In early 1968, promoter Roy Tempest brought American soul legend Edwin Starr back to Britain for another tour.
It had been six months since his last visit and rather than employ Glaswegian soul outfit The Senate to back Edwin Starr, it looks (from the gigs below) like a group called The JJ Sounds were hired instead, although there may have been other bands that helped out.
Also, Tempest was known for bringing over tribute acts and passing them off as the real thing, so it’s quite possible that some of the gigs below may not have been performed by the real Edwin Starr.
We’d be interested to hear from anyone who can provide more information in the comments section below.
Little is known about The JJ Sounds but it’s quite possible that this was, in fact, Errol Daniel & The JJ Sounds, who played at the popular Soho nightclub, the Bag O’ Nails in Kingley Street in mid-1967.
I have found the following gigs and would welcome any comments from readers. I’ve listed the backing band where it is known:
26 January 1968 – Assembly Rooms, Tamworth, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208)
28 January 1968 – Leofric Hotel, Coventry with Soul Express (Coventry Evening Telegraph) Advert says with Big supporting band
28 January 1968 – Rainbow Suite, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)
29 January 1968 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey (Coulsdon and Purley Advertiser)
29 January 1968 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Fabulous 208)
2 February 1968 – Queen’s Hall, Leeds, West Yorkshire with Chuck Berry, The Herd, The Move, Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds, Brian Auger Trinity, Julie Driscoll, Sammy Small, The Union Blues Rave Band, Th Accent (Yorkshire Evening Post)
3 February 1968 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Poster)
3 February 1968 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire with Beechwoods (Formby Times) Advert says backed by J J Sound
4 February 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Gin House Blues (Crawley Advertiser)
4 February 1968 – Roaring 20s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London (Fabulous 208)
8 February 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Robert Plant & The Band of Joy (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
10 February 1968 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with J J Sounds, Ivan & Danny Eaves with The Reformation and Django’s Castle (Julie Fielder book: What Flo Said Next) Most likely backed by J J Sounds who are one of the acts listed
Photo: Eastern Evening News, Norwich
11 February 1968 – Beau Brummel Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Jaytree Organisation (Crewe Chronicle/Crewe Observer/Nantwich Chronicle) Crewe Chronicle advert says Edwin Starr was backed by The J J Sound
11 February 1968 – Beat Centre Discotheque Club, Co-op Hall, Warrington, Cheshire (Warrington Guardian)
The Fairlanes were formed in Fulham, southwest London around 1960/1961 before Gore and Warwick joined and originally had a different rhythm guitarist, bass player and drummer.
Gore and Warwick, who had started out with The Bellairs, heard about the musicians rehearsing at a school in Fulham and went along to check them out. Gore, who’d played guitar previously, switched to bass and another rhythm guitarist called Reg briefly joined before Dave Beach came on board. Judging by the photo above they were a seven piece at one point.
The band played regularly in the London area, including many USAF bases. They also worked across the country backing a number of big stars before breaking up in early 1963.
Jimmy Marsh subsequently formed The Del Mar Trio before joining The Noblemen in July 1966 with future Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre. The band changed name to Motivation later that year.
Gore and Warwick stuck together and formed The Trekkers. They later played in Tangerine Peel.
Please leave a comment below if you can add any further information
This notable rock music venue on England’s south coast was run by Eric St John-Foti who later handed it over to the owners of the Marquee Club in London in late 1966.
Mike Read has written extensively about the Shoreline and the bands that played there in his excellent book “The South Coast Beat Scene during the 1960s”, which I would thoroughly recommend readers get a copy of. This excellent website also provides a wealth of information on the venue.
Initially, when the club opened in the Caribbean Hotel during the Easter holiday in 1965, it looks like gigs took place every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Mondays were added soon after.
In its few months, the club mainly catered for local bands but by late 1965 more nationally recognised groups began appearing at the club.
I have started to put an entry together but would welcome any additions/corrections in the comments section below.
1965
Photo: Littlehampton Post
17 April (Saturday) – Act 4 with Johnny Devlin and Dave Storme & The Tremors (Littlehampton Post)
18 April (Sunday) – The Road Runners and “The Fabulous” Mo-Henry (Littlehampton Post)
19 April (Monday) – Formula V and Force Four (Littlehampton Post)
21 April (Wednesday) – The Southbeats with support (Littlehampton Post)
Photo: Littlehampton Post
23 April (Friday) – The “Sensational” Southbeats and The Blue Chords (from Portsmouth) (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
24 April (Saturday) – The Southbeats and The Vigilantes (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
25 April (Sunday) – The Southbeats and The Hunters (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
30 April (Friday) – The Milestones and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
1 May (Saturday) – The Talismen and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
2 May (Sunday) – The Untamed (from Brighton) and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
5 May (Wednesday) – The Southbeats and The Road Runners (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) This may have been the first Wednesday booking
Photo: Littlehampton Post
7 May (Friday) – The Triffiks and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
8 May (Saturday) – The “Great” Untamed and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
9 May (Sunday) – Mo Henry and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
12 May (Wednesday) – Johnny Devlin with Act 4 and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
14 May (Friday) – The Soundwave Vibrations (from Worthing) and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
Photo: Littlehampton Post
15 May (Saturday) – Dave Storme & The Tremors and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
16 May (Sunday) – The Coastliners with Danielle (from Southampton) and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
19 May (Wednesday) – Force Four (from Portsmouth) and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
Photo: Littlehampton Post
21 May (Friday) – The Jaguars and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) The Deltas replaced The Southbeats
22 May (Saturday) – 4 Hits and a Miss (from Bournemouth) and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) Looks like The Coastliners featuring Danielle and Dawn and The Soundwave Vibrations replaced 4 Hits and a Miss
23 May (Sunday) – Mo Henry and The Untamed (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
26 May (Wednesday) – The Crow and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
28 May (Friday) – The Untamed and The Deltas (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
29 May (Saturday) – Dave Storme & The Tremors, The Southbeats and The Soundwave Vibrations (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) Blues by Five replaced The Southbeats
30 May (Sunday) – Plain and Fancy and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
Photo: Littlehampton Post
2 June (Wednesday) – The Milestones (from Midhurst) with supporting group (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
4 June (Friday) – The Cellarbrations and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
5 June (Saturday) – The Diamonds, The Southbeats and The Sound Vibrations (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) The Nightmares replaced The Sound Vibrations and The Warren J Show was added later along with The Cyan
6 June (Sunday) – The Web with Sandy Crawford and Act 4 with Johnny Devlin (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) The Web was formerly known as The Flames. A poster in Mike Read’s book has The Southbeats instead of Act 4 with Johnny Devlin
7 June (Monday) – The Untamed, The Soundbeats and The Sound Vibrations (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) A poster in Mike Read’s book also has The Zabres
9 June (Wednesday) – The Tremors with Dave Storme and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) A club poster in Mike Read’s book lists The Southbeats instead of The Tremors
11 June (Friday) – The Warren J Show, The Diamonds and Dave & The Sounds (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
12 June (Saturday) – Force 4, The Southbeats and The Sound Vibrations (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
Photo: Littlehampton Post
13 June (Sunday) – Act 4 with Johnny Devlin and The Southbeats (Poster)
16 June (Wednesday) – Johnny Tempest & The Nomads with resident group (Poster)
18 June (Friday) – The Untamed and The Just Men (from Bournemouth) (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
19 June (Saturday) – The Cosmic Sounds, The Southbeats, The Fenmen (not the London band) and The House-of-Blues (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) The Littlehampton Post also has The Fab
20 June (Sunday) – The Trackmarks and The Southbeats (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
The Littlehampton Post notes there is no dance on Wednesday, 23 June
25 June (Friday) – The Untamed, The Southbeats and The Just Men (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
26 June (Saturday) – The Alan Bown Set, The Untamed, The Southbeats and The Midnight Blues (from Bognor Regis) (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) The Littlehampton Post also lists the “reformed” John Barry Seven
27 June (Sunday) – The St Louis Checks (debut at Shoreline) supported by resident group (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
30 June (Wednesday) – The Web (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
2 July (Friday) – John Brown’s Body (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) This was Keith Emerson’s Brighton group not the Hammersmith one led by Clive Barrow
3 July (Saturday) – West Side (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post) A poster in Mike Read’s book (see above) also lists The Klassiks, The Southbeats and The Midnight Blues
4 July (Sunday) – Simon & The Surreys and resident group (Chichester & Southern Post/Littlehampton Post)
7 July (Wednesday) – The Untamed supported by The Ends (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
9 July (Friday) – The Cosmic Sounds (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
10 July (Saturday) – 4 Group Nite (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
11 July (Sunday) – The Dark Ages (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
27 August (Friday) – The Equals and The Bow Bells (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
28 August (Saturday) – The Klassiks, Heads & Tails and The Midnight Blues (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
29 August (Sunday) – The Strats and The Mob (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
30 August (Monday) – The Swinging Blue Jeans, The Bolts and The Midnight Blues (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
According to Mike Read’s excellent book The South Coast Beat Scene during the 1960s, September (this is more likely November) 1965 saw appearances from Billie Davis, Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers, Wayne Gibson and The Dynamic Sounds and The Mojos. Local bands that played this month included The Mike Stuart Span, The Web and Beau Brummell & The Noblemen.
24 September (Friday) – The Spectres (Poster) This is most likely the band that became Status Quo
25 September (Saturday) – The Inevitables and The Southbeats (Poster)
26 September (Sunday) – The Untamed (Poster)
29 September (Wednesday) – The Untamed (Poster)
15 October (Friday) – The Rebels (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer)
16 October (Saturday) – Simon Dupree & The Big Sound and Five More (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer)
17 October (Sunday) – The Cosmic Sounds with Lynda Crane (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer)
24 October (Sunday) – The Web (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s) The Cherokees played in the evening
1 November (Monday) – The Mojos (Littlehampton Post)
8 November (Monday) – Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers (Littlehampton Post)
12 November (Friday) – The Talismen (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer)
13 November (Saturday) – DJ Blues Band and Five More (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer)
14 November (Sunday) – The Buckinghams (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer)
15 November (Monday) – Heinz (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer)
8 December (Wednesday) – Dave & The Diamonds (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer) Every Wednesday
10 December (Friday) – The Just Men (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer)
11 December (Saturday) – The Changing Times and Five More (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer)
12 December (Sunday) – Plain & Fancy (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer)
13 December (Monday) – Wayne Gibson & The Dynamic Sounds (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer)
15 December (Wednesday) – Dave & The Diamonds (advert in local newspaper, possibly the Bognor Regis Observer) Every Wednesday
3 January (Monday) – Them (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
8 January (Saturday) – Beau Brummell & The Noblemen (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
9 January (Sunday) – The Klimaks (afternoon) (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
10 January (Monday) – Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
12 January (Wednesday) – Dave & The Diamonds (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
15 January (Saturday) – The Brothers Scarlett with Gary & Lee (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
16 January (Sunday) – The Untamed (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s) The Klimaks play in the afternoon
17 January (Monday) – The Applejacks (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
19 January (Wednesday) – Dave & The Diamonds (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
22 January (Saturday) – All Nite Rave with five groups (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
23 January (Sunday) – The Cosmic Sounds (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s) The Klimaks play in the afternoon
24 January (Monday) – The Cardinals (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
26 January (Wednesday) – Dave & The Diamonds (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
29 January (Saturday) – The Alex Laine Group (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
30 January (Sunday) – Ray Flacke & His Muckabouts (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s) The Klimaks play in the afternoon
31 January (Monday) – The Mojos (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
7 March (Monday) – Tony Jackson & The Vibrations (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
21 March (Monday) – Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
9 April (Saturday) – Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers, The Mob and The Klimaks (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
10 April (Sunday) – The Untamed and The Clayton Squares (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
11 April (Monday) – The Jimmy Brown Sound and Jimmy Winston’s Reflections (poster in Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene of the 1960s)
18 May (Wednesday) – The Clayton Squares (Record Mirror: https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/60s/66/Record-Mirror-1966-04-23.PDF) Record Mirror’s 23 April issue, page 12 says that the group starts a Wednesday residency at the Shoreline today but doesn’t say for how long. They are also booked for 11 Sunday concerts in the summer. Bass player Geoff Jones confirms the residency.
25 May (Wednesday) – The Clayton Squares (Record Mirror) Band has Wednesday residency
1 June (Wednesday) – The Clayton Squares (Record Mirror) Band has Wednesday residency but this needs confirmation as do other June dates
5 June (Sunday) – The Clayton Squares (Record Mirror) See above
12 June (Sunday) – The Clayton Squares (Record Mirror) See above
19 June (Sunday) – The Clayton Squares (Record Mirror) See above
21 September (Wednesday) – Gary Farr & The T-Bones (Fabulous 208)
28 September (Wednesday) – Gary Farr & The T-Bones (Fabulous 208)
As Mike Read notes in his book, in the autumn of 1966, Eric St John-Foti, who ran the Shoreline, signed the club over to the owners of the Marquee, Harold and Barbara Pendleton
29 October (Saturday) – The Action, Long John Baldry, Bluesology and David Bowie & The Buzz (Melody Maker) This was the grand opening of the Marquee at the Shoreline
Photo: Melody Maker
2 November (Wednesday) – Sands (Fabulous 208)
5 November (Saturday) – Sands, Duffy Power’s Nucleus and The Ultimate (Flyer in The Action book In The Lap of the Mods)
Photo: Melody Maker
12 November (Saturday) – The VIPs, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown and The Herd (Fabulous 208, Melody Maker and flyer in The Action book In the Lap of the Mods)
Photo: Melody Maker
19 November (Saturday) – The James Royal Set and The Ultimate (Melody Maker) The flyer in The Action book In the Lap of the Mods notes Embers West, Jimmy James & The Vagabonds and The Ultimate
26 November (Saturday) – The Artwoods and The Race (Melody Maker) The flyer in The Action book In the Lap of the Mods notes The Artwoods, Sands and The Herd
The flyer in The Action book In The Lap of the Mods lists the following artists for Saturday shows in December: Jimmy James & The Vagabonds, The Action, The Alan Bown Set and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.
6 May (Saturday) – The In Crowd and The Errol Bruce Show (flyer at: www.radiolondon.co.uk/caroline/scrap60/p4scrap60.html) Dave Allen’s research has Herbie Goins & The Night-timers on this date instead of The Errol Bruce Show
20 May (Saturday) – Prince Buster & The All-Stars (Fabulous 208)
28 May (Sunday) – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (Fabulous 208)
17 June (Saturday) – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Melody Maker) Melody Maker reports that Jimmy James collapses from exhaustion and the next gig in Derby is cancelled
15 July (Saturday) – The Move (Fabulous 208)
During August as Motivation changes to The Penny Peep Show, the group uses the Shoreline to rehearse their new stage act and material.
3 December (Sunday) – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Fabulous 208)
Due to the success of earlier British tours, notably the one in October 1966, promoter Roy Tempest brought American soul singer Edwin Starr over for a second British tour in mid-1967.
Led by singer Sol Byron (aka Billy Lochart), Glaswegian soul outfit, The Senate, who’d backed Starr on some of the dates during the October 1966 tour, were brought back to provide backing on many of the dates during this tour.
However, The Senate also backed Garnet Mimms during spring 1967, so other groups helped out with some of the tour dates. We’d be interested to hear from any readers who can provide more information in the comments section below.
It looks like Cool Combination, who’d provided backing on the early 1967 tour, weren’t involved for some reason. However, it does look like The Warren Davis Monday Band did back Edwin Starr on some of these dates.
In mid-1967, The Senate also featured Alex “Ludgie” Ligertwood (aka Alex Jackson) on lead guitar and vocals; Brian Johnson on keyboards; Bill Irving on bass; Bob Mather on sax; Antony Rutherford (aka Tony Mimms) on trumpet; and Tam Frew on drums.
However, later this year, Johnson left to join The House of Orange (The Fantastics’ backing band) and was replaced by Michael Brandon Fraser. Robbie McIntosh took over from Tam Frew on drums and Dave Agnew (aka Mark David) succeeded Sol Byron on lead vocals.
The Senate had just completed a tour with Garnet Mimms before taking up the offer to work with Edwin Starr again.
I’ve found the following dates so far but would welcome any additions:
31 May 1967 – Clouds, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph) Billed as Edwin Starr & The Senate
2 June 1967 – Starlite, Greenford, west London (Melody Maker) Most likely The Senate
3 June 1967 – Clouds, Derby with The Headline News (Derby Evening Telegraph) Billed as Edwin Starr & The Senate
5 June 1967 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with The Warren Davis Monday Band and The Band of Joy (Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as Edwin Starr and The Warren Davis Monday Band
6 June 1967 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham with The Warren Davis Monday Band (Nottingham Evening Post and website: https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/) Billed as Edwin Starr and The Warren Davis Monday Band
8 June 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Most likely backed by Warren Davis Monday Band
9 June 1967 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Billed as Edwin Starr and The Warren Davis Monday Band
9 June 1967 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Billed as Edwin Starr and The Warren Davis Monday Band
10 June 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Manfred Mann, The Warren Davis Monday Band, The Darlings and Ray Bones (Lincolnshire Standard) Most likely with The Warren Davis Monday Band as backing band
10 June 1967 – Nite Owl, Leicester (Disc & Music Echo/Leicester Chronicle) Most likely The Senate
11 June 1967 – King Mojo, Sheffield (The Star) Billed as Edwin Starr & The Senate
12 June 1967 – Atlanta Ballroom, Woking, Surrey with The Warren Davis Monday Band (Aldershot News) Most likely with The Warren Davis Monday Band as backing band
15 June 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
18 June 1967 – Warmingham Grange Country Club, Warmingham, Cheshire with The Foundation and Life and Soul (Nantwich Chronicle)
18 June 1967 – Beat Centre Discotheque Club, Co-op Hall, Warrington, Cheshire (Liverpool Echo)
If you can add anything, please leave a comment below.
From the Bexley area in southeast London, The South East Blues Band were formed in 1966 after Pete Hicks had left The Down & Outs.
Formed in 1965, The Down & Outs also comprised guitarist/singer Alan Johnson; keyboard player Alan Fuller; guitarist Clive Brown; bass player Mick Robinson; and drummer Geoff Bassett.
Like Hicks’ previous band, The South East Blues Band also played regularly in the Bexley area, filling in for The Peddlers at the Black Prince in Bexley in early 1967 (their appearance was covered by the Kentish Times).
Taking on a more psych bent, the group then moved up to central London and played the burgeoning underground scene, appearing regularly at the Happening 44 in Gerrard Street in Soho.
When the band split in 1968, Hicks worked with the band Promise. The promotional photo also showed bass player Barry Nicholls who was a very brief member (and would join Hicks in Big Wheel).
Melody Maker lists Promise playing at the New Concorde Club in Oxford Street on 7 February 1969.
Promise with Hicks (centre) and Nicholls (far right)
In June 1969, Hicks started to play with Fat Daughter alongside future Clark-Hutchinson drummer Del Coverley. Fat Daughter opened for Fleetwood Mac and Pink Floyd among others.
At some point (most likely earlier in 1968) Pete says he also joined Coverley in a revamped version of Bexley group The Big Wheel alongside guitarist Del Grace; bass player Barry Nicholls; and keyboard player Mike Manners, who was subsequently replaced by Alan Fuller from The Down & Outs.
Hicks’ continued to perform in the Seventies and is still active. You can read more about him at his website. This page has some more information on Promise and his earlier bands.
Thanks to Pete Hicks for the information and images. We’d love to hear from anyone who could add more information in the comments section below.
When British promoter Roy Tempest brought American soul legend, Edwin Starr, over in January 1967, the popular singer had already toured Britain several times in the previous year, supported by bands like Bluesology (featuring future star Elton John), The Senate, The Noblemen and The Guests.
Tempest, however, was also well known for bringing over tribute acts and passing them off as the real thing, so not all of the following gigs (covering January-March 1967) may have been performed by the real Edwin Starr.
We’d be interested to hear from anyone who can throw more light on this tour, which may, in fact, have been two separate tours running from late January to mid-February and mid-February to mid-March.
Most of the gigs below appear to have featured Cool Combination as Edwin Starr’s backing band but there may have been other groups that helped fulfil the engagements. Again, we’d be interested to hear from readers.
According to the website on Nottingham’s Dungeon Club, Cool Combination (aka Kool Combination) were a West Indian group and we’d love to hear in the comments section below any further information on this fascinating outfit and its personnel.
The following is a list of gigs that I’ve found so far:
28 January 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Small Faces, 6-Across and Ray Bones (Spalding Guardian) Advert suggests that 6-Across may have been his backing band for this gig
29 January 1967 – Cavern Club, Liverpool with The Hideways, The Klubs, The Beechwoods, Cool Combination, Tyme & Motion and Crazy Chains (Liverpool Echo) Looks like Cool Combination backed him
Guitarist Wendell Richardson, who later played in The Sundae Times, Osibisa and Free, said that he backed Edwin Starr with The Skatelites and they played at Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue on a bill with Cream which took place on 5 February 1967. He remembers the band’s singer was Vick and Big George played keyboards. It seems likely that The Skatelites played the London gigs in early February before The Kool Combination resumed support.
2 February 1967 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London (Evening Standard)
3 February 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as Edwin Starr Show
5 February 1967 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, central London with Cream and Sands (Poster/Wendell Richardson’s recollections) Backed by The Skatelites
7 February 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
7 February 1967 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London with C-Jam Blues (Geoff Williams’ research: Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek book/Melody Maker)
10 February 1967 – Starlite, Greenford, northwest London (Melody Maker)
11 February 1967 – Rawmarsh Baths Hall, Rotherham with The Omega Miners and The Strangers (South Yorkshire and Rotherham Advertiser) Billed as backed by Kool Combination
11 February 1967 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with Mr Sweetman and Johnny O’Hara & The Playboys (The Star)
13 February 1967 – Victoria Ballroom, Chesterfield, Derbyshire (The Star) The Cool Combination played at the Dungeon Club in nearby Nottingham on 14 February so could have played this gig with Edwin Starr
Photo: Melody Maker. The Kool Combination play a gig between working with Edwin Starr
24 February 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Unchained and Bluesology (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/) Bluesology backed Edwin Starr for some dates in 1966 so may have backed him here
24 February 1967 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, Liverpool Street, east London (Melody Maker)
Photo: Melody Maker. Cool Combination play two London gigs between working with Edwin Starr
26 February 1967 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, central London with Garnett Mimms (Melody Maker) The Senate, who’d backed Starr on part of his October 1966 tour, worked with Garnet Mimms during 1967 so could have doubled up
2 March 1967 – Roaring ‘20s Club, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
4 March 1967 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham (website: https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/) Billed as backed by Cool Combination who are listed as a West Indian band
4 March 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds, The Cool Combination and Root & Jenny Jackson and The Hightimers (Spalding Guardian) Cool Combination were his backing band
5 March 1967 – Hotel Leofric, Coventry (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
10 March 1967 – Gaiety Ballroom, Grimsby, Humberside (Grimsby Evening Telegraph) Billed as backed by Cool Combinations
12 March 1967 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, central London with Duane Eddy (Fabulous 208)
If you can add anything, please leave a comment below
The Respect (left to right), Mick Grant, Jon Rich and Graham Chandler
This High Wycombe band was formed in December 1966 but later began playing in the Chiswick area and played regularly at Kew Boathouse during 1967.
Mick Grant playing bass at Kew Boathouse
The band’s original formation comprised:
Dave Bowden – lead vocals
Mick Grant – lead guitar
Paul Russell – rhythm guitar
Jon Rich – bass
Graham Chandler – drums
Paul Russell later left the band and Keith Hills took his place.
Thanks to Mick Grant for supplying the band photos
Mick Grant on lead guitar at Kew BoathouseJon Rich on bass at Kew BoathousePhoto: Graham Chandler at Kew Boathouse with the band advertised on the poster behind
In October 1966, British promoter Roy Tempest brought over American soul singer Edwin Starr for an extensive tour. Judging by advertisements in Melody Maker and regional newspapers, Starr had already visited Britain at least twice before.
Melody Maker lists a gig at Count Suckle’s Cue Club in Paddington on 10 February 1966, backed by west London band, Bluesology, who featured a certain Reginald Dwight (aka Elton John) on keyboards. This was most likely part of a wider tour but it’s not certain whether Bluesology were the backing band on all of the dates. We’d be interested to hear from readers below in the comments section.
Fast forward to late September and Edwin Starr was advertised on a promotional flyer performing at the Twisted Wheel Club in Manchester (again with Bluesology). The date in question was 29 September. It’s not clear whether this was part of a wider tour, but, whatever the case, Edwin Starr was back in Britain about two weeks later for a full-scale tour.
Roy Tempest employed quite a few bands to perform backing duties for the soul artists he brought over (see Lee Dorsey’s January 1966 British tour as an example). More often than not, the groups weren’t mentioned in the advertisements.
For this reason, it’s been difficult to pinpoint exactly who supported Edwin Starr during this tour and subsequent ones throughout the rest of the 1960s, although the obscure group The State Express did the duties during May 1968 (and some later dates).
However, for the October 1966 tour, we do know that at least three bands backed Edwin Starr.
The most high-profile one was Glaswegian soul outfit, The Senate led by singer Sol Byron (aka Billy Lochart). At the time of this tour, the rest of The Senate comprised Alex “Ludgie” Ligertwood (aka Alex Jackson) on lead guitar and vocals; Brian Johnson on keyboards; Bill Irving on bass; Bob Mather on sax; Antony Rutherford (aka Tony Mimms) on trumpet; and Tam Frew on drums.
The Senate would back Edwin Starr on some dates during a May-June 1967 tour and there are quite a few gigs below which mention the Scottish group on the billing, so it seems quite likely that they fulfilled a large number of the engagements on this tour.
However, Roy Tempest also employed Beau Brummell’s former backing band, The Noblemen, led by Bognor Regis musicians Bryan Stevens (bass) and Mick Ketley (keyboards).
By October 1966, The Noblemen had been completely reshuffled and also featured west London musicians Jimmy Marsh (vocals) and Malcolm Tomlinson (drums), together with Birmingham players Chris Rodger (saxophone) and future Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre. The Noblemen had previously backed The Vibrations and The Drifters.
The final group that we know who definitely did back Edwin Starr was Dalston, north London group, The Guests led by singer Alan Chamberlain. This little known group also comprised guitarist Bernie Jory (who went on to The Mickey Finn); bass player John Towell; drummer Hans Herbert (who went on to play with Geno Washington) plus two saxophone players, one of whom might have been Kenny Power who’d worked with Herbert in The Flexmen and joined the drummer in The All Night Workers in late 1966.
Chamberlain remembers the band played with Edwin Starr over a week period. Although the group was working for the Charles Kray entertainment agency, he believes that Roy Tempest may have requested for them to fill in when the other groups couldn’t honour the Edwin Starr gigs. He remembers the band rehearsing over a pub on Tottenham Court Road opposite Kray’s offices, based at the Clark Brothers dance studio.
I’ve listed the gigs I have found for the October 1966 tour below and would welcome any comments from readers and any clarification on the bands that did the honours in supporting Edwin Starr. It’s quite possible, for instance, that there were other groups who helped out on this tour. There also likely to be some missing gigs from this list.
14 October 1966 – Domino Club, Openshaw and Princess Theatre, Chorlton, Greater Manchester (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle) This was billed as Edwin Starr & The Senate featuring Sol Byron
15 October 1966 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as The Edwin Starr Show – possibly The Senate considering last night’s gig
16 October 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Nottingham Evening Post) The Noblemen were billed for this gig but Alan Chamberlain from The Guests insists they backed Edwin Starr as he got into an altercation with John Mayall. Chris Rodger, saxophone player with The Noblemen, confirms that it wasn’t his band as this was his birthday and he remembers The Noblemen playing in West Germany for a week, including on his birthday.
17 October 1966 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton (Express & Star) If The Guests played the previous night, this is most likely them again
19 October 1966 – Mecca Ballroom, Royal Pier, Southampton, Hants (Southern Evening Echo) Billed as Edwin Starr & The Senate featuring Sol Byron
21 October 1966 – Sleaford Mabern Club, Sleaford, Lincolnshire (Grantham Journal) Billed as Edwin Starr & The Senate
21 October 1966 – Midnight City, Birmingham with Timebox, The Night People and Johnnie Neal (Birmingham Evening Mail) As this was the same evening and close to Leicester, it seems most likely this was The Noblemen but it could have been The Night People who were billed or The Senate as they played above gig on the same evening
21 October 1966 – Granby Halls, Leicester with The Ike & Tina Turner Revue with The Kings of Rhythm Band, Prince Albert, Jimmy Thomas, The Ikettes, Alvin Robinson and Family (Leicester Chronicle) Bryan Stevens, Mick Ketley and Martin Barre confirm this was definitely The Noblemen who switched to backing Alvin Robinson soon after
21 October 1966 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, Liverpool Street, east London (Melody Maker) Possibly The Noblemen but could have been The Guests as Liverpool Street wasn’t far from their Dalston base or The Senate as they played earlier gig
22 October 1966 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with Rhythm and Soul (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday/Herts & Essex Observer) This was billed as Edwin Starr & The Senate
22 October 1966 – Reading University, Reading, Berkshire (Melody Maker) Alan Chamberlain says The Guests played with Edwin Starr for a week, so this is quite possibly them but also could have been The Senate who played with Starr at the Rhodes Centre above on the same night
23 October 1966 – Starlite, Greenford, northwest London (Melody Maker) Possibly The Guests
24 October 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London (London Life/Tatler) Possibly The Guests
24 October 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Jeff Curtis & The Flames (Melody Maker) Possibly The Guests
28 October 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News) Judging by the gig below, this is most likely The Senate
29 October 1966 – Cavern, Liverpool with The Signs, The Times, The Fix, The B-Jays, The Prowlers and The Talismen (Liverpool Echo) This was Edwin Starr & The Senate
We’d be interest to hear from anyone who has any photos and/or concert advertisements. Please email: Warchive@aol.com
The photo that appeared in the Daily Mirror story. Clockwise from top left: Tommy, Beryl, Steve, Archie, Eddie and Howie, October 1965
Beryl Marsden (lead vocals)
Steve Aldo (lead vocals)
Tommy Murray (lead guitar)
Howie Casey (tenor saxophone)
Alan Reeves (keyboards)
Archie Legget (bass)
Eddie Sparrow (drums)
This fascinating, yet short-lived, band had its roots in an early 1960s rock ‘n’ roll outfit known as The Krewkats (for the full story and how the musicians formed The Krew, click here.)
In August 1965, Liverpool musicians Howie Casey and Tommy Murray, together with Yorkshireman Eddie Sparrow (who’d previously worked with Casey in The Krewkats) moved to London where they were signed by Beryl Marsden’s manager Tony Stratton-Smith to back the popular Liverpool singer.
Bringing in Glaswegian Archie Legget from The Bobby Patrick Big Six and another Liverpudlian singer, Steve Aldo (who’d briefly worked with Casey in The Steve Aldo Quintette), the new band picked up a residency at the King’s Head on Blackfriars Road in Southwark during September.
Not long after, Casey expanded the band with former Kenny Bernard & The Wranglers’ keyboard player Alan Reeves, who had sat in with group at Rik Gunnell’s Flamingo on Wardour Street on 23 October.
The previous day, The Daily Mirror had run a story on the band with a picture on page 3 (see photo above).
The band gigged throughout England in the latter half of 1965 and were regulars at the Scotch of St James. In January 1966, The Krew were hired to back Lee Dorsey on his British tour.
The following gigs are drawn from a number of music papers and local newspapers and we would welcome any additions.
11 September 1965 – Galaxy Club, Basingstoke, Hampshire (billed as Beryl Marsden with Steve Aldo & The Krew-Cuts)(Hants and Berks Gazette)
7 October 1965 – Garden of Eden Club, Bridge Hotel Ballroom, Wheatley, Oxfordshire (billed as Beryl Marsden and Steve Aldo with The Crewcuts) (needs source)
9 October 1965 – Harvest Moon, Guildford, Surrey (billed as The Crewcats band show with Beryl Marsden and Steve Aldo) (Surrey Advertiser)
23 October 1965 – Flamingo, Soho, Wardour Street, central London (Melody Maker) This is when Alan Reeves sat in
3 November 1965 – Gala Ballroom, Norwich, Norfolk with Malcolm & The Jetblacks (billed as Beryl Marsden and the Steve Aldo Crew) (Eastern Evening News) The group played at the Scotch of St James in Mayfair this week
7 November 1965 – Colchester Odeon, Colchester, Essex with The Animals, The Small Faces, Tommy Quickly, The Soul Mates and The Rustics (billed as Beryl Marsden and The Crewcats) (possibly Essex County Standard)
9 November 1965 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London with Wilson Pickett (Alan Reeves’ book Sex, Booze & Blues)
13 November 1965 – Harpenden Public Hall, Harpenden, Herts with The Beat Six (billed as Beryl Marsden & The Steve Aldo Crew) (Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)
13 November 1965 – Bowes Lyon House, Stevenage, Herts with Soul 5 (Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire Express)
Incorrect date. Should be November not December
18 November 1965 – Gloucester ABC, Gloucester with The Walker Brothers, The Soul Mates, The Jet Set, The Tremors and Johnny B Great & The Quotations (The Stage)
19 November 1965 – Westhoughton Casino, Westhoughton, Greater Manchester with The Senators (Bolton Evening News) Billed as Howie Casey & The Seniors
19 November 1965 – Peterborough Embassy, Peterborough with The Walker Brothers and others (possibly Cambridgeshire Times)
20 November 1965 – House of Aden, Witham Public Hall, Witham, Essex with The Senates (billed as Beryl Marsden & The Crewcats with Steve Aldo) (Essex County Standard)
28 November 1965 – Guildford Odeon, Guildford, Surrey with The Walker Brothers, The Small Faces, The Soul Mates, Peter Quinton, Johnny B Great & The Quotations and The Jet Set (billed as Beryl Marsden & The Crewcats) (Surrey Advertiser)
5 December 1965 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette) Says direct from the Scotch Club (aka Scotch of St James)
7 December 1965 – Ardwick ABC, Ardwick Greater Manchester with The Beatles, The Moody Blues, The Marionettes, The Paramounts, The Koobas and Jerry Stevens (Manchester Evening News) No mention of The Krew but it does mention Steve Aldo
28 December 1965 – Macroom Montrose, Cork, Republic of Ireland with The Regal (Cork Evening Echo) Billed as Beryl Marsden with The Crewcats
During January 1966, The Krew also backed Lee Dorsey on a British tour (see entry on this site)
When Lee Dorsey arrived in Britain in January 1966, promoter Roy Tempest recruited The Krew (sometimes billed as The Crew or Crewcats), who backed him on the subsequent tour. The band had been working with singers Beryl Marsden and Steve Aldo since September 1965.
November 1965 gig
According to keyboard player Alan Reeves in his book, Sex Booze & Blues, the band rehearsed at the Marquee on Wardour Street for the 19-day tour, which appears to have ended on 31 January. Reeves was ill part of the way through the tour and missed some of the dates.
The Krew:
Tommy Murray (lead guitar)
Howie Casey (tenor saxophone)
Alan Reeves (keyboards)
Archie Legget (bass)
Eddie Sparrow (drums)
I’ve found the following dates and would welcome any additions and memories:
Photo: Melody Maker
14 January – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Gass (Melody Maker)
14 January – Roaring ‘20s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)
15 January – Carousel Club, Farnborough, Hampshire with Johnny B Great & The Quotations (Camberley News)
19 January – Bromel Club, Bromley, southeast London (Melody Maker)
19 January – Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Record Mirror/The Stage)
20 January – The Cavern, Liverpool with Earl Preston’s Realms and The Fix (Liverpool Echo)
21 January – Fender Club, Harrow, northwest London (possibly Harrow Weekly Post)
21 January – New All-Star Club, Liverpool Street, east London (Melody Maker)
The Western Scene which covers bands and music in the west country ran a short story on The Krew in its 4 February 1966 issue on page two. It said that Dorsey was so impressed with The Krew that he was hoping to take them back to the States. It also added that Steve Aldo was in France with The Remo Four and that Beryl Marsden was heading to Frankfurt shortly to play with The Quotations.
Dorsey would return to Britain later in the year for another tour. The Krew meanwhile would split with Beryl Marsden (who joined The Shotgun Express) and Steve Aldo (who joined The Fix) and link up with Jamaican singer Owen Gray in April 1966.
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
