A Kingston-upon-Thames area band that formed in 1962, The Cavedwellers featured future Thane Russal & Three guitarist Martin Fisher and bass player Jack Brand who later formed The Factory. Apparently, Liverpool singer Freddie Starr fronted the group sometime in 1966.
We’d love to hear from anyone who can add more information in the comments below
Photo: Kingston & Malden Borough News
The Cavedwellers were featured in the Surrey Comet’s 19 June 1965 issue (see below)
Photo may be subject to copyright: The End, late 1967. Left to right: John Horton, Hugh Attwooll, Dave Brown, Colin Giffin and Nicky Graham
Colin Giffin – lead guitar, saxophone, vocals
Nicky Graham – organ, vocals
Dave Brown – bass, vocals
John Horton – saxophone
Roger Groom – drums
Formed around May 1965, The End brought together musicians from two Surrey bands. Giffin (b. 21 September 1943, Edmonton, Middlesex) and Brown (b. 2 July 1943, Carshalton, Surrey) had first worked together in 1961, playing with Bobby Angelo & The Tuxedos, who also included Groom (b. 10 November 1939, Walthamstow, east London) before he joined The Nashville Teens.
During 1963, Giffin and Brown joined Mike Berry’s new band, The Innocents who toured with The Rolling Stones on two national tours in 1964, during which time they befriended Bill Wyman who would later produce The End.
On 18 November 1964, the pair brought in Groom (who’d been replaced by Barry Jenkins in The Nashville Teens) and keyboard player Graham (b. January 1945, Durban, South Africa; d. 3 February 2024) from Dickie Pride & The Original Topics to record two tracks at RG Jones studio in Morden. The recordings, which were not released until 1996, paved the way for The End a few months later.
Nicky Graham on keyboards with The Original Topics. Photo: Malcolm Penn
Graham had previously played with Kingston upon Thames area bands, including The Electrons and The Classics.
1965
During March/April 1965, the same quartet recorded six more songs, which all remained unreleased until 1996.
John Horton far right. Thanks to Alan Collins for the photo
Completed with sax player John Horton (b. 14 November 1945, Surbiton, Surrey; 25 September 2023), who’d worked with Kingston upon Thames group The Outsiders and then Dickie Pride & The Original Topics, The End initially backed singers Kenny Lynch and Helen Shapiro.
19 June 1965 – Wilton Hall, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire with The Proof (Bletchley District Gazette) Presume this is the same band
On 26 August 1965, The End recorded Brown and Giffin’s “I Can’t Get Any Joy” and “Hey Little Girl” with Bill Wyman and Glyn Johns producing. They also cut the pair’s “Searching for My Baby”, which was shelved until 1996.
24 September 1965 – Astoria, Finsbury Park, north London with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Tottenham Weekly Herald)
May be gig missing on 25 September 1965
26 September 1965 – Colston Hall, Bristol with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)
27 September 1965 – Odeon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)
28 September 1965 – Capitol Cinema, Cardiff, Wales with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)
29 September 1965 – Granada, Shrewsbury with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)
May be gig missing on 30 September 1965
1 October 1965 – ABC Chester, Cheshire with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)
2 October 1965 – ABC Wigan, Lancashire with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)
3 October 1965 – Odeon Manchester with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)
4 October 1965 – Gaumont, Bradford, West Yorkshire with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)
5 October 1965 – ABC Carlisle, Cumbria with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)
6 October 1965 – Odeon Glasgow, Scotland with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)
7 October 1965 – City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)
8 October 1965 – ABC Stockton-on-Tees with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)
9 October 1965 – Odeon, Leeds, West Yorkshire with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)
10 October 1965 – Empire, Liverpool with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)
11 October 1965 – Gaumont, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)
12 October 1965 – Gaumont, Doncaster, South Yorkshire with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)
The End with Bill Wyman, October 1965. Left to right: John Horton, Nicky Graham, Dave Brown, Bill Wyman, Roger Groom and Colin Giffin
13 October 1965 – De Montfort Hall, Leicester with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)
14 October 1965 – Odeon Birminingham with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)
15 October 1965 – ABC Cambridge with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)
16 October 1965 – ABC Northampton with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)
17 October 1965 – Granada, Tooting, southwest London with The Rolling Stones, The Spencer Davis Group, The Checkmates, Unit 4 Plus 2, Ray Cameron and Charles Dickens & The Habits (Beat Instrumental)
On 22 October 1965, Philips released “I Can’t Get Any Joy” c/w “Hey Little Girl” as a single, but it failed to chart.
5 November 1965 – Cricketers Inn, Southend, Essex with The Orioles (Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser) Billed as Mike Berry & The End
During December 1965, The End toured with singer Billie Davis and former Presidents’ drummer Eddie Patterson played some of the dates (either replacing Groom or filling in for him).
4 December 1965 – Coronation Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent with The Cygnets (East Kent Times) They backed Billie Davis
Photo may be subject to copyright. The End, late 1965. Left to right: John Horton, Roger Groom, Nicky Graham (sitting), Dave Brown and Colin Giffin
1966
4 February 1966 – Parkside Hall, Ampthill, Bedfordshire with The Donna Boys (Luton News) They backed Billie Davis
Roger Groom left to replace Barry Jenkins in The Nashville Teens and Hugh Attwooll took over drums.
Around the same time, Gordon “Gordie” Smith took over from John Horton on saxophone.
Photo: John Treais
10 April 1966 – Bluesette Club, Leatherhead, Surrey (Poster from John Treais) Billed as The Ends
30 April 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Anteeks (Melody Maker)
14 May 1966 – House of Eden, Witham Public Hall, Witham, Essex with The Solents (Essex County Standard) Says The End are going on Stevie Wonder tour in June 1966
29 May 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Next Move and The Knack (Melody Maker)
4 June 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Keith Powell and Billie Davis, The Manchester Playboys, The Humperdinks and The Ferryboys (Lincolnshire Standard)
4 June 1966 – 76 Club, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire (Live Music website)
14 July 1966 – Granville Club, Nottingham with Don’s Gear (Nottingham Evening Post)
28 July 1966 – Blue Triangle Club, Ealing, London (Fabulous 208)
2-8 August 1966 – Cedar Club, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)
6 August 1966 – 76 Club, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire (Live Music website)
14 October 1966 – 76 Club, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire (Live Music website)
15 October 1966 – Club Continental, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle) This might be a different The End from the southcoast
18-23 October 1966 – Cleopatra Clubs, Cardiff, Wales and Bristol, Avon (Fabulous 208) Backing Elkie Brooks
31 October 1966 – Supreme Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent (East Kent Times)
Photo may be subject to copyright. The End’s debut Spanish 45, 1967. Clockwise from bottom left: Nicky Graham, Hugh Attwooll, Dave Brown, Gordon Smith and Colin Giffin
On 1 November 1966, The End recorded a cover of Joe Tex’s “You Better Believe It Baby” and Don Covay and Ron Miller’s “Please Do Something” with Bill Wyman producing. The two tracks were paired for a Spanish 45.
12 November 1966 – Club Continental, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle) This might be a different The End from the south coast
According to Nicky Graham, The End played in Zemmat in Switzerland for three weeks over the Christmas period.
Photo may be subject to copyright. The End, 1967. Left to right: Nicky Graham, Colin Giffin, Hugh Attwooll, Dave Brown and Gordon Smith
Smith’s former neighbour Sandra Le Brocq, a dancer/choreographer, was working for Spanish record label Sonoplay, and instrumental in setting the group up with three months’ of work in Spain in March 1967.
1967
21 January 1967 – Silver Blades, Streatham, southwest London (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser/Clapham Advertiser)
11 February 1967 – Alkham Social Club, Alkham Village Hall, Kent (Folkestone & Hythe Gazette)
On 24 February 1967, The End recorded Dave Brown and Colin Giffin’s “Why” and “Yo-Yo” with Bill Wyman producing.
Photo may be subject to copyright
In March, The End moved to Madrid and played in Spain for three months. Soon after arriving, Sonoplay paired the two latest recordings as a single.
16 June 1967 – Silver Blades, Streatham, southwest London (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser/Clapham Advertiser)
5 July 1967 – Steryodelik Dance, Church Hall, Easthampstead, Berkshire (Bracknell News)
On 12 July (possibly while Hugh Attwooll still in Spain), The End with Chris Winters on drums recorded Brown, Giffin and Graham’s “We’ve Got It Made” with Bill Wyman producing at RG Studio in Morden. The track, however, was shelved until 1996.
Gordon Smith meanwhile had remained in Spain and would leave the band when they returned to the UK.
7 August 1967 – Worsley Civic Hall, Greater Manchester with Richard Kent Style (Bolton Evening News)
On 17 August, The End recorded a cover of Bonnie Dobson and Tim Rose’s “Morning Dew” with Graham’s former band mate from The Original Topics’ Lennie Neldrett guesting on lead guitar.
Photo may be subject to copyright
Around September/October, The End recorded a cover of Don Covay’s “Daddy Loves Baby” with Bill Wyman producing which was shelved until 1996.
Guitarist Terry Taylor, who had met The End in Spain during spring 1967 while playing with London bands The High Society and The Mode (the latter recorded a lone 45 for Sonoplay) appeared on Giffin’s “Little Annie” around this time but the track remained unreleased until 1997.
Photo may be subject to copyright
On 4 September, the band recorded Bill Wyman and Pete Gosling’s “Loving, Sacred Loving”, which had previously been cut by Moon’s Train, at Olympic Studios in Barnes with Wyman producing.
Photo may be subject to copyright. John Horton (centre) returns briefly in late 1967
On 8 November, with John Horton briefly back in the fold, the group recorded Bill Wyman and Pete Gosling’s “Shades of Orange” with Bill Wyman producing at Olympic in Barnes.
The track, which had previously been cut with Gosling’s band Moon’s Train (featuring Graham’s old band mate Malcolm Penn from The Original Topics on drums) was shelved and released in 1996. Charlie Watts from The Rolling Stones played tabla on the recording.
Photo may be subject to copyright
1968
John Horton, who was pictured extensively with The End during this period and would appear on the cover of the band’s LP (he also came up with the original sleeve design) left around early March and Terry Taylor (who had been living in Sweden after leaving The Mode) joined on lead guitar. Horton is mentioned in an article printed in the Daily Mirror on 29 February entitled “The Beginning of The End”.
According to Melody Maker, “Shades of Orange” (featuring Horton on sax) was released on 9 March.
Photo may be subject to copyright. The End late 1967 before John Horton (far left) departed for a second time.
Ten days later, on 19 March, The End began to record material at Decca’s studio in West Hampstead (and also Olympic Studios in Barnes) that subsequently appeared on their Introspection LP. Produced by Bill Wyman, the sessions continued up until late June but the LP was delayed and finally released in November 1969.
On 24 April, The End recorded the Brown/Giffin/Graham/Taylor collaboration “Building up a Dream”, which remained unreleased until 1997.
On 25 May, the band recorded Brown and Graham’s “Today Tomorrow”, another track that is shelved until 1997.
Photo may be subject to copyright
In June, sessions for the band’s LP wrapped up. The track “She Said Yeah” featured sax player Ken Leeman from Moon’s Train and Taylor’s former Mode compatriot Jim Henderson on harmony vocal.
20 September 1968 – Roebuck, Reading, Berkshire (Reading Evening Post)
22 September 1968 – Roebuck, Reading, Berkshire (Reading Evening Post)
6 October 1968 – Roebuck, Reading, Berkshire (Reading Evening Post)
10 October 1968 – Roebuck, Reading, Berkshire (Reading Evening Post)
11 October 1968 – White Hart, Didcot, Berkshire (Reading Evening Post)
13 October 1968 – Roebuck, Reading, Berkshire (Reading Evening Post)
8 November 1968 – Regal Ballroom, Bonnyrigg, Scotland with The Flirtations and Cream Puff War (South Midlothian Advertiser)
30 November 1968 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, London with The Pretty Things and Auriel (Melody Maker)
13 December 1968 – Roebuck, Reading, Berkshire (Reading Evening Post)
In December, Giffin left for a solo career and Attwooll returned to Spain and worked with Miguel Rios among others.
New drummer Paul Francis had previously played with Tony Jackson & The Vibrations, The Stuart James Inspiration and Pepper among others.
Returning to Madrid, The End played at JJs and Piccadilly.
1969
Having returned to England, the new line-up recorded the group composition “Son of Lightning” with Bill Wyman producing at Olympic Studios on 4 March. The track was left in the can and finally released in 1999.
9 March 1969 – Toby Jug, Tolworth, southwest London (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
1 April 1969 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London with Led Zeppelin and Pale Green Limousine (Melody Maker)
On 3 April, The End recorded another group composition “Second Glance”, which wasn’t released until 1999. Another band collaboration “North Thames Gas Board” cut on 15 April likewise was shelved until 1999. The track featured Ian Stewart guesting on piano.
During May, The End appeared at the Star Club in Hamburg, sharing the bill with The Ace Kefford Stand (featuring Cozy Powell on drums).
Returning to the UK in June, The End headed back to Spain for several months during which time they toured backing Billie Davis. During this time, Th End backed Spanish singer Miguel Rios on his LP Despierta.
Photo may be subject to copyright
On 10 December, The End recorded two band collaborations that were shelved at the time: “So Free” and “My Friend”. The latter was re-cut by Tucky Buzzard.
1970
On 23 January, The End cut the group collaboration “Turn on Waterstone”, which was finally released in 1999.
On 13 February, the band laid down another band co-write “Mistress Bean” with session guitarist Chris Spedding guesting on the track. Taylor’s “For Eleanor” was recorded the next day but like “Mistress Bean” it was shelved until 1999.
Photo may be subject to copyright. The End, 1970. Left to right: Nicky Graham, Terry Taylor, Paul Francis, Dave Brown and Jim Henderson
Shortly afterwards, Taylor introduced his former band mate from The Mode, Jim Henderson as a front man. The group returned to Spain and changed name to Tucky Buzzard.
Formed from musicians drawn from the Tolworth, Surbiton and Chessington area of Surrey in April 1964, The Original Topics evolved out of the final version of The Classics and added John Horton (b. 14 November 1945; d. 25 September 2023) from The Outsiders.
Len Neldrett and Malcolm Penn had both attended Surbiton County Grammar and had earlier played in rival local bands The Gremlins and The Electrons.
In November 1964, Dickie Pride (b. 21 October 1941, Thornton Heath, Surrey; d. 26 March 1969), one of the late 1950s home-grown English rock stars from the Larry Parnes stable, including, among others, Marty Wilde, Billy Fury, Vince Eager, Georgie Fame, Lance Fortune, Duffy Power and Johnny Gentle (John Askew), joined as their new front man. Tragically, he later died of a heroin overdose in 1969
However, around March 1965, Nicky Graham (b. January 1945, Durban, South Africa; d. 3 February 2024) (quickly followed by John Horton) departed to form The End, a band that developed close links with Rolling Stones’ bass player Bill Wyman.
Wyman would oversee many of that group’s recordings. He would also remain friends with Nicky Graham who later formed Tucky Buzzard and worked with David Bowie in the early 1970s.
Stan Marut briefly took over from Graham and remembers playing at the Cromwellian while with the group.
In May 1965, Dickie Pride, Len Neldrett and Malcolm Penn joined a new central London-based outfit called The Sidewinders. Marut meanwhile joined The Jynx Pack and then Julian Covey & The Machine.
Photo: Malcolm Penn
Selected gigs:
17 July 1964 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, Surrey with The Searchers and Cats Whiskers (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
Image may be subject to copyright
25 July 1964 – King George’s Hall, Esher, Surrey with The Yardbirds (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
8 August 1964 – Flamingo, Soho, Wardour Street, central London with The Cheynes (Record Mirror)
29 August 1964 – Flamingo, Soho, Wardour Street, central London with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Record Mirror)
12 September 1964 – Galaxy Club, Town Hall, Basingstoke, Hampshire with The Westsiders (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)
19 September 1964 – Flamingo, Soho, Wardour Street, central London with Dave Davani (Record Mirror)
3 February 1965 – Flamingo, Soho, Wardour Street, central London with Screaming Jay Hawkins (Record Mirror) Billed as The Topics with Dickie Pride
12 February 1965 – Ricky Tick, Windsor, Berkshire (Poster) Billed as The Topics with Dickie Pride
Image may be subject to copyright
22 April 1965 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with The Plus Three (Sussex Evening Express)
Thanks to Malcolm Penn for the photo
31 August 1965 – Co-op Hall, Halstead, Essex with Heinz & The Wild Boys, Cops ‘N’ Robbers, The Fairies and Soul Foundations (Essex Chronicle) This is very unlikely unless it was a different band (possibly The Sidewinders?)
Left to right: Len, Dave and Nick. Photo: Malcolm Penn
A huge thanks to Malcolm Penn for providing the background notes and all of the photos for The Original Topics. Thanks to David Else for helping with some gigs from Record Mirror.
Formed sometime in 1962/1963 in the Tolworth area in Surrey, The Outsiders included guitarist Mick Wayne (b. 7 October 1943, Hammersmith, west London; d. 26 June 1995, Michigan, USA), who subsequently played with The Hullabaloos, The Bunch of Fives (with Viv Prince) and The Tickle. Wayne formed Junior’s Eyes in early 1968 and later appeared on David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”.
Collins (b. 22 November 1944, London) and Wayne had met at Kingston School of Art after Wayne had attended Wimbledon Grammar School. Tim Easton (b. 26 August 1943, Tolworth, Surrey) was the original drummer.
Apparently, the band split for a while at Christmas in 1963.
Mick Brill (b. 21 June 1945, Tolworth, Surrey) joined the group in April 1964 after he left The Classics, taking over from McIlldowie. Horton (b. 14 November 1945; d. 25 September 2023) left the same month to join The Original Topics.
Dutch Mills (real name: Nigel Reevely Mills) was close friends with Eric Clapton and had started out with The Dustbowl Refugees.
He adds that Jimmy Page was always around and convinced him to join Bedford band The Authentics sometime in 1964 with whom he recorded a cover of Jackie DeShannon’s “I Don’t Wanna Be Without You”, which was shelved. The Authentics were regulars at the Marquee.
Mills moved to Canada in 1966/1967 and worked with folk singer Vicky Taylor and later Jesse Winchester and Willie Dunn before moving back to the UK in 1990.
With Mills gone, The Outsiders recorded a lone 45 for Decca Records – “Keep On Doing It” c/w “Songs We Sang Last Summer”, which was released on 20 August 1965. Both sides were written by session player Jimmy Page with Mick Wayne. Page also produced the sessions for the single.
Photo may be subject to copyright
Brill says The Outsiders started doing sessions for Immediate Records in 1965, which is where he and Collins met singer Doug Gibbons, a singer from Shepherd’s Bush. Gibbons subsequently changed his name to Thane Russal.
Interestingly, Doug Gibbons and The Outsiders were billed to play at the Top Twenty in Bridgwater, Somerset on 5 July 1965.
To clear up one confusion, Mick Wayne was from the Kingston upon Thames area not Hull as is often falsely reported. Brill says that when Wayne joined The Hullabaloos he had to dye his hair blond.
Thanks to David Else for the photo
Together with new drummer Pete Huish and new guitarist Bob Johnson, Thane Russal, Mick Brill and Alan Collins recorded “Security” as Thane Russall & Three.
Brill adds that when the single was released, it was rumoured that Jimmy Page had played on the recording to try and drum up some interest in the single’s release.
However, he explains that it was Bob Johnson. The solo on the recording was achieved by Huish hitting the neck of Johnson’s guitar with a drumstick.
Johnson, who joined in 1966 after Wayne had moved on to The Hullabaloos, departed when Thane Russal & Three landed a contract to travel to Italy in June 1966 and later joined Steeleye Span.
The remaining members added Martin Fisher from local band The Cavedwellers and decamped to Rome. You can read about the band’s career in Italy here at this excellent site.
A massive thank you to Mick Brill and Alan Collins for providing background notes and band photo. Thanks also to Dutch Mills for further information.
Thanks to David Else for helping with some of the research and providing additional material.
The Classics in 1964. Photo: Malcolm Penn. Left to right: Len Neldrett, Malcolm Penn (front), Nicky Graham, Dave Atkey and Mick Brill
Drummer Eddie Patterson says that he played regularly with this band from September 1961 through to April 1962.
According to an advert publicising the Grand Final of The Surbiton Borough News’ Rock & Rhythm Group Competition, which was held at Surbiton Assembly Rooms on 27 April 1962 (see below), The Classics line-up at the time comprised:
Headley Leate (lead vocals)
Dave Atkey (lead guitar)
John Kent (rhythm guitar)
Keith Sutton (bass)
Ken Bright (sax)
Eddie Patterson (drums)
Eddie Patterson (b. 16 April 1942, Epsom, Surrey) says that The Classics came joint second with The Presidents with 249 points, with The Electrons winning the competition with 262 points.
Thanks to Malcolm Penn from The Electrons for the photo
After the competition, Patterson left to join The Presidents, with whom he remained until July 1965. He then toured with The End briefly before hanging up his drumsticks and taking up a permanent job in December of that year. He says that Keith Sutton also played with Del Grant & The Roamers.
In 1963, The Classics (with a revised formation) entered the competition for a second time, billed as Dave Curtis & The Classics. John Kent and Keith Bright were still members.
However, in February 1964, Dave Atkey, who appears to have been the only member to remain throughout the band’s entire career, assumed lead vocal duties and put together an entirely new version, comprising:
Dave Atkey (vocals)
Len Neldrett (lead guitar)
Nicky Graham (organ)
Mick Brill (bass)
Malcolm Penn (drums)
Photo: Mick Brill. The Classics in 1964
Len Neldrett and Mick Brill (b. 21 June 1945, Tolworth, Surrey) joined from The Gremlins and Nicky Graham (b. January 1945, Durban, South Africa; 3 February 2024) and Malcolm Penn came in from Dene Lincoln & The Topics.
Neldrett remembers that the new line-up’s debut performance was in Guildford, Surrey, opening for Tommy Bruce. When the curtain opened, he recalls original members John Kent and Keith Bright were there and hadn’t been told that Atkey had formed a new version!
However, the new formation was short-lived and in April 1964, Mick Brill departed to join The Outsiders.
With Dave Atkey resuming bass duties, the remaining members brought in sax players John Horton (b. 14 November 1945, Surbiton, Surrey; d. 25 September 2023) from The Outsiders and Bernie Greenwood and became The Original Topics.
In November 1964, the musicians were joined by singer Dickie Pride (b. 21 October 1941, Thornton Heath, Surrey; d. 26 March 1969).
A huge thanks to Malcolm Penn, Eddie Patterson and Mick Brill for providing the background notes and photos for The Classics.
Formed by pupils from Surbiton County Grammar in Surrey in 1961, The Gremlins were an instrumentals band that played Shadows and Ventures’ covers.
Mick Brill (b. 21 June 1945, Tolworth, Surrey) says that the group didn’t have a singer, but an advert publicising the Grand Final of The Surbiton Borough News’ Rock & Rhythm Group Competition lists Dave Burton as the band’s vocalist (see below).
The competition, which was won by rival band The Electrons, was held at Surbiton Assembly Rooms on 27 April 1962 and also featured The Classics.
Thanks to Malcolm Penn for the photo
In February 1964, Neldrett and Brill both departed to join a new version of The Classics.
Many thanks to Mick Brill and Len Neldrett for the information on the band and thanks to Mick Brill for the group photo.
Formed in the Tolworth, Surbiton and Chessington area of Surrey in August 1962, Dene Lincoln & The Topics morphed out of earlier band The Electrons, who had included Tony Humprhys, Nicky Graham and Malcolm Penn.
Humphrys, however, didn’t stay long and Ricky Ball took over the bass in January 1963.
The musicians continued to gig locally until February 1964 before splitting at which point Graham and Penn joined a new version of local rivals The Classics.
Graham would later play with The End and Tucky Buzzard while Penn worked with The Sidewinders and Moon’s Train.
Many thanks to Malcolm Penn for providing the background notes and band photo.
Found this gig for the band:
23 February 1963 – Jazz Cellar, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey (Surrey Comet)
Thanks to Malcolm Penn for the photo. The Electrons with Nicky Graham (bottom right) line up
Tony Humphrys aka Tony Lane (vocals)
Baz Hewson (lead guitar)
Malcolm Penn (drums)
Mike Morley (bass)
Pete Moseley (rhythm guitar through to December 1960)
+
Nicky Graham (rhythm guitar from January 1961)
Formed in May 1960 by musicians from the Tolworth, Surbiton and Chessington area in Surrey, The Electrons evolved out of the ashes of The Grumbling Men, who were formed in March 1959 and had included singer Tony Humphrys, drummer Malcolm Penn, bass player Mike Morley, and rhythm guitarist Pete Moseley.
With the exception of Mike Morley and Pete Moseley, all were pupils at Surbiton County Grammar.
Photos of the original band. Thanks to Miles Moseley
The Grumbling Men featured another guitarist called Keith who was replaced by Baz Hewson when the group became The Electrons.
Nicky Graham, who took over from Moseley on rhythm guitar in January 1961, was a student at Surbiton Grammar School (and later Kingston School of Art) and had recently arrived from Durban, South Africa where he was born in January 1945.
Malcolm Penn says that The Electrons never got to play at Tolworth Toby Jug as they predated its band nights. (Ed. Originally a jazz venue, the Toby Jug did briefly operate as a club for R&B in early 1964 but its owners soon stopped putting rock bands on. It reopened in early March 1968 and became a significant music venue in the area.)
Penn recalls that the band venue in the early 1960s was Kingston Coronation Hall. The hall housed a swimming pool, which was boarded over and turned into a dance venue.
He adds that all the big traditional jazz and dance bands performed there, including Ted Heath, Johnny Dankworth, Eric Delaney, Chris Barber and Kenny Ball. The Electrons, together with a few other local bands, did warm up and interval spots.
Penn remembers The Electrons also played at the Jazz Cellar in Kingston, which was run by Hugh O’Donnell, the Swan in Mill Street, Kingston, the Foresters Hall in Epsom, the Organ Inn on the Ewell Road and Surbiton Assembly Rooms.
In April 1962, The Electrons made the Grand Final of The Surbiton Borough News’ Rock & Rhythm Group Competition, which was held at Surbiton Assembly Rooms on 27 April. Up against local bands, The Gremlins and The Classics, The Electrons won the competition.
Interestingly, over the next few years, members of The Electrons would join up with players from both The Gremlins and The Classics to form a new version The Classics in February 1964.
In August 1962, Malcolm Penn, Nicky Graham and Tony Humphrys recruited Jim Turner (stage name Dene Lincoln) on vocals and Pete Cottage from the Streatham area in southwest London to form a new group called Dene Lincoln & The Topics.
In later years Penn would work with Moon’s Train while Graham played with The End and Tucky Buzzard. Graham died on 3 February 2024.
A huge thanks to Malcolm Penn for providing the background notes and photos for The Electrons.
Thanks also to John Warburg for more information
Brian Dullaway’s 21st birthday party, 1964. The Electrons play at New Addington, Surrey. Copyright: Brian Dullaway
The Artwoods and John’s Children, December 1966. Photo: Caterham Weekly Post
Originally called the Chuck Wagon and located in a corrugated iron hut at 22a Bridge Street in Leatherhead, Surrey, this notable music venue was renamed the Bluesette Club around March 1966. John’s Children, the group that once included Marc Bolan, owned the club at one point and performed regularly, initially under the name The Silence.
I’ve started to compile a list of gigs, which are taken from the Caterham Weekly Press unless otherwise noted. There are significant gaps in the listings, so I’d welcome any additions, corrections and memories, including when the venue operated as the Chuck Wagon. Judging by the listings below, shows took place on Fridays and Sundays unless otherwise noted.
1966
25 February 1966 – Tony Jackson & The Vibrations (Boyfriend magazine)
1 April 1966 – Too Many Kooks (Poster from John Treais)
3 April 1966 – Sons of Fred (Poster from John Treais)
8 April 1966 – Paddy, Klaus & Gibson (Poster from John Treais)
10 April 1966 – The Ends (aka The End) (Poster from John Treais)
15 April 1966 – The A-Jaes (Poster from John Treais)
17 April 1966 – The (Five) Proud Walkers (Poster from John Treais)
Photo: John Treais
22 April 1966 – Eddie’s Crowd (Poster from John Treais)
24 April 1966 – The Paramounts (Poster from John Treais)
29 April 1966 – The Silence (Poster from John Treais)
Bookings for May included The Herd, Tony Rivers & The Castaways, Gary Farr & The T-Bones and The Fenmen (see above)
29 May 1966 – Gary Farr & The T-Bones (Poster from John Treais)
3 June 1966 – The Silence (Poster from John Treais)
5 June 1966 – The Herd (Poster from John Treais)
10 June 1966 – The Five Proud Walkers (Contract from Colin Forster)
Thanks to Colin Forster
12 June 1966 – The Rockhouse Band (Poster from John Treais)
17 June 1966 – Paddy, Klaus & Gibson (Poster from John Treais)
19 June 1966 – Gary Farr & The T-Bones (Poster from John Treais)
24 June 1966 – Eddie’s Crowd (Poster from John Treais)
26 June 1966 – Sons of Fred (Poster from John Treais)
3 July – John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers featuring Eric Clapton
8 July – Eddie’s Crowd (formerly The Five Aces)
10 July – The Silence
15 July – The Hounds
17 July – The Fadin’ Colours
22 July – The Fadin’ Colours
24 July – The Silence (just back from Nice, France)
29 July – The Worrying Kind
31 July – The Tea-Set
There is no listing for 5 and 7 August
12 August – Heinz & The Wildboys
14 August – The Five Proud Walkers (also confirmed by the Crawley Advertiser)
There is no listing for 19 August and after this but at some point around this time, the club closed and only re-opened in November
20 November – Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band (paper says club has reopened)
No listing for 25 November
27 November – John’s Children (ex-The Silence)
Photo: Caterham Weekly Post
2 December – The Mojos
4 December – The Iveys
9 December – The Tea-Set
11 December – The Fading Colours
16 December – The Fourmost
19 December – The Bunch
23 December – The Artwoods
24 December – John’s Children (switch from Sunday to Saturday)
30 December – Fading Colours
1967
1 January – Graham Bond Organisation (back to Sundays)
6 January – The Iveys
8 January – Winston’s Fumbs
13 January – Mike Stuart Span
15 January – The Bunch
20 January – The Fading Colours
22 January – The Fleur De Lys
27 January – The Creation
29 January – John’s Children
Photo: Caterham Weekly Post
3 February – Richard Henry & The Timebox
5 February – The Bunch
10 February – The Iveys
12 February – The Fenmen
17 February – Winston’s Fumbs
19 February – Savoy Brown
Photo: Caterham Weekly Press
24 February – Cat Stevens
26 February – Tony Rivers & The Castaways
3 March – The (Five) Proud Walkers
5 March – Derek Savage Foundation
10 March – John’s Children with The A-Jaes
12 March – Graham Bond Organisation
17 March – Worrying Kind
19 March – Simon Dupree & The Big Sound
Photo: Caterham Weekly Press
24 March – One In A Million
26 March – Mike Stuart Span
31 March – Heart and Souls
2 April – Tony Rivers & The Castaways
7 April – Rosco Brown Combo
9 April – The Night People (aka The Nite People)
Photo: Caterham Weekly Press
14 April – The Tribe
16 April – The Fleur De Lys
21 April – Derek Savage Foundation
23 April – Ray King Soul Band
26 April – John’s Children (Wednesday)
28 April – The Click
30 April – The Bunch
3 May – John’s Children (Wednesday)
No more listings in the paper but the club continued as gigs below confirm
18 June – The Iveys (Tom Brennan’s Iveys’ research)
10 September – The Iveys (Tom Brennan’s Iveys’ research)
17 December – The Iveys and John’s Children (Tom Brennan’s Iveys’ research)
A very obscure band that came from the Egham, Surrey/Staines, Middlesex area, which is west of London.
According to the Staines & Egham News paper, the roots of Jeep Rongle can be found in Group Four, who came together in January 1964.
This group comprised Brian Shepherd (lead guitar), Alan Welch (keyboards), Glen Curran (bass), Jim Park (drums) and two other musicians – Phil Rodgers and Geoff Hartman.
After personnel changes, they became The Motives in early 1965 and then The Method before changing name to Jeep Rongle in January 1966.
In March 1966, the line-up comprised:
Ron Prior – lead vocals (ex-The Legends)
Roger Tinkler – lead guitar (ex-The Legends)
Glen Curran – bass
Jim Park – drums
Later that year, Glen Curran left to form The Trendbender Band, who later recorded for Decca as Barney J Barnes & The Intro (where he was reunited with Brian Shepherd).
Pete Pentis took over bass and was with the band when they were profiled in January 1967. The group continued to at least July of that year before splitting.
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
