by RalphG » Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:49 am
It all comes down to money. Duane, Bobby Vee, Tommy Roe, Chris Montez, Bobby Vee, 1910 Fruitgum Company, Ron Dante (Archies etc), Gary Puckett, The Vogues, The Association, Lovin' Spoonful, The Grassroots, The Box Tops and many others have all expressed an interest of late in coming to the UK but no promoter is prepared to gamble on the success of a tour.
Flying Music -- the promoters behind the Solid Silver tours - are looking at the possibility of putting together a U.S. package but don't hold your breath and if it does happen they will probably play safe and go for Bobby Vee to headline as they've done in the past plus one or two others like Chris Montez and Brian Hyland.
The Four Tops, The Temptations, The Three Degrees and The Drifters are here in March, but then they are in the premier league and promoters are more confident of making money.
Having said that Charlie Gracie, who is very reasonable about his fees, is over here soon and will be appearing on the same stage in April as The Triumphs, featuring our very own Rob Bradford, Ray Liffen, Trev Faull, Jules Dawton and Ken Ledran.
A number of UK stars from Paul McCartney to Mike Maxfield have cited Charlie as an early inspiration.