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Carn man floored by Smokin’ Joe
10.11.11
Memories heavyweight
champ at Lilac Ballroom
by Linda McGrory
AN Inishowen nightclub owner has recalled how World
Heavyweight Champion Joe Frazier floored him
financially when he hired the famous boxer for a gig
that flopped in 1971.
Oliver Simpson was just 20 when he booked Frazier
and his band 'The Knock-Outs' for what he hoped
would be a sell-out gig at his newly-built Lilac
Ballroom in Carndonagh.
It was June 8, 1971, just three months after Frazier
beat Muhammed Ali in their famous Madison Square
Garden showdown. But the punters of the North West,
it seems, couldn't afford ring-side seats to hear
Frazier, the musician. |
Speaking to Inishowen
News from Spain yesterday, Mr Simpson (60) admitted
to that the £1.50 ticket price he had to charge to
recoup his fees, put patrons off.
"The Lilac was only open about six months when I
booked Frazier. I thought the place would be packed
out.
"I had to charge three times the usual 10 shillings
to make up the cost but I lost a fortune on that
gig," he laughed.
With only some 150 paid-up punters inside the hall,
the Co Donegal man threw open the doors and let
everyone in for free.
"What else could you do? I listened to the whole
set. I enjoyed the gig but not losing all that
money," he quipped.
It was the second booking of the night for Smokin'
Joe who earlier played the Golden Slipper Ballroom
in Magilligan, Co Derry, again to a reportedly small
crowd. |
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Inishowen businessman, Oliver
Simpson. |
Each venue paid some
£2,000 for 'The Knock-Outs' to play. Frazier sang
and played the saxophone backed by a seven-piece
band and five go-go dancers.
"£2,000 was a lot of money at the time. I had just
bought a new Audi car for £1,900 - probably the
equivalent of about £25,000 today,” added Oliver
Simpson. |
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Smokin' Joe Frazier and his band 'The
Knock-Outs' |
While the Lilac
Ballroom has long since closed its doors, its owner
has gone on to become a highly successful
businessman in the North West. He paid tribute to
the great fighter who died of liver cancer on
Tuesday at the age of 67.
"He was a very nice man and he gave us a great show
that night in Carndonagh. He was ahead of his time,”
he added. |
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