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

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)

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)

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/)

6 August 1966 – Flamenco, Folkestone, Kent (Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)

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)

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)

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)

7 October 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Manchester’s Playboys (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

21 October 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Profile (Melody Maker)

22 October 1966 – Bowes Lyon House, Stevenage with Associates (Welwyn Times)

5 November 1966 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire (Dave Allen research)

11 November 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Trendsetters Limited (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

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/)

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)

1967

27 January 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Army (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

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)

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)

13 October 1967 – Cesar’s Club, Bedford, Bedfordshire (Ampthill News & Flintwick Record)

1968

1-6 April 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Poster at Jonathan Marks’ website: https://imgur.com/a/sWtBd#0)

8-13 April 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Poster at Jonathan Marks’ website: https://imgur.com/a/sWtBd#0)

According to Melody Maker, as soon as the Hatchetts gigs were done, James Royal flew to Italy on 16 April for TV shows

Mick Stewart joins on guitar around this time after leaving Hamilton & The Hamilton Movement

13 May 1968 – Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham with Johnny Cash, June Carter and Carl Perkins & Tennessee 3 (Birmingham Evening Mail)

When the band splits, Stewart later joins The Sweet while May hooks up with The Bluesville Soul Band, who later become Orange Rainbow. 

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.