Ray Laidlaw | |
|---|---|
.jpg/1280px-Ray_Laidlaw_-_Billy_Mitchell_Band_(26652429681).jpg) Laidlaw on stage in 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1948-05-28) 28 May 1948 Tyneside, England |
| Genres | Folk |
| Instrument | Drums |
| Years active | 1968–present |
| Formerly of | Lindisfarne, Jack the Lad |
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Ray Laidlaw (born 28 May 1948) is a British drummer. He is best known for being a member of Lindisfarne[1] from 1968 to 2003. He plays in The Lindisfarne Story, a tribute band to the group with ex-member Billy Mitchell.[1]
Early life
Laidlaw was born in Tyneside in 1948. Ray's father worked in the ship yards.[2] On his thirteenth birthday, his grandad gifted him his first drum kit.[2]
Career
Laidlaw formed his first band, The Aristocrats with Simon Cowe, who lived down the road from him (around a five minute walk according to Ray), after one of Ray's cousins began dating Simon's brother, and performed covers of folk and skiffle songs.[2]
Laidlaw first met Alan Hull in 1964 when Hull was in the band "The Chosen Few".[3] Laidlaw, Cowe and Hull formed Lindisfarne (at first called Brethren) in 1968 with Hull Ray Jackson (vocals, mandolin, harmonica) and Rod Clements (bass guitar, violin).[1] The band had two UK top 5 hits in 1971, "Lady Eleanor" (UK #3) and "Meet me on the Corner" (UK #5). During a mimed performance of "Meet Me on the Corner" in 1971 on Top of the Pops, Laidlaw mimed to his drum track with a large bass fish instead of a drum stick, he later said in 2019 of the performance: "It was to be remembered and journalists are still asking about it, so it worked".[4]
In 1973, Laidlaw, Crowe, and Clements all left the band to form Jack the Lad, a group made to perform more traditionally folk group instead of Lindisfarne's Progressive folk sound.[5] The band sometimes toured with Lindisfarne.[6] Laidlaw left the band a few months before they split up and joined another group, Radiator for a year.
In 1978, the original five members of Lindisfarne reformed and had another top ten hit, "Run For Home" (UK #10). The band continued to tour until 2003, when they played their last gig. Laidlaw is now a semi-retired drummer and works full-time as an event producer.[7] He helps run the Sunday for Sammy charity gigs, that was initially set up by Tim Healy and Jimmy Nail in memory of Healy's co-star Sammy Johnson.[4]
Laidlaw now tours in The Lindisfarne Story, with Jack the Lad member Billy Mitchell, who also joined Lindisfarne after Hull's death in 1995.[1]
In 2015, Laidlaw donated money to a fund for a comedy competition called The Phil Richardson Comedy Writing Award, named after a Tyneside singer/comedian who died in 2013.[8]
Personal life
Laidlaw lives in Tynemouth with his wife Lesley Ann.[7] They have a son, who lives in California.[7] He enjoys cycling.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d "LINDISFARNE Story | About Ray Laidlaw, Billy Mitchell and the band". lindisfarnestory.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
- ^ a b c "Mixcloud". www.mixcloud.com. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
- ^ "A Word from Ray Laidlaw of Lindisfarne on Alan Hull, St Nick's Hospital and Clear White Light". Live Theatre. 2018-09-19. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
- ^ a b "Journalists are still asking about the rubber fish, so it worked". Swindon Advertiser. 2019-03-28. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
- ^ "Jack the Lad Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & Mor..." AllMusic. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
- ^ "Welcome to the Friars Aylesbury website". www.aylesburyfriars.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
- ^ a b c d Group, Allies (2025-10-15). "Getting to know Ray Laidlaw". Luxe. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Doughty, Sophie (2015-05-21). "Ex-Lindisfarne drummer Ray Laidlaw hopes to honour tragic Whitley Bay musician". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
