John Rennie began a musical career when he and Bible class mates formed a skiffle group in Portsoy, Scotland. The Diamonds, Apaches, and Jacobeats is an online exclusive to SCOTBEAT with permission from its author [copyright John Rennie 2009] . In a recent chat, John spoke about how he and life long friend Doug MacLennan worked under candle light creating instruments from a wood working book during a power cut. The next morning, John realized there was blood on his new guitar from a gash to his thumb during the process. The tunes covered and line-up changed along the way though John stayed through the transition before leaving the Jacobeats for health issues. https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2017/02/14/the-jacobeats/
This booklet is copyright John Rennie and for education purposes only.
from Fit Like, New York? [c.1997]
Notes: If you have access to any audio tapes of bands represented in SCOTBEAT, please contact me online to have digitized. Page 24: It was reported that the Cameron sisters were developing throat problems from a heavy schedule of performances. However, Lorna told me that she left the band for other regions [see Jacobeats post]. Her sister stayed of for a time and performed with Terry Russell and Graeme Nairn before the New Jacobeats were formed [a new line-up]. Page 21: John Rennie assessment about the possibility of performing on the Ed Sullivan show would have been for the novelty of their Scottish dress, but I believe an American audience would have loved the group based on the comments I’ve heard relating to their sound and performance skills. John related that their appearing on the popular television program became complexed because of a union agreement that meant Mr. Bonici hiring an American band to tour the UK in exchange for their publicity.
Nonetheless, the band had a rigorous schedule of performances in the UK and Germany though sadly they never were recorded on vinyl. I am suprised that promoter Bonici didn’t record them on the Norco Records label though he did record Terry Russell who was part of the Jacobeats with the Cameron sisters.
Skiffle days: https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2014/06/17/music-notes-from-buckie/
SCOTBEAT and http://bonici.wordpress.com includes photos and documents from the Bonici Archives with permission from the Bonici family [PC Holding Co]. You may contact me at dillsdavid@yahoo.co.uk for consent in using images for media projects. Am currently updating http://djdills.wordpress.com with original new collages. #collageart #beatmusic #popmusic #1960smusic
scotbeat 
[…] The Cimmerons were young teenagers when they changed their band name to Johnny and The Copycats after singer/composer John Stewart came on board. John had also been filling in as lead singer for Joe Mofat from another Buckie band called The Apaches in ’63 when they lost their vocalist. Albert Bonici’s LCB Agency would set up gigs for these bands and others, giving local talent the opportunity to share a bill with popular touring bands. https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2017/03/07/the-diamonds-apaches-and-jacobeats/ […]
[…] had a habit of pairing local talent with recording artists on tour. John Rennie of the Apaches, https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2017/03/07/the-diamonds-apaches-and-jacobeats/ was amongst many guitarist who respected and emulated Bert Weeden, when he had the opportunity of […]
[…] At one point, Ms Allan gave the young vocalist advise about his choice of numbers though ultimately he keeps variety in his show. In a letter to Terry [14Mar67], Aileen advises him to speak with Ian Hamilton who booked Terry at various clubs. His complaint was that Terry was that he wanted him to sing only Scottish tunes and wear his tartan regalia throughout; “Ian advises that you cut all the odd stuff out altogether and do a completely Scottish programme”. Aileen also added, “I can understand the bit about wanting the Scottish programme because I prefer you doing it as well. I think it looks in a way, silly to see a chap in full highland outfit doing pops… I think there’s plenty yelling yobs doing ballad & pop songs whereas a good singer will be remembered and show more of himself doing stuff like Campbelltown Loch, Morag of Dunvegan, etc.” Terry wrote, “I received your letter about the comments Ian Hamilton made. I disagree about what he says about a whole Scottish programme, but I’ll drop in and see him and talk it over with him.” It was Albert Bonici who came up with the idea to dress a beat band in tartan regalia and changed the name of the founding band members from Apaches to Jacobeats. https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2017/03/07/the-diamonds-apaches-and-jacobeats/ […]
Just getting around to reading this. I was in lodgings in Aberdeen with Dougie. He used to let me re string his Fender Stratocaster and let me smoke his ciggies. I remember that Strat so well, Fiesta red I think. Wow fond memories then. Gordon Milne staycheeky.com
Thanks Gordon, good hearing from you… just spoke to John Rennie the other day about getting musicians together for the Bonici celebration at Elgin Town Hall [18 July 2020].
[…] https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2014/03/11/my-dear-watsonjohnny-and-the-copycats/ https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2017/03/07/the-diamonds-apaches-and-jacobeats/ […]
[…] and “Apaches” before promoter AA Bonici came up with “The Jacobeats”. https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2017/03/07/the-diamonds-apaches-and-jacobeats/ Besides creating amplifiers and other instruments for their skiffle band, the two built their own […]
[…] Of course, there was another NE Scotland band, Apaches, on the go as well https://scotbeat.wordpress.com/2017/03/07/the-diamonds-apaches-and-jacobeats/ […]