French rock ‘n’ roll singer Teddy Raye may not be familiar to English-speaking aficionados of 1960s rock music, but in his homeland he had quite a following.
While Raye never really attempted to break into the English-speaking market, during the years 1963-1965 he recruited a succession of British bands to back him on the club scene in Spain and North Africa. Some of these musicians went on to interesting groups/projects in later years.
The Victors
One of Raye’s earliest dabbles in the British rock market took place in June 1964 when he turned up at the Latin Quarter in Wardour Street, Soho and caught Welsh group The Victors playing at the Van Gogh Bar upstairs.
Formed in south Wales in late 1963, the band’s line up consisted of lead singer Brian Gibson, guitarist Pete Rowles, bass player and singer Jack Russell and drummer Terry Gittins.
Moving to London in January 1964, the quartet successfully auditioned at the Latin Quarter and on Saturdays covered the lunchtime spot at the Van Gogh Bar above, earning about £20 a week. It was here in early June that Raye caught their act.
“Teddy offered us $200 a month all found if we went with him to fulfil a contract he had in Malaga,” remembers Russell.
“He had found Paul Degis [from East London], who played vox organ and two tenor sax players – a guy called Ray and Maurice O’Connell. We rehearsed twice.”
Since Raye would be handling lead vocals, Brian Gibson wasn’t needed for the foreign trip and left to work (and record) with The Laurie Jay Combo.
“In a frantic week of activity we left London on the train with all of our gear and arrived in Paris,” continues Russell.
“From there we took another train to Hendaye/Irun, changed trains onto the Spanish system and got to Madrid where we changed stations and trains again for Malaga. The trip took four days and was exhausting humping gear, amps, drum kits etc from train to train.”
The gig that Raye had lined up was between Malaga and Marbella on the Costa Del Sol. Russell remembers it as a custom-built complex with a nightclub that had a stage over a large kidney-shaped swimming pool.
Socialising with a Cuban band called Los Matecocos, who were staying in a nearby villa, Russell says that the Costa Del Sol was in its early stages of development (“it was still a rich man’s destination”) and the expensive surroundings meant that the band usually played to only half a dozen people!
“We got paid for a while then the owner did a bunk and we were left with nothing to do,” says Russell on the dramatic turn of events.
“This must have been the end of August. We went first to a hotel in Algeciras where we stayed for about 10 days while Teddy went to Morocco to find work.”
Not surprisingly, the loss of work unsettled the group and the first to crack was lead guitarist Pete Rowles who returned to Wales, joined soon after by Terry Gittins. According to Russell the pair formed a new band back home and issued a single but he can’t recall any other details.
Rowles, who was something of a local legend, is now living in an old people’s home in Pontypool. As for Gittins, he may well be the same player that went on to work with Heron in the late 1960s.
Joined by two French musicians, the new line up took the ferry to Tangier and then the train to Rabat where they backed Raye at several clubs, ending up in Casablanca. During this short episode, the band appeared on an hourly TV show for four weeks.
However, inevitably it couldn’t last and around November 1964, the entire band walked away from Raye and returned home to their respective countries.
While little is known about Paul Degis’s subsequent career, Maurice O’Connell became a noted actor and later moved back to Spain. Russell remembers an exhausting journey home from Morocco to south Wales.
“I sold all of my gear. I had two double 12” cabinets and a large amp as well as my guitar and simply couldn’t transport it home,” he recalls.
“I bought gold because it was impossible to get currency out of Morocco. I bought a train ticket from Thomas Cook in Casablanca, which cost me £5 and took me all the way from Casa to Newport High Street. I had no money left. The trip took four days and was an ordeal.”
After returning home to recover, Russell joined Vox in Dartford, Kent in March 1965 but was soon contacted by former Victors’ lead singer Brian Gibson with a proposition to travel to South Africa as a member of The 004.
Put together by former Dusty Springfield & The Echoes lead guitarist Pete Clifford, The 004 sailed for Durban in June 1965 and quickly became a top draw, even backing rock ‘n’ roll legend Gene Vincent for a short period later that year.
In 1967, Gibson left and later joined South African progressive rock band, Abstract Truth. The remaining members linked up with singer John Kongos and moved back to England where they recorded as Floribunda Rose. Clifford soon moved back to South Africa to join The Bats while the others stayed in London and recorded several singles as Scrugg.
Looking back on his Teddy Raye adventure, Russell has this to say: “I enjoyed the Teddy Raye time even though it was chaotic. I learned a lot. I have tried unsuccessfully to track down dear old Teddy. He was a great little tap dancer.”
The Tomcats
With Jack Russell and company out of the picture, Teddy Raye returned to the UK to recruit a new outfit to back him in Spain over the next few months.
Turning up at Beat City on Oxford Street around April 1965, he spotted West London group, The Second Thoughts, fronted by future Nirvana lead singer Patrick Campbell-Lyons.
With a tenor sax player called Rudi already lined up, Raye completed his new backing group by lifting lead guitarist Tony Duhig, bass player Mickey Holmes and drummer Speedy Keene from The Second Thoughts and returned as The Tomcats.
“Franco was still around and apart from threatening to arrest us for long hair they called the band The Gatos Salvaje (The Savage Cats) as they didn’t have a direct translation for a Tomcat,” says Holmes.
Unfortunately for Raye, it was another short-lived project, as Holmes continues. “He wanted a long-haired Brit backing band for a month in Madrid initially. [But] we were the main attraction and we went back a second time [on our own] this time to other northern cities.”
Returning to London in May 1965 to save gig money for journey back to Spain, Tony Duhig, Mickey Holmes and Speedy Keene brought in their former Second Thoughts band mate Jon Field on organ and added singer Tom Newman from local rivals, The Tomcats.
Within a month, however, Keene had left to join The Rockin’ Eccentrics in Italy and was replaced by Chris Jackson from The Tomcats. Keene later went on to front Thunderclap Newman.
Renamed “Los Tomcats”, the musicians returned to Spain in June 1965 and stayed there until early 1967. Back in the UK, the group changed name to July and recorded an album and a string of singles. Duhig and Field subsequently formed Jade Warrior.
Los Swing-Stars
Left without a band again, Teddy Raye returned to London to recruit some more musicians for the summer season in Spain. The new line-up included Welshman, organist Mike Lease, who’d already cut a number of singles with The Zephyrs on the Fontana label and backed singer Beverly on the folk circuit.
Put together around June 1965 and dubbed “Los Swing-Stars”, Raye’s new group also comprised Mick Wilshire, a lead guitarist from Blackburn, Lancashire, who’d previously played with The Four Pennies, plus Londoners John Cooksey on bass and Peter Trout on drums.
“He came over [to London] and picked a few players out and I flew to Barcelona airport and was met there and we had contracts for one hundred quid a week; and he didn’t pay us,” Lease told the Liquorice Soul website.
“It ended up in a big fight. He smashed up all of our equipment and we were stuck out there without work permits and with the unions after us and everything.”
Renamed “El Conjunto Llamado Henri”, the quartet landed a regular, paid gig at the La Cabana nightclub in Sitges near Barcelona and remained there until the end of the season, around October 1965.
Having borrowed gear from local Barcelona bands (after Raye had smashed up most of their equipment, including Wilshire’s band-new Gibson SG, in a fit of rage), it wasn’t the last time they ran into their former employer.
“He threatened us with his revolver, periodically, and said he was going to pick us off from the beach fronting our regular gig at La Cabana,” remembers Lease. “Fortunately, nobody was shot.”
Back home in England, the group split up and John Cooksey ended up moving out to Australia; it can’t be said with any certainty but he may be the same John Cooksey who subsequently played bass with Perth outfit, The Valentines alongside future AC/DC singer Bon Scott.
Wilshire meanwhile struck gold, joining chart toppers The New Vaudeville Band. As for Peter Trout and Mike Lease, they reunited in the Studio G Project Beat Group.
Both were also briefly involved with Denny Laine during his Electric String Band period while Lease went on to become an integral member of progressive rock band, Freedom alongside former Procol Harum members Ray Royer and Bobby Harrison.
Peter Watkinson – lead vocals Kevin Sparkes – rhythm guitar, organ Keith Kendall – lead guitar Rick Eagles – bass Tony Watkinson – drums, vocals
Hayes, Middlesex-based brothers Peter and Tony Watkinson had formed the band in the early 1960s as The Limelites and were joined at some point by rhythm guitarist Kevin Sparkes.
In 1963, Rick Eagles, who’d previously played rhythm guitar with Wembley, Middlesex band The Delta 5 alongside future Deep Purple bass player Nick Simper, joined the Limelites on bass. Soon after, they became resident Sunday night band at the Clay Pigeon in Eastcote, Middlesex.
During mid-1964, Peter Watkinson caught another Hayes band, Brian & The Fantoms playing at the Seagull Hotel in Southall and was impressed by The Fantoms’ lead guitarist Keith Kendall, whose father was Watkinson’s manager at EMI Electronics.
Hillingdon Mirror 29 September 1964 page 5
Not long after, Watkinson changed the group’s name to the Legends and secured a recording deal with Pye Records.
Paired with legendary producer Joe Meek, the band cut a lone single, Peter Watkinson’s “Looking For Her” c/w “I’m Coming Home”, which was issued as The First Impressions in March 1965 to avoid confusion with Twickenham, Middlesex group, The Legend.
However, when the US soul band, The Impressions threatened a law suit, the musicians were forced to revert back to The Legends for a second single on Pye – Peter Watkinson’s “I’ve Found Her” c/w “Something’s Gonna Happen” in July 1965.
When the two singles failed to dent the charts, Keith Kendall departed in late 1965/early 1966 and re-joined Brian & The Fantoms for a few months before subsequently joining Hayes group, Four Point Five, which also worked as The Soul System. In the late 1960s/early 1970s, Kendall hooked up with The All Night Workers.
Kendall’s initial replacement was a lead guitarist called Ron, who was joined soon after by second lead player Ian Hollands. Hollands had previously worked with Ealing, Middlesex group, Frankie Reid & The Casuals between 1962-1963 and then a Teddington, Middlesex band (possibly Unit 4).
Towards the end of 1966, the band underwent further changes as both Rick Eagles (who hooked up with Tony Knight’s Chessmen) and the lead guitarist called Ron departed to make way for siblings Terry Williams on trumpet/vocals and Ian Williams on bass. By November, Kevin Sparkes, who’d moved on to Hammond C3, had also left to make way for Russ Pinder.
The Hillingdon Mirror ran article and photo on the new formation in its 28 March 1967 issue, page 24.
That same month, The Legends finally returned with a second single on the Parlophone label – a cover of Boyce & Hart’s “Tomorrow’s Gonna Be Another Day” backed by Peter Watkinson’s “Nobody Laughs Anymore”.
The Hillingdon Mirror ran another article and photos of the band in its 11 July 1967 issue, page 32 (see above).
That same month, The Legends released their final single on Parlophone – Peter Watkinson’s “Under The Sky” c/w “Twenty Four Hours A Day”.
When the band broke up in late 1967, Hollands played guitar on some demos that Peter Watkinson recorded in his home studio before going on to work with Hayes, west London group, The Magic Roundabout.
Thanks to Keith Kendall and Ian Hollands for providing background information on the band.
I have tried to ensure the accuracy of this article but I appreciate that there are likely to be errors and omissions. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who can provide any additions or corrections. Email: Warchive@aol.com
The Legends (Trend Magazine)
Selected gigs (also see comments below):
26 January 1965 – Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald)
30 January 1965 – Carfax Ballroom, Oxford with The Puppets (Oxford Mail)
5 March 1965 – Co-op Hall, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)
5 June 1965 – Carfax Ballroom, Oxford with The Pressmen (Oxford Mail)
14 August 1965 – Orchid Room, Oxford with The Beat Merchants (Oxford Mail)
19 September 1965 – Co-op Hall, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)
21 September 1965 – Kodak Hall, Wealdstone, northwest London Paul Dean & The Savages (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
26 October 1965 – Kodak Hall, Wealdstone, northwest London with The Creed (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
16 November 1965 – Kodak Hall, Wealdstone, northwest London with The Creed (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
17 December 1965 – Kodak Hall, Wealdstone, northwest London Paul Dean & The Savages (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
16 August 1967 – Town Hall Park, Hayes, west London (Hillingdon Mirror)
The Pentad featured in the Woking Herald and News, June 11, 1965
Terry Crowe – lead vocals Mike Fitzpatrick – lead guitar Roger Hanks – piano, organ Mick Dunford – bass Peter Garland-Jones – drums
A Woking, Surrey band that was formed around April 1965 from the ashes of The Plebs, The Pentad was led by singer Terry Crowe, who together with Mick Dunford, had been an original member of The Nashville Teens.
The band’s debut single “Silver Dagger” c/w “Nothing But Love” came out on Parlophone in June 1965. The group recorded a second single, “Don’t Throw It All Away” c/w “Too Many Ways”, which was released later that year.
Pentad’s third and final release, “Something Other People Call Love” c/w “It Better Be Me”, was issued in March 1966. Dunford later became a member of Renaissance.
I have tried to ensure the accuracy of this article but I appreciate that there are likely to be errors and omissions. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who can provide any additions or corrections. Email: Warchive@aol.com
Terry Crowe – lead vocals Mick Dunford – lead guitar Danny McCulloch – bass Chris Dennis – keyboards Derek Sirmon – drums
An historically interesting band, The Plebs were formed around May 1964 after former Nashville Teens members Terry Crowe and Mick Dunford joined forces with Danny McCulloch and Derek Sirmon, who had previously worked together in Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages and before that Frankie Reid & The Casuals.
Mick Dunford (aka Mick Forde) had started out with Weybridge, Surrey band, The Cruisers Rock Combo while Sirmon had once been a member of The Conchords (Mungo Jerry in its early days) and then Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers with Ritchie Blackmore on lead guitar.
The Plebs were all experienced professional musicians (one of the members trained at the Royal Military School of Music) and could play anything from modern jazz to rock ‘n’ roll to ballroom.
After backing Jess Conrad and Mark Wynter on the road, The Plebs signed to Decca Records and released a lone single, a cover of The Coasters’ “Bad Blood” c/w “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You”, in October 1964.
That same month, the band accompanied the internationally acclaimed American modern ballet company the Alvin Ailey dance show at London’s Shaftsbury Theatre, which proved to be a long and successful engagement. However, this took them out of the “loop” with bookers for rock venues.
The Plebs went on to become the backing band for Jerry Lee Lewis on a European tour. The band can be seen on Ready Steady Go on YouTube playing “High Heel Sneakers” and “Whole lot of shakin’” with Lewis.
In early 1965, the band played at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany and then appeared in the film Be My Guest (again with Jerry Lee Lewis).
A few months later, the group went back to Germany without Derek (Degs) Sirmon who had got married. In his place, The Plebs took replacement drummer Dave Maine, who been with original Nashville Teens.
Differences in the band, however, saw its break-up in spring 1965 with Crowe and Dunford forming The Pentad. Both are now deceased.
As for the other members, Chris Dennis later moved to Italy where he teaches English.
Danny McCulloch meanwhile went on to work with singer Tony Sheridan and then spent a brief period of time in Germany in a “scratch” band with Ritchie Blackmore.
Back in the UK, he briefly hooked up with The Carl Douglas Set in the summer of 1966 before joining Eric Burdon’s New Animals later that year. He still composes and produces music and advertisements.
Derek Sirmon became a company director but is now retired.
Notable gigs
5 September 1964 – Jazz Cellar, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey (Surrey Comet)
16 November 1964 – Jazz Cellar, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey with Jimmy Reed and John Lee Groundhogs (Surrey Comet)
4 December 1964 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London with Jerry Lee Lewis, Mike Rabin & The Demons and The Hideaways (Streatham News)
6 March 1965 – Guildford Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with Daniel & The Emeralds (Surrey Advertiser)
Huge thanks to Derek Sirmon and Danny McCulloch for providing information on the band. I would also like to credit the Woking Herald for source material.
I have tried to ensure the accuracy of this article but I appreciate that there are likely to be errors and omissions. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who can provide any additions or corrections. Email: Warchive@aol.com
The Army, mid-February 1968 at The Grange Club in Hayes, left to right: Richard Herring, Steve Priest, Alan Bennett, Anita (surname? – our go-go dancer), Richard Bennett, George Russell, Ron Lewingdon, John Barter and Dennis White. Photo: Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett – lead vocals
Tony Tacon – lead guitar
Ian Orton – keyboards
John Barter – tenor sax
George Russell – tenor sax
Ron Lewingdon – trumpet
Steve Priest – bass/vocals
Alan Bennett – drums
West London R&B/soul connoisseurs The Army have the distinction of being the group that spawned future Sweet bass player/singer Steve Priest.
The Army’s roots can be traced as far back as 1962 when cousins Richard Bennett (lead vocals) and Alan Bennett (drums) decided to form their first band, The Satellites in Hayes, west London.
The Satellites in Hillingdon Mirror, 16 November 1965
Joined by Dave Harris (bass) and siblings Ian Orton (lead guitar) and Mick Orton (rhythm guitar), The Satellites had an early brush with fame when they appeared on the set of the James Bond movie Goldfinger in 1964.
The Army was formed from this band, The Satellites, formed in 1960. Left to right: Richard Bennett, Dave Harris, Alan Bennett, Ian Orton and Mick Orton. This photo was taken at the opening scene of Goldfinger, The James Bond movie with Sean Connery. Photo: Richard Bennett
Around mid-July 1966, however, The Satellites underwent a significant reshuffle, starting with the addition of lead guitarist Tony Tacon, whose main claim to fame is that he had been a member of local rivals, The Javelins with future Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan during 1962-1964.
Gillan left to join Wainwright’s Gentlemen in November 1964 (Ed: future Sweet drummer Mick Tucker joined during late 1965) and Tacon joined Ealing band, Four Jacks and a Joker before hooking up with West Drayton outfit, The Ways & Means for a few months.
“I got a knock on my door from Clem [Clemson] who had been a part-time manager of The Javelins,” remembers Tacon. “He said that The Satellites were looking for a new lead guitarist if I was interested. I went down to Uxbridge for an audition and joined.”
With Tacon’s arrival, Ian Orton moved on to keyboards. At the same time Mick Orton dropped out. The following month, the band decided to remodel itself on Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers by bringing in some horn players.
For the proposed horn section, Tacon recommended his friend, sax player John Barter, who had played alongside the guitarist in Four Jacks and a Joker. Barter in turn introduced his friend, fellow sax player George Russell, a former member of Twickenham-based R&B outfit, Jeff Curtis & The Flames.
Not long after Dave Harris departed and future Sweet bass player Steve Priest took his place.
“Steve Priest joined as our new bass player,” continues Tacon. “I remember us going around to see him at his parents’ house in Hayes. I was familiar with him from his Countdowns days but someone else in the band had made contact with him.”
According to Steve Priest’s book Are you Ready, Steve? it was Richard and Alan Bennett who approached him to join. Priest would later recruit future Army members, guitarist Richard Herring and organist Dennis White from his former group The Countdowns.
Tacon remembers one of his first gigs with the group (still billed as The Satellites) was in south Wales.
“I remember playing Afan Lido (Port Talbot) probably in their gym. It was early on after I joined The Satellites. Straight down the M4 and back the same day. Beautiful sunny day (so not winter) and I remember us relaxing on the nearby beach until the gig started. I reckon it was a regular dance venue as girls told us that they came down each week.” (Ed. The Port Talbot Guardian lists this as 23 July 1966 with Something Else in support)
Photo: Tony Tacon
Renamed The Army, in view of the increased number of personnel in the band, Richard Bennett, who worked as a sign writer, painted the new moniker, surrounded by instruments, on the sextet’s new purchase, an old 30cwt van.
“The van was so big that we used to have to take it in turns to have it for a week and park it outside our homes,” says Tacon.
From the outset, The Army’s repertoire was entirely comprised of cover material, mixing popular US R&B/soul numbers like Lee Dorsey’s “Ride Your Pony”, The Four Tops’ “Reach Out, I’ll Be There”, Larry Williams’s “Slow Down” and Wilson Pickett and Steve Cropper’s “In the Midnight Hour” (which Steve Priest sang) with British classics, such as Zoot Money’s “Big Time Operator”.
At first, the revamped and renamed outfit found gigs at its local haunt – the Grange Club in Hayes. Interestingly, they were also invited to perform at several garden parties for the Tory party.
“I was impressed by the sort of gigs that we did,” recalls Tacon. “The band was well in with the Young Conservative Association, how I don’t know, and played at many of the functions in London and the Home Counties.”
Tacon remembers the band playing at the Bell House Hotel in Gerrards Cross, a venue in Harpenden with a Liverpool band that might have been The Undertakers and also at an RAF base at Dawes Hill near High Wycombe.
During this time, the guitarist also remembers the band landing a gig at the Queen’s Building in the centre of London (Heathrow) Airport and sharing the dressing room with Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen.
In late October, The Army played at a Halloween Party at a hotel opposite the airport, which was put on by a film producer.
Photo: Tony Tacon
More significant, the sextet started performing on London’s busy club scene, including shows at the Starlite Ballroom in Greenford and the 100 Club (Ed: this might have been Tiles) on Oxford Street.
“One night we played a dance hall in the Amersham area… then went straight off to the centre of London where we played [at Tiles] in the early hours of the morning. The Birds may have been on before us,” recalls Tacon.
“I remember that Steve [Priest] had some friends with him at that gig and one of them was robbed on the dance floor. My fiancée (now my wife) saw it happen and says that the gang turned Steve’s friend upside down to empty his pockets.”
Priest’s book doesn’t mention this incident but does note that the venue the group played after the Amersham area gig was Tiles on Oxford Street. Interestingly, The Army did play the Legion Hall in Amersham on 25 February 1967 and later that evening appeared at Tiles on Oxford Street (see selected gig list below).
As the band’s popularity grew, The Army ventured further afield, including shows in Cardiff (3 February 1967), Dunstable, Birmingham and Nottingham among others.
Cardiff gig, 3 February 1967
Tacon remembers the sextet playing a converted warehouse in Birmingham and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers were in the dressing room when they arrived [Ed: this was Midnight City on 19 November 1966, although the group is not advertised in Birmingham Evening Mail].
“I remember John Mayall sitting there smoking a spliff. The window at the end of the room looked out on to a large intersection and bang opposite was Digbeth police station,” continues the guitarist.
“We left our gear and all went off to the Bullring for something to eat, missing the Bluesbreakers’ set. I have often wondered if Eric Clapton was in the room that night, but after comparing notes with Steve Priest; he assures me that it was the first gig [sic] for Peter Green, who he saw frantically practising in readiness having just taken over from Clapton.”
Tacon adds that The Army played at the Dungeon Club in Nottingham the next evening, a venue that he recalls playing at least twice during his time with the band. [Ed: this would have been 20 November 1966. Again, the local paper, The Nottingham Evening Post does not list them, but rather The Amboy Dukes]
Another notable gig took place on Christmas Eve when The Army opened for their idols, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers at Burton’s in Uxbridge.
“I must have left in my own van earlier than the others after the gig because the next morning (Christmas Day), two of the band, probably Richard and Alan turned up with my share of the money,” recalls the guitarist.
“They were good lads in that band. I went all over the place with them and do not remember any upsets at all.”
The Army, Dungeon, Nottingham, 5 March 1967
During January 1967, Tacon introduced trumpet player Ron Lewingdon and The Army became a seven-piece act.
“He approached me about joining when he saw me driving the band’s van one day in the company car park,” explains the guitarist. “I was working in the tool room at the same company at the time. I put it to the others and he was in.”
With Lewingdon on-board, The Army played at the Adelphi Ballroom in Slough (18 March 1967) and Tacon’s old mate from The Javelins, Ian Gillan turned up and ended up taking photos of the group performing from the side of the stage.
“Ian came with me in my car to see the band for the first time,” continues the guitarist. “I had been going to see him in Episode Six, so he repaid the compliment. He was best man at my wedding later that year.”
At The Adelphi Ballroom in Slough, above the cinema. Left to right: Steve Priest, Tony Tacon, Richard Bennett on lead vocals, Ron Lewingdon and George Russell. Photo: Richard Bennett
On this particular night Richard Bennett’s PA played up and the singer remembers borrowing one from Ian Gillan. Tacon adds that the future Deep Purple singer also took the photo.
However, not long after, Tony Tacon handed his notice. The guitarist was indeed engaged and got married soon after; it was time to hang up his rock ‘n’ roll boots. In fact, Tacon didn’t play in a band again until The Javelins reformed in the early 1990s to record a CD. He currently plays with Lincoln band, Something Else.
The guitarist remembers that his last gig with The Army took place at the California Ballroom in Dunstable on 25 March 1967.
“There were three bands on that night,” he says looking back. “The Troggs were top of the bill and we shared the dressing room with them. I remember being impressed that they arrived in an Austin Princess and brought a portable black and white TV with them that was set up in the dressing room.”
The Army at the Adelphi Ballroom, 18 March 1967. Photo: Tony Tacon
With former Countdowns guitarist Richard Herring taking over on lead guitar and ex-Countdown Dennis White subsequently replacing Ian Orton on electric organ, The Army cut two tracks in late 1967 that were shelved until 2014 when this author helped secure the release of the band’s cover of the Joe Tex hit, “Sugar” on Acid Jazz’s Rare Mod Volume 5. The band’s cover of the Sam & Dave hit “You Don’t Know Like I Know” remains unreleased.
On 14 October, The Army returned to the California Ballroom to support Georgie Fame. Two months later, they played two shows at Burton’s in Uxbridge, the latter on New Year’s Eve, opening for Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers.
Sometime around this period, the group turned up at Chelsea Barracks to audition for Opportunity Knocks.
The Army continued to gig during early 1968, playing venues like Walton Hop. However, behind the scenes, Steve Priest began rehearsing with The Sweetshop (aka Sweet) on the side.
“I was a fan of smaller bands like Cream,” says Priest on his decision to explore new avenues. “The Army and Wainwright’s Gentlemen played at Ealing Town Hall on the same night. Mick [Tucker] was fired that night and Brian [Connolly] resigned.”
Left to right: Ron Lewingdon, George Russell, John Barter, Richard Bennett and Steve Priest. Opening for Marmalade (circa late 1967/early 1968). Photo: George Russell
Not long after playing a show at the Grange Club in Hayes in mid-February (see date stamped top picture), Priest announced his decision to leave The Army, playing his debut gig with The Sweetshop (subsequently shortened to The Sweet) on 9 March at Hemel Hempstead Pavilion.
Taking on a new bass player called Chris from Ealing, The Army continued to gig, including a clutch of shows at the New Pink Flamingo in Soho, Cooks Ferry Inn in Edmonton, north London and also opened for The Easybeats at St Albans City Hall.
By this point, Richard Herring had also departed and former Casuals’ lead guitarist Geoff Foster had joined. Not long after Dennis White left to join Merlin Q.
The group continued to pick up gigs, playing venues like Samanthas in New Burlington Street in London
Then, around September 1968, Pete Burt took over the drum stool from Alan Bennett. Burt had worked with George Russell in Jeff Curtis & The Flames during 1965 and had stuck with the group when it became The Kool. Bennett’s departure prompted Ron Lewingdon to also drop out.
Alan Bennett and Ron Lewingdon stuck together. Reunited with former member, the late Ian Orton on rhythm guitar and lead vocals and siblings Ray Spiteri (lead guitar) and Bob Spiteri (bass), they formed The Occasions and landed a prestigious gig at the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane the early 1970s.
The remaining members continued into early 1969 before splintering. Pete Burt briefly gigged with Bob Brittain and then formed Hogsnort Rupert, the house band at the Clay Pigeon in Eastcote.
Geoff Foster joined soul band, The Orange Rainbow (John Barter and George Russell both guested). Russell (and later Richard Bennett) emigrated to Australia but Russell subsequently returned to the UK.
Notable gigs:
3 September 1966 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Simon Dupree Sound (billed as The Satellites)
9 September 1966 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London with The Jimmy Brown Sound (billed as The Satellites)
27 October 1966 – Royal Ballrooms, Boscombe, Dorset (billed as The Satellites)
19 November 1966 – Midnight City, Digbeth, Birmingham with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Tony Tacon’s memories: they must have replaced either Wynder K Frog or The Times who were also advertised)
20 November 1966 – The Dungeon, Nottingham (Tony Tacon’s memories: they must have replaced The Amboy Dukes who were advertised in Nottingham Evening Post)
24 November 1966 – Stereo Club, Wycombe, Bucks (billed as The Satellites)
25 November 1966 – Wy-Key Club, Burnham Lane, Slough, Berkshire (billed as The Satellites)
26 November 1966 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Blackout (billed as The Satellites)
10 December 1966 – Harpenden Public Hall, Harpenden, Herts with The Riot Squad (Tony Tacon confirmed)
24 December 1966 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers
Thanks to David Else for providing the scan
4 February 1967 – Thames Hotel, Windsor, Berkshire (replaced The All Night Workers)
11 February 1967 – Kookoo-Byrd Discotheque, Cardiff, Wales
25 February 1967 – Legion Hall, Amersham, Bucks
25 February 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Gamblers and The Essex Five
5 March 1967 – Dungeon, Nottingham
18 March 1967 – At the Union, Manchester with St Louis Union and Sound Venture (Tony Tacon doesn’t recall this gig at all, even though it was advertised)
18 March 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
25 March 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Troggs
1 April 1967 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
23 April – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
29 April 1967 – Legion Hall, Amersham, Bucks
29 April 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Lemon Line and The Penny Blacks
11 May 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Jokers and The Afex
28 May 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
2 July 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London with The Toys
15 July 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
16 July 1967 – Carlton Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
29 July 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Gass and The Fraternity
19 August 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Coloured Raisins and Tiles Big Band
20 August 1967 – Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with The Maze and The Art Movement
23 August 1967 – Drayton Hall, West Drayton, west London
23 August 1967 – Town Hall Park, Hayes, west London
3 September 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
14 October 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Georgie Fame & Four Point Five
24 November 1967 – Private engagement (according to Melody Maker)
25 November 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London
26 November 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Ronnie Jones & The Q-Set
27 November 1967 – Private engagement (according to Melody Maker)
Photo: Melody Maker
30 November 1967 – RAF Northwood, Hertfordshire
1 December 1967 – Private engagement (according to Melody Maker)
2 December 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London
3 December 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with The Temptations (this was The Fantastics not the Motown group)
31 December 1967 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers (this requires confirmation)
5 January 1968 – The Hub, Marlow, Bucks
13 January 1968 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
20 January 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Radio Disc Show with Stuart Henry
According to Frank Torpey’s diary, Steve Priest was rehearsing with The Sweetshop (aka The Sweet) by 5 February and would have left a few weeks later.
Frank Torpey’s final gig with Wainwright’s Gentlemen was 20 January and Mick Tucker was fired shortly afterwards so the Ealing Town Hall gig where Wainwright’s Gentlemen and The Army both appeared was probably in the last week of January 1968.
10 February 1968 – The Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
Mid (13?) February 1968 – The Grange, Hayes, west London (picture has Steve Priest in it, so one of his final gigs with the band)
3 March 1968 – Slough Adelphi, Slough, Berkshire (Priest may have played this but very unlikely)
10 May 1968 – Dunstable Civic Hall, Dunstable, Beds with Spectrum
25 May 1968 – Nags Head, Motown Club, Wollaston, Northamptonshire with Alfred The Great
26 May 1968 – New Pink Flamingo, Wardour Street, central London
Photo credit: Geoff Foster
30 May 1968 – St Andrew’s Hall, Uxbridge, northwest London
2 June 1968 – New Pink Flamingo, Wardour Street, central London with The All-Nite Workers (billed as Army Soul Show)
14 June 1968 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset
21 June 1968 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with The Easybeats and The Hello
6 July 1968 – Flamenco Club, Folkestone, Kent
Photo credit: Geoff Foster
10 August 1968 – Styx Discotheque, Luton, Bedfordshire
23 September 1968 – Penny Farthing Club, Southend-on-Sea, Essex with Kingsize Keen and His Rockin’ Machine
I would like to thank Tony Tacon, Richard Bennett, Alan Bennett, Ron Lewingdon, Steve Priest, John Kerrison, Geoff Foster, George Russell, John Barter and Keith Kendall for providing some information about this band. Thanks to Richard Bennett, George Russell and Tony Tacon for providing images.
Gigs were sourced from various national newspapers and Melody Maker (some sources are noted in the comments below).
I have tried to ensure the accuracy of this article but I appreciate that there are likely to be errors and omissions. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who can provide any additions or corrections. Email: Warchive@aol.com
Standing from top left: Pete Ross (guitar), John Carroll (organ), Dalek (security) & Kenny Power (sax). Kneeling, from left: Steve Horrell (road manager), Hans Herbert (drums) & Pete Carney (bass)July 4, 1964
Judging by an article (at right) in the Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette from 4 July 1964, The Flexmen came from the Ealing, Middlesex area. The line up comprised:
Pete Ross – guitar Pete Carney – bass Ken Power – sax Bob Sellars – sax Hans Herbert – drums
Peter Carney had started out playing rhythm guitar with Ealing band, The Krewsaders during 1962. Formed with his cousin, lead guitarist Micky Holmes, the pair added drummer John “Speedy” Keene, after coming across the young sticks man at a local youth club. Keene in turn introduced John McVie.
“Speedy said that he knew this guy who wanted to join a band and that his father would buy him a bass guitar and amp if he did,” recalls Carney on McVie’s addition to The Krewsaders.
Unfortunately, in early 1963, McVie left to join John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and his departure contributed to the group’s break up.
“John McVie lived near a guy named Cliff Barton who played with Cyril Davies and told John that John Mayall was looking for a bass player and got the gig,” remembers Carney.
With Micky Holmes and Speedy Keene forming rival Ealing band, The Second Thoughts, who became regulars at the Ealing Club, Peter Carney swapped to bass and formed a new band with lead guitarist Pete Ross, who knew and lived near The Krewsaders’ manager, Steve Horrell.
According to Keith Gardiner, rhythm guitarist with Jeff Curtis & The Flames, Pete Ross had worked with him and future Jimi Hendrix sticksman Mitch Mitchell in a rudimentary band at Tudor Rose Youth Club in Southall, Middlesex in late 1957.
As Ross recalls, his playing history did indeed go back to youth club groups in the late 1950s during which time he listened to a wide range of music – Segovia, Barney Kessel, Chet Atkins and Hank Marvin to name a few.
“I started on the ukulele and moved up to an acoustic guitar which I found in a second-hand shop – finally on to a Broadway guitar, which had a couple of pickups and a tremolo arm so I could do all those ‘Shadow-y’ things,” he says.
Thanks to an older sister who “chaperoned” him to Southall Community Centre every Sunday to catch top artists of the era like Gene Vincent, Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, Little Richard and Chuck Berry, Ross developed a broad taste in music although he says his main focus was on US artists such as Richard Barrett.
The lead guitarist knew Steve Horrell, who lived around the corner from him and also owned a red-pillar box early Ford Transit van, which would become The Flexmen’s mode of transport. It was Horrell who linked the two Peters up.
“Pete and I immediately hit it off and realised we both wanted to play the same kind of music with him heavily into Bob Dylan, Doris Troy, and loads of other ‘obscure’ artists whose music was enlightening,” says Carney.
“We were both in awe of Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and would go and watch them at Southall Community Centre whenever they played there so decided that this is what our band would be like.”
After scouring the local youth clubs, the pair came across sax player Kenny Power, who introduced his sax playing friend Bob Sellars. Drummer Hans Herbert completed the line up not long after. The drummer says he already knew Power through a mutual friend called “Podge”.
Herbert had first got into drumming after befriending Speedy Keene during The Krewsaders’ period. “One time after they had finished playing at a gig, he asked me if I would like to have a go on the drums,” says Herbert. “He said I was a natural and that there were plenty of bands out there looking for drummers.”
Herbert’s first band was The Raiders. After a very brief spell with another local group, The Saints, the drummer joined his first big band, The Rumours.
The band debuted at Elthorne Youth Club. According to the Middlesex County Times and West Middlesex Gazette, the band played at Ealing Town Hall on 11 September 1964 and 8 October 1964 (where The Second Thoughts, featuring Micky Holmes and Speedy Keene, also appeared on the bill).
The Flexmen also appeared at Victoria Hall, Ealing on 26 June 1964 and 24 November 1964 (sharing the bill with Jimmy Royal & The Hawks). Another gig from this period took place at Shackleton Hall in Southall on 4 December 1964. As Pete Ross points out, the band was frequently mentioned in the newspaper. “A close school friend of mine – Mike Ryder – was a journo on the Middlesex Times and gave us column inches on a regular basis.”
Sometime during this time, The Flexmen took part in a “Battle of the Bands” competition at Wimbledon Theatre where they came second. Not long after, however, Bob Sellars departed and the group recruited organ player John Carroll. “When John joined with his Vox Continental, we included songs by The Animals and other keyboard-y stuff,” remembers Ross. The band also recorded a series of demo tracks, including covers of “Fortune Teller”, “Poison Ivy” and “Reelin’ and Rockin’”.
However, around July 1965, new recruit Carroll answered an advert in New Musical Express, asking for an organist to join a band to tour Poland. The group, known as The London Beats, needed a bass player and Peter Carney passed the audition.
With Carroll and Carney out of the picture, The Flexmen splintered. Hans Herbert joined The Rumours and then The Just Four, who changed name to The Guests in 1966.
It’s not clear what Kenny Power did immediately after the band’s break up that summer. However, during late 1966 he reunited with Hans Herbert in another west London band called The All Night Workers.
After touring Poland for about three months, Peter Carney and John Carroll decided not to participate in a second tour. Carney next joined Tony Knight’s Chessmen in late 1965 but after a year he jumped ship to join Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band.
Carroll, meanwhile, worked with several other local bands before reuniting with Carney in The Chessmen. In early 1967, however, he joined Nick Simper, Mick Stewart and John Kerrison in a very short-lived version of The New Pirates (formed after Johnny Kidd’s death) and toured the UK.
Around May 1967, Carney reunited with Carroll once again and also Hans Herbert when he managed to recruit them into Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band. The reunion was short-lived, however, and both musicians were replaced before the decade was out.
Carney subsequently moved to Australia where he played with The Bullamakanka Bush Grass Band. He has since returned to the UK and currently plays with English folk band, Hawkie Chapman.
As for Pete Ross, in the summer of 1965, he signed up with a six-piece R&B band from West London called The Ray Martin Group, who were a regular fixture at the Ealing Club throughout 1965 and later at nearby Feathers. The band’s line up also included singer Ray Martin, sax player Terry Marshall (son of the famous Jim Marshall) and drummer Paul Atkinson.
Ross went on to work with a number of bands before starting up the worldwide company CP Cases along with a drummer friend who also worked in Jim Marshall’s shop in Hanwell. The Isleworth, Middlesex-based company designs and manufacturers hi-performance protective cases for transport, operation and storage of essential equipment.
Many thanks to Peter Carney, Hans Herbert and Pete Ross for helping to piece together the band’s story. Thank you Pete Ross for supplying the band photos.
The Manchester Playboys, Hamburg, 1967. Photo from Graham Sclater. Left to right: Malcolm Tag-Randall, Stuart Fahey, Graham Sclater, Peter Simensky, Alan Watkinson and Kerry Burke
The Manchester Playboys (line up from July/August 1965)
Kerry Burke – vocals
John Denson – organ/lead guitar/vocals (left mid-1966)
Stuart Fahey – rhythm guitar/trumpet
Malcolm Tag-Randall – saxophone
Alan Watkinson – bass
Mel Preston – drums (left May 1967)
Jim Warhurst – lead guitar (joined mid-1966, left June 1967)
Peter Simensky – drums (joined May 1967)
Graham Sclater – organ (joined June 1967)
Kenny Anders – lead guitar (joined early 1969)
This tragically overlooked British soul/R&B outfit were authors of the infectious, horn driven soul classic, “I Feel So Good” c/w “I Close My Eyes”, which was released on Fontana Records in September 1966.
The group’s roots can be found in St Helens, Lancashire band, [Mike] Cadillac & The Playboys, who included Stuart Fahey and Alan Watkinson from around 1963. Both hailed from nearby Newton-le-Willows in Lancashire.
Former Classics’ drummer Mel Preston had joined during 1964 and when singer Mike Cadillac departed, another former Classics member John Denson came in on keyboards and vocals. They also added singer/guitarist Les Stocks.
In spring 1965, the band briefly backed singer Lorraine Gray but the partnership was short-lived. Soon after Gray and Stocks (who later got married) emigrated to Australia. By this point, they had adopted the name The Manchester Playboys as the city had become their base and that’s where their management was based.
During July 1965 while playing in Duisberg, West Germany, The Manchester Playboys crossed paths with Beau Brummell & The Noblemen and their sax player Malcolm Randall (aka Tag-Randall), who was originally from Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex, jumped ship. Tag-Randall had started out with Twickenham band, Jeff Curtis & The Flames in early 1963.
Later that month (back in England), they finally persuaded Kerry Burke to join as lead singer, within days of a return trip to West Germany. Like drummer Mel Preston, Burke was originally from St Helens. Burke had started out as singer/harmonica player with St Helens band The Denims and had been earmarked for the group several months before.
“I was an apprentice electrician,” remembers the singer. “The Playboys were out looking for a lead singer and approached me after watching me at a local gig. I turned them down as I already had a good band and apprenticeship. They wouldn’t let go and in the end I joined up. In no time at all, I had a passport, no work permit and we were off to Frankfurt for a month at the Storyville Club.”
As Burke recalls, the band made a number of trips to Germany over the next few years, appearing at Hamburg’s Star Club and Top Ten Club, the Savoy Club in Hanover and the Liverpool Hoop in Berlin to name just a few (see gig list below for more details).
At the end of October 1965, The Manchester Playboys became the second British band to tour Romania after The Federals and spent six weeks there. While in Romania, the band recorded an ultra-rare 10″ album with Carol Kay (aka Karol Keyes) and Bobby Shaftoe, which was released as The Playboys on the Electrecord label.
“Romania was a hard place to live in those times,” says Burke. “Although we were being employed by the Government, they would try and undermine us at any opportunity via photos and articles in the press. We were deemed to be a bad example from the West. They would jam Radio Luxembourg on a regular basis and would greatly restrict the amount of tickets made available to the young people. I didn’t witness much joy there at all.”
Back in England in mid-December, the group met session drummer Bobby Graham who took over the band’s management. Graham was also a producer for the French Barclay recording company.
Sometime in early 1966 the band recorded a four-track EP at Pye Studios near Marble Arch with Bobby Graham at the helm. The EP featured covers of “Woolly Bully”, “Lipstick Traces” and two James Brown covers – “And I Do Just What I Want” and “Tell Me What You’re Gonna Do”. The EP allegedly topped the French charts.
From February 1966, the band started playing regularly in Belgium, particularly at the Shark Club in Ghent.
“We played [the Shark Club] numerous times along with Tony Blackburn as guest DJ,” says Burke. “Dave Berry was huge in Belgium due to a performance in the Eurovision song contest. He turned up at the Shark and he did get up and do a set with us.”
Sometime in mid-1966, The Manchester Playboys played on the same bill as Manchester band, The Meteors in Oldham and asked their guitarist Jim Warhurst (Hyde) to replace John Denson who was leaving.
The new line-up recorded the group’s lone UK single, an excellent blue-eyed soul number, which was released on Fontana Records that autumn.
At the end of May 1967, Mel Preston also left to concentrate on the family business and Jim Warhurst asked his former band mate from The Meteors, Peter Simensky to join.
Simensky had reformed The Meteors with new members as The Hobo Flats in the interim.
“I did my first gig at the Belle Vue in Manchester on 3 June 1967,” says Simensky.
“We left for Hamburg on the 4 June. I remember the day. It was a Sunday morning and as we drove through Stockport, we heard the news that a British Midland flight had just crashed in the centre of Stockport.”
Later that month, The Manchester Playboys saw Graham (Sandy) Sclater playing Hammond organ with The Birds and The Bees at the Star Club. The two bands frequently met in the Bier Shoppe along with other musicians and it was at that time that Jim Warhurst’s father was taken ill and Sclater, who’d been playing in Germany since 1964 with a number of bands, took his place and returned to England with them.
Back in England, The Manchester Playboys rehearsed for a few days in Manchester before travelling down to London to play at Tiles in Oxford Street and the Scotch of St James in Mayfair. They then returned north to play gigs at venues like the Bolton Nevada, the Bolton Palais and The Place in Hanley plus several airforce bases around the UK.
A show from late April 1967 at the Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
Joined by Tag-Randall’s former band mate from Jeff Curtis & The Flames Jeff Lake (who was acting as road manager) the group then traveled to Sweden in mid-August (via Belgium and Denmark) for a tour, and for most shows they backed the female “hit” duo The Caravelles.
Thanks to Mats Jarl for supplying the clipping
“In Sweden we played mainly open air gigs in volk parks,” says Burke.
“Two notable events while we were there. The Swedes were in the state of changing which side of the road they drive on. At that time they used the left hand side. We went out in the van… I believe 3am… and if I remember correctly we just drove to the other side of the road. It all passed very easily without any problems.”
Thanks to Mats Jarl for supplying the clipping. Pop Inn Gothenburg (see gig list below)
Burke also remembers The Manchester Playboys jamming with some special guests at the Cue Club in Gothenburg.
“The owner of the club asked us to take our kit to the lift to the basement club for a party,” says the singer.
Thanks to Mats Jarl for supplying the clipping. This gig may be from 2 September 1967 (see gig listing below)
“The party turned out to be for Jimi Hendrix and his entourage. We already knew Noel Redding from Germany when he was lead guitarist with Neil Landon & The Burnetts. Noel didn’t show up but Jimi, Mitch [Mitchell], the drummer, Chas Chandler and a large group arrived at the party. We were providing the live music. Graham asked Jimi and Mitch up for a jam. They agreed and Jimi took Stuart Fahey’s Baldwin Burns guitar, turned it around as it was strung for a right hander and just played along with the rest of the band, no showmanship, just jamming.”
Back in the UK, Simensky remembers the band doing some further recordings. “We did some recordings for Les Reed; cover versions of current hit records,” he recalls. “Someone said the label eventually became K-Tel.”
These tracks, which included a cover of “Knock on Wood” and “You Got What It Takes” appeared on an EP for Avenue Records in late 1967.
The Manchester Playboys also cut some tracks in West Germany during early 1968.
“When we were playing in Berlin, we were approached by Hansa and asked if we would like to go in the studio and record something,” continues Simensky.
“It would have to be original and the studio was booked two days hence. Alan and I wrote a couple of not very good songs which we recorded and promptly sank without trace, only to surface several years later alongside Georgio Moroder on a compilation album!”
By May 1968, however, Stuart Fahey, Malcolm Tag-Randall and Graham Sclater had all left and the remaining trio carried on briefly with guitarist Kenny Anders from The Chosen Few and Hush. Fahey died in the mid-2000s.
After leaving the band, Malcolm Tag-Randall moved to Cambridgeshire and ended up working with Red Express during the 1970s (who featured several future Shakatak members). However, he is currently suffering from poor health.
Graham Sclater played on sessions for James Taylor’s Apple recordings.
Of the other band members, Kerry Burke currently lives on the Isle of Wight, Alan Watkinson lives in the Manchester area and Pete Simensky lives in Duckingfield.
Watkinson later played with Petrus Boonkamp and The Kaystones. Simensky meanwhile played played with Treetown.
Simensky is also a songwriter and has signed a lot of his songs to Tabitha Music Limited, which is run by Graham Sclater, who lives in Exeter and has his own website: http://tabithabooks.webs.com/authorgrahamsclater.htm.
Selected gigs
15 November 1964 – Royal Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent (Kent Messenger)
4 July 1965 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
(Most likely 12-16) July 1965 – The Storyville Jazz Club, Duisberg, West Germany (Kerry Burke recollections)
While The Manchester Playboys are performing at the club in Duisberg, they share the bill with Beau Brummell & The Noblemen. Sax player Malcolm Randall (aka Malcolm Tag-Randall) is blown away by the group and jumps ship
19 July 1965 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News) Beau Brummell & The Noblemen play in Stockport this evening and it’s possible Malcolm Randall played this date and then joined Manchester Playboys
26 July 1965 – The Cavern, Liverpool (Benefit Show, 12 hour session) with The Five Aces, The Boomerangs, The Cresters, The Clayton Squares, The Dimensions, Earl Preston’s Realms, The Escorts, The Lancastrians, Lorraine Grey, The Merseybeats, The Powerhouse Six and The Richmond Group (Phil Thompson’s Story of the Cavern book/Liverpool Echo)
The group asks Denims singer Kerry Burke to join them for their residency in Frankfurt. The group leaves England in the last week of July, within days of the Cavern benefit show
July/August 1965 – The Storyville Jazz Club, Frankfurt, West Germany with The Chants (Kerry Burke recollections)
1 September 1965 – Group arrives in Belgium (Kerry Burke’s passport) Unless this is exit stamp for return to England from Frankfurt
4 September 1965 – Union Rowing Club, Trent Bridge, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Advert says they are back from Germany
5 September 1965 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Presidents (Evening Sentinel)
6 September 1965 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
14 September 1965 – Gay Tower Ballroom, Edgbaston, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
17 September 1965 – The Cavern, Liverpool with The Verbs and Richmond Group (John Warburg research/Liverpool Echo)
20 September 1965 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
21 September 1965 – Oasis, Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle) Billed as The Playboys
24 September 1965 – Mecca, Ashton Palais, Ashton under Lyne, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
26 September 1965 – The Cavern, Liverpool with Earl Preston’s Realms (Phil Thompson’s Story of the Cavern book)
26 September 1965 – Jungfrau, Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
30 September 1965 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire with The Yardbirds (Swindon Evening Advertiser)
5 October 1965 – Peppermint Lounge, Liverpool with Dave the Rave (Liverpool Echo)
9 October 1965 – Union Rowing Club, Trent Bridge, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
18 October 1965 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
22 October 1965 – Grand Naval Dance, Royal College of Advanced Technology, Salford, Greater Manchester with The Original Checkmates, The Meteors and The Fat Sound (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
23 October 1965 – Oasis, Manchester with The Graham Bond Organisation (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
26 October 1965 – The Cavern, Liverpool with Earl Preston’s Realms (John Warburg research/Liverpool Echo)
30 October-14 December 1965 – Romanian tour (Kerry Burke’s passport). The band recorded as The Playboys while there and a ‘10 was issued in 1966
15 December 1965 – Bulls Head Hotel, Hanford, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
16 December 1965 – Ashton Palais, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
17 December 1965 – Domino Club, Openshaw, Greater Manchester and Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester with Major Lance and Bluesology Incorporated and Jonathan Good Tweed (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
24 December 1965 – Top Twenty Club, Droylsden, Greater Manchester with The Power House Six and Johnny Peters Set (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
24 December 1965 – Jungfrau Dance Club, Manchester with Power House Six and Frankenstein’s Monsters (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
26 December 1965 – Jungfrau Dance Club, Manchester with Richard Kent Style (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
26 December 1965 – Mr Smith’s, Manchester with The Fugitives (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
27 December 1965 – Club Creole, Wilmslow, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle) Advert says direct from Rumania and billed as The Playboys
30 December 1965 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
1 January 1966 – Union Rowing Club, Trent Bridge, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Advert says they are direct from a continental tour (Romania)
2 January 1966 –Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with Group One (Evening Sentinel)
6 January 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
7 January 1966 – Greenways, Baddeley Green, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
8 January 1966 – Queen’s Hall, Burslem, Staffordshire with Group One (Evening Sentinel)
17 January 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
21 January 1966 – Faculty of Building, Trentham Gardens, Stoke Staffordshire with Jack Kirkland’s BBC Broadcasting Band (Evening Sentinel)
24 January 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
30 January 1966 – 76 Club, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire (Burton Evening Mail)
31 January 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
5 February 1966 – 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon (Torbay Express and South Devon Echo)
12 February 1966 – Oasis, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
19-20 February 1966 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
24 February 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
25 February 1966 – Club Creole, Wilmslow, Cheshire (Alderley & Wilmslow & Knutsford Advertiser) Says direct from the Scotch of St James
28 February 1966 – Entry date into Belgium, possibly to play the Shark Club, Ghent (Kerry Burke’s passport)
Record Mirror reports in its issue, week ending 16 April that Dave Berry had a TV show in Belgium so this period seems highly plausible. Looks like they may also have played some German dates
3 April 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Sounds of Three (Evening Sentinel)
4 April 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News) Says back from German tour
9 April 1966 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Says back from tour of Germany
11 April 1966 – New Elizabethan, Belle Vue, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
12 April 1966 – Top Twenty Club, Droylsden, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
16 April 1966 – King’s Hall, Stoke, Staffordshire with The Small Faces, Roy Grant & The Kingpins and Barmy Barry (Evening Sentinel)
23 April 1966 – Mersey View Ballroom, Frodsham, Cheshire with The Optimists (Cheshire Observer)
24 April 1966 – Mecca Dancing, Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire with The Blue Thunderbirds and The Rocking Vicars (Evening Sentinel)
28 April 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Sounds of Three (Evening Sentinel)
30 April 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire with Yes and No (Swindon Evening Advertiser)
2 May 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
6 May 1966 – Crystal Ballroom, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire with Jimmy Powell & The Dimensions, Kris Ryan & The Questions and Wednesday’s Child (Evening Sentinel)
9 May 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
14 May 1966 – The Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Kinks and Tony Terrett (Evening Sentinel)
15 May 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex (Caterham Weekly Press)
22 May 1966 – Tower Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with Barry Lee & The Planets (Eastern Evening News/Yarmouth Mercury)
26 May 1966 – Crystal Ballroom, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
27 May 1966 – Club Creole, Wilmslow, Cheshire (Alderley & Wilmslow & Knutsford Advertiser)
28 May 1966 – Mersey View Ballroom, Frodsham, Cheshire with The Dodoes (Runcorn Weekly News)
4 June 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Keith Powell and Billie Davis, The End, The Humperdinks and The Ferryboys (Lincolnshire Standard)
6 June 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
7 June 1966 – Crystal Ballroom, Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
10 June 1966 – Worsley Civic Hall, Walkden, Worsley, Lancashire with This Generation (Bolton Evening News)
13 June 1966 – Wolverhampton Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Ambassadors (Express & Star)
16 June 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
20 June 1966 – Casino Club, Bolton, Greater Manchester with The Crestas (Bolton Evening News)
25 June 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with support (Evening Sentinel)
27 June 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
Jim Warhurst has joined in time (replacing John Denson) to appear on the group’s lone 45 for Fontana “I Feel So Good” c/w “I Close My Eyes”, which is released in September 1966
7 July 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
9 July 1966 – Union Rowing Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Says back again from Germany
12 July 1966 – Crystal Ballroom, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire with Dene Wayne & The Exiles (Evening Sentinel)
14 July 1966 – Locarno, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)
16 July 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire with Dynamos (Swindon Evening Advertiser)
18 July 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
23 July 1966 – Navada, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
28 July 1966 – Entry date into Belgium on way to Storyville Jazz Club, Cologne, West Germany (Kerry Burke’s passport) The group most likely played at the club for one month
3 September 1966 – Oasis, Manchester with The Wheels and Frankenstein (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
3 September 1966 – The Cavern, Liverpool with The Times, The Hideaways, The Mixture, The Dollies, The Dark Ages and The Prowlers (John Warburg research/Liverpool Echo)
4 September 1966 – Burnley Locarno, Burnley, Lancashire (Burnley Express and News)
8 September 1966 – Bradmore WMC, Bradmore, West Midlands (Express & Star)
12 September 1966 – Atlanta Ballroom, Woking, Surrey (Aldershot News/Camberley News)
15 September 1966 – Barrow Public Hall, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria with The Warriors (North Western Mail)
16 September 1966 – Paradise Club, Wigan, Greater Manchester (Liverpool Echo)
17 September 1966 – Union Rowing Club, Trent Bridge, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
19 September 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
20 September 1966 – Crystal Ballroom, Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
23 September 1966 – Hull College of Technology’s Fresher’s Dance with Birds Groove (Hull Daily Mail)
29 September 1966 – The Cavern, Liverpool with Georgia Germs (John Warburg research/Liverpool Echo)
1 October 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
3 October 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
4 October 1966 – Oasis, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
7 October 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The James Royal Set (Luton News)
9 October 1966 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey with support (Aldershot News/Camberley News)
10 October 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
10 October 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News) Looks like they cancelled or the gig was pushed back three days
13 October 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
16 October 1966 – Beachcomber, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
18 October 1966 – Crystal Ballroom, Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
27 October 1966 – Entry date into Belgium, possibly to play Shark Club, Ghent (Kerry Burke’s passport)
4 November 1966 – Oasis, Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
5 November 1966 – The Thing, Oldham, Greater Manchester (Oldham Evening Chronicle)
6 November 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
7 November 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
11 November 1966 – Crystal Club, Glossop, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening New and Chronicle)
11 November 1966 – Student Union, Manchester with Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Big City Sound Manchester (Manchester Evening New and Chronicle)
13 November 1966 – Swinging Sinking Ship, Stockport, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening New and Chronicle)
14 November 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
17 November 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London with Wishful Thinking (Melody Maker)
18 November 1966 – Entry date into Belgium, possibly to play the Shark Club, Ghent (Kerry Burke’s passport)
25 November 1966 – 7 Club, Shrewsbury, Shropshire with The Silvers (Express & Star)
26 November 1966 – Flamingo, Redruth, Cornwall with Circuit 5 (West Briton & The Royal Cornwall Gazette)
27 November 1966 – Flamingo, Redruth, Cornwall (West Briton & The Royal Cornwall Gazette)
3 December 1966 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire with Unchained (Swindon Evening Advertiser)
6 December 1966 – The Place Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
7 December 1966 – Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
10 December 1966 – Oasis, Manchester (Manchester Evening New and Chronicle)
11 December 1966 – Burnley Locarno, Burnley, Lancashire (Burnley Express and News)
12 December 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
14 December 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker)
21 December 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with The Factotums (Evening Sentinel)
23 December 1966 – St Bernadette’s, Withington, Greater Manchester with The Children (Manchester Evening New and Chronicle)
24 December 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Children (Evening Sentinel)
25 December 1966 – Top Ten Club, Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
26 December 1966 – Oasis, Manchester with The Chuckles and Some Other Guys (Manchester Evening New and Chronicle)
26 December 1966 – Stockport Town Hall Ballroom, Stockport, Greater Manchester with St Louis Union and Cock-a-Hoops (Manchester Evening New and Chronicle)
27 December 1966 – Peppermint Lounge, Liverpool with Nog (Liverpool Echo)
29 December 1966 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
31 December 1966 – Union Rowing Club, Trent Bridge, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
1 January 1967 – Jung Frau, Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
4 January 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker)
6 January 1967 – Entry date into Belgium on the way to play Hans der Musik, Wuppertal, West Germany for one month (Kerry Burke’s passport)
24 February 1967 – Blackpool Tower, Blackpool, Lancashire with The Graham Bond Organisation, The Easybeats, The Iveys and The Cryin Shames (Kerry Burke’s recollections) This was the band’s first gig back in the UK after the Wuppertal residency
25 February 1967 – Navada, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
4 March 1967 – White Bicycle, Maple Ballroom, Northampton, Northamptonshire with The Legal Matter (Northampton Chronicle)
10 March 1967 – SBYC, St Bernadette’s, Withington, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
11 March 1967 – Oasis, Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
13 March 1967 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands with New Way of Life (Birmingham Evening Post)
14 March 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
19 March 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London (Melody Maker)
26 March 1967 – Entry date into Belgium (Kerry Burke’s passport)
6 April 1967 – Crystal Ballroom, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
7 April 1967 – Tabernacle, Stockport, Greater Manchester with The Iveys (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
13 April 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Coventry, West Midlands with PP Arnold and The Nice (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
15 April 1967 – Union Rowing Club, Trent Bridge, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Back from a European tour (see Belgium entry date above)
22 April 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Jaguars (West Briton & Royal Cornish Gazette/Cornish Guardian)
26 April 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with The Cheetahs (Evening Sentinel)
29 April 1967 – New Century Hall, Manchester with The Silverstone Set (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
3 May 1967 – Entry date into Belgium (Kerry Burke’s passport)
12 May 1967 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire (Warrington Guardian)
19 May 1967 – Boulevard, Tadcaster, West Yorkshire with The Screen (Yorkshire Evening Post)
27 May 1967 – Staffs Volunteer, Bushbury, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Express & Star)
30 May 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with The Shell Shock Show (Evening Sentinel)
Mel Preston left at this point and Peter Simensky joined, playing his first show on 3 June at the Belle Vue
3 June 1967 – Belle Vue, Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
3 June 1967 – Top Ten Club, Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle) They left for Hamburg next day
6 June 1967 – Entry date into West Germany (Kerry Burke’s passport)
6 June-2 July 1967 – The Star Club, St Pauli, Hamburg, West Germany (Ian Hamilton contract) Shared with various acts including The Equals, The Hi-Fis and The Birds and The Bees from 30 June to 1 July
Jim Warhurst leaves during late June/early July and Graham Sclater joins from The Birds and The Bees
3 July 1967 – Entry date into the Netherlands (Kerry Burke’s passport)
7 July 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London (Graham Sclater’s diary)
8 July 1967 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, London (Graham Sclater’s diary)
10 July 1967 – Bolton Nevada, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Graham Sclater’s diary)
12 July 1967 – RAF Bentwaters, near Woodbridge, Suffolk (Graham Sclater’s diary)
13 July 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London with Chas Stevens (Melody Maker) The group was advertised playing in Melody Maker but this gig did not happen
14 July 1967 – Gig in Huddersfield (Graham Sclater’s diary)
15 July 1967 – Ritz Manchester (Graham Sclater’s diary)
16-17 July 1967 – Bolton Mecca, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Graham Sclater’s diary)
18-20 July – Mr Smith’s, Manchester (Graham Sclater’s diary)
21 July 1967 – Gig in Freshwater (Graham Sclater’s diary)
22 July 1967 – Gig in Swansea, south Wales (Graham Sclater’s diary) Port Talbot Guardian has the group appearing at Ritz, Skewen, Wales on this date with The King B’s
23 July 1967 – Gig in Blackburn, Lancashire (Graham Sclater’s diary)
26 July 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with Milton James (Evening Sentinel)
27 July 1967 – Gig in Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Graham Sclater’s diary)
28 July 1967 – Gig in Prescott (Graham Sclater’s diary)
29 July 1967 – RAF Bentwaters, near Woodbridge, Suffolk (Graham Sclater’s diary)
1 August 1967 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, London (Graham Sclater’s diary)
2 August 1967 – Gig in Preston, Lancashire (Graham Sclater’s diary)
3 August 1967 – Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Bolton Evening News)
4 August 1967 – RAF High Wycombe, High Wycombe, Bucks (Graham Sclater’s diary)
5 August 1967 – Gig in Mildenhall (Graham Sclater’s diary)
10 August 1967 – YMCA Ipswich, Suffolk (Graham Sclater’s diary)
11 August 1967 – Entry date into Belgium, possibly to play the Shark Club, Ghent (Kerry Burke’s passport)
Graham Sclater’s diary has The Shark Club listed for 11-16 August but he’s not sure they did play. However, the dates do tally with Kerry’s passport stamp above, although it is unlikely they played 16th July if this did happen as they arrived in Denmark that day.
Malcolm Tag-Randall’s old friend and former band mate from Jeff Curtis & The Flames, Jeff Lake was road manager on the Swedish tour and recalls the band playing a club just outside Ghent
18 August 1967 – Entry date into Sweden via Denmark (Kerry Burke’s passport)
Thanks to Mats Jarl for supplying the clipping
18 August 1967 – Pop Inn, Gothenburg, Sweden backing The Caravelles (Graham Sclater’s diary)
19 August 1967 – Gig in Virestom, Sweden backing The Caravelles (Graham Sclater’s diary)
20-21 August 1967 – Gig in Gaule, Sweden backing The Caravelles (Graham Sclater’s diary)
Thanks to Mats Jarl for supplying the clipping
22 August 1967 – Gig in Stockholm, Sweden backing The Caravelles (Graham Sclater’s diary)
23 August 1967 – Globe Club, Gothenburg, Sweden backing The Caravelles (Graham Sclater’s diary)
25 August 1967 – Saffle, Gothenburg, Sweden backing The Caravelles (Graham Sclater’s diary)
Thanks to Mats Jarl for supplying the clipping
26 August 1967 – Ellos-Hunnebo, Sweden backing The Caravelles (Graham Sclater’s diary)
Thanks to Mats Jarl for supplying the clipping
27 August 1967 – Uddevalla-Trollhatt, Sweden backing The Caravelles (Graham Sclater’s diary)
28-31 August 1967 – Gigs in Gothenburg, Sweden backing The Caravelles (Graham Sclater’s diary)
2 September 1967 – Cue Club, Gothenburg, Sweden with The Rebels and The Shamrocks (Mats Jarl clipping) Exact date needs confirmation
Thanks to Mats Jarl for supplying the clipping
2 September 1967 – Globe Club, Gothenburg, Sweden with The Patch (Mats Jarl clipping) Exact date needs confirmation
Thanks to Mats Jarl for supplying the clipping
3 September 1967 – Hoffrekullen, Romelanda, Gothenburg, Sweden with The Hill Billy Five (Mats Jarl clipping)
3 September 1967 – Cue Club, Gothenburg, Sweden (Kerry Burke recollections) Jammed with Jimi Hendrix
7 September 1967 – Left Sweden to return to UK via Denmark (Kerry Burke’s passport)
8-9 September 1967 – RAF Bentwaters, near Woodbridge, Suffolk (Graham Sclater’s diary)
10-11 September 1967 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Graham Sclater’s diary)
15-16 September 1967 – RAF Bentwaters, near Woodbridge, Suffolk (Graham Sclater’s diary)
17 September 1967 – College Club, Manchester (Graham Sclater’s diary)
21 September 1967 – Imperial, Darlington (Graham Sclater’s diary)
22 September 1967 – Carlton Club, Warrington, Cheshire with The Do-Does (Warrington Guardian)
23 September 1967 – Locarno Ballroom, Swindon, Wiltshire with The Avalons (Swindon Evening Advertiser)
24 September 1967 – Plaza Huddersfield (Graham Sclater’s diary)
27 September 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with The Drifters (Evening Sentinel)
28 September 1967 – Cinysey, north Wales (Graham Sclater’s diary)
29 September 1967 – SBYC, St Bernadette’s, Withington, south Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
30 September 1967 – Menwith Club, Yorkshire (Graham Sclater’s diary)
1 October 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
5 October 1967 – Entry date into Belgium (Kerry Burke’s passport)
9-14 October 1967 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Graham Sclater’s diary) Graham isn’t totally sure about this one
19 October 1967 – Beachcomber, Luton, Bedfordshire (John Warburg research)
Graham Sclater has Dunstable not Luton
22 October 1967 – Birdcage, Harlow (Graham Sclater’s diary)
25 October 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with The Waterboard (Evening Sentinel)
26 October 1967 – Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Graham Sclater’s diary)
27 October 1967 – RAF Bentwaters, near Woodbridge, Suffolk (Graham Sclater’s diary)
28 October 1967 – NCO gig in Crighton (Graham Sclater’s diary)
This is probably RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire. The Coventry Evening Telegraph also lists the band playing at the Flower Pot Club in Digbeth, Birmingham on this date with The Junction. The Flower Pot Club gig is also confirmed by the Birmingham Evening Mail (see picture below)
30 October 1967 – Town Hall, Spennymoor (Graham Sclater’s diary)
5 November 1967 – Two Bar Egremont (Graham Sclater’s diary)
8 November 1967 – Penny Farthing, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
10 November 1967 – Entry date into Belgium, possibly on the way to West Germany for gigs. This must be a mistake as the band played UK dates around this period unless the UK gigs were cancelled?
10 November 1967 – Caesar’s Club, Bedford (Graham Sclater’s diary)
11 November 1967 – Navada Bolton, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Graham Sclater’s diary)
12 November 1967 – Sloopy’s, Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle) This gig was advertised in Manchester Evening News so perhaps the UK dates did happen?
24 January 1968 – New Century Hall, Manchester (Graham Sclater’s diary) This date needs confirmation. Sclater recalls that the group played two Manchester gigs on the same night at short notice backing singer Madelaine Bell. Status Quo were supposed to do the honours but were appearing on Top of the Pops.
26 January 1968 – Queens Rink Ballroom, Hartlepool with Mark Aynsley Big Beat Band (Graham Sclater’s diary/Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
27 January 1968 – Il Rondo Ballroom, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)
28 January 1968 – Clayton Lodge Hotel, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire (Graham Sclater’s diary)
28 January 1968 – Bamboo Club, Wilmslow, Cheshire (Alderley & Wilmslow Advertiser) Missing from Graham Sclater’s diary
1 February 1968 – Drokiweeny, Manchester (Manchester Evening News) Missing from Graham Sclater’s diary
7 February 1968 – RAF Bentwaters, near Woodbridge, Suffolk or Casino, Leigh (Graham Sclater’s diary)
8 February 1968 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Graham Sclater’s diary)
9 February 1968 – Gig in Woodbridge, Suffolk (Graham Sclater’s diary) Could possibly be Drill Hall, Woodbridge
10 February 1968 – RAF Bentwaters, near Woodbridge, Suffolk (Graham Sclater’s diary)
14 February 1968 – Entry date into the Netherlands on the way to West Germany (Kerry Burke’s passport)
15 February 1968 – Entry into East Germany on the way to West Berlin to play the Liverpool Hoop for one month (Kerry Burke’s recollections/passport)
March 1968 – Top Ten Club, Hamburg, West Germany with Floribunda Rose and then Bluesology (Graham Sclater’s recollections)
9 April 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Graham Sclater’s diary)
13 April 1968 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with Gospel Garden (Warrington Guardian)
Malcolm Tag-Randall remembers that he left after this gig or shortly after and briefly reunited with Jeff Lake in Tommy Bishop’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival Show for a gig in Barry, south Wales. Tag-Randall later played with The Red Express and Sindy & The Action Men among others.
14 April 1968 – Lower Chambers Town Hall, Rochdale (Graham Sclater’s diary)
22 April 1968 – Bolton Palais, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Graham Sclater’s diary)
24 April 1968 – RAF Bentwaters, near Woodbridge, Suffolk (Graham Sclater’s diary)
27 April 1968 – Gig in Woodbridge, Suffolk (Graham Sclater’s diary) Could possibly be Drill Hall, Woodbridge
27 April 1968 – Rainbow Suite Co-op, Birmingham with Ultra Sound (Birmingham Evening Mail)
Graham Sclater doesn’t have the Birmingham gig in his diary and says he left after the Woodbridge date. He thinks Malcolm Tag-Randall left at the same time as did Stuart Fahey. Kenny Anders joined on lead guitar
11 May 1968 – Windsor Ballroom, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Skyliners (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
12 May 1968 – Clayton Lodge Hotel, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
2 September 1968 – Penny Farthing, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard)
3 October 1968 – Penny Farthing, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard)
17 October 1968 – Penny Farthing, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard)
26 October 1968 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset (Bournemouth Evening Echo)
31 October 1968 – Penny Farthing, Southend, Essex (Southend Standard)
2 November 1968 – Wellington Manor Country Club, Crowthorne, Berkshire (Reading Evening Post)
Many thanks to the following for their generous input: Kerry Burke, Peter Simensky, Graham Sclater and Malcolm Randall. To add further information, please email the author at Warchive@aol.com.
Jimmy Marsh – lead vocals Allen Bevan – lead guitar Tony Rowland – bass Malcolm Tomlinson – drums
The Motivation, 1967 with Jimmy Marsh (second left) and Malcolm Tomlinson (far left)
Lead singer Jimmy Marsh (b. 9 April 1941, Salem, Carmarthenshire, Wales; d. 13 April 2020) had started out around 1961 with Fulham band, The Fairlanes, comprising lead guitarist Allen Grey, rhythm guitarist David Beach, bass player Terry Gore and drummer John Warwick. The band played US air bases and sometimes backed cabaret acts like Kathy Kirby and Vince Hill.
During 1962, Marsh formed the first Del Mar Trio with lead guitarist Allen Bevan, who worked at Sound City on Shaftesbury Avenue, rhythm guitarist Terry Toatal, plus a bass player and a drummer. On 1 June 1963, the musicians backed Jimmy Marsh on the “Rock Twist Jive Channel Crossing”, a rock extravaganza that took place on-board the Channel ferry, the M V Royal Daffodil, which sailed from Southend, Essex to Boulogne, and also featured Jeff Curtis & The Flames, whose drummer was Malcolm Tomlinson (b. 16 June 1946, Isleworth, Middlesex; d. 2 April 2016).
Photo: Worthing Gazette, December 1964
Bevan and Tomlinson ran into each other again while working at Sound City and around late June 1964 the drummer left The Flames to join Marsh’s band. Tony Rowland, who hailed from Doncaster, completed the second version of The Del Mar Trio, which was formed around the early summer.
After rehearsing between the occasional gig, the quartet headed to the south coast and found work with Bob Gaitley’s Beat, Ballad and Blues agency, working his clubs, the Top Hat in Littlehampton and the Mexican Hat in Worthing.
Cornish gig, January 1965
In January 1965, the group headed to Cornwall for a short tour, which included St Austell and Penzance.
Part of the same Cornish tour, 15 January 1965
The band also played along the southcoast, including in Brighton, appearing there after the Cornish gigs.
Advert for Brighton gig, 23 January 1965. Photo: Evening Argus
Gaitley was impressed enough with Marsh’s singing to arrange for an audition at Abbey Road, which led to the recording of four tracks – “You Know How”, “Pocket Full of Rainbows”, “Like A Baby” and “Haunting Me”, with producer, the late Bob Barrett in February 1965, and listed under the name James Deene & The Del Mar Trio.
Just before the German tour
The band continued to gig around the London area, including in Northwood with The Mark Four and a show at the Pilgrim, Haywards Heath, West Sussex.
When nothing happened to the tracks, the band signed up for a tour of West Germany and headed off in late April/early May 1965.
West Sussex gig. Photo: Brighton Evening Argus
Over the next year, the band, working as James Deene & The London Cats, underwent various personnel changes, including seeing another former Jeff Curtis & The Flames member, lead guitarist Louis McKelvey join briefly, and would ultimately see all of the members return home except Jimmy Marsh who found work on a US air force base outside Munich.
Around May/June 1966, Marsh was contacted (via the British Consulate) by bass player Bryan Stevens, a former member of Johnny Devlin & The Detours, which had shared the bill with The Del Mar Trio at one of Gaitley’s clubs on the south coast, to join a new version of Stevens’ latest band, The Noblemen. Marsh accepted and recommended Malcolm Tomlison as a drummer. The pair stuck with The Noblemen from June until November 1966 when the band changed name to The Motivation. Working under the new name, The Motivation headed to Rome in late March 1967 and worked at the famous Piper Club but Marsh became ill and returned home.
Tomlinson remained with The Motivation until August when the revised line up changed name again to The Penny Peep Show/Penny Peeps. The band recorded two singles for Liberty in 1968 – “Little Man With A Stick” c/w “Model Village” and “I See The Morning” c/w “Curly, The Knight of The Road”, before becoming blues band Gethsemane in August of that year. After splitting in December 1968, Tomlinson reunited with Louis McKelvey, who’d returned from Canada in July of that year and the pair relocated to Canada in January 1969 where they formed Milkwood.
In 1973, Tomlinson recorded an unreleased album with Rick James & The Stone City Band and two solo albums, issued on the A&M label in the late 1970s.
Many thanks to Jimmy Marsh and Malcolm Tomlinson for information.
First lineup, circa early 1961, from left: Roger Bluck, Frankie Reid, John Donald, Pete Stretch and Danny McCulloch
Originally published November, 2010, revised June 2012
From Ealing in West London, R&B band Frankie Reid & The Casuals were notable for containing several musicians that went on to fame and fortune in later years.
Frankie Reid & The Casuals #1 (Late 1960)
Frankie Reid – vocals Mick Cosgrave – lead guitar (replaced before first gig) John Donald – rhythm guitar Danny McCulloch – bass Mick Revelle – drums (replaced by Peter Stretch early on)
Born in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Frankie Reid and his brother Ralph started performing in 1957 as the Reid Brothers. In February 1960, they moved to London and in their first week in the capital entered and won a talent contest, held at the Shepherd’s Bush Hotel.
In September, Frankie Reid was introduced to the manager of the Kew Boathouse in Kew, Middlesex, who hired him to sing at the club with the three resident bands – Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, Pat Creswell & The Crescents and Ray & The Riversiders. Signed up for six months, he performed six songs a night, split between each band.
Turning down an offer to play another six months at the Kew Boathouse, Reid chose instead to form his own group. Hearing about The Casuals who needed a new singer after Tony Craven had left; Reid met the musicians – John Donald, Mick Cosgrave, Danny McCullough and Mick Revelle – at a rehearsal hall in Askew Road, Shepherd’s Bush.
Originally known as The Avro Boys, who had won a talent contest at the Gaumont in Shepherd’s Bush, the group appeared in a BBC documentary on how the guitar had taken over from the piano in the home. Produced by Ken Russell, “Guitar Craze – From Spain to Streatham” was screened on BBC TV’s “Monitor”, presented by Huw Weldon. Soon afterwards, the group linked up with singer Tony Craven and became Tony Craven & The Casuals.
Not long after Frankie Reid had joined forces with The Casuals, the band took on Bill Dunton as their manager. Dunton sold his Ford Zodiac/Zephyr to buy a van, which was painted with the band’s name and the individual group members’ names on the side.
Despite rehearsing about 60 songs, Mick Cosgrave left before a single gig and Roger Black (aka Bluck) took over on lead guitar. Soon after, Peter Stretch came in for Mick Revelle.
Frankie Reid & The Casuals #2 (Late 1960-late 1961)
Frankie Reid – vocals Roger Bluck – lead guitar John Donald – rhythm guitar Danny McCulloch – bass Peter Stretch – drums
One of the group’s earliest gigs was at the Pitshanger Lane Youth Club. The second line up also played at Battersea Town Hall and was regulars at the Brixton Maccabi Jewish club, St Mary’s Hall in Putney, the White Hart in Southall, Middlesex and the Clay Pigeon in Eastcote, Middlesex.
Sometime in late 1961, Peter Stretch left and a very young Mitch Mitchell took over. Originally from Ealing, Mitchell had taken drum lessons at Jim Marshall’s shop and was recommended to Reid by Marshall. Mitchell had briefly worked with The Crescents before joining The Casuals.
Frankie Reid & The Casuals #3 (Late 1961-spring 1962)
Frankie Reid – vocals Roger Bluck – lead guitar John Donald – rhythm guitar Danny McCulloch – bass Mitch Mitchell – drums
In early 1962, Roger Bluck, who worked at EMI as a record cover designer, got the opportunity to do some session work backing a pianist on an instrumental single and called the other Casuals to see if they could participate. Unfortunately, only Donald could make it and subsequently the session was cancelled.
A few months later both Donald and Bluck departed. While Donald would join Brian Connell & The Countdowns for about six months in 1963, Bluck would go on to become a member of David Bowie’s early group Davey Jones & The King Bees in November 1963. From there, he went on to play with The Spectrum from 1964-1968. Ian Holland came in on lead guitar and the band continued as a four-piece.
Frankie Reid & The Casuals #4 (spring 1962)
Frankie Reid – vocals Ian Holland – lead guitar Danny McCulloch – bass Mitch Mitchell – drums
The new line up played gigs at St Mary’s Hall, Putney, the Ealing Club, Acton Town Hall, Ealing Town Hall, Wembley Town Hall, the White Hart in Southall, Middlesex and Southall Community Centre.
Frankie Reid & The Casuals #5 (May-circa July 1962)
Frankie Reid – vocals Ian Holland – lead guitar Brian Mansell – rhythm guitar Danny McCulloch – bass Mitch Mitchell – drums
Brian Mansell, a rhythm guitarist from Whitton, Middlesex had been playing with Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers, who changed name to The Condors in April 1962 for one tour. When the band’s guitarist Ritchie Blackmore left to join Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages, The Condors split and Mansell got a job with Frankie Reid & The Casuals. Soon after he joined, Mansell lobbied for his former band mate, Terry Mabey, to take over from Mitch Mitchell.
Mitchell was given his marching orders and joined Peter Nelson & The Travellers with lead singer Pete Nelson, bass player Tony Ross, rhythm guitarist Tony Hall and lead guitarist Vic Briggs (who years later joined Eric Burdon & The New Animals). In subsequent years, Mitchell played with Johnny Harris & The Shades, The Soul Messengers, The Next 5, The Riot Squad and Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames before ultimately finding fame and fortune with The Jimi Hendrix Experience in September 1966.
Notable gigs:
26 May 1962 – White Hart, Southall, Middlesex
27 May 1962 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
31 May 1962 – Gifford School, Northolt, Middlesex
2 June 1962 – St Mary’s Hall, Putney, Surrey
9 June 1962 – White Hart, Southall, Middlesex
11 June 1962 – Boathouse, Kew, Surrey
14 June 1962 – Hatfield College (Hatfield, Hertfordshire?)
15 June 1962 – Poplar Town Hall, Poplar, London
16 June 1962 – St Mary’s Hall, Putney, Surrey
17 June 1962 – Invicta Ballroom, Chatham, Kent
18 June 1962 – Howard Hall, Ponders End, Enfield
22 June 1962 – Poplar Town Hall, Poplar, London
23 June 1962 – White Hart, Southall, Middlesex
25 June 1962 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
26 June 1962 – Roxeth School, South Harrow, Middlesex
29 June 1962 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon
30 June 1962 – St Mary’s Hall, Putney, Surrey
2 July 1962 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
6 July 1962 – White Hart, Southall, Middlesex
7 July 1962 – Atheneon, Muswell Hill, London
8 July 1962 – Irish club, Cricklewood, Middlesex
13 July 1962 – Woking (Atlanta Ballroom?), Surrey
14 July 1962 – Royal Oak, Dagenham, Essex
Frankie Reid & The Casuals #6 (Circa July-September 1962)
Frankie Reid – vocals Ian Holland – lead guitar Brian Mansell – rhythm guitar Danny McCulloch – bass Terry Mabey – drums
Having only joined the band a few months earlier, Brian Mansell handed in his notice at the end of September and dropped out of the music scene for several years, returning in 1966 with Sunbury, Middlesex band, The Missing Links.
The following year, he joined The All Night Workers and stuck with this group until 1969.
When Mabey wasn’t well enough to perform, Derek Sirmon, who had attended Kneller school in Twickenham, Middlesex with Brian Mansell and Terry Mabey, filled in on drums.
Notable gigs:
19 July 1962 – Hatfield College, (Hatfield, Hertfordshire?)
20 July 1962 – Hendon, Middlesex
21 July 1962 – Stanwell, Middlesex (afternoon)
21 July 1962 – Atheneon, Muswell Hill (afternoon)
22 July 1962 – Irish club, Cricklewood, Middlesex
24 July 1962 – Park Ballroom, Southampton, Hants
25 July 1962 – Hillingdon, Middlesex
27 July 1962 – Crayford Town Hall, Crayford, Kent
28 July 1962 – Tiptree, Essex
29 July 1962 – Invicta Ballroom, Chatham, Kent
1 August 1962 – Hillingdon, Middlesex
3 August 1962 – Hendon, Middlesex
4 August 1962 – Botwell Club, Hayes, Middlesex
9 August 1962 – Hatfield (Hatfield, Hertfordshire?)
10 August 1962 – Woking (Atlanta Ballroom?), Surrey
11 August 1962 – St Mary’s Hall, Putney, Surrey
15 August 1962 – Hillingdon, Middlesex
17 August 1962 – Winchester, Hants
18 August 1962 – St Mary’s Ballroom, Putney, Surrey
19 August 1962 – Southall Community Centre, Southall, Middlesex
22 August 1962 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
24 August 1962 – White Hart, Southall, Middlesex
25 August 1962 – White Hart, Southall, Middlesex
31 August 1962 – Park Ballroom, Middlesex
1 September 1962 – Botwell Club, Hayes, Middlesex
5 September 1962 – Hillingdon, Middlesex
7 September 1962 – Finchley, Middlesex
9 September 1962 – Carlton Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire
14 September 1962 – Dormers Pioneer Club, Southall, Middlesex
15 September 1962 – St Mary’s Ballroom, Putney, Surrey
16 September 1962 – Invicta Ballroom, Chatham, Kent
22 September 1962 – White Hart, Southall, Middlesex
28 September 1962 – Crayford Town Hall, Crayford, Kent
Frankie Reid & The Casuals #7 (October 1962)
Frankie Reid – vocals Ian Holland – lead guitar Danny McCulloch – bass Terry Mabey or Derek Sirmon – drums
Reduced to a four-piece, this was another short-lived line up of Frankie Reid & The Casuals.
In October 1962, Derek Sirmon and Danny McCulloch left to join Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages.
Frankie Reid & The Casuals #8 (October 1962-circa February 1963)
Frankie Reid – vocals Ian Holland – lead guitar Steve Hargreaves – bass Terry Mabey – drums (replaced by Bill Dunton)
This was yet another short-lived line up of the band. In early 1963, Terry Mabey left to join Ealing band, James Royal & The Hawks.
Bill Dunton took over the drums for a while but didn’t stay long.
Notable gigs:
21 January 1963 – White Hart, Southall, Middlesex (the band plays every Monday)
28 January 1963 – White Hart, Southall, Middlesex (the band plays every Monday)
Photo: Surrey Advertiser
2-3 February 1963 – Plaza, Guildford, Surrey (Surrey Advertiser)
Ealing Town Hall, early 1963, from left: Ian Holland, Frankie Reid and Steve Hargreaves with John Kerrison at back
Frankie Reid & The Casuals #9 (Circa February-April 1963)
Frankie Reid – vocals Ian Holland – lead guitar Chris Jackson – rhythm guitar Steve Hargreaves – bass John Kerrison – drums
John Kerrison attended Mellow Lane in Hayes in Middlesex where Keith Grant of The Downliners Sect also went to school.
At the age of 14, Kerrison played with The Cossacks from Greenford, Middlesex. The group’s line up also included Keith Lewis (lead guitar/vocals) and Merv Lewis (bass).
From there, he hooked up with Paul & The Alpines, featuring Paul Lonergan (vocals); Ray Kirkham (lead guitar); Dave Dove (bass) and Alf Fripp (rhythm guitar).
Managed by Sid Foreman, the band worked quite a bit for the Roy Tempest Agency. It was while he was drumming with this band that Kerrison got the call to audition for Frankie Reid & The Casuals at the Viaduct Pub in Hanwell, Middlesex after Bill Dunton left.
Soon after he joined, the band reverted to a five-piece by adding Chris Jackson on rhythm guitar.
Ian Holland and Steve Hargreaves both left in spring 1963, although Hargreaves would re-join Frankie Reid in later years in his group, The Powerhouse.
Ian Holland (sometimes known as Hollands) went to record with The Legends and also played with The Magic Roundabout.
Notable gigs:
25 March 1963 – King George’s Hall, Esher, Surrey
Botwell House, Hayes, Middlesex (late 1963), from left: Chris Jackson, Reg Bodman, Frankie Reid, John Kerrison and Mick Liber. Thank you to John Kerrison for the use of the photo.
Frankie Reid & The Casuals #10 (Circa April 1963-December 1964)
Frankie Reid – vocals Mick Liber – lead guitar Reg Bodman – bass Chris Jackson – rhythm guitar John Kerrison – drums
Scots-born lead guitarist Mick Liber’s first notable band was Ealing group Clay Alison & The Searchers led by guitarist and future lawyer, Andre de Moller.
Liber was also friends with Pete Townshend, who had rented a flat off Liber’s dad in Sunnyside Road in Ealing during his time at Ealing Art College, and taught Liber how to play feedback.
Originally from Peckham in south London, Reg Bodman had started out in 1960 with local band, The Talismen, which included drummer Al Alison from Emile Ford & The Checkmates for a while.
When Frankie Reid & The Casuals broke up in the December 1964, John Kerrison joined The Rocking Eccentrics and then went on to work with The Horizons, The Dae-b-Four, The New Pirates, Episode Six and The Beachcombers.
Reg Bodman filled in for a number of bands around the Ealing area, including The Ealing Redcaps, The Pirates and Morgan James before joining a soul band in Southeast London called The Sassenachs, who played top Soho clubs like the Flamingo and the Marquee.
After playing with this band for over ten years, Bodman relocated to Kent and worked with the blues band TwoSixNine. He then went on to work with a soul band in Dorset (where he currently lives) called Soul Intention.
Mick Liber had guested with Ealing group, The Unit 4 led by his friend Frank Kennington from mid-1964.
The pair reunited in Sydney, Australia in January 1965 and formed a new (Australian) version of Unit 4 (see pic below).
Photo may be subject to copyright: Frank Kennington (second left) and Mick Liber (far right). Unit 4 in Sydney, Australia 1965.
They also worked together in The Denvermen before forming the original Python Lee Jackson in Sydney, Australia in December 1965.
Liber returned to the UK with a new version of Python Lee Jackson in October 1968 and subsequently reunited with Frankie Reid (see below).
Frankie Reid dropped out of the music scene briefly before returning in 1968 with a new band, The Powerhouse, which he led until 1974.
Frankie Reid & The Casuals at Botwell House, 1964. Thank you to Frankie Reid for use of the photo.
Notable gigs:
23 May 1963 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Thursday)
13 June 1963 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex with Jimmy Royal & The Hawks (Thursday)
20 June 1963 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex with Jimmy Royal & The Hawks (Thursday)
30 July 1963 – Top Twenty Nite Club, Swindon, Wiltshire
9 February 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday)
11 April 1964 – Rock Stars, Adeyfield Hall, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with Sounds Five (Hertfordshire and Hemel Hempstead Gazette and West Herts Advertiser)
20 April 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Monday) (Billed as The Casuals)
27 April 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Monday) (Billed as The Casuals)
18 June 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Thursday)
25 June 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Thursday)
30 June 1964 – Jolly Gardeners, Isleworth, Middlesex with Mark Leemen Five (billed Frankie Reed & The Casuals)
2 July 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Thursday)
9 July 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Thursday)
16 July 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Thursday)
23 July 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Thursday)
25 July 1964 – “The Cavern” at the West Cliff Hall (near Ramsgate), Kent with The Satans
30 July 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Thursday)
17 September 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Thursday) (special guest Jimmy Royal)
Photo: Harrow Observer & Gazette
24 September 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex with Jimmy Royal & The Hawks (Thursday)
25 September 1964 – Lynx Club, Borehamwood, Herts with The Fenmen (Simon Gee research – see comments section below)
26 November 1964 – Ealing Town Hall, Ealing, Middlesex with The Second Thoughts
28 November 1964 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Applejacks
29 November 1964 – Rocky Rivers Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford
The original Powerhouse in 1968/1969 from left: Steve Hargreaves, Peter Abbot and Frankie ReidThe original Powerhouse in 1968/1969 from left: Steve Hargreaves (obscured, on bass), Peter Abbot, Frankie Reid and Mick Liber
Frankie Reid & The Powerhouse (1968-1969)
Frankie Reid – lead vocals Mick Liber – lead guitar Steve Hargreaves – bass Peter Abbot – drums
Frankie Reid returned to the West London live scene with The Powerhouse, featuring former Casuals bass player Steve Hargreaves.
After arriving back in England from Australia in late 1968, Liber reunited with his old band leader.
In 1969, the latest version of Python Lee Jackson, which included drummer David Montgomery, recorded the classic “In A Broken Dream” with Rod Stewart.
In 1970, Liber introduced Montgomery, keyboard player David Bentley and former Easybeats drummer Tony Cahill, who was now playing bass, all current members of the UK-based Python Lee Jackson, to the latest line up of Frankie Reid’s Powerhouse. The second incarnation recorded some material that remains unreleased.
The 1970 Powerhouse, photo courtesy of Frankie Reid, From left: Tony Cahill, Dave Montgomery (on drums, obscured), Frankie Reid and Mick LiberFrom left: Frankie Reid, Tony Cahill, Dave Montgomery and Mick Liber. Photo courtesy of Frankie Reid
Frankie Reid & The Powerhouse (1970)
Frankie Reid – lead vocals Mick Liber – lead guitar David Bentley – organ Tony Cahill – bass David Montgomery – drums
(Early-mid 1970s) John Hawken – piano Neil Korner – bass
While working with The Powerhouse, Liber also toured and recorded with Ashton, Gardner & Dyke. Together with Bentley, Cahill and Montgomery, he continued to record with Python Lee Jackson, and later did studio work with Third World War and live work with Thunderclap Newman. In 1973, Liber returned to Australia and continued to perform with a number of artists, most notably Dana Gillespie and Blerta.
After The Powerhouse split up in 1974, Frankie Reid formed The Frankie Reid Band. In 1978, he formed Flying Fox with drum legend Carlo Little and bass player Nick Simper, best known for being an original member of Deep Purple. In November 1979, however, he emigrated to Australia and currently lives in Perth.
Many people helped piece this story together. Thanks to Frankie Reid, particularly for the use of photos/images.
Thanks to Brian Mansell for the list of concert dates from May-September 1962, which were taken from his diary.
I’d also like to credit John Kerrison, Mick Liber, John Donald, Colin Reece, Nick Simper, Reg Bodman and Terry Mabey for their invaluable input.
Concert dates were also taken from several newspapers, including the Ampthill News & Weekly Record, East Kent Times & Mail, Harrow Observer, Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette, the Middlesex Chronicle (Hounslow Edition), Surrey Comet and Swindon Evening Advertiser.
I have tried to ensure the accuracy of this article but I appreciate that there are likely to be errors and omissions. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who can provide any additions or corrections.
The Eccentrics, 1965, back row, from left: John Kerrison, Bruce Watts (sitting) and Mick Liddell (sunglasses) Front row, left to right: Roy Robinson and Peter Maggs
Mick Liddell – vocals Peter Maggs – lead guitar Roy Robinson – bass Bruce Watts – rhythm guitar John Kerrison – drums
Middlesex County Times and Gazette, May 1965
Originally called The Henchmen, this Ealing group included lead singer Dave Kaye (real name: Dave Tregwin), bass player Roy Robinson, rhythm guitarist Bruce Watts and drummer Clive Buckie, who had played alongside Ritchie Blackmore in The Dominators.
In 1962, Peter Maggs, who’d been a very early member of The Downliners with Don Craine from 1959-1962, took over lead guitar.
Mick Liddell replaced Dave Kaye on lead vocals in mid-1964 and the group changed name to The Rockin’ Eccentrics. In late November/early December, John Kerrison from Frankie Reid & The Casuals took over from Clive Buckie.
Eccentrics Pye promo for “What You Got”Sometime around April-May 1965, they shortened the name to The Eccentrics and recorded a cover of Gerry Goffin and Carole King’s “What You Got” backed by “Fe Fi Fo Fum” for Pye Records. After playing the UK scene, The Eccentrics were allegedly the first British band to pass an audition for the famous Piper Club in Rome.
Travelling to ‘Italy, The Eccentrics played the Rome club in June 1965 and later returned to Italy.
At the Piper Club, Rome, June 1965. Photo may be subject to copyright
During July Kerrison left to return to the UK and was replaced by John “Speedy” Keen from Ealing band, The Second Thoughts. Keen, of course, later went on to found Thunderclap Newman.
Liddell also left at this point and the remaining members brought in singer Romano Morandi (ex-Equipe Ottanta Quattro) and played gigs in northern Italy before returning to the UK in January 1966 and disbanding. Liddell meanwhile put together a new band called Gli Atomi, who recorded a number of singles in 1965-1966.
Back in England, John Kerrison joined Slough-based band The Horizons with singer Rod Evans, lead guitarist Colin Butt and bass player Len Hawkes.
Evans would later become lead singer with Deep Purple after working with The Maze while Hawkes would join The Tremeloes after playing with Davey Sands & The Essex.
The Horizons had work lined up in Berlin during August-September 1965 and played gigs for a few months after which Kerrison returned to the UK. In October 1965, he joined Hounslow favourites The Dae-b-Four.
Kerrison would later reunite with Mick Liddell in Italy for a one-off recording during 1966.
John Kerrison (far left) reunited with Mick Liddell in Italy in 1966
However, in February 1967, he joined The New Pirates alongside lead guitarist Mick Stewart, bass player Nick Simper and keyboard player Johnny Carroll.
By the summer, however, the band had split and Kerrison worked with Episode Six and then The Beachcombers (Keith Moon’s early 1960s band).
Notable gigs (as The Rockin’ Eccentrics unless noted)
30 November 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Monday) (Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette)
This site is a work in progress on 1960s garage rock bands. All entries can be updated, corrected and expanded. If you have information on a band featured here, please let me know and I will update the site and credit you accordingly.
I am dedicated to making this site a center for research about '60s music scenes. Please consider donating archival materials such as photos, records, news clippings, scrapbooks or other material from the '60s. Please contact me at rchrisbishop@gmail.com if you can loan or donate original materials
