Chris Scott Wilson Writer
©2010 C.J.S.Wilson
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ON SALE NOW
stockists in the UK
Book Corner, Saltburn By Sea
Guisborough Book Shop
Whitby Book Shop
Kirtkleatham Museum, Redcar
Clock Gallery, High St. Redcar
Drake Bookshop, Stockton
Worthy Pearson, Gt Ayton, N.Yorks
Grosmont Bookshop
online from
or
CLICK ON EITHER LINK TO TAKE YOU TO CHRIS' AMAZON PAGES
Watch DOUBLE MOUNTAIN CROSSING trailer... Turn up the sound !
Latest releases
FACT FICTION
To get in touch with Redcar Jazz Club Media Group
February 2016
From 10th February - 10th April Kirkleatham Hall Museum is hosting an exhibition of landscape & rock images by Graham Lowe, one of the photographic collaborators on Backstage Pass : Redcar Jazz Club. It is well worth a visit. Above: Chris pictured in the exhibition gallery.
photo by Susan Wilson
20th February 2016
Deputy Editor Chris Lloyd ran a double page feature in the print edition of the newspaper on Backstage Pass : Redcar Jazz Club with a selction of photos culled from the book as well as publishing the piece on their website. You can find it HERE:
Catch up with Chris on facebook
FRANCIS FITZGERALD EXHIBITION
May 2016 Palace Arts Centre (The Hub) on Redcar seafront is featuring an exhibition by Saltburn photographer Francis Fitzgerald documenting local social events. As well as a host of images in black & white, see them reproduced in colour in a very special book. You've never seen a book with a rusty steel cover? You will have if you visit this exhibition.
Above: Chris pictured with Francis on the opening day of the show. picture by Susan Wilson
June 2016
Chris was reunited this week with singer Anth (Tony) Clements with whom he shared many stages back in the day when they were both in local bands The Wheel and Pretty Like Me. Anth had previously been in The Steve Brown Soul Sect, and while neither can remember the first gig they did togther in The Wheel, Anth recalled their first gig after he came back to the fold was at The Cat's Whiskers in York. When Chris gave up playing the drums and turned to writing books, Anth continued to sing, his last band Juke Blues, based in Reading before he moved back north.
MUSOS REUNITED AGAIN
July 2016
PUBLISHING DATE
31st JULY 2016
AVAILABLE FROM
Book Corner, Station Square, Saltburn By The Sea
Waterstone's, Captain Cook Square, Middlesbrough
Whitby Bookshop, Church St, Whitby
Guisborough Bookshop, Chaloner St, Guisborough
Clock Gallery, High St, Redcar
Kirkleatham Museum, Redcar,
Worthy Pearson, Gt Ayton
Drake's Books, High St., Stockton
(other stockists to be announced)
Online, you can order from this website - see BOOK SHOP DIRECT
in the menu on the left, or from Amazon
FRIDAY 29th July 2016
Today 6pm - 7pm
Radio Zetland 105 FM
Simon Bolton's show...
Chris will talking about his new
book - Sunset Be Glory - a tale of
smugglers on the North Yorkshire
coast.
29th July 2016
Chris with radio presenter Simon Bolton shortly before going on air, and the view out of the window of the vertical pier that houses Radio Zetland FM. It's starting to feel like home...
You can listen to the show HERE
August 2016
Just like to thank radio presenter Bob Fischer for an entertaining afternoon when he stepped into the breach today to interview me on John Foster's radio show because John was under the weather. We talked about music and the countryside and even a little bit about books. He's an author too, you know... but more to the point, he likes Little Feat, and Mick Jagger and of course the maestro - Jimi Hendrix. In the meantime we wish John well and hope he's soon back on the airwaves.
August 2016
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 16 2016
MEMORIES
October 2016
Nearly a year gone by already... Graham Lowe & Dennis Weller with Chris, signing copies of Backstage Pass : Redcar Jazz Club in the Book Corner in Saltburn last year. photo by Neil
From a review of Sunset Be Glory in the December 2016 issue of Coastal View & Moor News - If you are unable to read it here, you can find it on page 41
DRUMS ALONG THE RIVER
July 2017
Singer and drummer Denny Chatto, a bandmate back in the day, sharing a joke with Chris out on the river Ouse in York. Denny had been the vocalist when Chris was the drummer in Candy Factory in the early 70s, paying their dues flogging up and down the country in a Ford Transit, prisoners of the white lines on the highway, hostage to many a club audience. Denny's currently with Scarborough band Trigger.
photo by Susan Wilson
SEEDS OF MEMORY
June 2017
Chris with legendary singer Terry Reid before Terry's intimate gig at Tea, Toast & Post in Robin Hood's Bay on North Yorkshire coast. Perhaps the greatest singer you've never heard of, Terry was discovered by Graham Nash of the Hollies when he was 15 years old, then opened for the Rolling Stones, Ike & Tina Turner & B.B. King right across the USA when he was 16, and even sang at Mick Jagger's wedding to Bianca. Chris hadn't seen Terry for 40 years and was astounded when he could still mesmerise a room full of musos with his songs and stories for over two and a half hours, performing solo, his voice as subtle and evocative as ever, a sheer delight.
September 2017
Chris and his wife Sue managed to catch up with Jeff Bannister of the Liverpool hit-makers The Swinging Blue Jeans who were headlining the last night of the annual autumn Whitby 60s festival, supported by a surprisingly good Vanity Fayre and Mud II. As usual, the SBJ's played a rousing set which left little room on the dance floor. Jeff's had a long and illustrious career including stints with The John Barry Seven and The Alan Bown Set, as well as providing keyboards on many sessions and tours. He also helped Chris on the Redcar Jazz Club book.
ROCKIN', NOT WRITING IN WHITBY
September 2017
Chris with Jeff Bannister (left) of the the Swinging Blue Jeans and (centre) Jim Rodford of Argent then later the Kinks and presently with the brought-back-to-life Zombies at Whitby's 60s festival. Jim was deputising for the Swinging Blue Jeans regular bassman, Pete Oakman.
WHITBY 60's FESTIVAL
photo by Susan Wilson
February 2018
August 2018
A long time coming - A man who featured heavily in the Redcar Jazz Club book. Author Chris finally got to meet the legendary Chris Farlowe last night in Middlesbrough after his rousing set backed by the New Amen Corner. Chris recalled his days headlining at the Jazz Club and commented he absolutely loved playing there. Spotted a few other familiar faces in the crowd too. Photo by Denny Chatto
November 2018
Chris was thrilled to have been sent this review of Backstage Pass : Redcar Jazz Club by Brian Kelly, host of the Breakfast Show on Coast Radio, serving Tauranga and Coromandel which appeared in The Vinyl Word column of New Zealand Herald.
WATCH THE VIDEO - TURN THE SOUND UP !!
JUST THREE MINUTES OF YOUR TIME
The book Chris collaborated on with photographers Dennis Weller and Graham Lowe - Backstage Pass : Redcar Jazz Club - just won't go away. In a response to requests, Chris and Dennis Weller have created a video to provide a taster of the the book's stunning images. And if you've forgotten what life was like in the 1960s, then this book will certainly remind you, and if you didn't know, then you are about to find out. There is more information on the Redcar Jazz Club Book page of this website. It also now includes a foreword by Ed Bicknell, former manager of Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler, Bryan Ferry, Scott Walker and Gerry Rafferty among others.
December 2018
Chris was pleased to reconnect with keyboard player and vocalist Jeff Bannister of The Swinging Blue Jeans just after he came off stage at the 60's Festival at Skegness. The SBJs turned up the heat to have the 3,000 strong audience in the packed venue all on their feet and rocking. Then they went next door and did it all over again to another capacity audience of 2,500 . Jeff is also an accomplished author and you can find his books on Amazon, notably his memories of playing in the Alan Bown Set during the heady days of the 60s. Photo by Denny Chatto
2019 March 30
Chris with John Verity of The John Verity Band just after he came off stage after playing a fret burning set overlaid with soaring vocals at Saltburn Blues Club. John reminisced that it had been supporting Terry Reid at Redcar Jazz Club that had inspired him to develop his own singing and his first gig as lead vocalist had been opening for Jimi Hendrix in America. In the 1970s fame had come knocking when he was chosen to replace Russ Ballard in Argent for a few years, until eventually striking out on his own with The John Verity Band, whose members often included ex-Argent stars drummer Bob Henrit and bass player Jim Rodford. The years haven't been wasted as he has continued to refine and develop his style. photo by Denny Chatto
2020 August 12th
What an unpredictable year! However, Chris has been trying to put lock down time to good use. Since the publication of Backstage Pass : Redcar Jazz Club, in response to requests, he has been collecting material on local bands, resulting in a new book which will be published soon. Watch this space!
2020 August 23rd
NEXT PROMO :
We're still workin' on it. Info will be available as and when necessary...
2020 August 30th
SON OF PROMO :
More news soon...
2020 September 6th
THE PROMO RETURNS...
Boys in the Bands will be almost as big as 12" vinyl and over 180 pages...
2020 September 13th
THE PROMO... Boys in the Bands will be almost as big as 12" vinyl and over 180 pages. 200 photographs, 350 memorabilia illustrations, 60 band family trees, 300 quotes from local musicans, 30,000 word narrative. MORE INFO on Boys in the Bands page - see site contents
2020 September 20th
YET ANOTHER PROMO... Boys in the Bands will be almost as big as 12" vinyl and over 180 pages. 200 photographs, 350 memorabilia illustrations, 60 band family trees, 300 quotes from local musicans, 30,000 word narrative. MORE INFO on Boys in the Bands page - see site contents
2020 September 27th PROMO FROM THE BLACK LAGOON ... Coming soon...
2020 October 3rd PROMO FROM THE BLACK LAGOON MEETS GODZILLA ... Coming soon... very soon... more info on Boys in The Bands page (see site contents)
2020 October 11th SON OF PROMO RIDES AGAIN ... Coming soon... very soon... more info on Boys in The Bands page (see site contents)
2020 October 18th SON OF PROMO RIDES AGAIN TOWARD THE BLACK LAGOON ... Coming soon... Hopefully this is the last promo you'll see before we have the real thing.... more info on Boys in The Bands page (see site contents)
2020 October 14th - after the announcement Backstage Pass is back in print, Hartlepool Life ran a double page feature. You can find it here in page 18/19 https://www.hartlepoollife.co.uk/ The new edition contains a foreword by Ed Bicknell, ex-manager of Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler, Scott Walker, Gerry Rafferty and Bryan Ferry.
2020 October 12th - BACKSTAGE PASS : REDCAR JAZZ CLUB is back in print. Available only from the website : www.redcarjazzclubmedia.com
2020 October 19th After HARTLEPOOL LIFE printed the article about the new edition of BACKSTAGE PASS : REDCAR JAZZ CLUB, Arts editor Ian Monaghan informed us it had also run in the newspaper's sister publications, Stockton & Billingham Life, and East Durham Life !
2020 October Issue 126 : Now & Then Magazine.
BOYS IN THE BANDS : Click cover above to take you to the book's page
Above : Chris with Malcolm Buckton of The Skyliners & Government. “A great book for me that is full of treasured memories. Both the venues and the fans made this a great era to be involved in the music business. I know how much time it took to do our timeline and family trees, and that is only a very small part of this informative book.” Malcolm Buckton, bass guitarist
Above : Chris with Merv Jones of Del & The Falcons, The Denmen, The Injection, Rivers Invitation, Starlite Band, Back Door, Fabulosa Brothers and more. “…spent the last three hours totally absorbed, it’s a great read.” Merv Jones, drummer
Above : Chris with Ray Brown of The Renegades and Freelanders. “ A superb piece of work… an enormous amount of work and effort… the proof lies between the covers.” Dennis Weller, photographer
Above : Denny Chatto of The Fireflies, The Machine, Candy Factory and others with Chris. “Superb book very well researched and brilliantly written. Reading it takes me back to those great days in the sixties and it brings back memories of all those great ‘Beat Groups’ in our local area,” Denny Chatto drummer & singer
Above : John McCoy of The Crawdaddies, Real McCoy and Tramline with Chris. “WOW ! and again WOW.....!!! ...superb attention to detail. It's not just for Teesside the minutiae refs to equipment etc is of global interest.” John McCoy, singer and promoter
Above : Chris with Denny Chatto of The Fireflys, Mike Walls of The Delmonts, Ray Brown and John Blench of The Freelanders.
“...spent last night engrossed. I have to congratulate you on not only the exhaustive detail, but your brilliant descriptions of that atmospheric period.” Mike Gutteridge, singer & guitarist.
Above : Terry Carter of The Atoms with Chris.
“ I've been eagerly awaiting this since I first heard about it and I must say the book far exceeds all my expectations. The format and content is superb, full of wonderful photos, memorabilia and anecdotes from band members. The photos and stories are interspersed with some great images of guitar catalogues, musical equipment, adverts, flyers, tickets, promo cards etc. All this is perfectly backed up by Chris's excellent narrative of how the music scene evolved over those 10 years. I have books covering the 60s music scene in other parts of the country, but without any bias this is by far the best. This book is an absolute MUST for anybody who was there at the time but I'm sure it would also appeal to anybody who is interested in local live music from the best era ever. I'm pretty sure anybody reading it will come across somebody they know in this book.” Terry Carter, guitarist
Above : Chris with Terry Sidgwick of The Phantoms, Crawdaddies, The Real McCoy, Tramline & Rivers Invitation.
BOYS IN THE BANDS : “…a brilliant piece of work dedicated to all the amazing musicians in the north east in the sixties. I had the time of my life then and I still carry it with me today.” Terry Sidgwick, bass guitarist & singer.
Above : Two Delmonts in the hand with Chris. Drummer Dave Hopwood (left) and drummer Mike Walls (right), both of whom occupied the driving seat in The Delmonts through the years, and who are featured in Chris' upcoming book - Boys In The Bands
Above : Chris with drummer Terry Popple of The Kalvins and Tramline and later went on to play with The Movies and Van Morrison.
Below : Drummer and percussionist Ottie McLoughlin of The Crawdaddies, Real McCoy, Rivers Invitation and Fabulosa Brothers with Chris. Ottie has kept the Fabulosa name alive, organising functions along with Linda Zivanaris which feature many of Teesside's top musicians, to raise much needed funds for the Trinity Holistic Centre at Middlesbrough's James Cook Hospital
Below : left to right : 2020 gathering. Denny Chatto of the Fireflys & Machine back in the day, drummer Stuart Mott of State Assembly, and Chris of the Wheel. Stuart's bandmate Terry Pattison relates the tale of State Assembly's horrendous trip to Turkey in Chris' new book Boys In The Bands, and other assorted catastrophes.