THE Glasgow beat group, the Beatstalkers, were accustomed to crowd frenzy wherever they went. In June 1965 they caused a near-riot as they played a lunchtime concert in George Square. “Hotly pursued by hundreds of screaming girls,” the Evening Times reported, they “fled across George Square towards the City Chambers.” Police reinforcements had to be called in. That October, in King Street, the police were again out in force when the group opened McMurtries’ new boys shop. “Hundreds of young people gave the Beatstalkers a screaming welcome,” the Evening Times reported. Also present at the opening of the shop (manager, one Pat Lally) were Rangers players George McLean and Ronnie McKinnon. Celtic stars Jimmy Johnstone and Bertie Auld had been due to attend but they had to train with the rest of the team instead. The Beatstalkers (the subject of a new book, incidentally), were the centre of attention. Here, singer Dave Lennox autographs the back of Anne McGeoch’s overalls in the shop as she is held steady by Jean McDermott. At their peak the band appeared on TV’s Ready Steady Go, had sold out 14 nights at Glasgow’s Barrowland venue and played a long residency at London’s Marquee Club. David Bowie even wrote three of their songs.
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