dave harnetty

Dave was born in Dingwall in the Highlands of Scotland on March 31st.

Picking up a guitar for the first time at the age of 17.

Already writing songs and poems from his early years,the guitar became a songwriting companion.

In 1979 he met Doug Nisbet,at the time an aspiring bass player,while both of them were on there lunch break at the factory they both worked at,they spoke about the music they were both getting into,echo and the bunnymen,the clash,the jam and all the new wave punk stuff that was taking place.

Their conversations led them to setting up a jam with Doug's cousin,Willie Murray,a drummer.

Within a couple of months,Troops of Tomorrow were formed,a 3 piece melodic punk band,playing all of their own music.

They played all over the highlands,and people were beginning to turn up in numbers to the gigs.

This caught the eye of Terry Small,a musician at the time with "The Changlings"where dave also Met the Multi-Talented Dave Bremner,who was Drumming at the time,later Dave Bremner and his Partner Helen went on to formTime Beings

Terry was also an aspiring producer and This led to a recording being made at Park lane studios in Glasgow in 1981,a four track ep.featuring,

"The messsage""Jealousy"Do u still want me""and" makin movies in my mind".

But as every good thing comes to an end,the band folded in 1982,Doug and Willie joined the Gurus(who were looking for a singer and drummer at the time).

Dave went on to solo project's at terry small's studio in Tain,recording a number of tracks with drum/sequencing.

Also at this time, he met up with amazing guitarist Ian Inglis and they did a few gigs in 1982.

In 1983 dave moved to Chicago and New York for a spell,and Chicago especially was an inspiring place for music.

On returning to Scotland in 1984,Dave formed a band with(David Foster)

on bass,Dick Clark on Guitar,Mick Blake on drums,They called themselves-A Private Function.
I 1986 he met "the best vocalist i,ve worked with"Carol Ross.An amazing talent,and through a few twists of meetings "Telegraph bush" was formed.

This band included Andy Garrow on bass,Davie Cowan(Coinneach) on guitar,James Ferrier on saxaphone, various drummer's,including Willie Murray,Davie Gripton and finally Les macpherson.

Through the link with Rob Ellon(Medicinemusic)the band did some tours on the then Tennents live circuits in scotland,which eventually led to the T in the park festival.

The band finally broke in 1989.

Dave joined Guitarist and Songwriter Andy Bruce's("one of the most influential musicians that ever graced the highlands")band for some gigs and tours.

Including the most incredible festival gig at Scoraig in the West coast of Scotland,when the"Northern Lights" became the visual show

That gig,was Andy and John Major on vocals,Willie murray,Dave,the amazing saxaphone playing of both James Ferier and "Gilly"

Andy sadly died a couple of years ago,to all who knew him and heard him play,his spirit is still with us.

Cottage life and a studio in Cullisse,east ross,became an artistic community in 1990,where dave again met up with the eclectic saxaphonist and multi instrumentalist James Ferrier.("The best wind player on the Planet")

Dave was introduced to a lot of traditional celtic music here which was to have a big influence on his writing.Some recordings were made including "Cullisse way".

Also in the summer of '93,James and Dave took off to Holland,and did some playing at the Rotterdam festival of Black origins,

what they got up to in Holland is another story in itself....!

Other recordings which took place in Cullisse were Miranda Thow's single "Africa",which featured Ray Love on Keyboards.Early recordings were also made of Aberdeen Band "Green" featuring John Mitchell and Claire.Some amazing artists lived in Cullisse inluding Ray elf,who was to go on and design"ballyhoo's Album cover,Pam Dundas,and the Mercurial Promotional Talents of Val smith.

Dave then met up with Doug Nisbet,who had returned from Edinburgh,and they began to record some new material,at the same time Willie Murray had being touring all over britain and europe with the Cateran....and had toured with Nirvana and Mega city four, he also had become a free agent,

so Troops of Tomorrow-reformed with new material...and a differnt name....

BALLYHOO
They toured and recorded an ep in 1992 called" world of no justice" which picked up airplay from around britain,europe and america.

Walls of Suffocation-One More time-Farewell-Follow you

In 1993 they recorded "Uproar"which again received alot of international indi coverage.

did some gigs with the likes of Coinneach,Humph family,Dave Sharp(the alarm).

Enjoyed a memorable tour with(Echo and the Bunnymen)

In 1995 Ballyhoo decided to call it a halt.

Since 1996 dave has been mainly involved in studio performance and writing.The recent meeting between Amelia Campbell and Dave,has brought about theScalags

an E