{"id":84,"date":"2013-10-07T23:10:40","date_gmt":"2013-10-07T23:10:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thevalves.co.uk\/?page_id=84"},"modified":"2023-03-08T15:29:01","modified_gmt":"2023-03-08T15:29:01","slug":"about-the-valves-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thevalves.co.uk\/","title":{"rendered":"About the Valves"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After the 70s split, Dee and Pada were in The Mudsharks with Keith Burns, Alan Marshall, Stuart Niz and Carl Orkiszc for a wee while. Ronnie Mac joined us after this recording. I can remember very few gigs, apart from the Rothes Arms and Eric Brown’s (RIP). Thanks to Douglas Ring, Alan has digitised the tape from our only demo and here’s the four songs – and why isn’t there more saxophone around these days?
https:\/\/on.soundcloud.com\/Yt19h<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dave’s lyrics are superb BTW.. This was apparently Keith’s first recording session – hard to believe. There’s a couple of songs I wished we’d recorded – ‘Blue Circle (Don’t Make My Baby Blue)’ and ‘We Were Only Holding Hands’ – which was a song we jammed on each night in a different style – rock, jazz and on memorable night, reggae. All these moments, lost in time, like tears in rain…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Gordon at the Liquid Rooms soundcheck – December 2013<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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December 8 – Our good pal Gordon’s funeral was on Monday – it was, as you’d expect, well-attended by many friends, colleagues and musos. Alastair McKay (author of the fine book ‘Alternatives to Valium: How Punk Rock Saved a Shy Boy\u2019s Life’) has written a moving obituary to Gordon – https:\/\/alternativestovalium.blogspot.com\/2022\/12\/the-soundtrack-of-valve-appreciation-of.html?m=1&fbclid=IwAR2Ltwg29B4rEHq3teA_e7wUoMheJ_t-0Ut6qrs23L9Ahbxvx0Jqd2hZ9s8<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’re distraught by the loss of our great drummer and friend, Gordon Dair who passed away on November 16. Gordon had fought cancer bravely since late-2019 but despite suffering from chemo side-effects, had continued to rehearse, gig and live life to the full while he could. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ve known Gordon for over 50 years – we both grew up in Lochgelly and ended up sharing flats in Edinburgh during the 70s when the proto-Valves started life. He was always fun, bouncy and entertaining but with a strong entrepreneurial streak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was the driving force behind the Valves playing a reunion gig in 2013 and for releasing our album of 70s recordings in 2020, as well as the subsequent live CD and ‘Snowman’ single.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He loved life, music, cinema and his family and I can honestly say we never argued during the times we had together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will miss him terribly and the thoughts of myself, Ronnie, Joe and Gordon are with Nuria and Jo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gordon, it was good knowing you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pada<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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