Category Archives: England

The Attic Club, Hounslow, west London

The Pitmen
The Pitmen

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 1964
Them 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 ThemselvesBeat 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.

Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author.

The Pitmen

 

Blue Moon, Hayes, west London

The Nashville TeensThe Blue Moon in Hayes was an important music venue in west London.

Bob Danks recalls Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers playing at the Blue Moon in Hayes regularly in the early 1960s (see comments section). He also thinks Ritchie Blackmore played his first show with Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages at the Blue Moon after leaving Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers.

I have started to collate a comprehensive gig list and would welcome any additions and memories of the club in the comments below.

1963

27 January 1963 (Sunday) – Brian Poole & The Tremeloes (Harrow Weekly Post)

3 February 1963 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Weekly Post)

14 April 1963 (Sunday) – Julie Grant & The Citizens (Harrow Weekly Post)

9 June 1963 (Sunday) – Sounds Inc with Bruce Welsh & The High Five (Harrow Weekly Post)

16 June 1963 (Sunday) – Mike Berry & The Innocents (Harrow Weekly Post)

23 June 1963 (Sunday) – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (Harrow Weekly Post)

30 June 1963 (Sunday) – Wee Willy Harris and High Five (Harrow Weekly Post)

7 July 1963 (Sunday) – The Big Three with The Riversiders (Harrow Weekly Post)

14 July 1963 (Sunday) – Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (Harrow Weekly Post)

21 July 1963 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Weekly Post)

28 July 1963 (Sunday) – Russ Sainty & The Nu-Notes and The High Five (Harrow Weekly Post)

 

4 August 1963 (Sunday) – Robb Storme & The Whispers (Harrow Weekly Post)

25 August 1963 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Weekly Post)

 

8 September 1963 (Sunday) Rikki Rand & The Soundsmen and Bruce Lloyd & The Hi-Fi’s (Harrow Weekly Post)

15 September 1963 (Friday) – Malcolm Clark & The Cresters (Harrow Weekly Post) Needs confirmation

22 September 1963 (Sunday) – The Swinging Blue Jeans and The Robb Charles Combo (Harrow Weekly Post)

29 September 1963 (Sunday) – Malcolm Clark & The Cresters (Harrow Weekly Post)

6 October 1963 (Sunday) – The Undertakers and The High Five (Harrow Weekly Post)

13 October 1963 (Sunday) – The Federals (Beat Monthly)

20 October 1963 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Weekly Post)

17 November 1963 (Sunday) – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Harrow Weekly Post)

24 November 1963 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Weekly Post)

1964

5 January 1964 (Sunday) – Manfred Mann (Ruislip & Northwood Gazette)

12 January 1964 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Ruislip & Northwood Gazette)

19 January 1964 (Sunday) – The Contrasts (Beat Monthly)

 

2 February 1964 (Sunday) – Manfred Mann (Greg Russo’s research)

 

5 April 1964 (Sunday) – The Downliners Sect (Don Craine’s gig diary)

19 April 1964 (Sunday) – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and The Impacts (Dorothy Bullock’s membership card)

26 April 1964 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Dorothy Bullock’s membership card)

 

3 May 1964 (Sunday) – The Downliners Sect (Don Craine’s gig diary)

10 May 1964 (Sunday) – The Paramounts (Dorothy Bullock’s membership card)

24 May 1964 (Sunday) – Alex Harvey Soul Band (Dorothy Bullock’s membership card)

27 May 1964 (Wednesday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Dorothy Bullock’s membership card)

31 May 1964 (Sunday) – The Downliners Sect (Don Craine’s gig diary)

 

10 June 1964 (Wednesday) – The Yardbirds (Alan Clayson’s book The Yardbirds: the band that launched Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page)

 

26 July 1964 (Sunday) – The Downliners Sect (Don Craine’s gig diary)

 

16 August 1964 (Sunday) – The Downliners Sect (Beat Monthly)

 

7 September 1964 (Monday) – The Birds (needs source but most likely Harrow Weekly Post)

 

29 November 1964 (Sunday) – The Stormsville Shakers (band website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

20 December  1964 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Beat Instrumental/Ruislip & Northwood Gazette)

1965

3 January 1965 (Sunday) – Ronnie Jones & The Nightimers (Ruislip and Northwood Gazette)

10 January 1965 (Sunday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Ruislip and Northwood Gazette)

17 January 1965 (Sunday) – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Harrow Weekly Post)

24 January 1965 (Sunday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Harrow Weekly Post)

Roger Dean is the lead guitarist with The Bluesbreakers at this stage.

31 January 1965 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Greenford Weekly Post)

 

7 February 1965 (Sunday) – The Graham Bond Organisation (Harrow Weekly Post)

14 February 1965 (Sunday) – The Chessmen (Greenford Weekly Post)

21 February 1965 (Sunday) – Ronnie Jones & The Night-timers and The Brian Auger Trinity (Harrow Weekly Post)

 

7 March 1965 (Sunday) – The Spencer Davis Group (possibly Harrow Weekly Post)

 

4 April 1965 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Weekly Post)

11 April 1965 (Sunday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Harrow Weekly Post)

Eric Clapton had joined earlier this month replacing Roger Dean.

18 April 1965 (Sunday) – Ronnie Jones & The Night-timers (Harrow Weekly Post)

25 April 1965 (Sunday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Harrow Weekly Post)

 

2 May 1965 (Sunday) – The Graham Bond Organisation (Harrow Weekly Post)

9 May 1965 (Sunday) – The Spencer Davis Group and (Jimmy James &) The Vagabonds with Count Prince Miller (possibly Harrow Weekly Post)

16 May 1965 (Sunday) – The Spencer Davis Group (Harrow Weekly Post)

23 May 1965 (Sunday) – Long John Baldry (Harrow Weekly Post)

30 May 1965 (Sunday) – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (possibly Harrow Weekly Post)

 

7 June 1965 (Monday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Christopher Hjort’s Strange Brew book)

20 June 1965 (Sunday) – The Who (Harrow Weekly Post)

27 June 1965 (Sunday) – The Spencer Davis Group (possibly Harrow Weekly Post)

4 July 1965 (Sunday) – Ronnie Jones & The Night-timers (Harrow Weekly Post)

11 July 1965 (Sunday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Harrow Weekly PostThis gig is missing from Christopher Hjort’s book below so may not have happened. Also advert above suggests Georgie Fame instead

25 July 1965 (Sunday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Christopher Hjort’s book Strange Brew)

 

1 August 1965 (Sunday) – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (possibly Harrow Weekly Post)

22 August 1965 (Sunday) – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Harrow Weekly Post)

25 August 1965 (Wednesday) – Steampacket (Bruno Ceriotti’s research: http://thebritishsound.blogspot.com/2011/07/steam-packet-family-tree-performance.html)

 

5 September 1965 (Sunday) – The Spencer Davis Group (Harrow Weekly Post)

19 September 1965 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Weekly Post and Beat Instrumental)

26 September 1965 (Sunday) – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Harrow Weekly Post)

 

3 October 1965 (Sunday) – Steampacket (Harrow Weekly Post)

10 October 1965 (Sunday) – T-Bone Walker (Harrow Weekly Post)

17 October 1965 (Sunday) – Steampacket (Harrow Weekly Post)

24 October 1965 (Sunday) – Ben E King (Harrow Weekly Post)

31 October 1965 (Sunday) – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Harrow Weekly Post)

 

7 November 1965 (Sunday) – The Graham Bond Organisation (Harrow Weekly Post)

14 November 1965 (Sunday) – The Alan Price Set (Harrow Weekly Post)

21 November 1965 (Sunday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Harrow Weekly Post)

Both Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce are members of The Bluesbreakers during this period.

28 November 1965 (Sunday) – Steampacket (Harrow Weekly Post)

 

5 December 1965 (Sunday) – Wilson Pickett (Harrow Weekly Post)

19 December 1965 (Sunday) – The Spencer Davis Group (Harrow Weekly Post/Ruislip & Northwood Gazette)

Blue Moon Club Membership card 1966,, Church Road, Hayes, Middlesex

1966

2 January 1966 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Weekly Post)

23 January 1966 (Sunday) – Lee Dorsey (most likely backed by The Krew) (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

30 January 1966 (Sunday) – Steampacket (Bruno Ceriotti’s research: http://thebritishsound.blogspot.com/2011/07/steam-packet-family-tree-performance.html

 

6 February 1966 (Sunday) – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Melody Maker)

13 February 1966 (Sunday) – The Alan Walker Group (Melody Maker)

27 February 1966 (Sunday) – The Nashville Teens (Hayes Gazette)

 

6 March 1966 (Sunday) – The Shevelles (Melody Maker)

13 March 1966 (Sunday) – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Melody Maker)

27 March 1966 (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Melody Maker)

 

3 April 1966 (Sunday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Christopher Hjort’s book Strange Brew)

17 April 1966 (Sunday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Melody Maker)

22 April 1966 (Friday) – Dee Dee Warwick (Melody Maker)

 

1 May 1966 (Sunday) – Steampacket (Melody Maker)

8 May 1966 (Sunday) – Herbie Goins & The Night-timers (Melody Maker)

15 May 1966 (Sunday) – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Melody Maker)

 

12 June 1966 (Sunday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Christopher Hjort’s book Strange Brew)

Eric Clapton will leave the following month and Peter Green takes his place.

19 June 1966 (Sunday) – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Melody Maker)

 

18 September 1966 (Sunday) – Cream (Christopher Hjort’s book Strange Brew)

 

Thanks to Rolf Hannet for helping with Beat Monthly and Beat Instrumental gigs

Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author.

 

Southall Community Centre, west London

Southall Sunday Club Membership Card, 1964
Photo from Alan Cooper

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)

19 April (Sunday) – Wee Willie Harris (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)

27 December (Sunday) – The Stormsville Shakers and Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary and website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

1965

3 January (Sunday) – The Beat Merchants (Harrow Observer & Gazette)

17 January (Sunday) – Buddy Britten & The Regents (Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette)

24 January (Sunday) – Linda Laine & The Sinners (Harrow Observer & Gazette)

31 January (Sunday) – The Birds (Ron Wood’s 1965 diary)

 

7 February (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Beat Instrumental)

14 February (Sunday) – The Yardbirds (Alan Clayson’s book, The Yardbirds: the band that launched Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page)

16 February (Tuesday) – The Artwoods (Ron Wood’s 1965 diary)

21 February (Sunday) – The Gobbledegooks (Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette)

28 February (Sunday) – Tommy Quickly (Harrow Observer & Gazette)

 

7 March (Sunday) – The Birds (Ron Wood’s 1965 diary)

14 March (Sunday) – The Nashville Teens (Beat Instrumental)

21 March (Sunday) – The Animals (Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette)

28 March (Sunday) – Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders (Harrow Observer & Gazette)

 

4 April (Sunday) – Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette)

11 April (Sunday) – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (Harrow Observer & Gazette)

18 April (Sunday) – The Yardbirds (Alan Clayson’s book, The Yardbirds: the band that launched Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page)

25 April (Sunday) – The Birds and Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Ron Wood’s 1965 diary and Melody Maker)

 

2 May (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and Mike Dee & The Prophets (Don Martin’s gig diary)

Photo: Ken Samuels

9 May (Sunday) – The Hollies and Jean & The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary and Ken Samuels’ poster)

16 May (Sunday) – Manfred Mann with supporting band (Ken Samuels’ poster)

23 May (Sunday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames and Jean & The Statesides (Ken Samuels’ poster and Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)

30 May (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and Jean & The Statesides (Ken Samuels’ poster and Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)

 

6 June (Sunday) – The Birds (Ron Wood’s 1965 diary)

13 June (Sunday) – The Artwoods (Ron Wood’s 1965 diary)

27 June (Sunday) – The Rockin’ Berries (Harrow Observer & Gazette)

 

4 July (Sunday) – The Who (Andy Neill’s research/Harrow Observer & GazetteBeat Instrumental lists Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers on 4 July

11 July (Sunday) – Goldie & The Gingerbreads (Harrow Observer & Gazette)

18 July (Sunday) – The Nashville Teens and The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)

25 July (Sunday) – The Measles (Harrow Observer & Gazette)

29 July (Thursday) – The Birds (rehearsal) (Ron Wood’s 1965 diary)

 

1 August (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)

5 August (Thursday) – Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette)

8 August (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Harrow Observer & Gazette)

15 August (Sunday) – The Birds (Ron Wood’s 1965 diary)

22 August (Sunday) – P J Proby and The Statesides (Dave Brogden’s gig diary)

30 August (Sunday) – The Graham Bond Organisation (Harrow Observer & Gazette)

 

3 September (Friday) – Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders (Beat Instrumental)

5 September (Sunday) – The Downliners Sect (Harrow Observer & Gazette)

12 September (Sunday) – The Birds (Ron Wood’s 1965 diary)

19 September (Sunday) – The Pretty Things (Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette)

26 September (Sunday) – The Bo Street Runners (Harrow Observer & Gazette)

 

3 October (Sunday) – Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders (Harrow Observer & Gazette)

10 October (Sunday) – Jesse Fuller and The Artwoods (Harrow Observer & Gazette)

17 October (Sunday) – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette)

24 October (Sunday) – The Pretty Things (Beat Instrumental)

31 October (Sunday) – The Animals (Record Mirror)

 

7 November (Sunday) – The Downliners Sect and The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)

14 November (Sunday) – The Merseybeats and The Statesides (Dave Brodgden’s gig diary and Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)

21 November (Sunday) – The Birds (Ron Wood’s 1965 diary)

 

5 December (Sunday) – Heinz and The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)

12 December (Sunday) – The Graham Bond Organisation (Harrow Observer & Gazette)

19 December (Sunday) – Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Beat Instrumental)

23 December (Thursday) – The Birds (rehearsal) (Ron Wood’s 1965 diary)

1966

9 January (Sunday) – The Birds and The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)

16 January (Sunday) – The Graham Bond Organisation and The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary and Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)

23 January (Sunday) – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)

30 January (Sunday) – The Statesides and The Profile (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)

The Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette has The Persuasion rather than The Profile.

 

6 February (Sunday) – The Birds and Bobby King & The Sabres (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette and Clive Chase’s gig diary)

13 February (Sunday) – The Who (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)

27 February (Sunday) – Jimmy Cliff & The New Generation (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)

 

6 March (Sunday) – The Birds (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)

13 March (Sunday) – The Alan Walker Group (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)

20 March (Sunday) – Peter Fenton & The Crowd (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)

 

24 April (Sunday) – The Statesides (Jeff Sturgeon’s gig diary)

1967

16 March (Thursday) – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Fabulous 208)

 

26 May (Friday) – The In-Sekt Ltd (Melody Maker)

 

9 June (Friday) – The Insayn (Melody Maker)

23 June (Friday) – The Real Thing (Melody Maker)

 

Many thanks to Rolf Hannett for the Beat Monthly and Beat Instrumental dates

Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author.

Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London

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 diaryJeff 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’ diary and 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 MakerHarrow 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 MakerIan 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 MakerHarrow 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)

 

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

21 July (Friday) – Episode Six (Harrow Weekly Post)

28 July (Friday) – The Moody Blues (Harrow Weekly Post)

Rupert’s People were also advertised originally but considering the gig on 11 August, they probably didn’t appear.

 

4 August (Friday) – The Syrian Blues (Harrow Weekly Post)

6 August (Sunday) – Dave Martin Group (Geoff Chinnery’s gig diary)

11 August (Friday) – Rupert’s People (Harrow Weekly Post)

Disc & Music Echo reports that this was Rupert’s People’s debut gig.

17 August (Thursday) – Unit 4 Plus 2 (Harrow Weekly Post)

25 August (Friday) – Robert Hirst & The Big Taste (Harrow Weekly Post)

 

1 September (Friday) – Episode Six (Harrow Weekly Post)

8 September (Friday) – The Syrian Blues (Harrow Weekly Post)

The Original Drifters were booked originally for this date.

22 September (Friday) – James & Bobby Purify with The New York Public Library (Harrow Weekly Post)

29 September (Friday) – Studio Six (Harrow Weekly Post)

 

6 October (Friday) – The Coloured Raisins (Harrow Weekly Post)

13 October (Friday) – Whistling Jack Smith and The Quiet Five (Harrow Weekly Post)

17 October (Tuesday) – The Original Drifters (Harrow Weekly Post)

24 October (Tuesday) – The Symbols (Harrow Weekly Post)

31 October (Tuesday) – The Isley Brothers (Harrow Weekly Post)

 

14 November (Tuesday) – The Fabulous Temptations with The House of Orange (this is The Fantastics) (Harrow Weekly Post)

25 November (Saturday) – The Army (Melody Maker)

Future Sweet bass player Steve Priest was a member of The Army.

28 November (Tuesday) – The Electric Prunes (Fabulous 208)

The visiting Californian band was on a short UK tour and surprisingly played this small venue.

 

23 December (Saturday) – Wainwright’s Gentlemen (Frank Torpey’s gig diary)

Three of the original Sweet members (Brian Connolly, Mick Tucker and Frank Torpey) were part of Wainwright’s Gentlemen at this point.

1968

1 June (Saturday) – Baron Richthofen’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Circus (Harrow Observer & Gazette)

 

9 August (Friday) – The Group Show (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

11 August (Sunday) – Smokey Orange (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

16 August (Friday) – Advance Rate (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

18 August (Sunday) – The Beatstalkes (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

23 August (Friday) – The Nights (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

25 August (Sunday) – The Sweetshop (aka The Sweet) (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

30 August (Friday) – Late Night Love (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

 

1 September (Sunday) – Freddie Fingers Lee (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

13 September (Friday) – The House of Lords (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

15 September (Sunday) – Episode Six (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

18 September (Wednesday) – The Nights (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

21 September (Saturday) – The Cast (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

22 September (Sunday) – The Sweet (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

25 September (Wednesday) – The Sweet (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

28 September (Saturday) – The Market (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

29 September (Sunday) – Tony Rivers & The Castaways (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

 

2 October (Wednesday) – The Sweet (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

5 October (Saturday) – The Fresh Windows and The Outside Toilet (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

6 October (Sunday) – Marmalade and Coconut Ice (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

9 October (Wednesday) – The Sweet (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

12 October (Saturday) – Two top groups (Harrow Weekly Post)

13 October (Sunday) – Timebox (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

16 October (Wednesday) – Merlin Q (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

19 October (Saturday) – The Tracts (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

20 October (Sunday) – Episode Six (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

Episode Six were replaced by The Tremeloes plus support band.

23 October (Wednesday) – The Sweet (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

26 October (Saturday) – The Bobcats (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

27 October (Sunday) – The New Formula with support (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

30 October (Wednesday) – The Sweet (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

 

2 November (Saturday) – Merlin Q (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

3 November (Sunday) – Tony Rivers & The Castaways and Acceleration (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

6 November (Wednesday) – Pop group (Harrow Weekly Post)

9 November (Saturday) – The Colours (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

10 November (Sunday) – Little John & The Shadrocks (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

13 November (Wednesday) – The Sweet (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

16 November (Saturday) – Top groups (Harrow Weekly Post)

17 November (Sunday) – Vanity Fair (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

20 November (Wednesday) – The Forbidden Fruit (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

24 November (Sunday) – The Paradox (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

27 November (Wednesday) – The Sweet (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

30 November (Saturday) – Andy Cannon Quartet (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

 

1 December (Sunday) – The Tremeloes and Coconut Ice (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

4 December (Wednesday) – The Tremeloes (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

7 December (Saturday) – The Craven Brothers and Cabaret Show (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

8 December (Sunday) – Marmalade (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

14 December (Saturday) – The Four Sounds (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

15 December (Sunday) – Locomotive (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

18 December (Wednesday) – The New Formula (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

22 December (Sunday) – The Dream Police (Uxbridge Weekly Post and Harrow Weekly Post)

29 December (Sunday) – The Tremeloes (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

Harrow Weekly Post reports that New Formula replaced The Tremeloes

1969

19 January (Sunday) – The Youngblood (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

26 January (Sunday) – The Formula (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

 

2 February (Sunday) – Danny Diaz & The Checkmates (from Hong Kong) (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

 

2 March (Sunday) – Harmony Grass (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

9 March (Sunday) – Justin Marhyr (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

16 March (Sunday) – Red Beans & Rice (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

23 March (Sunday) – Joyce Bond Revue (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

30 March (Sunday) – John L Watson & The Web (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

 

26 April (Saturday) – The Cats (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

 

4 May (Sunday) – The Nights (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

11 May (Sunday) – Episode Six (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author.

Toby Jug, Tolworth

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

Eel Pie Island, Twickenham

Gethesemane, The Action, The Nice, David Booth at Eel Pie Island
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

The Ram Jam Club, Brixton

Photo: Andrew Czezowksi collection

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.

Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior permission from the author.

The (Jazz) Cellar Club, Kingston Upon Thames, southwest London

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

20 February – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

23 February – Dean Lincoln & The Topics (Surrey Comet)

 

8 March – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

9 March – The Avengers (Surrey Comet)

10 March – Neil Christian (Surrey Comet)

12 March – The Burnettes (Surrey Comet)

14 March – The Barron Knights and The Nashville Teens (Surrey Comet)

21 March – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

 

12 April – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

 

2 May – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates (Surrey Comet)

3 May – Neil Landon & The Burnettes (Surrey Comet)

25 May – Paul Danton & The Deputies (Surrey Comet)

26 May – The Laurie Jay Combo and Barry St John (Surrey Comet)

28 May – The Topics (Surrey Comet)

30 May – Sounds Incorporated (Surrey Comet)

 

20 June – The Solitairs (Surrey Comet)

21 June – The Jet Blacks (Surrey Comet)

 

2 July – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

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.

 

8 August – The Hi-Fi and Tony Kaye (Surrey Comet)

10 August – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

13 August – Colin Shane & The Shannons (Surrey Comet)

29 August – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

 

7 September – Alex & The Blues Strangers (John Warburg research – see comments section below)

8 September – Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (John Warburg research – see comments section below)

12 September – The Rolling Stones (Surrey Comet)

 

12 October – The Stormville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

 

21 December – Steve Marriott & The Moonlights (Surrey Comet)

28 December – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

1964

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)

11 January – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

15 January – The Shifters (audition) (John Warburg’s research – see comments section below)

28 January – Neil Landon & The Burnettes (Surrey Comet)

 

3 February – The Yardbirds (Gus Smith recollections from attending – Monday evening – see comments section below)

5 February – The Animals (first regular Wednesday residency) (Kim Chester research – see comments section below)

7 February – The Druids (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

8 February – The Senators (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

9 February – The Fortunes and The Clifton All Stars (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

10 February – The Yardbirds (Gus Smith recollections from attending)

11 February – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

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

Photo: Norman Sheers
Photo: Norman Sheers

27 March – The Stormsville Shakers with Jerry Lee Lewis (Surrey Comet and website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

28 March – Micky Finn & The Blues Men (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

29 March – The Paramounts (John Warburg’s research – see comments section below)

The Kingston & Malden Borough News lists The Zephyrs for 29 March

30 March – The Yardbirds (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

1 April – The Animals and The Originals (Kingston & Malden Borough News/Harrow Weekly Post)

3 April – The Presidents (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

4 April – The Black Jays (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

5 April – The Druids (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

6 April – The Yardbirds (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

8 April – The Animals (regular Wednesday residency) (Kim Chester research)

10 April – The Cardinals (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

11 April – The Bumblies (Kingston & Malden Borough News) Harrow Weekly Post has Val Foster & The Senators

12 April – Jimmy Stevens & The Exciters (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

13 April – The Yardbirds (Gus Smith recollections from attending)

15 April – The Animals (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

16 April – Tommy Quickly & The Remo Four (Record Mirror)

17 April – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

18 April – Kal Foster & The Senators (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

19 April – The Nashville Teens (Kingston & Malden Borough News)

20 April – The Yardbirds (Surrey Comet)

Record Mirror confirms that The Yardbirds play every Monday

22 April – The Tridents (Surrey Comet and John and Paul Lucas’ diaries)

The Kingston & Malden Borough News lists The Animals for 22 April

27 April – The Yardbirds (Record Mirror)

30 April – The Animals (regular Wednesday residency) (Kim Chester research)

2 May – The Plebs and The Original Topics (Surrey Comet)

3 May – Micky Finn & The Bluesmen (Surrey Comet)

4 May – The Yardbirds (Gus Smith recollections from attending)

6 May – The Nashville Teens (Surrey Comet)

8 May – Steve Marriott & The Frantic Ones (Surrey Comet)

9 May – Micky Finn with The Black Jays (Surrey Comet)

10 May – Micky Finn & The Bluemen (Surrey Comet)

11 May – The Yardbirds (confirmed by Gus Smith who attended)

13 May – Tony Colton & The Crawdaddies (Surrey Comet)

15 May – The Moquettes (Surrey Comet)

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

18 May – The Plebs (Surrey Comet)

20 May – The Pretty Things (Record Mirror)

23 May – The Micky Finn (Surrey Comet)

24 May – The Plebs (Surrey Comet)

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

27 June – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

28 June – The Playboys (Record Mirror)

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)

26 June – The RBQ (Surrey Comet)

 

3 July – The Stormsville Shakers (website: http://www.stormsvilleshakers.com/bandhistory.html)

10 July – Davey Sands & The Essex (Surrey Comet)

17 July – The Shanes (Surrey Comet)

24 July – The Dagoes (Surrey Comet)

31 July – The Lonely Ones (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”.

Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author.

 

Simon Scott & The All-Nite Workers

Simon Scott & The All-Nite Workers (May 1965-August 1965)

Simon Scott – lead vocals
Mick Stewart – lead guitar
Ron Thomas – bass
Don Martin – organ
Mel Wayne – sax
Dave Mahoney – sax
Eddie Thorpe – drums

Ron Thomas, Don Martin, Mel Wayne and Dave Mahoney had all recently worked with Mike Dee & The Prophets alongside singer Mick Wheeler (aka Mike Dee), lead guitarist Dave Claridge and drummer Ken Hope.

When Mick Stewart replaced Dave Claridge on lead guitar in late April/early May 1965, Mick Wheeler and Ken Hope decided to leave the band and The Prophets split up.

Mick Stewart was responsible for the link up with Simon Scott, who he’d previously worked with. With music impresario Robert Stigwood representing the band, the remaining Prophets changed name to The All-Nite Workers, taking the name and spelling from the Rufus Thomas song.

Stewart had previously played with the Ealing version of The Redcaps and brought in Eddie Thorpe from that group.

On 15 May, two days after Mike Dee & The Prophets formally split, the group met with Simon Scott for a rehearsal at Rayrick Sound in Hampstead. Two days later, the musicians met Robert Stigwood for a meeting with his Starlight Agency in London. Then, on 19 May, they returned to Rayrick Sound for a second rehearsal with Simon Scott.

On 25 May 1965, Simon Scott and The All-Nite Workers recorded “Tell Him I’m Not Home” (featuring Goldie & The Gingerbreads on backing vocals) at Regent Sound Studios in Denmark Street along with a track that was never released – “Simon Says”. The former track was subsequently coupled with an earlier recording – “Heart Cry” for a lone single on Parlophone, released on 25 June 1965.

Scott performed the A-side on Ready Steady Go, which was recorded at Studio one in Wembley on 2 July and broadcast on 9 July. Also on the same show were The Yardbirds, The Dave Clark Five, The Ivy League, Zoot Money Big Roll Band, Lulu and Goldie & The Gingerbreads.

Stigwood, who was acting as manager by this point, also arranged for the band to record an album’s worth of material at Regent Sound over a two-week period in late May-early June. The album, which contained tracks like “Last Night”, “Watermelon Man”, “Night Train”, “Land of a Thousand Dances” and “Mr Pitiful”, has never been released.

On 23 June, the band cut two tracks with Simon Scott at Rayrick Sound, Hampstead that were never released – “Son This Is She” and “One Kiss”.

After rehearsals at the Viaduct and King’s Arms pubs in Hanwell (just down the road from Jim Marshall’s shop), Trafalgar School in Twickenham and Northfields Community Centre, The All-Nite Workers participated in a short UK tour with Simon Scott from late June-late July, travelling as far north as the Drill Hall, Dumfries and as far south as the Bude Country Club, Eastleigh.

On 30 July, Simon Scott & The All-Nite Workers attended Rayrick Studio in Hampstead to rehearse two songs with the intention of recording them – “Oo Wee Baby” and “Better Get A Move On”. On 3 August they had a second rehearsal but a recording on 5 August was cancelled, possibly because the relationship between the musicians and Scott was coming to an end.

Shortly after a final gig in Greenford on 15 August 1965, the band left Simon Scott. The musicians worked independently as The All-Nite Workers until about September/October 1965 when they joined forces with future Sweet producer Phil Wainman.

Drummer Phil Wainman replaced Eddie Thorpe who had left to work with Simon Raverne in Jersey and then, ironically, The Hi-Grades (Wainman’s old band).

Gig list:

22 May 1965 – Starlight Ballroom, Greenford, west London with The Hysters (most likely without Simon Scott)

 

5 June 1965 – Half-way House, Southall, Middlesex with Four Jacks and a Joker (most likely without Simon Scott)

25 June 1965 – Cheltenham Spa, Town Hall, Cheltenham

26 June 1965 – Maple Ballroom, Northampton with The Shames

30 June 1965 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

 

3 July 1965 – Carlisle Market Assembly Hall, Carlisle, Cumbria with Sax-Band

9 July 1965 – Winchester Lido Ballroom, Winchester, Hampshire with The Del Rio Four

10 July 1965 – Bure Country Club, Mudeford, Dorset with The Bunch

16 July 1965 – Southsea Savoy Ballroom, Southsea, Hants with The Informers

19 July 1965 – Shrewsbury Mons Ballroom (van ran out of petrol on the way back)

22 July 1965 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire

23 July 1965 – Harwich Town Hall, Harwich, Suffolk (cancelled)

24 July 1965 – Dumfries Drill Hall, Dumfries, Scotland with Simon’s Gentlemen (billed as The Nightriders)

 

6 August 1965 – Welfare Centre, Corby, Northamptonshire (cancelled)

7 August 1965 – Justin Hall, West Wickham, London with C-Jam Blues

8 August 1965 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey

10 August 1965 – (Top Hat?), Littlehampton, West Sussex (cancelled)

14 August 1965 – Il Rondo Ballroom, Leicester

15 August 1965 – Starlight Ballroom, Greenford, west London

Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior permission from the author.

To contact the author, email: Warchive@aol.com

Many people helped piece this story together. My personal thanks go to: Don Martin, who shared his diary and live dates from 1965. Thanks also to Ron Thomas, Mel Wayne, Mick Stewart, Simon Scott, Brian Hosking and Phil Wainman.

Mike Dee & The Prophets

Mike Dee & The Prophets Photo
Mike Dee & The Prophets, photo courtesy of Don Martin

Mike Dee & The Prophets or The Mike Dee Combo as they were originally known were formed in late August/early September 1964 after singer Mick Wheeler, guitarist Dave Claridge and bass player Ron Thomas had left Guitars Incorporated to form a new outfit.

Wheeler had originally been a rhythm guitarist in Twickenham band, The Paragons in the late 1950s before joining The Jaywalkers around February 1961. Assuming the stage name, Mike Dee, he had fronted the group (which later included future Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore) until May 1962, at which point he joined the parachute regiment in the Territorial Army.

Returning to civilian life, he joined Guitars Incorporated, an instrumental band based in Southall, Middlesex around April/May 1964. (Ed. They may have briefly been known as Mike Dee & The Moquettes.)

Guitars Incorporated had been formed years earlier by bass player Ron Thomas, who’d grown up near the Cuckoo estate in Hanwell, Middlesex, and lead guitarist Peter Kindel; both having met at Brentside Secondary School in Greenford, Middlesex.

With a drummer and second guitarist Dave Claridge, who lived around the Carshalton, Surrey area and also worked for Melody Maker, they recorded some demos at Abbey Road.

Then, around the summer of 1964, Wheeler joined as lead singer and Thomas’s childhood friend, Johnny Hickson came in on drums. Not long after, however, Wheeler, Claridge and Thomas decided to put together an entirely new group.

Mike Dee & The Prophets/Mike Dee Combo (September 1964-May 1965)

Mick Wheeler (aka Mike Dee) – lead vocals
Dave Claridge – lead guitar
Ron Thomas – bass
Don Martin – organ
Mel Wayne – sax
Dave Mahoney – sax
Ken Hope – drums

Besides Wheeler, Thomas and Claridge, the original Prophets also included sax player Dave Mahoney, a friend of Ron Thomas’s from Brentside Secondary School in Greenford. Thomas also brought in his childhood friend from Hanwell, Don Martin, who was fooling around on the piano one day at Hanwell Community Centre when he was given the invite to join the fledgling group.

Mel Wayne (aka Melvyn Hoskins) was from the Twickenham area and was brought in by Mick Wheeler after playing with Colin Shane & The Shannons, who also featured Colin Shane (lead vocals); Dave Mumford (lead guitar); Dick Merrit (bass); Dave King (rhythm guitar) and Alan Worrell (drums).

The Prophets used another drummer initially before Ken Hope, who was Mick Wheeler’s best man at his wedding on 27 February 1965, came on board after playing in The Tony Meehan Combo.

Managed by Mac McQueen, Mike Dee & The Prophets rehearsed at a community centre in Northfields before hitting the road. On 31 January 1965, the group participated in a photo shoot in Gunnersbury’s Park near Chiswick.

On 25 April 1965, the band auditioned at Rocky Rivers, a studio on Tottenham Court Road, which may have been when they were spotted by Australian impresario and entertainment entrepreneur Robert Stigwood, who signed them to his agency, the Robert Stigwood Organisation.

Soon after the link up with Stigwood, Dave Claridge left and Ron Thomas invited guitarist Mick Stewart, a friend from the Cuckoo estate in Hanwell, to replace him.

Mick Stewart had previously filled in briefly as a guitarist for Screaming Lord Sutch’s backing band, The Savages and also played with The Ealing Redcaps.

The Redcaps in November 1964 with Mick Stewart (far right)

More recently, Stewart had played with Indian-born singer Simon Scott and Stigwood arranged for The Prophets to become Scott’s new support band after he had split from The Leroys.

Mick Wheeler decided that he’d had enough and left with drummer Ken Hope. Mike Dee & The Prophets broke up on 13 May 1965.

The remaining members brought in Mick Stewart’s friend Eddie Thorpe on drums and assumed a new name – The All Nite Workers, taken from the Rufus Thomas song. By September/October of that year, the group had undergone several personnel changes and become The Phil Wainman Band.

In mid-1966, Mick Wheeler and Ken Hope returned to the live scene with a new outfit, interestingly also called The All Night Workers. Wheeler would later work with Jo Jo Gunne and The Love Affair.

Notable gigs:

1 January 1965 – Putney Ballroom, Putney, Middlesex with Roger Evans Combo and Louisiana Stompers

2 January 1965 – St Peter’s Hall, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey with Dave & The Allies and Roger Evans Combo

17 January 1965 – Peter’s Club, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

22 January 1965 – Surbiton Assembly Rooms, Surbiton, Surrey

29 January 1965 – Cambridge Hall, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey (Youth Club Dance)

 

2 February 1965 – Alamo, Acton, Middlesex

7 February 1965 – Peter’s Club, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

12 February 1965 – Taggs Island Casino, Hampton Court, Middlesex (Annual Press Ball) with Roger and Caroline

13 February 1965 – Kingston Technical College, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey with Alexis Korner

19 February 1965 – St Peter’s Hall, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey

20 February 1965 – Goldhawk Social Club, Shepherd’s Bush

 

5 March 1965 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, Middlesex (Ealing Football Club Dance)

6 March 1965 – Flamingo, London with Errol Dixon and Tony Knights Chessmen

7 March 1965 – Peter’s Club, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

14 March 1965 – Starlight Ballroom, Greenford, Middlesex with The Who

20 March 1965 – London Transport Dance at Gunnersbury Lane

21 March 1965 – Peter’s Club, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

24 March 1965 – Heatham House, Twickenham, Middlesex

26 March 1965 – White Hart, Southall, Middlesex

27 March 1965 – Kingston Technical College, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey with Champion Jack Dupree and The Sheffields

 

2 April 1965 – Cambridge Club, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey

3 April 1965 – Starlight Ballroom, Greenford, Middlesex with Tony Knight & The Livewires

12 April 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex

23 April 1965 – Zephyr Club, Little Chalfont

24 April 1965 – Wiggin Hall, Mortlake, Surrey

 

2 May 1965 – Southall Community Centre, Southall, Middlesex with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers

8 May 1965 – Starlight Ballroom, Greenford, Middlesex with J J & The Challengers

13 May 1965 – Mike Dee & The Prophets split up

Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior permission from the author.

To contact the author, email: Warchive@aol.com

Many people helped piece this story together. My personal thanks go to: Don Martin for sharing his diary and the band dates. Also thanks to Mick Wheeler, Ron Thomas, Mel Wayne, Mick Stewart and Brian Hosking.