Freddy Mack’s album recorded in 1967 (not 1966). Thanks to Dave Tedstone for image
Retired American light-heavyweight boxer Freddie Mack, sometimes spelt Freddy Mack and also known as Mr Superbad, relocated to the UK in 1965 and established a second career as a soul singer and disc jockey.
Between late 1965 and the mid-1970s, Mack fronted a succession of bands featuring a staggering number of notable British R&B and soul musicians.
Originally called The Mack Sound, the singer’s bands also worked under the names The Freddie Mack Sound, The Fantastic Freddie Mack Show and the Freddie Mack Extravaganza.
The first line-up of this band must have been formed in October 1965 because an advert in Melody Maker from October 1968 says that the group was due to play at the Whisky A Go Go in Wardour Street on 13 October 1968 to mark the band’s third anniversary.
Sometime in November, Freddie Mack was briefly paired with The Phil Wainman Band and female singer Cleo Sylvester (aka Sylvestre). The group’s line up at the time comprised lead guitarist Tony Sinclair; bass player Ron Thomas; organist Mick Fletcher; sax players Mel Wayne and Dave Mahoney; and drummer Phil Wainman.
According to Wainman, Mack was resident DJ at Dolly’s Club in Soho and they shared a brief residency there. The group was then lined up to play a Christmas/New Year show at Count Suckle’s Cue Club in Paddington with Mack.
Mel Wayne says that Mick Fletcher was staying with him in Twickenham and the pair had problems with the trains and arrived late. Mack was going to fine them but the rest of the band rallied and said they’d leave if he did.
Unfortunately, the show proved to be the end of their relationship and Wainman’s band went on to work with West End Promotions, backing a succession of Jamaican artists, including Millie Small, Owen Grey, Jackie Edwards and most notably Jimmy Cliff.
Around February 1966, Mack asked sax player Roger Warwick, who’d done some rehearsals with Phil Wainman’s band, to become part of a new, larger stage show that drew on musicians from two bands and subsequently became known as This ‘N’ That. The new formation retained singer Cleo Sylvester.
Mack had also asked American singer Ronald Bertram Greaves (aka Sonny Childe) to join the new stage show but Warwick doesn’t think he stuck around long.
Originally from Ealing, Warwick had attended Walpole Grammar School and was in the year below (and was friends with) John McVie. Studying sax under Don Rendell, he had previously played on The Tornados’ single “Early Bird”, produced by Joe Meek.
He then worked with Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages and played a few gigs with The Lower Third (with David Bowie on sax) before backing singer Bobby Rio on a German tour in December 1965 with future Mack Sound bass player Alan Cartwright.
Back in England, Warwick joined a short-lived group based in Fulham, which also included an Irish singer called Leon, tenor sax player Nobby Clarke and a Welsh Hammond organist, who was possibly Mike Vaughn-Jones. When Warwick joined Freddie Mack, Leon, Clarke and Vaughn-Jones also came onboard. (Ed. Hammond organist Paul Abrahams says he had played with Warwick previously and was involved with the band by early June.)
The other group that Mack drew on for musicians were Screaming Lord Sutch’s latest version of The Savages, Liverpool outfit, Derry Wilkie & The Others.
Lord Sutch had been using the musicians as a backing group for several months but by April 1966 the players were keen to break away from Sutch and try something new.
The entire outfit – singer Derry Wilkie; lead guitarist Ernie Hayes; tenor sax player Phil Kenzie; baritone sax player Ashton Tootell; bass player Derek Bond; and drummer Billy Adamson accepted Mack’s offer and signed up.
Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright
Joining forces with Warwick’s Fulham players, the new formation debuted at the Ram Jam in Brixton on 22 April 1966 under the name Freddie Mack’s This ‘N’ That.
Warwick remembers that sax player Jimmy Jewell, a former member of Kris Ryan & The Questions, played some gigs with the band during this time.
Jewell confirms that he briefly played with Mack around April 1966 together with former Jimmy Powell & The Dimensions guitarist Martin Shaw and an American singer called Richard Lanham, who’d recently lived in Milan, Italy.
Jewell and Shaw did not stay long and would take part in a German tour with The Paramounts in September 1966 backing singer Chris Andrews.
The excellent Derry Wilkie website also lists a number of other players that became part of this larger show during mid-1966: singer Jo Baker; lead guitarist Geoff Krivit; trumpet player Mark Charig; and percussionist Eddie Lincoln.
Krivit, incidentally, had briefly been a member of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers in 1965 and Julian Covey & The Machine in early 1966. He would go on to play with Dr K’s Blues Band. Charig meanwhile had been a member of The Sidewinders (recently playing at Count Suckle’s Cue Club in Paddington) and later worked with Bluesology (alongside Elton John).
Billed as This ‘N’ That, the line-up recorded a lone single, “Get Down With It/I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” c/w “I Care About You” for the Strike label, which was released on 10 June 1966.
Judging by an advert printed in 11 June 1966 edition of Melody Maker, the single features singers Derry Wilkie, Sonny Childe, Cleo Sylvester and Leon plus “the explosive sound of TNT and Mack Sound”.
The Redbridge & Ilford Recorder lists the band playing at Oscar’s Grotto in Ilford, east London on 11 June 1966.
Photo: Redbridge & Ilford Recorder. Image may be subject to copyright
The same newspaper also lists the band, billed as The TNT Show with The Youth (born Trevor Sutherland and later future reggae artist IJahman Levi), Derek and Cleo playing at the same venue on 9 July 1966.
Most of the musicians left immediately afterwards to work as Sonny Childe & The TNT. According to Ernie Hayes, when Sonny Childe returned to the US around August 1967, the guitarist, plus organist Mike Vaughn-Jones and drummer Billy Adamson joined forces with bass player Jet Harris and singer Pete Gage for a few months. Phil Kenzie meanwhile joined Tuesday’s Children for four months.
In November 1967, Ernie Hayes, Mike Vaughn-Jones, Billy Adamson and Phil Kenzie reunited in TNT to back American singer PP Arnold with former Creation’s member Eddie Phillips on bass. Adamson later played with The Searchers while Kenzie returned to Freddie Mack’s band in spring 1968 (see entry).
In the meantime Roger Warwick helped Freddie Mack put together a new version of The Mack Sound, retaining Cleo Sylvester, The Youth and Derry Wilkie. He brought in his old friend Alan Cartwright on bass plus some new players.
The band rehearsed extensively that summer and Warwick remembers the new line up playing a day long show at Douglas House at Lancaster Gate with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Ed. Fame played here on 29 May 1966 but this would have been too early in the timeline unless Warwick meant an earlier version.)
Photo: Redbridge & Ilford Recorder. Image may be subject to copyright
The Redbridge & Ilford Recorder lists the band, billed as The Mac Sounds, playing at Oscar’s Grotto, Ilford, east London with The TNT on 30 July 1966.
Youth photo. Fabulous 208, 12 November 1966 issue. Image may be subject to copyrightPhoto: Fabulous 28, 12 November 1966 issue. Image may be subject to copyright
Around this time, Warwick and Cartwright were among the musicians who backed The Youth on a lone single for Polydor Records, a cover of Smokey Robinson’s “As Long As There Is Love” backed by Otis Redding’s “Your One and Only Man” at Abbey Road.
Freddie Mack live. Thanks to Miguel Terol for sharing this image sent to him by Ged Peck I would be grateful if anyone can identify any of the musicians shown here.
Drawing on a number of web sources, and accounts from several musicians, it looks like the new line up’s formation, which signed to Dumont Associates (as advertised in Melody Maker’s 15 October 1966 issue), comprised the following players at some point between September 1966 and January 1967:
Freddie Mack – lead vocals
Derry Wilkie – lead vocals
Tony Morgan – lead vocals, congas
Kenneth Harry – lead vocals
Kookie Eaton – lead vocals
Ged Peck – lead guitar
Billy Davidson – organ
Alan Cartwright – bass
Roger Warwick – baritone saxophone
Clarence Jackson (aka JJ Johnson) – trombone
Bernie Wehrman – tenor saxophone
Chris Burdett – alto saxophone (possibly joined later in 1966)
Eddie Thornton – trumpet (joined October 1966)
B J Wilson – drums (replaced by Roger Truth in November 1966)
Clarence Jackson was a member of Otis Redding’s touring band when the singer had made his UK debut in September 1966, so it’s probably safe to assume he joined after the tour had finished.
Eddie Thornton, however, was still working with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames until October 1966, and therefore it’s possible that another trumpet player was there before.
Thanks to recollections from Ged Peck, it appears that the first keyboard player was Billy Davidson (who later worked with The Flowerpot Men among others) but he was replaced by Art Regis at some point in early 1967 (possibly start of February).
Unknown horn players, Ged Peck (guitar) and Billy Davidson (keyboards). Thanks to Miguel Terol for sharing this image sent to him by Ged Peck
Of the other musicians listed above, lead guitarist Ged Peck had been a member of The Favourite Sons before briefly playing with Chris Lamb & The Universals.
Ged Peck far right in the early 1960s. Thanks to Miguel Terol for sharing this image sent to him by Ged Peck
B J Wilson had played with The Paramounts and George Bean & The Runners. He was an old friend of Alan Cartwright’s.
BJ Wilson centre with Alan Cartwright (left). Thanks to Miguel Terol for sharing this image sent to him by Ged Peck
One thing is clear from tracing Freddie Mack’s bands during the 1960s, the line-ups tended to be pretty fluid and (particularly) horn players appeared to come and go on a regular basis, making pinning down definitive formations almost impossible. There were often around 15 musicians in the group at one time.
Throughout this period, musicians appear to have come and gone on a regular basis. According to Nick Simper’s excellent website, Roger Truth, who had played with the future Deep Purple bass player in Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, took over the drum stool from B J Wilson in late November 1966.
Roger Warwick left in December 1966 while the band were playing at the Upper Cut in Forest Gate, east London. Warwick moved to Turin, Italy to join a band being formed to back Lebanese singer Patrick Samson.
He remembers that when he left, singer Richard Lanham was with the band.
Roger Warwick (back left with white shirt) with The Patrick Samson Set
West Indian trumpet player Sonny Corbett joined during early 1967 as did English trumpet player Chris Dawe.
In January 1967, it’s possible The Mack Sound comprised the following (plus other unknown musicians):
Freddie Mack – lead vocals
Derry Wilkie – lead vocals
Tony Morgan – lead vocals, congas
Kenneth Harry – lead vocals
Kookie Eaton – lead vocals
Ged Peck – lead guitar
Billy Davidson – organ
Alan Cartwright – bass
Clarence Jackson – trombone
Bernie Wehrman – tenor saxophone
Chris Dawe – trumpet
Sonny Corbett – trumpet
Eddie Thornton – trumpet
Roger Truth – drums
Hammond organist Art Regis, who’d previously performed with Mel Turner & Rupert and The Red Devils, Dutch band The Defenders, The Arthur Brown Union and Ralph Denyer & The Uptown Band, remembers Derry Wilkie, Tony Morgan, Kookie Eaton, Dick Morrisey, Bernie Wehrman, Clarence Jackson and Eddie Thornton being in the band at the same time as him.
Art Regis recalls Freddie Mack coming to his flat in Portobello Road and discussing the possibility of forming “an extravagant international soul show”. The Hammond organist also remembers playing at Silver Blades Ice Rink in Streatham and a trek down to Cornwall to play an air sea rescue base in Falmouth.
More importantly, Art Regis also recalls performing with Freddie Mack at Billy Walker’s The Upper Cut in Forest Gate, which opened on 21 December 1966. According to Melody Maker, Mack’s band was the resident support band at this notable venue until early February 1967.
The New Pirates in February 1967. Mick Stewart (far left) who played with Mack in December 1965 and Nick Simper (second from right) who briefly played with Mack in early 1967. Photo: John Kerrison
Nick Simper also spent a week with the band when it was resident support act at the Upper Cut (most likely mid-January 1967) after working with Bobby Hebb’s touring band. However, Alan Cartwright was soon back and Simper formed The New Pirates the following month.
During the first few weeks of February Roger Truth dropped out briefly to reform The New Pirates with Simper but had a change of mind and returned to Freddie Mack after some early rehearsals. B J Wilson filled the drum stool in the interim.
Art Regis would reunite with Nick Simper and Ged Peck in June 1967 in Billie Davis & The Quality before working briefly with Engelbert Humperdinck. Regis confirms that he then joined Jimmy James & The Vagabonds on 27 July 1967.
The Loose Ends in 1966 with Roy Davies (far left). Photo: Alan Whitehead
Another keyboard player that is often associated with Freddie Mack during this time is future Gonzalez member Roy Davies, who’d previously been a member of Southeast London band, The Loose Ends. It looks most likely that Davies came on-board when Art Regis left (around mid-February).
In late February 1967, B J Wilson joined Sands and then Procol Harum. Roger Truth returned to the drum stool.
Ged Peck playing live. Thanks to Miguel Terol for sharing this image sent to him by Ged Peck
Ged Peck certainly was gone sometime in late March 1967 and joined Nick Simper in Billie Davis & The Quality that May before going on to a number of notable acts, including Warhorse (alongside Simper). His temporary replacement was former Tornados and Echoes guitarist Stuart Taylor.
Lead guitarist Dave Tedstone, who had previously been a member of The Doc Thomas Group, remembers going to Eel Pie Island to see Freddie Mack’s band and subsequently joined. Tedstone also recalls that Stuart Taylor was on guitar at the time. Thanks to Pete Watt’s excellent research this gig can be confirmed as 4 April 1967.
Selected gigs:
Photo: Aldershot News. Image may be subject to copyright
2 September 1966 – Carousel Club, Farnborough, Hants. Billed as Freddie Mack Sounds and His Show
9 September 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire. Billed as The Mack Sound (ten-piece band)
10 September 1966 – The Cavern, Liverpool with Eddie Cave & The Fix, The Kop, The Hideaways, The Seftons and The Rocking Vicars
Photo: Evening Sentinel. Image may be subject to copyright
16 September 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham
22 September 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire Billed as The Mack Sound
1 October 1966 – Flamingo Ballroom, Redruth, Cornwall with The Jaguars
13 October 1966 – Burton Manor, Stafford, Staffordshire
15 October 1966 – Drill Hall, Dumfries, Scotland with The Misfits
Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail. Image may be subject to copyright
19 October 1966 – Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands. Billed as The Mac Sound
Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail. Image may be subject to copyright
20 October 1966 – Black Horse, Northfield, West Midlands with The Visuals Billed as Mack Sound (11-piece)
Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail. Image may be subject to copyright
21 October 1966 – The Royal Oak, Hockley Heath, West Midlands Billed as Mack Sound (11-piece)
Photo: Birmingham Evening Mail. Image may be subject to copyright
22 October 1966 – Bromsgrove Baths, Bromsgrove, West Midlands with The Exchequers
Photo: City Week. Image may be subject to copyright
28 October 1966 – Cavalier Club, Belfast, Northern Ireland with Tony G Ford & The Crescendos. Billed as Derrie Wilkie & The Mack Sound
29 October 1966 – Cavalier Club, Belfast, Northern Ireland with The King Bees. Billed as Derrie Wilkie & The Mack Sound
City Week, 27 October 1966. Image may be subject to copyright
5 November 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester with Alan Bown Set
8 November 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire Billed as Mack Sound (ten-piece with Derrie Wilkie)
Image may be subject to copyright
26 November 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent
27 November 1966 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent
4 December 1966 – Douglas House, Lancaster Gate, Central London (listed as 13-piece band) with Herbie Goins & The Nighttimers
5 December 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London
10 December 1966 – King’s Hall, Stoke-on-Trent with In-Betweens and Lonnie’s Few
11 December 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Staffordshire Weekly Sentinel article, dated 16 December, page 13, lists 16 band members)
11 December 1966 – Esquire Club, Sheffield with The Orginators Creed, The Hobo Flats and The Chicago Line
Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright
16 December 1966 – Tofts, Folkestone, Kent
17 December 1966 – Hotel Leofric, Coventry
21 December 1966-12 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London:
Image may be subject to copyright
21 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Who
22 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Easybeats
23 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch
24 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Eric Burdon & The Animals
26 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Jimi Hendrix Experience (day)
26 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Pretty Things (evening)
27-29 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
30 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Spencer Davis Group
31 December 1966 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (This may not have happened if gig below took place)
Photo: Dumfries and Galloway Standard. Image may be subject to copyright
31 December 1966 – Assembly Rooms, Dumfries, Scotland
1 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Move (This may not have happened if above gig took place)
Photo: Wigtownshire Free Press & Galloway Advertiser. Image may be subject to copyright
2 January 1967 – Newton Stewart, Galloway, Scotland Second Scottish gig suggests not all Upper Cut shows in January happened
2-5 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London (This may not have happened due to Scottish tour)
6 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Small Faces
7 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Bitter End Singers
8 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Mindbenders (Nick Simper’s website says Pink Floyd replaced The Mindbenders. Simper attended and saw Syd Barrett’s group perform. He filled in for Alan Cartwright for a week at this venue, possibly the following week)
9-12 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London (possibly with Nick Simper
13 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Four Pennies (possibly with Nick Simper)
14 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Terry Lightfoot’s Jazzmen (possibly with Nick Simper)
15-19 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
20 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Sounds Incorporated
21 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Fourmost
22-26 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
27 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds
28 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Jimi Hendrix Experience
29-31 January 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
Possible that Art Regis took over from Billy Davidson around about now. Not long after Roger Truth dropped out to reform The New Pirates with Nick Simper. B J Wilson returned to the drum kit.
1-2 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
3 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Winston’s Fumbs (now listed as 15-piece band)
4 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers, The Satin Dolls and The Avalons
5-9 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
10 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Rockin’ Berries
11 February 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Fire Flies
12 February 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London
It’s possible that Roy Davies took over from Art Regis around about now
13 February 1967 – Winter Gardens Ballroom, Penzance, Cornwall with The Jaguars (The Sheffield Star says they also play the Esquire in Sheffield in South Yorkshire on this day which seems more likely with the Cleethorpes gig later this week)
14 February 1967 – Flamingo Ballroom, Redruth, Cornwall with The Dissatisfied (this was probably cancelled in light of the northern gigs)
15 February 1967 – The Village, Cleethorpes
16 February 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire
18 February 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham with The Children (10-piece band)
After this gig, Roger Truth returned when B J Wilson left to join Sands
22 February 1967 – The Village, Cleethorpes
23 February 1967 – Black Horse, Northfield, West Midlands
25 February 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent
8 March 1967 – Cromwell Club, Chesford Grange, Kenilworth, Warwickshire with Umpteenth Time
9 March 1967 – Concorde, Southampton, Hants
10 March 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham
13 March 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (back by demand)
17 March 1967 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester and Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester
Photo: Lincolnshire Standard. Image may be subject to copyright
18 March 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Kool Combination, The Bone and The Caribbean Steel Band and Ray Bones
Photo: Leicester Mercury. Image may be subject to copyright
18 March 1967 – Nite Owl, Leicester with The Executives
19 March 1967 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham
23 March 1967 – The Village, Cleethorpes
24-25 March 1967 – Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch, Unit 4 Plus 2, Screaming Lord Sutch and The Roman Empire and The New Pirates
27 March 1967 – Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch, Unit 4 Plus 2, Screaming Lord Sutch and The Roman Empire and The New Pirates
Ged Peck left around about now and Stuart Taylor took over lead guitar duties for a week. Possible Art Regis may have done the Cornwall gigs below
Photo: Melody Maker. Image may be subject to copyright
I would personally like to thank the following for helping to piece this story together: Mel Wayne, Phil Wainman, Roger Warwick, Art Regis, Dave Tedstone and Nick Simper.
PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS BELOW TO ADD/CORRECT INFORMATION
Live gig sources:
During my research on Freddie Mack from 1965-1969, I have found gigs from many newspapers. Here are some of the sources:
The Cornish Guardian, Derby Evening Telegraph, Evening Sentinel, Melody Maker, West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette, Lincolnshire Standard, Birmingham Evening Mail, NME, Northwich Chronicle, Sheffield Star, Warrington Guardian, Wrexham Leader, Grimsby Evening Telegraph, Aldershot News, Manchester Evening News & Chronicle, Nottingham Evening Post, Dumfries and Galloway Standard, Stafford Newsletter and Cambridgeshire Times
Pete Frolich – guitar (replaced original guitarist)
Martin Woodward – keyboards
Dave Moses – bass
Chic – drums
This five-piece harmony band was formed at Warlingham School in Surrey during 1968. The group recorded two singles for NEMS, kicking off with “Like the Sun” c/w “Florence”, which was released in September 1968. Both sides were produced by guitarist Pete Gage, who co-wrote “Like the Sun” with the band. “Florence” was written by Mike Hutson with a school friend.
A second single, “Heart and Soul” c/w “Who Wants Happiness” came out on 24 January 1969 by which point the band had split up. Produced again by Pete Gage, “Heart and Soul” was composed by R MacDonald and M Green while Dave Moses penned “Who Wants Happiness”. Pete Gage made the decision that Pete Frolich rather than Mike Hutson should sing on “Heart and Soul”.
Martin Woodward joined The Fantastics’ backing group, The House of Orange and later recorded with Aquila before working with the Tommy Hunt Band. Mike Hutson subsequently took up a post in promotions at United Artists and RCA.
Thank you Martin Woodward for providing information about this band and also to Pete Gage. Garage Hangover would be interested to hear from anyone that can add more information about the group.
Comprised of singers John Cheatdom, Jerome Ramos, Donald Haywoode and Richard Pitts and originally known as The Velours, US soul band, The Fantastics had enjoyed US chart success before being brought to the UK by promoter Roy Tempest in late 1967.
Billed as the “Fabulous Temptations” (even though there was no connection with the more famous Motown act), the group’s debut British tour took place in August/September 1967.
The Sovereigns, circa 1966. Sitting on elephant, left to right: Mich Tomich, Freddie Tillyer, Pip Williams and Keith Franklin. Standing: Roy St John-Foster (pic: Pip Williams)
To support the soul act on the road, Roy Tempest’s agency hired west London band, The Sovereigns, who had been formed in mid-1965 and comprised singer Roy St John-Foster, lead guitarist Pip Williams, bass player Mick Williams, tenor sax player Freddie Tillyer (ex-Eddie King & The Chequers) and drummer Keith Franklin.
When the band turned professional, Pip’s brother Mick dropped out and Mick Tomich took over on bass. In October 1966, the band supported US soul singer Alvin Robinson on some British gigs.
In late 1966, The Sovereigns were signed to King Records and recorded a lone 45 which was issued in January 1967. The release combined Freddie Tillyer and Pip Williams’ “Bring Me Home Love” with a cover of “That’s the Way Love Is”.
Just before the band got picked up by Roy Tempest’s agency, Scotsman Brian Johnson, keyboard player in The Senate came on board.
Billed as The Clockwork Orange (although this may well be another band), the musicians appear at Barnsley Civic Hall, Barnsley, West Yorkshire with The Discounts.
Pip Williams, circa 1966. Photo: Pip Williams
Selected gigs (see end for other sources not listed here):
31 August 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel) Billed as “The Fabulous Temptations”
1 September 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Hertfordshire Billed as “Fabulous Temptations”
2 September 1967 – Nite Owl, Leicester with Pesky Gee (Leicester Mercury) Billed as “The Fabulous Temptations”
2 September 1967 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Equals, The Sovereigns and The Rubber Band (Lincolnshire Standard) Billed as “Fabulous Temptations”
3 September 1967 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star) Billed as “Temptations”
5 September 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as “Temptations”
6 September 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel) Billed as “The Temptations”
11 September 1967 – New Century Hall, Manchester with The New Rave (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as “The Temptations”
12 September 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Billed as “The Temptations”
Photo may be subject to copyright
16 September 1967 – The Place, Wakefield, West Yorkshire (Wakefield Express) Billed as “The Fabulous Temptations”
16 September 1967 – The Hub, Barnsley, West Yorkshire (The Barnsley Chronicle & South Yorkshire News) Billed as “The Fabulous Temptations”
17 September 1967 – Plaza Ballroom, Handsworth, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as “The Temptations”
17 September 1967 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with The Ray King Soul Band (Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as “The Temptations”
18 September 1967 – Ritz Ballroom, King’s Heath, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as “The Temptations”
19 September 1967 – Sloopy’s, Manchester with The Measles (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as “The Fabulous Temptations”
Motown advert published in Melody Maker. Photo may be subject to copyright
After the first tour with The Fabulous Temptations (aka Fantastics), the band (now called The Clockwork Orange) backed US singer Garnet Mimms.
On 29 September 1967, The Clockwork Orange also played a solo gig at Princess Ballroom, Halifax, West Yorkshire.
According to Barnsley Chronicle & South Yorkshire News, Garnet Mimms played at the Hub, Barnsley, West Yorkshire on 8 October 1967. Although the support band isn’t listed, it is likely it was The Clockwork Orange.
Half way through the Garnett Mimms tour, Mick Tomich departed and Ron Thomas was brought in from Hamilton & Hamilton The Movement. Tomich went on to play with Pickettywitch among others.
Photo may be subject to copyright
They also did some gigs backing The Soul Sisters, including a show at the Boston Gliderdrome on 14 October.
Soon after, the group started to use the name The House of Orange (although they were also still billed as The Clockwork Orange occasionally).
On 22 October 1967, The House of Orange played two shows backing The Soul Sisters. These took place at the Hub, Barnsley, West Yorkshire with The Pitiful Souls and The Place, Wakefield, Barnsley, West Yorkshire with Randy Dandy Band.
Selected gigs (see end for other sources not listed here):
In November, The Fabulous Temptations (aka The Fantastics) returned for a second British tour.
12 November 1967 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester and Princess Club, Chorlton, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as “The Temptations” (backing band billed as The Senate) The Senate also backed Garnet Mimms
13 November 1967 – Bluesville ’67 Club, St Mathew’s Baths Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk with The Clockwork Orange (Ipswich Evening Star) Billed as The Fabulous Temptations
14 November 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London (Harrow Weekly Post) Billed as “The Temptations”
14 November 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as “Fabulous Temptations”
Photo may be subject to copyright
15 November 1967 – Savoy Ballroom, Southsea, Hampshire with Clockwork Orange and Nepenthe with The Trend (Portsmouth News)
17 November 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire Billed as “Fabulous Temptations”
18 November 1967 – Plaza Ballroom, Old Hill, Bearwood, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as “The Temptations”
Photo may be subject to copyright
18 November 1967 – Plaza Ballroom, Handsworth, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as “The Temptations”
Photo may be subject to copyright
19 November 1967 – The Hub, Barnsley, West Yorkshire with The Clockwork Orange and Nepenthe with her Soul Men backing group (most likely The Trend) (Barnsley Chronicle & South Yorkshire News) Billed as “The Fabulous Temptations”
25 November 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire with The Gates of Eden (Cambridgeshire Times)
26 November 1967 – Purple Onion Club, Cleethorpes with The Roll Movement and The Clockwork Orange (Grimsby Evening Telegraph) Billed as “The Temptations”
27 November 1967 – King Mojo, City Hall Ballroom, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (The Sheffield Star)
30 November 1967 – Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire with The Clockwork Orange Billed as “Fabulous Temptations”
1 December 1967 – Palais Ballroom, Worksop, Worksop, Nottinghamshire with The Priscilla Juke Box with The Clockwork Orange (Doncaster Evening Post) Billed as “The Temptations”
2 December 1967 – New Century Hall, Manchester with other acts (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as “The Fabulous Temptations”
2 December 1967 – Sloopy’s, Manchester with The Clockwork Orange (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Billed as “The Fabulous Temptations”
3 December 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with The Army Billed as “Temptations”
5 December 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Melody Maker) Billed as “Fabulous Temptations”
9 December 1967 – Flower Pot Club, Digbeth, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as “The Temptations”
9 December 1967 – Plaza Ballroom, Old Hill, Bearwood, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) (tour ends today?)
Photo may be subject to copyright
13 December 1967 – Steering Wheel, Weymouth, Dorset (House of Orange only gig)
During January 1968, The House of Orange gigged in its own right. They also backed Garnet Mimms on some gigs. Like this one:
19 January 1968 – King Mojo, City Hall Ballroom, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star)
In early February, The Fantastics returned for another tour
2 February 1968 – King Mojo, City Hall Ballroom, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star)
3 February 1968 – The Place, Wakefield, West Yorkshire with The House of Orange (Wakefield Express)
3 February 1968 – Plebians, Cheapside, Halifax, West Yorkshire (Huddersfield Daily Examiner) Says formerly known as “The Fabulous Temptations”
Photo may be subject to copyright
9 February 1968 – Clifton Hall, Rotherham, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star) Says ex-“Fab Temptations”
10 February 1968 – Tinned Chicken, Castleford, West Yorkshire (Sheffield Star)
Photo may be subject to copyright
11 February 1968 – The Hub, Barnsley, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star)
Photo may be subject to copyright
14 February 1968 – St Valentine’s Dance, Victoria Ballroom, Chesterfield, Derbyshire (Sheffield Star) Says ex-“Fab Temptations”
Photo may be subject to copyright
17 February 1968 – Princes Pavilion, Falmouth, Cornwall with Peace & Quiet (Cornish Guardian)
23 February 1968 – Big C Club, 1 Camp Road, Farnborough, Hampshire (Aldershot News) Billed as The Fantastics
24 February 1968 – Tavistock Town Hall, Tavistock, Devon with Cousin Jacks (Cornish Guardian)
25 February 1968 – Beau Brummel Club, Nantwich, Cheshire (bills backing group, The House of Orange) with The Jaytree Organisation
26 February 1968 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
Photo may be subject to copyright
2 March 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Gospel Garden, The Reformation (Lincolnshire Standard) (bills backing group, The House of Orange)
2 March 1968 – Brave New World, Portsmouth, Hampshire (billed but replaced by Mike Cotton & Lucas)
3 March 1968 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (Melody Maker)
17 March 1968 – Beau Brummel Club, Nantwich, Cheshire (bills backing group, The House of Orange) with The Jaytree Organisation
Photo may be subject to copyright
18 March 1968 – King Mojo, City Hall, Ballroom, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star) Replaced The Impressions as no connection with Curtis Mayfield
Photo may be subject to copyright
24 March 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
25 March 1968 – King Mojo, City Hall Ballroom, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star) Not sure if this happened as they stepped in the previous Monday. They may have played both Mondays
27 March 1968 – Bluesville ’68 Club, St Matthew’s Baths, Ipswich, Suffolk (Ipswich Evening Star) Says formerly The Fabulous Temptations
Photo may be subject to copyright
28 March 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
Photo may be subject to copyright
14 April 1968 – City Hall Ballroom, Barkers Pool, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star)
Photo may be subject to copyright
15 April 1968 – Plebians, Cheapside, Halifax, West Yorkshire with The Clockwork Orange (Halifax Evening Courier and Guardian)
21 April 1968 – Clifton Hall, Rotherham, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star)
Photo may be subject to copyright
20 April 1968 – Glastonbury Town Hall, Glastonbury with The House of Orange and Chris Shakespere Globe (Somerset County Gazette/Western Gazette)
26 April 1968 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire (bills backing group, The House of Orange)
27 April 1968 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London with The Duke Reid Sound (Melody Maker)
Photo may be subject to copyright
28 April 1968 – Central R&B Club, Central, Gillingham, Kent (Chatham, Rochester & Gillingham News)
5 May 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
Photo may be subject to copyright
6 May 1968 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands with Immediate Pleasure (Birmingham Evening Mail)
Photo may be subject to copyright
10 May 1968 – Il Rondo, Leicester with House of Orange (Leicester Mercury)
Photo may be subject to copyright
13 May 1968 – Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Melody Maker)
Photo may be subject to copyright
17 May 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
19 May 1968 – Wake Arms, Epping, Essex (Melody Maker)
19 May 1968 – Central R&B Club, Gillingham, Kent (Chatham, Rochester & Gillingham News)
25 May 1968 – Brave New World, Eastney, Hampshire
Photo may be subject to copyright
2 June 1968 – Clouds, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)
3 June 1968 – Queen’s Hall, Leeds with The Herd, Bill Haley & The Comets, Alan Bown, Edwin Starr, Amboy Dukes, Gospel Garden, The Clockwork Orange and others
Photo may be subject to copyright
3 June 1968 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Action (Cornish Guardian) (unlikely with gig in Leeds on the same day but was advertised)
9 June 1968 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London (Melody Maker)
10 June 1968 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire (Warrington Guardian)
11 June 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Melody Maker)
15 June 1968 – Bulmershe College of Education, Woodley, Berkshire
Photo may be subject to copyright
22 June 1968 – Wolverhampton College of Technology, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Scarab (backed by The House of Orange)
23 June 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
Photo may be subject to copyright
8 July 1968 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey
Photo may be subject to copyright
13 July 1968 – Civic Hall, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Sun (Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)
Photo may be subject to copyright
20 July 1968 – Spa Royal Hall, Bridlington, North Yorkshire with The Scarlet Farmyard and The Little Dedication (Scarborough Evening News)
30 July 1968 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire (Southern Evening Echo)
Photo may be subject to copyright
3 August 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
5 August 1968 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
11 August 1968 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London (Melody Maker)
16 August 1968 – Fishmonger’s Arms, Wood Green, north London (Melody Maker)
22 August 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Melody Maker)
Photo may be subject to copyright
23 August 1968 – New Market Discotheque, Bridgwater, Somerset (Bridgwater Mercury)
Photo may be subject to copyright
24 August 1968 – “Middle Earth”, Torquay Town Hall, Torquay, Devon (bills backing group, The House of Orange) with The Royals and Howard Stephen Shape
Photo may be subject to copyright
26 August 1968 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey
Photo may be subject to copyright
31 August 1968 – Tees Pop ’68, Recreation Ground, Eston, Teesside with Traffic, Ben E King, Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band, Alan Bown, Family, Amboy Dukes, Joe Cocker & The Grease Band, The Tramline, Rivers Invitation and Chelfont Line (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
1 September 1968 –Queen’s Hall, Leeds with Ben E King, Clyde McPhattter, The Flirtations, (the former The Gypsys, booked as The Fabulous Marvelettes and backed by The Trend), Tim Rose, Timebox and The World of Oz
2 September 1968 – Brave New World, Eastney, Hampshire
10 September 1968 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire (Southern Evening Echo)
22 November 1968 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire
23 November 1968 – Odeon Manchester (or was this Manchester Free Trade Hall?) with Diana Ross & The Supremes and others
24 November 1968 – London Palladium, central London with Diana Ross & The Supremes and others
29 November 1968 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Melody Maker)
30 November 1968 – New Century Hall, Manchester (Manchester Evening News)
1 December 1968 – Princes and Domino clubs, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News)
3 December 1968 – The Place Club, Henley, Berkshire (could this be the Place, Hanley, Staffordshire?)
6 December 1968 – City Hall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Sheffield Star)
7 December 1968 – Elms Court Ballroom, Botley, Oxford with Gentle Influence (Oxford Mail)
8 December 1968 – Crystal Palace Hotel, Crystal Palace, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
9 December 1968 – Ramsgate Coronation Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent
Photo may be subject to copyright
10 December 1968 – Spa Lounge and Ballroom, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen/Stroud News)
12 December 1968 – Pavilion, Worthing, West Sussex
13 December 1968 – Top Rank, Doncaster, South Yorkshire
15 December 1968 – RAF Mildenhall
16 December 1968 – Tithe Farm, Harlow, Essex
Photo may be subject to copyright
19 December 1968 – South Dorset Technical College, Students’ Association, Weymouth Pavilion, Weymouth, Dorset with Alan Bown (replaced Traffic) and The Package Deal (Dorset Evening Echo) Says backed by The Colourful Orange
20 December 1968 – Tabernacle, Stockport, Greater Manchester
21 December 1968 – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, Essex
22 December 1968 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London
23 December 1968 – Golden Torch, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
Photo may be subject to copyright
24 December 1968 – Soul Club, Plaza Ballroom, Newbury, Berkshire with The House of Orange, The Joyce Bond Show and Barley Mo (Reading Evening Post)
26 December 1968 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire
27 December 1968 – New Market Discotheque, Bridgwater, Somerset
28 December 1968 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Hideaways
29 December 1968 – Mercers Arms, Coventry, West Midlands (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
30 December 1968 – Belfry Hotel, Wishaw, West Midlands
31 December 1968 – Morecambe Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire
The Trend. Left to right: John Connolly, Peter Cole, Frankie Morgan and Norman Cummins
At the outset of the 1969 tours, Peter Cole (known as ‘Spam’) the bass player from The Trend, who had recently disbanded, became The Fantastics’ road manager.
5 January 1969 – New Revolution, Baths, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire (Nottingham Evening Post)
5 January 1969 – Clouds, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)
17 January 1969 – Birmingham’s first 1969 Extravaganza, Town Hall, Birmingham with Freddie Mack Show, The Locomotive, Ivan Chin Soul Band and Liz Christian
18 January 1969 – Town Hall, Glastonbury, Somerset
19 January 1969 – Surrey Oval Rooms, Kennington, south London
21 January 1969 – King’s Hall, Aberystwyth, Wales
24 January 1969 – White Lion, Edgware, north London
25 January 1969 – Winter Gardens Pavilion, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset
26 January 1969 – Surrey Rooms, Kennington, south London
1 February 1969 – New Astoria Ballroom, Rawtenstall, Lancashire and Bin Lid Club, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
2 February 1969 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
7 February 1969 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham
14-15 February 1969 – Scene 2 Club, Scarborough
16 February 1969 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London
22 February 1969 – Cliff’s Pavilion, Southend, Essex
23 February 1969 – Good Companion’s Hotel, Slough, Berkshire
3 March 1969 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey
In early March, Roy St John-Foster, Keith Franklin and Brian Johnson all departed. Pip Williams, Freddie Tillyer and Ron Thomas brought in drummer James Smith from The Nashville Teens and organist Martin Woodward from Tapestry.
Selected gigs (see end for other sources not listed here):
19 March 1969 – The Lyceum, the Strand, central London with The Move (debut show with new line up)
Photo may be subject to copyright
23 March 1969 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London
Martin Woodward and Peter Cole remember playing the following venues but they can’t recall the dates:
Civic Hall, Winsford, Cheshire
400 Ballroom Torquay (at least twice)
Scene 2 Club, Scarborough (two or three times)
The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
Lyceum, Sheffield
Clouds, Derby
The Plaza Ballroom, Handsworth, Birmingham
The Penthouse, Birmingham
The Starlite Ballroom, (Greenford?) west London
The Skyline, Hull
The U.S.A.F. Base Alconbury near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
26 April 1969 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Candy Choir (Folkestone & Hythe District Herald)
27 April 1969 – Crystal Palace Hotel, Crystal Palace, south London (South East London Mercury)
18 May 1969 – Surrey Room, Kennington, south London (South East London Mercury)
24 May 1969 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone & Hythe District Herald)
25 May 1969 – Skegness Seaside Soul Festival, Skegness, Lincolnshire with Amen Corner, Inez and Charlie Foxx, Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band and Jimmy James & The Vagabonds
21 June 1969 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire (Retford Times)
29 June 1969 – Surrey Room, Kennington, south London (South East London Mercury)
Ron Thomas, hotel, Frankfurt, 1969 (Pic: Peter Cole)
According to James Smith, The Fantastics had problems with UK work permits around this time and had to live and work outside of the UK for six months. While playing the US military air bases in and around Frankfurt Germany, Ron Thomas left later to play, most notably, with The Heavy Metal Kids.
Peter Cole, The Fantastics’ road manager (and known as “Spam”), who had started out as bass player with The Trend took over after playing rhythm guitar on the European gigs. The Trend had worked for the Roy Tempest Agency in the mid-1960s backing artists like The Drifters, Garnett Mimms and Ben E King, The Soul Sisters, Clyde McPhatter, The Flirtations (then The Fabulous Marvelettes), The Platters and Buddy Holly’s Crickets among others. When The Trend folded Spam became road manager for The Fantastics.
Jimmy Smith and Ron Thomas (just before Ron left) in Frankfurt, 1969 (Pic: Peter Cole)
July 1969 – US airbases in Germany (Ron Thomas departs in Frankfurt)
Pip Williams, who wasn’t long married and needed to return home, left while the band was in Naples and returned home, subsequently joining Jimmy James & The Vagabonds. Pip Williams later became a top session player, working with producer Phil Wainman among others. Later on, he became a successful producer, and is best known for producing Status Quo and The Moody Blues.
Peter Cole, Jimmy Smith and Martin Woodward in Cannes, France (photo: Peter Cole)
Initially, Peter Cole’s former band mate from The Trend, Norman Cummins took over to play the US air base gigs in Naples and after a subsequent return to Frankfurt stayed to play in a club in Cannes. Cummins then departed and moved to South Africa.
The rest of the band travelled to Majorca where former Tony Knight’s Chessmen and Magicians guitarist Fred D’Albert was flown over to join the remaining backing group. D’Albert had also played with Smith backing a soul act in Essen, West Germany during mid-1968 (possibly Owen Grey).
Selected gigs (see end for other sources not listed here):
July 1969 – NATO airbase in Naples, Italy (Pip Williams left and Norman Cummins joined as lead guitarist).
Norman Cummins in Frankfurt before heading to Cannes (Pic: Peter Cole)
July – Frankfurt and then Cannes, France (Cummins leaves)
August 1969 – Sloopy’s, Palma, Majorca (for one month) (Fred D’Albert joins on guitar)
Fred D’Albert at Sloopy’s, Palma, Majorca (Pic: Peter Cole)
While in Majorca, the musicians met Tina (Christine Sykes) who danced with The House of Orange before The Fantastics came on stage. Tina at a later date joined up with Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers. The musicians returned to the UK afterwards but eventually split up. It’s not clear whether they backed The Fantastics on a spring 1970 tour. Fred D’Albert joined Sweetwater Canal in late 1969.
18 January 1970 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire with J J Jackson & The Greatest Little Band In The Land and The United Nations (Retford Times)
Photo may be subject to copyright
9 March 1970 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey with Booker T & The MGs, Johnnie Walker, The Globe Show and Blue Mink
13 March 1970 – Castle Soul Club, Tooting Broadway, southwest London
22 March 1970 – Broken Wheel, Retford, Nottinghamshire with James & Bobby Purify, Edison’s Phonograph, The Globe Show and Midnight Express (Retford Times)
Photo may be subject to copyright
24 March 1970 – Rebecca’s, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)
Martin Woodward in Rome
When the band folded in March 1970, Martin Woodward and James Smith formed Aquila who recorded a lone album. They then teamed up again in The Tommy Hunt Band. According to Woodward, The Fantastics tried to hire The Tommy Hunt Band but couldn’t afford them.
Aquila (L-R: Phil Childs, Ralph Denyer, George Lee, Martin Woodward, James Smith)
Peter Cole meanwhile replaced Philip Chen on bass in The Joyce Bond Review, who recorded an album, Winds of Change, as Joyce Bond and The Colour Supplement. Bond enjoyed number one hits in the West Indies on Island Records with “Do The Teasy” and a cover of The Beatles’ “Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da”.
One early morning Tina met Pete Cole in the M1 services The Blue Boar after a gig with Herbie Goins. He invited Tina to join the Colour Supplement who undertook a tour in the West Indies. British Guiana, Surinam and Barbados.
Gig sources include:
Fabulous 208 Magazine, Lincolnshire Standard, Melody Maker, Crawley Advertiser, West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette, Birmingham Evening Mail, Northwich Chronicle, Sheffield Star, Warrington Guardian, Express & Star, Yorkshire Evening Post, Reading Evening Post
A huge thanks to Pip Williams, Martin Woodward, Ron Thomas, James Smith and Peter Cole for their help piecing the band history together. Thank you to Pip Williams for the Sovereigns photos and Peter Cole for the band images.
Formed in early 1967, the original line up played regularly at the Railway Hotel, Greenford on Sunday mornings. Tony Bramwell had previously played with The Fantoms.
The Hum Drum Band also performed regularly at the White Bear in Hounslow where they often ran into Dave Cousins who played there before The Strawbs became famous.
When John Iggleden left (possibly to join The Downliners Sect), the group subsequently brought in a sax player called Brian (Marshall?).
The Hum Drum Band broke up in 1969 and Steve Dunkley went on to play with several local bands before drumming on cruise ships. He later ran his own roofing firm.
Jon Guyett, who was an industrial chemist, went on to run his own business. Tony Bramwell, who subsequently married Jan Ball, qualified as chartered quantity surveyor.
Norman Rowe became a well-respected draughtsman in an architect’s practice.
Garage Hangover would be interested to hear from anyone who can provide more information on this group.
Thanks to Tony Bramwell for the information and photos.
The Sugar Band was formed in late 1966 out of the ashes of West London R&B/soul outfit, Colin Shane & The Shannons. Coxon had joined the outfit that summer after working with Hampton, Middlesex group, The Others.
Around September 1967, the group’s agent linked the band with Jamaican singer Delroy Williams and they worked initially as Delroy Williams & The Sugar Band before becoming The Delroy Williams Show. Go go dancers Una and Paula joined them on stage.
During late 1968, Dave Mumford and Dick Merrit departed and were replaced by new members.
However, a combination of poor management and artistic differences led to a split in early 1969 when Coxon left to join The Kool. He subsequently reunited with Dave Mumford in Calum Bryce alongside sax player Mel Wayne, who had been Colin Shane & The Shannons from 1962-1965.
Mumford had recorded the track ‘Love Maker’ under the name Calum Bryce and needed a group to tour to promote the single. The band recorded a second single, “In My Valley”, which was never released.
Notable gigs:
30 September 1967 – Hertford Corn Exchange, Hertford, Hertfordshire with Coloured Chicks (and 10-piece Sugar Band) (Welwyn Times) Billed as The Delroy Williams Show
8 October 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
14 October 1967 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks with Granny’s Show (Bucks Free Press) Billed as The Delroy Williams Show
20 October 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
25 November 1967 – Victoria Hotel, Forres, Scotland (Forres, Elgin & Nairn Gazette)
Photo may be subject to copyright
1 December 1967 – Ballerina, Nairn, Scotland with Keith Taylor (Forres, Elgin & Nairn Gazette)
25 December 1967 – Pink Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
30 December 1967 – Garrison Theatre, Graven Hill, Bicester, Oxfordshire with The Amorous Prawns (Bicester Advertiser)
Photo may be subject to copyright
13 January 1968 – Gloucester Dance YMCA, Gloucester with The Intrepids (Gloucester Citizen)
19 January 1968 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset (Bournemouth Evening Echo) Billed as The Delroy Williams Show
Photo may be subject to copyright
24 January 1968 – St Matthew’s Baths Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk with The Herd, James Brown, The Healers and The Stax (Ipswich Evening Star)
27 January 1968 – Sheridan Rooms, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire (Huddersfield Daily Examiner)
29 January 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
2 February 1968 – Tiger’s Head, Downham, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
4 February 1968 – Sunday Club, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)
10 February 1968 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with Spirit of John Morgan (West Briton & The Royal Cornwall Gazette) Billed as The Delroy Williams Show
1 March 1968 – Gig in Galashiels, Scotland
2 March 1968 – Gig in Glasgow, Scotland
3 March 1968 – Gig in Edinburgh, Scotland
4 March 1968 – Gig in Aberdeen, Scotland
5 March 1968 – Gig in Elgin, Scotland (probably Red Two Shoes)
6 March 1968 – Gig in Stonehaven, Scotland
7 March 1968 – Gig in Dundee, Scotland
8 March 1968 – Gig in Forfar, Scotland
9 March 1968 – Victoria Ballroom, Forres, Scotland (Forres Elgin & Nairn Gazette)
9 March 1968 – Gig in Edinburgh, Scotland
10 March 1968 – Gig in Glasgow, Scotland
11-16 March 1968 – Playboy Club, Park Lane, central London
17 March 1968 – Gig in Leytonstone, Essex
18-23 March 1968 – Playboy Club, Park Lane, central London
24 March 1968 – 76 Club, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire (Burton Daily Mail)
25 March 1968 – Recording
26 March 1968 – Bournemouth, Dorset (probably the Ritz)
27 March 1968 – Catford, southeast London
28 March 1968 – Ealing, west London
29 March 1968 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, London
30 March 1968 – Gloucester, Gloucestershire
31 March 1968 – Gillingham, Kent
1 April 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with the D C Dancers (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
11 April 1968 – Colchester, Essex (Melody Maker)
12 April 1968 – Eastbourne, East Sussex (Melody Maker)
Photo may be subject to copyright
13 April 1968 – Princes Theatre & Ballroom, Yeovil, Somerset with The Generation (Western Gazette)
14 April 1968 – Stockport, Greater Manchester (Melody Maker)
15 April 1968 – Leeds, West Yorkshire (Melody Maker)
16 April 1968 – Hanley, Staffordshire (Melody Maker)
17 April 1968 – Revolution, Mayfair, central London (Melody Maker)
18 April 1968 – Abingdon, Oxfordshire (Melody Maker)
19 April 1968 – Perton (Melody Maker)
20 April 1968 – Waddington (Melody Maker)
21 April 1968 – Silver Ends (Melody Maker)
22-23 April 1968 – London (Melody Maker)
26 April 1968 – Steering Wheel, Weymouth Pavilion, Weymouth, Dorset with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds, The New Trend and The Continuity Big D Show (Dorset Evening Echo/Western Gazette) Billed as Delroy Williams and The Sugar Band
Photo may be subject to copyright
27 April 1968 – 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon (Herald Express)
29 April 1968 – London (Melody Maker)
4 May 1968 – Hastings Pier, Hastings, East Sussex with Unabridged Telephone Directory (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)
1 June 1968 – Savoy, Catford, southeast London (Melody Maker)
8 June 1968 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex (Essex County Standard)
22 June 1968 – Savoy, Catford, southeast London (Melody Maker)
6 July 1968 – Roaring 20’s Club, Carnaby Street, central London (Melody Maker)
27 July 1968 – Roaring 20’s Club, Carnaby Street, central London (Melody Maker)
Photo may be subject to copyright
2 August 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
10 August 1968 – Princes Theatre & Ballroom, Yeovil, Somerset with Tomorrow’s Children (Western Gazette)
12 August 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Cortinas (East Kent Times & Mail)
16 August 1968 – Ballerina Ballroom, Nairn, Scotland with The New Jacobeats (Forres Elgin & Nairn Gazette)
Photo may be subject to copyright
31 August 1968 – Blue Pacific, Bristol Hotel, Gloucester (Gloucester Citizen)
2 September 1968 – Weymouth Pavilion Theatre, Weymouth, Dorset with Unruly Members (Dorset Evening Echo)
Photo may be subject to copyright
14 September 1968 – Alex Disco Club, Salisbury, Wiltshire (Western Gazette)
Photo may be subject to copyright
23 November 1968 – Chard Guildhall, Chard, Somerset with The Storm (Western Gazette)
Photo may be subject to copyright
21 December 1968 – Bedford Corn Exchange, Bedford with Rudi’s Rock and Steve Young Sounds (Bedfordshire Times)
22 December 1968 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent with The Amboy Dukes (Chatham, Rochester & Gillingham Evening Post)
Many thanks to Geoff Coxon for background information on the Sugar Band.
Garage Hangover would love to hear from anyone who can provide more information on the band and its members.
Johnny Eaton – lead vocals Dave Thompson – lead guitar Louis McKelvey – rhythm guitar Dave Wigginton – bass Alan Worrell – drums
Johnny & The Pursuers was a short-lived R&B outfit from Twickenham, Middlesex, formed around 1961. Drummer Alan Worrell had gone to Spring Grove Grammar School in Isleworth and was classmates with future Small Faces keyboard player Ian McLagan. They had previously worked together in a skiffle group with Terry Munro.
According to Worrell, Ian McLagan designed and produced the group’s business cards in black and silver (see bottom).
On 28 April 1962, the band took part in the Twickenham Rhythm contest alongside local rivals Colin Shane & The Shannons and The Bullets. They also played at Wimbledon Theatre for a week in the Tommy Trinder variety show.
In early 1963, Dave Wigginton and Louis McKelvey departed to join Jeff Curtis & The Flames while Worrell went on to play with Colin Shane & The Shannons.
Garage Hangover would be interested to hear more about this band and what happened to its members.
Thanks to Alan Worrell for the information and images.
E Biggs – vocals P Ravenill – lead guitar B Brown – rhythm guitar J Bennett – bass Keith McGregor – drums
The Bullets were a little known West London R&B band who participated in the 1962 Borough of Twickenham Rhythm contest on 28 April 1962 alongside Johnny & The Pursuers and Colin Shane & The Shannons.
Keith McGregor later played with Nightshift who had featured Jeff Beck on guitar before he had joined.
Garage Hangover would be interested to hear more about this band and what happened to its members.
February 1965 ad courtesy of Peter Cornwell of Phaethon’s Brethren
The Bromel Club was initially a jazz venue that was located in the Bromley Court Hotel on Bromley Hill in south east London. During the 1960s, it hosted most of the top British bands of the day, including Cream, Pink Floyd and The Jimi Hendrix Experience.
I’ve started to compile a gig list and would welcome any additions and corrections as well as memories of the venue. These are advertised gigs so it’s quite possible that artists may have changed at the last minute.
If you played in one of the group, it would be great if you could provide some history of your band too in the comments below.
Also, if you have any old posters you can share, I would love to hear from you and will ensure you are credited.
1964
I don’t have many gigs listed for this year and earlier and would welcome any contributions.
Judging by the gigs below, rock artists performed on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Jazz artists played on Tuesdays (my list is incomplete).
The gigs are all from Melody Maker unless otherwise noted.
3 January – The Moody Blues
4 January – The South West Five
6 January – Sonny Boy Williamson with Shorty & Them
7 January – Billy Woods Combo
Photo: Melody Maker
10 January – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds
11 January – Their Lordships
13 January – The Stormsville Shakers
14 January – The Billy Woods Combo
Photo: Melody Maker
17 January – The Spencer Davis Group
18 January – Themselves
20 January – The Yardbirds
21 January – The Billy Woods Combo
Photo: Melody Maker
24 January – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
25 January – The Loose Ends
27 January – Alex Harvey’s Soul Band
28 January – The Copains
31 January – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
1 February – Phaethon’s Brethren
3 February – Long John Baldy
4 February – The Cheminoes
7 February – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
8 February – The Black Jacks
10 February – Ronnie Jones & The Night-Timers
11 February – The Second Thoughts
14 February – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds
15 February – The Westsiders
17 February – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
18 February – Blues by Knight
Photo: Melody Maker
21 February – The Animals
22 February – The Britons
24 February – Alexis Korner Blues Incorporated
25 February – The Loose Ends
Photo: Melody Maker
28 February – The Falling Leaves
1 March – The Dissatisfied
3 March – The Spencer Davis Group
4 March – The Cops ‘N’ Robbers
7 March – Manfred Mann
8 March – Brothers Grim
10 March – Davy Jones & The Manish Boys
11 March – The Drovers
14 March – The Mike Cotton Sound
15 March – missing entry
17 March – Champion Jack Dupree with The Sheffields
18 March – missing entry
21 March – Alex Harvey Soul Band
22 March – missing entry
24 March – The Animals
25 March – missing entry
Photo: Melody Maker
28 March – The T-Bones (Gary Farr’s band)
29 March – The Ingoes
31 March – The Who
1 April – The Bumps in the Night
Photo: Melody Maker
4 April – The Pretty Things
5 April – Paul & The Travellers
7 April – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
8 April – The Tribe
11 April – The Spencer Davis Group
12 April – The Exits
14 April – Long John Baldry
15 April – The Pilgrims
Photo: Melody Maker
18 April – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
19 April – The Moaners
21 April – The Yardbirds
22 April – Isaiash’s Prophets
25 April – The Nashville Teens
26 April – The Toys
28 April – The Who
29 April – The Impacts
Photo: Melody Maker
2 May – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds
3 May – The Vandals Blues
5 May – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
6 May – The Five Proud Walkers
9 May –The Moody Blues
10 May – The Lawlers Legs
12 May – John Lee Hooker (was this with The Cops ‘N’ Robbers backing?)
13 May – The Hammond K Four
16 May – The Loose Ends
17 May – The Heart and Souls
19 May – The Spencer Davis Group
Photo: Melody Maker
20 May – The Board Walkers
Photo: South East London Mercury
23 May – Manfred Mann
24 May – The Pineapple Chunks
26 May – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
27 May – The Bumps in the Night
Photo: Melody Maker
30 May – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds
31 May – The CC Riders
2 June – The Soul Sisters with Brian Auger Trinity
3 June – The Solar Sounds
6 June – Alex Harvey (Soul Band)
7 June – The Peasants
9 June – Long John Baldry
10 June – The Desperados
Photo: Melody Maker
13 June – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and The Preachers
14 June – The Five Road Runners
16 June – Graham Bond Organisation
17 June – The Epitaph Soul Band
20 June – The Five Dimensions
21 June – The Trees
23 June – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
24 June – Modern Blues Six
27 June – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays
28 June – The Doons
30 June – The Epitaphs with supporting group
Photo: Melody Maker
1 July – The Board Walkers
4 July – Graham Bond Organisation
5 July – The Planets
7 July – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
8 July – The CC Riders
11 July – The Artwoods
12 July – The Equals
14 July – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds
15 July – The Spurleeweeves
18 July – Inez and Charlie Foxx with (Geno Washington &) The Ram Jam Band
19 July – Red, Whites, Blues (according to Bob Hodges, this band soon changed name to The New Jump Band)
21 July – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames
22 July – The Bo Bo Links
Photo: Melody Maker
25 July – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds
26 July – The Brethren
28 July – The Spencer Davis Group
29 July – The Ancient Britains
Photo: Melody Maker
1 August – John Lee’s Groundhogs
2 August – The Medieval Sounds
4 August – The Mike Cotton Sound
5 August – The Eyes
8 August – missing entry
9 August – missing entry
11 August – missing entry
12 August – missing entry
15 August – Club is closed
Photo: Melody Maker
16 August – The Five of That
18 August – Steampacket
19 August – The Equals
21 August – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and The Preachers (Saturday night)
22 August – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds
23 August – The Prophets
25 August – The Graham Bond Organisation
26 August – The Planets
29 August – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays
30 August – The Bungle Fins
1 September – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
2 September – Red, Whites, Blues
Photo: Melody Maker
5 September – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
6 September – The Worrying Kind
8 September – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds
9 September – Red, Whites, Blues (according to Bob Hodges, this band soon changed name to The New Jump Band)
Photo: Melody Maker
12 September – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds
13 September – The Creepers
15 September – The Graham Bond Organisation
16 September – Leslie Gantzer
19 September – (Geno Washington &) The Ram Jam Band
20 September – The Five Aces
21 September – Alan Elsdon Jazz Band (Tuesday night – does that mean jazz was on Tuesdays?)
22 September – The Spencer Davis Group
23 September – The Byrd-Herd
26 September – The Small Faces
27 September – Steve & The What 4
28 September – Terry Lightfoot (Tuesday night)
29 September – Bo Diddley
30 September – The Image
3 October – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames
4 October – The Changing Times
5 October – Ken Colyer (Tuesday night)
6 October – The Alan Price Set
7 October – The Bumps in the Night
Photo: Melody Maker
10 October – The Graham Bond Organisation
11 October – The Five Road Runners
12 October – Alex Welsh (Tuesday night)
13 October – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
14 October – Planet Six
Photo: Melody Maker
17 October – The Herd
18 October – The Motivation (original version from Norbury, south London)
19 October – Chris Barber (Tuesday night)
20 October – The Graham Bond Organisation
21 October – The Bungle-Finns
24 October – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
25 October – The Prowlers
26 October – Eric Silk’s Southern Jazzband and Brian Green’s New Orleans Stompers
27 October – Steampacket
28 October – The Sons of Fred
31 October – Ben E King
1 November – The Classics
2 November – The Keith Smith Band (Tuesday night)
3 November – The Spencer Davis Group
4 November – The Changing Times
Photo: Melody Maker
7 November – The Train (aka Moon’s Train), The Preachers – Lew Rich with The Other Two
8 November – Junco’s Jump Band
9 November – Closed this week
10 November – The Alan Price Set
11 November – The Rick ‘N’ Beckers
Photo: Melody Maker
14 November – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
15 November – The Squires (this might be Tom Jones’ backing band)
16 November – Alan Elsdon (Tuesday night)
17 November – Wilson Pickett (with backing band)
The Riot Squad may also have played on 17 November but needs confirmation
18 November – Marshall Scott Etc
21 November – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds
22 November – The End of Part One
23 November – Monty Sunshine (Tuesday night)
24 November – The Graham Bond Organisation
25 November – The Spectres (evolved into Status Quo)
28 November – The Mike Cotton Sound
29 November – The Minor Birds
30 November – Terry Lightfoot (Tuesday night)
1 December – Steampacket
2 December – The Prowlers
5 December – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds
6 December – The Kingbeats
7 December – The Back O’Town Syncopants (Tuesday night)
8 December – Major Lance
9 December – The Squires (Tom Jones’ backing band?)
12 December – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
13 December – The Shylos
14 December – Ken Colyer (Tuesday night)
15 December – The Spencer Davis Group
Photo: Melody Maker
16 December – The Board Walkers
19 December – The Paramounts
20 December – The Name
21 December – Kenny Ball (Tuesday night)
22 December – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers
23 December – The Alex Lane Group
24 December – The Train (aka Moon’s Train) and The Changing Times (Boyfriend magazine has The Paramounts on this date)
26 December – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames
27 December – K N Star & The Ricochets
28 December – Eric Silk (Tuesday night)
29 December – Ronnie Jones (& The Blue Jays)
30 December – The Habits
Clive Chase, bass player with Bobby King & The Sabres notes in his diary that his group played here on 30 December
1966
Judging by the gigs below, rock artists performed on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Jazz musicians played on Tuesdays.
The gigs are all from Melody Maker unless otherwise noted.
2 January – The Train (aka Moon’s Train)
3 January – The Partisans
3 January – Alex Welsh (Tuesday night)
5 January – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds
6 January – Victor Brox Blues Band
9 January – The Mike Cotton Sound
10 January – The Deck Hands
11 January – Terry Lightfoot (Tuesday night)
12 January – Steampacket
13 January – The Minor Birds
16 January – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
17 January – The Disciples
18 January – Monty Sunshine (Tuesday night)
19 January – Lee Dorsey (with The Krew backing?)
20 January – The Showtimers
23 January – The Alan Price Set
24 January – The Way
25 January – Alan Elsdon (Tuesday night)
26 January – The Mark Leeman Five
27 January – KN Starr & The Ricochets
29 January – David Bowie & The Lower Third (Saturday night) (South East London Mercury)
30 January – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds
31 January – The Breed (South East London Mercury)
1 February – Ken Colyer (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)
2 February – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (South East London Mercury)
3 February – The Alex Lane Group
6 February – The Untamed (South East London Mercury)
7 February – The Soul System (South East London Mercury)
8 February – The Back O’Town Syncopaters (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)
9 February – The Action
South East London Mercury lists Crispian St. Peters for 9 February
10 February – The Board Walkers (South East London Mercury)
13 February – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and The Alan Price Set (Beat Instrumental)
14 February – The Name (South East London Mercury)
15 February – Eric Silk & The Southern Jazz Band (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)
16 February – The Soul Show (according to Record Mirror this was Elkie Brooks, Keith Powell, The Marionettes and The Excels) (South East London Mercury)
17 February – The Deck Hands (South East London Mercury)
Photo: Melody Maker
20 February – The Loose Ends
21 February – The Mixed Feelings
22 February – Spencer’s Washboard Kings (Tuesday night)
23 February – The Pretty Things
24 February – The Prowlers
27 February – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (South East London Mercury)
28 February – L Henderson’s Soul Band (South East London Mercury)
1 March – Chris Barber (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)
2 March – The Action (South East London Mercury)
3 March – The Subjects (South East London Mercury)
6 March – The VIPs (South East London Mercury)
Melody Maker lists The Train (aka Moon’s Train for 6 March)
7 March – The In-Action
8 March – Ken Colyer (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)
9 March – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (South East London Mercury)
10 March – The Alex Lane Group
12 March – Them (Saturday night) (South East London Mercury)
13 March – The Alan Price Set (South East London Mercury)
14 March – System Four (South East London Mercury)
15 March – Alan Elsdon (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)
Melody Maker lists Monty Sunshine for 15 March
16 March – The Loose Ends
20 March – St Louis Union (South East London Mercury)
21 March – Group night (South East London Mercury)
22 March – Kenny Ball (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)
23 March – Gary Farr & The T-Bones
24 March – Group night (South East London Mercury)
Melody Maker lists The Objects for 24 March
26 March – The Kinks (Saturday night) (South East London Mercury)
27 March – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (South East London Mercury)
28 March – Group night (South East London Mercury)
Melody Maker lists The Name for 28 March
29 March – Mike Daniels (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)
30 March – The Action (South East London Mercury)
31 March – Group night (South East London Mercury)
3 April – The Graham Bond Organisation
4 April – The Keys
5 April – The Back O’Town Syncopants (Tuesday night)
6 April – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds
7 April – Earl Henderson Soul Band
10 April – The Shevelles (South East London Mercury)
11 April – Group night (South East London Mercury)
Melody Maker lists The Scuttlebugs for 11 April
12 April – Ken Colyer (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)
13 April – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
14 April – Rachel’s Revenge (South East London Mercury)
16 April – The Candles (Saturday night) (South East London Mercury)
17 April – The Loose Ends (South East London Mercury)
18 April – Group night (South East London Mercury)
Melody Maker lists John Brown’s Bodies for 18 April
19 April – Brian Green (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)
20 April – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds (South East London Mercury)
21 April – Deacon Lewis and The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (South East London Mercury)
24 April – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (South East London Mercury)
25 April – The Kind (South East London Mercury)
26 April – Monty’s Sunshine (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)
27 April – Steampacket (South East London Mercury)
Melody Maker lists The Paramounts on 27 April
28 April – Rachel’s Revenge (South East London Mercury)
Melody Maker lists The Board Walkers on 28 April
1 May – The Kinks (South East London Mercury)
2 May – Group night (South East London Mercury)
3 May – Eric Silk & His Southern Jazz Band (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)
4 May – The Dixie Cups with Alvin Robinson (South East London Mercury)
5 May – The Prowlers (South East London Mercury)
7 May – Earl Henderson’s Soul Band and The Coffee Set (Saturday night) (South East London Mercury)
8 May – The Loose Ends (South East London Mercury)
9 May – Group night (South East London Mercury)
10 May – Ken Colyer (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)
11 May – The T-Bones (Gary Farr’s band) (South East London Mercury)
12 May – Group night (South East London Mercury)
14 May – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (Saturday night) (Nick Simper’s diary)
15 May – The Shevelles (South East London Mercury)
16 May – Group night (South East London Mercury)
Melody Maker lists The Kenetis on 16 May
17 May – Ken Colyer (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)
18 May – Steampacket (South East London Mercury)
19 May – The Board Walkers (South East London Mercury)
Melody Maker lists John Brown’s Bodies for 19 May but this could actually refer to the following Thursday, 26 May
22 May – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (South East London Mercury)
23 May – C-Jam Blues (South East London Mercury)
23 May – The Temperance Seven (South East London Mercury)
24 May – Lucas and The Mike Cotton Sound (South East London Mercury)
26 May – John Brown’s Bodies (South East London Mercury)
29 May – The Bo Street Runners (South East London Mercury)
30 May – Miss Named (South East London Mercury)
31 May – Ken Colyer (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)
1 June – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (South East London Mercury)
2 June – Five Steps Beyond (South East London Mercury)
5 June – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (South East London Mercury)
6 June – Dawn & The Rising Sons (South East London Mercury)
7 June – Back O’Town Syncopaters (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)
8 June – Roy C (South East London Mercury)
9 June – In-Action (South East London Mercury)
Photo: Melody Maker
12 June – The Loose Ends (South East London Mercury)
13 June – Luther Morgan Relationship (South East London Mercury)
14 June – Charlie Galbraith’s All Stars (South East London Mercury)
15 June – The Moody Blues (South East London Mercury)
16 June – Sammy Samwell’s Record Show (South East London Mercury)
19 June – Steampacket (South East London Mercury)
20 June – The Midnites (South East London Mercury)
21 June – Brian Green’s New Orleans Stompers (Tuesday night) (South East London Mercury)
22 June – The Action (South East London Mercury)
23 June – Sammy Samwell Record Show (South East London Mercury)
Photo: Melody Maker
26 June – The Shotgun Express (South East London Mercury)
27 June – The Bo-Men (South East London Mercury)
28 June – The Eyes (South East London Mercury)
29 June – The Yardbirds (South East London Mercury)
3 July – missing entry
4 July – The Classics (South East London Mercury)
6 July – The Loose Ends (South East London Mercury)
Melody Maker lists The Squires (Tom Jones’ band?) for 6 July. Beat Instrumental meanwhile lists Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds
7 July – Sammy Samwell Record Show (South East London Mercury)
10 July – The Downliners Sect (South East London Mercury)
11 July – The Outcasts (South East London Mercury)
13 July – The Loose Ends and The Good Things (South East London Mercury)
14 July – Raymond Hayes Record Show (South East London Mercury)
17 July – George Bean & Loopy’s Lot (South East London Mercury)
18 July – The Borough of Bedrock (South East London Mercury)
20 July – The Loose Ends and The Squires (South East London Mercury)
Beat Instrumental lists Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band for 20 July
21 July – missing entry
24 July – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (South East London Mercury)
25 July – The Kind (South East London Mercury)
27 July – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (South East London Mercury)
Fabulous 208 lists The Loose Ends on 27 July
28 July – Micket Nut Record Show (South East London Mercury)
31 July – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (South East London Mercury)
1 August – Group and records (South East London Mercury)
3 August – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (South East London Mercury)
4 August – Micket Nut Record Show (South East London Mercury)
7 August – The Tribe (South East London Mercury)
8 August – Lee Hawkins Four (South East London Mercury)
10 August – The VIPs (South East London Mercury)
11 August – Records (South East London Mercury)
12 August – Cream (South East London Mercury)
14 August – The Raisins (South East London Mercury)
Fabulous 208 lists The Downliners Sect for 14 August
15 August – Group and records (South East London Mercury)
17 August – The Alan Price Set (South East London Mercury)
18 August – Records (South East London Mercury)
21 August – The Subjects (South East London Mercury)
22 August – Records (South East London Mercury)
24 August – The Creation (South East London Mercury)
25 August – Records (South East London Mercury)
28 August – Wynder K Frog (South East London Mercury)
29 August – Records (South East London Mercury)
30 August – The Shotgun Express (South East London Mercury)
31 August – Records (South East London Mercury)
4 September – Lee Hawkins Group (South East London Mercury)
5 August – Records (South East London Mercury)
7 September – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (South East London Mercury)
8 September – Records (South East London Mercury)
Missing some entries for the rest of September. This is what I do have:
14 September – The Alan Bown Set and Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
18 September – The Amboy Dukes (South East London Mercury)
19 September – Ray Browns’ record show (South East London Mercury)
21 September – The VIPs (South East London Mercury)
22 September – Records (South East London Mercury)
25 September – The Combine (South East London Mercury)
26 September – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)
28 September – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (South East London Mercury)
2 October – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (South East London Mercury)
3 October – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)
5 October – The Herd (South East London Mercury)
6 October – Records (South East London Mercury)
9 October – Felders Orioles (South East London Mercury)
10 October – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)
12 October – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (South East London Mercury)
13 October – Records (South East London Mercury)
16 October – Unit Four Plus 2 (South East London Mercury)
17 October – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)
19 October – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band and Bobby & The Crims (South East London Mercury)
20 October – Records (South East London Mercury)
23 October – The Loose Ends (South East London Mercury)
24 October – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)
26 October – The Crying Shames (South East London Mercury)
27 October – Records (South East London Mercury)
30 October – The Searchers (South East London Mercury)
31 October – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)
2 November – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays (South East London Mercury)
3 November – missing entry
5 November – The Tribe (South East London Mercury)
7 November – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)
9 November – missing entry
10 November – missing entry
13 November – The Fortunes (South East London Mercury)
14 November – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)
16 November – The Graham Bond Organisation (South East London Mercury)
17 November – missing entry
20 November – The Loose Ends (South East London Mercury)
21 November – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)
23 November – The Herd (South East London Mercury)
24 November – missing entry
27 November – The Good Thing (South East London Mercury)
28 November – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)
30 November – The Herd (South East London Mercury)
1 December – Records (South East London Mercury)
4 December – Lee Hawkins Group (South East London Mercury)
5 December – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)
7 December – The Shotgun Express (South East London Mercury)
8 December – missing entry
11 December – missing entry
12 December – missing entry
14 December – Cream (Christopher’s Hjort’s book Strange Brew)
15 December – Records (South East London Mercury)
18 December – EL Henderson’s Soul Band (South East London Mercury)
19 December – Ray Brown’s record show (South East London Mercury)
21 December – Eric Burdon & The Animals (South East London Mercury)
22 December – Records (South East London Mercury)
24 December – The Outrage and The New Jump Band (South East London Mercury)
26 December – The New Loose Ends (South East London Mercury)
28 December – Long John Baldry and Bluesology (South East London Mercury)
29 December – Records (South East London Mercury)
1967
Judging by the gigs below, rock artists performed on Sundays and Wednesdays with gigs on other days occasionally.
I have very few gigs for 1967 so would welcome any additions.
1 January – Brian Something and The What’s Its (South East London Mercury)
Hatchetts Playground, located at 67 Piccadilly, was one of the happening clubs in central London during the late 1960s and played host to rock bands every night.
According to an article in the Kensington Post (see comments below), Hatchetts was one of London’s oldest restaurants but was closed in April 1966 for a £200,000 face-lift.
Re-opened on Tuesday, 6 June 1967, the venue was transformed into a three-level entertainment centre. One of its partners was Tony Vinnicombe who also ran Sands in Bond Street.
According to an article in The Stage, dated 29 June 1967, the opening weeks line up included: The Symbols, Errol Daniels & The JJ Band, Sands (named after Vinnicombe’s Bond Street club), The Shevelles, 1-2-3, The Frugal Sound, The New Formula and The Bystanders.
The Stage‘s 14 September 1967 edition ran an advert, which showed that The Peddlers held a residency at the club from 8 September through to 6 October (excluding Sundays).
1967
9 June 1967 (Friday) – Errol Daniels & JJ Band (Evening Standard) Says opening night for live music
Gigs are missing for Saturday, 10 June, Sunday 11 June and Monday, 12 June 1967
13 June 1967 (Tuesday) – Timebox (Evening Standard)
14 June 1967 (Wednesday) – The 1-2-3 (Evening Standard)
Gigs are missing for Thursday, 15 June and Friday, 16 June 1967
17 June 1967 (Saturday) – The 1-2-3 (Evening Standard)
Gig is missing for Sunday, 18 June 1967
19 June 1967 (Monday) – The Frugal Sound (Evening Standard)
Gig is missing for Tuesday, 20 June 1967
21 June 1967 (Wednesday) – Ferris Wheel (Evening Standard)
22 June 1967 (Thursday) – The 1-2-3 (Evening Standard)
Gig is missing for Friday, 23 June 1967
24 June 1967 (Saturday) – Sands (Evening Standard)
Gig is missing for Sunday, 25 June 1967
26 June 1967 (Monday) – The Frugal Sound (Evening Standard)
27 June 1967 (Tuesday) – Errol Daniels & The JJ Band (Evening Standard)
Gigs are missing from Wednesday, 28 June through to Sunday, 2 July 1967
3 July 1967 (Monday) – Sands (Evening Standard)
4 July 1967 (Tuesday) – The Chanters (Evening Standard)
5 July 1967 (Wednesday) – Granny’s Intentions (Evening Standard)
6 July 1967 (Thursday) – Ferris Wheel (Evening Standard/Fabulous 208)
7 July 1967 (Friday) – The Summer Set (Evening Standard)
8 July 1967 (Saturday) – Robb Storme Group (Evening Standard)
Gig is missing for Sunday, 9 July 1967
10 July 1967 (Monday) – The Chanters (Evening Standard)
11 July 1967 (Tuesday) – The Bystanders (Evening Sentinel)
12 July 1967 (Wednesday) – Errol Daniels & The JJ Band (Evening Standard)
13 July 1967 (Thursday) – The Bystanders (Evening Standard)
Gigs are missing from Friday, 14 July 1967
15 July 1967 (Saturday) – The Chanters (Evening Standard)
Gig is missing for Sunday, 16 July 1967
17 July 1967 (Monday) – The Powerhouse (Evening Standard)
18 July 1967 (Tuesday) – Wynder K Frog (Evening Standard/Fabulous 208)
Gig is missing for Wednesday, 19 July 1967
20 July 1967 (Thursday) – New Formula (Evening Standard)
21 July 1967 (Friday) – The Web (Evening Standard)
22 July 1967 (Saturday) – The Chanters (Evening Standard)
Gig is missing for Sunday, 23 July 1967
24 July 1967 (Monday) – Marmalade (Evening Standard)
Gigs are missing from Tuesday, 25 July through to Wednesday, 23 August 1967
24 August 1967 (Thursday) – Timebox (Evening Standard)
Gigs are missing from Friday, 25 August through to Tuesday, 29 August 1967
30 August 1967 (Wednesday) – Geranium Pond (Evening Standard)
31 August 1967 (Thursday) – Timebox (Evening Standard)
Gigs are missing from Friday, 1 September through to Thursday, 7 September 1967
8 September 1967 (Friday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
9 September 1967 (Saturday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
10 September 1967 (Sunday) – The Manchester Playboys (Graham Sclater’s diary)
11 September 1967 (Monday) – The Peddlers (The Stage) Graham Sclater’s diary also has The Manchester Playboys on this date
12 September 1967 (Tuesday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
13 September 1967 (Wednesday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
14 September 1967 (Thursday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
15 September 1967 (Friday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
16 September 1967 (Saturday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
Possibly missing gig for Sunday, 17 September 1967
18 September 1967 (Monday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
19 September 1967 (Tuesday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
20 September 1967 (Wednesday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
21 September 1967 (Thursday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
22 September 1967 (Friday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
23 September 1967 (Saturday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
Possibly missing gig for Sunday, 24 September 1967
25 September 1967 (Monday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
26 September 1967 (Tuesday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
27 September 1967 (Wednesday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
28 September 1967 (Thursday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
29 September 1967 (Friday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
30 September 1967 (Saturday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
Possibly missing gig for Sunday, 1 October 1967
2 October 1967 (Monday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
3 October 1967 (Tuesday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
4 October 1967 (Wednesday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
5 October 1967 (Thursday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
6 October 1967 (Friday) – The Peddlers (The Stage)
Gig is missing from Saturday, 7 October and possibly Sunday, 8 October 1967
9 October 1967 (Monday) – The Manchester Playboys (Graham Sclater’s diary) Graham says this needs confirmation
10 October 1967 (Tuesday) – The Manchester Playboys (Graham Sclater’s diary) Graham says this needs confirmation
11 October 1967 (Wednesday) – The Manchester Playboys (Graham Sclater’s diary) Graham says this needs confirmation
12 October 1967 (Thursday) – The Manchester Playboys (Graham Sclater’s diary) Graham says this needs confirmation
13 October 1967 (Friday) – The Manchester Playboys (Graham Sclater’s diary) Graham says this needs confirmation
14 October 1967 (Saturday) – The Manchester Playboys (Graham Sclater’s diary) Graham says this needs confirmation
Gigs are missing from possibly Sunday, 15 October through to Wednesday, 1 November 1967
2 November 1967 (Thursday) – The Web (Evening Standard)
Gigs are missing from Friday, 3 November through to Tuesday, 7 November 1967
8 November 1967 (Wednesday) – Timebox (Evening Standard)
Gig is missing for Thursday, 9 November 1967
10 November 1967 (Friday) – Timebox (Evening Standard)
11 November 1967 (Saturday) – Timebox (Evening Standard)
Gigs are missing from Sunday, 12 November through to Tuesday, 14 November 1967
15 November 1967 (Wednesday) – Coopers Climax (Evening Standard)
Gig is missing for Thursday, 16 November 1967
17 November 1967 (Friday) – Coopers Climax (Evening Standard)
Gigs are missing from Saturday, 18 November through to Tuesday, 21 November 1967
22 November 1967 (Wednesday) – Remo Four (Evening Standard)
23 November 1967 (Thursday) – Ebony Keyes and Chris Shakespeare Movement (Evening Standard)
Gig is missing for Friday, 24 November 1967
25 November 1967 (Saturday) – Ebony Keyes and Chris Shakespeare Movement (Evening Standard)
Gigs are missing from Sunday, 26 November through to Wednesday, 29 November 1967
30 November 1967 (Thursday) – New Nadir (Evening Standard)
Gigs are missing from Friday, 1 December through to Wednesday, 6 December 1967
7 December 1967 (Thursday) – New York Public Library (Evening Standard)
8 December 1967 (Friday) – New York Public Library (Evening Standard)
9 December 1967 (Saturday) – New York Public Library (Evening Standard)
Gigs are missing from Sunday, 10 December through to Tuesday, 12 December 1967
13 December 1967 (Wednesday) – The Anglians (Evening Standard)
14 December 1967 (Thursday) – The Anglians (Evening Standard)
Gig is missing for Friday, 15 December 1967
16 December 1967 (Saturday) – The Anglians (Evening Standard)
Gigs are missing from Sunday, 17 December through to Tuesday, 19 December 1967
20 December 1967 (Wednesday) – Mud (Evening Standard)
Gig is missing for Thursday, 21 December 1967
22 December 1967 (Friday) – Mud (Evening Standard)
23 December 1967 (Saturday) – Mud (Evening Standard)
Gigs are missing from Sunday, 24 December and from Tuesday, 26 December through to Thursday, 28 December 1967
29 December 1967 (Friday) – Big Pete Lancaster and The Upsetters (Evening Standard)
Gig is missing for Saturday, 30 December 1967
31 December 1967 (Sunday) – Big Pete Lancaster and The Upsetters (Evening Standard)
1968
For the 1968 dates listed below, I have found multiple sources that have confirmed the same date for when an artist appeared. However, I have tended to list only one source, usually from the music press such as Melody Maker or NME (New Musical Express).
Jonathan Marks’ gigs have been invaluable as they are the official gigs that were advertised by the club itself. As his flyers don’t cover all of the 1968 months, I’ve only listed them where there are gaps in the music press entries. I haven’t listed them if they concur with the music press entries.
Where there are conflicting entries, I have listed the artists and the sources that list them in italics after the main entry.
12 January 1968 (Friday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)
13 January 1968 (Saturday) – The Quotations (Melody Maker) Evening Standard suggests that Ray King Soul Band, Timebox and Ferris Wheel play on this date
Possibly a gig on Sunday, 14 January 1968 missing
15 January 1968 (Monday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker) Jonathan Marks lists The Quotations on this date
16 January 1968 (Tuesday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)
17 January 1968 (Wednesday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)
18 January 1968 (Thursday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)
19 January 1968 (Friday) – The Three Sounds (Melody Maker)
20 January 1968 (Saturday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)
Possibly a gig on Sunday, 21 January 1968 missing
22 January 1968 (Monday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)
23 January 1968 (Tuesday) – The Web (Melody Maker)
24 January 1968 (Wednesday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)
25 January 1968 (Thursday) – The Web (Melody Maker)
26 January 1968 (Friday) – The Three Sounds (Melody Maker)
27 January 1968 (Saturday) – The Three Sounds (Melody Maker)
Possibly a gig on Sunday, 28 January 1968 missing
29 January 1968 (Monday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)
30 January 1968 (Tuesday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)
31 January 1968 (Wednesday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)
Gigs from Thursday, 1 February to Monday, 5 February 1968 missing
6 February 1968 (Tuesday) – James & Bobby Purify (Melody Maker)
Gigs from Wednesday, 7 February to Wednesday, 14 February 1968 missing
Melody Maker
15 February 1968 (Thursday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)
16 February 1968 (Friday) – The Copycats (Melody Maker)
17 February 1968 (Saturday) – Pussyfoot (Melody Maker)
Possibly a gig on Sunday, 18 February 1968 missing
19 February 1968 (Monday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)
20 February 1968 (Tuesday) – Jo Jo Cooke & The Racket (Melody Maker)
21 February 1968 (Wednesday) – Little John & The Shadocks (Melody Maker)
22 February 1968 (Thursday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)
23 February 1968 (Friday) – Jo Jo Cooke & The Racket (Melody Maker)
24 February 1968 (Saturday) – Jo Jo Cooke & The Racket (Melody Maker)
Possibly a gig on Sunday, 25 February 1968 missing
26 February 1968 (Monday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)
27 February 1968 (Tuesday) – Rainy Day Women (Swedish band) (Melody Maker)
28 February 1968 (Wednesday) – Rainy Day Women (Swedish band) (Melody Maker)
29 February 1968 (Thursday) – Rainy Day Women (Swedish band) (Melody Maker)
5 June 1968 (Wednesday) – Sonny Burke’s Outfit and The Flowerpot Men (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing) The Flowerpot Men were ‘Top of the Pops Party’ – Invitation only)
28 June 1968 (Friday) – Jo Jo Gunne (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
29 June 1968 (Saturday) – Lemon Tree (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
30 June 1968 (Sunday) – Strawberry Jam (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
Jonathan Marks’ gig cards for the club have Junior Walker & The All Stars and Patti La Belle & The Bluebells as forthcoming attractions for July.
1 July 1968 (Monday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ diary) Jonathan Marks has Indiana Magnum and Julian Kersh
2 July 1968 (Tuesday) – The Greatest Show on Earth (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
3 July 1968 (Wednesday) – The Greatest Show on Earth (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
4 July 1968 (Thursday) – The Coloured Raisins (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
5 July 1968 (Friday) – Two of Each (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
6 July 1968 (Saturday) – Two of Each (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
7 July 1968 (Sunday) – The Cedars (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
8 July 1968 (Monday) – July plus guest artists (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing) Members party
9 July 1968 (Tuesday) – The Coloured Raisins (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
10 July 1968 (Wednesday) – The Coloured Raisins (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
11 July 1968 (Thursday) – The Chanters (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
12 July 1968 (Friday) – The Chain Gang (NME)
13 July 1968 (Saturday) – Gala night with Dominic Grant, Vanity Fair, The Flirtations and Strawberry Jam (NME) Jonathan Marks has Strawberry Jam on 13 July
14 July 1968 (Sunday) – Cherry Smash (NME) Jonathan Marks has The Cedars on 14 July
15 July 1968 (Monday) – Impulse (NME)
16 July 1968 (Tuesday) – The Groop (Australian band) (NME) Melody Maker has Tim Rose also playing this date with The Groop
17 July 1968 (Wednesday) – Two of Each (Melody Maker)
18 July 1968 (Thursday) – The Groop (Australian band) (Melody Maker)
19 July 1968 (Friday) – The Groop (Australian band) (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
20 July 1968 (Saturday) – Tim Rose and Impulse (NME) Fabulous 208 also has Tim Rose
23 July 1968 (Tuesday) – Moon’s Train (Melody Maker)
24 July 1968 (Wednesday) – The Groop (Australian band) (Melody Maker)
25 July 1968 (Thursday) – The Penny Peep Show (Melody Maker) Jonathan Marks has The Penny Pieces but this is The Penny Peeps aka The Penny Peep Show with future Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre
26 July 1968 (Friday) – Birds and Fellas and Two of Each (NME) Jonathan Marks only lists Two of Each
27 July 1968 (Saturday) – Two of Each (NME)
28 July 1968 (Sunday) – Fourth Floor (NME) Jonathan Marks lists The Cedars on 28 July
29 July 1968 (Monday) – Strawberry Jam (NME)
30 July 1968 (Tuesday) – Unit 4 Plus 2 (Melody Maker)
31 July 1968 (Wednesday) – Moon’s Train (Melody Maker)
1 August 1968 (Thursday) – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)
2 August 1968 (Friday) – The Sweet Sops (NME)
3 August 1968 (Saturday) – The Sweet Sops (NME)
4 August 1968 (Sunday) – Bruce Channel and Strawberry Jam (Melody Maker) Jonathan Marks only lists Strawberry Jam on this date
5 August 1968 (Monday) – The Greatest Show on Earth and Bruce Channel (Melody Maker)
6 August 1968 (Tuesday) – Simon K & The Meantimers (Melody Maker)
7 August 1968 (Wednesday) – Simon K & The Meantimers (Melody Maker)
8 August 1968 (Thursday) – Coloured Raisins (NME)
9 August 1968 (Friday) – The Jackie Edwards Show (NME)
10 August 1968 (Saturday) – Circus (Melody Maker) Jonathan Marks has Zion de Gallier & The Unicorn on this date
11 August 1968 (Sunday) – The Flirtations (NME) Jonathan Marks has Impulse on this date
12 August 1968 (Monday) – Pepper (NME) Jonathan Marks has Julian Kersh on this date
13 August 1968 (Tuesday) – Katch 22 (NME)
14 August 1968 (Wednesday) – Katch 22 (NME)
15 August 1968 (Thursday) – The Ike & Tina Turner Show (Melody Maker) VIP members and members only
16 August 1968 (Friday) – Memphis Express (NME)
17 August 1968 (Saturday) – Memphis Express (NME)
18 August 1968 (Sunday) – The Motion (NME)
19 August 1968 (Monday) – Skip Bifferty (Melody Maker) Jonathan Marks also lists special gala party night guests
20 August 1968 (Tuesday) – Sweet Sops (Melody Maker)
21 August 1968 (Wednesday) – Zion de Gallier & The Unicorns (Melody Maker)
22 August 1968 (Thursday) – Julian Kersh (Melody Maker)
23 August 1968 (Friday) – Memphis Express (NME)
24 August 1968 (Saturday) – Toast (Melody Maker)
25 August 1968 (Sunday) – Motion (NME)
26 August 1968 (Monday) – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)
27 August 1968 (Tuesday) – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)
28 August 1968 (Wednesday) – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)
29 August 1968 (Thursday) – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)
30 August 1968 (Friday) – Mud (Melody Maker) Jonathan Marks has The Mooch
31 August 1968 (Saturday) – Jasper Stubbs Gloryland Band (Melody Maker) Jonathan Marks has The Mooch
1 September 1968 (Sunday) – Cherry Smash (Melody Maker)
2 September 1968 (Monday) – Cherry Smash (Melody Maker)
3 September 1968 (Tuesday) – Soul Committee (NME)
4 September 1968 (Wednesday) – Orange Seaweed (Melody Maker)
5 September 1968 (Thursday) – Strawberry Jam and Johnny Nash (NME) Jonathan Marks has only Strawberry Jam on this date
6 September 1968 (Friday) – Wild Uncertainty (Melody Maker) Jonathan Marks has The Chants on this date who could have been backed by The Wild Uncertainty
7 September 1968 (Saturday) – Strawberry Jam (NME)
8 September 1968 (Sunday) – Pepper (Melody Maker)
9 September 1968 (Monday) – Dr Marigold’s Prescription (NME) Jonathan Marks has The Stacks on this date. The gig card also notes special guest artistes for the member party, featuring a group managed by The Move
10 September 1968 (Tuesday) – The Flirtations (Melody Maker) Jonathan Marks has Tuesday’s Children on this date. This is confirmed by Bob Hodges’ diary
11 September 1968 (Wednesday) – The Flirtations (Melody Maker) Jonathan Marks has Tuesday’s Children on this date. This is confirmed by Bob Hodges’ diary
12 September 1968 (Thursday) – Dr Marigold’s Prescription (NME) Jonathan Marks has The Groop on this date
13 September 1968 (Friday) – Horace Faith (Melody Maker) Jonathan Marks has The Soul Committee on this date
14 September 1968 (Saturday) – Marble Arch Movement (NME) Jonathan Marks has The Soul Committee on this date
15 September 1968 (Sunday) – Strawberry Jam (NME)
16 September 1968 (Monday) – Circus (Melody Maker) Jonathan Marks has Zion de Gallier & The Unicorn on this date
17 September 1968 (Tuesday) – The Fantastics (with The House of Orange) (NME)
18 September 1968 (Wednesday) – Dr Marigold’s Prescription (NME) Jonathan Marks has The Stacks on this date, who are managed by The Move
19 September 1968 (Thursday) – The Groop (Australian band) (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
20 September 1968 (Friday) – Horace Faith & The Wild Uncertainty (NME) Jonathan Marks has The Groop on this date
21 September 1968 (Saturday) – Tuesday’s Children (Melody Maker and Bob Hodges’ diary)
3 November 1968 (Sunday) – The Lions of Judea (Israeli band) (Melody Maker)
4 November 1968 (Monday) – Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound (Melody Maker)
5 November 1968 (Tuesday) – Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound (NME)
6 November 1968 (Wednesday) – Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound (NME)
Melody Maker
7 November 1968 (Thursday) – The Lions of Judea (Melody Maker)
8 November 1968 (Friday) – The Lions of Judea (Melody Maker)
9 November 1968 (Saturday) – The Lions of Judea (Melody Maker)
10 November 1968 (Sunday) – The Lions of Judea (Melody Maker)
11 November 1968 (Monday) – The Lions of Judea (Melody Maker) Members party night
12 November 1968 (Tuesday) – The Lions of Judea (Melody Maker)
13 November 1968 (Wednesday) – Youngblood (NME)
14 November 1968 (Thursday) – Charlie & Inez Foxx (NME)
15 November 1968 (Friday) – The Lions of Judea and Gilded Cage (Melody Maker) Jonathan Marks has The Sea on this date
16 November 1968 (Saturday) – The Lions of Judea and Gilded Cage (Melody Maker) Jonathan Marks has The Sea on this date
17 November 1968 (Sunday) – The Lions of Judea (Melody Maker)
18 November 1968 (Monday) – The Shadrocks with Little John, Watson T Brown & The Explosives (NME)
19 November 1968 (Tuesday) – The Lions of Judea (Melody Maker) Jonathan Marks has The Ray King Soul Band on this date
20 November 1968 (Wednesday) – The Lions of Judea (Melody Maker) Jonathan Marks has The Ray King Soul Band on this date
21 November 1968 (Thursday) – Garnett Mimms (with The Village Green Band) (NME)
22 November 1968 (Friday) – Julian’s Conquests and Lions of Judea (NME) Julian’s Conquests was Junior’s Conquest (Junior Marvin’s band). Jonathan Marks has only Julian’s Conquests on this date
23 November 1968 (Saturday) – Julian’s Conquests (NME)
24 November 1968 (Sunday) – The Lions of Judea (Melody Maker)
25 November 1968 (Monday) – Sonny Bushe (NME) This is Sonny Burke
26 November 1968 (Tuesday) – Ray King Soul Band (NME) Jonathan Marks has The Sea on this date
27 November 1968 (Wednesday) – The Iveys and The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker) Jonathan Marks has only The Iveys on this date
28 November 1968 (Thursday) – The Mojos and The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker) Jonathan Marks on only The Mojos on this date
29 November 1968 (Friday) – The Lions of Judea (Melody Maker) Jonathan Marks has Sleepy on this date
30 November 1968 (Saturday) – The Lions of Judea (Melody Maker) Jonathan Marks has Sleepy on this date
1 December 1968 (Sunday) – Toast (Melody Maker)
2 December 1968 (Monday) – Katch 22 (NME)
3 December 1968 (Tuesday) – Katch 22 (NME)
4 December 1968 (Wednesday) – The Flirtations (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)
5 December 1968 (Thursday) – Mint Tulip (Melody Maker)
6 December 1968 (Friday) – Moving Finger (NME)
7 December 1968 (Saturday) – Mint Tulip (NME)
8 December 1968 (Sunday) – Mint Tulip (NME)
9 December 1968 (Monday) – Moving Finger (Melody Maker)
10 December 1968 (Tuesday) – Moving Finger (Melody Maker) Says final London appearance before US tour
11 December 1968 (Wednesday) – Circus (NME and Time Out)
12 December 1968 (Thursday) – The Drifters (NME)
13 December 1968 (Friday) – The Boston Crabs (NME)
14 December 1968 (Saturday) – The Boston Crabs (NME)
15 December 1968 (Sunday) – The Boston Crabs (NME)
16 December 1968 (Monday) – Jo Jo Gunne (Melody Maker) Members party night
17 December 1968 (Tuesday) – The Peddlers and Soul Package (NME)
18 December 1968 (Wednesday) – Toast and The Peddlers (Melody Maker)
19 December 1968 (Thursday) – Electric Gramophone (NME) Jonathan Marks has The Shirelles on this date
20 December 1968 (Friday) – Julian Kersh (NME) Jonathan Marks has Modes Mode on this date
21 December 1968 (Saturday) – Julian Kersh (NME) Jonathan Marks and Time Out both have Circus on this date
22 December 1968 (Sunday) – Zion de Gallier & The Unicorn (NME) Jonathan Marks and Time Out both have Circus on this date
23 December 1968 (Monday) – The Dream Police (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
24 December 1968 (Tuesday) – Unit 4 Plus 2 (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing) Xmas party
No artists on Christmas Day
26 December 1968 (Thursday) – Unit 4 Plus 2 (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
27 December 1968 (Friday) – Unit 4 Plus 2 (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
28 December 1968 (Saturday) – Unit 4 Plus 2 (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
29 December 1968 (Sunday) – Unit 4 Plus 2 (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
30 December 1968 (Monday) – Unit 4 Plus 2 (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
31 December 1968 (Tuesday) – Unit 4 Plus 2 plus special guests (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
26 May 1969 (Monday) – Jo Jo Gunne (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing) This definitely did not happen as the band had a residency at the House of Lords club in the Bahamas at this time
14 October 1969 (Tuesday) – March Hare (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
Missing gig for Wednesday, 15 October 1969
16 October 1969 (Thursday) – Joyce Bond Revue (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
Missing gigs for Friday, 17 October to Sunday, 19 October 1969
20 October 1969 (Monday) – Bitter Suite (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
Missing gigs for Tuesday, 21 October to Wednesday, 22 October 1969
23 October 1969 (Thursday) – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
Missing gigs for Friday, 24 October to Sunday, 26 October 1969
27 October 1969 (Monday) – Billy J Kramer (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
Missing gigs for Tuesday, 28 October to Wednesday, 29 October 1969
30 October 1969 (Thursday) – Marv Johnson (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing)
Missing gig for Friday, 31 October 1969
Missing gigs for Saturday, 1 November to Sunday, 2 November 1969
3 November 1969 (Monday) – Dave Amboy (Jonathan Marks’ Hatchetts monthly gig listing) This is credited as Dave Amboy but most likely this is The Amboy Dukes
Missing gigs for Tuesday, 4 November to Wednesday, 5 November 1969
June 1969 listing at Revolution. Image from Don Powell’s website (see link below).
The Revolution Club was a popular rock venue in Bruton Place, Mayfair, central London that opened around January 1968. Yes were regulars and other notable outfits like Deep Purple also played there.
Jim Carter-Fea who managed Blaises and the Speakeasy also managed the Revolution.
I have started to compile a list of artists that performed there but would welcome any additions/corrections and photos.
1968
Melody Maker’s 27 January issue notes that Blues Train, The Downliners Sect, Monopoly and The Web were set to appear at the Revolution.
I think also Linda Lewis and Junior Kerr’s band White Rabbit may have played in February 1968.
Bass player Mo Umansky says his band Mr Mo’s Messengers played here too, most likely in 1968.
18 January (Thursday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)
19 January (Friday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)
20 January (Saturday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
22 January (Monday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
25 January (Thursday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)
26 January (Friday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)
17 April (Wednesday) – Delroy Williams (with The Sugar Band) (Melody Maker)
23 April (Tuesday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)
24 April (Wednesday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
Drummer Keith Guster says that the group rehearsed at the venue over three days ahead of its performance at the Montreux Festival in Switzerland on 27 April.
25 April (Thursday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)
According to Keith Guster this was the second day that The Fleur De Lys rehearsed at the Revolution before the Swiss festival.
26 April (Friday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
According to Keith Guster this was the third day that The Fleur De Lys rehearsed at the Revolution before heading to Switzerland for the Montreux festival on 27 April.
27 April (Saturday) – Ike & Tina Turner (Melody Maker)
22 May (Wednesday) – Eric Burdon & The New Animals (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)
18 June (Tuesday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
19 June (Wednesday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
24 June (Monday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
25 June (Tuesday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
26 June (Wednesday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
Keith Guster says that The Web played this night after his group had rehearsed at the Revolution.
27 June (Thursday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
28 June (Friday) – Circus (Melody Maker)
11 July (Thursday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
12 July (Friday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
17 July (Wednesday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
New Musical Express’ 3 August issue has a large spread on the club and notes that Ike & Tina Turner, Tim Rose and Eric Burdon & The New Animals had appeared recently. The music magazine says that Ben E King and O C Smith will appear soon.
New Musical Express adds that the club is open from Monday to Saturday every week. It notes that John L Watson & The Web, Terry Reid Fantasia and John Drevars’ Expression play regularly at the Revolution. When its reporters attended (presumably in late July), Pattie LaBelle & The Bluebells were performing.
8 August (Thursday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
14 August (Wednesday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
16 August (Friday) – Ben E King (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)
5 September (Thursday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
New Musical Express has Canned Heat performing on 5 September.
9 September (Monday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
24 September (Tuesday) – Glass Menagerie (Melody Maker, Time Out and Fabulous 208)
New Musical Express lists Sly & The Family Stone for 24 September but it is doubtful this happened.
25 September (Wednesday) – The Fleur De Lys (rehearsal) (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
30 September (Monday) – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)
14 October (Monday) – Yes (Melody Maker)
15 October (Tuesday) – Julie Driscoll & The Brian Auger Trinity (New Musical Express)
17 October (Thursday) – The Grateful Dead (New Musical Express)
22 October (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)
23 October (Wednesday) – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)
29 October (Tuesday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
According to guitarist Peter Mizen, in an interview with Stefan Grandos, The Majority played at the Revolution shortly after he joined in October 1968.
Please note: this listing is not definitely November 1968 but a few of the dates e.g. Shy Limbs and Muddy Waters tally with below
1 November (Friday) – The Shy Limbs (Melody Maker)
12 November (Tuesday) – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)
13 November (Wednesday) – Yes (Melody Maker)
19 November (Tuesday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)
25 November (Monday) – Yes (Melody Maker)
27 November (Wednesday) – Muddy Waters (Time Out)
30 November (Saturday) – The Idle Race (Time Out)
10 December (Tuesday) – The Isley Brothers with Art Regis & Brass Cannon (New Musical Express)
The Isley Brothers’ gig was cancelled at the last minute. It sounds like the entire tour may have been cancelled.
3 June (Tuesday) – The Marbles and The Majority (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
4 June (Wednesday) – Root and Jenny Jackson (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
5 June (Thursday) – Interstate Road Show (Melody Maker and gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
6 June (Friday) – The Flames (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
7 June (Saturday) – Arcadium (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
9 June (Monday) – King Crimson (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
10 June (Tuesday) – Three Dog Night and The Spirit of John Morgan (Time Out)
11 June (Wednesday) – Jo Jo Gunn (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
This was the original, UK Jo Jo Gunne, formed in Feltham in late 1965. Although advertised, the band didn’t appear as they were part through a three-month residency at the House of Lords club in the Bahamas.
12 June (Thursday) – The Ohio Express (Melody Maker)
The Majority may also have played on 12 June.
13 June (Friday) – Circus (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
16 June (Monday) – Samson (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
17 June (Tuesday) – Chris Barber (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
18 June (Wednesday) – Terry Reid (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
19 June (Thursday) – The Wallace Collection (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website and Time Out)
20 June (Friday) – Sk’boo (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
21 June (Saturday) – Heaven (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
23 June (Monday) – The Springfield Park (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
24 June (Tuesday) – The Web (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
25 June (Wednesday) – Spirit of John Morgan (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
26 June (Thursday) – Sarolta (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
27 June (Friday) – The Flames (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
This is the South African band that recorded as The Flame (see below).
28 June (Saturday) – Deep Purple (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website and Time Out)
30 June (Monday) – The Majority (Gig poster for Revolution from Don Powell’s website)
2 July (Wednesday) – The Majority (possibly Melody Maker)
3 July (Thursday) – Jo Jo Gunne (possibly Melody Maker)
Although advertised, the band didn’t appear as they were part through a three-month residency at the House of Lords club in the Bahamas.
4 July (Friday) – Arrival (possibly Melody Maker)
5 July (Saturday) – Cressida (possibly Melody Maker)
7 July (Monday) – Babylon (possibly Melody Maker)
8 July (Tuesday) – Samson (possibly Melody Maker)
9 July (Wednesday) – The Majority (possibly Melody Maker)
10 July (Thursday) – The New York Public Library (possibly Melody Maker)
14 July (Monday) – Spirit of John Morgan (possibly Melody Maker)
16 July (Wednesday) – The Majority (possibly Melody Maker)
17 July (Thursday) – The Web (possibly Melody Maker)
19 July (Saturday) – Phase of Reality (possibly Melody Maker)
21 July (Monday) – Velvet Opera (possibly Melody Maker)
23 July (Wednesday) – The Majority (possibly Melody Maker)
24 July (Thursday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (needs source)
25 July (Friday) – Circus (Time Out)
28 July (Monday) – Entire Sioux Nation (possibly Melody Maker)
30 July (Wednesday) – The Majority (possibly Melody Maker)
31 July (Thursday) – Audience (possibly Melody Maker)
13 August (Wednesday) – Deep Purple (Melody Maker)
18 August (Monday) – Ashton, Gardner & Dyke (Melody Maker and Time Out)
20 August (Wednesday) – Deep Purple (Time Out)
Melody Maker lists Marsha Hunt & White Trash on 20 August so perhaps Deep Purple didn’t play as billed for the previous Wednesday.
22 August (Friday) – Audience (Melody Maker)
26 August (Tuesday) – The Spirit of John Morgan (Time Out)
27 August (Wednesday) – The Wallace Collection (Melody Maker)
28 August (Thursday) – Barclay James Harvest (Time Out)
30 August (Saturday) – Freedom (Time Out)
2 September (Tuesday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)
4 September (Tuesday) – Steamhammer (Time Out)
7 October (Tuesday) – Ruby James (Time Out)
14 October (Tuesday) – Terry Reid (Time Out)
16 October (Thursday) – Members of Hair cast (Time Out)
17 October (Friday) – Lee Dorsey (Time Out)
23 October (Thursday) – Renaissance (Time Out)
24 October (Friday) – Skin Alley (Time Out)
25 October (Saturday) – Pink Cheeks (Time Out)
27 October (Monday) – Poet & The One Man Band (Time Out)
28 October (Tuesday) – Spirit of John Morgan (Time Out)
30 October (Thursday) – Rada Krishna Temple (Time Out)
31 October (Friday) – Audience (Time Out)
4 November (Tuesday) – Delaney & Bonnie (Time Out)
12 November (Wednesday) – Fat Mattress (John Warburg’s research)
13 November (Thursday) – Skin Alley (possibly Melody Maker)
20 November (Thursday) – Gene Vincent (John Warburg’s research)
22 November (Saturday) – Black Apple (Time Out)
27 November (Thursday) – The Graham Bond Organisation (Melody Maker and Time Out)
2 December (Tuesday) – Chicago Transit Authority (Time Out)
4 December (Thursday) – Billy Preston and Timebox (Time Out)
5 December (Friday) – Black Apple (Time Out)
8 December (Monday) – Gary Hamilton (Time Out)
Former lead singer with Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement and part of the Hair cast.
9 December (Tuesday) – The Liverpool Scene (Time Out)
16 December (Tuesday) – Hawkwind (Melody Maker)
Time Out has Skin Alley on 16 December.
18 December (Thursday) – The Box Tops (Time Out)
The Box Tops’ UK tour may have been cancelled.
20 December (Saturday) – Black Apple (Time Out)
22 December (Monday) – Linda Kendricks (Time Out)
23 December (Tuesday) – Pavement (Time Out)
26 December (Friday) – Murray Head and Salt & Pepper (Time Out)
29 December (Monday) – Ray King Soul Band (Time Out)
1970
15 January (Thursday) – Kenny Rogers & The First Edition (Melody Maker)
22 January (Thursday) – The Web (Time Out)
24 January (Saturday) – Cressida (Time Out)
27 January (Tuesday) – Lucas & The Soul Sounds (Melody Maker)
28 January (Wednesday) – Marsha Hunt (Time Out)
10 February (Tuesday) – The Rainbow People (Time Out)
17 February (Tuesday) – Cressida (Time Out)
19 February (Thursday) – Freddy King (Melody Maker)
20 February (Friday) – Skin Alley (Melody Maker)
25 February (Wednesday) – Genesis (Melody Maker and Time Out)
5 March (Thursday) – The Graham Bond Initiation (Melody Maker)
24 March (Tuesday) – The Wild Angels (Time Out)
25 March (Wednesday) – The Shy Limbs (Time Out)
26 March (Thursday) – Heavy Jelly (Time Out)
27 March (Friday) – Freedom (Time Out)
28 March (Saturday) – The New Arrivals (Time Out)
30 March (Monday) – Rada Krishna Temple (Time Out)
14 May (Thursday) – Lord Sutch (Time Out)
18 June (Thursday) – Terry Reid (Time Out)
24 June (Wednesday) – Mirrors (Melody Maker)
26 June (Friday) – Black Velvet (Time Out)
29 July (Wednesday) – Crazy Mabel (Time Out)
8 August (Saturday) – Flare (Time Out)
10 August (Monday) – Kingdom (Time Out)
12 August (Wednesday) – Paladin (Time Out)
14 August (Friday) – Osibisa (Time Out)
15 August (Saturday) – Cressida (Time Out)
17 August (Monday) – Deep Joy (Time Out)
18 August (Tuesday) – Crazy Mabel (Time Out)
19 August (Wednesday) – Mirrors (Time Out)
20 August (Thursday) – Terry Reid (Time Out)
21 August (Friday) – Anno Domini (Time Out)
25 August (Tuesday) – Elton John (Time Out)
27 August (Thursday) – Anno Domini (Time Out)
29 August (Saturday) – Mirrors (Time Out)
4 September (Friday) – Cressida (Melody Maker)
5 September (Saturday) – Deep Joy (Time Out)
19 September (Saturday) – Osibisa (Time Out)
13 October (Tuesday) – Kiss (Melody Maker)
28 November (Saturday) – The Flame (Melody Maker)
This was the South African band, The Flames (see above)
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
