Ronnie Lane Passing Show Newcastle Town Moor July 1974
It was the summer of ’74 and Ronnie Lane set out on one of the most ambitious tours of the decade. “A merry troupe of minstrels, travelling the country in caravans, accompanied by clowns, animals and a big top. Ronnie Lane, the beloved entertainer, was taking his music back to the people….. while the likes of Deep Purple cruised from hotels to concert halls in limousines, Lane and his band Slim Chance snailed around Britain in a raggle-taggle convoy. Wearing spotted neckerchiefs and scarves, they almost begged to be flagged down by a patrol car and asked what century they’d come from” (Uncut, 2010).
The tour concept was based on the travelling shows of the past, the circus, and the days of the troubadour. Ronnie assembled a collection of folk singers, dancing girls, and clowns to accompany himself and his band Slim Chance, and promised us “all the fun of the circus and a carnival atmosphere”. Support acts were (according to my programme, which I still have) Lucas and McCulloch, Bill Barlcay, Nicol and Marsh, and Billy Livsey. The line-up of Slim Chance was quite fluid and featured Gallagher and Lyle at one point, although I don’t recall if there were part of the band when I saw the Passing Show. My programme lists the members as Bruce Rowland, Jimmy Jewel (not the comedian) and Kevin Westlake. 
Ronnie’s lovely wife, Katie, entertained us with dance and much swirling of her long flowing skirts. Viv Stanshall, from the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, was a short-lived ringmaster, but wasn’t at the Newcastle gig.
The show took up residency on Newcastle Town Moor for 5 nights from July 10th to July 14th 1974 (according to my poster). I went along, much out of curiosity, with my mate Norm. I have a feeling that these dates may have been put back by a week, as I recall that I had been to see the Allman Brothers at Knebworth the day before, and the date of that gig was Sat 20th July, which would mean we saw the Passing Show on Sunday 21st July. I still have my ticket stub, but it doesn’t help as there is no date on it. It does show that the gig cost us all of £1.10 :).
I remember the show as being very different, good fun, quite long, and that it was pretty cold in the circus marquee. Sadly it was very poorly attended. “How Come” had been a hit for Ronnie the year before, and I remember that song was played, but don’t recall the rest of the set; I think the material was unfamiliar to us. I don’t think any Faces or Small Faces tunes were played, but I could be wrong.
Sadly, the tour was not a success and…. ‘eventually ran out of luck. It was abandoned in Newcastle, where, over three nights, Slim Chance played to a total of 30 people. Ronnie had spent thousands keeping it afloat, as had Bruce Rowland “I lost about four-and-a-half grand, a lot of money in those days,” Rowland says. “Everything was broken and we had to bring it home. I took a 40-foot caravan down the M1 with a Land Rover, then went back to Newcastle on the train and drove the Pantechnicon down. It had two gears, no reverse, back brakes only, and no starter. I drove between 5mph and 10mph most of the way. It took me three days.”’ (Uncut, 2010).
David Cavanagh’s article, ‘ONE FOR THE ROAD’, on Ronnie Lane, was published in UNCUT, July 2010.
Archive for the ‘Ronnie Lane’s Slim Chance’ Category
24 Sep
Ronnie Lane Passing Show Newcastle Town Moor July 1974
28 Jun
Eric Clapton Newcastle City Hall April 1977
Eric Clapton Newcastle City Hall April 1977
Support from Ronnie Lane and Slim Chance
Eric Clapton returned to Newcastle City Hall a year later, this time with Ronnie Lane and his band Slim Chance as special guests. We were spoilt for Clapton shows from the mid 70s onwards. Eric moved from a period of a few years where he hardly played at all, to a position of touring the Uk every year. I took every opportunity to see Eric, going to every show that he performed at the City Hall, and never left disappointed. 
Looking at set lists from 1977, it seems that Clapton varied some of the set, but that it was focussed largely on the blues. A recording from Hammersmith gives the set as :Hello Old Friend; Sign Language; Alberta; All Our Past Times; Tell The Truth; Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door; Can’t Find My Way Home; Crossroads; I Shot The Sheriff; Nobody Knows You; Further On Up The Road; Stormy Monday; Willie and the hand jive; Layla; Dream, Dream, Dream. 
Ronnie Lane was a great choice of support act, especially after 1976’s support act Mr Pugh’s Puppet Theatre. I’d seen Ronnie in the Faces and once before with Slim Chance when they brought their Passing Show to Newcastle Town Moor (I’ll post on that gig another time). Ronnie came over to me as laid back, unassuming, friendly and authentic on stage. His set was good fun, and a good reason to stay upstairs and watch the support act, rather than retreat to the bar.
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