Well, I was extremely fortunate to have witnessed first hand the 1975
Planxty tour (the farewell one) as I was employed as their "driver"
for the
tour. A very good friend of mine was working for their management company
at the time and called me up asking if I was available to drive them around
the UK. I was just fresh out of college, had not heard of Planxty and quite
frankly I had heard no Irish music to speak of up to that point. Well, was
I in for a VERY pleasant surprise.
I wish I had kept a diary! I do have some very special memories of these
guys and in particular Andy who was such a gentleman. They were obviously
going though a tough time and I think the music business was to blame but
they were such good company on the road. The support artist was Steve
Ashley who was accompanied most of the time by his then girlfriend Clare.
I
was driving them in a Peugeot 405 Estate with the extra row of seats.
Somehow we all fitted in! The PA and a lot of the gear went by an Avis
truck (driven by a wonderful guy called Johnny Divoli) but often we would
be carrying some of their equipment on the roof!
There are many memories that come to mind, pea soup fog on the M1 returning
from Sheffield at 2 am crawling along for hours, everyone asleep and little
did they know at the time I was struggling to stay awake and drive. Glasgow
was an outstanding concert and I even met one of my heroes who politely
knocked on the dressing room door. I opened it an inch or two and there was
standing Billy Conolley asking if it was at all possible to meet the band.
They knew him very well and within a few minutes we were all in stitches
with his anecdotal stuff! Every where we went they were greeted my so many
friends both in the audience and backstage.
I never tired of their set and their individual talented playing. They
stirred up huge responses wherever they went. They were also very kind to
me at the end of the tour and thanked me individually and collectively for
helping keep their spirits up in spite of the "difficulties" they
were
experiencing.
We drove all over the UK in a few weeks and I have to say these memories
I
deeply cherish. I had no idea at that time how important they were to
become in the history of Folk/Celtic music. This experience also led on to
me meeting the Bothy Band (another legend!) and other outstanding musicians
over the following year or so. It seemed over all too quickly as I merged
into the mundane life of a businessman. Still, the effect was permanent. I
became interested in playing the guitar and tin whistle and even now all
these years later I am considering mandolin (or now having read your pages,
the bouzouki!)
I now live in Southern California and noticed a couple of years ago that
Andy was to play in San Diego (about 70 miles south of me). Unfortunately,
I could not make it to see him. I emailed him on his web site to ask if he
remembered me and in a similar way to his response to you (having flown from
China) he said "how could I forget"! I now have to wait until 2005
for him
to visit. I hope he makes it to Orange County CA or LA and I get to see him
again.
Keep up the good work on the web site. I don't think Andy really realises
just how much effect his music has had on the people that have heard it. He
has a very "atmospheric" talent that can extract you from what you
have been
doing and thinking and take you somewhere totally different. Long may he
continue.
Kind regards,
Grant
Grant Ryder
California
Here a are few fond memories from Grant Ryder, 'The Driver' for Planxty during their Farewell Tour in 1975. I think Grants last paragraph is a feeling shared my many people! Thanks Grant, it is a great addition.
Kieron