Tyne Idols Viz Tour of Newcastle
With
Simon Donald and Seymour Mace
Thursday 20th July 2017
Departing at 7pm from Newcastle's Bewick Street the Tyne Idols
bus transported the passengers in a historical journey. This was no ordinary
bus tour though, as hosting it was Simon Donald: one of the creators of the (in-)
famous Viz Comic. Along with Seymour Mace, who provided further comical input,
and some interjections from fellow Viz creator, Chris Donald.
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Tyne Idols Tour Bus
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Simon managed to keep us in stitches
for most of the journey. Stories of the origins of Viz and its characters was revealed.
We saw the various offices it used, the places the comics writers used to hang
out and their original family home. If you’ve wondered how someone comes up
with a character like Sid The Sexist then you might be in for a surprise as you
hear the story whilst parked in the Bigg Market.
We got to hear the series of events
about how Viz succeeded where other “adult comics” failed. It was based on reality,
the people we meet in real life who say the unthinkable, act in ways we may
feel are immoral or simply ridiculous. There was also a number of stories about
growing up in Newcastle.
Perhaps the old
attitudes appear shocking now but many of us onboard remembered our parents at
the time and Simon had us laughing at times until our tummy muscles hurt. The
bus meandered through the streets of the city, passing the houses where Simon
and his brothers lived, and Viz was based so stories could be told as we
passed. The bemused looks of the people in the houses and outside the pubs only
added to the hilarity and gave Simon and Seymour more material to play with.
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Chris
& Simon Donald and Seymour Mace
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A couple of stops in pubs made the 3 ½ hour
trip more comfortable and sensibly lubricated. This included a Question and Answer session in
the bar in which the first copies of Viz were sold. The audience had a chance
to ask about their favourite characters and the inspirations behind them.
One highlight was hearing about the
previously unheard of tales of the involvement of the advertisers, publishers
and lawyers. If you remember the Newcastle’s alternative
fashion shops, Ready-Brek adverts and cinema curry-house adverts then you’ll be
in for a treat.
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Tyne Idols Tour Bus
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The old Leyland bus is painted
in the yellow Newcastle livery which
many of us remember from the era before Stagecoach came to town. Everyone was
allocated seats on the bus which stopped a scramble at each stop. We were at
the back of the top deck but we could still see and hear Simon as he perched
himself on the drivers mirror. The bus had a good sound system and subtle disco
lights along with posters of Tyneside musical and cinematic heroes of the past.
We had a great time on this trip and would certainly do
this again.
Review by Joanne & Stephen Oliver
Future trips:
The next trip features a music &
film heritage tour departing Bewick Street, Newcastle (opposite Central Station) at 7.00pm on Thursday 17th August
and returning roughly three hours later. The tour with on-board chat and music,
hosted by the legendary Mr Ray Laidlaw, includes a backstage tour of an iconic
music venue and two stop-offs at very popular watering holes, promising as
always to be a fun-packed evening out.
There
will be a
new-for-the-Summer Coastal Heroes Tours celebrate local legends of TV, film and
music which starts in Tynemouth. Hosted by the
irresistible Mr Ray Laidlaw on Sunday 20th August the 3-hour tour
will also include some very special guests, and there will be 2 refreshment
breaks throughout to whet your whistle in some carefully selected and
interesting establishments.
On Thursday 24th August magician
Chris Cross, with his Magical Bus Tour, celebrating his Geordie Book of Magic.
There’ll be tales of northern witchcraft, a visit to a condemned cell, a tale
of Houdini’s visit to Newcastle and plenty of
unexpected magical tomfoolery. Further
details of this and other tours see their website https://www.tyneidols.com/events/
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