THE RETURN OF “THE THING”
Legendary Scots’ rockers String Driven Thing return to Kintyre for a gig at Carradale Village Hall on 24th May. Those who attended their previous outing a couple of years back have been eagerly awaiting the Return of The Thing and tickets are sure to be in great demand.
Originally based around the talents of songwriter Chris Adams, his wife Pauline and guitarist John Mannion, String Driven Thing came roaring out of the Glasgow underground scene in the late sixties to record three cult albums. Following the departure of John Mannion, Chris recruited classically-trained violinist Graham Smith who’s electronic experiments gave the band the edgy menace which became their trademark.
On the way, they shared a record label,( The Famous Charisma Label), and concert bills with the likes of Peter Gabriel-era Genesis, Lindisfarne and Van der Graaf Generator. Following a collapsed lung and its aftermath, which inspired the creation of the album “The Machine that Cried”, a disillusioned Chris and Pauline left the band in 1974. String Driven Thing limped on for a couple of years, but with their creative heart and front-line vocal combination gone the band inevitably slithered to a halt.
Meanwhile, Chris’s song-writing skills provided a most unlikely dividend. Bizarrely, The Bay City Rollers covered his song “It’s a Game” as their valedictory single, allowing the Adams’ to relocate from London back to Glasgow where they remained out of the spotlight for years, raising their four sons.
Aside from one critically received solo album, “The Damage” which originally came out in 1989, Chris has restricted his musical output to a handful of well-received String Driven Thing re-union concerts which briefly reunited him with Graham Smith. Now, after all these years in the musical wilderness, Chris Adams has rediscovered his love and enthusiasm for the music, which has been rekindled by watching and advising his sons move into the music business, and has put together a new version of String Driven Thing.
Last year the band recorded an album of new material called “Moments of Truth”, which may be one of the strongest sets they have ever put together and they are currently hard at work on a follow-up. However, they enjoyed their last night in Carradale so much that they have been looking for an opportunity to come back even if it means leaving the studio behind for a couple of days.
Support is from Kintyre’s champions of Turbo-dreich and Cr8tr Bochd Music, The Wild Sarachs, and there are also guest appearances from Shanky’s Dooflicker – reunited after some twenty five years- and Moose’s Melodeon a travelling party in every sense of the word from the Isle of Lewis and other parts North.
Tickets are limited to 150, the cost is £10 and they are available from 01583 431570 or 01583 431428
