Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on. I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.
I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com
Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.
The Spencer Davis Group, late 1966. Left to right: Pete York, Muff Winwood, Stevie Winwood and Spencer Davis. Photo may be subject to copyright
THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP:
Stevie Winwood (guitar/keyboards/vocals)
Spencer Davis (guitar/vocals
Muff Winwood (bass/vocals)
Pete York (drums)
1964
28 June 1964 – Beat City, central London with The Clayton Squares (Melody Maker)
7 July 1964 – Attic Club, 1a High Street, Hounslow, Middlesex with Charlie & Inez Foxx and Them (aka Themselves) (Kingston & Malden Borough News/Gray Newell)
Photo may be subject to copyright
25 July 1964 – Corn Exchange, Cambridge with The Prestons (Cambridge News)
17 August 1964 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with The Animals (Essex County Stanard)
12 September 1964 – Attic Club, 1a High Street, Hounslow, Middlesex with The Pitmen (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
13 October 1964 – Aylesbury Bluesville, Borough Assembly Hall, Market Square, Aylesbury, Bucks with Inez and Charlie Foxx (Bucks Advertiser)
Photo may be subject to copyright
6 November 1964 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear with The Falling Leaves (Newcastle Evening Echo)
19 November 1964 – Granada, Aylesbury, Bucks with Manfred Mann, The Soul Sisters, Wayne (Kellie) Gibson and The Dynamic Sounds, Bern Elliott & His Klan, The Mark Leeman Five, The Downliners Sect, Blues By Five and Dave Kaffey (Bucks Advertiser)
29 April 1965 – Carlton Ballroom, Erdington, West Midlands with Lee Stevens & The Satellites (Birmingham Evening Mail)
Photo may be subject to copyright
30 April 1965 – Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham with The Sheffields, Hogs Snort Rupert and His Good Good Band and Roy Everitt’s Blues Hounds (Birmingham Evening Mail)
3 May 1965 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
4 May 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Julian Covey & The Machine (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
31 May 1965 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
2 June 1965 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey (Camberley News)
2 June 1965 – Farnborough Town Hall, Farnborough, Hampshire (Aldershot News)
14 June 1965 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
15 June 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Mark Leeman Five (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
Photo may be subject to copyright
17 June 1965 – Le Metro, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)
Photo may be subject to copyright
19 June 1965 – Jazz & Blues Festival, Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London with The Dutch Swing College, Solomon Burke, Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band, Unit 4 Plus 2, The Loose Ends, The Downliners Sect, Alan Elsdon’s Jazzband, Brian Green New-O-Stompers and The Epitaph Soul Band (Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times)
Photo may be subject to copyright
19 June 1965 – Uxbridge Blues Festival, Uxbridge, northwest London with Marianne Faithfull, The Who, Solomon Burke, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, Long John Baldry, Zoot Money, The Birds, John Mayall, Ray Martin Group and Dave Whittling (Ruislip & Northwood Gazette)
20 June 1965 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Brothers Julius (East Kent Times & Mail)
27 June 1965 – Blue Moon Hayes, west London (Hayes Gazette)
29 June 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Mark Leeman Five (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
7 July 1965 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
12 July 1965 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
Photo may be subject to copyright
15 July 1965 – Carlton Ballroom, Erdington, West Midlands with Roy Everett’s Blues Hounds (Birmingham Evening Mail)
18 July 1965 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
20 July 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Mark Leeman Five (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
21 July 1965 – Bristol Corn Exchange, Bristol (Western Scene)
25 July 1965 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London with The Epitaphs Soul Band (Melody Maker)
26 July 1965 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (Wood Green & Southgate Weekly Herald)
Photo may be subject to copyright
28 July 1965 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London (Melody Maker)
3 August 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Mark Leeman Five (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
Photo may be subject to copyright
6 August 1965 – Droitwich Winter Gardens, Droitwich, Worcestershire with The Ravons (Worcester Evening News)
27 August 1965 – Galaxy Club, Town Hall, Basingstoke, Hampshire (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)
28 August 1965 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent with The Subjects (East Kent Times)
31 August 1965 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
4 September 1965 – Georgian Club, Uxbridge, west London (Hayes Gazette)
5 September 1965 – Blue Moon, Hayes, west London (Harrow Weekly Post/Greenford Weekly Post)
7 September 1965 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
Photo may be subject to copyright
9 September 1965 – Gay Tower Ballroom, Edgbaston, West Midlands with Brian Pearshall Showband (Birmingham Evening Mail)
10 September 1965 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Soundtrekkers and Blues By Five (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
Photo may be subject to copyright
12 September 1965 – Beachcomber, Preston, Lancashire with The Warriors (Lancashire Evening Post)
16 September 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Bo Street Runners (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
20 September 1965 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (Walthamstow Guardian)
21 September 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Mark Leeman Five (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
22 September 1965 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London (Melody Maker)
24 September 1965 – Astoria, Finsbury Park, north London with The Rolling Stones, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron, Charles Dickens & The Habits and The End (Tottenham Weekly Herald)
15 October 1965 – Regal Cambridge, Cambridge with The Rolling Stones, Unit 4 Plus 2, The Checkmates, Charles Dickens & The Habits, The End and Ray Cameron (Cambridge News)
19 October 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Mark Leeman Five (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
22 October 1965 – Ricky Tick, Staines Town Hall, Staines, Middlesex (David Else’s research)
24 October 1965 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London (Melody Maker)
3 November 1965 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London (Melody Maker)
9 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Mark Leeman Five (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
Photo may be subject to copyright
12 November 1965 – Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds, The King Bees and The Cock O Hoops (Birmingham Evening Mail)
15 November 1965 – ‘Bluesville’, Manor House Ballroom, Ipswich, Suffolk (Essex County Standard)
16 November 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Mark Leeman Five (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
21 January 1966 – Redcar Jazz Club, Coatham Hotel, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Rockhouse Band and The Skyliners (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book/Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
Photo may be subject to copyright
22 January 1966 – Astoria Ballroom, Rawtenstall, Lancashire with The Estelles and The Eddie G Martin Combo (Burnley Express and News)
23 January 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (The Star)
26 January 1966 – University of Warwick, Coventry (Beat Instrumental)
28 January 1966 – Bluesville, Manor House, north London (Beat Instrumental)
29 January 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire with The Motovations (David Allen research)
30 January 1966 – Black Prince, Bexley, southeast London (Fabulous 208/South East London Mercury/Mick Capewell’s Marmalade Skies)
31 January 1966 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (Beat Instrumental)
1 February 1966 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
3 February 1966 – Willenhall Baths, Willenhall (Beat Instrumental)
5 February 1966 – Chelsea College, Chelsea, southwest London (Beat Instrumental)
Photo may be subject to copyright
6 February 1966 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey with The Alley Cats (Aldershot News/Camberley News)
7 February 1966 – Bath Pavilion, Bath (Beat Instrumental/Western Scene)
10 February 1966 – Smethwick Baths, Smethwick, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
11 February 1966 – Nottingham University, Nottingham (Beat Instrumental)
12 February 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester (Beat Instrumental)
15 February 1966 – Walsall Town Hall, Walsall, West Midlands (Beat Instrumental)
16 February 1966 – Mecca Ballroom, Royal Pier, Southampton, Hants (Beat Instrumental)
17 February 1966 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Beat Instrumental) Needs confirmation
18 February 1966 – Wolverhampton Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Imps (Derby Evening Telegraph)
19 February 1966 – Pavilion Ballroom, Buxton, Derbyshire (Alderley & Wilmslow & Knutsford Advertiser) Either this or the date below is incorrect
Photo may be subject to copyright
19 February 1966 – Pier Ballroom, Worthing, West Sussex (Boyfriend magazine)
22 February 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Bluesology (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
14 April 1966 – Gaumont, Southampton, Hampshire with The Who, The Merseys, Mike Sarne and The Band of Angels (Western Gazette)
15 April 1966 – Fairfield Hall, Croydon, south London with The Who, The Merseys and The Band of Angels (Chris Broom book: Rockin’ and Around Croydon)
16 April 1966 – Odeon, Watford, Herts with The Who, The Merseys, Mike Sarne and The Band of Angles (Welwyn Advertiser)
17 April 1966 – The Regal, Edmonton, north London with The Rolling Stones, The New Merseys, Mike Sarne & The Band of Angels (Tottenham Weekly Herald)
22 April 1966 – Odeon Derby, Derby with The Who, The Merseys, Mike Sarne and The Band of Angels (Derby Evening Telegraph)
23 April 1966 – Hippodrome, Birmingham with The Who (Disc & Music Echo)
Photo may be subject to copyright
23 April 1966 – Odeon, Rochester, Kent with The Who, The Merseys, Mike Sarne and The Band of Angels (Kent Messenger)
26-30 April 1966 – Gigs in Paris, France (Beat Instrumental)
1 May 1966 – NME Poll Concert, Wembley, west London (Beat Instrumental)
2-7 May 1966 – Gigs in West Germany (Beat Instrumental)
10 May 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Jimmy Cliff Sound (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
11 May 1966 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London (Balham & Tooting News and Mercury)
13 May 1966 – Kirkcaldy, Raith and Whitburn Ballrooms, Scotland (Disc & Music Echo)
14 May 1966 – City Hall, Perth, Scotland (Disc & Music Echo)
15 May 1966 – Lido, Lennox Bank, Scotland (Disc & Music Echo)
16 May 1966 – Mr McGoos, Edinburgh, Scotland (Disc & Music Echo)
19-22 May 1966 – Big Apple, Munich, West Germany and then Star Club, Hamburg, West Germany (Beat Instrumental)
25-26 May 1966 – Gigs in West Germany (Beat Instrumental)
Photo may be subject to copyright
28 May 1966 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire with The Outsiders and The Dean Collins Sound (Burnley Express & News)
28 May 1966 – Richmond Athletic Ground, Richmond upon Thames, southwest London (Beat Instrumental)
29 May 1966 – Britannia Theatre, Britannia Pier, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with Pinkerton’s Colours, Barry Fontoni, Ray Cameron and The Driftwood (Eastern Evening News) Beat Instrumental has North Pier, Blackpool, Lancashire
1-5 June 1966 – Gigs in Ireland (Beat Instrumental)
Photo may be subject to copyright
1 June 1966 – Arcadia, Cork, Republic of Ireland with Dinosaurs Showband (Cork Evening Echo/Cork Examiner)
10 June 1966 – Bluesville, Manor House, north London (Fabulous 208)
Photo may be subject to copyright
11 June 1966 – Pavilion Ballroom, Buxton, Derbyshire with The Blueberries (Alderley & Wilmslow & Knutsford Advertiser)
13 June 1966 – Bluesville, St Matthew’s Baths Hall, Ipswich (Evening Star, Ipswich)
14 June 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with the Jimmy Cliff Sound (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
16 June 1966 – Isle of Man (probably Palace Ballroom, Douglas) (Beat Instrumental) Worthing Gazette lists the band at the Assembly Hall, Worthing replacing The Moody Blues
Photo may be subject to copyright
18 June 1966 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London (Fabulous 208/Melody Maker)
20 June 1966 – Supreme Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent (Fabulous 208)
21 June 1966 – Merton College, Oxford (Fabulous 208)
24 June 1966 – Leicester College of Tech, Scraptoft, Leicester (Fabulous 208)
24 June 1966 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands with The Uglys (Express & Star)
25 June 1966 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)
16 July 1966 – Ritz Ballroom, King’s Heath and Plaza Ballroom, Handsworth, West Midlands (Fabulous 208/Birmingham Evening Mail) World Cup Special
16 July 1966 – Plaza Ballroom, Old Hill, West Midlands (Express & Star)
17 July 1966 – North Pier, Blackpool, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)
19 July 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Habits (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
23 July 1966 – The New Scene, Corn Exchange, Leicester (club’s opening night) (Leicester Mercury)
24 July 1966 – North Pier, Blackpool, Lancashire with Dave Berry and Manfred Mann (Fabulous 208)
29 July 1966 – Blues Festival, Windsor, Berkshire (Beat Instrumental)
30 July 1966 – Spa Royal Ballroom, Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)
19 August 1966 – Race Ballroom, Kirkcaldy, Scotland (Beat Instrumental)
20 August 1966 – Caird Hall, Dundee, Scotland with The Searchers, The Settlers and Eden Kane (Fabulous 208)
21-23 August 1966 – Magoo’s Club, Edinburgh (Fabulous 208)
25 August 1966 – Palace Ballroom, Douglas, Isle of Man (Fabulous 208)
27 August 1966 – St George’s Ballroom, Guernsey, Channel Islands (Fabulous 208)
1 September 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (Melody Maker)
2 September 1966 – Starlite, Greenford, west London (Melody Maker)
3 September 1966 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)
4 September 1966 – North Pier, Blackpool, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)
8 September 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Burnley, Lancashire (Beat Instrumental)
8 September 1966 – Winter Gardens Pavilion, Weston Super Mare, Somerset with The Ken Birch Band and The Raiders (Weston Mercury)
10 September 1966 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire (Beat Instrumental)
15 September 1966 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge (Beat Instrumental)
16 September 1966 – Bluesville, Manor House, north London (Beat Instrumental)
Photo may be subject to copyright
19 September 1966 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Beat Instrumental/Birmingham Evening Mail/Express & Star)
20 September 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Wynder K Frog (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
22 September 1966 – Locarno, Streatham, southwest London (Fabulous 208)
6 October 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Burnley, Lancashire (Fabulous 208)
10 October 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Bristol (Evening Post, Bristol/Fabulous 208)
Photo may be subject to copyright
21 October 1966 – The Marquee Show, Fairfield Hall, south Croydon, London with The Move, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds, Wynder K Frog, The Herd and The VIPs (Chris Broom book: Rockin’ and Around Croydon)
24 October 1966 – Pavilion, Bath (Fabulous 208)
25 October 1966 – Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire (Fabulous 208)
Photo may be subject to copyright
28 October 1966 – ‘The Manor’, Newington Public Hall, Walworth Road, Southwark, London with The Only Ones (South East London Mercury)
Photo may be subject to copyright
29 October 1966 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)
1 November 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Episode Six (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
5 November 1966 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)
11 November 1966 – Metropole, Brighton, Sussex with Zoot Money & The Big Roll Band (Fabulous 208)
12 November 1966 – University College, London (Fabulous 208)
22-25 November 1966 – Gigs in Geneva, Switzerland (Disc & Music Echo)
1-17 December 1966 – Gigs in West Germany (Disc & Music Echo)
19 December 1966 – Sliver Blades, Streatham, southwest London (Coulson & Purley Advertiser)
20 December 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Syn (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
30 December 1966 – R&B Club, Forest Gate, Essex (Fabulous 208) This was probably the Upper Cut as they played with The Mack Sound on this same date
31 December 1966 – Annabel’s, Berkeley Square, central London (Fabulous 208)
1967
6 January 1967 – Matrix Hall, Coventry, West Midlands with Tony Rivers & The Castaways, Jigsaw and Lovers Lot (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
8 January 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Coatham Hotel, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Johnny Rogers Band (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book)
13 January 1967 – Birmingham University, Birmingham (Disc & Music Echo)
21 January 1967 – Queen Mary’s College, London University (Fabulous 208)
22 January 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent (Melody Maker)
28 January 1967 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire (Nuneaton Evening Tribune)
31 January 1967 – Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Fabulous 208)
3 February 1967 – ICI, Pontypool, Wales (Fabulous 208)
4 February 1967 – Liverpool University, Liverpool (Record Mirror)
7 February 1967 – Manchester University, Manchester (Record Mirror)
7 February 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Syn (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
8 February 1967 – Kingsway Theatre, Hadleigh, Essex with Sounds Incorporated, The Fourmost, The Human Instinct and The James Royal Set (Essex Chronicle/Southend Standard)
9 February 1967 – Top Deck, Purfleet, Essex (Record Mirror)
Photo may be subject to copyright
11 February 1967 – Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Wynder K Frog, The Equals and Ray Bones (Lincolnshire Standard)
14 February 1967 – Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham (Record Mirror)
17 February 1967 – Sheffield University, Sheffield (Record Mirror)
18 February 1967 – Dudley Technical College, Dudley, West Midlands (Record Mirror)
21 February 1967 – King’s Hall, Aberystwyth, Wales (Record Mirror)
24 February-2 March 1967 – Scandinavian tour (Disc & Music Echo)
Disc & Music Echo’s 4 March issue, page 6, notes that Stevie and Muff Winwood are leaving. The magazine’s 11 March issue adds that Stevie will depart on 2 April.
11 March 1967 – Granada, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire with Paul Jones, The Hollies, The Tremeloes and The Young Idea (Fabulous 208)
12 March 1967 – City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with Paul Jones, The Hollies, The Tremeloes and The Young Idea (Fabulous 208)
13 March 1967 – Odeon, Glasgow, Scotland with Paul Jones, The Hollies, The Tremeloes and The Young Idea (Fabulous 208)
14 March 1967 – Gaumont, Doncaster, South Yorkshire with Paul Jones, The Hollies, The Tremeloes and The Young Idea (Fabulous 208)
Photo may be subject to copyright
15 March 1967 – Odeon Leeds, West Yorkshire with The Hollies, The Tremeloes, The Richard Kent Style, The Young Idea and Paul Jones (Yorkshire Evening Post)
16 March 1967 – Granada, Bedford, Bedfordshire with Paul Jones, The Hollies, The Tremeloes and The Young Idea (Fabulous 208)
17 March 1967 – Granada, Maidstone, Kent with Paul Jones, The Hollies, The Tremeloes and The Young Idea (Fabulous 208)
18 March 1967 – Granada, Kingston upon Thames, southwest London with Paul Jones, The Hollies, The Tremeloes and The Young Idea (Fabulous 208)
19 March 1967 – De Montfort, Leicester with Paul Jones, The Hollies, The Tremeloes and The Young Idea (Fabulous 208)
22 March 1967 – Granada, Kettering, Northamptonshire with Paul Jones, The Hollies, The Tremeloes, The Young Idea and Richard Kent Style (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
Photo may be subject to copyright
23 March 1967 – Astoria, Finsbury Park, north London with The Hollies, The Tremeloes and Paul Jones (Hackney Gazette)
28 March 1967 – Gaumont, Southampton, Hampshire with Paul Jones, The Hollies, The Tremeloes (Southern Evening Echo)
24-28 March 1967 – Scandinavian tour
The Eastern Evening News (27 February 1967, page 12): Steve Winwood announces he’s leaving. He parts company on 2 April at the end of the Hollies tour. Five strong new SDG due to appear at St Andrew’s Hall, Norwich on 16 May 1967. The current line up is currently in Scandinavia.
Disc & Music Echo’s 15 April issue notes that Spencer Davis has already signed one new band member. He’s looking to sign two more and debut new formation on 7 May.
Disc & Music Echo’s 29 April issue reports Phil Sawyer and Eddie Hardin as new members. It also says there will be four members not five. A later issue notes that Terry Reid from Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers was invited to join but turned the offer down.
Left to right: Eddie Hardin, Phil Sawyer and Pete York. Spencer Davis (front). Photo: Disc & Music Echo. Photo may be subject to copyright
7 May 1967 – New line up debut at Wembley, west London (venue?) (Disc & Music Echo)
May 1967 – Albert Hall, central London (Disc & Music Echo)
May – The band flies to Paris shortly after this debut and plays at Akou Akou Club, Cannes, France (Disc & Music Echo)
19 May 1967 – Marine Ballroom, Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire with Herbie Goins & The Night-timers, The Loot, The Outer Limits and The Doodlebugs (Morecambe Visitor)
Disc & Music Echo’s 20 May issue notes that Eddie Hardin collapsed at the band’s Albert Hall gig before they flew to Paris.
21 May 1967 – Fiesta Club, Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham (Fabulous 208)
22 May 1967 – Top Hat, Spennymoor, County Durham (Fabulous 208)
23-27 May 1967 – Fiesta Club, Stockton-on-Tees and Top Hat, Spennymoor, Durham (Fabulous 208)
Photo may be subject to copyright
South East London Mercury (25 May 1967, page 2) contains a great article on Eddie Hardin (see above).
29 May 1967 – Cambridge Football Supporters Club beat gala, Cambridge with The Yardbirds, Family, The Al Capone Band, Mood Indigo and The Breed (Cambridgeshire Times) Del Paramor says Vince Edwards played instead of Mood Indigo
30 May 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Wynder K Frog (Disc & Music Echo says this is debut of new line up)
Disc & Music Echo’s 15 July issue notes that the group returns from Hungary on 13 July.
Photo: Mirabelle, 15 July 1967. Photo may be subject to copyright
The Kingston and Malden Borough News (28 July 1967, page 7) has a fantastic photo of the new line-up.
Disc & Music Echo’s 5 August issue notes that the band are on a US tour. On the first night at the Cheetah Club below, Spencer Davis had an accident. The magazine says they return to the UK on 4 September.
30 July 1967 – Cheetah Club, NYC, US (Disc & Music Echo)
Photo may be subject to copyright
Portsmouth News has a photo of the band in its 17 August 1967 issue, page 10 (above)
Photo: Mirabelle, 16 September 1967. Photo may be subject to copyright
17-18 November 1967 – Palais Des Sports, Paris, France with others (Melody Maker)
26 Novembr 1967 – Southampton University, Southampton, Hampshire (Melody Maker) Disc & Music Echo reports that this was Phil Sawyer’s final gig
Ray Fenwick replaced Phil Sawyer on lead guitar.
According to Melody Maker, The Spencer Davis Group went to Madrid, Spain for cabaret for 3-4 December 1967.
1968
Photo may be subject to copyright
13 February 1968 – Glen Ballroom, Llanelli, Wales with Simon Dupree & The Big Sound, Tony Rivers & The Castaways, Fleetwood Mac and The Dream (Herald of Wales)
17 February 1968 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire with The Trendmen (Nuneaton Evening Tribune)
7 March 1968 – City of Coventry Confederation of Colleges, Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds, St Louis Union and Piccadilly Line (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
Photo may be subject to copyright
10 March 1968 – Excel Bowl, Middlesbrough with The Zephrons (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
Photo may be subject to copyright
13 March 1968 – Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham with Manfred Mann, The Moody Blues, Don Partridge and The Piccadilly Line (Birmingham Evening Mail)
Photo may be subject to copyright
16 March 1968 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with Jason T Alexandra & The Soulettes (Evening Sentinel/Nantwich Chronicle/Crewe Chronicle)
Photo may be subject to copyright
23 March 1968 – Spa Royal Hall, Bridlington, North Yorkshire with The Sons of Witch and The ABC (Scarborough News)
According to Melody Maker, The Spencer Davis Group return from their debut US tour on 6 May 1968. Later this month, they play shows in Sweden, according to the music paper.
11 June 1968 – Jesus College, Cambridge (Melody Maker)
12 June 1968 – Locarno, Hull (Melody Maker)
Photo may be subject to copyright
14 June 1968 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead with Mud (Melody Maker/Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)
22 June 1968 – Oxford University gig, Oxford with Traffic (Melody Maker)
According to Melody Maker says Spencer Davis Group flies out to Yugoslavia on 24 June.
Photo may be subject to copyright
28 June 1968 – The Factory, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)
13 July 1968 – Hotel Ryde, Ryde, Isle of Wight with The Hush and Helcyon Order (Isle of Wight County Press)
7 August 1968 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset (Bournemouth Evening Echo)
30 September – 3 October 1968 – Richmond Hotel, Brighton, East Sussex (Brighton Evening Argus)
Photo may be subject to copyright
4 October 1968 – Swansea University, Swansea, south Wales with The Californians and The Pyramids (South Wales Evening Post)
12 October 1968 – UEA Students’ Union, Norwich, Norfolk with The Technique (Eastern Evening News)
Photo may be subject to copyright
19 October 1968 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent (Kentish Express)
Melody Maker’s 26 October issue notes that Eddie Hardin and Pete York left the previous week and Dee Murray (bass) and David Hynes (drums) from Mirage had joined. The group flies to Munich the following Thursday followed by Bremen.
New Musical Express, however, notes that Hardin and York left on 26 October and the new line up flies to West Germany on the same day.
19 December 1968 – Grafton Club, RAF Marham with The Individual Set (Lynn News)
27 December 1968 – Bridge Place Country Club, Canterbury, Kent (Canterbury Advertiser)
1969
Photo may be subject to copyright
15 February 1969 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Candy Choir (Folkestone & Hythe District Herald)
20 February 1969 – Imperial College, Charity Concert, Royal Albert Hall with The Move, Status Quo, East of Eden and The Nashville Teens (Melody Maker)
The original Mojos. Photo: Fabulous 208. Photo may be subject to copyright
Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on. I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.
I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com
Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.
Stu James (real name: Stuart Slater) (lead vocals)
Terry O’Toole (piano)
Adrian Wilkinson (lead guitar)
Keith Karlson (real name: Keith Alcock) (bass)
Jon “Bob” Conrad (drums)
Photo: Fabulous 208. Left to right: Jon Conrad, Nicky Crouch, Keith Karlson, Terry O’Toole and Stu James. Photo may be subject to copyright
Formed as The Nomads in early 1962 by lead guitarist Roy Woods and bass player Keith Karlson, the group briefly included future Easybeats drummer Snowy Fleet before he emigrated to Australia; his place taken by Jon Conrad.
The Nomads were subsequently joined by singer/pianist Stu James and rhythm guitarist Adrian Wilkinson (who moved to lead when Woods departed) that September.
Terry O’Toole joined on piano (with James focusing on singing) in August 1963 and the band became The Mojos.
That September, Nicky Crouch replaced Adrian Wilkinson. This formation was responsible for recording the band’s three UK charting singles, including top 10 hit, “Everything’s Alright”.
Selected gigs:
20 November 1963 – Bristol Corn Exchange, Bristol
24 November 1963 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey with The Dynamos
26 November 1963 – Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks
16 December 1963 – Bath Pavilion, Bath
1964
11 March 1964 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with Bryan & The Hangmen
14 March 1964 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Johnny Washington & The Congressmen and Sonny with The Stylos
16 April 1964 – Colchester Odeon, Colchester, Essex with The Kinks, The Dave Clark 5, The Hollies, The Treble Tones and Mark Wynter
2 May 1964 – Astoria, Finsbury Park, north London with The Dave Clark Five, The Hollies, Mark Wynter, The Kinks and Trebletones
3 May 1964 – Odeon, Lewisham, southeast London with The Dave Clark Five, The Hollies, Mark Wynter, The Kinks and Trebletones
10 May 1964 – Granada, Walthamstow, north London with The Dave Clark Five, The Hollies, Mark Wynter, The Kinks and Trebletones
16 May 1964 – Pavilion Gardens, Buxton
17 May 1964 – Oasis, Manchester
20 May 1964 – Club 99, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
21 May 1964 – Top Rank, Birkenhead
22 May 1964 – New Court, Wigan
23 May 1964 – Memorial Hall, Northwich, Cheshire
24 May 1964 – Charity show, Pigalle, central London
28 May 1964 – Locarno, Swindon, Wiltshire
29 May 1964 – Continental, Edmonton, Middlesex
30 May 1964 – Goldhawk Social Club, Shepherd’s Bush, west London
Photo may be subject to copyright
31 May 1964 – Sunday Dance Club, Addlestone, Surrey
3 June 1964 – Salisbury City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire
5 June 1964 – Oasis, Manchester
7 June 1964 – Princess of Wales (Kingsbury?) north London
13 June 1964 – Town Hall, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex with Screaming Lord Sutch and The Beatfinders
22 June 1964 – Bure Club, Mudeford, Dorset (Beat Monthly has The Windmill, Rushden)
24 June 1964 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey (Beat Monthly has Town Hall, Farnborough, Hants)
25 June 1964 – Assembly Hall, Worthing, West Sussex
26 June 1964 – Town Hall, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
27 June 1964 – The Royalty, Chester, Cheshire
28 June 1964 – Britannia Theatre, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
1 July 1964 – Top Rank, Bristol
3 July 1964 – The Palace, Maryport
4 July 1964 – Loughborough College, Loughborough
5 July 1964 – Britannia Theatre, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with The Karl Denver Trio, Mark Wynter, Marty Wilde, Daryl Quist & The Gamblers, The Crestas, The Plebs and Larry Burns
8 July 1964 – Top Rank, Preston
9 July 1964 – The Palace, Douglas, Isle of Man
10 July 1964 – Oasis, Manchester
11 July 1964 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire
12 July 1964 – Britannia Theatre, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
17 July 1964 – Sankey’s, Wellington
18 July 1964 – The Astoria, Rawtenstall
19 July 1964 – Britannia Theatre, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
20 July 1964 – Assembly Rooms, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
22 July 1964 – Attic Club, 1a High Street, Hounslow, Middlesex with The Soundcasters
23 July 1964 – Town Hall, Kidderminster, Worcestershire
24 July 1964 – Palladium, Pembroke Dock
25 July 1964 – The Palace, Wolverton
25 July 1964 – Wilton Hall, Bletchley, Bucks with The Vandell Blues
26 July 1964 – Commodore, Rhyde
29 July 1964 – Bristol Corn Exchange, Bristol with support
1-9 August 1964 – Tour of Scotland
10 August 1964 – Bath Pavilion, Bath
14 August 1964 – Queen’s, Burslem
17 August 1964 – Cellar Club, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey
22 August 1964 – Hastings Pier, Hastings, East Sussex
28 August 1964 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London with Demons and UK’s
Photo may be subject to copyright
29 August 1964 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Phantoms and Banger & The Hermits
7 September 1964 – Cellar, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey
8 September 1964 – Colchester Odeon, Colchester, Essex with The Rolling Stones, Mike Berry & The Innocents, Simon Scott & The Le Roys and Inez and Charlie Foxx
10 September 1964 – Odeon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire with The Rolling Stones, Inez & Charlie Foxx, Simon Scott & The Le Roys and Mike Berry & The Innocents
25 September 1964 – Gaumont, Hanley, Staffordshire
26 September 1964 – Odeon, Bradford
27 September 1964 – Hippodrome, Birmingham
28 September 1964 – Odeon, Romford
29 September 1964 – Odeon, Guildford, Surrey
1 October 1964 – Colston Hall, Bristol
2 October 1964 – Odeon, Exeter, Devon
3 October 1964 – Regal Edmonton, Edmonton, Middlesex with The Rolling Stones, Inez & The Charlie Foxx, Simon Scott & The Le Roys and Mike Berry & The Innocents
4 October 1964 – Gaumont, Southampton, Hants
5 October 1964 – Gaumont, Wolverhamton, West Midlands
6 October 1964 – Gaumount, Watford, Herts
8 October 1964 – Lewisham Odeon, Lewisham, southeast London with The Rolling Stones, Mike Berry & The Innocents, Charlie & Inez Foxx and Simon Scott & The Leroys
9 October 1964 – Gaumont, Ipswich, Suffolk
10 October 1964 – Southend Odeon, Southend, Essex with The Rolling Stones, Mike Berry & The Innocents, Charlie & Inez Foxx and Simon Scott & The Leroys
11 October 1964 – Hippodrome, Brighton, Sussex
Around this time, Conrad, Karlson and O’Toole departed to form The Epics.
James and Crouch continued with The Mojos name bringing in drummer Aynsley Dunbar and bass player Lewis Collins. The quartet recorded two singles for Decca as Stu James & The Mojos: “Comin’ On To Cry” and “Wait a Minute”.
Photo: Fabulous 208. Left to right: Lewis Collins (front), Aynsley Dunbar, Nicky Crouch and Stu James. Photo may be subject to copyright
16 October 1964 – Gig in Nelson, Lancashire (probably Imperial Ballroom)
17 October 1964 – Gig in Dunstable, Bedfordshire (probably California Ballroom)
18 October 1964 – Gig in Hampstead, north London
19 October 1964 – Gig in Willenhall
23 October 1964 – Sankey’s, Wellington
24 October 1964 – Pier, Portsmouth, Hants
25 October 1964 – Gig in Wembley, Middlesex (possibly Starlite Ballroom, Greenford)
30 October 1964 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire
31 October 1964 – Oasis, Manchester
1 November 1964 – North End Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire
6 November 1964 – The Tower, New Brighton
7 November 1964 – Spa Royal, Bridlington
8 November 1964 – Oasis, Manchester
9 November 1964 – Streatham Silver Links, Streatham, southwest London
11 November 1964 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall
13 November 1964 – Co-op Hall, Gravesend, Kent
14 November 1964 – Drill Hall, Grantham, Lincolnshire
18 November 1964 – Bristol Corn Exchange, Bristol
20 November 1964 – Winchester Lido, Winchester, Hampshire with Pete Rivers and The Kingfishers
21 November 1964 – Market Hall, Redhill, Surrey
22 November 1964 – Gig in Mudeford, Dorset
Photo may be subject to copyright
24 November 1964 – Subscription Rooms, Stroud, Gloucestershire with The Roadhogs
25 November 1964 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Hertfordshire with The King Bees
26 November 1964 – Maple Ballroom, Northampton with The Manta Men
27 November 1964 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, Middlesex
28 November 1964 – Leas Cliff, Folkestone, Kent
29 November 1964 – Gaiety, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Phantoms, The Crystal Tones and The Hermitts
29 November 1964 – Southall Community Centre, Southall, Middlesex
1 December 1964 – New Civic Hall, Grays, Essex
Photo may be subject to copyright
4 December 1964 – Hillside Ballroom, Hereford
5 December 1964 – Baths, Scunthorpe
6 December 1964 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham
7 December 1964 – The Cavern, Liverpool
9 December 1964 – Town Hall, Farnborough, Hampshire with support
11 December 1964 – County Hall, LCC, central London
12 December 1964 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with The Zinging Zabres
17 December 1964 – Grafton Club, RAF Marham with Peter Fenn & The Fenmen and Ricky Wilson & The Three Quarters
18 December 1964 – Queen’s, Tredegar
19 December 1964 – George Hotel, Hinckley, Leicestershire
23 December 1964 – Town Hall, Birmingham
26 December 1964 – Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex
Left to right: Nicky Crouch, Aynsley Dunbar, Lewis Collins (front) and Stu James. Photo may be subject to copyright
1965
9 January 1965 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Sneakers
17 January 1965 – Carlton Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
19 January 1965 – Floral Hall, Gorleston, Norfolk with The Seafarers
21 January 1965 – Pier Pavilion, Worthing, West Sussex
23 January 1965 – Conservative Club, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire with The Rumble Blue Men, The Ancestors and Requests
25 January 1965 – Atlanta Ballroom, Woking, Surrey
There’s a great article on The Mojos in the Staines and Egham News, 29/1/65, page 12
5 February 1965 – Kooky-Nook, Windsor, Berkshire
Photo may be subject to copyright
5 February 1965 – Town Hall, Lydney, Gloucestershire with The Buddies
5 February 1965 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Ten Feet Five (is this likely?)
17 February 1965 – Big Daddy’s, Halifax, West Yorkshire
6 March 1965 – Penzance Winter Gardens, Penzance, Cornwall with The Individuals
Photo may be subject to copyright
23 March 1965 – St Joseph’s Hall, Basingstoke, Hampshire with The Muleskinners
25 March 1965 – Parkside Hall, Ampthill, Bedfordshire with The King Snakes
Photo: John Reardon
29 March 1965 – Coed Eva Community College, Cwmbran, south Wales and The Pieces of Mind
5 April 1965 – Bath Pavilion, Bath with The Sherridans
8 April 1965 – The Downs, Hassocks, West Sussex with The Shufflers
11 April 1965 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham
Photo may be subject to copyright
14 April 1965 – Boulevard, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire
21 May 1965 – Corn Exchange, Newbury, Berkshire with The Riots with Paul Vernon
22 May 1965 – Glastonbury Town Hall, Glastonbury, Somerset with The Riots with Paul Vernon
5 June 1965 – Corn Exchange, Cambridge with The Various Others (Colin Jamies, bass player with The Various Others, got in touch to say his group was called The Various Others)
14 June 1965 – Beachcomber, Bolton, Greater Manchester
24 June 1965 – Assembly Hall, Worthing, West Sussex
Photo: Boyfriend magazine, 29 May 1965. Photo may be subject to copyright
2 July 1965 – Morgue Club, Kings Head, Bearwood, West Midlands
3 July 1965 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with The Birds and The Blue Jades
6 July 1965 – Gala Ballroom, Norwich with The Crowd
7 July 1965 – Top Hat, Littlehampton, West Sussex
24 July 1965 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent with The Vikings
Photo may be subject to copyright
7 August 1965 – Galaxy Club, Town Hall, Basingstoke, Hampshire (billed as Stu James & The Mojos)
15 August 1965 – Manor Lounge, Stockport, Greater Manchester
21 August 1965 – Coronation Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent with The Cygnets
Photo may be subject to copyright
31 August 1965 – Witham Public Hall, Witham, Essex with The Pentad (billed as Stu James & The Mojos)
9 September 1965 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge
16 September 1965 – Hotel Ryde Castle, Ryde, Isle of Wight
Photo may be subject to copyright
18 September 1965 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with The Zombies, Eden Kane, Group Survival and The Hounds
19 September 1965 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey with The Alleycats
24 September 1965 – The Cavern, Liverpool
30 October 1965 – Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, south Wales with The Sons of Adam
1 November 1965 – Shoreline Club, Bognor Regis, West Sussex
13 November 1965 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire
19 November 1965 – Cricketers Inn, Westcliff, Southend, Essex with The Orioles
20 November 1965 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Hertfordshire with Trekkers
6 December 1965 – Labour Hall, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire
10 December 1965 – 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon
13 December 1965 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire
17 December 1965 – Guildhall, Axminster, Devon
18 December 1965 – The Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex
1966
4 January 1966 – St Benedict’s Club, Sketty, south Wales with The Staggerlees
12 January 1966 – Top Spot, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire with The Sinners
23 January 1966 – Cromer Olympia, Cromer, Norfolk with The Persuasions
27 January 1966 – Afan Lido, Port Talbot, Wales with The Smokestacks
5 March 1966 – Pier Pavilion, Colwyn Bay, Wales with Rob Storme & The Whispers
14 March 1966 – Cricketers Inn, Westcliff, Southend, Essex
25 March 1966 – Parkside, Ampthill, Bedfordshire with The King Snakes
11 April 1966 – Ashton Palais, Greater Manchester
16 April 1966 – King’s Lynn Corn Exchange, King’s Lynn, Norfolk with The Mike Beaver Five
17 April 1966 – 76 Club, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire with Memphis Five
Photo may be subject to copyright
28 April 1966 – The Pilgrim, Hayward’s Heath, West Sussex with The Motion
21 May 1966 – Town Hall, Louth, Lincolnshire with The Moonspinners
30 May 1966 – Palais De Danse, Worksop, Nottinghamshire with The Square Circle
3 June 1966 – Diss Corn Hall, Diss, Norfolk with Unit 4
4 June 1966 – Victoria Cross Gallery, Wantage, Oxfordshire
Photo may be subject to copyright
10 June 1966 – Royal Albion Hotel, Walton-on-Naze, Essex
8 July 1966 – Salvation College Hall, Harrow Weald, northwest London with The Mode
Photo may be subject to copyright
23 July 1966 – Disc Club, St Martin’s Centre, Colchester, Essex with The She Trinity
30 July 1966 – Corby Civic Centre, Corby, Northamptonshire with Traffic
10 August 1966 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Reasons
20 August 1966 – Retford Town Hall, Retford, Nottinghamshire with Legay and Don T’s Big Sound
25 August 1966 – Dooley Fort, Felixstowe, Suffolk
27 August 1966 – Grimsby Rugby Union Football Ground, Grimsby, Humberside with Mike Taylor Jazz Band
Photo may be subject to copyright
2 September 1966 – Penthouse Suite, Civic & Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Lord Sutch & The Savages, Zuider Zee and The Derry Ryan Foundation
10 September 1966 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire
Record Mirror’s 10 September issue noted that Lew Collins had joined Robb Storme’s band. In fact, he had left the previous month.
Record Mirror’s 24 September issue noted that Aynsley Dunbar had left. He joined John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers before the month was out.
Crouch and James replaced them with drummer Stan Bennett and bass player Deke Vernon from Birmingham.
Left to right: Stu James, Martin Smith, Deke Vernon and Nicky Crouch
Bennett was subsequently replaced by drummer Martin “Cuddles” Smith from Southampton. This line-up recorded the band’s final Decca single, “Good-Bye Dolly Grey”.
9 October 1966 – Waggon & Horses, Wall Heath, West Midlands
14 October 1966 – 3 Men in a Boat, Walsall, West Midlands
13 November 1966 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham
Photo may be subject to copyright
27 November 1966 – Pink Elephant Club, Aspull, Wigan, Greater Manchester
Photo may be subject to copyright
2 December 1966 – Bluesette Club, Bridge Street, Leatherhead, Surrey
Photo may be subject to copyright
4 December 1966 – Casino Club, Burnley, Lancashire with The So On and So Forth
Photo may be subject to copyright
9 December 1966 – The ‘Manor’, Newington Public Hall, Walworth Road, London with Mike Berry & The Luvvers and Bobby King & The Sabres
16 December 1966 – Ballerina Ballroom, Nairn, Scotland with The Soundcasters
18 December 1966 – Casino, Westhoughton, Greater Manchester with The Shymes
1967
7 January 1967 – Morley Town Hall, Morley, North Yorkshire with The Mindbenders
10 January 1967 – Walton Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (billed as New Mojo Band)
Photo may be subject to copyright
28 January 1967 – Wilton Hall, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire with The Crush
Photo may be subject to copyright
9 February 1967 – Embassy Suite, Thursday Club Colchester, Essex with Rick and Us
13 February 1967 – Drill Hall, Newmarket, Suffolk
17 February 1967 – Town Hall, Haverhill, Suffolk
Photo may be subject to copyright
21 February 1967 – Walton Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
23 February 1967 – Cobweb, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with Fingers Lee
25 February 1967 – Marine Ballroom, Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire with Alan Taylor Band and MBQ
Photo may be subject to copyright
4 March 1967 – Lewes FC Beat Rave, Lewes Town Hall, Lewes, East Sussex with The Swinging Blue Jeans and The Individuals
Photo may be subject to copyright
26 March 1967 – Starlite, Greenford, west London with The Gods (Billed as The New Mojo’s)
Photo may be subject to copyright
1 April 1967 – Evington Boys’ Club, Evington, Leicestershire (billed as The New Mojos)
Photo may be subject to copyright
15 April 1967 – Walton Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
28 April 1967 – Tiger’s Head, Catford, southeast London (billed as New Mojo Band)
13 May 1967 – Alexandra Hall, Halifax with The Reaction
14 May 1967 – Las Vegas Discotheque, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
Photo may be subject to copyright
20 May 1967 – Spa Royal Hall, Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire with Paul & Barry Ryan, 21st Century and The Penjants (billed as The New Mojos)
17 June 1967 – Raven Club, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire with The Yardbirds, Paul & Barry Ryan and Sound Force Five Billed as The New Mojos
22 June 1967 – Go Go Club, Labour Hall, Gillingham, Kent
7 July 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Grimsby, Humberside with Long John Baldry Show with Stewart A Brown, Alan Walker and Bluesology
Photo may be subject to copyright
5 August 1967 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with The Action and First Movement
It may have been around this time that the band spent a few months working at a luxury hotel in the Ivory Coast.
Photo may be subject to copyright
16 September 1967 – Lewes Town Hall, Lewes, West Sussex with The Individuals and The Tornados
30 September 1967 – White Buck Inn, Burley, Dorset with Nathan’s Ware
Photo may be subject to copyright
27 October 1967 – Regal Ballroom, Bonnyrigg, Scotland with The Riot Squad and The Klan
27 October 1967 – Whitburn Miners’ Welfare, West Lothian, Scotland with The Bo Weavols and Three’s a Crowd
29 October 1967 – Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Scotland
30 October 1967 – Raith Ballroom, Kirkcaldy, Scotland
31 October 1967 – The Hub Club, Clydebank, Scotland
5 November 1967 – Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Scotland
12 November 1967 – Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Scotland
Photo may be subject to copyright
14 November 1967 – Kaleidoscope Discotheque, Odeon Ballroom, Ashford, Kent with The End (Kentish Express)
2 December 1967 – The Cavern, Liverpool with The Tee Time Shock, Fred Lloyd’s Bicycle and The Bare Essentials
9 December 1967 – The Night Prowler, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with Soul Concern
10 December 1967 – New Regis Club, Butlins, Bognor Regis, West Sussex with The Urchins
15 December 1967 – Garden Village Youth Club, Wrexham, Wales with Legal Matter and Opposition
1968
24 January 1968 – The Cavern, Liverpool with The Perfumed Garden, The Beechwoods, Fred Lloyd and Gerry Shaw
Left to right: Stuart Slater (aka Stu James), Martin Smith, Eddie Harnett and Duncan Campbell
Around this time Stu James relocated to the Southampton area and started performing under his real name Stuart Slater.
He retained Martin Smith but split from Nicky Crouch and Deke Vernon and added two new musicians from the local area: guitarist/singer Eddie Harnett and bass player singer/Duncan Campbell.
23 February 1968 – The Cobweb, St Leonards, East Sussex with Fingers Lee
3 March 1968 – Sarisbury Community Centre, Southampton, Hants
9 March 1968 – Town Hall, Wem, Shropshire with The Skylons
10 March 1968 – Indigo Vat, Southsea, Hants
Photo may be subject to copyright
30 March 1968 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset with The Derek James Show
Photo may be subject to copyright
6 April 1968 – Weymouth Pavilion Ballroom, Weymouth, Dorset with The Lord Maurice Group
14 April 1968 – New Forest Hotel, Ashurst, Hants
27 April 1968 – Crossfield Hall, Romsey, Hants with The Five Degrees
3 May 1968 – Steering Wheel, Weymouth, Dorset
Photo may be subject to copyright
10 May 1968 – Stonehenge Inn, Durrington, Wiltshire (billed as Stu James & The Mojo’s)
11 May 1968 – Il Rondo, Leicester
Photo may be subject to copyright
22 May 1968 – Walking Dog Club, White Horse Hotel, Quidhampton, Wiltshire
Photo may be subject to copyright
25 May 1968 – Mistrale Club, Beckenham Junction, south London with Sweet Rain
NME review, June 1968, of the band’s lone 45 on Liberty. Photo may be subject to copyright
In June, the band released its new single on Liberty Records “Until My Baby Comes Home”.
13 June 1968 – Savoy, Southsea, Hants with Skip Bifferty, The Amboy Dukes, Brother Bung, The Motion, Tangerine Slyde, Technicolour Yawn and others
15 June 1968 – Steering Wheel, Weymouth, Dorset
Photo may be subject to copyright
26 June 1968 – Mackadown, Kitts Green, West Midlands with Morning Dew
29 June 1968 – East Cliff YC, Bournemouth, Dorset with The Feel
Around this time drummer Tony House took over from Martin Smith on drums.
1 July 1968 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands
11 July 1968 – Ravensbourne College, Bromley, southeast London with The Pretty Things
19 July 1968 – Weymouth Pavilion Ballroom, Weymouth, Dorset (billed as Mojos with Stu James)
20 July 1968 – The Crown, Midhurst, West Sussex
Beat Instrumental‘s July 1968 issue, page 31 listed the following line up:
Stu James – vocals/rhythm guitar (b. 14 June 1945, Liverpool)
Duncan Campbell – bass (b. 19 December 1947, Cheltenham)
Eddie Barnett – lead guitar (b. 19 June 1949, Southampton)
Tony House – drums (b. 19 March 1949, London)
4 August 1968 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire
The Portsmouth News, 8 August 1968, page 22, has a short article and photo of the band
9 August 1968 – Punchbowl, Latchworth, West Midlands
Photo may be subject to copyright
10 August 1968 – Il Rondo, Leicester
Photo may be subject to copyright
11 August 1968 – New Forest Hotel, Ashurst, Hampshire
23 August 1968 – Steering Wheel, Dorchester, Dorset
Fabulous 208 Magazine‘s 24 August 1968 issue, page 3, reported that Stu James and Nicky Crouch had gone to the Ivory Coast to play in a luxury hotel with a new group for three months (1967). It added that James now had a new version together and was working on an LP.
Photo may be subject to copyright
7 September 1968 – Lewes Town Hall, Lewes, East Sussex with The Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede and The Fascination
Photo may be subject to copyright
12 September 1968 – Southampton Pavilion, Southampton, Hampshire with Fusion
Photo may be subject to copyright
21 September 1968 – Crosfield Hall, Ramsey, Hampshire with The Poppies (billed as The Mojo featuring Stu James)
Photo may be subject to copyright
23 September 1968 – Empire Hall, Totton, Hampshire
3 October 1968 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire
Photo may be subject to copyright
12 October 1968 – East Cliff Youth Club, Bournemouth, Dorset
13 October 1968 – Byron, Greenford, west London
Photo may be subject to copyright
19 October 1968 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham
27 October 1968 – Regal, Ringwood, Dorset
16 November 1968 – Crossfield Hall, Romsey, Hants with The Promise
17 November 1968 – Sarisbury Community Centre, Southampton, Hants
24 November 1968 – Royal Pier, Southampton Pavilion, Southampton, Hants
28 November 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London
29 November 1968 – Mistrale, Beckenham, south London with Kaleidoscope
30 November 1968 – White Buck Inn, Burley, Dorset with The Axis
1 December 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk
2 December 1968 – Empire Hall, Totton, Hants
7 December 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with Pure Medicine
8 December 1968 – Parley Sports Club, Parley, Dorset
Photo may be subject to copyright
13 December 1968 – Brockley County School, Brockley, southeast London with The New York Public Library
14 December 1968 – Fellowship Inn, Eltham, southeast London
15 December 1968 – Sarisbury Community Centre, Southampton, Hants
22 December 1968 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire. Billed as Stewart James & The Mojos
Photo may be subject to copyright
26 December 1968 – Marine Ballroom, Lyme Regis, Dorset with support
Photo may be subject to copyright
28 December 1968 – Concorde, Basset Hotel, Southampton, Hants
1969
29 January 1969 – Reading University, Reading, Berkshire with The Inflatable Tags
6 February 1969 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London
6 March 1969 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London
8 March 1969 – Hastings Pier, Hastings, East Sussex with Beat Syndicate
Photo may be subject to copyright
4 April 1969 – Globetrotters Club, Poole, Dorset
Photo may be subject to copyright
12 April 1969 – Queen’s Hall, Cuckfield, West Sussex with Johnny Carr Show
Photo may be subject to copyright
2 May 1969 – The Royal Oak, Hockley Heath, West Midlands
9 May 1969 – Globetrotters Club, Poole, Dorset
23 May 1969 – Globetrotters Club, Poole, Dorset
4 June 1969 – Room at the Top Club, Redruth, Cornwall
Photo may be subject to copyright
9 November 1969 – Rebecca’s, Birmingham
27 December 1969 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
Sources include:
Aldershot News, Beat Instrumental, Beat Monthly, Bletchley & District Gazette, Bridport News, Fabulous 208 Magazine, Bolton Evening News, Burnley Express and News, Dorset Evening Echo, Eastern Evening News, Evening Argus (Brighton), Evening Tribune, Littlehampton Post, Hull Daily Mail, Halifax Daily Courier and Guardian, Melody Maker, Nottingham Evening Post, Southern Evening Echo, Surrey Comet, Windsor, Slough and Eton Express, Woking Herald, Woking News & Mail, Birmingham Evening Mail, Essex County Standard, Shropshire Journal, Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser, Sussex Express and County Herald, Mid Sussex Times, Warrington Guardian, Wrexham Leader, South Wales Argus, South Wales Evening Post, Streatham News, Gloucester Citizen, Express & Star, Evening Star (Ipswich), Lynn News, Tadcaster News, Welwyn Times, Bucks Free Press, Lyme Regis News, Tottenham Weekly Herald, Wessex Gazette, West Briton, Western Scene, Portsmouth News and Yarmouth Mercury.
Many thanks to Stuart Slater for his help and for providing some of the band images. Thanks to Rolf Hannet for providing some of the Beat Monthly and Beat Instrumental gigs.
Thanks to Dave Clemo for providing the contents of this entry, including the extensive gig list at the end
This is the story of The Tin Hat, Kettering’s legendary music venue. Between 1967 and 1969 many of the UK’s finest bands performed there.
This account is taken from Back Street Genius by Dave Clemo, with Roger Kinsey and Mavis Tompkins.
The book is the first of two books about legendary recording studio owner/engineer Derek Tompkins.
The roll call of musicians and producers who had their first studio experience at Derek’s Shield and Beck Studios include Queen bass player John Deacon; Whitesnake guitarist Bernie Marsden; and world famous record producers of the calibre of Max Norman, Trevor Horn and David Foster.
Copies of Back Street Genius can be ordered from Waterstones and Rough Trade. It is also available as an eBook.
The Tin Hat was a corrugated iron clad steel framed building that had originally been opened in 1900 as the Athletic Club. It was nestled in the shadow of the town’s football ground. The facilities were almost non-existent and eventually the decision was taken to open a new club along the road.
The new building had a large car park and the rear doors opened onto the stage which made loading in very easy for the groups that performed there. It opened for business in April 1967 and the old hut was consigned to history.
A few weeks later Derek Tompkins’ brother Brian reopened The Tin Hat as a music venue. He removed the old central bar and built a stage at one end. It proved to be very popular from the outset, so much so that both Derek and his wife Mavis came in most Saturday nights to help behind the bar.
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
The opening night was June 10th, 1967. The club opened on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with a live band (or two) on a Saturday night and discos on the other nights. This fitted in well with The Works, the other regular music venue in Wellington Street. Their live music nights were on Sunday and Monday nights.
Very few photos of the venue exist. The smell of the interior must have been a heady mixture of tobacco smoke and warm beer, and no doubt the floor would have been pretty sticky by the end of the evening.
The disco nights featured Brian (Tompkins Sound) and Mavis’ brother Alan (Allan D). They used Derek Tompkins’ hand built Shield disco gear and it wasn’t long before they were performing at other well-known venues like the Nag’s Head at Wollaston or the George at Wilby.
Mavis Tompkins wrote: “Brian used to book some of the most famous soul and Motown bands of the time. Most of the Tompkins family got involved, from Brian’s wife (another Mavis), on the door, to his older kids on the cloakroom and glass collecting duties.
Derek and I would help behind the bar with serving drinks and glass washing, which involved dunking empty beer glasses into an ice-cold sink full of murky water as fast as we were able.
Our tasks included sweeping the filthy debris and beer-soaked floors and toilets afterwards. Mavis, Brian’s wife, had to be a pretty tough cookie, dealing with clashes from mods and rockers etc., and was famous for knocking out one belligerent customer who ended up in hospital!”
Derek later wrote: “It was always full to capacity every Saturday night, supposedly with around 200-300 punters, but it was more like 600! Brian booked a host of big stars: including Fleetwood Mac and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.”
Fake bands
In the mid sixties the Roy Tempest Organisation was one of the UK’s biggest music promoters and agents. The Canadians (featuring a very young David Foster on keyboards) signed with them in late 1966 and went to work backing visiting US acts like Chuck Berry.
However, there was another side to the agency. They regularly brought in unknown US acts and passed them off as Motown groups. The groups were tribute acts, sometimes but not always containing an original band member.
Tempest got around the law by subtly changing their names, calling them ‘The Fabulous Temptations’ or the ‘Original Drifters’.
Bill Pinkney was an original member of The Drifters dating back to 1953 and sang bass on many of their hit records. He and the group toured the UK three times in 1966.
Pinkney was back in the UK in 1967, this time accompanied by three singers who had never been Drifters at all. They were the unknown US band The Invitations. This was the line-up that played the Tin Hat on Friday September 29th.
The music press was soon up in arms. A reporter from Disc took it up with Tempest who argued that the promoters knew only too well they are not getting the real group. He claimed it was OK because he knew of five sets of Drifters touring the US at that time.
Tempest supplied several more acts for the Tin Hat in 1967/8, including ‘The Fabulous Temptations’ on September 15th, 1967 (actually the Fantastics who had recently changed their name from The Velours).
James & Bobby Purify appeared on February 3rd, 1968. It’s quite possible that the February 17th appearance by Edwin Starr was yet another tribute act. Tempest also had a Mary Wells and a Fontella Bass act. They were the same singer.
My co-author Roger Kinsey remembers going to The Gaiety in Ramsey to see The Isley Brothers in February 1968. Were they the genuine article? Nobody knew what the genuine band looked like, and that was good enough for Tempest.
Motown eventually took legal action against him when they discovered that The Fantastics were being passed off as The Temptations and the resulting court case ended with Tempest’s bankruptcy.
Between 1967 and 1969 the Tin Hat was an important part of Kettering’s entertainment and night life. Every weekend the venue was packed to the rafters with people out to enjoy a good time. The acts that Brian booked covered almost every genre from Blues and Prog to Soul and Pop, and even jazz for a few weeks during the summer of 1967. The club was usually open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with live bands on Saturdays. Some of the descriptions of the groups make interesting reading half a century later.
People travelled to the venue from Rothwell, Desborough and Corby and from Christmas 1967 the club laid on late buses to get everyone home. The management of the club changed hands early in 1969 and an era was at an end. The venue continued for a few more years but mainly concentrated on Soul/Motown.
I looked through every back issue of the Kettering Evening Telegraph between 1962 and 1969 while researching Back Street Genius and photographed every advert for the Tin Hat.
Here is the complete list of shows
1967
Saturday, June 10th Horatio Soul & the Square Deals Show plus, Yvonne the limbo dancer and the Q Men (opening night)
Sunday, June 11th (Fontana recording artists) The Night People plus The Trax
Friday, June 16th (from Coventry) Inside Out
Saturday, June 17th (from the USA) Winston G backed by The Set plus The Ironsides
Sunday, June 18th (Top surfing performers) Deuce Coupe
Friday, June 23rd Dimples plus Updown Round Sound (from Oxford)
Saturday, June 24th (Surfing harmony group) The Symbols plus, The Swamp
Sunday, June 25th Gravy Train (from Birmingham) plus Disco
Friday, July 1st Disco
Saturday, July 2nd Sean Buckley Big Set plus Stumbling and Falling plus Rio Moody Dancers
Sunday, July 3rd (Radio TV and Recording stars) The Peeps
Friday, July 7th Disco
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, July 8th (Coloured Colourful CBS Recorders) The Gass
Sunday, July 9th Disco
Fri day, July 14th Disco
Saturday, July 15th Joyce Bond (Do the Teasy) Band Show
Sunday, July 16th Jazz Disco
Saturday, July 22nd (From London) Shell Shock Tamla Show
Friday, July 28th Disco
Saturday, July 29th Wynder K Frog & his Frogmen plus, The Plastic Dreamboat light show
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, August 5th The C.A.T. plus U.S.A. Flattop
Saturday, August 12th The Syn plus The Friction
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Friday, August 18th Allan D Disco (Alan Dobson is Mavis’ brother)
Saturday, August 19th P P Arnold with her Nice. A few weeks later they had split from her. Organist Keith Emerson later became a global superstar with Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
Sunday, August 20th Disco
Friday, August 25th Disco
Saturday, August 26th The Reg James Explosion plus Crash Landing
Sunday, August 27th Disco
Friday, September 1st Allan D Disco
Saturday, September 2nd Ebony Keys with the Hip Hooray Band (Cat Stevens’ former backing group), plus The Unit Six
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, September 9th John Mayall’s Blues Breakers with support from Pesky Gee
Friday, September 15th The ‘Fabulous’ Temptations (this was The Fantastics) plus The Invaders
Saturday, September 16th Root & Jenny Jackson with the Hightimers, plus Purple Barrier
Friday, September Sep 22nd Deuce Coupe
Saturday, September 23rd Disco
Friday, September 29th The Original Drifters (one of Roy Tempest’s fakes)
Saturday, September 30th Freddie Mac and the Mac Sound, plus The Survivors
Saturday, October 7th Nite People plus Stumblin ‘n Falling Blues Band
Sunday, October 8th Spencers Washboard Kings
Saturday, October 14th Disco
Sunday, October 15th Max Collie’s Rhythm Aces
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, October 21st Riot Squad plus the Triads
Sunday, October 22nd Bill Nile’s Delta Jazzband
Friday, October 27th Image (Kettering’s 1st and Only Light Show Scene)
Saturday, October 28th The Gass supported by The Traxx
Friday, November 3rd Disco
Saturday, November 4th (From Detroit) Max Baer and the Chicago Setback support by Friction
Friday, November 10th Allan D Disco
Saturday, November 11th Mike Stuart Span supported by The Dream plus Rio Moody Style Dancers
Sunday, November 12th Allan D Disco
Friday, November 17th Allan D Disco
Saturday, November 18th Rob Storme and the Whispers
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, November 25th Family with support from You Know Who
Saturday, December 2nd Sugar Simone and the Programme & Mo Brown and Hellions People
Sunday, December 3rd Allan Dee Disco
Saturday, December 9th Pinkertons Assorted Colours plus The Heretics
Sunday, December 10th Allan D Disco
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, December 16th P P Arnold with the TNT, plus The Crew
Sunday, December 17th Allan D Disco
Saturday, December 23rd Shevelles plus the Kobalts
Sunday, December 24th Laverne West and the Fabulous Rangers Showband
Tuesday, December 26th Swinging Q Men & the Spectre Powerhouse
Saturday, December 30th King Ozzie, Earl Green, Honey Darling and the Coloured Raisings Show
Sunday, December 31st Sweethearts & the Adlib Group
1968
Saturday, January 6th Peter Green and Fleetwood Mac plus John James and the Swamp Band (from Northampton)
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, January 13th Amboy Dukes plus Surrealist Adventure
Saturday, January 20th Triads plus the Ironsides
Saturday, January 27th Milton James and the Harlem Knock-out, plus Sweethearts
Saturday, February 3rd James & Bobby Purify plus Surrealist Adventure plus Rio Moody Dancers (Another Tempest fake?)
Saturday, February 10th Bobby Johnson and the Atoms plus Vfranie
Saturday, February 17th Edwin Starr plus Motiv (Another fake?)
Saturday, February 24th Equals plus Magic Roundabout
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, March 2nd Guy Hamilton Sound plus Sweet Heart
Saturday, March 9th Jimmy Cliff with Wynder K Frog, plus The Heretics
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, March 16th Pesky Gee! plus The Trade
Saturday, March 23rd Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation
Copyright: Brian Hindmarch
Saturday, March 30th Chicken Shack with Christine Perfect
Copyright: Brian Hindmarch
Saturday, April 6th La Pelle Nero plus Howling Robin and his Cool Cats Girls a go go
Sunday, April 7th The Symbols
Saturday, April 13th Riot Squad plus Blue Magnum
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, April 20th Herbie Goins and the Nightimers, plus Howling Robin and his Cool Cats
Saturday, April 27th Showstoppers plus Rupert’s Rick N Beckers (NO SHOW)
Saturday, May 4thNepenthe with backing group, plus The Trax
Saturday, May 11th Hal C Blake plus Adlib plus Owlin Robin
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, May 18th Savoy Brown Blues Band plus The Friction
Saturday, May 25th Skip Bifferty plus disco
Saturday, June 1st Chantells plus Wild ‘n Silk Band, Sue Spencer, Kirk St James. Stage 2 Simon K and the Meantimes
Saturday, June 8th Family
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, June 15th The Taste plus Soul Bucket Show
Saturday, June 22nd Honeybus plus Art (from Leicester with John Deacon on bass)
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, June 29th Four Kents plus Submarines
Saturday, July 6th Freddie Fingers Lee plus Bubblegum
Saturday, July 13th Simon K & the Meantimers plus Trax
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, July 20th Dr K’s Big Blues Band, plus Rupert’s Rick ‘n Beckers
Saturday, July 27th Pesky Gee! plus disco
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, August 3rd Jethro Tull
Saturday, August 10th Vanity Fair plus disco
Saturday, August 17th Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, August 24th Freddie Mac & Mac Sound
Saturday, August 31st Lloyd Alexander Real Estate plus Donnell Jackson & Broadway Crowd
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, September 7th The Taste plus the CAT Roadshow with US Flattop
Saturday, September 14th Lucas and the Mike Cotton Sound
Saturday, September 21st Billy Davis plus Bubblegum
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, September 28th Simon Dupree and the Big Sound, plus The Krisis
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, October 5th Cuby and The Blizzards (from Holland), plus Simon K and the Meantimers
Saturday, October 12th Fearns Brass Foundry
Saturday, October 19th Foundations plus The Market
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, October 26th Fantastics (USA) plus The Trax (They had previously played the Tin Hat as the Fabulous Temptations)
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, November 2nd Fleetwood Mac, Duster Bennett, plus Chris Shakespears Globe Show
Saturday, November 9th Oscar Toney Junior plus Apex Big Roll Band
Saturday, November 16th Flirtations plus Chris Bartley & group
Saturday, November 23rd Black Cat Bones plus Bubblegum
Saturday, November 20th The Taste plus Sonny Burke Show
Saturday, December 7th JJ Jackson backed by Kippington Lodge
Saturday, December 14th The CAT Roadshow feat US Flattop
Saturday, December 21st Wynder K Frog
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Tuesday, December 24th New Formula
Saturday, December 28th Ferris Wheel? (no separate advert)
Tuesday, December 31st Bubblegum
1969
Saturday, January 4thSimon K & The Meantimers
Saturday, January 11th Radio1’s Mike Raven plus Hal C. Blake
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, January 18th Ray Williams and his Grenades
Saturday, January 25th Sasparella
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, February1st Plastic Penny
Saturday, February 8th Paul Williams Set (Formerly the Alan Price Set)
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, February 15th 20th Century Show
From February 22nd The adverts suggest that the venue had changed hands. The adverts have KAWMC printed on them. Had the club been taken over by the Kettering Athletic Working Mens Club? Within a few weeks the adverts had moved from the main entertainments page to the ‘Around the clubs’ page.
Saturday, February 22nd (KAWMC) The Decoys & Disco
Saturday, March 1st (KAWMC) Simon K & Meantimers
Saturday, March 8th Closed for redecorating. Re-open April 5th
Saturday, April 5th Soul Express plus The Ketas
Saturday, April 12th Noel & The Fireballs plus Shelley Tane
Saturday, April 19th Ruby James & Sound Trekkers
Saturday, April 26th Freddie Noaks & The Rudies, plus Herbal Remedy
Wednesday, April 30th Disco every Wednesday
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, May 3rd Status Quo
Saturday, May 10th Killing Floor
Saturday, May 17th The Ebonies
Friday, May 23rd Sand
Saturday, May 24th Jerome Arnold Band
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, May 31st Scorpions
June Mondays TTT Disco
Friday, June 6th Disco
Saturday, June 7th Mandrakes
Saturday, June 14th Wellington Kitch
Saturday, June 21st Moth
Friday, June 27th Theodore Green
Saturday, June 28th The Variations
July Fridays TTT Disco
Saturday, July 5th Monday Morning Glory Band
Saturday, July 12th Simon K & Meantimers
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, July 19th Ace Kefford Stand (former Move bass player)
Saturday, July 26th The Axe with Rodger Bloom
Saturday, August 2nd No Advert in paper
Saturday, August 9th Cherry Blossom Clinic
Saturday, August 16th Sand
Saturday, August 23rdPtarmigen
Saturday, August 30th Killing Floor
Saturday, September 6th Clouds
Saturday, September 13th Lions of Juda (from Israel)
Thanks to Dave Clemo for the photo
Saturday, September 20th Herd (after Peter Frampton had left them)
Sarah Minney, who does military research at the National Archives, got in touch as she had come across some photos of an unknown British band(s), dating from the 1958-1961 period.
Dated 13/4/1958
She very kindly passed on the photos, which I have included here. We would very much like to hear from anyone who might be able to identify the musicians and the band(s).
There are no details, although one photo is dated 13/4/58 and another is June 1961, which I have listed above.
The photos were bought at an auction and came with a photo of west London band Jeep Rongle but it’s not clear if any of these musicians were in this unknown band. Another photo has a Wrexham address on the back.
Topaz were a vocal harmony group formed in 1969 after Robert Valentine left The Button Hole Band.
The band comprised (left to right): Ian Edlin (vocals), Roy Burchell (drums), Jan Edlin (vocals), Keith Richard (lead guitar) and Robert Valentine (bass/vocals).
The Stardusters went professional in 1963 when they changed name to Unit 4 (no relation to the Ealing band nor the better known Unit 4 Plus 2) to back HMV recording artist Ricky Bowden.
The band comprised (as shown in the above photo, left to right):
Robert Valentine (rhythm guitar)
Brian Ranger (bass)
Graham Willeard (drums)
Richard Miles (lead guitar)
In 1964, Valentine went on to form The Clockwork Oranges.
Photo: Robert ValentinePhoto: Robert ValentinePhoto: Robert ValentinePhoto: Robert Valentine
Formed by Valentine and Parish in early 1968 when The Clockwork Oranges broke up, Brian Brockie had previously played with The Honey Band. The group played at the Witchdoctor in Catford and on one occasion (most likely 17 February), they supported Marmalade.
Thanks to Robert Valentine for the photo and history
Roger Cotton (lead guitar/keyboards/vocals), Robert Valentine (rhythm guitar/vocals), John Parish (drums) and Harry Blakey (bass/vocals). Thanks to Robert for the photo.
Robert Valentine (rhythm guitar/vocals)
Roger Cotton (lead guitar/keyboards/vocals)
Harry Blakey (bass/vocals)
John Parish (drums)
The Clockwork Oranges were formed in early 1964 and were based in southeast England, playing various ballrooms, clubs and dances. When the band split up in 1967, Roger Cotton went on to join Johnny Johnson’s Bandwagon, Brothers Grimm, Peter Green’s Splinter Group, and Buddy Whittington, playing keyboards. Robert Valentine and John Parish formed The Button Hole Band. Cotton passed away in 2016 but the remaining three are still around and Valentine continues to perform.
Late 1967 gig in Hastings, East Sussex. Thanks to Robert Valentine
Many thanks to Robert for providing information about the band
Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on. I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.
I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com
Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.
Photo may be subject to copyright. The Pretty Things, spring 1965
Formed in September 1963, The Pretty Things’ original line up comprised:
Phil May (lead vocals)
Dick Taylor (lead guitar)
Brian Pendelton (rhythm guitar)
John Stax (bass/harmonica)
Pete Kirtley (drums)
Around November 1963, Viv Andrews (aka Viv Broughton), who’d been working with David Bowie in The Hooker Brothers replaced Kirtley.
1964
3 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Mike Cotton Band (Rieks Korte’s research)
7 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Acker Bilk, Kenny Walsh & Walsh Band (Rieks Korte’s research)
9 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Mike Cotton Band (Rieks Korte’s research)
14 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Douggie Richford’s London Jazzmen (Rieks Korte’s research)
16 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Bob Wallis’ Storeyville Jazzmen (Rieks Korte’s research)
21 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Monty Sunshine’s Jazz Band (Rieks Korte’s research)
23 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Animals and Jimmy Powell & The Dimensions (Rieks Korte’s research)
28 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames, Manfred Mann, Alexis Korner, Jimmy Powell, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Zoot Money, Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men, The Animals, The Yardbirds and others (Rieks Korte’s research) Cyril Davies benefit concert
30 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Jimmy Powell & The Five Dimensions and The Wes Minster 5 (Rieks Korte’s research)
4 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Graham Bond’s R&B Quartet and The Art Wood Combo (Rieks Korte’s research)
6 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Alex Harvey’s Soul Band and John Lee & The Groundhogs (Rieks Korte’s research)
11 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London Graham Bond’s R&B Quartet and The Art Wood Combo (Rieks Korte’s research)
13 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Jimmy Powell & The Five Dimensions and The Wes Minster 5 (Rieks Korte’s research)
18 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Animals and The Wes Minster 5 (Rieks Korte’s research)
20 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Jimmy Powell & The Five Dimensions and John Lee & The Groundhogs (Rieks Korte’s research)
21 February 1964 – Ricky Tick, Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire (Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/)
25 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Animals and The Art Wood Combo (Rieks Korte’s research)
27 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Jimmy Powell & The Five Dimensions and John Lee & The Groundhogs (Record Mirror)
Photo may be subject to copyright
28 February 1964 – Ricky Tick, Plaza Ballroom, Guildford, Surrey (Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/)
3 March 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Animals and John Lee & The Groundhogs (Rieks Korte’s research)
5 March 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Alex Harvey Soul Band and The Wes Minster Five (Rieks Korte’s research)
12 March 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Graham Bond’s R&B Quartet and Gene Latter & The Cousins (Record Mirror)
17 March 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Animals and John Lee & The Groundhogs (Rieks Korte’s research)
Photo may be subject to copyright
24 March 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with John Lee and The Groundhogs (Record Mirror/Clapham News)
Photo may be subject to copyright
30 March 1964 – Starlite Club, Penge, Kent (Clapham Advertiser)
31 March 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Animals and John Lee & The Groundhogs (Record Mirror)
7 April 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Falling Leaves (Record Mirror)
Photo may be subject to copyright
13 April 1964 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Hertfordshire (Hertfordshire Express)
14 April 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Mark Leeman Five and The Tridents (Record Mirror)
15 April 1964 – Market Hall, St Albans, Herts (Record Mirror)
19 April 1964 – Phoenix Blues Club, Staines, Middlesex (Record Mirror)
Record Mirror’s 18 April issue, page 8 has a picture of the Viv Andrews’ line up
21 April 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Art Wood Combo and The Impacts (Record Mirror)
24 April 1964 – Ricky Ticky, Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire (Record Mirror)
25 April 1964 – Gig in Ruislip, Middlesex (Record Mirror)
26 April 1964 – Phoenix Blues Club, Staines, Middlesex (Record Mirror)
Thanks to John Warburg for sending. Source: Record Mirror. Photo may be subject to copyright
Record Mirror reported that The Pretty Things played at the 100 Club every Tuesday from 28 April to 16 June
Towards the end of April 1964, Viv Prince took over from Viv Andrews on drums
28 April 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Art Wood Combo and The Muleskinners (Rieks Korte’s research)
29 April 1964 – Market Hall, St Albans, Herts (Record Mirror)
30 April 1964 – ABC Croydon, Croydon, Surrey with Billy Fury, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, The John Barry 7 and The Zephyrs (Chris Broom book: Rockin’ and Around Croydon)
1 May 1964 – Gig in Crawley, West Sussex (possibly Starlight Ballroom) (Record Mirror)
Record Mirror reported in its 2 May issue that Viv Prince was on drums but the picture shows Viv Andrews
26 May 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Harps (Rieks Korte’s research)
27 May 1964 – Dancing Slipper, Nottingham (Beat Monthly)
28 May 1964 – Blue Opera Club, Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, Middlesex (Leyton and Leytonstone Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)
29 May 1964 – Mercers Arms, Coventry (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
30 May 1964 – Rivieria, St Austell, Cornwall (Beat Monthly) This seems implausible considering the geographical distance from Coventry and then to Bexley the next day
31 May 1964 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, Kent (Record Mirror)
Photo may be subject to copyright
1 June 1964 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Hertfordshire (Hertfordshire Express)
2 June 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Art Wood Combo (Rieks Korte’s research)
3 June 1964 – Forum, Oxford (Beat Monthly)
4 June 1964 – Blue Opera Club, Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, Middlesex (Leyton and Leytonstone Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)
5 June 1964 – Ricky Ticky, High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press/Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/)
6 June 1964 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with Johnny & The Starliners (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
8 June 1964 – Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London (Beat Monthly)
9 June 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Art Wood Combo (Rieks Korte’s research)
10 June 1964 – Market Hall, St Albans, Herts (Record Mirror)
Photo may be subject to copyright
11 June 1964 – Blue Opera Club, Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, Middlesex (Leyton and Leytonstone Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)
3 July 1964 – Hoveton, Wroxham, Norfolk with Rod Harvey & The Drifting Strangers (Eastern Evening News) Beat Monthly has a gig in Wrexham, north Wales on this date
4 July 1964 – Gig in Rawtenstall (Beat Monthly)
5 July 1964 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, Kent (Record Mirror)
6 July 1964 – Gig in Harrow, Middlesex (most likely Big Beat Club) (Beat Monthly)
7 July 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Farinas (Rieks Korte’s research)
8 July 1964 – Gig in Norwich, Norfolk (Beat Instrumental)
9 July 1964 – Gig in Southsea, Hants (Beat Instrumental)
10 July 1964 – Gig in Plymouth, Devon (Beat Instrumental)
11 July 1964 – Berkeley Grill Crawdaddy Club, Coventry with The Sorrows (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
16 July 1964 – Majestic, Hanley, Staffordshire (Beat Monthly)
17 July 1964 – Winchester Lido, Winchester, Hampshire with The Missing Links (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)
18 July 1964 – Assembly, Manchester (Beat Monthly)
19 July 1964 – Southall Community Centre, Southall, Middlesex (Beat Monthly)
20 July 1964 – Big Beat Club, Harrow, Middlesex (Beat Monthly)
21 July 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Farinas (Rieks Korte’s research)
24 July 1964 – Majestic, Crewe, Cheshire (Rieks Korte’s research)
25 July 1964 – Caribbean Club, Radcaster, Leeds, West Yorkshire (Rieks Korte’s research)
26 July 1964 – Belle Vue, Manchester (Rieks Korte’s research) Beat Monthly has the band playing at the Bromley Court Hotel in Bromley, Kent on this date
Photo from William Nisbeth
27 July 1964 – Mod Ball, Waverley Market, Edinburgh, Scotland with The Animals, Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers and nine local bands (William Nisbeth recollections/poster) Nisbeth, who was a member of one of the support groups says The Animals didn’t turn up for the show and that the crowd tried to storm the stage when The Pretty Things were playing
28 July 1964 – Public Hall, Wallington, Surrey (Rieks Korte’s research)
30 July 1964 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Rockin Henri & The Hayseeds (East Kent Times & Mail)
31 July 1964 – Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire with Reg Bassett & His Orchestra and Singers (Crewe Chronicle)
31 July 1964 – Royal Hotel, Lowestoft, Suffolk (Rieks Korte’s research)
2 August 1964 – Gig in Ryde, Isle of Wight (probably Disco Blue) (Rieks Korte’s research)
3 August 1964 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk (Rieks Korte’s research)
6 August 1964 – El Toro, Swiss Cottage, central London (Rieks Korte’s research)
7 August 1964 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Johnny Kaye & The Kossacks and Brent Peters & The Chessmen (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
Photo may be subject to copyright
8 August 1964 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with The Federals (Essex County Standard)
9 August 1964 – Gig in Manchester (Rieks Korte’s research)
11 August 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Brian Knight’s Blues by Six (Rieks Korte’s research)
12 August 1964 – Town Hall, Torquay, Devon with The Bluesounds and Mel Fear & The Fantastic Phantoms (Torbay Express and South Devon Echo)
13 August 1964 – Gig in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire (Rieks Korte’s research)
14 August 1964 – Gig in Bradford, West Yorkshire (Rieks Korte’s research)
15 August 1964 – Wilton Hall, Bletchley, Bucks (Bletchley District Gazette)
16 August 1964 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, Kent (Beat Monthly) Viv Andrews returned for a one-off gig covering for Viv Prince at this venue but it may not have been on this date
18 August 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, London with Brian Knight’s Blues by Six (Rieks Korte’s research)
19 August 1964 – Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle) First visit to Newcastle
21 August 1964 – Town Hall, Trowbridge, Wiltshire (Rieks Korte’s research)
22 August 1964 – Town Hall, Chippenham, Wiltshire (Rieks Korte’s research)
23 August 1964 – Cavern, Manchester (Beat Monthly)
Photo may be subject to copyright
25 August 1964 – Orford Jazz Cellar, St Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, Norfolk with The Bluebottles (with Mike Patto) (Eastern Evening News) Beat Monthly has the band playing in Southampton on this date
26 August 1964 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, Kent (Beat Monthly)
Photo may be subject to copyright
27 August 1964 – Assembly Hall, Worthing, West Sussex with The Detours (Worthing Gazette)
28 August 1964 – Winter Gardens, Morecambe, Lancashire (Beat Monthly)
Photo may be subject to copyright
29 August 1964 – Marcam Hall, March, Cambridgeshire with The Blobs (Cambridgeshire Times)
30 August 1964 – The Scene, Florida Room, Brighton, Sussex with The Beat Merchants (Evening Argus)
Photo may be subject to copyright
31 August 1964 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk with The Rocking Berries, The Pickwicks, The Continentals, The Tea Time Four, The Delcounts, The Doones and Beats Limited (Lynn News)
1 September 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Brian Knight’s Blues by Six (Rieks Korte’s research)
4 September 1964 – Floral Hall, Morecambe, Lancashire (Beat Monthly) Thanks to John Warburg and a picture taken from the Morecambe Visitor newspaper, this is confirmed
7 September 1964 – Mojo Club, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Rieks Korte’s research)
8 September 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Brian Knight’s Blues by Six (Rieks Korte’s research)
Thanks to Rolf Hannet for providing. Source: Western Scene. Photo may be subject to copyright
9 September 1964 – Corn Exchange, Bristol (Western Scene)
Photo may be subject to copyright
10 September 1964 – Guildhall, Plymouth, Devon (Cornish Guardian)
Photo may be subject to copyright
11 September 1964 – Top Ten Club, Flamingo, Redruth, Cornwall with Shaun & The Shondells (West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette)
Photo may be subject to copyright
12 September 1964 – Top Ten Club, New Cornish Riveria Lido, St Austell, Cornwall with Shaun & The Shondells (Cornish Guardian)
13 September 1964 – Gig in Clacton, Essex (Beat Monthly)
14 September 1964 – Bath Pavilion, Bath (Western Scene)
Photo may be subject to copyright
18 September 1964 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, Surrey with Mike Rabin & The Demons and The UKs (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
26 September 1964 – Gig in Lincoln (Beat Instrumental)
27 September 1964 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, Kent (Rieks Korte’s research)
29 September 1964 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
30 September 1964 – Gig in Leicester (Beat Instrumental)
1 October 1964 –Beat City, central London (Beat Instrumental)
2 October 1964 – Queen’s, Leeds, West Yorkshire (Beat Instrumental)
3 October 1964 – Gig in Hinckley, Leicestershire (Beat Instrumental)
Photo may be subject to copyright
5 October 1964 – Silver Blades, Streatham, southwest London with The Bo Street Runners (Clapham Advertiser)
6 October 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Blues by Six (Record Mirror)
13 October 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Blues by Six (Rieks Korte’s research)
15-19 October 1964 – Tour of Scotland (Beat Instrumental)
23 October 1964 – Gig in Milford Haven, Wales (Beat Instrumental)
27 October 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Blues by Six (Rieks Korte’s research)
29 October 1964 – Majestic Ballroom, Luton, Bedfordshire with Bracer Ball (Luton News)
30 October 1964 – Co-op Hall, Peckham, south London (Rieks Korte’s research)
Photo may be subject to copyright
31 October 1964 – Corn Exchange, Cambridge with The Freemen (Beat Instrumental/Cambridge News)
3 November 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Brian Knight’s Blues by Six (Record Mirror)
Photo may be subject to copyright
6 November 1964 – Regal, Edmonton, Middlesex with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Tottenham Weekly Herald) (cancelled)
Photo may be subject to copyright
Chuck Berry replaced P J Proby who cancelled according to Rieks Korte. However, Julien Brice Mansencal says the entire tour was subsequently cancelled as Berry couldn’t get out of existing commitments.
6 November 1964 – Tower Ballroom, New Brighton (Beat Instrumental)
7 November 1964 – Granada, Slough, Berkshire with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
7 November 1964 – Palais, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire (Beat Instrumental)
8 November 1964 – Hippodrome, Birmingham Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
9 November 1964 – Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, central London (Beat Instrumental)
10 November 1964 – Odeon, Leicester with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
11 November 1964 – Rialto York, North Yorkshire with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
12 November 1964 – Odeon Bolton, Bolton, Greater Manchester with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
13 November 1964 – Odeon Newcaste, Newcastle upon Tyne with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
13 November 1964 – Wimbledon Palais, southwest London (Beat Instrumental)
15 November 1964 – Palace, Manchester with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
16 November 1964 – Granada, Rugby, Warwickshire with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
17 November 1964 – Gaumont, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
18 November 1964 – Odeon, Liverpool with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
19 November 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Hell-Raisers (Rieks Korte’s research) Beat Instrumental lists Olympia, Reading, Berkshire on this date
20 November 1964 – Gaumont, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
Photo may be subject to copyright
20-21 November 1964 – Empire Pool, Wembley, Middlesex with The Rolling Stones, The Animals, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, The Migil Five, The Miami Show Band, Susan Maughan, Lorne Lesley, Julia Rogers, Gene Vincent and The Hustlers (Clapham Advertiser)
21 November 1964 – Town Hall, Loughborough (Beat Instrumental)
22 November 1964 – Winter Gardens, Morecambe, Lancashire with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
Advert for concert that was cancelled. Photo may be subject to copyright
23 November 1964 – Brixton Granada, Brixton, south London with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knights, Tea Time 4, Don Spencer, The Leroys, Kim Weston and Earl Van Dyke Quartet (South East London Mercury) (cancelled)
24 November 1964 – Gauount, Bournmouth, Dorset with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
24 November 1964 – Floral Hall, Gorleston, Norfolk with The Magic Moments (Yarmouth Mercury)
25 November 1964 – Gaumont State, Kilburn, north London with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
27 November 1964 – Odeon, Romford, Essex with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
28 November 1964 – Odeon, Lewisham, southeast London with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
29 November 1964 – Hippodrome, Brighton, Sussex with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
1 December 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Brothers Grimm (Rieks Korte’s research)
2-7 December 1964 – Tour of Scotland (Beat Instrumental)
10 December 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Westsiders (Rieks Korte’s research)
11 December 1964 – Leicester University (Beat Instrumental)
14 December 1964 – The Tower Ballroom, New Brighton with The Others (Liverpool Echo)
15 December 1964 – Newcastle City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne with The Rockin’ Berries, Julie Rodgers and The Poets (Newcastle Evening Echo)
17 December 1964 – Olympia, Reading, Berkshire (Beat Instrumental)
Photo may be subject to copyright
18 December 1964 – Hillside Ballroom, Hereford with The Ups ‘N’ Downs (Gloucester Citizen)
19 December 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Westsiders (Record Mirror)
22 December 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Blues by Knight (Record Mirror)
29 December 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Blues by Knight (Record Mirror)
31 December 1964 – Northwich Memorial Hall, Northwich, Cheshire (Record Mirror)
Photo may be subject to copyright. The Pretty Things, spring 1965
1965
5 January 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Brothers Grimm (Record Mirror)
Photo may be subject to copyright
7 January 1965 – Pier Pavilion, Worthing, West Sussex with The Teenbeats (Worthing Herald/Worthing Gazette)
8 January 1965 – Co-operative Hall, Nuneaton, Warwickshire (Evening Tribune)
Photo may be subject to copyright
9 January 1965 – Drill Hall, Grantham, Lincolnshire with Woody Allen & The Challengers and Maniax (Grantham Journal)
Photo may be subject to copyright
12 January 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Brothers Grimm (Record Mirror)
Photo may be subject to copyright
16 January 1965 – Leyton Baths, Leyton, Essex (Walthamstow Guardian)
19 January 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Crescents (Record Mirror)
20 January 1965 – Bristol Corn Exchange, Bristol (Western Scene)
21 January 1965 – Bath Pavilion, Bath (Western Scene)
26 January 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London (Beat Instrumental)
27 January 1965 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
30 January 1965 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with The Spooks (Sussex Evening Express)
31 January 1965 – Granada Woolwich, Woolwich, southeast London with The Rockin Berries, The Merseybeats and Julie Rogers (Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times)
1 February 1965 – Parr Hall, Warrington, Cheshire (Beat Instrumental)
Photo may be subject to copyright
2 February 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Loose Ends (Melody Maker)
3 February 1965 – Majestic Hull, Hull (Record Mirror) According to Beat Instrumental, the band toured Ireland from 3-7 February but this seems unlikely
5 February 1965 – Bolton Boneyard, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Record Mirror)
6 February 1965 – New Century Hall, Manchester with Black Velvets (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
7 February 1965 – Wembley Starlite, Wembley, west London (Record Mirror)
8 February 1965 – Newcastle Majestic, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Record Mirror)
9 February 1965 – Stamford Hall, Altrincham, Greater Manchester (Beat Instrumental)
Photo may be subject to copyright
11 February 1965 – Liberal Hall, Yeovil, Somerset with The Beat Traders (Western Gazette)
11 February 1965 – Gig in Dunstable, Bedfordshire (may not be California Ballroom) (Beat Instrumental) This seems unlikely
13 February 1965 – Gig in Scarborough (Beat Instrumental)
19 February 1965 – Gig in Tiverley, the Mumbles, south Wales (Beat Instrumental)
20 February 1965 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire with The Blackhawks (Evening Tribune)
Photo may be subject to copyright
22 February 1965 – Galaxy Club, Town Hall, Basingstoke, Berkshire with The Troggs (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette) Beat Instrumental has the Baths, Eltham, Kent but this is very unlikely with these two gigs
23 February 1965 – Floral Hall, Gorleston, Norfolk with The Seafarers (Yarmouth Mercury)
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26 February 1965 – Top Spot, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire with Dean Prince & The Dukes (Gloucester Citizen)
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1 March 1965 – Galaxy Club, Community Centre, Basingstoke, Hampshire with The Troggs (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)
2 March 1965 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
Photo may be subject to copyright
3 March 1965 – Majestic Ballroom, Newport, south Wales (South Wales Echo)
6 March 1965 – Florida Rooms, Brighton, Sussex with The Who, The-Bones and Johnny B Great (Evening Argus)
6 March 1965 – Mersey View Ballroom, Frodsham, Cheshire with The Spidermen, The Squad and Rita (Cheshire Observer/Warrington Guardian)
Photo may be subject to copyright
11 March 1965 – Haslemere Hall, Haslemere, Surrey with The James Crow Group (Farnham Herald)
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18 March 1965 – Smethwick Baths, Smethwick, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
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18 March 1965 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands with The Couriers (Birmingham Evening Mail)
19 March 1965 – Big Beat Nite Out, Fairfield Hall, Croydon, Surrey with The Kinks, The Animals, The Caravelles, Dodie West and Sean Buckley & The Breadcrumbs (Chris Broom book: Rockin’ and Around Croydon)
21 March 1965 – Empire Pool, Wembley, northwest London with Dave Berry & The Cruisers, The Searchers, Kenny Lynch, Elkie Brooks, The Four Pennies, Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men, Them, Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas, Tommy Quickly, The Fourmost, Lulu & The Luvvers, The Merseybeats, PJ Proby, The Zombies and Kenny Ball (Rieks Korte’s research)
Photo may be subject to copyright
22 March 1965 – Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham with The Kinks, The Animals, Screaming Lord Sutch, Sean Buckley & The Breadcrumbs and Dodie West (Birmingham Evening Mail)
2 April 1965 – Heaven & Hell, Manchester (Rieks Korte’s research)
3 April 1965 – Corn Exchnage, Cambridge (Rieks Korte’s research)
Photo may be subject to copyright
4 April 1965 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, Kent (Melody Maker)
7 April 1965 – Gig in Rochdale, Greater Manchester (Rieks Korte’s research)
8 April 1965 – Manor Lounge, Stockport, Greater Manchester with Just Four Men (Stockport County Express)
Photo may be subject to copyright
10 April 1965 – Cubiklub, St Patrick’s Hall, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire with The Motown Set (Halifax Daily Courier & Guardian)
10 April 1965 – Gig in Wigan, Greater Manchester (Rieks Korte’s research)
11 April 1965 – New Theatre, Oxford with Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders, The Artwoods, The Ivy League, Elkie Brooks, Syd & George, The Chapters and The Guards (Oxford Mail) This looks like a tour so the other artists may also have been on the rest of the tour with The Pretty Things and Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders
17 April 1965 – Spalding Ballroom, Spalding, Lincolnshire with Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders (Rieks Korte’s research)
Photo may be subject to copyright
18 April 1965 – De Montfort Hall, Leicester with The Kinks and six other acts (Northampton Chronicle)
19 April 1965 – Gig in Scarborough, North Yorkshire with Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders (Rieks Korte’s research) Unlikely this took place as they were in the Netherlands
19 April 1965 – Blokker Festival, the Netherlands, broadcasted on Dutch Television (Robert Gerretsen research)
24 April 1965 – Gig in Gloucester, Gloucestershire with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, John Barry Seven, The Kestrels and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research/The Stage)
25 April 1965 – ABC Northampton, Northampton with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, John Barry Seven, The Kestrels, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research/The Stage)
27 April 1965 – ABC Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, John Barry Seven, The Kestrels and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research/The Stage)
28 April 1965 – Savoy, Exeter, Devon with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, John Barry Seven, The Kestrels and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research/The Stage)
Photo may be subject to copyright
29 April 1965 – ABC Southampton, Southampton Hampshire with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, John Barry Seven, The Kestrels and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research/The Stage/Southern Echo)
30 April 1965 – ABC Croydon, Croydon, south London with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, John Barry Seven, The Kestrels and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research/The Stage)
1 May 1965 – ABC Dover, Dover, Kent with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, John Barry Seven, The Kestrels and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research/The Stage)
2 May 1965 – ABC Harrow, Harrow, west London with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research)
4 May 1965 – ABC Hull, Hull with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research)
5 May 1965 – Gig in Stockton-on-Tees, Teesside with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research)
6 May 1965 – ABC Carlisle, Carlisle, Cumbria with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research)
8 May 1965 – Theatre Royal, Norwich, Norfolk with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research)
9 May 1965 – Colston Hall, Bristol with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research)
13 May 1965 – Marquee, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester (Rieks Korte’s research)
Photo may be subject to copyright
14 May 1965 – Top Ten Club, Town Hall, Liskeard, Cornwall with The Blue Beats and People (Cornish Guardian)
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15 May 1965 – Top Ten Club, New Cornish Riveria Lido, St Austell, Cornwall with The Blue Beats and People (Cornish Guardian)
Photo may be subject to copyright
17 May 1965 – Town Hall, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen)
18 May 1965 – Majestic, Newport, Wales (Rieks Korte’s research)
19 May 1965 – Gig in Porthcawl, Wales (Rieks Korte’s research)
20 May 1965 – City Hall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with Donovan (Rieks Korte’s research) Donovan’s drummer was Skip Alan who would replace Viv Prince in November. The 23 May date suggests there were other artists on the tour
21 May 1965 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire with Donovan (Rieks Korte’s research)
Photo may be subject to copyright
23 May 1965 – Winter Gardens, Bournemouth, Dorset with Donovan, The New Faces, Unit 4 Plus 2, John L Watson & The Hummelflugs and Chris Carlson (website: https://bournemouthbeatboom.wordpress.com/) Western Gazette just has Donovan and Unit 4 Plus 2
23 May 1965 – Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire with Donovan (Rieks Korte’s research)
Photo may be subject to copyright
24 May 1965 – YOR Club, Parr Hall, Warrington, Cheshire with The Notions (Warrington Guardian)
25 May 1965 – Stamford Hall, Altrincham, Greater Manchester (Beat Instrumental)
26 May 1965 – City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire (Beat Instrumental)
27 May 1965 – McKilroys, Swindon, Wiltshire (Beat Instrumental)
30 May 1965 – Granaada, Brixton, south London (Beat Instrumental)
3 June 1965 – Gig in Munich, West Germany (Rieks Korte’s research)
4 June 1965 – Gig in Munich, West Germany (Rieks Korte’s research)
5 June 1965 – Gig in Hamburg, West Germany (possibly Star Club) (Rieks Korte’s research)
6 June 1965 – Gig in Hamburg, West Germany (possibly Star Club) (Rieks Korte’s research)
7 June 1965 – Gig in Hamburg, West Germany (possibly Star Club) (Rieks Korte’s research)
11 June 1965 – Ricky Tick, Guildford Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with Blues Syndicate (Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/)
12 June 1965 – Probably gig in Stamford Hill, north London (Rieks Korte’s research)
Surrey Mirror, 18 June 1965. Photo may be subject to copyright
18 June 1965 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London (Beat Instrumental)
19 June 1965 – Drill Hall, Scunthorpe (Beat Instrumental)
20 June 1965 – HMS Daffodil, Portsmouth, Hants (Beat Instrumental)
21 June 1965 – Oxford University, Oxford (Beat Instrumental)
25 June 1965 – New Restaurant, Aere Harwell, Oxfordshire with Candy ‘N’ Cookies, Ricky & The Gamblers and The Outcrowd (Oxford Mail) Rieks Korte has the band performing at Harwell Atomic Energy Establishment on this date and looks like same venue
27 June 1965 – Embassy, Burslem (Beat Instrumental)
28 June 1965 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
3 July 1965 – Cavern, Leicester Square, central London (Beat Instrumental)
Photo may be subject to copyright
4 July 1965 – Margate Winter Gardens, Margate, Kent with The Nashville Teens and support (East Kent Times & Mail) Rieks Korte also has Screaming Jay Hawkins and The Clayton Squares
9 July 1965 – Embassy, Burslem (Beat Instrumental)
10 July 1965 – Town Hall, Leek (Beat Instrumental)
11-17 July 1965 – Scottish tour (Beat Instrumental)
18 July 1965 – Gig in Blackpool, Lancashire (Beat Instrumental)
23 July 1965 – 32 Club, Harlesden, north London (Hammersmith & Shepherds Bush Gazette)
24 July 1965 – Witham Public Hall, Witham, Essex with Cops ‘N’ Robbers and The Senates (Essex County Standard)
28 July 1965 – Pool Ballroom, Rhos-on-Sea, Wales with The Motown Sect and The Panzies (North Wales Weekly News)
31 July 1965 – Cavern, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
2 August 1965 – Galaxy Club, Town Hall, Basingstoke, Hampshire with support (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)
3 August 1965 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
4 August 1965 – Bristol Corn Exchange, Bristol with support (Western Scene)
7 August 1965 – Winter Gardens, Ventnor, Isle of Wight with Jugs O’Henry and Neil Anderson and Davy Jones & The Lower Third (Poster) This is the gig that Billy Harrison, formerly of Them, covers for Dick Taylor
Photo: David Else. Photo may be subject to copyright
The Daily Mirror’s 16 August edition noted that The Pretty Things flew off for their New Zealand tour on Sunday, 15 August after a farewell gig in London (the Ad-Lib Club)
19-30 August 1965 – New Zealand tour with Sandie Shaw, Eden Kane, Tommy Adderley, The Chicks and The Mike Perjanik Showband (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1965-2/)
31 August-1 September 1965 – Top 20 Club, Auckland, New Zealand with Larry’s Rebels and The Dark Ages (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1965-2/)
Photo may be subject to copyright
5 September 1965 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with De Noyzle (Sussex Evening Express)
6 September 1965 – Astoria Ballroom, Middlesbrough with The Caveman Capers (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
10 September 1965 – Lucky Stars Club, Staines, Middlesex (Staines and Egham News)
14 October 1965 – Gig in Chesterfield (Beat Instrumental)
15 October 1965 – Gig in Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Beat Instrumental)
Photo may be subject to copyright
16 October 1965 – Astoria Ballroom, Rawtenstall, Lancashire with The Mustangs and The Saracens (Burnley Express and News)
17 October 1965 – Gig in Doncaster (Beat Instrumental)
18-19 October 1965 – Scottish dates (Beat Instrumental)
Photo may be subject to copyright
21 October 1965 – Empire Social Club, Neath, south Wales with The Fleetwoods (South Wales Evening Post) This was cancelled when two members fell ill
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21 October 1965 – Glen Ballroom, Llanelly, south Wales with The Smokestacks and The Eyes of Blue (South Wales Evening Post) This was cancelled when two members fell ill
23 October 1965 – Gig in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire (Beat Instrumental)
24 October 1965 – Gig in Southall, west London (most likely Community Centre) (Beat Instrumental)
28 October 1965 – Zars Club, York (Beat Instrumental)
29 October 1965 – Students’ Union, Oxford University (Beat Instrumental)
Photo may be subject to copyright
30 October 1965 – Bury Palais de Danse, Bury, Greater Manchester plus two supporting groups (Bolton Evening News)
31 October 1965 – Top Ten Club, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
1 November 1965 – Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl, Wales (Beat Instrumental)
3 November 1965 – Bruce Grove Ballroom, Tottenham, north London (Beat Instrumental)
4 November 1965 – City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire (Beat Instrumental)
5 November 1965 – Gig in Gravesend, Kent (Beat Instrumental)
6 November 1965 – Florida Rooms, Brighton, East Sussex (Brighton Evening Argus)
Photo may be subject to copyright
7 November 1965 – Oasis, Manchester with The Motown Set (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
Skip Alan subbed for Viv Prince on a Scottish tour in November so this seems the most likely date when he took over unless it was the Brighton gig above
8 November 1965 – Town Hall, Iveraray, Scotland (Rieks Korte’s research)
9 November 1965 – Bobby Jones, Ayr, Scotland (Rieks Korte’s research)
12 November 1965 – Town Hall, Falkirk, Scotland (Rieks Korte’s research)
13 November 1965 – Baths Hall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Beat Instrumental)
Photo may be subject to copyright
14 November 1965 – Jungfrau, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
Photo may be subject to copyright
20 November 1965 – Worsley Civic Hall, Walkden, Worsley, Greater Manchester with Wynder K Frog and The Fendermen (Bolton Evening News)
22 November 1965 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
23 November 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Artwoods (Melody Maker)
Beat Instrumental reports that the band starts a Welsh tour on 25 November
New Musical Express’ 26 November issue reported that Viv Prince had told the music paper that he’d been asked to leave the group. The Pretty Things were on a Scottish tour with a deputy drummer (Skip Alan)
27 November 1965 – Coronation Hall, Ramsgate, Kent (Rieks Korte’s research) East Kent Times & Mail reports that this was rescheduled
New Musical Express’ 3 December issue reported that Viv Prince had agreed to leave. Skip Alan (ex-Them) who had subbed on the recent Scottish tour, was now a permanent member and on tour with the band in Scandinavia.
Billy Harrison, formerly of Them, covered for Dick Taylor when The Pretty Things played in Scandinavia, which may have been this same tour as he flew into Copenhagen.
Photo: Cityweek. Photo may be subject to copyright
Belfast paper, Cityweek, ran an article on former Them guitarist Billy Harrison in its 9 December 1965 issue, page 17 and notes that he has joined The Pretty Things. It adds that he’s currently on tour with them in Holland.
4 December 1965 – British Legion Hall, Coleford, Somerset with David & Jonathan (Somerset Guardian/Western Scene) Six miles from Frome
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5 December 1965 – Mr Smith’s, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
11 December 1965 – Coronation Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent with The System (East Kent Times & Mail)
Photo may be subject to copyright
14 December 1965 – Hen & Chickens, Langley, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
17 December 1965 – Farnborough Technical College, Farnborough, Hampshire with The Carnaby and The Generation (Aldershot News)
Photo may be subject to copyright
20 December 1965 – Coed Eva Community College, Cwmbran, south Wales with The Marauders and Four of a Kind (South Wales Argus)
21 December 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Artwoods (Melody Maker)
22 December 1965 – Bristol Corn Exchange, Bristol (Western Scene)
31 December 1965 – Matrix Hall, Coventry with The Fairies and The Playboys (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
1966
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1 January 1966 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire (Evening Tribune)
Photo may be subject to copyright
3 January 1966 – Chatham Town Hall, Chatham, Kent with Blues Syndicate (Chatham, Rochester & Gillingham News)
Photo may be subject to copyright
20 January 1966 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen)
21 January 1966 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London (Balham & Tooting News and Mercury)
Photo may be subject to copyright
22 January 1966 – Esquire Club, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with Micky Finn’s and Motown Sect (The Star)
25 January 1966 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
16 February 1966 – The Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle)
18-19 February 1966 – Danish dates (for more information, visit Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1966-2/) ThePretty Things played with The Red Squares and Them (the McAuley brothers’ rival version) on 19 February, so it’s possible that this was when Billy Harrison subbed for Dick Taylor (unless it was late 1965)
21 February 1966 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London (Melody Maker)
23 February 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London (Melody Maker)
Photo may be subject to copyright
4 March 1966 – Ricky Tick, Plaza Ballroom, Newbury, Berkshire (Andover Advertiser/Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/)
4 March 1966 – Carfax Ballroom, Oxford (North Berks Herald)
5 March 1966 – Connaught Hall, Southampton University, Southampton, Hampshire with The Confederates (Poster from John Warburg)
Photo may be subject to copyright
6 March 1966 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey with The Condors (Aldershot News/Camberley News)
9 March 1966 – Tower Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with The John Lofty Sounds (Yarmouth Mercury)
11 March 1966 – Regency Ballroom, Bath with Chet & The Triumphs (Western Scene)
Photo may be subject to copyright
13 March 1966 – Pavilion Ballroom, Buxton, Derbyshire with Hickory Stix (North Cheshire Standard)
Photo may be subject to copyright
27 March 1966 – Raven Hall, Corby Hotel, Corby, Northamptonshire with The Veldens (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
8 April 1966 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London (Balham & Tooting News and Mercury)
12 April 1966 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Jo Jo Gunne (Melody Maker)
16-17 April 1966 – Star Club, Hamburg, West Germany (Star Club book by Manfred Weissleder and Siegfried E Loch)
21 April 1966 – Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with The Junco Partners, The Jazz Board and Hilton K’s (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
6 May 1966 – Chislehurst Caves, Chislehurst, southeast London (Melody Maker)
7 May 1966 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire (Nuneaton Evening Tribune)
Photo may be subject to copyright
13 May 1966 – Ready Steady Go Club, Market Hall, St Albans, Herts (Welwyn Advertiser)
14 May 1966 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Prowlers (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
Photo may be subject to copyright
21 May 1966 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire with The Cryin Shames and The Saracens (Burnley Express & News)
Photo may be subject to copyright
30 May 1966 – Waterside Orchard Club, Hopwood, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
1 June 1966 – Target’s Paul Row, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
9 July 1966 – Flamingo Ballroom, Redruth, Cornwall with Little John & The Giants and Rikki and The Layabouts (West Briton & The Royal Cornwall Gazette)
10 July 1966 – Khyber Club, Taunton, Somerset with The Germs (Somerset County Gazette)
13 July 1966 – Town Hall, Stourbridge, West Midlands (Rieks Korte’s research)
14 July 1966 – Blue Lagoon, Kimbells, Southsea, Hampshire (Portsmouth News)
15 July 1966 – Town Hall, Welshpool, Wales (Rieks Korte’s research)
16 July 1966 – Haggers Cinema, Pembroke, Wales (Rieks Korte’s research)
19 July 1966 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London (Rieks Korte’s research)
2 August 1966 – Plaza Ballroom, Belfast, Northern Ireland with The Mad Lads and Just Five (Belfast Telegraph/Cityweek) The Pretty Things’ first appearance in Belfast
13 March 1968 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, central London with The Action, Fairport Convention, Blossom Toes and The Track (Melody Maker)
Photo may be subject to copyright
24 March 1968 – New Regis Club, Bognor Regis, West Sussex with The Machine (Brighton Evening Argus)
Photo may be subject to copyright
28 March 1968 – Grafton Club, RAF Marham with Bobby Johnson & The Atoms (Lynn News)
11-13 April 1968 – Piper Club, Rome, Italy (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1968-2/) These may have been Twink’s debut shows with the band
Melody Maker‘s 13 April issue reported that Twink had taken over from Skip Alan on drums.
18 April 1968 – Dundee Students’ Charities Campaign, Palais, Dundee, Scotland with The Californians (Dundee Evening Telegraph & Post)
27 April 1968 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, central London with Coconut Mushroom (Melody Maker)
11 May 1968 – Grand Pavilion, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire with The Luddy Sammes Soul Packet (Derbyshire Times/Derbyshire Evening Telegraph)
1 June 1968 – Whit Spectacular, Seagull Ballrooms, Ryde Pier Head, Ryde, Isle of Wight with The Action, Blossom Toes, Helcyon Order and Johnny Farlow (Isle of Wight County Press)
Photo may be subject to copyright
21 June 1968 – Punch Bowl, Lapworth, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
21 June 1968 – The First Holiness Kitschgarden for the Liberation of Love & Peace in Colors, Houtrusthallen, La Hague, the Netherlands (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1968-2/) Robert Gerretsen says that The Pretty Things didn’t appear in the end
22 June 1968 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, central London with July and Juniors Eyes (Melody Maker)
Photo may be subject to copyright
4 July 1968 – West of England College of Art, Ashton, Avon with Fairport Convention (Bristol Evening Post)
6 July 1968 – St Thomas Hall, Brentwood, Essex with Pinkerton’s Colours (Essex Chronicle)
Photo may be subject to copyright
11 July 1968 – Ravensbourne College, Bromley, southeast London with The Mojos (South East London Mercury)
27 July 1968 – The Cockpit, Hyde Park, central London (Rieks Korte’s research)
1 August 1968 – Tetbury Show Carnival Week, Marquee, Recreation Ground, Tetbury, Gloucestershire with Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs (Stroud News)
2 August 1968 – Bournemouth Pavilion, Bournemouth, Dorset with Bruce Channel and Dr Marigold’s Prescription (Bournemouth Evening Echo)
3 August 1968 – Torbay Blues and Beat Festival, Torquay Town Hall, Torquay, Devon with Invisible Fish and Flavour (Herald Express)
23 August 1968 – Jazz Bilzen festival, Bilzen, Belgium with The Action, Tyrannosaurus Rex, The Move and Simon Dupree Big Sound (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1968-2/)
Photo: Rudolf Kaes
24 August 1968 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, central London with Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and Terry Reid (Melody Maker/Poster from Rudolf Kaes)
31 August 1968 – Great South Coast Bank Holiday Pop Festivity All-nighter, Hall Field, Ford Farm, Isle of Wight with Jefferson Airplane, The Move, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Fairport Convention, T-Rex, Mirage, The Smile, The Cherokees and others (Portsmouth News)
7 September 1968 – Sport Hotel Spiero, Nieuwkoop, the Netherlands (Robert Gerretsen research)
Source: Journal du Jura number 213
11 September 1968 – Ancien Stand, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland with The Warren Davis Monday Band and The Shakins (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1968-2/)
18 September 1968 – Country Club, Belsize Park, north London (Melody Maker)
19 September 1968 – Cellar Club, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
27 September 1968 – Van Dike, Plymouth, Devon with The Fire Brigade (Jonathan Hill’s book Van Dike: The Life & Times of a Plymouth Club 1968-1972)
8 October 1968 – Kew Boat House, Kew, west London (Time Out)
Photo may be subject to copyright
18 October 1968 – Mistrale Club, Beckenham Junction, London with T-Rex and Julian Hirsch (Coulson & Purley Advertiser/Poster)
8 November 1968 – Kew Boat House, Kew, west London (Richmond & Twickenham Times)
15 November 1968 – Fishmonger’s Arms, Wood Green, London with Downliners Sect (Melody Maker)
29 November 1968 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands (Melody Maker)
30 November 1968 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, central London with Aurieal and The End (Melody Maker)
5 December 1968 – Somerset College of Art, Arts Ball, Country Ballroom, Taunton, Someset with Savoy Brown and Copper-Pot Band (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
12 December 1968 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Waltham Forest Tech College and School of Art with The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Melody Maker)
Photo may be subject to copyright
15 December 1968 – City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with Pink Floyd, Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, Deviants and Gordon Smith (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
19 December 1968 – College of Technology, Maidstone, Kent (Rieks Korte’s research)
22 December 1968 – Country Club, Belsize Park, north London (Melody Maker)
27 December 1968 – Mistrale Club, Beckenham Junction, south London (Rieks Korte’s research)
29 December 1968 – Festival Flight to Lowlands II, Utrecht, the Netherlands with others (Robert Gerretsen research)
1969
Photo may be subject to copyright
25 January 1969 – Polytechnic, Little Titchfield, central London with Taste (Melody Maker)
25 January 1969 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, central London with The Egg, Melanie, Glass Menagerie and Dave Brock and Pete Judd (Melody Maker)
Photo may be subject to copyright
31 January 1969 – Fishmonger’s Arms, Wood Green, north London with Jody Grind (Melody Maker/Wood Green & Southgate Weekly Herald)
5 March 1969 – Rag Ball, Lanchester College, Coventry with Julie Driscoll and The Brian Auger Trinity, The Deviants and Blossom Toes (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
Photo may be subject to copyright
8 March 1969 – Reading University Rag, Reading, Berkshire with Pink Floyd and The Gods (Melody Maker)
15 March 1969 – Chelsea College of Science and Technology, southwest London with Barclay James Harvest and Steamhammer (Melody Maker)
16 March 1969 – Blaises, Imperial Hotel, Queen’s Gate, Kensington, west London (Time Out)
29 March 1969 – Paradiso, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Broadcasted by VPRO Radio (Robert Gerretsen research)
Photo may be subject to copyright
3 April 1969 – Country Club, Belsize Park, north London with Deviants (Melody Maker)
26 April 1969 – Kee Club, Bridgend, Wales (Rieks Korte’s research)
9 May 1969 – Parliament Hill Fields, north London (Rieks Korte’s research)
11 May 1969 – Country Club, Belsize Park, north London (Time Out)
23 May 1969 – Fishmongers Arms, Wood Green, north London (Time Out)
31 May 1969 – Van Dike, Plymouth, Devon with The Fire Brigade (Jonathan Hill’s book Van Dike: The Life & Times of a Plymouth Club 1968-1972)
Photo may be subject to copyright
9 June 1969 – Friars, Aylesbury, Bucks with Lol Coxhill and Willy Barrett (Melody Maker)
13 June 1969 – North west Poly, Prince of Wales Road, northwest London (Time Out)
27 June 1969 – Avery Hill College Summer Ball, Avery Hill, Eltham, southeast London with The Kinks, Spencer Washboard Kings, The Coloured Raisins and The Derek Cross Dance Band (South East London Mercury)
Photo may be subject to copyright
1 August 1969 – Lyceum, Strand, central London with Marsha Hunt & White Trash and Hard Meat (Melody Maker)
23 August 1969 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands (Melody Maker)
30 August 1969 – Isle of Wight Pop Festival, Ryde, Isle of Wight with many others (Rieks Korte’s research)
3 October 1969 – Acton Town Hall, Acton, west London (Time Out)
4 October 1969 – Regional College, Barking, east London with Barclay James Harvest and Wild Mouth (Melody Maker)
Photo may be subject to copyright
18 October 1969 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands with Rare Bird (Melody Maker)
Photo may be subject to copyright
8 November 1969 – University College, Gower Street, central London with Indo-Jazz Fusion (Melody Maker)
24 January 1970 – Queen’s Hall, Narbeth, west Wales with Harveson Apricot (Pembroke & West Wales Guardian)
Many thanks to Mike Stax for passing on Rieks Korte’s incomplete gig list, which he shared with Stax in the early 2000s. Thanks to Rieks for getting in touch allowing his research. Also, thanks to Rolf Hannet in Germany for providing Beat Monthly and Beat Instrumental gigs.
Ron Paisley – guitar/vocals John Scott – bass Steve Pryor – organ Ray Beresford – drums
Formed in February 1967, The National Existence was a R&B band from southeast London who featured former Carl Douglas drummer Ray Beresford. According to the South East London Mercury they played every Saturday at the Country Club in Sidcup.
The newspaper reported that the group was still working locally in May 1968 and with the same formation (see below).
We’d be interested to hear any more about this band and can also include photos.
Source: South East London MercuryPhoto: South East London Mercury, 23 May 1968South East London Mercury, 23 May 1968
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