Drummer Robert Cromwell Anson (b. 20 October 1940, Sherwood, Nottingham) had played with various jazz bands, including The Don Rendell Quintet before joining The Brian Auger Trinity in July 1963 and working under the name Phil Kinnora.

In August 1964, Anson left to form his own group, The Machine, and adopted a new stage name, Julian Covey. The first line-up of the new formation came together that September.

Over the next three years, Julian Covey & The Machine underwent a staggering number of personnel changes, which often resulted in entirely new formations lasting a handful of months.

One of the first significant musicians to feature in the group’s ranks was Hammond organist Vincent Crane (b. Vincent Rodney Cheesman, 21 May 1943, Reading, Berkshire, d. 14 February 1989), who had previously worked with The Vincent Cheesman Trio, The Simon Magus Band/The Vincent Cheesman Blues Brothers, Lew Hird’s Australian Jazz Band and The Big Sound.

It’s quite possible that Crane was part of the formation when Julian Covey & The Machine made its Marquee debut, opening for The Spencer Davis Group, on 4 May 1965.

Noted jazz sax player Bob Downes (b. 22 July 1937, Plymouth, Devon), who had previously worked with The John Barry Seven, remembers Crane being a member of the band for a while but it is unlikely that the Hammond organist was still on-board when Julian Covey & The Machine travelled to Accra in Ghana and performed a week-long gig in the city.

Crane, of course, would later go on to play with The Crazy World of Arthur Brown and Atomic Rooster after playing with The Word Engine, Vincent Crane’s Freedom Riders and The Vincent Crane Combo in the interim.

Downes meanwhile would also work with The Word Engine before playing with Jimmy Nicol & The Shub Dubs, Chris Andrews and then Dave Antony’s Moods.

Around June 1965, Julian Covey pieced together a new version of The Machine comprising the following:

Julian Covey – drums/vocals

Jim Cregan – lead guitar

Dave Levy – piano

Cliff Barton – bass

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Saxophone player

Cliff Barton (b. 1944, West Ealing, London, d. 16 May 1968) had worked with a host of bands before joining but didn’t stay very long, according to Jim Cregan (b. 9 March 1946, Yeovil, Somerset). Barton’s pedigree included playing with Cyril Davies and The R&B All Stars and Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men. He would join The Alan Price Set on leaving Julian Covey.

Jim Cregan told Jason Barnard at the Strange Brew website that he joined Julian Covey and future Yes bass player Chris Squire for a short trip to Ghana to mark the inauguration of the Ghanaian TV service. The trio supported pianist Ramon Bouche and played on TV a couple of times but did not perform any live gigs. Ghana Today Television, the country’s national public broadcaster, run by the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation commenced operations on 31 July 1965, so the band’s trip to Ghana would have been around this time.

A former member of The Muldoons, Jim Cregan would go on to play with The Ingoes and more significantly Blossom Toes in 1960s among others. He would also become a noted session player during the 1970s.

In October 1965, Covey formed yet another formation of The Machine which included:

John McVie – bass

Stan Marut – Hammond organ

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Geoff Krivit – lead guitar

John McVie (b. 26 November 1945, Ealing, London) had been sacked from John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers for his drinking in early October (his place taken by Jack Bruce initially).

Hammond organist Stan Marut also joined at this time after working with The Jynx Pack. He had previously been a member of Dickie Pride & The Original Topics.

Before the year was out, guitarist Geoff Krivit (b. 1948) who had subbed for Eric Clapton in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers between September-October 1965 joined The Machine briefly. He’d previously played with The Secrets, Jimmy Powell & The Dimensions and The Five Dimensions.

According to the Lancashire Evening Post, the band supported The Shots (who later evolved into The Smoke) at Preston Public Hall on 29 October 1965 alongside Shawn Philips. The following dates opening for The Shots suggest that there may have been a short tour.

7 November 1965 – Belle Vue, Manchester with The Shots and Shawn Phillips (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)

9 November 1965 – Middlesbrough Town Hall, Middlesbrough with The Shots and Shawn Phillips (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)

Marut remembers that The Machine landed a regular Saturday night gig at the Cromwellian during this period.

According to Melody Maker, they played at the Pontiac, Zeeta House, Putney, south west London on 6 November (see below), which took place part of the way through the tour with The Shots.

Shortly after John McVie returned to John Mayall’s band in the first week of January 1966, future Herd drummer Andrew Steele (b. 2 August 1941, Hendon, London, d. 18 April 2005) joined after working with Johnny Halliday. Steele had started out with Gary Farr & The T-Bones and was an old friend of Jim Cregan’s, having played with him in The Muldoons in early 1965.

Geoff Krivit also departed around February 1966 to spend time with Freddie Mack & The Mack Sound before hooking up with Dr K’s Blues Band.

Guitarist Mike Ward and bass player Steve Rance from The Ad-Libs, the house band at Leicester Square club, the Ad-Lib joined at this time. The band then comprised:

Julian Covey – lead vocals

Mike Ward – guitar

Stan Marut – Hammond organ

Steve Rance – bass

Andrew Steele – drums

Marut remembers the band played Peter Stringfellow’s club, the King Mojo in Sheffield and also at the Britannia Boat Club in Nottingham.

Marut also remembers sax player Dave Quincy from Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds used to jam with the group regularly.

I found a few gigs during this period:

26 February 1966 – Dungeon, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

18 March 1966 – Ricky Tick, Windsor, Berkshire (Melody Maker)

19 March 1966 – Stamford R&B Club, Stamford Hotel, Stamford, Lincolnshire (Grantham Journal)

26 March 1966 – Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Melody Maker)

On the eve of a tour with John Lee Hooker in May 1966, Marut was forced to leave and Dave Greenslade took his place. After the tour, Dave Greenslade left to join Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds.

While playing at Tiles, Oxford Street on 5 May (see above), the band’s drummer (Ed: Andrew Steele?) had to pull out and Covey took over the drum stool and gained praise from Hooker.

I found a few gigs during this period: 

13 May 1966 – Village, Cleethorpes (Grimsby Evening Telegraph) Billed as The Machine and backed John Lee Hooker

14 May 1966 – Plaza Ballroom, Handsworth, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Backed John Lee Hooker

12 June 1966 – Sunday Club, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)

16 July 1966 – Greyhound Hotel, Cromford, Derbyshire (Derby Evening Telegraph)

21 July 1966 – Adam & Eve, Southampton, Hants (Southern Evening Echo)

22 July 1966 – Peyton Place, Bromley South, London (Melody Maker)

According to David Else, a revamped line-up played in a side tent at the Windsor Festival on 30 July 1966.

Around September 1966, however, Covey reshuffled the band yet again to include:

Julian Covey – lead vocals

Dave Mason – lead guitar

Keith Webb – drums

Dave Mason (b. 10 May 1946, Worcester, Worcestershire) had played in several local Worcester bands, most notably The Hellions before jumping ship to join Covey in late 1966.

Keith Webb (b. 1934, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, d. 31 March 2007) had previously worked with The Hipster Image and was probably the most consistent member of The Machine after Covey, surviving to the band’s split in September 1967.

According to the Kent Messenger & Gravesend Journal, the group appeared at Coronational Ballroom in Ramsgate, Kent on 9 September 1966.

On 22 September 1966, Julian Covey & The Machine made their second Marquee appearance, opening for The Move.

In late 1966, Julian Covey & The Machine played at the Bag O’Nails in Kingley Street, Soho for a week. However, Mason didn’t stay long and in spring 1967 he formed Traffic and later found success as a solo artist.

On 8 October 1966, the band returns for another show at the  Greyhound Hotel, Cromford, Derbyshire.

On 29 October 1966, the group appears at the 2 ‘B’s Club, Ashford, Kent with The Noyse.

Around November 1966, Covey reshuffled the pack again to:

Julian Covey – lead vocals

John Morsehead – lead guitar

Johnny Spence (aka Johnny Holiday) – bass

Keith Webb – drums

Johnny Spence (b. 26 January 1942, Birmingham) had some pedigree, having previously worked (most notably) with Johnny Kidd & The Pirates and The Pirates after splitting from the singer. He’d recently spent time backing US legend, Jerry Lee Lewis.

Indian-born John Morsehead had met Spence while playing with Johnny Kidd & The Pirates and The Pirates. In May 1966, he joined The Shotgun Express where he played with future Machine member Peter Bardens.

A few notable gigs from this period include:

4 November 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

5 November 1966 – Ricky Tick, Hounslow, west London (Melody Maker)

12 November 1966 – Ricky Tick, Thames Hotel, Windsor, Berkshire (Melody Maker)

29 November 1966 – Ram Jam, Brixton south London (Melody Maker)

14 December 1966 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne (Fabulous 208)

16 December 1966 – Slade School of Fine Arts, Gower Street, central London with The Move (Fabulous 208)

30 December 1966 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

2 January 1967 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Fabulous 208)

12 January 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

19 January 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

Around late January/early February 1967, Covey formed what is probably considered to be the definitive version of the band, which cut the group’s lone 45, “A Little Bit Hurt” c/w “Sweet Bacon”.

Julian Covey – lead vocals

John Morsehead – lead guitar

Johnny Spence – bass

Pete Solley – Hammond organ

Keith Webb – drums

Ex-Trinity College of Music keyboard player Pete Solley (b. 19 October 1948, London) joined the existing line-up.

Having cut a lone single for Island Records, which was produced by Jimmy Miller, “A Little Bit of Hurt” c/w “Sweet Bacon” was released on 12 May 1967.

The new formation gigged incessantly and shows included the following:

27 January 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

28 January 1967 – Matlock Bath Pavilion, Matlock, Derbyshire with Tropical Boot Company (Derby Evening Telegraph)

2 February 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

9 February 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

14 February 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with Keith Webb (Evening Sentinel)

16 February 1967 – Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

17 February 1967 – Dancing Slipper, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

8 March 1967 – Falcon Hotel, Falconwood, southeast London (PACE magazine)

21 March 1967 – Sunday Club, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)

24 March 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (Melody Maker)

26 March 1967 – Klue J Club, Chelmsford, Essex (Poster)

21 April 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London (Melody Maker)

5 May 1967 – George Inn, Wilby, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

6 May 1967 – Ram Jam, Brixton, south London with The All Night Workers (Melody Maker)

13 May 1967 – Bluesville, St Thomas Parish Hall, Brentwood, Essex (Melody Maker)

27 May 1967 – Iron Curtain Club, Small Heath, West Midlands with Small Change (Birmingham Evening Mail)

On 29 May, Covey also depped on drums for Keith Moon in The Who when the sticks man hurt his stomach throwing his drum kit at the crowd.

4 June 1967 – Beachcomber Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

17 June 1967 – Stoke Hotel, Guildford, Surrey (Surrey Advertiser)

23 June 1967 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, west London with Carl Douglas & The Big Stampede (Middlesex County Times)

24 June 1967 – Clouds, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)

28 June 1967 – Charles Keene College, Leicester Corn Exchange, Leicester with The Family and The Invaders (Leicester Mercury)

6 July 1967 – Flamingo Ballroom, Redruth, Cornwall with Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band  (West Briton & Cornwall Gazette)

15 July 1967 – Cottingham Civic Hall, Cottingham, East Riding of Yorkshire with The Locomotion (Hull Daily Mail)

In August 1967, they also performed at the 6^th National Jazz and Blues Festival but soon after Peter Bardens, who’d briefly worked with The Love Affair, joined on Hammond organ. Bardens had an impressive musical pedigree, which included The Cheynes, Them, The Peter B’s and The Shotgun Express, which is where he worked with Morsehead.

Pete Solley next joined Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds but left in May 1968 to briefly work with Los Bravos. In late 1968, he joined Terry Reid’s backing band (where he reunited with Keith Webb) and then worked with The Crazy World of Arthur Brown before becoming member of Paladin.

In September 1967, Julian Covey & The Machine ran its course. Renamed Philamore Lincoln, Anson joined Graham Bond for several months before embarking on an intriguing solo career.

Morsehead next joined Aynsley Dunbar’s Retaliation while Spence retired but later reformed The Pirates.

NOTE: the band’s history is difficult to trace accurately so I would welcome any additions/corrections below in the comments section

Thanks Stan Marut, Bob Downes, Jim Cregan, Jason Barnard, David Else, Bruno Ceriotti and John Warburg for providing information. This website was also incredibly useful:

http://newuntouchables.com/magazine/tag/julian-covey-the-machine/

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