This pic has probably been researched before but being a relativley new member I'm unaware of previous thread. So, I remember these guys from the Casino's early days, I first visited in Apr '74 & approx a dozen more up to the 1st anniversary. The black guy used to hang with Gethro/wolves gang called Will I think? The guy with the beard also had other hirsute pals & I wondered if the whiskers were a regional thing? The guy with white shirt also used to wear a beret with Torch badge, Adrian? The guy with the vest I do't remember so well but I had the V neck T shirt version of the dragonette.These were reg faces inc a guy who also bearded, wore a green John Deere bowling shirt..& earring..who was he? They struck me as ex Torch/Cats soulsters who gradually drifted away (as far as I remember) as the music worsened ( the soussan instrs & pop sounds) The first 12-18 mnths were for me the best at Wigan, after that it started to gradually change as was inevitable I suppose.I often wonder what happened to the northern fans from that early era, I know Gethro kept going for ages & I packed it in '78, would be nice to see some photos, like the one here, of the faces from that time..here's some of me also kevin dutton from around i think late '74 early 75....

Black guy in question is Paul Darby from Wolverhampton cheers Jenko

the guy to the right of the picture with the beard is Bruce Rogers from Nantwich think he is in Australia now and was a big Torch punter. Jethro and Kim are sadly no longer with us, but unfortunately there are a lot of old faces that are now on the dance floor in the sky. I agree 74-77 were the best times and I was only a mere child. Still having the best times now and nearly 50!

Edited June 20, 200816 yr by frenchie

the guy to the right of the picture with the beard is Bruce Rogers from Nantwich think he is in Australia now and was a big Torch punter. Jethro and Kim are sadly no longer with us, but unfortunately there are a lot of old faces that are now on the dance floor in the sky. I agree 74-77 were the best times and I was only a mere child. Still having the best times now and nearly 50!

Hi Frenchie

Just come accross this whilst on the blog. TOTALLY disagree with you. It is ME. Gordon Carson, at the time from Aughton / Ormskirk - now Warrington. If its not me it must be my twin. I have got photos of the same time - my absolute double. The skinny arms are a give away!

It must have been in the early Wigan days as I never went much after 74 when the music started getting silly and the whole scene commercialised - badges and all that crap. I ducked out got married etc and thought the whole scene had died...................until I tuned in 12/13 ish years ago to Dave Evison on Signal Radio by mistake. Since then, I still do the odd night mainly Lowton, Twisted Wheel, Blackburn and anything else within striking distance.

The picture was used on the front cover of the book Too Darn Soulful. I am absolutly convinced it is me - but I feel a bit of a war coming on!

Regards

Gordon

Appleton Warrington

No war Gordon...but you do have twin!!

I used to go to Wigan in the early days with him and I could of sworn it was him but hey we all make mistakes. He sported the facial whiskers at that time too.wot was that all about haha

I stand corrected but my sister agreed with me when we saw the photo so I thought I would TRY and put a name to a face.

Glad to hear you are still on the scene.........and do you still look the same we ask???

Edited June 22, 200816 yr by frenchie

the guy to the right of the picture with the beard is Bruce Rogers from Nantwich think he is in Australia now and was a big Torch punter. Jethro and Kim are sadly no longer with us, but unfortunately there are a lot of old faces that are now on the dance floor in the sky. I agree 74-77 were the best times and I was only a mere child. Still having the best times now and nearly 50!

Hi Frenchie

Just checking recent emails and picked up on your message.... you mention Jethro and Kim!

Having got back on the scene about five years ago, I have been trying to track down Jethro. I have several photo's of both, they were good friends and often travelled down to Newbury soul nights and on to the Yate all nighter.

I understood from others that Jethro was now living overseas??? is this wrong?

Can you update me... are both no longer with us?

Elaine

Soothe Me said:

Hi Frenchie

Just checking recent emails and picked up on your message.... you mention Jethro and Kim!

Having got back on the scene about five years ago, I have been trying to track down Jethro. I have several photo's of both, they were good friends and often travelled down to Newbury soul nights and on to the Yate all nighter.

I understood from others that Jethro was now living overseas??? is this wrong?

Can you update me... are both no longer with us?

Elaine

There was a thread about Jethro quite recently:

Might explain what he's been up to.

Missing Link said:

There was a thread about Jethro quite recently:

Might explain what he's been up to.

Hmmn, yeah I'm a bit confused by Frenchies post? i heard he was in the USA..not dead surely? The reason I started the thread , was It reminded me of the the first time I made it to wigan( made it being an understatement..what a journey from Skegness) anyhow I spent most of the night watching Jethro dance..shit scared to venture onto the floor..remember the celtic/rugby shirt with the badges on it..also Paul Darby & the bearded clan ( no..not clam!) the John deere guy...always wondered who they were..funny how you used to chat to some people at wigan & never knew who/where they were from.Thanks for the all for the updates!

Just to clear things up about jethro....usual northern chinese whispers I guess. I used to know him and Kim back in the 70's and a few of the old wolverhampton crew. I met up with scotty in late 80's and he told me about Kim. However several years ago my good husband was speaking to a female from the midlands who informed him about Jethro and others have echoed it. Have not seen jethro for many a year and I have just assumed, rightly or wrongly, that this is correct.

PLEASE REMIND ME NOT TO TRY AND PUT A NAME TO A FACE AGAIN!!

after many years on this scene it is quite obvious I must have alzeheimers or similiar!!!!

happy hunting with the rest of the faces

Penny

Edited June 23, 200816 yr by frenchie

No war Gordon...but you do have twin!!

I used to go to Wigan in the early days with him and I could of sworn it was him but hey we all make mistakes. He sported the facial whiskers at that time too.wot was that all about haha

I stand corrected but my sister agreed with me when we saw the photo so I thought I would TRY and put a name to a face.

Glad to hear you are still on the scene.........and do you still look the same we ask???

Sadly not lass - baldy git now and 2 stone heavier, but I like to think I can still shake a leg

In those days we were all trying to look older......today its the other way round!

Regards

Gordon

picture 2 - bottom right ...

leo sayer perhaps?

Hmmn, yeah I'm a bit confused by Frenchies post? i heard he was in the USA..not dead surely? The reason I started the thread , was It reminded me of the the first time I made it to wigan( made it being an understatement..what a journey from Skegness) anyhow I spent most of the night watching Jethro dance..shit scared to venture onto the floor..remember the celtic/rugby shirt with the badges on it..also Paul Darby & the bearded clan ( no..not clam!) the John deere guy...always wondered who they were..funny how you used to chat to some people at wigan & never knew who/where they were from.Thanks for the all for the updates!

i also used to sport a celtic rugby shirt and i also used to go up there early years 74.75 but am a wiganer may have been a few with the same shirt .

sos 2 disappoint ya the guy wiv the beard is kenny hickman.ask harpo to show ya his pics.

still goes today...x

the guy to the right of the picture with the beard is Bruce Rogers from Nantwich think he is in Australia now and was a big Torch punter. Jethro and Kim are sadly no longer with us, but unfortunately there are a lot of old faces that are now on the dance floor in the sky. I agree 74-77 were the best times and I was only a mere child. Still having the best times now and nearly 50!

Hi Penny, when is the big 50?

It's me that's losing it, only realised this morning why you@ve got Lady P. from Thunderbirds as your avaitor.

Dave x

dont know who the folks are in the pics .but you sure are right about the best years being the first few . i also stoped going in 77 and always look back to 74 & 75 as being fantastic .i have a pic on here some place of me & a gang of us from wigan taken outside russ winstanlys record shop with a poster on the window advertising betty wright on the same night . ah well good days gone forever

This pic has probably been researched before but being a relativley new member I'm unaware of previous thread. So, I remember these guys from the Casino's early days, I first visited in Apr '74 & approx a dozen more up to the 1st anniversary. The black guy used to hang with Gethro/wolves gang called Will I think? The guy with the beard also had other hirsute pals & I wondered if the whiskers were a regional thing? The guy with white shirt also used to wear a beret with Torch badge, Adrian? The guy with the vest I do't remember so well but I had the V neck T shirt version of the dragonette.These were reg faces inc a guy who also bearded, wore a green John Deere bowling shirt..& earring..who was he? They struck me as ex Torch/Cats soulsters who gradually drifted away (as far as I remember) as the music worsened ( the soussan instrs & pop sounds) The first 12-18 mnths were for me the best at Wigan, after that it started to gradually change as was inevitable I suppose.I often wonder what happened to the northern fans from that early era, I know Gethro kept going for ages & I packed it in '78, would be nice to see some photos, like the one here, of the faces from that time..here's some of me also kevin dutton from around i think late '74 early 75....

The guy in the left hand picture in the vest is Mike Hutchinson from Sale,alive and well and a proud grandad!!

THE LAD IN THE WHITE SHIRT IS JOHNNY RUSCOE & THE THE BEARDED LAD IS BOOTLACE [ R I P ] BOTH STOKE LADS. THEY WERE ALSO BOTH ON THE INFAMOUS FOOTSIE SINGLE WHICH WAS MENTIONED IN A EARLIER THREAD. SEEN JOHNNY RUSCOE AT A RECENT STOKE ALLNIGHTER. BOTH PRETTY GOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR ASWELL. OH HAPPY DAYS.

As i write i believe that Gethro is still in the States, Walter (Swoz), is in contact with him or was until recently(was in Chicago for ages)2 pics attatched

Kenny, have looked at pic in detail, not you mate, i think it was taken when we where not capable of such a growth, the pics i have of you with the beard are more late 70's times(see pic bottom right)

Edited June 21, 200915 yr by harpo1

QUOTE (frenchie @ Jun 20 08, 03:03 PM) the guy to the right of the picture with the beard is Bruce Rogers from Nantwich think he is in Australia now and was a big Torch punter. Jethro and Kim are sadly no longer with us, but unfortunately there are a lot of old faces that are now on the dance floor in the sky. I agree 74-77 were the best times and I was only a mere child. Still having the best times now and nearly 50!

Hi Frenchie

Just come accross this whilst on the blog. TOTALLY disagree with you. It is ME. Gordon Carson, at the time from Aughton / Ormskirk - now Warrington. If its not me it must be my twin. I have got photos of the same time - my absolute double. The skinny arms are a give away!

It must have been in the early Wigan days as I never went much after 74 when the music started getting silly and the whole scene commercialised - badges and all that crap. I ducked out got married etc and thought the whole scene had died...................until I tuned in 12/13 ish years ago to Dave Evison on Signal Radio by mistake. Since then, I still do the odd night mainly Lowton, Twisted Wheel, Blackburn and anything else within striking distance.

The picture was used on the front cover of the book Too Darn Soulful. I am absolutly convinced it is me - but I feel a bit of a war coming on!

Regards

Gordon

Appleton Warrington

Hi Gordon,

This is not the photo on the front of Too Darn Soulful. It is similar to the one on the front of Soul Survivors, but not the same one.

Brian B

As i write i believe that Gethro is still in the States, Walter (Swoz), is in contact with him or was until recently(was in Chicago for ages)2 pics attatched

Kenny, have looked at pic in detail, not you mate, i think it was taken when we where not capable of such a growth, the pics i have of you with the beard are more late 70's times(see pic bottom right)

Yep Gethro is in the states have been in touch with him recently via email

He is writing a book about Wigan and I think he will be back in the country sometime to promote the book

He sent an email to Russ Winstanley's show on radio lancashire - so he really is alive and kicking

As i write i believe that Gethro is still in the States, Walter (Swoz), is in contact with him or was until recently(was in Chicago for ages)2 pics attatched

Kenny, have looked at pic in detail, not you mate, i think it was taken when we where not capable of such a growth, the pics i have of you with the beard are more late 70's times(see pic bottom right)

Got in a bit of a spat on this post last time I wrote!!! Just needed to say how happy I am to hear that Gethro is still about and that chinese whispers should never be believed! I knew him and Kim back in 74-76 and think the last time I actually saw him was at Yate in 1979. I used to go to Wigan with the 2 Elaines, Lorna and Debbie from Crewe at the time, all good mates with the Wolves/Midlands crew. Not going to say anymore in case I have to eat my words again!

Edited July 17, 200915 yr by frenchie

remember jethro and his lady when they first started going to the CATS...as this is about the wolves connection does anyone remember..paul roberts,big robbo,fenton the two brothers both called skippy,billy whizz,little willy and pete scory.....now theres a bunch of night time lurkers if ever there were......also terry tompson .....talk about scary

Hi Gordon,

This is not the photo on the front of Too Darn Soulful. It is similar to the one on the front of Soul Survivors, but not the same one.

Brian B

Hi Brian

This is defo the picture on the front of too Darn Soulful. I seem to think the second re-print / subsequent prints had a different picture on the front cover.

Gordon

There were two different cover photos, and a third printing with no photo. This is the order i believe they were published in:

 

 

 

The guy in the left hand picture in the vest is Mike Hutchinson from Sale,alive and well and a proud grandad!!

Yes. That is definately Mike Hutchinson from Sale.

Gethro has a FB group called "Where are they now lost friends from the northern soul scene" which contains some good pics

Hi Gordon,

This is not the photo on the front of Too Darn Soulful. It is similar to the one on the front of Soul Survivors, but not the same one.

Brian B

Hi Brian - as Gordon says, the picture at the start of the thread is the same as the Too Darn Soulful second edition cover. The photo on the Soul Survivors cover has the same cool cat on it, great dancer, don't know his name though. The photos were taken at the first anniversary. These and other photos appeared in Blue And Soul #209 that was given to everyone who attended the third anniversary in 1976. In the early 1990's, I went to the B&S office on Praed Street, Paddington to access the photos but the editor said the file was empty. I wanted the wide angle crowd from the stage shot captioned Spotlight On Wigan Casino featuring yours truly: this was taken within minutes of the best known crowd shot on the picture sleeve of Footsee and Seven Days Too Long. Still nt sure who has the copyright to the prints but someone said Russ took the shots... Not sure as they look too professional so maybe the local newspaper people?

Good to hear Jethro is around and could be putting something into print - perhaps he will confirm that it was not a Celtic shirt he wore but a v neck, green and white vertical striped shirt. Memories are a bit hazy, but even the commercial 'Pye' months of '74-'75 had so many good tunes, totally outnumbering those best not mentioned. Even the Mecca War years following yielded considerable numbers of vintage sounds again eclipsing the newies. Maybe, with 20:20 hindsight, we had it pretty good

https://www.facebook.com/gethro1?fref=ts

 

Take a look at the above link.................. may answer some of the questions raised about Gethro and Kim

THE LAD IN THE WHITE SHIRT IS JOHNNY RUSCOE & THE THE BEARDED LAD IS BOOTLACE [ R I P ] BOTH STOKE LADS. THEY WERE ALSO BOTH ON THE INFAMOUS FOOTSIE SINGLE WHICH WAS MENTIONED IN A EARLIER THREAD. SEEN JOHNNY RUSCOE AT A RECENT STOKE ALLNIGHTER. BOTH PRETTY GOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR ASWELL. OH HAPPY DAYS.

 

THE LAD IN THE WHITE SHIRT IS JOHNNY RUSCOE & THE THE BEARDED LAD IS BOOTLACE [ R I P ] BOTH STOKE LADS. THEY WERE ALSO BOTH ON THE INFAMOUS FOOTSIE SINGLE WHICH WAS MENTIONED IN A EARLIER THREAD. SEEN JOHNNY RUSCOE AT A RECENT STOKE ALLNIGHTER. BOTH PRETTY GOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR ASWELL. OH HAPPY DAYS.

John Ruscoe now lives in Fenton Stoke-on-Trent

The guy in the left hand picture in the vest is Mike Hutchinson from Sale,alive and well and a proud grandad!!

You're right never noticed him on that photo before, known him since 72/73 as well lol

You're right never noticed him on that photo before, known him since 72/73 as well lol

 Same as that, could have fell over when I realised.. think there's one with Stokesy on that's similar

Same as that, could have fell over when I realised.. think there's one with Stokesy on that's similar

Yes seen the stoke sexy one and knew that but the hutchy photo I have seen loads of times and it never twigged.

On 08/10/2013 at 11:01, Dave Rimmer said:

There were two different cover photos, and a third printing with no photo. This is the order i believe they were published in:

 

 

 

This did make me me laugh Dave - not only do we discuss first, second presses etc etc of various records on here we now include books hahaha.

Once a record collector always a record collector eh?

It's all in the detail.

Derek

Trust you're well Dave long time no see eh? Last time was at the bar @ Guy's Birthday Bash in Nottingham (can't remember the date though).