There is absolutely no information on this group and its personnel on the internet beyond the release of this lone UK single in February 1967.
The group played regularly at the Whisky A Go Go in Wardour Street in Soho, central London between 1967 and 1969. It also played at the Mistrale in Beckenham, south London a fair bit too among other venues.
Photo from John Wilders. Left to right: John Wilders, Ken Gray, Mo Umansky, unknown guitarist, unknown drummer, John Eldred and (front) Mick Timlett
There are rumours that Mr Mo’s Messengers evolved into Sketto Rich & Sonority (see entry on this site) but this seems very unlikely (as both bands were gigging simultaneously in the late 1960s).
However, there is a slight possibility that the musicians in the latter formation also used the name Mr Mo’s Messengers briefly, as both groups came from the southeast London/Kent borderlands.
If anyone can provide further information on the group’s history and its personnel, we’d be interested to hear from you (see comments section for what has been submitted so far).
Acetate from 1968/1969. Thanks to Lewis Anderson
I have found the following gigs for the group:
1 July 1967 – Iron Curtain Club, Small Heath, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
25 July 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
17 August 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
1 October 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
8 October 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
19 December 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
27 January 1968 – Penthouse, Colchester, Essex (Essex County Standard) Billed as Mr Mo’s
25 February 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
4 April 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
19 April 1968 – Mistrale, Beckenham, south London with Dantalion’s Chariot (Melody Maker)
26 April 1968 – Mistrale, Beckenham, south London (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
8 May 1968 – Mistrale, Beckenham, south London with Marmalade (Poster)
22 May 1968 – Mistrale, Beckenham, south London (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
1 June 1968 – Mistrale, Beckenham, south London with The Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival Show (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
4 July 1968 – Mistrale, Beckenham, south London with Cliff Bennett (Beckenham & Penge Advertiser)
Photo: Beckenham & Penge Advertiser
18 July 1968 – Mistrale, Beckenham, south London with Cliff Bennett (Beckenham & Penge Advertiser)
24 August 1968 – Stage Door, Oxford (Oxford Mail)
31 August 1968 – Supreme Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent with Fire (East Kent Times & Mail)
26 October 1968 – Mistrale, Beckenham, south London with Sweet Rain (Poster)
30 November 1968 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Herts (Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)
17 January 1969 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
18 January 1969 – Fellowship Inn, Bellingham, south London (Melody Maker)
25 March 1969 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
5 April 1969 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
15 May 1969 – Pilgrim Cellar, Haywards Heath, West Sussex with Double Sounds (Mid Sussex Times)
1-2 August 1969 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London (Poster)
15-16 August 1969 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London (Poster)
29-30 August 1969 – Samantha’s, New Burlington Street, central London (Poster)
This little known rock club was opened around late June/early July 1967, according to Disc & Music Echo, which noted in its 1 July issue (page 2) that the venue had opened recently. Ginger Baker from Cream and Mike Wilsher from The New Vaudeville Band appeared at the club reception.
One of the earliest dates I have is 14 July 1967 when Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede, The Ford Foundation and The Survivors appeared late in the evening (see poster).
I would welcome any additional information about the club, which was located at 70 New Bond Street, including details of acts that played over the years.
I have found the following and included the sources:
1968
23 January – Jimmy McGriff Quartet (Melody Maker)
24 January – Jimmy McGriff Quartet (Melody Maker)
25 January – Jimmy McGriff Quartet (Melody Maker)
26 January – Jimmy McGriff Quartet (Melody Maker)
27 January – Jimmy McGriff Quartet (Melody Maker)
30 January – Jimmy McGriff Quartet (Melody Maker)
31 January – Jimmy McGriff Quartet (Melody Maker)
1 February – Jimmy McGriff Quartet (Melody Maker)
13 February – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
14 February – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
15 February – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
28 February – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
19 March – Cliff Bennett (Melody Maker)
25 March – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
26 March – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
27 March – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
19 April – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
20 April – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
29 April – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
30 April – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
1 May – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
2 May – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
3 May – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
5 May – J J Jackson (Melody Maker)
12 May – Edwin Starr (Melody Maker)
17 May – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
24 May – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
5 July – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
7 July – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ diary)
15 July – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
16 July – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
17 July – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
18 July – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
19 July – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
6 August – Selofane (Fabulous 208)
7 August – Selofane (Fabulous 208)
8 August – Selofane (Fabulous 208)
9 August – Selofane (Fabulous 208)
10 August – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
According to The Stroud News, Gass played Rasputin not long before 14 September
6 September – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
7 September – Selofane (Fabulous 208)
8 September – Selofane (Fabulous 208)
12 September – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
13 September – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
17 September – Selofane (Fabulous 208)
18 September – Selofane (Fabulous 208)
19 September – Selofane (Fabulous 208)
24 September – Ferris Wheel (Time Out)
9 October – Ferris Wheel (Time Out/Fabulous 208)
18 October – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
19 October – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
21 October – Cats Pyjamas (Colin Pullen’s gig diary)
15 November – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
1 April 1966 – Target, High Wycombe, Bucks (Melody Maker)
2 April 1966 – London Welsh Rugby Football Ground, Richmond, west London (Melody Maker)
Image may be subject to copyright
2 April 1966 – New All-Star Club, near Liverpool Street, east London (Melody Maker)
Image may be subject to copyright
21 July 1966 – New All-Star Club, near Liverpool Street, east London (Melody Maker)
10 August 1966 – Oscar’s Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
Image may be subject to copyright
15 October 1966 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Total (Camberley News)
13 November 1966 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder) Played every Sunday
20 November 1966 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
Image may be subject to copyright
26 November 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Original Coasters, Motivation and Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays (Lincolnshire Standard)
27 November 1966 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
24 December 1966 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London with The Worrying Kynd (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
Image may be subject to copyright
26 December 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent with The Kingpins (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald/Melody Maker)
1967
1 January 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
8 January 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
15 January 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
22 January 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
Image may be subject to copyright
11 February 1967 – The Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle)
Image may be subject to copyright
18 February 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Jaguars (Cornish Guardian)
25 February 1967 – Royal Lido, Prestatyn, Clwyd, Wales with The Raynes (Rhyl & Prestayn Gazette)
Located at 120 Holland Park Avenue, the London Cavern was a short-lived club in West London that operated during the mid-1960s.
Melody Maker lists The Dukehounds as regular Thursday band during May/June 1965. The following dates are all from Melody Maker unless otherwise noted.
18 May 1965 – Initial 4 (every Tuesday)
25 May 1965 – Initial 4 (every Tuesday)
1 June 1965 – Initial 4 (every Tuesday)
3 June 1965 – Dukehounds (every Thursday)
8 June 1965 – Initial 4 (every Tuesday)
15 June 1965 – Initial 4 (every Tuesday)
22 June 1965 – Initial 4 (every Tuesday) Not listed after this date for a while
2 July 1965 – Initial 4 Kensington Post also lists The Dae ‘B’ Four
3 July 1965 – The Cardinals (Kensington Post)
4 July 1965 – Top group (Kensington Post)
5 July 1965 – Themselves and The Effect (Kensington Post)
6 July 1965 – Dae ‘B’ Four and The Tribe (Kensington Post)
9 July 1965 – Initial 4
12 July 1965 – Bern Elliott & The Klan with Initial 4
16 July 1965 – Initial 4
18 July 1965 – Dave Whittling & Uncalled Four plus John Spencer and Guest Artists
19 July 1965 – The Five Dimensions and Initial 4
20 July 1965 – Group Survival
According to the Kensington Post, 3 September issue, Marshall Scott Etc played every Sunday, so presumably that includes 5 September 1965.
The Middlesex County Times on 24 September and 1 October both list The Eyes as resident band on Tuesdays. That would include 28 September 1965 and 5 October 1965.
According to Boyfriend magazine, The Four Pennies played at the club on 11 October 1965.
I’d be really grateful if anyone can add their own confirmed shows at this club plus any memories. Please get in touch as well if you know any local papers that advertised shows here as Melody Maker didn’t advertise the gigs very often. The following (incomplete list) is from 1966 and was taken from Melody Maker:
3 March 1966 – Blues Ad-Lib
4 March 1966 – The Lincolns with supporting group
5 March 1966 – Marshall Scott Etc with supporting group
6 March 1966 – Fives Company
10 March 1966 – Blues Ad-Lib
11 March 1966 – Hamilton King & The Blues Messengers with supporting group
12 March 1966 – The Pieces Fit and Blues Ad Lib
13 March 1966 – Fives Company
17 March 1966 – C-Jam Blues
18 March 1966 – Five’s Company with supporting group
19 March 1966 – Jo Jo Gunne with supporting group
20 March 1966 – The Peasants
24 March 1966 – C-Jam Blues
25 March 1966 – The Lincolns
26 March 1966 – Hamilton King & The Blues Messengers
27 March 1966 – The Peasants
29 March 1966 – The Syn
30 March 1966 – The Pieces Fit
1 April 1966 – The Pieces Fit and The JRS
3 April 1966 – The Syn
7 April 1966 – The Herd
8 April 1966 – Sky Fever
9 April 1966 – Norman St John Show and Hamilton King & The Blues Messengers
10 April 1966 – Marshall Scott Etc
11 April 1966 – Jo Jo Gunne
22 April 1966 – Dee Dee Warwick and The Sloane Squares
Watermelon Man MP3, thanks to Tertius Louw for sharing the recording.
John E Sharpe (guitar/vocals)
Les Goode (bass)
Nic Martens (Hammond organ)
John Elliott (sax)
Albert Rossi (drums)
This fascinating, yet short-lived, South African group recorded a hopelessly rare 45 for the US Scepter label in 1968, which was produced by Billy Forrest and distributed in South Africa by Troubadour Records.
The musicians collectively had an impressive history.
Guitarist John E Sharpe had previously played with The Deans (where he met Les Goode) and then worked with The G-Men before fronting his own group, John E Sharpe & The Squires (who also included Goode at one point).
Goode meanwhile had started out with Les Beats and then The Nitwits before joining forces with Sharpe in The Deans and subsequently John E Sharpe & The Squires. After working with The A-Cads during late 1965-mid 1966, including a short spell in the UK, Goode returned to South Africa in September that year and reunited with Sharpe in a new formation.
Scotsmen John Elliott and Albert Rossi met in South Africa when they were both employed as session players at Troubadour Records. Rossi appeared on Quentin E Klopjaeger’s LP Sad Simon Lives Again.
The drummer had worked with Chris Lamb & The Universals in the UK before emigrating to South Africa in 1964/1965.
Elliott meanwhile had worked in John E Sharpe’s short-lived group, New Order during 1967.
John Elliott in New Order. Thanks to Alan Shane for the photo
Nic Martens had worked with Durban groups The Navarones and The Lehman Limited alongside future Freedom Children’s drummer Colin Pratley before later working with The Noel McDermott Group.
The five musicians came together around September 1967 and worked under producer Billy Forrest, who landed the recording deal for a lone 45 which coupled covers of Booker T & The MGs “Green Onions” with Herbie Hancock’s “Watermelon Man”.
Green Onions MP3, thanks to Tertius Louw for sharing the recording.
The single is extremely rare and I am very grateful to South African music writer and collector Tertius Louw for sharing scans of both sides of the record.
Around August 1968, the group broke up and while Martens later worked with Freedom’s Children, Sharpe and Goode formed another band called John E Sharpe & His Board of Directors who issued another rare 45 on Parlophone which coupled “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans” with “Legend of a Big Toe”.
Both musicians then hooked up with former Freedom’s Children guitarist Julian Laxton in the short-lived Crystal Drive.
I’d be interested to hear from anyone who can add more information.
Huge thanks to Albert Rossi and Tertius Louw for background info. Thanks to Tertius also for providing the MP3 recordings.
Left to right: Craig Ross, Colin Knott, Hugh Mackrell, Geral Knott and Dave Ridgeway
Craig Ross (lead vocals)
Geral Knott (lead guitar)
Hugh Mackrell (rhythm guitar/vocals)
Dave Ridgeway (bass)
Colin Knott (drums)
A Durban band formed in late 1968 after former Gonks lead singer Craig Ross had left South African rock legends, Freedom’s Children.
The group also comprised siblings Colin and Geral Knott who had previously played with The Alouettes; bass player Dave Ridgeway and former Mods rhythm guitarist Hugh Mackrell.
During 1969, the band recorded four tracks in Johannesburg with producer Brian Pretorius and engineer Dave Pollcutt. These comprised three covers: John Lennon’s “Ballad of John & Yoko”, Lee Dorsey’s “Love Machine”, Oz’s “King Croesus” and one original, Hugh Mackrell’s “Down”. The four tracks are issued over two singles for the Uptight label.
When the group split up in 1970, Craig Ross later recorded a lone one-off single, “Ginger Man” c/w “Dear Prudence” in 1975.
Huge thanks to Hugh Mackrell and Brian Pretorius for helping piece this story together and for providing the single scans and newspaper clippings.
A short-lived band formed by former Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Howlin’ Wolf bass player Jerome Arnold after he briefly moved to the UK in late 1968.
Arnold had initially gigged with Dogs Blues, who changed name to Clark-Hutchinson in February 1969, so this is when Jerome Arnold most likely formed this quartet.
Cowell and Toomey had recently worked with The Warren Davis Monday Band after playing together in Still Life and Jon. Both would go on to form Titus Groan.
Holland had previously worked with Long John Baldry’s band Bluesology after Elton John had left.
7 February 1969 – Blues Loft, Nags Head, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press/Melody Maker)
14 February 1969 – Fishmonger Arms, Wood Green, north London with Jody Grind (Wood Green & Southgate Weekly Herald/Melody Maker)
18 February 1969 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker)
1 March 1969 – Evolution of the Blues, Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks with Mississippi Fred McDowell, Duster Bennett, The New Black Cat Bones, Jo-Ann Kelly, Mike Cooper, Bob Hall and Ian Anderson (Bucks Free Press)
28 March 1969 – Blues Loft, Nags Head, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
11 April 1969 – Lyceum, the Strand, central London with T-Rex, Eire Apparent and Wallace Collection (Melody Maker)
13 April 1969 – Farx Club, Northcote Arms, Southall, west London with Egg (Time Out)
13 April 1969 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, central London (Melody Maker)
21 April 1969 – Blaises, Imperial Hotel, Queen’s Gate, west London (Hounslow Post)
27 April 1969 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
29 April 1969 – Fishmongers Arms, Wood Green, north London (Time Out)
10 May 1969 – Blues Scene, Crown, Twickenham, west London with Levee Camp Moan (Kingston & Malden Borough News/Melody Maker)
13 May 1969 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
22 May 1969 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
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.
WINSTON’S FUMBS
Jimmy Winston – lead vocals/guitar
Tony Kaye – keyboards
Alex Dmochowski (aka Paris) – bass
Ray Stock – drums
15 September 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London with The Boardwalkers (Melody Maker)
29 September 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London with Wishful Thinking (Melody Maker)
10 December 1966 – Alex, Halifax, West Yorkshire (Halifax Evening Courier & Guardian) Says direct from Locomotive Club, Paris
31 December 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London with The Mode and St Willie Cool School (Melody Maker)
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: Courtesy John Wiggins
PAUL WILLIAMS SET
Paul Williams – lead vocals
Jimmy Crawford – lead guitar
John A Wiggins – keyboards
Roger Sutton – bass
Jeff Condon – trumpet/flugelhorn
Johnny Almond – sax/flute
Alan White – drums
Left to right: Johnny Almond, John Wiggins, Roger Sutton, Alan White, Jimmy Crawford, Jeff Condon and Paul Williams. Photo may be subject to copyright
1968
10 November 1968 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent (Chatham, Rochester & Gillingham Evening Post)
15 November 1968 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham with Charlie Brown Show (Down at the Boat book)
Photo: Geoffrey Mason
16 November 1968 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire with Bruce Chanel, Yes and The Delivery (Poster from Geoffrey Mason)
17 November 1968 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, south London (Melody Maker)
23 November 1968 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands with The Complex (Birmingham Evening Mail)
24 November 1968 – Surrey Rooms, Kennington, south London (South East London Mercury)
Photo may be subject to copyright
30 November 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
14 December 1968 – Rotherham Baths, Rotherham, South Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)
15 December 1968 – Surrey Rooms, Kennington, London (Fabulous 208/South East London Mercury)
22 December 1968 – City Hall, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with The Animals, Grapefruit, Happy Magazine, Barry St John, Long John Baldy, Kim Davis & The Beginning, Noble Fforde and The Tempo Set (Newcastle Evening Chronicle) Original Animals reunion gig/Geno Washington was billed but cancelled
Photo may be subject to copyright
27 December 1968 – Shrubbery Hotel, Ilminster, Somerset (Somerset County Gazette)
1969
5 January 1969 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London (Melody Maker)
10 January 1969 – Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with Cliff Bennett & His Band and The Sect (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
17 January 1969 – Swansea University, Swansea, Wales (Fabulous 208)
19 January 1969 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with Happy Magazine (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book)
20 January 1969 – Park Hall Hotel, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)
24 January 1969 – Bishop Varsey Grammar School, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)
25 January 1969 – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, Essex with Doughnut Ring (Southend Standard)
26 January 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208)
30 January 1969 – Revolution, London (Fabulous 208)
31 January 1969 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey (Fabulous 208)
Photo may be subject to copyright
1 February 1969 – Reading University, Reading, Berkshire with Yes (Melody Maker) Reading Evening Post lists Van der Graaf Generator not Yes
2 February 1969 – Surrey Rooms, Oval, Kennington, London (Fabulous 208)
4 February 1969 – Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)
6 February 1969 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, London (Geoff Williams’ research: Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek book)
7 February 1969 – Brunel University, Uxbridge, London with Honeybus and The Idle Race (Melody Maker)
9 March 1969 – Mercer’s Arms, Coventry (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
26 March 1969 – City Hall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)
27 March 1969 – University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk (Fabulous 208)
29 March 1969 – Civic Hall, Solihull, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)
30 March 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208)
9 April 1969 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Gods (Time Out)
23 April 1969 – Armour House, Gresham Street, EC2, London (Time Out)
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: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright
THE EQUALS
Dervan Gordon – lead vocals
Eddy Grant – lead guitar, vocals
Lincoln Gordon – rhythm guitar, vocals
Patrick Lloyd – guitar
John Hall – drums
Formed in 1965, the Equals were arguably the first interracial band in the UK.
Calvin Samuel, who played bass with Junior Marvin’s Blue Ace Unit and later Joe E Young & The Toniks, before finding success with CSN&Y and Stephen Stills’ Manassas, provided bass on many of their recordings, although he was not on the first LP, and not on anything after sometime in 1969 when Lincoln Gordon took over on bass duties.
1965
8 May 1965 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with Johnny B Great & The Quotations (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)
21 May 1965 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)
22 May 1965 – Royal Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with Sonny Childe & The Elders Consolidated (Kent Messenger/Maidstone Gazette)
Image may be subject to copyright
3 June 1965 – Elms Club, South Harrow, northwest London with Bluesology (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
12 July 1965 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, London (Melody Maker)
Image may be subject to copyright
19 August 1965 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, London (Melody Maker)
21 August 1965 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with Meddy Evils (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)
28 August 1965 – Savoy Rooms, Catford, London (South East London Mercury)
29 August 1965 – Royal Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent (Maidstone Gazette)
1966
29 May 1966 – The New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, E1, London (Melody Maker)
17 July 1966 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Express & Star)
4 August 1966 – The New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, E1, London (Melody Maker)
7 August 1966 – The New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, E1, London (Melody Maker)
11 August 1966 – The New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, E1, London (Melody Maker)
19 August 1966 – The New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, E1, London (Melody Maker)
September-October 1966 – Melody Maker reports that they are resident band at the New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, E1, London during these months but not clear how many nights a week this involves
Image may be subject to copyright
18 September 1966 – The New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, E1, London (Melody Maker)
16 October 1966 – The New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, E1, London with The Casual Set (Melody Maker)
22 October 1966 – Royal Lido, Prestatyn, Clwyd, Wales with The Raynes (Rhyl & Prestayn Gazette)
29 October 1966 – Woolwich Arsenal Station, Woolwich, London with The Shadocks (Melody Maker)
5 November 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Billy Fury, Victor Brox & The Blue Train, Guy Darrell Syndicate and Ray Bones (Lincolnshire Standard)
Image may be subject to copyright
12 November 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Peddlers and The ‘N’ Betweens (Melody Maker)
Image may be subject to copyright
30 December 1966 – Flamenco Club, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone & Hythe Herald)
31 December 1966 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Spellbinders, The Canadians, The Triads, Ray Bones and Frank & Keith (Lincolnshire Standard)
1967
Image may be subject to copyright
11 February 1967 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Spencer Davis Group, Wynder K Frog and Ray Bones (Lincolnshire Standard)
18 February 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Pink Floyd and Two of Each (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
Image may be subject to copyright
11 March 1967 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Lee Dorsey, Scots of St James, The Bystanders and Ray Bones (Lincolnshire Standard)
Image may be subject to copyright
30 April 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker)
7 May 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker)
12 May 1967 – Angel Hotel, Blue Beat Club, Godalming, Surrey (Surrey Advertiser)
14 May 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
Image may be subject to copyright
16 June 1967 – Angel Hotel, Blue Beat Club, Godalming, Surrey (Surrey Advertiser)
7 July 1967 – Angel Hotel, Blue Beat Club, Godalming, Surrey (Surrey Advertiser)
15 July 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Vogue (Cambridgeshire Times)
17 July 1967 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Express & Star)
Image may be subject to copyright
22 July 1967 – Starlight Room, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Jeff Beck Group and The Motown Trinity (Melody Maker)
Image may be subject to copyright
5 August 1967 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Beat Stalkers and Bobby Johnson & The Atoms (Spalding Standard)
19 August 1967 – Iron Curtain Club, Small Heath, West Midlands with Erskine T (Birmingham Evening Mail)
2 September 1967 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Fabulous Temptations, The Sovereigns, The Rubber Band (Lincolnshire Standard)
Image may be subject to copyright
18 November 1967 – Romanos, Belfast, Northern Ireland with Jack Ruane Showband and Tara Showband (Cityweek)
1968
27 January 1968 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Procol Harum and Gospel Garden (Lincolnshire Standard)
2 February 1968 – Big C Club, 1 Camp Road, Farnborough, Hampshire (Aldershot News)
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11 February 1968 – Cat Balou, Grantham, Lincolnshire (Grantham Journal)
24 February 1968 – Tin Hat, Kettering, Northamptonshire with Magic Roundabout (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
28 February 1968 – Baths Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk with Nature’s Own (Ipswich Evening Star)
2 March 1968 – Gala Ballroom, Norwich, Norfolk (Eastern Evening News)
18 March 1968 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, London (Coulsdon & Purley Advertiser)
11 April 1968 – Barn Barbecue Dance, Thurmaston, Leicester with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Fleetwood Mac, Alan Bown, Soft Machine, Fairport Convention, Legay, Sons & Lovers, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds, Pesky Gee, Pitiful Souls and Six Across (Melody Maker)
13 April 1968 – Aldebrugh Jubilee Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk with The Eyes of Blond (Ipswich Evening Star)
20 April 1968 – Town Hall, Downham Market, Norfolk with The Tyres (Lynn News)
4 May 1968 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with Illinois State (West Briton & The Royal Cornwall Gazette)
5 May 1968 – Wake Arms, Epping, Essex (New Musical Express)
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27 May 1968 – Civic Hall, Dunstable, Bedfordshire (Luton News)
1 June 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Motion (Crawley Advertiser)
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3 June 1968 – Sunshine Floor, Dereham, Norfolk with The Rubber Band (North Norfolk News)
9 June 1968 – Wake Arms, Epping, Essex (New Musical Express)
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15 June 1968 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with Out of Order (Cambridgeshire Times)
17 June 1968 – St Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, Norfolk with The Reformation and The Rubber Band (Eastern Evening News)
18 June 1968 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
8 July 1968 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with The Loris and The Switch (Surrey Advertiser)
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9 July 1968 – Palais, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
This site is a work in progress on 1960s garage rock bands. All entries can be updated, corrected and expanded. If you have information on a band featured here, please let me know and I will update the site and credit you accordingly.
I am dedicated to making this site a center for research about '60s music scenes. Please consider donating archival materials such as photos, records, news clippings, scrapbooks or other material from the '60s. Please contact me at rchrisbishop@gmail.com if you can loan or donate original materials
