Historical Scottish Question for our Auld Steelers

[Danny Mitchell]

I happened to catch a bit of an old 1993 episode of Taggart last night in which a lot of scenes were filmed in Glasgow's Grand Ol Orpry.
And my question is, does anyone know who the steel player could've been? I never got a good look at the man but his blonde Springfield looked lovely.
The band line up was rhythm guitar, bass, keyboards, drums and steel.
Just curious.

[Zumbilly(Murdoch)]

Danny,whilst I cannot answer Your question,I do remember watching the episode at the first time of showing. I recall the "Opry" crowd were given a tenner each for their appearances and I think it turned out to be a very long day for them.However I did not recognise any of the band members at all,I knew most of the "regular bands" on the circuit and am wondering if it was an ad hoc band due to equity card requirement.

[Danny Mitchell]

Thanks Billy,
I thought the players might be recognisable to some, and that Springfield steel guitar certainly looks quite striking, but you're equity card assumption sounds bang on.
As for the audience pure, dead, brilliant.
I used to do a bit of driving for film and tv productions back then, and extras, or 'Hoovers', as they were affectionally known as because they 'hoovered' up all the biscuits at tea breaks , well they were paid £73 for a day's shoot. I think the Opry crowd were very poorly served with that miserly tenner, especially those hard working line dancers.

[Malcolm]

Danny, there is the possibility it could have been a touring band from England, don’t ever remember seeing a blonde Springfield up here in Scotland. I did a stack of walk on parts in Taggart, Rab C. Nesbitt, Take the High Road, Para Handy etc, rates varied on whether it was Walk on 1/ 2/ 3, top rate was for a speaking part, L D N’s immortal line “ onions” earned him extra, and my scream, when shot in the arm, in Take the High Road also got me top rate. Autographed pics are available for a small fee

[Donny Johnston]

" Have you seen the boy ? " My immortal line from Take the High Road. That got me more money. I may think of more. LDN.

[Danny Mitchell]

Ha, ha, it's a small world, Malcolm. I drove the Winnebago for Mary Doll, Jamsie, Ella etc, on Nesbitt and I was Rikki Fulton's butler/unit driver on Para Handy. Our paths must have crossed.
Willie agrees with you, on the blonde Springfield. Must've been a band from darn sarf. Shame really, there must've been plenty of able bands kicking around up here.
93? Would that have been before the rise of the dreaded duos, that were masquerading as bands?

[Davie Holland]

Thanks Billy,
I thought the players might be recognisable to some, and that Springfield steel guitar certainly looks quite striking,

It would be more striking when it hits the side of the skip on the way in lol

[Malcolm]

Danny, was it one of Caber Vans Gourock units, my bass player worked for them?

[Danny Mitchell]

Malcolm,
The only time I used Caber Vans, I was driving their wardrobe truck (an old single decker bus), on a Hallmark HBO movie, a total nightmare, and the only guy I knew, apart from Colin the owner, was a really good and helpful guy called Frank, who has sadly passed.
The other firms were, Parks at Strathaven and Caledonian in Inverness. Happy days.

[Malcolm]

Danny, guy I ‘m talking about was the late Andy Hamilton, he was a metal worker who did the conversions at Caber, but helped out driving when they were busy on the film sets. Worked with him in various bands over a ten year period before his untimely passing.