Bee Cee Cee

Lenny Helsing 2014 – For the benefit of those still unfamiliar with the group Bee Bee Cee, they were a young Edinburgh-based group that operated in and around the town’s early, but still thriving punk rock scene between 1977-78; having already played for a year or so on the rapidly-changing Edinburgh pop scene under the name Image.

The scene at that time had groups like Wot’s Up(featuring a pre-Bay City Rollers Pat McGlynn), Ziggy, and Mr Bojangles. Luckily for us, Bee Bee Cee were fortunate enough in that their managers – who ran the great “Clouds” discotheque in the Tollcross part of town – had the sense to get the group into a recording studio while the going was good, and where they could try to nail their tough, gritty rock’n’roll sound for posterity. This they did, successfully spread across the two sides of their lone – and now pretty rare and sought-after – 45rpm single. Loads of major-name punk bands played at Edinburgh’s Clouds venue during 1977-1980and this was where Bee Bee Cee had the rather envious position of being able to open for many of the top-drawer acts of the time including such names as The Jam, The Damned and The Ramones.

The single, featuring the excellent cuts ‘You Gotta Know Girl’ and ‘We Ain’t Listening’, both written by lead singer Dave Gilhooley, was cut at REL studios in Edinburgh – that’s Radio Edinburgh Limited – and issued on the studio’s own RELlabel in a limited pressing run of 2000. *Callum suggests there might’ve been 3000 of them pressed. As those who have actually heard Bee Bee Cee – whether live onstage or from hearing the original single, which was later included on the first volume of the compilation LP series Raw And Rare British Punk – will surely testify, both ‘You Gotta Know Girl’ and ‘We Ain’t Listening’ are still worthy of your attention today and stand out as mighty fine slabs of original 1977 punk rock; perhaps especially so on ‘You Gotta Know Girl’ with its uncontrived sound, authentic teenage rock’n’roll approach and its propulsive, compelling drive.

‘We Ain’t Listening’ ain’t no slouch either, and even has something approaching a guitar solo. This side may also be even less pop-sounding and perhaps has a little more menace about it, but that’s probably just splitting hairs. It’s enough to say that no matter what side you may have a particular preference for, it’s still a double-deck killer twin-spin whichever way you wanna look at it! I’d even stick my neck out and say it’s up there with some of the more well-known sides that were made by the likes of The Saints, Eater and The Adverts! Oh yeah! And onto the interview itself …

Lenny Helsing: What or who would you say were the main instigators that first got you into music to begin with?

Callum McNair: My musical instigators were David Bowie, Marc Bolan, John Lennon and maybe Slade (I liked the Bonzo Dogs as well!)

LH: Can you remember what year Image first got together, and who were all the members in the group and what instruments did they play?

CMc: Image were jointly formed around late summer 1976. Musicians were Dave Gilhooley (lead vocals / rhythm guitar ),Bob Gilhooley (bass guitar / b. vocals), Callum McNair (lead guitar), James “Blackie” Black (keyboards / b.vocals), Alan “Zokko” Wilson (drums and japes!)

LH: What kind of gigs did Image play back then, and also whereabouts did the group play?

CMc: We played mostly anywhere. Working men’s clubs, town halls, community centres and even some larger venues.

LH: Can you recall if you were already starting to play any original material back then?

CMc: We had a 50/50 set of covers and humble original songs.

LH: moving onto Bee Bee Cee now, who would you say were your, and the group’s main influences at that time?

CMc: Our main influences were early Ultravox, Stranglers, The Ramones, the Damned and the Pistols. We were doing covers to fund the band so we had to listen to mainstream 60s and 70s as well (walking contradictions!)

LH: When did the switch to Bee Bee Cee take place, and were any other guys involved that weren’t already part of Image?

CMc: We were briefly known as The Lurch before changing name to Bee.Bee.Cee early in 1977. We were managed throughout by Torelle Entertainment (a.k.a Johnny Pearson and Mario Campanille of Clouds Discotheque).

LH: How did the hook up with the REL label come about, can you remember?

CMc: I think Alex Black who was our keyboardist’s dad and driver / funder and our manager contacted R.E.L with focus on a single.

LH: Can you recall how you set up in the studio, and whether it was mostly live, or what, and if any overdubs etc had to be done?

CMc: If I recall we did a couple of live takes on each song overdubbing vocals and lead guitar separately.

LH: What did you guys think might happen when the ‘You Gotta Know Girl’ b/w ‘We

Ain’t Listening’ single was released; and was the reality any different?

CMc: We were pleased as punch with the outcome. I think we pressed about 3,000 copies

and sold them at gigs. 

LH: Were any other songs recorded at the session for the single that still remain unissued?

CMc: No there were no other songs recorded at that session.

LH: Did the group do any tours throughout Britain or overseas? And what was the biggest gig that Bee Bee Cee did?

CMc: We did a few bigger gigs supporting The Jam, the Rich Kids, The Damned and even Ian Gillan.

LH: Why was there no follow-up single?

CMc: The band went through several bass players before splitting up in 1978.

LH: Can you briefly tell me what you and the rest of the group went on to do following the break-up of Bee Bee Cee?

CMc: I went on to join Edinburgh group The Cadets then many, many thereafter. We did record again sometime later, one of my songs and one of Dave’s and also a cover of ‘I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend’ by the Ramones.

LH: How do you rate the Bee Bee Cee single now with so many years hindsight?

CMc: In hindsight what a great burst of energy our old single is (I just listened to it again) … Fuck me !!

LH: Finally, I’d just like to say Callum that I hope you and the other guys are really proud of the recordings, cos to me that single is such a tremendous blast of unadulterated teenage garage Rock’N’Roll!

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Interview with Callum McNair, former lead guitarist with Edinburgh punk group Bee Bee Cee conducted by Lenny Helsing February 2014

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