The Kasuals “Girl (You Better Stop Your Lying)” on Spotlite

January 3, 2021 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

The Kasuals at Panther Hall July 25, 1965

The Kasuals who cut “Girl (You Better Stop Your Lying)” / “You’re Gonna Break My Heart” were from Fort Worth, Texas. They are not to be confused with the Dallas group Kenny & the Kasuals.

Members were:

Ronnie Wright – lead vocals
David Morris – lead guitar
Mike Thomas – rhythm guitar
Tom Myers – saxophone
Larry Boynton – bass
Charles Bassham – drums

David Morris wrote both sides of their only single on Spotlite SP2001. Publishing by Bluebonnet Pub. Co.

Spotlite issued singles by other Fort Worth artists like the Chocolate Moose.

The photo comes from Panther Hall’s Panther A-Go-Go on July 25, 1965, where the Kasuals competed with 10 other bands.

An article by Sarah Harris in the Georgetown Megaphone from February 25, 1966 notes that the Kasuals appeared at Club 62 in Chickasha, Oklahoma. The band seems to have been popular in Georgetown, 160 miles to the south of Fort Worth. They played a Zeta Tau Alpha “Pop Art” dance at a steak house,

Thank you to Wm. Lewis Wms. and Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing the photo from Panther Hall.

Article in the Georgetown Megaphone, February 25, 1966

Announcement of the Kasuals to appear at Georgetown’s first coffee house on S. Austin Ave, run by Keith Kellow with Jon Bertolet, Ray Anderson, David Detwiler and Bill Paul.

Georgetown Megaphone May 8, 1966. Imagine what this “pop art” must have looked like.

Categories: Fort Worth, Texas

The Motovators at Panther A-Go-Go, Panther Hall in Fort Worth

January 1, 2021 Chris Bishop 6 Comments

The Motovators on the top stage of Panther Hall for Panther A-Go-Go, March 1965

Weekend lineup with the Greenmen, the Motovators, Wanda Jackson and the Partytimers, July 16-17, 1965

Bill and Corky Kuykendall built Panther Hall in 1961 as a bowling alley, located at 600 Collard St on the east side of Fort Worth. When bowling didn’t succeed, the owners reopened on July 4, 1963 as a live music venue.

By 1965, KTVT, channel 11, was broadcasting an hour of the Cowtown Jamboree live on Saturday evenings. Friday nights were “Panther A-Go-Go” from 7 PM to midnight, and taped portions were shown on KTVT on Sunday evenings.

Panther a Go Go would feature four stages for these 1965 shows: a main center stage, smaller stages on the left and right, and a fourth in a balcony above the main stage. Panther a Go Go continued into 1966 and 1967 but on the footage I’ve seen these shows took place on the main stage.

The Sounds Unlimited at Panther Hall, March 12, 1965. Clockwise from left: Steve (last name unknown) on bass, Bill Mercer on red guitar, David Thompson with tambourine, Ron Davis on guitar and Mike Collier on drums

The Motovators appeared at Panther A-Go-Go at least five times in 1965. They auditioned twice, on March 1 and March 8, 1965 the second time with KCUL DJ Ron McCoy and hall owner Bill Kuykendall. Other bands at the audition on the 8th were the Chantones and the Images.

Two days later they rehearsed at the hall, and on March 12 they played with the Images and the Sounds Unlimited, plus Ron McCoy as host, and Kay Harris leading the go-go-dancers. The Motovators were on the top stage, with the Images and the Sounds Unlimited on the sides. Robin Hood Brians & His Merry Men were the main attraction. A detailed set of instructions refers to Gary Carter instead of Robin Hood, I’m not sure why.

The Sounds Unlimited were a Dallas group. The photo at right is an early version of the group with Bill Mercer, David Thompson, Steve (last name unknown), Ron Davis, and Mike Collier. By 1966 Ron Davis had formed a new version of the Sounds Unlimited with Paul Jarvis, Steve Webb, Phil Ferrell and Chuck Hodges (and Ron Mears replacing Chuck Hodges). This later version cut their only single, “Keep Your Hands Off of It” / “About You” on Solar Records.

The stage set up at Panther A-Go-Go, Panther Hall, March 1965

Panther A-Go-Go stage Instructions, March 12, 1965

On March 26 the Motovators turned down a Panther A-Go-Go show with the Images and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Show schedule for the May 21, 1965 Panther A-Go-Go

They appeared on the May 21 Panther A-Go-Go with Lady Wilde & the Warlocks, the Velvateens from Lubbock/Texas Tech, Cecil Lang McCullough, and the Warlocks, plus “Panther-a-Go-Go drummer” Al Breaux.

The Velveteens played one side of their single, “Ching Bam Bah”, which had been released in February.

Lady Wilde is the same singer who cut two 1965 singles, “Poor Kid” / “Another Year” on ARA and “Noise Of Sound” / “Poor Kid” on Chicory, both produced by Royce McAfee. Her real name was Marie Smith.

Sonny Ray & the Dynamics, Ringo Ringo, Panther A-Go-Go, Webb Pierce, June 4, 1965 — I don’t have a record of the Motovators at this show on June 4, 1965, but this ad was in the scrapbook.

The Warlocks were the Dallas band that included Dusty Hill, Rocky Hill, Philip Vickery and Kean McClelland. In 1966 they cut the great singles “Life’s a Misery” / “Splash Day” on Paradise and “If You Really Want Me to Stay” / “Good Time Trippin'” on ARA. At some point after the singles, the Warlocks added Frank Beard on drums and became the American Blues. Little Richard Harris was also a drummer for the Warlocks at some point, according to Dale Smith of the Allusions in an interview with Mike Dugo.

After playing Panther Hall, the Motovators went to Louann’s Club in Dallas to play for an additional two hours!

The Motovators at Panther Hall July 16, 1965. From left: Jimmy Smith, Mike Langston, Terry Hungerford, Phil Reece and Roger Young.

On July 16, the Motovators appeared on Panther A-Go-Go with Johnny Green & the Greenmen, Van Johnson, the TrenTones, and Larry & Don. Joe Knapp taped the Motovators show and Terry Guinn took photos.

After the show the Greenmen asked Terry to join them, but after some discussion with his family, he declines to finish his education.

Sunday, July 25, Panther A-Go-Go held a huge “Battle-of-the-Rock n Roll Bands” with eleven bands: Larry & the Blue Notes, the Jades, the Images, the Kasuals, the Visions, the Naturals, the Barons, Chas Christy & the Crystals, Jack & the Rippers and the Coachmen. Emcee was Bill Warren of WXOL, show host was Mr. Fred Slater. The family scrapbook preserves set lists and scores for the bands.

1st place – Charles Christy & the Crystals
2nd place – Larry and the Blue Notes
3rd place – The Images

Prizes were a trip to the West Coast, one year of guaranteed bookings, and opening slot with the Righteous Brothers at Will Rogers Coliseum.

On August 1, Panther-A-Go-Go was rerun on TV with the Motovators doing “Walkin’ the Dog”.

All posts from the Motovators scrapbook can be seen at this link.

More info on Panther Hall is available at the Texas State Historical Association website.

Thank you to Wm. Lewis Wms. and Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing this material.

Thank you to Ron Davis for correcting the info about the Sounds Unlimited.

Battle of the Bands Motovators set lists, July 25, 1965 — July 25 Battle-of-the-Bands lineup, and set lists for the Motovators, the Jades and the Images

Battle of the Bands Motovators scores, July 25, 1965 — Motovators score sheet – a 10 for musical performance

Battle of the Bands scores, July 25, 1965

Categories: Brownfield, Dallas, Fort Worth, Texas

Jerry Williams and the Epics

January 1, 2021 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

Jerry Williams and the Epics were friends and/or rivals of the Motovators.

Terry Hungerford’s scrapbook contains an ad for Jerry Williams at the Bayou Club, another venue that has disappeared to history. It was located at 5828 Calmont Ave in Fort Worth, now covered by I-30.

When the Motovators split up on September 1, 1965, Terry Hungerford joined the Epics on bass.

Jerry played lead guitar, for the other members I only have first names: James on drums, Mike on rhythm guitar, and Don was their manager. Sam Coplin handled bookings at some point.

They played five consecutive nights from September 7-11 at a spot called Suite 225.

In 1966 the Epics cut their only single: “Whatever You Do” written by Jerry Williams and Don Gilmore, backed with “Tell Me What You See” (the Beatles song despite credit on the labels to Williams and Gilmore). Georgia Lapping and Jerry Conditt produced the record on Brownfield BF-140, and Phil York engineered the session.

Jerry Lynn Williams was born on October 30, 1948 in either Dallas or Grand Prairie, and raised in Fort Worth. Around 1970 he moved to Los Angeles and joined High Mountain. Jerry composed the majority of songs for High Mountain’s album Canyon on Columbia Records, and also the High Mountain Hoedown album on Atco.

Jerry became well-known as a songwriter. Artists including Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Delbert McClinton, and Stevie Ray Vaughan recorded his songs. He died in St. Martin on November 25, 2005.

Thank you to Wm. Lewis Wms. and Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing this material.

Categories: Fort Worth, Music Mill, Texas, Unknown

The Images “My Kinda Woman” on Music Mill

December 31, 2020 Chris Bishop Leave a comment

The Images at Panther Hall, March 12, 1965

The Images played often around the Fort Worth, Texas region, including shows at Panther Hall and Holiday Skating Rink with the Motovators.

They released one excellent single on Music Mill 404, “My Kinda Woman” / “A Swingin’ Summer”, both by T. Martin and G. Carter, publishing by Levelland BMI.

I don’t have much info on the group, other than those two names T. Martin and G. Carter. Their drum head has a location, a short word ending in “t” – Hurst, TX maybe?

The Images came in third place out of 11 bands, at the July 25, 1965, Panther-a-Go-Go “Battle-of-the-Rock N Roll Bands”.

Thanks to the meticulous scrapbook kept by the mother of Motovators bassist Terry Hungerford, I can present the photo of the group and their set list from the July 25 battle-of-the-bands.

Thank you to Wm. Lewis Wms. and Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing this material.

The Images set list at Panther Hall, July 25, 1965

Categories: Ealing, England, London

The Second Thoughts

December 31, 2020 Nick Warburton 2 Comments

Patrick Campbell-Lyons (lead vocals)

Tony Duhig (lead guitar)

Mickey Holmes (bass)

Bill Hope (drums)

Ealing, Middlesex band, The Second Thoughts were formed around February 1963 and gave birth to a number of notable bands in the late 1960s – Thunderclap Newman, Nirvana, July and Jade Warrior.

Lead singer Patrick Campbell-Lyons (b. 13 July 1943, Lismore, County Waterford, Ireland) had been active on the local scene for several years with The Teenbeats after arriving in the area from Ireland in the summer of 1961.

Campbell-Lyons made plans to form a new group after running into lead guitarist Tony Duhig (b. 18 September 1941, Acton, Middlesex; d. 11 November 1990), drummer Bill Hope and lead guitarist turned bass player Mickey Holmes in January 1963 (see story below from manager Cyril Brown, which erroneously says 1964).

Holmes had previously been a member of The Krewsaders alongside future Fleetwood Mac bass player John McVie and Holmes’ cousin, rhythm guitarist Peter Carney, who went on to play with Geno Washington’s Ram Jam Band among others.

Named by Holmes, one of The Second Thoughts’ first gigs was opening for The Rolling Stones at their farewell gig at the Ealing Club on 2 March 1963.

Basing themselves on The Big Three and The High Numbers (aka The Who), the trio’s blues-rock required a harmonica player and Campbell-Lyons recruited his friend from Brentford, Middlesex, Vic Griffiths, who doubled up on rhythm guitar, around Christmas 1963.

The Second Thoughts would play at the Ealing Club regularly and from spring to summer 1964 would hold down a Sunday residency before landing another house gig in central London at the Studio ’51 Club in Leicester Square.

Around July 1964, the band expanded the line up by adding Duhig’s friend, and the band’s roadie, Jon Field (b. 5 July 1940, Harrow, Middlesex) on organ and congas.

Meanwhile Holmes brought in his former band mate from The Krewsaders, drummer John “Speedy” Keen (b. 29 March 1945, Ealing, Middlesex; d. 12 March 2002) to replace Bill Hope.

Photo: Patrick Campbell-Lyons. Left to right: Speedy Keen, Vic Griffiths, Tony Duhig, Jon Field, Patrick Campbell-Lyons and Mickey Holmes.

That summer, the band played four gigs on the Isle of Wight with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds.

Not long after, The Second Thoughts went into the studios twice. On one occasion, the band recorded tracks at a studio near Denham in Buckinghamshire. The other session took place in a studio in north London. The group covered the T J Arnall’s “Cocaine” at one of the sessions.

Four tracks were cut – “Seventh Son”, “Walking”, “You Gotta Help (Help Me)” and “Looking For My Baby” at one session.

Shelved at the time, the Essex label dug out the recordings for a rare EP in 1997.

The tracks have more recently appeared on The Tomcats’ CD, Running at Shadows: The Spanish Recordings 1965-1966, which was issued on RPM in 2016.

During spring 1965, the band cut more unreleased tracks at RG Jones studio in Morden, near Wimbledon – the Wilbur Harrison classic “Let’s Get Together” and a second version of “Cocaine”.

They also started to play more widely across the Southeast. This included playing US airforce bases in Oxfordshire with Percy Sledge, John Lee Hooker and Jimmy James & The Vagabonds.

The Second Thoughts also made their first trip to Hamburg around March 1965 to perform at the Star Club where they shared the bill with Rory Storm & The Hurricanes and Duane Eddy (Ed. This might have been 1963 not 1965).

The group was performing at Beat City (or 100 Club) on Oxford Street when the musicians were approached by French singer Teddy Raye, who wanted to hire a British backing group for a month initially in Madrid.

The Frenchman, however, didn’t want Patrick Campbell-Lyons, Jon Field or Vic Griffiths for the trip.

Renamed The Gatos Salvaje (The Savage Cats), the band proved to be the main attraction rather than Raye and, buoyed by the response, the musicians made plans to return on their own that summer.

Back in England in May, the musicians brought back Jon Field and recruited singer/guitarist Tom Newman from rival Ealing band The Tomcats.

Performing their final gig at Ealing Town Hall (it’s not clear under what name), the new formation discovered that Keen did not want to return to Spain.

With Keen subsequently moving to Italy in July to join another Ealing band, The Rocking Eccentrics (replacing John Kerrison) with whom he stayed until January 1966, the group recruited drummer Chris Jackson from The Tomcats as his replacement.

Returning to Spain (and renamed Los Tomcats) in June 1965, the band played northern cities like Oviedo and also returned to Madrid but Holmes soon grew tired of living out of a suitcase and came back to the UK. Another former Tomcat, bass player Alan James stepped into his shoes.

Los Tomcats continued working in Spain for a year before returning to England in early 1967 and changing name to July. Duhig and Field would subsequently leave the band and form Jade Warrior in the late 1960s.

Remaining members, Patrick Campbell-Lyons and Vic Griffiths meanwhile formed a new version of The Second Thoughts in late March 1965.

According to the article “Return of the Second Thoughts will delight fans”, published in the Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette, dated 9 April 1965, page 13, the new members were Mick Taylor (lead guitar); Chris Thomas (bass); and Keith Reynolds (drums).

The article says the band were due to embark on a US tour but this seems very unlikely. However, it does say that the group recorded six tracks at Soho’s Maximum Sound studios on Sunday, 4 April, which may or may not be the tracks listed above. It adds that these tracks will not be released in Britain but only in the US.

The article, which notes that the other original members are currently in Madrid backing Teddy Raye, notes that the new version will play at Ealing Town Hall, Cardinal Wiseman School in Greenford and Brunel College, Acton.

They were subsequently joined by a returning Mickey Holmes who took over from Chris Thomas but when the band was offered work at the Star Club in Hamburg in November, Holmes left to move into session work and Thomas returned for the German gigs.

Out in West Germany, The Second Thoughts gigged until spring 1966 before finally splitting.

Patrick Campbell-Lyons remained in Hamburg and worked with Swedish band, Lucifer & The Angels, which took him to Sweden. In Stockholm, he then joined local group, The Merrymen (who’d earlier featured Boz Scaggs) but became ill.

Returning to England in August 1966, he joined forces with former member Chris Thomas in the duo Hat & Tie. The pair recorded a lone single before splitting soon after and Campbell-Lyons went on to form Nirvana.

Two former members of The Second Thoughts found huge success after the band finally split – Chris Thomas became a noted producer, working with The Beatles and Pink Floyd among others, while John “Speedy” Keen formed Thunderclap Newman and scored an international hit with “Something In The Air”.

Notable gigs:

25 May 1963 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (support The Rolling Stones on their last gig at this venue)

Possible gigs in Hamburg, West Germany in 1963

12 April 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Harrow Observer & Gazette) (Sunday residency)

19 April 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

26 April 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

3 May 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

10 May 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

17 May 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

24 May 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

31 May 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

7 June 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

14 June 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

21 June 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

28 June 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

5 July 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

10 July 1964 – Attic, Hounslow, Middlesex with Erky Grant & The Tonetts and The Tempests

11 July 1964 – YWCA Hall, Ealing, Middlesex

12 July 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

19 July 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

20 July 1964 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, Middlesex with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

25 July 1964 – YWCA Hall, Ealing, Middlesex

25 July 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (played both weekend nights)

26 July 1964 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex (Sunday residency)

29 July 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, west London

9 August 1964 – Beat City, Oxford Street, central London with The Tomcats

15 August 1964 – YWCA Hall, Ealing, Middlesex

22 August 1964 – YWCA Hall, Ealing, Middlesex

22 August 1964 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London with The Tridents

23 August 1964 – Beat City, Oxford Street, central London with The Tomcats

8 September 1964 – Nurses Club, Jolly Gardeners, Isleworth, Middlesex

9 September 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, west London

12 September 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, west London

16 September 1964 – YWCA Hall, Ealing, Middlesex

16 September 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, west London

18 September 1964 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, west London

19 September 1964 – YWCA Hall, Ealing, Middlesex

20 September 1964 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, west London

22 September 1964 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London with Dave Davani & The D-Men with Beryl

23 September 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, west London

3 October 1964 – YWCA Hall, Ealing, Middlesex

8 October 1964 – Ealing Town Hall, Ealing, Middlesex with The Flexmen

10 October 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Tridents

12 October 1964 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London with John Lee Hooker

16 October 1964 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London

17 October 1964 – Witchdoctor, Hastings, East Sussex with Four Plus 1

18 October 1964 – Watford Trade Hall, Watford, Hertfordshire

19 October 1964 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London

20 October 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Tridents

22 October 1964 – Ealing Town Hall, Ealing, Middlesex with The Challengers, Liverpool Lads and Bob Harvey

23 October 1964 – Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, Middlesex

23 October 1964 – Ealing Technical College, Ealing, Middlesex

24 October 1964 – Fratton Hall, Portsmouth, Hants

24 October 1964 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London with The Impacts (All Nighter)

31 October 1964 – Twyford School, Acton, Middlesex

5 November 1964 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London with The Graham Bond Organisation

19 November 1964 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with St Louis Checks, The Cromwells and Dave Oades Orchestra

22 November 1964 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London

26 November 1964 – Ealing Town Hall, Ealing, Middlesex with Frankie Reid & The Casuals

13 December 1964 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London

29 December 1964 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London with Alexis Korner

31 December 1964 – Wilton Hall, Bletchley, Bucks with The Invaders (Bletchley District Gazette)

1 January 1965 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London

2 January 1965 – Egham Literary Institute, Egham, Surrey

3 January 1965 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hants with The Leeways with Belinda

12 January 1965 – Nurses Club, Jolly Gardeners, Isleworth, Middlesex

22 January 1965 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London

31 January 1965 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London

11 February 1965 – Bromel Club, Bromley, Kent

26 February 1965 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London

4 March 1965 – Ealing Town Hall, Ealing, Middlesex (final gig before the original group split?)

24 July 1965 – Egham Hythe Social Centre, Egham, Surrey with Bern Elliott & The Klan

25 July 1965 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London

30 July 1965 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London

15 August 1965 – Studio ’51 Club, Leicester Square, central London

4 September 1965 – Egham Hythe Social Centre, Egham, Surrey with Just Five

24 September 1965 – Ealing Town Hall, Ealing, west London with Bob Grant

21 October 1965 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire with The Southern Valley Four

5 November 1965 – King George’s Hall, Esher, Surrey with Just Five

6 November 1965 – New Central Ballroom, Aldershot, Hampshire

Gigs taken from many sources including Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette, Camberley News and Bagshot Observer,, Kingston & Malden Borough News, Record Mirror, Surrey Comet and Melody Maker. Thanks to Mickey Holmes, Tom Newman and Patrick Campbell-Lyons.

This article originally appeared on the Strange Brew website. I’ve updated it and provided more information since but would like to thank Jason Barnard for posting it on his excellent site.

I have tried to ensure the accuracy of this article but I appreciate that there are likely to be errors and omissions. I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who can provide any additions or corrections. Email: Warchive@aol.com

Categories: Mineral Wells, Texas, Vimco

The Visions “She’s the Girl for Me”

December 30, 2020 Chris Bishop 2 Comments

The Visions at Panther Hall for Panther-a-Go-Go, July 25, 1965

The Visions Combo card text — Less Hair BUT More Music

“Young Men With Big Talent”
Less Hair BUT More Music
The Visions were formed on June 15, 1965 in Mineral Wells, Texas. They launched their career at the local Youth Center on the night of June 23 …
Gary James, lead guitarist, from Possum Kingdom Lake. Gary is 16, attends Graford High School and also serves as vocalist with the group.
Billy Dalton, rhythm guitarist … is 15, attends Mineral Wells High School…
Frank Johnson, on the piano … is 17 years of age and attends Graford Hight School.
Charles Morgan, our drummer, hails from Fort Worth, is 17 years of age, and attends Technical High School.

The Visions played their first show a week after forming, and soon after, a major battle-of-the-bands at Panther Hall in Fort Worth, 50 miles east of Mineral Wells.

On July 25, 1965 the Visions were one of eleven groups at the Panther-a-Go-Go “Battle-of-the-Rock N Roll Bands” with Larry & the Blue Notes, the Jades, the Images, the Kasuals, the Motovators, the Naturals, the Barons, Chas Christy & the Crystals, Jack & the Rippers and the Coachmen. Emcee was Bill Warren of WXOL and Fred Slater hosted the show.

Thanks to an amazing scrapbook created by the mother of Motovators bassist Terry Hungerford, I can present a photo of the group, their promo card and even a partial set list.

Panther-a-Go-Go used as many as four stages, a main one in center, another up in a central balcony, plus stages left and right on the floor. The Visions were the sixth of the 11 bands, they played on the right side stage, and their nine songs included “Twist and Shout”, “Summertime”, “What’d I Say”, “Walk Don’t Run” and “The McCoy”.

The Visions came in last in this particular competition, but would have lasting success in the future.

Visions set list at Panther Hall, July 25, 1965

Of the three Texas records on their own Vimco label, my favorite is the fantastic “She’s the Girl for Me”, with the moodier “Take Her” on the other side.

In November the Visions would re-release “Take Her”, this time with a great version of “Route 66” on the flip. In March of 1966, they made their last Texas single, the heavy “Humpty Dumpty” backed with a version of the Beatles’ “You Won’t See Me”.

That summer of 1966, the group moved to Hollywood, CA, where they would record for Warner Bros. and UNI, make some TV appearances, and sign to Buddah Records with different group names, Sugar Canyon, and the Rock & Roll Dubble Bubble Trading Card Co. of Philadelphia.

More information, videos, and many very small photos can be found at Billy Dalton’s website.

Thank you to Wm. Lewis Wms. and Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing this material.

Categories: Fort Worth, Texas

The Party Line Club and the Tracer Club in Fort Worth

December 30, 2020 Chris Bishop 6 Comments

Bo Yale, Garlin Holcomb (Garland Halcomb?) and Junior Allred ran the Party Line Club in Fort Worth, TX. The Motovators auditioned at the Party Line Club on July 1, 1965, but may not have received any bookings.

I don’t know the Party Line Club’s address, but the same owners opened another night club, the Tracer Club, located at 5123 E Lancaster Ave in Fort Worth, TX.

The Tracer Club opened on June 1, 1965, advertising “Table to table telephones • Closed Circuit TV • Carpeted walls • 4,000 square feet of luxury – Something New For Texas“. Kay Harris made her vocal debut with Jim Jones & the Chaunteys.

Gary Payne and the Play Mates appeared at the Tracer Club on September 10, 1965. This was the band Phil Reece and Jimmy Smith joined after the Motovators split up.

The Rondels appeared there in April and May, 1967.

If anyone has more info on these night spots, please contact me.

Thank you to Wm. Lewis Wms. and Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing this material.

Categories: England, London

The Syn gigs 1966-1968

December 30, 2020 Nick Warburton 1 Comment

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.

The Syn evolved out of north London R&B group High Court, which featured guitarist turned lead singer Steve Nardelli and guitarist John Painter.

They changed name to The Syn in late 1965 but soon after brought in three members from rival north London R&B band The Selfs – Chris Squire (bass), Andrew Jackman (keyboards) and Martyn Adelman (drums).

By late 1965, The Syn comprised:

Steve Nardelli (lead vocals)

John Painter (lead guitar)

Chris Squire (bass/vocals)

Andrew Jackman (keyboards)

Martyn Adelman (drums)

29 March 1966 – London Cavern, Holland Park, west London (Melody Maker)

29 March 1966 – The New Casablanca Club, Finchley, north London (Melody Maker)

3 April 1966 – London Cavern, Holland Park, west London (Melody Maker)

3 April 1966 – The New Casablanca Club, Finchley, north London (Melody Maker)

11 June 1966 – Haymarket Lounge, Basingstoke, Hampshire (Hampshire & Berkshire Gazette)

11 June 1966 – Thorpedene Community Hall, Thorpe Bay, Essex with The Mustangs (Southend Standard) Is this gig possible with one above?

2 July 1966 – Thorpedene Community Hall, Thorpe Bay, Essex (Southend Standard)

2 July 1966 – Witham Public Hall, House of Aden, Witham, Essex with The Cymbaline (Essex County Standard)

Icelandic drummer Gunner Jokull Hakanarsson joined at this point when Martyn Adelman left. The band went to play the Valbonne near Cannes in the south of France for three weeks during the summer.

6 August 1966 – Salisbury City Hall, Salisbury, Wiltshire with The Shakedown Sound (Frogg Moody and Richard Nash’s book Hold Tight!)

20 August 1966 – Thorpedene Community Hall, Thorpe Bay, Essex (Southend Standard)

26 August 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Gary Farr & The T-Bones (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

27 August 1966 – Cad-Lac Club, Brighton, West Sussex (Evening Argus)

12 September 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The VIPs (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

16 September 1966 – Cricketers Inn, Southend, Essex with The Attitude (Southend Standard)

18 September 1966 – Dungeon Club, Nottingham (https://dungeonmods.wordpress.com/)

23 September 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Action (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

24 September 1966 – Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis, Dorset (Bridport News)

29 September 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London The Move (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

9 October 1966 – Sunday Club, Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)

10 October 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Alan Bown Set (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

4 November 1966 – Quay Club, Newcastle upon Tyne (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)

Around late November Peter Banks replaced John Painter on lead guitar. According to Banks’ website, his debut was at the Marquee on 28 November.

28 November 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Alan Bown Set (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

4 December 1966 – Sunday Club, Addlestone, Surrey (Woking Herald)

6 December 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

10 December 1966 – Lion Hotel, Warrington, Cheshire with The Fix and The Executives (Warrington Guardian) Is this possible with gig below?

10 December 1966 – St Clements Hall, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex with Sounds Around, Sight & Sound and The Impressions (Southend Standard)

13 December 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Eric Burdon & The Animals (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

16 December 1966 – Midnight City, Digbeth, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)

20 December 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Spencer Davis Group (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

29 December 1966 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Pink Floyd (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

30 December 1966 – Britannia Rowing Club, Nottingham (Nottingham Evening Post)

1967

1 January 1967 – Starlite, Greenford, northwest London with (Sonny Childe &) The TNT (Melody Maker)

3 January 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Tony Rivers & The Castaways (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

6 January 1967 – Starlite, Greenford, northwest London with TNT (Melody Maker)

7 January 1967 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Ultimate (Julie Fielder book: What Flo Said Next)

9 January 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel) Thanks to Geoffrey Mason for photo and source

17 January 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Zoot Money & The Big Roll Band (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

21 January 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Paper (Evening Sentinel)

24 January 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

28 January 1967 – Birdcage, Eastney, Hampshire (Dave Allen research)

31 January 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

5 February 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel) Thanks to Geoffrey Mason for photo and source

7 February 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Spencer Davis Group (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

14 February 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Tony Rivers & The Castaways (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

17 February 1967 – The Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)

17 February 1967 – Carlton Club, Erdington, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)

19 February 1967 – Riverside Club, Cricketers Hotel, Chertsey, Surrey (Woking Herald)

21 February 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with George Bean & The Runners (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

27 February 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Factotums (Evening Sentinel)

28 February 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Alan Bown Set (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

16 March 1967 – Kilburn Polytechnic, Kilburn, north London with Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers and Ronnie Jones & The Blue Jays (Melody Maker)

18 March 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band and The Exception (Evening Sentinel)

31 March 1967 – Fiesta Hall, Andover, Hampshire (Andover Advertiser)

31 March 1967 – Hawkwell Village Hall, Hawkwell, Essex with Angus (Southend Standard)

1 April 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Footprints (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

8 April 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Love Affair (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

14 April 1967 – Starlite, Greenford, west London with The Creation (Melody Maker)

15 April 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The C Jam Blues (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

22 April 1967 – Thorpedene Community Hall, Thorpe Bay, Essex (Southend Standard)

22 April 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Stalkers (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

28 April 1967 – Starlite, Greenford, west London with PP Arnold (Melody Maker)

29 April 1967 – Weir Hotel, Rayleigh, Essex (Southend Standard)

29 April 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Skip Bifferty (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

6 May 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with We Three Kings (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

12 May 1967 – Starlite, Greenford, west London with The Shell Shock Show (Melody Maker)

13 May 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Stalkers (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

26 May 1967 – Starlite, Greenford, west London with The Shell Shock Show (Melody Maker)

27 May 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Bluesyard (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

Gunner Jokull Hakanarsson returned to Iceland sometime in the spring/summer and Ray Steele briefly assumed the drum stool.

10 June 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Stalkers (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

16 June 1967 – West End, Rushden, Northamptonshire with the Q-Men (Northamponshire Evening Telegraph)

17 June 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Love Affair (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

24 June 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Third Eye (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

1 July 1967 – Corby Civic Centre, Corby, Northamptonshire with The Ketas (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

According to Disc & Music Echo’s 8 July issue, page 14, Chris Allen from The Attack joined on drums around now.

14 July 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Long John Baldry Show (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

15 July 1967 – Pavilion Ballroom, Weymouth, Dorset with Chris Shakespere’s Movement (Dorset Evening Echo)

17 July 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Darlings (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

22 July 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Rogues Gallery (Evening Sentinel)

23 July 1967 – Starlite, Greenford, west London with The Action (Melody Maker)

28 July 1967 – Cat-Balou, Grantham, Lincolnshire (Grantham Journal)

There’s a great article and pic in Record Mirror, 29 July 1967, page 10

30 July 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with Bluesology and The Southside Move (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

6 August 1967 – Olympia, Cromer, Norfolk with The Young Generation (North Norfolk News)

6 August 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

9 August 1967 – Concorde, Southampton, Hampshire (Southern Evening Echo)

12 August 1967 – Tin Hat, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Friction (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

12 August 1967 – Nite Owl, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)

18 August 1967 – Starlite Ballroom, Greenford, west London (Melody Maker)

20 August 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

25 August 1967 – Fiesta Hall, Andover, Hampshire (Andover Advertiser)

26 August 1967 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with Soul Concern (Julie Fielder book: What Flo Said Next/Eastern Evening News)

1 September 1967 – The Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle)

2 September 1967 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Marmalade (East Kent Times & Mail/Folkestone, Hythe & District Herald)

3 September 1967 – Rendevous Club, Margate, Kent (East Kent Times & Mail)

7 September 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Studio Six (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

8 September 1967 – The Old West End, Rushden, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

There’s another great article and pic in Record Mirror, 9 September 1967, page 10

15 September 1967 – Top Twenty Club, Town Hall, Trowbridge, Wiltshire (Chippenham News)

16 September 1967 – Wellington Club, Dereham, Norfolk with The Survivors (North Norfolk News)

17 September 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with The Alex Reed Sound (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

29-30 September 1967 – Purple Fez, Plymouth, Devon (Fabulous 208)

1 October 1967 – Khyber Club, County Cricket Ground, Taunton, Somerset with Sutra (Somerset County Gazette)

6 October 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Fabulous 208)

7 October 1967 – Pearce Hall, Maidenhead, Berkshire (Fabulous 208)

12 October 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Third Eye (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

13 October 1967 – Hobby’s Club, St Michaels Hall, New Inn Hall, Oxford (Oxford Mail)

14 October 1967 – King Mojo, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)

20 October 1967 – Shades, Masonic Hall, Wokingham, Berkshire (Bracknell News) Billed as The Sin

20 October 1967 – Steering Wheel, Weymouth, Dorset (Dorset Evening Echo)

21 October 1967 – Hagger’s Ballroom, Pembroke, Wales (Fabulous 208)

22 October 1967 – Cat-Balou, Grantham, Lincolnshire (Grantham Journal)

28 October 1967 – Sussex University, Brighton, West Sussex (Fabulous 208)

2 November 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Quik (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

7 November 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel) Thanks to Geoffrey Mason for photo and source

10 November 1967 – Fiesta Hall, Andover, Hampshire (Andover Advertiser) The Syn were booked to play but One in a Million replaced them

16 November 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Love Affair (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

The band played a three residency at the Op Palladium in Toulon, south of France followed by a short stint at the Bilboquet in St Germain, Paris and this seems the most likely time period.

9 December 1967 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset with The Latest Soul (Bournemouth Echo)

15 December 1967 – West End, Rushden, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

24 December 1967 – Kettering Working Men’s Club, Kettering, Northamptonshire with Serendipity (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

6 January 1968 – Nags Head, Motown Club, Wollaston, Northamptonshire with Mick’s Soul Show (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

7 January 1968 – Cat-Balou, Grantham, Lincolnshire (Grantham Journal) This was the band’s final gig

Categories: Fort Worth, Texas

Holiday Skating Rink’s Holiday A-Go-Go, Haltom City, Fort Worth

December 28, 2020 Chris Bishop 1 Comment

Motovators at the Holiday Hop April 3, 1965

The Holiday Skating Rink was located at 2920 Carson St. in Haltom City, northeast of downtown Fort Worth, and just a block away from Haltom High School (where the Jades, the Barons and the Motovators attended school). It was later known at the Holiday Skatium.

Starting in May, 1964, the Jaycees sponsored weekly teen nights at the rink called Holiday Hop or Holiday A-Go-Go, run by KFJZ DJ Mark Stevens. The Motovators played at there at least five times in 1965. Below is a partial list of Holiday A-Go-Go shows:

January 23, 1965 – “Battle-of-the-Bands” with the Motovators, the United Sounds, the Jades (2nd place), the Barons (1st place), the Coachmen and the Images.

February 13, 1965 – Valentine Dance “Holiday Hop” with the Motovators and the Images

March 6, 1965 – Motovators and the Barons

April 3, 1965 – Motovators and the Barons. Photos taken by Donnie Fisher. The Motovators are sporting their new striped coats and yellow shirts from Foreman & Clark, $13.84 each.

On April 25, 1965, the Star-Telegram ran a full-page feature on Holiday A-Go-Go, with photos of the audience and two photos of a band, likely the Creeps, who are mentioned in the article.

On May 29, 1965 – the Holiday a-Go-Go 1st Anniversary show included Larry & the Blue Notes, the Chaunteys, the Jades and the Barons, but not the Motovators.

July 10, 1965 – The Motovators and Larry and the Blue Notes. The Blue Notes ask Terry to join them for a three-day tour, but he turns it down because of two prior Motovators bookings.

September 18, 1965 – the Barons and Jack & the Rippers

December 4, 1965 – the Jades

April 2, 1966 – the Mysterians

April 8, 1966 – Battle of the bands with the Jades, the Esquires, the Mods, the Kasuals, the Nomads, the No-Names and the Cynics.

Thank you to Wm. Lewis Wms. and Andellyn Purvis-Hungerford for sharing this material.

Holiday Skating Rink, not sure if this is the Motovators or another group

Categories: England

The Cortinas gigs 1964-1968

December 28, 2020 Nick Warburton Leave a comment

Formed by brothers Paul and Nigel Griggs, The Cortinas went through various line-ups before changing name to Octopus in November 1968.

Lead guitarist Paul Griggs had started out with Bobby Hale & The Halestones in June 1962.

He left this band in June 1963 to form Shelayne & The Cortinas with:

Pat Heley (lead vocals)

Paul Griggs (lead guitar/vocals)

Barry Banks (rhythm guitar)

Nigel Griggs (bass/vocals)

Roger Cook (drums)

The band debuted in September 1963 but Heley and Banks, who were a couple, left in November and rhythm guitarist Paul Crowland joined in January 1964.

Paul Griggs assuming lead vocals and they became simply The Cortinas.

22 February 1964 – Cavendish Hall, Hatfield, Hertfordshire (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

22 March 1964 – The Hilltop, Hatfield, Hertfordshire (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

18 June 1964 – Breaks Youth Club, Hatfield, Hertfordshire with Tony Rivers & The Castaways (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

27 June 1964 – ‘Beat Competition’, Westminster Lodge, St Albans, Hertfordshire with The Trekkas and The King Bees (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

10 July 1964 – Willows, London Colney, Herts (Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)

19 July 1964 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with Johnny Milton & The Condors (Hertfordshire Express)

22 August 1964 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts with Mark Douglas & The Prowlers (Hertfordshire Express)

11 October 1964 – The Hilltop, Hatfield, Hertfordshire (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

19 December 1964 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Hertfordshire with Steve Marriot’s Moments (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician) Hertforshire Express lists this as The Stormsville Shakers

1965

30 January 1965 – The Hop, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

1 February 1965 – The Hop, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire with Tony Rivers & The Castaways (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

12-13 February 1965 – Battersea College, London with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

Paul Crowland announced he was leaving on 11 March but stayed until replacement Cliff Franklyn had rehearsed sufficiently to take over.

29 March 1965 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Hertfordshire with Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician/Hertfordshire Express)

12 April 1965 – The Hop, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire with Tony Rivers & The Castaways (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician) This was Cliff Franklyn’s debut show

2 May 1965 – Melody Maker Beat Competition Heat, Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

15 May 1965 – Porchester Hall, Bayswater, west London with Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

12 June 1965 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Hertfordshire with The Five Sons of Adam (Hertfordshire Express)

15 August 1965 – Melody Maker Beat Competition Final, Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, south west London with St Louis Union, The Tudors, The Carolines and others (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

28 August 1965 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Paramounts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

25 September 1965 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with Dave Curtiss & The Tremors (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

12 October 1965 – New Greens Youth Club, St Albans, Herts (Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)

6 November 1965 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with Force Five (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

1966

29 January 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Chris Andrews and The Roscoe Brown Combination (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)

Cliff Franklyn announced he was leaving on 3 February 1966. Mick King took his place as rhythm guitarist.

12 March 1966 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday) This was Mick King’s debut show

18 April 1966 – Barn Cellar, St Albans, Hertfordshire (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

30 May 1966 – Victoria Ballroom, Cambridge with Desmonde Mode (Cambridge News)

11-12 June 1966 – Supreme Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

13 June 1966 – Supreme Ballroom, Ramsgate, Kent with The Alan Price Set (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

21 June 1966 – Sandridge Youth Club, near St Albans, Hertfordshire (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

Roger Cook announced he was leaving but agreed to stay until replacement Dave Cooper (ex-Op Scene) was ready to take over.

22 July 1966 – Bees Club, Brentford FC, west London (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician) This was Dave Cooper’s debut show

Mick King announced he was leaving in mid-August to join The Trespassers. Paul Griggs’ friends, guitarists Alan Shacklock (from Harlem Shuffle) and Mick Taylor (ex-Juniors) agreed to fill in until a replacement was found.

23 October 1966 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Billy Fury and The Gamblers (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

2 November 1966 – Hemel Hempstead Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire with Cream (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

Rick Williams from The In-Sect took over on rhythm guitar, joining in late November.

17 December 1966 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with Billy Fury & The Gamblers (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

24 December 1966 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire with The Creepers (http://www.coda-uk.co.uk/60’s_music_scene.htm)

1967

21 January 1967 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Easybeats (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

14 February 1967 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire with Creepers (see website above)

Dave Cooper announced he was departing on 12 March but stayed on until late May.

1 April 1967 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with The Action (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

Gary (Nigel) Whinyates from Birkenhead auditioned in mid-April.

19 April 1967 – Stevenage Mecca, Locarno, Stevenage, Hertfordshire (http://www.coda-uk.co.uk/60’s_music_scene.htm)

16 May 1967 – Sandridge Youth Club, Herts (Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)

24 May 1967 – Stevenage Mecca, Locarno, Stevenage, Hertfordshire with The Move (see website above) This was Dave Cooper’s final gig

13 June 1967 – Sandridge Youth Club, Herts (Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)

18 August 1967 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

8 September 1967 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire (see website above)

29 September 1967 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire (see website above)

20 October 1967 – Square One, Cricketers Inn, Westcliff, Essex with Zoot Money & Dantalion’s Chariot (Southend Standard)

23 October 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, London (Paul Griggs’ diary)

27 October 1967 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire (see website above)

4 November 1967 – St Birinus Youth Club, St Birinus School, Didcot, Oxfordshire with The Crawdadds (Didcot Advertiser)

11 November 1967 – Nags Head, Motown Club, Wollaston, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

24 November 1967 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire (see website above)

10 December 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker) The band’s debut at the club

15 December 1967 – Andromeda, Colchester, Essex (Essex County Standard)

22 December 1967 – Old West End, Rushden, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)

23 December 1967 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire (see website above)

26 December 1967 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

31 December 1967 – Breaks Youth Club, Hatfield, Hertfordshire (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

1968

21 January 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Paul Griggs’ diary)

24 January 1968 – Pink Flamingo, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Alan Clark Soul Show and Canal St Philarmonic (Melody Maker)

4 February 1968 – Breaks Youth Club, Hatfield, Hertfordshire (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

13 February 1968 – Sandridge Youth Club, Herts (Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)

14 February 1968 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire with Herbal Remedy (Welwyn Times)

15 February 1968 – Penny Farthing, Leicester (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

16 February 1968 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton north London (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician) This was their club debut

24 February 1968 – Blue Ball Hotel, Risley, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)

2 March 1968 – Sandridge Youth Club, Herts (Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)

12 March 1968 – Sandridge Youth Club, Herts (Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)

14 March 1968 – Penny Farthing Club, Leicester with The Eyes of Blonde (Leicester Mercury)

21 March 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

22 March 1968 – St Albans Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with The Nashville Teens and West Coast Consortium (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician/Welwyn and Hatfield Advertiser) Debut at the venue

23 March 1968 – Borough Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks with The Rocky Rivers Record Show (http://aylesburymusictown.co.uk/)

28 March 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

7 April 1968 – Chesterfield Club, Castle Bromwich, West Midlands (Express & Star)

13 April 1968 – Luton Boys Club, Luton, Bedfordshire with The Links (Luton News)

15 April 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts with King George and Co (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

16 April 1968 – Sandridge Youth Club, Herts (Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)

18 April 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

20 April 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Timebox (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

23 April 1968 – Penny Farthing, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)

26 April 1968 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (Paul Griggs’ diary)

27 April 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Tony Bishop’s Rock and Soul and Fanny Flicker’s Show (Lincolnshire Standard)

28 April 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

7 May 1968 – Sandridge Youth Club, Herts (Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)

9 May 1968 – Grafton Club, RAF Marham with The Lemon Tree (Lynn News)

11 May 1968 – Gig in Grantham, Lincolnshire with Chris Farlowe & The Thunderbirds (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

12 May 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

23 May 1968 – Penny Farthing, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)

24 May 1968 – Sherwood Room, Nottingham (Derby Evening Telegraph)

26 May 1968 – Blue Ball Hotel, Risley, Derby (Derby Evening Telegraph)

31 May 1968 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (Paul Griggs’ diary)

2 June 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Melody Maker)

7 June 1968 – Bracknell Sports Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire with O’Hara’s Playboys, The Barrier, The Crawdads and Freehold (Melody Maker)

8 June 1968 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with O’Hara’s Playboys, The Barrier, The Crawdads and Freehold (Melody Maker)

9 June 1968 – Gig in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire with O’Hara’s Playboys, The Barrier, The Crawdads and Freehold (Melody Maker)

10 June 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Nite People (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

12 June 1968 – King’s Lynn College, King’s Lynn, Norfolk with O’Hara’s Playboys, The Barrier, The Crawdads and Freehold (Melody Maker)

14 June 1968 – Bracknell Sports Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire with O’Hara’s Playboys, The Barrier, The Crawdads and Freehold (Melody Maker)

15 June 1968 – Sandridge Youth Club, Herts (Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)

15 June 1968 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with O’Hara’s Playboys, The Barrier, The Crawdads and Freehold (Melody Maker)

16 June 1968 – Bedford Checkpoint, Bedford, Bedfordshire with O’Hara’s Playboys, The Barrier, The Crawdads and Freehold (Melody Maker)

17 June 1968 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with O’Hara’s Playboys, The Barrier, The Crawdads and Freehold (Melody Maker)

18 June 1968 – Gig in Wellingborough, Northants with O’Hara’s Playboys, The Barrier, The Crawdads and Freehold (Melody Maker)

23 June 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

30 June 1968 – Playboy Club, Park Lane, central London (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

10 July 1968 – Rampton Psychiatric Hospital, Nottinghamshire (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

12 July 1968 – 76 Club, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire (http://www.76club.org.uk/gigs.html)

13 July 1968 – Starlight Room, Boston, Lincolnshire with The Paberback Edition (Nottingham Evening Post)

23 July 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Tony Rivers & The Castaways (Paul Griggs’ diary)

24 July 1968 – Blaises, Imperial Hotel, Queen’s Gate, west London (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician) This was a 1am show so the band arrived on 23 July

29 July 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

10 August 1968 – White Tiles, Swindon, Wiltshire (Swindon Evening Advertiser)

11 August 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Paul Griggs’ diary)

12 August 1968 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with The Delroy Williams Show (East Kent Times & Mail)

18 August 1968 – Cat-Balou, Grantham, Lincolnshire (Grantham Journal)

19 August 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Nite People (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

24 August 1968 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)

24 August 1968 – The Barn Ballroom, Little Bardfield Hall, Little Bardfield, Essex (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

2 September 1968 – Ford Cortina Day, Mallory Park, Race Track, Leicester (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

6 September 1968 – Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire with Herbal Remedy (http://www.coda-uk.co.uk/60’s_music_scene.htm)

7 September 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Spice (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

8 September 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Paul Griggs’ diary)

13 September 1968 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton,north London (Paul Griggs’ diary)

16 September 1968 – Dunstable Civic Hall, Dunstable, Bedforshire with Sly & The Family Stone (who didn’t turn up) (Luton News)

27 September 1968 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (Paul Griggs’ diary)

6 October 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Paul Griggs’ diary)

12 October 1968 – High Wycombe Town Hall, High Wycombe, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)

25 October 1968 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (Paul Griggs’ diary)

6 November 1968 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with Status Quo and Nerve (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician/Welwyn and Hatfield Advertiser)

9 November 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Dream Police (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

10 November 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Paul Griggs’ diary)

15 November 1968 – Nottingham University, Nottingham with Marmalade and The Nashville Teens (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

23 November 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

Octopus’ select gigs:

21 November 1968 – Baldock Workingmen’s Club, Baldock, Hertfordshire (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician) Debut as Octopus

30 November 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Dream Police (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

18 December 1968 – Gig in Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

20 December 1968 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (Paul Griggs’ diary)

21 December 1968 – RAF Benson, Oxfordshire with Plastic Penny (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

29 December 1968 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Paul Griggs’ diary)

31 December 1968 – Gig in Dunstable, Bedfordshire (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

1969

1 January 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Yes (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

4-5 January 1969 – Stella Ballroom, Mount Merion, Republic of Ireland (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

18 January 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Spice (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

8 February 1969 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts (Steve Ingless book: The Day Before Yesterday)

12 February 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Yes (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

15 February 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Spice (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

16 February 1969 – Adelphi, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough & Eton Express)

6-7 April 1969 (check) – Stella Ballroom, Mount Merion, Republic of Ireland (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

12 April 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Procession (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

4 May 1969 – Tiffany’s, central London (Paul Griggs’ diary)

Gary Whinyates announced he was leaving on 22 May but stayed until late July.

8 June 1969 – Tiffany’s, central London (Paul Griggs’ diary)

28 June 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Procession (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)

20 July 1969 – Shire Green Working Men’s Club, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

21 July 1969 – Black Swan, Sheffield, South Yorkshire (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician) This was Nigel Whinyates’ final show

Brian Glascock joined on drums at this point

19 August 1969 – Lyceum, Strand, central London (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

29 August 1969 – St Albans City Hall, St Albans, Hertfordshire with Desmond Dekker (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician) This was the band’s final gig at this venue

14 September 1969 – Tiffany’s, central London (Paul Griggs’ diary)

27 November 1969 – Baldock Working Men’s Club, Baldock, Hertfordshire (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

24 December 1969 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (Paul Griggs’ diary)

31 December 1969 – Mansfield Palais, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire (Paul Griggs’ book: Diary of a Musician)

1970

31 May 1970 – Tiffany’s, central London (Paul Griggs’ diary)

After this gig, Rick Williams and Brian Glascock both left, the latter joining Toe Fat.

In early July, John Cook from The Mixed Bag joined on keyboards and Malcolm Green came in on drums. The new line-up debuted on 17 July 1970.

Brian Glascock briefly replaced Malcolm Green in early 1971 before Tim Reeves from The Fox took over in late April. However, Octopus split in mid-January 1972.

Paul Griggs’ book (noted above) provided a wealth of information on the comings and goings and is definitely worth purchasing.

Garage Hangover

The Kasuals “Girl (You Better Stop Your Lying)” on Spotlite

The Motovators at Panther A-Go-Go, Panther Hall in Fort Worth

Jerry Williams and the Epics

The Images “My Kinda Woman” on Music Mill

The Second Thoughts

The Visions “She’s the Girl for Me”

The Party Line Club and the Tracer Club in Fort Worth

The Syn gigs 1966-1968

Holiday Skating Rink’s Holiday A-Go-Go, Haltom City, Fort Worth

The Cortinas gigs 1964-1968

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