Ay up Sheffield! :)

:help:

I am looking to track down John O'Hara, of John O'Hara & the Playboys fame. They were a group from the 1960's and 1970's based in Sheffield.

During the mid 1970's, the line-up of the band was:-

Vocals - John O’Hara
Trumpet - Peter Baines
Organ - Steve Middleton
Bass Guitar - Anthony Waite
Tenor Saxophone - Chris Turner
Lead Guitar - Roy Johnson
Drums - Peter Coe

If anyone associated with the forum can put me in contact with John, or perhaps give me the name of the pub in Shalesmoor that he plays in regularily, I would be most grateful.

Any other information regarding the other "Playboys" would also be gratefully received.

I can be contacted via email - sie@vinylvulture.co.uk

Many thanks!

Sie :thumbsup:

Hi John lives around the corner from me. The Naggs Head was the name of the pub but it has been demolished. The landlord moved to The Manchester on Nursary St. John sometimes plays there at the weekend. Hope this is of some help:)

Cheers Hair Bear...:)

I spoke to the landlady of the Manchester and she was able to put me in contact with John. We had a great chat and we'll be working together to reissue one of his tracks from the 1970's later this year. Lovely bloke!

Were any of the other band members local to Sheffield...???

Thanks again! :thumbsup:

Cheers Hair Bear...:)

I spoke to the landlady of the Manchester and she was able to put me in contact with John. We had a great chat and we'll be working together to reissue one of his tracks from the 1970's later this year. Lovely bloke!

Were any of the other band members local to Sheffield...???

Thanks again! :thumbsup:think jock played sax with them,try security,sheffield markets

I worked with Johns daughter, Sharron at Bonapartes Casino, they came from Rotherham way

Had some brilliant nights at the Mojo club listening to John O Hara & the Playboys. They were a great band. Pleased to hear they are still around but living in Oz I doubt I will ever get to see them again.

Can anyone help me ? Where O Haras Playboys managed by Major Brian Hart? if so what happened to him?

Yes Brian Hart was joint manager with Tony French.Last I heard of Brian several years ago, he was running a bar in Malaga, Spain with his wife Mo. I, Bill ( sweetness )Mathieson played bass with the Playboys from 1958 and left new years eve 1969. Davy McHarg still plays drums, resident at the Arundel WMC Sheffield. John is still on the go tho part time now. Billy Simpson guitar/voc.,lives up Carlyle way,plays locally. Bobby Cambell keyboard/guitar/voc. retired from the scene a few years back,lives Dronfield way.Pete Green tenor sax lives in a south coast village and dabbles a bit in the local scene. Pete Cambell guitar/voc.had a taxi business in London last time I heard. Denis the coloured sax player we had when we first came to Sheffield lives in London. If you want to see the original Playboys who came to Sheffield 1966, look up youtube.com under John O,hara video. It was from germanys version of Top of the Pops. I don,t know much about the Playboy personnel from the 70,s onward but they changed so often John could have had a 60 piece orchestra made up from them. I,m trying to find a film/video of us on Colour me Pop On BBC 1968 which has been deleted from BBC archives. Anyone copied it from the telly?? and still has it ???.

Bill remember me Ian Russell used to work with you at W A Tyzack's.Remember you allway's used to hold your cup of coffee in your hand with your finger's wrapped around it as if you'd got your finger's round the neck of the bass

Hi Ian, yes I remember WA Tyzacks. Can,t play bass now cos I caught my left hand in a m/c just as I retired, severed all the stringers and it took a year before I could pick up a 2p piece.

Like many my age, late 40s I grew up with John O Hara and the playboys, he always had a packed house in the 70s.
They were passionate about there music and I hear John was very demanding, rightly so if he was the main man.

What was John O Hara really like to work with, he always came across as a friendly guy but there are horror stories that he could be very aloof with his band members.
Whatever his temprament, they were a top band.
Last time I saw John was in the Highway a few years ago now, he was still an entertaining guy.

Paul S., Don,t know what John was like to his band members in the 90,s tho I believe he did like his own way and could be arguementative and quick to anger. He was boss. But he started with the Playboys back in Glasgow 1958 as just a bit singer but mostly on sax. When we had an horrific car accident in Germany 1962 when we lost the lead singer and both lead and rhythm guitarists thru injuries. John took over as lead singer and we were still only named the Playboys and reformed as a 6 piece where we all had an equal say in the running of the band. By 1966 we were called John O,Hara and the Playboys but still no particular leader tho by 1968 ( 6 singles, 2 L.P.s 8 T.V shows and constant radio exposure ) John was having a bigger say in things and less from us and was accepted as band leader. Lots of arguements, even fisticuffs at times. Bobby Cambell was 1st to leave in 1969 when John ( and management ) would not let him take his wife to the Bahamas with us. Peter Green then left, and then me, as the management said the band needed younger blood.We were all about 30 by this time. Davy McHarg was next 1970 then Billy Simpson. With exception of Pete Green this was the core from Glasgow days all gone. 9 years together and now replaced with younger but English musicians some good, others so so.I could write a book about us 1958-1969 but then my memory is getting worse and I,d just forget, after all it was 40 years ago.

Yes Brian Hart was joint manager with Tony French.Last I heard of Brian several years ago, he was running a bar in Malaga, Spain with his wife Mo. I, Bill ( sweetness )Mathieson played bass with the Playboys from 1958 and left new years eve 1969. Davy McHarg still plays drums, resident at the Arundel WMC Sheffield. John is still on the go tho part time now. Billy Simpson guitar/voc.,lives up Carlyle way,plays locally. Bobby Cambell keyboard/guitar/voc. retired from the scene a few years back,lives Dronfield way.Pete Green tenor sax lives in a south coast village and dabbles a bit in the local scene. Pete Cambell guitar/voc.had a taxi business in London last time I heard. Denis the coloured sax player we had when we first came to Sheffield lives in London. If you want to see the original Playboys who came to Sheffield 1966, look up youtube.com under John O,hara video. It was from germanys version of Top of the Pops. I don,t know much about the Playboy personnel from the 70,s onward but they changed so often John could have had a 60 piece orchestra made up from them. I,m trying to find a film/video of us on Colour me Pop On BBC 1968 which has been deleted from BBC archives. Anyone copied it from the telly?? and still has it ???.

Blast from the past that name Tony French. I knew both Tony and John.

in the 80's I was wrestling for a female group managed by Tony French. Met John O'Hara a few times and his roady at the time was a guy called Graham - we had a brief fling at the time. Went to see John playing at a pub in wincobank?? such a long time ago. - fond memories

john ohara played the staffordshire arms on soby st earlier this year on his own

Please tell us more about the wrestling group!!!!
Blast from the past that name Tony French. I knew both Tony and John.

in the 80's I was wrestling for a female group managed by Tony French. Met John O'Hara a few times and his roady at the time was a guy called Graham - we had a brief fling at the time. Went to see John playing at a pub in wincobank?? such a long time ago. - fond memories

John and wee Davy McHarg, Bill Mathieson, Bobby Cambell ( all 70 this year )(and Pete Green all now retired from the music scene. John, Davy, Bill still in Sheffield, Bobby in Dronfield and Pete is down Bournemouth way. Haven,t heard from Billy Simpson for years but believe still in Carlisle. Manager Brian Hart died 2010 and buried in Dronfield.

Hi Bill hope your ok mate, give us a call soon for a get together with John Dave and yr good ladies, talk soon.
Tanz

Blast from the past that name Tony French. I knew both Tony and John.

in the 80's I was wrestling for a female group managed by Tony French. Met John O'Hara a few times and his roady at the time was a guy called Graham - we had a brief fling at the time. Went to see John playing at a pub in wincobank?? such a long time ago. - fond memories

wow i remember tony is he still with us he must be knocking on now. last i heard of him he was running an agency in rotherham