A Horse with No Name
We are just back from a lovely weekend in Harrogate. We got a brilliant hotel deal to coincide with a performance by the mighty Bellowhead at the Harrogate Convention Centre and also my birthday. We met up with some family on Saturday morning , had a stroll around Harrogate and then went out for a rather lovely meal on Saturday night. The meal was almost spoiled by a rather loud bloke at the next table. Not rude, drunk or anything, he just had a loud voice. Luckily the food was excellent so we were able to cope.
Harrogate gives the impression of being a fat, prosperous mill owner, which makes it quite surprising that at the last election it was won by the Lib Dems. On Saturday it was packed with shoppers looking around the huge range of stores in the town centre. It actually reminded me of a larger version of Lytham, but with no beach.
This brings us to the reason for the title of this post. Well, would you believe that Dewey Bunnell, one of the founders of 1970’s soft rock superstars, America, was born in Harrogate. His dad was in the US airforce stationed, presumably, at Menwith Hill, just outside Harrogate. Apparently Olly Alexander was also born in Harrogate, but, as I’m an old git, I’ve no idea who he is. And, just to round it off, the two members of the Utah Saints met at Mix, a club (now closed) in Harrogate.
In 1926 Agatha Christie went missing. She was finally found, 11days later, at The Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate.
Isn’t the Internet wonderful?
I saw America in their early years at Leeds University Student Union – they were the supporting act for Curved Air! They played Horse with no name but it hadn’t been released as a single at the time. Excellent performance.
Sonja Kristina!!!!! I remember them well
Harrogate is certainly worth a visit – we were there for a few days in July, the Monday sadly being the one when the young girls were attacked in Southport.
I recall America topped the bill at the Floral Hall circa 1975 – Poco was the supporting act and we thought they were much better!