The Collaborators 1990-91

This is Allan Henry’s archive from 1990 when he started playing with Davy and Stephen Wiseman who were getting tired of the two man version of Nyah Fearties and wanted to expand their sound. Allan played bass and Davy switched to guitar with Stephen still playing banjo and percussion. Francis Lopez, who had played with and supported Nyah Fearties with his band Catch 22, joined on lead guitar. They named themselves The Collaborators… maybe not a very good choice especially when they started playing in France! Some recordings were done during 1990/91 and they became the basis of their live shows throughout this period.

The Collaborators first gig was at The Valley Ark Arts Centre in Glen Garnock on December 27th 1990. The photos above are from June ’91 at Riccarton Town Hall in Kilmarnock where The Stretcheads and Whirling Pig Dervishes also played. (The Stretchheads actually cancelled and another Glasgow band replaced them… can’t remember who they were!) Other gigs happened in West Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland before a major tour of Holland was arranged at the end on 1991.

The black and white promo shots were taken for the Dutch tour by Paul Muir at Allan’s flat in Kilmarnock. The spray painted backdrop was made by Allan and Stephen but can’t remember what the Russian lettering says… (probably "Collaborator Thistle” as they sometimes called themselves!)

There were loads of Collaborators tapes all with different tracks and covers but all featured a selection from -

Bang tae Rights!, Infectious and Living Room Rock’n’Roll recorded at Shabby Road in Kilmarnock by Davie, Stephen, Francis and Allan on 14th March 1991, engineered by Larry Primrose.

Topplin’ the Masterpieces, The Journey, Lodger on the Land, Freedom Train, Bovis Blues, Red Kola, Last Orders, The Great Circle of Life and A Toast recorded by Davy, Stephen and Allan at Shabby Road on 27th November, engineered by Larry Primrose.

The tapes sometimes had the same selection of tracks on each side but after the Dutch tour live recordings of the same songs made up the second side.