For some reason i always assume everyone on here has always been around for ever on the northern scene and i'm often surprised when someone tells me they've only been into Northern Soul for a few years. Personally i don't care how long anyone has been around or how old they are. There are people on the scene who have done more for the scene and made more of an impact in a few years than i ever have and good luck to them.

I just thought it would fun and informative to do a poll and find out what the average time around is. Is it true the scene is full of relative newcomers or lifers or a mixture of the two?

If you are a returnee add your first time around to your second time around (or third if you keep clearing off then coming back).

Edited May 13, 200916 yr by Matt Male

I started back in 1976 and finished in 2009 going to gigs that is not collecting tunes some 33 years enough for anyone I think lol

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

Edited May 13, 200916 yr by Mark Bicknell

I started back in 1976 and finished in 2009 going to gigs that is not collecting tunes some 33 years enough for anyone I think lol

Regards - Mark Bicknell.

LISTEN TO MY SISTERS RECORDS FROM THE 60S [ POP SOUL AND RARE SOUL ] started going youth clubs 1968 listening to then the rare records lol not called northern then ,Mod MUSIC

Me since about 73...........33 years isn't long enough.

no more than 4 years seriously but about 5 years since i first realised i liked what i was hearing at scooter rallies,

now i would say im a tad more hooked than i would ever of thought i could be

Bearsy

Me since about 73...........33 years isn't long enough.

Ken you're never 73!

First remember Lowerhouse Canteen Burnley, Cat's Whiskers, Wigan around '75. 33 yrs definitley not enough. I feel like I'm only just getting started.

Kev

I was on the scene for about 20 years 1978 - 1999. Just about right.

Phil

Me since about 73...........33 years isn't long enough.

Wow, I am living in the future!!!! Well, 3 years that is..I must write down dem lottery numbers real quick!! But how am I going to go back to claim my dosh ???

I am confused now!!

Anyway, This message will be displayed in 3 years time for you to read!!!

shit we're all old feckers i only look about 21 tho

For some reason i always assume everyone on here has always been around for ever on the northern scene and i'm often surprised when someone tells me they've only been into Northern Soul for a few years. Personally i don't care how long anyone has been around or how old they are. There are people on the scene who have done more for the scene and made more of an impact in a few years than i ever have and good luck to them.

I just thought it would fun and informative to do a poll and find out what the average time around is. Is it true the scene is full of relative newcomers or lifers or a mixture of the two?

If you are a returnee add your first time around to your second time around (or third if you keep clearing off then coming back).

The poll asks two questions though.

I've been into Northern since about 1973, but have not been on the scene for that continuous period, only 25 years on the scene.

The poll asks two questions though.

I've been into Northern since about 1973, but have not been on the scene for that continuous period, only 25 years on the scene.

Ok i'll knock six months off for holiday's.

Me since about 73...........33 years isn't long enough.

Ken...you old b*stard . Wasn't born until '76 so you were digging through sales boxes before I even existed! One thing I do love about SS......makes me feel young .

~Me early 74 fookin Andy Newbold (soulcruiser) has got a lot to answer for!!!! apart from 10yrs in Army 1980 -1990 been at it full time. Even then I was still getting to nighters when possible so 38 years.....................jesus and I still get to nighters very regular I MUST BE FOOKING MENKAL.

Rick

Ken...you old b*stard . Wasn't born until '76 so you were digging through sales boxes before I even existed! One thing I do love about SS......makes me feel young .

Feeking hell Adam you only 33

The poll asks two questions though.

I've been into Northern since about 1973, but have not been on the scene for that continuous period, only 25 years on the scene.

True Dave, i realised it was a bit ambiguous, i suppose i was leaving it open for those people who don't attend venues but still collect and enjoy the music (could be argued they are still part of the scene). But yes, i suppose i mean actively involved in some way, however small.

I'm like you Dave, i didn't really do anything 'northern' related for ten years from 1986 - 1996, if i'd continued collecting, listening to the music regularly, reading Blues and Soul etc... i'd probably count those years, but i didn't, so for me it's 1978 - 1986 and then 1996 - 2009, so 23 years.

Edited May 13, 200916 yr by Matt Male

Feeking hell Adam you only 33

Yep ........had a hard life though thats why I look 53

i voted but took 10years off i dont believe im that old lol

since I was 12 years old and got my first batch of records....30 years ago. Kind of makes me feel old.

gary

Yep ........had a hard life though thats why I look 53

Shouldnt knock round with all us oldn's Adam a bit more grumpiness and you'll pull it off easy i look like i'm 25

First time I went to wigan was 1975 to see Jackie Wilson, but got into it a few months before,

Edited May 14, 200916 yr by steve

I started at the of 15 in 1975 here in Cleethorpes, was hevey into it till around 1982 traveled all over the country, then droped out of it till around 1998 when i started going again, not got enough spere time to get into nighters properly but do manage the odd one or two a year, also try and atend the local nights when I can and the weekender here in cleethorpes is a must do for me, still collect records,, the good thing about not getting out regually is every time i do its all fresh to me, bit like a gold fish going round his bowl

Thirty six years of listnening to not a lot else . about ten years of activly participating 72 / 82 still get out occasionaly but not often mainly to scooter rallys there is usually a northern room so I still get to strut my stuff .

Ken...you old b*stard . Wasn't born until '76 so you were digging through sales boxes before I even existed! One thing I do love about SS......makes me feel young .

.. know what you mean there!

Jayne.x

Started 1972 till 1981/2 then a break and back again in 1995 so a long time listening to soul music.

mark

I've been at it since about 1987, it was the Mod thing that i got into from '82 that got me into the music. It hasn't all just been the Northern thing though, since then i have never dropped out but have done a mix of the Mod and scooter scenes / the rare groove thing when it happened and anything related along the way - have only been obsessively buying vinyl and DJing for 6 years, before that i was happy buying the odd record / CD and just turning up at events as and when it pleased me - its with me for life i reckon!

Ste.

If you are a returnee add your first time around to your second time around (or third if you keep clearing off then coming back).

This isn't obvious in the poll title - I suspect a fair few will (no doubt unintentionally) be optimistic about their true time on the scene. 

I demand a recount under Chapter 3, Section 2 (ii) ('Misrepresentation of FaithKeepingNess') of the Soul Police handbook (1994 revised).

This isn't obvious in the poll title - I suspect a fair few will (no doubt unintentionally) be optimistic about their true time on the scene.

I demand a recount under Chapter 3, Section 2 (ii) ('Misrepresentation of FaithKeepingNess') of the Soul Police handbook (1994 revised).

I don't mind. Nice spread and quite a few votes. I suppose it's expected 30-35 years has the biggest number, although i'm surprised at the numbers still around at 36+, brilliant . Glad to see so many under 15 years, at least people are still getting involved.

This isn't obvious in the poll title - I suspect a fair few will (no doubt unintentionally) be optimistic about their true time on the scene.

I demand a recount under Chapter 3, Section 2 (ii) ('Misrepresentation of FaithKeepingNess') of the Soul Police handbook (1994 revised).

Was this not re-revised in 2001 and re-re-revised in 2008?

12 YRS FOR ME , ALTHOUGH BEEN COLLECTING ALL GENRES OF MUSIC FOR 25YRS+

First time 1982 Fleet. Mod / Soul scooter rally. Stepped into main room and was hooked. Took the queens shilling but still listened and went when on leave. But seriously into scene in last 6 or 7 years.

Kev

Went to my first Northern club in 2000 but had been into "ordinary" soul for a couple of years by then so 6-10 for me.

Served my apprenticeship at the East Anglian Soul Club in 79/80 and been going pretty much continuously ever since. Oh, and did two Caisters and Ministry of Sound when they had a soul room!

Mark C

I started 1985 dropped off a bit in the mid 90s but ive kept my hand in as i make a few niters over the cousre of a year

Remember listening to a pirate radio station (I think pirate) in Liverpool called ChoiceFM in 1991 playing none stop Northern Soul, played stuff like Baby Baby "Crampton Sisters", Bud Harper "Wherever You Were" and other stuff.

First soul do I went to was in 1995/1996 the Coliseum in Derby with my two older sisters.

Suz

x

Sad as i am i've done a chart for this. Not an exact science of course but the high point of northern (obviously) seems to be the mid-70s, slowly dropping off until a low point in the 90s and then regaining popularity again nowadays, never as big as the glory days of the 70s but still an improvement on the 90s.

Imperfect observations (seems sometimes like there are more people around than ever) but interesting.

Sad as i am  i've done a chart for this.

 I'm glad to see someone else takes these matters as seriously as me.

Just to join in the geekiness: again the axis label is misleading - should be "Accumulated Years on the Scene" or somesuch.  

"Numbers of People on the Scene" would have everyone listed in the final column (because everyone responding is currently on the scene, by definition), and no information for the previous years.

Was this not re-revised in 2001 and re-re-revised in 2008?

Unofficial revisions by an unauthorised splinter group, certainly not recognised by the Provisional Wigan Dance Council.

Sad as i am i've done a chart for this. Not an exact science of course but the high point of northern (obviously) seems to be the mid-70s, slowly dropping off until a low point in the 90s and then regaining popularity again nowadays, never as big as the glory days of the 70s but still an improvement on the 90s.

Imperfect observations (seems sometimes like there are more people around than ever) but interesting.

Excellent job : 10 / 10 .........

Can we have the next chart in the form of a pie one .......... a Wigan pie one of course

Malc Burton

Can we have the next chart in the form of a pie one .......... a Wigan pie one of course  

(I hope Matt doesn't mind)

I had no idea how to do that properly...

Excellent job : 10 / 10 .........

Can we have the next chart in the form of a pie one .......... a Wigan pie one of course

Malc Burton

Or a crusty Wigan PYE chart even.

Sad as i am i've done a chart for this. Not an exact science of course but the high point of northern (obviously) seems to be the mid-70s, slowly dropping off until a low point in the 90s and then regaining popularity again nowadays, never as big as the glory days of the 70s but still an improvement on the 90s.

Imperfect observations (seems sometimes like there are more people around than ever) but interesting.

... if you're spending your evenings compiling graphs, you need more to occupy your time clearly..

why don't you start a new venue up or something.

was interesting to see though...

Jayne.x

Arent these figures a little worrying ?

Only around 10% are fairly new to the scene, does that mean it dies with our generation?

Of course percentages will increase as we do all pop our clogs

Arent these figures a little worrying ?

Only around 10% are fairly new to the scene, does that mean it dies with our generation?Of course percentages will increase as we do all pop our clogs

Who's our generation?

Anyway, you could look at it positively and say 90% have stuck with it at least 10 years. 

It's difficult to tell on the longevity of the scene after the Wigan generation have vamoosed.

Most people on the scene seem to be late 40s - early 50s. This may be offputting to some younger (or indeed older) people who come along to check it out, so it isn't neccessarily an indicator of impending doom itself - it could just be an obstacle.

There are plenty of young faces at the various town centre NS dos, though I'm not sure how many of them are actually into the music, as opposed to just going where their mates go to have a good time. It could just be a fad for a lot of them, as most of them seem to be drunk.

Fad or not, the fact that the music which should be alien to them is not alienating can only be a good sign.

Edited May 15, 200916 yr by spirit

Arent these figures a little worrying ?

Only around 10% are fairly new to the scene, does that mean it dies with our generation?

Of course percentages will increase as we do all pop our clogs

only 188 people have voted - an unsubstantial amount to base anything on

Even if we were to make assumptions based on such an insignificant amount of people it would probably just give credence to Benjimin Disreali's quote, "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."

only 188 people have voted - an unsubstantial amount to base anything on

Even if we were to make assumptions based on such an insignificant amount of people it would probably just give credence to Benjimin Disreali's quote, "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."

Mike

Hope you're right mate, I think I have at least another 30 years in me yet ( as long as I can get my zimmer through the door and people dont mind the smell of pxss !!! )

Mike

Hope you're right mate, I think I have at least another 30 years in me yet ( as long as I can get my zimmer through the door and people dont mind the smell of pxss !!! )

you and me both mate unfortunatly I am half way there already (but not telling which half )

Been going to soul clubs from about 2001, when i was 21.......

Arent these figures a little worrying ?

Only around 10% are fairly new to the scene, does that mean it dies with our generation?

Of course percentages will increase as we do all pop our clogs

Like i said, just a bit of fun and i was only referring to Soul Source members in post #1, obviously no real basis for evidence of anything on the wider scene, or is it?

Graph updated

Edited May 15, 200916 yr by Matt Male

Who's our generation?

Anyway, you could look at it positively and say 90% have stuck with it at least 10 years.

It's difficult to tell on the longevity of the scene after the Wigan generation have vamoosed.

Most people on the scene seem to be late 40s - early 50s. This may be offputting to some younger (or indeed older) people who come along to check it out, so it isn't neccessarily an indicator of impending doom itself - it could just be an obstacle.

There are plenty of young faces at the various town centre NS dos, though I'm not sure how many of them are actually into the music, as opposed to just going where their mates go to have a good time. It could just be a fad for a lot of them, as most of them seem to be drunk.

Fad or not, the fact that the music which should be alien to them is not alienating can only be a good sign.

Speak for yourself I'm a young 37

Suz

x

And lovely with it but in 15 years time will you be so honest about your age

Speak for yourself I'm a young 37

Suz

x

And lovely with it but in 15 years time will you be so honest about your age

Thanx Age is but a number (till I find the Oil of Olay wont remove the wrinkles )

Suz

x