Category Archives: London

The Speakeasy, 48 Margaret Street, London

November 26, 2014 Nick Warburton 23 Comments

Speakeasy Holiday Card — front of a holiday card from the Speakeasy

The Speakeasy club, located at 48 Margaret Street in London, was a notable music venue that opened in December 1966.

During its heyday, the club was frequented by record industry and artist agency executives who in turn brought in many bands, hoping to land a record deal.

Many notable British bands played at the club during the 1960s, including The Move, The Soft Machine, Traffic, The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Pink Floyd. I’ve started a list below but would welcome any additions and any memories of the venue.

Jim Carter-Fea who managed Blaises (and later the Revolution) was also behind the Speakeasy.

1966

15 December (Thursday) – The Move (Melody Maker)

The Move opened the club.

27 December (Tuesday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)

29 December (Thursday) – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (Disc & Music Echo)

1967

According to Disc & Music Echo, Roy Flynn and Mike Carey operated the club from early 1967. Apparently, the club was officially opened on 4 January.

Sometime in 1967, New Zealand/US band The New Nadir played at the club and Jimi Hendrix sat in. The band’s bass player was the late Gary Thain who went on to The Keef Hartley Band.

18 January (Wednesday) – Family (Melody Maker)

19 January (Thursday) – The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Melody Maker)

Disc & Music Echo reported that The New Vaudeville Band attended the Speakeasy’s club party during the week starting 6 February.

14 February (Tuesday) – The Valentine’s Day Massacre party (Disc & Music Echo)

Disc & Music Echo reported that Roger Daltry from The Who, Jimi Hendrix and The Pretty Things attended this party.

22 February (Wednesday) – The Soft Machine (Soft Machine website)

This appears to be The Soft Machine’s debut Wednesday residency at the Speakeasy.

1 March (Wednesday) – The Soft Machine (Soft Machine website)

Disc & Music Echo reported that Jimi Hendrix’s manager Chas Chandler introduced them and Duane Eddy attended the show.

7 March (Tuesday) – Keith (Disc & Music Echo)

8 March (Wednesday) – The Soft Machine (Soft Machine website)

9 March (Thursday) – Dudley Moore (Disc & Music Echo)

According to Disc & Music, Dudley Moore played every Thursday and Sunday from this date.

12 March (Sunday) – Dudley Moore and The Move (Disc & Music Echo)

14 March (Tuesday) – The Byrds (Disc & Music Echo)

Disc & Music Echo reported that Scott Walker attended the band’s show.

15 March (Wednesday) – The Soft Machine (Soft Machine website)

16 March (Thursday) – Jimi Hendrix Experience (Jimi Hendrix website)

According to Disc & Music Echo’s 25 March issue, the new Track label had its launch party at the Speakeasy this week with guests including Michael Caine, Terence Stamp, Bobby Moore, Simon & Garfunkel, Jimi Hendrix and The Who. The website link suggests it was 16 March.

19 March (Sunday) – Dudley Moore (Disc & Music Echo)

21 March (Tuesday) – The Byrds (Byrds website)

22 March (Wednesday) – The Soft Machine (Soft Machine website)

29 March (Wednesday) – The Soft Machine (Soft Machine website)

The Stax-Volt Revue had its after show party at the Speakeasy at the conclusion of its European tour in April.

Disc & Music Echo’s 8 April issue reported that Mia Farrow attended the club around about this time.

5 April (Wednesday) – The Soft Machine (Soft Machine website)

12 April (Wednesday) – The Soft Machine (Soft Machine website)

18 April (Tuesday) – Marmalade (Fabulous 208)

This website reports that Jimi Hendrix reportedly jammed with Ben E King and Georgie Fame on 18 April.

19 April (Wednesday) – The Soft Machine (Soft Machine website)

22 April (Saturday) – The Soul Sisters backed by The Trend (Newham & Stratford Express)

26 April (Wednesday) – The Soft Machine (Soft Machine website)

30 April (Sunday) – Brian Auger & The Trinity (Disc & Music Echo/Melody Maker)

Disc & Music Echo reported that Auger’s band played every Monday so perhaps this is 1 May.

2 May (Tuesday) – The Web (Melody Maker)

3 May (Wednesday) – The Soft Machine (Soft Machine website)

4 May (Thursday) – The Coloured Raisins, King Ossie and Honey Darling (Melody Maker)

8 May (Monday) – Brian Auger & The Trinity (Disc & Music Echo)

Disc & Music Echo reported that Zoot Money, Georgie Fame and Jimi Hendrix attended this show.

9 May (Tuesday) – Garnet Mimms (probably backed by The Senate) (Melody Maker)

10 May (Wednesday) – The Soft Machine (Soft Machine website)

12 May (Friday) – Amen Corner (Melody Maker)

Disc & Music Echo reported that John Lennon and Paul McCartney from The Beatles, Brian Jones, Eric Burdon, The Bee Gees and The Jimi Hendrix Experience attended Amen Corner’s show. Hendrix also sat in with the band.

15 May (Monday) – Brian Auger & The Trinity (Disc & Music Echo)

Auger’s band gig is likely but needs confirmation.

17 May (Wednesday) – The Soft Machine (Soft Machine website)

Melody Maker also lists Prince Buster & The Bees for 17 May.

22 May (Monday) – Brian Auger & The Trinity (Disc & Music Echo)

Auger’s band gig is likely but needs confirmation.

24 May (Wednesday) – The Soft Machine (Soft Machine website)

Melody Maker lists The Web on 24 May.

Procol Harum also played on this date. Disc & Music Echo’s 3 June issue reported that all four Beatles, Georgie Fame, Chris Farlowe, Cat Stevens, Eric Burdon, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltry attended The Procol Harum gig. This website has more information.

29 May (Monday) – Brian Auger & The Trinity (Disc & Music Echo)

Auger’s band gig is likely but needs confirmation.

31 May (Wednesday) – The Soft Machine (Soft Machine website)

4 June (Sunday) – The Turtles (Disc & Music Echo)

The music magazine reported that Jimi Hendrix, Denny Laine, Brian Jones, Peter Asher and Terence Stamp were among those in the audience.

5 June (Monday) – Brian Auger & The Trinity (Disc & Music Echo)

Auger’s band gig is likely but needs confirmation.

8 June (Thursday) – Amen Corner (Melody Maker)

Disc & Music Echo reported that Jimi Hendrix, Denny Laine and Eric Burdon were in the audience.

According to Disc & Music Echo’s 10 June issue, Eric Burdon told stories and Brian Auger had a “happening” sometime this week.

The same issue reported that guests at the club had included The Beach Boys, The Turtles, Mary Wells, Ben E King, The Byrds and the Stax-Volt tour.

12 June (Monday) – Brian Auger & The Trinity (Disc & Music Echo)

Auger’s band gig is likely but needs confirmation. Disc & Music Echo’s 10 June issue did report that they played Mondays.

14 June (Wednesday) – Marmalade (Disc & Music Echo)

This date needs confirmation but the magazine’s 17 June issue reported that Marmalade played here and John Lennon and Paul McCartney attended. The Scottish band also played at the Speakeasy on 12 July.

28 June (Wednesday) – The Soft Machine (Fabulous 208)

12 July (Wednesday) – Marmalade (Disc & Music Echo)

The music magazine reported its 15 July issue that John Lennon, Graham Nash, Spencer Davis, Mike Nesmith, Mickey Dolenz, Davy Jones, Gary Leeds, Eric Clapton, Georgie Fame, Keith Moon and Roger Daltry were among the guests. It’s possible, however, that this event took place on the previous Wednesday, 5 July.

20 July (Thursday) – Amen Corner (Fabulous 208)

26 July (Wednesday) – The Eyes of Blue (Marmalade Skies website)

This was the band’s club debut.

According to Martyn Hanson’s book on The Nice, PP Arnold & The Nice played at the Speakeasy during August 1967.

3 August (Thursday) – Sharon Tandy & Les Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)

10 August (Thursday) – Eric Burdon & The New Animals (Disc & Music Echo)

17 August (Thursday) – Cream (Melody Maker and Eric Clapton website)

Fabulous 208 lists Ten Years After on 17 August. However, this is missing from this Alvin Lee website)

19 August (Saturday) – Granny’s Intentions (Marmalade Skies website)

21 August (Monday) – Pink Floyd (cancelled) (Marmalade Skies website)

26 August (Saturday) – Dantalion’s Chariot (Marmalade Skies website)

27 August (Sunday) – Fairport Convention (Marmalade Skies website)

According to Disc & Music Echo’s 9 September issue, Alan Price, Mitch Mitchell, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix and Keith West were among the guests at Fairport Convention’s show.

31 August (Thursday) – Dantalion’s Chariot (Marmalade Skies website)

Feltham band, Barney J Barnes & The Intro played at the Speakeasy once during September or October 1967, according to sax player Peter Davies.

19 September (Tuesday) – Pink Floyd (Marmalade Skies website)

27 September (Wednesday) – Ten Years After (Fabulous 208)

1 October (Sunday) – The Incredible String Band (Marmalade Skies website)

According to Disc & Music Echo’s 14 October issue, Scott McKenzie and The Mamas & The Papas went to the Speakeasy on the Friday to celebrate Mama Cass’s clearance at West London of theft charges. Most likely it was 6 October to see Eric Burdon & The Animals play but needs confirmation.

6 October (Friday) – Eric Burdon & The Animals (Marmalade Skies website)

10 October (Tuesday) – Tim Rose (Melody Maker – needs confirmation)

12 October (Thursday) – The Pretty Things (Melody Maker – needs confirmation)

18 October (Wednesday) – The Moody Blues (Melody Maker – needs confirmation)

19 October (Thursday) – Vanilla Fudge (Fabulous 208)

Drummer Keith Guster of The Fleur De Lys confirms this gig happened as he attended and noted it in his diary.

21 October (Saturday) – Vanilla Fudge (Disc & Music Echo)

26 October (Thursday) – The Jeff Beck Group (Marmalade Skies website)

28 November (Tuesday) – Potential jam session (Electric Prunes website)

As this website notes, the band reportedly were in attendance when a jam took place – see The Electric Prunes website for more information.

According to Disc & Music Echo, sometime in the week starting 11 December, The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation played and Noel Redding, Jimi Hendrix and Alan Price attended the show.

Spooky Tooth may also have played their debut show at the Speakeasy this month but this needs confirmation.

6 December (Wednesday) – The Foundations (Disc & Music Echo)

The music magazine reported that The Spencer Davis Group, Jimi Hendrix, Brian Jones, Manfred Mann and Mick Wilsher from The New Vaudeville Band were among the guests at the after party following The Foundations’ gig.

10 December (Sunday) – The Moody Blues (Disc & Music Echo)

14 December (Thursday) – Fairport Convention (Disc & Music Echo)

The magazine reported that Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix attended The Fairport Convention show.

18 December (Monday) – Traffic (Marmalade Skies website)

21 December (Thursday) – Pink Floyd (Disc & Music Echo)

28 December (Thursday) – The Electric Prunes (Disc & Music Echo)

29 December (Friday) – Tintern Abbey (Marmalade Skies website/Melody Maker)

1968

5 January (Friday) – Jethro Tull (Greg Russo’s research)

6 January (Saturday) – Circus (Stormsville Shakers’ website)

16 January (Tuesday) – Procol Harum (New Musical Express)

27 January (Saturday) – Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band (New Musical Express)

This was probably either 26 or 28 January instead as Keith Guster confirms that his band The Fleur De Lys played this evening. His diary also notes that Jimi Hendrix and Mitch Mitchell joined the band for a 45 minute jam onstage.

4 February (Sunday) – Jimmy McGriff (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)

5 February (Monday) – Jethro Tull (Greg Russo’s gig diary)

10 February (Saturday) – Taste (Rory Gallagher website)

Melody Maker reported that Dr K’s (Blues Band) played around the week starting 19 February.

19 February (Monday) – Robert Plant & The Band of Joy (Marmalade Skies website)

21 February (Wednesday) – The Attack (Marmalade Skies website)

22 February (Thursday) – Monopoly (Marmalade Skies website)

24 February (Saturday) – Legay (Marmalade Skies website)

25 February (Sunday) – Tim Rose and Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation (Melody Maker)

Keith Guster’s gig diary confirms that Tim Rose played on this date. The Fleur De Lys’ drummer attended the gig with DJ Johnny Walker.

26 February (Monday) – The Eyes of Blue (Melody Maker)

This might have been Saturday, 24 February instead so needs confirmation.

28 February (Wednesday) – The Penny Peeps (Marmalade Skies website)

29 February (Thursday) – Sharon Tandy & The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)

Keith Guster confirms that The Fleur De Lys did two 15-minute sets. They then backed singer Sharon Tandy for 30 minutes; singer Donnie Elbert for 30 minutes and then both singers for 20 minutes.

10 March (Sunday) – Traffic (Marmalade Skies website)

16 March (Saturday) – Dr K’s (Blues Band) (Melody Maker)

21 March (Thursday) – Gospel Garden (Marmalade Skies website)

30 March (Saturday) – Tim Buckley (Revelation – Elektra Records’ newsletter)

According to Melbourne music magazine, Go-Set, Australian band The Groop played the Speakeasy between early March and mid-April.

2 April (Tuesday) – Reparta & The Delrons (Melody Maker)

7 April (Sunday) – Spooky Tooth (Keith Guster’s gig diary)

Keith Guster confirms that he went to see the band at the Speakeasy on this date.

8 April (Monday) – Dr K’s (Blues Band) (Melody Maker)

9 April (Tuesday) – Circus (Stormsville Shakers’ website)

19 April (Friday) – Dr K’s (Blues Band) (Melody Maker)

25 April (Thursday) – Ike & Tina Turner (New Musical Express)

26 April (Friday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)

On Saturday, 27 April, a fire broke out and gutted the Speakeasy, according to Melody Maker’s 4 May issue. The fire caused £20,000 worth of damage. Roy Flynn, the club’s co-owner, said that the Speakeasy could not be re-opened for about three months and gigs would be transferred to Blaises and promoted as “Speakeasy at Blaises”.

28 April (Sunday) – Ike & Tina Turner (Melody Maker)

The above gig was either cancelled or moved to Blaises.

30 April (Tuesday) – Bill Haley & The Comets (Melody Maker)

The above gig was either cancelled or moved to Blaises.

1 May (Wednesday) – Bobby Goldsboro (Melody Maker)

The above gig was either cancelled or moved to Blaises.

5 May (Sunday) – Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band (Melody Maker)

The above gig, if it happened, would have taken place at Blaises.

12 May (Sunday) – The Byrds (needs source)

The above gig, if it happened, would have taken place at Blaises – see that entry for more information (link through to this).

16 June (Sunday) – PP Arnold (with TNT) (Melody Maker)

This gig took place at Blaises and was billed as “Speakeasy at Blaises”.

30 June (Sunday) – The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation (Melody Maker)

This gig took place at Blaises and was billed as “Speakeasy at Blaises”.

Melody Maker’s 29 June issue (page 3) noted that the Speakeasy would reopen in September (but this was not the case).

18 July (Thursday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)

See the Blaises entry for more information on this.

New Musical Express reported that Roy Flynn planned to reopen the Speakeasy on 13 December 1968.

13 December (Friday) – Yes (Peter Banks’ website)

The above gig looks like the reopening of the club after seven months’ closure.

According to the East of Eden website, the band played at the Speakeasy in December with Taj Mahal. Mahal took part in The Rolling Stones’ Rock and Roll Circus on 11 December, so it’s quite possible if the club reopened on 13 December that Mahal and East of Eden played the following day (Saturday, 14 December) but this needs confirmation.

24 December (Tuesday) – Yes (Peter Banks’ website)

31 December (Tuesday) – Yes (Peter Banks’ website)

1969

Melody Maker noted at the end of January that the club had been closed for eight months and only reopened that month but it was in December 1968.

The music magazine also reported that The Nice had played here in late December or early January.

10 January (Friday) – Kaleidoscope (Marmalade Skies website)

13 January (Monday) – Clouds (Time Out)

14 January (Tuesday) – Jethro Tull (Time Out)

15 January (Wednesday) – Juniors Eyes (Time Out)

16 January (Thursday) – Gary Farr & Mighty Baby (Time Out)

18 January (Saturday) – Freedom (Time Out)

20 January (Monday) – The Eyes of Blue (Time Out)

22 January (Wednesday) – Edgar Broughton Blues Band (Time Out)

23 January (Thursday) – Van Der Graaf Generator (Time Out)

Time Out and Fabulous 208 both list Eclection on 23 January, so perhaps there were two bands that evening.

25 January (Saturday) – Village (Time Out)

28 January (Tuesday) – Harmony Grass and Eclection (Fabulous 208)

30 January (Thursday) – The Eyes of Blue (Time Out)

31 January (Friday) – Barclay James Harvest (Time Out)

1 February (Saturday) – Edgar Broughton Band (Melody Maker)

3 February (Monday) – Caravan (Melody Maker)

4 February (Tuesday) – Idle Race (Melody Maker)

Time Out lists Spooky Tooth on 4 February so perhaps both bands played.

5 February (Wednesday) – Van Der Graaf Generator (Melody Maker and Time Out)

6 February (Thursday) – Spooky Tooth (Melody Maker)

7 February (Friday) – Eire Apparent (Melody Maker and Time Out)

8 February (Saturday) – Jody Grind (Melody Maker and Time Out)

10 February (Monday) – Clouds (Melody Maker and Time Out)

11 February (Tuesday) – Taste (Melody Maker and Time Out)

12 February (Wednesday) – The Gods (Melody Maker)

13 February (Thursday) – Juniors Eyes (Melody Maker and Time Out)

14 February (Friday) – The Eyes of Blue (Melody Maker and Time Out)

15 February (Saturday) – Love and Poetry (Melody Maker)

17 February (Monday) – Village (Melody Maker and Time Out)

18 February (Tuesday) – Colosseum (Melody Maker and Time Out)

19 February (Wednesday) – McKenna Mendelson Mainline (Melody Maker)

20 February (Thursday) – The Nice (Melody Maker and Time Out)

21 February (Friday) – Pendulum (Melody Maker)

22 February (Saturday) – Sleepy (Melody Maker and Time Out)

24 February (Monday) – The Gods (Melody Maker and Time Out)

25 February (Tuesday) – Mason, Capaldi, Wood & Frog (Melody Maker and Time Out)

26 February (Wednesday) – Dr K’s Blues Band (Melody Maker and Time Out)

27 February (Thursday) – Yes (Peter Banks’ website)

28 February (Friday) – Jody Grind (Melody Maker and Time Out)

17 March (Monday) – Eire Apparent (Time Out)

18 March (Tuesday) – Dr K’s Blues Band (Time Out)

19 March (Wednesday) – Blonde on Blonde (Time Out)

20 March (Thursday) – Deep Purple (Melody Maker and Time Out)

24 March (Monday) – Steamhammer (Time Out)

26 March (Wednesday) – Village (Time Out)

27 March (Thursday) – East of Eden (Time Out)

28 March (Friday) – Entire Sioux Nation (Time Out)

31 March (Monday) – Barclay James Harvest (Time Out)

4 April (Friday) – Yes (Peter Banks’ website)

8 April (Tuesday) – Arcadium (Time Out)

9 April (Wednesday) – King Crimson (Time Out)

10 April (Thursday) – The Eyes of Blue (Time Out)

12 April (Saturday) – The Spirit of John Morgan (Time Out)

14 April (Monday) – Turnstyle (Time Out)

16 April (Wednesday) – Village (Time Out)

19 April (Saturday) – Smile (Time Out)

Smile featured future Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor.

22 April (Tuesday) – Clouds (Time Out)

23 April (Wednesday) – Steamhammer (Time Out)

25 April (Friday) – Arcadium (Time Out)

28 April (Monday) – Black Sabbath (Black Sabbath website)

29 April (Tuesday) – Keef Hartley (Melody Maker and Time Out)

30 April (Wednesday) – Hard Meat (Time Out)

Canadian guitarist Stan Endersby says that Mapleoak (Pete Quaife’s post-Kinks band) played the Speakeasy in May 1969.

Melody Maker reported that Audience played before 8 May. It also noted that Steppenwolf and The Misunderstood jammed at the club before 22 May.

14 May (Wednesday) – Lowell Fulsom (Melody Maker)

19 May (Monday) – Blonde on Blonde (Time Out)

20 May (Tuesday) – Eclection (needs source)

21 May (Wednesday) – Howlin’ Wolf with The John Dummer Blues Band (Melody Maker)

22 May (Thursday) – The Idle Race (Time Out)

27 May (Tuesday) – Juniors Eyes (Melody Maker and Time Out)

28 May (Wednesday) – Sam Gopal (Melody Maker and Time Out)

29 May (Thursday) – Spooky Tooth (Time Out)

30 May (Friday) – King Crimson (Time Out)

2 June (Monday) – The Spirit of John Morgan (Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

3 June (Tuesday) – Samson (Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

4 June (Wednesday) – Glass Menagerie (Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

John Warburg says that Freddie King played on 4 June

5 June (Thursday) – Renaissance (Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

6 June (Friday) – Velvet Opera (Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

7 June (Saturday) – Audience (Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

9 June (Monday) – Blonde on Blonde (Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

10 June (Tuesday) – East of Eden (Time Out and East of Eden website)

11 June (Wednesday) – Three Dog Night (Time Out and Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

12 June (Thursday) – Jackie Lomax (Time Out and Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

13 June (Friday) – Entire Sioux Nation (Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

14 June (Saturday) – The Majority (Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

16 June (Monday) – Steamhammer (Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

17 June (Tuesday) – Bodast (Time Out and Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

18 June (Wednesday) – Audience (Time Out and Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

19 June (Thursday) – Buddy Guy & His Band (Time Out and Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

20 June (Friday) – Gracious (Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

21 June (Saturday) – Sk’Boo (Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

23 June (Monday) – Brainbox (Time Out and Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

24 June (Tuesday) – Poet & His One Man Band (Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

Time out lists Brainbox for 23 June.

25 June (Thursday) – Bodast (Time out and Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

26 June (Thursday) – The Wallace Collection (Time Out and Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

27 June (Friday) – Arcadium (Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

28 June (Saturday) – Andromeda (Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

30 June (Monday) – Audience (Speakeasy June listing at Don Powell’s website)

1 July (Tuesday) – Locomotive (Marmalade Skies website)

2 July (Wednesday) – Entire Sioux Nation (Marmalade Skies website)

3 July (Thursday) – Mighty Baby (Marmalade Skies website)

4 July (Friday) – Ambrose Slade (Marmalade Skies website)

5 July (Saturday) – Sam Apple Pie (Melody Maker)

8 July (Tuesday) – East of Eden (East of Eden website)

9 July – Arcadium (Marmalade Skies website)

10 July (Thursday) – Deep Purple (Melody Maker)

11 July (Friday) – Gypsy (Marmalade Skies website)

12 July (Saturday) – High Tide (Marmalade Skies website)

14 July (Monday) – Audience (Marmalade Skies website)

15 July (Tuesday) – Clouds (Marmalade Skies website)

16 July (Wednesday) – Glass Menagerie (Marmalade Skies website)

17 July (Thursday) – Principal Edwards Magic Theatre (Marmalade Skies website)

20 July (Sunday) – Ashton, Gardner & Dyke (Marmalade Skies website)

21 July – Shiva Jones and Quintessence (Time Out)

22 July – Jody Grind (Time Out)

23 July – Barclay James Harvest (Time Out)

24 July – Liverpool Scene (Time Out)

25 July – Gin (Marmalade Skies website)

26 July – The Majority (Marmalade Skies website)

28 July – The Spirit of John Morgan (Time Out)

29 July – The Eyes of Blue (Marmalade Skies website)

30 July – Procession (Marmalade Skies website)

31 July – White Trash (Marmalade Skies website)

4 August (Monday) – Hard Meat (John Warburg research)

5 August (Tuesday) – King Crimson (Marmalade Skies website)

6 August (Wednesday) – Bakerloo (John Warburg research)

12 August (Tuesday) – East of Eden (East of Eden website)

13 August (Wednesday) – Arcadium (John Warburg research)

14 August (Thursday) – Renaissance (Melody Maker)

16 August (Saturday) – Sam Apple Pie (Melody Maker and Time Out)

18 August (Monday) – Steamhammer (Time Out)

19 August (Tuesday) – Blossom Toes (Melody Maker and Time Out)

22 August (Friday) – Battered Ornaments (Time Out)

23 August (Saturday) – Audience (John Warburg research)

25 August (Monday) – Steve Miller’s Delivery (Time Out)

27 August (Wednesday) – East of Eden (East of Eden website)

Melody Maker lists The Wallace Collection on 27 August.

28 August (Thursday) – Atomic Rooster (Marmalade Skies website)

29 August (Friday) – Barclay James Harvest (Time Out)

2 September (Tuesday) – Titus Groan (Marmalade Skies website)

11 September (Thursday) – Iron Butterfly (Melody Maker and Time Out)

15 September (Monday) – The Spirit of John Morgan (Time Out)

16 September (Tuesday) – Gun (Time Out)

17 September (Wednesday) – Poet & The One Man Band (Time Out)

18 September (Thursday) – Timebox (Time Out)

19 September (Friday) – Village (Time Out)

22 September (Monday) – Juniors Eyes (Time Out)

23 September (Tuesday) – Eclection (Time Out)

24 September (Wednesday) – The Edgar Broughton Band (Time Out)

25 September (Thursday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker and Time Out)

26 September (Friday) – Gypsy (Time Out)

27 September (Saturday) – Audience (Time Out)

29 September (Monday) – The Graham Bond Initiation and Stone The Crows (Time Out)

30 September (Tuesday) – Mighty Baby (Time Out)

7 October (Tuesday) – Mott The Hoople (Marmalade Skies website)

8 October (Wednesday) – The Graham Bond Initiation (Melody Maker)

13 October (Monday) – Freedom (Time Out)

14 October (Tuesday) – Zoot Money(Time Out)

16 October (Thursday) – Juicy Lucy (Time Out)

21 October (Tuesday) – Quintessance (Time Out)

22 October (Wednesday) – Writing on the Wall (Time Out)

23 October – Juicy Lucy (Marmalade Skies website)

Time Out lists Sam Gopal on 23 October.

24 October (Friday) – Arcadium (Time Out)

25 October (Saturday) – Cressida (Time Out)

27 October (Monday) – Skin Alley (Time Out)

28 October (Tuesday) – Delaney & Bonnie (Time Out)

29 October (Wednesday) – East of Eden (Time Out)

30 October (Thursday) – Jimmy McGriff (Time Out)

31 October (Friday) – Stone The Crows (Time Out)

6 November (Thursday) – Howlin’ Wolf and Junco Partners (Melody Maker)

12 November (Wednesday) – Mott The Hoople (Time Out)

13 November (Thursday) – Freddie King (John Warburg research)

17 November (Monday) – The Battered Ornaments (Time Out)

20 November (Thursday) – Gene Vincent & The Wild Angels (Time Out)

22 November (Saturday) – Freedom (Time Out)

24 November (Monday) – Titus Groan (Time Out)

25 November (Tuesday) – Glass Menagerie (Time Out)

26 November (Wednesday) – Hardin & York (Time Out)

27 November (Thursday) – Pete Brown & Piblokto (Time Out)

28 November (Friday) – Stone The Crows (Time Out)

Speakeasy Calendar December 1969. Thanks to Helene for providing this

1 December (Monday) – Trees (Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

2 December (Tuesday) – Daddy Longlegs (Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

3 December (Wednesday) – Quatermass (Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

4 December (Thursday) – The Graham Bond International (aka Initiation) (Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

5 December (Friday) – The Mooche (Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

6 December (Saturday) – Heavy Water (Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

8 December (Monday) – Creepy John Thomas (Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

9 December (Tuesday) – The Wild Angels (Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

10 December (Wednesday) – Rory Young (Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

This is probably Roy Young (ex-Rebel Rouser).

11 December (Thursday) – Eire Apparent (Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

12 December (Friday) – Ashton, Gardner & Dyke (Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

13 December (Saturday) – Napoleon (Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

Napoleon is probably Bob Azzam’s band who changed name after moving to Sweden from Switzerland.

15 December (Monday) – Eclipse (Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

16 December (Tuesday) – Murray Head (Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

17 December (Wednesday) – Cressida (Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

18 December (Thursday) – Mott The Hoople (Time Out and Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

19 December (Friday) – Skin Alley (Time Out and Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

20 December (Saturday) – Man (Time Out and Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

22 December (Monday) – Business (Time Out and Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

23 December (Tuesday) – Grail (Time Out and Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

24 December (Wednesday) – Noir (Time Out and Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

26 December (Friday) – Sam Gopal (Time Out and Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

27 December (Saturday) – Good Earth (Time Out and Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

The Good Earth were led by future Mungo Jerry front man Ray Dorset.

29 December (Monday) – Delivery (Time Out and Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

30 December (Tuesday) – East of Eden (Time Out and Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

31 December (Wednesday) – Juicy Lucy (Time Out and Speakeasy calendar for December from Helene)

1970

8 January (Thursday) – David Bowie (Marmalade Skies website)

9 January (Friday) – Jody Grind (Time Out)

16 January (Friday) – Cochise (Time Out)

26 January (Monday) – The Groundhogs (Time Out)

27 January (Tuesday) – The Wild Angels (Time Out)

28 January (Wednesday) – Skin Alley (Time Out)

Marmalade Skies website has Badfinger on 28 January.

29 January (Thursday) – The Spirit of John Morgan (Time Out)

30 January (Friday) – Ashton, Gardner & Dyke (Time Out)

31 January (Saturday) – Imagination (Time Out)

9 February (Monday) – Heavy Jelly (Time Out)

12 February (Thursday) – Cressida (Time Out)

16 February (Monday) – Trees (Time Out)

17 February (Tuesday) – Man (Time Out)

18 February (Wednesday) – Hawkwind (Time Out)

19 February (Thursday) – Love (Melody Maker and Time Out)

20 February (Friday) – Badfinger (Marmalade Skies website)

23 February (Monday) – Grail (Time Out)

24 February (Tuesday) – Love (Melody Maker)

25 February (Wednesday) – Cochise (Time Out)

26 February (Thursday) – Matthews Southern Comfort (Time Out)

10 March (Tuesday) – Juicy Lucy (Time Out)

14 March (Saturday) – Free Little Rock (Time Out)

21 March (Saturday) – Alexander Patton (Time Out)

23 March (Monday) – Wishbone Ash (Melody Maker and Time Out)

24 March (Tuesday) – Graham Bond (Time Out)

25 March (Wednesday) – Silas (Time Out)

26 March (Thursday) – Sam Apple Pie (Time Out)

27 March (Friday) – One (Time Out)

28 March (Saturday) – Fire (Time Out)

30 March (Monday) – Pacific Drift (Time Out)

31 March (Tuesday) – May Blitz (Time Out)

6 April (Monday) – Cochise (Time Out)

Marmalade Skies website has Hawkwind on 6 April.

11 April (Saturday) – White Lighting (Melody Maker)

20 April (Monday) – Cochise (Time Out)

23 April (Thursday) – Flaming Youth (Marmalade Skies website)

Flaming Youth featured future Genesis drummer Phil Collins.

29 April (Wednesday) – Man (Time Out)

19 May (Tuesday) – Wishbone Ash (Time Out)

21 May (Thursday) – Gypsy (Time Out)

25 May (Monday) – Skin Alley (Time Out)

26 May (Tuesday) – Elton John (Time Out)

27 May (Wednesday) – Man (Time Out)

9 June (Tuesday) – Raven (Time Out)

10 June (Wednesday) – Wishbone Ash (Time Out)

16 June (Tuesday) – Cochise (Time Out)

25 June (Thursday) – Flaming Youth (Marmalade Skies website)

30 June (Tuesday) – Wishbone Ash (Melody Maker and Time Out)

2 July (Thursday) – Gentle Giant (Marmalade Skies website)

11 July (Saturday) – Supertramp (Time Out)

21 July (Tuesday) – Wishbone Ash (Time Out)

28 July (Tuesday) – Elton John (Time Out)

29 July (Wednesday) – Affinity (Marmalade Skies website)

30 July (Thursday) – Formerly Fat Sam (Time Out)

1 August (Saturday) – Crazy Mabel (Marmalade Skies website)

3 August (Monday) – Armada (Marmalade Skies website)

5 August (Wednesday) – Burnin’ Red Ivanhoe (Time Out)

6 August (Thursday) – Noir (Marmalade Skies website)

7 August (Friday) – Quiver (Marmalade Skies website)

8 August (Saturday) – Catapilla (Marmalade Skies website)

12 August (Wednesday) – Derek &The Dominoes (Time Out)

13 August (Thursday) – Head, Hands & Feet (Marmalade Skies website)

14 August (Friday) – Swegas (Marmalade Skies website)

18 August (Tuesday) – Cochise (Marmalade Skies website)

19 August (Wednesday) – Anno Domini (Marmalade Skies website)

20 August (Thursday) – Ashton, Gardner & Dyke (Marmalade Skies website)

21 August (Friday) – Czar (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)

22 August (Saturday) – The Dog That Bit People (Marmalade Skies website)

24 August (Monday) – Uriah Heap (Time Out)

25 August (Tuesday) – Bronco (Time Out)

26 August (Wednesday) – Terry Reid (Marmalade Skies website)

27 August (Thursday) – Steamhammer (Marmalade Skies website)

29 August (Saturday) – Aardvark (Marmalade Skies website)

31 August (Monday) – The World (Neil Innes’ band) (Time Out)

1 September (Tuesday) – Opal Butterfly (Marmalade Skies website)

2 September (Wednesday) – Bronco (Marmalade Skies website)

5 September (Saturday) – High Broom (Marmalade Skies website)

8 September (Tuesday) – Cressida (Melody Maker)

9 September (Wednesday) – Lindisfarne (Marmalade Skies website)

10 September (Thursday) – Gun (Marmalade Skies website)

11 September (Friday) – Aquila (Marmalade Skies website)

12 September (Saturday) – Czar (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)

14 September (Monday) – Granny’s New Intentions (Marmalade Skies website)

16 September (Wednesday) – Satisfaction (Marmalade Skies website)

17 September (Thursday) – The Nashville Teens (Marmalade Skies website)

18 September (Friday) – Dog That Big People (Marmalade Skies website)

19 September (Saturday) – Skin Alley (Marmalade Skies website)

21 September (Monday) – Warm Dust (Marmalade Skies website)

23 September (Wednesday) – Head, Hands & Feet (Marmalade Skies website)

24 September (Thursday) – Dada (Marmalade Skies website)

25 September (Friday) – Quiver (Time Out)

26 September (Saturday) – Arcadium (Marmalade Skies website)

28 September (Monday) – Gypsy (Time Out)

29 September (Tuesday) – Formerly Fat Harry (Marmalade Skies website)

30 September (Wednesday) – Everyone (Marmalade Skies website)

7 October (Wednesday) – Jack Bruce (Marmalade Skies website)

28 October (Wednesday) – Wishbone Ash (Marmalade Skies website)

4 December (Friday) – Czar (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)

12 December (Saturday) – Gentle Giant (Marmalade Skies website)

Thank you to Helene for the Speakeasy calendar and holiday card.

Categories: England, London

Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, London

November 19, 2014 Nick Warburton 87 Comments

The Black Prince Hotel in Bexley, southeast London was a popular live music venue during the 1960s. I’ve started to compile a list of artists that performed there and would welcome any additions and corrections as well as any memories of the pub. This is an incomplete listing

1964

12 April – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

17 May – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

31 May – The Pretty Things (Record Mirror and Beat Monthly)

21 June – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

5 July – The Pretty Things (Record Mirror and Beat Monthly)

23 August – The Downliners Sect (Beat Monthly)

12 September – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

18 October – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

29 October – The Graham Bond Organisation (Bruno Ceriotti’s research)

6 December – The Downliners Sect (Beat Monthly)

1965

All of the listings below for 1965 are from Melody Maker unless otherwise stated. Judging by the gigs below, rock bands performed on Sundays.

I have not included the other artists, including jazz players, who performed on Monday evenings.

Peter Hicks, who was a member of The Down & Outs, has a newspaper clipping of his band in the scrapbook section of his website which notes that the band opened for The Animals, The Mark Leeman Five and The Moody Blues at this venue (most likely 1965).

3 January – The Graham Bond Organisation

10 January – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

17 January – Tony Knight’s Chessmen

24 January – The Downliners Sect

31 January – The Spencer Davis Group

7 February – The Moody Blues

14 February – The Animals

21 February – The Graham Bond Organisation with The Epitaph Soul Band (confirmed by article in Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times)

28 February – Buddy Guy with Rod Stewart and The Soul Agents (with Rod Stewart)

7 March – The Mark Leeman Five

14 March – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

21 March – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

28 March – The Downliners Sect

4 April – The Moody Blues

The Just Blues appeared on one occasion when The Moody Blues played here (see John Farrier’s comment below)

11 April – Long John Baldry

18 April – Alex Harvey Soul Band

25 April – The Graham Bond Organisation

2 May – The Five Dimensions and The Loose Ends

9 May – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

16 May – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds

23 May – Memphis Slim and Alex Harvey Soul Band

30 May – The Mark Leeman Five

6 June – Jack Dupree with The Mike Cotton Sound

13 June – The Graham Bond Organisation

20 June – The Artwoods

19 June – Jazz & Blues Festival with Dutch Swing College, Solomon Burke, Zoot Money, Unit 4 Plus 2, The Spencer Davis Group, The Downliners Sect, Alan Elsdon Jazzband, Brian Green New-O-Stompers, Epitaph Soul Band and The Loose Ends (Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times)

Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times, 25 June 1965, page 12

27 June – The Five Dimensions

4 July – Long John Baldry and Rod Stewart

11 July – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays

18 July – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

25 July – The Spencer Davis Group and The Epitaphs Soul Band

The Epitaphs Soul Band featured Mick Fletcher on keyboards who went on to The New Generation (briefly Jimmy Cliff’s backing band), The Hamilton Movement (1966-1967) and The Amboy Dukes (1969-1970).

Earlier in their career, guitarist Del Grace was a member. He went on to The Big Wheel before joining Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede.

Andy Clark also played sax with them in late 1965 before switching to organ and joining The Big Wheel in spring 1966. He later played with The Fenmen (aka Kindness), Sam Gopal, VAMP and Clark-Hutchinson among others.

1 August – (Gary Farr &) The T-Bones

8 August – Alex Harvey Soul Band

15 August – The Graham Bond Organisation

22 August – The Blond Bombshell (from the US)

29 August – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

5 September – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays

12 September – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

19 September – Steampacket

26 September – The Graham Bond Organisation

3 October – (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds

10 October – Alex Harvey Soul Band

17 October – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames

24 October – The Spencer Davis Group

31 October – T-Bone Walker

7 November – Steampacket

14 November – The Graham Bond Organisation

21 November – The Shevelles

28 November – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays

5 December – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

12 December – missing

19 December – missing

26 December – missing

1966

All of the listings below for 1966 are from South East London Mercury unless otherwise stated. Judging by the gigs below, rock bands performed on Sundays.

I have not included the other artists, including jazz players, who performed on Monday evenings.

2 January – missing

9 January – The Alan Price Set (Beat Instrumental)

16 January – missing

23 January – missing

30 January – The Spencer Davis Group

6 February – Alex Harvey’s Soul Band

13 February – The Graham Bond Organisation

The Big Wheel Soul Band opened for Graham Bond’s group at some point

20 February – missing

27 February – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

6 March – The Action

13 March – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

20 March – Melody Maker notes “Great blues singer from the US” (could this be John Lee Hooker?)

27 March – Steampacket

3 April – missing

10 April – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

17 April – Geno Washington’s Ram Jam Band

24 April – The Moody Blues

1 May – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

8 May – Lucas & The Mike Cotton Sound

15 May – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames

22 May – missing

29 May – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

5 June – The Downliners Sect

12 June – Steampacket

19 June – The Shotgun Express

26 June – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Record Mirror)

3 July – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band and Eric Silk’s Stompers

10 July – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

17 July – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

24 July – The Alan Price Set (Fabulous 208 and Record Mirror)

30 July – The Graham Bond Organisation

7 August – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Fabulous 208)

14 August – Lucas & The Mike Cotton Sound

21 August – The Shotgun Express

28 August – missing

4 September – The Moody Blues

11 September – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers

18 September – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band

25 September – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers

2 October – The Shevelles

9 October – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

16 October – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band

23 October – The Mike Cotton Sound

30 October – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers

6 November – missing

13 November – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays

20 November – The Downliners Sect

27 November – Guy Darrell

4 December – missing

11 December – Brian Auger Trinity (Fabulous 208)

18 December – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

Fabulous 208 has Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band on 18 December

24 December – Mike Cotton Sound with support

1967

Phil Mackie, who very kindly provided gigs for 1967 and 1968, recalls that Sunday was R&B night and Monday was mainstream jazz.

I have listed the sources next to the entries. There are indications from some of the dates below that rock gigs occasionally happened on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well.

1 January – The Shevelles (Fabulous 208)

8 January – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker)

15 January – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays (Melody Maker)

22 January – The Graham Bond Organisation (Melody Maker)

29 January – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Melody Maker)

5 February – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Melody Maker)

12 February – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

19 February – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Melody Maker)

26 February – Long John Baldry with Bluesology (Melody Maker)

5 March – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Melody Maker)

12 March – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

14 March – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s diary – this was a Tuesday)

19 March – Cliff Bennett’s Rebel Rousers (Melody Maker)

26 March – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays (Melody Maker)

2 April – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Melody Maker)

9 April – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Melody Maker)

16 April – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

23 April – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker)

25 April – Jimmy Cliff & The Shakedown Sound (Melody Maker – this was a Tuesday)

30 April – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Melody Maker)

7 May – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Melody Maker)

14 May – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set (Melody Maker)

21 May – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

28 May – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Melody Maker)

30 May – The Nite People (Barry Curtis’s diary – this was a Tuesday)

4 June – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Fabulous 208 and Phil Mackie’s diary) South East London Mercury has The Coloured Raisins

11 June – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208 and Phil Mackie’s diary)

18 June – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Phil Mackie’s diary)

25 June – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

2 July – The Coloured Raisins with Honey Darling and Earl Green (Phil Mackie’s diary)

9 July – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

16 July – The Gass (Phil Mackie’s diary)

23 July – Mike Cotton with Lucas (Phil Mackie’s diary)

30 July – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Phil Mackie’s diary)

6 August – Long John Baldry Show (aka Bluesology) (Phil Mackie’s diary)

13 August – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary)

20 August – The Peddlers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

27 August – The Gass (Phil Mackie’s diary)

3 September – The Amboy Dukes (Phil Mackie’s diary)

10 September – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

17 September – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Phil Mackie’s diary)

24 September – Freddie Mack Show (Phil Mackie’s diary)

1 October – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary)

8 October – The Amboy Dukes (Phil Mackie’s diary)

15 October – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set (Phil Mackie’s diary)

22 October – Ben E King (Phil Mackie’s diary)

29 October – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

4 November – The Peddlers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

7 November – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s diary – this was a Tuesday)

12 November – Dantalion’s Chariot (Phil Mackie’s diary)

19 November – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

26 November – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Phil Mackie’s diary)

3 December – The Amboy Dukes (Phil Mackie’s diary)

10 December – The Gass (Phil Mackie’s diary)

17 December – Peter’s Green Fleetwood Mac (Phil Mackie’s diary)

24 December – The Shevelles and Terry Lightfoot Band (Phil Mackie’s diary)

31 December – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set and Alan Elsdon’s Band (Phil Mackie’s diary)

1968

Phil Mackie, who very kindly provided gigs for 1967 and 1968, recalls that Sunday was R&B night and Monday was mainstream jazz. I have listed the sources next to the entries.

7 January – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

14 January – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set (Phil Mackie’s diary)

21 January – The Freddie Mack Sound (Phil Mackie’s diary)

28 January – Jimmy McGriff Quartet (Phil Mackie’s diary)

4 February – The Cliff Bennett Show (Phil Mackie’s diary)

11 February – The Savoy Brown Blues Band (Phil Mackie’s diary)

18 February – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

25 February – Lucas & The Mike Cotton Sound (Phil Mackie’s diary)

3 March – The Peddlers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

10 March – The Amboy Dukes (Phil Mackie’s diary)

17 March – Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac (Phil Mackie’s diary)

24 March – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary)

31 March – The Impressions (Phil Mackie’s diary)

7 April – The Jeff Beck Group featuring Rod Stewart (Phil Mackie’s diary)

14 April – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

15 April – The Piccadilly Six (Swiss band) (Melody Maker – this was a Monday)

21 April – The Showstoppers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

28 April – The Cliff Bennett Band

5 May – Spooky Tooth (Phil Mackie’s diary)

9 May – The Counts (Melody Maker – this was a Thursday)

12 May – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary)

16 May – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Phil Mackie’s diary – this was a Thursday)

19 May – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

23 May – The Rebel Rousers (Phil Mackie’s diary – this was a Thursday)

26 May – The Peddlers (Phil Mackie’s diary)

30 May – The Shevelles (Phil Mackie’s diary – this was a Thursday)

2 June – Lucas with The Mike Cotton Sound (Phil Mackie’s diary)

9 June – Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll (Phil Mackie’s diary)

16 June – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers with The Satin Dolls (Phil Mackie’s diary)

23 June – Spooky Tooth (Melody Maker)

30 June – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Melody Maker)

7 July – Diane Ferraz & The Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)

14 July – Joe Cocker (Melody Maker)

21 July – Tony Gregory & The Counts (Melody Maker)

28 July – Traffic (Melody Maker)

4 August – Spooky Tooth (Melody Maker)

11 August – The Fantastics (Melody Maker)

18 August – The Rebel Rousers (Melody Maker)

25 August – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

1 September – Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)

8 September – The Joyce Bond Revue (Melody Maker)

15 September – Ten Years After (Melody Maker)

22 September – Timebox (Melody Maker)

29 September – The Drifters (Melody Maker)

6 October – The Fantastics (Melody Maker)

12 October – Spooky Tooth (Melody Maker – this is a Saturday)

20 October – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

27 October – Joe Cocker (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)

3 November – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

10 November – Inez and Charlie Foxx (Melody Maker)

17 November – Paul Williams Set (Melody Maker)

24 November – Ferris Wheel and Nepenthe (Melody Maker)

1 December – Garnet Mimms with Village Green (Melody Maker)

2 December – Jimmy Witherspoon (Melody Maker – this was a Monday)

8 December – Bandwagon (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)

10 December – Simon K & The Meantimers and Olaf Grumps Kneed (Melody Maker/South East London Mercury – this was a Tuesday)

15 December – Timebox (Melody Maker)

22 December – The Fantastics (Melody Maker)

28 December – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

1969

Judging by the gigs below, rock bands continued to play on Sundays with occasional gigs on other days of the week.

5 January – Paul Williams Set (Melody Maker)

12 January – Root and Jenny Jackson (Melody Maker)

19 January – The Peddlers (Melody Maker)

26 January – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208 and Melody Maker)

2 February – Spooky Tooth (Melody Maker)

South East London Mercury has The Nice not Spooky Tooth

9 February – Happy Magazine (Melody Maker)

16 February – The Fantastics (Fabulous 208)

Melody Maker has Timebox for the 16 February gig as does South East London Mercury

23 February – Freddie King and Steamhammer (Melody Maker)

Martin Coller got in touch and noted that The Nice were billed to play on 23 February according to Martyn Hanson’s book “Hang on To Dream: The Story of The Nice”.

2 March – The Amboy Dukes (Melody Maker)

9 March – Interstate Road Show (Melody Maker)

16 March – The Symbols (Melody Maker)

23 March – The Fantastics (Melody Maker)

30 March – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

2 April – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker – this was a Wednesday)

6 April – Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)

13 April – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)

20 April – Timebox (Melody Maker)

27 April – The Amboy Dukes (Melody Maker)

4 May – The Symbols (Melody Maker)

11 May – Toast (Melody Maker)

18 May – Howlin’ Wolf (Melody Maker)

25 May – The Riot Squad (Melody Maker)

1 June – No listing in Melody Maker

8 June – The Peddlers (Melody Maker)

15 June – John Lee Hooker with The John Dummer Blues Band (Melody Maker)

22 June – Consortium (Melody Maker)

29 June – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

6 July – Timebox (Melody Maker)

13 July – The Platters (Melody Maker)

20 July – The Joyce Bond Show (Melody Maker)

27 July – The Symbols (Melody Maker)

3 August – The Brian Auger Trinity (Time Out)

10 August – Trapeze (Melody Maker)

17 August – The Globe Show (Melody Maker)

24 August – The Coloured Raisins (Melody Maker)

31 August – Timebox (Melody Maker)

7 September – The Amboy Dukes (Melody Maker)

14 September – The Cliff Bennett Show (Melody Maker)

21 September – Linda Lewis and Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)

28 September – The Dave Amboy Big Band (Melody Maker)

5 October – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (Melody Maker)

12 October – Zoot Money (Melody Maker)

19 October – The Greatest Show on Earth (Melody Maker)

25 October – The Brian Auger Trinity (Melody Maker)

2 November – Marv Johnson (Melody Maker)

9 November – Timebox (Melody Maker)

16 November – Freddie King (Melody Maker)

23 November – No entry in Melody Maker

30 November – The Coloured Raisins (Melody Maker)

7 December – The Dave Amboy Band (aka The Amboy Dukes) (Melody Maker and Keith Guster’s diary)

According to Keith Guster, this was the reformed version featuring Keith Guster and Tago Byers from The Fleur De Lys and former Hamilton Movement keyboard player Mick Fletcher.

14 December – Ferris Wheel (Melody Maker)

16 December – The Amboy Dukes (Keith Guster’s diary)

21 December – The Peddlers (Melody Maker)

28 December – Simon K & The Meantimers (Melody Maker)

1970

8 February – The Amboy Dukes (Keith Guster’s diary)

27 September – Black Widow and Amazing Grace (Poster from Roy Saxby)

4 October – Steamhammer (Poster from Roy Saxby)

11 October – Caravan (Poster from Roy Saxby)

18 October – Chicken Shack (Poster from Roy Saxby)

25 October – The Greatest Show on Earth (Poster from Roy Saxby)

1 November – Blodwyn Pig (Poster from Roy Saxby)

6 December – The Faces featuring Rod Stewart with Daniels Band (Poster from Roy Saxby)

13 December – Steamhammer (Poster from Roy Saxby)

20 December – Toe Fat with Albuquerque-Riccoti (Poster from Roy Saxby)

24 December – The Greatest Show on Earth with Tony Simon’s Progressive Show (Poster from Roy Saxby)

27 December – Argent (Poster from Roy Saxby)

31 December – Patto (Poster from Roy Saxby)

Categories: England, London

The Scotch of St James, 13A Masons Yard, Mayfair

November 18, 2014 Nick Warburton 12 Comments

Listing for October-November 1967. See below

The Scotch of St James, situated at 13A Masons Yard, Mayfair, London was a notable music venue in the 1960s and a popular hang out for rock musicians, notably The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

Jimi Hendrix also made his first UK appearance at the Scotch in September 1966.

The Scotch of St James was rarely advertised in the music papers so it’s been difficult to find confirmed gigs. The list below is a start but I’d welcome any additions and corrections plus any photos of the venue/posters of advertised gigs/photos of bands who appeared there (all credited accordingly).

This exclusive Mayfair establishment was primarily a late night members club with gambling but did put on live music occasionally (see The Stormsville Shakers gigs immediately below). It was officially opened as a late night club offering regular live music from 14 July 1965.

1965

Drummer Tony Richard says that his band The Fetish Crowd played at the Scotch of St James, which would have been the 1965-1966 period.

Singer James Nairn (aka James Royal) notes that his bands James Royal & The Hawks and The James Royal Set both performed at the club.

7 May (Friday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

Phillip Goodhand-Tait kept diaries from 1961 onward and notes that his band The Stormsville Shakers were paid to play the Scotch on the above date. They arrived at 7.30pm and finished at 2am on the Saturday morning after playing three spots of 35 minutes. They were re-booked at the Scotch for the two dates below.

14 May (Friday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

15 May (Saturday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

According to London Life magazine’s 9-15 October issue, The Marionettes were the resident band during this week. They were also listed for 16-22 October, 23-29 October and 30 October-5 November.

22 October (Friday) – The Riot Squad (website: http://brunoceriotti.weebly.com/the-riot-squad.html)

The Krew (who backed Beryl Marsden and Steve Aldo) played at the Scotch of St James around the middle-to-end of the first week of November, according to keyboardist Alan Reeves’ book. The Krew featured sax player Howie Casey who later did sessions for Paul McCartney & Wings.

9 November (Tuesday) – Wilson Pickett (backed either by The Links or The Maroons) with The Krew (Alan Reeves’s book Sex, Booze & Blues)

Bruno Ceriotti says that Wilson Pickett’s guitarist Jimmy Owen was joined by three members of The Animals.

3 December/4 December (Friday/Saturday) – The Krew (an advert in the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette has the band playing at Kirklevington Country Club on Sunday, 5 December and says the band came direct from the Scotch Club)

8 December (Wednesday) – Major Lance (Record Mirror)

21 December (Tuesday) – Joe Tex (Melody Maker)

Record Mirror lists the Joe Tex gig as 16 December.

1966

Sometime during January 1966, The Krew backed US soul singer Fontella Bass for one night, according to Alan Reeves’s book Sex, Booze & Blues.

5 January (Wednesday) – Patti LaBelle & The Bluebells with Bluesology (Melody Maker)

Bluesology’s keyboard player was Reg Dwight, who became famous as Elton John.

11 January (Tuesday) – The Exciters (Record Mirror)

3 February (Thursday) – Stevie Wonder (probably backed by The Sidewinders) (Melody Maker)

According to an advert in the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette for a show at the Kirklevington Country Club on 13 February, it says The Gass were residents at the Scotch of St James around this time.

According to the South East London Mercury, The Loose Ends began playing at the Scotch of St James three times a week for three months in the week starting 21 February (see clipping above).

The Alderley & Wilmslow Advertiser lists a gig for The Manchester Playboys at the Club Creole in Wilmslow, Cheshire on 25 February 1966 and says the band are direct from the Scotch of St James.

17 March (Thursday) – Irma Thomas with The Sons of Adam (website: https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/2020/04/16/life-of-a-local-band/)

30 March (Wednesday) – The Nite People (Barry Curtis’ gig diary)

Melody Maker and Record Mirror both report that Martha & The Vandellas played at the Scotch of St James on 30 March.

1 April (Friday) – Episode Six (audition) (Brian Long’s research)

According to London Life magazine from 14-20 May, the three resident bands for this week were The VIPs, Gass and The Chavelles (The Caravelles?)

20 May (Friday) – Ben E King (London Life magazine)

According to London Life magazine for the week 28 May to 3 June, the three resident bands for this week were The VIPs, Gass and The Chavelles (The Caravelles?)

The same magazine notes that the three resident bands for the week 11-17 June were The VIPs, The Loose Ends and The Chavelles (The Caravelles?)

26 June (Sunday) – The Loose Ends (Fabulous 208)

This may be July not June so needs confirmation. However, The Loose Ends played in Stockton-on-Tees on Saturday, 25 June according to the Middlesbrough Evening Gazette and the advert notes they came from the Scotch of St James so it’s possible they played the week leading up to 25 June.

7 July (Thursday) – Norma Tanega (Record Mirror)

26 July (Tuesday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)

29 July (Friday) – Joe Tex (London Life magazine)

According to London Life magazine, The Loose Ends, together with The VIPs and The Paramounts were the three resident bands playing at the Scotch of St James during the week 30 July to 5 August.

10 August (Wednesday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)

Guster says that Alan Price invited him to join his band at this gig.

The Westminster & Pimlico News’ 12 August 1966 issue notes that Gass played the club 6-7 nights a week around this time.

11 September (Sunday) – The Iveys (Tom Brennan’s research: http://www.badfingerlibrary.com/)

18 September (Sunday) – The Vibrations (needs source and confirmation but probably Melody Maker)

22 September (Thursday) – Jimi Hendrix solo (needs source and confirmation)

Apparently on the evening he’d arrived in the UK, Jimi Hendrix played a couple of songs as a solo act at the club.

23 September (Friday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)

24 September (Saturday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)

26 September (Monday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)

Jimi Hendrix sat in with The VIPs on 26 September – see Terry Ellis comment in the comments section below.

27 September (Tuesday) – The VIPs (needs confirmation)

28 September (Wednesday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (Fabulous 208)

Guitarist Vic Briggs says that Chas Chandler and Jimi Hendrix came into the Scotch of St James and sat in with the band. Brian Auger invited the American guitarist to sit in with the band at Blaises the following night, 29 September.

30 September (Friday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)

The Derby Evening Telegraph’s 1 October 1966 issue notes that Pepper’s Machine played the club recently.

3 October (Monday) – The Raylettes (London Life magazine)

7 October (Friday) – The Paramounts (London Life magazine)

Robin Trower had left The Paramounts in late June/early July and formed The Jamm, so Martin Shaw (no relation to the actor) was on lead guitar.

8 October (Saturday) – The Paramounts (London Life magazine)

13 October (Thursday) – The Trend (London Life magazine)

14 October (Friday) – The Trend (London Life magazine)

15 October (Saturday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)

17 October (Monday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)

18 October (Tuesday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)

19 October (Wednesday) – The Paul Butterfield Blues Band jams with Cream (needs source and confirmation)

It has been noted that The Paul Butterfield Blues Band jammed with Cream at the Scotch of St James on 19 October (the alternative location was the Cromwellian). However, according to Christopher Hjort’s excellent book on the British blues boom, “Strange Brew”, Cream were playing at the Blue Moon in Cheltenham on this day.

According to London Life magazine, Tony & The Defenders played at the Scotch of St James during the week 22-28 October.

24 October (Monday) – Edwin Starr (possibly backed by The Guests) (London Life magazine)

25 October (Tuesday) – The Jimi Hendrix Experience (band’s debut as private showcase at the venue) (Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scotch_of_St._James)

29 October (Saturday) – The Paramounts (London Life magazine)

This was one of the band’s final gigs before splitting in November 1966. Gary Brooker formed Procol Harum the following spring.

31 October (Monday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (London Life magazine)

1 November (Tuesday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (London Life magazine)

2 November (Wednesday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)

3 November (Thursday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)

4 November (Friday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)

5 November (Saturday) – The Loose Ends (London Life magazine)

11 November (Friday) – Ben E King (London Life magazine)

18 November (Friday) – The Impressions (London Life magazine)

The Impressions featured future soul star Curtis Mayfield.

According to Disc & Music Echo on 26 November, Deep Feeling made their debut at the Scotch of St James around the week starting 21 November. Chris Curtis, Giorgio Gomelsky, Robert Stigwood, Speedy Acquaye and Beryl Marsden were among the guests.

According to Melody Maker, Bobby Darin sat in with Deep Feeling around early-to-mid December and played the drums.

London Life magazine reports that The Checkmates played at the Scotch of St James during the week 3-9 December.

The Manchester Independent notes that Manchester band The Powerhouse played at the venue during December.

7 December (Wednesday) – The Vibrations (London Life magazine)

8 December (Thursday) – The Young Rascals (Disc & Music Echo)

The magazine reports that Paul McCartney, Chas Chandler, Eric Burdon, Keith Moon, Brian Epstein and Bill Wyman are among the guests.

13 December (Tuesday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (Fabulous 208)

14 December (Wednesday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (Fabulous 208)

15 December (Thursday) – Bobby Hebb (Record Mirror)

The magazine says that Bobby Hebb came on at 1am. This is confirmed by London Life magazine, which notes the 14 December so it looks like Hebb came on stage after The Brian Auger Trinity had finished. Future Deep Purple bass player Nick Simper was in his backing band.

19 December (Monday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (Fabulous 208)

20 December (Tuesday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (Fabulous 208)

21 December (Wednesday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)

22 December (Thursday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)

23 December (Friday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)

24 December (Saturday) – Eric Burdon & The New Animals (London Life magazine)

28 December (Wednesday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)

29 December (Thursday) – The VIPs (Fabulous 208)

31 December (Saturday) – Eric Burdon & The New Animals (Disc & Music Echo and London Life magazine)

1967

Guitarist Doug Ayers says that The All Night Workers played at the Scotch of St James (most likely in early 1967).

Jim Cregan, guitarist with Blossom Toes, remembers playing at the club and The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were there on the same night to catch his band performing.

Drummer Chris Hunt says The Good Time Losers played the club in the first half of 1967.

Tony Glyde remembers playing at the Scotch of St James with Simon K & The Meantimers in 1967-1968.

2 February (Thursday) – Edwin Starr (Evening Standard)

The Loose Ends were playing at the venue in late March/early April when the Stax-Volt show tour came in. This is where Otis Redding picked up singers Alan Marshall and Bob Saker and took them back to the US to record tracks at Fame Studios during June.

23 April (Sunday) – The Wages of Sin (Melody Maker)

28 April (Friday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

Drummer Phil Wainman, who went on to produce The Sweet, remembers playing the club in May 1967 with Jack Hammer & The Hammer Jammers.

Keyboard player Mick Ketley says The Motivation/Penny Peeps played at the Scotch of St James on two occasions which would have been from May 1967 onwards.

7 May (Sunday) – The Marshall Scott Etc (Hounslow Post)

The Loose Ends were performing at the Scotch of St James in early June 1967 when former Ram Jam guitarist Pete Gage brought singer Kenny Bernard into see the musicians. This led to the formation of Cats Pyjamas with some of the group members.

16 June (Friday) – Vince Edwards (Del Paramor’s gig diary)

The Manchester Playboys performed at the Scotch of St James and July seems the most likely period as they were in London gigging. Also Peter Simensky, who had joined the band recently, was a member at the time and he recalls singer Billie Davis working at the Scotch at the time.

Frank Torpey, who was lead guitarist with London band, The Tribe (and would go on to become the original lead guitarist in The Sweet), says that when the group was playing regular Saturday nights at the Marquee in Wardour Street between July-September, the Marquee’s owner John Gee would get a call from the Scotch of St James asking what band was on and would they like to double up? He says The Tribe always said yes as it was a great top up. Torpey adds that they never had another band on with them. He thinks they may have played at the Scotch maybe three or four times.

It sounds like The Tribe may have played the Scotch in the early hours of the Sunday morning after finishing up at the Marquee but this would need confirmation.

This insight is interesting as it might mean other groups that played the Marquee went on and played the Scotch of St James after finishing up.

1 July (Saturday) – The Tribe (Tony Bacon’s book, London Live)

The Tribe (which changed name to The Dream in late August 1967) played at the Marquee every Saturday from 1 July to 30 September according to Tony Bacon’s excellent book on the London music scene and its Marquee listings, so it’s impossible to know what Saturday evenings/early Sunday mornings The Tribe went on to play at the Scotch of St James afterwards. It’s also quite possible that the other band sharing the billing at the Marquee with The Tribe may have been asked as well (see Torpey’s recollections above).

7 July (Friday) – Vince Edwards (Fabulous 208)

8 July (Saturday) – The Manchester Playboys (Graham Sclater’s diary)

1 August (Tuesday) – The Manchester Playboys (Graham Sclater’s diary)

Timebox played at the Scotch of St James during August 1967. They had a Tuesday night gig at the Marquee so possibly played afterwards. Former Felders Orioles drummer John Halsey advertised in Melody Maker for a new band on Thursday, 17 August and auditioned with Timebox shortly afterwards at the Scotch.

29 August (Tuesday) – Marmalade (Fabulous 208)

According to the poster below for the Gloucester YMCA, The Official Receivers played at the Scotch of St James around October 1967.

30 October (Monday) – The Dave Davani Five (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

31 October (Tuesday) – Ben E King (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website and Disc & Music Echo)

1 November (Wednesday) – The Anglians (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website – see above)

2 November (Thursday) – The Anglians (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

3 November (Friday) – The Anglians (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

4 November (Saturday) – Mud (Melody Maker)

6 November (Monday) – The Web (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

Melody Maker lists The Downliners Sect.

7 November (Tuesday) – The Web (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

Melody Maker lists The Downliners Sect.

8 November (Wednesday) – The Web (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

Melody Maker lists The Downliners Sect.

9 November (Thursday) – Ben E King (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

10 November (Friday) – The West Coast Consortium (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

Melody Maker lists The Downliners Sect.

11 November (Saturday) – The West Coast Consortium (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

13 November (Monday) – Timebox (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

14 November (Tuesday) – Timebox (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

15 November (Wednesday) – Timebox (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

16 November (Thursday) – Timebox (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

17 November (Friday) – Mud (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

18 November (Saturday) – Mud (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

20 November (Monday) – Wishful Thinking (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

21 November (Tuesday) – Wishful Thinking (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

22 November (Wednesday) – Wishful Thinking (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

23 November (Thursday) – The Web (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

24 November (Friday) – The West Coast Consortium (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

25 November (Saturday) – The West Coast Consortium (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

27 November (Monday) – The Bystanders (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

28 November (Tuesday) – The Bystanders (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

29 November (Wednesday) – The Bystanders (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

30 November (Thursday) – The Bystanders (Poster from Barry Monks on Patto website)

30 December (Saturday) – Kaleidoscope (Melody Maker)

1968

Iain Pitwell, Brian Mansell and Geoff Glover confirm that The All Night Workers played at the Scotch of St James regularly during the 1968-1969 period.

Mo Umansky says his band Mr Mo’s Messengers played at the venue, most likely in 1968.

26 January (Friday) – The Magic Roundabout (audition) (Geoff Chinnery’s gig diary)

3 February (Saturday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)

6 February (Tuesday) – James & Bobby Purify (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)

8 February (Thursday) – Edwin Starr (New Musical Express)

According to Melody Maker, Rupert’s People played at the Scotch of St James around the week starting 19 February.

27 February (Tuesday) – Tim Rose (Melody Maker)

According to Melbourne music magazine, Go-Set, Australian band The Groop played the Scotch of St James between early March and mid-April.

8 March (Friday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)

23 March (Saturday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)

4 April (Thursday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

1 May (Wednesday) – Ike & Tina Turner and Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

2 May (Thursday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

9 May (Thursday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)

16 May (Thursday) – Edwin Starr & The State Express (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

20 May (Monday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)

5 June (Tuesday) – The Coasters (New Musical Express)

17 June (Monday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

18 June (Tuesday) – Ruby & The Romantics (New Musical Express)

30 June (Sunday) – The Crystals (New Musical Express)

16 July (Tuesday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)

20 July (Saturday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

3 August (Saturday) – Scrugg (Jack Russell’s gig diary)

5 August (Monday) – The Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)

6 August (Tuesday) – Tim Rose (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)

Rose’s gig was cancelled.

13 August (Tuesday) – Elmer Gantry (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

19 August (Monday) – Ben E King (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)

21 August (Wednesday) – The Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)

22 August (Thursday) – Timebox (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

26 August (Monday) – Timebox (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

7 September (Saturday) – Scrugg (Jack Russell’s gig diary)

10 September (Tuesday) – Ben E King (New Musical Express)

14 September (Saturday) – Scrugg (Jack Russell’s gig diary)

27 September (Friday) – Scrugg (Jack Russell’s gig diary)

28 September (Saturday) – Scrugg (Jack Russell’s gig diary)

16 October (Wednesday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

The New Musical Express lists Brook Benton for the 16 October.

12 November (Tuesday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

18 November (Monday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

28 November (Thursday) – Jimmy Witherspoon (Melody Maker)

12 December (Thursday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

17 December (Tuesday) – Bandwagon (New Musical Express)

18 December (Wednesday) – The Barrier (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

1969

Guitarist/violinist Mike Piggott confirms that Gass played the Scotch of St James during the 1969-1970 period.

21 January (Tuesday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

31 January (Friday) – The N’ Betweens (later became Slade) (Don Powell’s website)

24 February (Monday) – Ben E King (Melody Maker)

New Musical Express reports that Ben E King is backed by Chris Shakespeare Globe Show for his UK tour in February 1969.

10 March (Monday) – The Tymes (Melody Maker)

29 March (Saturday) – Ben E King (Time Out)

14 April (Monday) – JJ Jackson (Fabulous 208)

21 April (Monday) – Turnstyle and Steamhammer (Fabulous 208)

19 May (Monday) – Bob & Earl (John Warburg research)

16 June (Monday) – Yes (Peter Banks website: http://www.peterbanks.net/archive/bands/yes/)

24 June (Tuesday) – Girl Talk (Melody Maker)

21 July (Monday) – Jimmy Ruffin with Sweet Blindness (New Musical Express)

25 August (Monday) – JJ Jackson (Time Out)

1 September (Monday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)

4 September (Thursday) – Sir Percy Quintet (Melody Maker)

8 September (Monday) – Sir Percy Quintet (Melody Maker)

9 September (Tuesday) – Sir Percy Quintet (Melody Maker)

11 September (Thursday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)

1970

28 January (Wednesday) – Lucas & The Soul Sounds (Melody Maker)

28 October (Wednesday) – Tear Gas (Melody Maker)

29 October (Thursday) – Czar (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)

5 November (Thursday) – Legend (Melody Maker)

6 November (Friday) – Charge (Melody Maker)

7 November (Saturday) – Clear Blue Sky (Melody Maker)

8 November (Sunday) – Merlin (Melody Maker)

9 November (Monday) – Calum Bryce (Melody Maker)

Ted Hare’s gig diary for bands he managed, including Calum Bryce, have this group listed at the Scotch of St James on 10 November not the 9 November so possible there is a mistake here.

10 November (Tuesday) – Dave Davani (Melody Maker)

12 November (Thursday) – Fairfield Parlour (Melody Maker)

13 November (Friday) – Clear Blue Sky (Melody Maker)

14 November (Saturday) – Renea (Melody Maker)

16 November (Monday) – UFO (Melody Maker)

17 November (Tuesday) – Dave Davani (Melody Maker)

18 November (Wednesday) – Bubastis (Melody Maker)

19 November (Thursday) – Clear Blue Sky (Melody Maker)

20 November (Friday) – Mataya (Melody Maker)

23 November (Monday) – Clear Blue Sky (Melody Maker)

24 November (Tuesday) – Merlin (Melody Maker)

25 November (Wednesday) – Aquila (Melody Maker)

26 November (Thursday) – Dave Davani (Melody Maker)

27 November (Friday) – Clear Blue Sky (Melody Maker)

30 November (Monday) – Nick Twilley (Melody Maker)

1 December (Tuesday) – Merlin (Melody Maker)

2 December (Wednesday) – Clear Blue Sky (Melody Maker)

1971

15 April (Thursday) – Octopus (Paul Griggs’ gig diary)

6 May (Thursday) – Octopus (Paul Griggs’ gig diary)

Categories: England, London

El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London

November 17, 2014 Nick Warburton 15 Comments

The Spectres, February 1964. Photo: South East London Mercury

The El Partido in Lewisham, southeast London was located at 8-10 Lee High Road and was a popular spot for young Jamaicans and local mods.

There is a gig for The Spectres (who later morphed into Status Quo) who played here on 10 February 1964 and every Monday (see very top) which reveals that the club had originally operated under different management and closed sometime during 1964. It looks like the club re-opened on 12 December with The Beasts playing that evening.

The excellent Transpontine website notes that King Ossie Sound played at the club regularly. Other guests included Jamaicans Jimmy Cliff and The Duke Reid Sound.

Local R&B outfit, The Loose Ends, who cut two singles for Decca, were also house band at some point in late 1965.

I have started a gig list and would welcome any additions plus any memories of the venue, which was closed down in April 1967.

12 December 1964 – The Beasts

19 December 1964 – The Loose Ends

26 December 1964 – The Beavers

27 March 1965 – Tony Knight’s Chessmen and Mankinde

28 March 1965 – Duke Lee

31 March 1965 – The Hubbubs

1 April 1965 – Group Survival

2 April 1965 – The King Bees

3 April 1965 – The Loose Ends

4 September 1965 – The Eyes

9 September 1965 – The Duke Lee Sound System

10 September 1965 – The Loose Ends (upstairs)

10 September 1965 – Duke Lee (downstairs)

11 September 1965 – Duke Lee (upstairs, first session)

11 September 1965 – The Loose Ends (downstairs, first session)

11 September 1965 – Lou Johnson, Sonny Childe, The Loose Ends and Duke Lee (second session)

16 September 1965 – The Mixed Feelings (upstairs)

16 September 1965 – Duke Lee (downstairs)

17 September 1965 – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays and Duke Lee

18 September 1965 – Duke Lee (upstairs, first and second session)

18 September 1965 – The Artwoods (downstairs, first session)

18 September 1965 – The Artwoods and The Loose Ends (downstairs, second session)

South East London Mercury has The Loose Ends with Lou Johnson on the above date

22 September 1965 – The Changing Times (upstairs)

22 September 1965 – Duke Lee (downstairs)

23 September 1965 – The Plain Facts (upstairs)

23 September 1965 – Duke Lee (downstairs)

24 September 1965 – Memphis Chucks (upstairs)

24 September 1965 – Duke Lee (downstairs)

25 September 1965 – Guy Darrell (upstairs, first session)

25 September 1965 – Duke Lee (downstairs, first session)

25 September 1965 – Guy Darrell, The Loose Ends and Duke Lee (second session)

26 September 1965 – Duke Lee Sounds

29 September 1965 – The Minor Birds (upstairs)

The Minor Birds morphed into Mr Mo’s Messengers in 1967

29 September 1965 – Duke Lee (downstairs)

30 September 1965 – The Sons of Fred and Duke Lee

1 October 1965 – Duke Lee

2 October 1965 – Jesse Fuller, The Spectres and Duke Lee (first session)

2 October 1965 – Jesse Fuller, Loose Ends, The Spectres and Duke Lee (second session)

The Spectres later morphed into Status Quo

3 October 1965 – Duke Lee

6 October 1965 – Kiko 6 and Duke Lee

7-8 October 1965 – Duke Lee

9 October 1965 – Dave Anthony’s Moods, Next of Kin and Duke Lee (first session)

9 October 1965 – The Loose Ends, Dave Anthony’s Moods, Duke Lee and Next of Kin (second session)

10 October 1965 – Duke Lee

13 October 1965 – Creeper’s Blues and Duke Lee

14 October 1965 – Diddley Daddies and Duke Lee

16 October 1965 – The Stormsville Shakers and Duke Lee (first session)

16 October 1965 – The Stormsville Shakers, Duke Lee and The Minor Birds (second session)

17 October 1965 – Bo Diddley and Duke Lee

20 October 1965 – Long, Short and Tall, Duke Lee and The Loose Ends

21 October 1965 – Under-mined and Duke Lee Sounds

22 October 1965 – Duke Lee Sounds

23 October 1965 – The Loose Ends and Duke Lee (first session)

23 October 1965 – The Loose Ends, The Minor Birds and Duke Lee (second session)

24 October 1965 – Duke Lee

27 October 1965 – John Brown’s Bodies and Duke Lee

This version of John Brown’s Bodies were from Hammersmith and weren’t the same Brighton group that had Keith Emerson

28 October 1965 – Next of Kin and Duke Lee

29 October 1965 – Marshall Scott Etc and Duke Lee

30 October 1965 – The Hamilton Movement and Duke Lee Sounds (first session)

30 October 1965 – The Loose Ends, The Hamilton Movement and Duke Lee (second session)

31 October 1965 – Duke Lee

3 November 1965 – Blues Roots, Duke Lee and The Loose Ends

4 November 1965 – Deacon Louis GP and Duke Lee

5 November 1965 – Duke Lee

6 November 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres and Duke Lee (first session)

6 November 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres, The Movement and Duke Lee (second session)

7 November 1965 – Duke Lee

10 November 1965 – The Nature’s Boys and Duke Lee

11 November 1965 – Lawlors Legs and Duke Lee

12 November 1965 – Duke Lee Sounds

13 November 1965 – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays and Duke Lee (first session)

13 November 1965 – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays, The Movement and Duke Lee (second session)

14 November 1965 – Duke Lee

17 November 1965 – The Links, The Fetish Crowd and Duke Lee

18 November 1965 – Sounds Anonymous and Duke Lee

19 November 1965 – Duke Lee

20 November 1965 – Guy Darrell, Winds of Change and Duke Lee (first session)

20 November 1965 – The Loose Ends, Guy Darrell, Winds of Change and Duke Lee (second session)

21 November 1965 – Duke Lee

24 November 1965 – The New Jump Band and Duke Lee

25 November 1965 – Two Squared and Duke Lee

26 November 1965 – Duke Lee

27 November 1965 – The Panics and Duke Lee (first session)

27 November 1965 – The Loose Ends, The Panics and Duke Lee (second session)

28 November 1965 – Duke Lee Sounds

1 December 1965 – Group Survival and Duke Lee

17 December 1965 – Duke Lee Sounds

18 December 1965 – The Frank Sheen Sound and Duke Lee (first session)

18 December 1965 – The Loose Ends, The Frank Sheen Sound and Duke Lee (second session)

19 December 1965 – Major Lance (with Bluesology) and Duke Lee

22 December 1965 – The Templars, The Cardinals and Duke Lee

24 December 1965 – The Loose Ends, Duke Lee and The Frank Sheen Sound

25-26 December 1965 – Duke Lee

31 December 1965 – Duke Lee

22 January 1966 – Simon Dupree & The Big Sound and Duke Lee

23 January 1966 – The Exciters and Duke Lee

26 January 1966 – The Just Blues, The Wild Set and Duke Lee

28 January 1966 – Lee Dorsey and Duke Lee

29 January 1966 – Deakin Lewis and Duke Lee

30 January 1966 – The Drifters

11 February 1966 – Doris Troy (with Bluesology) and Duke Lee

12 February 1966 – The Panicks and Duke Lee

13 February 1966 – Duke Lee

16 February 1966 – Duke Lee and various groups

18 February 1966 – Inez and Charlie Foxx

25 March 1966 – Wilson Pickett with King Ossie Sounds (Wilson Pickett didn’t show)

26 March 1966 – Time Box, The Raisins and King Ossie Sounds

1 April 1966 – Don Covay and King Ossie Sounds

8 April 1966 – Jimmy Cliff (backed by New Generation?) with The Raisons, King Ossie Sound and Duke Reid

9 April 1966 – The New Jump Band with The King Ossie Sound

10 April 1966 – Don Covey with The King Ossie Sound

11 April 1966 – Owen Gray and Jackie Edwards with The Raisons and King Ossie Sound

22 May 1966 – The Charmers (with Carl Douglas)

11 June 1966 – Carl Douglas & The Charmers

18 June 1966 – The Partizans

4 August 1966 – Jimmy Cliff

2 September 1966 – The James Royal Set

24 September 1966 – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede

1 October 1966 – Timebox

15 November 1966 – The Iveys

6 January 1967 – Duke Lee

7 January 1967 – The Soul Trinity

13 January 1967 – Duke Lee

14 January 1967 – The Mellow Notes

20 January 1967 – Duke Lee

21 January 1967 – Ossie Layne & The Red Hot Band

4 March 1967 – Alan Marsh(all) & The Loose Ends

Sources:

Southeast London Mercury, Marmalade Skies website, Melody Maker and poster

Categories: England, London

Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London

November 17, 2014 Nick Warburton 17 Comments

Located at 15 Perry Vale, the Glenlyn Ballroom in Forest Hill, Southeast London was a popular venue for Mods in the early-to-mid 1960s.

The Who were regulars in the 1963-1964 period when they were known as The Detours and The High Numbers. Bobby King & The Sabres were also a resident band at the club throughout the mid-1960s.

I’ve started a list of artists that were advertised and would welcome any additions/corrections as well as any memories of the venue. I would also welcome any posters/band photos and will credit them accordingly.

1961

17 November 1961 – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)

1963

13 September 1963 – The Detours (became The Who) (Andy Neill’s research)

4 October 1963 – The Detours (became The Who) (Andy Neill’s research)

11 October 1963 – The Detours (became The Who) (Andy Neill’s research)

2 November 1963 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

7 November 1963 – The Detours (became The Who) (Andy Neill’s research)

16 November 1963 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

23 November 1963 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

Thanks to Clive Chase for sending the photo

6 December 1963 – The Detours (became The Who) (Andy Neill’s research)

Poster suggests Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers played on 6 December

7 December 1963 – The Hollies with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

13 December 1963 – Bobby King & The Sabres with The Federals (Clive Chase’s gig diary/poster/Beat Monthly)

Poster suggests only The Federals played on this date

20 December 1963 – The Detours (became The Who) (Andy Neill’s research)

Poster suggests The Flintstones played on 20 December

21 December 1963 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

27 December 1963 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

28 December 1963 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

1964

3 January 1964 – The Detours (became The Who) (Andy Neill’s research)

Pete Carter says The Rolling Stones played on 3 January 1964 – see comments section below

17 January 1964 – Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders (Beat Monthly) Needs confirmation

18 January 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres with Bern Elliott & The Fenmen (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

24 January 1964 – The Detours (became The Who) (Andy Neill’s research)

John Warburg says The Hollies also performed on 24 January

31 January 1964 – The Detours (became The Who) (Andy Neill’s research)

1 February 1964 – The Brian Auger Trinity with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

7 February 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Tin Pan Alley Ball) (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

14 February 1964 – The Detours (or now called The Who) (Andy Neill’s research)

17 February 1964 – The Searchers (Beat Monthly) Needs confirmation

21 February 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres with Bridget Bond & The Hysterics (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

6 March 1964 – The Paramounts with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

7 March 1964 – Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

16 March 1964 – The Who (Andy Neill’s research)

21 March 1964 – The Hollies with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

23 March 1964 – The Who (Andy Neill’s research)

27 March 1964 – Graham Bond Organisation with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

3 April 1964 – The Who (this month they change name to The High Numbers) (Andy Neill’s research)

4 April 1964 – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

6 April 1964 – The High Numbers (Andy Neill’s research)

10 April 1964 – The High Numbers (Andy Neill’s research)

13 April 1964 – Cilla Black with Sounds Incorporated and The Tridents (Paul Lucas’ gig diary)

This was before Jeff Beck joined The Tridents on lead guitar

17 April 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres with The Redcaps (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

20 April 1964 – The High Numbers (Andy Neill’s research)

24 April 1964 – The High Numbers (Andy Neill’s research)

27 April 1964 – The Tridents (John and Paul Lucas’ gig diary)

Jeff Beck didn’t join on lead guitar until early September.

2 May 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

4 May 1964 – The High Numbers (Andy Neill’s research)

8 May 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

11 May 1964 – The High Numbers (Andy Neill’s research)

15 May 1964 – The High Numbers (Andy Neill’s research)

16 May 1964 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

18 May 1964 – The High Numbers (Andy Neill’s research)

25 May 1964 – The High Numbers (Andy Neill’s research)

29 May 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres with The High Numbers (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

1 June 1964 – The High Numbers (Andy Neill’s research)

6 June 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

8 June 1964 – The High Numbers (Andy Neill’s research)

15 June 1964 – The High Numbers (Andy Neill’s research)

19 June 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres with Shorty & Them (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

22 June 1964 – The High Numbers (Andy Neill’s research)

26 June 1964 – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)

27 June 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

29 June 1964 – The High Numbers (revert back to The Who in November) (Andy Neill’s research)

10 July 1964 – The Hollies with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

18 July 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

31 July 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres with Geno Washington (most likely with Les Blues) (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

8 August 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

21 August 1964 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

29 August 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

4 September 1964 – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

18 September 1964 – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

19 September 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

2 October 1964 – Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary) Beat Instrumental suggests that The Undertakers may have played here on this date but needs confirmation

3 October 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

12 October 1964 – The Tridents (Paul Lucas’ gig diary)

Jeff Beck was lead guitarist with The Tridents by this point

16 October 1964 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

26 October 1964 – The Yardbirds (Beat Instrumental)
Needs confirmation

30 October 1964 – The Brian Auger Trinity with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

6 November 1964 – The Hollies with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

I have The Graham Bond Organisation for 6 November but this may have been a different date

20 November 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres with The Federals (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

21 November 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

27 November 1964 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

4 December 1964 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

Bobby King & The Sabres. Photo: Clive Chase

1965

8 January 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

16 January 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

22 January 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

30 January 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

12 February 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

20 February 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

26 February 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

6 March 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

19 March 1965 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

27 March 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

2 April 1965 – The Brian Auger Trinity with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

9 April 1965 – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

16 April 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres with The Wranglers (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

24 April 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

7 May 1965 – Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

8 May 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

14 May 1965 – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

22 May 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

28 May 1965 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

5 June 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

26 June 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

3 July 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

23 July 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres with The Symbols (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

13 August 1965 – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band and Brian Something and The What’s Its (Carl Ross’ gig diary)

14 August 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

20 August 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres with The Majority (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

28 August 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

3 September 1965 – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

11 September 1965 – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

18 September 1965 – The Loose Ends (South East London Mercury)

24 September 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres with Sounds Incorporated (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

8 October 1965 – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

15 October 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres with Bern Elliott (& The Klansmen?) (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

16 October 1965 – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

22 October 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres with Robb Storme & The Whispers (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

30 October 1965 – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

5 November 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres with The Loose Ends (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

10 November 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

13 November 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres with The VIPs (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

17 November 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

19 November 1965 – The Downliners Sect with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

24 November 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

27 November 1965 – The Loose Ends with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

1 December 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

3 December 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres with Jimmy Brown (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

8 December 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

11 December 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres with The Clique (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

15 December 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

17 December 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

22 December 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

24 December 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

29 December 1965 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

1966

1 January 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

5 January 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

7 January 1966 – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

12 January 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

15 January 1966 – The Birds with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

19 January 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

21 January 1966 – The Who with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

22 January 1966 – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

26 January 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

28 January 1966 – Episode Six (Brian Long’s research and South East London Mercury)

29 January 1966 – The Loose Ends with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

2 February 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

5 February 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

Brian Long’s research and South East London Mercury confirm Episode Six also played on 5 February

9 February 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

12 February 1966 – The Shevelles with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

16 February 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

18 February 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

23 February 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

26 February 1966 – The Loose Ends with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary and Melody Maker)

2 March 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

4 March 1966 – James Royal & The Hawks with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary and South East London Mercury)

5 March 1966 – The Nite People (South East London Mercury and Barry Curtis’ gig diary)

9 March 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

16 March 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

18 March 1966 – Robb Storme & The Whispers with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

19 March 1966 – The Loose Ends with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

23 March 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

30 March 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

1 April 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

6 April 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

9 April 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

13 April 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

15 April 1966 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary and South East London Mercury)

16 April 1966 – The Symbols (South East London Mercury)

20 April 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

23 April 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

27 April 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

29 April 1966 – The Birds with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

1 May 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

4 May 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

7 May 1966 – Persuasion with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

11 May 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

13 May 1966 – The Quiet Five with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

15 May 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

18 May 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

21 May 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

25 May 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

27 May 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

South East London Mercury and Melody Maker confirm that The Action also played on 27 May

28 May 1966 – The Loose Ends (Melody Maker)

29 May 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

1 June 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

8 June 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

15 June 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

18 June 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

19 June 1966 – The Carl Douglas Set (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

22 June 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

25 June 1966 – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

29 June 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

2 July 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

6 July 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

8 July 1966 – Dave Antony’s Moods with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary and Fabulous 208)

13 July 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

16 July 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

20 July 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

22 July 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

29 July 1966 – The Loose Ends (Fabulous 208)

5 August 1966 – The Fenmen (South East London Mercury)

6 August 1966 – The Creed with Graham Bell & The Trend (South East London Mercury)

10 August 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

12 August 1966 – Alan Bown Set (poster from Richard Goddard)

13 August 1966 – The Good Goods (poster from Richard Goddard)

17 August 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

20 August 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

24 August 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

27 August 1966 – The Beachcombers (South East London Mercury)

31 August 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

2 September 1966 – The Coloured Raisins (South East London Mercury)

3 September 1966 – The Cast (South East London Mercury) Pete Carter says this was most likely with The Klooks in support

7 September 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

9 September 1966 – The Soul Sounds with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

14 September 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

16 September 1966 – Dave Antony’s Moods (South East London Mercury)

21 September 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

23 September 1966 – The Creation with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

28 September 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

30 September 1966 – The Paramounts (South East London Mercury)

The Paramounts split up not long after this gig

1 October 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

5 October 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

7 October 1966 – The Tribe with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

8 October 1966 – The Beachcombers (South East London Mercury)

12 October 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

14 October 1966 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways with The Klooks (South East London Mercury/Pete Carter’s gig diary)

15 October 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

19 October 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

21 October 1966 – The Soul Sounds with Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

22 October 1966 – Five’s Company (South East London Mercury)

26 October 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

28 October 1966 – Unknown group (South East London Mercury) Pete Carter says this was most likely The Klooks

29 October 1966 – Unknown group (South East London Mercury) Pete Carter says this was most likely The Klooks

The Klooks at Glenlyn Ballroom. Photo: Pete Carter

2 November 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

4 November 1966 – The Showtimers (South East London Mercury)

9 November 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

11 November 1966 – Unknown group (South East London Mercury) Pete Carter says this was most likely The Klooks

16 November 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

18 November 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (South East London Mercury)

The above gig isn’t in Clive’s diary

19 November 1966 – The Beachcombers (South East London Mercury)

23 November 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

25 November 1966 – Unknown group (South East London Mercury) Pete Carter says this was most likely The Klooks

30 November 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

7 December 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

9 December 1966 – The Ways & Means and The Klooks (Pete Carter’s poster)

10 December 1966 – Mr Hip & The Soul Band and The Klooks (Pete Carter’s poster)

14 December 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

16 December 1966 – Unknown group (South East London Mercury) Pete Carter says this was most likely The Klooks

17 December 1966 – Unknown group (South East London Mercury) Pete Carter says this was most likely The Klooks

21 December 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

23 December 1966 – Unknown group (South East London Mercury) Pete Carter says this was most likely The Klooks

24 December 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres with The Klooks (Clive Chase’s gig diary/Pete Carter’s gig diary)

28 December 1966 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

30 December 1966 – The Information and The Klooks (Pete Carter’s gig diary)

31 December 1966 – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Fabulous 208) Pete Carter’s gig diary has The Showtimers and The Klooks on this date

1967

4 January 1967 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

6 January 1967 – The Klooks (Pete Carter’s gig diary)

7 January 1967 – The Klooks (Pete Carter’s gig diary)

11 January 1967 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

13 January 1967 – The Klooks (Pete Carter’s gig diary)

14 January 1967 – The Klooks (Pete Carter’s gig diary)

18 January 1967 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

20 January 1967 – The Klooks (Pete Carter’s gig diary)

21 January 1967 – The Klooks (Pete Carter’s gig diary)

25 January 1967 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

27 January 1967 – The Klooks (Pete Carter’s gig diary)

28 January 1967 – The Klooks (Pete Carter’s gig diary)

1 February 1967 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

3 February 1967 – The Klooks (Pete Carter’s gig diary)

4 February 1967 – The Klooks (Pete Carter’s gig diary)

8 February 1967 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

10 February 1967 – The Klooks (Pete Carter’s gig diary)

11 February 1967 – The Klooks (Pete Carter’s gig diary)

15 February 1967 – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

17 February 1967 – The Klooks (Pete Carter’s gig diary)

18 February 1967 – The Klooks (Pete Carter’s gig diary)

24 February 1967 – The Klooks (Pete Carter’s gig diary)

25 February 1967 – The Klooks (Pete Carter’s gig diary)

3 March 1967 – The Iveys with The Klooks (Tom Brennan’s research/Pete Carter’s gig list)

10 March 1967 – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede with The Klooks (Ken Baxter’s diary/Pete Carter’s gig diary)

17 March 1967 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways with The Klooks (South East London Mercury/Pete Carter’s gig diary)

18 March 1967 – The Escorts with The Klooks (South East London Mercury/Pete Carter’s gig diary)

24 March 1967 – The Summer Set with The Klooks (South East London Mercury/Pete Carter’s gig diary)

25 March 1967 – The Cossacks with The Klooks (South East London Mercury/Pete Carter’s gig diary)

31 March 1967 – Jimmy Frog & The Bean Machine with The Klooks (South East London Mercury/Pete Carter’s gig diary)

1 April 1967 – The Iveys with The Klooks (Tom Brennan’s research/Pete Carter’s gig diary)

7 April 1967 – The Klooks (Pete Carter’s gig diary)

8 April 1967 – The Klooks (Pete Carter’s gig diary)

14 April 1967 – The Iveys with The Klooks (Tom Brennan’s research/Pete Carter’s gig diary)

15 April 1967 – The Klooks (Pete Carter’s gig diary)

22 April 1967 – The Klooks (Pete Carter’s gig diary)

29 April 1967 – The Klooks (Pete Carter’s gig diary)

Pete Carter says The Klooks played seven more Saturdays. However, when they turned up on 24 June, they were unable to play and the club closed.

Huge thanks to Rolf Hannett for sharing Beat Monthly and Beat Instrumental dates

Categories: England, London

Chislehurst Caves, Chislehurst, southeast London

November 17, 2014 Nick Warburton 12 Comments

Chislehurst Caves in the south eastern suburbs of London is a 22 miles long series of tunnels. During the 1960s, the caves were used as a music venue and many notable artists played there, including David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd, to name a few.

I have started to compile a list of artists that played and would welcome any additions. Also, I would welcome any memories of the caves from that period.

14 March 1964 – The Lonely Ones, The Corvettes, The Maniacs, The Outcasts, The Rockabeats and Band Seven (Kent Messenger)

14 May 1965 (Friday) – The Epitaph Souls, The Forerunners, Danny & The Torinos, The Two Squared, The Great Expectations, Hamilton King’s Blues Messengers and Brian Something and The What’s Its (Melody Maker)

11 February 1966 (Friday) – The Downliners Sect (South East London Mercury) (opened the caves as a music venue)

25 February 1966 (Friday) – Zoot Money & The Big Roll Band (South East London Mercury)

4 March 1966 (Friday) – David Bowie & The Buzz (South East London Mercury)

11 March 1966 (Friday) – The Loose Ends (South East London Mercury)

18 March 1966 (Friday) – Deacon Lewis (South East London Mercury)

8 April 1966 (Friday) – The Graham Bond Organisation (South East London Mercury and Melody Maker)

29 April 1966 (Friday) – Them (Melody Maker)

6 May 1966 (Friday) – The Pretty Things (Melody Maker)

20 May 1966 (Friday) – Brian Something and The What’s Its (Carl Ross’ gig diary)

1 July 1966 (Friday) – The Yardbirds (Record Mirror)

15 July 1966 (Friday) – The Action (Fabulous 208)

29 July 1966 (Friday) – The Action (Fabulous 208)

5 August 1966 (Friday) – The Graham Bond Organisation (Melody Maker)

28 October 1966 (Friday) – Brian Something and The What’s Its (Carl Ross’ gig diary)

16 December 1966 (Friday) – The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Melody Maker)

30 December 1966 (Friday) – Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers (Melody Maker and Disc & Music Echo)

6 January 1967 (Friday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

27 January 1967 (Friday) – The Jimi Hendrix Experience (needs source but probably Melody Maker)

17 February 1967 (Friday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

17 March 1967 (Friday) – The Amboy Dukes (Fabulous 208)

14 April 1967 (Friday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

19 May 1967 (Friday) – Brian Something and The What’s Its (Carl Ross’ gig diary)

7 July 1967 (Friday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

11 August 1967 (Friday) – The Nervous System (Melody Maker)

6 October 1967 (Friday) – Eric Burdon & The New Animals (Kathy Doughty’s memories – see comments below)

14 October 1967 (Saturday) – The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Fabulous 208)

10 November 1967 (Friday) – The Foundations (Melody Maker)

8 December 1967 (Friday) –Pink Floyd (possibly Melody Maker but might be South East London Mercury)

9 February 1968 (Friday) – The Herd (South East London Mercury)

Categories: England, London

The Cromwellian, 3 Cromwell Road, South Kensington

November 15, 2014 Nick Warburton 5 Comments

Located at 3 Cromwell Road in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, SW7, the Cromwellian Club was a notable London rock venue that was opened in late 1964 by entrepreneur Tony Mitchell and part owned and managed by Bob Archer, who later established the Pantiles club in Bagshot, Surrey. The club’s opening was reported in The Stage in its 8 October 1964 issue.

Brian Auger who played here with The Trinity claims that the Cromwellian is where Jimi Hendrix first jammed with his band after arriving in London in late September 1966, although others point to the Scotch of St James.

At its height in 1966-1967, it also hosted numerous jam sessions, featuring the likes of Chris Farlowe, Georgie Fame, Long John Baldry, Eric Burdon and Eric Clapton among others.

Like other exclusive clubs like Blaises and the Scotch of St James, the entrance fee was expensive and therefore catered less for music fans and more for the celebrities of the day and wealthy clientele.

The Cromwellian was rarely advertised in the music papers so it’s been difficult to find gigs. The list below is a start but I’d welcome any additions and corrections plus any photos of the venue and posters of advertised gigs as well as band photos (all credited accordingly).

1965

Although it’s not been possible to find exact dates the following musicians confirmed their bands played at the Cromwellian during 1965-1966:

Singer Jim Nairn (aka James Royal) says that James Royal & The Hawks and The James Royal Set played there throughout this period.

Tony Richard who drummed and sang with The Fetish Crowd says that his group performed there during 1965-1966.

Singer Alan Chamberlain says that The Just Four, which became The Guests, played at the venue in 1965-1966.

Guitarist/singer Stuart Cowell says he was working with Ralph Denyer’s Rockhouse Band when they performed at the Cromwellian in late 1965 before he left to join Gass.

Ray Lovegrove, who DJ’d at the venue, remembers seeing Stevie Wonder and also The Groundhogs at the club during 1965 when he was there. However, the Stevie Wonder gig could have been 26 January 1966 (see below).

The following list for 1965 is incomplete so I’d welcome additions:

1 April 1965 (Thursday) – The Drifters (Melody Maker)

5 June 1965 (Saturday) – The Soul Sisters (Melody Maker)

8 June 1965 (Tuesday) – Donnie Elbert (Melody Maker)

15 June 1965 (Tuesday) – Solomon Burke (Melody Maker)

23 June 1965 (Wednesday) – Doris Troy (Melody Maker)

13 July 1965 (Tuesday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Melody Maker)

23 July 1965 (Friday) – Inez & Charlie Foxx (Melody Maker)

6 August 1965 (Friday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

14 August 1965 (Saturday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

30 August 1965 (Monday) – The Mark Leeman Five (Martyn Hanson’s Hang on to a Dream: The Story of the Nice book)

According to Hanson’s book, this was keyboard player Terry Goldberg’s final gig with Mark Leeman’s band.

8 September 1965 (Wednesday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

11 September 1965 (Saturday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

15 September 1965 (Wednesday) – The Loose Ends (South East London Mercury)

16 September 1965 (Thursday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

23 September 1965 (Thursday) – Dave Anthony’s Moods (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)

Guitarist Tim Large says that Dave Anthony’s Moods had a regular Wednesday night gig at the Cromwellian but most of the 1965 gigs below are Thursdays.

25 September 1965 (Saturday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

1 October 1965 (Friday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

7 October 1965 (Thursday) – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

London Life magazine for the week 9-15 October, and for subsequent issues running to December 1966 when it closed, notes that several groups played each week.

20 October 1965 (Wednesday) – Dave Anthony’s Moods (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)

28 October 1965 (Thursday) – Dave Anthony’s Moods (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)

Boz & The Boz People played at the Cromwellian sometime before 4 November, according to the West Surrey Advertiser (see pic)

4 November 1965 (Thursday) – Dave Anthony’s Moods (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)

11 November 1965 (Thursday) – The Mark Leeman Five (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)

2 December 1965 (Thursday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Record Mirror)

9 December 1965 (Thursday) – The Mark Leeman Five (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)

10 December 1965 (Friday) – The Beatstalkers (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)

13 December 1965 (Monday) – The Beatstalkers (Kevin Cann’s research – thanks to Andy Neill for sharing)

14 December 1965 (Tuesday) – The Nite People (Barry Curtis’ gig diary – thanks to John Warburg for sharing)

15 December 1965 (Wednesday) – Major Lance (Record Mirror)

16 December 1965 (Thursday) – Bluesology (Melody Maker)

Elton John (then known as Reg Dwight) was Bluesology’s keyboard player.

20 December 1965 (Monday) – Joe Tex (Record Mirror)

1966

Although it’s not been possible to find exact dates the following musicians confirmed their bands played at the Cromwellian during 1966:

Keyboard player Stan Marut, who worked with Julian Covey & The Machine from late 1965-mid-1966 says the group had a regular Saturday night residency at the club in early 1966 (and also possibly late 1965 when John McVie was briefly a member when Jack Bruce filled his spot in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers). He remembers Sands were playing at the venue around the same time.

According to Chris Groom’s excellent book “Rockin’ and Around Croydon”, Croydon group The Kingpins played at the Cromwellian in early 1966.

Singer Alan Chamberlain says that The Guests played at the venue during 1966 (possibly with The Shevelles).

Jim Nairn (aka James Royal) says The James Royal Set played at the club this year.

Guitarist Frank Torpey, who later became an original member of The Sweet, confirms his group The Tribe played at the Cromwellian (most likely this year and possibly also 1967).

Guitarist Jim Cregan says that Blossom Toes performed at the venue (but this might have been 1967).

Ray Brown, who played bass with Jeff Curtis & The Flames from mid-1965 to late 1967 when they became The Kool, says that the band played at the Cromwellian a few times, most likely in 1966 (but also possibly early 1967).

Drummer Rocky Browne confirms that The Summer Set had a weekly residence at the Cromwellian during 1966.

Drummer Tony Richard says The Fetish Crowd played at the club during 1966.

The following list for 1966 is incomplete so I’d welcome additions:

4 January 1966 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

11 January 1966 (Tuesday) – Pattie La Belle & The Bluebells with Bluesology (Melody Maker)

Elton John (then known as Reg Dwight) was Bluesology’s keyboard player.

13 January 1966 (Thursday) – The Exciters (Record Mirror)

Record Mirror originally billed this show for 19 January.

15 January 1966 (Saturday) – The Riot Squad (website: http://brunoceriotti.weebly.com/the-riot-squad.html)

19 January 1966 (Wednesday) – Lee Dorsey (Record Mirror)

Record Mirror also listed this for 31 January so this may not have happened. Dorsey was most likely backed by The Krew featuring sax player Howie Casey. I also have The Sidewinders, so probably shared. They were back the following Wednesday to back Stevie Wonder.

26 January 1966 (Wednesday) – Stevie Wonder (Record Mirror)

Stevie Wonder was backed by The Sidewinders (confirmed by drummer Malcolm Penn).

31 January 1966 (Monday) – Lee Dorsey (Record Mirror and Rave Magazine)

Lee Dorsey was most certainly backed by The Krew.

5 February 1966 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

This was 2-6am on the Sunday morning after a show at the Glenlyn Ballroom in Forest Hill on the Saturday night. Chase says The Searchers came in and watched them.

9 February 1966 (Wednesday) – Doris Troy (Record Mirror)

16 February 1966 (Wednesday) – Steampacket (website: http://thebritishsound.blogspot.com/2011/07/steam-packet-family-tree-performance.html)

Record Mirror lists Rufus Thomas for 16 February. Steampacket did perform at the Cromwellian and it’s possible that Rufus Thomas shared the billing. Rod Stewart co-fronted Steampacket with Long John Baldry and Julie Driscoll.

19 February 1966 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

23 February 1966 (Wednesday) – Ben E King (Record Mirror and Rave Magazine)

25 February 1966 (Friday) – The Nite People (Barry Curtis’ gig diary – thanks to John Warburg for sharing)

2 March 1966 (Wednesday) – Solomon Burke (Record Mirror)

3 March 1966 (Thursday) – Episode Six (Brian Long’s research)

Future Deep Purple members Ian Gillan and Roger Glover were members.

5 March 1966 (Saturday) – Julian Covey & The Machine (needs confirmation)

10 March 1966 (Thursday) – Episode Six (Brian Long’s research)

12 March 1966 (Saturday) – Julian Covey & The Machine (needs confirmation)

19 March 1966 (Saturday) – Julian Covey & The Machine (needs confirmation)

Cromwellian, London, March 1966. Photo: Melody Maker

26 March 1966 (Saturday) – Julian Covey & The Machine (Melody Maker)

1 April 1966 (Friday) – The Sidewinders (Malcolm Penn’s gig diary)

5 May 1966 (Thursday) – Betty Everett (Record Mirror)

Christopher Hjort’s excellent book “Strange Brew: Eric Clapton & The British Blues Boom 1965-1970” notes that Eric Clapton attended the Cromwellian on 9 May after a gig at the Star Hotel in Croydon with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.

The 9 May marks the inception of SLAGS (Society of Looning Alcoholic Guitarists) whose members include Jeff Beck, Stevie Winwood, Vic Briggs, Pete Townshend, Steve Marriott, Andy Somers, Alan Roskams and Dave Wendels. The members will meet regularly at the Cromwellian.

In early June Melody Maker prints a “Guide to Good Raving” which lists the “in” clubs of the London scene. The Cromwellian is featured and the magazine notes that Gary Farr & The T-Bones, The Mark Leeman Five, Dave Anthony’s Moods, The Shevelles, Sands and The Peter B’s (actually The Shotgun Express) have recently played at the venue (performing until 2am).

10 June 1966 (Friday) – Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

According to the Nottingham Evening Post, The Five Proud Walkers who play at the Beachcomber Club on 18 June came from the Cromwellian.

According to the Southern Evening Echo (Southampton), The Move, who play the Adam & Eve in Southampton on 12 July, came from the Cromwellian (see above)

According to the Nottingham Evening Post, The Cromwellians who play at the Beachcomber Club on 23 July came from the Cromwellian.

27 July 1966 (Wednesday) – The Shevelles (Fabulous 208)

30 July 1966 (Saturday) – The Riot Squad (website: http://brunoceriotti.weebly.com/the-riot-squad.html)

The Eyes of Blue, who have won Melody Maker’s National Beat Contest, celebrate with a party at the club on 7 August. Eric Clapton, Alan Price, Chris Farlowe and others attend.

According to the Nottingham Evening Post, The Coletrane Union, who play at the Britannia Rowing Club on 13 August came from the Cromwellian

According to this Moody Blues site, John Lodge’s band The Question were regulars at the Cromwellian during August/September 1966 before he took up the bass slot in The Moody Blues in October.

31 August 1966 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

20 September 1966 (Tuesday) – Dave Anthony’s Moods (Melody Maker)

Guitarist Tim Large says that Dave Anthony’s Moods had a regular Wednesday night gig at the Cromwellian but the gigs in September are Tuesday nights.

21 September 1966 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

27 September 1966 (Tuesday) – Dave Anthony’s Moods (Melody Maker)

30 September 1966 (Friday) – The Brian Auger Trinity (Jimi Hendrix website)

According to this site, Brian Auger was playing at the Cromwellian on a Friday night and had invited Jimi Hendrix to sit in with his band at this venue earlier in the week. Auger insists that this was the first place that Hendrix jammed with his band.

However, Auger did play at Blaises on Thursday, 29 September and Hendrix did sit in on that occasion, having arrived in the UK on Thursday, 22 September. According to Vic Briggs (and other sources), Hendrix also turned up and jammed with the band at the Scotch of St James on Wednesday, 28 September.

8 October 1966 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

11 October 1966 (Tuesday) – The Shevelles (Fabulous 208)

It has been noted that The Paul Butterfield Blues Band jammed with Cream at the Cromwellian on 19 October (the alternative location was the Scotch of St James). However, according to Christopher Hjort’s excellent book on the British blues boom, “Strange Brew”, Cream are playing at the Blue Moon in Cheltenham this evening.

22 October 1966 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

2 November 1966 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

16 November 1966 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

18 November 1966 (Friday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

According to Disc & Music Echo’s 26 November issue, Eric Burdon, Chas Chandler and Bill Wyman attended the club on this date.

30 November 1966 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

According to Bruno Ceriotti, Bluesology (featuring Reg Dwight aka Elton John) played at the Cromwellian regularly during December 1966, which is where Long John Baldry saw them and took them on as his new backing group.

7 December 1966 (Wednesday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

14 December 1966 (Wednesday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

According to Disc & Music Echo, The Magic Lanterns visited the club the week starting 19 December but it is not clear whether they performed or just attended.

24 December 1966 (Saturday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

1967

According to Disc & Music Echo, Ray Hunter and Paul Lincoln, who had previously run The Two I’s Coffee Bar in Soho, co-ran the Cromwellian this year.

Rob Tolchard says his band Sands played the Cromwellian in January where they were spotted by Brian Epstein who hired them for his Saville Theatre show on 5 February.

Bass player Bruce Usherwood says The Warren Davis Monday Band performed at the venue several times between December 1966 and February 1967 just before they signed with Columbia Records.

The Warren Davis Monday Band’s guitarist Rob Walker concurs and notes that one of the gigs was when the band was called The Boardwalkers.

Disc & Music Echo, 14 January 1967 issue, talks about Georgie Fame’s fiancé Carmen’s 21^st birthday fancy dress party, which was held at the venue on 8 January. The guests include Jane Asher, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and Georgie Fame.

The following list for 1967 is incomplete so I’d welcome additions:

17 January 1967 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

28 January 1967 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

Disc & Music Echo reported that Del Shannon, Johnny Rivers, Edwin Starr and Dave Davies of The Kinks were guests at the club during the week starting 30 January.

According to Martyn Hanson’s excellent book Hang on to a Dream: The Story of the Nice, Lee Jackson was part of the house band at the Cromwellian, The House of Usher during February and March 1967.

2 February 1967 (Thursday) – The Fleur De Lys (Keith Guster’s gig diary)

6 February 1967 (Monday) – The Web with John L Watson (Melody Maker)

9 February 1967 (Thursday) – Long John Baldry & Bluesology (Fabulous 208)

11 February 1967 (Saturday) – Bobby King & The Sabres (Clive Chase’s gig diary)

Bobby King & The Sabres perform from 2am to 6am after playing at the Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London on the Saturday night, so this would probably be the early hours of the Sunday, 12 February.

20 February 1967 (Monday) – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Ken Baxter’s gig diary)

23 February 1967 (Thursday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

25 February 1967 (Saturday) – The Good Time Losers (needs confirmation)

The Good Time Losers had a residency at the club around about now, according to Melody Maker. Disc & Music Echo reported that they were managed by the club. Pretty certain it was a Saturday but needs confirmation.

4 March 1967 (Saturday) – The Good Time Losers (needs confirmation)

11 March 1967 (Saturday) – The Good Time Losers (needs confirmation)

18 March 1967 (Saturday) – The Good Time Losers (needs confirmation)

25 March 1967 (Saturday) – The Good Time Losers (needs confirmation)

3 April 1967 (Monday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

8 April 1967 (Saturday) – Prince Buster & The Bees (Disc & Music Echo)

12 April 1967 (Wednesday) – Ben E King (Disc & Music Echo)

Disc & Music Echo report that Tom Jones attended. This may have been 5 April so needs confirmation

14 April 1967 (Friday) – Motivation with The James Garnet Soul and Roll Band (Swindon Advertiser) (cancelled)

Motivation (featuring future Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre) are advertised to play the venue. Keyboard player Mick Ketley says they did play the Cromwellian. However, sax player Chris Rodger confirms they were in Italy until mid-May before returning home so this didn’t happen.

16 April 1967 (Sunday) – Disc and Music Echo says that The Bee Gees hold a reception at the club today

18 April 1967 (Tuesday) – Bo Diddley with The Canadians (Melody Maker)

The Canadians feature future producer and music executive David Foster on keyboards.

Disc & Music Echo’s 22 April issue says that US actress Jayne Mansfield attended the Cromwellian the previous Tuesday but the date might have been 11 April instead.

Drummer Phil Wainman, who later produced The Sweet and was playing with Jack Hammer & The Hammer Jammers in May 1967, says Jack Hammer played at the club, which would have most likely been this month.

1 May 1967 (Monday) – Prince Buster & The Bees (Melody Maker, Fabulous 208 and Disc & Music Echo)

4 May 1967 (Thursday) – The Web with John L Watson (Melody Maker)

8 May 1967 (Monday) – Prince Buster & The Bees (Record Mirror)

15 May 1967 (Monday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

17 May 1967 (Wednesday) – The Web (Melody Maker)

22 May 1967 (Monday) – The Web (Melody Maker)

24 May 1967 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

26 May 1967 (Friday) – Tuesday’s Children (Fabulous 208)

27 May 1967 (Saturday) – Tuesday’s Children (Fabulous 208)

31 May 1967 (Wednesday) – The Web (Melody Maker)

11 June 1967 (Sunday) – Vince Edwards (Del Paramor’s gig diary)

13 June 1967 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

20 June 1967 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

Irish band Granny’s Intentions played around July 1967

4 July 1967 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

11 July 1967 (Tuesday) – Vince Edwards (Fabulous 208)

13 July 1967 (Thursday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

18 July 1967 (Tuesday) – Vince Edwards (Del Paramor’s gig diary)

29 July 1967 (Saturday) – Tuesday’s Children (Fabulous 208)

31 July 1967 (Monday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

9 August 1967 (Wednesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

16 August 1967 (Wednesday) – Marmalade (Fabulous 208)

According to Disc & Music Echo’s 16 September issue, Long John Baldry keeps fit by running up the club’s stairs. Does this imply that he performed here with Bluesology during September?

1968

Guitarist/singer Paul Brett says that he played this venue during 1968, which was probably with Tintern Abbey but could have been with Elmer Gantry and/or Fire.

Drummer Paul Maher says that Jo Jo Gunne performed at the venue (possibly this year and/or 1969).

The following list for 1968 is incomplete so I’d welcome additions.

Judging by the dates below in January and February, it looks like jazz bands played on Mondays.

4 January 1968 (Thursday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

Mike Eastman notes in his diary that his band Katch 22 played on 4 January.

8 January 1968 (Monday) – Bill Nile’s Delta Jazzmen (Melody Maker)

10 January 1968 (Wednesday) – The Web featuring John L Watson (Melody Maker)

11 January 1968 (Thursday) – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

12 January 1968 (Friday) – Garnet Mimms (Melody Maker)

15 January 1968 (Monday) – The Red Onion Jazz Band (Melody Maker)

17 January 1968 (Wednesday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

18 January 1968 (Thursday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

19 January 1968 (Friday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

22 January 1968 (Monday) – Ken Colyer’s Jazzmen (Melody Maker)

23 January 1968 (Tuesday) – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

24 January 1968 (Wednesday) – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

25 January 1968 (Thursday) – Tuesday’s Children (Melody Maker and Bob Hodges’ gig diary)

26 January 1968 (Friday) – Jigsaw (Melody Maker)

29 January 1968 (Monday) – Spencer’s Washboard Kings (Melody Maker)

30 January 1968 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound and Lucas (Melody Maker)

31 January 1968 (Wednesday) – Wee Willie Harris and The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

1 February 1968 (Thursday) – The Web featuring John L Watson (Melody Maker)

Mike Eastman notes in his diary that his band Katch 22 played on 1 February.

2 February 1968 (Friday) – Clyde McPhatter and The Trend (Melody Maker)

5 February 1968 (Monday) – Alex Welsh & His Jazz Band (Melody Maker)

6 February 1968 (Tuesday) – Wishful Thinking (Melody Maker)

8 February 1968 (Thursday) – Taste (Rory Gallagher’s Fandom site: https://concerts.fandom.com/wiki/Rory_Gallagher)

14 February 1968 (Wednesday) – The Tremeloes (Fabulous 208)

15 February 1968 (Thursday) – Tuesday’s Children (Bob Hodges’ gig diary)

26 February 1968 (Monday) – Jethro Tull (Melody Maker)

4 March 1968 (Monday) – Fleetwood Mac (Melody Maker)

5 March 1968 (Tuesday) – The Mike Cotton Sound and Lucas (Melody Maker)

11 March 1968 (Monday) – Spirit of John Morgan (Melody Maker)

18 March 1968 (Monday) – Ten Years After (Melody Maker)

25 March 1968 (Monday) – Champion Jack Dupree (Melody Maker)

26 March 1968 (Tuesday) – Jethro Tull (Melody Maker)

22 April 1968 (Monday) – The Showstoppers (Melody Maker)

25 April 1968 (Thursday) – Nepenthe and Jigsaw (Melody Maker)

26 April 1968 (Friday) – My Dear Watson (Melody Maker)

29 April 1968 (Monday) – Duster Bennett (Melody Maker)

30 April 1968 (Tuesday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)

1 May 1968 (Wednesday) – O’Hara’s Playboys (Melody Maker)

2 May 1968 (Thursday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)

3 May 1968 (Friday) – Duane Eddy with The Quotations (Melody Maker)

6 May 1968 (Monday) – Wishful Thinking (Melody Maker)

7 May 1968 (Tuesday) – The Jeff Beck Group (Melody Maker)

8 May 1968 (Wednesday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

9 May 1968 (Thursday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

10 May 1968 (Friday) – Hopscotch (Melody Maker)

11 May 1968 (Saturday) – Merlin Q (Melody Maker)

13 May 1968 (Monday) – The Fantastics (with The House of Orange) (Melody Maker)

14 May 1968 (Tuesday) – The Embers (Melody Maker)

15 May 1968 (Wednesday) – O’ Hara’s Playboys (Melody Maker)

16 May 1968 (Thursday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

17 May 1968 (Friday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)

18 May 1968 (Saturday) – Brass Tacks (Melody Maker)

20 May 1968 (Monday) – Wishful Thinking (Melody Maker)

21 May 1968 (Tuesday) – Wishful Thinking (Melody Maker)

22 May 1968 (Wednesday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)

27 May 1968 (Monday) – Duane Eddy (Melody Maker)

3 June 1968 (Monday) – Bill Haley & The Comets (Melody Maker and New Musical Express)

14 June 1968 (Friday) – Ruby & The Romantics (Melody Maker)

18 June 1968 (Tuesday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

27 June 1968 (Thursday) – The Mike Cotton Sound with Lucas (Melody Maker)

8 July 1968 (Monday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

20 July 1968 (Saturday) – The Mooche (Melody Maker)

2 August 1968 (Friday) – Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)

3 August 1968 (Saturday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)

8 August 1968 (Thursday) – Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)

9 August 1968 (Friday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

10 August 1968 (Saturday) – The Pathfinders (Melody Maker)

12 August 1968 (Monday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)

15 August 1968 (Thursday) – Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)

16 August 1968 (Friday) – Scrugg (Melody Maker and Jack Russell’s gig diary)

17 August 1968 (Saturday) – Alexander Bell & The Flies (Melody Maker)

20 August 1968 (Tuesday) – Timebox (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

22 August 1968 (Thursday) – Katch 22 (Mike Eastman’s gig diary)

23 August 1968 (Friday) – Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)

24 August 1968 (Saturday) – Scrugg (Melody Maker and Jack Russell’s gig diary)

27 August 1968 (Tuesday) – Timebox (Melody Maker and Fabulous 208)

28 August 1968 (Wednesday) – Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)

30 August 1968 (Friday) – Dave Davani Five (Melody Maker)

31 August 1968 (Saturday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)

6 September 1968 (Friday) – Moon’s Train (Malcolm Penn’s diary – thanks to Peter Gosling for sharing)

7 September 1968 (Saturday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)

14 September 1968 (Saturday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

16 September 1968 (Monday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

17 September 1968 (Tuesday) – Little John & The Shaddocks (Melody Maker)

18 September 1968 (Wednesday) – Timebox (Melody Maker)

19 September 1968 (Thursday) – Katch 22 (Melody Maker and Mike Eastman’s gig diary)

21 September 1968 (Saturday) – The New Formula (Melody Maker)

19 October 1968 (Saturday) – The Maddening Crowd (Melody Maker)

16 November 1968 (Saturday) – The Maddening Crowd (Melody Maker)

21 November 1968 (Thursday) – The Nite People (Melody Maker)

5 December 1968 (Thursday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

19 December 1968 (Thursday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

1969

Sax player Geoff Glover says his band The All Night Workers played at the Cromwellian when Clyde Barrow took over lead vocals from Iain Pitwell, which would have been from early 1969.

Guitarist/violinist Mike Piggott says that his band Gass played here during 1969/1970.

The following list for 1969 is incomplete so I’d welcome additions:

20 January 1969 (Monday) – Ray King Soul Band (Melody Maker)

8 February 1969 (Saturday) – The Maddening Crowd (Melody Maker)

1 March 1969 (Saturday) – The Maddening Crowd (Melody Maker)

3 November 1969 (Monday) – Sky (Melody Maker)

10 November 1969 (Monday) – She Trinity (Melody Maker)

Categories: England, Leytonstone, London

The Beat Syndicate

October 16, 2014 Chris Bishop 20 Comments

John Maskell wrote to me about his group the Beat Syndicate and sent in the great promotional photo seen here. Has anyone come across their unreleased demo?

I was a vocalist for a group called The Beat Syndicate.
Attached is a photo of the group circa 1965. From the left, Tony the drummer, Jim Newton the rhythm guitarist, John Maskell, John the bassist and Mick George the lead guitarist. I am afraid I cannot recall two of the surnames of two that are mentioned.
On 25 September 1965 we appeared at the Cellar Club supporting The Nashville Teens. Arriving about 7 pm we started the show at 7.30 pm. We played on and then had a 15 minute break, when we were informed the Teens had been fog bound in Manchester where they were recording Top of the Pop’s. We were asked to play on to keep the show going as they were not sure what time the star act was going to arrive. Two guys who had left Screaming Lord Sutch’s group to form The Plebs, Danny McCulloch and Derek Sirmon gave our drummer and bassist a break. We eventually finished at just after midnight and the Teens went on at 12.30 am..
We won a beat competition at Coronation Gardens Leytonstone, where we were based, and were given a recording test at Pye studios. Alan A. Freeman was the producer. We recorded a song that the lead guitarist and I wrote with a standard on the B side. The record was never released and I lent my copy to an agent who said he would get me some work after I left the Beat Syndicate but I never saw him or my disc again.
There were two recording sessions one at Pye Studios, the single and one recorded at Leytonstone Library, early one Sunday morning. We recorded three tracks for the second recording, these were the numbers performed that won us the beat competition at Coronation Gardens, Leyton which was compiled on an L.P. with all the other entrants performances. This was pressed by a company called the Audiophonic Recording Co and discs were distributed by Leyton Electric Company. Unfortunately for me I was never told of the existence of the disc which I would have purchased had I known. I found most of this information contacting ex members of groups who were in the competitions around that time.
I left The Beat Syndicate rather acrimoniously, as at the time of the Pye test we were given a contract to tour professionally, however the rest of the band turned the opportunity down. I was a bit miffed as I thought that was what we were in the music business for, to progress to professionals. The band carried on for a couple of years and disbanded some time in 1968.
Disillusioned, I didn’t pursue my singing career any further, but I have sung with the odd band or two in recent years.
Previously in 1963, I had been with a group called Johnny & the Bobcats, we changed the name to Group 004 + 1 after a while.We were based in Tottenham, North London and had a residency at the White Swan for about a year or so. We had success supporting groups such as Georgie Fame, The Kinks, The Paramounts and Gene Vincent & the Shouts to name a few.
John Maskell

Categories: England, London

Tiger’s Head, Downham, southeast London

August 27, 2014 Nick Warburton 8 Comments

The Tiger’s Head was a popular music venue in Downham, Southeast London (near Catford and Bromley) during the 1960s. The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band played here many times during their early years. The gigs below are taken from the Southeast London Mercury.

I would welcome any additions or memories of this venue.

3 February 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Thursday)

6 February 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

10 February 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Thursday)

13 February 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

17 February 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Thursday)

27 February 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

3 March 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Thursday)

6 March 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

10 March 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Thursday)

13 March 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

17 March 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Thursday)

20 March 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

27 March 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

31 March 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Thursday)

10 April 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

14 April 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Thursday)

17 April 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

24 April 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

29 April 1966 – The Anzaks (Friday)

1 May 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

7 May 1966 – Bill Seney & His Modern Jazz Band (Saturday)

8 May 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

15 May 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

22 May 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

29 May 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

5 June 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

12 June 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

19 June 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

26 June 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

3 July 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

10 July 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

17 July 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

24 July 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

30 July 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Saturday)

7 August 1966 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Sunday)

21 October 1966 – The Overlanders (Friday)

28 October 1966 – The Loose Ends (Friday)

11 November 1966 – Gary Farr & The T-Bones (Friday)

18 November 1966 – The Shotgun Express (Friday) (Fabulous 208)

24 November 1966 – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Thursday)

2 December 1966 – The Symbols (Friday)

16 December 1966 – The Riot Squad (Friday)

23 December 1966 – The Shevelles (Friday)

30 December 1966 – The Downliners Sect (Friday)

6 January 1967 – The New Loose Ends (Friday)

13 January 1967 – The Amboy Dukes (Friday)

25 January 1967 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Wednesday)

3 February 1967 – The Herd (Friday) (Fabulous 208)

10 February 1967 – The Shevelles (Friday)

17 February 1967 – The Shotgun Express (Friday)

2 March 1967 – The Gass (Thursday)

8 March 1967 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Wednesday)

31 March 1967 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways (Friday)

14 April 1967 – Coloured Raisins and Honey Darling (Friday)

21 April 1967 – The James Royal Set (Friday)

28 April 1967 – The New Mojo Band (Friday)

5 May 1967 – The Spectrum (Friday) (says Bellingham so could be King Alfred’s instead)

12 May 1967 – Marmalade (Friday)

19 May 1967 – Davey Sands & The Essex (Friday)

26 May 1967 – The Spectrum (Friday)

2 June 1967 – St James Infirmary (Friday)

9 June 1967 – The Spectrum (Friday)

16 June 1967 – Linda Layne & The Sin (Friday)

23 June 1967 – Freddie Fingers & The Upper Hand (Friday)

30 June 1967 – Tony Rivers & The Castaways (Friday)

19 July 1967 – Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band (Fabulous 208) (Wednesday)

28 July 1967 – The Coloured Raisins (Friday)

18 August 1967 – The Coloured Raisins (Friday)

12 January 1968 – The Shell Shock Show (Friday)

26 January 1968 – The Love Affair (Friday)

2 February 1968 – The Delroy Williams Show (Friday)

9 February 1968 – Hamilton’s Movements (Friday)

16 February 1968 – The Coloured Raisins (Friday)

8 March 1968 – Cymbalines (Friday)

15 March 1968 – The Coloured Raisins (Friday)

12 April 1968 – The Riot Squad (Friday)

19 April 1968 – The Good Time Band (Friday)

26 April 1968 – Sugar Simone & The Programme (Friday)

17 May 1968 – Joyce Bond Revue (Friday)

14 June 1968 – The Epics (Friday)

21 June 1968 – Hopscotch (Friday)

28 June 1968 – Moon’s Train (Friday)

5 July 1968 – The Joyce Bond Revue (Friday)

12 July 1968 – The Coloured Raisins (Friday)

13 July 1968 – The Wild Angels (Saturday)

2 August 1968 – 1958 Rock Show with Freddie Fingers (Friday)

16 August 1968 – The Coloured Raisins (Friday)

23 August 1968 – Tony Rivers (& Harmony Grass) (Friday)

30 August 1968 – Episode Six (Friday)

6 September 1968 – The Coloured Raisins (Friday)

13 September 1968 – Hopscotch (Friday)

20 September 1968 – The Joyce Bond Revue (Friday)

11 October 1968 – The Epics (Friday)

18 October 1968 – Gene Latter (Friday)

1 November 1968 – Tony Rivers (& Harmony Grass) (Friday)

15 November 1968 – The Coloured Raisins (Friday)

22 November 1968 – Hopscotch (Friday)

20 December 1968 – The Coloured Raisins (Friday)

24 December 1968 – The Colts (Tuesday)

31 December 1968 – Night Love (Tuesday)

3 January 1969 – The Symbols (Friday)

10 January 1969 – The Coloured Raisins (Friday)

17 January 1969 – The Coloured Raisins (Friday)

24 January 1969 – Episode Six (Friday)

6 October 1969 – The Courtelles (Monday)

Categories: England, London

Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band 1967-1968

August 26, 2014 Nick Warburton 7 Comments

Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band Late 1967 — Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, late 1967.
Clockwise from front, Peter Carney, Geno Washington, Hans Herbert, John Culley, Dave Greenslade, Clive Burrows and Lionel Kingham (photo from Buddy Beadle).

Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
(April 1967-April 1968)

Geno Washington – lead vocals
John ‘Silkie’ Culley – lead guitar
Dave Greenslade – organ (replaced John Carroll who played a few weeks)
Peter Carney – bass
Lionel ‘Rocky’ Kingham – tenor saxophone
Clive ‘Hercules’ Burrows – baritone saxophone
Hans Herbert – drums

Melody Maker announced that three (of the original) members (Pete Gage, Geoff Pullum and Herb Prestidge) had left in mid-April 1967 and Geno Washington would be replacing them the same week. The revised line up (deputy musicians alongside surviving members) was due to play its debut on 19 April (Wednesday).

NME also noted that three original members had left the week ending 22 April. It reported that Geno Washington had taken on deputy musicians until permanent replacements could be found as commitments would not be interrupted.

Guitarist John Culley confirmed from his diary that he played his debut on 26 April (with John Carroll on organ) after auditioning at the Ram Jam in Brixton a day or two beforehand (24 April is the most plausible date) so deputy musicians were definitely used in the interim.

Photo: South East London Mercury, 18 May 1967

The personnel changes were subsequently announced in South East London Mercury on 18 May 1967 (page 2).

NME announced the Dave Greenslade line-up above in the week ending 6 May, so it seems that John Carroll did play a few weeks before Greenslade joined after honouring his commitments with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds.

Keyboard player John Carroll knew bass player Peter Carney from The Flexmen and The London Beats during 1963-1965. He also briefly played with Carney in Tony Knight’s Chessmen in 1966 before joining The New Pirates in February 1967. Carroll had commitments with The Flower Pot Men and later went on to play with Herbie Goins & The Night-Timers and The Flirtations on Stevie Wonder’s UK tour.

Guitarist John Culley had formed The Hi-Grades in spring 1962 alongside guitarist Glen Desmier, bass player Mike Watson drummer Phil Wainman and others. After backing singer Michael Holliday in Jersey the following summer (as Mike Twain & The Hi-Grades), the musicians moved to Sweden in June 1964 and recorded for Sonet. They also backed other artists on recordings for the label. In 1965, Tony Walter replaced Phil Wainman on drums and the musicians toured Denmark, briefly working as The Dynamiters and backing singer Swedish Jerry Williams before Culley returned to the UK in late 1965.

Culley next moved to Paris to work with French singer Ronnie Bird until auditioning for Geno Washington in April 1967. Peter Carney brought his old friend Pete Ross from The Flexmen along to the Ram Jam audition but John Culley got the job.

Drummer Hans Herbert, who’d played with Peter Carney and John Carroll in The Flexmen, had gone on to work with The Just Four and The Guests during 1965-1966 before playing with The All Night Workers from October 1966.

Keyboard player Dave Greenslade was a longstanding member of Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (who’d gigged with the original Ram Jam Band on numerous occasions), having briefly worked with Clive Burrows in the Wes Minister Five in 1964.

After Greenslade joined, the new Ram Jam Band (with a session bass player, possibly Tony Reeves) recorded and released two singles – “She Shot a Hole In My Soul” c/w “I’ve Been Hurt By Love” (Piccadilly 7N 35392), released in June 1967; and “Different Strokes” c/w “You Got Me Hummin’” (Pye 7N 17425), released in December 1967. For the “Different Strokes” session, noted session player Harry Stoneham arranged the track and added keyboards alongside Greenslade.

With Peter Carney on bass, they also cut the remainder of the tracks on the second LP, Hipsters, Flipsters, Finger-Poppin’ Daddies! (Piccadilly NPL/NSPL 38032), which was released in September 1967 and peaked at #8 in the UK charts. Later that year, the band recorded a studio album, Shake a Tail Feather Baby! (Piccadilly NPL/NSPL 38029), which was issued in January 1968.

“Different Strokes” and “You Got Me Hummin’” also appeared on a second EP, “Different Strokes” (Pye NEP 24293), which also included the tracks “I’m Your Puppet” and “Use Me”. The former was cut earlier in the year by the Pete Gage formation.

Selected gigs:

19 April 1967 – College of Commerce, Hull, Humberside with Tony Rivers & The Castaways, The Amboy Dukes, The Locomotion and The Jamm

21 April 1967 – Boulevard Club, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire and Crystal Ballroom, Castleford, West Yorkshire

22 April 1967 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester

23 April 1967 – Ricky Tick, Plaza, Newbury, Berkshire

(Please note: above gigs may not have happened but if they did, they were with deputy musicians)

24/25 April – Auditions at Ram Jam, Brixton, London bring in John Carroll and John Culley

26 April 1967 – Top Rank, Croydon, London with Davey Sands & The Essex (Carroll and Culley’s debut)

27 April 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire

27 April 1967 – Plaza Ballroom, Old Hill, West Midlands (clashes with confirmed gig above and not in John Culley’s diary so very unlikely)

28 April 1967 – Chelmsford Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex (not in John Culley’s diary)

28 April 1967 – Shoreline, Bognor Regis, West Sussex

29 April 1967 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire

30 April 1967 – Beau Brummel Club, Nantwich, Cheshire

1 May 1967 – Watford Round Table, Watford Top Rank Suite, Watford, Hertfordshire with The Amboy Dukes

2 May 1967 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

4 May 1967 – Bowes Lyon House, Stevenage, Hertfordshire

5 May 1967 – Southampton Guildhall, Southampton, Hants. (David Else also has them playing Newbury Ricky Tick on this date)

6 May 1967 – Chelmsford Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex

7 May 1967 – NME Poll Winners’ Show, Empire Pool, Wembley, London with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch, Cream, Dusty Springfield, Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames, The Beach Boys, Paul Jones, Lulu, The Move, The Small Faces, The Spencer Davis Group, The Alan Price Set, Cat Stevens, The Troggs and others

16 May – Recording at Pye

17 May 1967 – Top Rank, Doncaster, South Yorkshire (also TV appearance)

18 May 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands

19 May 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, London

20 May 1967 – Toft’s, Folkestone, Kent

21 May 1967 – Ricky Tick, Plaza, Newbury, Berkshire

22 May 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Penny Blacks

25 May 1967 – Recording at Pye

26 May 1967 – Pavilion Ballroom, Weymouth, Dorset with Palmer James and The Package Deal

27 May 1967 – Winter Gardens Pavilion, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset

28 May 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London with The Hunky Chunk Band

29 May 1967 – Tulip Bulp Auction Hall, Spalding, Lincolnshire with Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, The Move, Zoot Money and Pink Floyd

31 May – Recording at Pye

1 June 1967 – Salisbury City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire with Combustion

2 June 1967 – Ricky Tick, Hounslow, London

3 June 1967 – Morley Town Hall, Morley, West Yorkshire with Bobby Johnson & The Atoms

4 June 1967 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey

6 June 1967 – Britannia Ballroom, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

10 June 1967 – Carlton Ballroom, Erdington, West Midlands

10 June 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire (missing from John Culley’s diary so needs confirmation)

11 June 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Coatham Hotel, Redcar, North Yorkshire

13 June 1967 – Caius College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds

16 June 1967 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire

17 June 1967 – Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire

18 June 1967 – Britannia Pier, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with The Nite People, Ferris Wheel and Neil Diamond

26 June 1967 – St Luke’s College, Exeter University, Exeter, Devon

27 June 1967 – Queen’s Hall, Barnstaple, Devon

29 June 1967 – Scotch Club, Torquay, Devon

30 June 1967 – St George’s Hall, Exeter, Devon

1 July 1967 – Ritz Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset with Minor Portion

2 July 1967 – Khyber Club, Taunton, Somerset

3 July 1967 – Bath Pavilion, Bath, Somerset

4 July 1967 – Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire

6 July 1967 – Flamingo Ballroom, Redruth, Cornwall with Julian Covey Machine (held at Flamingo Ballroom)

9 July 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London

11 July 1967 – Torquay Town Hall, Torquay, Devon

11 July 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Basildon, Essex (missing from John Culley’s diary and unlikely as above date confirmed)

12 July 1967 – Supreme Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent (missing from John Culley’s diary so not clear if this happened)

12 July 1967 – Bal Tabarin, Downham, London

13 July 1967 – Recorded for Top of the Pops (according to John Culley’s diary)
(Note: This may have been same show that was aired on 1 September and also included The Action, Pinkerton’s Assorted Colours and Matt Munroe)

15 July 1967 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester

17 July 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Portsmouth, Hants (missing from John Culley’s diary so may not have happened)

18 July 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Amboy Dukes

19 July 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London (recorded promo video at Battersea Park earlier in the day)

21 July 1967 – Casino Club, Burnley, Lancashire with Sisters of Idle Dreams

22 July 1967 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire

24 July 1967 – Recorded for BBC in Manchester (Pop North)

25 July 1967 – Left for Scottish tour that lasted until 29 July

28 July 1967 – Ballerina Ballroom, Nairn, Scotland with The Copycats

29 July 1967 – The Beach, Aberdeen, Scotland (missing from John Culley’s diary so needs confirmation)

31 July 1967 – Silver Blades, Bradford, West Yorkshire (missing from John Culley’s diary so needs confirmation)

1 August 1967 – Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham with Shades of Gray (missing from John Culley’s diary)

3 August 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Streatham, London

5 August 1967 – New Cornish Riveria, St Austell, Cornwall with The Harlequins

7 August 1967 – Birmingham Roller Rink, Birmingham (also BBC recordings Monday Monday)

8 August 1967 – Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

10 August 1967 – Locarno, Bristol, Avon

11 August 1967 – Locarno, Basildon, Essex

16 August 1967 – Seagull Ballroom, Ryde Pier Head, Isle of Wight

17 August 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Portsmouth, Hampshire with Jack & The Jacobites

18 August 1967 – Flew to Spain

19 August 1967 – Tiffany’s Ballroom, Barcelona, Spain (also play gigs at Platja D’aro)

22 August 1967 – Spinning Disc, Leeds, West Yorkshire

24 August 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands

25 August 1967 – Gaiety, Grimsby, South Yorkshire

26 August 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, London

28 August 1967 – Hastings Festival, Hastings, East Sussex with The Kinks, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Robb Storme & The Whispers, Winston’s Fumbs and Hip Hooray Band

30 August 1967 – Locarno, Stevenage, Hertfordshire

31 August 1967 – Pavilion, Southampton, Hants

1 September 1967 – Carlton Ballroom, Erdington, West Midlands (missing from John Culley’s diary and clashes with Hayes gig below which is confirmed but it was advertised)

1 September 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands (not in John Culley’s diary and clashes with Hayes gig below which is confirmed but it was advertised)

1 September 1967 – Botwell Community Centre, Hayes, London

4 September 1967 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Robert Plant & The Band of Joy

5 September 1967 – BBC Saturday Club appearance

7 September 1967 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull, Humberside

8 September 1967 – Boulevard Club, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire and then Crystal Ballroom (aka the Boogaloo Discotheque), Castleford, West Yorkshire

9 September 1967 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire

12 September 1967 – Palais, Ilford, Essex

13 September 1967 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, London (short holiday after this)

28 September 1967 – Assembly Hall, Worthing, West Sussex

30 September 1967 – Band flies to Copenhagen for short Scandinavian tour, sharing some dates with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention

30 September 1967 – ‘Love Out’, Brondby Pop Club, Brondby, Denmark with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Hurdy Gurdy and R&B Section

3-4 October 1967 – Star Club, Copenhagen, Denmark

7 October 1967 – Idrotthuset, Orebro, Sweden with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Blues Quality and The Quints

8 October 1967 – Jernvallen, Sandviken, Sweden with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and Two Good Reasons (On this day also billed to play Grantham Drill Hall with Broodly Hoo and Legay but didn’t appear)

10 October 1967 – Konserthuset, Stockholm, Sweden with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and The Defenders

13 October 1967 – Tottenham Royal, Tottenham, London (missing from John Culley’s diary so may not have happened)

14 October 1967 – Flowerpot Club, Digbeth, Birmingham, West Midlands with The Sea Cruisers (missing from John Culley’s diary so needs confirmation)

15 October 1967 – Civic Centre, Corby, Northamptonshire (missing from John Culley’s diary so needs confirmation)

16 October 1967 – Silver Blades Ice Rink, Bradford, West Yorkshire (missing from John Culley’s diary so may not have happened)

17 October 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with The Amboy Dukes

21 October 1967 – Matlock Bath, Matlock, Derbyshire with Bread & Butter Band, Thorndyke’s Mordekai’s Imagination (missing from John Culley’s diary so needs confirmation)

22 October 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex (missing from John Culley’s diary so needs confirmation)

27 October 1967 – Skyline Ballroom, Hull with The Roll Movement, Richard G Simpson Band and The Peighton Checks (missing from John Culley’s diary so needs confirmation)

28 October 1967 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent (missing from John Culley’s diary so may not have happened)

29 October 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, London with The All-Nite Workers

4 November 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands with Johnny Neale & The Starliners (missing from John Culley’s diary)

4 November 1967 – Carlton Ballroom, Erdington, West Midlands (missing from John Culley’s diary)

5 November 1967 – Plaza, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire with The Rats (missing from John Culley’s diary)

6 November 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Blackpool, Lancashire (missing from John Culley’s diary)

15 November 1967 – St Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, Norfolk with Alex Wilson Sect and Rubber Band (missing from John Culley’s diary)

16 November 1967 – Birdcage, Harlow, Essex (missing from John Culley’s diary so needs confirmation)

17 November 1967 – Big C Club, Farnborough, Hants (missing from John Culley’s diary so needs confirmation)

18 November 1967 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester

21 November 1967 – Greasboro’ Social Club, Doncaster, South Yorkshire and Kettlethorpe Working Men’s Club, Wakefield, West Yorkshire (missing from John Culley’s diary so needs confirmation)

27 November 1967 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Probe (missing from John Culley’s diary so needs confirmation)

28 November 1967 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, London (missing from John Culley’s diary so needs confirmation)

2 December 1967 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire with The 4th Coming and The Acme Music Co

26 December 1967 – Roller Rink, Birmingham, West Midlands (missing from John Culley’s diary so needs confirmation)

30 December 1967 – Starlight Room, Boston, Lincolnshire with Ebony Keys, The Lost and Ray Bones

Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band Live, Late 1967/1968.
Left to right: Peter Carney, John Culley, Geno Washington and Clive Burrows (photo from Peter Carney).

1 January 1968 – Sherwood Arms, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

4 January 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Portsmouth, Hants

5 January 1968 – Royal Ballroom, Tottenham, London

7 January 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex

9 January 1968 – Bluesology Festival, Chateau Impney, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Joe Cocker, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and Duster Bennett

9 January 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Ferris Wheel

10 January 1968 – Pavilion, Southampton, Hants

11 January 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Streatham, London

13 January 1968 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire

19 January 1968 – Queen’s Hall, Burslem, Staffordshire with The Iveys (some sources have Marmalade and The Peeps)

20 January 1968 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester

28 January 1968 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with Georgie Fame and The Cedar Set

30 January 1968 – Palais, Ilford, Kent

31 January 1968 – Locarno, Stevenage, Hertfordshire

2 February 1968 – New Central Pier, Morecombe, Lancashire

3 February 1968 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Executives

5 February 1968 – The Howard Platt Discotheque Show, Jazz and Blues Festival, Norwich, Norfolk with The Kinks and Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound

10 February 1968 – Devonshire House, Exeter University, Exeter, Devon

12 February 1968 – Bluesville ’68, St Matthew’s Baths, Ipswich, Suffolk with The Track

15 February 1968 – Zodiac Club, Eden Park Hotel, Beckenham, London (replacing Georgie Fame)

16 February 1968 – Top Rank Suite, Swansea, Wales with The Tremeloes and Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers

17 February 1968 – Corn Exchange, Chelmsford, Essex with Simon K & The Meantimers

24 February 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Dykas

25 February 1968 – New Regis Club, Bognor Regis, West Sussex

28 February 1968 – Bluesville ’68 Club, St Matthew’s Baths, Ipswich, Suffolk

1 March 1968 – Mad Hatters Ball, Albert Hall, London with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and others (cancelled)

2 March 1968 – Winter Gardens, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset

3 March 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex

8 March 1968 – Club Rado, Belfast, Northern Ireland with The Few

9 March 1968 – Belfast University Students’ Union, Belfast, Northern Ireland with Taste

11 March 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Glasgow

15 March 1968 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire with The Soul Station (or might be The Uncertainty)

16 March 1968 – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea, Essex with support

17 March 1968 – Hotel Leofric, Coventry, West Midlands

18 March 1968 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The System

22 March 1968 – Big C Club, Farnborough, Hants

23 March 1968 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester

6 April 1968 – Glen Ballroom, Llanelli, south Wales

9 April 1968 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey

11 April 1968 – Eden Park Hotel, Beckenham, London

12 April 1968 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire

13 April 1968 – Sports Stadium, Bracknell, Berkshire

19 April 1968 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire with Granny’s Intentions

20 April 1968 – Glen Ballroom, Llanelli, Wales

Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
(April 1968-August 1968)

Geno Washington – lead vocals
Dave Greenslade – organ
John ‘Silkie’ Culley – lead guitar
Peter Carney – bass
Lionel ‘Rocky’ Kingham – tenor saxophone
Pat Higgs – trumpet
Hans Herbert – drums

Clive Burrows left around April 1968 and the band took on trumpet player Pat Higgs, a former member of Elton John’s mid-1960s band, Bluesology and then a brief member of Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement.

This version of the band was responsible for a lone single, “I Can’t Quit Her” c/w Carney and Culley’s “Put Out The Fire Baby” (Pye 7N 17570), which was released in July 1968.

Geno Washington’s band also recorded a new live album Live! – Running Wild (Pye NPL/NSPL 18219) recorded at the Casino Ballroom, Bolton, Lancashire on 9 August 1968 before personnel changes took place.

NME reported in the week ending 17 August that Geno Washington had split from Rik Gunnell’s agency and briefly gone with Mike Rispoli.

Selected gigs:

27 April 1968 – Plaza Ballroom, Handsworth, West Midlands

28 April 1968 – Wake Arms, Epping, Essex

2 May 1968 – ‘Star Club’, Agincourt, Camberley, Surrey with The Late

4 May 1968 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent with The Section and Square One

9 May 1968 – The Matrix, Coventry, West Midlands with The Magazine and The Square (or Skin Deep)

10 May 1968 – George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire with The Magazine and The Square

11 May 1968 – Bouton Rouge, Paris, France (filmed for French TV – this might be the broadcast date). According to Birmingham Evening Mail, they played The Swan, Yardley, West Midlands with The Magazine on this day

16 May 1968 – Black Prince, Bexley, London

17 May 1968 – Mayfair, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear

18 May 1968 – Pavilion Gardens, Buxton, Derbyshire with Bags Grove

19 May 1968 – Oasis Club, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with support

22 May 1968 – Top Rank, Reading, Berkshire

23 May 1968 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with The Pyramids

24 May 1968 – Town Hall, Walsall, West Midlands

24 May 1968 – George Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire with The Magazine and The Square (need to confirm)

25 May 1968 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with Jaytree Organisation

26 May 1968 – Oasis Club, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Staffords

31 May 1968 – Winter Gardens, Blackpool, Lancashire

2 June 1968 – Sherwood Rooms, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire with The Isley Brothers, James and Bobby Purify, Jo Jo Cook & The Rackett and Fascination

6 June 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Portsmouth, Hants

8 June 1968 – Civic Hall, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Goodtime Band

12 June 1968 – Locarno, Stevenage, Herts

13 June 1968 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands

14 June 1968 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear

21 June 1968 – Midsummer Nights Dream, Burton Constable, near Hull with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, Marmalade, Family, Spooky Tooth, Tramline, Savoy Brown Blues Band, Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera, Baron Richtofen’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Circus, CJ Morris and The Reaction

27 June 1968 – Liberal Hall, Yeovil, Somerset with The Emotions

30 June 1968 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, London

1 July 1968 – Chesford Grange, Kenilworth, Warwickshire with The Traction

4 July 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Iveys

5 July 1968 – Kursaal Ballroom, Southend-on-Sea, Essex

6 July 1968 – Woburn Music Festival, Woburn, Bedfordshire with Jimi Hendrix Experience, T-Rex, Family, New Formula and Little Women

12 July 1968 – Locarno, Basildon, Essex

14 July 1968 – Birmingham Top Rank Suite, Birmingham, West Midlands

15 July 1968 – Radio One’s David Symonds Show

19 July 1968 – Romanos, Belfast, Northern Ireland with The Dixies

20 July 1968 – New Arcadia, Bray, Republic of Ireland with The Ravens

21 July 1968 – Olympia, Waterford, Republic of Ireland with Kim & The Footappers

26 July 1968 – Liverpool, Lancashire (no venue listed)

27 July 1968 – Prestatyn, Wales (no venue listed)

29 July 1968 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands

3 August 1968 – Market Hall, Pembroke, Pembrokeshire

7 August 1968 – Top Rank, Henley, Berkshire

8 August 1968 – Salisbury City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire with The Emotions

9 August 1968 – Casino Ballroom, Bolton, Lancashire

9 August 1968 – Casino Club, Wigan, Lancashire

Sources include: South East London Mercury, Melody Maker, NME, Newcastle Evening Chronicle, Nottingham Evening Post, West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette, Cornish Guardian, Birmingham Evening Mail, Camberley News & Bagshot Observer, Northwich Chronicle, South Wales Evening Post, Derby Evening Telegraph, Derbyshire Times, Aberdeen Evening Express, North Norfolk News, Surrey Advertiser, Express & Star, Aldershot News, Southend Standard, Bracknell News, Hull Daily Mail, Huddersfield Daily Examiner, Ipswich Evening Star, New Ross Standard, Wicklow People, Belfast Telegraph, Dave Allen (Birdcage gigs), Steve Ingless (Bishop’s Stortford), Fabulous 208, Western Gazette, Burnley Express & Burnley News.

Huge thanks to Peter Carney, John Culley (who shared his 1967 diary) and John Carroll for helping with line ups

Internet sources:

www.rockpopmem.com
www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/
http://ballerinaballroom.wordpress.com/1967/
http://www.lankybeat.com/The%20Impnelson.html
http://www.readysteadygone.co.uk/
http://www.kinemagigz.com/1969.htm
http://chelmsfordrocks.com/cornexchange.html

Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author. To contact the author, email: Warchive@aol.com

Garage Hangover

Category Archives: London

The Speakeasy, 48 Margaret Street, London

Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, London

The Scotch of St James, 13A Masons Yard, Mayfair

El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London

Glenlyn Ballroom, Forest Hill, southeast London

Chislehurst Caves, Chislehurst, southeast London

The Cromwellian, 3 Cromwell Road, South Kensington

The Beat Syndicate

Tiger’s Head, Downham, southeast London

Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band 1967-1968

The site for '60s garage bands since 2004