This West London band’s roots can be found in The Dave Martin Group, which was formed around September 1966.
The original formation comprised:
Martin Thomas (aka Dave Martin) – lead vocals
John Chinnery – guitar/vocals
Roger Flavell – bass/vocals
Albert Woodward – drums
The Dave Martin Group was managed by John Chinnery’s older brother Geoff, who’d played with Mike Forde & The Fortunes in the late 1950s and early 1960s and briefly managed The Tridents (with a young Jeff Beck).
Guitarist John Chinnery had started out in a Hillingdon school band with Richard Walker and John Morgan. Albert Woodward, who attended another local school, completed the group.
Woodward introduced Martin Thomas and Roger Flavell and together with John Chinnery, the quartet began rehearsing at Ickenham Hall near Ruislip, Middlesex.
According to John’s brother Geoff Chinnery’s detailed gig list (complete with earnings for each performance), the new outfit’s debut show appears to have taken place on 28 October 1966 (most likely) at the Fisheries in Harefield, Middlesex. The gig list notes that The Dave Martin Group played at the same venue on 11, 18-19 and 26 November and also 3-4, 11 and 17 December.
The following gigs are then listed (during which period Roger Flavell was briefly replaced on bass while he had his tonsils out. John Chinnery suspects it was his school friend John Morgan, who covered Flavell’s absence).
Dave Martin Group gigs:
21 December 1966 – Ickenham Hall, Ickenham, northwest London
23 December 1966 – Warburton Arms, Hackney, north London
24 December 1966 – Harefield Football Club, Harefield, northwest London
30 December 1966 – Warburton Arms, Hackney, north London
31 December 1966 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
6 January 1967 – Warburton Arms, Hackney, north London
7 January 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
14 January 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
21 January 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
24 January 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
28 January 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London (Roger Flavell returns after this show)
29 January 1967 – Hesden Hall, Ruislip, northwest London
31 January 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
4 February 1967 – Warburton Arms, Hackney, north London
5 February 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
8-9 February 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
10 February 1967 – Warburton Arms, Hackney, north London
11 February 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
13-16 February 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
17-18 February 1967 – Warburton Arms, Hackney, north London
19 February 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
20-23 February 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
26 February 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
27 February-2 March 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
4 March 1967 – Hanwell Sports Club, Hanwell, west London
5 March 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
6-9 March 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
12 March 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
13 March 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
At this point, Lindsay Bex replaced Albert Woodward on drums, who later became a percussion lecturer.
Older than the others, Lindsay Bex had worked with Geoff Chinnery in Mike Forde & The Fortunes during the late 1950s and early 1960s. In early 1964, Bex joined Chiswick band, The Tridents (who were managed by Geoff Chinnery). He remained with the group until about September 1964 during which time Jeff Beck joined on lead guitar.
In early 1965, Bex went to Germany for three months with The Redcaps and then played with various scratch bands before returning to Germany in 1966 to play American air bases with The Kathy Sampson Set. When Albert Woodward left suddenly, he accepted the call to join.
Dave Martin Group gigs (continued):
14-16 March 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
18 March 1967 – Wedding reception, Teddington, west London
20-23 March 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
24 March 1967 – Blue Coat Boy, Bishopsgate, City of London
25 March 1967 – Wedding reception, Old Kent Road, south London
26 March 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
27-30 March 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
31 March 1967 – All Stars Club, Artillery Passage, Liverpool Street, east London (audition)
2 April 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
3-6 April 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
7 April 1967 – West Dulwich Sports Club, West Dulwich, south London
8 April 1967 – Derwentwater Club, Acton, west London
9 April 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
15 April 1967 – The Pheasant, South Oxhey, Watford
17 April 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Streets, Soho, central London (audition)
22 April 1967 – Saracens Rugby Club, Finchley, north London
23 April 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
27 April 1967 – Byron Hotel, Greenford, west London (audition)
30 April 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
7 May 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
8 May 1967 – St Moritz Club, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (audition)
13 May 1967 – Rank Xerox private party, Denham, Buckinghamshire
14 May 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
19 May 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
20 May 1967 – Rank Xerox, Denham, Buckinghamshire
27 May 1967 – Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with Five Proud Walkers
28 May 1967 – the Fisheries, Harefield, northwest London
3 June 1967 – Wedding Reception, Tea Rooms, Kenton, northwest London
4 June 1967 – Byron Hotel, Greenford, west London
8 June 1967 – RAF Northwood
9 June 1967 – Unknown venue, Purfleet, Essex
10 June 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London
12-15 June 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
16 June 1967 – ILI Co, Wembley, west London
17 June 1967 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
19-23 June 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
23 June 1967 – UKAEA, Harwell, Oxfordshire with Brian Poole & The Unity
24 June 1967 – Wedding reception, Hendon, north London
26-29 June 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
30 June 1967 – Greenway School, Uxbridge, west London
During 1967, the band recorded a couple of demos at a studio in Denham, Buckinghamshire comprising Martin Thomas/Roger Flavell co-writes.
Dave Martin Group gigs (continued):
3-6 July 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
8 July 1967 – Rank Xerox, Denham, Buckinghamshire
20 July 1967 – Pinn Club, RAF Uxbridge, West London
28 July 1967 – Epsom Youth Club, Epsom, Surrey
29 July 1967 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
5 August 1967 – Thames Boat Trip, Westminster to Teddington
6 August 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London
12 August 1967 – Thing-a-me-jig, Reading, Berkshire
31 August 1967 – Sword & Wheel Club, RAF Northolt, northwest London
At midnight, immediately after finishing the gig at RAF Northolt near Ruislip, the band had to pack up in order to drive down to Dover to catch the ferry to the continent and only just made the boat by the ‘skin of their teeth’. Having just turned professional, The Dave Martin Group changed its name to The Magic Roundabout and headed to Germany and then Switzerland.
The Magic Roundabout gigs:
1-30 September 1967 – Ritterkelleer (9 performances) and Western Club (11 performances), Bad Vilbel, Frankfurt, West Germany
1-15 October 1967 – Haus Der Music, Wuppertal, West Germany with The Berkeley Squares (15 performances)
Arriving in Zurich, Switzerland, the band now briefly includes organist Dave Eldredge, a musician from Leicester group The Berkeley Squares, who split up after the shows in Wuppertal. Eldredge remains with the group until mid-November.
16 October-1 November 1967 – ‘Beat Club’, Hotel Hirschen, Zurich, Switzerland (17 performances)
3-6 November 1967 – ‘Taverns Bar’, Ingolstadt, West Germany (4 performances) (the band’s final night is cancelled; a fight had broken out the previous night between US servicemen and German police and the club was wrecked. The club is closed for refurbishment and The Magic Roundabout head home to the UK.)
On the band’s return to the UK, organist John Elliott joined after Eldredge left. Geoff Chinnery had convinced the organist to join The Effect but this proved short-lived. Eldredge subsequently joined Pussyfoot.
Elliott had previously played with Ealing band, Magnus Pike with lead guitarist/singer Jerry Smith, bass player Roger Searle and drummer Tony Haslam. Searle and Haslam will later go on to work with The Who’s road crew.
Magic Roundabout’s new line up comprised:
Martin Thomas (aka Dave Martin) – lead vocals
John Chinnery – lead guitar/vocals
John Elliott – organ/vocals
Roger Flavell – bass/vocals
Lindsay Bex – drums
The Magic Roundabout gigs (continued):
17 November 1967 – Women’s teachers’ training college (location not known)
18 November 1967 – Young Conservative’s Club, Twickenham, west London
25 November 1967 – YMCA, Baldock, Hertfordshire
4-7 December 1967 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
8 December 1967 – Guild Hall, Ilford, east London
9 December 1967 – The Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
15 December 1967 – Gillettes, Great West Road, west London with Fortunes and Episode Six
16 December 1967 – RAF Feltwell
23 December 1967 – Rugby Club, Upton Park, Slough, Berkshire
26 December 1967 – Halfway House, Dunstable, Hertfordshire
31 December 1967 – Sword & Wheel Club, RAF Northolt, northwest London
1-4 January 1968 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
5 January 1968 – Youth Club, West Drayton, west London
6 January 1968 – Baker’s Row Club, Cardiff (Bex’s bass drums falls off the roof rack on the way)
12 January 1968 – USAF Woodbridge, Suffolk
13 January 1968 – Hanwell Community Centre, Hanwell, west London
20 January 1968 – Mildway Tavern, Highbury, north London
24-25 January 1968 – Mildway Tavern, Highbury, north London
26 January 1968 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London
27 January 1968 – Kodak Hall, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
30 January 1968 – BBC Maida Vale (audition)
31 January-1 February 1968 – Mildway Tavern, Highbury, north London
2 February 1968 – Northcote Arms, Southall, west London
3 February 1968 – Queen’s Hall, Halstead, Braintree, Essex
10 February 1968 – Thing-a-me-jig, Reading, Berkshire
12-15 February 1968 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
16 February 1968 – Northcote Arms, Southall, west London
17 February 1968 – Rank Xerox, Denham, Buckinghamshire
21 February 1968 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle Upon Tyne
29 February 1968 – Bluebell Inn, Hackenthorpe, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
1 March 1968 – County Ballroom, Carlisle, Cumbria
2 March 1968 – Sheridan Rooms, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
3 March 1968 – Woodhouse WMC, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
8 March 1968 – RAF Club, Tredegar, Wales
9 March 1968 – Howard Winstone Club, Merthyr, Wales
10 March 1968 – Beech Grove, Pengham, Wales
13 March 1968 – Faculty of Technology, Manchester
14 March 1968 – Bluebell Inn, Hackenthorpe, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
15 March 1968 – Northcote Arms, Southall, west London
18 March 1968 – Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire
24 March 1968 – The Pheasant, South Oxhey, Watford, Hertfordshire
25-27 March 1968 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
29 March 1968 – Brighton Tech College, Brighton, West Sussex
After the above gig, singer Michael Derrick (aka Miki Anthony) took over from Martin Thomas and brought his own manager with him (which would see the band split with Geoff Chinnery).
The Magic Roundabout gigs (continued):
20 April 1968 – Northcote Arms, Southall, west London
21 April 1968 – Warmingham Grange Country Club, Sandbach, Cheshire
26 April 1968 – Kiosk Ballroom, Castleford, West Yorkshire
27 April 1968 – Sheridan Rooms, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
28 April 1968 – The Pavilion, Bournemouth, Dorset
29 April-2 May 1968 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
3 May 1968 – Bluebell Inn, Hackenthorpe, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
4 May 1968 – Morley Town Hall, Morley, West Yorkshire
5 May 1968 – Woodhill, WMC, Normanton, West Yorkshire
11 May 1968 – Bradford University with Jeff Beck Group
17 May 1968 – Board of Trade, Eastcote, northwest London
18 May 1968 – Faculty of Technology, Manchester with Fleetwood Mac
19 May 1968 – Warmingham Grange Country Club, Sandbach, Cheshire
23 May 1968 – Arundel WMC, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
24-25 May 1968 – Raven Club, RAF Waddington
26 May 1968 – Kiosk Ballroom, Castleford, West Yorkshire
30 May 1968 – Kimbleworth Park Social Club, Rotherham, South Yorkshire
31 May 1968 – 270 Discotheque, Barnsley, West Yorkshire
Sometime around this time, the group recorded a cover of The Bee Gees’ “I Am The World”, which is never released.
The Magic Roundabout gigs (continued):
1 June 1968 – Manchester University
8 June 1968 – The Pavilion, Weymouth, Dorset
14 June 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire
15 June 1968 – Alexander Hall, Halifax, South Yorkshire with Jackson Union
20 June 1968 – Kimbleworth Park Social Club, Rotherham, South Yorkshire
21 June 1968 – Woodhill, WMC, Normanton, West Yorkshire
22 June 1968 – Morley Town Hall, Morley, West Yorkshire
24-27 June 1968 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
28 June 1968 – Shades, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
29 June 1968 – University of Aston, Birmingham
30 June 1968 – Arundel WMC, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
1 July 1968 – Wilbeck Country Club, Hatfield, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire
2 July 1968 – Top Ranke Suite, Southampton, Hants
5 July 1968 – Cossack Club, Sir James Altham School, Oxhey, Watford, Hertfordshire
6 July 1968 – Bellpunch, Uxbridge, west London
14 July 1968 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk
18 July 1968 – Cossack Club, Sir James Altham School, Oxhey, Watford, Hertfordshire
19 July 1968 – Victoria & Bull, Dartford, Kent
20 July 1968 – Bourne School, Ruislip Manor, northwest London
25 July 1968 – Oasis Club, RAF Biggin Hill, Kent
26 July 1968 – Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex
28 July 1968 – A Train, Hayes, west London
29 July-1 August 1968 – Kew Boathouse, Kew, west London
2 August 1968 – Harrow Inn, Woolwich, south London
3 August 1968 – Thing-a-me-jig, Reading, Berkshire
10 August 1968 – Airman’s Club, USAF, West Ruislip, northwest London
11 August 1968 – Wake Arms, Epping, Essex
16 August 1968 – Kiosk Ballroom, Castleford, West Yorkshire
17 August 1968 – Black Swan, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
18 August 1968 – Manor House, near Skipton, North Yorkshire
20 August 1968 – Almonbury WMC, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
21 August 1968 – Ponderose, Barnsley, West Yorkshire
22 August 1968 – Blue Bell, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
24 August 1968 – Morley Town Hall, Morley, West Yorkshire
30 August 1968 – RAF Whitton, Whitton, west London
Michael Derrick’s manager informed the band that he would take the singer away unless he can assume sole management and the musicians begrudgingly agreed as Geoff Chinnery had been managing them from the outset. Soon afterwards, Lindsay Bex and John Elliott both departed following the RAF Whitton gig, which (ironically) Chinnery believes was the band’s best performance to date.
Two weeks later, it was clear that the group’s career had ground to a halt and the band broke up. While Chinnery briefly abandoned a musical career and returned to work in insurance, Flavell subsequently joined Grand Union, the backing band for US soul act, Johnny Johnson & The Bandwagon in 1969.
In late 1970, Flavell briefly played with Geno Washington before working with Tony Hazzard/Richard Barnes, Judd, Kris Ife and The Tommy Hunt Band. In the early Seventies, Flavell joined Christie and then went on to Johnny Wakelin & The Kinshasha Band, The Lonnie Donegan Band and The David Byron Band.
Miki Anthony meanwhile established a highly successful solo career.
John Chinnery and drummer Roger Willis, who have known each other since childhood and are Arsenal FC fans, decided to reform The Magic Roundabout around February 1969 with John Elliott, who has been working in a bank since the band’s break up in September 1968.
Ray Brown, who had previously played with Jeff Curtis & The Flames and The Kool agreed to join after his next band, Champagne appeared on the same bill as The Magic Roundabout.
Lead guitarist Ian Hollands, who had previously played with Frankie Reid & The Casuals and The Legends answered an advert in the music press and completed the new formation.
The new Magic Roundabout formation now comprised:
Ian Hollands – lead guitar/vocals
John Chinnery – rhythm guitar/vocals
John Elliott – organ/vocals
Ray Brown – bass/vocals
Roger Willis – drums/vocals
The Magic Roundabout gigs (continued):
9 May 1969 – Harefield Youth Club, Harefield, northwest London
17 May 1969 – R&B Club, Feltham, Middlesex
18 May 1969 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London
23 May 1969 – Lorraine Club, Chingford, east London
31 May 1969 – Wake Arms, Epping, Essex
6 June 1969 – Salvatorian College, Wealdstone, northwest London
7 June 1969 – White Hart, Tottenham, north London
13 June 1969 – Lorraine Club, Chingford, east London
21 June 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London
27 June 1969 – Woodford Youth Club, St Barnabos School
28 June 1969 – St Annes School, Hanwell, west London
3 July 1969 – New Penny Disco, Watford, Hertfordshire
4 July 1969 – Pinkwell Youth Centre, Hayes, west London
6 July 1969 – Cambridge Hotel, Edmonton, north London
12 July 1969 – Bourne School, Ruislip Manor, northwest London
13 July 1969 – the Cherry Tree, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire
18 July 1969 – King’s Head Disco, Harrow, northwest London
19 July 1969 – Wake Arms, Epping, Essex
26 July 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
1 August 1969 – Lorraine Club, Chingford, east London
2 August 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
7 August 1969 – Top Rank Suite, Watford, Hertfordshire
15 August 1969 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London
16 August 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London
22 August 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
23 August 1969 – Spa Ballroom, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
24 August 1969 – Cambridge Hotel, Edmonton, north London
30 August 1969 – Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk
31 August 1969 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk
26 September 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London
27 September 1969 – New Penny Disco, Watford, Hertfordshire
28 September 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London
3 October 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
4 October 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London
10 October 1969 – Grange Youth Centre, Hayes, west London
11 October 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
24 October 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London
25 October 1969 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk
1 November 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
2 November 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London
7 November 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
8 November 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London
9 November 1969 – Hunter’s Club, Horn Hotel, Braintree, Essex
14 November 1969 – Lorraine Club, Chingford, Essex
21 November 1969 – Kettering WMC, Kettering, Northamptonshire
28 November 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London
5 December 1969 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
6 December 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London
7 December 1969 – Headstone Hotel, North Harrow, northwest London
11 December 1969 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London
12 December 1969 – Harefield Youth Club, Harefield, northwest London
13 December 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London
19 December 1969 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London
2 January 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London (Hollands ill)
8 January 1970 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London (Hollands ill)
16 January 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
17 January 1970 – Oldfield Tavern, Greenford, west London
23 January 1970 – El Grotto Disco, Ilford, east London
24 January 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
30 January 1970 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London
7 February 1970 – Gillettes, Isleworth, Middlesex
8 February 1970 – Cambridge Hotel, Edmonton, north London
12 February 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London
13 February 1970 – Cook’s Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London
14 February 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
20 February 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
22 February 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London
24 February 1970 – Civic Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire
27 February 1970 – Greenford Hotel, Greenford, west London
6 March 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
7 March 1970 – Spotlight Club, RAF Brize Norton
12 March 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London
14 March 1970 – Civic Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire
20 March 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
21 March 1970 – Airmen’s Mess, USAF Wethersfield
26 March 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London
28 March 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
3 April 1970 – AYA USAF West Ruislip, northwest London
4 April 1970 – Andromeda Club, Colchester, Essex
10 April 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
11 April 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London
16 April 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London
18 April 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
19 April 1970 – Links, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire
24 April 1970 – West Ham College, West Ham, east London
2 May 1970 – Airmen’s Club, USAF Mildenhall
9 May 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London
14 May 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London
26 May 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London
29 May 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
30 May 1970 – NCOs Club, USAF High Wycombe
1 June 1970 – King’s Head, Edmonton, north London (audition)
The band auditioned for the John Edwards Agency (most likely the above date), performing three songs, including a cover of The Moody Blues’ “Ride My See-Saw”.
The Magic Roundabout gigs (continued):
4 June 1970 – Galaxy Club, RAF Northwood, northwest London
6 June 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
13 June 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London
18 June 1970 – Oldfield Hotel, Greenford, west London
19 June 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
20 June 1970 – Braintree College, Braintree, Essex
26 June 1970 – Oases Club, RAF Biggin Hill, Kent
1 July 1970 – NCOs Club, USAF High Wycombe
3 July 1970 – Beaconsfield Youth Club
4 July 1970 – Airmen’s Annexe, USAF Upper Hayford
9 July 1970 – Angelique, King’s Road, southwest London
10 July 1970 – King’s Head, Harrow, northwest London
11 July 1970 – North Park, WMC, Kettering, Northamptonshire
15 July 1970 – Winston Churchill Hall, Ruislip, northwest London
16 July 1970 – RAF High Wycombe
24 July 1970 – Spotlight Club, RAF Brize Norton
25 July 1970 – Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
31 July 1970 – The Pheasantry, King’s Road, southwest London
PLEASE NOTE: There are some missing gigs from this list. John Chinnery believes that the group played until at least November 1970.
Sometime in 1970, the new line up got the opportunity to record two tracks at Abbey Road, which are never released. One is a cover of a song called “Everything Under The Sun”. The other is an early cover of Neil Diamond’s “Red, Red Wine”.
Around October 1970, John Elliott was invited to sing lead on a backing track – the Findon, Shelley, Hazelwood and Hammond collaboration, “Dark Side of the Moon”. Incidentally, Elton John had earlier cut a version.
Not long after, the rest of the band was brought into the studio and recorded an instrumental track composed by Ian Hollands. For some reason, Ray Brown was not available and former member Roger Flavell, who named the track “Black Boots”, provided bass. However, the song was later credited to producers Ben Findon and Pete Shelley.
Tragically, the band’s career then came to a dramatic halt after returning from a gig in Bedford around late October/early November 1970. Stopping off at Toddington Services on the M1, the band’s roadies went into the service station to get some food and someone broke into the van and stole much of the band’s equipment. Only John Chinnery was insured!
All of the remaining the gigs were cancelled but The Magic Roundabout did play its final gig on 31 December 1970 on borrowed gear because the money (£100) was too good to give up.
In the meantime, Findon and Shelley brought John Elliott back into the studio to add more vocals to “Dark Side of the Moon”.
With the band no longer active and unable to use The Magic Roundabout name, the producers released the single on Decca in May 1971 under The Outer Limits name.
Ian Hollands later played with a group called Mobius. Ray Brown briefly played with a harmony group from Tooting from January-February1971 before joining Easy Virtue and then Crackers.
Roger Willis meanwhile joined Capability Brown in 1972. After several albums, Willis and two other band members joined Christie, which featured original Magic Roundabout bass player Roger Flavell in the group.
Willis later played with a number of groups, including Crazy Kat, before reuniting with Ray Brown in Crackers.
In recent years, John Chinnery, Roger Flavell, John Elliott and Lindsey Bex have held four reunions.
A huge thanks to John Chinnery and Lindsay Bex for providing the gig lists (from Geoff Chinnery) and to Roger Flavell, John Chinnery, Lindsey Bex, John Elliott, Ray Brown and Ian Hollands for helping with the group’s history. Thank you Roger Flavell, Lindsay Bex and Ray Brown for photos.
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. To contact the author, email: Warchive@aol.com or nick_warburton@hotmail.com
John Chinnery is correct. There were more gigs after July 1970. I found the following two in Melody Maker for the Pheasantry on the King’s Road:
4 August 1970
21 October 1970
Thank you, Nick.
Regards,
Roger Flavell.
I once played for Magic Roundabout, in The Hotel Hirschen in Zurich. I am the Dave Eldridge (actually spelled Eldredge) mentioned in the blog https://garagehangover.com/magic-roundabout/ . They were a great bunch of lads. I actually didn’t leave the band until we returned to Blighty and was present when that amazing fight broke out in Ingolstadt. I have an enduring memory of this GI, whose neck was about an inch thicker than his head, standing on a table and repelling truncheon wielding German coppers. He finished up with about four large bumps on his closely shaved blonde head. The MPs came mob handed and marched them upstairs and into a large troop carrier.
Geoff Chinnery persuaded me to join another band called Effect who were a local band from around Ruislip/Bushey and that area.
That didn’t work and I eventually returned to Leicester.
The reason I am contacting you, is to see if and of that particular crew are still around, especially John Chinnery, Linsey Bex or Roger Flavell. They contacted me in the autumn of 1968 and asked if I was interested in being lead singer for a recording, which we did at Abbey Road. Obviously I agreed. The song was called Shangri La and penned by Miki Anthony I think, and it was quite good but unfortunately EMI rejected it and it was given to Mud and was, I believe, their first single.
Was your drummer at the time that the Berkeley Squares split in Oct 67 Pick Withers who replaced Terry Abbs? Didn’t he go on to Dire Straits?
Abbey Road gave us all an acetate (45 disc) of it but mine was lost in a house move in the early seventies. Would be good to hear from any of them. My kids and grandkids might, at last believe my story about recording at Abbey Road if I could get a copy of it ha ha.
I’ve got a poster from Wolverhampton Students Union gig where they supported The Alan Bown . Not quite sure of the date because couldn’t find it here but might be 1968 – 69
Dave Eldredge, did you make contact with any of the Magic Roundabout? Roger Flavell is my dad. Just wondering if you ever got in touch with each other?
Thanks.