www.blackskull.co.uk

Band Formation & Brief History

Here is a brief history of the Black Skull's formation up to the present day.

The band was formed in the southside of Glasgow in October 1980, going by the name of the crown defenders, by the present bandmaster and some present band members.

When the band was formed there were only two members who could play instruments, the bandmaster and the band corporal, all the rest of the new found members were young local boys and girls with no experience of any kind who had never held a flute or drum never mind played one. With no money or instruments the task to get theses kids instruments and teach them to play them was underway. With a lot of hard work and dedication and very hard fundraising it wasn't long before everyone had an instrument, playing them was a different matter. All the members playing flutes were taught the flute using a simple ABC method. The Drummers were taught the basic rudiments but had to learn to play tunes by ear as there was no simple music of any form for them. After 4 to 5 months things started to progress, the band was playing simple selections. In May of 1981 the band had taken its first engagement with Finlay Drive District, sadly no longer there. The bands highlight of their first year was the engagement they took in Sandyrow N/Ireland for the 12th July celebrations.

After the season's engagements had finished the band started to raise funds again for new uniforms for the next year's engagements. In September of 1981 the band had changed its name to black skull, laughed about at the time, but has never looked back since, and the rest is history as they say.

The most asked question about the band is were does the name come from.

Back in July of '81 the band had painted an emblem on its bass drum as most bands did at the time, it just happened to be a skull painted black wearing a bandsman's hat and a cigarette hanging from its mouth ( now that's another story ). At the 1981 Glasgow main demonstration a band called the Orange & Blue from Ulster came over to take part in the parade. Our bandmaster got talking to some of the members from the band and asked what part of Ulster they come from. when he was told they came from a village called blackscull (spelt with a C and not a K as we do) he thought they were pulling his leg as our bass drum had just been painted with the new emblem on it ( a black skull wearing a balmoral ). After a bit of research about the village and some deliberation the band adopted the name of BLACK SKULL. And that's how the name came about.

In 1983 the band by now was firmly known by its new name and had raised money once again to purchase new uniforms, flutes & drums, and create a new era in the band scene. Nowadays most bands take it for granted about buying a new uniform, but back in 83” bands of our standing didn't have uniforms like the bands of today so when black skull appeared with theses new uniforms, new personalised drums and a different style of music ect, it set them apart from any other band at the time, but it wasn't long before other bands followed suit. Also there was a big up surge in band numbers, a lot of bands benefitted from this at the time, as did ourselves.

By 1990 the band was trying its hand at playing some counter melody music, mostly in military marches, with an occasional jig set, as you can hear from our early recordings it was very basic but enjoyable at the time, the band tried in vain to move forward, but no one with musical ability would help the band out, most of all the armateur bands. The bandmaster did what he always had to do, teach himself and then teach the rest of the band. The big turning point for the band was the day a new member joined the band (big Davie from Londonderry) our bandmaster had a very basic knowledge of music, but Davie had played with bands who did read music and graciously help the bandmaster to obtain a better understanding of music which he did and duly taught the band what he had learned.

In 1994 our band master who was a admirer of the Guards corps of drums, decided to take Black Skull down the road to being a Corps of Fife and Drums, as we had already been playing some part music for a few years by now so it seemed the only way to go if we wanted to play a better range of music. There no chance of us going down the armature band road,(not that we could ) but it was the next best thing. It took a couple of years to become competent with the new instruments and settle down to the new style of play and gain the confidence to play all the new music we had taken on, as we don't use music cards when performing, indoor or on the street

We also do our best to emulate the guard's corps of fife & drums in appearance and playing, as we see no one better to look up to. Since we have become a corps of fife & drum band, a few bands have followed suit, which is great, and more are trying to go down the same road ( the more the better ) by doing so it will keep the traditions of fife/flute playing strong into the future .

At the time of the introduction of the F.flutes and the corp of fife & drum style of playing it was decided if we were going to play this style of music we should look the part, so we raised £30,000 to buy the original braid and cloth to make a Scots guard corp of drum uniform which the band is instantly recognized by when wearing them on parade.

In 2004 the band will be changing to a new uniform for a couple of years which will be different from the guards style of uniform which we are renowned for, but we intend to bring out a new Scots guards corp of drum uniform as the band will always regard it to be their main uniform .

The band has been very fortunate through the years to have the privilege of taking part in the biggest parades in the U.K. and to strike up loyal friendships with many people and organizations such as ABOD and the people of Londonderry i.e. the fountain area, since 1990,

We have also been very fortuenate to parade on the 12th July with the members of mossley 134 Glengormley Co. Antrim, since 1991. Their hospitality and friendship is second to none and who's company we always enjoy and appreciate. Each year members from LOL, 134 come to parade along side us in the Glasgow main demonstration.

We are also very fortunate to have the honour of leading the C.G.L.G Main demonstration through our own city which we are very proud of and have done so since 1997.