Legend of Lancaster and Morecambe music scene dies aged 77

Wednesday, 6 November 2024 15:01

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

A legend of the local music scene who rubbed shoulders with greats from The Kinks to Eric Clapton has died, aged 77.

Stephen 'Golly' Goulding was an acclaimed guitarist in the Lancaster and Morecambe area - and all over the UK - in a musical career spanning more than 60 years.

'Golly' formed and performed in many rock 'n' roll bands from the 1960s right through to the 2020s.

He was also well-known as an antiques dealer at his GG Antiques centre at Middleton near Heysham - a treasure trove of nostalgic items including music memorabilia.

'Golly's band The Fabulous Fontaines announced his death on their Facebook page earlier this week.

Here is 'Golly', second left, with the band.

"So very sad to say that the heart of the band, our guitarist and band leader Golly Goulding has sadly passed away," they said.

"Golly was such a gifted musician and a true and dear friend.

"We will miss him greatly and will never play again without him.

"Our thoughts and condolences are with Carol and all his family at this very sad time."

Here is Golly performing with The Fabulous Fontaines at the Platform in 2023.

Another old favourite from The Platform,Morecambe.2023
Posted by The Fabulous Fontaines on Saturday, April 20, 2024

In an interview in 2015, Golly spoke about how he first fell in love with the guitar as a boy in the 1950s.

"Our next door neighbours got a TV and I went round one Saturday and there was a TV programme just started called Six-Five Special," he said.

"I saw Tommy Steele. I thought, this is what I want to do. So I went home and made a guitar."

He started his first group at the age of 15, Jet Black and the Dakotas, playing music by Buddy Holly and The Shadows.

'Golly' said the first pub they played at was Davy Jones' Locker on the West End Promenade in Morecambe. The group got £5 a night between them.

At the age of 16, he went to London to pursue a career as a professional musician.

Here is Golly speaking to Owen Lambert and Talia Riding in 2015 about his life, for MI-Gen Films.

"In those days, all groups did auditions to go and work on American army bases in Germany and France," he said.

"We sailed through all the auditions, we always did. This was with Mel Dean and the Leaders, a good little group.

"But I couldn't go because I was under age."

He returned to Morecambe from London, did a summer season at the Tivoli Bar on the Promenade for seven nights a week, then in his own words, "drifted into the antiques trade" in 1966, while still playing in bands at night.

"The antiques business is the best job in the world and so is being a musician, so I've had the best of both worlds," he said.

During this period of the Swinging Sixties, the town was a hotbed of live music and many of the biggest bands of the decade - such as The Beatles, The Who and The Rolling Stones - came to play at venues including The Floral Hall.

As a lead guitarist, 'Golly' supported legendary names such as The Kinks.

Here is 'Golly' pictured in The Fabulous Fontaines during the 1960s.

Remembering that gig, 'Golly' said: "There was only one dressing room, which we all shared, and so we were in the dressing room, and we couldn't get out because there were hundreds of fans screaming for The Kinks!

"We just wanted a drink. We were in there for hours and hours."

He also supported The Yardbirds, whose guitarist was Eric Clapton.

"Everything was happening in Morecambe and we didn't think it was ever going to end," he said.

"I was with Eric Clapton all night. I always admired his playing, still do.

"I was telling him how I liked his playing. He said 'I like your playing as well'."

'Golly' formed numerous bands during his lifetime, including MBQ, Citizens Band and Hi-way, and many many more.

"I would form a group, get us up and running doing OK, then I'd get fed up and I'd leave, then form another group, then get bored again," he said.

"I spent most of my life doing that."

In 1994, his band Golly and Guests supported the legendary musician, eccentric and political figure Screaming Lord Sutch and his band The Savages, at the Empire in Morecambe (see picture below).

Then in the 2010s, 'Golly' formed a band with Morecambe's television antiques presenter, Paul Hayes.

They were called The Paul Hayes Collection and performed all over the country.

"I was invited to Paul's 40th birthday and he started doing karaoke, singing Elvis and old rock 'n' roll stuff," said Golly.

"I said 'come down one night, I'll get a few of the lads round and we'll have a jam session'. We took a booking at the Park Hotel, it went down well, and it went from there."

In 2013, the band released a single 'Credit Card Christmas', written by Golly, to support Lancaster and Morecambe Newspapers' campaign for St John's Hospice.

In recent years, 'Golly' was still performing at and organising rock 'n' roll and '60s nights at local venues.

Many online tributes have been paid to him from fellow musicians, many of whom looked up to 'Golly' as an inspiration.

Al Robbins said he was a "true legendary player, no better at his unique style".

"Last time I saw him perform he shared the stage with two other legends (Elvis Presley's guitarist) James Burton and Albert Lee. What an achievement!"

Charlie Holl said he was "an inspiration to my playing and a truly great rhythm and blues guitarist".