An honorary Buddie and rock music legend who played to audiences bigger than the population of Paisley is set to return for homecoming gigs.
Davey Pattison fronted the popular US-based band Gamma throughout their heyday in the 70s and 80s and wowed a crowd of more than 80,000 fans during a gig at the Oakland Coliseum, in California, in 1982.
After being headhunted to front Ronnie Montrose’s new band in 1979, Pattison left Paisley for the United States and spent the next 40 years touring the world, performing in concert halls, arenas and stadiums.
But now he’s back in the place he calls his “adopted home” for a gig at The Bungalow on Friday, May 19. Pattison said: “Although I was born in Glasgow’s Tradeston district, Paisley sort of became my adopted home town as I married and settled there with a Paisley girl.
“We had a room and kitchen flat in Blythswood Drive overlooking the Fountain Gardens.
“It’s great to be back to where I call home and although I’d been living in America for 40 years, I never thought of myself as American. I’m a Scottish guy and an honorary Paisley Buddie to boot!”
Before his big break with Gamma, Pattison was the frontman for the next-big-thing of the late 70s, Paisley band Findo Gask and their catchy single Dr Phinn’s Elixir.
Pattison fondly recalls his time with the band: “Singing with Findo Gask was the first time I got noticed and realised I could do something in the music business.”
Pattison is back living in the town again, the place where his music career kicked off, and where he came to know some of Paisley’s finest musicians.
Pattison recalled one get-together he had in his tiny room and kitchen home: “We had a party in our flat at Blythswood Drive and a lot of music people were there, including Gerry Rafferty and Maggie Bell from Stone the Crows.
“The drink was flowing and the music was playing but Gerry spent most of the time in the kitchen talking to my daughter Nicola, who slept in a bed next to the oven.
“Nicola was only about six at the time but Gerry seemed to enjoy himself more by talking to my daughter all night.”
He added: “I can’t wait to get on stage at The Bungalow. I’ve got a great backing band and anyone coming along will be blown away with blues, soul and of course, some good old rock ‘n’ roll!”
Along with The Bungalow gig, he has lined up shows at The Cathouse, in Glasgow, on May 27; Dreadnought Rock Nightclub, in Bathgate, on June 9; Belladrum music festival, Inverness, on July 27; and Ivory Blacks, in Glasgow, on October 27.
Tickets for The Bungalow gig can be bought at https://bit.ly/3VPgZGI
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