Category Archives: England

Categories: England, West Sussex

The Shoreline Club, Bognor Regis, West Sussex

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Photo: Melody Maker

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

Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene during the 1960s notes that The DJ Blues Band and Henry played on 31 December, bringing in the New Year.

1966

Mike Read’s book The South Coast Beat Scene during the 1960s adds that The Profile, The Alex Laine Group and Henry played on 1 January 1966.

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

22 June (Wednesday) – David Bowie & The Buzz (David Bowie fan site)

26 June (Sunday) – The Clayton Squares (Record Mirror) See above

 

3 July (Sunday) – The Clayton Squares (Record Mirror) See above

10 July (Sunday) – The Clayton Squares (Record Mirror) See above

17 July (Sunday) – The Clayton Squares (Record Mirror) See above

18 July (Monday) – The Action and Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Fabulous 208)

24 July (Sunday) – The Clayton Squares (Record Mirror) See above

31 July (Sunday) – The Iveys (Tom Brennan’s research)

 

27 August (Saturday) – The Action (Fabulous 208)

 

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. 

1967

25 March (Saturday) – Pink Floyd and The Shame (45 Worlds website)

26 March (Sunday) – Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (45 Worlds website)

27 March (Monday) – The Soul Society (45 Worlds website)

 

After returning from Italy in April 1967, Motivation rehearses new singer Denny Alexander, who knows the club from playing with The Clayton Squares.

22 April (Saturday) – The Move (Disc & Music Echo)

28 April (Friday) – Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (flyer at: www.radiolondon.co.uk/caroline/scrap60/p4scrap60.html)

29 April (Saturday) – Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (flyer at: www.radiolondon.co.uk/caroline/scrap60/p4scrap60.html)

 

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

13 May (Saturday) – The Who (flyer at: www.radiolondon.co.uk/caroline/scrap60/p4scrap60.html)

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)

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

Categories: England

Edwin Starr’s May-June 1967 British tour

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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 May 1967 on his debut British tour, 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 most of these dates.

By mid-1967, The Senate also featured Alex “Ludgie” Ligertwood (aka Alex Jackson) on lead guitar and vocals; Bill Irving on bass; Bob Mather on sax; Antony Rutherford (aka Tony Mimms) on trumpet; and  Robbie McIntosh on drums.

However, later this year, Michael Brandon Fraser joined on keyboards 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)

17 June 1967 – New Century Hall, Manchester with Life ‘N’ Soul (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

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)

 

This next gig is a standalone and must be incorrect:

2 July 1967 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (www.kingmojostory.com)

 If you can add anything, please leave a comment below.

Categories: England, London

South East Blues Band

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Pete Hicks (lead vocals)

Tim Harris (harmonica/vocals)

Alan Salter (guitar)

Graham Arondelle (bass)

Chris Tattrsall (drums)

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.

Categories: England

Edwin Starr’s early 1967 British tour

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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 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham (website: https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/)

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) Possibly backed by The Skatelites

3 February 1967 – Cue Club, Paddington, central London (Melody Maker) Billed as Edwin Starr Show and possibly backed by The Skatelites

4 February 1967 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

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)

8 February 1967 – Stevenage Mecca, Locarno Ballroom, Stevenage, Hertfordshire (website: http://www.coda-uk.co.uk/60’s_music_scene.htm)

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)

12 February 1967 – Top Ten Club, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

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)

25 February 1967 – New Century Hall, Manchester with The Rogues and Pete Doyle and Dave Eager (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

26 February 1967 – Warrington Co-op Hall, Warrington, Cheshire (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

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

11 March 1967 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

12 March 1967 – Saville Theatre, Shaftsbury Avenue, central London with Duane Eddy (Fabulous 208)

 

If you can add anything, please leave a comment below

Categories: England

The Respect

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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 Boathouse
Jon Rich on bass at Kew Boathouse
Photo: Graham Chandler at Kew Boathouse with the band advertised on the poster behind

 

Categories: England

Edwin Starr’s September-October 1966 British tour

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In September 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.

According to NME, Edwin Starr delayed a British visit planned for August and came in late September. The first gig appears to have been one advertised on a promotional flyer where he performed at the Twisted Wheel Club in Manchester (again with Bluesology). The date in question was 29 September.

The next day, Starr did two gigs on the same day, according to a Galaxy Entertainments Ltd performing contract. The first was at the Gaiety Ballroom in Grimsby and the second one was at the Beachcomber in Nottingham. The contract did not name the backing band.

It’s not clear whether these late September gigs were 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 September-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.

29 September 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester with Bluesology (Galaxy Entertainments Ltd promotional flyer) Backed by Bluesology

30 September 1966 – Gaiety Ballroom, Grimsby (Galaxy Entertainments Ltd promotional flyer)

30 September 1966 – Beachcomber, Nottingham (Galaxy Entertainments Ltd promotional flyer)

 

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

15 October 1966 – Manchester University, Manchester (Melody Maker/NME)

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 Ballroom, Greenford, northwest London (Melody Maker) Possibly The Guests

24 October 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Crawley, West Sussex with Jeff Curtis & The Flames (Ray Brown’s recollections) This is the most likely date considering the Tiles show below

24 October 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Jeff Curtis & The Flames (Melody Maker) Possibly The Guests

24 October 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London (London Life/Tatler) Possibly The Guests

26 October 1966 – Orchid Ballroom, Purley, Surrey (Melody Maker)

28 October 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News) Judging by the gig below, this is most likely The Senate

28 October 1966 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, east London (Melody Maker)

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

 

Categories: England, London

Beryl Marsden, Steve Aldo & The Krew

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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 with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Melody Maker) Alan Reeves either sat in here or the next week

30 October 1965 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Tony Knight’s Chessmen (Melody Maker) Billed as Beryl Marsden & The Crew

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)

27 November 1965 – Queen’s Hall, Burslem, Staffordshire with The Richmond and The Levi Set (billed as Beryl Marsden, Steve Aldo and The Crew) (Evening Sentinel)

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)

Melody Maker, 1 January 1966

22 January 1966 –  Dungeon Club, Nottingham (billed as Beryl Marsden & The Crew) (website: https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/welcome/diary/1966-2/)

14 February 1966 –  De La Warr Pavilion, Bexley-on-Sea, East Sussex with The Overlanders and The Merseybeats (Hastings and St Leonards Observer)

Categories: England, London

Lee Dorsey’s January 1966 British tour

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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 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Gass (Melody Maker)

14 January 1966 – Roaring ‘20s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

14 January 1966 – ITV’s Ready Steady Go aires on TV featuring The Kinks, Pretty Things, Patti LaBelle & Her Belles and Fontella Bass (Melody Maker)

15 January 1966 – Carousel Club, Farnborough, Hampshire with Johnny B Great & The Quotations (Aldershot News/Camberley News)

16 January 1966 – Oasis, Manchester with The Cresters (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

18 January 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

19 January 1966 – Bromel Club, Bromley, southeast London (Melody Maker)

19 January 1966 – Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Melody Maker/Record Mirror/The Stage)

20 January 1966 – The Cavern, Liverpool with Earl Preston’s Realms and The Fix (Liverpool Echo)

21 January 1966 – Fender Club, Harrow, northwest London (possibly Harrow Weekly Post)

21 January 1966 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, east London (Melody Maker)

22 January 1966 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham (website: https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/welcome/diary/1966-2/) Beryl Marsden & The Crew played on this date so would have been around for Nottingham gig day after

23 January 1966 – Blue Moon, Hayes, west London (Uxbridge Weekly Post)

24 January 1966 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (Record Mirror)

25 January 1966 – Jigsaw, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

27 January 1966 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham with The Advocates (Gloucester Citizen)

28 January 1966 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with Duke Lee (Melody Maker)

28 January 1966 – Carna-Hive, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

29 January 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Stormsville Shakers (Melody Maker)

30 January 1966 – Ricky Ticky, Plaza, Guildford, Surrey with Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays (David Else’s research)

31 January 1966 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

31 January 1966 – Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Melody Maker/Rave magazine)

 

1 February 1966  – Dungeon, Nottingham (website: https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/welcome/diary/1966-2/) This was cancelled as Dorsey had returned to the US

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 in April for another tour backed by The League of Gentlemen. 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.

If you can add anything, please leave a comment below

 

Categories: England, London

Bobby Hebb’s December 1966 British tour

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Bobby Hebb – lead vocals

Mick Stewart – guitar/vocals

Nick Simper – bass/vocals

Johnny Goodison – keyboards/vocals

Kenny Slade – drums

In late November 1966, after he’d recuperated from the car crash that had killed Johnny Kidd the previous month, Nick Simper re-joined New Pirates members Mick Stewart and drummer Roger Truth with plans to revive the group’s name.

However, as Nick Simper recounts on his website, the band was first offered a job backing American soul singer Bobby Hebb, who had arrived for a December tour.

Truth, however, dropped out to join Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound before the tour commenced. Simper and Stewart found a new drummer – Kenny Slade, a Sheffield player who’d worked briefly with west London band The Dae-b-Four and also with future rock star Joe Cocker. The line-up was completed with keyboard player Johnny Goodison who’d led his own band, Johnny B Great & The Quotations (backing band for The Walker Brothers).

The band’s tour dates below are from Nick Simper’s website unless otherwise noted:

1 December 1966 – Streatham Locarno Ballroom, Streatham, southwest London

1 December 1966 – Blaises, 121 Queen’s Gate, Kensington, west London (started at 11.30pm)

2 December 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Little People (Melody Maker/Record Mirror)

3 December 1966 – Nottingham University, Nottingham (Melody Maker/Record Mirror)

3 December 1966 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham (Melody Maker/Record Mirror)

3 December 1966 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with The Eyes of Blue, A New Happening and Chapter 5 (Sheffield Star)

4 December 1966 – The Cavern, Liverpool with Lynn Randell, The Beechwoods, the States, The Hideaways, The Avengers, The Prowlers, Chapter Five and The Kids (Phil Thompson’s book “The Best of Cellars – The story of the Cavern club” and Liverpool Echo)

4 December 1966 – Top Rank, Preston, Lancashire (Melody Maker/Record Mirror)

5 December 1966 – Pavilion Ballroom, Bath

8 December 1966 – Glen Ballroom, Llanelli, Wales (Melody Maker/Record Mirror)

9 December 1966 – Gaiety Theatre, Rhyl, north Wales with Billie J Kramer & The Dakotas, The Dancing Angels, Johnny Kidd’s Original Pirates (straight from the Cavern), The Signs, The Kids and The Questions (North Wales Weekly News/Rhyl & Prestayn Gazette) Bobby Hebb billed as Bobby Hebb & His Orchestra

10 December 1966 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire with The Spectres and The Inmates (Burnley Express & News)

10 December 1966 – Queen’s Hall, Widnes with The SOS and The Unknown (Record Mirror/Runcorn Weekly News)

10 December 1966 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham with The Orlons (https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/)

11 December 1966 – Carousel Club, Farnborough, Hampshire (Camberley News)

11 December 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (Melody Maker)

12 December 1966 – Mecca Ballroom, Bristol (Melody Maker/Record Mirror)

13 December 1966 – Palais de Danse, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)

14 December 1966 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London (Melody Maker/Record Mirror)

14 December 1966 – Samantha’s, Burlington Street, central London (Melody Maker and London Life magazine)

15 December 1966 – Pavilion, Worthing, West Sussex (Worthing Herald) The singer replaced Eric Burdon & The New Animals

16 December 1966 – Marine Ballroom, Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire with The Doodlebugs (Morecambe Visitor)

17 December 1966 – Memorial Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with supporting groups (Record Mirror/Nantwich Chronicle/Warrington Guardian)

18 December 1966 – Kirklevington Country Club, Kirklevington, North Yorkshire (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

In the new year, Simper and Stewart reformed The New Pirates.

 

 

Categories: England, London

Johnny Kidd & The New Pirates

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Photo: Nick Simper. Left to right: Johnny Kidd, Mick Stewart, Roger Truth, Nick Simper and Ray Soper at Kingsbury Odeon on 21 May 1966

Johnny Kidd (lead vocals)

Mick Stewart (lead guitar/vocals)

Nick Simper (bass/vocals)

Ray Soper (keyboards)

Roger Truth (drums)

When legendary British singer Johnny Kidd decided to part with the original Pirates after a gig at Bletchley’s Wilton Hall on 19 April 1966, he had some outstanding gigs to honour and hired several, temporary, groups to fulfil the bookings, including Liverpool band, The Avengers, who backed him on a brief tour of Cornwall and Devon (most likely later that week). (Ed. Another gig advertised in the Leicester Mercury was at the West End in Coalville on Saturday, 23 April with The Berkley Squares.)

Another band that backed Johnny Kidd was west London R&B outfit Jeff Curtis & The Flames. The band’s drummer, Pete Burt, younger brother of Dave Burt in Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, was a window cleaner and was cleaning Kidd’s windows one day when they got talking.

The Flames played a couple of gigs with Kidd, including a naval base in Chatham (most likely the Pembroke Club on HMS Pembroke), before keyboard player Ray Soper was fired (possibly after a gig at the Locarno Ballroom in Swindon on Saturday, 7 May).

The Pembroke Club appears to have hosted bands on Thursdays and the most likely date for the gig above was 28 April.

Unknown group back Kidd as The New Pirates. Image may be subject to copyright

Interestingly, Johnny Kidd & The Pirates played at the annual Festival Gardens Gala in Battersea on 7 May but it’s very doubtful that his backing band were The Flames on this occasion as they were performing at the Locarno Ballroom in Swindon on this date (see above). The Battersea gig, together with the Welsh pictured gig above was provided by yet another band.

When Soper was fired he decided to form a new group to carry on as Kidd’s new version of The Pirates and got hold of his friend, bass player Nick Simper, who he’d previously worked with in Buddy Britten & The Regents and Cryano & The Bergeracs during late 1964-mid-1965. Roger Truth was the drummer in both groups.

In need of a guitarist, they brought in Mick Stewart who’d, previously played with a number of west London bands, notably The Redcaps and The All-Nite Workers (who briefly backed singer Simon Scott).

Anyone interested in reading more about this period, should read Nick Simper’s excellent story. Adie Barrett’s excellent site is also worth exploring.

The new line-up’s debut gig was in Bromley, southeast London.

The gigs below are all from Nick Simper’s diary unless otherwise noted:

Notable gigs:

14 May 1966 – Bromley, south London (most likely Bromley Court Hotel) (debut)

Image may be subject to copyright

20 May 1966 – Royal Albion Hotel, Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex (Essex County Standard)

21 May 1966 – Odeon, Kingsbury, north London

Johnny Kidd’s New Pirates announced in Melody Maker, 21 May 1966 page 5

26 May 1966 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent

27 May 1966 – Barn Dance, Grosmont Wood Farm near Cross Ash, Abergavenny with The Hunters (South Wales Argus)

Image may be subject to copyright

17 June 1966 – Victoria Cross Gallery, Wantage, Oxfordshire (North Berks Herald)

Image may be subject to copyright

19 June 1966 – Plaza Ballroom, Newbury, Berkshire (North Berks Herald)

Image may be subject to copyright

25 June 1966 – Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent (Kentish Express)

26 June 1966 – Bure Club, Mudeford, Dorset (Website: https://bournemouthbeatboom.wordpress.com/gigs-1966/)

 

?? July 1966 – Gig in Oxford

Image may be subject to copyright

16 July 1966 – Royal Lido, Prestatyn, Clwyd, Wales with The Atlantic Sounds (Rhyl & Prestayn Gazette)

?? July 1966 – Gig in Seaton, Devon (most likely Seaton Beat Club at Seaton Town Hall)

Ray Soper left at this point and joined The Denims/Headline News

 

?? August 1966 – Winter Gardens, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset with Eden Kane (with Peter Sarstedt on bass)

?? August 1966 – Gig in Grimsby, Lincolnshire

19 August 1966 – Caird Hall, Dundee, Scotland (first date on Scottish tour) with The Red Hawks, Dunfermline Boys, The Ivy League, The Jay-Birds, The St Louis Union and David and Jonathan (http://www.adiebarrett.co.uk/johnnykidd/timeline/timeline.htm)

Image may be subject to copyright

26 August 1966 – The Leys, Clacton, Essex with Hap & Unit Four and Buzz Inc (Essex County Standard)

Image may be subject to copyright

29 August 1966 – Civic Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Outer Limits (Nantwich Chronicle)

29 August 1966 – Regal Ballroom, Ripley, Derbyshire (Derbyshire Evening Telegraph) Also booked to play 12 November 1966 but cancelled

 

3 September 1966 – Birmingham Flower Show, Handsworth Park, Birmingham with Tony Jackson & The Vibrations (Sports Argus)

3 September 1966 – Gig in Orpington, Kent

19-25 September 1966 – Cabaret dates at Flamingo Club, Darlington with Robb Storme & The Whispers (with former Mojos member Lewis Collins on bass)

 

1 October 1966 – Raven Club, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire with The Diddeymen

6 October 1966 – Gig in Oldham (some source say Bolton), Lancashire (cancelled)

7 October 1966 – Tried to get gig at Nelson Imperial, Nelson, Lancashire but not successful

Kidd and Simper were involved in a car crash on the return journey to London in the early hours of 8 October, a few miles south of Bury, Lancashire. Simper was seriously injured. Kidd, however, was pronounced dead on his arrival at Bolton Royal Infirmary.

Photo: Melody Maker, 15 October 1966, page 2
Melody Maker, 29 October 1966 page 5

In the aftermath, Mick Stewart participated in a Jerry Lee Lewis tour. Then, once Simper had recuperated, Simper and Stewart hooked up with Bobby Hebb for a UK tour, debuting on 1 December 1966 while Truth joined Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound.

The New Pirates:

Mick Stewart (lead guitar/vocals)

Nick Simper (bass/vocals)

John Carroll (keyboards/vocals)

Roger Truth (drums)

Sometime in early February, Simper and Stewart decided to reform The New Pirates. Truth, who’d been playing with Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound, agreed to re-join and they brought in keyboard player John Carroll, who’d recently left Tony Knight’s Chessmen.

According to Melody Maker, The New Pirates played at the Upper Cut in Forest Gate, east London on 17 February 1967 with The Afex and The Trekkas.

Image may be subject to copyright

However, the Newham, West Ham & East Ham, Barking and Stratford Express lists The Apex and Jo Jo Gunne as support.

Photo: Nick Simper. Left to right: John Carroll, Roger Truth, Nick Simper and Mick Stewart, February 1967 prior to Cornwall tour

Truth played the London show and then, a few days before a short tour of Cornwall commenced, he returned to Freddie Mack’s band, possibly for that group’s gig at the Village in Cleethorpes on 22 February.

James Smith, who’d worked with Carroll in The London Beats in 1965, auditioned but turned the job down and subsequently joined Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement in March (replacing Phil Wainman).

John Kerrison, who’d previously drummed with a number of bands, notably Frankie Reid & The Casuals and The Rockin’ Eccentrics, took his place.

The revised line-up undertook the Cornwall tour and played a couple of gigs in England before heading to Scotland.

Notable gigs:

23 February 1967 – Royal Naval Air Station, Helston, Cornwall

Image may be subject to copyright

24 February 1967 – Winter Gardens, Penzance, Cornwall with The Hoboes (West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette)

Image may be subject to copyright

25 February 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Other Five (West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette)

 

3 March 1967 – Gig in Welwyn Garden City, Herts (possibly Woodhall Community Centre)

24-25 March 1967 – Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland with Unit 4 Plus 2, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch, Screaming Lord Sutch and The Mack Sound

27 March 1967 – Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, Scotland with Unit 4 Plus 2, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch, Screaming Lord Sutch and The Mack Sound

Returning to London, the band found there was little demand for The New Pirates and the members started to look around for other work.

Thanks to his contacts with bass player Peter Carney who he had worked with in The Flexmen and The London Beats (and briefly Tony Knight’s Chessmen), Carroll played with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band for a few weeks (debuting on 26 April in Croydon) before Dave Greenslade was taken on as a permanent member.

According to Nick Simper’s website, The New Pirates met on 1 May 1967 to discuss their future and decided to go their separate ways.

Later that month, Simper would join Billie Davis & The Quality. However, when work dried up, he became a member of Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages during July. Next he signed up with The Flowerpot Men (September 1967-February 1968) before forming the original Deep Purple.

After his brief time with Geno Washington, John Carroll worked with Herbie Goins & The Nightimers from August 1967 through to March 1968. He then played with The Flowerpot Men briefly (just after Simper had departed). In early 1969, he was part of the backing band appearing on Stevie Wonder’s UK tour.

In late August, 1967, John Kerrison joined Episode Six who featured future Deep Purple members Ian Gillan and Roger Glover and remained until August 1968.

After working on a few projects (including working with Don Arden’s son David), Mick Stewart joined Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement around October 1967 and stayed until April 1968. He then worked with The James Royal Set before working briefly with The Flowerpot Men in late 1968 (after Carroll had departed). During 1969, he replaced Frank Torpey in The Sweet.

Interestingly, a band called themselves The New Pirates was billed to perform the following dates, but it’s not clear who the musicians were.

2 July 1967 (for two weeks) – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall (West Briton & Royal Cornish Gazette)

Roger Truth might have been one of the members as he left Freddie Mack at the end of June 1967.

Big thank you to Adrian Barrett, Nick Simper, Ray Soper, John Carroll, Mick Stewart and John Kerrison.

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