The Blue Moon in Hayes was an important music venue in west London.
Bob Danks recalls Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers playing at the Blue Moon in Hayes regularly in the early 1960s (see comments section). He also thinks Ritchie Blackmore played his first show with Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages at the Blue Moon after leaving Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers.
I have started to collate a comprehensive gig list and would welcome any additions and memories of the club in the comments below.
1963
27 January 1963 (Sunday) – Brian Poole & The Tremeloes (Harrow Weekly Post)
3 February 1963 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Weekly Post)
14 April 1963 (Sunday) – Julie Grant & The Citizens (Harrow Weekly Post)
9 June 1963 (Sunday) – Sounds Inc with Bruce Welsh & The High Five (Harrow Weekly Post)
16 June 1963 (Sunday) – Mike Berry & The Innocents (Harrow Weekly Post)
23 June 1963 (Sunday) – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (Harrow Weekly Post)
30 June 1963 (Sunday) – Wee Willy Harris and High Five (Harrow Weekly Post)
7 July 1963 (Sunday) – The Big Three with The Riversiders (Harrow Weekly Post)
14 July 1963 (Sunday) – Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (Harrow Weekly Post)
21 July 1963 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Weekly Post)
28 July 1963 (Sunday) – Russ Sainty & The Nu-Notes and The High Five (Harrow Weekly Post)
4 August 1963 (Sunday) – Robb Storme & The Whispers (Harrow Weekly Post)
25 August 1963 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Weekly Post)
8 September 1963 (Sunday) – Rikki Rand & The Soundsmen and Bruce Lloyd & The Hi-Fi’s (Harrow Weekly Post)
15 September 1963 (Friday) – Malcolm Clark & The Cresters (Harrow Weekly Post) Needs confirmation
22 September 1963 (Sunday) – The Swinging Blue Jeans and The Robb Charles Combo (Harrow Weekly Post)
29 September 1963 (Sunday) – Malcolm Clark & The Cresters (Harrow Weekly Post)
6 October 1963 (Sunday) – The Undertakers and The High Five (Harrow Weekly Post)
13 October 1963 (Sunday) – The Federals (Beat Monthly)
20 October 1963 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Weekly Post)
17 November 1963 (Sunday) – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Harrow Weekly Post)
24 November 1963 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Weekly Post)
1964
5 January 1964 (Sunday) – Manfred Mann (Ruislip & Northwood Gazette)
12 January 1964 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Ruislip & Northwood Gazette)
19 January 1964 (Sunday) – The Contrasts (Beat Monthly)
2 February 1964 (Sunday) – Manfred Mann (Greg Russo’s research)
5 April 1964 (Sunday) – The Downliners Sect (Don Craine’s gig diary)
19 April 1964 (Sunday) – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and The Impacts (Dorothy Bullock’s membership card)
26 April 1964 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Dorothy Bullock’s membership card)
3 May 1964 (Sunday) – The Downliners Sect (Don Craine’s gig diary)
10 May 1964 (Sunday) – The Paramounts (Dorothy Bullock’s membership card)
24 May 1964 (Sunday) – Alex Harvey Soul Band (Dorothy Bullock’s membership card)
27 May 1964 (Wednesday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Dorothy Bullock’s membership card)
31 May 1964 (Sunday) – The Downliners Sect (Don Craine’s gig diary)
10 June 1964 (Wednesday) – The Yardbirds (Alan Clayson’s book The Yardbirds: the band that launched Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page)
26 July 1964 (Sunday) – The Downliners Sect (Don Craine’s gig diary)
16 August 1964 (Sunday) – The Downliners Sect (Beat Monthly)
7 September 1964 (Monday) – The Birds (needs source but most likely Harrow Weekly Post)
29 November 1964 (Sunday) – The Stormsville Shakers (band website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)
20 December 1964 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Beat Instrumental/Ruislip & Northwood Gazette)
1965
3 January 1965 (Sunday) – Ronnie Jones & The Nightimers (Ruislip and Northwood Gazette)
10 January 1965 (Sunday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Ruislip and Northwood Gazette)
17 January 1965 (Sunday) – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Harrow Weekly Post)
24 January 1965 (Sunday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Harrow Weekly Post)
Roger Dean is the lead guitarist with The Bluesbreakers at this stage.
31 January 1965 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Greenford Weekly Post)
7 February 1965 (Sunday) – The Graham Bond Organisation (Harrow Weekly Post)
14 February 1965 (Sunday) – The Chessmen (Greenford Weekly Post)
21 February 1965 (Sunday) – Ronnie Jones & The Night-timers and The Brian Auger Trinity (Harrow Weekly Post)
7 March 1965 (Sunday) – The Spencer Davis Group (possibly Harrow Weekly Post)
4 April 1965 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Weekly Post)
11 April 1965 (Sunday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Harrow Weekly Post)
Eric Clapton had joined earlier this month replacing Roger Dean.
18 April 1965 (Sunday) – Ronnie Jones & The Night-timers (Harrow Weekly Post)
25 April 1965 (Sunday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Harrow Weekly Post)
2 May 1965 (Sunday) – The Graham Bond Organisation (Harrow Weekly Post)
9 May 1965 (Sunday) – The Spencer Davis Group and (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds with Count Prince Miller (possibly Harrow Weekly Post)
16 May 1965 (Sunday) – The Spencer Davis Group (Harrow Weekly Post)
23 May 1965 (Sunday) – Long John Baldry (Harrow Weekly Post)
30 May 1965 (Sunday) – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (possibly Harrow Weekly Post)
7 June 1965 (Monday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Christopher Hjort’s Strange Brew book)
20 June 1965 (Sunday) – The Who (Harrow Weekly Post)
27 June 1965 (Sunday) – The Spencer Davis Group (possibly Harrow Weekly Post)
4 July 1965 (Sunday) – Ronnie Jones & The Night-timers (Harrow Weekly Post)
11 July 1965 (Sunday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Harrow Weekly Post) This gig is missing from Christopher Hjort’s book below so may not have happened. Also advert above suggests Georgie Fame instead
25 July 1965 (Sunday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Christopher Hjort’s book Strange Brew)
1 August 1965 (Sunday) – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (possibly Harrow Weekly Post)
22 August 1965 (Sunday) – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Harrow Weekly Post)
25 August 1965 (Wednesday) – Steampacket (Bruno Ceriotti’s research: http://thebritishsound.blogspot.com/2011/07/steam-packet-family-tree-performance.html)
5 September 1965 (Sunday) – The Spencer Davis Group (Harrow Weekly Post)
19 September 1965 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Weekly Post and Beat Instrumental)
26 September 1965 (Sunday) – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Harrow Weekly Post)
3 October 1965 (Sunday) – Steampacket (Harrow Weekly Post)
10 October 1965 (Sunday) – T-Bone Walker (Harrow Weekly Post)
17 October 1965 (Sunday) – Steampacket (Harrow Weekly Post)
24 October 1965 (Sunday) – Ben E King (Harrow Weekly Post)
31 October 1965 (Sunday) – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Harrow Weekly Post)
7 November 1965 (Sunday) – The Graham Bond Organisation (Harrow Weekly Post)
14 November 1965 (Sunday) – The Alan Price Set (Harrow Weekly Post)
21 November 1965 (Sunday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Harrow Weekly Post)
Both Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce are members of The Bluesbreakers during this period.
28 November 1965 (Sunday) – Steampacket (Harrow Weekly Post)
5 December 1965 (Sunday) – Wilson Pickett (Harrow Weekly Post)
19 December 1965 (Sunday) – The Spencer Davis Group (Harrow Weekly Post/Ruislip & Northwood Gazette)
1966
2 January 1966 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Weekly Post)
23 January 1966 (Sunday) – Lee Dorsey (most likely backed by The Krew) (Uxbridge Weekly Post)
30 January 1966 (Sunday) – Steampacket (Bruno Ceriotti’s research: http://thebritishsound.blogspot.com/2011/07/steam-packet-family-tree-performance.html
6 February 1966 (Sunday) – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Melody Maker)
13 February 1966 (Sunday) – The Alan Walker Group (Melody Maker)
27 February 1966 (Sunday) – The Nashville Teens (Hayes Gazette)
6 March 1966 (Sunday) – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)
13 March 1966 (Sunday) – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Melody Maker)
27 March 1966 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Melody Maker)
3 April 1966 (Sunday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Christopher Hjort’s book Strange Brew)
17 April 1966 (Sunday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Melody Maker)
22 April 1966 (Friday) – Dee Dee Warwick (Melody Maker)
1 May 1966 (Sunday) – Steampacket (Melody Maker)
8 May 1966 (Sunday) – Herbie Goins & The Night-timers (Melody Maker)
15 May 1966 (Sunday) – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Melody Maker)
12 June 1966 (Sunday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Christopher Hjort’s book Strange Brew)
Eric Clapton will leave the following month and Peter Green takes his place.
19 June 1966 (Sunday) – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Melody Maker)
18 September 1966 (Sunday) – Cream (Christopher Hjort’s book Strange Brew)
Thanks to Rolf Hannet for helping with Beat Monthly and Beat Instrumental gigs
Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author.
Pity ’64 seems to be the start date. I can remember a lot of Rebel Rousers gigs a lot earlier. Re; my post on Southall CC site, I think you’ll find that Ritchie played his first gig with Sutch at the Blue Moon. To my (poor) memory Sutch climbed up through all the roof bracing during his set. Great memories.
Yes he did Bob he also used to come on stage with a toilet seat around his neck on fire .He was stopped doing it as he once set the fur around his coat sleeves alight . the guy was fantastic but a complete nutter Clem Cantini was his drummer very good band .
Hi I regularly saw long John baldly Elton John and rod stweart there
Wow amazing… live in Hayes
Site of club now long gone, sadly….pass where it was every day on 195 bus..such amazing history
I remember going in 1962, seeing them all. Georgie Fame, Sonny Boy Williamson with Mick Fleetwood on drums, the name a couple. Those were the days!
Me to.. Used to go to the pub (can’t remember the name) pint of cider and black to wash the “blues” down.
I somehow managed to get home on my Lambretta . I think i used to go on Wednesdays. Spent weekends up west. Lived in Cowley born 1946
Oh the Blue Moon Club was great for me as I had to just walk across Hayes Town Hall park to get there. I saw the Yardbirds there after seeing the Stones at Botwell house club the same week. I also saw Dave Clark 5 and others but those stand out!
Recognise the name ex Mellow Lane Peter Hicks me and Denis Vance saw Brin Auger , Julie Driscoll , LonG John Boardry and of course Rod the Mod
Dennis Vance rings a bell. I was at Mellowlane from 1962-67, with my twin brother Richard Ashby.
Steve it was a fantastic venue with the best music possible. Some of the artists that played with different bands we didnt realise at the time how good they were .Eric Clapton Ginger Baker Clem Cantini Roy Young Chas and Dave both played with the Rebel Rousers Stevie Windwood so so many could go on for ages .
Don Craine of the Downliners Sect very kindly emailed these dates that they played the Blue Moon.
5 April 1964
3 May 1964
31 May 1964
26 July 1964
Is that any link to the Cowley Jazz club, as I recall seeing Georgie Fame there, as well Alan Price and the Rebel Rousers?
Was that called the Georgian club saw Spencer Davis in 65.
Yes – the link was Eddie and John Norman promoted them both. John,Eddie and my father (Bill Reid) later opened the Blue Moon in Cheltenham .John is still alive and knows all the stories of these venues and I shall get him on…My father, along with Jack Fallon ( who was such a cool guy) promoted Harrow British Legion,The Refectory and many others ( he was Trad Jazz, bass player for Alex Welsh) so not really part of the scene . I shall enjoy trawling through all this now. Stephen
Remember the blue moon very well,I was a fan of cliff Bennett and the RR.i travelled in the band van a couple of times and even courted a young lady who was Ricky the drummers ex girlfriend called carol(emigrated to aus. With mum and dad). I liked Sid the sax player who worked at A E C early days.my group of friends that also went those days were Paul creek Marshall,who lived over the road opposite the pub in a posh house,peter allen( smiler),Maurice Johnson .Apart from being beaten up outside the cemetery nearby,I have fond memories of the blue moon.Other favourites,boathouse kew(the best),burtons uxbridge,southall com. Centre,Putney ballrooms,the oldfield greenford,and one at ha well,can’t remember the name,building is gone now.
I was at all those places! Buttons started my Clubs years! Loved everything about those times
Sid has sadly passed away
Just The Byron, Greenford missing.
I loved those times of live music
Remember the Moon very well -did a short season in 66 as dj/mc.
I was the unfortunate object trying to get Cream back on for the second set! Had a lot of fun on those Sunday nights, but got bribed to go to the Angel Islington – which wasn’t nearly so good……I think the demolished venue you have in mind might perhaps be The Railway Hotel, Wealdstone, where I was also known quite well?
Not the railway,ray,although ive been there as well.The pub i was thinking of was the Park Hotel,Hanwell.
Who remembers “Bo street Runners ” at the Railway Harrow Wealstone … They were in final of Ready Steady win and we had large black n white badges to wear ….. Groupie !!!!!
I sang in a group called the Strangers we split up when our lead guitarist Dave Camron left us to join the Bo Street Runners but going back to the Blue Moon I remember seeing Long John Baldry there I think late 1950 and Baldry introduced an unknown singer by the name of Rod Stewart.
hi, did anyone catch the Who at the Blue Moon? If so would like to interview you for a book I’m researching on the Who’s London gigs. Please be in touch if interested.
cheers
Ian
No but I remember a gig at the Rikki Tik club in Windsor where Townsend couldn’t stop the feedback from his amp, was so high that h smashed his amp up with his guitar and then smashed his guitar. I believe this was first time he did that but it went down so well that they built it into the act for later gigs. This was some time in Autumn 1964?
i remember seeing the Who at the Blue Moon and smashing up their equipment ..it,s difficult to remember what went on at that time or should i say in that era.We used to finish off the weekend at the Blue Moon on a Sunday evening after spending all weekend at the allnighters in the West End..And go to work on Monday in a semi coma…One thing that does stick in my mind is how small Roger Daltry is(in height),and i,m not tall..
Happy Days…….
Happy Day Roger
Roger Yates, remember Long John Baldry, Julie Driscoll, Rod Stewert, Janette(Beasley) Davis, formerly Hillingdon, Middlesex.
I bet nothing like that happend in Mindarie Roger
I saw the Who at Botwell House Hayes. 1965 I think. I was about 15 at the time. It wasn’t packed out and we stood right in front of the stage dancing. Bit different to the big concerts these days!
Saw them play Botwell house 19/04/65 easter monday.My 14th birthday treat,still havent recovered.
Ian, just seen your comment regarding The Who at the Blue Moon Club. I cannot remember them playing there but I did see a lot of bands perform in the 60’s. Notably- Steam Packet, Georgie Fame and John Mayall and the Blues Breakers. I was an Ealing “Mod” and followed The Who from their days at the Goldhawk Club, Shepherds Bush when they were call ed The Detours. They also played at The Oldfield Hotel, Greenford where I met my 1st fiancé, Sylvia Bird, who lived in Hicks Avenue, Greenford. I have met Roger and the late Keith, a couple if times and gave an interesting couple of anecdotes if you are interested to hear them.
Cheers,
Jeff
70 year old pensioner living in Australia
Where in australia are you
Believe there was a fight in the pub, Entwhistle ? And a local low number mod
Played with The Who at Watford Ex Sevicemens club,we were called Eddie King and The Chequers.
I just heard Sonny Boy Williamson, which triggered a memory of a blues singer at the Blue Moon. To my shame I cannot remember which one. All I know that it was 1964. Is there any one who might be able to shed some light on my poor memory?
We saw Sonny Boy Williams there as well as Cliff Bennett, Long John Baldry, Chris Farlowe, Georgie Fame. I vaguely remember seeing Brian Auger there too. Brilliant times!
I got Sonny Boy Williamson’s autograph – he wrote single letters SBW (someone said can’t he write – they said shush as he drowned another glass of whisky in his other hand)
. Was anyone on for Jimmy Powell and the 5 Dimensions…I was at school, Southall Grammar, and it was my introduction to psychedelic music. He was a little guy and he sat on the piano and played an extended break – first one I’d heard. There was a skinny guy in the group and it was `Rod Stewart. I remeber this so clearly. I now live in Sway in the New Forest and the lead guitarist with Jimmy Powell lives in the next village to me in Lymington. He went to school with Rod and introduced him to R&B. Does anyone know the date of that gig cause I’ve been talking with Gary today, his group was The Moontrekkers and he recorded with Joe Meek…he’s a fund of 60’s knowledge. If I can get the year then I can be certain he was with The Dimensions then.
The full name of the Vagabonds at that time was Jimmy James and the Vagabonds with Count Prince Miller
Did Jimmy Hendrix play at the Blue Moon in the 60.s, I can recollect seeing JH in a club in Hayes, the club was raided by the police on the night JH played.
Does anyone remember seeing Cliff Bennett on Tuesday evenings at Sandgate Hall in Hayes Town,in early 60’s?
I was introduced to Sandgate Hall by my schoolmate Nick Simper in 1961 and from then on every Tuesday night we would visit the billiard hall over Burtons (opp. Sandgate) and then across the road to watch Cliff Bennett. In those days Frankie Allen was playing rhythm guitar before he later joined the Searchers. Cliff Bennett’s set list was like the Jerry Lee Lewis song book. The late Sid Philips played sax mostly and piano for the Jerry Lee songs. I’m sure that there was only one sax player at that time.
A great night there was in October 1961 when Shane Fenton and the Fentones appeared, having a chart hit at the time. Great act.
We were spoilt for choice in those days by the number of top bands that appeared regularly in Hayes.
When a friend and I formed a group in late 1962, we took our new singer Ian to see Cliff Bennett and the RR’s and he was very impressed. Ian still sings with Deep Purple.
Saw the Rebel Rousers there many times, one night they had Chris Farlowe as the support band!. I was there the night that they had to play behind Sonny Boy Williamson, hilarious..I think all the gigs I saw there are pre 1964 . Great times
The blue moon , was a great Sunday night venue, saw all the above bands also Lee Dorsey (working in a coalmine) Millie Small (my boy lollypop)
This is the only entry I have seen for Millie -:) It was a great club and I used to come out to get a drink at the pub down the road – they had not got alcohol licence.
That would have been The Royal Oak…..block of flats now, so sad!
Has anyone got a picture of the Blue Moon or know what building it was held in? I went there in 62/63 and still have my membership card also I have a list they issued with names of acts for the next 6 weeks. April 19 -Chris Farlowe and Thunderbirds plus The Impacts, 26th April Cliff Bennett, 3rd May Downliners, 10th May Poison Ivy and Paramounts, 27th May Georgie Fame 24th May Alex Harvey Soul Band. Not sure what year could be 62/63.
This was 64
Hi there
Do you still have the card listing? Would you be happy to share it?
It was next to Hayes Football club as I recall
Yes it was next to Hayes Football club
I used to run it with Lee Everett
I thought the Art Wood Combo played there in early 1960’s ?
I never went there but did go to the Botwell Beat festival in 1961 and 1963, I think they had a resident band at the Blue Moon called the Sorrows but can’t be 100% sure. I have a photo of them at the Botwell gig and a programme signed by many of the groups. I also have in my autoghraph book Mick Jagger’s autoghraph from the Botwell gig but was not convinced at the time it was really Mick Jagger although he kept insisting he was. Anyone got any idea if it was as I am now not so sure that it wasn’t him. I was 11 in 1961.
I remember seeing Trini Lopez “If I had a Hammer” at Botwell with The Rolling Stones playing as support band.. They were probably grateful for any gig they could get back then..
You’re right Suzanne the Stones did play there and it was Mick Jagger!!!
Found this site by accident this morning. What great memories it has stirred. Loved the Blue Moon – pre-1964. Enjoyed gigs in the early 60’s at The Boathouse, Southall Community Centre, The Park Hotel, Hanwell; also the ? Ballroom in Putney. Used to follow the Rebel Rousers to so many gigs. Read recently that Sid, the sax player, has died in last few months.
Did anyone remember the Wistowe House evenings? Mostly just records but great atmosphere!
Yes I used to go there usually on a Wednesday or Thursday. A lot of local bands used to play there too
I loved the Wistowe House dances! Every Thursday!
Steve Priest later of Sweet a Hayes man used to play there Thursdays in a band called the Countdowns I think.
Ernie Fripp gave ballroom dance lessons at Wistow House. I hated the grip when he danced with me, almost took my feet off the floor but it stopped me taking a wrong move!
I played nearly every week with a band called The Javelins at Wistowe House from Jan 1963 until November 1964. It was a great venue always packed and hot. It paid for the hire purchase on all our gear at the time.
The Javelins all keep in touch and made our 2nd album in March 2018 in Hamburg. Released as “Ian Gillan & The Javelins”. Both albums cover a lot of the songs that we did at Wistowe.
I remember seeing Screaming Lord Sutch at the Blue Moon in the early sixties, what an exciting show !
Does anyone have any photographs of andy wren who played with s.l. Sutch. Also any info related to early Art Wood Combo – 1962-1964. Thanks, tony
Hi, I used to go to The Blue Moon Club. My Dad worked as a Barman at the Football club.
I guess I went there from about 1964 onwards. One band I saw that I cannot see mentioned although I may have missed it were Atomic Rooster ?
I remember the Blue Moon Club so well, we spent many a Sunday evening watching great Bands, and really up close. Clapton on Stage with his ’59 Gibson Les Paul and a vicar’s collar on his shirt, as the fans kept calling him God. We spent many hours talking to the Spencer Davis Group after the gig. That was the time when you not heard good music, talked music and watched well seasoned musicians as Clapton, Bruce, Baker, Mayall and the list goes on. I am grateful I was able to experience so many fantastic evenings
What a great finish to many terrific weekends between 1963 – 1967. Saw any great bands from Chris Farlowe to Georgie Fame, Zoot money , John Mayall, Alexis Korner. Of course who could forget all the blues players from the States – Howling Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson and John Lee Hooker. First memories of Blue Beat music. The weekend started around Uxbridge either st Burtons or at the Georgian Crowley. Sometimes the Ricky Tik Windsor. Then of to town for the all nighters at the Flamingo of Maquee or The Scene. Great memories of early mornings at Brighton on Sundays. Wonderful times never to be repeated.
Spent most of my youth in that place, most every Sunday and the Wednesday night? Club?
Don’t know when it started but had to be 1962, left for Canada June 1968.
Point is was a great venue, hung with some good mods, shared great times with some lovely ladies, drank long and hard in the Oak? Also Burtons, Eal pie island. Brighton, Tudor Bar, Richmond Athletic, earring Jazz club watched the Stones grow thru Cyril Davies, the Who move from the High numbers to the Who,
found this site whilst sitting in Canada listening to an early Cyril Davies recording, on Tidal, played thru my Sonos. The point is 50 years on, the hairs on your back can stand, and the music and memories spill into today.
Me and you both
I remember the night Sonny Boy Williamson was at the Blue Moon and he didn’t seem too happy about us all dancing will he was singing. He said something along the lines of, “Why are you all dancing instead of listening to me!”
I was at school with John Grainger who has posted above and share some of his memories.
I remember Sunday nights going to the venue by Hayes Football club. By 1967/8 it had changed into a disco, but still no bar licence so drinking in the Royal Oak it was! One abiding memory is watching the West Indian lads dancing to the reggae style music, feet scarcely moving but totally immersed in the music and the beat.
And the disco was called the A Train
Hi Guys,
I was an Ealing and Acton mod, used to hang around the Blue Moon, Attic, Ealing Townhall dances plus Les Wilde and Hammersmith Palace. My big question is, the Don Martin mentioned at the top of this article, is this the same Don Martin that went to Drayton Green Boys School? Who on the last day the school closed he put drawing pins on the heads of the piano keys and turned it into a honkie tonk piano. When the school was asked who had done it, Don Martin stood up and said that he had done it, hilarious, my hero.
Hello Ian. Yes its the same Don Martin. I gave Nick the author some info a few years back recalling my time as an International Rock Idol (Failed). I have sent a separate email to try and catch up with you.
I remember one evening at the Blue Moon when Rod Stewart, Julie Drisco and Long John Baldry performed and a friend Roger Yates was there and we called Roger (Rowdy Yates) from Clint Eastwood TV show getting a pass-out and go to the pub next door.
Ali Mackenzie of the Birds is still singing. He appeared at the Ealing Blues Festival in 2019. I saw them at the Blue Moon, and many other great bands of the era.
No mention of John and Eddie Norman who organised events at the Blue Moon in Hayes and the Blue Beat in Harrow. I used to stick up the posters for the Blue Moon , had a bucket of paste a big brush and my girl friend used to keep an eye out for the police. I used to work in the cloakroom at the Blue Moon; what a nightmare in the winter staking all those parkas . I guess I worked their for about 2 years from 1964/5. Very happy memories of those days. Not like that any more.
Jeremy…John is still alive – Eddie died almost 20 years ago. My father partnered up with them both ( and later on with a young me) for the next 40 years (Bill Reid, a rival promoter , doing Golders Green Refectory and Harrow and so on)so you may remember him or not.They then opened the Blue Moon in Cheltenham.I shall mention your name to John as I see him regularly . You probably pasted over my father’s posters anyway!! All the best…Stephen (PS were you there when the police raided ?Tom jones ran off with Eddie’s girlfiend that night as he was there to see…Wilson PicketT or Ben E king or some Us Star.)
Geno Washington and the Ramjam Band … 12th February 1967
Remember seeing the Who at the Aquarium Brighton about 1963 an allnighter, I was not all that alert spent the previous night trying to sleep around the beach area.