Ray Laidlaw

Ray has been actively involved in music and TV for over 50 years. Following his education at Newcastle College of Art — and perhaps more importantly at Newcastle's legendary Club A Go-Go — in the 1960s, he began his career as drummer for the world-straddling British folk-rock group Lindisfarne.

After achieving global success in the early '70s, he co-founded two other bands, Jack The Lad and Radiator, before returning to Lindisfarne in the mid-'70s. Ray was appointed the band's manager in the mid-'80s, running concert and recording activities as well as continuing to play the drums.

In the 1990s Ray established a company producing original music for TV drama and advertising, a recording studio, and he managed a number of writers and performers. Clients and projects of that period included Chas Chandler, Jimmy Nail, EMI, and Kitchenware Records. In 1998 Ray co-produced a 1-hour TV feature Lindisfarne: Rock of The North, with Geoff Wonfor directing; they have worked together on many TV projects since.

The last 10 years has seen Ray produce many high profile events including Sunday for Sammy. He has been a member of Tyne Tees TV Consultative Panel, a mentor for the New Deal for Musicians and a director of the Whitley Bay Playhouse Trust.

Paul Irwin

Paul's interest in music began with underage forays to the likes of Mingles in Whitley Bay, Newcastle Mayfair and Tiffanys. Hooked on music along with the excitement of live gigs, he had a plan. He persuaded his older brother David, a news editor for regional press, that the way forward was to feature gig and album reviews, life would improve immeasurably for all concerned he assured him. Fortune shone and Paul got his hands on tickets and goodies a-plenty.

During the early '80s Paul played with local bands including NWOBHM-ers Warrior, Satan and the Tygers of Pan Tang until the spandex wore thin and the need to find a proper job kicked in.

Hooked he became and, because those gigs and Tizers weren't cheap, he had a plan. His older brother, David, was news editor for Northeast Press, persuading the editor that, if they were to feature gig and album reviews, life would improve immeasurably for all. Fortune shone and Paul got his hands on tickets and goodies a-plenty.

During the early '80s Paul played with local bands including NWOBHM-ers Warrior, Satan and the Tygers of Pan Tang until the spandex wore thin and the need to find a proper job kicked in.

In 1990 Paul started EastCoast Taxis with two cars, building up to a fleet of 200+ vehicles. To diversify, EastCoast Tours was created, with trips around the breathtaking scenery, castles and coastline of Northumbria.

An evening in a pub with old friends Chris Wilson and Ray Laidlaw brought about a boozy natural progression, to head out on a vintage double-decker bus around Tyneside and show off our many music, movie and location spots, of which the region is awash. Thus Tyne Idols was born.

Paul, with Chris Wilson (q.v.), also published the successful Whitley Bay & Tynemouth Guide booklets which included original written pieces from local luminaries such as Ian La Frenais, Bob Langley, "Hairy Biker" Si King and many more.

From the man himself: “These days I’m enjoying an amazingly varied schedule of projects and events and loving it.” As a Trustee of Sunday for Sammy Trust, as well as part of the amazing production team for Sunday for Sammy and Christmas at the Cathedral, and hands-on director for Tyne Idols, Paul also works with CarFest North, co-ordinating production from our neck of the woods for their Cheshire Festival and many more. “Life throws up wonderful challenges when you least expect. Thankfully I still get excited with every opportunity and challenge,” he gushes. And there’s more: “With Sunday for Sammy, lockdown and the cost of living situation right now we must put the big arena shows on hold. But we’re getting back to roots with new talent in all aspects of the arts… more of which in the New Year. We now have more important reasons to raise funding to grant to our creative candidates in the present climate… and we’re on it!”

Chris Wilson

A devout fan of all kinds of music almost since his own release date of May 10, 1966 — the day after The Beatles recorded 'For No One' and the day before Beach Boy Brian Wilson began work on 'Heroes and Villains', trivia fans — Chris is a freelance graphic designer based in the Northumberland countryside.

Among countless design-centric ventures and adventures over the years, Chris has designed over 90 rock music biographies for London publishers, many local projects including the much-loved Whitley Bay & Tynemouth Guide (in collaboration with Paul Irwin — q.v.), and is responsible for the Tyne Idols logo, brand development and any design and publicity materials.

Many other gripping projects to speak of include creating the long-ago website bananastan.com with the legendary Van Dyke Parks which promoted the wonderful top-shelf Calypso music of sunnier climes; designing the official biography for the great Jon Hiseman; working directly with several other long-time musical heroes on design assignments such as websites, publishing and advertising; and spreading the love for clients in places as far-flung as Italy, Zimbabwe, Canada, Botswana, Togo, Nigeria, Los Angeles, Maryland, and his beloved Caribbean.

Currently "bringing the ghetto to the gentry" in the Northumberland countryside, Chris as Chrimson Graphics is, as of early-2023, steaming ahead with the Jamaica project, and putting the finishing touches to an all-new tourism publication in West Africa.

Julie Clay

Julie has a knowing acquaintance with the entertainment and courtesy business, working for many years at Newcastle Theatre Royal in booking and marketing, specialising in hospitality and customer care, not to mention sales for the venues Whitley Bay Ice Rink and Newcastle Arena, and organising many of her own events including setting up the collection of the Sir Bobby Robson’s tribute flowers from St James Park and having them composted to raise hundreds of pounds for his charity.

She currently runs a successful events business, Julie Clay Events, working with local musicians, artists and venues, to promote and sell tickets for music gigs.

Quite how she finds the time for any Tyne Idolry on top of all this is beyond us lot.

Whatever your booking or hospitality requirements, whether for 1 ticket or 70, Julie will tend to all from sales to welcoming you on board. Says Julie: "The Tyne Idols tour gave me goosebumps, memories of my youth came flooding back to me, and I would like to share this amazing experience with as many people as possible."

For all things 'bums on seats' and customer liaison, give Julie a tinkle on 07944 338026.

Chris Phipps — 1949-2019

A name linked with over three decades of music on television and other media, Chris Phipps always maintained a talent for documenting the regional roots of pop and rock, showcasing his passion for the subject whether on a local or world platform.

In his adopted home of the North East he was recruited to co-produce C4's controversial music show The Tube, capturing superstars and unsigned acts alike on a global scale and throwing them into our front rooms every Friday evening from 1982 to 1987.

Following the Tube, he was a consultant to ITV1 and Channel 4 popular music 'Top 100' programmes as well as major biopics like the truly sublime (reckons Wilson) Bob Marley — Time Will Tell, and co-producer of the award-winning TV series and spin-off book devoted to Northstars. In 2018, Chris released a new book, Namedroppers, about his five decades in showbiz and the superstars he met along the way — well when you're best friends with Black Sabbath and once had Tina Turner sitting on your knee in the Egypt Cottage, who can top that.

Chris sadly flew from this earth on the 23rd August, 2019. No doubt God has by now learnt everything there is to know about Magnum, Get Carter, and what really went on in Tyne Tees 'Studio 5'.

Leyland Atlantean

Buses have feelings too, but Tyne Idols' most important piece of travel kit, "PUA 300W", first saw active service as a workhorse in Huddersfield in its original drab burgundy and cream livery.

Now freshened-up in cheery Newcastle Busways RAL colours, a whiff of Febreze and a flick of a duster, the bus has been lovingly restored and can be seen proudly tootling and tooting away around the streets of Tyneside, carrying passengers in search of fun. That's one rock 'n' roll tale with a happy ending!

AEC Routemaster

Our first proper bus for the use of. Now sadly retired, the handsome red Routemaster was designed for the relative flatness of London, not the steep hills and undulating contours of Newcastle upon Tyne. It was hairy at best on a hot summer's day when, paused at the take-forever traffic lights at the top of Dean Street, the bus would snort and hiss as the burning clutch did its best to prevent a busload of screaming passengers from rolling backwards down the hill and into the river.

So, sadly so, being declared unfit for work, off it popped. We have no idea of its current whereabouts; re-imagined into a sparkling nightclub in Dubai perhaps, or a travelling school across the savannahs of Africa, the kids feeding giraffes cherries through the upstairs windows. You’ve got to have a dream.