Categories: England, London

John Maskell’s history of two groups – Group 004 + 1 and The Beat Syndicate

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John Maskell got in touch to provide a more detailed account of his time with The Beat Syndicate who are listed on this site here and his first band Group 004 + 1 (originally called Johnny & The Bobcats).

Here are John’s recollections:

Photo was taken at a photographic studio after The Beat Syndicate won a beat competition at Coronation Gardens in Leyton, east London in June 1965. Diana Doors presented us with a recording test at Pye Studios

The group Bobby & The Bobcats formed early in 1962. Bobby left the group that November and The Bobcats held an audition at a youth club in Edmonton, north London.

Unbeknown to me, my good friend had put my name down to go up and sing, so when my name was called, I had no choice but to go up on stage, something I had not done, previously. To my surprise I was told to turn up for practice and the group then became Johnny & The Bobcats, based in Tottenham, north London.

In January 1964, the group was renamed Group 004 + 1.

John Maskell (lead vocals)

Bobby Savage (lead guitar)

Tony Deeks (rhythm guitar)

Joey Vale (bass)

Bernie Allen (drums)

Left to right: John Maskell; Joey Vale; Tony Deeks; Bernie Allen and Bobby Savage. Photo taken at the Swan Public House in Tottenham

The group progressed rapidly and before long we were supporting some big names in the pop industry.

One was at the West Cliff Ballroom in Ramsgate, Kent. We were booked to support singer Duffy Power and a group called The Beat Syndicate.

Duffy Power didn’t turn up for rehearsal; his manager didn’t know where he was and put the organisers in a very nervous situation, not knowing who the top of the bill was.

Duffy eventually turned up quite close to start time and was told he would have to go on first, which meant that Group 004 + 1 were told to go on last.

The end to this story came around three months later when I left Group 004 + 1 and was asked to join The Beat Syndicate.

My last appearance with Group 004 + 1 was at Shoreditch Town Hall supporting Gene Vincent & The Shouts.

The following is a list of all the venues and artists we supported in the period that I recall as Johnny & The Bobcats/Group 004 + 1.

Johnny & The Bobcats gig list:

The Swan Pub, Tottenham, north London (as Johnny & The Bobcats) Resident band every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night and every other Sunday morning between January 1963-July 1964.

John singing in the Swan pub in 1964

Tudor Hall, Hoddesdon, Herts (as Johnny & The Bobcats) with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers in January 1963

Cuckoo Hall Lane Youth Club, Edmonton, north London (as Johnny & The Bobcats) on 13 February 1963

Alison Hall St Patrick’s Church, Enfield, north London (as Johnny & The Bobcats) on 18 February 1963

Alison Hall St Patrick’s Church, Enfield, north London (as Johnny & The Bobcats) on 10 March 1963

The Cambridge pub, Edmonton, north London (as Johnny & The Bobcats) in April 1963

The Ritz Cinema, Turnpike Lane, Wood Green, north London (as Johnny & The Bobcats) in May 1963

Hastings Pier, Hastings, East Sussex with Verne Rodgers & The Rebounds and The Beat Syndicate (as Johnny & The Bobcats) in May/June 1963 (confirmed by my diary)

California Ballroom, Dunstable, Beds (as Johnny & The Bobcats) with Brian Poole & The Tremeloes on 11 October 1963. This gig is listed on the Cali website but does not show us as support group but it is in my diary. This attendance numbers were boosted by the two coaches that came with fans from the Swan pub in Tottenham to support us.

The Kings Head, High Beach, north London (as Johnny & The Bobcats) in November 1963

Hackney Empire, Hackney, north London (as Johnny & The Bobcats) (shortly before it closed and was eventually refurbished) with Norman Vaughan, Hilda Baker & Our Eli, Ted Rogers (not the 3-2-1 variety), Jackie Rae, Salky Gowers, Keith Fordyce (compare) and various acrobats and jugglers in November or December 1963

The Angel pub, Edmonton, north London (as Johnny & The Bobcats) in December 1963

Pub in Cambridge in Cambridgeshire in late 1963

Group 004 + 1 gig list:

Howard Hall, Ponders End, Enfield, north London (as Group 004 + 1) in January 1964

The Manor House dance hall, Finsbury Park, north London with The Hollies on 1 December 1963 (or January 1964)

The Cambridge pub, Edmonton, north London (as Group 004 + 1) in January 1964

The Ritz Cinema, Turnpike Lane, Wood Green, north London (as Group 004 + 1) in January 1964

Club Noreik, south Tottenham, north London with The Paramounts and Jackie Rae (as Group 004 + 1) on 25 January 1964. This gig is shown in The Paramounts LP insert but support acts not shown. 

The Swan Pub, Tottenham, north London (as Group 004 + 1) in January 1964. This was a continuation of our residency under the new band’s name. 

California Ballroom, Dunstable, Beds with The Merseybeats (as Group 004 + 1) on 17 January 1964 (confirmed by Cali website)

The Chez Don, Dalston, east London (as Group 004 + 1) on 15 February 1964

Alison Hall, St Patrick’s Church, Enfield, north London (as Group 004 + 1) on 18 February 1964

The Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (as Group 004 + 1) on 21 February 1964

Cuckoo Hall Lane Youth Club, Edmonton, north London (as Group 004 + 1) on 27 February 1964

Gig in Finchley, north London with Bern Elliott & The Fenmen (as Group 004 + 1) in February or March 1964

Cuckoo Hall Lane Youth Club, Edmonton, north London (as Group 004 + 1) on 12 March 1964

West Cliff Concert Hall, Ramsgate, Kent with Duffy Power & The Beat Syndicate (as Group 004 + 1) on 13 March 1964 (advert confirms this).

Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (as Group 004 + 1) on 15 March 1964 (confirmed by my diary)

Club Noreik, south Tottenham, north London (as Group 004 +1) on 27 March 1964 (confirmed by my diary)

Gig in Haywards Heath, West Sussex (possibly The Pilgrim) (as Group 004 + 1), possibly in March 1964

Kingston Jazz Cellar, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey with The Cy Laurie Jazz Band (as Group 004 + 1), possibly in March 1964

Noreik Club, south Tottenham, north London with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (as Group 004 + 1) on 17 April 1964 (confirmed by my diary)

Noreik Club, south Tottenham, north London with The Kinks (as Group 004 + 1) on 25 April 1964 (confirmed by my diary)

Noreik Club, south Tottenham, north London with The Moquettes (as Group 004 + 1) in April or May 1964 (confirmed by my diary)

West Cliff Concert Hall, Ramsgate, Kent with Deke Arlon & The Offbeats (as Group 004 + 1) in May 1964 (confirmed advert but no support acts printed)

Greenham Common American Air Base, Newbury, Berkshire as Group 004 + 1) on 29 May 1964. The next day troops were returning to the USA and the site was closing.

Noreik Club, south Tottenham, north London with The Undertakers (as Group 004 + 1) in May/June 1964

Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London with The Steampacket (featuring Long John Baldry, Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger Trinity and a little known Rod Stewart) (as Group 004 + 1) in June 1964

Fishmongers Arms, Wood Green, north London (as Group 004 + 1) possibly in late June 1964

Shoreditch Town Hall, Shoreditch, east London with Gene Vincent & The Shouts (as Group 004 + 1) on 3 July 1964. This gig is listed on the Spent brothers’ website but does not show support acts. This was my last gig with Group 004 + 1.

There were many more gigs with Group 004 + 1 which are not listed here where I don’t have more information.

I left Group 004 + 1 in mid-July 1964. The band continued to perform under another name, which I don’t have the details of. They did a short tour of Austria in 1965 and continued to perform until 1966.

I joined The Beat Syndicate in late August 1964, based in Leytonstone, east London.

The Beat Syndicate:

John Maskell (lead vocals)

Mick George (lead guitar)

Jim Newton (rhythm guitar)

John Powis (bass)

Eddie Latrielle (drums) replaced in late 1964 by Tony Smith (drums)

Photo shoot circa June 1965. Left to right: Tony Smith; Jim Newton; John Maskell; John Powis and Mick George. The image was captured at a photographic studio after they had won a beat competition held at Coronation Gardens in Leyton, east London

Our session at Pye Studios was organised by none other than Alan. A Freeman, the top man. We recorded two tracks “Try as I My” our own composition, and “Early One Morning”. Regrettably, the single was never released and the only copy given to the group has been lost in time.

One gig I remember was at a great venue known as the Cellar Club, Kingston upon Thames. We were booked to support The Nashville Teens, who were in ascendancy at the time. We arrived at 7pm and played until 9pm, finishing our stint. The owner of the club then came and asked us if we would play on as The Nashville Teens were up north recording a TV spot and were fog bound unable to get a flight back. We agreed to carry on until they arrived.

In the audience were two of The Plebs, formerly with Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages. Derek Sirmon and Danny McCulloch realised we had been playing a long time and came up and gave our drummer and bass player a break. Having emailed Derek Sirmon, he replied remembering the night in question.

The stage at this venue was similar to the one in the film The Blues Brothers, where the stage slimmed out to a narrow run almost the length of the dance area. We played for a total of four and a quarter hour and I was on stage for most of the time, what a great night. The Nashville Teens turned up around 12.30am, just as most people were leaving.

The following is a list of all the venues I recall or have recorded in my diary that The Beat Syndicate played. Some of these gigs don’t have dates due to a lack of information. However, the connection the gigs and artists are accurate.

The Beat Syndicate gig list:

Weathersfield American Airbase in Essex in August 1964

Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge with Bob Kidman & His Orchestra, Eric Squire & His Quartet and The Prestons (source: Glenn Povey’s book Echoes: The Complete History of Pink Floyd) on 5 September 1964

Leyton Baths, Leyton, east London with The Animals on 12 September 1964

Hastings Pier, Hastings, East Sussex with Patrick Dane & The Quiet Five on 19 September 1964

Lakenheath American Airbase in Suffolk in October 1964

Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London with The Fairies and Dean Brent & The Strollers on 24 October 1964

Leyton Baths, Leytonstone, east London with Dave Berry & The Cruisers (gig is listed on Dave Berry’s website but with no support acts shown)

Cuckfield Queens Hall, Cuckfield, West Sussex with The Deputies on 13 November 1964

Merton College, Oxford with The Quiet Five on 29 November 1964 (confirmed by college literature)

Leyton Baths, Leyton, east London with Tony Jackson & The Vibrations on 5 December 1964

Red Lion, Leytonstone, east London on 4 January 1965 (We played downstairs in the bar while upstairs in the dancehall was The Who). This gig was confirmed on The Who website, with no pub gig details. 

Leyton Baths, Leyton, east London with Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders in February 1965

Ilford Palais, Ilford, east London in February or March 1965

Snodland Drill Hall, Snodland, Kent on 13 February 1965

Synagogue, Chingford, east London with Unit Four Plus Two in March or April 1965 (with an audition on 20 and 22 June 1965)

Chez Don, Dalston, east London (around 1 March 1965)

Chez Don, Dalston, east London (around 6 March 1965)

Large pub in Borehamwood, Herts (possibly The Linx) on 9 March 1965

Walthamstow Assembly Halls, Walthamstow, north London with Neil Christian & The Crusaders (last gig with Jimmy Page) on 27 March 1965

Two Puddings, Stratford, east London on 3 April 1965 (we played downstairs in the bar while Sean Buckley & The Breadcrumbs played upstairs in the dance hall)

Walthamstow Assembly Halls, Walthamstow, north London with Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders on 24 April 1965

Byron Hotel, Greenford, west London on 24 April 1965

Chicksands American Airbase, Chicksands, Beds for two days in April 1965

The Palais, Deal, Kent (between 1-4 May 1965)

Ciros’ Club, Great Portland Street, central London in May or June 1965

Green Tree, Hatfield, Herts (between 16-18 May 1965)

Walthamstow Assembly Halls, Walthamstow, north London with Tony Rivers & The Castaways on 22 May 1965

Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with Troy Dante & The Infernos on 24 May 1965

Chez Don, Dalston, east London (between 4-8 June 1965)

Chez Don, Dalston, east London with Mickey Finn & The Blue Men (around 6 June 1965)

Coronation Gardens, Leytonstone, east London (won beat competition) on 19 June 1965

The Woodstock, north Cheam, Surrey (audition on 20 and 22 June 1965)

Stratford Town Hall, Stratford, east London (between 27-30 June 1965)

Leyton Baths, Leyton, east London with The Rebounds (between June and August 1965)

Two Puddings, Stratford, east London (played downstairs in the bar in July 1965)

Gig in High Wycombe, Bucks with The Swinging Blue Jeans in August 1965

Gig with The Mojos (around 12-16 August 1965)

Cellar Club, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey with The Nashville Teens on 12 August 1965

Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London with The Big Boss Men on 14 August 1965

Wimbledon Palais Beat Competition with various groups, including Pink Floyd who did not get selected, in August 1965 (The Beat Syndicate came fourth place in our heat)

Coronation Gardens, Leytonstone around 30 August 1965

The Wake Arms, Epping, Essex in August or September 1965

Granada Cinema, East Ham, east London with The Honeycombs between mid-to-end of September 1965

In late September 1965 I left The Beat Syndicate who continued to perform into 1968/1969.

There were many other bookings with both of my bands that I haven’t been able to list, and I’d welcome any additions below in the comments section.

These are a few of the ones with The Beat Syndicate where I don’t have any details of when they took place:

Bentwaters American Airbase in Suffolk (two night: Friday and Saturday)

Chicksands American Airbase in Beds (two nights: Friday and Saturday)

Weathersfield American Airbase in Essex (two occasions)

Alconbury American Airbase in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire

Burdrop Park American Services Hospital base in Wiltshire

Fairfield Hall, Croydon, Surrey

 

Categories: England

The Original Coasters’ November 1966 British tour

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This popular US R&B quartet were billed as The Original Coasters because they were led by tenor singer Cornelius “Cornell” Gunter who’d been an “original” member of The Coasters who had moved to New York from Los Angeles to record for Atlantic Records in the late 1950s.

Gunter had remained until 1961 before leaving to form his own version known as The Fabulous Coasters.

In November 1966, British promoter Roy Tempest brought Gunter’s version over for a nationwide tour, but it’s not clear who the other members were and so we’d be interested in hearing from anyone that can provide more information below in the comments section. Also, an article in the Nottingham Evening Post (see below) regarding two shows on 6 November suggest that another version of The Coasters was touring Europe (and possibly Britain) at the same time, which might account for some of the gigs below.

This article in the Nottingham Evening Post from 11 November 1966 on page 14 suggests that another version of The Coasters was touring in Europe at the time

For most, if not all, of the gigs listed below, Tempest used a Bognor-Regis based band that he had signed to his agency at the start of September 1966 and installed in London called The Noblemen, although by this point, they had started to work as The Motivation/Motivation.

The line-up comprised Jimmy Marsh (lead vocals); Martin Barre (lead guitar/saxophone), Mick Ketley (keyboards); Chris Rodger (saxophone/trumpet); Bryan Stevens (bass); and Malcolm Tomlinson (drums).

When they linked up with The Original Coasters, The Noblemen/Motivation had just finished working with Alvin Robinson. Rodger also recalls that they supported Ben E King on a few shows while working with The Original Coasters, including at the Twisted Wheel in Manchester (either on 8 or 12 November) and possibly the Thames Hotel in Windsor on 15 November.

Shortly after a riot at the Domino Club in Manchester on 20 November, The Motivation stopped working with Tempest and subsequently changed name to The Penny Peeps, recording two singles for Liberty Records in 1968. Barre went on to join Jethro Tull.

The Coasters returned for another British tour in May 1968 but it’s not clear what version this was.

These gigs are incomplete

Tour dates:

5 November 1966 – Rawmarsh Baths Hall, Rawmarsh, South Yorkshire with Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Dawley Crews Amblers (Sheffield Star) Most likely with The Noblemen/Motivation considering King Mojo all-nighter later this same evening

5 November 1966 – King Mojo all-nighter, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with The Noblemen and Sonny Childe & The TNT (Sheffield Star) Backed by The Noblemen (aka Motivation)

6 November 1966 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Most likely with The Noblemen/Motivation

6 November 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham with Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays (Nottingham Evening Post) Most likely with The Noblemen/Motivation. This show was reviewed in the Nottingham Evening Post’s 11 November issue on page 14 (see above)

6 November 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker) Most likely with The Noblemen/Motivation but is this possible as  the 7.30pm-11.30pm time clashes with Nottingham gigs above unless this was another version of The Coasters

9 November 1966 – Mecca Ballroom, Royal Pier, Southampton, Hants with The Noblemen (Southern Evening Echo) Backed by The Noblemen (aka Motivation)

11 November 1966 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, northwest London with The Mode (Melody Maker) Most likely with The Noblemen/Motivation

12 November 1966 – Oasis, Manchester with Motivation and Hari Kari (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backed by Motivation

13 November 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker) Most likely with The Noblemen/Motivation. It might be after this gig that Malcolm Tomlinson and Mick Ketley were invited by Gunter to a party where they met Jimi Hendrix. 

15 November 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) This was most likely with another backing band as Ketley doesn’t recall playing this venue or was another version of The Coasters

17 November 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex (Brighton Evening Argus) Most likely with The Noblemen/Motivation

19 November 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Most likely with The Noblemen/Motivation

19 November 1966 – Cavern, Liverpool with The Noblemen, The Hideaways, The Kids, The Love Trade and The Escorts (Liverpool Echo) Backed by The Noblemen (aka Motivation)

20 November 1966 – Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backed by Motivation

20 November 1966 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Backed by Motivation – this is the gig where the riot took place

24 November 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) This was most likely with another backing band as Ketley doesn’t recall playing this venue or was another version of The Coasters

25 November 1966 – New Yorker Discotheque, Swindon, Wiltshire with The Noblemen (Swindon Evening Advertiser) Backed by The Noblemen (aka Motivation)

26 November 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Motivation, Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays and Heart & Soul (Lincolnshire Standard) Backed by Motivation

26 November 1966 – Burlesque, Leicester with Motivation (Leicester Mercury) Backed by Motivation

27 November 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirlevington, North Yorkshire with The Motivation (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette) Backed by Motivation

We’d welcome any further information below in the comments section

Categories: England

Doris Troy’s British 1960s tours

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Doris Troy, 1969

Soul and R&B singer/songwriter and pianist Doris Troy is perhaps best known for her hit “Just One Look” and as a session singer after she relocated to Britain in 1969.

Doris Troy featured in Bognor Regis Observer, 30 October 1964
Bognor Regis Observer, 30 October 1964, page 2

Her popularity in Britain prompted her first tour in the summer of 1965. It isn’t clear who backed on these dates so we’d welcome any further information in the comments below.

Record Retailer, 8 April 1965

This isn’t a complete list

Tour dates:

11 June 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (two sessions including an all-nighter) (Melody Maker)

12 June 1965 – Oasis, Manchester with Alexis Korner Blues Incorporated and The Myaks (Manchester Evening News)

13 June 1965 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with Alexis Korner & His Blues Incorporated (Evening Sentinel/Staffordshire Newsletter)

17 June 1965 – Capitol Theatre, Aberdeen, Scotland with The Rolling Stones, The Checkmates, Cannon Brothers (Johnny & Mike) with The Shades and The Hollies (Aberdeen Evening Express)

18 June 1965 – Caird Hall, Dundee, Scotland with The Rolling Stones, The Hollies, The Cannon Brothers and The Shades (Dundee Courier & Advertiser)

23 June 1965 – Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Melody Maker)

23 June 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and Herbie Goins & The Night-timers (Melody Maker)

 

23 July 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Melody Maker)

23 July 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and The Shevells (All-nighter) (Melody Maker)

Doris Troy in Melody Maker, 3 July 1965, page 4

For this second British tour, promoter Roy Tempest used northwest London group Bluesology who featured a very young Elton John known as Reg Dwight at the time to back Doris Troy. It’s not clear whether Bluesology backed her on all the gigs, so we’d welcome any further information on this.

At the time, Bluesology comprised Stu Brown (guitar/vocals); Reg Dwight (keyboards/vocals); Rex Bishop (bass); Pat Higgs (trumpet); Dave Murphy (sax); and Mick Inkpen (drums)

This isn’t a complete list

Tour dates:

4 February 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Wembley, northwest London (Melody Maker)

4 February 1966 – In Place, Baker Street, central London (Melody Maker)

4 February 1966 – Flamingo All-nighter, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Chessmen (Melody Maker)

5 February 1966 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with Bluesology Incorporated and The Move featuring Carl Wayne (Birmingham Evening Mail)

7 February 1966 – Cavern, Liverpool with Bluesology, Earl Prestons Realms and The Fix (Liverpool Echo)

9 February 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham with Julian Covey & The Machine (Nottingham Evening Post)

9 February 1966 – Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Melody Maker)

10 February 1966 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (https://garagehangover.com/blue-moon-cheltenham-gigs-july-1965-may-1967/)

11 February 1966 – Cue Club all-nighter, Paddington, west London with Herbie Goins & The Nightimers (Melody Maker)

11 February 1966 – El Partido All-nighter, Lewisham, southeast London with Duke Lee (Melody Maker)

12 February 1966 – Oasis, Manchester with Bluesology and Manchester Playboys (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

12 February 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester with Alan Bown Set and Bluesology (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

13 February 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Chessmen (Melody Maker)

18 February 1966 – Club West Indies, Stonebridge, Harlesden, northwest London with The Caribbean Show Band (Melody Maker)

18 February 1966 – Refectory, Golders Green, north London (Melody Maker)

18 February 1966 – Flamingo all-nighter, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with John McCoys Crawdaddies (Melody Maker)

According to an article in the Neath Guardian, dated 11 February, Bluesology Incorporated backed Ben E King on a tour that ran from 18 February to 6 March. I have located some of these dates but they don’t list Bluesology. However, it’s not clear whether Bluesology backed Doris Troy on the following dates that clash with this period or whether it was another band

19 February 1966 – Carousel Club, Farnborough, Hants with The Trekkers (Aldershot News)

19 February 1966 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, Bishopsgate, east London with Captain Fish (Melody Maker)

20-21 February 1966 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with Bluesology Incorporated and The Move featuring Carl Wayne (Birmingham Evening Mail)

22 February 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Spencer Davis Group (London Live book by Tony Bacon)

26 February 1966 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

Record Retailer lists her latest single “I’ll Do Anything” in its 23 October 1968 issue on page 22 (see above)

In 1969, Doris Troy relocated to London and recorded for Apple Records. She also became an in-demand session singer. While based in Britain, she played live and this is one advertised show I’ve found.

Doris Troy signs with Apple as reported in Melody Maker, 20 September 1969 on page 2

15 June 1969 – Cue Club, Praed Street, Paddington, west London with Billie Preston (Melody Maker)

We’d welcome any further information below

Categories: England

The Flirtations’ British 1960s tours

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Flirtations advert, Record Retailer, 29 May 1969, page 21

Originally formed as The Gypsies with three sisters – Betty, Ernestine and Shirley Pearce plus their friend Viola Billups, New York-based The Flirtations were originally brought to England by promoter Roy Tempest in December 1967 for a nationwide tour backed by Dagenham, east London outfit, The Trend.

Betty Pearce had departed before this tour commenced and the trio performed as The Fabulous Marvelettes. Despite the confusion and anger this caused, particularly from club owners who mistakenly believed they were getting the Motown superstars The Marvelettes, the tour was successful enough for the vocal trio to return to Britain in spring 1968 for a second tour, billed again as The Fabulous Marvelettes.

For this second tour, they were once again backed by The Trend, who comprised Norman Cummins (lead guitar/vocals), Pete Cole (bass/vocals), Bob Mather (sax), Cliff Reuter (keyboards) and Frankie Morgan (drums).

This isn’t a complete gig list for this tour

Tour dates:

8 March 1968 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire with The Upside Down World (Chester Chronicle)

11 March 1968 – Rawmarsh Baths, Rotherham, South Yorkshire with The Original Drifters backed by The London All-Stars (South Yorkshire and Rotherham Advertiser)

20 March 1968 – Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with The Original Drifters backed by The London All-Stars (Sheffield Star)

After this tour, the trio relocated to Britain and reverted to their original name, The Flirtations, recording prolifically in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

As The Trend was working with other soul artists from mid-1968 onwards, it’s not clear who the backing band was on the gigs below and we’d welcome any further information.

20 April 1968 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham with The Staxmen and King Kat Knyte (Nottingham Evening Post)

 

11 May 1968 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham with Clyde McPhatter, The Staxmen and Ways and Means (Nottingham Evening Post)

 

21 June 1968 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with Chicago Setback and Granny’s Intentions (Hemel Hempstead Evening Post)

 

12 July 1968 – Marvifab Mayfair, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with Urge, Coloured Rain and Traine & Mystics (Sunday Sun)

The Widnes Weekly News, 19 July 1968, page 22, has a picture and a spread on the trio

Photo: Melody Maker, July 1968

27 July 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)

 

15 August 1968 – Royal Pier Pavilion, Southampton, Hants (Southern Daily Echo)

22 August 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Bristol (Bristol Evening Post)

23 August 1968 – Locarno, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)

24 August 1968 – Imperial, Nelson, Lancashire with Doctor Marigold’s Prescription, The Smythe Brothers, The Index Trend and Pancake Tuesday (Lancashire Telegraph)

29 August 1968 – Assembly Hall, Worthing, West Sussex (Worthing Herald)

The Derby Evening Telegraph, 31 August 1968, page 4, has a pic and spread on them

31 August 1968 – Civic Hall, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Clyde McPhatter (Luton Evening Post)

 

1 September 1968 – Giant Bank Holiday Rave All Nighter, Mojo Festival, Queen’s Hall, Leeds, West Yorkshire with Ben E King and Clyde McPhatter, The Fantastics, Tim Rose and The Time Box (Huddersfield Daily Examiner)

12 September 1968 – Cedar Club, Birmingham with Soul Show & The Phoenix City Truth (Birmingham Evening Mail)

12 September 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Bristol (Bristol Evening Post)

7 October 1968 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey (Beckenham & Penge Advertiser)

13 October 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

14 October 1968 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with The Soul Show (backing group), The Third Stone from the Sun (Birmingham Evening Mail)

18 October 1968 – Odeon Taunton, Taunton, Somerset with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich, About Face, Dr Marigold’s Prescription, Justins Timepiece, The Santianos and The Vertical Movement (Western Daily Press)

 

2 November 1968 – Wakefield Theatre Club, Wakefield, West Yorkshire with Johnnie Ray, Audrey Jeans and Jackie Farn (Huddersfield Daily Examiner)

11 November 1968 – Cragburn Ballroom, Cragburn, Scotland with Marmalade and The Verge (Greenock Telegraph and Clyde Shipping Gazette)

 

27-28 December 1968 – Annabel, Sunderland (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)

29 December 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

 

11 January 1969 – Music Hall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire with Jasson Hertz and Shady Lane (North Shropshire Journal)

 

1 February 1969 – Market Hall, Haverfordwest, west Wales with Nightime Pipeline and Night Before (Pembroke & West Wales Guardian)

8 February 1969 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Jaytree Organisation (Evening Sentinel)

 

29 March 1969 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with Blue Ulysses and Sleepy Talk (Eastern Evening News)

5 April 1969 – Town House, Wellington, Shropshire with Seeburg Discotheque (North Shropshire Journal)

12 April 1969 – New Century Hall, Manchester with The Government, Pete Doyle, Rag Dolls and Peter Lee (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

The Runcorn Weekly News, 17 April 1969, page 12, has a story on the band

10 May 1969 – Music Hall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire with The Swing Ensemble (North Shropshire Journal)

The Grimsby Evening Telegraph 24 May 1969, page 6, has a pic and story on the trio

 

We’d like to hear from anyone who can provide more information in the comments section below

 

Categories: England

Alvin Robinson’s British tours of the 1960s

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New Orleans-based R&B singer and guitarist Alvin Robinson first toured Britain in spring 1966 after he was brought over by promoter Roy Tempest for a nationwide tour with fellow New Orleans stars, female vocal trio, The Dixie Cups.

It isn’t clear who the backing band was on this tour so we’d welcome further information from readers in the comments section at the end.

This isn’t a complete gig list for this tour

Tour dates:

23 April 1966 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, Bishopsgate, east London with The Dixie Cups (Melody Maker)

26 April 1966 – Zambezi, Hounslow, west London with The Dixie Cups (Melody Maker)

30 April 1966 – Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex with The Dixie Cups and The Night People (Brighton Evening Argus/Melody Maker)

30 April 1966 – Cue Club all-nighter, Paddington, west London with The Dixie Cups (Melody Maker)

 

4 May 1966 – Bromel Club, Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London with The Dixie Cups (Melody Maker)

7 May 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester with The Dixie Cups and Steampacket (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Rod Stewart had left Steampacket by this point but they could have been the backing band

 

An article in the Bournemouth Evening Echo notes that local group The Bunch participated in a nationwide tour with Lee Dorsey, Edwin Starr, Ike & Tina Turner and Alvin Robinson in October 1966.

The Bunch in the Bournemouth Evening Echo which mentions touring with Alvin Robinson

None of the gigs listed below tally with the tour dates printed in the newspaper (see above image), however, other than the Leicester gig below on 21 October so it’s possible that The Bunch backed Alvin Robinson at this show.

According to Bryan Stevens, bass player with Bognor-Regis group, The Noblemen, who had previously backed The Vibrations on a Roy Tempest Agency tour in September 1966, The Noblemen backed Alvin Robinson on this second tour in 1966. He confirms that the band backed Edwin Starr at Granby Halls on 21 October and thought that another Tempest agency group, The Senate, might have backed Alvin Robinson, but it is possible that it was in fact The Bunch.

The rest of The Noblemen comprised Jimmy Marsh (lead vocals); Martin Barre (lead guitar/saxophone); Mick Ketley (keyboards/vocals); Chris Rodger (saxophone/trumpet); and Malcolm Tomlinson (drums). To confuse matters, The Noblemen changed name to (The) Motivation in early November 1966 while backing Robinson.

However, The Noblemen didn’t support Robinson on all of the dates below. Pip Williams, lead guitarist with west London band, The Sovereigns, says they backed Robinson on some of these tour dates and points to a photo of Robinson playing his guitar on stage. This is most likely the Whisky A Go Go in Wardour Street, a venue that Ketley says The Noblemen didn’t play.

Originally from Hillingdon, west London, The Sovereigns comprised Roy St John-Foster (vocals); Pip Williams (lead guitar); Mich Tomich (bass); Freddie Tillyer (sax); and Keith Franklin (drums).

After the Club Cedar gigs in Birmingham in early November, The Noblemen also started backing The Coasters on another Roy Tempest organised nationwide tour, so it’s likely that the Robinson shows from that point onwards featured different backing bands, although The Noblemen may have played the odd gig. We’d like to hear from anyone who can provide more information.

This isn’t a complete gig list for this tour

Tour dates:

21 October 1966 – Granby Halls, Leicester with Ike & Tina Turner Show, The Ikettes, Kings of Rhythm, Edwin Starr (with The Noblemen) and Family (Leicester Mercury) Backed by The Senate (or The Bunch)

22 October 1966 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Gloucestershire Echo/Gloucester Citizen) Most likely backed by The Noblemen

22 October 1966 – Cue Club, Praed Street, Paddington, west London (Melody Maker) Most likely backed by The Noblemen

23 October 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire with The Ziggy Turner Combo (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette) Most likely backed by The Noblemen

23 October 1966 (most likely date) – Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Malcolm Tomlinson’s recollections) Backed by The Noblemen

24 October 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Most likely backed by The Sovereigns, according to guitarist Pip Williams

25 October 1966 – Location, Woolwich, southeast London (Melody Maker) Possibly backed by The Noblemen

Nottingham Evening Post, 4 November 1966, page 14

28 October 1966 – Dungeon, Nottingham with The Noblemen (Nottingham Evening Post) Backed by The Noblemen. Nottingham Evening Post reviewed this show in the 4 November (page 14) issue and said the backing group was The Motivation (aka The Noblemen)

29 October 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Noblemen, Alan Bown Set, John McCoy’s Crawdaddies and Listen (Lincolnshire Standard) Backed by The Noblemen

29 October 1966 – Burlesque, Leicester (Leicester Mercury) Most likely backed by The Noblemen

30 October 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle).

31 October 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Most likely backed by The Sovereigns, according to guitarist Pip Williams

1-2 November 1966 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with The Motivations (Birmingham Evening Mail) Backed by The Motivations (formerly The Noblemen)

5 November 1966 – Northwich Memorial Hall, Northwich, Cheshire with Pinkerton’s Colours (Chester Chronicle) The Noblemen/Motivation were playing with The Coasters on this date so probably another backing band

5 November 1966 – Majestic, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) The Noblemen/Motivation were working with The Coasters on this date so probably another backing band

5 November 1966 – Cavern, Liverpool with Herbie Goins & The Night-timers, Johnny Breeze & The Atlantics, The Sect, The Herb Set, The First Lites and The Interns (Liverpool Echo) This was probably another backing band and not The Noblemen/Motivation

We’d like to hear from anyone who can provide more information in the comments section below

Categories: Audition, New York, Rochester, Upstate New York

The Vaqueros from Rochester “Echo” / “Desert Wind” on Audition

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The Vaqueros, from left: Steve Corona, Tom Corona, Larry Weld and David Heath

The Vaqueros had the first release on the Audition Recording label out of Rochester, New York, “Echo” / “Desert Wind”. It hit local charts in early June, 1964 and received a review in Cash Box on June 13, 1964.

Audition Label Bows with “Echo” by the Vaqueros, Cash Box, June 27, 1964

The group registered copyright for “Echo” on June 15, 1964, music by Larry Weld (Laurence R. Weld), David Heath & Tom Corona (Thomas J. Corona). I haven’t yet found a copyright registration for “Desert Wind”.

Band members were:

Larry Weld – lead guitar
Tom Corona – rhythm guitar
Steve Corona – bass
David Heath – drums

The Vaqueros, from left: Larry Weld, Tom Corona, David Heath kneeling with drum sticks and Steve Corona with bass
Vaqueros in the Democrat And Chronicle, June 8, 1964

David Heath wrote a history of the band and provided the photos seen here.

In 1963 two 16 year old boys found an old guitar in the house attic in Rochester NY. Larry Weld, the older of the two, decided he would put strings on it and learn how to play. The other boy David Heath said he had a small pair of bongos, round metal tray mounted on a wood stand and a pair of drum sticks. Together they spent many hours trying to play songs they had heard on the radio.

One month later Larry had purchased his first electric guitar and Dave had purchased his first drum set and by this time both had learned several songs and were starting to make new songs of their own. Knowing they needed a rhythm background Dave and Larry asked another Charlotte High school student Tom Corona to join the group and decided on the name “The Vaqueros” for the band. About a month later we composed the song “Echo”. At this point we were starting to play at many parties and events.

Record review in Cash Box, June 13, 1964
Vaqueros with Al Cecere at WBBF Studio, June 25, 1964

Around 10 months after we first started playing we were asked to play for a Rochester business event and that was the first time we met Al Cecere who was just starting Audition Records. Al said he liked our band sound and said he would like us to make a record with his new company. We said we would and set up a date to record but we had two major problems to overcome.

1: We had no bass player in the band

2: We had no second side for the record

The first problem was resolved by asking Tom’s older brother Steve Corona to play bass. He agreed and he purchased a bass guitar. Then Tom and Larry showed him what notes to play so we could make the record. The second problem was resolved by rapidly (in one day) composing the song “Desert Wind”.

The Vaqueros (and Al Cecere in back) with the Letterman, Niagara
The Vaqueros opened for the Lettermen at Niagara Falls Memorial Arena, July 11, 1964

The Vaqueros in Cash Box, July 18, 1964
After the song was released and hit #1 on the Rochester and surrounding radio stations we had steady play dates in many venues. We had interviews on radio stations, band picture signing dates, photos and release info in Cashbox, and we were the opening act for The Lettermen in Niagara Falls Canada.Within the next month we wrote and (on acetate demo record) recorded our next two songs to be released “Whiplash” and “Our Lost Love”. Al Cecere was setting up for us to open for The Beach Boys.

Just as things were going very well for the Vaqueros the dark side of this business began to show its face. Al Cecere never informed the band of any record sales and stopped supporting us. He had moved on.

With communication with Al Cecere heading downhill, everything slowed and we were all around 18 years old at this point. Life took over and the band started to split. Larry, Dave and Steve went on to other Rochester bands and Tommy married and started a family. We never played together again but do remain friends. Tommy passed away in 2025.

The Vaqueros and the Tweeds at Teen Town, Kenmore, NY, October 1965

The Vaqueros recorded other songs that went unreleased at the time that now exist on lacquer “acetate” or second-generation tape; a few very effective instrumentals that were ready for release and others that were in progress.

“Whiplash” has an excellent ‘wet’ surf sound I did not find a copyright registration for this one.

“Daybreak” is a spirited vamp with excellent lead guitar from Larry Weld and agile drum fills from David Heath. The group registered it as “Daybreaks” on February 25, 1965, with copyright to the full band including Steve Corona.

“Our Lost Love” is a slower ballad, registered on July 1, 1965 to the four members of the group.

Thank you to Dave Heath for his help with this article and for letting me hear the unreleased songs.

Categories: New York, Pelham, Ren-Vell, Westchester

Interview with Jim Klieforth of the Traits

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The Traits, 1967, from left: Bob Creaturo, Bobby Williams (on drums), Mike Carroll, Phil Daddona, Jim Klieforth (on keyboard, obscured) and Artie Williams. Photo from Mike Carroll, courtesy of his family.

I corresponded with Jim Klieforth of the Traits in 2009, about a year after writing about them in some detail in regard to the Ren-Vell Records Battle of the Bands LP. Below is our conversation from that time.

Jime Klieforth: My late brother [Charles Klieforth] was a bit of a wheeler-dealer who wasn’t musical but wanted to be in the rock business in some capacity, nurturing a fantasy of being an impresario. I’d been playing guitar and keyboards for a couple of years and our family home had an empty basement that was suitable for a group to rehearse in, so he sweet-talked me and the best musician-singers he knew into forming a group with him as manager. I’d never met any of these guys but was very impressed with the line-up’s talent and professionalism.

Back then, a group needed to have a couple of hours of material well rehearsed for public performances and we had enough musical common ground to pull that together within two weeks. My brother Chuck and his assistant, Don Reid, started aggressively pursuing work for the band and getting us publicity. Almost overnight, we were playing every local venue and from then on out, our rehearsals were jammed with our local contemporaries (mostly schoolgirls) eager to monitor our development. It was an odd and unexpected social change for all of us.

I wish I could say that we were friendly with other bands at that time but the truth is that we saw all of them as competition that needed to be vanquished. The Orphans, for example, who didn’t shine on the Renvell record, turned into a force to be reckoned with when Bobby Mayo (later of Peter Frampton fame) joined up.

We’d had a real advantage by starting out with a good rhythm section and an extraordinary guitarist (Dom Chicerchia, who left the band just before the Ted Mack show we did) but our competitors began acquiring skills at a pace that caused us to get very serious about playing well and refining all aspects of our performance. In an unfortunate reversal of what usually happens, the only recordings of the band were from very early on, before we really developed musically.

I was born in White Plains. Jimmy Carpenito of the Mystics told me Renvell’s studio was next to Gun Town on Central Ave, a store I vaguely remember from my childhood. Hard to believe there was a recording studio on Central Ave! I’m in Brooklyn, now, but my family’s still in White Plains and Yonkers.

As I recall it, Renvell was a second floor walkup, a big room that struck me, even then, as being quite low budget, a shoestring operation with cheap and/or antique equipment. Given how few records carry the Renvell label, I have to assume that most of their business was geared to commercial jingles for local businesses and radio play. I ran into the guy who ran it (I believe his name was Joe Renda) years later, when he owned Northlake Studios in White Plains.

I reminded him of the album and told him I’d been on it and he replied with a story that I thought at the time was an overblown fabrication. According to him, a couple of big DJ’s in England had fallen in love with the Battle of The Bands album and by repeatedly featuring it, had cultivated the development of the garage band sound there, setting the stage for punk. As he told it, the album was selling for $200.00 a pop there (in 1980 dollars) and “High On a Cloud” had received extensive airplay. It turned out that he’d been telling the truth, and the song became known well enough to end up being covered by the Pandoras. Since then it has been put on more compilations than I’ve been able to keep track of. In what is a common story about recordings of that era, no request for usage in these compilations has ever been requested from the band and no compensation has ever been forthcoming. Some of my former band mates are unhappy about this, but personally, I’m delighted that the recording has been archived and perpetuated as a minor archetype of the true garage band sound.

Traits to appear on Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour on Sunday, September 17, 1967

Q. When Dom left the band, who replaced him for the Ted Mack show, playing guitar behind his neck on the film?

That was Phil Daddona, who had to attempt to learn Dom’s “behind the neck” trick very quickly.  As you can see from the film, he wasn’t particularly adept at it, whereas Dom had been the pre-Hendrix master of it.

Jim Klieforth (2009)

The Traits on “High on a Cloud”:

Mike Carroll – lead vocals
Dom Chicherchia – lead guitar
Jim Klieforth – keyboard
Bob “Creature” Creaturo – guitar
Bobby Williams – drums
Unidentified bass player

The Traits on Ted Mack (July 31, 1967, aired Sept. 17, 1967):

Mike Carroll – lead vocals
Phil Daddona – lead guitar
Jim Klieforth – keyboard
Bob “Creature” Creaturo – guitar
Bobby Williams – drums
Artie Williams – bass

The band seems to have slowly split up, as Mike Carroll was drafted in ’68, but must have come back at some point to be the lead vocalist on the Nobody Loves the Hulk release, from 1969.

Bobby Williams reportedly died some years ago, details are unknown. Three other Traits members have passed: Bob Creaturo on September 12, 2014, Mike Carroll on March 15, 2018, and Dom Chicherchia on August 24, 2021.

The Traits at the entrance to the Pelham Parkway IRT station (the 5 train)

More info can be found in the accompanying booklet to the Mojo-Bone release and Ugly Things #66.

Categories: Kennett Sound, Kennett Sound (Kinderhook NY), Kingston, Lake Katrine, New York, Ulster County

The Psychedelic Sound “Sorry Baby – Goodbye” / “Stars Cease to Shine” on Sunny-Side

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The Psychedelic Sound, January 1968, front left: Linda Lizzi and Tina Bauer, back from left: Jim Schelley, Ronnie Amato and Tom Berger. Not pictured: bassist Kevin Kerr.

The Psychedelic Sound were one of the bands who recorded at Earl Kennett’s studio in Kinderhook, New York.

Psychedelic Sound Kennett Sound Studio Acetate 45 Sorry Baby Goodbye
Lacquer with both songs of the Psychedelic Sound 45
The band released two original songs, “Sorry Baby – Goodbye” / “Stars Cease to Shine” on Sunny-Side Records 0014, Sunnyside being the name of the Kennett family’s horse farm where the studio was located.

Members included:

Linda Rizzi – vocals
Tina Bauer – drums
Jim Schelley – guitar
Ronnie Amato – vocals and keyboards(?)
Tom Berger – guitar
Kevin Kerr – bass

Psychedelic Sound Daily Freeman 1968 Feb 22
plans include making another record
The Kingston Daily Freeman reported on January 22, 1968 that: “the Psychedelic Sound would take part in the annual March of Dimes benefit show Jan. 28 at municipal auditorium. They recently cut two successful platters, Sorry Baby – Goodbye and Stars Cease to Shine.”

A Daily Freeman notice from July, 1968 remarks:

The Psychedelic Sound, a five-piece musical group consisting of teenagers from Kingston and Lake Katrine, won the Battle of the Bands, sponsored by the Saugerties JayCees, which was held July 3 at Cantine Field.

The group has played for many benefits including the American Legion, Band Battles and Cerebral Palsy, and are under the direction of Mary Rizzi, Lake Katrine.

Mary Rizzi, presumably Linda’s mother, is also credited as producer of the 45, as M. Lizzi. The band probably broke up as Linda Rizzi and presumably others were attending college in the fall.

After the Psychedelic Sound, Kevin Kerr is mentioned as the bassist for the Contemporary Souls, in a photo that ran in the Daily Freeman showing guitarists Jim Kluepfel and Guy Walker with drummer Ted Blankschan for a YMCA/YWCA/Kingston Recreation dance on Dedrick Street in August, 1968.

Ronnie Amato played organ at the Cedar Grove Inn in Saugerties and Liguori’s Restaurant in Rosendale.

Tina Bauer had previously been in another local group called 3 Hits and a Miss with a photo that ran in the Daily Freeman in September, 1966 for a dance at Ulster Park Grange Hall.

3 Hits And A Miss, from left: Sal Greco, lead guitar; Tony Greco, vocalist, Tina Bauer, drummer and Al Pace, rhythm guitar

Thank you to Achille Brunet for tracking down the news clips seen here. Achille has his own site, Strange Lights to cover other bands of this period.

There used to be a dozen such blogs and sites going to cover ’60s ‘garage’ music, but the number of active ones has dwindled in recent years. I hope more start up, because there are too many bands from this era whose history is still undocumented.

Categories: Hampton, Hampton Roads, Newport News, Virginia

The Wild Kingdom, Hampton and Newport News, Virginia

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The Wild Kingdom: John Etheridge (drums), Glen (Robbie) Robertson (bass), Bruce West (vocals), and Mike Johnstone (guitar)

Many is the time I’ve had a lead on a band that is obscure to me, which then gets forgotten in the avalanche of emails and comments I received from this site over time. I apologize for not following up in a timely manner.

Steven S. wrote to me a long time ago, 2008, about the Wild Kingdom, and though I corresponded with him, I neglected to post about the band, probably because they didn’t have any records to their name. Only recently have I noticed the connections to other bands such as the Mustangs and the Back Door, so I’ll add the photo and info he sent to me so long ago.

The Wild Kingdom were from the Peninsula (Hampton, Newport News) and used to play on the Southside at all the usual teen clubs.

The Swinging Machine and the Wild Wild Kingdom, at Hullabaloo, Newport News Daily Press, June 1968
The band personnel were: John Etheridge (drums), Glen (Robbie) Robertson (bass), Bruce West (vocals), and Mike Johnstone (guitar). Johnstone was an extremely gifted player who enjoyed considerable acclaim among area musicians.  Etheridge and Robertson wove a tightly solid sound, more like an R&B rhythm section than one might have expected from a hippie band in those days.  West was a versatile singer and quite the showman. 

At one point, they hooked up with Keith (of “98.6” fame) and toured as his backup band for awhile.  They later morphed into “The Back Door” and continued playing at local clubs until they scattered to join various other local groups.  They were the great unknowns in those days, being somewhat eclipsed by Swingin’ Machine. However, they were outstanding players and didn’t pay lip service at all to the “blue-eyed soul” genre that ruled the area back then. Their manager, Jim Tatum, also handled Bill Deal & the Rhondells – go figure!

Wild Kingdom and Back Door were a huge influence on many of us Southside garage punks.  We ranked them above Swingin’ Machine, partly because they didn’t cover any radio hits, but mostly because they were the better band.

I don’t remember Wild Kingdom/Back Door surviving beyond 1969. At that time, Bruce West injured his leg in a motorcycle mishap and “retired” from the music scene. Robbie Robertson likewise dropped off the radar about then.  Mike Johnstone & John Etheridge continued performing with various other area groups until at least the mid 1970’s. Some of the bands I recall were “Headstone Circus”, “Rooth”, “The Dubonettes”, and “Hot Cakes”.

To my knowledge, there are no recordings of the Wild Kingdom.

Jerry Harden published a brief memoir about Barnie’s in Buckroe Beach, VA that mentioned some of the bands I’ve covered, including Adrian & the Sinsations and Danny and the Delnotes. About the Wild Kingdom, he lists an additional member, Ray Witham, and writes that Robby Robinson [sic]: “was arrested on stage for wearing a sword as part of his costume”!

Categories: Hampton, Hampton Roads, Virginia

The Rogues and the Back Door, Hampton VA bands pre-Headstone Circus

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Steve Monaco and Bob Schlagel of the Back Door, 1967

Tina Monaco sent in these photos of the Rogues and the Back Door, two Hampton Virginia bands that didn’t make records but would have at least two members who would go on to Headstone Circus: Mike Johnstone on guitar and Bob Schlagal on bass.

The Rogues 1965-66, Hampton VA, from left: Tommy Clark, Bob Schlagal, Jimmy ?, Jerry ?, and Steve Monaco.

The Rogues ran during 1965 and 1966, and included:

Jerry ? – lead vocals
Tommy Clark – lead guitar
Jimmy ? – rhythm guitar
Bob Schlagal – bass
Steve Monaco – drums

The Back Door existed circa 1967 and included:

Bruce West
Mike Johnstone – guitar
Robbie Robertson
Bob Schlagal – bass
Steve Monaco – drums

Bruce West, Mike Johnstone and Robbie Robertson were also in the Wild Kingdom in 1968.

Tina wrote to me in 2025:

I am Tina Monaco, sister of Steve Monaco. He was a drummer for an incarnation of several bands from the 60s. The bands would practice in our garage at our residence on Big Bethel Road.

We were kids of a career Air Force father and our family retired in 1968 in Miami, Florida. Steve went on from there to marry his Lakenheath American High School sweetheart from our earlier days 1963-1965 in England. He became a commercial airline pilot for major airlines. He and Nancy are retired living in Arizona. I am retired as well, living in Lake Worth Beach Fl.

The Back Door, 1967 from left: Bruce West, Bob Schlagal (at top), Mike Johnstone, unidentified in white shirt, and Robbie Robertson at far right. Steve Monaco drummer not pictured.

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