Paul Stroud – lead vocals
Del Grace – lead guitar (replaced by Ron Bryer)
Mike Manners – organ (replaced by Andy Clark)
Barry Nicholls – bass (replaced by Mick Holland)
Del Coverley – drums
Formed in southeast London in late 1965, the original line-up included former Epitaphs Soul Band guitarist Del Grace, who joined forces with longstanding lead singer Paul Stroud, bass player Barry Nicholls and organist Mike Manners after meeting at Music Land in Bexley Heath, a shop owned by Tom Jennings, founder of Jennings Musical Instruments Ltd.
Before the turn of the year, former Scimitars sticks man Del Coverley replaced the original drummer, Rick Dyett.
Big Wheel gigged incessantly around the London area and played regularly at the Black Prince Hotel in Bexley, working with notable acts like John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and The Graham Bond Organisation. In February 1966, the musicians played at Berlin Jazz Festival (see below).
Around April 1966, Mike Manners dropped out and Andy Clark from The Epitaph Soul Band took his place.
On 6 June, the new formation left England to tour Germany and Switzerland. On the band’s return, both Del Grace and Barry Nicholls both departed.
Del Grace joined The Carl Douglas Set in July 1966, which morphed into Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede. Barry ‘Baz’ Nicholls, years later, joined heavy metal band, More, with whom he continues to gig.
With further gigs lined up in Switzerland, Andy Clark recommended former Carl Douglas Set guitarist Ron Bryer (aka Ron Spence), who’d previously worked with The Loose Ends and bass player Mick Holland from The Epitaph Soul Band.
The new configuration developed quite a following in Switzerland, playing at the Tanzrad in Basel before moving on to Zurich. Big Wheel even issued a hopelessly rare (Swiss-only) mod single, Andy Clark’s “Don’t Give Up That Easy” c/w “You’re Only Hurting Yourself”, released on the Eurex label in February 1967.
However, in early November 1966, Del Coverley left to join Del Grace and original Big Wheel organist Mike Manners in Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede.
It’s likely that the remaining Big Wheel members stayed in Switzerland until at least spring 1967 whereupon all of the musicians except Ron Bryer returned to the UK.
Bryer joined Berry Window & The Movements before forming Brainticket in 1968. The band cut a lone album “Cottonwoodhill” in 1971. Bryer later returned to the UK and briefly worked with One (led by his old Loose Ends singer Alan Marshall) but died of a drug overdose around 1973.
Back in the UK, Andy Clark reunited with Del Coverley in The Fenmen (aka Kindness). This proved to be short-lived and after working with Sam Gopal’s Dream and Vamp, he formed Dogs Blues (with Coverley) and then Clark-Hutchinson, which brought Coverley in for its 1970 and 1971 albums, “Retribution” and “Gestalt”. In the interim, Coverley had played with Fat Daughter during 1969.
Original member, Mike Manners would record two singles with Johnny Young in 1967 after leaving Carl Douglas in July 1967. Del Grace, meanwhile, would record solo material for United Artists and Liberty before moving to Spain and cutting solo CDs.
Many thanks to Del Coverley, Del Grace and Mike Manners for helping to piece this story together. Thanks also to Rolf at Feathered Apple Records in Switzerland for the use of the Eurex single scans
Found an advert in Melody Maker from December 1968 for a band called Dogs Blues:
Line up:
Mick Hutchinson – guitar
Barry Nicholls – bass
Andy Clark – organ
Del Coverley – drums
So when the “Blues” album, with Monaghan and Franco, was recorded? Before or after the Dogs Blues with Nicholls/Coverley line-up?
Melody Maker lists the Big Wheel playing at the Student Prince Club, W1 on 22 May 1966
Found an old email from Rolf in Switzerland who provided scans of the single above. He said:
The Big Wheel’s “Herbstmesse” gigs at the “Tanzrad” in Basel, Switzerland were starting from 29. October 1966, and were lasting for exactly 2 weeks! Each of their Swiss engagements were usually lasting from 2 weeks up to one month!
The “Tanzrad” used to be a huge turning wheel on which the people could dance while the wheel would be turning. The “Tanzrad” was also used in Germany too (the same one!) The band used to play at the very center of the wheel (on some very small round stage).
They’ve also played some highly successful gigs at the Hirschen in Zurich for some weeks – possibly for one entire month, and with 2 or 3 hard gigs for them to play each day! After the Hirschen they’ve went to play the Tanzrad during the entire Mustermesse in Basel (several weeks). They’ve also played at the Times Club in Basel for a while too!
After the breakup of the band (Ron wanted to stay in Switzerland, but the others wanted to return to the UK) Ronald Bryer joined the newly formed Barry Window and the Movements as the last member to complete the band.