MacLean and MacLean
The MacLean’s came to my club one night and we immediately became fast friends. Soon after I became a small part of the act whenever they came to Ontario. I was the Lobsterman. I joined them in performing the second-oldest recorded song in the English language. It is an old Scottish Ballad called the ‘Lobster’ and I was known as the Lobsterman. I couldn’t sing that well but mostly got through it. To begin with I took it very much in stride. But eventually, I began to care about how I did. That is when I ran into trouble and got stage fright and I actually used to sweat before I did my bit. Then one night I did it, but I forgot the words. They waited through a chorus and then Gary Looked at me. “Did you forget the words?” I nodded my mind racing trying to find the words. “You Arsehole!” says the ever-helpful Gary. Somehow I found the words and finished the song and never really had much trouble again.
One of my favorite memories of the boys is with Murray McLaughlin. Murray was a good friend and I used to drag him along when I sang. He didn’t like to go, not so much that he didn’t like the MacLeans I think but just didn’t’ t like to be seen at their performances. We were playing ‘The Chimney’ on Yonge Street and there was an hour between shows and we were all sitting in the dressing room with a couple of girlfriends drinking Heinekens when somehow we all started singing Show Tunes. It was hilarious. They are all good singers and we went through an incredible repertoire. I can only think of the dressing room door opening and the startled audience looking in At Murray McLaughlin and MacLean and MacLean singing Oklahoma at the tops of their voices.
That night we ended up back at the boys’ Hotel room. Gary and I were trying to impress a couple of tag-long sweet young things and Gary asked Murray if he would sing the Farmers Song for us. Murray grabbed a guitar and obliged us. Murray did a beautiful job and Gary thanked him. “Thanks, Murray that was very nice I know it is just like me being at a party and someone asks me to do ‘The Shit Routine.”
One night they showed up at about 4 in the morning, They had driven straight from a gig in Montreal. As we had a few drinks they said they were doing a week in southern Ontario, London, Waterloo, Stratford, etc. They had reserved rooms in a Motel in the west end it was decided that I should come along and sing the Lobsterman with them. I made arrangements for somebody to run the club and we headed out about seven o clock. We hit Lakeshore as the morning rush was just starting Gary was driving and I was riding shotgun. At Islington, Gary started through a red light. "REDLIGHT" I hollered. It's too late night said Gary as we wiped out three cars spun around and ended up in a paved space of some sort. As we waited for the police we contemplated none of us had slept in at least 24 hours and we had all been drinking and toking a lot. Luckily Nobody was hurt cars were undrivable. The police arrived and were most impressed meeting MacLean and Maclean. the three of us sat in the back of a cruiser Gary said the light was green Blair was asleep and said I wasn't looking. Gary reached into a pocket and opened a cigarette package. "Does anybody like a smoke?" I looked aghast as there were no cigarettes just rolled joints in the package. I pushed it back saying no smoking here and he whipped it back in his pocket. The cops just said Fenderbender and insurance info was traded. The only problem with our car was the front fender was bent down on the tire. I gave a Tow truck driver $20 to pull the fender clear with his hook and we were back on the road. Intoxication was never mentioned.
The MacLeans were popular. When they played the Cedar Inn in Whitby the owner tipped them a Thousand dollars. With Burton Cummings joining them at the Knob Hill Hotel, management tipped them a case of Dom Perignon champagne at the end of the night.
On Sundays, I used to entertain whoever was in town with free drinks a huge dinner (mostly seafood), and a Jam Session. MacLean and MacLean loved to run the bar and they were excellent bartenders. I especially remember Burton Cummings sitting on the counter in my kitchen singing ‘I Got a Letter from the Postman’ with MacLean and MacLean and Murray McLaughlin doing the harmony. It was magic.
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