Hooker1951

Some of you might be aware ,for the ones who aren’t Ste is terminally ill, I’ve had a phone call today while holidaying in Greece, To say he’s been allowed home to spend his last days with Palliative care. As you all know Ste was as colourful character as they come in life and on the Soul Scene, He is a great friend of mine and I’m sure if we send some prayers out to Ste and his family it would help them through this awful time. He loved his music and all his friends on the Scene, Lets send him some of that Love back. Keep Safe Mick Lyons

I’m afraid we are all Doomed, These Knobheads are all over the place, They are like Traffic Cones with arms , legs, and heads with nothing inside except a selfish reason to upset and steal happiness from good happy people who just want a good time. I propose to form a Soul Ninja posse , choice of deterrent Blow pipes with poison darts, a silent but deadly solution for these Happiness stealer Knobheads, all you would hear is tccccch and they would drop like flies , whoever is near shouts somebody,s fainted here get them out , Word will quickly spread and they will hopefully go back to normal life where they can torment one another away from our World of Music and Pleasure, LO, L, Stay Safe Mick L

If they move Killem,, ML

I had a strange feeling that this topic would arise after this COVID lockdown ,if you think, There has never been anything like it before, it’s the first time the ride was made to stop ,and for lots of people they have looked at life from a completely different perspective because they have had too. Before they had a choice to give the scene a rest if they wanted too knowing they could jump back on the ride anytime they wanted too . That choice was taken off them due to a disease , I noticed around 5 years ago the night time economy was slowing down evolving if you like NS included into a different animal but hopefully still live and kicking , This COVID Lockdown has speeded that process up 1000 mph it’s what awaiting us at the other end is the worry, What you can’t do with anything you love music included is chase the Dragon if it starts to become hard work the magic will disappear. Along with lots of happiness, I’ve no Answer to this only to say relax with it all if it comes back it will be easy not hard work, But always Remember you will always have the memories a hell of a lot of people have none. Stay Safe Mick L

Hi Rick The reason why the police didn’t shut the place down was that Gerry Marshall the club owner always had contacts with the right people within the Police, ie Chief Superintendents current at the time and Ex Commanders Gerry was a very canny operator with a lifetime of experience with Clubland, The Casino formally the Empress Ball room always held the annual Policeman Ball for example, In February 1973 while working there as a doorman I was locking up one night dropping the keys off at his office , he asked me had I any ideas to benefit the club and I mentioned all nighters Soul Music and he replied that wouldn’t be a problem has he knew the right people, Everybody knows what happened next so make your own minds up, Gerry was very good at what he did. Stay Safe Mick L

Totally agree with Martha and Ruby not seen Mary Wells, Was a little disappointed with Isley brothers concert at the Apollo Manchester1994 but that could’ve been down to the material they chose that evening to perform it just didn’t do it for me Still Stay Safe ML

Seen the band live on many occasions, What used to be said prior to the term NS from people who weren’t from the North was ( That they Play a lot of Soul on those Northern Dance Floors) if you take this forward in its Context you end up with the term NS eventually down the line. Stay Safe Mick L

Hi Ste Russ Winstanley was Chief Inspector of the Soul Police in Wigan Casino that’s why there were never no drugs in there LoL , all the dancing was done on pure Adrenaline Mick L

Billy Ocean together with Hot Chocolate seemed to bridge a gap between Soul and pop, their records touched on Soul without going all the way, very decent artists in that field though , full marks to them. ML

Sad news indeed met Dean a genuine nice guy non pretentious it’s a crying shame but we are all coming to that age when anything might happen health wise so look after yourselves and enjoy each and everyday like it might be your last, don’t keep waiting for tomorrow. R I P Dean Parrish Mick L

Hard question to answer but probably on balance did more good than bad but nobody’s perfect, falling in Love with Diane Ross didn’t help some of his artists probably clouded his judgement on some music issues , but he did what he did and will never be forgotten like not thinking Marvin What’s going on was not good enough to release will always be remembered Stay Safe ML

Another Great Artist gone but at least he lived to a good age RiP Lloyd ML

After this lockdown and horrible disease one thing is obvious that “” Time Is Precious” the people who we have lost or missed on the scene sometimes for ever, Let’s just hope and pray that the good times that we were all used too over the years come back in some kind of semblance and make up that precious time we have all lost, Some of the petty things that annoyed us all some time or other on the scene don’t seem that important now the main thing the Music the friendship should take precedence again and the good times should come back naturally, I’m Sure they will, there are too many good people on the Soul Scene for it to fail, I look forward to getting it back , See you Soon at Another Time another Place God Bless to all the Soulies still here today and for the ones we’ve lost over the years and Remember Time is Precious KR Mck L

Hi Tony Sorry to hear that, hope your well I had a vey lucky escape with COVID but getting my strength back now, hope to see you all after these bad times, always remember what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, I Hope LoL, Stay Safe ML

More Sad News, I’m just Happy to be alive, keep Strong Everybody. RIP Dave ML

First went to Carlton in July 69 mid week if I can remember possibly Wednesday night packed to rafters playing Tamla Stax and what later became NS an old friend of mine was working the door Walter o Malley who later became Mr World DJing that night was Kev Edwards who was in the same class as me at school, it’s amazing how mid week venues did so well as opposed to today not withstanding COVID different times then maybe better Rose tinted glasses come to mind. Stay Safe ML

What a great artist could cover a vast spectrum in all kinds of music, Real Soulful voice always loved his music RiP Johnny Nash ML

What a great artist and always showed blue eyed Soul can be good, that song was a big hitter at the Room at the Top Wigan circa 1965 RIP Roy Head Mick L

Jimmy burns for me but bobby James version is pretty close 2nd ML

Hi Ste See if you can contact them tables and if they have any spare gear Mick L

Hi Stephen part of my music apprenticeship was working on Silcocks waltzer travelling the North west and of course visiting the Nottingham Goose fair I worked for 5 years travelling and our Waltzer was actually nick named Silcock,s Soul castle a hell of a lot young Soulies heard their first big Soul sounds on the fairgrounds I know we were up there with all the Soul clubs introducing the sounds of American Soul, I remember buying Going to a happening Tommy Neil, Boogaloo Party, Soulful dress etc for the machine back in 68 Memories that will last forever ML keep Safe