“Celebrating 50 Years in Entertainment”
RUE AND THE ROCKETS 1960 – 2009
50 Years on and their still rocking - Three brothers, Jimmy, Alan and Reuben - The Rockets are one of the longest running live bands in the country, if not the longest and they are still packing out venues.
They began in 1957 when they were travelling with their family funfair, to Felton in Northumberland. It was there that Alan bought a drum kit for £3 which he later gave to Rue, the following year they formed the Band. They got their name from one of the Traction Engines, their parents used to travel with - The Rocket.
After playing for friends and family for a couple of years, they got their first paid gig in 1960. Having heard music from the back of a truck in Haltwhistle, a local man came to remonstrate with them for playing records on a Sunday. When their father pointed out it was his boys practising – he was so impressed with them he booked them for the local Working Mens Club for which he was a Committee Member.
They were the first band to appear on Borders TV ‘Beat the Border’ in 1962-63 and held regular night spots including the Majestic Club, Newcastle, through which they got a recording contract with Top Rank, Carlisle.
They have their own Fan Club, and put their continued success down to the fact that they still enjoy their work after all these years – thinking of it as a hobby rather than a job. The Band have a number of CD’s available. The rest is history.
To contact the Band for booking, CD’s, details of up and coming concerts etc email
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