BLACK SKULL CORPS OF FIFE AND DRUMS
In October 1980 a group of young men from Darnley inSouth Glasgow got together with the intentions of forming a flute band. Of that group only two had any musical expertise and could play an instrument. The remainder–boys and girls–were total beginners. They chose the name–The Young Protestant Crown Defenders–and, not having any money with which to buy uniforms or instruments they set about fundraising on a grand scale. Soon. the first of the instruments were bought and practice began–the fluters learning by the old ABC method. Within a few months they had progressed enough to know enough tunes at an adequate level of musicianship and by May of 1981 were able to fulfill their first engagement with Finlay Drive District, Glasgow. Two months later the band began their love affair with Northern Ireland by walking for the first time in the 12th July parade with the Sandy Row District.
The fundraising continued for the following years engagements but in September 1981 the decision was made to change the band’s name–after much debate–to Black Skull. So where did the name come from? In the summer of 1981 the band had a black skull painted on the bass drum. By coincidence a band called The Orange and Blue had arrived from Ulster for the Glasgow demonstration. Both bands got talking and it emerged that the visiting band came from a litlle village called Blackskull in County Down. It was then decided to change the name and the rest is history.
The forward thinking band members wanted to not only establish themselves as a band but to also set themselves apart from the run of the mill. To do this they acquired another new uniform and personalised drums but probably more importantly changed their style of music to incorporate more marches on the road to becoming a true melody flute. This proved more difficult than first imagined and it was a long hard road. Within the next few years however they had progressed to playing counter melody along with their jigs and reels. A big turning point in the metamorhisis as far as playing went came when a lad from Londonderry joined the band. he had a great musical knowledge and he imparted this to those who were most willing to learn.
Another huge turning point in the Black Skull fortunes came around 1994 when the new direction took them to the realms of playing part music for the first time and changing to Corps of Fife and Drum. To implement this new style of playing of 1st-2nd and 3rd part of course meant investing in a new range of instrument-F flutes..again at great cost. The move proved beneficial for the band and indeed was the catalyst in changing the mindset of many other bands who followed suit. The band was moving from strength to strength but nothing was achieved without hard work and dedication. However there were setbacks along the way. As stated Black Skull were by now frequent visitors to belfast to take part in the annual 12th Orange demonstration. In the late 1980’s a fall out with Orange Order members over a petty issue involving band members dressing up in funny costumes led to the receiving a sine die ban from the Orange Order. A huge change in both fortunes and circumstances came about when an approach was made in 1991 from the Independent Orange Order to the band to accompany Mossley LOL 134 Glengormley during the East Antrim celebrations. So started a long relationship between band and lodge that remains in place today.
Always looking for an innovative approach the Skull changed their uniform–yet again–from the preferred Guards style to that more akin to the United States Marine Corps. This happened in 2004 but only lasted for a couple of years before they reverted back to the Guards style we have all come to recognise and love. There have many other milestones along the illustrious road. Taking part in the Maiden City Festival Concert must rank very highly in the list of Black Skull achievments. Thet were invited to play compositions made famous by William Love–an icon in Londonderry music circles and composer extrodinaire. William was a member of one of this countires finest bands–past or present–Churchill Flute. A CD was subsequently made incorporating the Black Skull recordings of William Love’s music–The Prince of the Realm.
The Black Skull list of achievments is truly staggering…
Act of Union Concert 2007
Concert at Drogheda on the banks of the Boyne 2008
Photographic Exhibition in the Bloomberg Art Gallery 2008
An exhibition in the Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art by Rodney Buchanan the famous visual artist entitled Here I Am. This focused on the challenging views of culture, heritage and perceived sectarianism.
There really is very little else for the band to achieve. In their short history they have fulfilled a lifetime of ambitions and have taken bandsmanship and musical ability to new levels. The biggest compliment we can pay them is to point to the fact that they are one of the bands that most others in their particular field aspire to. They are much imitated but rarely equalled and never surpassed.
Here’s to the next 33 years!!
