In early March 1966, American soul singer Irma Thomas arrived in England to participate in a nationwide tour organised by Roy Tempest who hired Nottingham band, The Sons of Adam, to back her.

In some of the adverts, the group appears to be listed as The Excitements (or Exciters) unless this was another band that played on some of the tour dates?

The Sons of Adam line-up for the tour was Paddy Flynn (lead guitar), Harry Hopewell (bass), Barry Heald (tenor sax), John Sanderson (tenor sax) and Mick Franks aka Mick Maltby (drums).

The dates below (and band line-up) are listed on the Dungeon Mods website (https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/2020/04/16/life-of-a-local-band/) and from advertised sources. After this tour with Irma Thomas, The Sons of Adam backed Screaming Jay Hawkins on a handful of gigs.

4 March 1966 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, Bishopsgate, east London (Melody Maker) Doubtful this happened even though it was advertised

Morning and afternoon rehearsals took place at the Roebuck on Tottenham Court Road. Apparently, The Sons of Adam had to wait until Stevie Wonder had finished rehearsing before starting tour preparations with Irma Thomas and were introduced to him by Thomas. Evening rehearsals took place at the Titanine Sports & Social Club in Colindale.

11 March 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Roscoe Brown Combo (https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/2020/04/16/life-of-a-local-band/)

11 March 1966 – Club West Indies, Stonebridge Park, Harlesden, northwest London (Melody Maker)

11 March 1966 – Cue Club all-nighter, Paddington, west London with The Jet Set (Melody Maker)

12 March 1966 – Dungeon, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

13 March 1966 – Gainsborough Club, Salford, Greater Manchester and the Riverboat Club, Manchester (https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/2020/04/16/life-of-a-local-band/)

14 March 1966 – 1pm recording for Scene at 6.30 for Granada TV in Manchester (https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/2020/04/16/life-of-a-local-band/)

14 March 1966 – The Penthouse, Birmingham with The Fabulous Creseendoes (Birmingham Evening Mail/Concert ticket)

17 March 1966 – Irma Thomas and the band did a sound balance for ITV’s Ready Steady Go at 12.30pm (https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/2020/04/16/life-of-a-local-band/)

17 March 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Excitements (Melody Maker). In the early hours Irma Thomas and The Sons of Adam played the Scotch of St James in Mayfair on an all-nighter.

18 March 1966 – ITV’s Ready Steady Go at 12.30pm and Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Ralph Denyer’s Rockhouse Band at 7pm (Melody Maker) From midnight Irma Thomas and The Sons of Adam played the El Partido in Lewisham, southeast London on an all-nighter.

19 March 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

19 March 1966 – Twisted Wheel, Manchester (late session) with Wilson Pickett (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

20 March 1966 – Roaring ‘20s, Carnaby Street, Soho, central London with The Powerhouse Six, The Excitements and Duke Lee (Melody Maker/Poster)

23 March 1966 – Catacombe Club, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Melody Maker)

24 March 1966 – The Rialto, Derby with The Sidewinders and The Tommy Owen Quintet (Derby Evening Telegraph) This was reviewed in the press

24 March 1966 – The Penthouse, Birmingham (Birmingham Evening Mail)

25 March 1966 – Canterbury Union Ball, Eliot College, Kent University, Canterbury, Kent with Manfred Mann and full supporting groups (InCant /Melody Maker/Poster)

25 March 1966 – New All-Star Club, Artillery Passage, Bishopsgate, east London (Melody Maker)

26 March 1966 – Caribbean All Star Club, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with The Excitements (Sheffield Star) The Sons of Adam gigs also list a second show at the King Mojo in Sheffield.

27 March 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Chessmen (Melody Maker)

In an interview for The Guardian from May 2025 (https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/may/26/irma-thomas-galactic-soul-queen-new-orleans), Thomas talked about how badly organised the tour was and explained how she lost 15lbs and her voice for three months.

“I had no one looking after things for me and found myself singing night after night – and some matinees – for around three weeks,” she recalled.

“I had a very basic British backing band and went everywhere in an old van. It was exhausting and debilitating. I was told by a voice doctor that if I ever wanted to sing again, I couldn’t speak for three months. So, I didn’t. Which was really difficult, especially when you have small children.”

27 June 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) Although this was advertised, it is probably a printing error and was actually Rufus Thomas who was touring Britain at the time.