The Rapids – a quintet from possibly Ontario, Canada. I bought these photos from a seller in Williamsford, but the group could have come from anywhere in the Toronto or Hamilton area, or beyond.
It would be nice if one could read the headstocks on the guitars. One looks to be a Höfner 173, according to G45 member ShyC, which would date to about 1963 or 1964. I don’t know of any Canadian groups called the Rapids that recorded.
I’d appreciate any clues or info.
“Homebrew” is a storming instrumental, with a foreboding rhythm guitar and bass behind sharp lead guitar work, excellent drumming and rockin’ piano.
I can’t find much about Archie Liseo other than an odd news item from December, 1965, where an Archie Liseo “is resigning from the Denver Young Democrats in protest against what he described as ‘filth’ in the organization’s newspaper. Liseo said he objected to the review of a play in the December issue of the paper The Vanguard. He said the paper had been read by his children before he arrived home Thursday.”
I suppose that could be a different person, considering this group titled their record “Homebrew”.
“Homebrew” has a writing credit of A. Trujillo, which could be another name for Archie Liseo. This may be the only record he ever made. The band is so good I hope there are more recordings somewhere.
The ballad A-side, “Lonely” was written by L. Pickett and J. Ward. CLW Music Pub published both songs.
Released on CLW 45-6576, this is a Rite pressing, 13705/6 from 1965. CLW owner Jim Ward produced the single with Geo Chapekis. The address for CLW is given as 522 Knox Ct., Denver.
I’m not sure if the San Diego Marauders were an actual group or a studio creation. Cecil Calvert ran Compose Records from his home at 450 Orlando St. in El Cajon, just east of San Diego.
Compose Records released two singles by the San Diego Marauders. The first had an original by Cecil Calvert, “Don’t Come Around” backed with a good version of the Olympics “The Bounce”. Released as Compose Records 1901/2, the Monarch Δ number 56767 dates it to April or May of 1965. “Don’t Come Around” has a good garage sound, and runs a minute and a half!
The second single is interesting for including “Ervin Rucker, vocal” and featuring an original song by Rucker and Ervin Groves, who often collaborated together.
Compose Records 1903/4: “Baby Can’t You Feel It” (E. Rucker and E. Groves) / “Sentimental Reasons”.
In July 1967 and 1968, Cash Box’s list of ASCAP publishers includes “Groham c/o Cecil Calvert, 450 Orlando”. Calvert also had a June, 1964 copyright for a song called “Shackles of Love” written with Robert L. Jackson. If it ever was recorded, I don’t believe it saw release.
Bob Galindo, brother of 13th Floor Elevators bassist Danny Galindo, wrote on a now-defunct San Antonio music history site, “Max Range was not the ‘Stepfather’ of Texas pyschedelia, he was ‘THE GODFATHER’. He was a very influential guy, in a subversive sort of way, if you know what I mean.”
On the same site, Margaret Moser posted, “Max Range gets no credit as one of THE visionaries of South Texas music”.
I have not found much detail on how Max Range influenced the Elevators and the psychedelic scene in Texas, but one thing is certain, Range fronted three bands that included five future members of the Elevators.
Max Range’s full name was George Max Range, born in Beeville, TX, an hour’s drive from Corpus Christi (also birthplace of John Ike Walton, who moved to Kerrville in 1950). Max went to school in Beeville, and became an Eagle Scout.
Max moved to Kerrville in the early ’60s, perhaps with his family to finish school, or as an apprentice printer for the local newspaper the Daily Times.
In Kerrville he would join a group called the Traditions. The Kerrville Daily Times featured a photo of the Traditions on July 23, 1963 with the accompanying text:
The Arcadia Theatre of Kerrvile will present a Summer Stage Show during the intermission of two big twist hits, “Don’t Knock the Twist” and “Twist Around the Clock” July 24 and 25 at 8 p.m. The music of “The Traditions” will be presented.
“The Traditions” is a group of young local musicians that produce an activated tempo-type sound. Five members comprise the band.
Max Range, 19, from Beeville is the vocalist. Max has had four years experience in the musical field and has performed in two bands before organizing the Traditions.
Bobby Hunter, 19, from Freeport, plays the lead guitar. He has had four years of training…
Bobby Sanchez, 16, from Kerrville, is the rhythamatic drummer with a set of “talking” drums. He has put three years into the mastery of the drums and has won several awards in the Tivy High School Band.
Randy Jackson, 18, from San Juan … plays the bass guitar and has had two years of experience.
Stacy Sutherland, 17, from Kerrville provides the basic rhythm … which enables The Traditions to give that special sound quality necessary for a top grade band.
All of these band members from various parts of Texas are now combined into one soundsation group…
Marvin Taylor, “The Traditions” manager and the assistant manager of the Arcadia …
I’d like to know more about Max Range’s two earlier bands from his four years experience in music, but have not turned up any info other than a group with Stacy called the Signatures, mentioned in Ben Graham’s A Gathering of Promises.
Although the Daily Times article states Max organized the Traditions, it seems the group formed in 1961 or 1962, well before Max joined. An early photo shows Stacy Sutherland, Bob Schmerbeck, Eddie Flores, Bobby Sanchez and Randy Jackson.
In April 1964, the Kerrville Daily Times runs an ad for the Grove restaurant “now under new management, Grady and Shirley Sharp” with “Live Band – Max Range and “The Traditions” featuring Joe Burkett III and His “Backwoods Fiddle”.
On August 23, 1964, the Kerrville Daily Times makes the first mention of Max Range appearing with the Penetrators (as the Penetrations):
Jamey Ryan of San Antonio, Miss KTSA, is schedule to appear at the Arcardia Theatre on Thursday, Aug. 27 in connection with the Gigantic Hootenanny Stage Show. Headlining the show will be Denny Ezba and the Goldens; Bruce Hathaway of KTSA as master of cermonies; Max Range, local vocalist; and the Penetrations, a local group from Kerrville.
Range is band leader of The Traditions but will be appearing with The Penetrators.
Notices in the Kerrville Daily Times on September 20, October 2 and November 6, 1964; and on January 14 and 28, 1965 all include Max Range as vocalist of the Penetrators.
On, April 5, 1965 and earlier dates, the Kerrville Daily Times ran a 1″ x 1″ classified display ad “for Sale, Ideal for musical group. Premier P-14 PA System … Max Range, Daily Times.”
A Daily Times article from June 6, 1965 writes:
The Penetrators … have released their first record which is available to the public. The record, “Praying Till Then” and “Kurl” is on the Trater Record label. “Praying Till Then”, a slow ballad, was composed by Max Range, vocalist for the group. The flip side “Kurl”, was composed by all members of the ensemble, who are, Danny Klein, Bob Morrison, Ron Leatherman, Pat Morrison and Max Range.
The single was released as by Max and the Penetraters on Trater Records 650528. As far as I know, this is the only recording Max Range ever made.
I’ve read that Tommy Hall was a member of the Lingsmen, but that seems to be incorrect, although the band would see Tommy and Clementine Hall in Port Aransas that summer.
I’d also read that Stacy, John Ike and Benny left Max to go form the Elevators, but it seems that Max was the first to leave the group. Tony Joe White filled in for some shows, and the Lingsmen may have recorded a demo with Tony, now lost.
Judging by local news ads, the group continued at least until mid-November, 1965. About that time Stacy, John Ike and Benny left Port Aransas, supposedly because of attention from local police. In Austin, they would form the 13th Floor Elevators with Tommy Hall and Roky Erickson, playing their first show on December 8, 1965.
Dan Galindo – bass
Bob Galindo – guitar
Bill King – guitar
Buddy Toscano – drums
This group may have performed as the Lingsmen initially, but by June had become Max and the Laughing Kind.
An article in the Corpus Christi Caller Times on July 24, 1966 lists the other members as:
Keith Miller – lead guitar
Bill King – guitar
Bill Smith – bass
Tom McTaggart – drums
Hundreds Flock to Port Aransas Danceland Every Weekend
The popularity of the Dunes Danceland at Port Aransas appears to be climbing in its second season, and owner Ralph Plumlee says he has plans for a bigger place in the future.
On a Saturday night now it starts about 8 p.m. – a line of headlights heading down the Padre Island beach toward Horace Caldwell Pier, begins to turn into a laughing, dancing crowd of young peoople at the Dunes.
Plumlee, a retired Dallas business man, and head of White Marlin Enterprises in Port Aransas, said that the average Saturday night attendance ranges from 700 to 1,000. The July 4 weekend drew a crowd estimated at 2,700 on one night…
Max and The Laughing Kind provide the warmth and the music. The long haired band leader wears sunglasses for the evening performance.
… the five-piece band is composed of Max Range, from the Beeville area, who is leader and singer; Bill King, guitar; Tom McTaggart, drums; Keith Miller, lead guitar; and Bill Smith, bass.
The Danceland’s popularity has spread out of the immediate area. College students from Kingsville and even as far as San Antonio and Houston make the Saturday night dances.
Miller, Smith and McTaggart had been in a San Antonio group the Mysterions with Roy Cox. When the summer was over, they went back to San Antonio and continued to use the Laughing Kind name with Bobby Trevino on keyboards and Tommy Smith on vocals. Dan Galindo would soon join the 13th Floor Elevators in time to record much of Easter Everywhere.
The following year, the Corpus Christi Times announced “Max and the Lingsmen” for the grand opening of the new Dunes Danceland, on Friday, May 12, 1967; “main dance floor enlarged and redecorated.”
The lineup at this time was listed on the now-defunct Mike’s Band Archive site:
Max Range – vocals
Chris Holzhaus – lead guitar
Bill King – guitar
Ronnie Huth – vox organ
Mike Marechal – bass
Sam Allen – drums
That is the last document of Max Range’s music career that I have found until 1970, when an International Artist list of bands includes Ice with Max Range, Stacy Sutherland, David Browne, Michael Marschell and Ron Viviano (reproduced in Paul Drummond’s 13th Floor Elevators: A Visual History). Ice reportedly went into a studio twice, but no recordings have survived.
According to an online obituary, “Max was a printer for the Houston Chronicle for many years. George Max Range of Copperas Cove died at 59, on July 10, 2003, after a long illness.”
The X-Centrics came from Ardmore, Oklahoma, a town south of Oklahoma City, about halfway to Denton, TX. All were teenagers at the time of this detailed feature in the Ardmore Daily Admoreite on April 27, 1969.
Members included:
Joe Ben Pruitt – organ, guitar
Kenny Pruitt – drums
James Buck – lead vocalist, guitar
Mike Fitzgerald – lead guitar
Roger Littrell – bass guitar
The group, which plays heavy, psychedelic and soul music, defeated five top Texas bands in a battle of hte bands in Gainesville, Tex. recently to receive a recording contract with the Sonco Record Company in Fort Worth, Tex.
They recorded “get Out of My Life Woman,” and “Try a Little Tenderness” at a recent recording session, but the record has not yet been pressed.
I don’t believe the record ever saw release.
The X-Centrics played at Keeler Junction in Colorado Springs, and planned on appearing on Dick Clark’s Happening ’69 show.
The Woodstock ‘Roadhouse’ Hotel in north Cheam, southwest London, the Prince of Wales in Kingsbury, north London and the Byron Hotel in Greenford, northwest London were all operated by the same promoter: The Arthur Forest Organisation (AFO). Many of the same groups performed at all three venues.
Ken Samuels, who played with Flight One, very kindly provided these posters, both from 1965. We’d love to hear from anyone who played at this venue and can provide any more memorabilia and further information about their band. Email: Warchive@aol.com
1965
1 August (Sunday) – Combo 2000 (Ken Samuels’ poster)
4 August (Wednesday) – The Rivals and Surprise Group (Ken Samuels’ poster)
5 August (Thursday) – The Expressions (Ken Samuels’ poster)
6 August (Friday) – 5’s Company (Ken Samuels’ poster)
7 August (Saturday) – The Legends (Ken Samuels’ poster)
8 August (Sunday) – Flight One (Ken Samuels’ poster)
11 August (Wednesday) – Solomons Mines and Middlesex Group (Ken Samuels’ poster)
12 August (Thursday) – The Expressions (Ken Samuels’ poster)
13 August (Friday) – Unit 2 (Ken Samuels’ poster)
15 August (Sunday) – Rhythm 4 (Ken Samuels’ poster)
18 August (Wednesday) – Steve and What 4 and Guest Nite Group (Ken Samuels’ poster)
19 August (Thursday) – The Do Do’s (Ken Samuels’ poster)
20 August (Friday) – The Scepters (Ken Samuels’ poster)
22 August (Sunday) – The Reasons (Ken Samuels’ poster)
25 August (Wednesday) – The Tribe and Star Celebrities (Ken Samuels’ poster)
26 August (Thursday) – Earl Baron (Ken Samuels’ poster)
27 August (Friday) – The Proud Walkers (Ken Samuels’ poster)
28 August (Saturday) – The Centours (Ken Samuels’ poster)
29 August (Sunday) – The Orbits (Ken Samuels’ poster)
30 August (Bank Holiday Monday) – The Scepters (Ken Samuels’ poster)
1 September (Wednesday) – The Do Do’s and The 4 Inches (Ken Samuels’ poster)
2 September (Thursday) – The Deltons (Ken Samuels’ poster)
3 September (Friday) – NSG Group (Ken Samuels’ poster)
4 September (Saturday) – Generation 5 and Great Expectations (Ken Samuels’ poster)
5 September (Sunday) – 5’s Company (Ken Samuels’ poster)
8 September (Wednesday) – Steve and What 4, DJ Blues Band and The Tuxedos (Ken Samuels’ poster)
9 September (Thursday) – Earl Baron 5 (Ken Samuels’ poster)
10 September (Friday) – Unit 2 (Ken Samuels’ poster)
11 September (Saturday) – 5’s Company and The Arts Group (Ken Samuels’ poster)
12 September (Sunday) – Flight One (Ken Samuels’ poster)
15 September (Wednesday) – Rhythm 4 and Group 66 (Ken Samuels’ poster)
16 September (Thursday) – The Expressions (Ken Samuels’ poster)
17 September (Friday) – The Tuxedos (Ken Samuels’ poster)
18 September (Saturday) – The Deils and The Rollovers (Ken Samuels’ poster)
19 September (Sunday) – Rhythm 4 (Ken Samuels’ poster)
22 September (Wednesday) – Earl Baron 5 and The King Pins (Ken Samuels’ poster)
23 September (Thursday) – The Pinkerton Men (Ken Samuels’ poster)
24 September (Friday) – The Rivals (Ken Samuels’ poster)
25 September (Saturday) – The Proud Walkers and The Pitmen (Ken Samuels’ poster)
26 September (Sunday) – The Insect (Ken Samuels’ poster)
29 September (Wednesday) – The Maniacs and The Watch Committee (Ken Samuels’ poster)
30 September (Thursday) – Great Expectations (Ken Samuels’ poster)
18 December (Saturday) – Three groups (Caterham Weekly Press & Advertiser)
24 December (Friday) – The Flames (aka Jeff Curtis & The Flames) (Caterham Weekly Press & Advertiser)
26 December (Sunday) – 4 Inches (Caterham Weekly Press & Advertiser)
31 December (Friday) – Just Us (Caterham Weekly Press & Advertiser)
1966
7 January (Friday) – The New Jump Band (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser)
9 January (Sunday) – Rhythm 4 (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser)
12 January (Wednesday) – 12th Maniacs and Five Steps Beyond (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser)
13 January (Thursday) – Geoff Curtis & The Flames (aka Jeff Curtis & The Flames) (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser)
14 January (Friday) – The Hell Raisers (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser)
15 January (Saturday) – Just Us (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser)
16 January (Sunday) – The Citizens (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser)
22 January (Saturday) – The Hell Raisers (Sutton & Cheam Advertiser)
8 June (Wednesday) – Five Steps Beyond (Paul Quinton’s gig diary and website: http://five-steps-beyond.simplesite.com/)
6 July (Wednesday) – Five Steps Beyond (Paul Quinton’s gig diary and website: http://five-steps-beyond.simplesite.com/)
15 July (Friday) – Five Steps Beyond (Paul Quinton’s gig diary and website: http://five-steps-beyond.simplesite.com/)
31 August (Wednesday) – Five Steps Beyond (Paul Quinton’s gig diary and website: http://five-steps-beyond.simplesite.com/)
2 September (Friday) – The Flames (aka Jeff Curtis & The Flames) (Paul Quinton’s poster)
3 September (Saturday) – 2 x 2 (Paul Quinton’s poster)
4 September (Sunday) – The Keys (Paul Quinton’s poster)
7 September (Wednesday) (stage one) – The Intones (Paul Quinton’s poster)
7 September (Wednesday) (stage two) – The Pathfinders (Paul Quinton’s poster)
9 September (Friday) – The Just Us (Paul Quinton’s poster)
11 September (Sunday) – The Midnight Blues (Paul Quinton’s poster)
14 September (Wednesday) (stage one) – Burrow of Bedrock (Paul Quinton’s poster)
14 September (Wednesday) (stage two) – The Sheiks (Paul Quinton’s poster)
16 September (Friday) – The Fourtunes (Paul Quinton’s poster)
18 September (Sunday) – The Flashbakks (Paul Quinton’s poster)
21 September (Wednesday) (stage one) – The Fourtunes (Paul Quinton’s poster)
21 September (Wednesday) (stage two) – The Zodiacs (Paul Quinton’s poster)
23 September (Friday) – Five Steps Beyond (Paul Quinton’s gig diary and website: http://five-steps-beyond.simplesite.com/)
25 September (Sunday) – Generation X (Paul Quinton’s poster)
28 September (Wednesday) (stage one) – Five Steps Beyond (Paul Quinton’s poster)
28 September (Wednesday) (stage two) – The Zeniths (Paul Quinton’s poster)
2 October (Sunday) – The Night Train (Paul Quinton’s poster)
5 October (Wednesday) (stage one) – The Intones (Paul Quinton’s poster)
5 October (Wednesday) (stage two) – Antique (Paul Quinton’s poster)
7 October (Friday) – The Flashbakks (Paul Quinton’s poster)
9 October (Sunday) – 2 x 2 (Paul Quinton’s poster)
12 October (Wednesday) (stage one) – Five Steps Beyond (Paul Quinton’s poster)
12 October (Wednesday) (stage two) – K G S & Zaandams (Paul Quinton’s poster)
14 October (Friday) – Some Other People (Paul Quinton’s poster)
16 October (Sunday) – The Fourtunes (Paul Quinton’s poster)
19 October (Wednesday) (stage one) – The Links (Paul Quinton’s poster)
19 October (Wednesday) (stage two) – The Sheiks (Paul Quinton’s poster)
21 October (Friday) – The Flashbakks (Paul Quinton’s poster)
23 October (Sunday) – The Keys (Paul Quinton’s poster)
26 October (Wednesday) (stage one) – The Fourtunes (Paul Quinton’s poster)
26 October (Wednesday) (stage two) – The All Nite Workers (Paul Quinton’s poster)
28 October (Friday) – Five Steps Beyond (Paul Quinton’s poster)
30 October (Sunday) – The Flames (aka Jeff Curtis & The Flames) (Paul Quinton’s poster)
2 November (Wednesday) (stage one) – The Intones (Paul Quinton’s poster)
2 November (Wednesday) (stage two) – The Intrudors (Paul Quinton’s poster)
4 November (Friday) – The Unamed (Paul Quinton’s poster)
6 November (Sunday) – The Keys (Paul Quinton’s poster)
9 November (Wednesday) (stage one) – The All Nite Workers (Paul Quinton’s poster)
9 November (Wednesday) (stage two) – The Summits (Paul Quinton’s poster)
11 November (Friday) – The Fourtunes (Paul Quinton’s poster)
13 November (Sunday) – 2 x 2 (Paul Quinton’s poster)
16 November (Wednesday) (stage one) – The 4 Inches (Paul Quinton’s poster)
16 November (Wednesday) (stage two) – The Kraken (Paul Quinton’s poster)
18 November (Friday) – The Flames (aka Jeff Curtis & The Flames) (Paul Quinton’s poster)
20 November (Sunday) – The Regency Five (Paul Quinton’s poster)
23 November (Wednesday) (stage one) – The Fourtunes (Paul Quinton’s poster)
23 November (Wednesday) (stage two) – Group Ratio (Paul Quinton’s poster)
25 November (Friday) – The Flashbakks (Paul Quinton’s poster)
27 November (Sunday) – The Nite Train (Paul Quinton’s poster)
30 November (Wednesday) (stage one) – The All Nite Workers (Paul Quinton’s poster)
30 November (Wednesday) (stage two) – The Co-Eds (Paul Quinton’s poster)
2 December (Friday) – The All Nite Workers (Paul Quinton’s poster)
4 December (Sunday) – The Keys (Paul Quinton’s poster)
7 December (Wednesday) (stage one) – The Intones (Paul Quinton’s poster)
7 December (Wednesday) (stage two) – The Jet Set (Paul Quinton’s poster)
9 December (Friday) – Five Steps Beyond (Paul Quinton’s poster)
11 December (Sunday) – 2 x 2 (Paul Quinton’s poster)
14 December (Wednesday) (stage one) – The Fourtunes (Paul Quinton’s poster)
14 December (Wednesday) (stage two) – Whiskey Ring (Paul Quinton’s poster)
16 December (Friday) – The Unnamed and Cage (Paul Quinton’s poster)
18 December (Sunday) – The Flames (aka Jeff Curtis & The Flames) (Paul Quinton’s poster)
21 December (Wednesday) (stage one) – The All Nite Workers (Paul Quinton’s poster)
21 December (Wednesday) (stage two) – The Act (Paul Quinton’s poster)
23 December (Friday) – Group Ratio (Paul Quinton’s poster)
24 December (Saturday) – The Fourtunes (Paul Quinton’s poster)
26 December (Monday) – The 4 Inches (Paul Quinton’s poster)
28 December (Wednesday) (stage one) – Five Steps Beyond (Paul Quinton’s poster)
28 December (Wednesday) (stage two) – The Downbeats (Paul Quinton’s poster)
30 December (Friday) – Locomotion (Paul Quinton’s poster)
31 December (Saturday) – The Keys (Paul Quinton’s poster)
Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author.
The Prince of Wales in Kingsbury, north London, the Byron Hotel in Greenford, northwest London and the Woodstock Hotel in north Cheam, southwest London were all operated by the same promoter: The Arthur Forest Organisation (AFO). Many of the same bands played at all three venues.
Ken Samuels, who played with Flight One, very kindly provided these posters, both from 1965. We’d love to hear from anyone who played at this venue and can provide any more memorabilia and further information about their band. Email: Warchive@aol.com
1964
26 April – The Orbits (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette) Star opening
3 May – The Partisans (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
10 May – The Hartbeats Ltd (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
17 May – Guitars Inc (Club New Yorker – Sunday) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
24 May – The Orbits (Club New Yorker – Sunday) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
30 May – The Pacifics (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
7 June – Russ & The Sabres (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Weekly Post)
14 June – The Heartbeats (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Weekly Post)
21 June – The Orbits (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
28 June – The Plainsmen (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
5 July – The Sabres (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
12 July – The Hearbeats (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
19 July – The Challengers (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
26 July – The Orbits (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
29 July – Group One (Wednesday Club Panama) (Harrow Observer & Gazette) Opening night
2 August – The Partisans (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
9 August – The Count 4 (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
23 August – The Count 4 (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
26 August – Group One (Wednesday Club Panama) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
30 August – The Heartbeats (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
2 September – Group One (Wednesday Club Panama) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
6 September – The Challengers (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
9 September – Group One (Wednesday Club Panama) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
13 September – Russ & The Sabres (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
16 September – Group One (Wednesday Club Panama) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
20 September – The Playboys (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
23 September – Group One (Wednesday Club Panama) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
27 September – The Orbits (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
4 October – 5’s Company (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
11 October – The Challengers (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
18 October – The Partisans (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
25 October – The Orbits (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
1 November – The Counts (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
8 November – Diane & The Londoners (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
15 November – 5’s Company (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
22 November – The Heartbeats Ltd (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
29 November – The Orbits (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
6 December – The Whirlwinds (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
13 December – The Orbits (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
20 December – The Heartbeats Ltd (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
27 December – 5’s Company (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
1965
3 January – The Orbits (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
10 January – The Invistors (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
17 January – 5’s Company (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
21 February – The Orbits (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
28 February – The Saracens (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
14 March – The Electrons (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
21 March – The Heartbeats (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
28 March – The Orbits (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
4 April – The Scepters (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
11 April – The Orbits (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
17 April – Great Expectations (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
25 April – The Fairlanes (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
2 May – The Partners (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
9 May – Rhythm 4 (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
16 May – The Fairlanes (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
23 May – The Heartbeats Ltd (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
30 May – The Orbits (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
6 June – Rhythm 4 (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
13 June – 5’s Company (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
20 June – The Orbits (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
27 June – The Heartbeats Ltd (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
4 July – The Do Dos (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette) From Paris
11 July – Rhythm Four (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
18 July – 5’s Company (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
25 July – The Sceptres (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
1 August – The Reasons (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Ken Samuels’ poster)
8 August – 5’s Company (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Ken Samuels’ poster)
15 August – Flight One (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Ken Samuels’ poster)
22 August – Rhythm 4 (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Ken Samuels’ poster)
29 August – The Expressions (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Ken Samuels’ poster)
5 September – The Insect (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Ken Samuels’ poster)
12 September – 5’s Company (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Ken Samuels’ poster)
19 September – Flight One (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Ken Samuels’ poster)
26 September – Rhythm 4 (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Ken Samuels’ poster)
3 October – 5’s Company (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
10 October – The Missing Links (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
17 October – Rhythm 4 (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
24 October – Four Inches (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
31 October – Great Expectations (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
7 November – Men Tuesday (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
14 November – Who’d-A-Thot-It (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
21 November – 5’s Company (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
28 November – Rhythm 4 (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
12 December – The Flames (aka Jeff Curtis & The Flames) (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette) Looks like The Maniacs played this night
19 December – Rhythm 4 (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
26 December – The Nite Hawks (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
1966
2 January – The Missing Links (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
9 January – The Y and The L (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer & Gazette)
8 July – The Keys (Harrow Observer)
29 July – Five Steps Beyond (Harrow Observer)
2 October – The Flames (aka Jeff Curtis & The Flames) (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Paul Quinton’s poster)
7 October – The Unamed (Friday Club Panama) (Paul Quinton’s poster)
9 October – Five Steps Beyond (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer/Paul Quinton’s poster)
14 October – The Flashbakks (Friday Club Panama) (Paul Quinton’s poster)
16 October – The Keys (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Harrow Observer/Paul Quinton’s Poster)
21 October – 2 x 2 (Friday Club Panama) (Paul Quinton’s poster)
23 October – The Fourtunes (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Paul Quinton’s poster)
28 October – Some Other People (Friday Club Panama) (Paul Quinton’s poster)
30 October – The Flashbakks (Sunday Club Flamingo) (Paul Quinton’s poster)
1967
17 February – The Keys (Harrow Observer)
16 April – The Keys (Harrow Observer)
Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author.
Ronnie Leatherman is best known for playing bass on The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators. Before that time, he had at least two other bands, the Penetrators and the Beau-Mondes, formed while he was at Tivy High School in Kerrville, Texas, a town about 65 miles northwest of San Antonio.
The Penetrators started as “The Counts”. On September 18, 1963, the Kerrville Mountain Sun reported:
“The Counts,” a small band group at Tivy, performed on the radio September 10. The group is composed of Pat Morrison, guitar; Ronnie Leatherman, bass; Danny Klein, guitar; and Bobby Morrison, drums. They played “Bulldog” and one of their own songs, “The Swing.”
The earliest notice I can find for the Penetrators is from March 25, 1964, where the Kerrvile Mountain Sun lists the group name as the “Penetrations”. Members were the same as the Counts:
Danny Klein – lead guitar
Pat Morrison – rhythm guitar
Ronnie Leatherman – bass
Bobby Morrison – drums
This quartet would be the heart of the band through several changes in lineup.
On July 12, 1964 the same lineup played a show at the Jaycee Center with the Reverbs, which included Bobby Schmidtke, Frank Lola and Pat Young.
A notice in the Kerrville Daily Times from August 23, 1964 is the first time Max Range is connected to the band: “Range is band leader of The Traditions but will be appearing with The Penetrators, local combo.”
On September 20, 1964, the Daily Times column Hill Top Village Views includes Max Range as a member, and also includes Bobby Solomon whose name I do not see in any other listing. The October 2 Daily Times includes a photo of the band with Max Range.
A notice from November 6 in the Daily Times for a Jaycee Youth Center dance the next day lists yet another short-lived member, Carlton White on rhythm guitar. Carlton’s name would also appear in notices from January 14 and 28, 1965. Carlton White had been in a folk group with Stacy Sutherland, the Travelers Four.
On February 25, 1965, the Daily Times reused the photo from October, but noted:
Kerrville’s Penetrators made their first TV appearance Saturday afternoon on the Ricci Ware show … on Channel 5 … The boys have written several songs and played one composed by Max Range, “I’ll Keep Praying Til Then” on the TV show. Left to right are Bob Morrison, drummer, and student at Tivy High School; Ron Leatherman, bass player and Tivy student; Max Range, vocalist and harmonica player who is employed at the Daily Times; Danny Klein, Tivy senior and lead guitarist; and Pat Morrison, rhythm guitar and student at Schreiner Institute.
A Daily Times article from June 6, 1965 writes:
The Penetrators … have released their first record which is available to the public. The record, “Praying Till Then” and “Kurl” is on the Trater Record label. “Praying Till Then”, a slow ballad, was composed by Max Range, vocalist for the group. The flip side “Kurl”, was composed by all members of the ensemble, who are, Danny Klein, Bob Morrison, Ron Leatherman, Pat Morrison and Max Range.
This is the last mention of the Penetrators I can find. The single was released as by Max and the Penetraters on Trater Records 650528.
An article in the Kerrville Mountain Sun from November 24, 1965 on the Beau-Mondes shows the original Penetrators quartet has been expanded into a septet and renamed, featuring:
Mark Atterbury – vocals
Danny Klein – lead guitar
Pat Morrison – rhythm guitar and manager
Bill Stacy – rhythm guitar
Bob Schmerbeck – piano
Ronnie Leatherman – bass guitar
Bobby Morrison – drums
The last mention I can find of the Beau-Mondes was from December 29, 1965, and mentions a single that I do not believe was ever released:
The Beaumondes … have recently cut a record. The name of the record is “Won’t You Cry for Me?” It will be released January 11. The lead singer, Mark Atterbury, wrote the song and sings it with the other boys providing the background The members are Mark, Pat Morrison, Bobby Morrison, and Ronnie Leatherman.
From an interview on It’s Psychedelic Baby by Justin Jackley, Ronnie Leatherman mentioned a trio with two friends who passed away the same year. He also said the Lingsmen asked him to come to Port Aransas for a few weeks to play with them and help Bennie Thurman learn how to play the bass, and that Stacy wanted Ronnie in the 13th Floor Elevators.
Thank you to Matthew B. for his continued help to access news sites.
Peter Liggett – lead vocals
Kevin Fogarty – guitar
Ollie Halsall – vibes/guitar
Chris Holmes – keyboards
Clive Griffiths – bass
Jeff Dean – drums
Formed from the ashes of the original Take Five, Clive Griffiths reforms the Southport, Lancashire group with the above line up in late 1965.
They move to London and fall under the wing of manager Laurie Jay, a former drummer, who signs them to the George Cooper Agency. He secures the renamed group (The Time Box) a regular, Wednesday night spot at the Whisky A Go Go.
Circa February 1966 – Whisky A Go Go, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Ollie Halsall Archive)
When the musicians first arrived in London, they landed a regular Wednesday night gig at this popular Soho club
26 March 1966 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London with The Raisins and King Ossie Sounds (Melody Maker)
Early April 1966 – Ad-Lib Club, Leicester Square, London (Ollie Halsall Archive)
3 April 1966 – Guildhall, Portsmouth, Hampshire (Time Box’s first date on Small Faces tour) (Ollie Halsall Archive/website: www.ronnielane.com)
16 April 1966 – Royal Lido, Prestatyn, Clwyd, Wales with The Raynes (Rhyl & Prestayn Gazette) Backing Tommy Quickly
16 April 1966 – Elbow Room, Aston, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening News)
6 May 1966 – Mayfair Club, Memorial Hall, Atherstone, Warwickshire with supporting groups (Coleshill Chronicle/Atherstone Herald) Says direct from the Ad Lib Club
11 May 1966 – The Catacombe, Eastbourne, East Sussex (Eastbourne Herald Chronicle)
14 May 1966 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire with The Mindbenders and The Truth (Burnley Express & News)
16 May 1966 – Tiles, Oxford Street, central London with Rey Anton & The Pro-Form (Melody Maker)
21 May 1966 – Gloucester Guildhall, Gloucester with The In Sect (Gloucester Citizen)
25 June 1966 – Royal Links Pavilion, Cromer, Norfolk with The Devil’s Coachmen (Julie Fielder book: What Flo Said Next)
According to the sleeve notes to the UK CD compilation Timebox – Beggin’ on RPM, the group plays a summer season at Butlin’s Holiday Camp in Filey, North Yorkshire.
After completing the residency, Peter Liggett leaves and Frank Dixon comes in as new lead singer.
3 September 1966 – Imperial Ballroom, Nelson, Lancashire with The Shades and Reasons Five (Burnley Express & News) Date needs confirmation
9 September 1966 – George Inn, Wilby, Northamptonshire (Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph)
15 September 1966 – Chateau Impney, Droitwich, Worcestershire (Birmingham Evening Mail)
16 September 1966 – New All-Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, E1, London (Melody Maker)
22 September 1966 – Zebra Club, Greek Street, W1, London (Melody Maker)
28 September 1966 – St Michael’s Youth Centre, Sydenham, southeast London (Ollie Halsall Archive)
29 September 1966 – Adam & Eve, Southampton, Hampshire (Southern Evening Echo) Says from Tiles, London
29 September 1966 – Zebra Club, Greek Street, W1, London (Melody Maker)
1 October 1966 – El Partido, Lewisham, southeast London (Ollie Halsall Archive)
2 October 1966 – Orford Cellar, Norwich, Norfolk (Eastern Evening News)
5 October 1966 – Flamingo, Warour Street, Soho, central London with The Downliners Sect (Melody Maker)
8 October 1966 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with The Odyssey (Evening Sentinel)
12 October 1966 – Zebra Club, Greek Street, W1, London (Melody Maker)
21 October 1966 – Midnight City, Birmingham with Edwin Starr and The Night People (Birmingham Evening Mail)
22 October 1966 – Carlton Ballroom, Erdington, West Midlands with The Crescendos (Birmingham Evening Mail)
22 October 1966 – Tito’s Club, Handsworth, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
23 October 1966 – Lane Jane’s Club, Chateau Impney, Droitwich, Worcestershire (Malvern Gazette/Sunday Mercury)
23 October 1966 – Mews, Moseley, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail) Says direct from Tiles, Oxford Street
26 October 1966 – Bent Boot Club, Old Crown & Cushion, Perry Barr, West Midlands (Birmingham Evening Mail)
30 October 1966 – Khyber Club, Taunton, Somerset with The Germs (Somerset County Gazette)
2 November 1966 – Stonehouse Church Hall, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire (Gloucester Citizen)
12 November 1966 – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend, Essex with The Fingers and The Chequers (Southend Standard)
21 November 1966 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands with Trendsetters Ltd (Birmingham Evening Mail)
3 December 1966 – Student Union, Manchester University with The Koobas and Tony Merrick Scene (Manchester Evening News and Chronicle)
7 December 1966 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear (Newcastle Evening Chronicle)
9 December 1966 – Mr McCoys, Middlesbrough (Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
Frank Dixon leaves due to ill-health and American singer Richard Henry from The Zig Zag Band takes over on lead vocals.
16 December 1966 – Winter Gardens Ballroom, Penzance, Cornwall with The Motown Sound and The Acoustics (West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette) Richard Henry (Detroit) The Timebox
17 December 1966 – Flamingo Ballroom, Redruth, Cornwall with The Dissatisfied (West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette)
18 December 1966 – Flamingo Ballroom, Redruth, Cornwall (West Briton & Royal Cornwall Gazette)
Not long after, Jeff Dean also become poorly and leaves. Laurie Jay assumes the drum stool for the group’s debut 45 – the Pye release “I’ll Always Love You”, released on 10 February 1967.
1 January 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire with The Gass (Evening Sentinel)
7 January 1967 – Barmy Barny’s Discotheque, Worcester, Worcestershire (Worcester Evening News)
7 January 1967 – Midnight City, Birmingham, West Midlands with Dave Anthony’s Moods (Birmingham Evening Mail)
8 January 1967 – Golden Torch, Tunstall, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
13 January 1967 – Silver Blades, Streatham, southwest London (Peckham & Dulwich Advertiser/Clapham Advertiser) Billed as Richard Henry & The Time Box
16 January 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Herd (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
21 January 1967 – Starlight Room, Boston Gliderdrome, Boston, Lincolnshire with Herbie Goins and The Night-Timers, The Satin Dolls, Triads, Ray Bones and Ferryboys (Lincolnshire Standard) Billed as Richard Henry & The Time Box
22 January 1967 – Beau Brummel Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire, Nantwich, Cheshire with Phil Ryan & The Scorpions (Nantwich Chronicle/Crewe Chronicle) Billed as Richard Henry & The Time Box
27 January 1967 – Club A Go Go, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear (website: http://www.readysteadygone.co.uk/club-agogo-newcastle-2/)
3 February 1967 – Bluesette Club, Bridge Street, Leatherhead, Surrey (Caterham Weekly Press) Billed as Richard Henry & The Time Box
6 February 1967 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands with Normie Rowe & The Playboys and The Monopoly (Birmingham Evening Mail) Billed as Richard Henry & The Timebox
10 February 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
11 February 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire with Wimple Winch (Evening Sentinel)
26 February 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
27 February 1967 – Wall City Jazz Club, Quaintways, Chester, Cheshire with The Chuckles, The Wall City Jazzmen and The Pack (Liverpool Echo)
2 March 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
3 March 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Peter Jay & The Jaywalkers (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
11 March 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder) Billed as The Time Boy
15 March 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Poster)
17 March 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Long John Baldry Show & Bluesology (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
Sometime in mid-to-late March the military police arrest Richard Henry after a gig in London, which could have been the above show at the Marquee. He goes on to front Tales of the City before working with The Cat Soul Packet. Henry later releases solo material.
19 March 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
Session drummer Ronnie Verrell is on hand for the group’s second Pye release – “Soul Sauce”, released on 21 April.
2 April 1967 – Brandon Wheatsheaf, Brandon, Norfolk (billed as John Henry & Timebox) Cancelled
7 April 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with 1-2-3 (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
15 April 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
19 April 1967 – Top Ten Club, Manchester with Gideon’s Few (Manchester Evening News & Chronicle)
21 April 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Long John Baldry Show (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
Around this time Andy Peters takes over the drums. While playing at the Playboy club in Hyde Park during May, singer Mike Patto shares the stage and joins.
14 May 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
15 May 1967 – The Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands with Wellington Kitch Jump Band (Birmingham Evening Mail)
18-19 May 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
20 May 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
25 May 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with 1-2-3 (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
28 May 1967 – Papas, Bournemouth, Dorset (website: https://bournemouthbeatboom.wordpress.com/)
5 June 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Herd (Melody Maker/Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
12 June 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Procol Harum (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
13 June 1967 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Evening Standard)
22 June 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Neat Change (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
25 June 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
28 June 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
29 June 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
1 July 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
15 July 1967 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands with Wellington Kitch Jump Band (Birmingham Evening Mail)
28 July 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
1 August 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Action (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
6 August 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
8 August 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Eric Burdon & The Animals (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
12 August 1967 – 7th National Jazz and Blues Festival, Windsor, Berkshire (Ollie Halsall Archive)
The group signs to Deram and records a cover of Tim Hardin’s “Don’t Make Promises”. Laurie Jay provides drums on the recording as Andy Peters has left recently.
Melody Maker’s 19 August issue features an advert from John Halsey which notes “Drummer ex-Felders Oriole, own bicycle”. He auditions for the group at the Scotch of St James soon after and takes over the drum stool permanently.
22 August 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Alan Bown (Melody Maker/Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
24 August 1967 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Evening Standard)
27 August 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
29 August 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Amen Corner (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
31 August 1967 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Evening Standard)
5 September 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac (Melody Maker/Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
10 September 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
12 September 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
19 September 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Move (Melody Maker/Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
22 September 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
26 September 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Jeff Beck Group (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
Sometime around now Kevin Fogarty leaves to join Dave Davani Four and Ollie Halsall takes over all lead guitar duties.
1 October 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
3 October 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Action (Melody Maker/Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
6 October 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
10 October 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Alan Bown (Melody Maker/Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
19 October 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Long John Baldry Show (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
There is a great article and pic in Record Mirror, 21 October 1967, page 8 on the group.
29 October 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
30 October 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Senate (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
3 November 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
8 November 1967 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Evening Standard)
10 November 1967 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Evening Standard)
11 November 1967 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Evening Standard)
12 November 1967 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
13-16 November 1967 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London (promotional card on Patto Fan website)
18 November 1967 – Leeds University, Leeds, West Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)
19 November 1967 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire (Fabulous 208)
21 November 1967 – Frank’s, Kidderminster, Worcestershire (John Coombe’s book)
2 December 1967 – Cliff’s Pavilion, Southend, Essex (Ollie Halsall Archive)
9 December 1967 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
14 December 1967 – Kingfisher Country Club, Wall Heath, West Midlands with Magic Roundabout and Barmy Barry Show (Express and Star)
16 December 1967 – Adelphi Ballroom, Slough, Berkshire (Windsor, Slough and Eton Express)
17 December 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
19 December 1967 – Golden Diamond, Sutton-in-Ashfield (Fabulous 208)
21 December 1967 – Basingstoke Tech College, Basingstoke, Hampshire (Fabulous 208)
21 December 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Clouds (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
22 December 1967 – Time and Place Club, Manchester (Fabulous 208)
23 December 1967 – Tinned Chicken Club, York, North Yorkshire (Fabulous 208)
23 December 1967 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
24 December 1967 – Beau Brummel Club, Alvaston Hall Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire, Nantwich, Cheshire with Phil Ryan & The Scorpions and Roy French (Crewe Chronicle)
30 December 1967 – Clockwork Orange, Chester, Cheshire with Wednesday’s Children (Crewe Chronicle)
10 January 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Poster at Jonathan Marks’ website: https://imgur.com/a/sWtBd#0)
17 January 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Melody Maker/Mick Capewell’s Marmalade Skies)
20 January 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Melody Maker/Mick Capewell’s Marmalade Skies)
21 January 1968 – Starlight Ballroom, Boston, Lincolnshire (Ollie Halsall Archive)
23 January 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, central London (Ollie Halsall Archive)
25 January 1968 – Klooks Kleek, Railway Hotel, West Hampstead, north London (Melody Maker/Ollie Halsall Archive)
31 January 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Melody Maker/Mick Capewell’s Marmalade Skies)
2 February 1968 – Barn Dance Hall, Penzance, Cornwall (West Briton & The Royal Cornwall Gazette)
3 February 1968 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)
8 February 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
12 February 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Clouds (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
15 February 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Melody Maker/Mick Capewell’s Marmalade Skies)
16 February 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Coatham Hotel, Redcar, North Yorkshire with Root & Jenny Jackson and The Hightimers and West Coast Promotion (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book/Middlesbrough Evening Gazette)
17 February 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
19 February 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Melody Maker/Mick Capewell’s Marmalade Skies)
22 February 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Melody Maker/Mick Capewell’s Marmalade Skies)
23 February 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
2 March 1968 – Leicester University, Leicester (Ollie Halsall Archive)
5-6 March 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Poster at Jonathan Marks’ website: https://imgur.com/a/sWtBd#0)
19 March 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
According to Record Mirror, they played at the Bouton Rouge in Paris around this time. The magazine says they return to Paris for gigs from 10-12 May.
30 March 1968 – London College of Printing, Elephant & Castle, south London with The Amboy Dukes and The Grenades (Melody Maker)
4 April 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Geoff Williams’ research: Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek book)
6 April 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Black Cat Bones (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
7 April 1968 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey (Melody Maker)
12 April 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
13 April 1968 – All New Star Club, 9a Artillery Passage, E1, London (Melody Maker)
13 April 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Crazy World of Arthur Brown (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
16-17 April 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Poster at Jonathan Marks’ website: https://imgur.com/a/sWtBd#0)
20 April 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Cortinas (Melody Maker/Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
21 April 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
30 April 1968 – The Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Fabulous 208)
2 May 1968 – The Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Fabulous 208)
4 May 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Spirit of John Morgan (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
5 May 1968 – El Grotto, Ilford, east London (Redbridge & Ilford Recorder)
9 May 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Geoff Williams’ research: Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek book)
According to Record Mirror, Timebox played Paris gigs on 10-12 May.
17 May 1968 – The Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Fabulous 208)
18 May 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
22 May 1968 – The Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Fabulous 208)
25 May 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Thackery (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
26 May 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with The Cresters (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book)
28 May 1968 – The Place, Hanley, Staffordshire (Evening Sentinel)
The group’s cover of “Beggin’” is released on 31 May 1968.
1 June 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with The Exception (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
Record Mirror reported they started their first US tour on 2 June, which seems unlikely.
5 June 1968 – Samanthas, Bournemouth, Dorset (Bournemouth Evening Echo)
8 June 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Neat Change (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
12 June 1968 – Belfry, Wishaw, West Midlands with Blonde on Blonde (Birmingham Evening Mail)
15 June 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Toast (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
22 June 1968 – Colchester College, Colchester, Essex (Fabulous 208)
23 June 1968 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey (Fabulous 208)
24 June 1968 – Rhodes Centre, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire (Fabulous 208)
26 June 1968 – Colchester College, Colchester, Essex (Fabulous 208)
3 July 1968 – Samantha’s, Bournemouth, Dorset (Bournemouth Evening Echo)
6 July 1968 – Civic Hall, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with The Plague (Welwyn & Hatfield Advertiser)
17 July 1968 – Samantha’s, Bournemouth, Dorset (Bournemouth Evening Echo)
Record Mirror reported that Timebox went to Milan, Italy on 26 July for TV work and then played cabaret at the Rosadino Club but this seems unlikely considering gig below.
27 July 1968 – Mayfair Suite, New Bristol Centre, Bristol with Midas Touch, The Deep and The Titantic Jug Band (Bristol Evening Post)
3 August 1968 – The Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Fabulous 208)
9 August 1968 – 8th National Jazz & Blues Festival, Kempton Park, Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex with The Herd, Taste, Jerry Lee Lewis and Marmalade (Ollie Halsall Archive/Reading Evening Post)
10 August 1968 – Q, Southchurch Park East, Southend, Essex with Kingsize Keen & Rocking Machine (Southend Standard)
17 August 1968 – Town Hall, Clacton, Essex with King Size Keen and his Rocking Machine (Essex County Standard)
19 August 1968 – Cooks Ferry Inn, Edmonton, north London (Ollie Halsall Archive)
20 August 1968 – The Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Fabulous 208)
22 August 1968 – Mecca Ballroom, Portsmouth, Hampshire (Fabulous 208)
22 August 1968 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London (Mick Capewell’s Marmalade Skies website)
23 August 1968 – Candlelight Club, Scarborough, North Yorkshire (Scarborough Evening News)
24 August 1968 – Swan Hotel, Yardley, West Midlands (Fabulous 208)
26 August 1968 – Scotch of St James, Mayfair, central London (Mick Capewell’s Marmalade Skies website)
27 August 1968 – The Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Fabulous 208)
29 August 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Geoff Williams’ research: Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek book)
30 August 1968 – The Wheel, Dorchester Hotel, Dorchester, Dorset with Stormy (Fabulous 208/Dorset Evening Echo/Western Gazette)
31 August 1968 – The Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Fabulous 208/Melody Maker)
1 September 1968 – Queen’s Hall, Leeds, West Yorkshire with Ben E King, Clyde McPlatter, The Flirtations, The Fantastics (with the House of Orange), Tim Rose and World of Oz (Nottingham Evening Post)
5 September 1968 – Brunel University, Acton, west London (Ollie Halsall Archive)
6 September 1968 – Il Rondo, Leicester (Leicester Mercury)
7 September 1968 – The Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Fabulous 208/Melody Maker)
13 September 1968 – California Ballroom, Dunstable, Bedfordshire with Killing Floor (website: www.california-ballroom.info/gigs/)
16 September 1968 – Park Hall Hotel, Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton, West Midlands with The Ice Show with Julie and Barmy Barry (Express & Star)
18 September 1968 – The Cromwellian, South Kensington, west London (Fabulous 208)
20 September 1968 – Benn Memorial Hall, Rugby, Warwickshire (Rugby Advertiser) Coventry Evening Telegraph has them playing with St James Infirmary Soul Show
22 September 1968 – Black Prince, Bexley, southeast London (Fabulous 208)
28 September 1968 – Polytechnic, Little Titchfield Street, central London with The Coloured Raisins (Melody Maker)
29 September 1968 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey (Surrey Advertiser)
29 September 1968 – Downbeat Club, the Swan, Maldon, Essex (Essex Chronicle)
3 October 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
6 October 1968 – Downbeat Club, the Swan, Maldon, Essex (Brentwood Gazette & Mid Sussex Recorder)
13 October 1968 – Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, northwest London (Uxbridge Weekly Post)
15 October 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Melody Maker/Mick Capewell’s Marmalade Skies)
19 October 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London (Melody Maker/Mick Capewell’s Marmalade Skies)
22 October 1968 – Hatchetts Playground, Piccadilly, central London with Katch 22 (Melody Maker/Mick Capewell’s Marmalade Skies)
25 October 1968 – Scene Disco Club, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (Yarmouth Mercury)
25 October 1968 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Ollie Halsall Archive)
31 October 1968 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with East of Eden (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
15 November 1968 – Brunel University, Acton, west London with Episode Six (Melody Maker)
19 November 1968 – Toby Jug, Tolworth, Surrey (Ollie Halsall Archive)
The group’s next single “Girl, Don’t Make Me Wait” is issued on 22 November.
24 November 1968 – Redcar Jazz Club, Redcar, North Yorkshire with Gospel Garden (Dennis Weller, Chris Scott Wilson and Graham Lowe’s book)
13 December 1968 – 100 Club, Oxford Street, central London (Melody Maker)
13 December 1968 – Willesden College of Tech, Willesden, northwest London (Melody Maker)
15 December 1968 – Black Prince, Bexley, southeast London (Melody Maker)
27 December 1968 – Candlelight, Scarborough, North Yorkshire (Scarborough Evening News)
29 December 1968 – Beau Brummel Club, Alvaston Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire with The Jaytree Organisation, Phil Ryan & The Scorpions, Rory Storm, Ken London and The Disco Chicks (Warrington Guardian) Club’s final night before closing
30 January 1969 – Klooks Kleek, West Hampstead, north London (Geoff Williams’ research: Decca Studios and Klooks Kleek book)
14 February 1969 – Ritz, Bournemouth, Dorset (website: https://bournemouthbeatboom.wordpress.com/)
16 February 1969 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London (Melody Maker)
22 February 1969 – Chelsea College, Chelsea, southwest London with The Barrier (Melody Maker)
28 February 1969 – Chelsea College, Chelsea, southwest London (Ollie Halsall Archive)
9 March 1969 – Pantiles, Bagshot, Surrey (Surrey Advertiser)
14 March 1969 – Bedford College, Rag Ball, Regent’s Park, central London with Soft Machine, Eclection, Dr K’s Blues Band and Steve Miller’s Delivery (Melody Maker)
Timebox release the single “Baked Jam Roll In Your Eye” on 14 March.
5 April 1969 – Burton’s, Uxbridge, northwest London (Melody Maker)
20 April 1969 – Black Prince Hotel, Bexley, southeast London (Melody Maker)
30 August 1969 – The Crown, Marlow, Bucks (Bucks Free Press)
18 September 1969 – Speakeasy, W1, central London (Melody Maker)
28 September 1969 – Layfayette, Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Ollie Halsall Archive)
On 3 October, Timebox issue their final single “Yellow Van”.
18 October 1969 – Walton Hop, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (Woking Herald)
Around this time Chris Holmes left and they continue as a four-piece.
9 November 1969 – Black Prince, Bexley, southeast London (Mick Capewell’s Marmalade Skies)
28 November 1969 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Hardin & York (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
4 December 1969 – Revolution, central London (Time Out)
19 December 1969 – Beetroot, opposite Brentwood Station, Brentwood, Essex (Ollie Halsall Archive)
7 January 1970 – Bag O’Nails, Kingley Street, Soho, central London (Time Out)
3 February 1970 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Junior’s Eyes (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
17 February 1970 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Soft Machine (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
21 February 1970 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
24 February 1970 – Marquee, Wardour Street, Soho, central London with Graham Bond Initiation (Tony Bacon’s book: London Live)
Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author.
The Thingies were a peripatetic band, settling and playing shows in a number of locations, and occasionally recording. A full story of the band is on the Cicadelic site. I wanted to include a brief post on the Thingies because of their single on Casino Records.
In late 1962, Larry Miller formed the TR4 while he was stationed with the Air Force in Topeka, Kansas.
The TR4 were:
Don Ferguson – lead guitar
Dave Daws – organ
Larry Miller – bass and vocals
Joe Rodriguez – drums
The TR4 released a single in 1963, “Peter Rabbit” backed with a stomping instrumental, “Surfin’ TR” on Exclusive Records.
In 1964 the band added Phil Weaver as lead vocalist and changed their name to the Coachmen. Gordon Marcellus replaced Joe Rodriguez on drums.
By 1965 the lineup changed again along with the band name to the Thingies:
Phil Weaver – lead vocals
John Dalton – lead guitar
Ernie Swisher – organ
Larry Miller – bass
Gordon Marcellus – drums
They released “It’s a Long Way Down” / “Merry Go Round Of Life” on Casino in early 1966. The group played often in Omaha, Nebraska, where the band first learned about psychedelics. The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band played at The Tiki Club in Topeka, and they helped the Thingies get a light show together according to Larry Miller.
In December, 1966, the Thingies recorded two original at Fairyland Studios in Columbia, MO, “English Eyes” / “No Matter What The World May Say” that were not released at the time, but “English Eyes” appeared on the CD “The Thingies Have Arrived” on Collectables. That CD also features one vocal and two instrumental takes of another original, “I’m Going Ahead”.
The Thingies spent the summer of 1967 in Miami, playing regularly at a huge teen club called The World.
They went to Waco, where Phil Weaver had family, then moved to Austin, Texas in September. One of their earliest shows in Austin was at a Love-In at Zilker Hillside Theater on September 24.
In an article headlined Capital Cops Tops With Hippie Love-In, reporter Mary Callaway gets a little carried away, but still presents a great window onto the Thingies stage show:
Freak-out music dramas presented by the Thingies, a national psychedelic band.
Dressed in a collage of costumes from full monk garbe to Daniel Boone, the Thingies presented a trip experience in which an amber light caught on the jags and peaks of a lump of raspberry jello one into a dream of all worldly objects and abstract concepts merging into one single sound which becomes dust, spirals, and creates a new being. Then the drums and guitars pick up the poet’s rhythm and “Gloria” crashes in in full orchestra.
In “Suzi Creamcheez, What’s Got Into You” the female member of the band expresses a trip experience in which for twenty minutes, with wailing guitars, computer sounds, and aggressive band members, throw her absurd world into supersonic gear, and pathetically enough she screams frantically throughout the drama.
The Austin Daily Texan writer Merry Clark had a more sober account, and named the other bands on the bill:
The Jackels from Dallas began the afternoon playing a new sound for the group formerly known as the Chessmen. They were followed by the Austin Conqueroo …. then a newer Austin band composed mostly of University architecture students, Shiva’s Head Band … A group of men from Bergstrom Air Force Base called the Afro-Caravan [with] Robert King, the leader of the group.
The evening program began and ended with a light show, “Mothers of Invention” sound, and freak out of the Thingies band from Miami.
Over the next six months, the Thingies would play many live shows at the Matchbox, the Vulcan Gas Company, the Pleasure Dome and other venues. Their manager (Night Productions) owned the 11th Street Folk Club, and the group recorded some live shows but the tapes have apparently been lost.
The band signed with Sonobeat, who recorded them at the Swinger’s Club during the club’s off hours, and did overdubs at KAZZ-FM studios. The single featured Gordon Marcellus and Larry Miller’s original “Mass Confusion” backed with Phil Weaver and Bob Cole’s “Rainy Sunday Morning”. Recorded in December, 1967, Sonobeat didn’t release it until the spring of 1968, by which time the Thingies had split up.
Unreleased songs from the Sonobeat sessions include “I Died”, “Mrs. Baker”, “Richard’s Song”, all without finished vocal tracks. You can hear “Mrs. Baker” on the Sonobeat page for the Thingies.
Gordon Marcellus passed away in 2004, Phil Weaver passed in 2014, and Larry Miller passed away at 74 in 2017.
An additional source was Mojo Mills’ interview with Larry Miller in Shindig.
The Thingies, partial gig list:
September 3, 1966 – at the Skyline Club, Manhattan, Kansas
November 12, 1966 – The Fabulous Thingies at the Emporia Civic Auditorium
June 30, 1967 – Atchison, KS Memorial Auditorium
September 24, 1967 – Zilker Hillside Theater, Austin, TX, Love-In with the Jackals, the Conqueroo, Shiva’s Headband and the Afro-Caravan.
September 29 and September 30, 1967 – the IL Club, Austin, TX
October 3, 1967 – New Orleans Club, Austin
October 20 and October 21, 1967 – The IL Club, Austin (“After Hours 1 a.m. – 4 a.m.”)
October 31, 1967 – New Orleans Club, Austin (“Halloween Ball … wear mask”)
November 29, 1967 – The Match Box, Austin
December 15 and December 16, 1967 – The Pleasure Dome, Austin
December 29 and December 30, 1967 – Hilltop Club, Atchison, KS “The Thingies out of Austin … Just back from the Bahama Islands” ?!
