About Old Tennis ShoesOld Tennis Shoes was a very popular rock/blues outfit from the north-west of England. During the 70s they came over to the Netherlands to do a 2-week tour which lasted more than 20 years!
During this time they played numerous gigs and festivals all over Europe and were support act for bands such as Herman Brood, Ten Years After, Dr Feelgood, the Scorpions, the Groundhogs, the Troggs, Normaal and many, many more. Even to this day Old Tennis Shoes has a large following of very loyal fans from all over the world! Most Old Tennis Shoes members are still very active in the music industry, you can find their websites on the Links page. For more information on Old Tennis Shoes go to the Biography section. We hope you enjoy browsing through this website and will try and keep you informed of any new developments or new discoveries. If you have any photos, stories etc. you would like to share with us you can send us an email at [email protected] or use the Contact Form on the website. And please don't forget to sign the Guest Book.  |
News8 October 2024
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On the 1st of October the official funeral service for Kevin took place in private. Your can read Nik's review of the proceedings by clicking here
On Sunday the 13th of October there will be a public farewell party for Kevin hosted by No Smoke in Café Schuim, Spuistraat 189, 1012 VN in Amsterdam. It starts at 16:00 with a simple farewell ceremony followed by a music session.
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24 September 2024
Goodbye My Old Friend
So Kev...
We certainly walked that long and winding road together for all of 60yrs.
We laughed a lot during that trek, sometimes cried a bit during the hard years, but mostly we played for ever and always we were brothers.
And now you have left me standing here all alone.
I guess that you also did that once before a long time ago...but this time you have left for the rest of my life..
Last year or so we actually managed to get together despite distance and history and jam like the gods....(Thanks Rei)
At that very last jam session during a break Kev got into conversation that was very un-Kev like.
I think Kev knew...he was always far more perceptive then I was.
He started to talk about our very early days of putting the band together (OTS) and got very deep into it it, how it all started and how we did it, the musicians we met and played with on the way, it was obviously a very personal matter close to his heart.
Then he talked about teaching me, the roadie, the basics of how to play bass but he then became insistent that although he taught me the basics the style and delivery was very much my own style and delivery and he was so very very proud that I had developed into a bass player that could 'fly with the best'...his words. He taught me the basics but not the style he said...that was all home grown.
Never heard Kev speak in that way...for many years most things between us were left unsaid mainly because most things well they did not need saying, we knew one and other so well, but even so such deep things were never ever a topic of conversation...guys did not do that..
Looking back on the whole conversation...he was...in his way...saying good bye...At some level I really felt that at the time but refused to admit that to myself at least until today.
On parting that day from that last jam session I hugged him in farewell and whispered to him...'the trick is to keep breathing'...He smiled and said nothing and looked away he had wet eyes...I wonder?
I kindda knew it deep down but was not willing to accept it at the time. I think I can can actually accept it now, but damn it all he knew...and I now know he knew..
Fly high, play tasteful licks and take your peace my friend my brother...you deserve it but I will miss you.
Nik
We certainly walked that long and winding road together for all of 60yrs.
We laughed a lot during that trek, sometimes cried a bit during the hard years, but mostly we played for ever and always we were brothers.
And now you have left me standing here all alone.
I guess that you also did that once before a long time ago...but this time you have left for the rest of my life..
Last year or so we actually managed to get together despite distance and history and jam like the gods....(Thanks Rei)
At that very last jam session during a break Kev got into conversation that was very un-Kev like.
I think Kev knew...he was always far more perceptive then I was.
He started to talk about our very early days of putting the band together (OTS) and got very deep into it it, how it all started and how we did it, the musicians we met and played with on the way, it was obviously a very personal matter close to his heart.
Then he talked about teaching me, the roadie, the basics of how to play bass but he then became insistent that although he taught me the basics the style and delivery was very much my own style and delivery and he was so very very proud that I had developed into a bass player that could 'fly with the best'...his words. He taught me the basics but not the style he said...that was all home grown.
Never heard Kev speak in that way...for many years most things between us were left unsaid mainly because most things well they did not need saying, we knew one and other so well, but even so such deep things were never ever a topic of conversation...guys did not do that..
Looking back on the whole conversation...he was...in his way...saying good bye...At some level I really felt that at the time but refused to admit that to myself at least until today.
On parting that day from that last jam session I hugged him in farewell and whispered to him...'the trick is to keep breathing'...He smiled and said nothing and looked away he had wet eyes...I wonder?
I kindda knew it deep down but was not willing to accept it at the time. I think I can can actually accept it now, but damn it all he knew...and I now know he knew..
Fly high, play tasteful licks and take your peace my friend my brother...you deserve it but I will miss you.
Nik
23 September 2024
In memoriam Kevin Chapman
In memoriam Kevin Chapman
Kevin & Nik - Photo by Christa Lindskog
2 April 2021
In memoriam Callie Ramsay
Today we heard the very sad news that the original Old Tennis Shoes Drummer Callie Ramsay passed away unexpectedly. He was a very talented drummer and a good friend. He will be sadly missed! We wish his wife and kids strength during this difficult time.
16 July 2015
Old Tennis Shoes support act for the Sparks and the Runaways in the 70s
In the 70's Old Tennis Shoes played Leeds University alongside the Sparks and the Runaways. Information found on VintageRock's Weblog .
You can check out both articles on the Press Articles page.
You can check out both articles on the Press Articles page.
18 April 2015
New photos uncovered
Rare picture with sax player Geoff Oakes. Somewhere in Amsterdam. Photographer unknown, so if you shot this, let us know and we give you the credit due.
22 February 2013
Memories of Preston Music Scene
The Dog & Partridge, Preston, England (Photo by Tony Worrall)
We stumbled on a website with a great piece by
Hard Cash bass player Tony Green describing
his days as part of Preston Rock history. Go check it out on
http://www.desoreilly.com/tonygreenmemories.htm
On the same website, but on a different page a certain Nick Holmes has penned down his memories of the Preston music scene. In spite of the small error of getting the bass player's name wrong (Turner instead of Walker. But then who ever remembers the bass player?) it makes great reading. http://www.desoreilly.com/nickholmesmemories.htm
Hard Cash bass player Tony Green describing
his days as part of Preston Rock history. Go check it out on
http://www.desoreilly.com/tonygreenmemories.htm
On the same website, but on a different page a certain Nick Holmes has penned down his memories of the Preston music scene. In spite of the small error of getting the bass player's name wrong (Turner instead of Walker. But then who ever remembers the bass player?) it makes great reading. http://www.desoreilly.com/nickholmesmemories.htm
2 February 2013
Preston Rock Family Trees
© Phil Eaves
The BBC haven't made a documentary of it yet, but the good, the bad and the ugly of the Preston Rock Scene have been put on the map by Phil Eaves in his book "Extra Bop".
Click the image to join the dots.
With a big thank you to Reg Kielty of RubiLazer
for the heads up!
Click the image to join the dots.
With a big thank you to Reg Kielty of RubiLazer
for the heads up!
10 January 2013
© Int. Instituut for Social History
It isn't the Rock Hall of Fame and Obama didn't come and shake our hands, but some of our Tour Posters have entered the Dutch International Institute of Social History. A collection of Paradiso Posters by the well known Martin Kaye have been given in loan to the Affiche Museum in Hoorn, the Netherlands
You can find more of the recently discovered posters in the Tour Poster Section of this website.
16 January 2012
Yet another great find
The original Old Tennis Shoes roadie Geoff Lowther
sent us this beauty, click the image to read the full article.
The photo was taken on the roof
of the Lancashire Evening Post.
sent us this beauty, click the image to read the full article.
The photo was taken on the roof
of the Lancashire Evening Post.
21 November 2011
New gems found
An old friend of Old Tennis Shoes, Christine, came across these beauties, some passes from the Herman Brood Cha Cha Tour.
Christine also send us a copy of
a tour poster she discovered.
She tells us there's more boxes
to unpack, so watch this space.
Christine also send us a copy of
a tour poster she discovered.
She tells us there's more boxes
to unpack, so watch this space.
14 November 2011
Old Tennis Shoe live on Dutch radio
Old Tennis Shoes's original drummer, Callie Ramsay, will be interviewed live on Dutch radio. In a sort of dessert island disc program he will choose some of his favourote records. You can tune in on Thursday 17 November 2011 between 21.00-22.00 hrs CET here (additional plug-ins might be needed).
More information on the RadioVoorst website.
More information on the RadioVoorst website.
Alternatively, if you want to tune in the old fashioned way: Frequencies Radio Voorst
Ether:
105.3 MHz
UPC - cable
93.1 MHz
ReggeFiber (all providers except KPN)
107.7 MHz analogue network
DVB-C preset 840
ITV 767
Ether:
105.3 MHz
UPC - cable
93.1 MHz
ReggeFiber (all providers except KPN)
107.7 MHz analogue network
DVB-C preset 840
ITV 767
29 January 2011
How to bring Old Tennis Shoes back to life
We are always on the look-out for new material
for the OTS website and our own archive.
As you can tell from the photo we don't get very far with Google these days ;-)
So if you have anything at all, photos, posters, recordings, memorabilia, you name it,
please contact us at [email protected]
for the OTS website and our own archive.
As you can tell from the photo we don't get very far with Google these days ;-)
So if you have anything at all, photos, posters, recordings, memorabilia, you name it,
please contact us at [email protected]
26 January 2011
OTS going for world domination
Eventhough there's nothing new to report lately,
there's still a daily, and indeed global interest
in the Old Tennis Shoes' website,
as you can see from the picture above.
If this were a game of Risk,
all that would need doing now
would be to conquer Africa and Greenland.
there's still a daily, and indeed global interest
in the Old Tennis Shoes' website,
as you can see from the picture above.
If this were a game of Risk,
all that would need doing now
would be to conquer Africa and Greenland.
19 December 2010
Happy New Year !
Wishing you all
a very
happy & healthy 2011
filled with music
2 October 2010
Promo clip with Hansje & OTS on YouTube
Just when you think there's nothing new to report,
this shows up. It's a promo clip to promote Hansje's Automobile with Old Tennis Shoes as the backing band. The clip was recorded on Zandvoort Racing Circuit in Holland in 1979 and originally aired in Australia on 15 June 1980 on a show called Countdown.
A big thank you to Hansje for bringing it to our attention and to Steve (SGidlow1) for putting it on YouTube.
To view the clip, click here.
this shows up. It's a promo clip to promote Hansje's Automobile with Old Tennis Shoes as the backing band. The clip was recorded on Zandvoort Racing Circuit in Holland in 1979 and originally aired in Australia on 15 June 1980 on a show called Countdown.
A big thank you to Hansje for bringing it to our attention and to Steve (SGidlow1) for putting it on YouTube.
To view the clip, click here.
30 August 2010
Elusive Old Tennis Shoes T-shirt finally discovered
It took a while but the long searched for Old Tennis Shoes T-shirt has been discovered. As it turned out René van der Valk still had one, along with an OTS sweatshirt. Have a look at the Memorabilia photo section by clicking here.
With a big thank you to Alice for taking the pictures.
With a big thank you to Alice for taking the pictures.
26 August 2010
New!!! The Old Tennis Shoes News Flash
Stay up-to-date with all the news and updates on the Old Tennis Shoes website with a free subscription
to the Old Tennis Shoes News Flash. To register click here or go to the News Flash page (under the Contact page tab).
to the Old Tennis Shoes News Flash. To register click here or go to the News Flash page (under the Contact page tab).
8 August 2010
Impromptu Old Tennis Shoes Performance
Members of Old Tennis Shoes joined Eddy Gartry's Blues Stage UK on stage at the famous "Home of the Blues" Maloe Melo in Amsterdam.
See the Live section in the Photo Gallery for the pics.
See the Live section in the Photo Gallery for the pics.
Previous news items can be
found in the archive section
Disclaimer
This website has been created by Nik & Caroline Walker. Although due care and attention has been paid to the accuracy of the information on this website we cannot accept any liability.
To read the full disclaimer click here.
To read the full disclaimer click here.
