History!

The three original members, John Doonan, Doug Payne and Billy Stewart were “locked in” The Gas Light every Friday night with fellow musicians and singers Jimmy Jones, Davey Winton and the legendary Eddie (the silver fox) McIntyre. Their fee was all the free drink they could consume until the early hours of Saturday morning. In 2000, the trio were joined by John’s cousins Brendan and Mick (no they are not brothers but cousins) O’Donnell.

In 2001 the band started to gig around the North East. This coincided with the closure of The Gaslight pub and the band establishing a new residency at the Allison Arms in Jarrow, where they continued to perform on the first friday of the month until their final performance in November 2008. You never know they might make a return in the future but check out the pics of the final night at The Allison.

Billy Stewart left the band in late 2005 to form his own band and was replaced on lead guitar by Paul “Ah it’s great man” Fenwick. Paul stayed with the band until January of 2007 when he left to travel the world. Since his return Paul has started his own band called Scratch the Surface, made up of individuals who have deputised in The Gaslighters on occasions. If Paul ever approaches you and says “Did I tell you about when I was in...” don’t hang around, make an excuse and leave! Paul was replaced by Brendan and Mick’s lifelong friend Lawrence (Lar) Nesbitt

The Gaslighters have played a European festival in Holland and festivals in Amble, Ashington, Seahouses and their own local festival, The Cookson Festival in South Shields.

Anyone who has competed in the Great North Run in recent years and entered the public bar marquee at the finish line in Gypsies Green Stadium will have been entertained by The Gaslighters and their now good friend Tony Audenshaw (Bob Hope, the barman in ITV’s Emmerdale) and his band White Van Man.

What should you expect from a Gaslighters gig? A bloody good nights entertainment, from five lads who enjoy what they do with a smile on their face, because they are so glad to be ‘out of the house’. They are not precious about their music, performing with humour, as they love nothing better than to laugh at themselves which creates an infectious chemistry with their audiences.

The Gaslighters are popular with young and old playing classics from the 60’s to the present day. From the Beatles and the Stones, to the Kaiser Chiefs and Scissor Sisters. They even have a hint of the Irish when Brendan gets out his “little instrument”.

The lads guarantee you will have a good night, and if not, Doug will give you your money back!