Greene County towns of Athens, Cairo, Catskill, Coxsackie, Durham, Greenville, Hunter, New Baltimore etc
Columbia County city of Hudson, towns Austerlitz, Canaan, Claverack, Clermont, Germantown, Ghent, Greenport, Hillsdale, Kinderhook, Livingston, Stuyvesant, Valatie, and more
Albany County towns of Berne, Bethlehem, Coeymans, Colonie, Guilderland, Knox, New Scotland, Voorheesville, Ravena, Rensselaerville, Westerlo, etc.
Ulster County towns of Esopus, Hurley, Kingston, Lloyd, Marbletown, New Paltz, Olive, Plattekill, Rochester, Rosendale, Saugerties, Shandaken, Woodstock, etc
Dutchess County towns of Red Hook, Rhinebeck, Milan, Clinton, Hyde Park, etc
Dennie Mosley seems to have only cut this one single, the cool rockabilly “Love Me, Love Me, Love Me” backed with the pleading lament, “I Tried”. It’s not really a garage style record, but the late recording date and crude quality of the production gives it something of a garage feel. The guitar break on “Love Me” is excellent.
The RCA custom pressing code, U4KM-9220/1 indicates an early 1967 pressing.
Released on B & 4 Records out of Columbus, Ohio. Bill Caito wrote “Love Me, Love Me, Love Me” and arranged that side, while Dennie Mosley wrote and arranged “I Tried”.
Other names on the label include M. South, G. Kirk, L. Newsome and F. Smith who must be the backing musicians. B&4 Records typically list the singer of the group as the artist, so it is possible they had a group name not listed on these labels. Any further info would be appreciated.
Publishing by E.C. Baugess Publishing Co.
Chad Baugess ran a home studio and owned the B & 4 Records label. Buckeye Beat has a list of other records on the label, but not this one.
The Frauleins on stage, from left: Ann Duquette, Michelle Fereira, Lynda MacLeish, Linda Murphy and Linda Duquette
The Fabulous Frauleins only recorded this one single in 1967, “Practice of Evil” / “Days Gone By”. Both are original songs by Duquette and Duquette, two sisters who were members of the group.
Members were:
Michelle Fereira – lead vocals Linda Duquette – guitar Linda Murphy – guitar Ann Duquette – bass Lynda MacLeish – drums
“Practice of Evil” concerns the Salem witch trials. Bill Borelli from WCCM 800 radio did the voice of the judge in the middle part of the song. “Days Gone By” is slower but also a very good original.
Lynda MacLeish was from Andover, MA where she attended Andover High School. I’m not sure where the other members of the group came from, but Andover or the Lawrence / Methuen / Salem area are likely.
The Frauleins recorded at Eastern Sound Studios in Metheun, Massachusetts. Onyx Studios at the time was located in the basement of the label owner’s home at 33 Taylor St.
Guy Sammartano arranged both sides, with production by Pague Prods. Other staff at Onyx at this time included Pat Costa, Rom Messina, Jim Manganno, Sally Giaquinta, Angela Blatti and Jim Minchello.
Publishing through Atsoc Pub. Co., but I can’t find any record of copyright registration or a listing in BMI’s database for the company or the songs. Someone named Lon Duquette copyrighted a song called “Back Bay Blue” in 1969, but I have no idea if he was connected to the Frauleins.
In 1968, “Practice of Evil” was chosen to be on a Pepsi flexi giveaway, with the band called simply “The Frauleins”. A live recording of the group may exist.
The Frauleins broke up after a final show in Derry, New Hampshire around 1968. Though they kept in contact through the years, the band never reunited on stage.
Michelle Fereira married and became Michelle Barrow.
Lynda Murphy at Beatlefest, 2005 Lynda MacLeish married and became Lynda Murphy, not to be confused with Fraulein guitarist Linda Murphy! Lynda was a huge Beatles fan, having attended one of their US shows as a teen. She became a chapter president of the Rascals fan club, and long-time friend of Felix Cavaliere. Lynda never joined another group, but sat with other musicians including Pete Best, who was also a friend of hers. Lynda passed away on July 28, 2017.
Thank you to John Van Horn for the photos and information seen in this article. John and his wife were friends of Lynda Murphy (MacLeish).
Debbie Lori Kaye on stage at Cambrian College. Photo courtesy of Joe Spina.
Debbie Lori Kaye had about a dozen singles, mostly on Columbia Records, starting in 1965 until about 1972.
Joe Spina was promoter for Cambrian College, Sudbury, Ontario, in 1966-7 and sent these photos of Debbie. Some feature the Rogues, who had a great single “Girl” / “Wish I Could See You Again” on Algoma as (Those) Rogues.
See the article on the Sound Sett for more photos from Joe Spina.
Debbie Lori Kaye on stage with the Rogues at Cambrian College. Photo courtesy of Joe Spina.Debbie Lori Kaye with her father Dave Carter, and Joe Spina in the control room at Cambrian College
Sound Sett on stage at Cambrian College, Bruce MacGregor, Bob Coulombe, Ken Cartmill, Chuck Wesley, Jim Bagshaw, and Jerry Siegfried (not sure if the order of these IDs is correct)
Joe Spina, program director at Cambrian College in 1966 and 1967, sent in these photos of the Sound Sett. Members of the Sound Sett were:
Ken Cartmill – lead singer Bob Coulombe – lead guitar Bruce MacGregor – rhythm and lead guitar Church Wesley – rhythm guitar Jerry Siegried – bass guitar Jim Bagshaw – drums
The article below describes the band and their ambitions:
Joe Spina on CJIC FM, 1969. All photos from the collection of Joe.
Three months ago, six Cambrian College students got together and formed the Sound Sett …Jerry Siegried, an electronics student, and bass guitar player, spent some time playing professionally for a group in British Columbia.
Bob Coulombe, a machine shop technologist student, is the Sound Sett’s lead guitar man. Bob is one of the top lead guitarists north of Toronto. He is an avid fan of jazz and good “rock” music.
Bruce MacGregor, a senior electronics student, plays rhythm and lead guitar, as well as being the leader of the group…
Bruce, Bob and Jerry played together in the Lakehead area as The Strangers before coming to the Sault …
Chuck Wesley, another electronics student, plays rhythm guitar. Before coming here, Chuck played for the Bee-Jays in his home town of Marathon…
Jim Bagshaw, drummer for the band, has had considerable experience in his home town of Sudbury, playing for The Talismen, The Inferno 5 plus a number of other groups.
Marlen Baker on stage with the Sound SettIncluded in the band’s repertoire are a number of selections written by Bruce and Ken…
Joe Spina manages the group. He is another senior electronics student.
The Sound Sett will be travelling north in mid-April for a weekend which includes Marathon and Manitouwadge. A tour of Western Canada beginning in June, will take the group to Vancouver and back.
Manager Joe Spina will be travelling to Detroit later this month with audition tapes of the band.
Born in Kingston, Jamaica on 5 July 1939, Owen Gray (aka Grey) is one of the true reggae and ska greats but was also the author of a handful of superb soul/mod 45s, recorded in the UK and France between 1965-1969.
Very little is known about this period and so we’d welcome any additional information that readers can provide in the comments section below, particularly around the recording of these individual singles, any unreleased recordings and the personnel on the tracks.
Owen arrived in England in May 1962 and was a prolific recording artist. Like Jimmy Cliff, he’s best known for his reggae recordings but he was an exceptionally gifted soul performer and worked with some top British musicians during the mid-to-late 1960s. His backing bands included The Sound System, The Krew, Tony Knight’s Chessmen and Maximum Breed.
His first venture into soul appears to have been with two singles on the small Aladdin label (see below).
Image may be subject to copyright
Released on 12 March 1965, Owen Gray’s “Gonna Work Out Fine” c/w “Dolly Baby”, was the first of two 45s on the label, the first produced by Denny Cordell.
Advert from New Musical Express
His second release “Lindy Lu” was backed by a great version of “Can I Get a Witness”, which has since become a Northern Soul favourite.
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In mid-to-late 1965, he moved labels and to Island Records for three singles. The first coupled “Shook, Shimmy & Shake” with “I’m Going Back” and was followed by “Paradise” c/w “Bye Bye Love”. Little is known about the background to both of these releases and the personnel on the recordings.
Image may be subject to copyright
Initially, the singer worked with The Soul Sets, including a gig at the Cue Club in early January 1966.
Photo: Melody Maker
However, in January/February 1966, Chris Blackwell linked Owen with west London Mod outfit, The Sound System.
Photo: Melody Maker
The band had morphed out of The All-Nite Workers and featured guitarist Tony St Clair; bass player Ron Thomas; keyboard player Mick Fletcher; sax players Mel Wayne and Dave Mahoney; and drummer Phil Wainman, who later went on to produce The Sweet among others.
Together, they backed Owen on a lone 45, a rousing version of “You Don’t Know Like I Know” backed by “Take Me Serious”, which appears to have been penned by Ron Thomas, who later went on to work with The Heavy Metal Kids, among others.
Image may be subject to copyright
Owen Gray & The Sound System also gigged around the London club circuit in the first few months of 1966 before Blackwell linked them up with Jimmy Cliff and renamed them The New Generation. Later that year, the group became singer Gary Hamilton’s second version of The Hamilton Movement.
Photo: Melody Maker
Left without a band, Owen joined forces with The Krew who’d just lost their two lead singers Beryl Marsden and Steve Aldo.
Led by scouser and future Wings sideman Howie Casey on sax, the group also featured fellow Liverpudlian Tommy Murray on lead guitar (who was later replaced by Ted Tunnicliffe); Glaswegian Archie Legget; Yorkshireman Eddie Sparrow on drums; and Londoner Alan Reeves on keyboards.
Photo: Alan Reeves. Left to right (back), Eddie Sparrow, Archie Legget, Howie Casey, Alan Reeves. Front, left to right: Owen Gray and Tommy Murray
Owen Gray and The Krew moved to France in April 1966 and played several clubs in the ski resorts, notably the Bus Palladium in Courcheval, before landing a residency at exclusive Paris nightclub Le Bilboquet.
While playing in Paris in July that year, the musicians recorded an EP for Barclay Records’ subsidiary label, Riviera, comprising popular soul covers and strong Owen Gray originals, “Everything’s Alright” and “Somebody Stole My Girl”.
However, by the end of 1966, Owen Gray was back in London and back on the soul circuit, playing the clubs that were popular with the burgeoning Caribbean community such as Paddington’s Cue Club.
Back on Island Records, he recorded one of his finest soul outings, the stupendous “Help Me” coupled with “Incense”, which were produced by Chris Blackwell and Jimmy Miller respectively.
Issued in January 1967, the single should have been a massive hit but inexplicably it failed to chart and is now a much sought-after collectors’ item.
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A few months later, Owen was back with another London band, this time Tony Knight’s Chessmen, led by drummer Tony Brown. The singer remained with the group until about September 1967.
During Owen’s time with The Chessmen, the musicians passing through included noted sax players Dave Coxhill and Stan Sulzmann and future John Mayall’s Bluesbreaker Keith Tillman.
Photo: Fred D’Albert. Left to right: Terry Ede, Dave Coxhill (hidden), Owen Gray, Tony Brown (hidden), Keith Tillman and Fred D’Albert in Italy.
In July 1967, the band travelled out to Italy to play the Piper Club in Viareggio.
Photo: Melody Maker, 1967
Little is known about his soul projects from this point on, although he did work with singers Ruby and Youth backed by The Shell Shock Show during late 1967 and early 1968.
However, during 1968, he started to do studio work on the Old Kent Road with producer David Hadfield.
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For the recordings, he was backed by Freddy Mack’s former band, The Mack Sound, who were going by the name Maximum Breed.
Future Butts Band and Gonzalez keyboard player Roy Davies was among the musicians in this talented band.
Several singles were issued during this period, including “Sitting in the Park” and “Dream Lover” but by now, Owen was starting to focus his efforts on the reggae audience.
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
The Bobbies came from Florence, Alabama, cutting this one fine single, “(She) Put Me Down” parts 1 and 2 in June, 1966. Members included:
Bobby Heathcoat – lead vocals (Bobby Heathcote ?) Richard Hahn – organ Glenn Hall – bass
– but I don’t know the other names of the group. Scans of an autographed 45 include these names:
Duck Hempil or Henpil? Randy Wills “Angel”
Sonny Limbo (real name Robert Limbaugh, I believe) was a DJ at WAAY in Huntsville, Alabama, about 72 miles east of Florence. I am not sure how he found the Bobbies, but Sonny had been hipped to local Huntsville group the In. The In recorded a demo of “Just Give Me Time” at Bobby Land’s studio in Huntsville and asked Sonny to produce a finished version. Sonny brought both groups, the In and the Bobbies to Sonic Recording in Memphis to share a four hour session.
Autographed copy of the Bobbies 45, courtesy of Brandi Garrison.
The bands, who did not know each other before, became friendly and helped out on each other’s session. The Bobbies and their friends contributed to the crowd noise on the In’s version of “Midnight Hour”, plus Bobby Heathcoat contributed backing howls and Richard Hahn played organ on the song. Eddie Burton of the In added some lead guitar to the Bobbies recording.
The In’s session would lead to a national release on Hickory of “Just Give Me Time” / “In the Midnight Hour”. In an interesting twist on the usual sequence of local-to-national release, Hickory dropped the group (supposedly because their session was non-union), and Limbo released the songs locally on his own label, pairing “‘Live’ in the Midnight Hour” with “You’re So Fine” for Sonny 45-1002, and “Just Give Me Time” with Eddie Burton’s original “You’re Not Gonna Live Forever” for Sonny 45-1004.
Limbo released the Bobbies single on Sonny Records 45-1001. I’m not sure what songs the Bobbies planned on recording when they went into the session, but Sonic Recording owner Roland Janes gets writing credit for “(She) Put Me Down”.
I expect there is a Sonny 45-1003 out there but if so, I haven’t seen it.
The A-side of the Bobbies received a B+ in the July 30, 1966 issue of Cash Box.
Richard Hahn would go on to join the In.
The Wessex Combo (before the “In”), from the Decatur Daily April 28, 1965
I couldn’t find any news clippings for the Bobbies, but did turn up this interesting mention of an early version of the In, calling themselves the Wessex Combo for the 14th birthday party of Miss Jeannie Sharpe, the band featuring Bill Peck, George Vail, Chet Nolette, Eddie Burton and Fred Sanders. It was published in the Decatur Daily (Decatur Alabama that is), on April 28, 1965.
By the time of their Memphis recordings, Chet Nolette was out of the group and the In consisted of Bobbie Land – lead and backing vocals and organ, Eddie Burton – lead and backing vocals and lead guitar, Bill Peck – lead and backing vocals and rhythm guitar, Fred Sanders – lead and backing vocals and bass, and George Vail – drums. Later on Jackie Tiller of the Rocks would play bass for the group.
Anyone have a good photo of either group?
Info for this article comes from Jeff Jarema’s interviews with Eddie Burton of the In on the Sundazed and 60sgaragebands.com sites, both now defunct.
This is an early, relatively unknown single on Jimmy Capps’ JCP Records label 1016. There’s nothing ‘garage’ about it.
“My Love for You” is a latin-styled pop song with male harmony vocals, and a female recitation in Spanish. Tonie Krakora wrote the song, published by Aimee Music Co. which handled many JCP releases, so I believe this was an original song, not a cover.
“Ram-Bunk-Shush” is a good instrumental, probably learned from Bill Doggett’s version.
Distributed by Sound of Nashville, SoN 17061/2.
I haven’t been able to find anything about the group or Tonie Krakora.
The Warlords, original band, from left: Sam Harrell, Terry Stead, Randy Hill, Roger Smith and Jack Ellis
Keyboard player Jack Ellis wrote to me about his three bands: the Warlords, who didn’t record; Hunger, who cut a rare 45 “Freedom Today” / “Buy Me” and an unreleased album; and the Spores who released an EP and have the lead-off track “Don’t You Worry” on Varulven’s 1983 compilation, Boston Rock-N-Roll Anthology.
The Warlords
Terry Stead – lead vocals Roger Smith – guitar Jack Ellis – keyboards Sam Harrell – bass Randy Hill – drums
Manager – Wilson Harrell
When I was 14 years old I got a Acetone organ for Christmas. It was a suitcase organ that you store the legs in the back and screw them in and set it up. When I told my friends at school (Denbigh High School in Newport News, Virginia), that was the beginning of the band. We all used Sears Silvertone amps (they were cheap and you could get them at the Sears store). We practiced at bass player Sam Harrell’s house.
His father Wilson Harrell heard the band and wanted to be the manager. He quit his paint salesman job and became our manager and booking agent full time. Wilson soon became the biggest talent booking agency in the area (Check Productions), covering the VA. Beach, Norfolk, Newport News, Williamsburg, Richmond area and was booking hundreds of bands every week. Having a built in booking agency gave us an advantage over all the competition and the Warlords were booked solid.
Wilson brought in a singer named Pete to sing the soul and Motown songs for the fraternity parties, and Terry would sing the rock songs. Our first gigs were frat parties at Fraternity Row at William and Mary College.
There was a road with 10 to 20 frat houses where bands like Bill Deal and the Rondells and Danny & the Delnotes would be playing next door to us. During our breaks we would go down the Row and check out the bands who came from different cities and places and there would be all new bands the next week. All the other bands’ trailers, trucks and buses would be parked on that street. The Warlords had a white trailer painted like our business card so we would get gigs from people walking by and hearing the band. Soon we were playing college gigs from Norfolk to Richmond.
One night after a fraternity party gig someone crashed into our white trailer that was parked in front of Wilson’s house with all the equipment in it and destroyed the trailer and everything in it. The insurance company paid to fix the trailer and equipment. The band went to Chuck Levin’s Music outside of Washington D.C. and we bought 3 Vox Buckingham amps as a package deal. The drummer had Ludwig drums. My organ survived the crash so I still had that. We started with some kind of horn type p.a. and then upgraded to Vocal Master p.a. columns.
Warlords at the Hullabaloo in Newport News
Wilson became one of the biggest talent booking agency (Check Productions) in the area, covering from Nags Head, Va. Beach, Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg to Richmond. The Warlords played all the clubs including the military base clubs in Norfolk and Ft. Eustis. Wilson Harrell taught me the music business, without Wilson I wouldn’t be who I am. Wilson is the man who fueled the Tidewater Music scene and promoted hundreds of bands and gave them jobs in the music industry. Wilson and Sam are no longer with us.
The Hullabaloo picture is with a guest guitarist from The Wild Kingdom who played the gig with us.
Unfortunately the drummer Randy’s father pulled him out of the band. He was replaced by Bobby Pinner.
The Warlords with statue of Lief Erickson at The Mariners Museum, taken January 28, 1968, from left: Bobby Pinner – drummer, Sam Harrell – bass, Jack Ellis – keyboards, Roger Smith – guitar, Terry Stead – singer
Hunger
Terry Stead – lead vocals Robbie Robertson – guitar Mike Hanson – guitar Jack Ellis – keyboards Scott Tribue – bass Stan Eury – drums
After the Warlords I started a new band called Hunger (1970) based out of Newport News. Our biggest competitors The Swinging Machines and The Wild Kingdom were gone and I ended up with Robbie Robertson from The Wild Kingdom as one of Hunger’s guitar players.
Hunger’s rare 45 “Freedom Today”, recorded at Richmond Sound Stages for winning the WTVR Radio 1970 Battle of the Bands
We were playing in Washington D.C. when we got a record deal with Paul Simon’s studio in Nashville. After Nashville, Hunger went back to Newport News where we did the Va. Beach, Nags Head club circuit, plus outdoor concerts with Grand Funk, Poco, and any festival that needed a band. The 45 is rare. There were only 200 pressed that went to the band family members and friends (gone instantly).
We were still booking gigs with Wilson Harrell. Wilson got us a deal with the USO Show circuit for the military to fly to Cuba and Puerto Rico to do clubs and concerts at Gitmo and Roosevelt Rds. These gigs would be for a week at a time (a vacation in paradise). Playing gigs was my job and paid very well. I also played with the Norfolk Aliens for a short while.
Hunger, from left: Scott Tribue, Mike Hansen, Terry Stead, Robbie Robertson, Stan Eury and Jack Ellis
The Hunger band equipment was massive. Wilson taught me if you look big you are big.
Keyboards:
Hammond C5 (CV) with 122 leslie speaker cabinet Baldwin Electric Harpsichord Hohner D6 Clavinet Wurlitzer Electric Piano Mini Moog Model D
Keys amp system: 4-Fender Showman cabinets which I bought used and replaced the speakers with Electrolux SRO (4-15”s) and JBL (4-15”s). I would stack 2 each on their sides making a wall behind me.
On top of that were two Marshall amps (1-100 watt and 1-50 watt). Yamaha board to mix instruments and send them to the amps, 2 mics on the leslie.
Mike Hanson – two Fender twin reverb amps with 2 Fender Bandmaster extension cabinets (8-12” speakers all together), cherry sunburst Gibson Les Paul guitar.
Robbie Robertson – two Fender Band Master amps (4-12”speakers), brown Gibson Les Paul with Fender neck he built himself (not sure if strat or telecaster neck, had a small headstock).
Scott Tribue: Ampeg bass amp with extension cab.
Band PA: Two Voice of The theatre bass cabinets with JBL 15” speakers, JBL horn with 2440 compression driver on top on each side/, 2-Crown power amps on each side. Don’t remember the board (some kind of English board had a British flag emblem on it).
We had a bread truck with the sliding front doors that could carry all the equipment and two roadies to drive it and set up the equipment. All equipment was paid for from gig money since none of us worked. We later bought a school bus that we painted dark green and gutted, turning it into a camper. We left two bus seats up front on each side, built a wall to block off the sleeping section (3 bunks on one side and 2 on the other) another wall to section off the equipment in the rear.
Every time we went through the Norfolk tunnel we had to pay for a bus toll which was very expensive. The toll guy told us if we put in a stove and propane tank we would classify as a camper, so we went to the junk yard and bought a gas stove and an empty propane tank and hooked it up. It was all for looks and didn’t work. Our tolls were now $1.75 and the toll guy would get on the bus with his flashlight every time and check it out.
We would take turns driving from Washington D.C. to Georgia so you could sleep if you wanted or if we were playing more than one night we could crash for the night or party in the bus. When the equipment was in the club the back of the bus was huge. While on the road we would run into the Allman Brothers, Cactus and other bands doing the same circuit. All the bands would stop at The Jolly Roger right before the Norfolk tunnel for a beer and we would always stop to see who was in. Someone always had to stay with the bus so it wouldn’t be stolen with all the gear in it. It was usually someone who was sleeping.
The Spores, from left: Mike Debellis, Paul Mudarri, Jack Ellis, Donny Prevost, Ken MacDonald, and John Cristoferi
The Spores
Donny Prevost – lead vocals Paul Mudarri – lead guitar Ken MacDonald – rhythm guitar Jack Ellis – keyboards Mike Debellis – bass, replaced by Joe Evans John Cristoferi – drums, replaced by Dennis DuBre
The whole time I was playing I was still training as a classical pianist (since age of 6). While in Hunger I came in 2nd place at the Va. State Classical Competitions and in 1978 decided to move to Boston to further my studies at Berkeley College of Music where I got my diploma after four years.
While I was in school I joined the Spores, a rock band in Boston and I’ve been busy ever since. When I joined they were already playing steady so I just walked in ready to go. Their business organization was top notch. They had a red moving truck and an unbelievable rehearsal situation. One of the guys lived in the studio, it was huge. It use to be a gym that went out of business that the band picked up the rent. It was two stories with office rooms, showers, a huge changing room with lockers, a lounge and a full kitchen.
The manager was Jim Higgins who was in charge of a concert sound system company and the PA system was twice the size of Hunger’s. The PA was so massive the road crew would build a ramp system from the truck to the stage and wheel everything in. The sound man Jeff Karlson knew his stuff and worked concerts for the rock star bands.
One thing the Spores did that my old bands didn’t was record every show from the house mix. We would listen to each show the next day after the gig in the office of the studio as a band and improve on the show. I have two big bins full of cassette tapes. Also whatever big bands were using our PA we would record them too. I have tapes of Robin Lane and the Chart Busters, Orchestra Luna (great band, very novel), The Dead End Kids, The Verdict, maybe The Stompers and The Fools. These bands don’t know these tapes exist, we just threw them in the bins and moved on.
We were getting recording deals and working for Don Law Productions. We would get the albums recorded but couldn’t close the deal with the record company. We had a deal with Hirsh Gardner from the band New England who produced our album. They toured with Kiss and the deal was with their management company in New York. Alda Nova got the deal and I don’t blame them, that was a great song for the radio. I got the album done for free and pressed it myself in New York. Same thing with the Hunger album. I signed the deal but it never got off the shelf, so I got the album for free and pressed it myself.
The Spores only lasted til 1983 with over 100 originals recorded and thousands of hours of live tape, the quality is excellent.
After that I played in other bands, some really big, some not, sometimes three bands at a time. Lots of studio gigs (worked with Stones producer Jimmy Miller on an album project). In 2000 I did another album with the Spores in my home studio which came out pretty good and another in 2005 which was never finished. The singer and songwriter Donny got cancer and died and we never finished it.
I’ve had two more recording deals while in Boston and during Covid I’m working on another album in the studio.
West London band Wainwright’s Gentlemen are most notable for containing several musicians who went on to fame and fortune in the late 1960s and early 1970s – Ian Gillan (Deep Purple) and Brian Connolly and Mick Tucker (The Sweet).
Formed as Unit 4 in early 1963, the band’s original formation comprised lead guitarist Jim Searle, rhythm guitarist Alfred Fripp (who had previously played with Hayes, Middlesex high school band, Paul & The Alpines) and bass player/singer Jan Frewer. Soon after, the trio were joined by lead singer Chris Wright and drummer Phil Kenton.
Paul & The Alpines, 1963 with Alf Fripp far right. Photo: John Kerrison
Taking on Jan’s father, John, as the group’s manager, the musicians began gigging at youth clubs and social clubs in the Hayes, Harrow and Wembley areas.
During late 1963, however, the band changed name to Wainwright’s Gentlemen after the musicians discovered that there was another Unit 4 on the west London scene (future Brinsley Schwartz Ian Gomm’s group).
In early 1964, Wainwright’s Gentlemen became resident band at Hayes Beat Club in Hayes, Middlesex and also landed a residency at two coffee bars in London’s West End – Le Chat Qui Peche in Regent Street and the Cave St Germain in Poland Street.
Having entered the Mecca Dancing and Walls Ice Cream nationwide Beat Group contest, Wainwright’s Gentlemen appeared at Hammersmith Palais on 9 January 1964 in their area competition, beating several groups, including The Detours, who later became The Who.
Wainwright’s Gentlemen returned to the Hammersmith Palais on 6 February for the ‘Hall Final’, which the band won.
Photo: Daily Sketch cutting, 2 April 1964
Unfortunately, when the national finals were held at the Lyceum on the Strand on 4 May, the group finished fifth out of 13 bands.
Later that year, Wainwright’s Gentlemen secured a recording test at Jackson Sound Studios in Rickmansworth but the session was not successful.
In mid-October, the band added Annette Culley as a second singer. She may have been the same Annette who sang with The Keymen.
Wright, who worked at Dawe Instruments in Acton, Middlesex, invited tenor sax player Dave Brogden from The Midnites to join the group in early November 1964 but the very night he auditioned and joined Wainwright’s Gentlemen, Wright had a falling out with Jan Frewer’s father and departed.
Selected gigs:
9 January 1964 – Mecca Dancing and Walls Ice Cream’s nationwide Beat Group Contest, Hammersmith Palais, Hammersmith, west London
10 January 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, west London
11 January 1964 – Le Chat qui Peche, Regent Street, central London
6 February 1964 – Hall Final of Mecca Dancing nationwide Beat Group Contest, Hammersmith Palais, Hammersmith, west London
21 February 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, west London
28 February 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, west London
1 March 1964 – Beat contest at Watford Town Hall, Watford, Herts with others The group came third
7 March 1964 – The Scene, Florida Room, Brighton, West Sussex
9 March 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, west London
30 March 1964 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
30 April 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, west London
2 May 1964 – Long’s Ballroom, Bishop Stortford, Herts with The Marauders
4 May 1964 – Mecca Dancing nationwide Beat Group Contest finals, Lyceum Ballroom, Strand, central London with others
23 May 1964 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
6 June 1964 – Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London with Johnny Lonesome & The Travellers adn Keith Young & The Skyways
9 June 1964 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
12 June 1964 – Long’s Ballroom, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire with Manfred Mann
27 June 1964 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
6 July 1964 – Attic Club, 1a High Street, Hounslow, Middlesex with Rory Blackwell & His Monsters
25 July 1964 – Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London with The Four Zodiacs and The Nu-Trons
31 July 1964 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex with The Shades
8 August 1964 – Bedsitter Club, Holland Park, west London
13 September 1964 – Attic, Hounslow, Middlesex
25 September 1964 – Attic Club, 1a High Street, Hounslow, Middlesex with Ken Gordon & The Downsiders
29 September 1964 – Kodak Hall, Wealdstone, Middlesex with The Dolphins and The Beachcombers
4 October 1964 – Kihoty Club, Guildford, Surrey with The Aces and The Shieks
24 October 1964 – Witham Public Hall, Witham, Essex (Billed as Annette with Wainwright’s Gentlemen)
Ian Gillan – lead vocals
Annette Cully – lead vocals
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Alfred Fripp – rhythm guitar
Dave Brogden – tenor saxophone
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Phil Kenton – drums
Within days of Dave Brogden joining on tenor saxophone, Wainwright’s Gentlemen brought in Chris Wright’s replacement – Ian Gillan, lead singer with Hayes, Middlesex group, The Javelins.
The new formation remained steady until early March 1965. Brogden’s diary shows that the musicians traveled to Jackson Sound Studios in Rickmansworth on a number of dates in February (3rd, 10th, 15-16th, 19th and 28th) presumably to cut material. However, his original date sheet puts the recording dates for the three tracks that the band cut as 3rd, 8th and 15th March.
Wainwright’s Gentlemen recorded three tracks – “Ain’t That (Just Like Me)”, which has since surfaced on Acid Jazz’s Rare Mod 3 CD compilation; “Que Sera Sera”; and “Slow Down”.
Thanks to Dave Brogden for sharing
At the start of March, Dave Brogden gave three months’ notice that he was leaving Wainwright’s Gentlemen to join west London group Jean & The Statesides. His first contribution to his new band was at EMI Abbey Road studio on 17 June. He would remain with The Statesides until 26 September when Phil Kenton got in touch to join him in an Irish show band at an Irish dance hall in Balham, south London (see later entry).
Around the same time, Ian Gillan started to get itchy feet and covertly started his own band Ian & The Dragsters who gigged intermittently while he remained with Wainwright’s Gentlemen until late April. Dave Brogden played with Gillan’s band on nights when Wainwright’s Gentlemen weren’t gigging.
Selected gigs:
7 November 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
8 November 1964 – La Dolphin Club, Baker Street, central London
12 November 1964 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, Middlesex
14 November 1964 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent with Tony Lindell & The Cruisers
15 November 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
16 November 1964 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex
21 November 1964 – Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London with The Mad Hatters and Brian Ford & The Sapphires
22 November 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
25 November 1964 – USAF Ruislip, Ruislip, Middlesex
26 November 1964 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, Middlesex
29 November 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
30 November 1964 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex
1 December 1964 – Hammersmith Town Hall, Hammersmith, west London with The Grenades, The Impacts and The Fairlanes
3 December 1964 – Locarno Ballroom, Streatham, southwest London
6 December 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
7 December 1964 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex
10 December 1964 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, Middlesex
12 December 1964 – Hammersmith Town Hall, Hammersmith, west London
13 December 1964 – Start & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
17 December 1964 – Locarno Ballroom, Streatham, southwest London
18 December 1964 – Willesden Grammar School Youth Club, Willesden, northwest London
19 December 1964 – Hotel in Holborn, central London
20 December 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
22 December 1964 – Overseas Visitors Club, Fulham, west London
23 December 1964 – Ventures Youth Club, Greenford, Middlesex
24 December 1964 – Plaza Ballroom, Guildford, Surrey with The Downsiders
26-27 December 1964 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
28 December 1964 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex
31 December 1964 – Whitehall, East Grinstead, West Sussex
1 January 1965 – Ventures Youth Club, Greenford, Middlesex
2 January 1965 – Watford Town Hall, Watford, Herts
3 January 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
7 January 1965 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, Middlesex
8 January 1965 – Ashford Golf Club, Ashford, Middlesex
9 January 1965 – Unknown venue in West Wickham, Kent
10 January 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
11 January 1965 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex
14 January 1965 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, Middlesex
15 January 1965 – London School of Economics, central London
16 January 1965 – Dreamland, Margate, Kent with Twinkle and The Gonks
17 January 1965 – Locarno Ballroom, Leicester
20 January 1965 – Ballroom in Dartford, Dartford, Kent
21 January 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
23-24 January 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
27 January 1965 – Hall in Carpenter’s Park (this could be Carpenders Park, Watford)
28 January 1965 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, Middlesex
29 January 1965 – Hoover Social Club, Alperton, Middlesex
30 January 1965 – Hi-Fi Hop, Walton Playhouse, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
31 January 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
1 February 1965 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex
5 February 1965 – Ealing Club, Ealing, Middlesex with Unit 5
6 February 1965 – Annunciation Club, Wembley, Middlesex
7 February 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
11 February 1965 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, Middlesex
13 February 1965 – Tottenham Town Hall, Tottenham, north London
14 February 1965 – Kodak Social Club, Hemel Hempstead, Herts
17 February 1965 – London School of Economics, the Strand, central London
18 February 1965 – BOAC Social Club, Northolt, Middlesex
20 February 1965 – Railway Hotel, Greenford, Middlesex
21 February 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
22 February 1965 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex
23 February 1965 – Kodak Social Club, Harrow, Middlesex
25 February 1965 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, Middlesex
25 February 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex (advertised in newspaper)
26 February 1965 – Kookey Nook, Windsor, Berkshire
27 February 1965 – Whetstone Hotel, Finchley, north London
28 February 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
Ian Gillan – lead vocals
Annette Cully – lead vocals
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Alfred Fripp – rhythm guitar
Dennis ??? – tenor saxophone (or Dave Brogden intermittently)
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Phil Kenton – drums
During early March 1965, Wainwright Gentlemen’s employed a tenor sax player called Dennis to cover for Dave Brogden, who was unable to commit to the band fully (he was working covertly and intermittently with Gillan’s band The Dragsters). Dennis, however, only lasted around a month until late March.
Even though he was leaving in mid-June to join Jean & The Statesides, Dave Brogden agreed with Jan Frewer to continue to perform with Wainwright’s Gentlemen from 1 April to 24 September whenever he was able to honour gigs (see gigs with *).
After a gig on 26 April, lead singer Ian Gillan left Wainwright’s Gentlemen to concentrate on his own group, Ian Gillan & The Dragsters. However, soon after performing a gig on 20 May with his band, Gillan joined Episode Six and later found fame with Deep Purple.
Alf Fripp (centre) with Jaymes Fenda & The Vulcans, December 1965. Photo: Alf Fripp
Alfred Fripp departed on the same date as Ian Gillan and joined south London band Jaymes Fenda & The Vulcans. Fripp would briefly return to Wainwright’s Gentlemen in January 1967 when Frewer was injured in a car accident and covered bass duties until Frewer recovered.
Selected gigs:
2 March 1965 – Kodak Hall, Wealdstone, Middlesex with The Gaylords and The Beachcombers
4 March 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
18 March 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
1 April 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London *
2 April 1965 – Leonian Hall, Harrow, northwest London *
3 April 1965 – Blythe Hotel, Sevenoaks, Kent *
4 April 1965 – Windsor, Berkshire (most likely Star & Garter)
5 April 1965 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, west London
8 April 1965 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, west London
9 April 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London
10 April 1965 – Scala, Dartford, Dartford, Kent *
11 April 1965 – Windsor, Berkshire (most likely Star & Garter)
12 April 1965 – Co-op Hall, Wealdstone, northwest London *
15 April 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London
16 April 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London
17 April 1965 – Cinema in Watford, Watford, Herts *
18 April 1965 – Kodak Social Club, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
19 April 1965 – Dreamland Ballroom, Margate, Kent with Tony Rivers & The Castaways
22 April 1965 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, west London
23 April 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London
25 April 1965 – Southall Community Centre, Southall, west London
26 April 1965 – Seagull Hotel, Southall, Middlesex (Gillan and Fripp’s last gig)
Annette Cully – lead vocals
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Phil Kenton – drums
+
Dave Brogden – tenor sax (intermittently)
The stripped back line-up played just over a week’s worth of gigs with Brogden helping out when he could make the commitment. However, around 10 May, Jan Frewer’s father brought in two new musicians – keyboard player Tyni Manning and new tenor sax player Robert Schole.
Selected gigs:
29 April 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London
30 April 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London
2 May 1965 – Windsor, Berkshire (most likely Star & Garter)
3 May 1965 – Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon, southwest London * (this was mentioned in a newspaper cutting, dated 19 May)
6 May 1965 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, west London
7 May 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London *
8 May 1965 – Venue in Reading, Berkshire (possibly Olympia Ballroom) *
9 May 1965 – Windsor, Berkshire (most likely Star & Garter)
Annette Culley – lead vocals
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Tyni Manning – keyboards
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Robert Schole – tenor saxophone
Phil Kenton – drums
The new line-up was short-lived and could have only lasted a month or so (possibly until 4 June) despite being promoted (and photographed) in the Harrow Weekly Post on 19 May.
Selected gigs:
13 May 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London
15 May 1965 – St Mary’s College (most likely in Twickenham, west London)
16 May 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
20 May 1965 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, west London
21 May 1965 – Old Lyon Hall, Harrow, northwest London (may have been Café de Artiste in Fulham, southwest London instead but was advertised in Harrow Observer & Gazette)
22 May 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
23 May 1965 – gig in Mudeford (Dorset?)
27 May 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London
28 May 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London
29 May 1965 – Starlite (but was this Greenford, northwest London)
30 May 1965 – Windsor, Berkshire (most likely Star & Garter)
2 June 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London with Tony Rivers & The Castaways (Melody Maker says 3 June)
3 June 1965 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, west London
4 June 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London
Annette Culley – lead vocals
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Phil Kenton – drums
+
Dave Brogden – tenor saxophone (intermittently)
As agreed with Jan Frewer, Dave Brogden continued to occasionally gig with Wainwright’s Gentlemen (see below gigs with*) when he wasn’t working with The Statesides, who he officially joined on 17 June. This agreement to sit in with Wainwright’s Gentlemen lasted until late September.
Dave Brogden (third from left). Photo: Dave Brogden
Brogden remembers that a few days after 26 September, Wainwright Gentlemen’s drummer Phil Kenton got in touch (possibly because there was a hiatus in Wainwright Gentlemen’s gigs) and said he’d been offered an extremely well paid gig with an Irish show band performing at an Irish dance hall in Balham. The group also needed a sax player and the residency, which guaranteed three nights a week, started on 1 October.
The sax player left The Statesides and Kenton departed Wainwright’s Gentlemen to join the Irish show band but Kenton only lasted the weekend before being replaced by an Irish drummer. Kenton briefly returned to Wainwright’s Gentlemen but was clearly getting itchy feet to move on.
Brogden meanwhile lasted a few more weeks before the Irish show band stopped working and he returned to The Statesides on 29 October.
Selected gigs:
5 June 1965 – Assembly Hall, Walthamstow, north London with The Prophets *
6 June 1965 – Windsor, Berkshire (most likely Star & Garter)
10 June 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London
11 June 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London *
12 June 1965 – LSE, Malden (Surrey?)
13 June 1965 – Windsor, Berkshire (most likely Star & Garter)
15 June 1965 – gig in Dagenham, Essex
17 June 1965 – Wistowe House dance hall, Hayes, west London
18 June 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London
19 June 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire *
20 June 1965 – Star & Garter, Windsor, Berkshire
24 June 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London
25 June 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London
26 June 1965 – Kodak Hall, Hemel Hempstead, Herts
27 June 1965 – Windsor, Berkshire (most likely Star & Garter)
3 July 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London *
5 July 1965 – Hermitage Ballroom, Hitchin, Herts
9 July 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London *
24 July 1965 – Hi-Fi Hop, Weybridge Hall, Weybridge, Surrey
6 August 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London *
13 August 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London *
21 August 1965 – Royal Star Ballroom, Maidstone, Kent (Kent Messenger)
21 August 1965 – The Savoy Rooms, Catford, southeast London with Trendsetters Ltd
28 August 1965 – Gari Ballroom, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk with John’s Court
11 September 1965 – Queen of Harts (location not known) *
18 September 1965 – Club de Dance, Colchester, Essex *
22 September 1965 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London *
24 September 1965 – Café des Artistes, Fulham, southwest London
Left to right: Jim Searle, Val Cockayne, Annette Cully, Jan Frewer, Phil Kenton and Peter Cockayne, circa late 1965. Thanks to Phil Cockayne for providing.
Annette Cully – lead vocals
Val Cockayne – lead vocals
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Peter Cockayne – keyboards
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Phil Kenton – drums
Around late September, the band appeared to have stopped gigging briefly, which was when Kenton landed the gig with the Irish show band. When that didn’t work out, he returned to Wainwright’s Gentlemen who had brought in a second (female) singer Val Cockayne and her husband Peter on keyboards during the drummer’s absence.
It isn’t clear how long the Cockaynes stayed with Wainwright’s Gentlemen but possibly until November-December (and long enough to be photographed).
Peter Cockayne recalls that Mick Tucker joined shortly before the couple departed Wainwright’s Gentlemen. However, it’s also plausible that Tucker just auditioned when Kenton left to work with the Irish show band and the group held on to his details as a future replacement when Kenton did finally depart sometime in late 1965.
Selected gigs:
9 October 1965 – Hi-Fi Hop, Weybridge Hall, Weybridge, Surrey
Annette Cully – lead vocals
Gordon Fairminer – lead guitar
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Tony Hall – tenor saxophone (joined slightly after Fairminer)
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Mick Tucker – drums
Gordon Fairminer (left) and Ian Gillan (centre) with The Javelins 1964. Photo: Tony Tacon
Lead guitarist Gordon Fairminer, who had played with Ian Gillan in The Javelins and who joined Wainwright’s Gentlemen immediately after the Cockaynes left, remembers that Mick Tucker came to see the group play at the Clay Pigeon in Eastcote on one occasion and that he replaced Kenton soon after. Tucker had started out in an instrumentals band with future Wainwright’s Gentlemen and Sweet guitarist Frank Torpey.
Shortly after Fairminer joined (circa November/December 1965), Wainwright’s Gentlemen also brought in tenor saxophone player Tony Hall, who had started out playing with early ‘60s west London band Peter Nelson & The Travellers. As Peter’s Faces, this group had made some recordings.
Fairminer and Searle began playing harmony solos on guitar, which was innovative for its time.
The new guitarist remembers that Wainwright’s Gentlemen had a regular Friday night residency at the Café des Artistes in Fulham from late 1965 through to 1967.
The new line up remained stable until around June-July 1966 when the musicians auditioned for another male singer and brought in Brian McManus (aka Connolly), who had previously sung with The Troop from Harefield, northwest London.
Selected gigs:
11 December 1965 – Acre Hall, Northwood, northwest London
25 June 1966 – Dorothy Ballroom, Cambridge with Bob Kidman & His Band, The Paramounts, Mood Indigo and The Astrobeats
Annette Cully – lead vocals
Brian McManus (aka Connolly) – lead vocals
Gordon Fairminer – lead guitar
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Tony Hall – tenor saxophone
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Mick Tucker – drums
Sometime around early November Annette Cully departed and the group continued with Brian Connolly as sole lead singer.
Selected gigs:
30 July 1966 – Borough Assembly Hall, Aylesbury, Bucks with The Reasons
24 September 1966 – Victoria Ballroom, Cambridge (featuring Annette)
1 October 1966 – Harrow County School for Boys, Harrow, London with The Stalkers
22 October 1966 – ABC North Harrow Bowling Centre, Moonlight Bowl, Harrow, London (featuring Annette)
Brian McManus (aka Connolly) – lead vocals
Gordon Fairminer – lead guitar
Jim Searle – lead guitar
Tony Hall – tenor saxophone
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Mick Tucker – drums
The remaining members – Brian Connolly, Tony Hall, Jim Searle, Gordon Fairminer, Jan Frewer and Mick Tucker – recorded two demo tracks at Regent’s Sound in late 1966/early 1967, which surfaced on an acetate – “You Look So Tame” and “One of a Kind”.
On 2 January 1967, Jan Frewer, Gordon Fairminer and Mick Tucker were involved in a car crash on the way home from a gig on the south coast, possibly in Brighton.
According to Fairminer, Frewer was driving his Singer Chamois when the incident happened. The guitarist was in the front passenger seat and Mick Tucker was in the back seat.
The car hit a tree at around 50-60 mph on a wet Mortlake Road. The guitarist broke both legs. Frewer fractured his pelvis and Tucker had some internal bleeding. The bass player and drummer were both hospitalised for about a week.
Former Wainwright’s Gentlemen guitarist Alf Fripp covered for Frewer while he recovered.
Fairminer had a full length plaster on his left leg for about four to five months and half length on his right leg for about a month. While he recuperated, Jim Searle carried all the lead guitar duties.
The guitarist remembers that after the plaster was removed from his right leg, he continued to gig with Wainwright’s Gentlemen and recalls a show at the Café Des Artistes in Fulham perched high at the front of the stage, with his straight plastered leg hanging over the edge of the stage with a very large black boot. Some of the audience scribbled messages on the plaster.
The Hounslow Post reported its 14 July 1967 issue, page 10, that Julie was singing with the band. However, Fairminer has no recollection of another female singer after Cully left.
Selected gigs:
12 November 1966 – Sperry FC, Bracknell, Berkshire
19 November 1966 – Winter Gardens, Banbury, Oxfordshire with The Cinette Sounds
4 March 1967 – Harrow Boys County School, Harrow, London with The Mustangs
8 April 1967 – Sperry FC, Bracknell, Berkshire with The Movement
10 June 1967 – Sperry FC, Bracknell, Berkshire with The Rite Amount
11 August 1967 – Les Jeux Interdits, Cambridge
2 October 1967 – Harrow County Boys School, Harrow, London with Two of Each
1 November 1967 – Les Jeux Interdits, Cambridge
8 November 1967 – Les Jeus Interdits, Cambridge
Brian McManus (aka Connolly) – lead vocals
Frank Torpey – lead guitar
Tony Hall – tenor saxophone
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Mick Tucker – drums
Around November 1967, former Tribe lead guitarist Frank Torpey came in for Gordon Fairminer. Jim Searle also departed at this point (if not earlier) and later became a classical guitarist.
However, Torpey (who’d started out in a band with Mick Tucker in 1962) only lasted a handful of months and by late January 1968, Frewer’s friend Robin Box had succeeded him on lead guitar. According to an article in the Harrow Observer, dated 24 October 1969, Box had previously played with The Phantoms and Five’s Company.
Torpey notes in his diary that his final gig took place on 20 January at a hospital but he doesn’t have any more details. The gigs below are from his diary (where he has firm details).
Selected gigs:
17 November 1967 – Bedford College, Regent’s Park, central London
18 November 1967 – London University, London
25 November 1967 – Gillingham, Kent (possibly Aurora Hotel)
2 December 1967 – Harrow County Boys’ School, Harrow, northwest London with Two of Each
9 December 1967 – Croydon, south London (no details)
15 December 1967 – Ealing Town Hall, Ealing, west London
23 December 1967 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London
31 December 1967 – Private party
Photo may need copyright. Wainwright’s Gentlemen, January 1968, left to right: Tony Hall, Robin Box, Mick Tucker, Jan Frewer and Brian Connolly
Brian McManus (aka Connolly) – lead vocals
Robin Box – lead guitar
Tony Hall – tenor saxophone
Jan Frewer – bass, vocals
Mick Tucker – drums
Photo may need copyright. Wainwright’s Gentlemen, January 1968
Tucker and Connolly weren’t happy with Torpey’s dismissal and in early February 1968 they left the band. The pair reunited with Torpey and together with bass player Steve Priest from another west London band, The Army, they formed The Sweet.
The Sweet, July 1968. Left to right: Steve Priest, Brian Connolly, Frank Torpey and Mick Tucker
Remaining members Robin Box, Jan Frewer and Tony Hall brought in drummer Roger Hills and, according to an article in the Harrow Observer from 24 October 1969, toured the northern clubs with Gordon Waller from Peter & Gordon.
They then toured Europe for three months, including playing at the P&N Club in Munich, West Germany as Rupert’s Spoon. Returning to the UK around late May, they toured the northern club circuit.
Selected gigs:
17 February 1968 – Ship Hotel, Weybridge, Surrey with The Effect
4 May 1968 – Harrow County Boys’ School, Harrow, northwest London with Orbit 5
1 June 1968 – Aurora Hotel, Gillingham, Kent with The Web and The Foundations
Minus Frewer, who later went on to roadie for The Sweet, Robin Box, Tony Hall and Roger Hills found work backing The Flowerpot Men whose members included Hall’s ex-colleagues from Peter’s Faces. They toured Europe as their backing band, Rupert’s Spoon.
Hall later left to join Simon K & The Meantimes before joining Geno Washington & The Ram Jam in mid-1970. In early 1971, however, he reunited with Robin Box and Roger Hills in White Plains.
In later years Hall went on to work with the Houseshakers, Screaming Lord Sutch, Flying Fox and Chas & Dave among others and also did session work for Shakin’ Stevens and Sheena Easton.
Huge thanks to Dave Brogden (who very kindly shared his diary entries), Jan Frewer, Alf Fripp, Val Cockayne, Phil Cockayne, Frank Torpey, Gordon Fairminer, Tony Tacon and Tony Hall for helping with the story. I’d also like to credit Mark Lay’s book on the band’s early years.
This is an extensively updated version of an article that was originally published on the Strange Brew website. I’d like to thank Jason Barnard for all of his help and support over the years.
Gigs above were sourced from many newspapers and magazines. This is not a complete list but includes Melody Maker, Middlesex County Times & West Middlesex Gazette, Walthamstow Guardian, Hayes Gazette, Yarmouth Mercury, Herts & Essex Observer, Hertfordshire Express, Harrow Observer & Gazette, Woking Herald, Cambridge News, Surrey Advertiser and Evening Argus.
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
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
