Whatever happened to... Watt Nicol?

Subject: Whatever happened to... Watt Nicol?
From: Scrump
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 07:42 AM

I couldn't find much about this hilarious Scottish singer/comedian in the Mudcat archives, apart from a few mentions of him or his songs.

I have some great memories of seeing him in the early 1970s, mainly at gigs in London. I guess you could regard him as a sort of predecessor to Billy Connolly, although that other great Scot Hamish Imlach was around at the same time and perhaps of a similar ilk.

Does anyone know what happened to him? Is he still around? (etc.)

Anyone else have any memories of him?

Subject: RE: Whatever happened to... Watt Nicol?
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 08:04 AM

He surfaced as a sort of guru to the England football team a few years ago - during the Kevin Keegan era. Saw him a few times in the late sixties but I always thought that Campbell, Imlach and McGinn (and later Connolly)were streets ahead of him.

Subject: RE: Whatever happened to... Watt Nicol?
From: Scrump
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 08:17 AM

Ah, interesting. A Google search came up with this guy, the football motivation guru, and I thought it might be him but I wasn't sure. So he's presumably given up gigging to do the football stuff then.

I wouldn't disagree that Alex Campbell, Hamish Imlach and Matt McGinn were better than him as folk performers, but he was certainly a good laugh in those days.

Subject: RE: Whatever happened to... Watt Nicol?
From: patriot1314
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 09:09 AM

As far as I remember he gave up music and became a stage hypnotist. After that he turned his skills to motivating fotball teams (see earlier post) and as far as I know he's back working as a hypnotist but this time in a clinic environment, helping people give up smoking etc.

Subject: RE: Whatever happened to... Watt Nicol?
From: patriot1314
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 09:10 AM

In fact you can find out a bit more here...
http://www.fyini.com/pages/viewstory.asp?itemID=95

Subject: RE: Whatever happened to... Watt Nicol?
From: Scrump
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 09:46 AM

Thanks for the link patriot1314. He seems to have had an interestingly varied life. I'd never have imagined him doing that sort of thing when he was a 'folk singer'. I guess he must make more money than he ever did in those days.

Subject: RE: Whatever happened to... Watt Nicol?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 10:25 AM

I still do the occasional number from Watt's book - "What Words ,What Music Watt Nicol"

Subject: RE: Whatever happened to... Watt Nicol?
From: GUEST,Div Bigger
Date: 09 Mar 15 - 04:05 AM

Watt Nicol worked as a stage hypnotist under the stage name The Man or The Mann for a period during the 90s. He then went on do do the Guru and motivational speaking thing. Haven't heard of him for years now

Subject: RE: Whatever happened to... Watt Nicol?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 09 Mar 15 - 05:25 AM

I have seen some of his motivational books. They are every bit as dire as the general run of such things.

Subject: RE: Whatever happened to... Watt Nicol?
From: GUEST,Orson Trap
Date: 10 Mar 15 - 02:56 AM

I remember seeing him at MSG many years ago. He told a story about being impressed by one of his heroes who played two penny whistles at the same time. Watt then practised doing that for months until he too could play a tune using two whistles. Then one night in a folk club. his hero came up to him and said "that was great, how did you do it"? Watt replied "what do you mean, I first saw you doing it". "Aw no, I was only kidding" came the reply!

Subject: RE: Whatever happened to... Watt Nicol?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 10 Mar 15 - 05:03 AM

Packie Byrne used to do the 'Two Whistles' trick till a horse he was working on damaged one of his hands !