This is a list of acts who have been documented as having played at the Tayside Bar but had no dates to go with the info, so further research is required before they can go into the main archive.
If you can help out by supplying the date details for any of these bands, or can add to the Tayside Bar archive, then feel free to get in touch.
Date info would have to be from a published source to make it into the main archive, any gigs from memory will be added to this list here until confirmed.
If you do have any Tayside Bar gig reviews, gig photos or suchlike, then a hi-res scan would be appreciated.
If you can help out by supplying the date details for any of these bands, or can add to the Tayside Bar archive, then feel free to get in touch.
Date info would have to be from a published source to make it into the main archive, any gigs from memory will be added to this list here until confirmed.
If you do have any Tayside Bar gig reviews, gig photos or suchlike, then a hi-res scan would be appreciated.
Bands awaiting date confirmation...
THE TWINSETS SPENCER TRACY ALONE AGAIN OR LORENZO MARQUES THE SCREEN DOPPELGANGER SEGUE ZITA & THE CORSETTES RHYME TRAY NEW LONDON FRENZY SIDE EFFECTS BOO HOORAY STREET URCHIN LEAF MOUNTAIN DEW ZERO DB VELDT LONDON BROADS MISBEHAVIN' THE CHILLI PEPPERS BOAB PHILIPS THE BROTHERS WINE ALISON BURNS JOE PUBLIC THE ASHEN HEART STEVE KNIGHT & CHRIS MARRA GARY CLARK'S COUNTRY EXTRAVAGANZA DANCING WAITERS TAMBOURINE CRISIS COME BALANCE |
Above - the Tayside Bar's location in the Seagate.
- pub boss, Brian Sinclair, pictured in 1984.
Below - some quotes from those who were there.
- pub boss, Brian Sinclair, pictured in 1984.
Below - some quotes from those who were there.
Tayside Bar was the place to be. Some great nights there, great bands who tried anything and everything.
Jim The last night was nuts in the pub.
Brian Sinclair The Tayside Bar was THEE place to be in the 80's , I just loved it.
Yes I am Mo from Alien Culture, that sang 'Fever' & tried to play bass, eek! Mo The Tayside bar was practically our home.
Gary Clark |
It’s great memories, especially the Guinness and the craic with Brian.
Al I still have the Gordon's Gin gantry from the last night at the Tayside Bar, when the drinks were 50p and we all danced on the bar :)
Hilary First time I walked into the Tayside Bar I thought I was so cool.
I wasn't, but I felt it! Bridie |
This is a quick sketch of the Tayside Bar I did from memory.
Being over 3 decades since I was last there means it obviously isn't going to be 100% accurate, but the basic layout is how it was.
The bar area in the foreground is where the Seagate main door lead to, and the interior doorway entrance in the sketch lead through to the lounge - where all the entertainment took place.
After a "Drink Me" at the bar first, stepping through into the long narrow lounge often felt a bit similar to Alice tumbling into Wonderland.
Frequently it was fun, occasionally it was obscure, sometimes it was superb and curiosity would always make you go back for more!
GG
Being over 3 decades since I was last there means it obviously isn't going to be 100% accurate, but the basic layout is how it was.
The bar area in the foreground is where the Seagate main door lead to, and the interior doorway entrance in the sketch lead through to the lounge - where all the entertainment took place.
After a "Drink Me" at the bar first, stepping through into the long narrow lounge often felt a bit similar to Alice tumbling into Wonderland.
Frequently it was fun, occasionally it was obscure, sometimes it was superb and curiosity would always make you go back for more!
GG
On the right is a wee reminder of what the entertainment was like before the 80's takeover.
The advert is dated December 1978 and is for a weekend sing-a-long with crooner, Bill Stott. This was outdated social club style dirge for oldies and squares - so hijacking the place to bring it up to date is just what was needed. |
So then, who was the first band to play at the Tayside Bar in the "alternative 80's" days?
Well the earliest item I have is a photo of a Megazones gig which dates from the Dec '80 / Jan '81 period.
However, this doesn't mean to say that they were the first band to start it all off.
There are claims and counter-claims as to who was first to play at the Tayside Bar.
Here below are a few quotes from those who reckon they know...
Murray from Street Level says...
"The instigators of Tayside Bar as a live venue was the band Street Level and the owner Brian.
We were the first band to play there."
Vince from The Junkies says...
"The first band to play was The Junkies actually......before that no band had played there before.
I know as Al Hendrickx and I made the booking."
Jim from The Grip says...
"I approached Brian from Tayside Bar around early 81 and asked him if he would consider bands playing original music.
He agreed and The Grip played one of our first gigs there."
Brian the Tayside Bar manager says...
"The first band to play the Tayside Bar was on a Tuesday night and was Pulsebeat Plus"
There you have it then, it's certainly all rather amusing, but the uncertainty of who was actually first will continue, until evidence can be produced.
Well the earliest item I have is a photo of a Megazones gig which dates from the Dec '80 / Jan '81 period.
However, this doesn't mean to say that they were the first band to start it all off.
There are claims and counter-claims as to who was first to play at the Tayside Bar.
Here below are a few quotes from those who reckon they know...
Murray from Street Level says...
"The instigators of Tayside Bar as a live venue was the band Street Level and the owner Brian.
We were the first band to play there."
Vince from The Junkies says...
"The first band to play was The Junkies actually......before that no band had played there before.
I know as Al Hendrickx and I made the booking."
Jim from The Grip says...
"I approached Brian from Tayside Bar around early 81 and asked him if he would consider bands playing original music.
He agreed and The Grip played one of our first gigs there."
Brian the Tayside Bar manager says...
"The first band to play the Tayside Bar was on a Tuesday night and was Pulsebeat Plus"
There you have it then, it's certainly all rather amusing, but the uncertainty of who was actually first will continue, until evidence can be produced.
These are 2 maps that show the location of Tayside Bar - past and present.
The black & white map pinpoints its exact spot in the Seagate, which was pretty close to the junction opposite Allan Street.
The colour map shows the area where the Tayside Bar once stood.
The pub and all of Allan Street, were done away with to make way for the new Marketgait road.
The roundabout is now where the TSB used to be.
The black & white map pinpoints its exact spot in the Seagate, which was pretty close to the junction opposite Allan Street.
The colour map shows the area where the Tayside Bar once stood.
The pub and all of Allan Street, were done away with to make way for the new Marketgait road.
The roundabout is now where the TSB used to be.
Another DJ who had a stint at the Tayside Bar (after Jock left) was Donald Suttie.
Donald says - "It was not always easy getting paid from Brian, as he used to pop into the casino across the road and forget to come back before closing time.
Anyway, many a fond memory for me, but sadly most bands have slipped my mind apart from the Scrotum Poles who had a protest song at the time regarding Radio Tay's refusal to play local bands!"
Donald says - "It was not always easy getting paid from Brian, as he used to pop into the casino across the road and forget to come back before closing time.
Anyway, many a fond memory for me, but sadly most bands have slipped my mind apart from the Scrotum Poles who had a protest song at the time regarding Radio Tay's refusal to play local bands!"
Here's 2 amusing adverts for the Tayside Bar showing polar opposite illustrations of its supposed exterior.
Both are from local fanzine, Cranked Up - left 1981 - right 1982.
Of course, the one on the left was the most accurate..!!
Both are from local fanzine, Cranked Up - left 1981 - right 1982.
Of course, the one on the left was the most accurate..!!
Graeme from Blind Pew has shared these original ads from the local press, and says...
"We played there a few times. I remember us being chuffed when the Tayside Bar ads appeared in the Tele.
So chuffed, I cut them out!"
"We played there a few times. I remember us being chuffed when the Tayside Bar ads appeared in the Tele.
So chuffed, I cut them out!"
The Tayside Bar was pretty much home-base for Dundee fanzine, Cranked Up, in 1981-82.
In February 1983, however, another fanzine, Deadbeat, managed to grab an interview with Tayside Bar's main man, Brian Sinclair.
The above item is how it appeared in the mag, with Brian giving the lowdown on some of the bands and what was going on behind the scenes.
In February 1983, however, another fanzine, Deadbeat, managed to grab an interview with Tayside Bar's main man, Brian Sinclair.
The above item is how it appeared in the mag, with Brian giving the lowdown on some of the bands and what was going on behind the scenes.
This is an alternative view of the Tayside Bar's location in the Seagate.
The main building to the pub's left was a motor agent, and the large old-style building joined onto the right side was a contractors warehouse - these buildings are also depicted in the arty image on the website's main intro page.
The main building to the pub's left was a motor agent, and the large old-style building joined onto the right side was a contractors warehouse - these buildings are also depicted in the arty image on the website's main intro page.
An advert from Cranked Up fanzine published in April 1982.
Tongue in cheek of course, but the humour would make you want to pay a visit!
Tongue in cheek of course, but the humour would make you want to pay a visit!
A second interview with Brian Sinclair, this one taken from a Scottish music magazine published in June 1984.
The endmost final date I can find that had something going on at the Tayside Bar is, 30 December 1986.
There were no more "Soul Kiss" evenings at the TSB after '86 and I can't find any other info pertaining to the Tayside Bar after this date.
This morsel of info above was on the back of a Dance Factory flyer and mentions a "Tartan Heather Club" night.
It sounds like a good dollop of ironic humour was involved with the idea - wear tartan for the final fling - and go out with a big Scottish bang!
If this was indeed their final goodbye, there are reports about dancing on top of the bar counter & tables and such like, in keeping with local tradition when Dundee pubs reach the end of their life (Frews, Scout, Tav).
Such a titchy advert for the end of an era.
There were no more "Soul Kiss" evenings at the TSB after '86 and I can't find any other info pertaining to the Tayside Bar after this date.
This morsel of info above was on the back of a Dance Factory flyer and mentions a "Tartan Heather Club" night.
It sounds like a good dollop of ironic humour was involved with the idea - wear tartan for the final fling - and go out with a big Scottish bang!
If this was indeed their final goodbye, there are reports about dancing on top of the bar counter & tables and such like, in keeping with local tradition when Dundee pubs reach the end of their life (Frews, Scout, Tav).
Such a titchy advert for the end of an era.
The death of the Tayside Bar came in 1987 when the pub became part of a council "Compulsory Purchase Order", for the planning of the new East Marketgait road.
This is the original notice published in October '87, with the "public house at 176 Seagate" being in amongst the list of doomed property!
This is the original notice published in October '87, with the "public house at 176 Seagate" being in amongst the list of doomed property!
In 1982, Brian Sinclair got a shout out on the back cover of a single released by The Grip.