Then suddenly it went straight when in 1973 they took up residence at The CB Hotel in Arkengarthdale, playing almost nowhere else for three months. This phase was lucrative financially, but musically a cul-de-sac, which was probably the reason for the change of name that went with their return to the open road. Cataract had been intended to convey the raw power of a Niagara; what
In 1973 and 1974 Cataract/Nimbus Grit took to deafening/storming the North East again and from there maybe they could have deafened the World, if they’d been loud enough. As it was their success led to their end, because the question was where next to go? For one of them the answer was as clear as it was incompatible with the other three different answers and irony had the final say when the drummer unbanded himself and then rebanded moments later in another part of the Universe where drumming is a profession. There was no cowardly trick this time though, no hard feelings, but for the others the leap from hobby to profession was out of the answer. Nimbus Grit was once again drummerless and this time that meant bandless. They played for the last time, (as Cataract), in Sunderland in June 1974.
.
Paul Bloomfield Drums,
Vocals.
Gene Robinson Rhythm guitar, (occasional lead),
Harmonica,
Vocals.
Brian Sidaway Bass guitar,
Saxophone,
Clarinet.
Gordon Taylor Lead guitar,
Vocals.
145: 33 as The Bobby K Four 76 as Nimbus Grit 36 as Cataract
Gig List
Nimbus Grit at The CB
18-2-1971 | 24-4-1971 | 14-5-1971 | 15-5-1971 | 22-5-1971 | 5-6-1971 | 26-6-1971 | 4-8-1971 | 14-8-1971 | 27-8-1971 | 25-9-1971 |
22-10-1971 | 29-10-1971 | 30-10-1971 | 5-11-1971 | 13-11-1971 | 20-11-1971 | 27-11-1971 | 3-12-1971 | 11-12-1971 | 26-12-1971 | 27-12-1971 |
31-12-1971 | 8-1-1972 | 14-1-1972 | 15-1-1972 | 29-1-1972 | 26-2-1972 | 3-3-1972 | 25-3-1972 | 14-4-1972 | 29-4-1972 | 27-5-1972 |
Tables
Of
Dates
10-6-1972 | 28-7-1972 | 7-8-1972 | 14-8-1972 | 15-8-1972 | 21-8-1972 | 26-8-1972 | 28-8-1972 | 27-9-1972 | 30-9-1972 | 14-10-1972 | 18-10-1972 |
25-10-1972 | 27-10-1972 | 28-10-1972 | 3-11-1972 | 25-11-1972 | 30-11-1972 | 8-12-1972 | 9-12-1972 | 16-12-1972 | 19-12-1972 | 22-12-1972 | 23-12-1972 |
26-12-1972 | 31-12-1972 | 13-1-1973 | 2-2-1973 | 3-2-1973 | 10-2-1973 | 13-2-1973 | 17-2-1973 | 2-3-1973 | 17-3-1973 | 30-3-1973 | 6-4-1973 |
1.The Bobby K Four
26-4-1973 | 27-4-1973 | 28-4-1973 | 3-5-1973 | 4-5-1973 | 5-5-1973 | 10-5 1973 | 11-5-1973 |
17-5-1973 | 18-5-1973 |
19-5-1973 | 24-5-1973 | 25-5-1973 | 26-5-1973 | 28-5-1973 | 31-5-1973 | 1-6-1973 | 2-6-1973 | 7-6-1973 | 8-6-1973 |
14-6-1973 | 15-6-1973 | 16-6-1973 | 21-6-1973 | 22-6-1973 | 23-6-1973 | 29-6-1973 | 30-6-1973 | 14-7-973 | 21-7-1973 |
2. 3. Nimbus Grit
4. Cataract
1-9-1973 | 1-9-1973 | 2-9-1973 | 8-9-1973 | 15-9-1973 | 22-9-1973 | 3-11-1973 | 10-11-1973 | 24-11-1973 | |||
1-12-1973 | 2-12-1973 | 29-12-1973 | 31-12-1973 | 4-1-1974 | 5-1-1974 | 12-1-1974 | 24-1-1974 | ||||
8-2-1974 | 2-3-1974 | 9-3-1974 | 17-3-1974 | 23-3-1974 | 24-3-1974 | 30-3-1974 | 19-4-1974 | 20-4-1974 | 24-4-1974 | 26-4-1974 |
20-10-1973 | 26-10-1973 | 27-10-1973 |
7-12-1973 | 15-12-1973 | 27-12-1973 |
3-5-1974 | 4-5-1974 | 10-5-1974 | 11-5-1974 | 18-5-1974 | 25-5-1974 | 8-6-1974 | 22-6-1974 |
8 dates in red border played as Nimbus Grit.
The Bobby K Four (15 venues)
5-6-1971 Football Club Dance. 25-9-1971 East Lendings Caravan Club Dance. 22-10-1971 Barnard Castle Round Table Dance.
29-10-1971 Halloween Dance. 13-11-1971 24th Air Portable Regimental Dinner. 11-12-1971 Pigeon Club Dance.
14-1-1972 Barnard Castle Badminton Club Dance. 26-6-1971 Robinson absent. 4-8-1971 Taylor absent.
DLI Club, Barnard Castle | Golf Club, Barnard Castle | Village Hall, Bowes | Cricket Club, Barnard Castle | East Lendings Caravan Site, Startforth |
King's Head, Barnard Castle | Village Hall, Boldron | Parish Hall, Barnard Castle | Morritt Arms, Greta Bridge | Glaxo Club, Barnard Castle |
Junior Football Club, Middleton-in-Teesdale | Sergeants' Mess, Streatlam Camp, Stainton | Village Hall, Butterknowle | Working Men's Club, Barnard Castle |
18-2-1971 (DLI Club) Unpaid.
Nimbus Grit (18 venues, 3 in common with The Bobby K Four.) See relevant venues key.
30-11-1972 Barnard Castle Round Table Fancy Dress Ball. 8-12-1972 Darlington Civil Service Sports Club Dance.
22-12-1972 Darlington Town Hall Dance. 3-2-1973 Darlington Post Office Workers Dance.
2-3-1973 Darlington Golf Club Annual Dinner. 6-4-1973 Swaledale Darts League Dance. 12-5-1973 Gas Board Dance.
Blackwell Golf Club, Darlington | Sports Club, Newton Ayecliffe | Haughton-le-Skerne Working Men's Club | Civil Service Club, Catterick Camp |
Castle Eden Golf Club | Phoenix Tubeman Social Club, Darlington | Darlington Golf Club | Territorial Army, Darlington | Scotch Corner Hotel |
Dinsdale Spa Golf Club, Darlington | Baths Hall, Darlington | Darlington Police Dance, Police Headquarters | King's Head, Darlington |
CB Hotel Arkengarthdale | Territorial Army, Houghton-le-Spring |
Cataract (29 venues) Eight gigs as Nimbus Grit. See relevant venues keys.
King Oswy Road Working Men's Club, Hartlepool | Lindisfarne Night Club, Hartlepool | Zetland Club, Stockton | River Wear Club, Sunderland |
Newburn Memorial Club, Newcastle | Hartlepool Steel Works Club | Westminster Hotel, Parliament Road, Middlesborough | Clarence Club, Middlesborough |
Old Skelton Institute Club, Skelton | Acklam Iron and Steel Works Club, Middlesborough | Shildon Club and Institute | Working Men's Club, Haltwhistle |
Southerne Club, Newton Ayecliffe | Kelloe Working Men's Club | Cockerton Band Club, Darlington | Synthonia Club, (ICI), Billingham |
Steeles Social Club, Sunderland | Seaton Carew Working Men's Club | Tyne View Catholic Club, Felling, Gateshead | Trimdon Comrades Club |
Commercial Road Workmen's Club, Sunderland | Trimdon Grange Club | Engineer's Club, Hartlepool | Southwick Social Club, Sunderland |
Wallsend East End Social Club | Iona Social Club, Gateshead | Owton Manor Social Club, Hartlepool | Lanchester Social Club |
26-1-1974 Evenwood Engineering Dance. 16-3-1974 Tiplady's Wedding.
Coincidentally “pick-up contraption” mentioned top of Note & Tone was purchased on the same day as Austin 1100 GKH 716 D, conveniently introducing an interesting tale accompanying Gene’s absence from the Boldron gig. (See Bobby K Four above.)
It all goes to show how out of control we are; well, Gene is, at least!
On Friday evening, 25th June 1971, said 1100 was conveying Gene and family to his parents’ in Birkenhead. Some Liverpool traffic lights halted the Austin in Scotland Road, but failed to arrest the pursuing rampant Land Rover, which, attempting to mate, seriously crumpled the boot. Getting the bloke to cough up the money was the easy bit. He’d borrowed the vehicle without permission; there was no insurance, road tax, MOT, or driving licence, and on top of that his wife wasn’t the lady in the passenger seat!
The consequences, however, were something else!
26th June was Gene’s 6th wedding anniversary and brother Brian’s wedding, but, before he could be Best Man, Gene had to get a broken fan-belt fixed. It never rains, etc….but in fact it was a sunny day and the wedding went as well as weddings can. Gene then set out to drive to Boldron.
He got about 200 yards before the fuel ran out…literally! The mating-induced crumple extended unseen beyond the boot and the filling station's petrol bypassed the tank completely. Boldron was a no-hope. Instead that evening saw Gene and his dad at the Children’s Hospital with Philip, whose eye had swollen; an allergic reaction of some sort.
Her Majesty had officially opened Kingsway on 24th June and, of the pair, the completed southern tunnel was due to hear its first roar of illicit, randy Land Rovers on 28th. Sunday, 27th was set aside for a public stroll-through; very enjoyable, though no mating witnessed by Gene, who shouldn’t have even been there.
He shouldn’t have been on the bus from Darlington to Barnard Castle either, but he was, after getting a train from Lime Street on 29th. In the early evening, just outside Gainford, Gene’s bus collided with a minibus, killing its driver and seriously injuring the two passengers. Gene didn’t get home until midnight and later had to attend an inquest. Judy brought GKH 716 D home on 11th July.
Gene missed one gig and one venue, as that date was the only one played at Boldron. Gordon also missed one gig, ( East Lendings Caravan Site, Startforth... reason unknown), but missed no venue, because that wasn't the only date at that venue.
There were 145 gigs in total, but, (the keen eyed will have spotted), only 144 dates. Reason: two gigs played on the same date,
1st September 1973 in Hartlepool; King Oswy Road WMC and Lindisfarne Night Club. The latter will have started late and extended beyond midnight, but note that they were at Stockton's Zetland Club on 2nd September!
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Man and guitar...you are a Star.
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