Ticket
Free Trade Hall
15th May 1977

“I saw John McLaughlin at the Free Trade Hall in 1975, with the Series II version of the Mahavishnu Orchestra (Jean-Luc Ponty, Michael Walden etc.)”

“I could nt go for some reason ,but i was aware of it.
was it good ? I have the program from Graham Clark but he s no fan...did version one ever play here (possably the Hardrock?) Whilst we are on matters McLaughlin,Brian Odges
bass player on extrapolation used to come and stay at Grahams dads house on albert rd in Levenshulme, Les Clark
used to repair double basses and i guess Mr Odges used to break em.”

“My main recollection of the Mahavishnu gig: big band (9 piece - with strings and brass).

At the start, McLaughlin said that they wanted 2 minutes' silence so that the band could meditate before playing. They all bowed their heads. Total silence in the FTH. After 1.30, someone loudly whispered "Wally !" and the place fell apart.”

“Wally............the bane of concert goer's in the 70's.
Rumour has it that it all started when a bloke was looking for his lost dog at a Reading festival and I admit that I myself partook in the search for it at the FTH.”

“Brian Odgers certainly came and stayed with us when he was in Manchester, but it was at Summer St in Chorlton-on-Medlock, not Albert Rd.

We called him Odgers the Lodger.”