Thirty years of fog!

Lindisfarne today

It was 30 years ago that Lindisfarne released arguably the North's most famous album, Fog On The Tyne.

Ignoring the sickly sausage rolls, Newcastle Journal reporter Zoe Burn talked to original band members Ray Laidlaw and Rod Clements about what the record means to them today.

There’s a twinkle in Rod Clements's eye as he sips his drink and reflects on his years in the music business.

Along with childhood pal Ray Laidlaw, Rod has enjoyed the ups and downs of the rollercoaster industry.

During the ride they produced perhaps the greatest Geordie anthem and saw the death of founder member and principal songwriter Alan Hull following a heart attack in 1995.

But with a new album on the way and a 40-night tour kicking off this month, things have never been better for Lindisfarne.

Smiling a toothy grin from underneath his trademark trilby hat, Rod said: ‘We've had a fantastic 30 years because making music is all we ever wanted to do.

Geordie anthem

‘We love it. We love writing songs and performing to a crowd. That's what it's all about for us.’

Rod, now 54, and Ray, 53, formed Lindisfarne with Alan Hull in 1970, releasing Nicely Out of Tune, an album which was to become a huge success and featured their first big hit, Lady Eleanor.

The famous Fog on The Tyne album followed in 1971 and hit the charts, finally reaching the top spot in March 1972.

Oddly, the title track didn't become a hit until 1990 when the band teamed up with Gazza, but it has always been a Geordie anthem of which the boys are still proud.

Ray said: ‘It's great for us as the band who performed it and also a wonderful tribute to Alan who wrote it. Though he's gone, the song lives on.

‘It's one of three or four tracks about home, and for Alan it was autobiographical, particularly the first verse.

‘At the time he was being harassed by the social security and he did sign off the dole.

‘And the snack bar was a little cafe off the High Level Bridge in Newcastle where he used to sit.’

The band underwent numerous changes and, until 1995, only Ray, Rod and Alan remained from the original line-up.

Spring tour

Then, following Alan's death, they had to decide whether to carry on. Rod recalled: ‘Once we got over the initial shock we had to start making our minds up what we were going to do.

‘But everything fell into place in quite a natural way. The songs were still coming and we knew it was right.’

So what has kept them together so long and have they ever fallen out. Ray laughed: ‘Of course, but we've always managed to work through it.

‘We have been friends since we were all very young and over the years Lindisfarne has become like a family.’

The spring 2002 tour kicks off today, March 1, and the band will play Newcastle Opera House on April 6. The new album, Promenade, was released on Monday, March 4.

On the road again . . . 2002 tour dates

Copyright (c) 2000-2002 Sue Kelly

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