The Hustlers included Chauncey Romero, Doug Grantz, and John Tavaglione Tavaliogne, plus two members I do not have first names for, Roach and Bedwell.
The Hustlers first cut “Hangin’ Five” and “Barefoot Adventure” on the House of Note Records label, as early as December, 1962. I haven’t heard either song yet. They were cut at Paul Buff’s PAL studio, and an alternate version of “Hangin’ Five” exists on tape.
Sometime in 1964 they made their next single, changing to the Original Hustlers, probably to differentiate the group from the Hustlers with Grant Baker who recorded two excellent R&B/exotica instrumental singles on Downey, “Inertia” / “Eight Ball” and “Kopout” / “Migraine”.
“Cueball” was written by L. Fields, with publishing by David Marshall Co., I’m not sure what the original source was for this song, but it’s a fine surf instrumental.
“Barefoot” is an original by the Hustlers, released on LaBelle L-64121.
LaBelle mainly released records by the folk group the Countrymen, but it also issued the Swords “Raunchy” / “Fibreglass”, which I haven’t heard yet (and could use label scans of).
Chauncey Romero first managed, then owned the House of Note music store in Redlands. The Redlands Daily Facts from July 18, 1966 wrote:
The House of Note music store at 20 N. Sixth street is now operating under the new ownership ot Chauncey Romero, former manager. Romero, a native and lifelong resident of Redlands, managed the House of Note here for four years. For the past six months, he has served as manager of the House of Note music store in Riverside. He purchased the Redlands facility, which had been a branch of the Riverside store, from owner Ted Peckles of Riverside.
The House of Note in Redlands is a franchised dealer for such well known musical instruments and accessories as Fender guitars and amplifiers, Grctsch drums and guitars, Gibson guitars and amplifiers and Martin Guitars …
Romero noted that members of several local musical groups, including the Hustlers, Templars, Tornadoes and Never So Few, received musical training at the House of Note. He said there currently are more than 100 students enrolled. The teaching staff is composed of Norman Sanders, Greg Tomquist, John W. Sessums III, C. P. Woods, Warren Wheeler, Dean Pickard and Casey Cunningham.
The House of Note closed in 1968.
The Tornadoes included Norman (Roly) Sanders, Gerald Sanders, Leonard Delaney, Jesse Sanders, and George White, and would cut “Bustin’ Surfboards” among other singles on Aertaun and an album on Josie.
The Templars included Garry Brier, Glen Hellman, Dave Gruver, Ron Norcross and Mike McGrath, but I do not believe they recorded (they’re not the Templars who cut Chafungie” / “Get Out of My Life” on Paragon).
The Countrymen recorded on Audio Adventures out of Piqua, Ohio, 20 miles north of Dayton in 1971. They were really a country act, but “Flare-Up!!” is a crude and bizarre song, and does sound like it was recorded in a garage.
On “Flare-Up!!”, Ron Lininger sang lead and played guitar, Harry Burd played bass and Bud Allen contributed the tambourine. Lyrics were by W.R. Lake, music by Harry Burd.
Are you ready girls?
Now there’s times I’m sorry, You can bet your bippy, That I ever decided to marry a long-haired hippie.
Well I like to eat, And hold down a job, You’d rather eat and drink and live like a slob.
I think we’re about to have a flare-up, Let’s not have another flare-up.
If you dress like a girl, Maybe put up your hair, I’m sure that we could avoid another flare-up.
If you’d only wake up, And do a little clean-up We might avoid another flare-up.
When I need a little loving, Tender loving care, All I ever see is your long, black, and greasy hair.
I think we’re about to have a flare-up, Let’s not have another flare-up.
The lyrics are basically sung twice, separated by a break where the drummer & tambourine keep the beat while Ron slides the pick down the strings.
For the country ballad “That’s Why I’m Dreaming of You”, Bud Allen sang lead, Harry Burd played steel guitar (and wrote the song), and Ron Lininger played bass.
Fred Snyder played drums on both sides.
This is a Rite Records custom pressing, 27699/27770 from Rite account number 5216.
Viscount Records was based in Cranston, Rhode Island, releasing three singles in 1968.
I don’t know anything about the Night Walkers other than Bob Carey wrote the band’s original song, “In Our Time”, which is slow, moody and a little psychedelic.
The flip is a somewhat busy version of “Things We Said Today”. The Basement Walls site lists Warwick, just south of Cranston, as their base.
Released on Viscount VR4503, about 1968, this is a styrene record. The labels include a six-digit code 112681/2.
Prior to the Night Walkers, Viscount Records released Ken Lyon “Lonesome Trip” (Lyon – Bill McQuade) / “Rock Island Line” with his brother Don Lyon on harmonica. The picture sleeve has notes by the Rev. Donald Lavallee suggesting he was the owner of Viscount Records. Ken Blumberg took the photo and Leonard Hardisty designed the cover.
early photo of Homer, clockwise from top: Chet Himes, Pat Cosgrove, Galen Niles, Gary Crapster and Frank Coy
Homer was a group from San Antonio that would last from June of 1968 until about 1973. In Houston they would record three singles and an LP for URA Production (Universal Recording Artists).
The first press on the group that I can find comes from August 8, 1968 the Crystal City Sentinel ran a profile of the group by Margaret Anderson in her column, The Teen Scene:
… “Homer” has a really unique sound and the guys said that they plan to bring blues into Texas and prove that rock and roll isn’t “rinky-dinky”, but is something we can musically appreciate. The group seems to be striving for individuality among the many groups of today, rather than being just another band. All of the members of the group have been together for only two months and are all from different original groups.
The leader of the group is Galen Niles. He toured with the “Outcasts” … all through the East Coast, sings lead, and teaches music. The drummer is Pat Cosgroove [sic – actually it was Gary Crapster, Pat played guitar I believe], who won 1st place in International Drum Solo Contests. He has played in many major citys of the United States…
Other members are Frank Coy, Chet Hines, and Gary Crapster, who is also a music teacher. Kids in Crystal City look forward to having them back again for a dance in the near future.
At this early point in 1968, members were:
Frank Coy – vocals Galen Niles – lead guitar Pat Cosgrove – guitar Chet Himes – bass Gary Crapster – drums
Galen Niles has a stellar history in San Antonio music. He played on both the Pandas “Walk” / “Girl from New York City” on Swingtime and the Outcasts “1523 Blair” / “Smokestack Lightning” before joining Homer. He also played the solo on the Mind’s Eye “Help I’m Lost” (Steve Perrone – Luis Cabaza) on Jox (but not on the flip, which was taken from a single under their earlier incarnation as the Argyles).
Ron Houston wrote in the San Antonio Express and News on February 9, 1969:
… I sat ringside at the Web in Corpus Christi diggin’ the band playing a song called “Hi Ho Silver Lining.” It wasn’t Jeff Beck I was looking at. It was “Homer,” the band I had booked for Ray Schaff at the Web.
Frank Coy wrote the A-side of their first single, “Dandilion Wine”, (note spelling – not “Dandelion”) backed with a radical reworking of “I Never Cared for You”, which I would never have guessed was a Willie Nelson song if I hadn’t seen the credit on the label. It even uses “Hall of the Mountain King” in the break.
Their next single had two originals by Galen Niles, “On the Wall” / “Texas Lights”, published by Illiad Music.
Their third single had another Galen Niles composition, “Sunrise”, with a repeat of “Dandilion Wine” on the flip.
Homer at Sun Valley Ballroom on Friday, July 25, 1969 with Ron Houston, KTSA DJ, from the Victoria Advocate.
In September, 1969, Homer were one of the bands represented for booking by Fun People, Inc. at 4807 West Ave in San Antonio, along with the Laughing Kind, the Bubble Puppy, the Playboys of Edinburg, the Sweet Smoke, and Lavender Hill Express.
By the time of their album’s release in 1972, with eight originals by the band, the lineup was:
Phil Bepko – vocals Frank Coy – vocals Galen Niles – lead guitar Howard Gloor – lead guitar and steel guitar Chet Himes – bass Gene Coleman – drums
Frank Coy, Galen Niles and Chet Himes seemed to be in all incarnations of the group. I’ve also seen Rob Randolph and Van Wilks named as members. Robin Overall was a member for a few weeks, but wound up forming Heironymous with Gene Coleman and Phil Bepko, ending Homer’s run.
Chet Himes went into audio engineering, he passed away in August 2020.
Some info from mikesbandarchive.com (now defunct).
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.
Photo may be subject to copyright. The Pretty Things, spring 1965
Formed in September 1963, The Pretty Things’ original line up comprised:
Phil May (lead vocals)
Dick Taylor (lead guitar)
Brian Pendelton (rhythm guitar)
John Stax (bass/harmonica)
Pete Kirtley (drums)
Around November 1963, Viv Andrews (aka Viv Broughton), who’d been working with David Bowie in The Hooker Brothers replaced Kirtley.
1964
3 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Mike Cotton Band (Rieks Korte’s research)
7 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Acker Bilk, Kenny Walsh & Walsh Band (Rieks Korte’s research)
9 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Mike Cotton Band (Rieks Korte’s research)
14 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Douggie Richford’s London Jazzmen (Rieks Korte’s research)
16 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Bob Wallis’ Storeyville Jazzmen (Rieks Korte’s research)
21 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Monty Sunshine’s Jazz Band (Rieks Korte’s research)
23 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Animals and Jimmy Powell & The Dimensions (Rieks Korte’s research)
28 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames, Manfred Mann, Alexis Korner, Jimmy Powell, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Zoot Money, Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men, The Animals, The Yardbirds and others (Rieks Korte’s research) Cyril Davies benefit concert
30 January 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Jimmy Powell & The Five Dimensions and The Wes Minster 5 (Rieks Korte’s research)
4 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Graham Bond’s R&B Quartet and The Art Wood Combo (Rieks Korte’s research)
6 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Alex Harvey’s Soul Band and John Lee & The Groundhogs (Rieks Korte’s research)
11 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London Graham Bond’s R&B Quartet and The Art Wood Combo (Rieks Korte’s research)
13 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Jimmy Powell & The Five Dimensions and The Wes Minster 5 (Rieks Korte’s research)
18 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Animals and The Wes Minster 5 (Rieks Korte’s research)
20 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Jimmy Powell & The Five Dimensions and John Lee & The Groundhogs (Rieks Korte’s research)
21 February 1964 – Ricky Tick, Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire (Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/)
25 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Animals and The Art Wood Combo (Rieks Korte’s research)
27 February 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Jimmy Powell & The Five Dimensions and John Lee & The Groundhogs (Record Mirror)
28 February 1964 – Ricky Tick, Plaza Ballroom, Guildford, Surrey (Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/)
3 March 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Animals and John Lee & The Groundhogs (Rieks Korte’s research)
5 March 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Alex Harvey Soul Band and The Wes Minster Five (Rieks Korte’s research)
12 March 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Graham Bond’s R&B Quartet and Gene Latter & The Cousins (Record Mirror)
17 March 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Animals and John Lee & The Groundhogs (Rieks Korte’s research)
Photo may be subject to copyright
24 March 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with John Lee and The Groundhogs (Record Mirror/Clapham News)
Photo may be subject to copyright
30 March 1964 – Starlite Club, Penge, Kent (Clapham Advertiser)
31 March 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Animals and John Lee & The Groundhogs (Record Mirror)
7 April 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Falling Leaves (Record Mirror)
Photo may be subject to copyright
13 April 1964 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Hertfordshire (Hertfordshire Express)
14 April 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Mark Leeman Five and The Tridents (Record Mirror)
15 April 1964 – Market Hall, St Albans, Herts (Record Mirror)
19 April 1964 – Phoenix Blues Club, Staines, Middlesex (Record Mirror)
Record Mirror’s 18 April issue, page 8 has a picture of the Viv Andrews’ line up
21 April 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Art Wood Combo and The Impacts (Record Mirror)
24 April 1964 – Ricky Ticky, Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire (Record Mirror)
25 April 1964 – Gig in Ruislip, Middlesex (Record Mirror)
26 April 1964 – Phoenix Blues Club, Staines, Middlesex (Record Mirror)
Thanks to John Warburg for sending. Source: Record Mirror. Photo may be subject to copyright
Record Mirror reported that The Pretty Things played at the 100 Club every Tuesday from 28 April to 16 June
Towards the end of April 1964, Viv Prince took over from Viv Andrews on drums
28 April 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Art Wood Combo and The Muleskinners (Rieks Korte’s research)
29 April 1964 – Market Hall, St Albans, Herts (Record Mirror)
30 April 1964 – ABC Croydon, Croydon, Surrey with Billy Fury, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, The John Barry 7 and The Zephyrs (Chris Broom book: Rockin’ and Around Croydon)
1 May 1964 – Gig in Crawley, West Sussex (possibly Starlight Ballroom) (Record Mirror)
Record Mirror reported in its 2 May issue that Viv Prince was on drums but the picture shows Viv Andrews
26 May 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Harps (Rieks Korte’s research)
27 May 1964 – Dancing Slipper, Nottingham (Beat Monthly)
28 May 1964 – Blue Opera Club, Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, Middlesex (Leyton and Leytonstone Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)
29 May 1964 – Mercers Arms, Coventry (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
30 May 1964 – Rivieria, St Austell, Cornwall (Beat Monthly) This seems implausible considering the geographical distance from Coventry and then to Bexley the next day
31 May 1964 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, Kent (Record Mirror)
Photo may be subject to copyright
1 June 1964 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Hertfordshire (Hertfordshire Express)
2 June 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Art Wood Combo (Rieks Korte’s research)
3 June 1964 – Forum, Oxford (Beat Monthly)
4 June 1964 – Blue Opera Club, Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, Middlesex (Leyton and Leytonstone Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)
5 June 1964 – Ricky Ticky, High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press/Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/)
6 June 1964 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with Johnny & The Starliners (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
8 June 1964 – Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London (Beat Monthly)
9 June 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Art Wood Combo (Rieks Korte’s research)
10 June 1964 – Market Hall, St Albans, Herts (Record Mirror)
Photo may be subject to copyright
11 June 1964 – Blue Opera Club, Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, Middlesex (Leyton and Leytonstone Guardian/Walthamstow Guardian)
3 July 1964 – Hoveton, Wroxham, Norfolk with Rod Harvey & The Drifting Strangers (Eastern Evening News) Beat Monthly has a gig in Wrexham, north Wales on this date
4 July 1964 – Gig in Rawtenstall (Beat Monthly)
5 July 1964 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, Kent (Record Mirror)
6 July 1964 – Gig in Harrow, Middlesex (most likely Big Beat Club) (Beat Monthly)
7 July 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Farinas (Rieks Korte’s research)
8 July 1964 – Gig in Norwich, Norfolk (Beat Instrumental)
9 July 1964 – Gig in Southsea, Hants (Beat Instrumental)
10 July 1964 – Gig in Plymouth, Devon (Beat Instrumental)
11 July 1964 – Berkeley Grill Crawdaddy Club, Coventry with The Sorrows (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
16 July 1964 – Majestic, Hanley, Staffordshire (Beat Monthly)
17 July 1964 – Winchester Lido, Winchester, Hampshire with The Missing Links (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)
18 July 1964 – Assembly, Manchester (Beat Monthly)
19 July 1964 – Southall Community Centre, Southall, Middlesex (Beat Monthly)
20 July 1964 – Big Beat Club, Harrow, Middlesex (Beat Monthly)
21 July 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Farinas (Rieks Korte’s research)
24 July 1964 – Majestic, Crewe, Cheshire (Rieks Korte’s research)
25 July 1964 – Caribbean Club, Radcaster, Leeds, West Yorkshire (Rieks Korte’s research)
26 July 1964 – Belle Vue, Manchester (Rieks Korte’s research) Beat Monthly has the band playing at the Bromley Court Hotel in Bromley, Kent on this date
27 July 1964 – Gig in Edinburgh, Scotland (Rieks Korte’s research)
28 July 1964 – Public Hall, Wallington, Surrey (Rieks Korte’s research)
30 July 1964 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Rockin Henri & The Hayseeds (East Kent Times & Mail)
31 July 1964 – Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire with Reg Bassett & His Orchestra and Singers (Crewe Chronicle)
31 July 1964 – Royal Hotel, Lowestoft, Suffolk (Rieks Korte’s research)
2 August 1964 – Gig in Ryde, Isle of Wight (probably Disco Blue) (Rieks Korte’s research)
3 August 1964 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk (Rieks Korte’s research)
6 August 1964 – El Toro, Swiss Cottage, central London (Rieks Korte’s research)
7 August 1964 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Johnny Kaye & The Kossacks and Brent Peters & The Chessmen (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
Photo may be subject to copyright
8 August 1964 – Clacton Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with The Federals (Essex County Standard)
9 August 1964 – Gig in Manchester (Rieks Korte’s research)
11 August 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Brian Knight’s Blues by Six (Rieks Korte’s research)
12 August 1964 – Town Hall, Torquay, Devon with The Bluesounds and Mel Fear & The Fantastic Phantoms (Torbay Express and South Devon Echo)
13 August 1964 – Gig in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire (Rieks Korte’s research)
14 August 1964 – Gig in Bradford, West Yorkshire (Rieks Korte’s research)
15 August 1964 – Wilton Hall, Bletchley, Bucks (Bletchley District Gazette)
16 August 1964 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, Kent (Beat Monthly) Viv Andrews returned for a one-off gig covering for Viv Prince at this venue but it may not have been on this date
18 August 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, London with Brian Knight’s Blues by Six (Rieks Korte’s research)
19 August 1964 – Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle) First visit to Newcastle
21 August 1964 – Town Hall, Trowbridge, Wiltshire (Rieks Korte’s research)
22 August 1964 – Town Hall, Chippenham, Wiltshire (Rieks Korte’s research)
23 August 1964 – Cavern, Manchester (Beat Monthly)
Photo may be subject to copyright
25 August 1964 – Orford Jazz Cellar, St Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, Norfolk with The Bluebottles (with Mike Patto) (Eastern Evening News) Beat Monthly has the band playing in Southampton on this date
26 August 1964 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, Kent (Beat Monthly)
Photo may be subject to copyright
27 August 1964 – Assembly Hall, Worthing, West Sussex with The Detours (Worthing Gazette)
28 August 1964 – Winter Gardens, Morecambe, Lancashire (Beat Monthly)
Photo may be subject to copyright
29 August 1964 – Marcam Hall, March, Cambridgeshire with The Blobs (Cambridgeshire Times)
30 August 1964 – The Scene, Florida Room, Brighton, Sussex with The Beat Merchants (Evening Argus)
Photo may be subject to copyright
31 August 1964 – Public Hall, Heacham, Norfolk with The Rocking Berries, The Pickwicks, The Continentals, The Tea Time Four, The Delcounts, The Doones and Beats Limited (Lynn News)
1 September 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Brian Knight’s Blues by Six (Rieks Korte’s research)
4 September 1964 – Floral Hall, Morecambe, Lancashire (Beat Monthly) This was most likely nearby Southport
7 September 1964 – Mojo Club, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Rieks Korte’s research)
8 September 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Brian Knight’s Blues by Six (Rieks Korte’s research)
Thanks to Rolf Hannet for providing. Source: Western Scene. Photo may be subject to copyright
9 September 1964 – Corn Exchange, Bristol (Western Scene)
Photo may be subject to copyright
10 September 1964 – Guildhall, Plymouth, Devon (Cornish Guardian)
Photo may be subject to copyright
11 September 1964 – Top Ten Club, Flamingo, Redruth, Cornwall with Shaun & The Shondells (West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette)
Photo may be subject to copyright
12 September 1964 – Top Ten Club, New Cornish Riveria Lido, St Austell, Cornwall with Shaun & The Shondells (Cornish Guardian)
13 September 1964 – Gig in Clacton, Essex (Beat Monthly)
14 September 1964 – Bath Pavilion, Bath (Western Scene)
Photo may be subject to copyright
18 September 1964 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, Surrey with Mike Rabin & The Demons and The UKs (Kingston & Malden Borough News)
26 September 1964 – Gig in Lincoln (Beat Instrumental)
27 September 1964 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, Kent (Rieks Korte’s research)
29 September 1964 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
30 September 1964 – Gig in Leicester (Beat Instrumental)
1 October 1964 –Beat City, central London (Beat Instrumental)
2 October 1964 – Queen’s, Leeds, West Yorkshire (Beat Instrumental)
3 October 1964 – Gig in Hinckley, Leicestershire (Beat Instrumental)
Photo may be subject to copyright
5 October 1964 – Silver Blades, Streatham, southwest London with The Bo Street Runners (Clapham Advertiser)
6 October 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Blues by Six (Record Mirror)
13 October 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Blues by Six (Rieks Korte’s research)
15-19 October 1964 – Tour of Scotland (Beat Instrumental)
23 October 1964 – Gig in Milford Haven, Wales (Beat Instrumental)
27 October 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Blues by Six (Rieks Korte’s research)
29 October 1964 – Majestic Ballroom, Luton, Bedfordshire with Bracer Ball (Luton News)
30 October 1964 – Co-op Hall, Peckham, south London (Rieks Korte’s research)
Photo may be subject to copyright
31 October 1964 – Corn Exchange, Cambridge with The Freemen (Beat Instrumental/Cambridge News)
3 November 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Brian Knight’s Blues by Six (Record Mirror)
Photo may be subject to copyright
6 November 1964 – Regal, Edmonton, Middlesex with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Tottenham Weekly Herald) (cancelled)
Photo may be subject to copyright
Chuck Berry replaced P J Proby who cancelled according to Rieks Korte. However, Julien Brice Mansencal says the entire tour was subsequently cancelled as Berry couldn’t get out of existing commitments.
7 November 1964 – Granada, Slough, Berkshire with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
8 November 1964 – Hippodrome, Birmingham Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
10 November 1964 – Odeon, Leicester with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
11 November 1964 – Rialto York, North Yorkshire with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
12 November 1964 – Odeon Bolton, Bolton, Greater Manchester with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
13 November 1964 – Odeon Newcaste, Newcastle upon Tyne with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
15 November 1964 – Palace, Manchester with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
16 November 1964 – Granada, Rugby, Warwickshire with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
17 November 1964 – Gaumont, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
18 November 1964 – Odeon, Liverpool with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
6 November 1964 – Tower Ballroom, New Brighton (Beat Instrumental)
7 November 1964 – Palais, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire (Beat Instrumental)
9 November 1964 – Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, central London (Beat Instrumental)
13 November 1964 – Wimbledon Palais, southwest London (Beat Instrumental)
19 November 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Hell-Raisers (Rieks Korte’s research) Beat Instrumental lists Olympia, Reading, Berkshire on this date
20 November 1964 – Gaumont, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
Photo may be subject to copyright
20-21 November 1964 – Empire Pool, Wembley, Middlesex with The Rolling Stones, The Animals, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, The Migil Five, The Miami Show Band, Susan Maughan, Lorne Lesley, Julia Rogers, Gene Vincent and The Hustlers (Clapham Advertiser)
21 November 1964 – Town Hall, Loughborough (Beat Instrumental)
22 November 1964 – Winter Gardens, Morecambe, Lancashire with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
Advert for concert that was cancelled. Photo may be subject to copyright
23 November 1964 – Brixton Granada, Brixton, south London with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knights, Tea Time 4, Don Spencer, The Leroys, Kim Weston and Earl Van Dyke Quartet (South East London Mercury) (cancelled)
24 November 1964 – Gauount, Bournmouth, Dorset with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
25 November 1964 – Gaumont State, Kilburn, north London with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
27 November 1964 – Odeon, Romford, Essex with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
28 November 1964 – Odeon, Lewisham, southeast London with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
29 November 1964 – Hippodrome, Brighton, Sussex with Chuck Berry, The Barron Knight’s featuring Duke D’Mond, Kim Weston with The Earl Van Dyke Quartet, Teatime Four and The Leroys (Rieks Korte’s research) (cancelled)
1 December 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Brothers Grimm (Rieks Korte’s research)
2-7 December 1964 – Tour of Scotland (Beat Instrumental)
10 December 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Westsiders (Rieks Korte’s research)
11 December 1964 – Leicester University (Beat Instrumental)
14 December 1964 – The Tower Ballroom, New Brighton with The Others (Liverpool Echo)
15 December 1964 – Newcastle City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne with The Rockin’ Berries, Julie Rodgers and The Poets (Newcastle Evening Echo)
17 December 1964 – Olympia, Reading, Berkshire (Beat Instrumental)
Photo may be subject to copyright
18 December 1964 – Hillside Ballroom, Hereford with The Ups ‘N’ Downs (Gloucester Citizen)
19 December 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Westsiders (Record Mirror)
22 December 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Blues by Knight (Record Mirror)
29 December 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Blues by Knight (Record Mirror)
31 December 1964 – Northwich Memorial Hall, Northwich, Cheshire (Record Mirror)
Photo may be subject to copyright. The Pretty Things, spring 1965
1965
5 January 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Brothers Grimm (Record Mirror)
Photo may be subject to copyright
7 January 1965 – Pier Pavilion, Worthing, West Sussex with The Teenbeats (Worthing Herald/Worthing Gazette)
Photo may be subject to copyright
9 January 1965 – Drill Hall, Grantham, Lincolnshire with Woody Allen & The Challengers and Maniax (Grantham Journal)
Photo may be subject to copyright
12 January 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Brothers Grimm (Record Mirror)
Photo may be subject to copyright
16 January 1965 – Leyton Baths, Leyton, Essex (Walthamstow Guardian)
19 January 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Crescents (Record Mirror)
20 January 1965 – Bristol Corn Exchange, Bristol (Western Scene)
21 January 1965 – Bath Pavilion, Bath (Western Scene)
26 January 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London (Beat Instrumental)
27 January 1965 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
30 January 1965 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with The Spooks (Sussex Evening Express)
31 January 1965 – Granada Woolwich, Woolwich, southeast London with The Rockin Berries, The Merseybeats and Julie Rogers (Bexley Heath & Welling Observer and Kentish Times)
1 February 1965 – Parr Hall, Warrington, Cheshire (Beat Instrumental)
Photo may be subject to copyright
2 February 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Loose Ends (Melody Maker)
3 February 1965 – Majestic Hull, Hull (Record Mirror) According to Beat Instrumental, the band toured Ireland from 3-7 February but this seems unlikely
5 February 1965 – Bolton Boneyard, Bolton, Greater Manchester (Record Mirror)
6 February 1965 – Manchester New Century Hall, Manchester and Manchester University, Manchester (Record Mirror)
7 February 1965 – Wembley Starlite, Wembley, west London (Record Mirror)
8 February 1965 – Newcastle Majestic, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Record Mirror)
9 February 1965 – Stamford Hall, Altrincham, Greater Manchester (Beat Instrumental)
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11 February 1965 – Liberal Hall, Yeovil, Somerset with The Beat Traders (Western Gazette)
11 February 1965 – Gig in Dunstable, Bedfordshire (may not be California Ballroom) (Beat Instrumental) This seems unlikely
13 February 1965 – Gig in Scarborough (Beat Instrumental)
19 February 1965 – Gig in Tiverley, the Mumbles, south Wales (Beat Instrumental)
Photo may be subject to copyright
22 February 1965 – Galaxy Club, Town Hall, Basingstoke, Berkshire with The Troggs (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette) Beat Instrumental has the Baths, Eltham, Kent but this is very unlikely with these two gigs
26 February 1965 – Top Spot, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire with Dean Prince & The Dukes (Gloucester Citizen)
Photo may be subject to copyright
1 March 1965 – Galaxy Club, Community Centre, Basingstoke, Hampshire with The Troggs (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)
2 March 1965 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
Photo may be subject to copyright
3 March 1965 – Majestic Ballroom, Newport, south Wales (South Wales Echo)
6 March 1965 – Florida Rooms, Brighton, Sussex with The Who, The-Bones and Johnny B Great (Evening Argus)
6 March 1965 – Mersey View Ballroom, Frodsham, Cheshire with The Spidermen, The Squad and Rita (Cheshire Observer/Warrington Guardian)
Photo may be subject to copyright
11 March 1965 – Haslemere Hall, Haslemere, Surrey with The James Crow Group (Farnham Herald)
Photo may be subject to copyright
18 March 1965 – Smethwick Baths, Smethwick, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
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18 March 1965 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands with The Couriers (Birmingham Evening Mail)
19 March 1965 – Big Beat Nite Out, Fairfield Hall, Croydon, Surrey with The Kinks, The Animals, The Caravelles, Dodie West and Sean Buckley & The Breadcrumbs (Chris Broom book: Rockin’ and Around Croydon)
21 March 1965 – Empire Pool, Wembley, northwest London with Dave Berry & The Cruisers, The Searchers, Kenny Lynch, Elkie Brooks, The Four Pennies, Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men, Them, Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas, Tommy Quickly, The Fourmost, Lulu & The Luvvers, The Merseybeats, PJ Proby, The Zombies and Kenny Ball (Rieks Korte’s research)
Photo may be subject to copyright
22 March 1965 – Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham with The Kinks, The Animals, Screaming Lord Sutch, Sean Buckley & The Breadcrumbs and Dodie West (Birmingham Evening Mail)
2 April 1965 – Heaven & Hell, Manchester (Rieks Korte’s research)
3 April 1965 – Corn Exchnage, Cambridge (Rieks Korte’s research)
Photo may be subject to copyright
4 April 1965 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, Kent (Melody Maker)
7 April 1965 – Gig in Rochdale, Greater Manchester (Rieks Korte’s research)
8 April 1965 – Manor Lounge, Stockport, Greater Manchester with Just Four Men (Stockport County Express)
Photo may be subject to copyright
10 April 1965 – Cubiklub, St Patrick’s Hall, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire with The Motown Set (Halifax Daily Courier & Guardian)
10 April 1965 – Gig in Wigan, Greater Manchester (Rieks Korte’s research)
11 April 1965 – New Theatre, Oxford with Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders, The Artwoods, The Ivy League, Elkie Brooks, Syd & George, The Chapters and The Guards (Oxford Mail) This looks like a tour so the other artists may also have been on the rest of the tour with The Pretty Things and Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders
17 April 1965 – Spalding Ballroom, Spalding, Lincolnshire with Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders (Rieks Korte’s research)
Photo may be subject to copyright
18 April 1965 – De Montfort Hall, Leicester with The Kinks and six other acts (Northampton Chronicle)
19 April 1965 – Gig in Scarborough, North Yorkshire with Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders (Rieks Korte’s research) Unlikely this took place as they were in the Netherlands
19 April 1965 – Blokker Festival, the Netherlands, broadcasted on Dutch Television (Robert Gerretsen research)
24 April 1965 – Gig in Gloucester, Gloucestershire with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, John Barry Seven, The Kestrels and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research/The Stage)
25 April 1965 – ABC Northampton, Northampton with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, John Barry Seven, The Kestrels, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research/The Stage)
27 April 1965 – ABC Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, John Barry Seven, The Kestrels and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research/The Stage)
28 April 1965 – Savoy, Exeter, Devon with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, John Barry Seven, The Kestrels and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research/The Stage)
Photo may be subject to copyright
29 April 1965 – ABC Southampton, Southampton Hampshire with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, John Barry Seven, The Kestrels and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research/The Stage/Southern Echo)
30 April 1965 – ABC Croydon, Croydon, south London with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, John Barry Seven, The Kestrels and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research/The Stage)
1 May 1965 – ABC Dover, Dover, Kent with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, John Barry Seven, The Kestrels and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research/The Stage)
2 May 1965 – ABC Harrow, Harrow, west London with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research)
4 May 1965 – ABC Hull, Hull with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research)
5 May 1965 – Gig in Stockton-on-Tees, Teesside with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research)
6 May 1965 – ABC Carlisle, Carlisle, Cumbria with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research)
8 May 1965 – Theatre Royal, Norwich, Norfolk with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research)
9 May 1965 – Colston Hall, Bristol with Billy Fury & The Gamblers, Dave Berry & The Cruisers, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and The Zephyrs (Rieks Korte’s research)
13 May 1965 – Marquee, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester (Rieks Korte’s research)
Photo may be subject to copyright
14 May 1965 – Top Ten Club, Town Hall, Liskeard, Cornwall with The Blue Beats and People (Cornish Guardian)
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15 May 1965 – Top Ten Club, New Cornish Riveria Lido, St Austell, Cornwall with The Blue Beats and People (Cornish Guardian)
Photo may be subject to copyright
17 May 1965 – Town Hall, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen)
18 May 1965 – Majestic, Newport, Wales (Rieks Korte’s research)
19 May 1965 – Gig in Porthcawl, Wales (Rieks Korte’s research)
20 May 1965 – City Hall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with Donovan (Rieks Korte’s research) Donovan’s drummer was Skip Alan who would replace Viv Prince in November. The 23 May date suggests there were other artists on the tour
21 May 1965 – Central Pier, Morecambe, Lancashire with Donovan (Rieks Korte’s research)
Photo may be subject to copyright
23 May 1965 – Winter Gardens, Bournemouth, Dorset with Donovan, The New Faces, Unit 4 Plus 2, John L Watson & The Hummelflugs and Chris Carlson (website: https://bournemouthbeatboom.wordpress.com/) Western Gazette just has Donovan and Unit 4 Plus 2
23 May 1965 – Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire with Donovan (Rieks Korte’s research)
Photo may be subject to copyright
24 May 1965 – YOR Club, Parr Hall, Warrington, Cheshire with The Notions (Warrington Guardian)
25 May 1965 – Stamford Hall, Altrincham, Greater Manchester (Beat Instrumental)
26 May 1965 – City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire (Beat Instrumental)
27 May 1965 – McKilroys, Swindon, Wiltshire (Beat Instrumental)
30 May 1965 – Granaada, Brixton, south London (Beat Instrumental)
3 June 1965 – Gig in Munich, West Germany (Rieks Korte’s research)
4 June 1965 – Gig in Munich, West Germany (Rieks Korte’s research)
5 June 1965 – Gig in Hamburg, West Germany (possibly Star Club) (Rieks Korte’s research)
6 June 1965 – Gig in Hamburg, West Germany (possibly Star Club) (Rieks Korte’s research)
7 June 1965 – Gig in Hamburg, West Germany (possibly Star Club) (Rieks Korte’s research)
11 June 1965 – Ricky Tick, Guildford Civic Hall, Guildford, Surrey with Blues Syndicate (Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/)
12 June 1965 – Probably gig in Stamford Hill, north London (Rieks Korte’s research)
Surrey Mirror, 18 June 1965. Photo may be subject to copyright
18 June 1965 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London (Beat Instrumental)
19 June 1965 – Drill Hall, Scunthorpe (Beat Instrumental)
20 June 1965 – HMS Daffodil, Portsmouth, Hants (Beat Instrumental)
21 June 1965 – Oxford University, Oxford (Beat Instrumental)
25 June 1965 – New Restaurant, Aere Harwell, Oxfordshire with Candy ‘N’ Cookies, Ricky & The Gamblers and The Outcrowd (Oxford Mail) Rieks Korte has the band performing at Harwell Atomic Energy Establishment on this date and looks like same venue
27 June 1965 – Embassy, Burslem (Beat Instrumental)
28 June 1965 – Adelphi Ballroom, West Bromwich, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
3 July 1965 – Cavern, Leicester Square, central London (Beat Instrumental)
Photo may be subject to copyright
4 July 1965 – Margate Winter Gardens, Margate, Kent with The Nashville Teens and support (East Kent Times & Mail) Rieks Korte also has Screaming Jay Hawkins and The Clayton Squares
9 July 1965 – Embassy, Burslem (Beat Instrumental)
10 July 1965 – Town Hall, Leek (Beat Instrumental)
11-17 July 1965 – Scottish tour (Beat Instrumental)
18 July 1965 – Gig in Blackpool, Lancashire (Beat Instrumental)
23 July 1965 – 32 Club, Harlesden, north London (Hammersmith & Shepherds Bush Gazette)
24 July 1965 – Witham Public Hall, Witham, Essex with Cops ‘N’ Robbers and The Senates (Essex County Standard)
28 July 1965 – Pool Ballroom, Rhos-on-Sea, Wales with The Motown Sect and The Panzies (North Wales Weekly News)
The Daily Mirror’s 16 August edition noted that The Pretty Things flew off for their New Zealand tour on Sunday, 15 August after a farewell gig in London (the Ad-Lib Club)
19-30 August 1965 – New Zealand tour with Sandie Shaw, Eden Kane, Tommy Adderley, The Chicks and The Mike Perjanik Showband (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1965-2/)
31 August-1 September 1965 – Top 20 Club, Auckland, New Zealand with Larry’s Rebels and The Dark Ages (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1965-2/)
Photo may be subject to copyright
5 September 1965 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with De Noyzle (Sussex Evening Express)
10 September 1965 – Lucky Stars Club, Staines, Middlesex (Staines and Egham News)
14 October 1965 – Gig in Chesterfield (Beat Instrumental)
15 October 1965 – Gig in Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Beat Instrumental)
Photo may be subject to copyright
16 October 1965 – Astoria Ballroom, Rawtenstall, Lancashire with The Mustangs and The Saracens (Burnley Express and News)
17 October 1965 – Gig in Doncaster (Beat Instrumental)
18-19 October 1965 – Scottish dates (Beat Instrumental)
Photo may be subject to copyright
21 October 1965 – Empire Social Club, Neath, south Wales with The Fleetwoods (South Wales Evening Post) This was cancelled when two members fell ill
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21 October 1965 – Glen Ballroom, Llanelly, south Wales with The Smokestacks and The Eyes of Blue (South Wales Evening Post) This was cancelled when two members fell ill
23 October 1965 – Gig in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire (Beat Instrumental)
24 October 1965 – Gig in Southall, west London (most likely Community Centre) (Beat Instrumental)
28 October 1965 – Zars Club, York (Beat Instrumental)
29 October 1965 – Students’ Union, Oxford University (Beat Instrumental)
Photo may be subject to copyright
30 October 1965 – Bury Palais de Danse, Bury, Greater Manchester plus two supporting groups (Bolton Evening News)
31 October 1965 – New Elizabethan, Manchester (Beat Instrumental)
1 November 1965 – Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl, Wales (Beat Instrumental)
3 November 1965 – Bruce Grove Ballroom, Tottenham, north London (Beat Instrumental)
4 November 1965 – City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire (Beat Instrumental)
5 November 1965 – Gig in Gravesend, Kent (Beat Instrumental)
7 November 1965 – Oasis, Manchester with The Motown Set (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
Skip Alan subbed for Viv Prince on a Scottish tour in November so this seems the most likely date when he took over unless it was the Brighton gig above
8 November 1965 – Town Hall, Iveraray, Scotland (Rieks Korte’s research)
9 November 1965 – Bobby Jones, Ayr, Scotland (Rieks Korte’s research)
12 November 1965 – Town Hall, Falkirk, Scotland (Rieks Korte’s research)
13 November 1965 – Baths Hall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Beat Instrumental)
Photo may be subject to copyright
14 November 1965 – Jungfrau, Manchester (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
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20 November 1965 – Worsley Civic Hall, Walkden, Worsley, Greater Manchester with Wynder K Frog and The Fendermen (Bolton Evening News)
22 November 1965 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
23 November 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Artwoods (Melody Maker)
Beat Instrumental reports that the band starts a Welsh tour on 25 November
New Musical Express’ 26 November issue reported that Viv Prince had told the music paper that he’d been asked to leave the group. The Pretty Things were on a Scottish tour with a deputy drummer (Skip Alan)
27 November 1965 – Coronation Hall, Ramsgate, Kent (Rieks Korte’s research) East Kent Times & Mail reports that this was rescheduled
New Musical Express’ 3 December issue reported that Viv Prince had agreed to leave. Skip Alan (ex-Them) who had subbed on the recent Scottish tour, was now a permanent member and on tour with the band in Scandinavia.
Billy Harrison, formerly of Them, covered for Dick Taylor when The Pretty Things played in Scandinavia, which may have been this same tour as he flew into Copenhagen.
Photo: Cityweek. Photo may be subject to copyright
Belfast paper, Cityweek, ran an article on former Them guitarist Billy Harrison in its 9 December 1965 issue, page 17 and notes that he has joined The Pretty Things. It adds that he’s currently on tour with them in Holland.
4 December 1965 – British Legion Hall, Coleford, Somerset with David & Jonathan (Somerset Guardian/Western Scene) Six miles from Frome
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5 December 1965 – Mr Smith’s, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
11 December 1965 – Coronation Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent with The System (East Kent Times & Mail)
Photo may be subject to copyright
14 December 1965 – Hen & Chickens, Langley, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
17 December 1965 – Farnborough Technical College, Farnborough, Hampshire with The Carnaby and The Generation (Aldershot News)
Photo may be subject to copyright
20 December 1965 – Coed Eva Community College, Cwmbran, south Wales with The Marauders and Four of a Kind (South Wales Argus)
21 December 1965 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Artwoods (Melody Maker)
22 December 1965 – Bristol Corn Exchange, Bristol (Western Scene)
31 December 1965 – Matrix Hall, Coventry with The Fairies and The Playboys (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
1966
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1 January 1966 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire (Evening Tribune)
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3 January 1966 – Chatham Town Hall, Chatham, Kent with Blues Syndicate (Chatham, Rochester & Gillingham News)
Photo may be subject to copyright
20 January 1966 – Blue Moon, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen)
21 January 1966 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London (Balham & Tooting News and Mercury)
Photo may be subject to copyright
22 January 1966 – Esquire Club, Sheffield, South Yorkshire with Micky Finn’s and Motown Sect (The Star)
25 January 1966 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
16 February 1966 – The Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle)
18-19 February 1966 – Danish dates (for more information, visit Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1966-2/) ThePretty Things played with The Red Squares and Them (the McAuley brothers’ rival version) on 19 February, so it’s possible that this was when Billy Harrison subbed for Dick Taylor (unless it was late 1965)
21 February 1966 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London (Melody Maker)
23 February 1966 – Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley, southeast London (Melody Maker)
Photo may be subject to copyright
4 March 1966 – Ricky Tick, Plaza Ballroom, Newbury, Berkshire (Andover Advertiser/Ricky Tick website: https://www.rickytick.com/)
4 March 1966 – Carfax Ballroom, Oxford (North Berks Herald)
5 March 1966 – Connaught Hall, Southampton University, Southampton, Hampshire with The Confederates (Poster from John Warburg)
Photo may be subject to copyright
6 March 1966 – Agincourt Ballroom, Camberley, Surrey with The Condors (Aldershot News/Camberley News)
9 March 1966 – Tower Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with The John Lofty Sounds (Yarmouth Mercury)
11 March 1966 – Regency Ballroom, Bath with Chet & The Triumphs (Western Scene)
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13 March 1966 – Pavilion Ballroom, Buxton, Derbyshire with Hickory Stix (North Cheshire Standard)
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27 March 1966 – Raven Hall, Corby Hotel, Corby, Northamptonshire with The Veldens (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
8 April 1966 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London (Balham & Tooting News and Mercury)
12 April 1966 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with Jo Jo Gunne (Melody Maker)
16-17 April 1966 – Star Club, Hamburg, West Germany (Star Club book by Manfred Weissleder and Siegfried E Loch)
21 April 1966 – Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with The Junco Partners, The Jazz Board and Hilton K’s (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
6 May 1966 – Chislehurst Caves, Chislehurst, southeast London (Melody Maker)
7 May 1966 – St George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, Leicestershire (Nuneaton Evening Tribune)
Photo may be subject to copyright
13 May 1966 – Ready Steady Go Club, Market Hall, St Albans, Herts (Welwyn Advertiser)
14 May 1966 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Prowlers (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)
Photo may be subject to copyright
21 May 1966 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire with The Cryin Shames and The Saracens (Burnley Express & News)
Photo may be subject to copyright
30 May 1966 – Waterside Orchard Club, Hopwood, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
1 June 1966 – Target’s Paul Row, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
9 July 1966 – Flamingo Ballroom, Redruth, Cornwall with Little John & The Giants and Rikki and The Layabouts (West Briton & The Royal Cornwall Gazette)
10 July 1966 – Khyber Club, Taunton, Somerset with The Germs (Somerset County Gazette)
13 July 1966 – Town Hall, Stourbridge, West Midlands (Rieks Korte’s research)
14 July 1966 – Blue Lagoon, Kimbells, Southsea, Hampshire (Portsmouth News)
15 July 1966 – Town Hall, Welshpool, Wales (Rieks Korte’s research)
16 July 1966 – Haggers Cinema, Pembroke, Wales (Rieks Korte’s research)
19 July 1966 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London (Rieks Korte’s research)
2 August 1966 – Plaza Ballroom, Belfast, Northern Ireland with The Mad Lads and Just Five (Belfast Telegraph/Cityweek) The Pretty Things’ first appearance in Belfast
27 March 1967 – Casino, Scheveningen, the Netherlands (Robert Gerretsen research)
At some point in March, John Stax also departed. He was replaced by two members from The Fenmen after Easter.
Photo may be subject to copyright
15 April 1967 – Ram Jam Club, Brixton, south London with The All Night Workers (Melody Maker)
Photo may be subject to copyright
29 April 1967 – Lewes Town Hall, Lewes, East Sussex with The Target, St John’s Wood and The Zanes (Sussex Express)
29 April 1967 – 14-Hour Technicolor Dream Festival, Alexandra Palace, north London with Pink Floyd, Sam Gopal, Soft Machine and others (Melody Maker)
Melody Maker’s 29 April issue reported that Jon Povey and Alan “Wally” Waller from The Fenmen had joined The Pretty Things. Waller says his first gig was at the Casino des Sables D’Olonne on the Atlantic Coast in France around Easter (late March).
19 May 1967 – Oriel Ball, Oxford with The Mickey Finn, Nightgales, The Artwoods and The Burlington Sound (Cherwell)
Photo may be subject to copyright
10 June 1967 – Dartmouth Guildhall, Dartmouth, Devon with support (Torbay Express and South Devon Echo)
16 June 1967 – Diss Corn Hall, Diss, Norfolk with Ian and Danny Eves and The Reformation (North Norfolk News)
24 June 1967 – Supreme Eastern Esplanade, Ramsgate, Kent with Len Marshall Show (East Kent Times & Mail)
22 July 1967 – Alexandria Palace, north London with The Move and others (Rieks Korte’s research)
26 July 1967 – Regal Ballroom, Minehead, Somerset with The Phaze (Somerset County Gazette)
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29 July 1967 – Torquay Town Hall, Torquay, Devon (Herald Express)
19 August 1967 – Flamingo, Redruth, Cornwall with Acoustics (West Briton & Royal Cornish Gazette)
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30 September 1967 – Industrial Club, Norwich, Norfolk with The Kinsmen (Eastern Evening News)
6 October 1967 – Regal, Ardglass, Northern Ireland with The Kings (Belfast Evening Telegraph)
Photo: Cityweek. Photo may be subject to copyright
13 March 1968 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, central London with The Action, Fairport Convention, Blossom Toes and The Track (Melody Maker)
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24 March 1968 – New Regis Club, Bognor Regis, West Sussex with The Machine (Brighton Evening Argus)
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28 March 1968 – Grafton Club, RAF Marham with Bobby Johnson & The Atoms (Lynn News)
11-13 April 1968 – Piper Club, Rome, Italy (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1968-2/) These may have been Twink’s debut shows with the band
Melody Maker‘s 13 April issue reported that Twink had taken over from Skip Alan on drums.
27 April 1968 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, central London with Coconut Mushroom (Melody Maker)
11 May 1968 – Grand Pavilion, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire with The Luddy Sammes Soul Packet (Derbyshire Times/Derbyshire Evening Telegraph)
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21 June 1968 – Punch Bowl, Lapworth, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
21 June 1968 – The First Holiness Kitschgarden for the Liberation of Love & Peace in Colors, Houtrusthallen, La Hague, the Netherlands (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1968-2/) Robert Gerretsen says that The Pretty Things didn’t appear in the end
22 June 1968 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, central London with July and Juniors Eyes (Melody Maker)
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4 July 1968 – West of England College of Art, Ashton, Avon with Fairport Convention (Bristol Evening Post)
6 July 1968 – St Thomas Hall, Brentwood, Essex with Pinkerton’s Colours (Essex Chronicle)
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11 July 1968 – Ravensbourne College, Bromley, southeast London with The Mojos (South East London Mercury)
27 July 1968 – The Cockpit, Hyde Park, central London (Rieks Korte’s research)
1 August 1968 – Tetbury Show Carnival Week, Marquee, Recreation Ground, Tetbury, Gloucestershire with Johnny Carr & The Cadillacs (Stroud News)
2 August 1968 – Bournemouth Pavilion, Bournemouth, Dorset with Bruce Channel and Dr Marigold’s Prescription (Bournemouth Evening Echo)
3 August 1968 – Torbay Blues and Beat Festival, Torquay Town Hall, Torquay, Devon with Invisible Fish and Flavour (Herald Express)
23 August 1968 – Jazz Bilzen festival, Bilzen, Belgium with The Action, Tyrannosaurus Rex, The Move and Simon Dupree Big Sound (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1968-2/)
24 August 1968 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, central London with Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and Terry Reid (Melody Maker)
7 September 1968 – Sport Hotel Spiero, Nieuwkoop, the Netherlands (Robert Gerretsen research)
11 September 1968 – Ancien Stand, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland with The Warren Davis Monday Band and The Shakins (Defecting Grey website: http://sfsorrow.fr/index.php/1968-2/)
18 September 1968 – Country Club, Belsize Park, north London (Melody Maker)
19 September 1968 – Cellar Club, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
27 September 1968 – Van Dike, Plymouth, Devon with The Fire Brigade (Jonathan Hill’s book Van Dike: The Life & Times of a Plymouth Club 1968-1972)
8 October 1968 – Kew Boat House, Kew, west London (Time Out)
Photo may be subject to copyright
18 October 1968 – Mistrale Club, Beckenham Junction, London with T-Rex and Julian Hirsch (Coulson & Purley Advertiser/Poster)
8 November 1968 – Kew Boat House, Kew, west London (Richmond & Twickenham Times)
15 November 1968 – Fishmonger’s Arms, Wood Green, London with Downliners Sect (Melody Maker)
29 November 1968 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands (Melody Maker)
30 November 1968 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, central London with Aurieal and The End (Melody Maker)
5 December 1968 – Somerset College of Art, Arts Ball, Country Ballroom, Taunton, Someset with Savoy Brown and Copper-Pot Band (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
12 December 1968 – Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Waltham Forest Tech College and School of Art with The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Melody Maker)
Photo may be subject to copyright
15 December 1968 – City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear with Pink Floyd, Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, Deviants and Gordon Smith (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
19 December 1968 – College of Technology, Maidstone, Kent (Rieks Korte’s research)
22 December 1968 – Country Club, Belsize Park, north London (Melody Maker)
27 December 1968 – Mistrale Club, Beckenham Junction, south London (Rieks Korte’s research)
29 December 1968 – Festival Flight to Lowlands II, Utrecht, the Netherlands with others (Robert Gerretsen research)
1969
Photo may be subject to copyright
25 January 1969 – Polytechnic, Little Titchfield, central London with Taste (Melody Maker)
25 January 1969 – Middle Earth, Covent Garden, central London with The Egg, Melanie, Glass Menagerie and Dave Brock and Pete Judd (Melody Maker)
Photo may be subject to copyright
31 January 1969 – Fishmonger’s Arms, Wood Green, north London with Jody Grind (Melody Maker/Wood Green & Southgate Weekly Herald)
5 March 1969 – Rag Ball, Lanchester College, Coventry with Julie Driscoll and The Brian Auger Trinity, The Deviants and Blossom Toes (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
Photo may be subject to copyright
8 March 1969 – Reading University Rag, Reading, Berkshire with Pink Floyd and The Gods (Melody Maker)
15 March 1969 – Chelsea College of Science and Technology, southwest London with Barclay James Harvest and Steamhammer (Melody Maker)
16 March 1969 – Blaises, Imperial Hotel, Queen’s Gate, Kensington, west London (Time Out)
29 March 1969 – Paradiso, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Broadcasted by VPRO Radio (Robert Gerretsen research)
Photo may be subject to copyright
3 April 1969 – Country Club, Belsize Park, north London with Deviants (Melody Maker)
26 April 1969 – Kee Club, Bridgend, Wales (Rieks Korte’s research)
9 May 1969 – Parliament Hill Fields, north London (Rieks Korte’s research)
11 May 1969 – Country Club, Belsize Park, north London (Time Out)
23 May 1969 – Fishmongers Arms, Wood Green, north London (Time Out)
31 May 1969 – Van Dike, Plymouth, Devon with The Fire Brigade (Jonathan Hill’s book Van Dike: The Life & Times of a Plymouth Club 1968-1972)
Photo may be subject to copyright
9 June 1969 – Friars, Aylesbury, Bucks with Lol Coxhill and Willy Barrett (Melody Maker)
13 June 1969 – North west Poly, Prince of Wales Road, northwest London (Time Out)
27 June 1969 – Avery Hill College Summer Ball, Avery Hill, Eltham, southeast London with The Kinks, Spencer Washboard Kings, The Coloured Raisins and The Derek Cross Dance Band (South East London Mercury)
Photo may be subject to copyright
1 August 1969 – Lyceum, Strand, central London with Marsha Hunt & White Trash and Hard Meat (Melody Maker)
23 August 1969 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands (Melody Maker)
30 August 1969 – Isle of Wight Pop Festival, Ryde, Isle of Wight with many others (Rieks Korte’s research)
3 October 1969 – Acton Town Hall, Acton, west London (Time Out)
4 October 1969 – Regional College, Barking, east London with Barclay James Harvest and Wild Mouth (Melody Maker)
Photo may be subject to copyright
18 October 1969 – Mothers, Erdington, West Midlands with Rare Bird (Melody Maker)
Photo may be subject to copyright
8 November 1969 – University College, Gower Street, central London with Indo-Jazz Fusion (Melody Maker)
Many thanks to Mike Stax for passing on Rieks Korte’s incomplete gig list, which he shared with Stax in the early 2000s. Thanks to Rieks for getting in touch allowing his research. Also, thanks to Rolf Hannet in Germany for providing Beat Monthly and Beat Instrumental gigs.
Ron Paisley – guitar/vocals John Scott – bass Steve Pryor – organ Ray Beresford – drums
Formed in February 1967, The National Existence was a R&B band from southeast London who featured former Carl Douglas drummer Ray Beresford. According to the South East London Mercury they played every Saturday at the Country Club in Sidcup.
The newspaper reported that the group was still working locally in May 1968 and with the same formation (see below).
We’d be interested to hear any more about this band and can also include photos.
Source: South East London MercuryPhoto: South East London Mercury, 23 May 1968South East London Mercury, 23 May 1968
Buddy Carson and Ricky Wright pressured to cut hair, October, 1966
The Outcasts were one of the top bands in San Antonio, and Texas in general. They cut several fine singles, including two absolute classics, “I’m in Pittsburgh (and It’s Raining)” and “1523 Blair”.
Two members of the band have sites about the group, which I’ve included below. I have found some interesting news clippings to add to their story.
The Outcasts were children of Air Force servicemen. By late 1964 they had become a quintet with:
Jim Carsten – guitar, vocals Buddy Carson – keyboards, harmonica, vocals Denny Turner – lead guitar Jim Ryan – bass Ricky Wright – drums
In June of 1965 they made their first record, “Nothing Ever Comes Easy” / “Oriental Express” recorded at Texas Sound in San Antonio, produced and written by Mike Post, released as Outcast 6865.
The Outcasts with Baby Cakes and the Greenmen, Austin Daily Texan, July 9, 1965Maj. John Carson was Buddy’s father and early manager of the group. San Antonio Express and News, April 2, 1966
In 1966 they had three singles on Askel. Jim Carsten was their main song-writer. Jim wrote both sides of their first Askel single, “I’m in Pittsburgh (and it’s Raining)” and “The Price of Victory”. It was their best-selling record, reportedly getting airplay on various stations around the country.
Jim Carsten wrote the top side of their next single, “Everyday”, while Carsten and Denny Turner wrote “I’ll Set You Free”, both fine original songs. Askel reissued “Everyday” with a great version of “Route 66”. One 45 label I’ve seen has “Buddy is singing” written on the “Route 66” side.
All of their Askel 45s had Ron Newdoll producing, at Accurate Sound Inc in San Angelo, publishing by Sangelo Music BMI.
During two summers when Jim Ryan returned to Oslo, Norway, where his father was stationed, he had two fill-ins, John (surname?) in 1965, and Kurt Linhoff in 1966.
Outcasts at The Casket in Kerrville, Sept. 14, 1967, from the Daily Times
Denny Turner left the band in late 1966, and the Outcasts found Galen Niles of the Pandas, to replace him. Jim Ryan wrote “[Galen] switched to a vintage Les Paul in late ’66 and recorded with us on our last single.”
“1523 Blair” / “Smokestack Lightning” came out in January 1967 on Gallant GT-101. Jim Ryan and Buddy Carson wrote “1523 Blair”, produced by H & H Productions at 243 Southill St in San Antonio. For certain, the song has incredible energy, with the vocalist (Buddy?) practically spitting out the lyrics.
1523 Blair was the address for Doyle Jones’ studio in Houston, where the band did some other recordings that were not released at the time.
Outcasts “a smashing success at California’s Hi-Ho Clubs” (did the group actually play in California?) and the Chaynes at the Olmos Club, San Antonio Express Nov. 5, 1966Outcasts now called the Proof, at New Orleans, October 20, 1967, from the Daily TexanOutcasts now called the Proof, at The Casket in Kerrville, November 3, 1967, from the Daily Times
In October 1967 at the New Orleans club in Austin, and then in November at The Casket in Kerrville, ads bill the group as “The Proof” (formerly the Outcasts).
One member wrote: “sadly, the group dissolved in a psychedelic haze in 1968”.
Jim Ryan would play with the Swiss Movement, then move to Los Angeles in 1969 for a couple of years.
The Outcasts story is told in some detail on various members sites, that are remarkably still active as of 2021. The photos unfortunately are mostly very small in size.
Denny Turner’s site has several pages on the Outcasts, try this one and this one.
Jim Ryan’s band page also has info on the Outcasts.
Mike Lowell’s site mikesbandarchive.com has been out of commission for about eight years now but is still partially available on the Internet Archive.
If anyone has better quality photos of the Outcasts, or more info on the members & group, please contact me.
Galen Niles Pandas San Antonio Light, Oct 16, 1966
The Valkryies recorded one single at Continental Recordings in Framingham, released on Cori Records CR 31003. “Love You Like I Do” is excellent garage rock, with sharp drumming and good guitar and sax solos. “Blues for Cookie” is a slow saxophone instrumental.
Members included:
Frank Curtis – lead guitar and vocals Steve Thorp – rhythm guitar and backing vocals; bass guitar on the single Domenic Palumbo – tenor sax and bass guitar Stan Baker – drums and backing vocals
Until Steve Thorp commented, I had no info on the group other than two song writer names: Francis Curtis (Francis Wesley Curtis, Jr.) and Domenic Palumbo. F. Curtis, Jr. registered “(That’s Why) I Love You Like I Do” on September 29, 1965. Domenic C. Palumbo registered “Blues for Cookie” on August 9, 1965. Donna Music BMI published both songs.
Steve sent in the photos and answered my questions about the Valkyries:
The Valkyries (also known as the New Valkyries) were active in the suburban Boston, Massachusetts area between 1965 and 1967.
The Valkyries in Medford MA, November 1965
Location and Personnel: The members of the band came from several small towns about 25 miles southwest of Boston. Frank “Snuffy” Curtis, the leader of the band, lived in Medway, Massachusetts. Curtis was a veteran of the local rock and roll/garage band scene and had fronted an earlier version of the Valkyries. He was 23 years old in 1965.
Stan Baker and Steve Thorp were from Medfield, Massachusetts, about 6 miles from Medway. Baker and Thorp had met in high school. Baker played drums in the school band and Thorp had been playing guitar for four years on his own and in a few small folk groups and rock bands.
Thorp and Baker shared a mutual love of rock and roll and R&B. The two started jamming together in 1964 at Baker’s house. Baker and Thorp met Curtis through the local music scene, probably at a house party, and the three started playing together. Curtis then invited Baker and Thorp to form a new version of the Valks in early 1965.
Curtis knew a lot of people from the local music scene and brought in various musicians to play in the band from time to time. Domenic “Gitch” Palumbo was a tenor sax player and a friend of Curtis. Palumbo may have been from Franklin, MA, a small nearby city. Palumbo was the same age as Curtis, and, like Curtis, had a lot of experience in the local music scene.
By mid-summer the line-up was set: Curtis on lead guitar and vocals, Palumbo on sax, Thorp on rhythm guitar and back-up vocals, Baker on drums and back-up vocals. A succession of bass players came and went through the band.
Instrumentation and styles: The band played late 1950’s/early 1960’s American pop style: up tempo, guitar driven rock, with lots of reverb and a heavy emphasis on beat. Palumbo’s sax playing added touches of rockabilly and surf rock. Curtis’s singing reflected earlier singers like Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochrane. Although the band played mostly covers, Curtis was a talented songwriter who contributed several originals to the repertoire.
Where the band played: mostly high school dances and house parties. The band’s choice of venues was limited because Baker and Thorp were both underage and couldn’t work in bars and night clubs. Nevertheless, the group worked regularly and by 1966 was working bigger venues. The group’s biggest gig was opening for Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs in either late 1965 or mid 1966 at the Lake Pearl ballroom in Wrentham, MA (Palumbo had left the group, which now had a regular bass player). The group began to play small bars and clubs in the Boston area. Thorp left the group by the fall of 1966. The band continued to play as the “New Valkyries” until 1967.
The Valkyries in Medford MA, November 1965
Two photos show the group in action at a high school dance in Medfield, MA, in November 1965. Curtis, in the plaid sport jacket, is at center mic. The bass player partially shown in one of the photos may be Palumbo. Thorp is shown taking the lead vocal in one photograph.How the recording came about: Curtis and Palumbo came up with the idea of recording in late 1965. Palumbo located Continental Recording Studios in Framingham MA, about 10 miles north of Medway, and he agreed to front the costs of recording and pressing the discs.
The band arrived at Continental’s studios, probably in mid-September, well-rehearsed and ready to play. The group didn’t have a bass player at the time, so Thorp played a borrowed electric bass on both tracks. The band recorded both tracks over a few hours, needing only a couple of takes on each track. “Love You Like I Do” was a Curtis original. “Blues for Cookie” was a slow, doo-wop instrumental featuring Palumbo, an acknowledgment of his fronting the recording and pressing costs.
The recording system was simple but effective. Both Curtis’s guitar solo and the harmony vocals were double-tracked, using an eight-track recorder.
The follow-up: although the record got a little air play on local radio stations, it never really went anywhere. The Valkyries continued on with different personnel throughout 1966 and 1967.
The Centurys featured in the Light, April 18, 1964 The Centurys featured in the San Antonio Light in November, 1965
The Pandas started out as the Centurys, formed at Alamo Heighs High School in San Antonio in 1963.
On April 18, 1964, the San Antonio Light profiled the band with the headline Teen Musicians with Haircuts, noting they had $3,000 invested in equipment, and listing the lineup as:
Wink Kelso – vocals Pat Wellberg – lead guitar Bill Bellamy III – bass guitar Tony Volz – rhythm guitar Jimmy Taylor – drums
A May 13, 1965 notice in the San Antonio Light lists the same five members.
The San Antonio Express and News reported on June 27, 1965 about the band’s summer engagement outside Chicago, Illinois:
Half-way through a 10-week contract in Mt. Prospect, Ill, – a suburb of Chicago – are Jim Taylor and Pat Wellberg, who spent last winter studying at Alamo Heights High School, and Bill Bellamy, Tony Volz, Wink Kelso and Chip Stokes, all veterans of one year at Trinity University.
Members of the “Centurys,” a dance band … the boys were hired by Club Living, an apartment complex for young people in their twenties. During the week the boys are being kept busy cleaning swimming pools, mowing lawns, chauffeuring air line stewardesses to and from airports, and generally odd jobbing. But on Saturday nights they really “go to town.” …
Chip is their manager.
“This is going to be quite a deal,” the boys reported happily as they prepared to drive North. “As a band we draw an extra $300 every Saturday night!”
A November 18, 1965 article shows a change in drummers:
Wink Kelso – vocals Pat Wellberg – lead guitar Bill Bellamy, Jr. – bass guitar Tony Volz – rhythm guitar Eddie Phlager – drums (I’ve also seen his name spelled Eddie Pladger, or perhaps Phleger)
The Centurys opened for the Kingsmen at the Granada Ballroom. Unfortunately an extensive history of the Centurys early days by Bill Bellamy is now gone from the internet and not availabe on the Internet Archive. If anyone has archived all of mikesbandarchive.com, please contact me.
In late 1964 or 1965, the Centurys released a single on Mark, “Whole Lot of Shakin’ Going On” backed with a hot version of the Ventures’ “Gandy Dancer”.
Part of a feature on the Pandas in the San Antonio Express And News Sept 10, 1966
The San Antonio Express and News of September 10, 1966, featured the Pandas and reviewed their history.
In March of 1966, “Mrs. Mel Adcock, who owns and manages Swingtime Productions and manages many top bands, auditioned the Centurys as house band for a new television program called “Panda-Monium,” to be shown in the Houston area.”
To fit with the TV program, the Centurys changed their name to the Pandas and in May cut a great single on Swingtime SW-1001/2 “Walk”, an original by Will Bellamy and Wink Kelso. The flip was a cover of the Beach Boys’ “Girl From New York City”.
By September, 1966, Galen Niles had replaced Bill Bellamy. Galen had been in the Minuets. On the great but defunct mikesbandarchive.com site, the Minuets were described as having the longest hair in San Antonio in 1965. Members included David Frazier on vocals; Larry Murphy, rhythm guitar & vocals; Galen Niles on lead guitar; and Charlie Shoenfeld on bass and keyboards. Jim Ryan wrote: “Galen was playing a great Chet Atkins Country Gentleman and tuned before every set by just listening to open strings. They opened a show for us in Austin and almost stole the show.”
The Pandas were now a quartet:
Wink Kelso – vocals Pat Wellberg – guitar Galen Niles – guitar Jimmy Taylor – drums
The article continues:
Pandas Currently Among City’s Best
Last May, the Pandas released their first single under the Swingtime label, “Walk” and “Girl from New York City.”
A hit locally, a movie of the Pandas introducing the new tunes was shown in Houston and Dallas. The record really hit big in Florida and the lads were immediately offered guest appearances in Jacksonville, Daytona Beach and Miami – offers they couldn’t accept because of school.
Wink Kelso, vocalist is a sophomore at Trinity University … He plays guitar, drums and the organ and has taken formal singing lessons.
Pet Wellberg, who plays the lead guitar and 12-string with the Pandas, was voted “Most Talented” in his senior class last year at Alamo Heights.
Jimmy Taylor, a Trinity University sophomore … plays drums with the Pandas and can swing his ax to any tune and make it come out great.
Galen Niles, a Trinity University freshman … has two hobbies – playing the guitar and teaching the guitar.
Galen formerly played with the Pipelines and the Minuets, both popular local bands. His favorite nationally known band is the Yardbirds, a name he speaks with awe.
The September 17 article has a follow-up and different photo of the Panda, but I don’t have access to that image.
On October 15, 1966, the Express and News noted that Alamo Heights High School won a show by “Wink and the Pandas” on October 22.
In October 1967, Wink Kelso & the Kaleidoscopes appeared at the Casket in Kerrville.
On January 19, 1969, the Express and News had a long profile on Wink Kelso noting how he was singing the role of Paquillo in Offenbach’s La Perichole and also fronting the Kaleidoscope during his senior year at Trinity. Members of the Kaleidoscope at this point include Mike Lasley, Peyton Starr, Pat Mellberg, Scottie Melton, George Holcomb and Dave Sequin.
Wink says, “We’ve stumbled onto a new thing … using a guitar as a percussion instrument. It gives rhythm and blues a great drive.
On August 31, 1969, the Express and News ran a photo of Wink Kelso and the Kaleidoscope, noting they had returned from a summer tour in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Venture, Orange Grove, Long Beach and Tacoma. It lists the current members as Pat Wellberg on lead guitar, Mike Lasley on bass guitar and backing vocals, Steve Smith on drums and percussion, and Tito Morena and Dave Sequin on saxophones.
A 1973 article discusses Wink Kelso’s role in a rock adaption of Lewis Carroll, called Alice and Wonderland, and that just prior he had been in another group, Giant Smiling Dog.
Will Bellamy would play bass in Rachel’s Children.
More info or photos of the Centurys or Pandas would be appreciated.
The Good Humor Band, 1968, from left: Ken Cottrell, Jesse Preciphs, Mona Bateman, Jimmy Rogers, David Jones and Bobby Henderson
The Good Humour Band came from Austin, Texas, forming about May of 1968 and playing a number of shows at the New Orleans club in June and July. Gig notices always billed them as The Good Humor Band.
The Austin American-Statesman ran a photo of the group on July 27, 1968. The lineup at this time was:
Jesse Preciphs – lead vocals Kenneth Cottrell – organ David Jones – lead guitar Mona Bateman – rhythm guitar Bobby Henderson – bass Jimmy Rogers – drums
A September 19, 1968 article in the Austin Daily Texan describes a talent show of UT students:
“The hypnotic throb of the Good Humor Band assailed the eardrums of a packed Hogg Auditorium audience Wednesday night as the Forty Acres Talent Show stages its ninth annual performance.” The article discusses some solo performers at the show: Wayne Holtzman, Roger Woest and David Flack.
On December 11, 1968, the Good Humor Band played a benefit concert for the Zachary Scott Theater Center with the Shadows of Doubt. A news item mentions the group recently completed a recording session at Robin Hood Brians studio in Tyler, and that Ken Cottrell was also their manager & spokesman.
In January, 1969 the band played three nights at the Pusi-Kat in San Antonio with Joe Thomas and the Virgil Foxx Group.
According to a short notice about the group from February 28, 1969, the lineup had changed, dropping Jesse Preciphs, Mona Bateman and Jimmy Rogers; and including Billy Jones on drums:
Ken Cottrell – organ and piano David Jones – lead guitar Bobby Henderson – bass Billy Jones – drums
The February 28 article has this tantalizing note:
… the first Good Humour record – “You’ll Get By” on the A side – was released here this week and the band’s initial album – Aunt Mabel’s Golden Tonic – will be out next month.
Unfortunately the album was never to see the light.
Ken Cottrell and David Jones wrote both songs on their only single on Ignite Records H-692, “You’ll Get By” / “The Man”. Library of Congress registration on March 28, 1969 lists words by Jones and music by Cottrell.
The man’s been driving by my house today, I think it’s time I got away …
Bruce H. Hooper produced the single. He also produced the Shiva’s Head Band single on Ignite, but not the Richard Dean 45, which was C.F. Rowsey (Fred Rowsey). Ignite Music BMI published the songs.
A Brite Star Promotions ad in Billboard on May 24, 1969 lists both the Good Humour Band and the Shiva’s Head Band singles on Ignite.
Billboard listed in Buyer’s Guide of August 30, 1969 lists Ignite as label, publisher and recording studio at 308 W. Sixth St., Austin, with President Bruce H. Hooper, and Vice President C.F. Rowsey. The 1970 guide drops Rowsey and adds Richard Gembler as General Manager.
One interesting note about the studio is 308 W. Sixth St. became Odyssey Sound, Ltd., owned by Jay Aaron Podolnick and Steve Shields, from February 1972 until August 1978. In 1978, John Ingle and Larson Lundahl purchased Odyssey and renamed it Pecan Street Studios after remodeling.
I’d like to know what other recordings were made at 308 W. Sixth St. in those early days before it became Odyssey.
Ken Cottrell passed away on July 9, 2009 at the age of 60, according to a website devoted to him, www.kennethcottrell.com
More info or photos of the group would be appreciated.
July 4 weekend with the Good Deeds (“1st Austin appearance winner of Corpus Christi Battle of Bands”) and New Orleans Club regulars the Eternal Life CorpAt the Pusi-Kat in San Antonio, January 1969
Thank you to Jonas Carlsson for help with this article.
This site is a work in progress on 1960s garage rock bands. All entries can be updated, corrected and expanded. If you have information on a band featured here, please let me know and I will update the site and credit you accordingly.
I am dedicated to making this site a center for research about '60s music scenes. Please consider donating archival materials such as photos, records, news clippings, scrapbooks or other material from the '60s. Please contact me at rchrisbishop@gmail.com if you can loan or donate original materials
“Barefoot” is an original by the Hustlers, released on LaBelle L-64121.
