It was 35 years ago today ...

[PJSShearer]

... that I played my first "professional" gig - Saturday 5th October 1974.

It was with an "Old Time"* dance band at Sheerwater Community Centre (near Woking, Surrey UK) and I got paid £3.00 - my Dad, when I told him, said, tell them to "get stuffed" and they put the money up to £5.00 next time I played with them!!.

A few months later I found a more "modern" band that paid more and played more often - I was still at school at the time -and the gigs kept me in Petrol, Beer and cigarettes.

I recall the date because the IRA blew up two pubs in Guildford (less than 10 miles away) that night - my sister was at a night club there and friends of mine were out and about there as well - and I saw that fact mentioned in a Newspaper this morning.

Anyone here got a simliar story??

[foq1978]

Hello Peter,

Wow, that's a great story.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't that IRA attack the one that lead to the events represented in the movie "In the Name of the Father"?

I've lived in Surrey (mostly in Farnham) for over a year - and I've rented a room in Woking for a couple of weeks. I used to go to the Odeon movie theatre in Guilford, since there were none in Farnham.

Anyway, just wanted to say that I really can relate to your story - but not because of gigs or basses

Are you still living in the UK?

[NickInMesa]

It is indeed a great story. And Foq I think you are right (you made me go read the story as I loved the movie and still can't believe the cops sent these people to prison just to look good).