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.
Jim Park later worked with The All Night Workers and The Kool.
Selected gigs
14 July 1966 – Roundhead Club, Staines, Middlesex (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)
24 December 1966 – White Hart, Southall, west London (Harrow Observer)
7 January 1967 – White Hart, Southall, west London (Harrow Observer)
20 January 1967 – White Hart, Southall, west London (Harrow Observer)
28 January 1967 – White Hart, Southall, west London (Harrow Observer)
17 February 1967 – White Hart, Southall, west London (Harrow Observer)
25 February 1967 – White Hart, Southall, west London (Harrow Observer)
17 March 1967 – White Hart, Southall, west London (Harrow Observer)
23 April 1967 – Twilight Zone, Duke’s Head, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)
4 June 1967 – Twilight Zone, Duke’s Head, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)
22 March 1968 – Inn Club, Hampton Wick, Middlesex (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
26 July 1968 – Apple Tree Club, Kingston Hotel, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
2 August 1968 – Apple Tree Club, Kingston Hotel, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
17 August 1968 – Excel Bowl, Tolworth, Surrey (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
16 November 1968 – Excel Bowl, Tolworth, Surrey (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
6 December 1968 – Excel Bowl, Tolworth, Surrey (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
3 January 1969 – Excel Bowl, Tolworth, Surrey (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
25 January 1969 – Burway Rowing Club, Christchurch Hall, Staines, Middlesex (Staines and Egham News)
I’d be interested to hear from anyone who can add more about the group’s story
When I worked for IBM Head Office located in Gunnersbury I booked this band in 1968 for the IBM football team fund raiser. They were very good, very professional and played well beyond closing time because everyone was having a great time and enjoyed their music. Often wondered what happened to them and thought they would go one to be very popular
Their cost for the night was around 7 or 8 pounds.
Thanks Jack. None of the band have got in touch so I can’t confirm the line up during this time.
I recently came across the autographs of Alan Welch,( pencil) Glenn Curran (red pen)and Brian shepherd,(blue pen) all on very thin paper and stuck onto an blue card- probably taken from an autograph book contemporary to their ‘Jeep Rongle’ days
On the other side on the actual blue paper is an autograph with I am trying to identify- it is likely from a group member of another band early 60’s
it reads- ‘Best wishes, Terry of the A….. ( I cant make the rest out could be something like actions.would be willing to send an image if it helps
I found this article very interesting as I was married to Jim Park in 1965 and we had 3 children. Jim was a great drummer, ahead of his time. He was in Group4 when I met him, they used to practice at the youth club in Tothill Street Staines. He auditioned and got the job for Cyril Davies band but sadly Cyril Davies died so that never happened. He also auditioned on Eel Pie island but I can’t remember for which band. Such fond memories of that era – Staines, london, Richmond and Windsor.
My father was also a drummer from Staines and used to hold dances at the Staines town hall and Petters amongst many others – Derrick Dawson Band
Hi Lynn
I am assuming that when you talk about Jim in the past tense, he’s sadly no longer with us? Do you remember what he did after Jeep Rongle? I have him also playing with The All Night Workers but not sure about the time frame and then in 1969 he also worked with the Kool (see entry on this site); there’s a photo of him.
Nick
PS the name Jeep Rongle was a mixture of all their names. A friend left their flyer all over london which is how the Melody Maker wrote “who the hell are Jeep Rongke” on their front page. Wished I had a copy of that!!
Here is that Melody Maker:
https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Melody-Maker-IDX/IDX/60s/Melody-Maker-1966-0305-IDX-2.pdf
Thank you for the Melody Maker picture! Jim did play for The Kool and The All Night Workers (I’m still in touch with them). Jim freelanced after these bands and sadly died in 2007.