The Haze later became State Property
Donald Ian MacLeod 'Muchiecan or Mooch' guitar and vocals
Alan Duncanson 'Dunc' Lead Vocals
Elliot Brunton 'Bunz'
Cameron 'Ron' Brown Drums
Alan Duncanson Vocalist with The Haze has been posting fantastic memories on the Bygone Galashiels Facebook page and has given us permission to share some of his memories here-
"Oh dear!! Muchie my great friend from the roaring 60´s in Galae!!! I was sitting in Macari´s Cafe´one day, as you did, and Muchie, Elliot Brunton and Cameron Brown sat down at my table . "You´re a singer - would you like tae sing in a band?" "Aye" says me and we were off tae Clinkscales in Melrose tae look at Public Announcement Systems and microphones!! That very nice kind (cough, cough!!) gentleman Clinkie offered me a brand new Marshall PA and a couple of Shure mikes for the princely sum of 400 pounds at 4 pounds a week!! House of the Rising Sun was the first song we practised and then followed many great songs - mostly suggested by Muchie, who was the definite leader of the pack and as it turned out, had great taste. Muddy Waters, Mose Allison, Wilson Pickett, Stevie Winwood, Cream, Kinks, etc etc. I still have the original list of songs of a night here somewhere! Muchie had a brain, unlike the rest of us and could explain things on a level that left you stunned. He was funny and knew what he liked - we had a great couple of years playing for a song all over the Boders and occasionally further afield in Carlisle, Workington and very rarely into Edinburgh and Fife. The highlight of our time together came at that wonderful venue of the music World, Sekirk´s Victoria Hall, when we played supporting Group to The Jeff Beck Group on their tour of ´68 - Jeff Beck himself, Rod Stewart on song and moothie, Aynesly Dunbar on drums and Ron Wood on Base (later Rolling Stones!). It was a Friday night and it was fantastic to meet that band whose music we adored! We had no booking for the next night and we gathered outside Cameron Browns house to clean our van and the phone in Cameron´s house rang - it was the infamous Dunc McKinnon - would ye like tae back Jeff Beck th night in Carlisle was the question. YEEESSS was the answer and off we went to Carlisle Corn Exchange!! We had a Friday spot in the Focus Club at the old Academy in Gala for a long time and being able to train there got us a bit more polished. We played supporting group to the Bee Gees also in Selkirk and various other good bookings. It was a happy time. Unfortunately, the bands of the day were not making enough money to survive and eventually Elliott Brunton announced he was leaving to join the houseband at Haggerston Castle - regular money !! Our Band was breaking up and Muchie was desperately trying to keep it together. On the evening Robert Plant was playing at the Douglas in Gala we were all there and i was approached by the Hawick band The Hitchikers whose singer had died of a kidney failure and I agreed to join up. I still feel bad today that I left my Gala band and that was the end of The State Property. I lost touch with Muchie and I will try and make contact again. I remember those hazy days in the 60s with much warmth - then working with Dougie Mather at Dingleton changed our lives forever but that´s another story!! "
" We played often for a fiver!! The deal at the Focus Youth Club every Friday (Auld Academy) was we got to practice in a room for free if we played the regular Friday evenings for free"
If you can tell us more or have a photo contact us on info@macarts.scot
Donald Ian MacLeod 'Muchiecan or Mooch' guitar and vocals
Alan Duncanson 'Dunc' Lead Vocals
Elliot Brunton 'Bunz'
Cameron 'Ron' Brown Drums
Alan Duncanson Vocalist with The Haze has been posting fantastic memories on the Bygone Galashiels Facebook page and has given us permission to share some of his memories here-
"Oh dear!! Muchie my great friend from the roaring 60´s in Galae!!! I was sitting in Macari´s Cafe´one day, as you did, and Muchie, Elliot Brunton and Cameron Brown sat down at my table . "You´re a singer - would you like tae sing in a band?" "Aye" says me and we were off tae Clinkscales in Melrose tae look at Public Announcement Systems and microphones!! That very nice kind (cough, cough!!) gentleman Clinkie offered me a brand new Marshall PA and a couple of Shure mikes for the princely sum of 400 pounds at 4 pounds a week!! House of the Rising Sun was the first song we practised and then followed many great songs - mostly suggested by Muchie, who was the definite leader of the pack and as it turned out, had great taste. Muddy Waters, Mose Allison, Wilson Pickett, Stevie Winwood, Cream, Kinks, etc etc. I still have the original list of songs of a night here somewhere! Muchie had a brain, unlike the rest of us and could explain things on a level that left you stunned. He was funny and knew what he liked - we had a great couple of years playing for a song all over the Boders and occasionally further afield in Carlisle, Workington and very rarely into Edinburgh and Fife. The highlight of our time together came at that wonderful venue of the music World, Sekirk´s Victoria Hall, when we played supporting Group to The Jeff Beck Group on their tour of ´68 - Jeff Beck himself, Rod Stewart on song and moothie, Aynesly Dunbar on drums and Ron Wood on Base (later Rolling Stones!). It was a Friday night and it was fantastic to meet that band whose music we adored! We had no booking for the next night and we gathered outside Cameron Browns house to clean our van and the phone in Cameron´s house rang - it was the infamous Dunc McKinnon - would ye like tae back Jeff Beck th night in Carlisle was the question. YEEESSS was the answer and off we went to Carlisle Corn Exchange!! We had a Friday spot in the Focus Club at the old Academy in Gala for a long time and being able to train there got us a bit more polished. We played supporting group to the Bee Gees also in Selkirk and various other good bookings. It was a happy time. Unfortunately, the bands of the day were not making enough money to survive and eventually Elliott Brunton announced he was leaving to join the houseband at Haggerston Castle - regular money !! Our Band was breaking up and Muchie was desperately trying to keep it together. On the evening Robert Plant was playing at the Douglas in Gala we were all there and i was approached by the Hawick band The Hitchikers whose singer had died of a kidney failure and I agreed to join up. I still feel bad today that I left my Gala band and that was the end of The State Property. I lost touch with Muchie and I will try and make contact again. I remember those hazy days in the 60s with much warmth - then working with Dougie Mather at Dingleton changed our lives forever but that´s another story!! "
" We played often for a fiver!! The deal at the Focus Youth Club every Friday (Auld Academy) was we got to practice in a room for free if we played the regular Friday evenings for free"
If you can tell us more or have a photo contact us on info@macarts.scot