Iain Matthews Tour 1978/1979
While I was recovering from a surgery, I started going down a rabbit hole of old photos and came across the following from my time as a sound engineer/roadie for Iain Matthews. The tour was to promote his album, Stealin’ Home (1978) on UK Rockburgh Records / US Mushroom Records.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iain_Matthews
The tour started from Seattle, Washington in April 1978 and concluded, after touring the US, Japan, the US again, Europe and Great Britain, in the spring of 1979. In the US, the band opened for The Beach Boys and David Gates & Bread, as well as headlining in smaller venues and clubs in various cities. The following photos are from the tour in Japan and England and also during a time the band was rehearsing for another recording session in a "castle" in Wales.
I shot these with a Pentax single lens reflex camera, probably with a 50 mm lens.
I hope you enjoy these photos from the "way back" machine.
A Little Bit of Japan
We headlined in Japan and did a television show. This was definitely the adventure of a lifetime. I owe Iain and his management many thanks for including me in this portion of the tour and trusting me with all they did.
Some of our very helpful Japanese crew
Shooting the TV show - Iain, Bob, Jim, Mark, Craig
Iain Matthews in the TV studio performing - Iain, Bob
Iain
I really like this shot of Iain
Craig, Iain, Mark - Vocal Track
Close up on Jim Russell
Shot from the control area
Mick Weaver on keyboards
Mick, Iain & Bob
Mark Griffiths on Bass
Iain, Bob, Jim, Mark & Craig
Some of the “tourist” photos from the Japan leg of the tour
In the night shots, you can see I had purchased a “star” filter for my lens. That was a new and fun effect. Some of us were granted a day or two away from the tour and we went to Kyoto for a night.
Street scene
Perk posing in our digs for our night in Kyoto
Iain and Perk taking in the sites
First time I had ever seen plastic food
School children all lined up. We were so tall!
CLEARWELL CASTLE
Even though touring Japan and doing a TV show was something special, one of the most unique aspects of the tour was the period of time after it was over. Before the recording of Iain's next album, the band rehearsed in Clearwell Castle in Wales.
The castle was used as a recording studio and rehearsal space for bands during the 70s. Bands such as Led Zeppelin, Badfinger, Deep Purple, Queen and Whitesnake recorded albums there and many other groups such as Iain's used it as a rehearsal space. Additionally the space was used for medieval banquets and one was held while we were there.
The following pictures are from that time. Apparently there was a lot of eating and drinking going on as well as the writing of songs and rehearsing.
The castle is now a wedding venue and the use of it as a rock 'n' roll venue in the 70s is just part of it’s interesting history.
https://www.clearwell-castle.co.uk/about/
*Pictured here is Deep Purple from the Clearwell Castle website
Perk and I head out to countryside to shoot some pics
Sandy having a dance
For F---s Sake Perk!
Mark and Perk posing it up
Jim wired for sound
A great group shoot after a great evening of dining and drinking
Sandy enjoying the evening
The castle mascot
Mark and Perk got along famously
Here are some shots of the castle and the surrounding area
Clearwell Castle
Entry to Clearwell Castle
Clearwell Castle
The view from my bedroom while staying there
Another side of the castle
The back area
Perk & I out shooting the neighborhood
View of the castle from across the way
Another view
Country road scene
It was stark and cold...
Some Locals
The budgies were in a cage in the back and were released into the garden during tourist season
The following are band members and some of the entourage
Me excited at the start of the tour
Me after a while on the tour (Japan) - yes it was work
Perk was always getting us to ham it up
Jim faking it.
Marks new toys
Mick Weaver, Keyboards
Bob Metzger
Self portrait with Mark
Perk and buddy (Gary Clark) in Seattle
Jim on the bus
Craig Buhler, Saxophone
Bob Metzger - I would love to see his shots
Mark Griffiths, Bass and Guitar
Perk in our spare time
Perk the rock star
Joel out of character
Mark writing?
Bruce Barrow, the tour manager
Perk & Mick posing for the stereotypical rock star hotel treatment
Mark in the studio in Japan
I believe this is the recording engineer for the next album
Harold, one of David Gates road crew that I traded something for a Linda Ronstadt Tour Jacket that I still have
Steve "where is the crew meal" Bristo
Jim & Dave
Joel Tepp acting more himself
Our bus driver, Danny from Tennessee
Rehearsal room in Clearwell Castle Wales
Killing time backstage somewhere
Sandy Roberton, Iain's Coproducer and manager
Bob and Mick comparing scores on the electronic football game
Jim & Dave checking out a tune
Danny & Bob arriving /departing?
Mark playing the game - it was an obsession
Mick playing pool during some down time
