Original line up
Joe Cochrane - vocals
In 1976 a bunch of friends from Hamilton and Viewpark in Uddingston got together to form Red Ellis, Chic McSherry (guitar) Joe Cochrane (vocals) David Sweet (bass) and 14 year old Joe James (drums)
(Later on Ian Harris and Jim McClelland took over from Chick McSherry on guitar)
, their key musical influences were among others Led Zepplin, Bad Company, Deep Purple and Jmmi Hendrix. They recorded a single in 1980 (Pretty Polly / Urban Life) with Henry Gorman as producer with some technical help from Duncan Cameron from the Glasgow band Sneaky Pete (Duncan later went on to set up Riverside Studios with his Brothers) As a band Red Ellis were tight, well rehearsed, loud and able, with an innate and insatiable drive to “just get up there and do it" they had a modesty and enthusiasm you rarely see in young bands now days who walk with a swagger just because they rehearse once a week but hardly ever play live, Red Ellis worked hard travellng the length and breadth of the country from Wishaw to Wick plying their trade and having the time of their lives, this is eloquently summed up by Red Ellis drummer Joe James.
“ I didn't think we were particularly talented writers, nor did we feel we understood that it was the music business, record deals, albums and stuff, we were just a wee bunch of mates who through having a lot of practice and rehearsing could put on a bit of a show. We could make quite a racket with just bass, drums and one guitar. Chick was a really talented guitar player, wee Joe was a good lookin fella, he looked like a rock star on stage he acted the part as well he would not have looked out of place fronting Free, Bad Company or Rainbow.
Red Ellis
Davie Wilkie (Roadie)
John Halcrow and Davie Wilkie
Ian Harris
Loch Lomond 1980
Joe Cochrane, Loch Lomond 1980
Original giutarist Chick McSherry
Red Ellis mention the the book "The Great Scots Musicology"
Joe James
Joe C in "Rock God" mode with Dave Sweet in the background
Coming soon on the "Interviews" section an interview with Joe Cochrane.
Special thanks to Joe James, Joe Cochrane and Jim McClelland for the info on the Red Ellis page.
Jim McClelland
Above...Red Ellis playing at The Dial Inn
Red Ellis Captain Tripps Tour – Summer ˜82 May 19th May, Dial Inn, Glasgow 20th May, Stand Club, Hamilton 21st May, Ayr Pavilion 22nd May, The Golf Tavern, Leven 22nd May, Lanark Town Hall 23rd May, Rothes Arms, Glenrothes 25th May, Chequers Nightclub, Falkirk 26th May, Dial Inn, Glasgow 27th May, Inverness Ice Rink, Inverness 28th May, The Golf Club Invergordon 29th May, Rosebank Hotel, Wick 30th May, Forss Naval Base, Thurso 31st May, Golspie Youth Centre June 2nd June, Ballanard Hotel, Dundee 3rd June, The Venue, Aberdeen 4th June, The EM Club, Dunoon 5th June, The EM Club, Dunoon 6th June, Kaimpark Hotel, Bathgate 7th June, The Tamdhu, Bannockburn 9th June, The Dial Inn, Glasgow 10th June, Whitdale Hotel, Whitburn 11th June, RAF Base, Edzell 12th June, Cunzie Nuke, Kinghorn. If you look at the Tour dates, Red Ellis were a hard working band playing at times two gigs in the same day and these were decent Venues! good band venues like The Ayr Pavilion and The Dial Inn. |