Billy Rankin

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  • March 30, 2020 at 1:15 am #9350
    nssworld
    Participant

    Billy,

    I spent about four hours a night over six nights voraciously reading your website. I have a huge library on the entertainment industry and the multiple dimensions of words, pictures, sound and video made reading your site one of the most pleasurable experiences ever.

    Here are a couple of thoughts/bits of trivia/etc that I wanted to share with you after reading your site:

    • Am I the only person on the planet who thinks Sound Elixir is brilliant?
    • On November 2, 1983, Nazareth played The Roof Top Skyroom in Buffalo promoted by Harvey & Corky Productions (later to be know as Harvey, Corky and Tice). Harvey and Corky were HUGE promoters in the Buffalo Area and Harvey became very wealthy as a result, and later formed Miramax Films. Yes, you guessed it, it was Harvey Weinstein.
    • My first Nazareth concert was on November 18, 1993 at The Pellamwood House in Buffalo (actually West Seneca) with Blue Oyster Cult, Uriah Heep and Wishbone Ash. The Pllamwood House later became Mayer Brothers and my current flatmate (who was also at the show) used to work there.
    • My very first UK show was on December 19th, 2002 at Sinky’s Lounge with the Falcons as my backup band. My road manager, Robert Ellen was friends with Ronnie Dalrymple and as a result, I spent the night sleeping on the Flight Case Bus that was parked in Ronnie’s backyard.
    • I only did one show in Glasgow and that was on August 4, 2003 at the Glasgow Grand Ole Opry and it was an amazing place, but regrettably, there was barely anybody there.
    • I went out and bought almost then entire SAHB collection on CD and it blew my mind!

    Well, cheerz for now, please stay home and stay safe and with any luck we’ll weather this pandemic.

    – NSS

    April 1, 2020 at 7:44 pm #9382
    billyboy1
    Moderator

    Glad you enjoyed the site, but as I tend to emphasise a lot, it’s Barry who’s mainly responsible for it.
    He made me remember stuff then write it down. He forced me to search my attic, my garage and my friends for old media memories.
    I really appreciate the similar memories you’ve shared, perhaps you should do your own website, if you haven’t already?
    As for Sound Elixir, you may not be the only one out there with your opinion but I assure you it was not brilliant for most of us.
    (At least it wasn’t Snakes & Ladders)
    Onto Buffalo, I remember both gigs you mention but if you’re familiar with my solo tour section on the site I have Rick James to thank for your city letting me live. Jeez, I was stupid back then.
    But the most mind blowing piece of information you’ve shared is that I might’ve known Harvey Weinstein!
    Maybe Barry should update the website to include this.
    Then again, maybe not!
    Stay safe too, see you on the other side.

    Billy

    April 2, 2020 at 12:09 am #9383
    nssworld
    Participant

    Hi Billy,

    • I have done my own website (www.nssworld.com) and on there are listed every concert I’ve attended (or at least 90% of them) and every CD in my collection.
    • Now Snakes and Ladders was rubbish, but Sound Elixir is gold, but I understand how you can feel different because you are so close to it that it’s hard to be objective.
    • Yes, Rick James did you right and saved your bacon. We’re a hard loving town, but in the 80’s we were down in the dumps, so you picked a wrong time to mock us. But, it’s all in the past and we forgive easily.
    • If you played a concert in Buffalo, in the 70’s or 80’s, it was most likely promoted by Harvey Weinstein of Harvey and Corky (later Harvey, Corkey and Tice). As a matter of fact, I think I saw on your site that Nazareth played Shea’s Theater in Buffalo and that was an Ed Tice production.

    Peace and stay safe, NSS

    April 4, 2020 at 3:22 pm #9387
    billyboy1
    Moderator

    I’ve been thinking about why I was dumb enough to make the Buffalo comment and it’s just hit me. I was quoting something Pete Agnew said to me the first time I played there as a member of Nazareth. “I don’t know what it is about this town” he’d told me, “We always sell it out and yet they throw stuff at us!” (Or something like that)
    He’d said it to his young guitar player. I said it to an entire Nation. Ah, the folly of youth!

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