Last updated at 11:17, Monday, 01 February 2010

Rue and the Rockets have been together for 50 years. There aren't many Cumbrian venues they haven't played but they'll be taking to the big stage at Carlisle's Sands Centre to mark their anniversary.

Rue and the Rockets

Brothers Alan, Jimmy and Rueben Slater, from Wigton, made their debut in 1960 at Haltwhistle Working Men’s Club.

They received £6 for that gig, even though they only knew eight songs.

In the early days Brian Cadona played in the band, but left to get married.

The boys have come a long way since then, having played all over the UK and in Europe and been on stage with some of the biggest names in the business – Status Quo, The Bay City Rollers, Dire Straits, Marty Wilde, Joe Cocker to name a few.

I remember as a teenager, dancing to Rue and the Rockets at the Saturday night dances in Annan, and guess what, I’m still doing it 44 years on, so I can’t wait to join them in celebrating this milestone at their anniversary concert at The Sands Centre on Friday February 5, in aid of the Mayor’s charity.

Timeline asked the guys the secret of the band’s success.

“We’ve always enjoyed entertaining” said Jimmy, “and consider ourselves more entertainers than musicians – although Rueben never stops singing.

We’ve had some great chances to get into the big time but in the early days our mother was quite strict and thought we might get led astray in the music world.

“As far as we’re concerned, all our loyal fans have kept us professional. They’ve been great supporting us and we have a great following.

“We’ve got to know so many of them and have played at their families’ christenings, weddings, birthday parties and special occasions.”

Rueben agreed with Jimmy. “We still get a buzz doing gigs today. You mentioned our first gig. I can remember what most of the songs were – Apache, Never on A Sunday, Santa Lucia – and I know we finished with Now is the Hour, as it was our mother’s favourite.

“I think playing at our mum’s 90th birthday was the most memorable event,” said Rueben. “I sang In My Mothers Eyes to her.”

Dreading the reply to the question ‘had the band any intentions of retiring?’ it was music to my ears when they said they had bookings for the next five years. Keep rockin’ boys.

First published at 11:25, Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk