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.

Formed early 1960 from Red E Lewis & The Red Cats

Chris Tidmarsh – lead vocals

Jimmy Page – lead guitar

Jumbo Spicer – bass

Iain Hines – piano

Tornado Evans – drums

1962

23 March 1962 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Rhet Stoller, The Satellites and Davy Jones (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

23 May 1962 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald)

16 June 1962 – Hi-Fi Hop, Weybridge Hall, Weybridge, Surrey (Woking Herald)

11 August 1962 – Hi-Fi Hop, Weybridge Hall, Weybridge, Surrey (Woking Herald)

In October, Iain Hines left and Matt Smith took over piano

1963

6 January 1963 – Southall Community Centre, Southall, Middlesex (Harrow Observer & Gazette)

13 January 1963 – Southall Community Centre, Southall, Middlesex (Harrow Observer & Gazette)

9 February 1963 – Hitchin Town Hall, Hitchin, Herts with Ricky Valance, Paul Dean and Rockin’ Premiers (Stevenage Gazette)

22 February 1963 – J&A Club, St Peter’s Hall, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey with The Pat McQueen Combo (Surrey Comet)

23 February 1963 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with The Mark Leeman Five (Stevenage Gazette)

Sometime in early 1963, Paul Brett took over from Jimmy Page on lead guitar

9 March 1963 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow with Paul & The Alpines and Jimmy Doyle and The Trespassers (Leyton and Leytonstone Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)

10 March 1963 – Jazz Cellar, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey (Surrey Comet)

22 March 1963 – St Peter’s Hall, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey (Surrey Comet)

17 April 1963 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with The Kingpins (Stevenage Gazette)

In June, Paul Brett left to join The SW5 and Albert Lee took over lead guitar. Avid Andersen took over bass from Jumbo Spicer. Matt Smith also departed

23 June 1963 – Southall Community Centre, Southall, Middlesex (Harrow Observer)

20 July 1963 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with Barry Noble & The Sapphires (Stevenage Gazette)

31 July 1963 – Mecca Dancing, Stevenage, Herts (Stevenage Gazette)

4 August 1963 – Majestic Ballroom, Luton, Bedfordshire (Luton News)

17 August 1963 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow with Dave Douglas & The Vistas and The Corvettes (Leyton and Leytonstone Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)

7 September 1963 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Eagles and The Allegros (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

Around October, Albert Lee left to join Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds and Phil McPhill took over. Tony Marsh joined on keyboards at the same time.

10 October 1963 – Majestic Ballroom, Luton, Bedfordshire (Luton News)

9 November 1963 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey with The Three Ways (Aldershot News)

21 December 1963 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald)

1964

In January, recent recruit Tony Marsh departed

2 February 1964 – Rocky Rivers Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford with Dale Wickers & The Fireflys (Ampthill News & Weekly Record)

22 February 1964 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow with Dean Brent & The Strollers and The Costers (Leyton and Leytonstone Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)

7 March 1964 – Conservative Club, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire with The Fugitives (Biggleswade Chronicle)

14 March 1964 – Cambridge Guildhall, Cambridge with Dave Taylor & The Fugitives (Cambridge News)

21 March 1964 – Wilton Hall, Bletchley, Bucks (Bletchley District Gazette)

5 April 1964 – Rocky Rivers Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford with Dave Taylor & The Fugitives (Ampthill News & Weekly Record)

18 April 1964 – Rock Stars, Adeyfield Hall, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Cavaliers (Hertfordshire and Hemel Hempstead Gazette and West Herts Advertiser)

25 April 1964 – St Neots Centre, St Neots, Cambridgeshire with The Crofters (Biggleswade Chronicle)

In May, Phil McPhill departed and Ritchie Blackmore took over on lead guitar

9 May 1964 – Conservative Club, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire with Dave Viccars & The Fireflies (Ampthill News & Weekly Record/Biggleswade Chronicle)

18 May 1964 – Marcam Hall, March, Cambridgeshire with The Size Seven (Cambridgeshire Times) Billed as Neil Christian & The London Crusaders

23 May 1964 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with The Invaders (Hertfordshire Express)

30 May 1964 – Royal Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with The Swinging Blue Jeans (Kent Messenger) Billed as Christian’s Crusaders

11 June 1964 – Rocky Rivers Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford (Ampthill News & Weekly Record) Billed as Christians Crusaders with Neil Christian

13 June 1964 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow with The Zodiacs and Cyrano & The Bergeracs (Leyton and Leytonstone Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)

20 June 1964 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Casuals (Lincolnshire Standard) Billed as Christian’s Crusaders

27 June 1964 – Rock Stars, Adeyfield Hall, Hemel Hempstead, Herts with The Blobs (Hertfordshire and Hemel Hempstead Gazette and West Herts Advertiser)

11 July 1964 – Royal Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with The Avengers (Kent Messenger) Billed as Christian’s Crusaders

17 July 1964 – Public Hall, Witham, Essex with The Plainsmen (Essex Chronicle) Billed as Neil Christian & His London Crusaders

18 July 1964 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow with two supporting groups (Leyton and Leytonstone Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)

1 August 1964 – Conservative Club, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire with The Top Four (Biggleswade Chronicle) Billed as Christian’s Crusaders

15 August 1964 – Rocky Rivers Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford with The Honeycombs (Ampthill News & Weekly Record) Billed as Neil Christian & Christians Crusaders

5 September 1964 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with The Original Hustlers (Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire Express) Billed as Neil Christian’s Crusaders

26 September 1964 – Royal Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with Jerry James Bandits (Kent Messenger) Billed as Christian’s Crusaders

3 October 1964 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow with Brian Diamond & The Cutters (Leyton and Leytonstone Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)

9 October 1964 – Weedon New Hall, Weedon Bec, Northamptonshire with The Nomads (Northampton Chronicle and Echo) Billed as Neil Christian with Christian’s Crusaders

24 October 1964 – Rocky Rivers Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford with another leading group (Ampthill News & Weekly Record) Billed as Neil Christian & Christians Crusaders

5 November 1964 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with The Original Hustlers (Hertfordshire Express)

6 November 1964 – Torkay Kavern, Empire Ballroom, Torquay, Devon (Herald Express)

19 December 1964 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with Rockin’ Eccentrics (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website) Billed as Christian’s Crusaders

20 December 1964 – Weymouth Steering Wheel, Weymouth, Dorset (Dorset Evening Echo) Billed as The Crusaders

26 December 1964 – Town Hall, Torquay, Devon with The Cyclons and The Rockin’ Rockardoes (Herald Express)

1965

2 January 1965 – Royal Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with The Essex Five (Kent Messenger) Billed as Christian’s Crusaders

9 January 1965 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow (Leyton, Leytonstone and Waltham Forest Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)

19-20 February 1965 – Silver Blades, Streatham, London (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser) Billed as Christian’s Crusaders

In March 1965, Chris Tidmarsh revamped the band completely:

Chris Tidmarsh – lead vocals

Mick Abrahams – lead guitar

Dave Cakebread – bass

Stan Thomas – sax

Graham Hill – drums

20 March 1965 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with Steve Marriot’s Moments (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website) Billed as Christian’s Crusaders

27 March 1965 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow (Leyton, Leytonstone and Waltham Forest Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)

10 April 1965 – Royal Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent with The Boomerangs (Maidstone Gazette) Billed as Christian’s Crusaders

1 May 1965 – The Dolphin, Marine Court, St Leonards, East Sussex with The Prophets (Roger Bistow’s research at Dizzy Tiger Music website) Billed as Christian’s Crusaders

22 May 1965 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Walthamstow with The Falkons (Leyton, Leytonstone and Waltham Forest Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)

Around late May/early June 1965, Tidmarsh revamped the formation as follows: 

Chris Tidmarsh – lead vocals

Mick Abrahams – lead guitar

Alex Dmchowski – bass

Graham Waller – keyboards

Bernie Hetherington – sax

Carlo Little – drums

In early 1966, Chris Tidsmash put together a new version:

Chris Tidmarsh – lead vocals

Ritchie Blackmore – lead guitar

Tony Dangerfield – bass

Tornado Evans – drums

In April, Avid Andersen took over from Tony Dangerfield and Tony Marsh rejoined on keyboards

25 April 1966 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)

29 April 1966 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, London (Balham & Tooting News and Mercury)

2 May 1966 – Carousel Club, 1 Camp Road, Farnborough, Hampshire (Aldershot News/Camberley News)

21 May 1966 – Zambesi, Hounslow, west London (Melody Maker)

22 May 1966 – Plaza Ballroom, Handsworth, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)

26 May 1966 – Town Hall, Kidderminster, Worcestershire (Disc & Music Echo)

28 May 1966 – Bowes Lyon House, Stevenage, Herts (Disc & Music Echo)

30 May 1966 – Queen’s Hall, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Disc & Music Echo)

2 June 1966 – Assembly Hall, Worthing, West Sussex (Worthing Herald)

6 June 1966 – Disc Club, St Martin’s Centre, Colchester, Essex (Essex County Standard)

16 June 1966 – Liberal Hall Beat Club, Yeovil, Somerset with support (Western Gazette)

17 June 1966 – Winter Garden, Eastbourne, East Sussex with Gangbusters (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle)

18 June 1966 – Trowbridge Town Hall, Trowbridge, Wiltshire (Disc & Music Echo)

20 June 1966 – Club A Go Go, Dublin, Eire (Disc & Music Echo) Needs confirmation

22 June 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

8 July 1966 – Princess Pavilion, Falmouth, Cornwall (West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette)

8 July 1966 – Torquay Town Hall, Torquay, Devon with The Variations and The Codiaks (Herald Express)

9 July 1966 – St George’s Hall, Exeter, Devon with The Just Men (Express & Echo)

15 July 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, London with The Ray Martin Group (Melody Maker)

30 July 1966 – Victoria Cross Gallery, Wantage, Oxfordshire (North Berks Herald)

6 August 1966 – Tavistock Town Hall, Devon (Western Evening Herald)

15 August 1966 – Radio England Swinging 66, Odeon Birmingham, Birmingham with The Small Faces, Dave Berry, Crispian St Peters, The Limeys, The Koobas and The Much More Music Men (Express & Star)

27 August 1966 – Floral Hall, Southport, Lancashire (Lancashire Evening Post)

1 September 1966 – Winter Gardens, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire with The Illusions (Grimsby Evening Telegraph)

4 September 1966 – Central R&B Club, Central Hotel, Gillingham, Kent (Chatham, Rochester & Gillingham News)

16 September 1966 – Grimsby Mecca, Grimsby, Humberside with The Fenmen (Grimsby Evening Telegraph)

It’s not clear who was in the band from this point until spring 1967

7 October 1966 – Raith Ballroom, Kirkcaldy, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

7 October 1966 – Community Centre, Whitburn, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

8 October 1966 – City Hall, Perth, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

9 October 1966 – Top Ten Club, Dundee, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

10 October 1966 – Town Hall, Falkirk, Scotland (Fabulous 208)

22 October 1966 – Leyton Baths Hall, Leyton, east London with The Plague (Walthamstow Guardian)

27 October 1966 – Rocky Rivers’ Top 20 Club, Conservative Club, Bedford wit She Trinity and John Williams & Tomorrow’s People (Ampthill News & Weekly Record)

28 October 1966 – Top Spot, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire with The Early Berdz (Gloucester Citizen)

29 October 1966 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Roosters (Julie Fielder book: What Flo Said Next)

5 November 1966 – Cliff’s Pavilion, Southend, Essex with The Fingers and Sounds Around (Southend Standard)

14 November 1966 – Group heads to West Germany for 12 days of TV work and also Dutch TV (Disc & Music Echo)

9 December 1966 – School of Art, Winchester, Hampshire (Fabulous 208)

10 December 1966 – Royal Lido, Prestayn, Wales (Fabulous 208)

12 December 1966 – Jubilee Hall, Burton-on-Trent, Derbyshire (Fabulous 208)

30 December 1966 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, London (Balham & Tooting News and Mercury)

1967

13 January 1967 – Ballerina Ballroom, Nairn, Scotland with Chatz and The Skatz Kats and Tomorrow’s People (Forres, Elgin & Nairn Gazette)

14 January 1967 – Victoria Ballroom, Forres, Scotland with The T-Set (Forres, Elgin & Nairn Gazette)

21 January 1967 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire (Nuneaton Evening Tribune)

17 February 1967 – Market Assembly Rooms, Carlisle, Cumbria (Fabulous 208)

18 February 1967 – Unity Hall, Wakefield, West Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

25 February 1967 – Town Hall, Loughborough, Leicestershire (Fabulous 208)

16 March 1967 – Elm Hotel, Southend, Essex with Force Five (Southend Standard)

18 March 1967 – Town Hall, Sudbury, Suffolk (Fabulous 208)

18 March 1967 – Town Hall, Haverhill, Suffolk (Fabulous 208)

27 March 1967 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire with The Matadors (Nuneaton Evening Tribune)

From April-May 1967, Chris Tidmarsh revamped the band again:

Chris Tidmarsh – lead vocals

Ritchie Blackmore – lead guitar

Tony Dangerfield – bass

Matt Smith – keyboards

Carlo Little – drums

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