Yes, it’s that time of year again – when some of the biggest stars of the Sixties tour the country under the Solid Silver Sixties banner, now in its 29th year.
As usual, the line-up is of the highest order with some of the biggest names of the era on stage.
There are two solo artists on the bill this time.
Blues legend Chris Farlowe was responsible for Handbags and Gladrags and the classic Out Of Time, which was written for him by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, of The Rolling Stones.
Out of Time spent five weeks in the top ten in the Summer of Love in 1967, but it was nearly never recorded, as Chris relates.
“Mick played the song to me on a guitar and it was really rough and ready and I thought ‘I don’t think this is for me, I’m an R ‘n’ B singer’.
“But then he said, ‘wait till you hear it with the orchestra, and then I really liked it, and the rest is history.”
He laughs: “It just goes to show that you shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”
From the US, and for the second year running, Chris Montez returns to delight the audiences with his hits Let’s Dance and Some Kinda Fun, amongst others.
On a sad note, Wayne Fontana – of The Mindbenders fame – was set to make up the trio of solo vocalists on the tour. However, in a statement released this week, it was announced he has had to leave the tour due to ill health.
On the night of the performances, the remaining solo artists will be backed by the ever-reliable Vanity Fare, who had a number of hits themselves with I Live For The Sun, Early In The Morning and the million-selling Hitchin’ a Ride.
The top of the bill this year is a band that was signed to the Decca record label after it had turned down The Beatles: Brian Poole and The Tremeloes.
Yes, that’s right, Brian has teamed up again with his old band.
Originally formed in 1958, they had four top-ten hits in just two years with Do You Love Me, Twist and Shout, Candy Man and Someone Someone.
Brian left the band in 1966 and the two separate entities continued to have success.
The Tremeloes recruited Chip Hawkes and had hits with Silence is Golden, Even the Bad Times are Good and Suddenly You Love Me to name but three.
“We’re all looking forward to the tour,” Brian tells me from his home. “These Solid Silver tours are always nice – in fact this is the sixth I’ve done.”
As to why his band were picked over The Beatles on that fateful day in January 1962, Brian explains: “Decca didn’t know about their song-writing and we’d been doing session work for them for ages so they knew us and what we could do.”
“We could also sing three-part harmonies and had backed the likes of Tommy Steele, The Vernons Girls and Gary US Bonds,” he adds.
“Anyway, we sold millions of records for them, so they didn’t do too badly.”
Brian and The Tremeloes have reunited many times in the past.
“To be honest, I wish I’d stayed with the lads,” he says now of his leaving in 1966.
“But we were all school-friends and when we get together we’re still like schoolkids.
The 72 year-old is very happy with the rest of the acts on the bill.
“Oh, absolutely,” he enthuses. “They’re all great to work with.
“I’ve worked with Chris Montez about three times and he’s a lovely man.
“He’s also one of the best guitar players I’ve heard – I used to come into the hall and he’s be on stage practicing with his white Fender guitar.”
“He gave me a few guitar lessons too,” he adds, laughing.
“It’s a pleasure to be working with him again.”
Finally, he says of Chris Farlowe: “Chris is possibly the best blues singer in the country.”
And despite his age, he enjoys the schedule of the 43 date tour.
“I take my time and it’s not all that big a tour – it’s just concentrated, but the gigs are generally close together so we aren’t travelling that much from day to day.
“I stay fit and I’m still a member of a boxing club where I train; and I go to the gym in Milton Keynes once a week. I’m 72 but feel about 25.”
He laughs: “But then I look in the mirror.”
As to be still touring, he says: “I love it!
“What 70-odd year-old wouldn’t give his right arm to be doing what I’m doing.
“Doing a show that people love, meeting people.
“I’m not gonna knock it.”
And for the future?
“I’m going to be doing a lot of one-nighters; some with The Tremeloes, some with Chip Hawkes and a lot of them in places like Cyprus, Denmark and all over the place.
“I was thinking of retiring when my wife does in a couple of years, but I’ll probably never retire,” he concludes.
The 29th Solid Silver Sixties Tour with Brian Poole and The Tremeloes, Chris Farlowe, Chris Montez and Vanity Fare will be coming to the Music Hall on Thursday, April 3. Tickets are available from the Box Office on 01224 641122 and online at www.aberdeen performingarts.com