Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on. I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.
I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com
Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.
Mike Berry – lead vocals
Billy Kuy – lead guitar
Colin Giffin – rhythm guitar
Dave Brown – bass
Don Groom – drums
Image may be subject to copyright
1963
13 April 1963 – Coronation Hall, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey with The Avengers and The Corvettes (Surrey Comet)
28 April 1963 – Essoldo, Brighton, West Sussex with John Leyton, Mike Sarne, Jet Harris and Tony Meehan, Billie Davis, Duffy Power, Grazina, Billy Boyle, Don Spencer, The X-L Five and Dick Ford (Evening Argus)
Image may be subject to copyright
16 June 1963 – Blue Moon, Hayes, Middlesex (Uxbridge Post)
7 September 1963 – Fairfield Hall, Croydon, Surrey with The Beatles and Pat Dane & The Quiet Five (Chris Broom book: Rockin’ and Around Croydon)
2 October 1963 – Bristol Corn Exchange, Bristol (Western Scene)
11 October 1963 – Farnborough Youth Council, Farnborough, Hampshire with Phil Ryan & The Stormsville Shakers (Aldershot News)
Image may be subject to copyright
22 October 1963 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with The Lonely Ones (Surrey Advertiser)
21 November 1963 – Majestic Ballroom, Luton, Bedfordshire (Luton News)
22 November 1963 – Winchester Lido, Winchester, Hampshire with The Strangers (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)
11 January 1964 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk with Vicky Lee & The LA Hucklebugs (Lynn News)
18 January 1964 – Colchester Odeon, Colchester, Essex with The Rolling Stones, John Leyton, Mike Sarne, The Swinging Blue Jeans, Don Spencer, Billy Boyle, Billie Davis & The Leroys and Jet Harris (Essex Chronicle)
1 February 1964 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with The Sabres (Evening Argus)
8 February 1964 – Granada, Edmonton, Middlesex with The Rolling Stones, John Leyton, Jet Harris, Mike Sarne, Billie Davis & The Leroys and Don Spencer (Tottenham Weekly Herald)
14 March 1964 – Palace Dance Hall, Pier Hill, Southend, Essex with The Confederates (Southend Standard & Essex Weekly Advertiser)
15 March 1964 – Plaza Ballroom, Newbury, Berkshire with Ricky & His Gamblers (Newbury Weekly News)
21 March 1964 – Borough Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks with Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs (website: http://aylesburymusictown.co.uk/)
28 March 1964 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Mike Sheridan & The Nightriders, Rel Jason & The Blue Stars and Johnny Kaye & The Cossacks (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
25 April 1964 – Luton Odeon, Luton, Bedfordshire with The Rolling Stones, Mike Sarne, Heinz, Jet Harris and Billie Davis & The Leroys (Luton News)
10 May 1964 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with Johnny Anger & His Wild Ones (Aldershot News)
16 May 1964 – Regal, Edmonton, Middlesex with The Rolling Stones, Peter & Gordon, Heinz, Jet Harris and Billie Davis & The Leroys (Tottenham Weekly Herald)
Image may be subject to copyright
23 May 1964 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, London with two supporting groups (Leyton and Leytonstone Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)
24 July 1964 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with The Pitmen (Evening Argus)
Image may be subject to copyright
15 August 1964 – Top Spot, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire (Gloucester Citizen)
23 August 1964 – Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with The Migil Five, The Redcaps and The Matadors (Eastern Evening News)
Image may be subject to copyright
1 September 1964 – Theatre Royal, King’s Lynn, Norfolk with The Swinging Blue Jeans, The Mersey Monsters, The Band of Angels, The Cockneys and Danny Eves & The Strollers (Eastern Evening News/Lynn News)
8 September 1964 – Colchester Odeon, Colchester, Essex with The Rolling Stones, The Mojos, Simon Scott & The Le Roys and Inez and Charlie Foxx (Essex Chronicle/Essex County Standard)
Image may be subject to copyright
10 September 1964 – Odeon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire with The Rolling Stones, Inez & Charlie Foxx, Simon Scott & The Le Roys and The Mojos (Gloucester Citizen)
3 October 1964 – Royal Edmonton, Edmonton, Middlesex with The Rolling Stones, The Mojos, Simon Scott & The Leroys and Inez and Charlie Foxx (Leyton and Leytonstone Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)
Image may be subject to copyright
8 October 1964 – Lewisham Odeon, Lewisham, southeast London with The Rolling Stones, The Mojos, Charlie & Inez Foxx and Simon Scott & The Leroys (South East London Mercury)
10 October 1964 – Southend Odeon, Southend, Essex with The Rolling Stones, The Mojos, Charlie & Inez Foxx and Simon Scott & The Leroys (Southend Standard and Essex Weekly Advertiser)
24 October 1964 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Blobs (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
3 November 1964 – Guildhall, Plymouth, Devon with The Merseybeats, The Harlequins and The Hunters (Herald Express)
7 November 1964 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Faires (Lincolnshire Standard)
Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on. I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.
I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com
Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.
DAVE CURTISS & THE TREMORS:
According to the Kentish Mercury, Dave Curtiss & The Tremors were formed in April 1962
1963
4 May 1963 – Gaiety Ballroom, Ramsey, Cambridgeshire (Cambridgeshire Times)
24 October 1963 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Dave Oades Orchestra (Aldershot News)
14 November 1963 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Chris Allen Combo (Aldershot News)
10 December 1963 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
15 December 1963 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Plymouth Sounds (Aldershot News)
24 December 1963 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Russ Sainty & The Nu Notes and Danny & The Torinos (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
1964
Photo: Boyfriend magazine, 18 January 1964
7 January 1964 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
16 January 1964 – Gig in Hatfield, Herts (Beat Monthly)
17 January 1964 – Winchester Lido, Winchester, Hampshire with Daniel Boone & The Emeralds (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)
18 January 1964 – Gig in Maidstone, Kent (Beat Monthly)
24 January 1964 – Gig in Leicester (Beat Monthly)
26 January 1964 – Gig in Hornchurch (Beat Monthly)
31 January 1964 – Gig in King’s Langley (Beat Monthly)
1 February 1964 – Gig in Whetstone (Beat Monthly)
2 February 1964 – Gig in Margate, Kent (Beat Monthly)
5 February 1964 – Gig in Hitchin, Herts (Beat Monthly)
6 February 1964 – Gig in Stevenage, Herts (Beat Monthly)
8 February 1964 – Gig in Tunbridge Wells, Kent (Beat Monthly)
9 February 1964 – Gig in Southall, Middlesex (probably Southall Community Centre) (Beat Monthly)
14 February 1964 – Gig in Fawley (Beat Monthly)
15 February 1964 – Gig in Stoke, Staffordshire (Beat Monthly)
20 February 1964 – Gig in Durrington (Beat Monthly)
21 February 1964 – Gig in Gillingham, Dorset (Beat Monthly)
23 February 1964 – Gig in Mudeford (Beat Monthly)
25 February 1964 – Gig in Sidcup (Beat Monthly)
26 February 1964 – Gig in Catford (Beat Monthly)
27 February 1964 – Gig in Hatfield, Herts (Beat Monthly)
28 February 1964 – Gig in Leeds, West Yorkshire (Beat Monthly)
29 February 1964 – Gig in Leicester (Beat Monthly)
1 March 1964 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Condors (Aldershot News)
6 March 1964 – Gig in Milford Haven, Wales (Beat Monthly)
8 March 1964 –Gig in Southsea, Hants (Beat Monthly)
13 March 1964 – Gig in Yeovil, Somerset (Beat Monthly)
14 March 1964 – Gig in Gillingham (Beat Monthly)
15 March 1964 – Gig in Luton, Bedfordshire (Beat Monthly)
30 March 1964 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with Shane Fenton & The Fentons and The Druids (Essex Chronicle/Essex County Standard)
4 April 1964 – Harpenden Public Hall, Harpenden, Herts with The Planets (Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)
18 April 1964 – Colchester Odeon, Colchester, Essex with Adam Faith & The Roulettes, The Searchers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Eden Kane, The Undertakers and Lorraine Gray (Essex Chronicle/Essex County Standard)
30 May 1964 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Plus Four featuring Erkey Grant and Ian Taylor & The Condors (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
14 June 1964 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Rock-A-Fellows (Aldershot News)
2 August 1964 – Cromer Olympia, Cromer, Norfolk with Garry Freeman & Th Contours (North Norfolk News)
5 August 1964 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)
7 August 1964 – Attic Club, 1a High Street, Hounslow, Middlesex with The Fanatics (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
15 August 1964 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with Phil & The Stormsville Shakers (Surrey Advertiser)
22 August 1964 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with The Fairies (formerly The Deepbeats) (Essex County Standard)
27 August 1964 – Majestic Ballroom, Luton, Bedfordshire (Luton News)
29 August 1964 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Chaos & Co (East Kent Times & Mail)
10 October 1964 – Ballito, St Albans, Herts with The Original Hustlers (Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)
23 October 1964 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with John Barry Seven and The Firing Squad (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
28 October 1964 – Locarno, Stevenage, Herts with Johnny Flood & The Trespassers (Hertfordshire Express)
30 October 1964 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website)
Charlie Harrington on drumsBarry Elam sent in the photos of his band the Specters, and wrote the following about the group:
The Specters from Kirksville, Missouri were active from 1967-1972. They were a popular band in Northeast Missouri and played many area dances, fraternity parties at Truman State University, and private events. The band’s material covered originals as well as top hits of the day.
Band members were Randy Crowder on vocals and guitar, Barry Elam guitar, Randy Grissom bass and vocals, and Charlie Harrington, drums.
The Specters did not release any records but we were friends with another local band that did, Friar Tuck and The Merry Men. My original guitar teacher was Bud Porter who was the lead guitarist for Friar Tuck. They had a regional hit called “Peanut Butter” on Sherwood Forest Records, released in 1966.
Here’s an excerpt of an alternate version of Baker Knight’s original “Are You Satisfied Now”.
The Reprise single version of “Are You Satisfied Now” has horns, a female chorus, a completely different band and a smoother vocal from Baker. It was the b-side of “The Verge Of Success”, Knight’s seventh and last release on Reprise Records from April, 1968. That version was produced by Jimmy Bowen.
This demo definitely comes from an earlier session, I’d guess around 1966 given the folk-rock backing and grittier vocal. Although this demo lists Hill & Range publishing, by the time Knight registered the song in 1968 that had changed to Smooth Music / Noma Music as it is on the single. In fact I don’t find any evidence of Baker publishing through Hill & Range during the mid-60s.
I only wish Knight would stop singing long enough for a guitar break, but he had plenty of lyrics to get through.
This 8″ lacquer was cut at Stereo Masters Co. on Melrose.
Along a scenic mountain parkway stretch of I-65 heading south, past Bowling Green and just north of the Tennessee border, in a tiny Kentucky town called Mundfordville, in Hart County, tucked on the hill above the moving Green River, a group of teenage boys formed a band in the winter of ’65.
Hearing the happening mid-sixties sounds of the Byrds, the Animals, the Beatles and the Stones, these boys got stars in their eyes and took up instruments, calling themselves December’s Children, named after the cold season upon them.
The members were:
Mike ‘Hoot’ Gibson / guitar, vox (Gibson ES 330)
Sam Goodman / lead guitar, fuzz ( Fender Telecaster)
Clint Nickols / bass (Fender)
Mike Rife / drums, vox
Honing their skills and gaining local popularity in Munfordville at the town’s teen club called ‘The Nightmare’ – the group of high school boys shortened their name to ‘The Children’ and went on to play Hart County ‘courthouse fairs’, gigs in nearby Glasgow and also competed in the State Fair in Louisville about an hour north.
With a solid high school fan base and local support, the community was pushing them to make a record. By 1968, the members were all seniors and would graduate that following summer- all except Sam who was already a few years older and had his own wheels. The band had about 50 cover songs in the pocket, mostly dialed in on current rock radio hits of the day.
Disappearing to the parent’s basement, Mike and Sam penned two original songs that year and a recording session was appointed at Atwell Studio about an hour and a half’s drive south in Lafayette, Tennessee. The band loaded their gear in Sam’s car and excitedly roared down the road. The resulting session yielded two amazing tracks, done in one take that summer of ’68.
“I Long To See Her” b/w “Lost Soul Seeker In the Rain” was released later that year on the Atwell label and was issued with a simple picture sleeve of the band with a portrait that was made in a small photography studio along the way in Glasgow. It is not known how many copies of the record were pressed. Sources say that Lorne Atwell would often only have 100 run pressings done of the secular groups that came through the door, as Atwell was mostly a gospel/country label. The group never had any other draft or sketch of another original song, but stayed active as the Children until around ’72. Nonetheless, the two sides made for Atwell that summer have forever set them in garage punk unknown history stone.
The Children in December 1968, from the 1969 Hart County High School yearbook
Mike Gibson still lives in Mundfordville and continues to write and perform contemporary christian music. Many thanks to him for sharing his memories of the band from which this article was produced and for the photo from the class of ’69 Hart Co. High School yearbook that shows the band in action (Christmas of ’68).
Mike Rife died in Mundfordville in 2011.
The other band members are still residing in Kentucky, and were unable to be contacted for this article.
Extra special thanks to John Freeman, mayor of Mundforville for sharing his memories, sourcing the record and arranging the interview with Hoot.
Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on. I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.
I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com
Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.
IVAN SINCLAIR & THE SYSTEM SOUL BAND:
Ivan Sinclair – lead vocals
Mike Piggott – lead guitar/violin
Bob Holt – bass (replaced by Kevin McCarthy)
Jim Hawkins – keyboards
Bill ? – saxophone
Chas Cheetham – saxophone
Mike ‘Shippy’ Shopland – drums
The band go ‘psychedelic’ in late 1967. With a photographer making up the numbers in the band’s line-up
23 April 1966 – La Bamba, Tunbridge Wells, Kent with John Brown’s Bodies (Kent & Sussex Chronicle) Billed as The System Soul Band
17 June 1966 – Harvest Moon, Guildford, Surrey with The Triffiks (Surrey Advertiser) Billed as The System Soul Band
24 December 1966 – Harvest Moon, Guildford, Surrey with The Inspiration and Shotgun Wooley Walker and Mick Bradford (Surrey Advertiser) Billed as The System Soul Band
18 March 1967 – New Dungeon Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post) Billed As System Soul Band
8 April 1967 – Crawdaddy, Casino Ballroom, Taggs Island, Hampton Court, Middlesex (Melody Maker) Billed as The System Soul Band
16 April 1967 – Crawdaddy, Casino Ballroom, Taggs Island, Hampton Court, Middlesex (Melody Maker) Billed as The System Soul Band
10 June 1967 – Nautilus Club, Lowestoft, Suffolk with Pink Floyd (Mike Piggott memories)
13 June 1967 – Norwich Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk with The Gods (Eastern Evening News)
1 July 1967 – Flamenco Club, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)
8 July 1967 – The Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle) Billed as St Claire Soul Band
9 December 1967 – Pink Flamingo, Soho, London with Calgary Stampede and The Scorpions (Melody Maker) Billed as Ivan St Clair & The System
16 December 1967 – Sheridan Rooms, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire with The Lucky Four (Huddersfield Daily Examiner)
22 December 1967 – Locarno, Basildon, Essex with The Moody Blues and Marmalade (Southend Standard) Billed as Ivan St Clair & The System Soul Band
30 December 1967 – Pink Flamingo, Soho, London with Dr Marigold’s Perscription and Alan Clark Show with Cleo (Melody Maker) Billed as Ivan St Clair & The Soul System
In early May 1968, Piggott joined Junior’s Conquests
Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on. I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.
I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com
Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.
ROBERT PLANT & THE BAND OF JOY:
Robert Plant – lead vocals
Chris Brown – keyboards/vocals
Vernon Pereira – lead guitar/vocals
Lyndon Laney – bass
Pete Robinson – drums
14 April 1967 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
15 April 1967 – Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
21 April 1967 – Morgue, Bearwood, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
24 April 1967 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
26 April 1967 – Casa Fiesta Disco, Crown, Stourport, Worcestershire (John Combe book) Not in Barber’s book
3 May 1967 – Cedar Club, Birmingham with Denny Laine’s Electric String Band (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
6 May 1967 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
10 May 1967 – Cedar Club, Birmingham with Denny Laine’s Electric String Band (Birmingham Evening Mail)
15 May 1967 – Cedar Club, Birmingham, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
16 May 1967 – Frank Freeman’s, Kidderminster, Worcestershire with Jimmy Cliff & The Shakedown Sound (Kidderminster Times & Stourport News)
19 May 1967 – Frank Freeman’s, Kidderminster, Worcestershire with Jimmy Cliff & The Shakedown Sound (John Combe book) Not in Barber’s book
19 May 1967 – Bolero, Wednesbury, West Midlands (Express & Star) Not in Barber’s book
Image may be subject to copyright
20 May 1967 – Co-op Hall, Worcester, Worcestershire (Worcester Evening News) Not in Barber’s book
22 May 1967 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands with The Omen (Express & Star)
27 May 1967 – Hen and Chickens, Langley, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
Image may be subject to copyright
31 May 1967 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with full supporting group (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
31 May 1967 – Bilston Town Hall, Bilston, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
5 June 1967 – Club Cedar, Birmingham with The Warren Davis Monday Band and Edwin Starr (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
10 June 1967 – Bilston Town Hall, Bilston, West Midlands with Shooting Stars (Express & Star)
18 June 1967 – Frank Freeman’s, Kidderminster, Worcestershire with Whisky Mac (Kidderminster Times & Stourport News)
Image may be subject to copyright
22 June 1967 – Black Horse, Kidderminster, Worcestershire (Kidderminster & Stourport News)
25 June 1967 – Ship & Rainbow, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Track (Express & Star) Not in Barber’s book
3 July 1967 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
4 July 1967 – Malvern Hippie Festival, Malvern, Worcestershire (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
Image may be subject to copyright
14 July 1967 – Higham Ferres New WMC, Higham, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
16 July 1967 – Le Metro, Birmingham, West Midlands (Express & Star)
Image may be subject to copyright
18 July 1967 – Chalet Country Club, Rednal, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
22 July 1967 – Malvern Winter Gardens, Malvern, Worcestershire with Derek Bruce & His Show Band (Worcester Evening News) Not in Barber’s book
23 July 1967 – Ship & Rainbow, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Shooting Stars (Express & Star)
Image may be subject to copyright
24 July 1967 – Mercers Arms, Coventry, West Midlands (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
26 July 1967 – Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
Image may be subject to copyright
28 July 1967 – The County Arms, Blaby, Leicestershire (Leicester Mercury)
29 July 1967 – Black Horse, Northfield, Birmingham (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
30 July 1967 – Gig in Coventry (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy) Final gig by the first version according to Barber.
Pereira, Brown and Robinson formed a rival, second version while Plant put together another line-up together with members from Wolverhampton band, Paper. On 1 October, Pereira’s version had to change name to The Good Egg (Harry Barber)
Robert Plant – lead vocals
John Elston – lead guitar
Dave Evans – rhythm guitar
Pete Bowen – bass
Steve Taylor – drums
Image may be subject to copyright
5 August 1967 – Hen & Chickens, Langley, West Midlands with The UK Bonds (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
6 August 1967 – Tudor Club, Craven Arms, Coventry, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
12 August 1967 – Clouds, Derby, Derbyshire (Derby Evening Telegraph) Not in Barber’s book
Thanks to Jake Beatson for the photo and confirmation
14 August 1967 – Town Hall, Pitlochry, Scotland with The Rite Tyme (Fabulous 208/Concert advert)
15 August 1967 – Palace Ballroom, Aberdeen, Scotland with The Rite Tyme (Aberdeen Evening Express)
16 August 1967 – Douglas Ballroom, Aberdeen, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
17 August 1967 – Caledonian Hotel, Inverness, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
18 August 1967 – Victoria Hall, Dunblane, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
19 August 1967 – Ritz Club, Skewen, Wales with The Clockwork Motion (Port Talbot Guardian)
19 August 1967 – Empire Ballroom, Neath, Wales with Barnaby’s Vision (Port Talbot Guardian)
24 August 1967 – Palais De Danse, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (Fabulous 208
25 August 1967 – Severn Club, Shrewsbury, Shropshire (Fabulous 208)
25 August 1967 – Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Montanas, The Staffords and Maddening Crowd (Express & Star)
26 August 1967 – Town Hall, Oxford, Oxfordshire (Fabulous 208)
27 August 1967 – Ritz Ballroom, King’s Heath, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)
27 August 1967 – Plaza Ballroom, Handsworth, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)
28 August 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208)
Image may be subject to copyright
28 August 1967 – Cofton Club, Rednal, West Midlands with Pesky G and Group Therapy (Birmingham Evening Mail/Redditch Indicator) Not in Barber’s book
30 August 1967 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)
1 September 1967 – Cofton Country Club, Cofton, West Midlands with Virus (Birmingham Evening Mail/Redditch Indicator)
Image may be subject to copyright
2 September 1967 – Penthouse, Birmingham with Delroy Good-Good Band (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
Record Mirror from 2 September 1967, page 10 has a picture and story on the band
Photo: Record Mirror. Image may be subject to copyright
3 September 1967 – Cavalier Club, Warwick, Warwickshire (Fabulous 208)
4 September 1967 – Queen’s Ballroom, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Express & Star)
7 September 1967 – Ritz Ballroom, Hereford, Herefordshire (Fabulous 208)
8 September 1967 – Yeoman Club, Stafford, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208)
9 September 1967 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire (Fabulous 208)
10 September 1967 – Olympia Ballroom, Cromer, Norfolk (Fabulous 208)
Image may be subject to copyright
10 September 1967 – Swan, Yardley, West Midlands with The Flowers (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
19 September 1967 – Empire Ballroom, Neath, Wales (Fabulous 208)
20 September 1967 – Cofton Country Club, Rednal, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)
21 September 1967 – Ringway Club, Birmingham (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
22 September 1967 – Town Hall, Kendal, Cumbria (Fabulous 208)
23 September 1967 – Majestic Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)
25 September 1967 – Magpie Club, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)
30 September 1967 – 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon (Fabulous 208)
1 October 1967 – Country Club, Warmingham, Cheshire (Fabulous 208)
2 October 1967 – Magpie Club, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)
3 October 1967 – Jazz Cellar, South Shields, Tyne & Wear (Fabulous 208)
4 October 1967 – Ice Rink, Ayr, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
5 October 1967 – Naval Base, Arbroath, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
6 October 1967 – Victoria Hall, Selkirk, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
7 October 1967 – Miners’ Welfare Institute, Kirconnel, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
8 October 1967 – Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
9 October 1967 – Burma Ballroom, Kirkcaldy, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
11 October 1967 – Mr Magoos, Edinburgh, Scotland (Fabulous 208)
13 October 1967 – Queen’s Hall, Barnstaple, Devon (Fabulous 208)
14 October 1967 – Penthouse Club, Birmingham with Ray King Soul Band and Haig and Al Capone (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
14 October 1967 – Bent-Jade Club, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)
15 October 1967 – Crofton Club, Rednal, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)
Image may be subject to copyrightImage may be subject to copyright
The Birmingham Evening Mail from 18 October 1967, page 3 has a story and picture on Robert Plant
19 October 1967 – Penthouse Club, Birmingham with Haig and Al Capone (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
Image may be subject to copyright
21 October 1967 – Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208)
22 October 1967 – Penthouse Club, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)
22 October 1967 – Cofton Club, Rednal, West Midlands with Candy Stripes (Redditch Indicator) Barber says the group then embarked on a Scottish tour
In early November 1967, Fabulous 208 says Robert Plant offered his group’s services free of charge to the Chinese Charge D’Affairs
Robert Plant – lead vocals
Kevyn Gammond – lead guitar/vocals
Paul Lockey – bass/vocals
Chris Brown – keyboards
Paul Brittle – drums (soon replaced by John Bonham ex-Way ofLife)
3 November 1967 – Winter Gardens, Penzance, Cornwall with The Atlantic Rollers (Fabulous 208/West Briton & Royal Cornish Gazette)
Image may be subject to copyright
4 November 1967 – Blue Lagoon, Newquay, Cornwall with The Atlantic Rollers (Cornish Guardian) Not in Barber’s book
5 November 1967 – Tabernacle, Stockport, Greater Manchester (Fabulous 208)
19 November 1967 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Cresters (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book) Not in Barber’s book
20 November 1967 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands with The Good Egg (Express & Star) Not in Barber’s book
23 November 1967 – Plaza Ballroom, Handsworth, West Midlands with Felice Taylor and The League of Gentlemen (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy/Birmingham Evening Mail)
23 November 1967 – Penthouse Club, Birmingham with Felice Taylor and The League of Gentlemen (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy/Birmingham Evening Mail)
Image may be subject to copyright
24 November 1967 – BSA Ballroom, Small Health, Birmingham with John Street (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy/Birmingham Evening Mail)
Photo from David Rigg
26 November 1967 – Cosmo, Carlisle, Cumbria with Amber World (Cumberland News)
3 December 1967 – Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline, Scotland (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
6 December 1967 – Steering Wheel, Weymouth, Dorset (Dorset Evening Echo) Not in Barber’s book
Image may be subject to copyright
8 December 1967 – Steering Wheel, Dorchester, Dorset with The Question Marks (Dorset Evening Echo) Not in Barber’s book
Image may be subject to copyright
9 December 1967 – 400 Ballroom, Torquay, Devon (Herald Express) Not in Barber’s book
12 December 1967 – Ritz Ballroom, Bournemouth, Dorset (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
14 December 1967 – Technical College, Kidderminster, Worcestershire (Fabulous 208)
15 December 1967 – Technical College, Basingstoke, Hampshire (Fabulous 208)
16 December 1967 – Southampton College of Art, Southampton, Hampshire (Fabulous 208)
19 December 1967 – Sibyllas, Swallow Street, London (Fabulous 208) Not in Barber’s book
21 December 1967 – Blue Horizon Club, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)
22 December 1967 – St Michael’s Hall, Oxford (Fabulous 208)
23 December 1967 – Penthouse, Birmingham with The Troggs (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
23 December 1967 – Ritz, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)
Image may be subject to copyright
24 December 1967 – Cofton Club, Rednal, West Midlands with Nu-2-U (Redditch Indicator) Barber’s book says this was 23 December
24 December 1967 – Penthouse, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)
26 December 1967 – Frank Freeman’s, Kidderminster, Worcestershire (John Combe book) Not in Barber’s book
30 December 1967 – Time and Place Club, Manchester (Fabulous 208)
31 December 1967 – Mercer’s Arms, Coventry, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)
1968
1 January 1968 – Corn Exchange, Bristol (Fabulous 208)
5-6 January 1968 – Purple Fez Club, Plymouth, Devon (Fabulous 208) Not in Barber’s book
Image may be subject to copyright
6 January 1968 – Newtongrange Insitute, Newtongrange, Scotland with Pang Projection (South Midlothian Advertiser)
7 January 1968 – Warmingham Country Club, Warmingham, Cheshire (Fabulous 208) Not in Barber’s book
20 January 1968 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, London (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
26 January 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
26 January 1968 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, London with Fairport Convention, Pegasus and The Flute Girl (Melody Maker)
27 January 1968 – Majestic, Wellington, Somerset (Fabulous 208) Not in Barber’s book
28 January 1968 – Fresco’s Club, Birmingham (Fabulous 208)
29 January 1968 – Broadway Club, Dudley Zoo, West Midlands with Jo Jo Cooke & The Racket (Express & Star) Not in Barber’s book
2 February 1968 – Westfield Tech College, West Ham, London (Fabulous 208)
3 February 1968 – Paddington Tech College, Paddington, London (Fabulous 208)
8 February 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with Edwin Starr (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live) Barber’s book says they played Speakeasy on this day but unlikely
11 February 1968 – Nottingham Boat Club, Nottingham (Down at the Boat book)
30 March 1968 – Ewell College, Ewell, Surrey with Herbie Goins & The Nightimers (Melody Maker) Not in Barber’s book
Image may be subject to copyright
5 April 1968 – Bolero, Wednesbury, West Midlands (Express & Star) Not in Barber’s book
12 April 1968 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands with Erskene T Sound Specials (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
12 April 1968 – Back Room Shanty, Erdington, West Midlands (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
Image may be subject to copyright
19 April 1968 – Impsella Club, Chateau Impney, Droitwich, Worcestershire (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
Image may be subject to copyright
5 May 1968 – South Bank, Grimsby (Grimsby Evening Telegraph) Not in Barber’s book
17 May 1968 – Bolero, Wednesbury, West Midlands (Express & Star)
25 May 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Raid (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday) Not in Barber’s book
28 May 1968 – RAF Sleaford, Lincolnshire (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
29 May 1968 – Acorn Hotel, Erdington, West Midlands with Maddening Crowd (Birmingham Evening Mail) Not in Barber’s book
30 May 1968 – Quay Club, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Harry Barber’s book, The Band of Joy)
Robert Plant – lead vocals
John Hill – lead guitar
Mick Strode – bass/vocals
John Bonham – drums
According to Harry Barber’s book, this line-up did a last Scottish tour around early June and then Bonham left to join Tim Rose. A final line-up came together and may be responsible for the gig below (or it could be Plant and Bonham’s version)
Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on. I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.
I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com
Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.
James Royal (real name: James Nairn) (vocals)
Micky King (guitar)
Terry Goldberg (keyboards)
John Savage (bass)
Terry Mabey (drums)
1966
Photo may be subject to copyright
5 February 1966 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Swinging Blue Jeans and The Devil’s Coachmen (Julie Fielder book: What Flo Said Next/North Norfolk News)
9 April 1966 – Norwich venue, Norwich, Norfolk with The Amboy Dukes (Eastern Evening News)
11 April 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, London with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
Photo may be subject to copyright
23 April 1966 – Harpenden Public Hall, Harpenden, Hertfordshire with Johnny Haven & The Just Five (Luton News/Welwyn Advertiser)
29 April 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire (Dave Allen research)
11 June 1966 – Starlite, Greenford, northwest London with The Ram Jam (Melody Maker)
19 June 1966 – Starlite, Greenford, northwest London with The Soul Agents (Melody Maker)
25 June 1966 – Starlite, Greenford, northwest London with The Emeralds (Melody Maker)
5 July 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Alan Price Set (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
8 July 1966 – Dancing Slipper, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
8 July 1966 – Fiesta Hall, Andover, Hampshire with The Rumours (Andover Advertiser)
16 July 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Quiet Five and Dave & The Strollers (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
22 July 1966 – Dancing Slipper, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)
Photo may be subject to copyright
23 July 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Paul & Barry Ryan, The Action, Rob Storme & The Whispers and The Ferry Boys (Lincolnshire Standard)
29 July 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
Photo may be subject to copyright
6 August 1966 – Flamenco, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)
Photo may be subject to copyright
8 August 1966 – Atlanta Ballroom, Woking, Surrey (Aldershot News/Camberley News)
10 August 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker)
15 August 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
20 August 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Soul Agents (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
27 August 1966 – Royal Albion Hotel, Walton-on-Naze, Essex with The Wild Oates (Essex County Standard)
3 September 1966 – Galaxy Club, Town Hall, Basingstoke, Hampshire (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)
9 September 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Fadin’ Colours (Melody Maker)
10 September 1966 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough and Eton Express)
19 September 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Alan Bown Set (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
Photo may be subject to copyright
23 September 1966 – Royal Albion Hotel, Walton-on-Naze, Essex (Essex County Standard)
24 September 1966 – Club de Danse, Colchester, Essex (Essex County Standard)
30 September 1966 – Starlite, Greenford, northwest London with Robert Parker (Melody Maker)
Photo may be subject to copyright
1 October 1966 – Co-op Rainbow Suite, Birmingham, West Midlands with The Jimmy Brown Sound (Birmingham Evening Mail)
2 October 1966 – Sunday Club, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)
12 November 1966 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Rockin Berries, The Bo Street Runners and The Charades (Lincolnshire Standard)
19 November 1966 – Shoreline, Bognor Regis, West Sussex and The Ultimate (Melody Maker)
26 November 1966 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with The Principals and The Mistake (Warrington Guardian)
Around now keyboard player Terry May from The Keyes joins.
10 December 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Brox & The Blues Train and The Tender Trap (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
Photo may be subject to copyright
27 December 1966 – Tuesday Club, Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough and Eton Express)
31 December 1966 – Starlite, Greenford, northwest London with The Birds (Melody Maker)
8 February 1967 – Kingsway Theatre, Hadleigh, Essex with Spencer Davis Group, Sounds Incorporated, The Fourmost and The Human Instinct (Essex Chronicle/Southend Standard)
22 March 1967 – Big L Party Night, Upper Cut, Forest Gate, east London with Tuesday’s Children (Melody Maker)
21 April 1967 – Tiger’s Head, Downham, southeast London (South East London Mercury)
4 May 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with The Shell (Melody Maker)
26 May 1967 – Angel Hotel, Blue Beat Club, Godalming, Surrey (Surrey Advertiser)
1 July 1967 – Summer Festival, Welcome Inn, Eltham, southeast London with The Herd and Debonaire (South East London Mercury)
Photo may be subject to copyright
23 July 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker)
31 August 1967 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker)
10 September 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, northwest London with James & Bobby Purify (Melody Maker)
Welcome to another posting of a series of gig listings for 1960s bands. None of these lists is exhaustive and my idea is to add to them in the comments section below over time. They are here for future researchers to draw on. I have also added a few interesting bits of information and will add images in time.
I’d like to encourage band members to get in touch to share memories, or for anyone to send corrections/clarifications to my email: Warchive@aol.com
Equally important, if you attended any of the gigs below or played in the support band, please do leave your memories below in the comments section for future historians to use. If you know of any missing gigs, please add them too, if possible, with the sources.
Jimmy Royal (real name: James Nairn) (vocals)
Micky King (guitar)
John Savage (bass)
Terry Mabey (drums)
Formed after Jimmy Royal had worked with The Skyways, the singer recruited Micky King, who’d spent time with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and Terry Mabey, who’d previously worked with Frankie Reid & The Casuals among others.
1963
11 April 1963 – Fender Club, Kenton, Middlesex with The Barron Knights featuring Duke D’Mond (Harrow Observer)
The Continentals cut two fratty originals, “Rufus Rastas” / “Donna” on Tortoise Records. I found a copy with an inscription on the “Rufus Rastas” label “First copy to Jim McKee, Oct. 12, 1965 … Joe Doll, President, Tortoise Records”.
I wrote to Mr. Doll and he while he didn’t recall Jim McKee, he replied,
I was president (and janitor, too!) of Tortoise Records. I began college at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio in 1963, then transferred to U. of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1966 to complete my Electrical Engineering degree.
I most likely met the Continentals when they were entertaining at one of the numerous fraternity/sorority parties in Delaware. Too bad, I have no recollection or documentation of the band members. I do remember the general parameters of the recording session with The Continentals, at the WSLN studios in Delaware, OH, north of Columbus. I also remember thinking at the time that their “Rufus Rastas” made a pretty good side. I don’t think we did a test pressing, so what you found was probably the top copy in the shipment from the pressing factory.
When it was over, they departed with their box of pressings and we had no further contact.
Tortoise Records was named for the very first band on the label, the Turtles, with their “Pungfoo Watusi” from 1964:
“Pungfoo Watusi” was the not-very-carefully-conceived B side of “Pungfoo”. It was the first record I produced.
“Pungfoo” originated with me and some fraternity brothers fooling around with a piano, sax, and drum set in the parlor of our fraternity house. We whimsically called ourselves Tuggy and the Turtles. The original title and lyric was “Fungu”. It was a made-up word, but someone thought that meant something bad in another language. One unreleased recording is “Fungu” recorded on cheap equipment in the fraternity house.
The record was taped at Fortune Studios in Detroit. I played piano, whistled, and hollered into some sort of trash can. Jim Guiness played saxophone. Our usual drummer, “Tuggy,” could not make it, so we picked up a drummer in Detroit. That’s why the group name is just The Turtles. A couple others assisted with clapping, which I believe we overdubbed.
I had done some work for the [Fortune] studio the previous summer, and they allowed me to use it without charge. I didn’t do a lot of work there, just came in to help them adjust and maintain their equipment from time to time.
Frank Uhle, who took on the project to do a 50th Anniversary re-release of the Beau Biens record, at one time contemplated a vinyl album that would contain some unreleased material. I have about a half hour of covers recorded by the Mark V, a pretty good rock band that played fraternity/sorority parties at Ohio Wesleyan. I recorded them in the WSLN studios, like the Continentals. There was an outfit called the Crystal Set Radio Band for whom I taped several tunes, originals I believe, in the WCBN studios. Ken Phillips, a U of M student, recorded with a small group a couple of tunes he had written and had them pressed as a demo record.
Joe Doll would become a DJ at WCBN at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he would record the Aftermath for Tortoise, and the Beau Biens for Malibu Records. For more info please look at Joe’s website.
Tortoise Records discography:
Tortoise T 64001 – Turtles “Pungfoo” / “Pungfoo Watusi” (both by Joe Doll)
Tortoise T-66003 – Aftermath – “Messing With the Kid” / “Bury My Body” (Campbell, Connelly)
Malibu MB-67001 – Beaubiens (aka Beau Biens) – “Times Passed” (arr. by Salvo & Palazzolo) / “A Man Who’s Lost” (both by Kleene & Tapert, Linnoah Music BMI, produced by Joe Doll). The Beau Biens were Tom Kleene, Don Tapert. Tom Hartkop, Jim Masouras and Rick Fine.
A special thank you to Joe Doll for his help answering my questions and allowing me to quote him.
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
According to the Kentish Mercury, Dave Curtiss & The Tremors were formed in April 1962
IVAN SINCLAIR & THE SYSTEM SOUL BAND:
