Neil McMillan
In recent years these has been a tremendous growth in the number of talented young fiddlers and accordionists. Many of the bands heard regularly on the air bear witness to this. Graeme Mitchell, Colin Dewar, the Craigowl and Craig McCallum are all examples of the high standard of these youngsters. So far as the rhythm section is concerned, however, the situation is perhaps not quite as healthy. Although there are young players beginning to appear on the scene, there are a few back-line men who seem to keep popping up all over the place. One of the busiest of these players is a young man called Neil McMillan. Neil’s ability as a pianist and bass player are well known, but I was surprised to discover during our chat that he also plays button key accordion and drums. I have come into contact with Neil on many occasions over the years and always been impressed with his performances. On a recent occasion I managed to corner him for a while. He told me a bit about himself and how it all began.
“My interest in Scottish Dance Music started at the age of 8 due to frequent visits to our house of one of Scotland’s best 3 row accordion players, Duncan McCallum of Drymen, who played at that time with Hamish Menzies’ Scottish Dance Band.
“He was attempting to help my brother Peter to play a small 3 row button accordion (bought out of Graham and Morton’s for just over £1), but unknown to Peter I was playing his accordion when he was dating his lady friends. By this time I would be about 11 and had picked up the skills of playing the accordion by ear, probably due to the fact that I could play the mouth organ from an early age.
“My interest in music grew and Duncan took me with him on several occasions where I heard for myself Hamish Menzies’ SDB, a top band in the early ‘60s. From 11 till about the age of 17 I just listened to many bands on the radio and continued to play the button key accordion.”
“I was nearly 18 when Jack Delaney gave me the opportunity to join the Clachan Ceilidh in Alloa, a group of youngsters he taught. In my case I started off learning to play rhythm on the piano.”
“After a time Jack asked me if I would like to try the double bass. In which I had no interest. I adapted to it quite quickly and enjoyed learning to play it.”
“Jack, in the meantime, had taken over from Hamish Menzies and, as the bass player was leaving, it left a gap which Jack asked me to fill. I felt a little apprehensive. After all I had only been playing the bass for about 2 months and Jack’s band was of such a high standard, with Ricci Francie on second accordion, Gus Miller (drums), Graeme Burns (fiddle), Sandy McGilcrist (piano) and Jack himself on lead accordion. The boys made me so welcome and encouraged me greatly, so playing with them was a pleasure.
“Now, playing with Jack’s band was not my first experience. Bill Black, now of Stanley, asked me to play drums for him at a local dance in Balmaha Tea Room when I was about 16. I was thrilled – and even got paid for it.
“My interest in Scottish Dance Music started at the age of 8 due to frequent visits to our house of one of Scotland’s best 3 row accordion players, Duncan McCallum of Drymen, who played at that time with Hamish Menzies’ Scottish Dance Band.
“He was attempting to help my brother Peter to play a small 3 row button accordion (bought out of Graham and Morton’s for just over £1), but unknown to Peter I was playing his accordion when he was dating his lady friends. By this time I would be about 11 and had picked up the skills of playing the accordion by ear, probably due to the fact that I could play the mouth organ from an early age.
“My interest in music grew and Duncan took me with him on several occasions where I heard for myself Hamish Menzies’ SDB, a top band in the early ‘60s. From 11 till about the age of 17 I just listened to many bands on the radio and continued to play the button key accordion.”
“I was nearly 18 when Jack Delaney gave me the opportunity to join the Clachan Ceilidh in Alloa, a group of youngsters he taught. In my case I started off learning to play rhythm on the piano.”
“After a time Jack asked me if I would like to try the double bass. In which I had no interest. I adapted to it quite quickly and enjoyed learning to play it.”
“Jack, in the meantime, had taken over from Hamish Menzies and, as the bass player was leaving, it left a gap which Jack asked me to fill. I felt a little apprehensive. After all I had only been playing the bass for about 2 months and Jack’s band was of such a high standard, with Ricci Francie on second accordion, Gus Miller (drums), Graeme Burns (fiddle), Sandy McGilcrist (piano) and Jack himself on lead accordion. The boys made me so welcome and encouraged me greatly, so playing with them was a pleasure.
“Now, playing with Jack’s band was not my first experience. Bill Black, now of Stanley, asked me to play drums for him at a local dance in Balmaha Tea Room when I was about 16. I was thrilled – and even got paid for it.
“After playing with Jack I played with many other bands such as Grace McCleaver, John Renton, Derek Lawrence, Ronnie Easton, Kenny Thomson, the Lothian SDB, Robert Whitehead, Callum Wilson, Iain MacPhail, Robert Black, Bill Black and Colin Finlayson, whom I often play with at the moment, plus the Wallochmor Ceilidh Band (above) , with whom I have appeared on television and made records. I have also made records with some of the bands mentioned. Through the music I have had trips abroad to places like Belgium, Denmark and other parts like the of Scotland like Shetland, Tobermory and Bunessan, Isle of Mull and to Spain with George Fleming’s SDB.
“I enjoy many aspects of the music scene, especially listening to younger players who have a much higher ability through learning music from an early age. My only regret is that I never had music lessons and now find it difficult in some cases to keep up with the younger standards and their ability to read music.
I only hope they get as much satisfaction out of their music as I do with mine. Nothing pleases me more than a good tune in the house with the boys, when everyone is relaxed and playing because they enjoy it.”
“I enjoy many aspects of the music scene, especially listening to younger players who have a much higher ability through learning music from an early age. My only regret is that I never had music lessons and now find it difficult in some cases to keep up with the younger standards and their ability to read music.
I only hope they get as much satisfaction out of their music as I do with mine. Nothing pleases me more than a good tune in the house with the boys, when everyone is relaxed and playing because they enjoy it.”