Cycleracer Posted August 23, 2008 Share Posted August 23, 2008 Like many my age, late 40s I grew up with John O Hara and the playboys, he always had a packed house in the 70s. They were passionate about there music and I hear John was very demanding, rightly so if he was the main man. What was John O Hara really like to work with, he always came across as a friendly guy but there are horror stories that he could be very aloof with his band members. Whatever his temprament, they were a top band. Last time I saw John was in the Highway a few years ago now, he was still an entertaining guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathieson_w Posted August 23, 2008 Share Posted August 23, 2008 Paul S., Don,t know what John was like to his band members in the 90,s tho I believe he did like his own way and could be arguementative and quick to anger. He was boss. But he started with the Playboys back in Glasgow 1958 as just a bit singer but mostly on sax. When we had an horrific car accident in Germany 1962 when we lost the lead singer and both lead and rhythm guitarists thru injuries. John took over as lead singer and we were still only named the Playboys and reformed as a 6 piece where we all had an equal say in the running of the band. By 1966 we were called John O,Hara and the Playboys but still no particular leader tho by 1968 ( 6 singles, 2 L.P.s 8 T.V shows and constant radio exposure ) John was having a bigger say in things and less from us and was accepted as band leader. Lots of arguements, even fisticuffs at times. Bobby Cambell was 1st to leave in 1969 when John ( and management ) would not let him take his wife to the Bahamas with us. Peter Green then left, and then me, as the management said the band needed younger blood.We were all about 30 by this time. Davy McHarg was next 1970 then Billy Simpson. With exception of Pete Green this was the core from Glasgow days all gone. 9 years together and now replaced with younger but English musicians some good, others so so.I could write a book about us 1958-1969 but then my memory is getting worse and I,d just forget, after all it was 40 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SASBEAR Posted August 24, 2008 Share Posted August 24, 2008 Yes Brian Hart was joint manager with Tony French.Last I heard of Brian several years ago, he was running a bar in Malaga, Spain with his wife Mo. I, Bill ( sweetness )Mathieson played bass with the Playboys from 1958 and left new years eve 1969. Davy McHarg still plays drums, resident at the Arundel WMC Sheffield. John is still on the go tho part time now. Billy Simpson guitar/voc.,lives up Carlyle way,plays locally. Bobby Cambell keyboard/guitar/voc. retired from the scene a few years back,lives Dronfield way.Pete Green tenor sax lives in a south coast village and dabbles a bit in the local scene. Pete Cambell guitar/voc.had a taxi business in London last time I heard. Denis the coloured sax player we had when we first came to Sheffield lives in London. If you want to see the original Playboys who came to Sheffield 1966, look up youtube.com under John O,hara video. It was from germanys version of Top of the Pops. I don,t know much about the Playboy personnel from the 70,s onward but they changed so often John could have had a 60 piece orchestra made up from them. I,m trying to find a film/video of us on Colour me Pop On BBC 1968 which has been deleted from BBC archives. Anyone copied it from the telly?? and still has it ???. Blast from the past that name Tony French. I knew both Tony and John. in the 80's I was wrestling for a female group managed by Tony French. Met John O'Hara a few times and his roady at the time was a guy called Graham - we had a brief fling at the time. Went to see John playing at a pub in wincobank?? such a long time ago. - fond memories Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swervin Posted August 25, 2008 Share Posted August 25, 2008 john ohara played the staffordshire arms on soby st earlier this year on his own Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xenia Posted August 26, 2008 Share Posted August 26, 2008 Please tell us more about the wrestling group!!!! Blast from the past that name Tony French. I knew both Tony and John. in the 80's I was wrestling for a female group managed by Tony French. Met John O'Hara a few times and his roady at the time was a guy called Graham - we had a brief fling at the time. Went to see John playing at a pub in wincobank?? such a long time ago. - fond memories Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathieson_w Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 John and wee Davy McHarg, Bill Mathieson, Bobby Cambell ( all 70 this year )(and Pete Green all now retired from the music scene. John, Davy, Bill still in Sheffield, Bobby in Dronfield and Pete is down Bournemouth way. Haven,t heard from Billy Simpson for years but believe still in Carlisle. Manager Brian Hart died 2010 and buried in Dronfield. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cycleracer Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Hi Bill hope your ok mate, give us a call soon for a get together with John Dave and yr good ladies, talk soon. Tanz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggie007 Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Blast from the past that name Tony French. I knew both Tony and John. in the 80's I was wrestling for a female group managed by Tony French. Met John O'Hara a few times and his roady at the time was a guy called Graham - we had a brief fling at the time. Went to see John playing at a pub in wincobank?? such a long time ago. - fond memories wow i remember tony is he still with us he must be knocking on now. last i heard of him he was running an agency in rotherham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathieson_w Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 Update on the Playboys. Paul Tansley of Sheffield Live has taped interviews with John,BILL,Bobby and Pete Green along with Glenn Dale of the Fortunes and will play some of their records including the very first record Mr Moonlight 1963. Should be broadcast sometime this year. There are also 3 video tracks on Youtube from 1965 on Germanys *Beat Club* ( their version of Top of the Pops ) under John O,Hara and the Playboys. A history of the band 1958-1970 can be found on http://www.rockingscots.co.uk. Just click on * The Playboys * Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayVee Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 Update on the Playboys. Paul Tansley of Sheffield Live has taped interviews with John,BILL,Bobby and Pete Green along with Glenn Dale of the Fortunes and will play some of their records including the very first record Mr Moonlight 1963. Should be broadcast sometime this year. There are also 3 video tracks on Youtube from 1965 on Germanys *Beat Club* ( their version of Top of the Pops ) under John O,Hara and the Playboys. A history of the band 1958-1970 can be found on http://www.rockingscots.co.uk. Just click on * The Playboys * Well done Bill - good to read the History!Must be important to you.The Playboys were a big part of our lives in the 60s - Weekends werent the same if you were out of town! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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