Rod Clements Simon Cowe Ray Laidlaw Billy
Mitchell
Ray Laidlaw, writing for the
Friars Aylesbury website in 2007 said:
'Bit
of a tall order this one. I can't remember much detail but I have very
fond memories of Friars, both venues, the first one being the most whacky.
I've got a feeling that the first time Lindisfarne played there we were a
last minute replacement for another band, it may have been David Bowie (it was the Faces
in 1971 in fact - Ed.) I
remember a lot of disgruntled punters in the pub grumbling about having to
watch 'some bloody folk group'. As it happened a lot of them stayed and we
went down really well. I think David Stopps must have had close links with
Charisma records because all of the bands on the label, Genesis, Van Der
Graaf, Audience etc seemed to get booked at Friars on a regular basis. As
I said, I can't recall much detail, just lots of bonhomie, great audience
reaction, good crack in the pub before and after, interesting herbal
aromas and lots of bearded blokes and rustic hippie chicks. Happy daze
indeed'
Barrie Masters, writing for
the Friars Aylesbury website in 2007 said:
"In
my humble opinion Friars was the best all round gig in the country. The
size is great as you're never too far from stage or bar, acoustics are
excellent and from the bands point of view a perfect stage size and great
dressing rooms.David Stopps ( promoter in my day ) an excellent host,
always looked after us well and also ran a tight ship. I must add that the
Iggy Pop gig with David Bowie on keys, rates in my top ten gigs of all
time. So as you can tell, you won't get a bad word about Friars from me,
and I have done more gigs than most bands in the country, most of them I
have forgotten by now, but I always remember the Friars gigs I have done.
if only all gigs were as good as....."
Jack The Lad called it a day after the 1977
farewell tour (obviously !) and eventually Lindisfarne reformed having a
hit in 1978 with Run For Home and they played Friars again in 1981.
