In October 1967, Mike Nixon took over from Pete Wainwright on guitar. Nixon had previously been lead singer with The Gospel Truth, which also featured future Climax Blues Band members Colin Cooper, Peter Haycock, Arthur Wood and John Cuffley.
Within days of his joining, The Colour Supplement got the opportunity to tour Sweden on a 14-day tour and shared two shows with Hedgehoppers Anonymous before doing further dates with the Troggs.
Back in England, the band briefly gigged around the Stoke-on-Trent area before landing a three-week stint at the Star Club in Hamburg in November where they met Ritchie Blackmore, who sat in on several occasions.
The Colour Supplement then headed to Cologne for two weeks to play the Storyville Club, followed by another fortnight at the Frankfurt Storyville Club.
A second tour of Sweden in April-May 1968 was a disaster. In December, Tunstall was tempted away with an offer to join a new version of Hedgehoppers Anonymous.
The band continued briefly as a four-piece but then brought in a singer called Hutch (aka Bernard Hutchinson). The group underwent further changes in the 1970s and worked with singer/songwriter David Parton (aka Des Parton), who later achieved songwriting success with Sweet Sensation, penning the UK #1 with ‘Sad Sweet Dreamer’. He also had a UK top 5 hit with a cover of the Stevie Wonder song, ‘Isn’t She Lovely?’
Glover later joined The Climax Blues Band and still plays with them to this day.
Thank you to George Glover, Mike Nixon and Paul Stevenson for passing on details about The Colour Supplement and to Joe Toriati for the photos of this band.
Copyright © Nick Warburton, 2010. 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.
Email: Warchive@aol.com
For anyone who is interested, here’s a summary of live dates that I’ve found from Phil’s time with the band.
6 October 1967 – Cue Club, Gothenburg, Sweden with Hedgehoppers Anonymous (part of a 14-day tour of Sweden; one more with Hedgehoppers Anonymous and a few dates with The Troggs)
5 November 1967 – Crystal Ballroom, Stoke-on-Trent with Blue Thunderbirds and The Odd Men
November-December 1967 – Star Club, Hamburg, Germany (three weeks)
December 1967 – Storyville Club, Cologne, Germany (two weeks)
22 December 1967 – Greenways, Baddeley Green, Staffordshire (direct from Germany)
12 January 1968 – Greenways, Baddeley Green, Staffordshire
16 January 1968 – Top Rank, Hanley Suite, Hanley, Staffordshire
18 February 1968 – Waggon and Horses, Meir, Staffordshire
3 March 1968 – Blue Ball, Risley, Staffordshire
Circa 12 April 1968 – Second Swedish tour begins
12 May 1968 – Bull’s Head, Hanford, Staffordshire
22 May 1968 – Bull’s Head, Hanford, Staffordshire
3 June 1968 – Basford Coronation Club, Basford, Staffordshire
12 June 1968 – Bull’s Head, Hanford, Staffordshire
17 June 1968 – Filleybrooke Hotel, Stone, Staffordshire
19 June 1968 – Bull’s Head, Hanford, Staffordshire
23 June 1968 – Clayton Lodge, Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire
24 July 1968 – Bull’s Head, Hanford, Staffordshire
21 August 1968 – Bull’s Head, Hanford, Staffordshire
9 October 1968 – Mackadown, Kitts Green, West Midlands with The Passion Forest
23 October 1968 – Chesterfield Club, Castle Bromwich, West Midlands
Most are from Stoke Evening Sentinel, but some are from Birmingham Evening Mail
Found the following gig in the Birmingham Evening Mail. There are many more but I didn’t note them all down
27 January 1968 – Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands
Few more gigs for the Colour Supplement in Birmingham Evening Mail:
3 July 1968 – Tynburn House, Erdington, West Midlands
5 July 1968 – Chesterfield Club, Castle Bromwich, West Midlands
17 July 1968 – Chesterfield Club, Castle Bromwich, West Midlands
21 July 1968 – Queen’s Beat Club, Erdington, West Midlands
28 July 1968 – Crown and Cushion, Perry Barr
9 August 1968 – Station Inn, Selly Oak, West Midlands
10 August 1968 – Bull’s Head, Yardley, West Midlands with Locomotive
23 August 1968 – Chesterfield Club, Castle Bromwich, West Midlands
Another one from Birmingham Evening Mail:
22 August 1967 – Hen & Chickens, Langley, West Midlands with The Atlantics
A few gigs in the South Wales Evening Post:
8 November 1968 – Samantha’s at Langland Bay Hotel, Swansea with Wishful Thinking
18 November 1968 – Samantha’s, Langland Bay Hotel, Swansea
our band The John Mcflare Band played alongside Colour Supplement at the Top Ten Club Hamburg think it was 1969/70 Hutch was vocalist i remember Mick and George and Paul great band and lovely lads we had a great time there i also have photo of the band at that time,
Thanks Denis. Have you seen the Top Ten Club entry on this site?
The band were definitely at the Top Ten Club, Hamburg during July 1970.
I was married to Hutch and our daughter Louisa was born on 31.07.1970 whilst he was away.
Yeh we played Top Ten Club with Colour Supplement 1970 great times
Do you still have a photo of the Colour supplement
Hi Mike yeh I’ve still got photo of Colour Supplement from 1970
Can you post me the photo of the colour supplement on Facebook Mike Nixon if poss’ ta! mjnixon73@gmail.com
Fantastic article and site. I have been lucky enough to devote my working life as a bass player from the sixties and being in the potteries either have played with most of the old players and still maintain in contact with some of them. Gerald brookes is my bruv in law and i played with him many timrs .mainly with the spirits. I was recruited by lonnies few to join them later. Des parton was the frontman amf i stayed with them for a while..i was also playing with ultimate sixties then doing a sixties tribute act. Supposedly retired now but still mildly active , i maintain contacy with some of thr old pals. Mainly george from climax as well as many more inc pete frampton etc etc. Fantastic players and im so proud to have seen them get the success they deserve. Ken hall.