Opened on 2 June 1964, the Attic Club in Hounslow was an important music venue in west London.
Located at 1a High Street, the club subsequently became the Zambesi Club and then the Ricky Tick.
All of the gigs below are from the Kingston & Malden Borough News (unless otherwise noted). There are some omissions and some acts that were advertised may have been changed at the last minute.
I’d be interested to hear from anyone who can add any missing dates, correct any entries and provide any memories of the club in the comments below.
2 June – The Swinging Blue Jeans (this was the opening night)
3 June – The Vandells Blues
4 June – The Tempests
5 June – Rey Anton & The Peppermint Men (Middlesex Chronicle initially has The Skyways in support and then a week later it advertises Frankie Roy & The Soundcasters)
6 June – The Sheffields
7 June – The Smokey Beats
9 June – Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated and The Vandells Blues (Middlesex Chronicle)
10 June – Eddie King & The Chequers (Middlesex Chronicle)
11 June – The Copains (Middlesex Chronicle)
12 June – The Dennisons and The Stereos
13 June – Alex Harvey Soul Band and Miston Tuac
14 June – The Beatvendors
Them featured in Boyfriend Magazine in 1964Them featured in Boyfriend magazine, 1964
16 June – The Pretty Things and Them (not Van Morrison’s band but a local group that became Themselves)
17 June – The Mods and Gene & The Cossacks (Record Mirror)
18 June – The Nitebeats
19 June – Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders and The Tempests
20 June – The Cheynes, The Kingbees and The Roosters (this is most likely the version led by brothers Pete and Ron Jeffries and not Ben Palmer’s Roosters who had featured Eric Clapton and Tom McGuinness between January and August 1963).
21 June – The Arrows
23 June – The Fairies and Miston Tuac
24 June – The Beatvendors and The Sinphires
25 June – The Yardbirds and The Snowballs
26 June – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and Gene & The Cossacks (possibly replaced by The Travellers)
27 June – The Vandells Blues, The Habbits and The Clique
Record Mirror has The King Bees rather than The Clique
28 June – The Stereos
29 June – Rory Blackwell & The Monsters, The Senators and Group Four (Record Mirror notes that the club is now open on Mondays)
30 June – Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men and Them (aka Themselves)
1 July – Diane & The Londoners, Ray Del & The (Rocking) Deacons and The Spirits
2 July – The Sideliners
3 July – The Merseybeats and The Arrows (replaced by The Kossacks and The Bow Seekers)
4 July – Blues by Six and Miston Tuac
5 July – Gene & The Cossacks
6 July – Rory Blackwell & The Monsters and Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Ian Gillan didn’t join until November 1964)
7 July – Charlie & Inez Foxx, The Spencer Davis Group and Group ’65’ (Them aka Themselves)
8 July – The Snowballs and The Beat Syndicate
9 July – Roy & The Vampires
10 July – Erky Grant & The Tonnettes, The Tempests and The Second Thoughts
11 July – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and The Copains
12 July – The Beatvenders (aka The Beatvendors)
13 July – Rory Blackwell & His Monsters, The Tridents (Jeff Beck didn’t join until early September 1964) and The Springbeats
14 July – Alex Harvey Soul Band and Miston Tuac
15 July – Eddie King & The Chequers
16 July – The Klook
17 July – The Chants, The Harlems and Just Memphis
18 July – The Sheffields and Them (aka Themselves)
19 July – Wayne Dean & The Telestars
20 July – Rory Blackwell & His Monsters
21 July – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames, Long John Baldry and Blues x 6 (Blues by Six?)
22 July – The Mojos and The Soundcasters
Middlesex Chronicle has The Fanatics instead of The Soundcasters
23 July – The Ravers
24 July – The Animals and Steve Marriott’s Moments
25 July – Alexis Korner Blues Incorporated and Miston Tuac
26 July – Special All Star Show with PJ Proby with The Diamonds with Rory Blackwell & His Monsters, Frankie Roy & The Soundcasters, The Sonics, The Roosters and The Condors
27 July – Rory Blackwell & The Monsters with supporting groups
28 July – The Cheynes
29 July – The Skyways
30 July – The Seytons
31 July – Mal Ryder & The Spirits with Steve Marriott’s Moments
1 August – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and The Ray Clevelands
2 August – The Clique
4 August – Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated and Miston Tuac
5 August – Gene & The Cossacks and The Phantom Raiders
6 August – The Cardinals
7 August – Dave Curtiss & His Tremors and The Fanatics
8 August – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band and The Clique
9 August – Steve Marriot’s Moments
10 August – group plays according to Middlesex Chronicle but the name isn’t listed
11 August – Steve Marriot’s Moments
12 August – Eddie King & The Chequers
13 August – The CC Riders
14 August – The Stormsville Shakers and The Ray Clevelands
15 August – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames with Them (aka Themselves)
16 August – The Cops & Robbers
18 August – Steve Marriot’s Moments
19 August – The Pitmen
21 August – Manfred Mann and Gene & The Cossacks
22 August – The Graham Bond Organisation with supporting groups
23 August – Jerry James & The Bandits (Middlesex Chronicle)
25 August – Them (aka Themselves) (Middlesex Chronicle)
26 August – The Hysters (Middlesex Chronicle)
28 August – Grant Tracy & The Sunsets and The Sways
Record Mirror has Jerry James & The Bandits rather than The Sways while the Middlesex Chronicle has Brian & The Knights
29 August – Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men and The RBQ
30 August – The Ray Clevelands
1 September – Steve Marriott’s Moments
2 September – Tony Knight & The Livewires
4 September – The Beatmen and The Fanatics (the latter may have been replaced by The Soundcasters)
5 September – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band and Them (aka Themselves) Beat Monthly lists The Downliners Sect on this date
6 September – Brian & The Knights
8 September – Them (aka Themselves)
9 September – The De Kuyper Sect
11 September – The Classmates and Gene & The Cossacks
12 September – The Spencer Davis Group and The Pitmen
13 September – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Middlesex Chronicle)
15 September – Steve Marriott’s Moments
16 September – The Eiffels (Middlesex Chronicle)
18 September – Annette & The keymen and The Cheetahs (Record Mirror)
19 September – The Soul Agents (Rod Stewart didn’t join until December 1964)
Record Mirror has Jerry James & The Bandits as The Soul Agents’ support band
20 September – Downliners Sect (Don Craine’s diary)
Record Mirror has Les Fauves on this date (they probably remained as support band)
21 September – missing entry
22 September – missing entry
23 September – missing entry
24 September – missing entry
25 September – Wainwright’s Gentlemen and Ken Gordon & The Downsiders
26 September – The Downliners Sect and The Clique
27 September – The Swinging Grades
Record Mirror and the Middlesex Chronicle have The Cobwebs rather than The Swinging Grades
29 September – The Sonics
Record Mirror has DJ Rona Lee Jay on 29 September
Missing many entries for October
2 October – Keith Powell & The Valets and The Soundcasters (Record Mirror)
3 October – The Ray Clevelands and The Certs (Record Mirror)
4 October – The Blues Profits (Record Mirror)
6 October – DJ Rona Lee Jay and The Rumbles Blues Band (Record Mirror)
9 October – Annette & The Keymen and Jeff Elroy & The Boys Blue (Record Mirror)
10 October – The Soul Agents with supporting group
11 October – The Kentones (Record Mirror)
13 October – DJ Rona Lee Jay (Record Mirror)
16 October – Jon Best & The Challenges and The Nesters (Record Mirror)
17 October – Just Memphis and The Rumbles Blues Band (Record Mirror)
18 October – The Kingpins (Record Mirror)
20 October – DJ Chuck Benell (Record Mirror)
31 October – Downliners Sect (Don Craine’s diary)
Top clipping and photos courtesy of Gray Newell. The rest are from the Kingston & Malden Borough News and Middlesex Chronicle.
The Blue Moon in Hayes was an important music venue in west London.
Bob Danks recalls Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers playing at the Blue Moon in Hayes regularly in the early 1960s (see comments section). He also thinks Ritchie Blackmore played his first show with Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages at the Blue Moon after leaving Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers.
I have started to collate a comprehensive gig list and would welcome any additions and memories of the club in the comments below.
1963
27 January 1963 (Sunday) – Brian Poole & The Tremeloes (Harrow Weekly Post)
3 February 1963 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Weekly Post)
14 April 1963 (Sunday) – Julie Grant & The Citizens (Harrow Weekly Post)
9 June 1963 (Sunday) – Sounds Inc with Bruce Welsh & The High Five (Harrow Weekly Post)
16 June 1963 (Sunday) – Mike Berry & The Innocents (Harrow Weekly Post)
23 June 1963 (Sunday) – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (Harrow Weekly Post)
30 June 1963 (Sunday) – Wee Willy Harris and High Five (Harrow Weekly Post)
7 July 1963 (Sunday) – The Big Three with The Riversiders (Harrow Weekly Post)
14 July 1963 (Sunday) – Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (Harrow Weekly Post)
21 July 1963 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Weekly Post)
28 July 1963 (Sunday) – Russ Sainty & The Nu-Notes and The High Five (Harrow Weekly Post)
4 August 1963 (Sunday) – Robb Storme & The Whispers (Harrow Weekly Post)
25 August 1963 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Weekly Post)
8 September 1963 (Sunday) – Rikki Rand & The Soundsmen and Bruce Lloyd & The Hi-Fi’s (Harrow Weekly Post)
15 September 1963 (Friday) – Malcolm Clark & The Cresters (Harrow Weekly Post) Needs confirmation
22 September 1963 (Sunday) – The Swinging Blue Jeans and The Robb Charles Combo (Harrow Weekly Post)
29 September 1963 (Sunday) – Malcolm Clark & The Cresters (Harrow Weekly Post)
6 October 1963 (Sunday) – The Undertakers and The High Five (Harrow Weekly Post)
13 October 1963 (Sunday) – The Federals (Beat Monthly)
20 October 1963 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Weekly Post)
17 November 1963 (Sunday) – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Harrow Weekly Post)
24 November 1963 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Weekly Post)
1964
5 January 1964 (Sunday) – Manfred Mann (Ruislip & Northwood Gazette)
12 January 1964 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Ruislip & Northwood Gazette)
19 January 1964 (Sunday) – The Contrasts (Beat Monthly)
2 February 1964 (Sunday) – Manfred Mann (Greg Russo’s research)
5 April 1964 (Sunday) – The Downliners Sect (Don Craine’s gig diary)
19 April 1964 (Sunday) – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and The Impacts (Dorothy Bullock’s membership card)
26 April 1964 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Dorothy Bullock’s membership card)
3 May 1964 (Sunday) – The Downliners Sect (Don Craine’s gig diary)
10 May 1964 (Sunday) – The Paramounts (Dorothy Bullock’s membership card)
24 May 1964 (Sunday) – Alex Harvey Soul Band (Dorothy Bullock’s membership card)
27 May 1964 (Wednesday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Dorothy Bullock’s membership card)
31 May 1964 (Sunday) – The Downliners Sect (Don Craine’s gig diary)
10 June 1964 (Wednesday) – The Yardbirds (Alan Clayson’s book The Yardbirds: the band that launched Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page)
26 July 1964 (Sunday) – The Downliners Sect (Don Craine’s gig diary)
16 August 1964 (Sunday) – The Downliners Sect (Beat Monthly)
7 September 1964 (Monday) – The Birds (needs source but most likely Harrow Weekly Post)
20 December 1964 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Beat Instrumental/Ruislip & Northwood Gazette)
1965
3 January 1965 (Sunday) – Ronnie Jones & The Nightimers (Ruislip and Northwood Gazette)
10 January 1965 (Sunday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Ruislip and Northwood Gazette)
17 January 1965 (Sunday) – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Harrow Weekly Post)
24 January 1965 (Sunday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Harrow Weekly Post)
Roger Dean is the lead guitarist with The Bluesbreakers at this stage.
31 January 1965 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Greenford Weekly Post)
7 February 1965 (Sunday) – The Graham Bond Organisation (Harrow Weekly Post)
14 February 1965 (Sunday) – The Chessmen (Greenford Weekly Post)
21 February 1965 (Sunday) – Ronnie Jones & The Night-timers and The Brian Auger Trinity (Harrow Weekly Post)
7 March 1965 (Sunday) – The Spencer Davis Group (possibly Harrow Weekly Post)
4 April 1965 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Weekly Post)
11 April 1965 (Sunday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Harrow Weekly Post)
Eric Clapton had joined earlier this month replacing Roger Dean.
18 April 1965 (Sunday) – Ronnie Jones & The Night-timers (Harrow Weekly Post)
25 April 1965 (Sunday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Harrow Weekly Post)
2 May 1965 (Sunday) – The Graham Bond Organisation (Harrow Weekly Post)
9 May 1965 (Sunday) – The Spencer Davis Group and (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds with Count Prince Miller (possibly Harrow Weekly Post)
16 May 1965 (Sunday) – The Spencer Davis Group (Harrow Weekly Post)
23 May 1965 (Sunday) – Long John Baldry (Harrow Weekly Post)
30 May 1965 (Sunday) – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (possibly Harrow Weekly Post)
7 June 1965 (Monday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Christopher Hjort’s Strange Brew book)
20 June 1965 (Sunday) – The Who (Harrow Weekly Post)
27 June 1965 (Sunday) – The Spencer Davis Group (possibly Harrow Weekly Post)
4 July 1965 (Sunday) – Ronnie Jones & The Night-timers (Harrow Weekly Post)
11 July 1965 (Sunday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Harrow Weekly Post) This gig is missing from Christopher Hjort’s book below so may not have happened. Also advert above suggests Georgie Fame instead
25 July 1965 (Sunday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Christopher Hjort’s book Strange Brew)
1 August 1965 (Sunday) – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (possibly Harrow Weekly Post)
22 August 1965 (Sunday) – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Harrow Weekly Post)
Southall Community Centre in Southall in west London was a significant music venue in the early to mid 1960s.
During the early 1960s, many of the American rock ‘n’ roll legends like Jerry Lee Lewis and Gene Vincent played at Southall Community Centre on their UK tours. This may well have been because visiting US artists would have passed through or near to Southall after arriving at London Airport on their way to central London.
The venue was also important for west London bands and is particularly significant because future Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore played there often, especially with Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers. It was while he was gigging with this band at Southall Community Centre that he was spotted by Screaming Lord Sutch, who invited him to join his backing band, The Savages. An invitation he duly accepted.
The Johnny Rebs were the resident band at Southall Community Centre in the early 1960s.
Terry O’Connor also remembers Duggie Dee & The Strangers played here and backed Screaming Lord Sutch when The Savages weren’t available. He also remembers Peter Nelson & The Travelers appeared a few times.
Malcolm Lenny says that his band Tony Holland & The Packabeats were regulars at the venue during the early-mid 1960s (see comments section at the very end).
Tony Holland & The Packabeats who played regularly at the Southall Community Centre (thanks to Malcolm Lenny for sharing the photo)
I have made a start on a list of artists that played here and dates. I would welcome any additions and also any memories of the venue in the comments section below. If anyone has any memorabilia or photos of bands playing here, I would be happy to include them with the images credited accordingly.
1960
14 February (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
This west London band morphed out of The Rocking Versatiles (formed September 1957) and included long-standing member Jeff Sturgeon (lead guitar), who remained with the group throughout its various incarnations (and name changes) until finally splitting on 1 July 1966. The band played this venue regularly.
21 August (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
4 September (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
18 September (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
2 October (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
16 October (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
13 November (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
11 December (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1961
Drummer Bob Danks recalls playing at Southall Community Centre with Ritchie Blackmore’s first band, The Dominators in early 1961.
8 January (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
22 January (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
19 February (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Brian Mansell has Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers playing an audition on 19 February 1961. This was before Ritchie Blackmore joined on lead guitar, replacing Brian Sell.
According to sax player Dave Brogden who later joined The Statesmen after they had changed name to The Statesides, Southall Community Centre auditioned groups before the main bands came on to see the punter’s reactions. Usually, they would play a 30-minute set from when the doors opened.
5 March (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
18 June (Sunday) – Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers (Brian Mansell’s gig diary)
Ritchie Blackmore had joined Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers on lead guitar by now, taking over from Brian Sell.
2 July (Sunday) – Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers (Brian Mansell’s gig diary)
16 July (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
23 July (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
3 September (Sunday) – Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers (Brian Mansell’s gig diary)
1 October (Sunday) – Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers (Brian Mansell’s gig diary)
10 December (Sunday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1962
1 April (Sunday) – Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers (Brian Mansell’s gig diary)
Brian Mansell went on to join Frankie Reid & The Casuals after The Jaywalkers split.
6 May (Sunday) – Gene Vincent with Sounds Incorporated (Tony Tacon’s recollections)
Tony Tacon remembers attending the gig with his friends Nick Simper (who later joined the original Deep Purple) and Keith Roach, who later played drums in Tacon’s band Ian Gillan & The Javelins.
19 August (Sunday) – Frankie Reid & The Casuals (Brian Mansell’s gig diary)
Future Animals’ bass player Danny McCulloch was with the band at this point. Drummer Terry Mabey had already taken over from his predecessor Mitch Mitchell.
7 October (Sunday) – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates and Terry Franks & The Avalons (Johnny Kidd website)
1963
6 January (Sunday) – Neil Christian & The Crusaders (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
13 January (Sunday) – Neil Christian & The Crusaders (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
20 January (Sunday) – Barrie James Show (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
27 January (Sunday) – Barrie James Show and Vince Eager (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
3 February (Sunday) – Rolf Harris & The Diggeroos (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
10 February (Sunday) – Rolf Harris & The Diggeroos and Shane Fenton & The Fentones (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
24 February (Sunday) – Brian Poole & The Tremeloes (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
3 March (Sunday) – Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and Terry Young, Tony Holland & The Packabeats (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
10 March (Sunday) – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
24 March (Sunday) – Brian Poole & The Tremeloes (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
31 March (Sunday) – Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
7 April (Sunday) – The Barron Knights (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
14 April (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
21 April (Sunday) – Roly Daniels and The Flintstones (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
28 April (Sunday) – Brian Poole & The Tremeloes (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
5 May (Sunday) – The Avalons and The Spirits (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
12 May (Sunday) – Tony Holland & The Packabeats (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
19 May (Sunday) – The Barron Knights (Beat Monthly/Harrow Observer & Gazette)
26 May (Sunday) – Russ Sainty & The Nu-Notes (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
2 June (Sunday) – Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
9 June (Sunday) – Gene Vincent (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
16 June (Sunday) – The Golli-Golli Boys (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
23 June (Sunday) – Neil Christian & The Crusaders (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
30 June (Sunday) – The Clearways and Packabeats (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
7 July (Sunday) – Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
14 July (Sunday) – The Packabeats (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
21 July (Sunday) – The Packabeats, Linda Laine & The Sinners and The Consuls (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
28 July (Sunday) – The Dreamers and Johnny Milton & The Condors (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
4 August (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
11 August (Sunday) – The Cherokees (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
18 August (Sunday) – The Cherokees (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
1 September (Sunday) – Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
8 September (Sunday) – Brian Poole & The Tremeloes (Beat Monthly)
Harrow Observer & Gazette has Johnny Leyton on 8 September
15 September (Sunday) – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
22 September (Sunday) – Rockin’ Henri (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
29 September (Sunday) – The Tornados (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
6 October (Sunday) – The Big Three (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
13 October (Sunday) – Buddy Britten & The Regents (Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette)
20 October (Sunday) – Ray Pilgrim Show (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
27 October (Sunday) – Tommy Bruce & The Bruisers (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
3 November (Sunday) – Brian Poole & The Tremeloes (Beat Monthly)
10 November (Sunday) – Russ Sainty & The Nu-Notes (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
17 November (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
24 November (Sunday) – Johnny Milton & The Condors (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
1 December (Sunday) – Johnny Milton & The Condors and Jimmy Crawford (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
8 December (Sunday) – The Barron Knights (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
15 December (Sunday) – Sounds Incorporated (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
22 December (Sunday) – The Clearways and The Shades (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
29 December (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and Linda Laine & The Sinners (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
Photo: Ken Samuels
1964
5 January (Sunday) – Johnny Milton & The Condors (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
The Midnites 1964. Thanks to Dave Brogden for sharing.
12 January (Sunday) – The Midnites (audition) (Dave Brogden’s diary)
Harrow Observer & Gazette has Shayne Fenton & The Fentones on 12 January so Brogden’s band would have auditioned earlier in the day
19 January (Sunday) – The Merseybeats (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
26 January (Sunday) – Sounds Incorporated (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
2 February (Sunday) – Brigitte Bond & The Contrasts (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
9 February (Sunday) – Dave Curtiss & The Tremors (Beat Monthly)
16 February (Sunday) – The Barron Knights (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
23 February (Sunday) – Tony Meehan Combo (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
28 February (Friday) – The Fortytwo Big Band led by Tommy Watt (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
1 March (Sunday) – The Clearways and The original Checkmates (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
8 March (Sunday) – Grant Tracey & The Sunsets (Beat Monthly)
15 March (Sunday) – Gene Vincent (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
22 March (Sunday) – Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers (Beat Monthly)
Harrow Observer & Gazette has Pat Wayne & The Beachcombers on 22 March
28 March (Saturday) – Gene Vincent (Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette)
Harrow Observer & Gazette has Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers on 28 March
5 April (Sunday) – The Rattles (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
Bass player Dave Wigginton says that Jeff Curtis & The Flames supported the German band at this venue and this seems the most plausible date.
12 April (Sunday) – Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
26 April (Sunday) – Erkey Grant (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
3 May (Sunday) – Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers (Beat Monthly)
10 May (Sunday) – Tommy Quickly & The Remo Four (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
17 May (Sunday) – The Hollies (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
This may refer to next week’s gig (see next entry)
23 May (Sunday) – The Hollies (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
30 May (Sunday) – Dave Curtiss & The Tremors (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
7 June (Sunday) – Tony Sheveton & The Shevalls (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
14 June (Sunday) – Kingsize Taylor & The Dominos (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
21 June (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
28 June (Sunday) – Diane & The Londoners (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
5 July (Sunday) – The Barron Knights (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
12 July (Sunday) – Robbie Hood & His Merrymen (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
19 July (Sunday) – The Pretty Things (Beat Monthly)
26 July (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
2 August (Sunday) – The Fairies (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
9 August (Sunday) – Jean & The Statesides and The Druids (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
This is The Statesmen, who had changed name to Jean & The Statesides in May 1964. By this point the band comprised Jean Hayles (lead vocals), Jeff Sturgeon (lead guitar), Bill Stemp (keyboards/sax), Dave Hovington (rhythm guitar), Mick Bloomfield (bass) and Ian Walker (drums)
16 August (Sunday) – Erkey Grant (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
23 August (Sunday) – The Birds (Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette)
30 August (Sunday) – The Livewires (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
6 September (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
13 September (Sunday) – The Zombies (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
20 September (Sunday) – The Birds (Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette)
27 September (Sunday) – Jean & The Statesides with The Naturals (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Dave Brogden’s band The Crossfires auditioned this evening before both bands played. The Crossfires played a 30-minute set after the doors opened but didn’t land any work at the Southall Community Centre after auditioning.
4 October (Sunday) – Dave Curtiss & The Tremors (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
11 October (Sunday) – The Roulettes (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
18 October (Sunday) – The Birds (Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette)
25 October (Sunday) – The Merseybeats (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
1 November (Sunday) – Jean & The Statesides with The Druids (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
8 November (Sunday) – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
15 November (Sunday) – The Hollies (Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette)
22 November (Sunday) – Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
29 November (Sunday) – The Mojos (Beat Instrumental)
6 December (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and Jean & The Statesides (Harrow Observer & Gazette/Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
13 December (Sunday) – Tommy Quickly (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
20 December (Sunday) – Sounds Incorporated (Beat Instrumental)
The Clay Pigeon in Eastcote was a notable rock music venue in northwest London during the 1960s.
During 1963, the Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers, which became Manfred Mann, held a residency there for several months.
Throughout the 1960s, many important British bands played this venue, including several groups from the west London area, such as Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Ian Gillan was lead singer in the first half of 1965), The Birds (with Ron Wood on guitar), The Soul Messengers (featuring future Jimi Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell) and Episode Six (Ian Gillan and fellow future Deep Purple cohort Roger Glover were members).
The Sweet also played here regularly during their early years with original guitarist Frank Torpey and his successor Mick Stewart.
I have started to compile a gig list below and would welcome any additions in the comments box below as well as any memories. If anyone has any memorabilia and/or photos of bands playing at this venue, I would be happy to include them with a credit.
1960
27 June (Monday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
This west London band morphed out of The Rocking Versatiles (formed September 1957) and included long-standing member Jeff Sturgeon (lead guitar), who remained with the group throughout its various incarnations (and name changes) until finally splitting on 1 July 1966. The band played this venue regularly.
23 July (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
10 August (Wednesday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
24 August (Wednesday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
31 August (Wednesday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
12 October (Wednesday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
9 November (Wednesday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
23 November (Wednesday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
26 November (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1961
8 February (Wednesday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
12 April (Wednesday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
22 April (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
1962
24 February (Saturday) – The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
Singer Jean Hayles joined The Statesmen in late April 1963 and they became “The Statesmen featuring Jean Hayles” for a few months before gigging as Jean & The Statesmen until May 1964.
27 May (Sunday) – Frankie Reid & The Casuals (Brian Mansell’s gig diary)
Frankie Reid & The Casuals’ line up at this time featured future Animals bass player Danny McCulloch and future Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell.
25 June (Monday) – Frankie Reid & The Casuals (Brian Mansell’s gig diary)
2 July (Monday) – Frankie Reid & The Casuals (Brian Mansell’s gig diary)
22 August (Wednesday) – Frankie Reid & The Casuals (Brian Mansell’s gig diary)
Mitch Mitchell had moved on by now and Terry Mabey had taken over drums.
1963
17 January (Thursday) – The Limelights (Melody Maker)
The advert notes that this was the club’s grand opening
24 January (Thursday) – The Limelights (Melody Maker)
31 January (Thursday) – The Scepters (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
21 February (Thursday) – The Dauphine Street Six (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
Judging by this gig and the ones below, it looks like jazz bands took over Thursday evenings for a while.
28 February (Thursday) – The Colne Valley Six (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
7 March (Thursday) – Douggie Richford’s Jazz Band (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
14 March (Thursday) – Sonny Morris Jazz Band (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
21 March (Thursday) – Sonny Morris Jazz Band (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
28 March (Thursday) – Back O’Town Syncopaters (Melody Maker)
4 April (Thursday) – New Orleans Jazz Band (Melody Maker)
18 April (Thursday) – Charlie Gall’s Jazz Band (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
2 May (Thursday) – Mann-Hugg Blues Band (Greg Russo’s research)
The group that became Manfred Mann assumed the Thursday residency, starting with this gig on 2 May.
9 May (Thursday) – Mann-Hugg Blues Band (Greg Russo’s research)
16 May (Thursday) – Mann-Hugg Blues Band (Greg Russo’s research)
23 May (Thursday) – Mann-Hugg Blues Band (Greg Russo’s research)
30 May (Thursday) – Mann-Hugg Blues Band (Greg Russo’s research)
6 June (Thursday) – Mann-Hugg Blues Band (Greg Russo’s research)
13 June (Thursday) – Mann-Hugg Blues Band (Greg Russo’s research) Harrow Observer & Gazette says two bands
20 June (Thursday) – Mann-Hugg Blues Band (Greg Russo’s research) Harrow Observer & Gazette says two bands
27 June (Thursday) – Mann-Hugg Blues Band (Greg Russo’s research) Harrow Observer & Gazette says two bands
4 July (Thursday) – Mann-Hugg Blues Band (Greg Russo’s research) Harrow Observer & Gazette says The Fantastic Sounds
11 July (Thursday) – Two bands (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
Photo: Melody Maker
1 August (Thursday) – Mike Forde & The Fortunes (Harrow Observer & Gazette/Melody Maker) Drummer Lindsey Bex joined The Tridents.
8 August (Thursday) – The Soundsmen (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
5 September (Thursday) – Graham Bond All-Stars (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
6 September (Friday) – Rikki Rand & The Soundsmen (Harrow Weekly Post)
12 September (Thursday) – The Graham Bond All Stars (Melody Maker/Harrow Observer & Gazette)
21 November (Thursday) – The Soundsmen (Harrow Weekly Post)
1964
3 February (Monday) – The Soundsmen (Harrow Weekly Post)
5 February (Wednesday) – The Tridents (John and Paul Lucas’ diary and Lindsey Bex’s diary) Jeff Beck didn’t join The Tridents until early September.
6 February (Thursday) – The Soundsmen (Harrow Weekly Post)
13 February (Thursday) – The Tridents (Lindsey Bex’s diary)
17 February (Monday) – The Sensational Soundsmen (Uxbridge Post)
The advert notes that the band plays every Monday so assuming they also performed on 24 February and beyond
20 February (Thursday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
By this point the band comprised Jean Hayles (lead vocals), Jeff Sturgeon (lead guitar), Bill Stemp (keyboards/sax), Dave Hovington (rhythm guitar), Mick Bloomfield (bass) and Ian Walker (drums)
22 February (Saturday) – The Limelights (Fulson Stillwell website)
The Limelights morphed into The Legends (see below)
24 February (Monday) – The Soundsmen (Harrow Weekly Post)
1 March (Sunday) – The Limelights (Fulson Stillwell website)
2 March (Monday) – The Soundsmen (Harrow Weekly Post)
8 March (Sunday) – The Limelights (Fulson Stillwell website)
9 March (Monday) – The Tridents with The Soundsmen (John and Paul Lucas’ diary and Lindsey Bex’s diary/Harrow Weekly Post)
14 March (Saturday) – The Tridents (John and Paul Lucas’ diaryand Lindsey Bex’s diary)
15 March (Sunday) – The Limelights (Fulson Stillwell website)
16 March (Monday) – The Tridents with The Soundsmen (John and Paul Lucas’ diary and Lindsey Bex’s diary/Harrow Weekly Post)
21 March (Saturday) – The Tridents (John and Paul Lucas’ diary and Lindsey Bex’s diary)
30 March (Monday) – The Soundsmen (Harrow Weekly Post) Easter Monday
2 April (Thursday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
15 April (Wednesday) – The Tridents (John and Paul Lucas’ diary and Lindsey Bex’s diary)
25 April (Saturday) – The Tridents (John and Paul Lucas’ diary and Lindsey Bex’s diary)
30 April (Thursday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
9 May (Saturday) – The Tridents (John and Paul Lucas’ diary and Lindsey Bex’s diary)
14 May (Thursday) – Jean & The Statesmen (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
After this gig, they became Jean & The Statesides.
16 May (Saturday) – The Tridents (John and Paul Lucas’ diary and Lindsey Bex’s diary)
18 May (Monday) – The Soundsmen, The Downbeat Combo and Mystine (Harrow Weekly Post)
28 May (Thursday) – The Soul Messengers (Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette)
Future Jimi Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell played with The Soul Messengers during 1964 before joining The Riot Squad.
5 June (Friday) – The Soundsmen and Mystine (Harrow Weekly Post)
11 June (Thursday) – The Soul Messengers (Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette)
19 June (Friday) – The Soundsmen, The Preachers and The Mystic (Uxbridge Post) Harrow Weekly Post says Mystine rather than The Mystic
25 June (Thursday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
24 July (Friday) – Lee Paris & The Soundsmen (Harrow Weekly Post)
3 August (Monday) – Lee Paris & The Soundsmen (Harrow Weekly Post)
6 August (Thursday) – Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
18 August (Tuesday) – The Soul Messengers (Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette)
17 September (Thursday) – The Bo Street Runners (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
24 September (Thursday) – The Bo Street Runners and The Peeple (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
1 October (Thursday) – The Preachers and Senate Four (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
15 October (Thursday) – The Bo Street Runners with The Paul Taylor Group (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
22 October (Thursday) – The RBQ and Kenny & The Shanes (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
29 October (Thursday) – The Light and The Beethovens (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
1965
7 January (Thursday) – The Vibratons (Melody Maker)
14 January (Thursday) – The Modern Blues Six (Melody Maker)
21 January (Thursday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s gig diary and Melody Maker)
Future Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan joined this west London band in early November 1964 and remained band until late April.
28 January (Thursday) – Mystic and The Colorados (Melody Maker)
4 February (Thursday) – The Fenmen (Melody Maker)
11 February (Thursday) – The Wackers (Melody Maker)
18 February (Thursday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
25 February (Thursday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)
4 March (Thursday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Melody Maker)
11 March (Thursday) – The Blue Ravens (Melody Maker)
18 March (Thursday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Melody Maker) Harrow Observer & Gazette says The Matadors
25 March (Thursday) – The Blue Ravens (Melody Maker)
1 April (Thursday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)
8 April (Thursday) – The Birds (Ron Wood’s 1965 diary)
15 April (Thursday) – The Blue Ravens and Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Melody Maker)
29 April (Thursday) – The Blue Ravens and Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Melody Maker) Ian Gillan had left Wainwright’s Gentlemen after a gig on 26 April and joined Episode Six.
13 May (Thursday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Melody Maker)
27 May (Thursday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Melody Maker)
2 June (Wednesday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Melody Maker)
By now, future Sweet drummer Mick Tucker had joined Wainwright’s Gentlemen.
3 June (Thursday) – Tony Rivers & The Castaways (Melody Maker)
10 June (Thursday) – Tony Rivers & The Castaways and Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Melody Maker)
17 June (Thursday) – Rey Anton & The Peppermint Men (Melody Maker)
24 June (Thursday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Melody Maker)
8 July (Thursday) – Felders Orioles (Melody Maker)
Drummer John Halsey went on to Timebox in August 1967.
22 July (Thursday) – The Turnkeys (Melody Maker)
29 July (Thursday) – The Flamingos (Melody Maker) Harrow Observer & Gazette has The Blue Ravens
12 August (Thursday) – The Reasons (Melody Maker)
19 August (Thursday) – The Sultans (Melody Maker)
26 August (Thursday) – The Flamingos (Melody Maker)
2 September (Thursday) – The Bo Street Runners (Harrow Observer & Gazette) Future Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood was with The Bo Street Runners at this point.
9 September (Thursday) – The Bo Street Runners (Melody Maker)
16 September (Thursday) – The Modern Blues Six (Melody Maker) Harrow Observer & Gazette has The Alan Price Set but this may relate to next week
22 September (Wednesday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)
By this point, future Sweet singer Brian Connolly had joined the band. Sax player Dave Brogden was working with The Statesides by this point but helped out with this gig.
23 September (Thursday) – The Alan Price Set (Melody Maker)
30 September (Thursday) – The Olympics (Melody Maker)
7 October (Thursday) – Episode Six (Melody Maker)
Future Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan joined Episode Six in May 1965 after leaving Wainwright’s Gentlemen in late April.
14 October (Thursday) – The MI4 (Melody Maker)
This band became The Maze and featured original Deep Purple singer Rod Evans and drummer Ian Paice.
28 November (Sunday) – The Legends (Hayes Gazette)
12 December (Sunday) – The Legends (Hayes Gazette)
1966
Missing all of 1966 apart from this lone gig, so would welcome any additions to this year.
28 January (Friday) – The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)
By this point the band comprised Jean Hayles (lead vocals), Jeff Sturgeon (lead guitar), Bill Stemp (keyboards/sax), Dave Hovington (rhythm guitar), Dave Brogden (sax), Mick Bloomfield (bass) and Ian Walker (drums).
1967
8 February (Wednesday) – The Beachcombers (Ealing Weekly Post)
15 April (Saturday) – Marmalade (Fabulous 208)
16 April (Sunday) – Marmalade (Fabulous 208)
10 June (Saturday) – Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig diary)
The Toby Jug in Tolworth, Surrey, not far from Kingston Upon Thames in southwest London, was a really important rock music venue in the late 1960s and played host to pretty much all of the top draws of the day, including Fleetwood Mac, Jethro Tull, Ten Years After, Joe Cocker & The Grease Band, Traffic and Led Zeppelin.
Melody Maker notice November 1963
Having been a jazz venue, Toby Jug (which briefly operated as a club for R&B in early 1964) opened in early March 1968 as a rock club.
Music researcher Alan Clayson’s book on The Yardbirds (a group from the local area), lists two gigs from 1964:
20 January 1964 – The Yardbirds 27 January 1964 – The Yardbirds
It looks like from the advert below that the venue was changed due to popular demand.
The following gigs are sourced from listings in the Kingston & Malden Borough News. Mick Capewell’s Marmalade Skies was also a great resource.
I would welcome any additions in the comments below and also any memories of artists that played there.
13 March 1968 – Fleetwood Mac 20 March 1968 – Aynsley Dunbar’s Retaliation 27 March 1968 – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers 10 April 1968 – Champion Jack Dupree and Black Cat Bones 17 April 1968 – Fleetwood Mac and Chicken Shack 8 May 1968 – Aynsley Dunbar’s Retaliation 15 May 1968 – Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band 22 May 1968 – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers 5 June 1968 – Savoy Brown 12 June 1968 – Jethro Tull 19 June 1968 – Chicken Shack 26 June 1968 – Keef Hartley (or was this 24 June?) 3 July 1968 – Taste 10 July 1968 – Family 17 July 1968 – Jethro Tull 24 July 1968 – Chicken Shack 31 July 1968 – John Dummer Blues Band 7 August 1968 – Ten Years After 14 August 1968 – Taste 21 August 1968 – Jethro Tull 28 August 1968 – Savoy Brown 4 September 1968 – Traffic 11 September 1968 – Fleetwood Mac 18 September 1968 – Ten Years After (or was this Taste?) 3 October 1968 – The Nice 9 October 1968 – Jethro Tull 16 October 1968 – Jethro Tull 23 October 1968 – Colosseum 10 November 1968 – Timebox 13 November 1968 – Fleetwood Mac 17 November 1968 – Joe Cocker & The Grease Band 20 November 1968 – Blossom Toes 4 December 1968 – Taste 11 December 1968 – Bobby Parker and Chicken Shack 15 December 1968 – Bandwagon 18 December 1968 – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers 22 December 1968 – The Drifters
Gethesemane, The Action, The Nice, David Booth at Eel Pie Island
Eel Pie Island in Twickenham, Middlesex has often been described as the birthplace of British rhythm and blues. Alongside the Ealing Club (where The Rolling Stones came together) and the Crawdaddy in Richmond, Surrey (where The Rolling Stones and The Yardbirds both held down residencies), the hotel on Eel Pie Island featured a virtual who’s who of soon-to-be famous British artists.
However, unlike the two above venues, Eel Pie Island bridged the gap between the early 1960s R&B scene and the late 1960s British psychedelic/heavy rock period.
From 1962-1967, The Rolling Stones (who held a residency there from April-September 1963), The Downliners Sect, David Bowie (with The Mannish Boys), Jon Lord (with The Artwoods), Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck (with The Tridents), The Yardbirds, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Cream, Pink Floyd and many others graced the stage.
The hotel closed briefly in the summer of 1967 but reopened the following summer. During late 1968-early 1969, top groups like The Who, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, The Moody Blues and Joe Cocker & The Grease Band performed there. During 1969, the venue changed name and became Colonel Barefoot’s Rock Garden.
Below is a list of gigs that I have started to compile. I would welcome any additions in the comments box below and any memories people have of this historically important venue.
24 April 1963 – The Rolling Stones 1 May 1963 – The Rolling Stones 8 May 1963 – The Rolling Stones 15 May 1963 – The Rolling Stones 22 May 1963 – The Rolling Stones 29 May 1963 – The Rolling Stones 5 June 1963 – The Rolling Stones 12 June 1963 – The Rolling Stones 19 June 1963 – The Rolling Stones 26 June 1963 – The Rolling Stones 3 July 1963 – The Rolling Stones 10 July 1963 – The Rolling Stones 12 July 1963 – The Rolling Stones 14 July 1963 – The Yardbirds and Cyril Davies All Stars (unconfirmed) 17 July 1963 – The Rolling Stones 24 July 1963 – The Rolling Stones 31 July 1963 – The Rolling Stones 7 August 1963 – The Rolling Stones 14 August 1963 – The Rolling Stones 21 August 1963 – The Rolling Stones 28 August 1963 – The Rolling Stones 4 September 1963 – The Rolling Stones 11 September 1963 – The Rolling Stones 21 September 1963 – The Rolling Stones 28 September 1963 – The Rolling Stones 8 December 1963 – Manfred Mann
25 May 1964 – The Manish Boys 18 June 1964 – Manfred Mann 21 June 1964 – The Manish Boys 26 July 1964 – The Manish Boys 19 August 1964 – Davie Jones & The Manish Boys 2 September 1964 – Davie Jones & The Manish Boys 7 October 1964 – Davie Jones & The Manish Boys 23 October 1964 – The Second Thoughts 8 November 1964 – Davie Jones & The Manish Boys 21 November 1964 – Dave Hunt’s R&B Band featuring Hamilton King
30 October 1965 – The Who (unconfirmed) 15 December 1965 – The Stormville Shakers 26 December 1965 – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
20 March 1966 – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers 23 March 1966 – Graham Bond Organisation 29 May 1966 – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers 8 July 1966 – The Stormville Shakers 24 August 1966 – Cream 18 September 1966 – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers 21 September 1966 – Dave Anthony’s Moods and The Stormville Shakers (check) 27 November 1966 – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (cancelled)
1 March 1967 – Pink Floyd 26 March 1967 – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede 29 March 1967 – Pink Floyd 18 June 1967 – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede 23 June 1967 – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede 28 June 1967 – Pink Floyd 5 July 1967 – Pink Floyd 26 July 1967 – Family
31 July 1968 – Spooky Tooth and Spice 7 August 1968 – Blossom Toes and Spice 14 August 1968 – Skip Bifferty and Juniors Eyes 21 August 1968 – The Crazy World of Arthur Brown 24 August 1968 – David Booth 25 August 1968 – Gethsemane 28 August 1968 – The Nice and East of Eden 4 September 1968 – The Action 11 September 1968 – The Moody Blues 14 September 1968 – Gracious 18 September 1968 – Family and The Downliners Sect 25 September 1968 – Eclection and Village 28 September 1968 – Gracious 2 October 1968 – Joe Cocker & The Grease Band and Terry Reid 5 October 1968 – Gracious 6 October 1968 – John Thomas Blues Band 9 October 1968 – Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera and Freedom 16 October 1968 – Colosseum and July 23 October 1968 – Alan Bown, Gethsemane, Proteus and David Booth 30 October 1968 – The Who and East of Eden 6 November 1968 – Crazy World of Arthur Brown 13 November 1968 – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
23 January 1969 – Eire Apparent 24 January 1969 – Van Der Graaf Generator 7 February 1969 – The Pretty Things and Ian Whitcombe with Turnstyle
14 February 1969 – Roy Harper, Juniors Eyes and Edgar Broughton
Most of the late 1960s gigs were sourced from Melody Maker and Mick Capewell’s Marmalade Skies. Other useful sources were Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette, Richmond & Twickenham Times and Time Out. Thanks also to Andy Neill, Ken Baxter, Alan Clayson and Greg Russo
Opened by brothers Rik and John Gunnell in mid-February 1966, the Ram Jam Club (named after Geno Washington’s Ram Jam Band) was situated on the Brixton High Road.
The famous venue hosted most of the top UK acts of the 1960s as well as visiting US blues and soul artists. I have started to compile a gig list and would welcome any additions in the comment below.
1966
Photo: Melody Maker
17 February – The Animals (open the club)
19 February – Zoot Money & The Big Roll Band
Photo: Melody Maker
24 February – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames
25 February – The Gass
26 February – The Shevelles
27 February – The Gass
Photo: Melody Maker
3 March – The Spencer Davis Group and Paul Fenton & The Crowd
4 March – The Graham Bond Organisation
5 March – Tony Knight’s Chessmen and The Loose Ends
6 March – The Gass
Photo: Melody Maker
10 March – The Who and The Train
11 March – The Gass
12 March – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band and The Peter B’s
13 March – The Gass
18 March – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
24 March – The Peter B’s and Wilson Pickett
31 March – The Peter B’s, Don Covay and The League of Gentlemen
1 April – Screaming Jay Hawkins
2 April – The Peter B’s, Arthur Alexander, The Jimmy Brown Sound, The Shevelles
7 April – Martha & The Vandellas and The Gass
8 April – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
9 April – The Peter B’s and Gary Farr & The T-Bones
Photo: Melody Maker
14 April – The Vibrations and The Peter B’s
15 April – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames and The Amboy Dukes
16 April – The Gass and The Peter B’s
17 April – The Gass
Photo: Melody Maker
21 April – Lee Dorsey and The Peter B’s and The League of Gentlemen
22 April – Freddie Mack’s This and That Show
23 April – Jimmy Witherspoon and The Shevells
24 April – The Gass
29 April – The Action
30 April – Zoot Money & The Big Roll Band
5 May – Patti La Belle & Her Belles (with Bluesology?)
7 May – The Shotgun Express and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
12 May – The Drifters and The Chessmen
13 May – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds
21 May – The Shotgun Express
26 May – Ben E King and The Chessmen
27 May – Zoot Money & The Big Roll Band
28 May – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and The Stormsville Shakers
2 June – The Steampacket
3 June – The Gass
4 June – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and The Amboy Dukes
9 June – The Yardbirds (cancelled)
10 June – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
18 June – The Shotgun Express
24 June – The Moody Blues
25 June – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
30 June – The Graham Bond Organisation
Thanks to Colin Forster
1 July – The Five Proud Walkers
2 July – The Yardbirds and Tawny Reed Heatwave
3 July – The Rick ‘N’ Beckers
Photo: Melody Maker
7 July – The Alan Price Set
8 July – The Shevells
9 July – Zoot Money & The Big Roll Band
10 July – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
14 July – The Amboy Dukes
Photo: Melody Maker
15 July – Dave Anthony’s Moods
16 July – The Shevells
17 July – Solomon Burke
21 July – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames
22 July – The Stormsville Shakers
23 July – The Nightimers with Herbie Goins
24 July – The Gass
28 July – The Graham Bond Organisation
30 July – The Amboy Dukes and The Objects
4 August – Solomon Burke
5 August – O’Hara’s Playboys and The Eyes of Blue
6 August – The Gass and Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
7 August – The Rick ‘N’ Breckers
9 August – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds
Photo: Melody Maker
11 August – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds
12 August – The Gass
13 August – Dave Anthony’s Moods and Rik ‘N’ Beckers
14 August – The Amboy Dukes
18 August – The Alan Price Set
19 August – Mark Barry
20 August – The Shotgun Express
21 August – The Amboy Dukes
Photo: Melody Maker
25 August – The Blues Healers (with Malcolm Magaron)
26 August – Mark Barry and Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
27 August – Cream
28 August – The Amboy Dukes
29 August – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
Photo: Melody Maker
1 September – The Spencer Davis Group
2 September – Mark Barry
3 September – The VIPs
4 September – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames
Photo: Melody Maker
8 September – Zoot Money & The Big Roll Band
9 September – The Carl Douglas Set
10 September – The Amboy Dukes
11 September – The Blues Healers (with Malcolm Magaron)
Photo: Melody Maker
15 September – The Loose Ends
16 September – The Five Proud Walkers
17 September – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
18 September – Otis Redding
Photo: Melody Maker
22 September – The Eyes of Blue
23 September – The Shevelles
24 September – The Gass
25 September – The Gass
Photo: Melody Maker
29 September – The Knack
30 September – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
Photo: Andrew Czezowksi collection
1 October – The Shevelles
2 October – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
Photo: Melody Maker
6 October – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds
7 October – The Shevelles
8 October – The Playboys (not clear if this is The Manchester Playboys)
9 October – The Rick ‘N’ Beckers
13 October – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers
14 October – The Knack
15 October – The Amboy Dukes
16 October – The Rick ‘N’ Beckers (Poster above lists Garnet Mimms)
20 October – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
Photo: Melody Maker
21 October – Diane Ferraz & Nicky Scott and Simons Triangle
22 October – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
Photo: Andrew Czezowksi collection
23 October – Ike & Tina Turner Revue (with Ike – Ettes, Bobby John, Jimmy Thomas, Kings of Rhythm Orchestra)
27 October – The Drifters
28 October – The Shevelles
29 October – The Shogun Express
30 October – The Gass
Photo: Melody Maker
3 November – Cream
4 November – The Shevelles and The Anzacs
6 November – The Gass
8 November – The Rick ‘N’ Beckers
Photo: Melody Maker
10 November – Gary Farr & The T-Bones
12 November – The Amboy Dukes
13 November – Paul Butterfield’s Blues Band and Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede
17 November – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
24 November – The Action
25 November – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
26 November – The Shotgun Express
27 November – The Amboy Dukes
29 November – Julian Covey & The Machine
6 December – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede
9 December – The Action
10 December – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and The Jimi Hendrix Experience
11 December – Bobby Hebb and Zoot Money & The Big Roll Band
13 December – Rupert’s Rick ‘N’ Beckers Show
23 December – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
24 December – The Blue Healers (with Malcolm Magaron) and Dave Anthony’s Moods
25 December – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (afternoon and evening)
Photo: Andrew Czezowksi collection
26 December – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays
27 December – Rupert’s Rick ‘N’ Beckers
1967
1 January – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede
6 January – The Alan Price Set
7 January – The Eyes of Blue
8 January – Felder’s Orioles
10 January – Rupert’s Rick ‘N’ Beckers
Photo: Melody Maker
13 January – The Shotgun Express
14 January – The Amboy Dukes
15 January – The Gass
17 January – Rupert’s Rick ‘N’ Beckers
20 January – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band
21 January – The Shevelles
22 January – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays
24 January – Rupert’s Rick ‘N’ Beckers
27 January – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
28 January – Cream
29 January – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede
31 January – The Fireballs
3 February – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
4 February – Jimi Hendrix Experience and The All Night Workers
5 February – The Amboy Dukes
9 February – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds
11 February – The Shotgun Express
12 February – Maxine Brown & The Q-Set
17 February – Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays and The All Night Workers
18 February – Georgie Fame
19 February – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds
24 February – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
25 February – The Amboy Dukes and The Main Line
26 February – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede
3 March – The Shevelles
4 March – The Fenmen with Felders Orioles
5 March – The Q-Set
Photo: Melody Maker
10 March – The Real McCoy
11 March – Zoot Money & The Big Roll Band
12 March – The Gass
Photo: Melody Maker
17 March – Ronnie Jones & The Q Set
18 March – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds
19 March – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede
Photo: Melody Maker
24 March – Julian Covey & The Machine
25 March – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
26 March – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
27 March – The All Night Workers
31 March – The Urchins
Photo: Ken Baxter
1 April – The Artwoods and Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede
2 April – Ronnie Jones & The Q Set
7 April – The Main Line
8 April – The Eyes of Blue and Rick ‘N’ Beckers
9 April – Herbie Goins & The Nightimers
Photo: Melody Maker
13 April – Mary Wells & The Playboys
14 April – The Shevelles
15 April – The Pretty Things and The All Night Workers
16 April – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds
Photo: Melody Maker
21 April – Julian Covey & The Machine
22 April – Felder’s Orioles and The Main Line
23 April – Nina Simone and The Peddlers
28 April – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
29 April – The Shevelles and The Gass
30 April – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (may not have happened)
4 May – The Len Marshall Show
5 May – The Duke Lee Sound
Photo: Melody Maker
6 May – Julian Covey & The Machine and The All Night Workers
7 May – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set
12 May – The Duke Lee Sound
13 May – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band and Ferris Wheel
14 May – Prince Buster & The Bees and Rupert’s Rick ‘N’ Beckers
Photo: Melody Maker
19 May – The Duke Lee Sound
20 May – The Shevelles and The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
21 May – The Gass
27 May – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames and Felders Orioles
28 May – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band and The Hunky Chunk Band
Photo: Ken Baxter
2 June – Nat Cole Show
3 June – Cream and Impact Blues
4 June – Lucas and The Mike Cotton Sound
5 June – The Duke Lee Sound
9 June – Nat Cole Show
10 June – John Lee Hooker, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, The Savoy Blues Band and Mad Movies
11 June – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds
12 June – The Duke Lee Sound
16 June – Nat Cole Show
17 June – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede, The Soul Meeting Band, Duke Lee Sound and Mad Movies
18 June – The Gass
19 June – The Duke Lee Sound
23 June – Nat Cole Show
24 June – Felder’s Orioles, The Chiffons & Rhythm and Blues Inc, Duke Lee Sound and Mad Movies
25 June – Ronnie Jones & The Q Set
26 June – The Duke Lee Sound
Photo: Melody Maker
1 July – The All Night Workers (evening), then John Lee Hooker, The Savoy Brown Blues Band and The Duke Lee Sound (late night session)
2 July – PP Arnold (& The Nice)
3 July – The Duke Lee Sound
8 July – Ferris Wheel
9 July – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band
Photo: Melody Maker
15 July – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede with Mad Movies
16 July – Joyce Bond Show
22 July – Georgie Fame
23 July – The Coloured Raisins
29 July – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede
30 July – Jackie Edwards
4 August – The Wages of Sin
Photo: Melody Maker
5 August – O’Hara’ Playboys
6 August – The Gass
Photo: Melody Maker
12 August – Ferris Wheel
13 August – Rick ‘N’ Beckers
19 August – The Skatalites
20 August – The Shell Shock Show
25 August – The New Jump Band
27 August – The Human Instinct and The Triads
Photo: Melody Maker
2 September – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
3 September – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede
9 September – Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac
10 September – The Coloured Raisins with Honey Darling and Earl Green
16 September – The Bees
17 September – Ferris Wheel
23 September – The Shevelles
24 September – Jimmy Cliff & The Shakedown Sound
25 September – Maxine Brown & The Q-Set
28 September – The Soul Vendors starring Roland Alphonso, Alton Ellis, Ken Boothe, Johnnie Moore and Jackie Mitto
30 September – The Amboy Dukes
1 October – Jackie Edwards
Photo: Melody Maker
5 October – Vanilla Fudge
7 October – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede
8 October – The Soul Vendors (starring Roland Alphonso, Alton Ellis and Ken Boothe)
14 October – The Skatalites
15 October – Horatio Soul & The Square Deals
19 October – Freddie King
21 October – Joey Young & The Tonics
22 October – The Bees
23 October – Junior Walker & The All Stars
Photo: Melody Maker
28 October – The Delroy Williams Show
29 October – PP Arnold & The TNT
4 November – Johnson’s Dynamo Set
5 November – Junior Smith
6 November – Ben E King
11 November – The Sound Casters
12 November – The Soul Vendors
19 November – Little John & The Shadrocks
25 November – Eddie Floyd and his American Group, Sounds Incorporated and The Peppermint Men
26 November – Ferris Wheel
Photo: Melody Maker
2 December – The Official Receivers
3 December – Desmond Dekker & The Aces
9 December – Watson T Brown and The Lastic Band
10 December – Joey Young and The Tonics (Joe Tex was originally advertised)
16 December – Dr Marigold’s Prescription
17 December – Jackie Edwards
23 December – The Vibrations and The Kingston By-Pass
24 December – The Delroy Williams Show
Photo: Melody Maker
30 December – The Peppermint Men and The Duke Reid Sound
31 December – The Pyramids
1968
5 January – Desmond Dekker & The Aces
Photo: Melody Maker
6 January – Owen Gray and Youth and Rudy and The Shell Shock Show Band
7 January – PP Arnold & The TNT
13 January – Joyce Bond and The Duke Reid Sound
14 January – John L Watson & The Web
20 January – Jimmy McGriff and Nepenthe
21 January – Dandy
27 January – The Skatalites and Sir Coxon Sound
28 January – Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set
3 February – James and Bobby Purify and The Duke Reid Sound
4 February – Jimmy McGriff
10 February – Robert Parker & The Quotations and The Sir Coxon Sound
11 February – Rupert’s Rik ‘N’ Beckers
17 February – Dandy & The Missions and The Duke Reid Sound
18 February – Nepenthe and The New Nadir
24 February – Little John & The Shadrocks and The Sir Coxon Sound
25 February – Joey Young & The Tonics
2 March – The Coloured Raisins and The Duke Reid Sound
3 March – The Fantastics (& The House of Orange)
9 March – Sir Coxon Sound
10 March – The Dave Davani Four
16 March – Jackie Edwards and The Duke Reid Sound
17 March – Horatio Soul & The Jokers
23 March – The Duke Reid Sound
24 March – Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede
30 March – Joyce Bond and The Sir Coxon Sound
31 March – The Chico-Bailey Show and The Night Hawks Band
6 April – The Original Impressions and Joey Young & The Tonics
7 April – The Sonny Burke Show
12 April – The Ethiopians with The Healers
14 April – The Original Drifters
20 April – Rupert’s Rick ‘N’ Beckers and The Sir Coxon Sound
21 April – Garnet Mimms
27 April – The Fantastics (& The House of Orange) and The Duke Reid Sound
28 April – Sugar Simone & The Programe
5 May – J J Jackson
Melody Maker stopped advertising from this point on
Most of the gigs were sourced from Melody Maker and gig posters. Thanks to Tony Webb for use of the club posters and to Ken Baxter for some Carl Douglas gigs from his contracts. Thanks also to Bruno Ceriotti and Mick Capewell for providing dates.
The (Jazz) Cellar in Kingston Upon Thames was an important music venue in southwest London from 1962-1966. Many notable local bands played there in their formative years, most notably The Yardbirds and The Nashville Teens. The Animals also played there regularly in the early months of 1964 after moving down to London from the northeast.
I have started to compile a gig list and would welcome any additions/corrections in the comments section. I would also welcome any memories and photos/flyers/posters.
1962
I have only a few entries for 1962 and would welcome any additions
14 July – The Nashville Teens (Surrey Comet)
21 July – The Nashville Teens (Surrey Comet)
28 July – The Nashville Teens (Surrey Comet)
6 September – Mike Berry & The Outlaws (Surrey Comet)
Ritchie Blackmore didn’t join The Outlaws on lead guitar until mid-October 1962
1 November – Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (Surrey Comet)
1963
I have only a few entries for 1963 and would welcome any additions
17 July – The Roosters (with Eric Clapton) (Surrey Comet)
24 July – The Roosters (with Eric Clapton) (Surrey Comet)
Confusingly, there were two local bands called The Roosters. The first, led by Ben Palmer, included Eric Clapton and future Manfred Mann guitarist Tom McGuiness between January-August 1963.
The second (less celebrated one) featured Pete Jeffries (lead guitar), Del Turner (rhythm guitar), Ron Jefferies (bass) and Jim Strachan (drums). The other gigs below are by this version.
I don’t have a complete listing for 1964 so would welcome any additions
The Pieces of Four performed at the Cellar Club during 1964. Photo: Keith Read. Keith lists the personnel as Keith Read (lead guitar), Ian Duffell (lead guitar), Robin Clements (bass) and Ian Clements (drums)
5 January – Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (Surrey Comet)
12 February – The Animals (regular Wednesday residency) (Kim Chester research)
14 February – Im & The Uvvers (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
16 February – Gene Vincent & The Shouts (Surrey Comet)
17 February – The Yardbirds (Gus Smith recollections from attending)
18 February – The Presidents (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
19 February – The Animals (regular Wednesday residency) (Kim Chester research)
21 February – The Mastersounds (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
22 February – The Cracksmen (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
23 February – The Nashville Teens (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
24 February – The Yardbirds (Gus Smith recollections from attending)
25 February – Wayne Gibson & The Dynamic Sounds (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
26 February – The Animals (regular Wednesday residency) (Kim Chester research)
28 February – The Zephyrs and Robb Storme & The Whispers (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
29 February – The Presidents (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
Photo: story on Cellar Club, Clapham Advertiser, 6 March 1964, page 4
1 March – Grant Tracey & The Sunsets (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
2 March – The Yardbirds (Gus Smith recollections from attending)
3 March – The Stereos (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
4 March – The Animals (regular Wednesday residency) (Kim Chester research)
6 March – The Moquettes (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
7 March – The Pentagons (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
8 March – The Nashville Teens (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
10 March – The Beat Syndicate (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
11 March – The Animals (regular Wednesday residency) (Kim Chester research)
13 March – Steve Marriott & The Wandering Ones (Surrey Comet)
The Kingston & Malden Borough News says that Steve Marriott’s backing band are called The Frantics. The Clapham Advertiser also has this listing, but with Jimmy Powell & The Dimensions in support.
14 March – The Senators (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
15 March – The Gamblers (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
16 March – The Yardbirds (Gus Smith recollections from attending)
17 March – Ronnie Webb & The Phantoms (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
18 March – The Animals (regular Wednesday residency) (Kim Chester research)
Photo: Clapham Advertiser
20 March – Bridgette Bond (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
21 March – The Cracksmen (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
22 March – Wayne Gibson & The Dynamic Sounds (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
23 March – The Yardbirds (Gus Smith recollections from attending)
25 March – Unit 5 (Teddington, west London band) (Kingston & Malden Borough News) Kim Chester says The Animals played a regular Wednesday residency
Photo: Norman Sheers. Jerry Lee Lewis, 26 March 1964
26 March – Jerry Lee Lewis (backed by The Nashville Teens) (Norman Sheers’ recollections)
Photo: Norman Sheers
Jerry Leech (see comments section below) confirms that Jerry Lee Lewis played on 26 March
Photo: Norman Sheers
The Kingston & Malden Borough News lists Jerry Lee Lewis for this date with The Nashville Teens and The Original Checkmates
25 May – The Yardbirds and The Grebbels (Surrey Comet)
27 May – The Tridents with The Plebs (Surrey Comet and John and Paul Lucas’ diaries)
29 May – Phil & The Stormsville Shakers (Surrey Comet)
30 May – The Karnells (Surrey Comet)
31 May – The Micky Finn (Surrey Comet)
1 June – The Yarbirds (Surrey Comet)
3 June – The Animals (regular Wednesday residency) (Kim Chester research)
Record Mirror says that John Lee Hooker played on 3 June supported by John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and with The Plebs opening. Surrey Comet confirms
5 June – The Pitmen (Surrey Comet)
6 June – The Road Runners (Surrey Comet)
7 June – The Satins (Record Mirror)
8 June – The Yardbirds (Surrey Comet)
10 June – Group Four + One (Surrey Comet)
12 June – The Plebs (Surrey Comet)
13 June – Group Four + One (Surrey Comet)
14 June – Tony Holland & The Packabeats (Surrey Comet)
15 June – The Plebs (Surrey Comet)
17 June – Group Four + One (Record Mirror)
19 June – The Henchmen (Record Mirror)
20 June – The Plebs (Surrey Comet)
21 June – The Tridents (Record Mirror) replaced by The Vincents (Surrey Comet)
Lindsay Bex, who played drums with the band at the time, notes in his diary the following “Off – A O’Donnel”, which suggests that the gig was cancelled. Surrey Comet confirms as they have The Vincents.
22 June – The Yardbirds (Surrey Comet)
24 June – The Smokey Beats (Record Mirror)
26 June – The Countdowns (Record Mirror)
Surrey Comet has The Plebs instead of The Countdowns
29 June – The Yardbirds and The Grebbels (Surrey Comet)
1 July – Five’s Company (Surrey Comet)
3 July – Group Four + One (Surrey Comet)
4 July – Five’s Company (Surrey Comet)
5 July – Cops & Robbers (Surrey Comet)
8 July – Johnny & The Spirits (Surrey Comet)
10 July – The Echoletts (Surrey Comet)
11 July – The Laurie Jay Combo (Surrey Comet)
12 July – The Stereos (Surrey Comet)
13 July – Group Four + One (Surrey Comet)
17 July – The Plebs (Surrey Comet)
18 July – Earl Sheridan & The Houseshakers (Surrey Comet)
19 July – Guest group (Surrey Comet)
20 July – The Yardbirds (Surrey Comet)
22 July – Group Four + One (Surrey Comet)
24 July – The Presidents (Record Mirror)
25 July – Mickie Finn & The Blue Men (Record Mirror)
26 July – Guest group (Surrey Comet)
27 July – Group Four + One (Record Mirror)
29 July – The Impacts (Surrey Comet)
31 July – The Original Topics (Surrey Comet)
1 August – The Web (Surrey Comet)
2 August – Guest group (Surrey Comet)
3 August – The Yardbirds (Surrey Comet)
5 August – The Animals and The Plebs (club flyer)
7 August – The Plebs and The Denims (club flyer)
Surrey Comet has Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages on 7 August
8 August – Group Four + One (club flyer)
9 August – The Nite Shift (club flyer)
Jeff Beck was the band’s lead guitarist but would join The Tridents in early September.
10 August – The Mike Cotton Sound (club flyer)
12 August – The Nashville Teens and The Beat Syndicate (club flyer/Surrey Comet)
14 August – The Jet Set (Surrey Comet)
15 August – The Playboys (Surrey Comet)
16 August – Guest group (Surrey Comet)
17 August – The Mojos (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
19 August – Guest group (Surrey Comet)
21 August – Wayne Gibson & The Dynamic Sounds (Surrey Comet)
22 August – The Bumblies (Surrey Comet)
23 August – The Cheaters (Surrey Comet)
24 August – Group Four + One (Surrey Comet)
26 August – The Moonrakers (Surrey Comet)
28 August – The Plebs (Surrey Comet)
29 August – The Presidents (Surrey Comet)
30 August – Guest group (Surrey Comet)
31 August – The Mike Cotton Sound (Surrey Comet)
5 September – The Plebs (Surrey Comet)
7 September – The Mojos (Surrey Comet)
9 September – Guest group (Surrey Comet)
11 September – The Druids (Surrey Comet)
12 September – The Bumblies (Surrey Comet)
13 September – Guest group (Surrey Comet)
14 September – The Roosters (Surrey Comet)
This gig (and the remaining ones below) were performed by the second version of The Roosters and not the one that featured Eric Clapton and Tom McGuiness between January-August 1963 (see entries above from July 1963).
16 September – Guest group (Surrey Comet)
18 September – Linda Crane & The Cosmic Sounds (Surrey Comet)
19 September – The Profits (Surrey Comet)
20 September – Guest groups (Surrey Comet)
21 September – Group Four + One (Surrey Comet)
23 September – Two groups (Record Mirror) Surrey Comet has The Cheaters
25 September – The Cosmic Sounds with Linda Crain (aka Crane) (Record Mirror) Surrey Comet has The Wranglers
26 September – The Roosters (Surrey Comet)
27 September – Two groups (Record Mirror)
28 September – Group Four + One (Record Mirror)
30 September – Guest group (Surrey Comet)
2 October – The College Boys (Surrey Comet)
3 October – Little Richard & The Objects (Surrey Comet)
4 October – Guest group (Surrey Comet)
5 October – The Mike Cotton Sound (Surrey Comet)
7 October – Rock ‘n’ Roll competition (Record Mirror/Surrey Comet)
9 October – The Roosters (Record Mirror)
10 October – Im an The Uvvers (Record Mirror)
11 October – The Jaguars (Surrey Comet)
The Orbits, 1964. Photo: Trevor Bennett. Left to right: Todd Tyrell, Ted Cunningham, Brian Edwards and Trevor Bennett.
12 October – The Mojos and The Orbits (Record Mirror)
14 October – Guest group (Surrey Comet)
16 October – The Roosters (Surrey Comet)
17 October – Earl Sheridan & The Houseshakers (Record Mirror)
18 October – Guest group (Surrey Comet)
19 October – The Mike Cotton Sound (Record Mirror)
21 October – Guest group (Surrey Comet)
23 October – Neil Christian & The Crusaders (Surrey Comet)
24 October – The Challengers (Surrey Comet)
25 October – Guest group (Surrey Comet)
26 October – Little Eva, The Stereos, The College Boy, The Rockin’ Welsh Boys and Danny Storm & The Strollers (Surrey Comet)
28 October – Unit 5 (Teddington, west London band) (Surrey Comet)
30 October – The Exciting Stereos (Record Mirror)
31 October – The Roosters (Surrey Comet)
1 November – The Group Survival (Record Mirror)
2 November – Themselves (Record Mirror)
4 November – The Roosters and XL5 (Surrey Comet)
7 November – Cosmic Sounds (Surrey Comet)
13 November – The Impacts (Surrey Comet)
16 November – Jimmy Reed, The Plebs and John Lee Groundhogs (Surrey Comet)
18 November – Carl Perkins and The Cosmic Sounds (Surrey Comet)
21 November – Themselves (Surrey Comet and Gus Smith recollections from attending)
24 November – The Yardbirds (Gus Smith recollections from attending)
27 November – Unit 5 (Teddington, west London band) (Surrey Comet)
28 November – The Jaguars (Gus Smith recollections from attending)
4 December – The Bo-Sneakers (Gus Smith recollections from attending)
12 December – The Roosters (Gus Smith recollections from attending)
18 December – The Roosters (Surrey Comet)
26 December – The Roosters (Surrey Comet)
1965
I don’t have a complete entry for 1965 and would welcome any additions
The Impalas performed at the Cellar Club during 1964-1965. Left to right: Keith Read, Keith Mott, Tony Claiden and Oonagh Ellis. Photo: Keith Read.
2 January – The GTs (Gus Smith recollections from attending)
4 January – Alex Harvey & His Soul Band (Melody Maker)
9 January – The John Smith Group (Gus Smith recollections from attending)
15 February – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins (Melody Maker)
20 February – John Brown’s Bodies (Gus Smith recollections from attending)
5 March – Alex Harvey & His Soul Band (Melody Maker)
6 March – The Rising Suns (all-nighter session) (Gus Smith recollections from attending)
1 May – The Shondells (Surrey Comet)
8 May – Teddy & The Dymes (Surrey Comet)
15 May – The Shondells (Surrey Comet)
22 May – Davey Sands & The Essex (Surrey Comet)
29 May – The Tribe (Surrey Comet)
3 June – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Surrey Comet) This may have been 2 June
5 June – The Shondells (Surrey Comet)
12 June – Ancient Britons and Twinkle (Surrey Comet)
19 June – The Just Five and The Exciting Rippers (Surrey Comet)
4 August – Sugar Pie Desanto, The Shevelles and The Backbeats (Surrey Comet)
7 August – The Small Faces (Surrey Comet)
15 August – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Surrey Comet) This might be 14 August
20 August – Unit 4 Plus 2 (Surrey Comet)
21 August – Davey Sands & The Essex (Surrey Comet)
25 August – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Surrey Comet)
28 August – The Shondells (Surrey Comet)
3 September – The Small Faces (Surrey Comet)
10 September – The Moody Blues (Surrey Comet)
11 September – Heart and Souls, The Valkeries and The Right Track (Surrey Comet)
15 September – Lou Johnson (Surrey Comet)
24 September – The In Crowd (Surrey Comet)
1 October – The Artwoods (Surrey Comet)
2 October – The Valkeries and The Geordies (Surrey Comet)
9 October – The Lonely Ones, The Shakedowns, The Flashbakks and Kiko 6 (Surrey Comet)
15 October – Steampacket with Long John Baldry, The Brian Auger Trinity, Rod Stewart, Julie Driscoll and Next of Kin (Surrey Comet)
23 October – The Lonely Ones (Surrey Comet)
30 October – The Fetish Crowd (Surrey Comet)
3 November – Hedgehoppers Anonymous and Randy’s Incaras (Surrey Comet)
5 November – The Lonely Ones (Surrey Comet)
19 November – The Phil Wainman Sound (Surrey Comet)
20 November – The Lonely Ones and Junior Ervin and The Midnite Hours (Surrey Comet)
24 November – The Small Faces (Surrey Comet)
26 November – The Clayton Squares (Surrey Comet)
3 December – The Burnettes (Surrey Comet)
10 December – The Clayton Squares (Surrey Comet)
11 December – The New Breed (Surrey Comet)
17 December – Sons of Fred (Surrey Comet)
23 December – The New Jump Band (Bob Hodges’ diary)
1966
This is an incomplete list and I would welcome any additions
7 January – The Lonely Ones (New Musical Express)
8 January – The Anteeks (New Musical Express)
14 January – The Anzacs (New Musical Express)
15 January – Next of Kin (New Musical Express)
22 January – The Flashbacks (New Musical Express)
28 January – Big Jump Band (aka New Jump Band) (Bob Hodges’ diary)
29 January – The Anzacs (New Musical Express)
4 February – The Big Sound (New Musical Express)
5 February – Group Survival (New Musical Express)
11 February – Jimmy Winston & The Rebels (New Musical Express)
12 February – The Lonely Ones (New Musical Express)
16 February – The Small Faces (New Musical Express)
18 February – The Lovin Kind (New Musical Express)
19 February – Rey Anton & The Peppermint Men (New Musical Express)
25 February – Jimmy Winston’s Reflections (New Musical Express)
The Candles. Photo: Colin Stoddart
26 February – The Marvels (New Musical Express) Colin Stoddart says his band The Candles also played on this date
4 March – Pinkerton’s Assorted Colours (New Musical Express)
5 March – The Night Society (New Musical Express)
12 March – The New Jump Band (New Musical Express)
18 March – Jimmy Winston’s Reflections (New Musical Express)
19 March – The John Warner Sound (New Musical Express)
23 March – The Nashville Teens (New Musical Express)
25 March – Jo Jo Gunne (New Musical Express)
26 March – The New Jump Band (New Musical Express)
30 March – The John Warner Sound (New Musical Express)
1 April – The Lonely Ones (New Musical Express)
2 April – Jo Jo Gunne (New Musical Express)
8 April – The Lonely Ones (New Musical Express)
9 April – The Beat Syndicate (New Musical Express)
10 April – The Silence (New Musical Express)
15 April – The Sons of Fred (New Musical Express)
16 April – The Night Society (New Musical Express)
17 April – Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (New Musical Express)
22 April – The Silence (New Musical Express)
23 April – The New Jump Band (New Musical Express)
29 April – The Protest (New Musical Express)
30 April – The Silence (the group changed name to John’s Children) (New Musical Express)
5 May – The Pages Five (New Musical Express)
6 May – The Troggs (New Musical Express)
8 May – The Jaguars (New Musical Express)
13 May – Jimmy Winston & The Reflections (New Musical Express)
13 May – Jo Jo Gunne (New Musical Express)
20 May – The Voyd (New Musical Express)
21 May – Time-Flys (New Musical Express)
27 May – The Legend (New Musical Express)
28 May – The Void (New Musical Express)
3 June – The Daisys (New Musical Express)
4 June – John Brown’s Bodies and Jesse Hector (New Musical Express)
10 June – John Hilton Starr & The Savages (New Musical Express)
11 June – Jo Jo Gunne (New Musical Express)
12 June – Froy Talbert (New Musical Express)
13 June – The Small Faces (New Musical Express)
17 June – The Voyd (New Musical Express)
18 June – The Anzacs (New Musical Express)
24 June – John Hilton Starr & The Savages (New Musical Express)
25 June – The Rick ‘N’ Beckers (New Musical Express)
1 July – The Lonely Ones (New Musical Express)
2 July – The Anzacs (New Musical Express)
8 July – The Troggs and The Wild Uncertainty (their debut) (New Musical Express)
16 July – The Wild Uncertainty (New Musical Express)
22 July – The Wild Uncertainty (New Musical Express)
23 July – The Flashbacks (New Musical Express)
29 July – The Night Society (New Musical Express)
30 July – The Subjects (New Musical Express)
6 August – Jo Jo Gunne (took part in London Palladium competition around now)
12 August – Jo Jo Gunne (New Musical Express)
13 August – The Missing Links (New Musical Express)
19 August – Cream (New Musical Express)
20 August – The Night Society (New Musical Express)
26 August – The Graham Bond Organisation (New Musical Express)
27 August – Four Plus a Bit (New Musical Express)
The Kingston & Malden Borough News ran an article on the club’s closure which was published in its 9 December 1966 issue on page 4 with the headline: “Cellar club ‘killed by drugs’ is sold to bingo syndicate”.
The Army, mid-February 1968 at The Grange Club in Hayes, left to right: Richard Herring, Steve Priest, Alan Bennett, Anita (surname? – our go-go dancer), Richard Bennett, George Russell, Ron Lewingdon, John Barter and Dennis White. Photo: Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett – lead vocals
Tony Tacon – lead guitar
Ian Orton – keyboards
John Barter – tenor sax
George Russell – tenor sax
Ron Lewingdon – trumpet
Steve Priest – bass/vocals
Alan Bennett – drums
West London R&B/soul connoisseurs The Army have the distinction of being the group that spawned future Sweet bass player/singer Steve Priest.
The Army’s roots can be traced as far back as 1962 when cousins Richard Bennett (lead vocals) and Alan Bennett (drums) decided to form their first band, The Satellites in Hayes, west London.
The Satellites in Hillingdon Mirror, 16 November 1965
Joined by Dave Harris (bass) and siblings Ian Orton (lead guitar) and Mick Orton (rhythm guitar), The Satellites had an early brush with fame when they appeared on the set of the James Bond movie Goldfinger in 1964.
The Army was formed from this band, The Satellites, formed in 1960. Left to right: Richard Bennett, Dave Harris, Alan Bennett, Ian Orton and Mick Orton. This photo was taken at the opening scene of Goldfinger, The James Bond movie with Sean Connery. Photo: Richard Bennett
Around mid-July 1966, however, The Satellites underwent a significant reshuffle, starting with the addition of lead guitarist Tony Tacon, whose main claim to fame is that he had been a member of local rivals, The Javelins with future Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan during 1962-1964.
Gillan left to join Wainwright’s Gentlemen in November 1964 (Ed: future Sweet drummer Mick Tucker joined during late 1965) and Tacon joined Ealing band, Four Jacks and a Joker before hooking up with West Drayton outfit, The Ways & Means for a few months.
“I got a knock on my door from Clem [Clemson] who had been a part-time manager of The Javelins,” remembers Tacon. “He said that The Satellites were looking for a new lead guitarist if I was interested. I went down to Uxbridge for an audition and joined.”
With Tacon’s arrival, Ian Orton moved on to keyboards. At the same time Mick Orton dropped out. The following month, the band decided to remodel itself on Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers by bringing in some horn players.
For the proposed horn section, Tacon recommended his friend, sax player John Barter, who had played alongside the guitarist in Four Jacks and a Joker. Barter in turn introduced his friend, fellow sax player George Russell, a former member of Twickenham-based R&B outfit, Jeff Curtis & The Flames.
Not long after Dave Harris departed and future Sweet bass player Steve Priest took his place.
“Steve Priest joined as our new bass player,” continues Tacon. “I remember us going around to see him at his parents’ house in Hayes. I was familiar with him from his Countdowns days but someone else in the band had made contact with him.”
According to Steve Priest’s book Are you Ready, Steve? it was Richard and Alan Bennett who approached him to join. Priest would later recruit future Army members, guitarist Richard Herring and organist Dennis White from his former group The Countdowns.
Tacon remembers one of his first gigs with the group (still billed as The Satellites) was in south Wales.
“I remember playing Afan Lido (Port Talbot) probably in their gym. It was early on after I joined The Satellites. Straight down the M4 and back the same day. Beautiful sunny day (so not winter) and I remember us relaxing on the nearby beach until the gig started. I reckon it was a regular dance venue as girls told us that they came down each week.” (Ed. The Port Talbot Guardian lists this as 23 July 1966 with Something Else in support)
Photo: Tony Tacon
Renamed The Army, in view of the increased number of personnel in the band, Richard Bennett, who worked as a sign writer, painted the new moniker, surrounded by instruments, on the sextet’s new purchase, an old 30cwt van.
“The van was so big that we used to have to take it in turns to have it for a week and park it outside our homes,” says Tacon.
From the outset, The Army’s repertoire was entirely comprised of cover material, mixing popular US R&B/soul numbers like Lee Dorsey’s “Ride Your Pony”, The Four Tops’ “Reach Out, I’ll Be There”, Larry Williams’s “Slow Down” and Wilson Pickett and Steve Cropper’s “In the Midnight Hour” (which Steve Priest sang) with British classics, such as Zoot Money’s “Big Time Operator”.
At first, the revamped and renamed outfit found gigs at its local haunt – the Grange Club in Hayes. Interestingly, they were also invited to perform at several garden parties for the Tory party.
“I was impressed by the sort of gigs that we did,” recalls Tacon. “The band was well in with the Young Conservative Association, how I don’t know, and played at many of the functions in London and the Home Counties.”
Tacon remembers the band playing at the Bell House Hotel in Gerrards Cross, a venue in Harpenden with a Liverpool band that might have been The Undertakers and also at an RAF base at Dawes Hill near High Wycombe.
During this time, the guitarist also remembers the band landing a gig at the Queen’s Building in the centre of London (Heathrow) Airport and sharing the dressing room with Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen.
In late October, The Army played at a Halloween Party at a hotel opposite the airport, which was put on by a film producer.
Photo: Tony Tacon
More significant, the sextet started performing on London’s busy club scene, including shows at the Starlite Ballroom in Greenford and the 100 Club (Ed: this might have been Tiles) on Oxford Street.
“One night we played a dance hall in the Amersham area… then went straight off to the centre of London where we played [at Tiles] in the early hours of the morning. The Birds may have been on before us,” recalls Tacon.
“I remember that Steve [Priest] had some friends with him at that gig and one of them was robbed on the dance floor. My fiancée (now my wife) saw it happen and says that the gang turned Steve’s friend upside down to empty his pockets.”
Priest’s book doesn’t mention this incident but does note that the venue the group played after the Amersham area gig was Tiles on Oxford Street. Interestingly, The Army did play the Legion Hall in Amersham on 25 February 1967 and later that evening appeared at Tiles on Oxford Street (see selected gig list below).
As the band’s popularity grew, The Army ventured further afield, including shows in Cardiff (3 February 1967), Dunstable, Birmingham and Nottingham among others.
Cardiff gig, 3 February 1967
Tacon remembers the sextet playing a converted warehouse in Birmingham and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers were in the dressing room when they arrived [Ed: this was Midnight City on 19 November 1966, although the group is not advertised in Birmingham Evening Mail].
“I remember John Mayall sitting there smoking a spliff. The window at the end of the room looked out on to a large intersection and bang opposite was Digbeth police station,” continues the guitarist.
“We left our gear and all went off to the Bullring for something to eat, missing the Bluesbreakers’ set. I have often wondered if Eric Clapton was in the room that night, but after comparing notes with Steve Priest; he assures me that it was the first gig [sic] for Peter Green, who he saw frantically practising in readiness having just taken over from Clapton.”
Tacon adds that The Army played at the Dungeon Club in Nottingham the next evening, a venue that he recalls playing at least twice during his time with the band. [Ed: this would have been 20 November 1966. Again, the local paper, The Nottingham Evening Post does not list them, but rather The Amboy Dukes]
Another notable gig took place on Christmas Eve when The Army opened for their idols, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers at Burton’s in Uxbridge.
“I must have left in my own van earlier than the others after the gig because the next morning (Christmas Day), two of the band, probably Richard and Alan turned up with my share of the money,” recalls the guitarist.
“They were good lads in that band. I went all over the place with them and do not remember any upsets at all.”
The Army, Dungeon, Nottingham, 5 March 1967
During January 1967, Tacon introduced trumpet player Ron Lewingdon and The Army became a seven-piece act.
“He approached me about joining when he saw me driving the band’s van one day in the company car park,” explains the guitarist. “I was working in the tool room at the same company at the time. I put it to the others and he was in.”
With Lewingdon on-board, The Army played at the Adelphi Ballroom in Slough (18 March 1967) and Tacon’s old mate from The Javelins, Ian Gillan turned up and ended up taking photos of the group performing from the side of the stage.
“Ian came with me in my car to see the band for the first time,” continues the guitarist. “I had been going to see him in Episode Six, so he repaid the compliment. He was best man at my wedding later that year.”
At The Adelphi Ballroom in Slough, above the cinema. Left to right: Steve Priest, Tony Tacon, Richard Bennett on lead vocals, Ron Lewingdon and George Russell. Photo: Richard Bennett
On this particular night Richard Bennett’s PA played up and the singer remembers borrowing one from Ian Gillan. Tacon adds that the future Deep Purple singer also took the photo.
However, not long after, Tony Tacon handed his notice. The guitarist was indeed engaged and got married soon after; it was time to hang up his rock ‘n’ roll boots. In fact, Tacon didn’t play in a band again until The Javelins reformed in the early 1990s to record a CD. He currently plays with Lincoln band, Something Else.
The guitarist remembers that his last gig with The Army took place at the California Ballroom in Dunstable on 25 March 1967.
“There were three bands on that night,” he says looking back. “The Troggs were top of the bill and we shared the dressing room with them. I remember being impressed that they arrived in an Austin Princess and brought a portable black and white TV with them that was set up in the dressing room.”
The Army at the Adelphi Ballroom, 18 March 1967. Photo: Tony Tacon
With former Countdowns guitarist Richard Herring taking over on lead guitar and ex-Countdown Dennis White subsequently replacing Ian Orton on electric organ, The Army cut two tracks in late 1967 that were shelved until 2014 when this author helped secure the release of the band’s cover of the Joe Tex hit, “Sugar” on Acid Jazz’s Rare Mod Volume 5. The band’s cover of the Sam & Dave hit “You Don’t Know Like I Know” remains unreleased.
On 14 October, The Army returned to the California Ballroom to support Georgie Fame. Two months later, they played two shows at Burton’s in Uxbridge, the latter on New Year’s Eve, opening for Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers.
Sometime around this period, the group turned up at Chelsea Barracks to audition for Opportunity Knocks.
The Army continued to gig during early 1968, playing venues like Walton Hop. However, behind the scenes, Steve Priest began rehearsing with The Sweetshop (aka Sweet) on the side.
“I was a fan of smaller bands like Cream,” says Priest on his decision to explore new avenues. “The Army and Wainwright’s Gentlemen played at Ealing Town Hall on the same night. Mick [Tucker] was fired that night and Brian [Connolly] resigned.”
Left to right: Ron Lewingdon, George Russell, John Barter, Richard Bennett and Steve Priest. Opening for Marmalade (circa late 1967/early 1968). Photo: George Russell
Not long after playing a show at the Grange Club in Hayes in mid-February (see date stamped top picture), Priest announced his decision to leave The Army, playing his debut gig with The Sweetshop (subsequently shortened to The Sweet) on 9 March at Hemel Hempstead Pavilion.
Taking on a new bass player called Chris from Ealing, The Army continued to gig, including a clutch of shows at the New Pink Flamingo in Soho, Cooks Ferry Inn in Edmonton, north London and also opened for The Easybeats at St Albans City Hall.
By this point, Richard Herring had also departed and former Casuals’ lead guitarist Geoff Foster had joined. Not long after Dennis White left to join Merlin Q.
The group continued to pick up gigs, playing venues like Samanthas in New Burlington Street in London
Then, around September 1968, Pete Burt took over the drum stool from Alan Bennett. Burt had worked with George Russell in Jeff Curtis & The Flames during 1965 and had stuck with the group when it became The Kool. Bennett’s departure prompted Ron Lewingdon to also drop out.
Alan Bennett and Ron Lewingdon stuck together. Reunited with former member, the late Ian Orton on rhythm guitar and lead vocals and siblings Ray Spiteri (lead guitar) and Bob Spiteri (bass), they formed The Occasions and landed a prestigious gig at the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane the early 1970s.
The remaining members continued into early 1969 before splintering. Pete Burt briefly gigged with Bob Brittain and then formed Hogsnort Rupert, the house band at the Clay Pigeon in Eastcote.
Geoff Foster joined soul band, The Orange Rainbow (John Barter and George Russell both guested). Russell (and later Richard Bennett) emigrated to Australia but Russell subsequently returned to the UK.
Notable gigs:
3 September 1966 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Simon Dupree Sound (billed as The Satellites)
9 September 1966 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London with The Jimmy Brown Sound (billed as The Satellites)
27 October 1966 – Royal Ballrooms, Boscombe, Dorset (billed as The Satellites)
19 November 1966 – Midnight City, Digbeth, Birmingham with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Tony Tacon’s memories: they must have replaced either Wynder K Frog or The Times who were also advertised)
20 November 1966 – The Dungeon, Nottingham (Tony Tacon’s memories: they must have replaced The Amboy Dukes who were advertised in Nottingham Evening Post)
24 November 1966 – Stereo Club, Wycombe, Bucks (billed as The Satellites)
25 November 1966 – Wy-Key Club, Burnham Lane, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Satellites)
26 November 1966 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Blackout (billed as The Satellites)
24 December 1966 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers
11 February 1967 – Kookoo-Byrd Discotheque, Cardiff, Wales
25 February 1967 – Legion Hall, Amersham, Bucks
25 February 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Gamblers and The Essex Five
5 March 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham
18 March 1967 – At the Union, Manchester with St Louis Union and Sound Venture (Tony Tacon doesn’t recall this gig at all, even though it was advertised)
18 March 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
25 March 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Troggs
1 April 1967 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
23 April – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
29 April 1967 – Legion Hall, Amersham, Bucks
29 April 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Lemon Line and The Penny Blacks
11 May 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Jokers and The Afex
28 May 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
2 July 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London with The Toys
15 July 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
16 July 1967 – Carlton Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
29 July 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Gass and The Fraternity
19 August 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Coloured Raisins and Tiles Big Band
20 August 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Maze and The Art Movement
23 August 1967 – Drayton Hall, West Drayton, west London
23 August 1967 – Town Hall Park, Hayes, west London
3 September 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
14 October 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Georgie Fame & Four Point Five
24 November 1967 – Private engagement (according to Melody Maker)
25 November 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London
26 November 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set
27 November 1967 – Private engagement (according to Melody Maker)
Photo: Melody Maker
30 November 1967 – RAF Northwood, Hertfordshire
1 December 1967 – Private engagement (according to Melody Maker)
2 December 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
3 December 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with The Temptations (this was The Fantastics not the Motown group)
31 December 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (this requires confirmation)
5 January 1968 – The Hub, Marlow, Bucks
13 January 1968 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
20 January 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Radio Disc Show with Stuart Henry
According to Frank Torpey’s diary, Steve Priest was rehearsing with The Sweetshop (aka The Sweet) by 5 February and would have left a few weeks later.
Frank Torpey’s final gig with Wainwright’s Gentlemen was 20 January and Mick Tucker was fired shortly afterwards so the Ealing Town Hall gig where Wainwright’s Gentlemen and The Army both appeared was probably in the last week of January 1968.
10 February 1968 – The Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
Mid (13?) February 1968 – The Grange, Hayes, west London (picture has Steve Priest in it, so one of his final gigs with the band)
3 March 1968 – Slough Adelphi, Slough, Berkshire (Priest may have played this but very unlikely)
10 May 1968 – Dunstable Civic Hall, Dunstable, Beds with Spectrum
25 May 1968 – Nags Head, Motown Club, Wollaston, Northamptonshire with Alfred The Great
26 May 1968 – New Pink Flamingo, Wardour Street, central London
Photo credit: Geoff Foster
30 May 1968 – St Andrew’s Hall, Uxbridge, northwest London
2 June 1968 – New Pink Flamingo, Wardour Street, central London with The All-Nite Workers (billed as Army Soul Show)
14 June 1968 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
21 June 1968 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with The Easybeats and The Hello
6 July 1968 – Flamenco Club, Folkestone, Kent
Photo credit: Geoff Foster
10 August 1968 – Styx Discotheque, Luton, Bedfordshire
23 September 1968 – Penny Farthing Club, Southend-on-Sea, Essex with Kingsize Keen and His Rockin’ Machine
I would like to thank Tony Tacon, Richard Bennett, Alan Bennett, Ron Lewingdon, Steve Priest, John Kerrison, Geoff Foster, George Russell, John Barter and Keith Kendall for providing some information about this band. Thanks to Richard Bennett, George Russell and Tony Tacon for providing images.
Gigs were sourced from various national newspapers and Melody Maker (some sources are noted in the comments below).
I have tried to ensure the accuracy of this article but I appreciate that there are likely to be errors and omissions. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who can provide any additions or corrections. Email: Warchive@aol.com
Jimmy Marsh – lead vocals Allen Bevan – lead guitar Tony Rowland – bass Malcolm Tomlinson – drums
The Motivation, 1967 with Jimmy Marsh (second left) and Malcolm Tomlinson (far left)
Lead singer Jimmy Marsh (b. 9 April 1941, Salem, Carmarthenshire, Wales; d. 13 April 2020) had started out around 1961 with Fulham band, The Fairlanes, comprising lead guitarist Allen Grey, rhythm guitarist David Beach, bass player Terry Gore and drummer John Warwick. The band played US air bases and sometimes backed cabaret acts like Kathy Kirby and Vince Hill.
During 1962, Marsh formed the first Del Mar Trio with lead guitarist Allen Bevan, who worked at Sound City on Shaftesbury Avenue, rhythm guitarist Terry Toatal, plus a bass player and a drummer. On 1 June 1963, the musicians backed Jimmy Marsh on the “Rock Twist Jive Channel Crossing”, a rock extravaganza that took place on-board the Channel ferry, the M V Royal Daffodil, which sailed from Southend, Essex to Boulogne, and also featured Jeff Curtis & The Flames, whose drummer was Malcolm Tomlinson (b. 16 June 1946, Isleworth, Middlesex; d. 2 April 2016).
Photo: Worthing Gazette, December 1964
Bevan and Tomlinson ran into each other again while working at Sound City and around late June 1964 the drummer left The Flames to join Marsh’s band. Tony Rowland, who hailed from Doncaster, completed the second version of The Del Mar Trio, which was formed around the early summer.
After rehearsing between the occasional gig, the quartet headed to the south coast and found work with Bob Gaitley’s Beat, Ballad and Blues agency, working his clubs, the Top Hat in Littlehampton and the Mexican Hat in Worthing.
Cornish gig, January 1965
In January 1965, the group headed to Cornwall for a short tour, which included St Austell and Penzance.
Part of the same Cornish tour, 15 January 1965
The band also played along the southcoast, including in Brighton, appearing there after the Cornish gigs.
Advert for Brighton gig, 23 January 1965. Photo: Evening Argus
Gaitley was impressed enough with Marsh’s singing to arrange for an audition at Abbey Road, which led to the recording of four tracks – “You Know How”, “Pocket Full of Rainbows”, “Like A Baby” and “Haunting Me”, with producer, the late Bob Barrett in February 1965, and listed under the name James Deene & The Del Mar Trio.
Just before the German tour
The band continued to gig around the London area, including in Northwood with The Mark Four and a show at the Pilgrim, Haywards Heath, West Sussex.
When nothing happened to the tracks, the band signed up for a tour of West Germany and headed off in late April/early May 1965.
West Sussex gig. Photo: Brighton Evening Argus
Over the next year, the band, working as James Deene & The London Cats, underwent various personnel changes, including seeing another former Jeff Curtis & The Flames member, lead guitarist Louis McKelvey join briefly, and would ultimately see all of the members return home except Jimmy Marsh who found work on a US air force base outside Munich.
Around May/June 1966, Marsh was contacted (via the British Consulate) by bass player Bryan Stevens, a former member of Johnny Devlin & The Detours, which had shared the bill with The Del Mar Trio at one of Gaitley’s clubs on the south coast, to join a new version of Stevens’ latest band, The Noblemen. Marsh accepted and recommended Malcolm Tomlison as a drummer. The pair stuck with The Noblemen from June until November 1966 when the band changed name to The Motivation. Working under the new name, The Motivation headed to Rome in late March 1967 and worked at the famous Piper Club but Marsh became ill and returned home.
Tomlinson remained with The Motivation until August when the revised line up changed name again to The Penny Peep Show/Penny Peeps. The band recorded two singles for Liberty in 1968 – “Little Man With A Stick” c/w “Model Village” and “I See The Morning” c/w “Curly, The Knight of The Road”, before becoming blues band Gethsemane in August of that year. After splitting in December 1968, Tomlinson reunited with Louis McKelvey, who’d returned from Canada in July of that year and the pair relocated to Canada in January 1969 where they formed Milkwood.
In 1973, Tomlinson recorded an unreleased album with Rick James & The Stone City Band and two solo albums, issued on the A&M label in the late 1970s.
Many thanks to Jimmy Marsh and Malcolm Tomlinson for information.
This site is a work in progress on 1960s garage rock bands. All entries can be updated, corrected and expanded. If you have information on a band featured here, please let me know and I will update the site and credit you accordingly.
I am dedicated to making this site a center for research about '60s music scenes. Please consider donating archival materials such as photos, records, news clippings, scrapbooks or other material from the '60s. Please contact me at rchrisbishop@gmail.com if you can loan or donate original materials
