THIS KIND OF CARRY-ON DOES THE POP SCENE NO GOOD

Writes Andy Park

BORDER Television are showing some interest in my campaign to get entertainment in State Pubs.

Scores of people, including pub managers, have told me how much they agree with the idea. They would like to have the money to pay for entertainment. At the moment they are allowed 25s. a night. Maybe that wasn't bad in 1920 but what can you get for that in 1966?

All the clubs in Carlisle are packed solid every weekend, as is the Golden Fleece at Ruleholme, where local artiste Maurice Petrie is resident.

Last Sunday I arrived there at 7.15 p.m. and couldn't get a seat.

He told me: This place is packed, especially at the weekends, and I think Carlisle pubs should have the same entertainment.

If friends come for a weekend where can you take them? The fact is that Carlisle State Management Scheme make a very good profit which could be even higher and gives nothing in return – entertainment-wise.

Not much ornament to the pop scene! That's my honest opinion of The Who, who played to a packed Carlisle Marks' Hall last Saturday.

Here are the facts. They started off pretty calmly with Heatwave and were getting plenty of screams, then Pete Townsend (lead guitarist) started purposely getting a very loud feedback – by holding the guitar against the amplifier, and this completely drowned the singing.

When they came to the last number, a commotion broke out.

First the drummer kicked all the drums over. Some of them rolled into the crowd and a cymbal landed on a girl's head.

They pushed an amplifier over, then Pete Townsend threw his guitar on the ground.

They walked off stage with no screams or claps – in fact, to a complete silence.

As one local group member said to me: I just felt like crying. We've just spent £300 on gear, and to see a group like this treat their gear in this way is almost unbearable.

I know The Who have a reputation for doing the unexpected, but this was complete stupidity, and I found them almost unapproachable to interview afterwards.

*

I must say the local pop scene has improved in the last three months – in fact it's improved so much that you can send local groups to play anywhere now, with a safe conscience.

With every group vying to outplace each other, the way I see things at the moment is:

Top: 22nd Street People.

Second, Square Chex; Third, Fumbs; Fourth, Dolls; Fifth, Movement.

But things could soon change.

SNIP(h)ITS

The Vipps have NOT split up, and are on tour with a new drummer. Ex-Ramrod Mac who went to the USA, is coming home at Christmas.

Late flash: The Mack Sound play the Market Hall, New Year's Eve.

Top Ten in Carlisle

Carlisle's ten top-selling discs this week are:

1 – Green, Green Grass – Tom Jones.

2 – Semi Detached Suburban – Mr. James, Manfred Mann.

3 – Good Vibrations – Beach Boys.

4 – Gimme Some Loving – Spencer Davis Group.

5 – Distant Drums – Jim Reeves.

6 – Reach Out I'll be There – The Four Pops.

7 – Heart – Rita Tavone.

8 – I Can't Control Myself – The Troggs.

9 – Help Me Girl – Eric Burdon.

10 – My Mind's Eye – The Small Faces.